Chronic Diseases Specialist

What are chronic diseases?

Chronic diseases describe a variety of conditions that affect your health for a year or more. These diseases require routine checkups and ongoing medical management, especially if you need medications.

The team at Forward Care Family Practice can help you manage a number of chronic diseases using their in-office lab and personalized treatment plan. They specialize in addressing chronic diseases like:

Diabetes mellitus (DM)

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that causes elevated blood sugar levels. If you can’t produce enough insulin to convert blood sugar into energy, it can lead to chronic health complications, including permanent nerve damage.

Hypertension (HTN)

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, describes a condition where the force of your blood against your blood vessel walls is too high. Without treatment, high blood pressure can increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Hyperlipidemia (HLD)

Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is a condition where fats in your blood build up in your arteries. These fats can harden into a plaque that makes it difficult for your blood to circulate as it should. Without treatment, you’re at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke.

What can I expect during a chronic disease consultation?

During your initial consultation for a chronic disease, the Forward Care Family Practice team spends time reviewing your personal and family medical history. They perform a physical to check your blood pressure, height, weight, and other vital signs.

The on-site lab helps the team evaluate your blood sugar levels to confirm diabetes. They also use blood work to diagnose high cholesterol.

After your physical, the team will customize a treatment plan that helps you stay in control of your chronic disease. They also focus on reducing your risk for long-term health issues that can occur as a result of chronic diseases.

How are chronic diseases treated?

Many conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, are manageable with medications and lifestyle changes.

The Forward Care Family Practice team can prescribe medications to regulate your blood sugars and blood pressure or lower your cholesterol levels.

They also work with you on a plan to improve your diet, help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, and increase your daily physical activity. These changes are important for managing a chronic disease and reducing your risk for life-threatening complications.

Through regular checkups, the team will continue to monitor your treatment and your overall health. They can make adjustments to your medications and suggest resources to help you optimize your health.

Learn more about your options for managing chronic diseases by calling Forward Care Family Practice or by booking a consultation online. You can also visit the practice as a walk-in patient.