What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body has trouble using sugar for energy because it doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it well. When diabetes is not controlled, too much sugar stays in the blood. Over time, this can cause problems with the heart, eyes, kidneys and feet.
How Can You Prevent Problems Related to Diabetes?
Managing your diabetes can prevent serious health conditions and maintain your overall well-being.
Kelli Sims, PharmD, is a Diabetes Stewardship Pharmacist at University Health. Below, she outlines some of the best ways for people with diabetes to stay on top of their health.
Get Labs Regularly
These lab tests are important for people with diabetes to get at least once a year.
A1C
A1C is a blood test that shows the average level of sugar in your blood over about three months. It is like a report card for your diabetes. The A1C goal for most people with diabetes is less than 7%, but some people have a different goal. You can ask your doctor what your A1C goal is.
Lipid Panel
A lipid panel is a blood test that checks your cholesterol level. You should be fasting when you have this test done. Keeping healthy cholesterol levels is important to prevent heart problems.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A CMP is a blood test that shows how well your body is working overall. It checks things like sugar, salt, and how healthy your liver and kidneys are.
Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR)
This test measures the amount of protein in your urine (pee), which helps show how well your kidneys are doing.
Talk with your doctor to make sure you are getting the labs and bloodwork you need. University Health can complete these labs if your doctor has ordered them. Find out more about our lab services online.
Have Your Eyes Checked
A diabetic eye exam is a special check-up to make sure your eyes are healthy. People with diabetes should get this exam yearly to prevent conditions like diabetic retinopathy.
Your doctor will look closely at the inside of the eyes to see if diabetes is causing any problems with the veins in your eyes. Sometimes they use a bright light or take pictures of the eyes to look even closer.
Ask your primary care provider for a diabetic eye exam or eye doctor referral. Find out more about eye care at University Health or make an appointment with ophthalmology online.
Check Your Feet
Diabetes can limit blood flow to your feet, causing numbness and wounds that won’t heal. In severe cases, this can result in amputation.
Check your feet at home on a regular basis. Look for cuts, redness or blisters, using a mirror, or asking someone to help if you can’t see the bottom of your feet. Gently touch your feet to make sure you can still feel everything. Doing this every day helps catch small problems before they become big ones.
A complete diabetic foot exam is done at a doctor’s office to make sure your feet are healthy. The doctor or nurse looks at the skin, nails and how the foot moves to make sure everything looks okay. They also use a tiny tool called monofilament, which feels like a piece of fishing line, to gently touch the foot and see if you can feel it. This helps make sure the nerves in the feet are working well.
People with diabetes should have a foot exam at least once a year by a primary care provider, diabetes doctor or foot doctor.
University Health offers the Limb Salvage Clinic, one of the few of its kind in South Texas. Here, we connect patients with advanced treatments and technologies to prevent amputation and ensure continued mobility.
Check Your Blood Pressure
Most people with diabetes should have a blood pressure goal of less than 140/90. Ask your doctor what your blood pressure is, what it should be, and how to lower it.
Your nurse will measure your blood pressure at each doctor’s appointment, and you can check it at home too. Learn how to check your blood pressure at home in our blog.
Go to the Dentist
Diabetes raises the risk for gum disease and infections. A dentist can catch problems early and help keep teeth and gums healthy. Regular check-ups protect overall gum and teeth health and prevent bigger issues later.
University Health partners with University of Texas Dentistry San Antonio. Find other community resources and dental clinics online.
Get a Medicine Check
Some medicines are very important for people with diabetes. These medicines can help protect your heart and kidneys. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you are taking the best medication for you.
- Statins can help prevent heart conditions
- Examples: Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin
- GLP-1 medicines can also help protect your heart
- Examples: Ozempic, Mounjaro
- SGLT2 medicines (sometimes called flozins) can protect your heart and kidneys
- Examples: Farxiga, Jardiance
- Blood pressure medicines can help protect your heart and kidneys
- Examples: lisinopril, losartan
- Fish oil (omega-3 medicine) may help protect the heart in some people with diabetes.
- Examples: Vascepa, Lovaza
- Low-dose aspirin may be used for people with diabetes who have had a stroke before
To make an appointment with a pharmacist for a medicine review at University Health, call 210-743-8069 or visit us online.
Stop Smoking
Smoking is very harmful for people with diabetes because it can hurt the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. It makes it harder to control blood sugar and raises the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems. Quitting smoking helps your body stay healthier and lowers these risks.
Find more information about how University Health can support you in quitting smoking.
Eat Healthy
Diet is very important for people with diabetes because the food you eat affects your blood sugar. Healthy foods help keep blood sugar levels steady and give your body the energy it needs.
Eating too much sugary or unhealthy food can make blood sugar go too high and cause health problems. Choosing healthy meals helps your body stay strong and feel better every day.
University Health offers Diabetes Self-Management Education classes to help those with diabetes learn more about nutrition and diet.
Exercise
Exercise is important for everyone, but especially for people with diabetes because it helps the body use sugar for energy. Being active can lower blood sugar and help keep it at a healthy level. Exercise also makes your heart stronger and helps you feel happier and more energetic. Moving your body every day, like walking or weight training, keeps you healthy.
University Health has a Fitness Center at Texas Diabetes Institute, free and open to all patients with a provider referral.
Keep Up with Vaccines
People with diabetes often need the same vaccines as everyone else, but some are extra important because diabetes can make it harder for the body to fight infections.
These vaccines help prevent infections that could make diabetes harder to manage.
Flu
This shot will protect you from getting the flu. If you do get the flu, the shot helps prevent the infection from getting worse. It is recommended once a year, usually in the fall or winter.
COVID-19
This shot will protect you from getting a COVID-19 infection. If you do get COVID-19, the shot protects you from the infection getting worse. Talk to your doctor about current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
Shingles
Shingles is a very painful skin rash that happens when an old chickenpox virus “wakes up” in your body. The shingles vaccine works to prevent this from happening. Adults 50 years and older can get this vaccine. It is two doses separated by 2-6 months.
Pneumonia
The bacteria that causes pneumonia can cause lung infections, blood infections and brain infections. Adults age 19 and older with medical problems like diabetes should get vaccinated for pneumonia.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV is a virus that causes flu-like symptpms but can send some people to the hospital. Adults age 50 and older with medical conditions like diabetes can get this vaccine.
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (TDAP)
- Tetanus can get into your body through a cut and make your muscles very stiff.
- Diphtheria can make it hard to breathe and swallow.
- Pertussis, also called whooping cough, causes a very strong, long-lasting cough. This vaccine is usually given to adults every 10 years.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that can be transmitted through infected blood. A person with diabetes should get the hepatitis B vaccine because they may be more likely to come into contact with the virus during blood sugar checks or medical treatments. Hepatitis B can damage the liver, and being sick can make managing diabetes much harder. This vaccine is given in three doses and prevents hepatitis B. You can also ask your doctor for a blood test to see if you are already immune to Hepatitis B.
Comprehensive Diabetes Care at University Health
University Health Texas Diabetes Institute is a world-class facility for diabetes care. We offer all of the services you need to manage your diabetes, from care teams specializing in diabetes and endocrinology to education classes and even a fitness center.
Explore our diabetes services and schedule an appointment online.
