Diabetes Prevention Center - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge Family Physician Doctors for Diabetes PreventionType of Physician: Family Physician What is a Family Physician? A certification by the Board of Family Practice; practitioners prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages, placing special emphasis on the care of families on a continuing basis. They have received a broad range of training that includes surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and geriatrics. Specialty: Family Practice Common Name: Family Doctor Family Physician Doctors in Cambridge * Cambridge Family Health  Cambridge Family Health  Women's Health Center  Cambridge Family Health  Cambridge Family Health  Cambridge Family Health  Cambridge Family Health  Cambridge Family Health  Cambridge Family Health  Winter Street Health Center  Winter Street Health Center  Harvard University Health Services  Harvard University Health Services  Union Square Family Health Center  Boston University Student Health Services  Boston University Student Health Services  Cathy L VandenHeuvel MD  Edna Butaney MD  MGH Back Bay Healthcare Center  Joseph M Smith Community Health Center  Joseph M Smith Community Health Center  Joseph M Smith Community Health Center  Ming Tat Wong MD  South End Associates of Fenway  Fenway Community Health Center  Children's Hospital Boston Sports Medicine  Stanley Hochberg MD  East Somerville Health Center  East Somerville Health Center  East Somerville Health Center  Family Medicine at Ball Square  Davis Square Family Practice  Family Medicine at Ball Square  Alliance Health Care  Family Medicine at Ball Square  Brookline Family Practice  MGH Palliative Care Center  MGH Vincent OB/Gyn Service  Somerville Family Practice  Somerville Family Practice  Marino Center for Progressive Health  Boston University Center for Infectious Diseases  Boston Healthcare for the Homeless  Boston Medical Center Family Medical Clinic  Boston Medical Center Family Practice  Boston Medical Center Family Medical Clinic  Boston Medical Center Family Practice  Boston Medical Center Family Practice  Boston Medical Center Family Practice  Boston Medical Center Family Medical Clinic  Boston Medical Center Family Medical Clinic  Boston Medical Center Family Medical Clinic  Jose Ruano MD  Boston Medical Center Family Medical Clinic  South Cove Community Health Center  Tufts Medical Center Weight & Wellness Center  Medford Family Care  Medford Family Care  Rothfeld Center for Integrative Medicine  Medford Family Care  MGH Everett Family Care  MGH Everett Family Care  MGH Everett Family Care  MGH Everett Family Care  MGH Everett Family Care  Malden Family Health Center  Malden Family Health Center  Malden Family Health Center  Malden Family Health Center  Dhirendra S Bana MD  Upham's Corner Health Center  South Boston Community Health Ctr  South Boston Community Health Ctr  South Boston Community Health Ctr  Upham's Corner Health Center  South Boston Community Health Ctr  David Lundin MD  South Boston Community Health Ctr  Upham's Corner Health Center  Upham's Corner Health Center  Upham's Corner Health Center  South Boston Community Health Ctr  East Boston Neighborhood Health Center  East Boston Neighborhood Health Center  East Boston Neighborhood Health Center  East Boston Neighborhood Health Center  Family Practice Group  Family Practice Group  Family Practice Group  Malden Family Doctors  Malden Family Doctors  Malden Family Doctors  Family Practice Group  Bowdoin Street Health Center  Arlington Family Practice  Arlington Family Practice  Maureen E Norman DO  Phuli Cohan MD  Geiger Gibson Community Health Center  Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center Cambridge, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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Diabetes PreventionRead the Diabetes Prevention article » Introduction to diabetes preventionI'm pretty lucky in my office practice. I have friendly patients who are usually already fairly well informed about their disease. They are also generally willing to have discussions about therapies and options. What I have noticed (much to my delight) is that there are a growing number of patients coming to me for evaluation BEFORE they actually have developed diabetes, wanting to know how to prevent it. Most of them have seen family members with diabetes go through the process of diagnosis and management. As our attitude towards disease changes, and we learn to focus on prevention, I have more and more to discuss with these patients. Ultimately, I hope to see a paradigm shift where our focus is primarily on prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes. For now, I hope this review provides some information to those of you wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes, and that it encourages you to open up a dialogue with your own doctor about diabetes prevention. There are 2 major forms of diabetes - type 1 and type 2. This article focuses specifically on type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes is virtually a pandemic in the United States. This article reviews the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and covers key points regarding predicting who is at risk for type 2 diabetes (and what they can do about it).
What is type 2 diabetes?While diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar values, type 2 diabetes is also associated with a condition known as insulin resistance. While there is an element of impaired insulin secretion from the beta cells of the pancreas especially when toxic levels of glucose occur (when blood sugars are constantly very high), the major defect is the body's inability to respond properly to insulin. Eventually, the pancreas is working it's best to produce more and more insulin, but ... Recommended Reading Related to Diabetes PreventionEating and DiabetesYou can take good care of yourself and your diabetes by learning
Making wise food choices can help you
Healthful eating helps keep your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, in your target range. Physical activity and, if needed, diabetes medicines also help. The diabetes target range is the blood glucose level suggested by diabetes experts for good health. You can help prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target. Diabetes and Blood Glucose LevelsWhat should my blood glucose levels be?
Other Related Diabetes Prevention ArticlesEmergency Contact for Cambridge
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Suggested Reading on Diabetes Prevention by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
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Stroke
- A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. A stroke is also referred to as a CVA, or cerebrovascular incident. Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance, and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack is a short-lived temporary impairment of the brain caused by loss of blood supply. Stroke is a medical emergency.
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Hypoglycemia
- Hypoglycemia is a syndrome caused by low blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include palpitations, trembling, intense hunger, sweating, nervousness, and weakness. Consuming lifesavers, table sugar, soda, and juice are good treatment options for hypoglycemia.
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Insulin Resistance
- Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues. Causes of insulin can include conditions such as stress, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and steroid use. Some of the risk factors for insulin resistance include fatty liver, heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, high cholesterol, and smoking. Treatment for insulin resistance are lifestyle changes and if necessary, medication.
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Obesity
- Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight. That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and build.
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Heart Disease
- Heart disease (coronary artery disease) is caused by a buildup of cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, heredity, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and obesity. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. There are a variety of tests used to diagnose coronary artery disease. Treatment includes life-style changes, medications, procedures, or surgery.
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Metabolic Syndrome
- The main features of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, hypertension (high blood pressure), cholesterol abnormalities, and an increased risk for clotting. Patients are most often overweight or obese. Lifestyle modification such as the Mediterranean diet, exercise, and quitting smoking are the preferred treatment of metabolic syndrome.
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Diabetes Treatment
- The major goal in treating diabetes is controlling elevated blood sugar without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Treatment for type 1 diabetes is with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Treatment for type 2 diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugar, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.
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Turner Syndrome
- Turner syndrome is an inherited chromosomal condition affecting women. Women with Turner syndrome do not have ovarian function, and features of the syndrome include webbed neck, lymphedema of the hands and feet, heart defects, kidney problems, and skeletal abnormalities. The X chromosome is related to Turner syndrome. Treatment focuses on the symptoms of the syndrome.
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Preeclampsia (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension)
- Preeclampsia is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine. Preeclampsia typically begins after the 20th week of pregnancy. When preeclampsia causes seizures, it is termed "eclampsia" and is the second leading cause of maternal death of in the US. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of fetal complications. Risk factors for preeclampsia include high blood pressure, obesity, multiple births, and women with preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. Pregnancy planning and lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy.
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Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal artery stenosis is a narrowing of the diameter of the renal arteries. When the renal arteries narrow, the result is restricted blood flow to the kidneys, which may lead to impaired kidney function and high blood pressure (referred to as renovascular hypertension (RVHT). Renal artery stenosis can occur in one or both kidneys. The primary cause of renal artery stenosis is atherosclerosis. Risk factors for renal artery stenosis include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, age, cigarette smoking, and diabetes. Symptoms of renal artery stenosis include high blood pressure that does not respond to treatment, severe high blood pressure in individuals younger than 30 or greater than 50 years of age. Renal artery stenosis is diagnosed with imaging and functional tests. Treatment for renal artery stenosis include medication or surgery.
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Diabetic Diet
- A diabetic diet, or diabetes diet helps keep blood glucose levels in the target range for patients. Exercise and medication may also help stabilize blood glucose levels. Keeping track of when you take your diabetic medicine, keeping track of food choices, eating the proper amount of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, and fats will also help maintain proper blood glucose levels.
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Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Prader-Willi syndrome is a condition characterized by severe floppiness (hypotonia), poor growth, delayed development, and poor feeding problems in early infancy later followed in infancy by excessive eating that may lead to extreme obesity. The genitals in both females and males are underdeveloped and most are infertile. Prader-Willi syndrome is related to chromosome 15.
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Diabetes and Foot Problems
- Diabetes related foot problems can affect your health with two problems: diabetic neuropathy, where diabetes affects the nerves, and peripheral vascular disease, where diabetes affects the flow of blood. Common foot problems for people with diabetes include athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, foot ulcers, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
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Diabetes and Kidney Disease
- In the United States diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. High blood pressure and high levels of blood glucose increase the risk that a person with diabetes will eventually progress to kidney failure. Kidney disease in people with diabetes develops over the course of many years. albumin and eGFR are two key markers for kidney disease in people with diabetes. Controlling high blood pressure, blood pressure medications, a moderate protein diet, and compliant management of blood glucose can slow the progression of kidney disease. For those patients who's kidneys eventually fail, dialysis or kidney transplantation is the only option.
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Diabetic Home Care and Monitoring
- Managing your diabetes is important. The goal of diabetic therapy is to control blood glucose levels and prevent the complications of diabetes. Information about exercise, diet diet, and medication will help you manage your diabetes better. Blood glucose reagent strips, blood glucose meters, urine glucose tests, tests for urinary ketones, continuous glucose sensors, and Hemoglobin A1C testing information is also provided in this article.
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Healthy Living & Disease Prevention
- The importance of a healthy lifestyle in disease prevention is widely understood and most people know that lifestyle changes and choices can be critical to good health. Yet, few practice healthy behaviors that constitute healthy living.
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High Cholesterol: Frequently Asked Questions
- Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body. High blood cholesterol levels increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, TIAs, and more. In addition to medication (fibrates, statins, bile acid sequestrants, and niacin), lifestyle changes can be made to lower blood cholesterol levels
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Disease Prevention in Women
- Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
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Stroke Prevention
- Stroke is the third leading killer in the United States. Some of the warning signs of stroke include sudden confusion, trouble seeing with one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, and more. Stroke prevention and reatable risk factors for stroke include lowering high blood pressure, quit smoking, heart disease, diabetes control and prevention.
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Diabetes: Caring for Your Diabetes at Special Times
- Taking care of a disease such as diabetes is a life-long process. Learn how to care for yourself or loved one with diabetes in situations such as illness, work, school, travel, or a natural disaster.
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Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
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Medications
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Procedures & Tests
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Pictures, Images & Quizzes
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Doctor's & Expert's Views
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108 articles -
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