Diabetes

More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and around 20% don’t know they have it. Whether you suspect you have diabetes, or you’d like high-quality care to help manage your condition, you can rely on the expertise of the professionals at Thomas J. Cassidy MD LLC in Edison, New Jersey. A specialist in internal medicine, Thomas Cassidy, MD, provides effective care for all forms of diabetes. Call for your consultation today.

Diabetes FAQs

Diabetes is an increasingly common condition where sugar, or glucose, builds up in your bloodstream. People with diabetes can have serious health problems, such as kidney disease and nerve conditions. 

Diabetes comes in two primary forms. One form, type 2, is the result of your body’s failure to use insulin properly. With type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t make insulin at all. When this happens, the amount of sugar in your bloodstream spikes to an unhealthy level. 

With the right care at the office of Thomas J. Cassidy MD LLC, you can still enjoy a good quality of life with diabetes.

Both kinds of diabetes produce some of the same warning signs. Here are the typical symptoms:

  • Urinating often
  • Feeling exceedingly hungry or thirsty
  • Overwhelming tiredness
  • Blurry eyesight
  • Wounds that take a while to heal

With type 1, you may lose weight suddenly, even though you’re eating as usual. In some instances, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are so minor that you might not notice a change in your health.

The office of Thomas J. Cassidy MD LLC recommends one of the following tests to measure your blood sugar and diagnose diabetes. 

Oral glucose tolerance test

This test demonstrates how your body processes sugar. The test involves drinking a specific sweet liquid and testing your glucose levels before and 2 hours after drinking it.

Fasting plasma glucose test

You fast for at least 8 hours, then have a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. The office of Thomas J. Cassidy MD LLC recommends doing this test first thing in the morning.

A1C

A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar for the past 2-3 months. The advantage of this test is that you don’t have to drink anything.

If your results come back positive, you usually have a second test to confirm your diagnosis.

You can expect your provider at Thomas J. Cassidy MD LLC to discuss the appropriate steps to manage your condition. They usually recommend:

  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Regularly monitoring your glucose level 

Your provider recommends medications as needed, particularly if you have type 1 diabetes, where your body doesn’t produce insulin. You can expect to take medication or use insulin shots to replace what your body is missing. 

For a diabetes test or help managing your condition, call the office of Thomas J. Cassidy MD LLC to schedule an appointment today.