Diabetes

Having diabetes puts you at risk of developing serious complications if you don’t keep your blood glucose levels under control. You might also have symptoms that affect your quality of life, such as vision problems or frequent infections. At the practice of David Ramin, M.D., Dr. Ramin can help you manage diabetes to ease symptoms and prevent complications. Dr. Ramin offers this type of care to men and women in Beverly Hills, California, who have diabetes. To schedule an appointment, call the office or request an appointment online.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

When you have type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes, you might feel more thirsty or hungry than usual. You might also have to urinate more often, especially if you end up drinking more liquids. Other symptoms include the following:

• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Changes in your mood, such as being more irritable
• Blurry vision
• Frequent infections and wounds that heal slowly
• Weight loss

What causes diabetes?

Your pancreas produces insulin, which pushes sugar through your bloodstream and into your cells. When you have type 2 diabetes, insulin has a harder time moving blood sugar into your cells. That causes blood sugar to build up in your bloodstream. 

At the same time, your pancreas isn’t able to produce enough insulin to make up for this resistance. Since your cells rely on sugar for energy, you can end up feeling fatigued and experiencing other typical symptoms of diabetes.

Am I at risk of diabetes?

Having certain risk factors can increase your risk of developing diabetes. You might be more at risk of getting this disease if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Being obese or overweight
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Being inactive or having a sedentary lifestyle
• Having high blood pressure, cholesterol, or triglyceride levels
• Being older since your risk of diabetes goes up as you age
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome
• Having gestational diabetes

Why is diabetes dangerous?

When you don’t maintain healthy blood sugar levels, you have a higher risk of damage to certain parts of your body. Uncontrolled diabetes can raise your risk of contracting a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke. You’re also at risk of developing nerve damage in your feet and other parts of your body, which can lead to severe infections. Diabetes also increases your risk of kidney damage, eye damage, and hearing impairment.

How does Dr. Ramin treat diabetes?

Dr. Ramin develops a treatment plan for diabetes to help you control your blood sugar. That typically involves watching your blood glucose levels and taking insulin injections to move sugar out of your bloodstream. Dr. Ramin will also discuss lifestyle changes to manage diabetes, such as eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.

If you need diabetes care, please call David Ramin, M.D., or schedule an online appointment.