Partridge Comprehensive Health Services provides complete diabetes care that includes diagnosis, treatment, and counseling. If you have prediabetes, Dr. Evelyn Partridge can help you develop habits that will lower your risk of diabetes and help you achieve and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The earlier Dr. Partridge can diagnose your diabetes, the sooner she can treat it. If you're in the Philadelphia area, contact Partridge Comprehensive Health Services right away to set up an appointment.
Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system begins attacking parts of your body instead of foreign infections. In the case of diabetes, your immune system attacks special groups of cells in the pancreas called pancreatic islets.
The pancreatic islets are responsible for the production and regulation of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps cells in your body absorb sugar. Once inside the cells, sugar is used to make energy.
If your insulin levels are low, cells can’t produce enough energy, so they starve, no matter how much sugar is available.
Type 1 diabetes occurs in children and young adults. With Type 1 diabetes, your immune system has destroyed the pancreatic islets, so you don’t make any insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.
Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people. With Type 2 diabetes, insulin is still produced, but your body doesn't use it correctly. This condition is called insulin resistance. About 90% to 95% of diabetes cases in adults are type 2, making it the most common form of diabetes.
Diabetes symptoms vary noticeably. The variation depends on how far above normal your blood sugar levels rise. Signs and symptoms may include:
If you suspect you or your child may have diabetes, call Partridge Comprehensive Health Services right away to set up an appointment. The earlier diabetes is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.
Although there's no cure for diabetes, it's manageable with a combination of medications, diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
If you live in the Philadelphia area and feel that your current treatment isn’t optimal, contact Dr. Partridge's team today for an appointment so you can learn about your treatment options.