Could I Have Diabetes?

It’s estimated that about 13% of adults in the United States have diabetes (more than 34 million people). Another 88 million are considered prediabetic — which represents one-third of the adult population. The threat of diabetes is considerable, which is why a little education can go a very long way in preventing and managing this potentially serious condition.

At Gulf West Medical Associates, Dr. Rajesh Dave and our team appreciate the power of awareness, especially when it comes to preventable and manageable conditions like diabetes. 

If you’re, rightfully, concerned about whether you have diabetes or you’re prediabetic, here’s what you should know.

Diabetes 101

Let’s first start with a quick review of what diabetes is and why it can be so problematic. For the purposes of this discussion, we’re going to focus on type 2 diabetes as type 1 is typically a condition that’s first diagnosed in childhood.

Under normal circumstances, your body’s cells need glucose from your blood, and insulin is the hormone that delivers the glucose into the cells where it’s used for energy.

With type 2 diabetes, your body may become insulin resistant, and your pancreas, the organ that produces insulin, may not be able to produce enough insulin to keep the sugar in your blood well-regulated. 

As a result, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, which can lead to nerve damage, heart and blood vessel disease, and kidney disease, to name just a few of the potential complications.

The warning signs of diabetes

One of the biggest problems with diabetes is that there are no clear warning signs, as type 2 diabetes develops slowly. 

If you do become symptomatic, the following are some of the more common side effects:

• Increased thirst
• Increased need to urinate
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Wounds that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in your hands and/or feet
• Weight loss

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important that you come see us so we can determine whether you have diabetes and take the appropriate steps to safeguard your health.

Who's at risk for diabetes

Since one-third of adults in the US are prediabetic, we want to spend some time discussing how you can reverse the course of the disease, if you’re heading that way.

Some of the biggest risk factors for diabetes are things over which you have some control, such as weight and inactivity. If you’re carrying extra pounds and you lead a sedentary lifestyle, these are two of the primary contributors toward the onset of diabetes. 

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address these two areas of your health. To give you an idea, the CDC reports that people who lost 5-7% of their body weight and added 150 minutes of exercise per week slashed their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 60%.

Type 2 diabetes is also more prevalent among certain races, such as African Americans and Native Americans. Granted, your race is out of your control, but understanding that it can be a risk factor allows you to take preventive steps.

A great tool for determining whether you’re prediabetic or at risk for diabetes is this simple survey.

The best tool of all is to come see us so that we can run tests that identify type 2 diabetes or a potential threat. To get started, contact our office in Port Richey, Florida, to set up an appointment.