Diabetes Care

Banyan Community Health provides high-quality, accessible health care with a compassionate approach. Our mission is to help people in our South Florida community live healthier lives. We provide a wide range of care, including comprehensive care for patients with diabetes.

We know that diabetes care is a critical part of healthcare for the communities that we serve. The number of adults in Florida who have been diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled in the last 20 years.1 It is currently estimated that more than 2.4 million people in Florida have diabetes and an additional 5.8 million have pre-diabetes.2

Diabetes Screenings and Monitoring in South Florida

Our providers develop diabetes care plans tailored to meet the needs of each patient. Services offered include:

  • Individual diabetes screenings
  • Glucose monitoring
  • Podiatry screenings
  • Nutrition planning
  • Pre-diabetes management and preventative care
  • Education and self-management programs

Understanding Diabetes

The human body is designed to turn the food we eat into energy. Typically, the body will do this by converting food into a type of sugar called glucose. The pancreas produces insulin that helps regulate the amount of glucose in our blood. When a person has diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body does not use the insulin correctly. Diabetes can affect people of all ages, races, shapes, and sizes.

Types of Diabetes

There are several types of diabetes and they usually fall into one of these categories:

Type 1 Diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes because it is often diagnosed in childhood. People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin on their own. This type of diabetes cannot be prevented or cured, but it can be managed so that people with type 1 diabetes can live healthy lives.

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes usually do produce insulin, but the body does not use it properly. Type 2 diabetes is sometimes preceded by a diagnosis of pre-diabetes and healthy lifestyle changes can actually prevent type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes specifically affects people while they are pregnant. People with gestational diabetes suffer from insulin resistance and need special care to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes is a complex disease and it is not always possible to pinpoint the cause. Genetics can play a part, especially in Type 1 diabetes. Being overweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but people of all sizes can develop type 2 diabetes.

Health Effects of Diabetes

With the right care, patients with diabetes can live long and healthy lives. However, diabetes can cause serious health complications if not properly treated, such as:

  • Vision problems
  • Skin infections
  • Nerve damage
  • Foot complications
  • Kidney disease
  • Hypertension
  • Stroke

Symptoms of Diabetes

Many patients with diabetes do not know they have it because symptoms can be mild or not show up until later. Regular screening is important to detect diabetes early. Symptoms or warning signs of diabetes include:

  • Urinating more often than usual
  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Feeling hungrier than usual
  • Feeling very tired
  • Vision that is blurred
  • Slow healing of cuts or abrasions
  • Weight loss despite increased food intake (type 1)
  • Tingling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet (type 2)

Treatment Options for Diabetes

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan for diabetes because every person responds differently to treatments. That is why it is important to work closely with your care team to manage your diabetes. For all patients with diabetes, monitoring your glucose levels through frequent blood testing is key to finding the right treatment.

Medication for Diabetes

There are several medications available to help manage diabetes. Your doctor can talk to you about whether mediation may be right for you.

Self-Management of Diabetes

There are several healthy lifestyle changes you can take to manage your diabetes:

  • Eat a nutritious diet. The specialists at Banyan can advise you on which foods to avoid and give you tips on how to eat more healthy foods.
  • Stay active. Including physical activity in your day can have a positive impact on your health. Your doctor can talk to you about what activities may be good for you.
  • Other habits, such as stress management, good sleep, and healthy weight loss can help in diabetes management.

Diabetes Prevention

If you have risk factors for diabetes or if you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, there are many things you can do to live healthfully and possibly prevent diabetes. Healthy changes for pre-diabetes include weight loss, diet changes, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and managing high blood pressure. The key to success is in making changes that you can stick with. The team at Banyan is here to support you on your journey to better health!

Contact Banyan Health

We know that a diabetes diagnosis can be scary or frustrating, but you are not alone. We have helped many patients successfully manage their diabetes. Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment.