Tag: osteoporosis

Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology Ushers in New Year with Doctor Accolades
Posted on by Leslie Branon

Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology is proud to share that several of our physicians were recognized as Texas Monthly Super Doctors for 2024 and Austin Monthly Top Doctors for 2025.

Our hard-working team of endocrinologists and diabetes experts are honored and humbled to receive peer recognition from the medical community.

Our Texas Monthly Super Doctors for 2024 are:

Super Doctors are selected annually via an intensive review process based on peer recognition and professional achievement. 

This month, Austin Monthly recently recognized its Top Doctors for 2025, including:

Austin Monthly Top Doctors are nominated by peers in the local Austin medical community who would entrust these doctors with their care or the care of a family member. 

TD&E is committed to acting as a valuable resource for fellow physicians, and most importantly, to serving patients with personal and compassionate care and the most cutting-edge therapies available to treat common endocrinology conditions like diabetes and osteoporosis. We also offer thyroid imaging services, heart disease prevention, and weight loss management. 

A hearty congratulations to our Super Doctors and Top Doctors for their well-deserved recognition, and a very happy and healthy new year to all of our patients!

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.  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’s the link between osteoporosis and the gut biome? 
Posted on by Leslie Branon

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month. This condition, marked by severely weakened bones, is one that our board-certified endocrinologists treat daily here at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology (TD&E).

While it is commonly known that calcium helps to strengthen bones and protect against osteoporosis, new research shows that good gut health (or the gut biome) can also play a large role in osteoporosis prevention and boosting bone density (the amount of minerals stored in bones to make them strong). 

The gut biome is the complex mix of microorganisms that live in the body’s intestines and helps with immunity and food processing. 

What is the connection between osteoporosis and the gut biome? 

A new study recently published strongly supports previous findings that a healthy gut biome can in fact improve bone density and help protect against osteoporosis.  This important connection between the gut biome and the body’s bones is known as the gut-bone axis. 

Data shows that eating fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin C can increase production of the bone-making cells that protect them from weakening, or possibly fracturing and breaking, which is typically associated with osteoporosis. This conversion of Vitamin C into powerful bone-boosting cells takes place in the gut. 

Research also continues to show that foods rich in calcium (like dairy products) and high in protein (lean meats and legumes) help to fortify bones and keep them strong. 

Additionally, tracking certain types of bacteria that exist in the gut biome, and then supplementing with lacking bacteria known to boost bone-making cells, may become an increasingly more common option for osteoporosis prevention.  This can be facilitated by a physician recommending a mix of synbiotics (probiotics combined with prebiotics) to promote healthy bacteria in your gut biome.

According to TD&E endocrinologist Dr. Mauli Shah, along with keeping your gut check in health, other ways you can help prevent osteoporosis are with “regular exercise (weight bearing or resistance exercises are best), and taking Vitamin D and calcium supplements.” 

When should you see a doctor for osteoporosis?

Dr. Shah offers the following recommendations for when you should visit a doctor, or endocrinology expert, regarding your risk for osteoporosis:

  • All women 65 years of age and older 
  • Post-menopausal women with certain risk factors, such as those who’ve had a previous fracture or been treated with steroids
  • People who have a family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures 
  • People with rheumatoid arthritis
  • Women who have entered premature menopause or men with low testosterone

Osteoporosis Treatment at Texas Diabetes

Our endocrinology and osteoporosis experts will help develop the right treatment plan for you to address your unique bone health needs. We typically recommend lifestyle modifications to start, like getting more exercise and eating well. Then we’ll determine what combination of dietary supplements, medications, and/or injections and IV infusions are best suited to protect and strengthen your bones. 

Contact Us to Help Manage your Osteoporosis, 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 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.  

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
Posted on by Leslie Branon

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 diabetes, thyroid issues, osteoporosis, 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.

Men's Health low testosterone
Men’s Health Month: Low Testosterone
Posted on by Leslie Branon

June is Men’s Health Month – a time to focus on the health and well-being of men of all ages. One health issue that impacts many men is low testosterone. It is projected that approximately 6.5 million American men between the ages of 30-79 will have low testosterone by 2025.

While there is still much research to be done around the connection of low testosterone to other health issues, there is already an established link between insulin resistance, diabetes and low T. According to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetics are twice as likely to have low testosterone compared to those without diabetes. 

Here is the information you need to know to better understand how low testosterone affects men’s health.

Low Testosterone Overview

The testosterone hormone is a part of the endocrine system and plays a large role in men’s health. It helps regulate muscle mass and strength, it can impact sex drive and sexual function, and it helps maintain bone strength. If a man is diagnosed with hypogonadism, it means they’re experiencing low testosterone along with a potential for other symptoms.

Causes and Symptoms

There are several potential causes of low testosterone, including:

  • Normal aging
  • Certain cancer treatments
  • Diseases affecting the testicles
  • Disorders that affect the pituitary gland

The symptoms of low T depend on the person, but can include:

  • Low energy
  • Low sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • Feelings of sadness or depression
  • Weight gain

Related Health Concerns

Low testosterone is associated with a variety of related health concerns, and some of which can be very serious. 

Examples include:

Low Testosterone Treatment

Low testosterone can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. It is important to talk to your doctor to find the treatment that will work best for you and to monitor your testosterone levels to optimize the results. At Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology, we offer a variety of testosterone replacement treatments, including skin patches, gels, injections, and nasal spray. Our providers will work with you to find a personalized treatment plan.

Consult with an Endocrinologist in Austin, TX

To learn more about low testosterone (low T) and testosterone replacement therapy, schedule a consultation with one of our board certified endocrinologists in Austin or Round Rock by requesting an appointment online or call (512) 458-8400.

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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