Diabetes treatment and management
Handling diabetes can seem daunting. We are here to support and guide you.
If you've been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, Portsmouth Regional Hospital's care team is committed to improving and maintaining your good health. We will work with you, your doctor and family to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Types of diabetes we manage
Our endocrinologists can help you understand and manage different types of diabetes, including:
- Gestational diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
Our diabetes program
Our highly skilled clinicians work together to provide you with a personalized treatment plan.
Diabetes complications
Diabetes is a condition that leaves the body with a shortage of or decreased ability to use insulin, a hormone that allows sugar (glucose) to be converted to energy. When the body can't produce enough insulin or the cells don't use it effectively, glucose remains in the blood and can cause damage to vital organs.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to symptoms ranging from dizziness to more serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, circulatory problems and pregnancy complications.
Our team is proud to help you understand, manage and treat your unique type of diabetes.
Gestational diabetes
This condition occurs in a small percentage of women during pregnancy, raising glucose levels and creating other diabetic symptoms. It's caused by the blocking effects that hormones have on insulin. If you have gestational diabetes, we can help you manage the condition throughout your pregnancy.
Prediabetes
If you have prediabetes, it means that you have elevated blood sugar, but it's not high enough to qualify for a diabetes diagnosis. We can help you manage your prediabetes through education and lifestyle changes.
Type 1 diabetes
This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body fails to produce insulin. It generally appears in childhood or early adulthood and accounts for five to 10 percent of all cases. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin injections to regulate your body's glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body can't produce enough or properly use insulin. Type 2 diabetes cases in the U.S. are growing at an epidemic rate due to increased obesity and sedentary lifestyles. We can help you understand, diagnose and treat Type 2 diabetes through a number of modalities.
Symptoms of diabetes
In some situations, diabetes shows no symptoms. However, when symptoms do appear, they usually consist of the following:
- Blurred vision
- Dark skin patches
- Excessive thirst or hunger
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Nonhealing wounds
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Diabetes screenings
We can use random blood sugar, fasting blood sugar and oral glucose tolerance to determine an individual's blood glucose level. These tests assist in the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. If you are 45 years old or older and overweight, you are recommended for screening, per the American Diabetes Association (ADA). This is especially encouraged if there is a family history of Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.
Treatments offered by our diabetes specialists
Although Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, there are ways to keep your blood sugar levels normal, which can prevent or delay possible complications. Healthy eating, weight loss, diabetes medications and insulin therapy are all options to help you manage your symptoms. We will work with you to determine which course of action is best for you.
Our nurse practitioner manages medication in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. We will help you develop a plan to control your glucose levels and lose or maintain your weight.
Our program also has a diabetes nurse educator. You will need a physician's referral to set up this appointment. Once you have a referral, call (603) 334-2006 to schedule your appointment.
You may also want to take advantage of services that assist in educating you about diabetes, preparing nutritious meals and snacks, exploring surgical options for weight loss, increasing your physical fitness and improving your overall health.
Diabetes risk factors
Although the cause for diabetes remains uncertain, there are several known risk factors. People at risk for diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by making lifestyle changes to modify or eliminate risk factors.
Risk factors for diabetes include:
- Age
- Ethnic background (African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians experience higher rates of diabetes.)
- Heredity
- High blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
- High cholesterol
- History of babies weighing more than nine pounds at birth
- Inactivity
- Obesity
- Previous gestational diabetes
- Stress
Endocrinology services
The endocrine system is a group of glands that produces hormones to regulate many activities within the body. These include metabolism, reproduction and fertility, sleep, mood stability and growth and development. In our program, our nurse practitioner is also specially trained to treat hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, two additional hormone-related conditions that impact diabetes.
For more information about our endocrinology services, please call (603) 334-2006.
How to address prediabetes
Although prediabetes means you are susceptible to developing diabetes, you are still in a position to make a change.
Prediabetes is a warning
If you have prediabetes, there are steps you can take to avoid a diabetes diagnosis, including losing weight, eating healthfully, getting adequate sleep and seeing your doctor regularly. The Diabetes Prevention Trial found people who had prediabetes and lost five to seven percent of their body weight would lower their odds for a diabetes diagnosis by 58 percent.
We recommend speaking with your doctor about the steps you are going to take to prevent diabetes. It is helpful to have your doctor on board with your new lifestyle so they can provide support and guidance.
If you have prediabetes, there are steps you can take to avoid a diabetes diagnosis, including losing weight, eating healthfully, getting adequate sleep and seeing your doctor regularly. The Diabetes Prevention Trial found people who had prediabetes and lost five to seven percent of their body weight would lower their odds for a diabetes diagnosis by 58 percent.
We recommend speaking with your doctor about the steps you are going to take to prevent diabetes. It is helpful to have your doctor on board with your new lifestyle so they can provide support and guidance.