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Diabetes Specialist

Golden Oak Medicine -  - Geriatrics

Golden Oak Medicine

Geriatrics & Adult Medicine located in Asheville, NC

More than one in three adults in the United States have prediabetes, meaning they’re at a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a common condition for people over age 55. At Golden Oak Medicine in Asheville, North Carolina, Kate Marshall, MD, Golnosh Sharafsaleh, MD, MS, AGSF, FAAFP, and their highly trained team can test you for diabetes and provide personalized care for any form of the condition. They can even help you prevent Type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book one online today. 

Diabetes Q&A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifelong metabolic illness that causes a buildup of glucose (sugar) in your blood. High blood sugar can damage your organs and tissues, so it’s essential to find a way to manage the illness to avoid common complications like neuropathy, foot wounds, and a decline in vision. 

The types of diabetes differ in how they cause elevated blood sugar:

Type 1 diabetes

Experts believe that Type 1 diabetes comes from an immune reaction whereby your immune system attacks the otherwise healthy cells in your pancreas that make insulin, a hormone that helps transfer blood glucose into your cells for use as energy. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes usually get their diagnosis early in life. 

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance, meaning your pancreas still makes insulin, but your body doesn’t use it well. Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90% of diabetes cases, and a diagnosis usually occurs in adulthood. 

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes but appears only during pregnancy. While it goes away after you give birth, it leaves you at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future. 

Prediabetes is a diagnosis you might get if you develop high blood sugar that puts you at risk of Type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, the team at Golden Oak Medicine can work with you to reverse the condition. 

What are some of the most common early signs of diabetes?

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes have their differences, but the three share many similar early signs. You should contact Golden Oak Medicine if you frequently experience:

  • Hunger
  • Fatigue
  • Increased urination
  • Increased thirst and dry mouth
  • Itchiness
  • Blurry vision

Various blood tests can diagnose diabetes, including the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. It doesn’t require you to fast (stop eating) beforehand, and it shows an average blood sugar level for the previous two or three months. 

How can I manage my diabetes?

Living life while effectively managing diabetes is a bit different from living without it, but soon, managing your disease becomes automatic and part of your routine. The team at Golden Oak Medicine creates an individualized diabetes management plan for you to follow according to the type of diabetes you have and your general health otherwise.

Individuals with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to make up for the insulin their body doesn’t produce. Some people with other types of diabetes must also take insulin, but not all of them. In terms of medication, you might get prescriptions for various diabetes complications and co-occurring conditions. 

Everyone with diabetes can benefit from making healthy changes to their lifestyle. That includes improving your nutrition within your diet, eliminating refined carbohydrates and sweets, and engaging in more physical activity. 

For more information about diabetes and diabetes management, reserve an appointment over the phone or online at Golden Oak Medicine today.