Women Chronic Medical Conditions

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease where a person has high blood sugar due to problems naturally processing or producing insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes is when your body no longer produces the critically needed hormone insulin. It is caused when the immune system destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. It is more often diagnosed in children and young adults and is considered less common that Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes affects the way the body processes sugar. The cells in the body slowly stop responding to insulin which leads to a rise in the blood sugar. Chronically high blood sugar eventually starts to damage important organs like the heart, liver and kidneys and affects circulation. Type 2 diabetics are at higher risk of heart attack, stroke, damage to the blood vessels in your legs and feet, and even blindness. Symptoms include fatigue, hunger, increased thirst, blurred vision, and frequent urination.

At Provida Family Medicine, our on-site dietician and credentialed diabetic educator works with our patients and their provider to create an individualized treatment plans for patients with the goal of preventing diabetes or managing and mitigating symptoms.

Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms. Sometimes people may complain of dizziness or headache. Several other factors can increase one’s risk of developing high blood pressure: obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking, high sodium diet, alcohol excess, and certain genetic influences. 

We routinely check blood pressure during all office visits and will develop a plan if your reading is higher than normal.

If you are at home and have a high blood pressure reading that is also accompanied by a severe headache, chest pain or trouble breathing, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you can do so safely. Contact our office after so that we can follow up with you.

Asthma

Asthma affects people of all ages but often starts during childhood. Research from the American Lung Association (ALA) states that one in twelve adults has asthma.

Asthma is the frequent inflammation and narrowing of the airway caused by a variety of triggers like pollen, exercise, cold air, or respiratory infections like a cold or COVID-19.

Symptoms of asthma include frequent wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath which can lead to difficulty completing activities of daily living.

If you or a loved one has prolonged difficulty breathing, please call 9-1-1 immediately. As soon as you or a family member is able, call our office so that we may follow up with the hospital or emergency department.

Kidney Disease

Kidney disease can present in multiple ways, from treatable disorders to more dangerous conditions.

Kidney disease can be caused by several factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure autoimmune conditions, and genetic disorders like polycystic kidney disease.

Screening for kidney disease is done annually during a physical. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the problem. We encourage our patients to control their blood pressure and diabetes to delay chronic kidney disease, and we refer more complicated cases to nephrology specialists if needed.

Treatments for kidney disease can vary based on the severity of the disease in each patient. At Provida Family Medicine, we walk our patients through every option availble to them, and we will be there with you at every step to make sure you have the medical support you need.