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Facts & Myths To Know for American Diabetes Month

hands-hold-glucose-meterIn observance of American Diabetes Month this November, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine felt now would be a great time to discuss this all too common health condition and the role it plays in our lives.

Diabetes can affect people of all ages, but most often develops once someone is already in their adult years. This is known as type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which people are born with. With this in mind, it’s more important than ever for people to understand type 2 diabetes and take proactive steps to prevent it before it occurs. This is why our healthcare experts wanted to discuss diabetes by presenting a few facts and myths about the condition and its effects.

Prediabetes Will Always Develop Into Type-2 Diabetes

This is not always true. It is in fact possible to reverse prediabetes with certain healthy lifestyle adjustments. When the body’s natural glucose levels are lowered, the demand for insulin will also decrease. This can put prediabetes into remission or even reverse the condition entirely. This is why it’s so important for people with prediabetes to not get discouraged and do what it takes to eat right, limit sugars, exercise daily, and always drink plenty of water each day.

People With Diabetes Will Need To Only Eat Certain Special Foods

This is false. A healthy diet for people with diabetes is generally very similar to any other healthy diet. High in fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables, low in sugars and processed fatty foods. Even with diabetes, you can still enjoy foods with carbs or unnatural sugars, it’s just about moderation and portion control when you do.

Injectable GLP-1 Medications Are The Best Treatment Method for Diabetes

This depends. In recent years, injectable GLP-1 medications generically known as Semaglutide have become very relevant for their ability to aid in weight loss. But these meds were first primarily used as a way to treat people with type 2 diabetes.

While it’s a fact that these medications can effectively help manage and lower blood sugar (glucose) levels, we can’t say that they are definitely the best treatment option without knowing the exact specifics of each person’s unique case. Some patients may be better off with glucose-lowering medications generically known as Metformin. We always make sure to thoroughly discuss every available option when making diabetes treatment recommendations for our patients.

Knowledge Is Power In The Fight Against Diabetes

The more someone knows about diabetes, the better prepared they will be to prevent it or successfully manage it in the case of a diagnosis. We strongly recommend discussing this subject at your next annual check-up appointment to clearly understand what more you can do to promote a healthy lifestyle in the spirit of prevention and long-term wellness.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Simple Tips To Help Manage Chronic Pain

woman-fingers-to-temples-in-painLiving with some degree of pain is perfectly normal, especially as we get older. But some people experience more serious and persistent pain that seriously impacts how they navigate through daily life.

September is Pain Awareness Month in the US, making this the perfect time for the providers at Abraham Family Medicine to share helpful information on chronic pain, how it affects patients, and practical ways to manage it.

What Is Chronic Pain?

By definition, chronic pain describes a condition where pain symptoms last over three months. In some cases, it can continue for years—or even indefinitely—depending on the underlying condition. According to the CDC, over 20% of adults in the US have or are currently experiencing symptoms of chronic pain.

Beyond physical discomfort, chronic pain can also take a serious toll on a person’s mental and emotional well-being, often leading to frustration, fatigue, or depression. With this in mind, here are some simple but effective tips for managing chronic pain.

Physical Pain Management Tips

  • Incorporate gentle exercise. Simple, everyday things like walking, swimming, or gardening can sometimes ease pain by blocking pain signals to the brain. Being active can also help by stretching stiff and tense muscles, ligaments, and joints.
  • Consider physical therapy or occupational therapy. These therapies are designed to help people with pain improve their strength and mobility (and sometimes even improve pain symptoms) and allow them to perform daily activities in a way that doesn’t exacerbate pain symptoms.
  • Try yoga or tai chi. This can help control breathing, while also strengthening important muscles without significant physical exertion.

Mental Pain Management Tips

  • Practice relaxation techniques. Breathing exercises, meditation, or mindfulness can reduce anxiety, muscle tension, and stress—all of which may amplify pain.
  • Maintain healthy sleep habits. Try sticking to regular bed times and wakeup times.
  • Seek emotional support. Living with pain can feel isolating. Talking to a counselor, joining a support group, or connecting with others who understand chronic pain can ease frustration and provide valuable coping strategies.

Talk To Your Doctor About Pain Management!

There’s no need to suffer in silence. Our healthcare providers have many years of experience helping patients manage their pain and improve their quality of life. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

What Is Included in a Routine Geriatric Check-Up?

doctor-consulting-with-geriatric-patientAt Abraham Family Medicine, we take immense pride in the specialized, compassionate care that we provide to all of our patients. However, geriatric medicine has always been a cornerstone of our practice. This is because as we age, our bodies face unique challenges and require tailored preventive strategies. And it takes considerable experience in the field of geriatric medicine to be able to provide the kind of care that our senior patients require and deserve. In this post, we wanted to go into more detail on one of the foundational aspects of healthcare for seniors, the routine geriatric check-up, and what is included in this service.

Why Routine Geriatric Check-Ups Are So Important:

Preventive medicine is important for all people, but becomes vital as we get older and our bodies experience more significant changes. With age comes increased risk of many of the most common chronic health conditions. These conditions include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, many forms of cancer, osteoporosis, and more. While prevention may not always be possible, early detection through regular screenings is of the utmost importance. Especially since many of these conditions don’t show any noticeable symptoms when they are in their earliest and most treatable stages.

What Routine Geriatric Check-Ups May Include:

In our office, we adhere to the guidelines for routine geriatric check-up appointments laid out by the United States Prevention Task Force (USPSTF) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Medical tests for seniors that may be conducted as part of these appointments include:

  • Measuring vital health indicators like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and thyroid health
  • Screening for diabetes
  • Measuring bone density and screening for osteoporosis
  • Providing essential vaccinations to protect against the flu, pneumonia, shingles, and more
  • Screening for colon cancer
  • Female-only exams including breast cancer screening, pelvic screenings, and pap testing
  • Male-only exams including prostate cancer screening, rectal exams, PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) testing

The Power of Proactive Care

Routine geriatric check-ups can provide extremely valuable information about your health, and help you and your doctor make informed decisions about what’s best for your long-term wellness. By spotting changes early, we can adjust treatments, lifestyle plans, and referrals before small issues become major concerns.

Ready for Your Geriatric Check-Up?

For more information or to schedule your routine geriatric check-up with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

3 Summer Season Health Tips from Abraham Family Medicine

mother-daughter-playing-at-the-beachThe summer season is officially in full swing. While this time of year is very special to so many of us, it can also pose some potential health issues for those who are not informed and prepared. During the summer, the sun is at its strongest and temperatures are at their highest. These conditions, combined with more time spent outdoors at cookouts, pools, beaches, etc. can leave people vulnerable to many potentially serious health concerns. Which is why the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide our readers with the following summertime health tips to help everyone enjoy a happy and healthy summer season.

Tip #1: Hydration is The Name of The Game

We know you’ve heard this one before, but it always bears repeating. Keeping yourself hydrated is extremely important any time of year, but especially during the summer. Making sure you have enough fluids in your system is essential for feeling right and making sure your body can perform all of its normal functions as it needs to. Staying hydrated (even if you are not thirsty) during the summer begins with drinking plenty of water, especially before and during any extended periods spent outdoors. We recommend drinking at least 64 ounces of water throughout the course of a day, though this can vary from person to person. If you are excessively sweating then you may want to increase this amount.

Tip #2: Be Mindful of the Heat

According to the CDC, heat alone is responsible for over 600 deaths in the US each year. While it’s very common to warn people about skin cancer, sunburns, and other effects of getting too much sun, heat-related illnesses cannot be ignored. Protecting yourself from common issues like heat stroke and heat exhaustion is important for people of all ages, but especially so for children and adults over 65. In addition to staying hydrated, we strongly recommend spending time in air-conditioning during the hottest parts of the day or find a shaded area, wearing cool clothing, and paying attention to heat advisories.

Tip #3: Don’t Forget About Your Eyes

Eye health can be easy to take for granted, but that doesn’t mean it should be. The sun’s UV rays can cause temporary eye damage and also increase a person’s risk of chronic eye diseases. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses during time spent outdoors is always highly recommended. Specifically ones that offer 100% UV Protection with polarized lenses.

Tip #4: Keep Up With Food Safety

Foodborne illness is another thing to keep in mind during the summer, especially when eating or preparing food outdoors during cookouts, picnics, and camping trips. We recommend the following precautions to avoid these issues and keep you and your family safe:

  • Always pack your food in a cooler or insulated bag with plenty of ice
  • Always wash your hands before preparing food, after handling raw meat, and before eating
  • Make sure cutlery, cooking tools, and utensils are washed properly with soap and hot water between all uses
  • Always cook meats to their correct temperature
  • Take time to clean off grill grates properly before using

Our hope is that this advice can help people take the precautions they need to safely enjoy the summer season. For more information, health tips, or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Abraham Family Medicine Discusses Two Recent Health Trends

man-getting-check-upThe world of healthcare and medicine moves fast. While some universal truths and practices never change, there are always new trends that warrant monitoring. Keeping up with these new medical trends serves as a way to update our family medicine services and techniques when it is beneficial for our patients, while also being aware of potentially harmful practices that people need to steer clear of. Today, we wanted to discuss a couple of recent trends in nutrition and medicine that we’ve noticed and the impact they can have on our patients.

The Convenience of Continuous Glucose Monitors

Along with the rise of the Fitbit and other wearable health tracking devices, continuous glucose monitors are providing a way for people with diabetes and prediabetes to remain informed about the status of their health at a moment’s notice. Continuous glucose monitoring provides the ability to regularly track glucose levels without needing to prick their finger. In addition to this added convenience and comfort, these rapid updates make it easier than ever for people with diabetes or prediabetes to make instant adjustments to their daily diet as needed to help promote better short and long-term outcomes.

There are already many different types of continuous glucose monitoring devices on the market, and this technology is becoming more advanced all the time. If you are interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider about continuous glucose monitors during your next appointment.

It’s important to remember that continuous glucose monitoring will not be reimbursed by insurance, unless the patient is diabetic. Typically, it can cost around $80 per month for patients who purchase it over-the-counter. For patients with Medicare coverage, the guidelines are the patient has to be on insulin or have a documented history of low blood sugars.

The Rise in Health Supplements

It has come to our attention that more and more people have begun to take health and nutrition supplements in recent years. Most of these supplements claim to be able to provide certain health benefits including things like increased energy, boosts to immune health, weight loss, or healthier cardiovascular function, among others. However, there is no strong evidence indicating that these supplements are effective or even safe to take.

Because of this, there may be potential risks that shouldn’t be ignored. Unlike medicines, the supplement industry is largely unregulated, meaning that these products may contain fillers, additives, or other unhealthy contaminants, and do not need to pass safety testing for certain supplements before going to market. We would recommend that anyone turning to supplements like this to instead speak with your provider about specific ones, as well as taking a back-to-basics approach to their diet instead. That means prioritizing whole foods, and a balance of natural, healthy ingredients including fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean sources of protein, instead of relying on supplements.

I hope you found this information helpful and informative. Keeping our patients informed about trends like these can be highly beneficial for promoting health and wellness, and is a responsibility that we take very seriously. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

3 Facts About Stress & Your Health That Everyone Should Know

woman-looks-stressed-fingers-to-templesIt should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that stress is not healthy. Not physically, not mentally, not emotionally. And while we know it’s no help to simply say “just try not to stress out about it,” there are things that can be done to properly manage and control your stress. April is National Stress Awareness Month, and awareness is the critical word that we are focusing on in this blog post. The healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to discuss stress, and provide a few facts about how stress can impact our health and wellness (and what can be done about it).

Stress Can Affect Your Sleep

In some ways stress can be a double-edged sword. It’s natural to feel exhausted or wrung out on especially stressful days, which you would assume would help you sleep better at night. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true. Being overly stressed can affect your ability to sleep and even increase your risk of chronic insomnia or other sleep disorders. Over time, poor sleep can increase a person’s risk of many serious health conditions including high blood pressure, and heart disease, as well as causing additional stress. It can be a vicious cycle.

Stress Can Impact Your Mental Health

A recent study conducted by the Mental Health Foundation asked people about the mental and psychological effects of stress. Over half of the respondents said that their stress has caused some degree of depression and anxiety over the past year. Additionally, respondents in the same study said that feeling overly stressed significantly increased their desire to partake in unhealthy habits like overeating, drinking alcohol, and smoking.

Stress Can Weaken Your Immune System

Stress can weaken a person’s immune system over time and increase the risk of common viruses and illnesses. The body’s natural response to stress is production of a stress hormone called cortisol. When the body is overstressed for an extended period of time, the body can get used to a surplus of cortisol in your blood, which can lead to chronic inflammation. This reaction can also decrease the count of the white blood cells that the body depends on to fight infection. This leaves the body especially vulnerable to colds and other illnesses. Too much stress can also trigger and worsen the symptoms of certain autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Ironic as this may sound, if you’re feeling stressed while reading this, take a deep breath. There is a lot that can be done to reduce stress levels, or handle being stressed in a more healthy way. Regular daily exercise is always encouraged. Practicing healthy breathing techniques and wellness exercises like yoga and meditation can also do wonders to relieve stress. We also suggest reading, and spending less time on your phone and other electronic devices, especially closer to bedtime to help promote healthy sleep.

Stress can feel like a lot to overcome, but it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Even small tweaks that can help reduce small amounts of stress can have significant long-term health benefits. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

The Special Impact That Our Family Medicine Care Has On Our Patients

No matter your line of work, there is immense satisfaction in knowing that you did your best and put in a job well done. However, this is amplified even more for healthcare providers like the experts here at Abraham Family Medicine. Knowing that what we do has such a profound impact on our patients and their loved ones, it means so much to us whenever we hear back from our patients with kind words and affirmations. With this in mind, we wanted to share some firsthand family medicine testimonials from our patients to show just how impactful our signature style of patient care can be. All reviews have been pulled from Google.

“My family and I have been patients here for a very long time. I love the warm and friendly care, concern and time spent on me at every appointment. All of their physicians are wicked smart and knowledgeable! They take the time to familiarize themselves with my history before they say hello, so my time with them is efficient and effective, but not rushed either. There is no hurried “take two of these and see if it helps” kind of treatment. They provide concrete answers, directions and a plan. The entire staff is fantastic, warm, smart, and caring. The Phlebotomists are so great too! No one likes it, but they’re so good, there is no pain and they are just so sweet!”

– Rhonda K.

“I chose this doctor because he had many five star reviews. My father just moved to Atlanta three months ago, and we were looking for a geriatric medicine doctor to assist. I did not see this doctor in person, but I talked to him over the phone. I loved the way he asked about my father’s medical history. He was very consistent and precise about what he wanted to evaluate my father.”

– Janice D.

“I’ve been a patient of this practice for years. I have always had an excellent experience, from the front desk to the staff in the back everyone is pleasant and welcoming. I’ve always received amazing care! Thank you to everyone here at Abraham Family!”

– Sandra B.

“I choose my care team carefully. I was more than satisfied in my choice to choose Abraham Family Medicine. The office upon entering is like no other to me, it’s serene and inviting, reminding me of a spa-like environment, waterfall and all. There are multiple windows with staff behind them and that’s a big deal in these times. They are friendly, inviting and caring at first sign-in. Energy and attitude transfers so good vibes flowed throughout my entire visit allowing me to be at ease. My wait time to be called to the back was minimal, and again, the level of care and concern is prevalent in every area I encountered. Then there’s the Doctor. You always hope for someone who listens, asks questions and has actually read the notes written, so as to discuss the best care for your needs all the while engaging in conversation with eye contact! I am completely excited to continue my health care journey with Abraham Family Medicine and I believe you will too.”

– Evie H.

We wanted to take a moment to thank all of our patients who have taken the time to leave us such kind reviews like this over the years. You all do so much to help make us the best practice we can be, and we’re so genuinely happy to hear that all the effort and hard work is appreciated. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine healthcare providers, please contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

4 Simple Tips for National Nutrition Month

apple-and-flexable-measuring-tapeWhen it comes to taking care of yourself, there is simply no substitute for good nutrition. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is critical for both feeling your best and helping to lower your risk of serious health conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. So in honor of the upcoming National Nutrition Month this March, our healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine thought now would be a great time to focus on nutrition and what our patients can do to improve their eating. So with this in mind, we wanted to present the following simple tips to help anyone improve their nutritional habits.

Tip #1: Don’t Just Eat Greens, Eat Them First

We all know how important it is to incorporate healthy vegetables into your diet. And one simple way to make sure that greens are not just included in your meal, but providing their full nutritional value, is to make an effort to start your meal with them. Consider it a healthy (and often delicious) opening course. This way, you avoid the risk of being too full or not interested in eating what might be the most important part of your meal.

Tip #2: Try To Eat Slower

Overeating can be a major deterrent to healthy nutrition. And it’s a fact that eating too fast and overeating often go hand-in-hand. Our appetites are controlled by hormones that send signals to our brains when we are feeling hungry or full. However, it can take roughly 20 minutes for our brains to receive this message about being full, making it very easy to eat more than we need to. So naturally, taking your time and eating more slowly can allow the brain more time to perceive that you are full. Additionally, more thorough chewing while eating is also linked to better weight management.

Tip #3: Let Meal Planning Guide You To Healthier Choices

It’s always nice to have a plan. And when it comes to trying to improve your diet, meal planning can be remarkably helpful. Making coherent meal plans for your week can help make sure you are eating right, getting enough of the nutrients that matter most (lean proteins, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies), and maintain some variety in your diet. Additionally, doing so can help save you money on ingredients that are inevitably wasted while shopping without a plan, or prevent you from spur-of-the-moment meals out that are both expensive and unhealthy.

Tip #4: How You Cook Your Food Matters

Cooking your own meals can be fun, rewarding, and ultimately beneficial to your nutrition. But keep in mind that the manner in which you cook your food can matter a great deal. A piece of chicken that is grilled or roasted in the oven will obviously be much better for you than one that is fried in unhealthy oil. Utilizing an air fryer can also be a great way to enjoy some crispy fried goodness without the guilt.

Here at Abraham Family Medicine, nothing is more important to us than the health and wellbeing of our patients, and nutrition is a huge part of that. Nutrition and healthy eating are just a few of the topics we cover at annual-wellness appointments in our office. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our expert healthcare providers, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

3 Simple Steps To Help Improve Your Heart Health

plastic-heart-wrapped-by-stethoscopeWith February just around the corner, we wanted to turn our attention to American Heart Month and the importance of prioritizing heart health. Here at Abraham Family Medicine, our healthcare providers often stress the importance of living a heart-healthy lifestyle from a young age to effectively reduce your risk of heart disease. However, it’s also never too late to get yourself back on the right track. This is why we wanted to provide some simple steps that anyone can take to help improve their heart health.

Step #1: Make Your Diet More Heart-Healthy

It’s easy to say “eat better”, but what exactly does this mean when it comes to heart-health? For starters, we recommend starting your day with a healthy breakfast rich in fresh fruit, whole grains (oatmeal or whole wheat toast). Avoid unhealthy snacks throughout the day like fried, salty chips. At dinner time, prioritize lean proteins (salmon, chicken breast), fresh vegetables, and other healthy ingredients like beans.

Step #2: Find Healthy Stress Management Tools

Feeling stressed from time to time is unavoidable, but how you handle those feelings can make a big difference when it comes to your heart. Poorly managed stress over time can contribute to higher blood pressure and other vital risk factors for heart disease. Instead of dealing with your stress in unhealthy ways like overeating or drinking alcohol, we recommend finding healthier ways to relieve some of this tension. This can include making time for regular physical activity, relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, or activities like yoga or meditation.

Step #3: Make Healthy Sleep a Priority

Making sure to get a good night’s sleep is hugely beneficial to many aspects of a person’s health and wellness, including helping to strengthen the heart. Poor sleep habits can lead to increased stress, high blood pressure, and weight gain, all of which can negatively impact heart health. We recommend doing what you can to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, including keeping your sleeping area cool and turning off lit devices like phones and televisions in the lead-up to your bedtime routine.

Heart health is obviously incredibly important and our expert providers are always here to help our patients put themselves in the best position to achieve positive long-term health and wellness. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

3 Health Resolutions to Start The New Year Off Right!

apple-and-flexable-measuring-tapeThe start of another new year is here, and all of us at Abraham Family Medicine could not be more excited to welcome 2025. For many people, the new year can provide a terrific opportunity to look inward and think about the ways that we can refine ourselves in some way. This usually takes the form of a New Year’s Resolution. These resolutions are often set as a way to help us improve the state of our health. So in the spirit of the new year, our healthcare providers wanted to provide a few simple healthcare resolutions that anyone could benefit from.

Resolution #1: Start The New Year With An Annual Wellness Check

There is nothing that we recommend more than scheduling an annual check-up in January in order to get the new year started off right. Starting the year with an annual wellness visit can help gain a better understanding of the state of your health, while helping to determine your risk of potentially serious illnesses and health conditions. In our office, these check-ups include a series of diagnostic health screenings and discussions of the potential lifestyle adjustments that could promote long-term health and wellness.

Resolution #2: Find Extra Physical Activity Where & When You Can

Regular exercise and physical activity are incredibly important for people of all ages. And while we know it can be difficult to find the time, energy, and motivation to go to the gym as often as we should, there are still plenty of ways to be physically active outside of the context of a gym workout. Even something as minor as 15 minutes a day of walking, doing housework, sports or other simple activities can help lower your risk of serious health concerns like high blood pressure and heart disease. Any physical activity is better than none at all. And it is important to start somewhere and choose something that makes sense for you and your lifestyle.

Resolution #3: Take Pride in Incremental Progress

While everyone wants to fully achieve their goals, it’s important not to get discouraged in cases where you don’t quite make it all the way. If you wanted to lose 15 pounds, but only lost 10, it’s still an accomplishment, not a setback, and a great step towards your ultimate ambition. Staying the course, celebrating small victories, and not beating yourself up too much (or quitting entirely) will ultimately help you.

An annual check-up appointment with one of our providers can be the perfect way to get your new year started off right. 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, located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

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