Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels. Uncontrolled diabetes may result in blindness, kidney damage, heart disease, stroke, and amputations.
At UT Southwestern Medical Center, type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients receive expert and compassionate care in one of the nation's leading health care facilities. Our specialists work to help patients effectively control their diabetes and reduce or eliminate potential complications.
Also, through the Diabetes Management Program, UT Southwestern offers a wide variety of educational programs (in English and Spanish) for people with diabetes. A physician's referral is needed to participate in the program.
Our researchers continually strive to advance the science of diabetes treatment and work in unison with our clinicians to bring these medical benefits to patients.
A study conducted by UT Southwestern researchers, for example, revealed the safety and impressive effectiveness of a “triple therapy” using insulin, metformin, and a drug in the thiazolidinedione family. Not only did the combination of treatment provide outstanding control of blood sugar levels, but it did so in the absence of weight gain, a common side effect of drug therapies for type 2 diabetes. Effectively controlling blood sugar dramatically reduces the risk of developing complications that can lead to amputations, eye disease, and kidney disease.
Additionally, UT Southwestern researchers recently identified a gene variant that may serve as an important genetic marker in identifying people at risk for type 2 diabetes. The findings could enable more effective diabetes screening techniques and allow individuals to make important lifestyle changes that could help prevent the onset of diabetes.
UT Southwestern offers patients and their families comprehensive diabetes education, including programs that address diabetes during pregnancy, insulin initiation, insulin pump training, and information about kidney functions. From initial consultation through long-term follow-up care, our patients receive comprehensive treatment and education for effective diabetes management.