How your doctors in Austin, TX, can help with diabetes management
Diabetes is one of the most serious diseases there is because it affects so many of your body’s systems. It can dramatically affect your immune, circulatory, and nervous systems, causing painful, debilitating results.
Dr. Paul Keinarth and Dr. Kelly Alberda of Margolin, Keinarth & Alberda Family Health Center in Austin, TX, provide a wide range of family medicine services, including diabetes management.
Unfortunately, diabetes often goes undetected, causing damage to your body without you realizing it. That’s why regular doctor visits are so important because your doctor can diagnose diabetes, so you can begin to manage it.
Diabetes can lead to:
- Changes in your immune system, so when you have an injury or illness, you might have delayed or incomplete healing
- Changes to your circulatory system, so you might have an insufficient blood supply, especially to your extremities
- Changes to your nervous system, so you might injure yourself and not feel it
Effective management of diabetes can help protect your body. So, how do you manage diabetes? You need to:
- Confirm that you are diabetic, with a diabetic screening from your doctor
- Test your blood sugar regularly and record your readings to show your doctor
- Take your medication, including metformin or insulin as directed
- Avoid beverages and foods which are high in sugar, including sodas and juices
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
- Carry healthy snacks with you to prevent episodes of low blood sugar
- Eat lots of proteins and complex carbohydrates
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
Taking your medications as directed, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and keeping your weight under control are the cornerstones of diabetes management.
To learn more about diabetes management, call Dr. Paul Keinarth and Dr. Kelly Alberda of Margolin, Keinarth & Alberda Family Health Center in Austin, TX. You can reach them in the office by calling (512) 459-9889, so call now.