MCALLEN – Some who are diagnosed with diabetes believe it’s only a temporary issue.

“I didn't realize that it would be a lifelong problem,” explains Mark Dennis Bush, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 13.

He’s lived with diabetes for 59 years and in that time, he’s learned to do all the home treatments by himself.

He says he didn’t get a glucometer until he was in his 30s – before that he would check his sugar levels by inserting a device into his urine.

KRGV’s Christian Colón spoke with nurse practitioner Pamela Lopez who says new gadgets have made it easier on patients.

She explains how another device can check your glucose levels with a simple scan.

Watch the video above for the full story.