Dr. Bateman from St. Luke’s Family Health

Dr. Bateman is an Idaho native.  He attended BYU, University of Washington and finished his residency training here in Boise where he has remained.   He developed an early interest in medicine as his father was a physician.  Interestingly, his oldest daughter recently finished her medical training and is a family practice physician as well.  Dr. Bateman feels lucky to live in Boise with such a wonderful quality of life we have here, especially with Idaho’s outdoor opportunities.

Dr. Bateman enjoys the variety that family practice provides allowing him to help his patients with all types of adult diseases and illnesses such as bone and joint issues, depression, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, cardiovascular  disease, medicine management, diet and weight counseling, risk factor screening, etc.

Two great nurses assist Dr. Bateman; Whitney and Nichole. They are very caring and help him manage his busy schedule so he can focus on spending time with his patients.

He likes to use physical therapy because he believes it is a medically cost-effective approach to initial treatment. He has been a strong supporter of Idaho Spine & Sports Physical Therapy because of the environment, open communication and positive outcomes. He enjoys seeing his patients improve their mobility and function as well as having them leave therapy with a better understanding of their condition and coping strategies for prevention and long-term recovery.

When Dr. Bateman is not helping his patients in the clinic, he can be found spending time with his wife and 5 children and his passions are archery hunting in the fall, golf, playing guitar and  ice hockey. He may be out for the remainder of this year’s hockey season due to fractured ribs but is confident he will be back on the ice!

Dr. Bateman’s patients always talk highly of him and appreciate his interest in their health and personal lives.

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide health problem characterized by the body’s inability to break down sugar due to an inefficiency of the hormone insulin.

According to the American Diabetes Association, the toll of diabetes is significant if left unchecked.

1. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.

2. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.

3. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.  About 60-70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to sever forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion and other nerve problems.

You may be at risk for diabetes, especially if your hemoglobin A1C levels are above the normal limit.  Ask your physician if this test is right for you.  Physical activity, healthy nutrition and stress management are important factors in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.  Your physician may prescribe medication to assist with the treatment of diabetes.

Your physical therapist can create a safe, progressive exercise program that enables your body to become more sensitive to insulin and effectively remove extra glucose from your bloodstream.  The goal is to normalize your blood glucose levels and improve your hemoglobin A1C readings.

Here are just some of the benefits of regular physical activity:

1. Decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol levels

2. Reduces the risk for heart disease and stroke

3. Boost in energy and ability to perform daily activities

4. Improved sleep patterns

5. Stress relief

6. Better range of motion in joints