Living with a chronic condition
A chronic condition is not managed in the exam room. It is managed in the eleven and a half months between appointments — which is why what happens between visits matters more than the visit.
Conditions we manage routinely
- Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes — A1c monitoring, medication adjustment, foot and eye referrals, and practical food advice that survives contact with real life
- High blood pressure — the most common reason a DOT certificate gets shortened, and one of the most fixable
- High cholesterol and cardiovascular risk reduction
- Cardiovascular disease, co-managed with cardiology
- COPD and asthma — inhaler technique, exacerbation plans, vaccination
- Chronic kidney disease — monitoring, medication review, nephrology coordination
- Thyroid disease
- Several of the above at once, which is the situation most of our patients are actually in
What we add between visits
For patients who qualify, our care team monitors blood pressure, glucose, weight and oxygen readings remotely and contacts you if a number drifts, rather than waiting for the next appointment. That programme is described on the Chronic Care Management page.
Common questions
How often will I be seen?
Usually every three to six months once things are stable, and more often while we are adjusting treatment.
Can you manage my diabetes and my blood pressure together?
Yes, and that is the point. Treating them separately is how patients end up on medications that work against each other.
Do I need to see a specialist?
Sometimes. When you do, we arrange it and stay involved afterwards, so results and plan changes come back to one place.
This is not for emergencies
If you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, severe bleeding, or any symptom that frightens you, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not use this website, and do not wait to see if it passes.