Diabetes Specialist

Coleman Primary Care -  - Primary Care

Coleman Primary Care

Primary Care Practice & Internal Medicine located in Sterling, VA

When you have diabetes, it’s essential to have an experienced primary care provider you can trust to manage your symptoms and help you prevent complications. Internist Linda Coleman, MD, and the team at Coleman Primary Care in Sterling, Virginia, offer ongoing support for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. For a consultation and personalized care plan, call the office or book an appointment online today.

Diabetes Q & A

What is diabetes? 

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that impacts the way that your body processes glucose. Glucose is a type of sugar found in many foods. Using a hormone produced by the pancreas called insulin, a healthy body converts glucose into usable energy for every bodily process. 

When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin and can’t process glucose into energy. Glucose then accumulates in your bloodstream, producing high blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar severely damages the cells, tissues, and organs of your body.

Chronically high blood sugars prevent your body from producing new cells and healing damaged cells and suppress many of the natural processes necessary for a healthy, balanced body. 

What are the different types of diabetes?

The two main types of diabetes include Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

With Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas either doesn’t produce any insulin or just a very small amount. Treatment entails synthetic insulin, dietary restrictions, and ongoing diabetic management.

Type 2 diabetes

With Type 2 diabetes, your pancreas produces some insulin, but not enough to meet the needs of your body. With lifestyle changes, healthy weight loss, and dietary restrictions, Type 2 diabetes is easy to control and may be cured.

If you have diabetes, it’s essential that you work closely with your primary care provider at Coleman Primary Care to develop a long-term plan to prevent severe diabetic complications. 

What are the possible complications of diabetes?

Diabetes can profoundly damage the cells, tissues, and organs of your body. This places you at high risk of health conditions, including: 

  • Heart and vascular disease
  • Blood clots and stroke
  • Retinopathy, which may cause blindness
  • Hearing impairment
  • Neuropathy, or nerve damage 
  • Kidney disease
  • Slow-healing wounds or injuries
  • Weakened immune system

As part of your ongoing diabetes management, the integrative wellness team at Coleman Primary Care regularly monitors you for signs of these potential long-term complications. 

How can I prevent the development of diabetes complications?

The team at Coleman Primary Care offers services that decrease your risk for diabetic complications, including: 

  • Walk-in blood sugar checks
  • Routine in-house laboratory testing
  • Weight loss counseling 
  • Diabetic diet counseling
  • Medication management
  • In-house pharmacy 
  • Skin checks and diabetic wound care
  • Annual physicals 
  • Personal trainer and personalized exercise programs

Your primary care team supports you as you learn to manage your diabetes, and also to protect your health throughout your lifetime.

For an expert consultation regarding your diabetes, call Coleman Primary Care or schedule an appointment online today.