More than six million Americans have type-2, or adult-onset, diabetes and don’t know it.

Type-2 diabetes is a condition caused when the pancreas has gradually lost its ability to produce insulin and your body has become resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes the sugar from your blood into your cells.

If undiagnosed or not managed properly, type-2 diabetes can lead to high blood glucose levels, which can cause damage to your eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels, which could result in heart disease or stroke.

Patients who control their type-2 diabetes have a better chance of preventing complications. Controlling the disease can mean doing something as simple as following a healthy meal plan and exercise program, losing excess weight and taking oral medications.

The Johns Hopkins Diabetes Management Program at Howard County General Hospital strives to bring the latest information to help you make sense of diabetes in your life. Whether you’re working with us on an individual basis or in our group classes, we will work to create an individualized plan to help you meet your goals. We can provide assistance in all areas of diabetes management, from lifestyle change and weight loss to insulin pump therapy. For more information, call 443-718-3000 or visit us online.