DIABETES

The pancreas is a gland that secretes a hormone known as insulin. This hormone helps to regulate the body's blood sugar - or glucose - levels. Glucose is considered the fuel for your body and your brain. When the body does not use blood sugar in the proper way, an individual's blood sugar level can be affected. When one's blood sugar level is above normal limits, glucose can build up in the bloodstream and cause diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone that converts glucose into energy. When not properly managed, diabetes can cause serious and life-threatening health complications.

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

The signs that one may have diabetes can vary based on the individual and how much the blood sugar level is at a particular time. There are, however, some more common signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These include:

  • Increased thirst
  • A need to urinate frequently
  • Weight loss that is unexplained
  • Blurry vision
  • Fatigue
  • Wounds that are difficult to heal

Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to heart attack, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, amputation and blindness when not properly managed. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to work with a specialist to properly manage the condition. Your primary care provider or another health care specialist may refer you to an endocrinology specialist for management of diabetes.

Maury Regional Medical Group Endocrinology assists with management of a number of diabetes-related conditions. Some of the most common conditions are listed here.

CONDITIONS TREATED

type 1 diabetes

Most often diagnosed in children and young adults, this form of diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body cannot produce enough insulin to prevent sugar from building up in the bloodstream. 

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes can include family history of the disease.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

This type of diabetes is the most common form of the disease. Type 2 diabetes a metabolic disorder that results from the body being unable to properly use insulin. This type can occur at any age, but most often occurs later in life.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when one's blood sugar level is 126 or higher based on a fasting glucose test.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

  • Being overweight
  • Family history of type 2 diabetes
  • A history of gestational diabetes
  • Lack of physical activity
  • High blood pressure
  • Older age, although type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age

PREDIABETES

When one's blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but are not at a level that is high enough to be considered diabetes, this condition is called pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is typically diagnosed when blood sugar levels are between 100 and 125 in a fasting glucose test.

Being diagnosed with pre-diabetes provides an opportunity for an individual to make lifestyle and dietary changes that can help help blood sugar levels return to a normal range. These changes can help prevent one from developing diabetes. 

Our specialists in endocrinology can make recommendations for getting blood sugar levels into a normal range and keeping them in a safe range to prevent diabetes.

Risk factors for prediabetes are similar to those for type 2 diabetes.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES

During pregnancy, an expectant mother's blood sugar levels can be higher than they were before they become pregnant. This condition can be caused by hormones released during pregnancy that affect the amount of insulin required by the body. If too much blood sugar builds up into the blood, this condition is known as gestational diabetes.

Some women are at greater risk for gestational diabetes than others. Risk factors can include:

  • Having a history of prediabetes
  • Having a close relative with type 2 diabetes
  • A previous pregnancy in which gestational diabetes occurred
  • Being overweight before becoming pregnant
  • Those older than age 25

Gestational diabetes should be properly managed during pregnancy to prevent complications for the mother and her baby, including the development of type 2 diabetes in the future. Gestational diabetes may resolve after the baby is born. 

Your OB-GYN specialist will conduct testing during your pregnancy to determine if gestational diabetes is a concern. Our practice can assist women diagnosed with gestational diabetes in properly managing the condition for the health of themselves and their babies.

diagnosis and TREATMENT

The specialists with Maury Regional Medical Group Endocrinology use a variety of tests to diagnose and monitor high blood sugar and diabetes. These can include a fasting glucose test in which blood sugar levels are measured after the individual refrains from food for several hours. This can provide a baseline for the individual's blood sugar level. 

A test known as A1C measures the average blood glucose level over the past three months. This is a blood test for those with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes and can be used to show how well you are managing your condition. The results of an A1C test are reported in a percentage, with the higher percentage representing a higher blood sugar level. Learn more from the American Diabetes Association about A1C results here.

If diabetes is diagnosed, a specialist in endocrinology can help with management of the condition, which can include a combination of dietary changes, lifestyle changes and medication. Our practice may recommend oral medications or injections. Some patients may also wear a pump that injects insulin as needed. 

The specialists with Maury Regional Medical Group Endocrinology can help determine what diabetes treatment is best to manage your individual health. Ask your primary care provider or specialist about a referral to MRMG Endocrinology.

additional resources

Diabetes Self-Management Classes

Maury Regional Health offers outpatient classes to help individuals learn to manage their glucose levels and prevent complications from high blood sugar. Recognized by the American Diabetes Association, this comprehensive eight-hour course is taught by a certified diabetes educator and a registered dietitian and includes topics such as medications, meal planning and exercise.

Classes are offered on a recurring basis at the following locations:

  • Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia
  • Lewis Health Center in Hohenwald
  • Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg
  • Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro

A doctor's order is required in order to attend this class. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of the class. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. If financial concerns exist, please contact the Diabetes Services Department for assistance at 931.540.4324. Learn more here.

Wound Care

Diabetes increase the risk for a number of chronic health conditions. Among these are non-healing wounds, such as those that have not healed in a 30-day period. The Maury Regional Wound Center provides advanced wound care services that result from diabetes and other conditions. Learn more about the services available at our Wound Center here.

other links

The American Diabetes Association is an organization dedicated to research, advocacy and education about diabetes. Learn more here.