Allergy
Alternative Medicine
Arthritis
Back Pain
Cancer
Cholesterol
Current Controversies
Dental
Dermatology
Diabetes
Endocrine Disorders
ENT-ear,nose and throat
Exercise/Rehabilitation
Eye care
FDA Warnings
Gastroenterology
General Medicine
Geriatrics
Heart Disease
Heart Healthy Cooking
Hematology
Hypertension
Infectious Disease
JAMA REPORT
Kidney Disease
Live Cases
Lung Disease
Men's Health
Mental Health
Neurologic Disease
Obesity
Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Plastic Surgery
Podiatry
Pregnancy
Rheumatology
Sexual Health
Stroke
Vascular Disease
Women's Health Education Medical Videos
The HgA1c test is a blood test that reflects your average blood glucose levels for the past 2 to 3 month period. It is a good measure of the overall control of your diabetes. It is recommended that you check this every 3 to 6 months to help follow your diabetes management, in addition to daily blood sugar levels. The goal HgA1c is less than 7%. Dr. Martin J. Abrahamson. Medical Director, Joslin Clinic. Diabetes Hga1c test. Boston, MA.
Treatment of Diabetes. BLood sugar can be controlled in 5 ways: Taking medications regularly such as oral hypoglycemics or insulin, checking your blood sugar regularly, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and regular exercise will help to control blood sugars. IF you control your blood sugar you will lower your risk of developing eye problems- blindness, kidney problems, and kidney failure, stroke and heart disease. Video courtesy of eMedTV.com
I ask all of you to watch this video on a regular basis to remind you of the importance of following your diet closely as a diabetic. I will see you in the office. Video courtesy of eMedTV.com.
Can people with diabetes drink alcohol? If patients with diabetes drink, it should only be in moderation and they should avoid drinks that are high in sugar content. Because of the liver effects, low blood sugar is a common problem in people with diabetes who drink alcohol. So a small snack before bedtime may be advisable.
Diabetes can progress plaque on the inside wall of all blood vessels in the body. Diabetics commonly have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which contribute to the disease. When this plaque affects the arteries which supply the heart with blood, it causes coronary artery disease and puts you at risk of a heart attack. When it affects arteries in the legs it is called peripheral vascular disease, and when it affects the arteries that supply the brain it can cause a stroke.
Signs and symptoms of diabetes include losing weight without trying, frequent urination, and urinating at night, frequently being tired-fatigue, blurry vision, dry or itchy skin, numbness or tingling sensation in the arms and legs, or having sores that do not heal, or prolonged infections. Video courtesy of eMedTV.com
Dr. Bob Martin and Dr. Shannon Oates, an endocrinologist, discuss diabetes. Early warning signs of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, blurry vision, and headache. Certain ethnicity as well as people with family history are at increased risk. Lifestyle changes can decrease your risk of diabetes, decreasing your body weight, increasing the amount of exercise and a balanced diet can help.
Heart Attack and stroke are the leading cause of death for diabetics. It is very important for diabetics to modify their risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including aggressively treating cholesterol and lipid abnormalities. LDL is the lipid particle, when high, with the highest risk for cardiovascular disease. The goal LDL in diabetes is always below 100, but even less than 70 in some diabetics. It is also important to control blood pressure.
Complications of hypertension or high blood pressure include heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and eye problems. Diabetes is associated with high blood pressure, and makes the complications more likely. It is very important for diabetics to moniter their blood pressure closely. Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, exercise, diet changes and stress reduction can help. Controlling BP will decrease risk of heart disease and other complications.