Category: Diabetes

Insulin resistance and diabetes are distinct in their characteristics and implications on our health.
What is the difference between insulin resistance and diabetes?
Posted on by Leslie Branon

Insulin resistance and diabetes are two terms we talk about often in the endocrine world. While the conditions are connected, they are distinct in their characteristics and implications on our health. 

Insulin Resistance: The Precursor to Diabetes

Insulin plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels. Our body converts carbohydrates into glucose and insulin facilitates the entry of glucose into cells. However, in the case of insulin resistance, the normal interaction between insulin and cells becomes disrupted.  

Dr. Srujana Yada describes insulin resistance as when “a person must produce more insulin than the general population to keep his blood sugars levels normal. In other words, insulin resistance means that they need more insulin to keep the glucose levels at a normal range than others.” 

Insulin resistance can present in a number of ways, including: 

  • Impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes mellitus, increased insulin requirements in type 1 diabetes
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Metabolic syndrome (conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes)
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Certain obesity-related malignancies (eg, endometrial cancer)

Insulin resistance typically precedes the development of Type 2 diabetes, and is diagnosed based upon clinical findings, which include:

  • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
  • Dyslipidemia (lipid imbalance)
  • Abdominal obesity
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Diabetes: Improper Blood Sugar Regulation

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes occurs when your pancreas is not making enough insulin to regulate your blood sugar, often due to prolonged insulin resistance. Similarly, prediabetes occurs in about 1 out of every 3 adults in the United States and means that your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes yet.

Diabetes is diagnosed based on specific blood sugar levels that consistently exceed normal ranges. Once diagnosed, diabetes requires careful management to prevent complications.

Can you prevent insulin resistance?

Unfortunately you can’t prevent insulin resisitance entirely, but living a healthy lifestyle can help make your body’s cells more receptive to insulin. Our team of endocrinologists recommend taking proactive steps toward managing insulin resistance and ultimately preventing the progression to diabetes. Adopting a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active and scheduling regular medical appointments and screenings can lead to significant improvements in your overall health. 

If you need to make lifestyle changes, our medically supervised NextStepMD weight loss program can help you gain better control of your health. The NextStepMD health and wellness coaches offer one-on-one sessions and work closely with you to recommend the methods that offer the greatest opportunities of success.

In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle, your doctor may recommend taking an insulin-sensitizing medication to manage your glucose control. 

Endocrinologists in Austin, TX

If you’d like to learn more about our full range of endocrine services, 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 helpful wellness and health information.

summer heat and diabetes
Tips to Help you Manage your Diabetes this Summer
Posted on by Leslie Branon

As the summer temperatures continue to hit triple digits, it’s important for everyone to take precautions and stay hydrated. For people with diabetes, it is essential that you be extra careful when dealing with high temperatures. Here’s why:

  • Your body is unable to cool properly because of damage to blood vessels and nerves.
  • You are more susceptible to dehydration.
  • Heat can change how your body uses insulin.

If you have diabetes, here are some tips on how to stay safe in the heat this summer:

Stay Hydrated

As you’re battling the heat this summer, keep in mind that when your blood sugars are high, it can also cause dehydration. This can lead to serious conditions, like kidney damage and risks of infection. It’s best to hydrate with water. If drinking juice or sports drinks, our endocrinologists recommend you watch for any extra sugar that can lead to blood sugars getting worse.

Prepare Your Diabetic Supplies

Higher temperatures can impact medications like insulin and diabetes equipment. Don’t store testing strips, insulin, blood sugar monitors, or pumps in a hot car or leave in the direct sunlight. Instead, pack them in a cooler to help keep the temperature down. 

Test Your Blood Sugar Often

High temperatures can impact how your body uses insulin, so make sure you are frequently monitoring your blood sugar and make adjustments as needed.

Other Heat Safety Tips

Everyone should follow these heat-safety tips if you are spending time outdoors this summer:

  • Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks 
  • Avoid being outside in the hottest part of the day
  • Wear sunscreen and reapply often
  • Wear lightweight, breathable clothing 
  • Take breaks in the shade, especially when exercising or working outdoors
  • Know the signs of heat-related illness including confusion, dizziness, cramping, or seizures

Diabetes Specialists in Austin

Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology offers comprehensive diabetes services and the most advanced insulin treatments including injections, oral medications, and insulin pumps. Our board certified endocrinologists and certified diabetes educators are committed to helping you gain better control of your health. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help you manage your diabetes this summer!

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.

diabetes and dementia
The Connection Between Alzheimer’s and Diabetes
Posted on by Leslie Branon

In the United States, more than 6 million people are living with the Alzheimer’s disease and this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. In 2025, the number of people aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s in Texas is expected to reach 490,000 – a 22.5% increase from 2020.

New research shows that the earlier someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the higher chance they have of developing dementia. This Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at the connection between diabetes and dementia.

It’s estimated that up to 81% of people living with Alzheimer’s have type 2 diabetes. While the exact reasons behind this link are still unknown, this connection may be due to hyperglycemia caused by insulin resistance, or when your body cannot use the insulin, it produces properly to reduce the sugar in your blood. A recent study found that chronic hyperglycemia impacts parts of the brain that form and retrieve memories.

There are other potential contributing factors of diabetes that can lead to dementia, including:

  • The increased risk of heart disease and stroke with diabetes, which can lead to damaged blood vessels in the bran and contribute to cognitive decline;
  • Unbalanced chemicals in the brain due to too much insulin; and
  • Inflammation due to high blood sugars that may damage brain cells

“The link between diabetes and dementia is an important area of research given our rapidly aging population,” explains board certified endocrinologist Dr. Ishita Prakash Patel. “If diabetes is found to be an independent risk factor for dementia development, we need to put more focus on diabetes prevention, both at an individual and societal level.” 

Dr. Patel says it is more important than ever to form healthy eating and exercise habits at a young age to prevent obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes. 

“Taking ownership of one’s health by changing unhealthy habits is the most important thing a person can do for themselves,” Dr. Patel says.

To decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, there are a few steps you can consider:

  • Develop healthy eating habits;
  • Incorporate additional exercise into your routine;
  • Quit smoking; and
  • Join our NextStepMD program, which is designed to help our patients lose weight, maintain weight loss, and gain better control of their health.

At Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology, we offer a comprehensive range of diabetes services and are committed to helping our patients gain better control of their health. Contact us today to learn how we can help you manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of developing dementia.

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.

continuous glucose monitors
Continuous Glucose Monitors: Everything You Need to Know
Posted on by Leslie Branon

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology provides real-time glucose readings to people with diabetes. CGMs help diabetics track their glucose levels throughout the day and make informed decisions about their food, exercise, and medication intake. This advancement in technology can make living with diabetes easier to manage. 

What are continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)? 

A CGM is a small device that uses a sensor placed under the skin to check blood glucose levels every 5-15 minutes, providing real-time updates to a receiver or smartphone app. 

Benefits of CGMs

CGMs offer many benefits for people with diabetes to help them live more independently. Board certified endocrinologist Dr. Srujana Yada says the real-time updates on blood sugar trends can not only provide guidance on treatment decisions, but also help patients make healthy choices. 

“CGMs can tell patients how their blood sugar changes when eating different kinds of foods,” says Dr. Yada. “This can help them make appropriate changes in their diet and create an even more personalized treatment plan.”

CGMs can also help reduce the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). 

“Patients are notified by an alarm when they have high or low glucose levels, which helps them make treatment decisions rather than waiting too long,” explains Dr. Yada.

The instant data from CGMs can also improve patient care. “It helps doctors to see where exactly the blood sugars are running high – either fasting or mealtime sugars – and lets us change the regimen accordingly. CGMs help improve HbA1c and reduce variability.”

Who should have a CGM?

Patients who are candidates for a CGM include:

  • All type 1 diabetes patients;
  • Type 2 diabetes patients who are on multiple insulin injections; and
  • Patients with hypoglycemic unawareness.

Patients who are not on insulin do not need a CGM.

Continuous glucose monitors are a valuable tool for people with diabetes. If you’re interested in learning more, talk with your doctor to decide if it is right for you.

Consult with an Endocrinologist in Austin, TX

At Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology, we are committed to helping people gain better control of their health and working with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that work best for their lifestyle. To schedule an appointment with one of our board certified endocrinologist, 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.

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