Diabetic Care & Management
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What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body has trouble changing food into needed energy. As a result, the levels of sugar in the blood become higher than normal. Often diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. The symptoms of diabetes include:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Increased fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurry vision
If you have one or more of these symptoms, see your EPIC PRIMARY CARE team right away. Recent studies indicate the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.
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Do you have pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes means that a person’s blood sugar numbers are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Millions of people have pre-diabetes but do not know it.
Types of diabetes
There are several types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes – the body stops making insulin or makes only a very small amount. Insulin is needed for the body to turn food into energy. Type 1 diabetes needs to be treated lifelong with insulin, meal planning, and exercise.
- Type 2 diabetes – the body does not make enough insulin and the cells are resistant to the effects of insulin. Muscle and fat cells in the body need insulin to take up sugar from the blood. Type 2 diabetes needs to be treated lifelong with meal planning, exercise, and possibly medication. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type – more than 90% of patients with diabetes have this form of the disease.
- Gestational diabetes – high blood sugar occurs during pregnancy, usually around the 24th week. It is often controlled with a special meal plan, and sometimes insulin is needed. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but the woman is at risk for developing diabetes later in life.
- Secondary diabetes – high blood sugar occurs as a result of other diseases. If the primary disease can be resolved, often the diabetes will go away.
If you do have diabetes…
If you have diabetes, you already know how important it is to be an active partner in your health care. Managing diabetes well takes knowledge and effort on your part. Our goal at EPIC PRIMARY CARE is to ensure that every person with diabetes receives the highest level of treatment and education. This is why diabetes management is one of Aurora’s care management initiatives.
What you can do to help manage your diabetes
- Know your numbers. Set goals with your health care provider: What should your blood sugar and A1C numbers be? How often should you have these tests?
- Keep up with the latest information. If you have not seen a dietitian or diabetes educator within the past year, ask your EPIC Care Team about signing up.
- Talk with your EPIC PRIMARY CARE health team about how often you need the following:
- Blood pressure checks
- Cholesterol/blood fat levels
- Dilated eye exam
- Foot exam
- Urine test for kidney function
- Be sure you understand and follow your treatment plan, including medications, meal plan, activity program, proper foot care, etc. By doing so, you’ll be helping yourself meet your blood sugar goals.
Be a partner in your care. Work with your health care provider to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Keep track of your blood sugar and A1C numbers, your medications, appointments, and other key parts of your care. If you have questions or you think changes may be needed in your treatment plan, call EPIC PRIMARY CARE at (248) 336-4000.
Test yourself on diabetes
True or false? There is a blood test that can tell the average amount of sugar in your blood over the past three months.
True or false? Finding and treating diabetes early, along with receiving regular care, can decrease your chances of eye disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and other complications.
True or false? One session with a dietitian or diabetes educator should be enough to help you manage your diabetes for life.
True or false? It’s not necessary for you to know your blood sugar levels as long as your health care provider knows them.
True or false? People with diabetes should have their feet, eyes, and kidneys checked regularly.
EPIC Health is devoted to the communities we serve. Each of our locations is a community-focused patient healthcare center that provides comprehensive and integrated healthcare support and services to all our patients for highest quality outcomes. Our mission is to provide convenient, affordable, and easily accessible healthcare services to individuals and families in our community. Combining advanced technology with latest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, cutting-edge practices, innovative research, and a strong network of highly qualified physicians, nurses and allied health professionals, we strive to provide exceptional, high-quality care to all our patients. This has helped us evolve, over the years, from a “traditional” clinic to a comprehensive and integrated healthcare center.
Our hand-picked and aggressively trained Advanced Care Team (ACT) works around the clock to provide the finest, yet thoughtful, care to thousands of patients every day. Our ACT healthcare model consists of a team of various healthcare providers like physicians, advanced practitioner providers, diagnostics team members, dieticians, exercise physiologists, behavioral health counselors, and pharmacists who provide integrated Personalized Augmented and Comprehensive (PAC) care with touch points throughout the continuum of care.
All our locations and specialties are digitally connected to streamline care and continuity for improved health outcomes and uninterrupted communication. Being recognized year after year by many top national and local institutions for having some of the highest quality scores in patient healthcare delivery, we are helping people, and communities as a whole, live healthier, fuller lives. Within a short span of time, EPIC Health has become an integral part of the communities we serve. Our comprehensive and integrated health centers across Detroit, Southfield, and Ferndale deliver streamlined, continuous care. We pride ourselves in being the primary source of care for thousands of families and highly complex groups.