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♪ - [Jodie]

Diabetes is a chronic condition. Normally, your food is broken down and it's turned into glucose. When that glucose is released into the bloodstream, it stimulates the pancreas to make the insulin. If the pancreas is not making insulin properly, then the glucose cannot get into the cell to use that for energy.

If that occurs, then you have increased fatigue, increased hunger, increased urination, increased thirst. More than 37 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. It's the eighth leading cause of death. It also is number one in death for lower limb amputations, kidney failure, and blindness.

That's why it's so important to get it under control. Some simple steps that one can take to avoid or manage their diabetes is lifestyle changes, exercise, eating a healthy diet, keeping a healthy weight. We want to keep their blood pressure under good control to prevent heart attack and stroke. We want to keep their cholesterol at a good level as well.

Also, if they're smoking, I would encourage them to stop smoking. We have a dietician here in our office. We have a diabetic nurse educator. We also offer diabetic education classes for the patient.

We will teach patients how to read labels, how to count their carbohydrates, low-carb, low-sugar diet. We give them the tools to be successful in their diabetes.

- [Rosie]

You know, I couldn't imagine just managing this by myself at home. This is a team effort. The providers here are wonderful. This is the first place I've ever been to that it feels more like I'm not being punished for my blood sugar levels.

- We here at Baptist Health Hardin can reduce our patient's comorbidities. I find great pleasure in treating patients with diabetes. I treat them like my own family member. So, I want them to know that I am here for them, any questions or concerns that they may have.

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