While type 2 diabetes can have many consequences on your overall health and well-being, it is both a preventable and manageable condition. As your trusted partner in care, Dr. Chaula Patel in the Bronx, NY can help you control your blood sugar and establish a healthier lifestyle and diet.
Diabetes is a serious disease, which if not properly managed, can lead to complications affecting every aspect of your health and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, the incidence of this disease is on the rise worldwide, and it represents one of the most challenging public health problems of the 21st century. According to the latest fact sheet issued by the American Diabetes Association, in the United States alone, close to 30 million adults and children have diabetes.
When someone has diabetes, it means that the body is unable to either produce or properly use a hormone known as insulin. This essential hormone helps to convert sugars, starches, and other foods into energy that the body needs to function.
Too much-unused sugar in the bloodstream can lead to several long-term complications, including:
Type 2 diabetes constitutes 90-95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. While it can develop at any age, it’s seen most frequently in middle-aged adults. Both genetics and lifestyle factors, such as being overweight, inactive, and eating a diet high in sugar, can contribute to a person’s risk.
Treatment for type 2 diabetes means working with your doctor to create a healthy plan to keep your blood sugar under control. At the office of Dr. Chaula Patel, we take a holistic and integrative approach to care. We focus on lifestyle and dietary changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, losing weight, and exercising to control blood sugar. Medication may also be prescribed as needed. Patient education is also a big part of care. Dr. Patel teaches patients how to monitor their own blood sugar and make wise dietary choices. She also offers a comprehensive weight management program that is tailored to address individual needs.