Best Primary Care Doctor in Stone Oak, Live Oak, San Antonio Texas
Diabetes Evaluation and Management
Diabetes evaluation and management at Hillside Primary Care starts with testing to see where your blood sugar stands, then continues with a personalized plan to monitor it, lower your risk of complications, and support the medications and lifestyle changes that fit you. Whether you are newly diagnosed or already living with diabetes, our providers work with you at every visit.
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Diabetes Evaluation and Management at a Glance
At Hillside Primary Care, we provide comprehensive diabetes evaluation and ongoing care tailored to your needs. Our team works with you to manage blood sugar through monitoring, medications, nutrition, physical activity, and foot care. When needed, your provider coordinates referrals to specialists for additional support.
What Is Diabetes, and Why Does a Diabetes Evaluation Matter?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After you eat, your blood sugar (glucose) rises, and insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps move that sugar into your cells. When your body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well, sugar builds up in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, which is why diabetes evaluation and management focus on preventing complications.
Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells that make insulin, leaving the body with little or no insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin therapy every day. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can occur at any age.
Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the body uses insulin poorly and cannot keep blood sugar at a normal level. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults, though it is increasingly seen in children, teens, and young adults. Risk is shaped by several factors, including family history, age, weight, physical activity, and race and ethnicity, so type 2 diabetes is not simply a matter of lifestyle choices.
The CDC estimates that 40.1 million people in the United States, about 12.0 percent of the population, had diabetes in 2023, and that about 27.6 percent of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed (CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report). Testing shows where you stand.
Signs You May Need a Diabetes Evaluation
Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms, which is why testing matters for anyone at risk. Consider scheduling a diabetes evaluation if any of these apply to you:
- You have increased thirst or frequent urination
- You have tingling or weakness in your legs or feet
- A parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes
- You are overweight or have obesity, or you are physically active less than 3 times a week
- You have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
- An earlier blood sugar result from another provider was higher than normal
- You already have diabetes and want a primary care team to manage it or review your medications
Not sure whether you are at risk? Review the CDC’s list of type 2 diabetes risk factors, then talk with our providers.
Can Your Primary Care Provider Handle Diabetes Evaluation and Management?
For many patients, yes. Primary care is often the first place to be tested for diabetes and the place you return to most often to manage it. Here is how care is shared between your Hillside provider and a specialist.
| What your Hillside provider does | When your provider may refer you to a specialist |
|---|---|
| Reviews your medical history and symptoms and recommends diabetes testing | Your blood sugar stays hard to control even after changes to your plan |
| Explains your results and diagnoses diabetes when your tests meet the criteria | You develop a complication that needs specialty care, such as a problem with your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or circulation |
| Builds a management plan that can include blood sugar monitoring, medications (including insulin when appropriate), diet, activity, and foot care | Your situation is complex or needs a specialist’s care |
| Checks your blood pressure and kidney function and adjusts your plan at follow-up visits | You or your provider feel a specialist’s opinion would help |
When a referral is the right next step, your provider will explain why it is recommended and what to expect.
Diabetes Evaluation and Testing at Hillside Primary Care
Blood tests are how diabetes is diagnosed. After reviewing your medical history and symptoms, our providers can recommend the right testing. Some of the testing we order includes, but is not limited to, a fasting blood sugar test and a hemoglobin A1C test.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test
This test measures your blood sugar after you have had nothing to eat or drink except water for at least 8 hours, usually overnight. A result of 126 mg/dL or higher is in the diabetes range, but it needs confirmation with a hemoglobin A1C test for a final diagnosis. A result of 100 to 125 mg/dL is in the prediabetes range.
Hemoglobin A1C Test
The hemoglobin A1C test measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, and you do not need to fast for it. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), an A1C of 6.5 percent or higher is in the diabetes range, and 5.7 to 6.4 percent is in the prediabetes range.
What Your Diabetes Test Results Mean
| Test | Normal range | Prediabetes range | Diabetes range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting blood sugar | Below 100 mg/dL | 100 to 125 mg/dL | 126 mg/dL or higher |
| Hemoglobin A1C | Below 5.7% | 5.7% to 6.4% | 6.5% or higher |
Source note on page: American Diabetes Association (ADA), diagnosis criteria.
One result in the diabetes range does not always settle the question. The ADA says each test usually needs to be repeated on a second day to diagnose diabetes, although a second test may not be needed when blood sugar is very high or classic high blood sugar symptoms are present. Your provider reviews your results with you and explains what comes next. These ranges are general information, not a diagnosis.
Your provider may also order additional testing to look into symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, or tingling and weakness in your legs or feet.
How to Prepare for Your Diabetes Evaluation
A little preparation helps your visit go smoothly. Plan to:
- Fast as instructed when you schedule. For the fasting blood sugar test, that means water only for at least 8 hours
- You do not need to fast for the hemoglobin A1C test
- Ask our team how to handle any diabetes medication on the morning of a fasting test
- Bring a photo ID and your insurance card (including your Medicare card, if applicable)
- Bring a current list of medications and supplements
- Bring your blood sugar readings or meter if you check at home, and any recent records from other providers
- Write down questions or concerns you want to cover
Diabetes Management at Hillside Primary Care
Managing diabetes is a partnership between you and the primary care providers at Hillside Primary Care. After diagnosis, your provider may recommend:
- Monitoring your blood sugar
- Changing your diet
- Getting regular physical activity
- Medications, including insulin when appropriate
- Practicing foot care
Good to know: Please do not stop or change a diabetes medication without talking with your provider first.
What Follow-Up Visits May Include
At follow-up visits, your provider may review your blood sugar readings, check your blood pressure and kidney function, talk through your medications, diet, and activity, and look for early signs of complications. High blood pressure and diabetes often occur together, so read more about how diabetes and high blood pressure are connected.
How Often You Will Be Seen
How often you come in depends on your results, your treatment, and your goals. Your plan may change if your blood sugar improves or your diabetes progresses, so regular check-ins are important to prevent complications. Your provider will tell you when to return.
Related Care
If circulation in your legs or feet is a concern, ask about our Peripheral Vascular Disease Evaluation. If weight is part of your plan, ask about our Medical Weight Loss service.
When to Get Urgent Help. Diabetes can cause emergencies. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you or someone with diabetes has confusion, fainting, a seizure, trouble breathing, or any symptoms that feel like an emergency. Hillside Primary Care offices do not replace emergency care.
Is Diabetes Evaluation and Management Covered by Insurance?
Hillside Primary Care accepts most insurance plans, including Medicare. Coverage for diabetes testing and follow-up visits depends on your plan, so check your benefits or call us before your visit.
Medicare Part B covers diabetes screening blood tests for people who are at risk, up to two a year. You pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment, and your cost can vary with other insurance and where you get the test (Medicare.gov). Medicare patients can also use their Annual Wellness Visit to review diabetes risk factors. It is a prevention visit, not a physical exam.
Prefer to pay out of pocket, or don’t have coverage that includes this visit?
Why Choose Hillside Primary Care for Diabetes Evaluation and Management
Your diabetes evaluation and management is provided by Hillside Primary Care providers, part of a broader primary care team of 40+ providers across 18 Texas locations. Learn about our providers and what to expect.
Diabetes Evaluation and Management Available at Every Hillside Primary Care Location
Every Hillside Primary Care location offers diabetes evaluation and management, including the fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C tests. Find the clinic nearest you and book directly from its location page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a diabetes evaluation?
Your provider reviews your medical history and symptoms, may recommend a fasting blood sugar test or hemoglobin A1C test, checks your blood pressure and kidney function, and goes over your results with you to assess your diabetes status.
Can you help with type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Yes. Our providers offer customized care plans for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including help with medication, dietary advice, and lifestyle guidance. If your care needs a specialist, your provider will refer you.
How often should I visit for diabetes care?
It depends on your results, your treatment, and your goals. Your provider sets your follow-up schedule and may change it as your diabetes changes. Tell us if your blood sugar readings change or you start a new medication.
Can I get tested for diabetes if I feel fine?
Yes. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms, according to the CDC. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight or have obesity. If you are younger or have other risk factors, ask your provider whether testing makes sense for you.
What does a result in the prediabetes range mean?
It means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet in the diabetes range. Your provider will review your result with you and explain next steps. The CDC says losing weight, eating healthy, and being physically active can help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Ready to Schedule Your Diabetes Evaluation and Management?
Find the Hillside Primary Care location nearest you and get on the calendar.
