Diabetes care in Las Vegas, Nevada

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 30 million Americans, have diabetes. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and individuals with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, vision problems, kidney failure and loss of legs and feet. The good news is there are ways to prevent and manage diabetes. Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center offers comprehensive care for people at risk for or who have diabetes lead a full a life.

For more information about diabetes care and support in Las Vegas, you can call our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (702) 916-5023.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that causes abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. Your pancreas produces insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. When you don't produce enough insulin, the result is diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs most frequently in children and adolescents and can develop at any age. With this disease, the body produces little to no insulin. Daily insulin injections are required to keep blood glucose levels under control.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and accounts for most diabetes cases. With this disease, the body does not properly use the insulin it produces. Most people with type 2 diabetes require oral drugs and/or insulin to manage their blood glucose levels.

Gestational diabetes (GDM)

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy. However, it can put the mother and child at higher risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes

Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes are:

  • Blurred vision
  • Extreme hunger
  • Fatigue
  • Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst
  • Irritability
  • Slow-healing wounds
  • Unexplained weight loss

Risk factors for diabetes

Risk factors for diabetes include:

  • Being overweight
  • Being 45 years or older
  • Being African American, Native American, Latino, Asian, Indian or Pacific Islander
  • Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
  • Being physically active less than 3 times a week
  • Having had GDM or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
  • Having polycystic ovary syndrome