At Southside Medical Center in Atlanta, GA, we aim to set the standard by offering the highest quality and most affordable healthcare to the medically underserved in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Our services aim to treat and manage different medical conditions so that our patients can feel confident about their current and future health. Among our services, we offer personalized diabetes treatment options for those who want to take control of and effectively manage this health condition.
How Does Current Diabetes Treatment Differ From Past Approaches?
The latest diabetes treatment approach is far more targeted and exact than past approaches. Over the years, research developments have improved the understanding of this disease and better treatment methods. While insulin, various medications, diet, and exercise have been part of personalized diabetes treatment plans to some degree for years, advancements in medicine and a better understanding of this disease have led to the development of even more individualized approaches.
With these approaches, the patient plays a significant and proactive role in disease management by monitoring their insulin levels, choosing the right foods, getting regular exercise, and seeking education to better understand every aspect of their condition.
The ABCs of Diabetes
The most effective approach to treating diabetes comes down to understanding the ABCs of diabetes: the A1C test, blood pressure levels, and cholesterol levels. The A1C test monitors blood sugar levels over three months. It is preventative as it can help prevent organ damage that often results when diabetes is left untreated.
Monitoring blood pressure levels can also help patients manage this condition so that they can adjust their lifestyle and diet accordingly if their numbers exceed 140/90. Cholesterol monitoring is also an important aspect of a comprehensive diabetes treatment plan because when unhealthy cholesterol levels are combined with diabetes, it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Understanding the Primary Types of Diabetes
To better understand diabetes treatment options, it’s important to first understand the different types of diabetes and how they differ since treatment plans vary based on these primary disease types. Patients diagnosed with these conditions have many options to help manage the symptoms, ensure a high quality of life, and maintain optimal health and wellness.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that can develop at any point in life as a result of the body’s sudden inability to produce adequate insulin levels. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t create enough insulin, and the result is increased blood sugar levels that, if left untreated, can cause significant risk and lead to other medical conditions.
As a result, patients with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin daily since their bodies won’t produce enough on their own. This form of diabetes is manageable and treatable but not currently reversible.
Type 2 Diabetes
Unlike type 1 diabetes, which has a quick onset, type 2 diabetes is often asymptomatic and develops slowly over time. Many patients with type 2 two diabetes don’t even realize they have it until they begin to suffer from health complications indicative of the disease.
Patients with type 2 diabetes don’t have enough insulin because their pancreas doesn’t produce enough, and their cells can become insulin resistant. With the right treatment method, type 2 diabetes is completely treatable and even reversible.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that’s temporary and occurs during pregnancy as a result of hormonal changes—women who are overweight before becoming pregnant and haven’t developed healthy lifestyle habits are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes than others.
For most women, this condition resolves itself after giving birth but may also indicate the possibility of an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on, which is why it requires the right treatment plan.
Treating and Managing Diabetes
How you treat diabetes will vary based on your symptoms, overall health, and disease type. At Southside Medical Center, we aim to help our patients better understand this condition while ensuring they are fully informed and can play a role in managing and improving their health while living with diabetes.
Diabetes Self-Management Classes
At Southside Medical Center, we know that it’s crucial that patients with diabetes understand diabetes and also know how to self-manage it, as doing so is the key to optimal health and quality of life as a diabetic. Diabetes self-management is important because it allows patients to take a proactive role in their health.
What To Expect
Our classes teach patients important aspects of diabetes management, including how to reduce the risk of complications, what foods to choose in the grocery store, the importance of goal setting, meal planning, how to handle diabetes when sick, and much more. During the classes, you’ll also learn about the importance of a balanced diet and how to adjust your eating to ensure you make the right choices.
You’ll also learn about checking nutrition labels and monitoring water, fiber, and sugar intake. We also teach patients the importance of getting regular exercise, how to exercise, and how to check blood sugar levels to ensure their bodies have enough insulin to thrive. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes require different management techniques, and we can provide those based on your condition so that you know exactly how to move forward with the right treatment options and proper self-management.
Weight Management Classes
Diabetes self-management and weight management classes often go hand-in-hand as obesity plays a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Our weight management classes teach patients the importance of pursuing the healthiest lifestyle in order to reach their goal weight. Tips taught include:
- Getting regular exercise
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding substances like alcohol and smoking
- Staying hydrated
- Choosing foods that make up the most balanced diet
Learn More
If you want to learn more about our diabetes self-management classes, we can provide more details and answer any questions. Our goal is to help you manage your condition so you can experience all the benefits of optimal health and wellness that come with effective diabetes management. Contact us at Southside Medical Center in Atlanta, GA, today to learn more and schedule an initial consultation.
