Diabetes Specialist Doctor Across Philadelphia, PA
Condition: Diabetes
If you’re living with diabetes, your body is unable to create or use an essential hormone called insulin. Insulin is created by the pancreas, and its job is to enable sugar and glucose to enter your cells, offering your body the energy it needs to move throughout the day. When your body cannot process glucose correctly, it builds up in the blood, causing a phenomenon known as “high blood sugar” that can ultimately damage the blood vessels, nerves, heart, eyes, and kidneys.
Although diabetes can lead to serious consequences, it is often successfully managed through diet, lifestyle modifications or medication. As a board-certified physician, Dr. Gerard Miller’s concierge medical practice is focused on providing preventative care, helping patients catch early signs of diabetes and manage their condition to avoid severe complications.
Dr. Miller operates the only concierge practice in Havertown and being affiliated with Bryn Mawr Hospital, Dr. Miller works with the staff of hospital doctors if you are admitted to the hospital. He is available to his patients 24/7, and his one-on-one approach allows him to see every patient, every visit, building a relationship based on time and trust. Are you or your loved one ready to receive personalized diabetes care from one of the top geriatric doctors near you? Don’t wait. Schedule your first consultation with Dr. Miller today.
Concierge Care for Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes
Hands-On Prevention & Treatment for Diabetes
Diabetes comes in several types, each with their own unique causes and circumstances. A diabetes specialist doctor like Dr. Miller understands the necessary treatments of each of these types, particularly those that affect older adults.
These types of diabetes include:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is the result of an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, disabling the body's ability to produce insulin. Sometimes referred to as “juvenile diabetes” because it is often diagnosed in children, Type 1 diabetes can also affect adults.
- Type 2 Diabetes: The most common form of preventable diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is influenced by age, obesity and family history. Although the pancreas usually produces enough insulin, the body cannot use it effectively, and production slowly decreases.
- Prediabetes: Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are high, but not high enough to diagnose diabetes. A diagnosis of prediabetes puts the patient at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Miller takes prediabetes very seriously, and can help you or your loved one to prevent diabetes by losing weight and incorporating a daily exercise regimen.
- Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes is characterized by high levels of blood sugar during the later stages of pregnancy. Although the cause is not completely understood, it is suspected that the hormones produced during pregnancy prevent insulin from working, resulting in insulin-resistance and hyperglycemia. Most cases of gestational diabetes resolve at the end of the pregnancy, but may increase the risk of its developing in future pregnancies.
Treatment of diabetes varies depending on the type. Individuals with any type of diabetes benefit from eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and participating in regular physical activity, but Dr. Miller may recommend the following courses of action based on your or your loved one’s diagnosis:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump to administer needed insulin to the body. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin therapy to survive. In addition, frequent daily blood-sugar checks and carbohydrate monitoring are necessary.
- Type 2 Diabetes: In addition to maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthful diet, treatment of type 2 diabetes involves blood-sugar monitoring, as well as medication and/or insulin. Medication may also be prescribed to help control blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels.
- Gestational diabetes: Gestational diabetes can often be addressed by maintaining a healthful diet and exercising. A treatment plan may also include monitoring blood-sugar levels and, in extreme cases, using insulin or oral medication.
- Prediabetes: Prediabetes may be controlled with healthy lifestyle modifications that bring blood-sugar levels back to normal, thereby lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Most forms of diabetes can be managed and, with medical treatment or lifestyle modifications, people can live relatively healthy lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the typical symptoms of diabetes?
While Type 1 diabetes usually develops during childhood or adolescence, it can also occur in adulthood. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include the following:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Fatigue
- Irritability
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes usually develop in adulthood, and include the same symptoms as Type 1 diabetes. Additional symptoms include the following:
- Blurry vision
- Frequent infections
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Cuts or bruises that heal slowly
- Recurring skin, mouth, vaginal and bladder infections
It’s important to note that some people with Type 2 diabetes may not notice any symptoms at all. That’s why it’s important to receive regular testing and monitoring from a hands-on internal medicine specialist near you, like Dr. Gerard Miller.
What are some common risk factors for having diabetes?
The exact cause of diabetes is not clear, although there are risk factors for developing it. Risk factors include the presence of autoantibodies (which damage immune-system cells), a family history of diabetes, and various environmental factors.
Risks for developing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes increase as people age, and also include the following:
- Being overweight
- Not exercising
- Family history of diabetes
- Being African-American or Hispanic
- History of gestational diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- High blood pressure
- Low level of HDL cholesterol
- Elevated triglycerides
The risks of gestational diabetes include the following:
- Being older than 25
- Being overweight prior to pregnancy
- Family history of diabetes
- Gestational diabetes in a prior pregnancy
- Being African-American or Hispanic
The risk of gestational diabetes increases if a woman is diagnosed with prediabetes prior to pregnancy.
Why is it important to receive treatment for diabetes?
If not treated, diabetes can lead to nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, as well as permanent eye, foot, skin and bone damage. A lifelong commitment is necessary to prevent these complications from occurring. It is important for people with diabetes to take an active role in the management of their condition. Adhering to a healthy lifestyle and monitoring blood-glucose levels are essential in preventing complications.
How can I get started with the best doctor for diabetes near me?
Dr. Miller makes it easy for patients and their families to get started with his concierge practice. Contact our office to discuss pricing options, any questions you may have, and to schedule your first appointment whenever you’re ready.