Diabetes
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doubletrack naturopathic
Sara Love, ND
Naturopathy servicing Tigard and Portland located in Beaverton, OR
Over 34 million American adults have diabetes, and another 88 million are on the cusp of developing Type 2 diabetes. Serious risks of diabetes include nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, eye damage, and even death — but you can control your condition with help from Sara Love, ND. At doubletrack naturopathic in Beaverton, Oregon, she treats diabetes and pre-diabetes with an emphasis on health optimization and reducing medication use where possible. Book your appointment online or call the office today.
Diabetes Q&A
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes can include:
- Feeling very hungry
- Feeling very thirsty
- Chronic fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurry eyesight
- Cuts and sores that heal slowly
- Unintended weight changes
- Dry skin
Type 1 diabetes may cause additional symptoms like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Usually, these symptoms start in childhood or early adulthood. The average age of a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis is 4-14 in the United States.
In contrast, the average age of a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis is 45. Type 2 diabetes may not cause very obvious symptoms until the disease is fairly advanced.
What causes diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes causes aren’t certain, but it’s an autoimmune disorder that is likely related to genetics and environmental factors. It’s not preventable, and lifestyle choices don’t contribute.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your pancreas can't produce adequate insulin hormones. Without enough insulin, you can't process sugar properly, and your blood glucose level grows too high.
The specific cause of Type 2 diabetes isn't known, but researchers strongly believe that lifestyle — including controllable factors like diet and exercise — plays a central role. Most, but not all, people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.
How do you diagnose diabetes?
The leading diabetes test is the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. It is a simple blood test that doesn't require fasting ahead of time. It measures your blood sugar level over the last 90 days.
Depending on your A1C results, you may need other testing such as a fasting blood test or an oral glucose tolerance test. For a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, you may also need a urine test.
What does holistic diabetes treatment involve?
At doubletrack naturopathic, Dr. Love focuses on optimizing your diet and increasing your exercise to regulate your blood glucose levels. You may need special nutritional supplements or therapeutic injections to correct nutritional imbalances and deficiencies that contribute to high blood glucose levels.
For many with Type 2 diabetes, this approach can allow for reduced reliance on diabetes medications.
Those with Type 1 diabetes need insulin to live. But, Dr. Love can help people with Type 1 optimize their whole-body health to maximize their wellness and longevity. She can work with your endocrinologist to design the ideal health management plan for you.
With both types of diabetes, Dr. Love is here to help you with preventive protocols that may stop disease progression as effectively as possible.
Learn how you can optimize your lifestyle and minimize diabetes medication by calling doubletrack naturopathic or clicking the online scheduling tool.
