DECEMBER ISSUE • 2010
FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM
9
Diabetes Mellitus A Silent Malady
Shekhar V. Sharma, M.D. Board Certified in Internal Medicine
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iabetes Mellitus can be defined as a disease where an individual’s overnight fasting blood sugar is more than 125 mg. Impaired blood sugar is defined as blood sugar levels between 110 mg. and 125 mg. A diabetic can only be diagnosed by the checking of blood sugars. Diabetes Mellitus is definitely a silent disease that can hurt an individual without their knowledge. In fact, one could be totally unaware that one has it most of the time. It is a condition that could become worse if left undiagnosed, untreated, and mishandled. How does one get Diabetes Mellitus? One of the reasons is impairment of insulin secretion from a group of cells in the pancreas called the ‘islets of langerhans’. One of the most common symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus is polyuria which means frequent urination on a daily basis. Other
symptoms are excessive hunger called polyphagia and excessive thirst polydypsia when one drinks a lot of water. Failure to diagnose Diabetes Mellitus can be due to various reasons such as: individuals not seeking medical attention, or the physician not doing a simple blood sugar level. Persons with diabetes usually present themselves to a physician feeling good, with no symptoms. Sometimes the individual may say that they have blurry vision, numbness of the extremity, and feeling weak and fatigued. Studies have shown that complications of Diabetes Mellitus, especially microvascular disease (which means blood vessel disease) has a direct correlation with control of one’s blood sugar. Cardiovascular disease also remains a leading cause of death in Diabetes Mellitus Type II individuals. Other risk factors like hypertension, (which means blood pressure) high cholesterol, and obesity in Diabetes Mellitus should be taken into consideration in coordination with good control of one’s blood sugar. Individuals with impaired fasting blood sugar are at high risk for the development of diabetes and arterial disease. Approximately one third of patients with impaired blood sugar develop full blown Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus also runs in
families and family history is an important indicator of this disease. Complications of Diabetes Mellitus are strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, especially of the lower extremities and retinopathy of the eyes which can lead to blindness if left untreated. Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus is first of all DIET CONTROl controlling what you eat. This way you can not only lose weight but you can also control your diabetes. Eating the right foods and avoiding foods such as high carbohydrate/starch, diet and sweets with a high sugar content is important. Reduction of saturated fat intake and the addition of high fiber in one’s diet have become critically important. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention of the onset of
Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The added benefits of exercise is lowering of one’s blood pressure, improving cardiac performance and raising the good cholesterol called HDl in the blood. If blood sugars are still high despite diet and exercise, I would recommend a continuation of a diet and exercise program along
with pharmaco therapy. There are various ways of treating Diabetes Mellitus with either tablets or with insulin and blood sugars can definitely be contained. We all need to be aware that there is so much more to this disease that is not understood by the lay person. This is where the physician who is well versed and experienced in the disease steps in and this can be beneficial to any individual with Diabetes Mellitus. Dr. Sharma is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice for 19 years in the Western communities. His office is located at 3347 State Rd. 7 (2 miles south of the Wellington Green Mall in the Palomino Park Center) Suite 200, Wellington, Florida. Please contact his office at 561-795-9087 for an appointment.
Dr. Sharma has relocated his office in Belle Glade to 1200 South Main Street, Suite 101 (opposite the Old Glades General Hospital). Dr. Sharma will be seeing patients at this location along with his nurse practitioner Grace VanDyk. He is currently accepting New Patients and the office accepts most insurances
Please call 561-996-7742 for an appointment.
Palm Beach Primary care aSSOciaTeS, iNc. State of the Art Office Building with Imaging Center, Sleep Lab Coming Up
Southern Blvd.
MEDICARE, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, HEALTH CARE DISTRICT AND MOST MAJOR INSURANCES ACCEPTED On Staff: At Palms West Hospital, Wellington Regional Medical Center
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PALM BEACH PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATES
Lake Worth Rd.
Florida’s Turnpke
The Mall at Wellington Green
State Road 7 (441)
Forest Hill Blvd.
9 AM - 5 PM MONDAY - FRIDAY SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE 24 HOUR SERVICE AVAILABLE
SPECIALIZING IN: • Diagnosis of Complex Illnesses • Cholesterol Management • Diabetes • Cardiac Care • EKG/24 Hour Heart Monitoring/Spirometry • Hypertension • Geriatric Concerns • Osteoporosis ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
3347 State Road 7 Suite 200 Wellington, FL 33449
1200 South Main Street Suite 101 Belle Glade FL 33430
Tel: (561) 795-9087 • Fax: (561) 753-8730
Tel: (561) 996-7742 • Fax: (561) 753-8730