Improve Your Diabetes Education for Better Control
North Houston Diabetes Institute offers a unique diabetes education learning experience with a touchscreen interactive monitor. Our diabetes assessment technology tests your body system function by asking questions about your complications, performing a blood and urine analysis, and comparing eye and foot exam results. When you complete your diabetes assessment, the system will show you exactly how diabetes is affecting your body through a digital report card. You will also be able to read through definitions and answers to questions you are curious about.
Get familiar with the diabetes education basics below.
What is diabetes?
The term diabetes refers to the condition of having too much sugar in the blood. There are several different types of diabetes a person can have, and they are differentiated by the reason for the blood sugar level being too high. Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and gestational diabetes are the most common types. In all types of diabetes, the body fails to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
What is the difference between type 1 or type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes refers to the pancreas producing little to no insulin, while type 2 diabetes refers to the body being unable to process blood sugar properly. You may also hear about prediabetes, which refers to blood sugar levels being higher than normal but not quite high enough for a diagnosis, and gestational diabetes which refers to a temporary condition where a pregnant mother’s body is unable to regulate blood sugar.
Will diabetes affect my quality of life?
When left uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to a variety of complications that negatively affect your quality of life. The good news is that with proper insulin management and regular monitoring of the disease, you can live a fairly normal life. Controlled diabetes will require close attention to sugar levels throughout the day, weight management, and may affect your ability to indulge in certain foods at times.
Will I die from diabetes?
The short answer is no, you will not die from diabetes if you take action. There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed and kept under control. The life expectancy for someone with diabetes varies based on how early the condition was found, how many complications it has caused, and what type of diabetes the person has.
What problems will I experience due to diabetes?
Over time, consistently high blood sugar levels will cause severe issues in the body. These issues—complications—lead to poor circulation and therefore contribute to irreversible damage in the organs. Typically, the affected areas are the nervous system, heart, kidneys and eyes. The dangers of uncontrolled diabetes include heart disease, nerve damage leading to amputation, kidney damage, blindness, sleep apnea, and hearing impairment.
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE BODY. CALL (832) 644-9595 TO LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF IT THROUGH A PROPER DIABETES EDUCATION TODAY.