The 8 Warning Signs of Diabetes: Should You Get Tested?
With more than 30 million adults living with diabetes in the U.S., we all know someone who’s developed this illness. In fact, diabetes has become increasingly common over the last 20 years. During this time period, diagnoses have tripled in the U.S.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 15% of the adult population in Tennessee has diabetes, while 35.8% has prediabetes.
What Is Diabetes?
But what exactly is diabetes? In short, it’s a chronic disease that compromises your body’s ability to process food into energy. There are three types: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, which can occur among pregnant women.
In this post, we’re going to focus on type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90-95% of cases in the U.S. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the insulin hormone, which plays a critical role in turning blood sugar into energy, can’t keep up. In most cases, the pancreas will not produce enough insulin to meet the demand of the glucose level. This can lead to other major health problems, such as kidney disease and heart disease.
The 8 Warning Signs of Diabetes
Approximately one in four people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. This is just one reason why it’s so important to recognize the early warning signs that type 2 diabetes presents. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over a third of all adults in the U.S. have prediabetes (and 90% don’t know it).
So, what are the warning signs?
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Increased hunger
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss (despite eating as usual)
- Frequent urination (or urinary tract infections)
Should You Get Tested for Diabetes?
If you experience any of the symptoms discussed above, see your primary care physician or an internal medicine doctor in Nashville for an evaluation. These symptoms, on their own, do not necessarily indicate the presence of diabetes. However, it is important to get checked out if you’re experiencing symptoms such as fatigue and blurred vision.
If your provider deems it necessary, you may get tested with a simple blood sugar test. There are several blood tests that are easily performed in office; results are often available quickly.
See an Internal Medicine Doctor In Nashville
Need help managing your diabetes? Looking for a physician who will partner with you for better health? Meet the internal medicine providers at St. Thomas Medical Group. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call +1 (615) 297-2700
. You can also request an appointment online.
What’s Covered In a Men’s Wellness Exam?
Only sixty percent of men go to the doctor for annual physical.
And just over forty percent of men will go to the doctor only if they think they have a serious medical condition.
These findings from a recent Cleveland Clinic survey raise a few questions, namely, why aren’t men visiting their doctors?
Annual Wellness Exam for Men
Guys, the truth is, your health insurance plan covers you for one free wellness exam every year. If you have Medicare or a health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you can receive an annual wellness exam from a doctor or provider in your plan’s network.
You don’t have to wait until you’re sick to see a physician. When you develop a relationship with a Nashville doctor at St. Thomas Medical Group, you help us establish what we call “baseline wellness.” Then, if you do become sick, we have some information we can use for comparison.
Additionally, when you develop a relationship with a physician, we can establish records of your personal medical history and family history, which help us provide better informed and potentially more effective care later on, should you become sick.
What Does a Marketplace Health Plan Cover?
According to HealthCare.gov, plans must offer the following preventive services without charging you a copayment or coinsurance (even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible):
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening
- Colorectal cancer screening (men ages 50-75)
- Depression screening
- Type 2 diabetes screening (men ages 40-70 who are overweight or obese)
- HIV screening
- Immunization vaccines
- Tobacco and alcohol use screening
- …and much more
Your annual wellness exam can be an opportunity to get checked out for a number of health conditions. (See the rest of the list here.)
Why Get an Annual Wellness Exam?
Men’s wellness exams offer many benefits. These are just a few great reasons why you should schedule with a doctor in Nashville today…
- Wellness exams may lead to early detection of an illness; early detection could result in better outcomes.
- Wellness exams could lead to the detection of risk factors for chronic disease, creating an opportunity to change lifestyle habits and prevent the development of disease.
- Wellness exams provide an opportunity for your doctor to update your clinical data, creating a more accurate picture of your overall health, which may be critical in an emergency.
See a Doctor in Nashville at St. Thomas Medical Group
Has it been a while since your last men’s wellness exam? Schedule an appointment with a provider at St. Thomas Medical Group by calling +1 (615) 297-2700. You can also request an appointment online at your convenience.
Building a Campfire or Bonfire? Read This First!
The temperature has dropped and that crisp autumn breeze has blown into Nashville. As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, many Nashvillians will light up the fire pit! Whether you’re going camping at Fall Creek Falls or just enjoying a warm fire in your own backyard, be sure to follow these guidelines for your own health and safety!
Health & Safety Guide for Campfires & Bonfires
- Check the county’s policy on fires and burn bans before making a fire.
- Never use gasoline or any flammable that is not exclusively intended for fire-starting purposes.
- Build your fire away from fences, trees, and overhead items (string lights, telephone wires, etc.).
- Only burn dry material, as damp wood causes excess smoke.
- As a general rule, a fire should be distanced at least 5x its height from the nearest structure. For example, a fire burning four-feet tall should be at least 20 feet away from your home.
- Always keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case the flames get out of control.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Closely supervise children around a fire.
- Anything that goes into the fire stays in the fire.
- Store extra wood upwind of the fire.
First Aid for Burns
Accidents happen. If a burn does occur, follow this first aid guide.
Option #1 – At-Home Care. Many first-degree burns can be treated at home with basic first aid practices. Follow these steps.
- Stop the burning.
- Remove any clothing or jewelry in the area.
- Cool the burn by running cool (not cold) water over the skin until pain diminishes.
- Protect the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive cloth or bandage.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers.
See your Nashville doctor at St. Thomas Medical Group if pain and redness lasts several hours or more, if the burn produces a large burn blister, or if you notice any signs of infection (such as swelling, oozing, fever, worsening pain).
Option #2 – Call 911. Certain types of burns require emergency care. This includes burns that…
- Sear through multiple layers of skin.
- Are on the hands, feet, face or genitals.
- Cause leathery, charred, white, black, or brown marks on the skin.
Always call 911 if the burn victim is an infant or senior.
St. Thomas Medical Group: Partners In Your Health
At St. Thomas Medical Group, primary care physicians partner with patients throughout Nashville with a common goal: better health. To learn more about how you can better care for yourself and your family, schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor at St. Thomas Medical Group. You can schedule online or by calling +1 (615) 297-2700.
