Diabetic neuropathy occurs when high blood sugar levels damage nerves — often in the legs and feet — resulting in pain and numbness. Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure, but treatment can bring relief and slow the progression of nerve damage. Monitoring and maintaining your blood sugar within the target range with guidance from your…
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, located in the back of the eye. High blood sugar over time increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy. There are several stages of DR, and higher stages eventually can lead to blindness. The good news is that the progression can…
A career arc that led Stephen F. Cavanah, M.D., to military service and practicing in the White House has brought the endocrinologist to Norton Community Medical Associates – Endocrinology’s Poplar Level and Brownsboro locations. Growing up in Christian County in western Kentucky, he aspired from an early age to become a doctor and decided on…
Testosterone is a hormone produced by testicles in people assigned male at birth. Testosterone can affect many aspects of life, including appearance, sexual development and sex drive (libido). It also helps build bone and muscle mass. A small amount of testosterone is also produced in people assigned female at birth, however this article focuses on…
Thyroid disease is rather common in adults. The most common types of thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and up to 60% of them are unaware of their condition. “The thyroid may be the most blamed organ for…
Norton Healthcare’s newest primary care office, Norton Community Medical Associates – Springhurst, opened its doors on May 2, 2022. Along with primary care services, Norton Community Medical Associates – Endocrinology opens in the same location to serve patients who need specialty care for diabetes and related conditions. Both practices are located in newly renovated space at 3594 Springhurst Blvd., in Louisville,…
“I just got diagnosed with diabetes. Now what?” Or maybe you’re trying to manage diabetes during these uncertain times when it can feel risky to go out of your self-isolation/quarantine bubble. Know that diagnosis is the first step. Your provider and even a team of diabetes educators are available to you for support. Your provider…
If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, it means the amount of glucose in your blood is higher than normal. You also may be at risk for serious health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. But there are steps you can take. “It can sound scary,” said Steven Patton, D.O., family medicine…
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is more common than you may realize, affecting 6% to 12% of adult women. But were you aware that diet plays a role in insulin resistance, one of the main causes of the hormone imbalance? Infertility is just one of many possible complications. Patients with PCOS usually have higher than normal…
Type 2 diabetes is genetic in the sense that you may inherit a predisposition to the disease, but not the disease itself. Put another way, a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet and lack of exercise can trigger diabetes in some people, but not others. Type 2 diabetes runs in families partly because of genetics and partly…
Conventional wisdom around nutrition and diabetes says that carbohydrates are bad. We now know that carbohydrates are not our enemy. The problem in a Type 2 diabetic’s diet is the processed sugar and sweeteners. Population studies have shown that eating or drinking more sugar increases the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. In fact, the correlation…
Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, plays a major role in measuring your health. You probably know it’s important, but do you know how your blood sugar number plays a part in conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke? When you have your blood sugar checked, do you know what the number actually…
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