Ruben Loza 
EDINBURG – Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the Rio Grande Valley.
Dr. Jose Llinas-Cepeda, endocrinologist at Valley Diabetes and Endocrinology Comprehensive Center (VDECC), explains the different types of diabetes.
“Type 1 diabetes are those kids or adolescents where their pancreas doesn’t work and they’re usually going to need insulin since the start of their diagnosis,” Dr. Llinas-Cepeda said.
“Type 2 diabetes, it happens more as we age, as we grow,” he said. “It’s influenced by our lifestyle–if we don’t move, if we don’t exercise, if we don’t follow a good diet. It’s also in the genes. It’s more prevalent in Hispanics and in Blacks.”
Mayra Cantazaro, VDECC doctor of nursing practice, shares the resources offered at their medical center.
“[Resources offered include] nutrition, physical activity [and] the proper way of taking certain medications,” Cantazaro said. “We also provide resources such as patient assistant programs for patients who can’t afford certain medications. There’s a lot of things that we can do and we are here to help any patient who has diabetes.”
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