Diabetes

By one count, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes. If you’re like most, you have Type 2 diabetes. If you’re living with diabetes, the right care can enhance your quality of life and well-being. At Dominion Family Healthcare, Dr. Yasmeen Agha and the team are your partners in long-term health, with cutting-edge family, internal, and urgent care medicine. Take a step for your good health today. Call or schedule a consultation online with the practice conveniently located in San Antonio.


Diabetes Q & A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes causes sugar, or glucose, to build up in your blood. This can lead to serious health problems, such as kidney disease and neuropathy. With the right care, you can still enjoy a great quality of life with diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t use insulin properly (Type 2), or doesn’t make insulin at all (Type 1). When this happens, the amount of sugar in your blood spikes to an unhealthy level.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Most of the more than 30 million Americans who have diabetes have Type 2. Both Type 1 and Type 2 produce some of the same warning signs, including these common ones:

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Needing to urinate often
  • Losing weight all the sudden
  • Extreme thirstiness or hunger
  • Blurry eyesight
  • Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal

With Type 1, you may lose weight even when you’re not dieting. With Type 2, you may feel tingling or numbness in your hands or feet.

What tests confirm a diabetes diagnosis?

Typically, you need a blood test. This measures the amount of blood sugar, or glucose levels. Your doctor at Dominion Family Healthcare may recommend one of these tests for you:

  • Fasting blood sugar test
  • Random blood sugar test
  • Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test
  • Oral glucose tolerance test

The results help your doctor determine whether you have diabetes.

What is the treatment for diabetes?

Your doctor at Dominion Family Healthcare sits down with you to discuss the right steps to manage your condition. This includes:

  • Planning your meals
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Regularly monitoring your blood sugar level to keep it in a healthy range

A healthy range for your blood sugar is important. A blood sugar level that drops too low, interferes with your ability to think and function normally. A blood sugar level that remains too high can cause serious damage to your health over the long term.

Your doctor at Dominion Family Healthcare helps you explore all avenues of treatment. Medications are typically necessary for you to remain in the best health, particularly if you have Type 1 diabetes. With Type 1, your body doesn’t make insulin, so you’ll need to insulin shots or medication to replace what you’re missing.

In addition, your doctor may discuss the various kinds of medications that work in distinct ways to lower your blood sugar.

If you’re ready to take a step for your long-term health today, call or book a consultation online with Dominion Family Health.