Where Can You Get Diabetes Care in Conway, SC?

Where can you get diabetes care in Conway, SC? Urgent Care & Family Medicine provides ongoing diabetes management at our clinic on Singleton Ridge Road. Our family medicine providers can diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, check your A1C and other labs on site, prescribe and adjust medicines, and help you build a realistic plan for eating, activity, and monitoring. Regular follow-up visits help keep your blood sugar on target and lower the risk of complications. Call to schedule a visit.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar, also called glucose, stays too high. Your body uses a hormone called insulin to move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. With type 1 diabetes, the body makes little or no insulin. With type 2 diabetes, which is far more common in adults, the body does not use insulin well and may not make enough over time.

Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diabetes. It is very common, and many people do not know they have it. The good news is that prediabetes can often be reversed or delayed with lifestyle changes.

What Are the Signs of Diabetes?

Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at first. When symptoms do appear, they can include:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Feeling unusually tired
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing cuts or sores
• Frequent infections, such as urinary, skin, or yeast infections
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Unexplained weight loss

If you notice these symptoms, schedule a visit. A simple blood test can tell you a lot.

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Your provider may use one or more of these blood tests:

• A1C: shows your average blood sugar over about the past three months. An A1C of 6.5% or higher on two tests generally indicates diabetes, and 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes.
• Fasting blood glucose: measured after not eating for at least eight hours. A level of 126 mg/dL or higher on two tests generally indicates diabetes.
• Oral glucose tolerance test: measures how your body handles a sugary drink over two hours.

Our on-site lab makes testing convenient. Learn more in our guide on understanding your blood test results.

Who Should Be Screened for Diabetes?

Current guidelines recommend screening many adults starting around age 35, especially those who are overweight. You may need earlier or more frequent testing if you have a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of diabetes during pregnancy, or polycystic ovary syndrome. Your provider can help you decide when to test. Screening is often part of an annual physical.

How Is Type 2 Diabetes Managed?

Healthy Eating

There is no single perfect diabetes diet. In general, it helps to fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, choose whole grains over refined carbs, include lean protein, and limit sugary drinks and sweets. Paying attention to portion sizes and spreading carbohydrates through the day can keep blood sugar steadier.

Physical Activity

Regular movement helps your body use insulin better. Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, such as brisk walking, plus some strength training. Even a short walk after meals can lower blood sugar.

Medicines

Many people with type 2 diabetes take medicine. Metformin is often the first choice. Other options include newer medicines that can also protect the heart and kidneys, and insulin for some patients. Your provider will consider your blood sugar levels, other health conditions, cost, and preferences when choosing a medicine.

Monitoring

Depending on your treatment, you may check your blood sugar at home with a meter or a continuous glucose monitor. Your provider will also check your A1C regularly, often every three to six months. For many adults, an A1C goal of below 7% is common, but your goal may be different based on your health.

What Complications Can Diabetes Cause?

Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves. That can lead to:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems, including vision loss
• Nerve damage, especially in the feet
• Foot ulcers and infections
• Gum disease

Keeping blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in a healthy range greatly lowers these risks. Read about high blood pressure care in Conway.

What Regular Checks Do People With Diabetes Need?

• A1C test every three to six months
• Blood pressure check at every visit
• Cholesterol test at least yearly
• Kidney function blood and urine tests at least yearly
• A dilated eye exam, usually yearly
• A foot exam at least yearly, and a quick foot check at most visits
• Recommended vaccines, including a yearly flu shot

What Are Signs of Low or High Blood Sugar?

Low blood sugar can cause shakiness, sweating, a fast heartbeat, hunger, irritability, or confusion. If you take insulin or certain diabetes pills, learn how to treat lows with fast-acting sugar, such as juice or glucose tablets. Very high blood sugar can cause extreme thirst, frequent urination, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Call 911 for confusion, fainting, trouble breathing, or vomiting that will not stop.

Why Choose Urgent Care & Family Medicine in Conway?

Our clinic at 235 Singleton Ridge Road is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Our family medicine providers offer chronic disease management with on-site labs, and we can also see you for same-day illnesses that can affect blood sugar. We accept most major insurance and offer clear self-pay rates.

How Should You Care for Your Feet?

Diabetes can reduce feeling in the feet and slow healing, so a small blister or cut can turn into a serious infection before you notice it. Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or color changes. Use a mirror or ask a family member to help if you cannot see the bottoms of your feet. Wash and dry your feet carefully, especially between the toes, and use lotion on dry skin but not between the toes. Wear well-fitting shoes and socks, and avoid going barefoot, even at the beach or pool. If you notice a sore that is not healing, redness that is spreading, or drainage, call us promptly rather than waiting for your next routine visit.

What Should You Do on Sick Days?

Illnesses like the flu, a stomach bug, or an infection can push blood sugar up, even if you are eating less. Ask your provider for a sick-day plan before you need one. In general, it helps to keep taking your diabetes medicine unless you are told otherwise, check your blood sugar more often, drink plenty of sugar-free fluids, and try to eat small amounts of easy-to-digest food. Some medicines need to be paused when you are vomiting or dehydrated, so call us for guidance. Read more about stomach bugs and the flu.

How Can You Stay Motivated?

Living with diabetes is a long-term commitment, and it is normal to feel frustrated or worn out at times. Set small, specific goals, such as walking after dinner three nights a week or swapping sugary drinks for water. Celebrate progress, not perfection. Involve family members, since healthy changes are easier when the whole household joins in. And talk with your provider if you feel overwhelmed or down, because stress and low mood can make diabetes harder to manage and help is available.

Whether you were just diagnosed or have been managing diabetes for years, a steady partnership with a provider who knows your history makes the work easier. Bring your meter, glucose log, or monitor data to each visit so we can review trends together and fine-tune your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What A1C level means diabetes?

An A1C of 6.5% or higher on two tests generally indicates diabetes. A result of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes.

Can prediabetes be reversed?

Often, yes. Losing a modest amount of weight, eating well, and staying active can bring blood sugar back to a normal range for many people.

How often should I see a provider for diabetes?

Many people with diabetes see their provider every three to six months, and more often when starting or changing medicine.

Do I need to fast for diabetes testing?

The A1C test does not require fasting. A fasting blood glucose test requires not eating for at least eight hours. Ask which tests you will have.

Can your clinic manage my diabetes long term?

Yes. Our family medicine providers offer ongoing diabetes care, including medicine management and lab monitoring.