Our team of diabetes treatment experts will help you manage your diabetes and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Your St. Joseph Health diabetes care team, led by your primary care physician, will explain the many treatments available to help you lead a long and healthy life following diagnosis.
You’re an individual with needs, preferences, values, and priorities that need to be considered when creating your diabetes treatment plan. That’s why our diabetes specialists work so hard to get to know you and personalize your treatment. We want to be your personal diabetes management support team.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high. This excess glucose causes the pancreas to be less effective in producing insulin. Insulin is vital for converting sugars into fuel so your body can function properly. When these sugars are not turned into energy, your body responds by creating more glucose from stored fats. Over time, these sugars accumulate in the bloodstream. If the condition is left untreated, it can cause serious complications including heart and vascular disease, and kidney, eye and nerve damage.
Two Main Types of Diabetes:
- Type 1 - Develops in children and young adults. In Type 1 Diabetes, the body does not produce enough or any insulin.
- Type 2 - the most common form of diabetes, affecting roughly 30 million Americans. As a result of type 2 diabetes, the body cannot produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced is ignored by the body.