Understanding Diabetes

Understanding Diabetes
November 18, 2019

Overview

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems.

Diabetes can be genetic, or can affect people with no family history.  There are two types of diabetes, Type 1, means your body does not make insulin. Type 2 occurs if your body doesn’t make or use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, however, is most often seen in middle-aged and older people.  

More than 30 million people in the US have diabetes. Surprisingly, one out of four don’t know they have it!  Another reason why regular visits to your general practitioner are important, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

As a family doctor, I care for many patients impacted by diabetes—those with the disease, those trying to prevent it, and those with family or friends who have it.  Diabetes care isn’t one-size-fits all, and I love being able to work with people to find solutions that work for them and their family,” said Marissa Hamrick, M.D. 

Managing Diabetes

Receiving a diabetes diagnoses can be overwhelming, but at the Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center, we have a staff of highly trained physicians, practitioners and nurses who will work with you to help you manage your care, keep you abreast of the latest treatments and options and who are here for you when you need them to make sure you stay healthy.

We take pride in our Complex Medical Management Program (CCM), which is part of the Patient Centered Medical Home Model.  This means you, the patient, are at the center of the team.  The goal is to foster an environment in which your health care team partners with you to identify barriers that are preventing you from meeting your health care needs and goals.  The team works together to develop a care plan and patient specific goals.  

With close attention and care, we can prevent the scary complications of Diabetes like kidney failure, nerve pain, foot amputation, and vision loss. And there are so many new medication options now, including ones that help protect the heart,” Dr. Hamrick adds.

The Nurse Care Manager works with you to increase your understanding of how your diabetes affects you and aims to empower you as interventions are implemented to reduce barriers and improve your health.   For example, if you are in need of transportation, our team helps to obtain reliable transportation, to ensure you can go to medical appointments or establishing mail order delivery for prescriptions medications, so you have the right medications on hand at all times.  This model of care has been a proven decrease in hospitalizations and increase patients’ overall quality of life.  When the patient is at the center of the care there is greater trust.

Diabetes is a disease that, with the right team of experienced medical staff, can be manageable.  If you feel you should be screened or are in need of scheduling a well appointment to discuss concerns with your doctor, call us today.