Diabetes is a challenging disease because it requires your active involvement. At Socrates A. Garrigos, MD, PA, in McAllen, Texas, board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Garrigos and the team take a patient-centered approach to diabetes management. They understand how diabetes affects every aspect of your life and create plans that make it easy for you to take control. Call the office today or schedule your diabetes management consultation online.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which blood glucose levels are too high. Glucose is the preferred source of energy for all of the cells in your body and comes from the food you eat.
After digestion, glucose enters the bloodstream, signaling the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone that transports glucose from the blood into the body’s cells.
If you have diabetes, you don’t make any insulin, or the insulin you make is unable to do its job. There are many types of diabetes, but the most common include:
Too much glucose in the blood damages the blood vessels and organs, leading to other health problems like neuropathy (nerve damage) and heart disease.
Anyone with diabetes benefits from diabetes management. Diabetes is a complex disease that affects nearly every organ in your body. And, unlike other chronic health conditions, you can’t rely on medication alone to manage blood glucose levels.
Many aspects of your life affect your blood glucose, including the food you eat, how much exercise you get, and your weight. Stress and acute illnesses also affect blood glucose numbers.
Many people with diabetes may have other chronic diseases like hypertension (high blood pressure) or high cholesterol, which complicate diabetes management and increase your risk of other health problems.
You can expect personalized diabetes management from the team at Socrates A. Garrigos, MD, PA. Before making any treatment recommendations, they conduct a thorough history and physical to understand your diabetes, overall health, and lifestyle habits.
Your diabetes management plan may include:
The team schedules regular follow-up visits to monitor your health, provide education, and make adjustments to your plan to improve your diabetes control.
You don’t have to manage diabetes all on your own. Call Socrates A. Garrigos, MD, PA, today or schedule your consultation using the online booking button.