No matter your age, your body needs vitamins and minerals to ensure all your vital functions. While you can typically meet your daily requirements with a healthy diet, sometimes, a little boost doesn’t hurt. Your pharmacist can guide you in choosing the right vitamins and dietary supplements for your individual needs.
Shop vitamins and supplements in-store.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that results from the body's inability to sufficiently produce and/or properly use insulin, a hormone that regulates the way glucose (sugar) is stored and used in the body. The body needs insulin to use sugar as an energy source. There are several forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Pre-diabetes occurs when blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Glucose is the main sugar found in the blood and the body's main source of energy. If left untreated, more than half of the people with pre-diabetes will have type 2 diabetes within 8 to 10 years. Pre-diabetes can be prevented, and is most common in people over the age of 40 and in people who are overweight. Pre-diabetes can be managed, or in some cases reversed, through healthy lifestyle choices.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body no longer produces enough insulin, or has difficulty using the insulin it produces, causing sugar to build up in the blood. Over time, if uncontrolled, this damages blood vessels and nerves and can result in severe complications including: blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, amputation, and erectile dysfunction. Adopting a healthier lifestyle can help prevent or control type 2 diabetes, and can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, and stroke. It can also contribute to your overall well-being and quality of life.
Diabetes is diagnosed by measuring blood glucose (sugar) levels. However, there are a variety of different ways to test for diabetes. Your healthcare provider can identify which test is best for you.
If you have one or more of the following factors, you may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes:
If you have any of these symptoms, reach out to your Vanguard Pharmacist or healthcare provider. Good management can prevent, or delay complications associated with living with diabetes.
