POONSAK LAOHACHAVALIT, M.D.
Endocrinology
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Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal as a result of a deficiency in insulin secretion from the pancreas, a decrease in performance from insulin resistance, or a combination of both.
To monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust medication intake accordingly, Diabetics are advised to see their doctor regularly. Using the same dose of medication constantly would prevent Diabetics from controlling consistent blood sugar levels (depending on the amount of food and disease progression). Early detection of complications such as diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy will enable doctors to provide treatment on time.
The goal of providing diabetes treatment is for diabetic patients to have a good quality of life. Controlling blood sugar to nearly normal Levels will help to reduce the chance of chronic complications in the eyes, kidneys, nerve endings, heart, and arteries as well as hyperglycemia and acute complications. In addition to controlling blood sugar levels, Risk factors such as hypertension, blood lipid levels, weight loss, and smoking cessation should also be controlled. Evaluation of diabetes treatment is very important since it will help diabetics know their diabetes condition; thus, leading to an improvement in their behavior to maintain their blood sugar levels to as near normal as possible.
Symptoms of high blood sugar levels are frequent urination, fatigue, increased thirst, muscle weakness, and weight loss.
Constantly high blood sugar levels without treatment will result in changes to blood vessels, thus, leading to chronic complications in the eyes, kidneys, and nerve endings. Diabetes is therefore a disease that requires continuous treatment (diet, exercise, and medication) and regular visits to the doctor.
Regular exercise can help lower blood sugar levels and prevent people with risk factors from getting diabetes. While exercising, the body requires higher energy for movement and the most important source of energy is sugar. Enough exercise will convert blood sugar into energy, thus leading to lower blood sugar levels. In the longer term, blood sugar level is under control and, therefore, the amount of medication or insulin injection can be reduced.
In normal people, insulin secretion from the pancreas is associated with changes in blood sugar level; however, for diabetic patients, this mechanism is impaired, so it is necessary to follow a healthy and balanced diet together with proper medication and exercise.
For patients who find diabetes medication ineffective, doctors may choose to replace that with insulin injection. However, this doesn’t mean that the disease has come to the last stage since doctors must have taken into account the benefits and disadvantages of using insulin injections.
Moderate blood sugar levels do not often mean that the treatment is effective. The main purpose of diabetes treatment is to regulate blood sugar levels to delay complications from diabetes. Regular blood sugar level checks will help to determine symptoms of complications for timely treatment.
The value of Hb A1C will help determine whether the average blood sugar level is under control.
Patients with diabetes that are not properly controlled may experience frequent eye disorders such as blurred vision, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema (which usually develops along with diabetic retinopathy), cataracts, and glaucoma. Therefore, diabetics should undergo a thorough eye examination by an ophthalmologist for any abnormality at least once a year. Early detection will help to prevent eye disorders in diabetics.
Diabetic renal impairment in the early stages is asymptomatic. Abnormal blood toxin levels cannot be found. If a high blood toxin level is detected, it usually means that over 90% of kidney function is damaged. Urine tests can reveal more albumin levels. Therefore, checking the albumin level in the urine is very important in screening for kidney dysfunction in the early stages and should be checked regularly every year.
Diabetics should see their doctor regularly to check their blood sugar level, adjust the dose of medication, and check for any complications so that the doctor can provide treatment promptly.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology
Internal Medicine, Endocrinology
Internal Medicine, Endocrinologist