Managing Diabetes Early — What You Need to Know | TeleMedicine Provider, Family & Primary Care Practice, Pediatric Care & Virtual Urgent Care located in Pewee Valley, KY

Diabetes is at epidemic status in the United States today. Unfortunately, it can become deadly in its late stages — but there’s good news, too. If diagnosed early, you can manage your disease and, often, slow or prevent its progression.

November is American Diabetes Month®, a time when diabetes education becomes more important than ever. At Armstrong Telehealth, our experienced nurse practitioner, Nikki Armstrong, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, supports diabetes patients through chronic disease management and acute care appointments.

When diabetes is caught early, managing it can prevent complications and support a healthier future. With the right strategies, living well with diabetes is possible from the very start. That’s why we’re using this month’s blog to explain why it’s so important to manage diabetes early and what you can do today to stay ahead of it.

Why early intervention is crucial for diabetes management

Managing diabetes early means controlling your blood sugar levels before they start to affect other parts of your health. This proactive approach helps you avoid the severe complications that can happen when your blood sugar is too high for a prolonged period, such as:

Nerve damage (neuropathy)
Vision loss (retinopathy)
Kidney damage (nephropathy)
Heart disease
Stroke
Chronic wounds and ulcers
Chronic infections
Sexual dysfunction

These are only some of the ways diabetes can affect your body — it can be deadly if untreated. Early intervention allows you and your care team to take control of your health long before your health reaches a crisis point.

Small changes, big differences

Early diabetes management isn’t about overhauling your life overnight. When changes are too big or dramatic, all at once, they’re often not sustainable. That’s why crash diets tend to fail.

Instead, we help you take small, manageable steps toward better health over time. The key areas to manage with a diabetes diagnosis in the early stages are diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

Making changes in these areas can help you control your weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, leading to an increase of at least three years in life expectancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For people with Type 2 diabetes, making smart choices may help you manage your condition without needing medication. For people with Type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin to survive, but insulin works alongside healthy choices to help you control your disease in the best way for the rest of your life.

Another important aspect of managing your diabetes is close monitoring. We recommend checking your blood sugar levels frequently and letting us know right away if you notice any significant changes. Telehealth makes it easy for you to communicate with us immediately and conveniently.

November calls attention to early diabetes management

Now is the best time to focus on managing diabetes in its earliest stages. Starting as soon as you’ve received a diagnosis means you can avoid disease progression. By empowering yourself with knowledge about diabetes management, you can live your best and longest life.

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or suspect you may have early signs of diabetes, taking action now can make a world of difference. Call Armstrong Telehealth at 937-657-0757 to book your appointment now.