Dr. Andrew Rhinehart
Diabetology
Abingdon, VA
30 years experience male
Locations
Office
Abingdon, VA
Address
Johnston Memorial Diabetes Care Center , 16000 Johnston Memorial Drive; Medical Plaza Suite 313, Abingdon, VA
DirectionsPhone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Great West PPO
About
Bio
Dr. Rhinehart serves as the Diabetologist and Medical Director of the Johnston Memorial Diabetes Care Center and the Johnston Memorial Center for Comprehensive Wound Care, in Abingdon, VA where he has been in practice since finishing his medical training in 1995. He also heads the Inpatient Glycemic Control Initiative for Johnston Memorial and the entire Mountain State Health Alliance, serves on the American Diabetes Associations National Professional Practice Committee and frequently lectures to patients and providers regarding diabetes and its related conditions.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Diabetology
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
50 Answers
6 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
No: Acarbose will not significantly help with weight loss and it will not cause diabetes. A study actually showed that Acarbose may help prevent the progr... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Anyone: Most type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in children but it can occur at any age. I just diagnosed a 63 year old man with new type 1 diabetes last week. The ... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Carefully: Exercise is alway beneficial to one's health but with diabetes with risk is hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia can also occur with kidney failure and dialy... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Not typically: Excessive hunger can actually be a symptom of diabetes out of control.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Very likely diabetes: You need to be checked for diabetes. Especially if you are having symptoms of diabetes out of control, such as, excessive urination, thirst , and/or h... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Coma: Severe hyperglycemia can leave to coma and in it's worst case scenario even death.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Dose adjustment: A confusing situation. Diabetes medications don't damage the kidneys but instead it is a situation of dose adjustment. When people have kidney disease... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Variable: People on diet alone or just oral medications may only need to test before and two hours after a meal 1-3 days a weeks or less while those on Insulin ... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Less: Insulin is actually cleared from the body by the kidneys; therefore, people with diminished kidney function typically require less insulin.
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes: Type 2 diabetes is well know to run in families but type 1 diabetes does as well. Epidemiologic data shows that 1 in 400-500 people in the general pop... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Causative: Hyperglycemia can lead to ketoacidosis in the case of a lack Insulin such as type 1 diabetes.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
No: Diabetes is the most common cause of gastroparesis but is is not the only cause.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Not likely: Pancreatic pain from diabetes is very unlikely unless someone has a history of chronic pancreatitis and this pain is classically in the mid upper abdo... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Possible: If you have out of control diabetes, meaning your body is use to high blood sugars it is possible that your body could sense a normal blood glucose as... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Dramatically : The treatment options of diabetes have changed dramatically in the us. Metformin was approved for use in the mid 1990's and since then 9 more classes ... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Think Carpal Tunnel: I frequently have patients come to me being told they have diabetic neuropathy in their hands. This is in fact fairly uncommon unless the foot neuropa... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Insulin resistance: Type 2 diabetes is the body's inability to use Insulin properly, Insulin resistance, along with a relative Insulin deficiency in that the body loses t... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Possibly: This is typically a condition called ancanthosis nigricans and it can be a sign of Insulin resistance which can lead to pre-diabetes and diabetes. I w... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Maybe multiple times: Maybe 4 times to screen: 1) screen for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes at the first prenatal visit in those with risk factors. 2) screen for gestational d... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
7%: 7% weight loss and exercising 150 minutes/wk can prevent the progression of prediabetes to diabetes.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
ACE inhibitors & ARB: Ace inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (arb) can help depending on the cause and severity. Good blood pressure control is also important and... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Healthy lifestyle: You need to stay active - aerobic exercise of at least 150 minutes a week. Maintain a healthy weight - ideally a body mass index (bmi) less than 25. E... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Be: Be prepared to treat hypoglycemia. Carry a rapid acting carbohydrate at all times. Glucose tablets.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Maybe none : The classic symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes are excessive urination, thirst and hunger with unexplained weight loss but that is not the time to diag... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes: One of the potential complications of diabetes is nephropathy (kidney damage). Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney failu... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Weak and shaky: Most patient tell me the first symptom they develop is an internal shaky or anxious feeling that is followed by weakness and sweating. Some people dev... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
123's of ABC's: Diabetes is all about numbers but letters too...Be sure you know the 123's of your abc's
a - a1c: <7.0% but individualize
b - blood pressure: <130/<... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
No: At present no oral medications are felt to be 100% safe in pregnancy but their are some new studies to support the use of one or two classes of oral m... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Prevent complication: Poorly controlled diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol have all been associated with the development of the complications of diabetes including h... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Blood glucose & A1c: Diabetes can be diagnosed 4 different ways: 1) fasting blood glucose >125, 2) a1c>6.4, 3) random glucose >200 with classic symptoms of diabetes, or 4)... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 65-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
DM, HTN, Age, & eGFR: I agree whole-heartedly but I do believe there is a reasonable explanation. With our nations epidemic of obesity has come an increase in hypertension ... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes : The majority of diarrhea is not directly related to diabetes but instead is a fairly common medication side effects of metformin, the most commonly pr... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes: These symptom can occur in people with automatic neuropathy. A condition in which the nerves to the bowel, bladder, stomach, and other organs are effe... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Type: Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age. It is not just a children's disease.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Not really: It is not Insulin resistance that causes kidney disease but instead poorly controlled diabetes. The most common causes of kidney failure in the us are... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Possibly: Both type 1 and type 2 can be genetic disorders and can run in families. This tendency to develop diabetes can come from the mother and/or the father.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Possibly: This is typically a condition called ancanthosis nigricans and it can be a sign of Insulin resistance which can lead to pre-diabetes and diabetes. I w... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Time: A1c is a measure of someone's average glucose over the last 2-3 months while a serum glucose is a measure of someone's glucose at the time the measur... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes but...: A glucose meter can certainly give you information regarding your glucoses and be used to follow glucoses after diagnosis but it should not be used fo... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Neuropathy &/or PAD: Two common conditions that effect the legs can occur with diabetes. Neuropathy: nerve damage that typically causes numbness, tingling, and burning in ... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes: There are studies to show that a healthy diet with regular exercise (at least 150 minutes/week of moderately intense aerobic activity) and a >7% we... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Insulin/Amylin/GLP-1: Insulin is available in many different preparations that differ based on their duration of action. Amylin is co-secreted with Insulin in those without... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Kind of: If you are requiring Insulin injections another alternative to multiple daily injections is an Insulin pump, which is still an injecton but only requi... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes: The main side effect of all Insulin is hypoglycemia; therefore, the most important thing is to be sure to always be prepared to treat hypoglycemia by ... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Most likely NO: People can experience acute or chronic kidney failure and yes those with acute kidney failure with a treatable cause can heal their kidneys and may on... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
?: When uncontrolled i will see patients every 2-4 weeks to make aggressive medications adjustments. If controlled on multiple medications &/or Insulin i... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Yes: There are studies to show that a healthy diet with regular exercise (at least 150 minutes/week of moderately intense aerobic activity) and a >7% we... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Maybe: One single random finger stick glucose cannot diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. It is diagnosed by either two elevated fasting glucoses between 100 an... Read More
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Andrew Rhinehartanswered
Diabetology 30 years experience
Many different ways: There are 8 classes "tablets" to control diabetes with a 9th class to be available soon. They decrease glucoses in many different ways including:
bloc... Read More
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
299
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Rhinehart is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Rhinehart is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! At age 70 and diagnosed with CKD l find many other folks I know fitting your answer. No longer surprised. Ty.
HealthTap member
Thanks for that my wife suffers from it and suffers from cramps during the night
HealthTap member
Great info. hubby just started insulin and I need to study numbers too
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Maryland School of Medicine, MD
Graduated 1992MD
Residency
East Tennessee State University
Awards
Top Doctor, Second Place, Kingsport, TN - Winter
2013
Most Influential, Second Place, Kingsport, TN - Winter
2013
Top Diabetes Specialist , First Place, National - Winter
2013
Affiliations
Johnston Memorial Hospital
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less