Health Tips

You may have had a kidney stone or know someone who has had one.  They are becoming more common, with the prevalence of kidney stones in the US jumping from 3.8% in the late 1970s to 10% or higher over the past several years.  Each year in the US, kidney…

Carbohydrates get a bad rap in life; however, they are the body’s main source of energy and essential to life. People with diabetes frequently think they should avoid all carbohydrates and sugar when a consistent carbohydrate diet is more appropriate for managing blood sugars. One serving of carbohydrates is 15…

We have talked about the different types of diabetes over the past few weeks.  Today we will talk about the complications that can develop in people with diabetes.  The risk of long-term complications gets higher the longer you have diabetes, but how well diabetes is controlled is also an important…

Diabetes that is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes.  According to the American Pregnancy Association, between 2 and 5 percent of women develop diabetes during pregnancy.  It can cause some serious complications for both mom and baby if it is not recognized and treated. What…

Over 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.  We will continue our discussion of this topic today, focusing on diagnosis and treatment. How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed? Unlike type 1 diabetes, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes can come on gradually and sometimes may not even be noticed.  Also,…

I hope you have had the chance to read the last two Health Tips on diabetes – where we first covered the basics, then did a deeper dive into type 1 diabetes.  We will continue our discussion of diabetes today, focusing on type 2 diabetes.  Over 34 million Americans have…

Last week, we started our discussion of diabetes with some basics about the relationship between blood sugar and insulin as well as the symptoms of diabetes that you should know.  Let’s talk more today about type 1 diabetes in particular. What causes type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes develops when…

Diabetes mellitus, usually simply called diabetes, is a disease the affects the way your body uses glucose (blood sugar).  Glucose is an important energy source for your body, so when your body can’t use it the way it should, all kinds of bad things can happen.  Diabetes can cause complications…

A ganglion cyst is the most common thing that will cause a lump in the hand.  They are not cancerous or dangerous, but they can be bothersome for some people. What is a ganglion cyst? A ganglion cyst is a benign cyst that can develop from the tissues surrounding a…

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat that often causes the heart to beat too fast.  There are several risk factors and underlying causes, which we discussed last week, including different types of heart disease, thyroid disease, heavy alcohol use, and family history.  This week we will talk about the…