Type - 2 - Diabetes

Current estimates suggest that one out of three children born today may develop type-2 diabetes in their lifetimes, one out of two for Hispanic or African American children. This astounding figure is due to the increase in unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles that characterize many Americans today. Without intervention, these kids will go on to develop diabetes and be at high risk from its complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputation, heart attack and stroke.

Type-2 diabetes is a disease characterized by elevated glucose levels in the blood stream. Glucose is a sugar and the main “fuel” that the body uses to function. It comes from the food we eat, and is stored in various places in the body. Insulin is the hormone that the body makes to regulate the level of glucose in the body and determine how to store it away for future use. Unlike type-1 diabetes, where the body does not make insulin, patients with type-2 diabetes have plenty of insulin, but it doesn’t work the way it should. This is called insulin resistance, where the body does not respond correctly to the insulin that is being made. This is the primary disorder in type-2 diabetes. The result is that the glucose level in the blood stream rises too high, and over time, can damage many different organ systems in the body. In addition to high glucose, most patients with type-2 diabetes also have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Fortunately, research continues to show that this serious illness can be prevented with careful attention to diet and exercise. In fact, several large studies have shown that diet and exercise do a better job preventing diabetes than using medications. Even when someone already has diabetes, there are many highly effective treatments, in addition to diet and exercise that can control the disease and prevent the dangerous complications.

At Community Health Center, a team of highly trained medical providers, including doctors, nurses, behavioral health specialists, and diabetes educators, is available to work with patients with diabetes. These providers have been working for several years with the help of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a comprehensive program to provide patients with effective, culturally appropriate treatment plans which are tailored to the individual. Patients establish a long term relationship with a team of providers to ensure that they receive not only good medical care, but also careful attention to their emotional needs and ongoing support to make the changes in their lifestyles. This approach, referred to as self management, emphasizes the central role of the patient and recognizes that each patient is an individual and has a unique lifestyle and personality. Self management specialists work with each patient to design an individualized management plan that makes sense for them.

If you or someone you know has type-2 diabetes, or if you would like to be tested for diabetes, call the Community Health Center in your town for an appointment with one of our primary care providers now.