Tag: glucometer

When Should You See a Diabetes Doctor?

When Should You See a Diabetes Doctor?

Blood sugar levels are impacted by diabetes, which may necessitate different therapies. The process can be streamlined and made less stressful by being aware of the doctors who treat diabetes.

This article will tell you about diabetes and when to see a diabetologist!

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can hamper your metabolism and overall health. Prolonged diabetes can further harm your nerves, kidneys, heart, brain and eyes. In order to save yourself from the severe complications of diabetes, it’s crucial to get tested for diabetes on time and consult the right doctor.

How to Know If You Have Diabetes?

Diabetes is usually asymptomatic, but you can check the initial markers. They include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Excessive thirst
  • Excessive sweating
  • Weight change
  • Numbness or tingling in your feet
  • Blurry vision

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is broadly divided into 3 types:

  • Prediabetes
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Due to the autoimmune nature of type 1 diabetes, your body is attacking itself. Your pancreas suffers from damage to the cells that make insulin. Up to 10% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Although it can occur at any age, it is most frequently encountered in children and young people.

Diabetes was formerly known as “juvenile” diabetes. Insulin must be taken daily by those with Type 1 diabetes. Because of this, it is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes.


Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops when your cells do not react to insulin effectively or when your body does not create enough insulin. The most common type of diabetes is diabetes mellitus. Up to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. People in their 40s and 50s are the largest demographic affected. Other names for type 2 diabetes include insulin-resistant diabetes and adult-onset diabetes.

diabetes risk


Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes:

  • Obesity
  • Insulin resistance
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Inactive lifestyle
  • Family history
  • Age

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a condition that exists before Type 2 diabetes develops. Your blood glucose levels are above average with this condition, but not high enough to be identified as Type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes can be reversed with the right care and safeguards.

Obstetric Diabetes

This kind can appear in some pregnant women. After a baby is born, gestational diabetes typically goes away. However, if you have gestational diabetes, you are more likely to eventually acquire Type 2 diabetes.

When to See the Doctor?

If you face the above-mentioned symptoms, you can check your blood sugar level and get it assessed by a general physician. 

  • If your blood glucose level is less than 140 mg/dL then your sugar level is normal.
  • If your reading is more than 200 mg/dL after two hours of a meal, then you have diabetes.
  • If your sugar level is between 140 and 199 mg/dL then you are in the range of pre-diabetes.

Which Doctor to Visit If You Have Diabetes?

The field of internal medicine known as endocrinology examines the pathophysiology of the endocrine system, which controls how hormones work in the body, and its role in human endocrine clinical syndromes. The pancreas, the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, gonadal, and parathyroid glands, as well as the neuroendocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, and other organ systems, are all parts of the endocrine system.

There is no obvious distinction between an endocrinologist and a diabetologist; instead, an endocrine physician who focuses primarily on the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, an endocrine condition of the beta-cells of the pancreatic islets, becomes a diabetologist. While diabetologists only care for diabetes patients, endocrinologists treat patients with any endocrinology-related issues.

Hence, you can first visit the diabetologist and eventually reach out to an endocrinologist if your diabetologist suggests.

If you use insulin, your diabetes doctor should likely see you every three to four months. In any other case, you can wait 4 to 6 months between appointments. When you have problems, uncontrolled diabetes, new symptoms, or symptoms that worsen, you might need to visit the doctor more frequently.

You can easily book an online doctor consultation. 

Read more: BeatO SMART Glucometer: Top rated Glucometer to monitor you blood sugar levels with an accurate sugar testing machine. Order “Glucometer” Glucose Meter test kit at lowest price and track your diabetes today.

<strong>List of Common Diabetes Medicines Used for Type 2 Diabetes</strong>

List of Common Diabetes Medicines Used for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that creates a spike in blood glucose (sugar) levels. This happens primarily because of insulin resistance or low insulin production in the body. Usually, diabetes is triggered due to inactive life and it is important to follow a healthy and balanced diet to combat this disease. 

However, others may need medication as well to keep their sugar levels in control. Here is a list of 5 commonly available diabetes medicines that your doctor might suggest to you.

(Disclaimer: Never take any medicine without a doctor’s consultation. Get a free consultation now by downloading the BeatO app.)

Diabetes Medications

Your doctor would suggest diabetes medicines to you to lower your insulin levels. Medical treatments for type 2 diabetes include the following.

  1. Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, others) 

As you might have figured it out, insulin is the hormone that controls the level of glucose in your blood. Because your body produces less insulin, Metformin helps in reducing the amount of glucose your liver releases into your blood. Metformin improves your body sensitivity to insulin which enables your body to use insulin effectively.

Possible Mild to Extreme Side Effects

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  1. DPP-4 Inhibitors

Also known as gliptins, DPP-4 inhibitors are a group of diabetes medicines that include sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and alogliptin. These agents decrease the breakdown of the incretin hormones in your body such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). 

Possible Mild to Extreme Side Effects

  • Risk of pancreatitis
  • Joint pain
  1. Insulin Therapy

Many diabetics need insulin therapy to keep blood sugar levels in control. A few years ago, insulin was considered the last option for the treatment of this condition, however now, doctors have started prescribing it at the initial stages as well. Insulins are divided into three categories:

  • Fast-acting
  • Intermediate-acting 
  • Long-acting insulin

Possible Mild to Extreme Side Effects

  • risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • diabetic ketoacidosis 
  • high triglycerides
  1. Sulfonylureas

Sulfonylureas are a group of medicines that help your body to secrete more insulin. This can be taken alone or with other medicines as well such as metformin. 

Some of the commonly used sulfonylureas are:

  • DiaBeta, Glynase, or Micronase (glyburide or glibenclamide)
  • Amaryl (glimepiride)
  • Diabinese (chlorpropamide)
  • Glucotrol (glipizide)
  • Tolinase (tolazamide)
  • Tolbutamide

Possible Mild to Extreme Side Effects

  • Low blood sugar
  • Weight gain
  1. SGLT2 Inhibitors

Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a group of diabetes medicines that are also known as gliflozins. This helps the ‘blood-filtering’ functions in your kidneys by restricting the return of glucose to the bloodstream. 

Possible Mild to Extreme Side Effects

  • urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • yeast infections
  • diabetic ketoacidosis, which causes your blood to become acidic
  • hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar
  • hypotension, or low blood pressure

Conclusion

While taking diabetes medications, you should regularly monitor your blood sugar levels. If you see a significant spike or decrease in your blood sugar levels, then follow your doctor’s advice. Keep a glucometer handy to check your blood sugar levels on your phone easily. The BeatO app provides not only a real-time glucose reading but free follow-up from health coaches who are experts in answering your diabetes queries.