South Huntsville Neighbors, May 2024

YOUR HEALTH
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Diabetes The Causes and Symptoms
By Adilene Guzman, Community Outreach Coordinator, HAPPI Health
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes
is caused by the pancreas producing little or no insulin,
often due to genetics, viruses, or environmental factors due to
the cause of type 1 why; it is considered an autoimmune disorder.
Type 2 diabetes on the other hand, occurs when the body
becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't use it properly. This type
is frequently associated with lifestyle factors like a sedentary
lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, or obesity. It's important to note that
while type 1 diabetes is not preventable, patients can avoid type
2 diabetes or delay the condition by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Understanding the symptoms and early signs of diabetes, regardless
of its type, is essential and should be discussed with your
doctor. These can include increased thirst or hunger, fatigue,
frequent urination, unexplained or unintentional weight loss,
blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, darkened
skin, usually on the neck or armpits, slow-healing wounds
or sores, and frequent or recurring infections. By recognizing
these signs early, you can take control of your health and potentially
prevent the onset of diabetes.
DR. KYLE
Phone (appointments):
256.519.3650
www.happihealth.org
Urgent Care
813 Franklin Street
SERVICES PROVIDED:
• Primary Care • Men's Health
• Urgent Care • Behavioral Health
• Women's Health • Pediatric Care
• Family Medicine • Spanish
• Physicals speaking clinic
HAPPI Health is proud to announce
we provide the COVID VACCINE
and COVID TESTING.
During the Covid-19 pandemic our
offices are offering TeleHealth Medicine *
visits to our patients.
* Please do note that you must be an established patient
of HAPPI to qualify for Telehealth Medicine visits.
115 St.Clair
Avenue STE 200
2597
Sparkman Drive
Getting a yearly check-up and having a primary care physician
is essential. The reason is that there are tests that can help detect
blood sugar levels, indicating if prediabetes or diabetes is present.
Prediabetes is a stage where your blood sugar levels are elevated
but not high enough to be considered diabetic. Your doctor
can determine your blood sugar levels by conducting an A1C
(blood sugar test), a fasting blood sugar test, or a glucose tolerance
test. Suppose a patient is found to be pre-diabetic. In that
case, their doctor will recommend changes in their lifestyle, such
as changing their eating habits, following a diet, losing weight,
and exercising to manage their levels. In doing so, the patient can
avoid taking diabetic medications or insulin injections.
There is an elevated number of children and adults who are developing
diabetes due to a lack of physical activity or poor eating
habits. The rise in cases concerns doctors, as diabetes is a chronic
condition that has no cure. This means that once a person is
diagnosed, they will have to learn how to manage their condition
daily to avoid further complications. Diabetes can affect major
organs like the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
All of this can lead to other severe or chronic medical conditions,
for example, liver disease, nerve damage, heart problems, and
even dementia.
Once diagnosed with diabetes, it is vital to surround yourself
with people who encourage your wellbeing and a good medical
support team to help you navigate through the process. This is
why we take pride in having care management nurses to help
assist our patients with chronic diseases, from educating patients
on their diagnosis, discussing the importance of lifestyle changes
(exercise and new diet plans), taking their medication as prescribed
by their provider, obtaining their medications, medical
supplies, and equipment. They are also here to help coordinate
care with specialists. Please schedule an appointment today with
our providers to discuss any concerns you may have about diabetes.
We are here to serve you!
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