Consider diabetes screening and prevention if you have high blood sugar. Routine checkups and healthy lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of common side effects like peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, and slow-healing wounds. At Candid Primary Care in Coppell, Texas, board-certified internal medicine doctor and primary care specialist Monsur Ali, DO, uses diabetes screening and prevention to help adults keep their blood sugar in check. Call the office today to request a diabetes screening and prevention consultation, or make your appointment online.

request an appointment

What is diabetes screening and prevention?

Diabetes screening and prevention is an internal medicine subspecialty used to diagnose and treat high blood sugar.

Diabetes is an umbrella term for several diseases that affect your pancreas’ ability to produce insulin. If your pancreas doesn’t make or use insulin properly, your blood sugar levels spike, increasing your risk of potentially serious health problems.

There’s no cure for diabetes, but healthy lifestyle changes, prescription medication, and regular checkups can significantly improve your quality of life.

Who can benefit from diabetes screening and prevention?

Make an appointment at Candid Primary Care for diabetes screening and prevention if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Feeling more thirsty than usual
  • Urinating often
  • Losing weight unintentionally
  • Feeling irritable or mood changes
  • Having blurry vision
  • Having slow-healing sores

As the condition worsens, you may experience more frequent infections.

Dr. Ali diagnoses and treats both prediabetes and diabetes. Prediabetes is a precursor to Type 2 diabetes –– it causes higher-than-normal blood sugar, increasing your risk of potentially serious health problems.

When should I see a doctor for diabetes screening and prevention?

Contact Dr. Ali for diabetes screening and prevention if you have any of the above symptoms and they last for more than a few days. It’s important to get screened for diabetes, even if you aren’t concerned. Intervention and treatment can reduce your risk of more serious health problems, like heart disease.

What does diabetes screening involve?

Dr. Ali reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical exam. Then he orders lab tests, including bloodwork and urinalysis. The most common test used to diagnose diabetes is the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test.

The A1C test measures your average blood sugar over the past few months. A reading of 6.7% or higher on two separate A1C tests means you have diabetes.

Is there any way to prevent diabetes?

There’s no way to prevent diabetes entirely, but you can reduce your risk by living a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Ali recommends eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. If your blood sugar remains high, even after making these changes, you may benefit from prescription medicine.

There are several drugs used to manage diabetes, including insulin and metformin. The medicine that will most benefit you depends on the type of diabetes you have and the severity of your symptoms.

Call Candid Primary Care today to request a diabetes screening and prevention visit or book your appointment online.