What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the healthy levels of glucose in a person’s body and therefore they are unable to turn glucose from food into energy. If the levels of glucose in our body aren’t maintained, serious complications can occur.
How is Diabetes detected?
The early signs and symptoms of diabetes may include, but are not limited to include thirst, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurring vision, or recurrent infections. It is important that if you are exhibiting these symptoms or feeling unwell that you see a doctor.
Your doctor will undertake an examination to help determine your Blood Glucose Level (BGL) and if necessary, recommend that you undertake a blood test or glucose test to confirm a diagnosis.
What happens next?
If you are diagnosed with Diabetes, it is recommended that you have a Chronic Disease Plan completed by a practice nurse and your doctor. This assessment involves a discussion about your overall health and wellbeing, including diet and exercise; family history; medications and education on your condition and how to monitor any changes.
Your doctor and our practice nurse will monitor your overall health by asking you to attend regular appointments at our centre. An annual cycle of care is planned which includes foot and vascular assessment with a review of the goals that were set during your initial appointment.
As a part of your Chronic Disease Plan you are eligible to have five (5) Medicare subsidised allied health visits including a podiatrist, dietician, diabetic educator and more.
What else can I do?
The practice team at Toowoomba Medical Centre are happy to answer any questions you may have about Diabetes. We can offer resources to assist you, such as those found on the Patient Resources page of our website.
If you would like to find out more or to book an appointment, please call the practice on <LINK tel:+61746356111 - external-link-new-window "Opens internal link in current window">(07) 4635 6111</link>.
Here is Dr Donna Purcell explaining a little more about Diabetes and what you can expect at an appointment with the team at Toowoomba Medical Centre.
