Texas Diabetes

A Closer Look at Liquid Sugar and Diabetes

Posted on September 1, 2025September 3, 2025 by Leslie Branon

Recent research has shed new light on the risks associated with sugary beverages. A study from Brigham Young University (BYU) has revealed that consuming sugar in liquid form—such as in sodas, sweetened teas, and fruit juices—may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes more significantly than consuming sugar in solid foods.

What Is Liquid Sugar?

Liquid sugar refers to added sugars found in beverages, including sodas, sweetened teas, energy drinks, and fruit juices. Unlike sugars found in whole fruits, which are accompanied by fiber and nutrients, liquid sugars are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This rapid absorption can lead to spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels, placing added stress on the body over time.

Understanding 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 and increasing the risk of complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, and nerve problems. Factors contributing to type 2 diabetes include genetics, lifestyle choices, and dietary habits.

The Link Between Liquid Sugar and Health Risks

The BYU study found that each 12-ounce serving of sugar-sweetened beverages consumed daily was associated with a 25% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This heightened risk is thought to be due to the rapid absorption of liquid sugars, which can lead to increased fat storage, insulin resistance, and inflammation.

Excessive consumption of sugary drinks has also been linked to heart disease. High sugar intake can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated triglyceride levels—all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Reducing the intake of sugary beverages is a proactive step toward better health. Consider the following tips:

Choose Water or Unsweetened Beverages: Opt for water, herbal teas, or beverages without added sugars.
Read Labels Carefully: Be aware of hidden sugars in drinks labeled as “natural” or “healthy.”
Gradual Reduction: If you’re accustomed to sugary drinks, try gradually reducing your intake to allow your taste buds to adjust.

Reduce Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Additional steps you can take to protect your health and prevent type 2 diabetes include:

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Even modest weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity.
Stay Active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.
Choose Whole Foods: Emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Limit Processed Foods: Reduce consumption of refined carbohydrates and foods high in added sugars.
Monitor Blood Sugar: Regular screenings can help detect early changes and allow for timely lifestyle adjustments.
Prioritize Sleep: Poor sleep can affect metabolism and insulin resistance. Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep per night.

Partnering with Experts for Better Health

At Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology, our team of specialists is dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, a crucial factor in preventing type 2 diabetes and its complications. Through our comprehensive weight management program, we offer personalized guidance to help you achieve your health goals. Our approach includes nutrition education, customized exercise plans, and, when appropriate, a discussion of FDA-approved medications. We focus on supporting you in making sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to improved health and well-being.

Consult with an Endocrinologist in Austin, TX

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our endocrinologists at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology and discover how our diabetes services 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.

women with apple watch on wrist looking at screen

Wearable Devices and Your Health: Insights from Dr. Lucy Esteve

Posted on August 15, 2025August 15, 2025 by Leslie Branon

Wearable technology is becoming an increasingly popular way to monitor health — and for good reason. These devices offer valuable information that can help you better understand your body and make changes to support your overall health.

We asked endocrinologist Dr. Lucy Esteve to share everything you need to know about using wearable devices to help achieve your metabolic health goals.

Why are wearables important in the fight against diabetes?

Over one-third of the U.S. population has prediabetes, and 9 out of 10 people remain undiagnosed. That’s why there’s a pressing need for more widespread screening in the community to help prevent progression to diabetes and the complications that come with it. Wearable devices give us an opportunity to engage patients in their own health and help them make informed changes.

What types of wearable devices are available, and what do they track?

Wearables are non-invasive biometric sensors worn on the body and used worldwide for personalized health monitoring. Think of devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and Oura Ring. They generate objective data such as step count, calories burned, sleep patterns, and physiological stress. That immediate feedback can be leveraged to improve glycemic control, encourage self-care, and boost self-efficacy.

Can wearables measure blood sugar?

It’s important to know that, as of yet, smartwatches in the U.S. are not FDA-approved for detecting glycemic dysfunction and don’t provide reliable, real-time glucose levels. However, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are minimally invasive wearables that are FDA-approved for managing diabetes and they’ve truly revolutionized how we detect and address blood sugar issues.

What’s new in CGM technology?

We now have over-the-counter CGMs like Abbott’s Lingo and Dexcom’s Stelo. These are designed for people who want to track their metabolic health even without a diabetes diagnosis and do not require a prescription. They allow users to monitor trends in blood glucose rather than single data points like a lab draw, and data can even be shared with healthcare professionals via apps like Dexcom Clarity.

Are there limitations to these devices?

OTC CGMs can be costly, and they only measure glucose levels (they don’t provide additional biometric data). They also don’t have high or low glucose alerts, and accuracy can vary within an acceptable range. Finally, not all of them are integrated into electronic health record systems, which can make clinical workflow more challenging.”

Can you share an example of when CGM technology made a difference for a patient?

A patient in her 40s came to see me for evaluation of intermittent episodes of anxiety, shakiness, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, and weight gain despite a healthy lifestyle. Her extensive cardiac work-up (EKG, stress testing and echocardiogram) and psychiatric evaluation (for anxiety disorder) were normal, and even her fingerstick glucose checks looked fine. We decided to try a CGM for two weeks, and she carefully logged her meals, symptoms, and exercise. When we reviewed the data together, we found she was having rapid blood sugar spikes after higher-carb meals, followed by quick drops — typical of reactive hypoglycemia. By simply adjusting her diet and adding more frequent high-protein snacks every 2–3 hours, her symptoms improved dramatically.

The Bottom Line

Wearable devices are powerful tools that can help patients and healthcare providers work together toward better health outcomes. As Dr. Esteve explains, they are not a replacement for medical evaluation, but when used correctly, they can be a game-changer in understanding and managing your health.

Consult with an Endocrinologist in Austin, TX

Can Your GLP-1 Medication Make You More Prone to Heat Illness?

Posted on August 4, 2025August 4, 2025 by Leslie Branon

GLP-1 agonists—such as semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro)—have revolutionized diabetes and weight management. While they help improve blood sugar control and support weight loss, it’s important to understand how these medications, along with diabetes itself, can increase the risk of heat-related illness in Central Texas’ summer heat.

Why GLP-1s and Heat Don’t Always Mix

1. Digestive effects that can dehydrate
GLP-1s often slow digestion, resulting in side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea/constipation. Coupled with high temperatures and humidity, this may push you into dehydration faster, even on a seemingly normal day.

2. Reduced appetite, reduced thirst
These medications can suppress both appetite and thirst, making it easier to overlook the need for fluids, especially when you’re sweating more in the heat.

Why People with Diabetes Face Greater Heat Risk

Even without GLP-1s, people with diabetes are more vulnerable to heat-related illness. Elevated blood sugar levels can lead to dehydration, and certain diabetes complications, like nerve damage or reduced sweat gland function, can impair the body’s ability to cool down. Additionally, people with diabetes may not feel early warning signs of heat exhaustion as clearly, especially if they have neuropathy. Some diabetes-related blood pressure medications (like diuretics or beta-blockers) can also affect fluid balance or heart rate, further complicating the body’s heat response.

Making Safe Choices in the Heat

Here are practical tips to reduce your risk of heat-related illness:

Hydration is essential: Carry water or electrolyte drinks and sip regularly, even before you feel thirsty. Avoid sugary or caffeinated beverages.
Choose cooler hours for activity: Exercise early morning or evening when temperatures are lower and humidity is less intense.
Dress smart: Opt for light, loose-fitting clothing, sunscreen, and protective accessories like hats or cooling towels.
Monitor the heat index: Central Texas summers often reach triple digits, and with humidity, it can feel like 104°F or higher. Avoid going outdoors during peak heat hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., to reduce your risk of heat-related illness.
Protect temperature-sensitive supplies: Insulin, pumps, glucose strips, and sensors can lose effectiveness or be damaged in high heat.
Track symptoms and call your care team: Watch for nausea, dizziness, weakness, confusion, or fainting, and stay connected if you’re experiencing side effects or changes in glucose.

If you’re managing diabetes with GLP-1s or other medications, be sure to plan ahead to stay on track and avoid heat-related complications.

Diabetes, Thyroid and Osteoporosis Specialists in Austin, TX

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Women and Thyroid Disease

Posted on May 27, 2025May 27, 2025 by Leslie Branon

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck that produces the hormone that regulates body’s metabolism, growth and development. Factors that may lead the thyroid to malfunction include autoimmune disorders, an iodine deficiency, some medications, and even stress.

If it’s not working properly, it can result in a number of health issues, especially for women.

According to the American Thyroid Association, one in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime.

In honor of World Thyroid Day on May 25th our team of board-certified endocrinologists and thyroid specialists are helping spread awareness about the common thyroid issues affecting women, like hypothyroidism (underactive) and hyperthyroidism (overactive) and Hashimoto’s Disease.

Symptoms that may indicate you have a thyroid problem are fatigue, restlessness, change in heart beat, unexplained weight gain or loss, or irregular or absent periods.

The greatest toll a troubled thyroid takes on a woman’s body is to her reproductive system.

Here are the various stages and phases of the female reproductive cycle and how they are affected by the thyroid:

The Fertile Years

Thyroid problems can affect ovulation (releasing an egg from the ovary) and impair fertility. Thyroid problems can cause menstrual cycle irregularities (frequent cycles, no cycles or delayed cycles and increased bleeding)

Pregnancy & Post-Pregnancy

A thyroid issue during pregnancy, if left untreated, can be very serious and potentially damage the fetus (neuropsychological and cognitive impairment in the child) or lead to premature birth or stillbirth, miscarriage, preterm delivery, placental abruption, or pre-eclempsia, which dangerously elevates the mother’s blood pressure. Postpartum (after delivery), some women might have high thyroid levels due to postpartum thyroiditis.

Menopause & Bone Health

An overactive thyroid gland can bring on early menopause in some women, as early as 40 years old. It can also deplete bones of calcium and result in a common condition known as osteoporosis.

How is thyroid disease treated?

Successful treatment for both an overactive or underactive thyroid is often easily accomplished with medication prescribed by an endocrinologist. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits will also greatly support your thyroid treatment, such as following a well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep, not smoking, exercising regularly, and particularly for women, using weights to improve bone density.

Contact Us to Help Manage your Diabetes, Osteoporosis 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 services 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.