Diabetes

When you’re living with diabetes, you need the highest standard of care from true endocrine disease specialists. At Endocrine and Psychiatry Center, Rakesh Patel, DO, heads up a team of experts in two offices in Houston and Katy, Texas, who understand almost every aspect of diabetes. Call the office nearest you or book your appointment using the online scheduler today.

What are the signs of diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that happens when you have high blood sugar levels for a long period of time. This can have multiple damaging effects in nearly every part of your body. 

However, the signs of diabetes might be subtle in the early stages, and many people mistake those symptoms for normal signs of aging. Some signs that you could have diabetes include: 

• Blurry vision
• Difficulty hearing
• Tiredness
• Irritability
• Dry and itchy skin
• Velvety patches of skin
• Slow-healing cuts and bruises
• Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet
• Appetite and weight changes
• Frequent urination

Approximately 11.3% of the entire American population has diabetes today, so if you have these symptoms and learn you have diabetes, you're not alone. The Endocrine and Psychiatry Center can help with diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and long-term health.

What does diabetes treatment involve?

Diabetes treatment is a team effort at the Endocrine and Psychiatry Center. You’ll work closely with providers who specialize in all the individual facets of the disease so you can live healthily. Some of the main aspects of diabetes management include: 

• Medication for co-occurring diseases
• Insulin injections or pumps
• Continuous glucose monitoring with the Eversense®system
• Medical weight loss if needed
• Lifestyle coaching
• Mental health support
• Diabetes education
• Vaccinations as recommended (flu, pneumonia, hepatitis B)
• Moving more and sitting less
• Quitting smoking
• Eating a nutritious diet

Diabetes is a disease that affects your entire body, so treatment must also take your whole-body health into account. The team has experts from across many disciplines to manage all of your diabetes needs, from testing and treatment to long-term support.  

How often do I need to see a specialist for diabetes care?

Schedule your first appointment at the Endocrine and Psychiatry Center after your diabetes diagnosis. Following that, you should schedule routine check-ups once a year, at a minimum. The team can perform comprehensive diabetes evaluations, including lab testing, imaging tests, and retina scans, in the office.

Should you develop any new health issues, experience difficulty controlling or monitoring your blood sugar, or have any other problems that could affect your health, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. 

If you have diabetes or have signs that concern you, Endocrine and Psychiatry Center is here for you. Call the office nearest to you or click on the online scheduling tool to arrange your consultation with diabetes experts now.