Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. This can lead to serious health problems over time. Preventive care, especially from specialists in internal medicine, plays a significant role in managing and potentially delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. Here’s more information on prediabetes and what internal medicine doctors can do to help:
What Do Internists Do?
Internal medicine physicians, or internists, are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to diagnose, treat, and provide care for adult health conditions. They are equipped to handle a wide range of conditions affecting adults and are often the primary care physicians for this demographic. Internists are trained to manage common and complex health issues, and they often see patients for long-term care. Their training focuses on the entire body, so they are skilled at understanding how different conditions and treatments interact.
Internists treat adults of all ages, from young adults to the elderly. They are adept at assessing diagnostic puzzles and managing chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. These physicians build long-lasting relationships with their patients, and this continuity of care allows them to understand a patient’s health baseline and complete health history.
How Do Internists Work With Prediabetic Patients?
Prediabetes is a health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Without intervention, prediabetes is very likely to become type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years. An internist plays a key part in identifying prediabetes and developing a plan to help prevent its progression.
Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar, also called glucose, and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy. Through regular check-ups and blood tests, an internist can monitor your risk factors and blood glucose levels.
When an internist identifies prediabetes, they create a care plan focused on lifestyle modifications. This plan is tailored to your specific needs and health status. Some common symptoms that may indicate a prediabetic risk include:
- Increased Thirst
- Frequent Urination
- Increased Hunger
- Fatigue
- Blurred Vision
- Frequent Infections
Many people with prediabetes have no symptoms, which is why routine screening is fundamental with your primary care provider.
How Do They Create Comprehensive Plans?
Creating a comprehensive care plan for a prediabetic involves a multifaceted approach. Internists can prescribe medication, but they focus on helping patients implement sustainable lifestyle changes. Prediabetes treatment plans begin with a thorough assessment of your:
- Current Health
- Diet
- Activity Level
- Family History
Based on this information, the internist will provide specific guidance. Comprehensive prediabetic plans often include detailed dietary recommendations, such as reducing the intake of processed foods and sugary drinks while increasing consumption of fiber, whole grains, and lean proteins. An internist will likely develop an exercise plan, often recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Regular follow-up appointments help your internist monitor progress, adjust the plan as needed, and provide ongoing support and motivation.
Learn More About Diabetes
Continuous management and guidance are key to preventing the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Understanding your risk factors and recognizing potential symptoms are the first steps toward preventive care. If you have concerns about diabetes, contact an internist or other primary care professional for a health consultation.
