Tips to Help You Manage Diabetes

Diabetes refers to a group of diseases affecting how your body processes sugar or glucose. These conditions, which include type one and type two diabetes, both come from different causes, and in some cases, can be reversible. However, both conditions cannot manage the excess sugar in the blood system, which can lead to serious health issues, which include cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, Alzheimer’s disease, and nerve damage. Managing diabetes is a lifelong challenge, but the key to keeping diabetes in check is to check your blood sugar levels and keep them as normal as possible. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your diabetes in check.

Practice Self-Monitoring Techniques

Diabetes has two important indicators: glycated hemoglobin and blood glucose. For glycated hemoglobin, regular visits to the doctor’s office can help manage and check in on your diabetes. For blood glucose, it can be measured at home with the use of insulin and should be checked before and after meals, at bedtime, and before exercising. Make a journal of any dietary changes, physical activities, and medications to manage your blood sugar levels.

Maintain Healthy Weight Levels

Maintaining a healthy weight involves keeping an eye on any weight loss progress made, including setting goals, making notes of any changes to diet, and the amount of exercise achieved. With weight loss, the effects of type two diabetes can be reversed and can lower the glycated hemoglobin levels from 0.3% to 2% in adults.

Follow Good Nutrition Guides

Meal plans become extremely important when dealing with diabetes because certain foods containing high amounts of sugar can raise blood sugar levels in a matter of minutes. For those with diabetes, developing a plan with a dietitian can help control blood sugar levels through portion control and eating healthier foods. Taking in fewer carbs, eating more vegetables, and incorporating more whole grains into your diet can ultimately control your blood sugar completely.

Exercise Consistently and Regularly

Exercise can control blood sugar levels, reduce glycated hemoglobin, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases. Many nutritionists recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise a day for most days of the week can help manage diabetes and reduce insulin resistance. Those with diabetes should avoid sitting for long periods of time, and giving breaks to sedentary periods can help control blood sugar overall.

Take Medication As Prescribed

People with diabetes who don’t take their prescribed medication will have a higher risk of mortality rate, increase the risk of complications, and an increase in overall health costs. While complex treatment plans may seem hard to follow, addressing habits and non-adherence to medication to your doctors will help resolve any issues present and improve the likelihood of type two diabetes from being reduced.

While diabetes is not curable, a person with diabetes has the tools available to manage their condition. By following nutrition and diet plans, along with regular exercise, diabetes will become easier to manage and easier to live with overall. If you wish to learn more, contact Dr. Trang D Nguyen at Conroe Family Doctor in Conroe, TX.

New Year, New You: Start With An Annual Physical!

Yearly physicals aren’t just for children; adults are as much in need of a physical every year as their children are! In fact, adults likely need a physical even more than children do as the years go on. As we age, there are conditions and concerns that can crop up that a yearly physical can help catch before it becomes dangerous. You never know when it might save your life! If you want to know what to expect during your yearly exam, read on!

What To Expect

During every visit to your physician, there are a few things you expect, and these same things will occur when you go for a yearly physical. These include having your temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and pulse being taken. Each of these can be a window into your overall health and reveal potential problems, but they aren’t comprehensive. When you get a full physical, you can expect to have your nerves tested; a full body examination performed looking for abnormalities in your extremities, skin, and abdomen. Blood screens are often included as well to identify concerns with hormone and cholesterol levels, among other things.

You’re Never Too Old To Get A Physical

There will never come a point in your life where you’re too old to get a physical, and in fact, new elements may be added to your physical as you age. These include prostate exams for men, mammograms for women, and colonoscopies for everyone. These tests, in particular, are looking for the occurrence of certain forms of cancer that tend to appear as patients get older. These represent just a couple of the concerns that can be identified or addressed with a yearly physical.

What Tests Are Part Of A Standard Physical?

The four basic tests that are included with every physical include the following:

  • Blood Pressure: A visit with your friendly sphygmomanometer, or blood pressure cuff, is a standard part of every visit. Your physician will be checking to see if you fall in healthy levels, usually with numbers under 120 and over 80 being considered normal.
  • Heart Rates: Cardio concerns can be identified by checking your heart rate. Normal resting heart rates are between 60 and 100, though exceptionally healthy patients may see rates under 60.
  • Breathing Rate: This test checks to see how many breaths you take in a minute. If you are taking more than 20 breaths a minute while at rest, there may be concerns with your lungs or heart that need addressing.
  • Temperature: Body temperatures for healthy patients tend to be around 98.6F, though again, healthy patients may see numbers higher or lower than this.

With 2020 getting off to a fantastic start, it’s time to make sure the year continues as it has begun. Call Dr. Trang D Nguyen at Conroe Family Doctor in Conroe, TX today and get scheduled for a physical to ensure that there are no health issues waiting to ruin your year. Why not make 2020 the year that you make getting a yearly physical part of your usual preventative care routine?

Conroe Family Doctor 2019 Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition

Conroe Family Doctor 2019 Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition didn’t turn out so ugly after all! Looks like these finalists got really creative which all of them turned out very cute! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Years! So, which one do you like the best? Also love to see your ugly Christmas sweaters to compare. To Call 936-441-2012 or visit our new location 1020 Riverwood CT. Suite # 100. Conroe, TX. 77304

Staying Active During The Holidays

The Holidays are coming up, and that usually represents a time of leisure and consuming far too much delicious food. Unfortunately, once the holidays have passed we’re left with all of the weight we’ve packed on as well as the lethargy that comes from inactivity. Why not take steps to change all that this holiday season? While enjoying all those delicious meals and heartwarming family moments, remember to stay active so you can start next year as strong as you started the holidays. Below we’ve provided a list of some tips to help you stay active during these long winter months.

Begin By Planning Ahead

More important than what you do to keep active is ensuring that you have a plan to keep active. This is especially true during the chaos and randomness of the winter holidays. If you’re heading out of town find out where the local parks and such are, as well as any gyms that may have a day pass. This planning process is a mental training step towards committing to your workout.

Less Is More

Don’t think that you have to do workouts for hours at a time. When it comes to working out less can be more, especially if you plan for 10-20 minute bouts during the day. Walking, running, and jogging can all be done for short spurts and still result in visible benefits for your long journey. If you’re really going for it you can consider HIT, or High-Intensity Interval Training, to get the most out of your time. They alternate between periods of high intensity and short recovery periods and have been shown to be effective.

When You All Pull Together

Holidays are about family, and that can apply to holiday fitness as well. Get with your friends, family, or coworkers to build an exercise regimen and make a commitment to sticking to it. You may also discover that family members who have been inactive start wanting to join you on your journey to fitness during the winter.

Appreciate The Season

Let’s face it, getting out and exercising in the Texas summer isn’t the greatest idea, especially when you’re first starting out. The milder winter season is going to be a great time to start working out and conditioning yourself for the months ahead. They also happen to be the time when events like Christmas and Thanksgiving walking marathons and fun runs are going on.

If you’re looking for other ways to look after your health in the months ahead then stop in at Conroe Family Doctor for a consultation with Dr. Trang D Nguyen. Their team will help you go over your current state of health and your fitness goals and help you design a dedicated plan to reach your goals. Fitness isn’t just a momentary thing, it’s a dedicated lifestyle change that can result in a longer, healthier life. Don’t wait for the winter season to take its toll on you, get out there and take strides to keep the weight off and feel after the holidays!

Call For A Consultation Today