The Diabetes Center

The Northwest Texas Healthcare System Diabetes Center is recognized by the American Diabetes Association.

The Center has the capability to manage all aspects of diabetes care. The multi-disciplinary team of certified diabetes educators and staff stresses education, prevention of complications and treatment for all aspects of this disease.

Certain factors can increase the risk of developing diabetes. People who have close family members with diabetes and people who are overweight have a greater chance of developing diabetes. Also, the risk of diabetes is increased in some ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Latino Americans or Native Americans. Other factors that may increase the risk of diabetes include high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol).

Symptoms of high blood sugar include increased thirst and urination, blurred vision, fatigue and weight loss. In some people, elevated blood sugar may lead to recurrent infections such as urinary tract infection, vaginal yeast infection or skin infections. However, many people with diabetes may not have symptoms for many years. For that reason, it is recommended that all adults age 45 and older should be tested for diabetes every three years.

People with diabetes are at risk for complications that may affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves and circulatory system. Managing diabetes requires that each patient establish therapy goals, including targeting blood sugar range, weight management and dietary and lifestyle changes.

Diabetic Foot Care

A common and costly complication of diabetes, foot ulcers can easily be prevented through self-examination and proper foot care. When left untreated, however, foot ulcers can lead to infection, gangrene and lower limb amputation. Most often, the result is minor foot trauma and wound-healing failure. Diabetes-related amputation accounts for 51% of all amputations in the United States. Because of poor circulation and nerve damage to the feet, people with diabetes are more likely to develop infections even from a minor foot injury. For this reason, people with diabetes should treat their feet with special care. By following some simple foot care tips, people with diabetes can dramatically reduce their risk of amputation and lead healthy, active lives.

Patients with diabetes should follow these steps to prevent foot ulcers:

Every day:

Check your feet for cuts, sores, blisters or areas of irritation. If you have any concerns, see your podiatrist or internist.
Wash and dry your feet, particularly between your toes.
Protect your feet from extreme hot and cold temperatures.
Avoid walking barefoot.

When your toenails need trimming:

Trim your nails straight across, only if you can see well.
If you cannot see well or if your toenails are thick or yellowed, have a podiatrist trim them.
Do not cut into the corners of your toes.
Do not cut corns or calluses.

When you visit your doctor, ask him/her to:

Look at your bare feet at each visit. As a reminder, remove your shoes and socks.
Check your feet for sense of feeling and your pulse at least once a year.
Show you how to take care of your feet.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

The most common form of diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in adults and nearly half of people with diabetes will develop some degree of this disease during their lifetime. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina that can lead to blindness.

If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined at least once a year. Your eyes should be dilated during the exam so that your ophthalmologist can see more clearly the insides of the eye to detect signs of the disease.

Diabetic eye disease can be treated. Your ophthalmologist may suggest laser eye surgery, which has been proven to reduce the risk of severe vision loss.

For more information or to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist at Northwest Texas Healthcare System, please call 888-347-1114.

Contact Information

For more information on the Northwest Texas Healthcare System Diabetes Center, please call 806-354-1202.

DiabetesAware Risk Assessment

Take a FREE seven-minute test
to identify your potential risk of diabetes.

Learn more About Diabetes

The Diabetes Center offers a monthly educational class. The class discusses a comprehensive diabetes treatment from a team approach involving the patient, as well as healthcare providers, including an endocrinologist, a diabetes educator, a nutritionist, an ophthalmologist and a podiatrist.

Wound Care

Note: The information on this Web site is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Northwest Texas Healthcare System, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this Web site.

The information, content and artwork provided by this Web site is intended for non-commercial use by the reader. The reader is permitted to make one copy of the information displayed for his/her own non-commercial use. The making of additional copies is prohibited.