Diabetes

Act now to beat diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes, Aurora BayCare provides you with a team of experts to help manage your care. Your team may include your primary care physician, an endocrinologist, a nurse educator, and a registered dietitian. Diabetes care may also involve your eye doctor, dentist, podiatrist, and pharmacist. If you are expecting a child, you may also work with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.

Treatment Planning, Education, and Support

If you have diabetes, your body has difficulty regulating your blood sugar. Diabetes is a chronic disorder of the endocrine system that requires long-term management.

At Aurora BayCare, our endocrinology specialists consult with you on lifestyle changes and may treat you with medication, including insulin. We work with you to develop and manage a long-term care plan suited to your specific goals and needs. A big part of that plan is helping you monitor and manage your blood sugar levels to avoid future health problems. We also provide diabetes education and support.

Types of Diabetes and Prediabetes

There are several types of diabetes—Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are most common. Women may develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

In addition to diabetes, there is an additional condition called prediabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 84 million people over the age of 20 have pre-diabetes.

A prediabetes diagnosis means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes. Prediabetes should be monitored and managed. 20 to 50% of prediabetes patients will develop diabetes within 5 years.

Ongoing Care for Diabetes Management

At Aurora BayCare, you receive ongoing medical support and care in managing your diabetes. We offer a full range of diabetes services including:

• Diet and nutrition counseling
• Weight management
• Insulin pump management
• Continuous glucose monitoring
• Education
• Foot wound care
• Diabetes support group

Are You at Risk?

You may be at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes if:

• You have been diagnosed with pre- or borderline diabetes
• If you are 45 or older
• You have relatives who have diabetes
• You are overweight
• You identify as African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, or Asian American
• You have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• You were diagnosed with gestational diabetes during a pregnancy
• You maintain an inactive lifestyle

Proactive Preventive Care

Aurora BayCare endocrinologists want to help you avoid developing diabetes altogether. Fortunately, by making dietary and lifestyle changes now, you can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Aurora BayCare endocrinologist specialists can help.