Top Doctors: 5 fast facts on diabetes
Nearly 80 million people in the United States are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. But it's possible for many people in that group to lower the chance they will become one of the 26 million U.S. residents who have the disease.
With type 2 diabetes, the most common form, the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly. Insulin is needed for glucose, or sugar, to be converted to energy.
Here's what you should know about keeping diabetes at bay:
1. LOSE WEIGHT
"Some people are going to get diabetes, and there's not much they can do, even if they do everything right," said Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola and a professor of medicine at Stony Brook School of Medicine. "But there are more people who can prevent or reverse it with lifestyle changes."
Losing weight should be a top priority for anyone who's overweight, Shapiro said. Diabetes has become much more common over the past 40 years, he said, and excess weight is the culprit.
2. FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE METABOLIC SYNDROME
The term describes a group of medical problems: high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low levels of "good" cholesterol, extra weight around the waist and insulin resistance, or trouble controlling blood sugar. Having three or more of these conditions greatly boosts the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
"It gives a heads-up to the internist and to the patient that something should be done now while this syndrome is evolving," Shapiro said.
3. GET MONITORED MORE OFTEN IF YOU'RE AT RISK
Regular testing -- perhaps during twice-yearly rather than annual checkups -- can detect diabetes, said Dr. Leonard Gioia, chief of endocrinology at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip.
4. TAKE MEDICATION, IF NECESSARY
Metformin, a drug known by a variety of brand names, is available for people who are at high risk for developing diabetes, but it's not for everyone, Gioia said. "It should probably be restricted to people who have a very high risk of diabetes, maybe because of a strong family history involving both parents or because they've had blood tests that show they're on the verge of becoming diabetic."
Metformin is inexpensive and easy to take, he said, but it can cause side effects such as diarrhea, bloating and nausea in some people. "Otherwise," he said, "it's a great drug."
5. REVERSE DIABETES IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT
It's difficult to reverse diabetes, Gioia said, but some people have done it. Bariatric surgery, which can lead to tremendous weight loss, has eliminated diabetes in some patients, he said.
"And I can think of at least one person in my practice who basically reversed diabetes on his own," Gioia said. "He lost enough weight and came off of everything -- all the pills -- and had a resolution of diabetes."
"Does it happen often? No," he said. "Can it happen? Yes."
Endocrinologists
This is the seventh installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism
Dr. John Aloia
222 Station Plaza N.
516-663-3511
Dr. Michael Balkin
191 E. Main St.
Huntington
631-549-2525
Dr. Anjani Bhatt
871 E. Park Ave.
516-889-8853
Dr. Rachelle Bitton
2 Pro Health Plaza
516-390-5760
Dr. Howard Brand
2500 Nesconset Hwy.
Stony Brook
631-751-2400
Dr. Harold Carlson
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center
Dept. Medicine
26 Research Way
631-444-0580
Dr. Seth Friedman
560 Northern Blvd.
516-466-6165
Dr. Marie Gelato
26 Research Way
631-444-0580
Dr. Leonard Gioia
53 Brentwood Rd.
631-666-6275
Dr. Alan Goldenberg
East End Endocrine Associates
189 Main Rd.
631-288-7120
Dr. Jeffrey Gordon
3 School St.
516-759-2420
Dr. Martin Greenfield
2 ProHealth Plaza
516-608-6823
Dr. Kenneth Hupart
NU Health
Nassau Univ.
Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Tpke.
516-572-4848
Dr. Irwin Klein
2800 Marcus Ave.
Lake Success
516-708-2540
Dr. Steven Lomasky
242 Merrick Rd.
516-536-3700
Dr. Paul Margulies
444 Community Dr.
516-627-1366
Dr. David Rosenthal
Nassau University Medical Center
Div. Endocrinology
2201 Hempstead Tpke.
516-572-4848
Dr. Lawrence Shapiro
222 Station Plaza N.
Mineola
516-663-3511
Dr. Ashok Vaswani
901 Stewart Ave.
516-739-0414
Dr. Stuart Weinerman
2800 Marcus Ave.
Lake Success
516-708-2540
Dr. Craig Wexler
285 Sills Rd., Bldg. 15
631-758-5858
CLINICAL GENETICS
Dr. Martin Bialer
1554 Northern Blvd.
516-365-3996
Dr. Joyce Fox
1554 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset
516-365-3996
Dr. David Hyman
48 Route 25A
631-862-3620
Dr. Margaret McGovern
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center
Pediatrics
Nicolls Road
Stony Brook
631-444-5437
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
Dr. Steven Brenner
2001 Marcus Ave.
Lake Success
516-358-6363
Dr. Richard Bronson
State Univ. of NY
at Stony Brook
Health Science Center, T9-080
Stony Brook
631-246-9100
Dr. Daniel Kenigsberg
8 Corporate Center Dr.
631-752-0606
Dr. Michael Lydic
Reproductive
Specialists of NY
2500 Nesconset Hwy.
Bldg 23
Stony Brook
631-246-9100
Dr. David Rosenfeld
Div. Human Reproduction
300 Community Dr.
Ambulatory Bldg.
Manhasset
516-562-2229
How they were picked
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals.
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process.
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors.
To see the whole list . . .
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

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