Diabetes Specialist

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar, or glucose, is too high. Insulin is a hormone produced in your pancreas that helps your body convert glucose into energy. 

When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin effectively, meaning too much sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, this can lead to serious health problems, such as stroke and heart disease.

The most common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased hunger and thirst
• Fatigue
• Frequent need to urinate
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision

It’s important to seek help if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms. Dr. Quraishi can determine if you have diabetes and develop a treatment plan for you.

What are the different types of diabetes?

There are three primary types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the pancreas. Because your pancreas is the organ that creates insulin — the hormone that takes sugar from your blood to use as energy — this attack causes a rise in blood sugar levels. 

Type 2 diabetes

It’s possible for your body to build up a resistance to insulin, and this is the case for people who live with type 2 diabetes. Because the body doesn’t use insulin the way it should, sugar builds up in the blood. 

You can also be affected by prediabetes before being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is a way to indicate that your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than normal. 

Gestational diabetes

During pregnancy, the placenta produces insulin-blocking hormones. This results in high blood sugar during pregnancy, also known as gestational diabetes, for some women. 

What are some treatments for diabetes?

Many doctors today treat diabetes by prescribing insulin and medication to treat elevated blood sugar levels. Dr. Quraishi treats the root cause of blood sugar imbalance in the body through nutrition and herbal supplements.

Your diabetes treatment plan includes a thorough nutritional assessment, and Dr. Quraishi also looks at lifestyle factors that contribute to your diabetes, like stress and sleep deprivation. Then, she works with you to develop a treatment program that helps balance your blood sugar levels. 

She may recommend simple changes like modifying the way you eat, improving your gut health, or lifestyle shifts to help manage your diabetes. She helps you develop a nutrition and diet plan paired with herbal supplements.

Regain your quality of life and protect your overall health by calling the office of Humaira Quraishi ND, MS, or booking your appointment online.