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Diabetes Specialist

Premier Medical Care

Primary Care & Internal Medicine located in Spring Hill, FL

The most common form of diabetes, Type 2, is almost always caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits and being overweight. Board-certified internists Simrita Sidhu, MD, and Ramnik Banwatt, MD, at Premier Medical Care in Spring Hill, Florida, are experts in using lifestyle medicine to treat patients who have Type 2 diabetes and help people reduce their risk of developing the condition. Call Premier Medical Care today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.

Diabetes Q & A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that develops because of a problem with insulin production in your pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that’s essential to regulating your blood sugar. Some people have an autoimmune form of diabetes (Type 1) in which their pancreas can’t make insulin at all.

Type 1 diabetes typically develops when you’re young. Those suffering from Type 1 diabetes will have to take insulin for the rest of their lives.

Most people suffering from diabetes have Type 2, which develops when your pancreas is making some insulin but not enough or your body can’t use the available insulin. Type 2 diabetes typically affects older people and is almost entirely due to unhealthy habits.

What are the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes usually develops very slowly, causing no obvious symptoms in the early stages. As it progresses, you might start to feel tired and off-color. Symptoms only really begin when diabetes is well established and can include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Constant thirst
  • Increased hunger
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow-healing sores
  • Frequent infections

Left untreated, diabetes can cause serious health problems and could be life-threatening.

A simple blood test can detect when your blood sugar levels first begin to rise, a condition known as prediabetes. Prediabetes is reversible if you act quickly.

What causes Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance. Insulin moves glucose from your blood to your cells so your body can use  it for energy.

When your body becomes resistant to insulin, your tissues no longer absorb glucose properly. This causes your pancreas to produce more and more insulin — and more and more sugar to remain in your blood.

In addition to Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance has been linked to heart disease, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and other severe health conditions.

How is Type 2 diabetes treated?

If you have Type 2 diabetes, it’s important to address the unhealthy habits that have caused the problem. Losing weight is key. If you’re struggling with weight loss, Premier Medical Care help you. They offer weight loss classes, dietary advice, and medication where necessary.

Improving your diet and getting more exercise can help you lose weight and keep your blood sugar levels better controlled. Dr. Banwatt specializes in assisting people with weight loss and improving their health using a plant-based diet.

Avoiding food sourced from animals cuts your intake of unhealthy fats and promotes better all-round health. If you have prediabetes, you can reverse the problem entirely by taking prompt action.

Book your diabetes screening today by calling Premier Medical Care or scheduling an appointment online.