Diabetes Management

Diabetes Management services offered in Livingston, Cleveland and Humble, TX

More than 100 million people in the United States have some form of diabetes, a complicated and chronic condition that can lead to uncontrolled or dangerously high blood sugar levels. The chronic disease experts at Calvary Medical Clinic are committed to providing diabetic patients in the greater Houston area with the medical treatment and self-management skills they need to avoid complications and protect their long-term health. Use the online scheduling tool or call Calvary Medical Clinic in Livingston, Cleveland, or Humble, Texas, to book an appointment today.

Diabetes Management Q&A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious systemic illness that affects how your body turns glucose (sugar) from your diet into energy. There are two different types of the disease:

Type 1 diabetes

This form of diabetes develops when the pancreas stops producing insulin — the hormone that helps glucose enter your cells where it’s converted into energy. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. Although you can develop type 1 diabetes at any time in life, it usually emerges during childhood.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, which is largely preventable, accounts for up to 95% of all diabetes cases. It occurs when your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to keep up with demand, or when your body becomes insulin resistant, meaning it no longer responds normally to insulin.

What’s prediabetes?

There are two precursor stages to type 2 diabetes — insulin resistance leading to prediabetes. If you’re diagnosed with prediabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are high, but not yet high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

While just under 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, over 84 million Americans — or more than one in three adults — have prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, making certain lifestyle changes can help you keep your condition under control and delay its progression.

Am I at risk for type 2 diabetes?

While being diagnosed with insulin resistance or prediabetes are the most significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes, a range of other risk factors can boost your chances of developing the disease, including:

Being overweight or obese
Lack of physical activity
Chronically high blood pressure
Unhealthy cholesterol levels

Your type 2 diabetes risk increases as you age, especially once you reach your mid-forties. The disease is also more prevalent among people of Hispanic, African, and Native American descent.

How can I control my diabetes?

Early diagnosis and intervention are key when it comes to controlling diabetes, avoiding complications, and maintaining a high quality of life.

To keep your blood sugar levels in check if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, you should:

Follow a healthy diet
Get regular exercise
Take your diabetes medications
Lose excess body weight
Control your blood pressure
Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
Manage chronic stress

If you have type 1 diabetes, it’s vitally important to administer your insulin shots (or wear your insulin pump) as instructed and check your blood sugar levels regularly. Healthy lifestyle habits are also highly beneficial.

The experts at Calvary Medical Clinic strive to stay up-to-date on the latest recommendations in diabetes care and control and are dedicated to empowering you with the information, skills, and support you need to make healthy choices every day.

To find out how they can help you, call their Livingston, Humble, or Cleveland, Texas, office, or schedule an appointment online today.