diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

Diabetes Management

Do you have prediabetes or diabetes? You are not alone!

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Diabetes is a common condition that can be prevented or managed with exercise, food, and medications. This does not mean you have to start training for a marathon and drink only kale smoothies, though! Small steps can lead to big rewards. 

Not sure if you are at risk for diabetes? Take our risk quiz to see!

myA1C inCheck Diabetes Management Program at Chase Brexton Health Care

For many people, diabetes can be hard to manage. If you are having trouble keeping your A1c and blood sugar at healthy levels, Chase Brexton Health Care’s myA1C inCheck Diabetes Management Program may be right for you. 

This program is designed to make managing your diabetes simpler for you, so you can live your healthiest life!

With the myA1C inCheck team, you will get a realistic treatment and healthy lifestyle plan that is created just for you. A plan that you CAN maintain. A plan that works FOR YOU.

With myA1C inCheck you will get your A1c and blood sugar to healthy levels for your healthiest life possible!

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Nutrition Counseling & Education

Food is important for us. Not only physically, but socially and emotionally. Healthy eating and activity can do a lot to help manage your diabetes. But, you may think that healthy eating means you can't eat the food you love. You might think you need to start training for a marathon and drink nothing but kale smoothies. That is not the case. Your myA1C inCheck Registered Dietitian will get to know you, your favorite foods, your least favorite foods, and how much time you have for cooking, eating, and exercise. They will work with you to find meal plans and recipes that are satisfying and delicious. Plus, they will help you to create eating and exercise habits that fit your life and help control your diabetes!

Expert Pharmacy Guidance

There are many medications available to help control your blood sugar. But, because everyone's diabetes is different, finding the right medication can be hard. Medication is an important part of your treatment plan. To make certain you are taking the best medicine for you and your type of diabetes, your myA1C inCheck team includes expert clinical pharmacists, specialized pharmacy technicians, and patient navigators. They will help you understand your medications and develop a medication treatment plan that is the best for you and your type of diabetes!

Specialized Care Above and Beyond

As a patient of myA1C inCheck , you will support that goes even further. Your provider, clinical pharmacists, patient navigator, and your registered dietitian will provide you with: - Free pharmacy delivery services - Glucometers and test strips for those who qualify - Medication management tools, pill boxes, counseling and education - Diabetes retinopathy exams and referrals, as needed - Nutrition therapy including recipes and tools - Telehealth appointments - Assistance from our Social Work team

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Diabetes Basics

Diabetes is a condition you can be born with or develop.

diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make or use insulin properly which causes blood sugar to get too high or too low.

 

Uncontrolled, diabetes can seriously damage the body. It can cause many serious health issues, including:

  • Vision issues and blindness,
  • Foot problems,
  • Nerve damage,
  • Cardiovascular disease,
  • Kidney disease, and
  • Stroke.
diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

Though there are symptoms of diabetes, the symptoms can be mild or may seem like something else. It is really important to get regular check-ups and blood work to make sure you don't have prediabetes or diabetes. Some common symptoms of diabetes are:

  • Urinating often
  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Blurry vision
  • Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
  • Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet

Blood sugar is also called 'glucose'.

Many of the foods we eat are turned into blood sugar. 

The sugar is then carried by our blood to our organs and cells. Our cells turn the sugar into energy to fuel our brain, heart, lungs, and muscles. 

What affects our blood sugar?

diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

Things that can make blood sugar rise include:

  • A meal or snack with more food or more carbohydrates than usual
  • Inactivity
  • Side effects of medications
  • Infection or other illness
  • Changes in hormone levels, such as during menstrual periods
  • Stress
diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

Things that can make blood sugar fall include:

  • A meal or snack with less food or fewer carbohydrates than usual
  • Extra activity
  • Side effects of other medications
  • Missing a meal or snack

Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by our pancreas. The pancreas is a small organ behind our stomachs.

diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

Insulin makes it possible for our blood sugar to be absorbed by our organs and cells. 

Insulin is like a key that opens the door in our cells to let blood sugar in.

When insulin doesn't work properly, our blood sugar can't get through the door and into our cells. Then our blood sugar doesn't fuel our muscles and organs correctly.

diabetes, healthcare, patient-centered, baltimore

A1c is a blood test that tells you and your provider your average blood sugar for the past 2 to 3 months.

This is an important test because it shows how well your blood sugar is being managed. 

This test is also a good way to find out if you are prediabetic. 

To help you with your diabetes risk quiz, this calculator will tell you your body mass index (BMI).

Note: We don't recommend using the BMI calculator to decide if you are overweight - it is simply a guide.

Supplied by BMI Calculator USA

 

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What is Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? 

Note: for the quiz below you will need to know your body mass index. For that reason, we've put a BMI calculator to the right.

Create your own user feedback survey

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Simple Changes You Can Make to Prevent Diabetes

Being overweight isn’t just a risk factor for diabetes. Being overweight can lead to unhealthy cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood sugar and even stroke.

The good news? Losing just 10-15 pounds can help reduce your diabetes risk!

Want to cut your risk in half? Lose 7%-10% of your current body weight. Start small, then work your way down:)

In many cases, our bodies were MADE to move. When we stop moving, our bodies stop working the way they were made to work. Muscles that are exercised regularly improves your ability to use insulin correctly and absorb glucose. Plus, your weight and blood pressure will thank you, too. All it takes is 180 minutes of moderate exercise a week. That’s less than 30 minutes a day!  But wait, you might be wondering, what is ‘moderate’ exercise?

No, you don’t have to train for a marathon. Just do some brisk walking, bike riding, housework, yard work, or even dance for about 30 minutes a day. You got this.

Smoking leads to a lot of damage in our bodies, but it also increases the risk of developing diabetes by 50%!

Ready to call it quits? Check out our smoking cessation program.

Food is something we need AND, often, love. Here is your chance to eat to feel good. Start simply by focusing on:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Lean meats and plant-based sources of protein
  • Less added sugar
  • Less processed foods

Check out the Diabetes Plate Program by the American Diabetes Association for great recipes and tips on eating well.

Locations

Baltimore

1111 North Charles Street
Baltimore , MD
410-837-2050

Columbia

5500 Knoll North Drive, Ste. 370
Columbia , MD
410-837-2050

Glen Burnie

200 Hospital Drive
Glen Burnie , MD
410-837-2050