BOG-Official-2023
BOG-Official-2023

healthcare services Atlanta

Common Questions about the LibreView System for Diabetes

Living with diabetes can be an everyday struggle. In addition to the health issues this serious disease poses, diabetes requires the consistent challenge of monitoring and managing your glucose levels to prevent potentially dangerous complications. Regardless if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and remaining proactive is incredibly important to your long-term health and wellness. This is why the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine are excited to announce that we are now utilizing the LibreView Chronic Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system for diabetes management. LibreView is an advanced, secure diabetes management system that helps our patients record, view, and share glucose data with our physicians. To help our patients understand the unique benefits LibreView offers, we have answered a few common questions about it.

Common Questions about the LibreView System for Diabetes

How Does the LibreView System Work?

The LibreView system is cloud-based and simple to use. During their initial visit, we place a small disk on the patient’s arm which allows us to track their glucose levels 24 hours a day. After 2 weeks have passed, the patient will return for a follow-up appointment where we can discuss what they can do to make more informed decisions about their health and diabetes management based on the patterns and trends we monitored.

Is LibreView Recommended for All Diabetes Patients?

No. The LibreView system is not used for diabetes patients under the age of 18. Additionally, LibreView has not been approved for use by patients who are critically ill, those who are on dialysis, and women who are pregnant.

How Does LibreView Help Diabetes Patients?

LibreView can monitor the patient’s average glucose level, as well as establish a range of glucose readings to help patient’s know where they stand. The patient can also use LibreView to keep track of their glucose history and insulin data. LibreView is able to provide reports on the patient’s average glucose and testing during the 14-day monitoring period, along with the time they spent in their target glucose range.

Our hope is that by providing access to the LibreView system, we can improve the lives of each and every one of our diabetes patients. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for patients of all ages at our Snellville office. We are located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

What to Know Before Taking Herbal Supplements for Your Health

Herbal supplements have become very popular in recent years. It’s understandable why many people would be intrigued by inexpensive, “natural”, and easily attainable solutions to help them reduce pain, lose weight, improve memory, or treat a wide range of ailments including the common cold. However, herbal supplements (sometimes known as botanicals) may not always be what they seem. The truth is that herbal supplements are not subjected to the same scientific standards and regulations as over-the-counter or prescriptions medications. Some herbal supplements can have medication-like effects. However, they can also carry significant risk. That’s why the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide some critical information that anyone should know before they begin taking any kind of herbal supplement.

What to Know Before Taking Herbal Supplements for Your Health

Herbal Supplements Have Lower Standards & Regulations

Like other over-the-counter and prescription meds, herbal supplements are regulated by the FDA. However, they are regulated under a category called dietary supplements and not as drugs. This is why herbal supplements are not required by the FDA to prove their safety and effectiveness to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure the health conditions they claim. That burden falls on the manufacturers themselves, as opposed to an impartial third party.

Herbal Supplements Can be Dangerous for Some People

Herbal supplements can be unsafe for people with certain health problems as well as women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Additionally, there are herbal supplement concerns for older adults and children whose bodies may process certain ingredients differently. For patients who are having surgery, herbal supplements can cause potential issues with surgery including bleeding problems, as well as complications during recovery. It’s important to tell your surgeon ahead of time about any supplements that you take.

Herbal Supplements Can Affect Other Medications

If you regularly take any medication, whether it be over-the-counter or prescription, it is imperative that you speak with your doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Herbal supplements can affect the way your body processes drugs and lead to harmful, unforeseen negative side effects.

While we can certainly see the appeal in a natural supplement that can help improve your general health or treat a specific ailment, it’s important to be 100% sure of what you’re taking before making any decisions. Unfortunately, herbal supplements often make this difficult and this lack of transparency can lead to potentially dangerous situations. If you would like to discuss herbal supplements or other matters related to your health, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today to schedule an appointment. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, not far from Grayson.

A Statistical Look at Heart Disease During American Heart Month

There is no bad time to think about the health of your heart. After all, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US year after year. It’s important for people to not only be aware of the prevalence of this terrible disease, but also to understand the factors that can potentially increase their risk of developing a heart condition. In recognition of American Heart Month this February, the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine are happy to provide some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about heart disease to help keep our patients in the know.

A Statistical Look at Heart Disease During American Heart Month

General Heart Disease Statistics

  • Approximately 610,000 people in the US die from heart disease each year.
  • Heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths that occur annually in the US.
  • Roughly 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year.
  • Of these, about 525,000 are a first heart attack.
  • The prevalence and risk of heart disease increases exponentially as a person ages.
  • Heart disease costs the US about $200 billion each year in healthcare services, medications, and lost productivity.

Heart Disease Statistics for Men

  • About 321,000 men die of heart disease every year in the US, making it the leading killer of American men.
  • About 8.5% of all White men, 7.9% of all African American men, and 6.3% of Mexican American men have some form of coronary heart disease.
  • Somewhere between 70% – 89% of all sudden cardiac events occur in men.

Heart Disease Statistics for Women

  • Despite the perception that heart disease is “a man’s disease”, it is also the leading cause of death for women in the US (killing over 289,000 women annually).
  • Roughly 5.8% of all White women, 7.6% of African American women, and 5.6% of Mexican American women have coronary heart disease.
  • Nearly two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease show no previous symptoms.

Heart Disease Risk Factor Statistics

  • Having high cholesterol nearly doubles a person’s risk of developing heart disease.
  • Over 71 million American adults have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol.
  • High cholesterol has no symptoms, which partially explains why less than half of adults with high cholesterol receive treatment for it.
  • About 75 million adults in the US, or 1 in every 3, have high blood pressure—another leading risk factor for heart disease.
  • Additionally, a person may be more vulnerable to heart disease if they have diabetes, smoke tobacco, are overweight or obese, or do not get regular physical exercise (2 hours and 30 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity exercise is recommended for adults).

With these statistics in mind, our healthcare providers wanted to remind readers that there are meaningful steps they can take to help limit their potential risk of heart disease. Try to maintain a nutritious, balanced diet and get regular weekly exercise to help maintain a healthy body weight. Speak to your doctor about your cholesterol levels and inquire about cholesterol medication if your levels are higher than normal. Do not smoke and try not to drink alcohol in excess. These simple steps can make a significant impact for anyone trying to help prevent heart disease.

We hope you found this informative and helpful. The goal of American Heart Month is to spread awareness of the importance of heart health and help in the nationwide fight against this awful disease. So be mindful of the risk factors we mentioned, try to live a healthy lifestyle, and see your doctor for regular visits to help ensure that your heart is healthy. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, not far from Grayson.

Menu