Welcoming Endocrinologist Dr. Lucy Esteve

Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology is thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucy Esteve to our team of board-certified endocrinologists and diabetes experts. She is now seeing patients at our South Austin location. 

Dr. Esteve specializes primarily in diabetes management and cutting-edge treatment technologies, such as wearable smartwatches, for the early detection and prevention of diabetes and related complications. 

She is fluent in multiple languages including French, Italian and Spanish. Her ability to communicate in several languages will be helpful in serving our diverse and multicultural population here in Central Texas. 

She joined TDE most recently from her Endocrinology Research Fellowship at Duke University in Durham, NC. 

Dr. Esteve attended Imperial College London in the U.K. where she obtained a BEng in Biomedical Engineering and a MSc in Immunology. She then completed her medical training at Warwick Medical School in the U.K. followed by her Internal Medicine residency training at UT Health San Antonio, TX. 

She holds certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in both Endocrinology and Internal Medicine. 

Dr. Esteve and her family chose to settle down in Austin for its multicultural population, strong art and music scene and great food. She instantly felt like Texas Diabetes would be a great fit for her and is excited to work alongside a well-organized, strong clinical team. 

Getting to Know Dr. Esteve

Why are you passionate about what you do?

Coming from a multicultural background, I feel like I can relate to patients and love creating long- term partnerships where we develop a personalized treatment plan together that works for them!

What are some fun facts you’d like to share?

I am the first physician in my family. My family is originally from Europe, but we are all now proudly American! My mother is an artist and my father an engineer, and they could not be more opposite! I am married with two children. 

How do you spend your free time when not caring for patients?

Outside of clinic, I love swimming, cooking, traveling the world, and watching soccer.  I am also an editor for an online knowledge sharing platform called theMednet.

Please join us in warmly welcoming her to the TD&E family!

Contact Us to Help Manage your Diabetes, Osteoporosis and Thyroid Conditions 

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Esteve or one of our specialists at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology and discover how our diabetes services, heart disease prevention,  and other endocrinology therapies can help you lead a full and active life, please contact us 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.

What are the benefits of weight loss and weight loss management?

The benefits of weight loss and then maintaining a healthy weight are countless. 

Your circulation and blood pressure will improve, muscles and joints will be more flexible, cholesterol levels will stabilize, better sleep is possible, blood sugar levels will become more balanced, and the list goes on…

The CDC estimates that if you lose just 5-10% of your body weight, you will benefit from it in so many ways. 

At Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology, our team of endocrinology experts treat diabetesthyroid issuesosteoporosis, and promote heart disease prevention.

We are highly invested in helping our diabetes patients to lose any excess body weight to better manage their blood sugar levels and their overall health. Lowering your body weight will encourage the pancreas to work more efficiently to keep up with insulin production and help sustain healthy blood sugar levels. 

One of our advanced practice providers, Brandy Wellmon PA-C, CDCES, contributed to an article about weight loss and blood sugars. 

Wellmon says that “the most important aspect of a successful weight loss program is that it must be tolerable to the patient so that the changes are lifelong.”

Experts and research suggest that making adjustments to your diet and adding regular exercise to your daily routine are the main factors that contribute to successful weight loss.

Wellmon shares that she tells patients not to expect significant weight loss until they have sustained the changes for at least three months. 

Ways to help with your dieting and weight loss goals include:

  • Seeking professional guidance from a nutritionist and/or physical trainer
  • Setting realistic goals that you can achieve and sustain over the long term
  • Staying positive, working consistently, and trying not to compare your weight loss journey to someone else’s

Research does show that weight loss medications can help in extreme cases when diet and exercise have failed, but these should be taken strictly under the supervision of your physician and as directed. 

Wellmon warns that there could be risk in losing weight too fast as well if not done safely.  

“Losing too much weight can lead to excessive or rapid bone loss, increasing risk of osteoporosis,” she says. “Also, extreme weight loss or losing it too quickly can have an adverse effect on hormones.”

In the race to lose weight, remember that a slow and steady pace often wins. Make smart choices to facilitate your unique weight loss goals that you will be able to stick to and sustain. Your body will thank you for the many benefits associated with these efforts to maintain a healthy weight for years to come.  

Contact Us to Help Manage your Diabetes and Thyroid Conditions 

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology and discover how our diabetes and other endocrinology services can help you lead a full and active life, please contact us 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.

Welcome Dr. Mauli Shah

Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology is pleased to welcome Dr. Mauli Shah to our team of endocrinology experts. 

Dr. Shah is board-certified in Internal Medicine and will be treating the full scope of endocrine disorders including diabetesthyroid issuesosteoporosis, and promoting heart disease prevention out of our Round Rock clinic.

She joins us most recently from working as a hospitalist and completing her fellowship in Endocrinology at Baylor Scott and White in Temple, TX. 

Dr. Shah loves practicing endocrinology as she says “it allows me to meet all different kinds of people and help them understand complex hormonal issues.”

“It’s a very satisfying field because we can see immediate results after starting treatment,” she adds. 

Dr. Shah was born and raised in southern California and earned her undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. She remained in New York to attend medical school at Albany Medical College and then returned to California for her Internal Medicine residency training at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. 

When asked why she was excited to join our practice, Dr. Shah shares that “everyone I have met from the staff to the other providers are very personable and great to work with.”

She describes her patient care philosophy as follows:

Every patient should have control over their own medical care with the advice of their physician. Care should be tailored to every individual and their own unique needs and lifestyle. Doctors should be seen as advocates for their patients. 

Dr. Shah likes to emphasize to her patients that they should always be comfortable, open, and honest with her and other physicians, as they are only here to help heal and never to judge. 

Outside of work, Dr. Shah enjoys spending time with her children and husband and also enjoys yoga, watching movies, and traveling. She loves that Austin shares the same warm and sunny climate as her home state of California, where all of her sisters and parents are practicing physicians as well.  

Contact Us to Help Manage your Diabetes and Thyroid Conditions 

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shah or one of our specialists at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology and discover how our diabetes services  and other endocrinology services can help you lead a full and active life, please contact us 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.

GLP-1RA gastrointestinal side effects
What are the GI side effects of GLP-1RA Medications, like Ozempic?

In treating T2D diabetes patients, our Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology board-certified experts may recommend medication to help lower blood sugars in addition to lifestyle changes. Some injectable forms of medical therapy, known as GLP-1RA medications, have been trending in the news lately due to their role in weight-loss management

These drugs go by popular brand names such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Trulicity. 

While the medicines are very effective for many patients and can be used safely with regular monitoring, recent data reports that there can be serious gastrointestinal (GI) side effects in rare cases. 

GLP-1RA Gastrointestinal Side Effects

GLP-1RAs help to slow the speed at which food passes through the stomach, causing people to feel fuller longer and better regulate blood sugar levels.

This form of drug treatment however can also lead to GI side effects (like severe nausea and vomiting) in some people. 

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association recently revealed that those taking GLP-1RAs for weight loss were at an increased risk of GI issues such as:

  • Biliary disease
  • Gastroparesis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Bowel obstructions

These conditions reportedly contributed to many patients electing to discontinue use on their own.

A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care found that approximately 50% of those being evaluated and who were on GLP-1RA meds stopped them within a year. 

What are the consequences of stopping GLP-1RA meds without direction from your doctor?

While initially stopping these medications may not have immediate health repercussions,  it could likely have an effect down the road. 

Failure to properly manage diabetes could lead to complications from continuously elevated blood sugars – like nerve damage, vision loss and worsening kidney function. Stopping these medications could also lead to regaining any lost weight, which typically also worsens insulin resistance and blood sugar control.

With any new therapy, it is important to follow all instructions carefully and as directed by your doctor.   Our endocrinology experts will always discuss treatment options with you and any potential risks or side effects. 

If you ever experience side effects from your diabetic medications, please contact us right away so that we can evaluate the situation and discuss effective alternatives. 

Contact Us Today to Learn More about  Diabetes and Weight Loss Management

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology and discover how our diabetes services  and weight-loss management program can help you lead a full and active life, contact us 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.

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