Diabetes Specialist
-
- Tweet
Melanchton A Mangoba, M.D.
Internal Medicine Physician located in Riverside, CA
If you’re one of the 100 million people in the United States living with diabetes, the team at Melanchton A. Mangoba, MD, in Riverside, California, can help. Through customized treatment plans involving lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and medications, Dr. Mangoba and his staff ensure your blood sugar levels are well controlled. They offer routine health evaluations to monitor your condition and reduce your risk for nerve damage and other long-term health complications. Learn more about treatment options available for diabetes by calling the office of Melanchton A. Mangoba, MD, or by requesting an appointment online today.
Diabetes Q&A
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body processes sugar from your diet. In a healthy body, the hormone insulin assists with the conversion of sugar into the energy you need to function. When you have diabetes, this process doesn’t work the same way.
Several types of diabetes can interfere with your health:
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce insulin to convert sugar into energy, resulting in persistently high sugar levels in your blood. This condition often develops in childhood but can occur in adults, possibly due to autoimmune dysfunction that damages the pancreas – the organ that makes insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use the insulin it has effectively. This condition primarily develops because of a poor diet and lifestyle but can be genetic.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes can develop in women in any stage of pregnancy. The condition causes blood sugar levels to remain high throughout pregnancy but usually resolves after childbirth.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a condition that describes blood sugar levels that are high, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes.
Without proper treatment, diabetes can lead to a variety of long-term health complications, including permanent nerve damage and even premature death.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Because type 2 diabetes doesn’t usually cause symptoms until it’s in an advanced stage, it’s important that you schedule routine preventive care evaluations at the office of Melanchton A. Mangoba, MD, especially if you have a family history of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes and advanced type 2 diabetes may produce symptoms like:
- Dry skin
- Blurry vision
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive thirst and hunger
If nerve damage occurs, you may experience tingling and numbness, especially in your hands and feet.
Dr. Mangoba and his team perform blood testing to evaluate your blood sugar levels and determine if you have diabetes or prediabetes. Testing may also include thyroid evaluations, as thyroid disorders often coexist with diabetes.
If you have an underlying thyroid disorder, it can have a significant impact on blood sugar control. To properly control diabetes, you may also need treatment for a thyroid condition.
How is diabetes treated?
If you have type 1 diabetes, you need daily insulin to control your blood sugar levels. You also must check and monitor your blood sugar levels throughout the day.
Treating type 2 diabetes and prediabetes generally starts with dietary and lifestyle changes that help you lose weight and lower your blood sugar levels naturally. If these modifications aren’t enough to control your blood sugar, you may also need to take medications.
In addition to daily monitoring of your blood sugar levels at home, Dr. Mangoba and his team evaluate your levels and your general health during routine follow-up visits. They can also help manage an underlying thyroid disorder.
If you have risk factors for diabetes or need help managing your condition, schedule a consultation with Melanchton A. Mangoba, MD. Call or request an appointment online today.
