Texas Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes Risk by Age

Posted on November 8, 2022November 8, 2022 by Leslie Branon

An estimated 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes and the vast majority (90-95%) have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t respond normally to insulin. Over time, insulin resistance causes your body to require even more insulin, resulting in high blood sugar.

While adults over 45 are at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes, it can occur at any age because genetics along with unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices play a large role in developing type 2 diabetes. This National Diabetes Month, we’re breaking down the risks of type 2 diabetes by age group and what you can do to prevent it.

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors

The risk of type 2 diabetes is a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors. You are at a higher risk if:

A parent or sibling has diabetes
You are overweight
You are over the age of 45
History of gestational diabetes
History of prediabetes
African Americans and Latinos are at a higher risk

Risk by Age

Children and Teens

While more common in adults, cases of type 2 diabetes in children and teens are on the rise. Most children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a family member who has it, but there are also risks due to lifestyle and diet to consider. Early intervention and lifestyle changes can potentially reverse type 2 diabetes in children and teens.

Young Adults

Young adults experience many life changes – like living and eating on their own for the first time – that provide unique challenges and risks of developing type 2 diabetes. It’s important for this age group to establish and maintain a good diet and consistent exercise habits through these lifestyle changes.

Middle-Aged Adults

In adults 35-45, the risk of a new onset type 2 diabetes diagnosis increases because unhealthy eating and activity habits are usually established. At this age, weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and lack of exercise can increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Older Adults

Adults over age 65 have unique considerations when it comes to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and are more likely to experience insulin resistance and production later in life. Risks that increase with age, such as limited mobility, cognitive issues, and other autoimmune diseases, present additional challenges for this age group.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention

At any age, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Develop healthy eating habits
Maintain a healthy weight
Incorporate exercise into your routine
Quit smoking
Control blood pressure

At Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology, our team of board certified endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, and health coaches help diabetics take control of their health. We offer a personalized approach and a full range of diabetes services including NextStepMD weight loss program, medications, clinical trials, continuous glucose monitoring, and insulin pumps.

To schedule an appointment in Central Austin, South Austin or Round Rock, call 512-458-8400 or request an appointment online.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check back with us each month as we provide you helpful wellness and health information.

Is there a connection between your thyroid and high cholesterol?

Posted on October 16, 2022October 17, 2022 by Leslie Branon

Cholesterol is a substance that your body needs to build cells and produce hormones and vitamin D. You’ve probably heard about the importance of monitoring your cholesterol levels, but did you know that there can be a connection between your thyroid and high cholesterol? In some cases, treating an underactive thyroid could resolve cholesterol problems.

What causes high cholesterol?

There are a few main causes of high cholesterol to consider:

Diet – Consuming too many foods that are high in fat.
Genetics – Some people inherit genes that cause them to produce too much cholesterol.
Hypothyroidism – The decreased metabolism caused by this condition can impact your levels of total cholesterol.

What is the connection between your thyroid and high cholesterol?

Thyroid hormones regulate your body’s metabolism. If you are affected by hypothyroidism, your metabolism is slowed. This impacts the breakdown of cholesterol and triglycerides in your body, leading to high cholesterol levels.

If you have high cholesterol levels, it’s important to talk with your doctor about whether a thyroid screening can be ordered to avoid undiagnosed hypothyroidism and to ensure you are receiving the correct treatment.

What are some lifestyle changes that will help lower cholesterol?

If you still have high cholesterol after testing for and treating a thyroid diagnosis, there are some steps you can take to help get your cholesterol back into balance – the biggest changes being your diet and exercise routine.

Incorporate more foods into your diet that substitute monounsaturated fats and try to eliminate trans fats, which are often found in processed foods. It’s also helpful to make sure you are getting enough omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber in your diet. Eating more foods like salmon, almonds, oats, beans, and vegetables will help you to accomplish this.

Consistent exercise is also an important step to lower your cholesterol. Try incorporating more walks into your day or take a yoga class! Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day can make all the difference.

We know that these big lifestyle changes can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help! Our NextStepMD Weight Loss Program is designed to help you lose weight, maintain weight loss, and gain better control of your health. We offer one-on-one sessions and work closely with our patients to recommend the methods that offer the greatest opportunities of success. We’ll educate, motivate and support you as you establish new habits. Our medical team will help guide you through the program with ease and support!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check back with us each month as we provide you helpful wellness and health information.

Introducing Dr. Ishita Prakash Patel

Posted on October 12, 2022October 17, 2022 by Leslie Branon

Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology is excited to welcome Dr. Ishita Prakash Patel to our team of experts in endocrinology.

Dr. Patel specializes in the treatment of diabetes (type 1 and 2) and metabolic thyroid diseases. She also enjoys treating cases of most other general endocrinopathies, such as osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, PCOS, pituitary and adrenal pathology. Dr. Patel is passionate about her work because of the link to other organ systems. “I feel that when addressing much of endocrine pathology, I am able to strive to improve overall health – rather than just one specific problem,” Dr. Patel explains.

Dr. Patel was born and raised in the Philadelphia area and still has family in the Philadelphia/NYC region. She completed her undergraduate degree at Pennsylvania State University before spending a year in Washington, D.C. teaching enrichment programs for children and adults through work at AmeriCorps. The following year, she came back to Philadelphia to attend Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Patel completed both her Internal Medicine training and Endocrinology fellowship at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC.

When asked why she chose to join Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dr. Patel said “for its excellent reputation in the community, and my interest in joining a group with physician leadership. I am excited to move to [the] Austin metro area and be able participate in its rapidly growing, diverse culture. It feels to me like the melting pot of the South.”

Outside of the office, Dr. Patel enjoys traveling, music, dance, cooking and trying new foods. She also has two young and energetic children, who keep life exciting and busy!

To make an appointment with Dr. Patel, please call Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology at (512) 458-8400 or request an appointment online.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check back with us each month as we provide you with helpful wellness and health information.

Welcome Dr. Srujana Yada

Posted on October 12, 2022October 17, 2022 by Leslie Branon

Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology is pleased to welcome Dr. Srujana Yada to our team of experts in endocrinology.

Dr. Yada has special interest in transgender medicine hormone therapy, adrenal care and thyroid cancer.

Born and raised in India, Dr. Yada attended medical school at Osmania Medical College from 2008-2014. She moved to Austin after marriage and later to New Jersey for her residency before completing her fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

When asked about coming back to Austin after training, Dr. Yada said, “Austin is like home in [the] USA, Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology is a warm group to work with and I look forward to building relationships with patients.”

Dr. Yada is a member of the Endocrine Society and American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.

Outside of medicine, she loves spending time with her husband and two children outdoors, watching movies, cooking, and traveling.

To make an appointment with Dr. Yada at our Round Rock location, please call Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology at (512) 458-8400 or request an appointment online.