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Diabetes Specialist

Generations Family Practice

Family Medicine & Primary Care Practice located in Cary, NC

About one in 10 Americans have diabetes –– a metabolic disorder that affects your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Though there’s no cure, a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medication can preserve your health and prevent the condition from getting worse. At Generations Family Practice, the team of family medicine providers provides complete care to people with diabetes. To make an appointment, call the practice in Cary, North Carolina, or click the online booking feature today.

Diabetes Q&A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that interferes with your body’s ability to regulate blood glucose (sugar). If you have diabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are consistently too high. Over time, those high blood sugar levels increase the risk of more serious issues, including heart disease, kidney disease, and permanent nerve damage (neuropathy).

What are the types of diabetes?

At Generations Family Practice, the team treats various types of diabetes, including:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes your body to attack and destroy the cells that produce insulin in your pancreas. If your body doesn’t produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar in check, your glucose levels can spike, increasing the risk of potentially serious issues.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in your pancreas become insulin resistant. That means your pancreas produces insulin, but your cells don’t process it quickly enough. When caught early on, it’s possible to prevent Type 2 diabetes from getting worse with healthy lifestyle changes.

Prediabetes

If your blood sugar levels are consistently high over several weeks or months, you might have prediabetes. Prediabetes means your blood sugar is high, but not high enough to require treatment.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. It occurs when a woman’s body releases additional hormones to protect the growing fetus. Researchers don’t know why, but sometimes these excess hormones result in high blood sugar.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

To diagnose diabetes, your Generations Family Practice provider conducts a complete physical exam. During the exam, they ask about your lifestyle, including how often you exercise, if you drink soda, and if you have a family history of diabetes.

Next, your provider orders lab work, including urinalysis and a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. A glycated hemoglobin test measures your average blood sugar over the last few months. If you receive two test results of 6.7% or higher, it means you have diabetes. 

How is diabetes treated?

Treatment of diabetes depends on several factors, including your age, the severity of your symptoms, and the type of diabetes you have. 

Usually, the team at Generations Family Practice recommends healthy lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating a balanced diet, and opting for water instead of sugary drinks like soda. 

You might also benefit from prescription medication. For example, if you have Type 1 diabetes, you’re prescribed insulin therapy. If you have Type 2 diabetes, the team might prescribe medication that encourages your pancreas to produce more insulin.

Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to keep your blood sugar at healthy levels and reduce the risk of serious complications.


To explore the many treatment options for diabetes, make an appointment at Generations Family Practice by calling the office or clicking the online scheduling feature today.