Diabetes Specialist

Primary Care Associates of Maryland

Family Medicine & Geriatrics located in Frederick, MD & Clarksburg, MD

Are you one of the thirty million Americans living with diabetes? Are you struggling to get your blood sugar under control? Praveen Bolarum, MD, and the team at Primary Care Associates of Maryland, with two locations in Frederick - on Thomas Johnson Drive and Urbana Pike - and another in Clarksburg, Maryland, can teach you how to take control of your health. They can help you manage your diabetes with a personalized plan that includes nutrition and lifestyle management, medication, and supplements. Call the office nearest you today or request an appointment online to learn more.

Diabetes Q & A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that causes high blood sugar. When you eat food, namely foods that contain carbohydrates such as bread and fruit, your body breaks it down into glucose, which your cells use for energy.

If you have diabetes, your body can’t get the sugar from the bloodstream into your cells because you don’t make enough insulin, which is the hormone that allows your cells to access the glucose in your blood, or your cells have become resistant to the insulin.

There are three types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes - you don’t make insulin
Type 2 diabetes - your cells are resistant to insulin
Gestational diabetes - develops during pregnancy

Type 2 diabetes is the most common and usually develops in adults.

How do I know if I have diabetes?

The health care team at Primary Care Associates of Maryland can determine if you have diabetes through a blood test. Common symptoms of diabetes include:

Extreme thirst and hunger
Weight loss despite a ravenous appetite
Frequent urination
Tingling in the hands and feet
Blurry vision
Fatigue and irritability
Sores or infections that don’t seem to go away

Diabetes is a manageable illness, but it can lead to serious health conditions such as heart and kidney disease if not appropriately controlled.

How can I improve my blood sugar?

The health care team at Primary Care Associates of Maryland takes a three-pronged approach to help you get both your diabetes and health under control.

Personalized nutrition plan

Because your food is a source of energy and glucose, what you eat plays an important role in diabetes management. However, the team doesn’t provide a cookie-cutter diet plan. Instead, they work one-on-one with you to develop a personalized nutrition plan that accounts for your genetic and metabolic profile to help manage your condition.

Lifestyle management

What you eat is only one part of the puzzle when it comes to managing your diabetes lifestyle, since it affects health and blood sugar levels. The team at Primary Care Associates of Maryland devises a structured lifestyle plan that includes diet, exercise, and relaxation.

Medication and supplements

Medication and supplements are sometimes necessary for diabetes management. The health care team monitors dosing and assesses for possible interactions with other medications or supplements and makes recommendations as needed.

For comprehensive diabetes management that combines natural interventions with medical technology, call Primary Care Associates of Maryland today or request an appointment online.