Diabetes is a leading lifestyle condition involving blood sugar levels. Patients do not appreciate the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle that includes healthy diets to minimize their risk of diabetes. The increasing number of patients with diabetes has created an opportunity for specialists to focus on developing and implementing Humble, TX endocrinology solutions to improve in-hospital outcomes of patients with diabetes.
The endocrine system involves the body’s hormone production by specific organs to manage bodily operations. Insulin is the primary hormone influencing a patient’s diabetes status. When the body does not produce enough insulin, a patient experiences increased blood sugar. Extremely high blood sugar can be detrimental to overall wellness and requires immediate intervention to restore performance.
What is the work of insulin?
The main reason your body needs sugar is to create energy. Insulin transports sugar from the blood into cells for conversion into energy. Energy is necessary to conduct bodily operations and boost a person’s productivity.
Specific organs produce various hormones to optimize body functions. The pancreas produces insulin. However, patients with diabetes may have a faulty pancreas that does not produce sufficient insulin to help convert blood sugar into energy. Ultimately, blood sugar accumulates, causing risks of cardiovascular complications.
What are the types of diabetes?
Care providers undergo comprehensive training to prepare them to handle diabetes-related concerns. One of the main elements of diabetes that clinical educators focus on is the different types of the disease. There are three main types of diabetes. The type of diabetes you have will affect your endocrine system in a specific way, thus influencing the treatment plan your doctor will develop to manage your complications. The three main types of diabetes are:
- Type 1 diabetes: Patients with this type of diabetes are predisposed to this condition because their pancreas does not produce enough insulin to transport blood sugar into cells for conversion into energy.
- Type 2 diabetes: This type of diabetes involves the body’s unresponsiveness to producing insulin. Blood sugar continues accumulating, putting the patient at risk of life-threatening complications of the heart and kidney.
- Gestational diabetes: Pregnant women experience a hormone surge that may hinder insulin function. These patients need critical care to manage blood sugar levels to ensure a seamless pregnancy.
What tests do endocrinologists perform during diagnosis and screening for diabetes patients?
An accurate diagnosis is necessary to provide clinicians with relevant patient data for optimized decision-making processes. Endocrinologists perform various tests on people with diabetes to determine the severity of their condition and thus develop appropriate treatment and management plans to restore wellness. The following are the most common endocrinology tests for patients with diabetes:
- Fasting blood glucose test: Your endocrinologist will recommend you go without food overnight for this test. Upon drawing blood the following morning, your doctor will test for blood sugar to identify levels.
- Oral glucose tolerance test: You will need to drink 8 ounces of sugar for this test. Your doctor will check blood sugar levels after you have gone overnight without food and after consuming the 8 ounces of sugar.
- Hemoglobin A1C test: Endocrinology uses this test to identify average blood sugar levels over three months.
Hemoglobin is a severe condition that can hinder productivity and predispose you to life-threatening situations. Contact a trusted healthcare provider like North Houston Diabetes Institute to undergo appropriate protocols for treating and managing your diabetes-related concerns and restore your wellness for optimized productivity.
