Diabetes

Our Approach

Diabetes care at Franciscan Health is made up of specialists in endocrinology, nutrition services, health psychology and diabetes education to create a personalized treatment plan that integrates the medical, nutritional and behavioral aspects of diabetes care. Our teams collaborate with many primary care providers to ensure that diabetes care is comprehensive and well-coordinated for all patients with diabetes.

Diabetes changes over time, so it’s important to have regular check-ups. Once you’ve been diagnosed, your physician will arrange several diabetes tests. If you haven’t had these tests or don’t understand what the results mean, be sure to talk to your health care professional at your next office visit.

We offer diabetes classes which are recognized by the American Diabetes Association.

As a major, comprehensive healthcare system, Franciscan Health has the resources and personnel to stay at the leading edge of diabetes treatment. Early and steady accesses to accurate information and technology help our patients better manage their diabetes.

Additionally, many of our family physicians and internal medicine doctors have been recognized by the Diabetes Recognition Program of the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This voluntary program is designed to recognize physicians and other clinicians, who use evidence-based measures and provide excellent care to their patients with diabetes.

While there is no cure, many of the complications associated with diabetes can be prevented. Learning to live successfully with diabetes requires specific skills, self-care knowledge and a positive outlook.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is when the pancreas produces too little insulin or insulin that doesn’t work properly, so sugar can’t be used to make energy. This causes blood sugar to rise, which can lead to complications.

Diabetes affects nearly 30 million Americans – adults and children. It is a lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. There is more than one type of diabetes and each is caused by different factors:

• Type 1 Diabetes tends to appear in in childhood or early adolescence and people with type 1 diabetes must use insulin injections to control their blood sugar.
• Type 2 Diabetes can sometimes be managed by controlling weight and diet and exercising regularly, but oral medication or insulin injections may be needed to reduce blood sugar levels.
• Gestational Diabetes starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy (typically around the 24^th week). Pregnancy hormones can block insulin from working.

Because blood flows to every part of your body, the effects of high blood sugar can result in a number of health problems. Diabetes is a chronic disease, which means:

• Diabetes does not go away.
• Diabetes requires ongoing medical care that will likely change over time as diabetes progresses.
• You must play an active, consistent role in managing it.