Diabetes Complications: Understanding and Controlling Them

Endocrinologist offers diabetes seminar, Dec. 8

You, or a family member, have been diagnosed with diabetes and are on a treatment regimen. What are potential complications to watch for — and how can you control them if they develop?

Dr. Prasad Katta, an endocrinologist with Washington Township Medical Foundation, will discuss potential diabetes complications, treatment and management during his online Health & Wellness seminar on Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

“Diabetes: Understanding and Controlling Complications,” can be viewed live on Facebook and YouTube. For Facebook, sign in to your account and then go to facebook.com/WashingtonHosp. YouTube does not require an account. Simply go to YouTube.com/whhsInHealth.

Dr. Katta’s discussion will focus on complications typical for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Ninety-five percent of the patients Dr. Katta treats have type 2 diabetes and the ages range from 18-year-olds to much older adults. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin properly and is unable to keep blood sugar at normal levels.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. The body breaks down most food you eat into sugar (glucose) and releases it into the blood stream. Normally, the pancreas produces insulin to manage the glucose and directs it to the body’s cells to use for energy.

With diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. Without sufficient insulin, too much glucose remains in the bloodstream which, over time, can cause various complications such as vision loss, neuropathy affecting circulation especially in the hands or feet, heart disease, and kidney disease, among others.

A variety of medications, some that have been used for a number of years and other newer ones, are available to treat various diabetes complications. Some limit the liver’s ability to make and release more sugar; others stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin or reduce the body’s resistance to insulin.

Dr. Katta will also discuss newer medications that help the kidneys eliminate the excess sugar and prevent it from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream. They also limit the ability of the kidneys to take in sugar, which increases the amount of sugar removed from the body by urination.

Other medications help the pancreas produce insulin in more intelligent ways, Dr. Katta says. And, he adds, they help control weight. “They tell the brain not to be hungry and tell the stomach to empty more slowly. All these help control diabetes,” he explains, “and one is available in pill form.”

Dr. Katta adds: “For those patients with diabetes, it’s important to understand your disease and what complications can occur. And, it’s also important to understand that many of these complications can be treated and controlled with proper attention, care and medical supervision.”

Washington Hospital has an outpatient diabetes center that offers a range of programs and classes to support patients with diabetes and their families. To find out more about Diabetes Matters classes and the diabetes support group, visit whhs.com/diabetes or call 510.818.6556.

To watch "Diabetes: Understanding and Controlling Complications" seminar on our Youtube InHealth channel, click here.