(Seguin) — Diabetes is a growing public health concern in Seguin, affecting a significant portion of the population, including an increasing number of young people. While the number of cases continues to rise, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center is offering hope, education and support during its World Diabetes Day event this weekend. The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at GRMC.
Dr. Jonven Attia, an endocrinologist with Guadalupe Regional Medical Group, says the event is open to the public, and she encourages everyone to attend.
“This is not only just for people with diabetes. It’s for people who care for people who have diabetes to come just learn, because diabetes is not just a one-size-fits-all (disease). It’s individualized, but it’s also really having that support, that family support and understanding, you know, my wife can’t do this by herself. I need to understand it too. So let me come and learn a little bit to help my wife or help my mom or help whoever I need with diabetes care,” said Attia.
Dr. Attia says this year’s event will feature an expanded lineup of resources and services designed to help people better understand, prevent and manage diabetes.
“We’re actually going to have people do A1C screening. So, if you want to find out if you’re a diabetic and you’ve never been checked, this is the opportunity to come and check. If you haven’t had established care with a doctor and need to see a doctor, we’re going to have both a PCP (primary care provider) booth there this year, something different. We’re also going to have the Guadalupe Medical Clinic out there. So, people without insurance or with insurance or insurance issues, we have options where we can refer them once they get their A1C checked and they’re like, oh, I really need to see a doctor. This is the opportunity to come and make that connection, get your resources,” said Attia.
Despite how common diabetes has become, there are still many misconceptions about the disease. Dr. Attia says understanding how diabetes affects the body is an important first step toward better health.
“You develop diabetes because either your body doesn’t make any insulin or it makes very little insulin that your body does not know how to use…it’s what takes sugar from the blood into your blood cells and allows your organs to function normal because every organ in our body actually needs sugar for energy, right? Now when you’re a diabetic and you don’t have the ability to take in that sugar into your cells, that sugar stays high in your blood vessels and over time, it does…organ damage. And that’s what we want to prevent. We don’t want to get to the point where we can’t reverse it anymore,” said Attia.
Early detection and treatment can make a significant difference in managing diabetes and preventing serious complications. Dr. Attia says that’s why free screening services will be among the resources available during Saturday’s event.
“So, the earlier we could get the sugars under control and stay under control, the better for us overall for preventing any diseases that come along with diabetes, like losing your eyesight, getting on dialysis, vascular disease where then patients ended up getting amputated. Heart disease, stroke, and now we’re having something called diabetes type 3, which is dementia-related diabetes. That never was a thing, but with what we say micro and macrovascular changes in the body that can cause a lot of long-term damage,” said Attia.
Managing blood sugar levels is a critical part of living with diabetes. Dr. Attia explains why elevated blood sugar can be dangerous and the challenges patients face in keeping those levels under control.
“If you didn’t have diabetes, what happens, our insulin is very smart. As soon as they detect that sugar in your blood, our insulin gets released, removes that sugar immediately from our blood vessels and stores it into our cells. When you don’t have that ability to do that, the longer that sugar stays in your blood vessels, you’re pumping high sugars in and out from your heart, back to your heart, throughout the organs. High blood sugars over time will harden the vascular system and then over time develop plaque and narrowing and then lack of oxygen and good blood flow to those organs, and that’s where the damage comes. So, the whole point is getting the sugars under control and staying under control long term and to prevent that from happening,” said Attia.
Many people believe managing diabetes is simply a matter of cutting back on sugar. But Dr. Attia says it’s more complicated than that. She says a variety of foods and beverages can affect blood sugar levels, making nutrition education an important part of diabetes management.
“Now, it’s not only about sugar intake. It’s carb intake also. We always say try to limit your intake of anything white — white bread, white rice, white pasta, white potatoes, white sugar, white flour — because simple carbs, simple sugars is what spikes the sugars pretty fast and that leads to more insulin resistance and needing more medications to overcome that. We are starting to actually learn, newer studies have actually shown that ultra-processed foods, fast foods, have also been linked to diabetes,” said Attia.
Saturday’s event will also feature cooking demonstrations and practical advice to help people make healthier food choices. Dr. Attia says the goal is to show people that eating well and managing diabetes don’t have to be difficult.
“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) just released that we are seeing a highest rate of fatty liver in relation to diabetes. And that’s leading to liver cirrhosis. I have patients who are crying in my office who never had a drink in their life and now athey re needing liver transplant from liver cirrhosis because they consume soda every day. And I tell patients, sodas as equally as bad as alcohol. That’s all from the combination of uncontrolled blood sugars, poor diet, ultra processed foods, and I tell patients, unfortunately, our food industry is killing us. We are eating a lot of things that we’re not supposed to be eating. And this is the opportunity to come to the event to learn how to eat better, how to be more aware of packages, what are labels saying. how to look at ingredients when you’re purchasing something, and understanding what you’re putting in your body and what it’s doing to your diabetes and your overall health care,” said Attia.
Another growing concern is the number of children being diagnosed with diabetes. Dr. Attia says the disease is affecting more young people, making education and early intervention increasingly important for families.
“And this is the scary thing, ADA predicted that by the year of 2030, 60 percent of children will have diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver. We are seeing more in the children population now and it’s becoming a very scary, scary thing to see,” said Attia.
Despite those concerns, Dr. Attia says there is reason for optimism. Treatment options continue to improve, giving patients more ways to manage the disease and protect their long-term health.
She says Saturday’s event is an opportunity for residents to learn about those advances, visit with healthcare professionals and vendors, participate in screenings, and watch cooking demonstrations.
The World Diabetes Day event is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Central Entrance of Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.