ZurMed: Dr. Iraklii Buziashvili

Dr. Iraklii Buziashvili is an expert on diabetes, a disease that affects more than thirty million Americans, making it one of the most common and costly ailments in the country. Diabetes affects blood sugar levels and can impact various areas of the body. In this episode, endocrinologist Dr. Iraklii Buziashvili discusses the illness, it’s causes, it’s treatments, and more.

Host: Why is there such a demand for endocrinologists?

Dr. Iraklii Buziashvili: It has to do with the high rate of diabetes since we are doctors that her blood sugar under control. Diabetes is one of the most common reasons why people go to doctors and get admitted to hospitals.

Host: What does an endocrinologist focus on in their practice aside from diabetes?

Dr. Buziashvili: We deal with hormonal problems. We deal with hormones that get secreted into the bloodstream. We deal with thyroid issues and problems with the parathyroid glands that handle calcium regulation. We also handle problems with the pituitary gland that controls growth and adrenal glands above the kidneys. Testes in men and ovaries in women are also endocrine glands.

Host: Exactly what is diabetes and what are its symptoms?

Dr. Buziashvili: It’s when someone has elevated blood sugar. It’s actually not one disease, it’s a condition caused by group of diseases. Symptoms include unexplained weight gain or loss, increased thirst, and increased urination. However, the majority of patients do not have any symptoms when they are diagnosed.

Host: What are the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Dr. Buziashvili: Type 1 is caused by an absolute absence or severe deficiency in insulin which is the main hormone that is produced by the pancreas and it regulates the glucose levels in the body. So, the pancreas in people who have Type 1 diabetes does not produce the insulin. Type 2 diabetes is much more common, about 85% to 90% of patients have this type, and people with this type do produce insulin, but it doesn’t work as it should. Hence, they end up with high blood pressure.

Host: Are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes treated differently?

Dr. Buziashvili: Yes, patients with Type 1 require insulin treatment. People with Type 2 can be treated with medications to make the insulin they produce work better.

Host: What side effects can someone suffer from being a diabetic?

Dr. Buziashvili: They may present with infections on the skin or genitalia or get pneumonia more than someone without diabetes. They also get infections on their feet very easily; feet are one of the target areas that get damaged with high blood sugar. People who don’t have diabetes could fight off thee infections on their own but diabetic bodies typically cannot.

Host: How does sugar affect the immune system and how does the lack of it impair the patient’s ability to heal and infection?

Dr. Buziashvili: High blood sugar affect the white blood cells that attack infections. Glucose itself is also a good “food” for microorganisms like bacteria and fungi so elevated glucose aids the growth of these harmful invasions of the body.

Host: What are some other long-term effects of having high blood sugar and diabetes?

Dr. Buziashvili: Patients with diabetes can develop what we call “late complications” which doctors try to prevent by normalizing their blood sugars. Every organ in the body can be attacked by diabetes but your eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, heart, and extremities—like arms and legs—are at especial risk. This is a full-body disease. It can even cause nerve damage, that’s actually one of the most common symptoms of late complications and it affects various other organs. It can cause the stomach and intestines to stop working, sexual dysfunction, and feet ulcers which can become very serious since diabetic bodies also have more trouble healing wounds.

Host: What diets do you recommend for diabetic patients?

Dr. Buziashvili: Lifestyle modulations are very important and this includes diets. It’s difficult to change years of habits like poor diets and lack of exercise, but once you are diabetic you have to or the disease will progress. Staying away from sugar is important and some people go to dietitians and personal trainers to help them make these changes. Walking is a good exercise but swimming and jogging are also helpful. If you lose weight, it can help you get off medications, slow the disease, and feel better or even get rid of the diabetes altogether.

Host: Diabetics used to have to inject their insulin, how is it treated today?

Dr. Buziashvili: Sometimes we still suggest injections, but the treatments are growing fast, every few months a better new medication comes along and many can be taken orally in pill form—no injections required—when it comes to Type 2 patients. We now have about 30 medications we can use. There are multiple ways to treat this disease but look out for symptoms and know your family history because early prevention is crucial.