Diabetes Treatment and Prevention

Diabetes is a serious health risk for pregnant women, which is why board-certified nurse practitioner Dr. Nathania Adu, DNP, FNP-C, of 4th Trimester Place in Miramar, Florida, offers diabetes prevention as one of many primary care services. The first step is understanding your risk level, so book a one-on-one visit today to get started. Online scheduling is fast and easy or simply call during normal business hours to schedule a visit.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus interferes with your body’s ability to convert food into usable energy. Each time you consume food, your body breaks it down into a sugar called glucose. This sugar travels through your bloodstream, fueling cells throughout your body. 

In order for glucose to be used, a hormone called insulin must be present for glucose to enter each cell. Insulin is made in the pancreas, but insufficient production of insulin intolerance causes glucose to become trapped in the bloodstream, leaving cells with insufficient fuel. 

People with type 1 diabetes have an autoimmune condition that damages their pancreas, preventing normal insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is linked to being overweight or obese and other health issues and prevents the body from using insulin properly. 

Some women who are pregnant develop gestational diabetes. While this condition usually goes away after childbirth, women and their babies are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes for the rest of their lives.   

What are some options for diabetes prevention?

While there’s no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes, it’s possible to dramatically reduce your risk of other forms of the disease. This begins with reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and consuming a balanced diet.

Adopting lifestyle changes that include physical activity, stress reduction, and increasing water intake are additional ways to keep you in optimal health and prevent the development of Type 2 Diabetes.

If you develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, taking steps to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the years to come will have a positive effect on your overall health. Weight management helps reduce your risk levels. Losing even a small amount of weight can help. 

Routine physical exams and blood testing let you track your blood glucose levels over time. Screening can determine if you are prediabetic, which means you are on the border line of a diabetes diagnosis. 

Enhancing your nutrition is a wonderful place to begin. Your practitioner helps you find ways to incorporate healthier foods into your daily diet while learning which food products to avoid. 

What kinds of diabetes treatment are available?

If your practitioner determines you have diabetes, different forms of treatment are available to assist you in meeting your individual health goals. Medications might play a role in managing your diabetes, but drug therapy is never the only approach.

Enhancing your nutrition and increasing your physical activity levels can lead to dramatic improvements. Over time, you may even be able to manage your diabetes without medications, and reduce your risk of diabetes-related health complications. When you’re ready to begin, book your visit online or over the phone.