Diabetes Care Q & A

What is diabetes care?

Diabetes is a condition in which your body doesn’t properly control blood sugar because you don’t make enough insulin or can’t utilize it the right way. Uncontrolled blood sugar increases your risk of serious health problems, like heart disease and nerve damage. 

Diabetes care is the management of diabetes to better control your blood sugar. Dr. Lopez and her team offer diabetes treatments for adults and children of all ages.

What are the risk factors for diabetes?

Anyone can develop diabetes, as genetics play a role in its development. The following factors increase your risk:

• Inactivity
• Being overweight
• Family history of diabetes
• Older age
• History of gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Polycystic ovary syndrome in women
• Poor dietary habits

If you’re at risk of diabetes, early detection and treatment are crucial to help prevent complications. 

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Dr. Lopez and her team can diagnose diabetes using a simple blood test. They ask about your symptoms, complete a physical exam, and may utilize additional diagnostic tests to find out if you have complications associated with diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?

To better manage diabetes and prevent complications, Dr. Lopez might recommend:

Lifestyle changes

Making lifestyle changes can improve blood sugar and prevent complications. Examples include healthy eating, regular exercise, weight loss, and not smoking or drinking excessively.

Medications

Taking oral diabetes medications can keep blood sugar in check to reduce your risk of diabetes complications.

Insulin injections

If your body doesn’t make enough insulin, insulin injections can improve blood sugar control.

Diabetic foot care

If you have foot problems associated with diabetes, Dr. Lopez and her team offer toenail removal and other types of diabetic foot care.

Don’t let uncontrolled diabetes progress to serious health complications. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Lopez and her team over the phone or online today.