Diabetes Specialist

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar levels to rise. The person has an issue producing or utilizing insulin. A person may either have type I diabetes or type II diabetes. The people who have type I diabetes are born with it while those who have type II diabetes develop it over time. Additionally, there’s gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy and almost always goes away after the baby is born and hormone levels go back to normal.

What Causes It?

In those who have type I diabetes, the person develops diabetes early in life. It’s not completely known why people develop type I diabetes, but it appears that the immune system begins attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Genetics and environmental factors play a role in who develops it, but researchers still aren’t sure what the relationship between these and diabetes is. Those with type II diabetes aren’t able to utilize insulin as efficiently as a person who doesn’t have diabetes. The pancreas isn’t able to work hard enough to compensate for this. Genetics and environmental factors play a role in who develops it. Those who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop it.

How Does Dr. Renee Patel Treat It?

Dr. Renee Patel begins the process with determining if the patient has high blood glucose levels. Further blood work may be needed, such as testing the patient’s A1C levels. Next, Dr. Renee Patel will determine the best course of action, which usually begins with an oral medication, such as sulfonylureas, DPP-1 inhibitors, and biguanideas. Insulin was once a treatment only used in type I diabetes patients. It’s becoming more popularized since not everyone responds to the oral medications alone. The doctor may prescribe a daily insulin regimen or a sliding scale insulin regimen that’s based on glucose readings.