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Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes Treatment Clinic in Chesapeake VA

Dr. Samir Abdelshaheed, MD, at Family Medicine Healthcare, offers comprehensive diabetes management tailored to each patient’s needs. Dr. Abdelshaheed emphasizes a holistic approach that includes personalized care plans, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring to effectively manage blood sugar levels. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 3925 Portsmouth Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23321.

Diabetes Treatment Clinic Near Me in Chesapeake VA
Diabetes Treatment Clinic Near Me in Chesapeake VA

Table of Contents:

Are there medications to help control diabetes?
Can exercise help in managing diabetes?
How often should I check my blood sugar levels?
What is insulin therapy, and when is it needed?

Are there medications to help control diabetes?


At Family Medicine Healthcare, our providers understand that effectively managing diabetes is essential to maintaining your overall health and quality of life. We offer personalized treatment plans tailored specifically to each patient’s individual needs, medical history, and lifestyle.

There are several medications available to help control diabetes, and medication plays a crucial role alongside diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications. At our practice, we carefully evaluate factors such as your type of diabetes, blood glucose levels, health status, and personal preferences when recommending medication therapies.

For patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, insulin therapy is essential, as the pancreas produces little or no insulin. At Family Medicine Healthcare in Chesapeake, our experienced providers guide you through insulin management, which can include the use of injections or insulin pumps. We will help determine the right combination of rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulins to keep your blood sugar well-balanced throughout the day.

For those dealing with type 2 diabetes, we often begin treatment by recommending lifestyle changes such as regular physical activity, dietary adjustments, and weight management strategies. Our providers closely monitor your progress, and if lifestyle changes alone aren’t sufficient to control blood glucose levels, we may prescribe oral or injectable medications.

Can exercise help in managing diabetes?


At Family Medicine Healthcare, we understand that regular exercise is one of the most effective strategies for managing diabetes, offering numerous benefits that can significantly improve your overall health and well-being. Engaging in consistent physical activity increases insulin sensitivity, helping your body’s cells become more efficient at using insulin to absorb glucose from your bloodstream. This ultimately leads to lower and more stable blood sugar levels.

Exercise also supports better cardiovascular health, an especially important consideration for individuals with diabetes, who face an increased risk of heart disease. Regular physical activity helps improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol levels, further protecting your heart and cardiovascular system.

Moreover, staying active boosts emotional health and reduces stress, an important benefit since stress can negatively impact blood sugar control. Regular exercise has been shown to improve mood, enhance sleep quality, and increase overall well-being, making it an essential part of your diabetes management strategy.

Before beginning any new exercise routine, we encourage you to consult your healthcare professionals at Family Medicine Healthcare. Our providers will work closely with you to create a personalized fitness plan tailored specifically to your health status, goals, and lifestyle. With consistent effort and proper guidance from our experienced medical team, exercise will become a key component of successfully managing your diabetes and promoting lifelong health.

How often should I check my blood sugar levels?


At Family Medicine Healthcare, we emphasize personalized diabetes care tailored specifically to you and your unique health needs. How often you should check your blood sugar levels depends on your individual condition, treatment plan, and lifestyle. For instance, individuals with type 1 diabetes typically benefit from frequent blood glucose monitoring throughout the day—often before meals, at bedtime, and occasionally overnight. Patients with type 2 diabetes who rely on insulin or certain medications that may cause hypoglycemia also need regular daily monitoring.

If your diabetes is effectively managed through diet, exercise, or oral medications that do not cause low blood sugar, our providers may recommend less frequent testing. However, during times of illness, stress, medication adjustments, or changes in your daily routine, more frequent monitoring is often advised.

At Family Medicine Healthcare, our goal is to ensure you understand your diabetes management plan clearly and feel confident about your health. Regular blood sugar monitoring helps us evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment, detect patterns or fluctuations, and significantly reduce your risk of complications. If you’re unsure how frequently you should be checking your blood glucose, please schedule an appointment with our experienced healthcare team, who will create a customized monitoring plan suited specifically for you.

What is insulin therapy, and when is it needed?


At Family Medicine Healthcare in Chesapeake, VA, our experienced team is committed to providing comprehensive diabetes management, including personalized insulin therapy. Insulin therapy involves administering insulin—a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas—to help regulate blood sugar levels by enabling glucose to enter the body’s cells for energy. When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to insulin, diabetes mellitus occurs.

Our providers carefully assess each patient to determine if insulin therapy is needed. Insulin therapy is essential for individuals with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Patients with type 1 diabetes rely on daily insulin injections or insulin pumps to maintain healthy glucose levels and prevent serious complications.

In addition, insulin therapy may be appropriate for individuals with type 2 diabetes who have difficulty managing their blood sugar through lifestyle modifications—such as diet, weight loss, and exercise—or oral medications alone. Over time, type 2 diabetes can progress, causing decreased insulin production or increased insulin resistance, making insulin treatment necessary.

At Family Medicine Healthcare, our compassionate providers in Chesapeake, VA, are dedicated to helping patients manage diabetes effectively through advanced, patient centered insulin therapy, ultimately improving overall health, preventing complications, and enhancing quality. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 3925 Portsmouth Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23321. We serve patients from Chesapeake VA, Portsmouth VA, Norfolk VA, Suffolk VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Hampton VA.