Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition that can occur from a lack of insulin production (type I) or depletion of insulin production (type 2), resulting in dysregulation of blood sugar levels. This means the body is unable to maintain a stable blood glucose level.

Persistently elevated blood sugar levels can cause long-term damage to your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other vital organs. Diabetes also increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

At Apex Weight Solutions, we target both weight loss and diabetes simultaneously through the use of prescription medications, such as Ozempic® and Mounjaro®.

Do you have questions about your weight and diabetes?

Call us to schedule an appointment today!

Understanding Diabetes

When you eat, your body breaks down food into glucose, which is released into your bloodstream for energy or storage. When your blood sugar levels rise, your pancreas responds by releasing insulin, which is a crucial hormone that allows your body to use glucose for energy.

In type 2 diabetes, the body no longer responds appropriately to normal amounts of insulin production, which results in persistently elevated blood sugar levels. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, persistently elevated blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on the body over time.

This accumulation of blood sugar can lead to severe health complications, including heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, and more.

Types of Diabetes

There are three main types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It is typically diagnosed in children and young adults and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and typically develops in adults. It arises due to insulin resistance, where the body's cells fail to respond adequately to insulin.
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the increased demand. Women with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Common symptoms of diabetes include:

Excessive thirst
Frequent urination
Fatigue and weakness
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Increased hunger (polyphagia)
Blurred vision
Slow-healing wounds
Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet

Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes arises from various factors that impact the body's ability to produce or use insulin effectively.

Autoimmune disease: Type 1 diabetes results from an autoimmune response in your body in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Insulin resistance: The primary cause of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance occurs when cells stop responding to insulin appropriately. As a result, the body cannot use insulin effectively and it leads to high blood sugar.
Genetics: If you have a family history of diabetes, you are more likely to develop diabetes.
Pancreatic damage: Diseases like pancreatitis or physical injuries to the pancreas can impair insulin production. This can lead to problems in regulating blood sugar levels.

Risk Factors for Diabetes

Factors that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes include:

Unhealthy weight
High consumption of ultra-processed foods
Lack of physical inactivity

Diabetes And Your Weight

Excessive weight can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes significantly as excess fat mass within the abdominal region and within your organs are more insulin resistant as well as pro-inflammatory.

Impaired insulin production or reduced insulin sensitivity can both cause elevated blood sugar levels, leading to diabetes.

Weight loss can be a powerful tool for managing diabetes. By losing weight, you can improve your body's ability to use insulin effectively, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. This can lead to better blood sugar control and a reduced risk of diabetes complications.

Diagnosing Diabetes

Diagnosing diabetes involves a combination of tests to check your blood sugar levels over time. These tests include:

Fasting blood glucose test: You should not eat or drink anything for at least eight hours before this test. It measures your baseline blood sugar level when you have an empty stomach and your body is not actively engaged in the digestive process.
Random blood glucose test: As the name suggests, this test involves checking your blood sugar level at any time of the day, regardless of whether you have eaten recently or not.
A1c test: This is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months. This is the most common test to diagnose and monitor diabetes.
Glucose tolerance test: This blood test measures your blood sugar levels before and after drinking a sugary drink. It helps assess how well your body processes glucose.

Understanding Blood Sugar Levels

Blood sugar is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

Fasting Blood Sugar

Normal range: Less than 100 mg/dL or 5.6 mmol/L
Prediabetes: Between 100-125 mg/dL or 5.6-6.9 mmol/L
Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or 7 mmol/L or higher

After Eating (up to 2 hours)

Normal range: Between 120-140 mg/dL or 6.7-7.8 mmol/L
Diabetes: 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L or higher

Managing Diabetes

At Apex Weight Solutions, we recognize the profound impact that diabetes can have on your overall health and quality of life. Our team adopts a holistic approach to managing diabetes, focusing on both lifestyle modifications and medication management.

Lifestyle Modifications

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for managing your blood sugar levels. Healthy lifestyle habits that can help your condition include:

Nutrition: Adopting healthy eating habits and following a proper meal plan can help regulate your blood sugar levels. Avoid foods high in sugar and focus on whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. We offer nutritional counseling to help you make informed choices.
Physical activity: Engaging in regular physical activity helps control your blood sugar by using the energy from the food you’ve eaten or the energy stored in your body.
Weight management: Excess weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Healthy weight management improves blood sugar control in those already diagnosed with the condition.

Medications

Apex Weight Solutions does not manage patients with type I diabetes. For those struggling with excess weight and type 2 diabetes, we will work with you to determine the best injection medication for you to successfully manage both of these conditions.

Diabetes Management in Illinois

Managing diabetes requires the right medication(s), balanced nutrition, and regular physical activities that are safe and suitable for your abilities.

At Apex Weight Solutions, our team addresses both your diabetes and unhealthy weight in order to improve your overall health.

To schedule your consultation, request an appointment online or call us at 708-797-3541.