DEAR DOCTOR K: My doctor has diagnosed me with chronic pancreatitis. Could this be related to my drinking? Can this condition be reversed? DEAR READER: Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the large gland that lies behind the stomach. (I’ve put an illustration of the pancreas on my website, AskDoctorK.com.)
DEAR READER: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different diseases, but they share many things in common. Both types of diabetes are marked by elevated levels of blood glucose, or sugar. Type 2 diabetes, though, is much more common than Type 1 diabetes.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I was just diagnosed with gestational diabetes. What are the risks to my baby? And what do I need to do to keep her safe? DEAR READER: Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that occurs during pregnancy. Normally, the hormone insulin moves sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into cells that use it for fuel.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have diabetes. I read that scientists had made a major discovery about how people with diabetes could naturally make more insulin. How excited should I be about this?
Courtney Erikson is a softball player. She understands that no one player succeeds without the help and support of their teammates and that every homerun is the result of each player’s contributions towards a unified goal.
