Diabetes Specialist
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JAX Family Care
Jairo De La Hoz, MD
Primary Care located in Jacksonville, FL
An estimated 30.2 million adults in the United States have some form of diabetes, many of them not yet diagnosed. By working with Jairo De La Hoz, MD, to manage your diabetes at JAX Family Care in Jacksonville, Florida, you can lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other dangerous health issues that come as a result of unmanaged or mismanaged diabetes. To book an appointment, call JAX Family Care or schedule online today.
Diabetes Q&A
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-term metabolic illness that needs careful management, especially through dietary and lifestyle modifications. There are a few different types and their treatments vary.
All types of diabetes affect the way your body turns sugar (glucose) from the foods you eat into energy. A hormone from the pancreas called insulin moves glucose from your blood into your cells, which can store it or use it for energy. When you have diabetes, your body either has no insulin at all or can’t use its insulin effectively for its intended purpose.
Without management, diabetes leads to a plethora of other health concerns and complications due to glucose building up in your bloodstream. By working with Dr. De La Hoz to manage diabetes of any type, you can lower your risk for diabetic neuropathy, ulcers, stroke, heart disease, and other dangerous complications.
Which type of diabetes do I have?
With careful testing and evaluation at JAX Family Care, Dr. De La Hoz can determine which type of diabetes you have or if you’re at a high risk of developing diabetes. Your diagnosis might be:
Prediabetes
If your blood sugar is higher than average but you don’t have a diabetes diagnosis, Dr. De La Hoz might tell you that you have prediabetes. With diet and lifestyle management, you may be able to reverse this diagnosis and avoid getting Type 2 diabetes in the future.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is usually diagnosed early in life. Your immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin and renders them ineffective. Roughly 10% of individuals with diabetes have this type, and you need to take insulin every day for the rest of your life if this is your diagnosis.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is more related to lifestyle factors and is not an autoimmune disease. Your pancreas still produces insulin but your body becomes resistant to it.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that appears during pregnancy and is more similar to Type 2 than Type 1. While it goes away after you give birth, it elevates your risk for Type 2 diabetes later on.
How can I manage my diabetes?
Any type of diabetes requires an individualized care plan with respect to your specific needs and circumstances. Those with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin, but not everyone with Type 2 or gestational diabetes requires insulin. Insulin is available in injectable or inhalable varieties. Some are long-acting while others offer a rapid effect.
Everyone with diabetes regardless of the type can benefit from regulating their diet. Dr. De La Hoz can review your current diet with you and offer suggestions for improvement. He also recommends getting a reasonable amount of exercise for the best possible diabetes treatment outcome.
To schedule a diabetes care appointment at JAX Family Care, call the office or book online right away.
