However, there’s good news: You can dramatically reduce your chances of developing the worst diabetic complications with close management.
If you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes, managing your condition will take a compassionate team of experienced professionals. Desoto Family Care Clinic in Southaven, Mississippi, has just the team to help you adjust to life with diabetes.
Diabetes basics
Diabetes mellitus has three distinct types: Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder; type 2 is an insulin resistance disorder; and gestational diabetes can occur in pregnant women.
Both diabetes type 1 and type 2 cause symptoms early on, though type 2 develops slowly over years, and type 1 has a more sudden onset. Early symptoms of diabetes include:
- Losing weight without trying
- Extreme skin dryness
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Blurry vision
- Extreme hunger or thirst, even if you’ve just eaten or had something to drink
Anyone can develop diabetes, though risk factors for developing the condition exist. Type 1 is mostly a result of your age and family history. This is also true of type 2, but unlike type 1, risk factors include:
- Excess weight
- Infrequent physical activity
- Having pre-diabetes, or a history of gestational diabetes
- Age 45 or older
- Being Black, Indigenous, or Latino
What does this mean for my future?
With proper treatment and consistent management, you may have many happy years ahead of you. When you receive your diabetes diagnosis, you will need a diabetes care team, which will include several doctors and a few specialists, depending on your needs and unique risk factors.
Your care team helps you manage the transition to living with diabetes. Even as you’re feeling overwhelmed by the copious amounts of information and the emotional fallout, your care team is available to offer you the guidance you need to live comfortably with diabetes.
As part of your mental health care, you should consider the services of a counselor or licensed therapist. People diagnosed with diabetes may be vulnerable to a host of other chronic conditions, including depression and anxiety.
How can I manage my diabetes?
Your diabetes care team helps you with a regimen for eating, exercise, and medication. The whole battle with diabetes is managing your blood sugar and avoiding foods that cause it to spike. Just as important as managing your diet is managing your stress levels, something a therapist can help you with.
Staying in touch with your doctors, checking your blood sugar regularly, and being mindful of your stress levels are all part of managing your diabetes. Support groups can also help you understand and adjust to daily living with diabetes.
If you’re living with type 1 diabetes and use an insulin pump, there are people experienced in its use who can give you tips on daily life with your pump.
DeSoto Family Care Clinic is happy to assist you as you learn how to live with a diabetes diagnosis. As part of your care team, we’re here to help you effectively manage your condition and actively prevent others from developing.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, call our office at or request an appointment online today.