November was named National Diabetes Awareness Month by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in 1975 and currently 11.6 % of the US population lives with diabetes. If you are someone who lives with diabetes, or you know someone who does, you might be privy to signs and symptoms of the disease. We want to take this month to bring awareness to the disease to anyone who is not familiar with it as well as go over risk factors and resources available for those who live with diabetes.

At Gonzaba Medical Group, we are aware that about 1 in 6 San Antonio residents have diabetes. That’s 16% of our population. That’s why we provide specialty services tailored specifically to our diabetic patients. Through our Diabetes Improvement Program, we offer a range of services from foot health to diabetes education, and more.

Today we want to give a brief overview of diabetes, go over the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and hear from our very own in-house diabetes educator Isela Perez.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is described by the National Institute of Health as a disease that develops when your blood sugar levels, or A1C levels, are too high.

What is A1C?

A1C is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar level in the last 2-3 months. Someone who lives with diabetes will check their A1C levels regularly to manage their disease.  Someone who wants to find out if they are at risk of developing diabetes, have pre-diabetes, or want to know their blood sugar levels, would measure their A1C levels.

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes is when one’s body makes little or no insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot get glucose into cells to be used for energy, and they stay in the blood, causing high blood sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every single day to help their body use glucose in the bloodstream.

Type 2 Diabetes is when one’s body does not use insulin properly. In this case, although the body has insulin, it is not being used, therefore blood sugar levels are high. This is the most common type of diabetes and in some cases it is preventable. To prevent this disease from developing, it is important to understand risk factors for developing the disease as well as lifestyle habits to control blood sugar.

 

What Happens When the Body Has High Blood Sugar?

High blood sugar for an extended period or uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious issues, including:

• Vision problems or blindness
• Nerve damage
• Foot problems
• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney Disease
• Stroke

To help prevent the development of diabetes, or to help manage your blood sugar levels if you have the disease, it is important to be aware of risk factors and lifestyle behaviors that impact your blood sugar levels. This way, you can manage your blood sugar levels and avoid complications down the road.

What are Some Risk Factors?

When it comes to risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, there are risk factors in our control as well as risk factors that are out of our control. Non-controllable risk factors include:

• Age
• Race
• Family history

If you are over the age of 45, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. You are also at higher risk if you have a family history of diabetes, or if you are Hispanic or Black.

Controllable risk factors include:

• Unhealthy weight
• Physical Inactivity
• Unmanaged stress

It is a combination of these risk factors that can lead someone to develop type 2 diabetes or can lead someone with type 1 diabetes to have uncontrolled blood pressure. Let’s talk about how your lifestyle choices affect your blood sugar levels.

How Can Your Lifestyle Affect Your A1C Levels?

Isela Perez, Gonzaba’s in-house diabetes educator, reminds us that there is no one size that fits all approach to managing your blood sugar levels because everyone has different bodies and different needs. She also tells us that it is a combination of healthy behaviors that will ultimately help one prevent high blood sugar levels or maintain control over them.

“I like to teach that it is all self-care behaviors together that are going to help you get to and maintain better control of your blood sugar levels. It is not one or two things; it is an entire system of things working together.” – Isela Perez

Diet
Although Isela tells us that everyone has different needs, there are a couple of general guidelines that one can apply to their diet and lifestyle to start going in the right direction. To eat a healthy diet, Isela recommends you focus on lean meats, non-starchy vegetables and eating a smaller portion of carbohydrates while limiting sugary drinks and processed food.

Exercise
“Exercising regularly is part of what can help someone maintain a heathy weight, and that lowers the risk of high blood sugar levels.” -Isela Perez
When it comes to staying active, Isela tells us that regular exercise is essential as it helps maintain a healthy weight, which can in turn help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. In fact, exercise is one of the natural ways to encourage your body to use their own insulin! If you want more insight into how to start your exercise journey, talk to your primary care provider to find activities that are a good fit for you.

Managing Emotions

Managing emotions, especially stress levels, is another important piece of the puzzle that is taking care of yourself to maintain or manage blood sugar levels. Stress in the body, especially in combination with other risk factors, can be detrimental to your health and wellbeing. Take careful steps to manage your stress or ask your primary care provider to point you in the right direction if you are unsure how to cope with stress.

Talking to Your Primary Care Provider
Lastly, it is always important to have regular check-ins with your primary care provider. They know you best, and they can help guide you towards healthier habits that fit your specific needs.

Unsure Where to Begin? Gonzaba Can Help!

If you or someone you love lives with diabetes and are unsure how to manage the symptoms, Gonzaba can help! We provide in-house specialty services for our diabetic patients to ensure the highest quality of care. Talk to your primary care provider about setting up an appointment with our diabetes educator and learn more about how to self-manage symptoms. Isela Perez and her team take great care of their patients by individualizing their healthcare plan and diabetes management approach to fit individual needs and resources. Their goal is to help the patient and their caregivers learn to self-manage the disease through a compassionate and careful approach.

Additionally, Gonzaba has an in-house foot-care service to help you with nail trimmings and regular foot checks. To see all our services and learn more, go to our Diabetes Improvement Program page.

Call us today at 210-921-3800 and talk to your primary care provider about our diabetes improvement program. We want to help you manage symptoms so you can keep doing the things you love.

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Gonzaba Medical Group prides themselves on providing high quality healthcare to the San Antonio Seniors, prioritizing preventative care and educating our patients to the best of our ability. Remember to ask your primary care doctor before making any drastic lifestyle changes, so they can assist you in making the best decisions for your healthcare journey. Thank you for trusting Gonzaba Medical.