Diabetes Doctor in College Park, MD

Diabetes doctors are medical professionals who specialize in treating diabetes. They are often cardiologists or endocrinologists, but they can also be primary care doctors like family medicine doctors. They use a range of medical techniques and treatments to help their patients achieve their blood glucose goals. They often work closely with other diabetes doctors, nutritionists, and dietitians to provide the best care for their patients.

Diabetes is a complex condition that requires a lot of work and attention in order to properly manage. When meeting with a diabetes doctor, it is important to ask the right questions, which may include:

– Should I check my blood sugar levels? How often should I check them?
– What are my blood sugar level goals?
– What are the warning signs or symptoms that my blood sugar levels are too high, and what should I do if they spike?
– What are the warning signs or symptoms that my blood sugar levels are too low, and what should I do if they drop?
– How can I improve my lifestyle & diet?
– What are my medications’ side effects?
– Will I always need medications/insulin?
– What are the long term complications of diabetes? How can I avoid them?

These questions are meant to serve as a guideline and starting point; there are many other important questions that may be personally pertinent to your situation.

In the worst cases, forgetting a shot of long-acting insulin can cause hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis.

When the body lacks insulin to use glucose, it starts burning fat for energy instead, a process that produces blood acids known as ketones which are poisonous to the body. When the levels of ketones become too high, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a real risk. Mostly occurring in people with type 1 diabetes, DKA is a very serious diabetes complication that requires immediate medical attention; it can  also affect people with type 2 diabetes.

Other common symptoms of low insulin include:

– Thirst
– Excessive urination
– Confusion
– Drowsiness
– Sleepiness
– Tiredness
– Fruity smell in your breath
– Nausea
– Loss of appetite
– Dry skin
– Fast heart rate 

There are a lot of complications of diabetes, particularly when it comes to the feet. If diabetes is not managed properly, it could lead to a number of symptoms related to diabetic neuropathy, including:

– Dry skin
– Calluses
– Poor circulation
– Diabetic ulcers
– Lack of sensation in the feet

While it is true that consuming excess amounts of added sugars may increase the risk of diabetes, sugar consumption is just one piece of the puzzle; many other factors—including overall diet, lifestyle and genetics—also impact the risk of developing diabetes.

For more information, contact us today or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 4701 Melbourne Place College Park, MD 20740. We serve patients from College Park MD, New Carrollton MD, Berwyn Heights MD, White Oak MD, Seabrook MD, Laurel MD, Springdale MD, Mitchellville MD and surrounding areas.