By Cassie in March 2010, Uncategorized on March 10 2010
Take charge of your life with out Diabetes Self-Management Class!
* Learn to control your blood sugar
* Learn about diet
* Learn about your medications
* Learn about complications from DIABETES
* Learn what to ask your doctor
YOU ARE INVITED
To attend a 4 week educational class
from 1:30p-4:00p
April 6
APRIL 13
April 20
April 27
Highlights
· SNACKS
· RECIPES
· DOOR PRIZES
Contact Eve Greene, RN or Karen Osborne for more information. 606-473-9838.
By Cassie in March 2010, Uncategorized on March 10 2010
by Joanne Gallivan, M.S., R.D. Director National Diabetes Education Program - National Institutes of Health
Do you know your family’s health history? Or is it like a secret no
one wants to talk about? Many health conditions, including type 2
diabetes, run in families. Many people who get type 2 diabetes
have one or more family members with the disease.
Knowing the health history of your siblings, parents, and blood relatives is important because it gives you and your health care team information about your risk for developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes. You can’t change your family history, but knowing about it can help you work with your health care team to take action on things you can change. Studies have shown that you can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your weight, if you are overweight—that’s 10 to 14 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds. You can lose weight by walking 30 minutes a day for five days a week and choosing healthy foods lower in fat and calories.
The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) urges everyone to explore their family health history and make a family plan to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
1. Ask around. Talk to your relatives to find out if anyone has diabetes. If you have been
diagnosed with diabetes, tell your family.
2. Update your health care team on your family history. Talk to your health care team about whether you should be screened for diabetes. It is important to find out early if you have diabetes so you can take steps to manage the disease. People who keep their blood glucose (sugar) as close to normal as possible in the early years after they are diagnosed with diabetes have fewer problems with their eyes, nerves, and kidneys, and fewer heart attacks later in life.
3. Make a healthy eating plan for the whole family. The plan should include:
§ Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products,
§ Choosing lean meats, poultry without the skin, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts, and
§ Foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
4. Get Moving. Make physical activity a family affair. Go for a walk, or play soccer, basketball, or tag with your children. Try swimming, biking, hiking, jogging, or any activity that you enjoy. Vary your activities so you don’t get bored.
Don’t let diabetes be your family secret. Make a family plan to work together to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. If someone in your family has diabetes, ask how family members can support them.
Check out NDEP’s free resources for more ideas on how to lower your risk for type 2 diabetes. Order the Small Steps. Big Rewards. Your GAME PLAN to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes booklet and other resources by calling 1-888-693-NDEP (6337) or visit www.YourDibaetesInfo.org . Also check out the Weight-control Information Network’s resources on nutrition, physical activity, and weight control at www.win.niddk.nih.gov or call 1-877-946-4627.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program is jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of more than 200 partner organizations
By Cassie in February 2010 on March 2 2010
Wintry weather forces blood drive losses representing 3,000+ potential donations in February
February may be the shortest month of the year, but its weather impact loomed large on blood collection efforts of the Greater Alleghenies Region of American Red Cross Blood Services.
Last month’s seemingly non-stop winter storms resulted in dozens of blood drive cancellations representing more than 3,000 potential blood donations, according to John Hagins, CEO.
“In a couple of instances we rebooked the drives only to have them cancel again with the next storm,” he commented. “Despite these losses, we continued meeting patient need with the assistance of Red Cross blood donor centers less affected by wintry weather.
“Such is the strength of the 36-region Red Cross Blood Services system to help deliver blood products locally and across the country to wherever they are needed.”
Hagins emphasized that the 100-county Greater Alleghenies Region is relying on strong donor turnout in coming days and weeks to make up the shortfall from the previous month.
“Every day, donors of all blood types are needed; however, currently the greatest need is for individuals with O negative, A negative and B negative blood types,” he said.
Upcoming area blood drives include: (SEE ATTACHED LIST OF BLOOD DRIVES)
Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), meet height and weight requirements (at least 110 pounds based on height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Individuals should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when they come to donate.
Those with specific eligibility questions should call 1-866-236-3276 and ask to speak to someone at the Red Cross Donor Client Support Center.
Donation appointments may be scheduled at many Red Cross blood drives. To schedule a blood donation appointment where available, or to find a local blood drive, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Individuals can also follow the Red Cross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/redcrossGAR.
The Greater Alleghenies Region directly serves hospitals, patients and donors in a 100-county area in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, with more than five-dozen blood products and related services, and also supports blood needs experienced by patients elsewhere in hospitals served through Red Cross Blood Services.
By Cassie in February 2010 on February 26 2010
ATLANTA— A government panel is now recommending that virtually all Americans get a flu shot each year, starting this fall.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices had gradually been expanding its recommendation for flu shots - 85 percent of Americans were already included.
On Wednesday, the panel voted to recommend a seasonal flu vaccination for everyone except babies younger than 6 months and those with egg allergies or other unusual conditions.
The panel’s recommendation now goes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention </home/topicdl/dlt/01×9axm8cs2Xm/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention>. The CDC usually follows the panel’s advice and spreads the message to doctors and hospitals across the country.
“Now no one should say ‘Should I or shouldn’t I?’” said Dr. Anthony Fiore, a CDC flu specialist.
CDC vaccination recommendations tend to be influential with the doctors who give the shots and the health insurers who pay for them.
Flu shots are already recommended for 85 percent of the U.S. public, including pregnant women, children older than 6 months, adults 50 and older, people with certain chronic health conditions, health care workers and those who take care of people in a recommended group. The only people who weren’t specifically included were healthy people ages 19 to 49 who don’t have close contact with anyone at risk of flu and its complications.
But only about 33 percent of Americans actually get a flu shot, and unusually millions and millions of doses get thrown away annually.
The swine flu pandemic that hit last year caused a new momentum for flu vaccinations. Virtually all the 114 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine doses made were distributed, and more young adults and children got the swine flu vaccine than usually come out for seasonal flu.
The panel voted 11 to 0 - with one abstention - for the recommendation, prompting a short round of applause in the CDC auditorium where the meeting was held. Some public health experts and physicians had been pushing for a universal flu vaccination recommendation for more than 10 years.
Also on Wednesday, the panel gave its nod to a proposed formulation of next year’s seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine will be built to protect against three strains of flu scientists think will be circulating next fall and winter. Swine flu </home/topicdl/dlt/0go2ckq3AVabb/Swine_flu> is to be one of the strains incorporated into the vaccine.
At past meetings, the panel stopped short of recommending flu shots for everyone. Panel members were mindful of a history of temporary flu vaccine shortages in the United States. They worried a universal recommendation might cause demand to far surpass supply and endanger those at the highest risk of life-threatening flu complications.
“Yet every year we wasted millions and millions of doses,” said Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic </home/topicdl/dlt/012d8w15F21Fj/Mayo_Clinic> infectious diseases expert who for years has passionately pushed the panel to recommend flu shots for all.
The swine flu vaccine campaign appears to be ending the same way. Doses were scarce when the swine flu vaccine first became available in early October, but now roughly 90 million people have been vaccinated, demand is dying and millions of doses are unused.
Swine flu provided another argument for universal vaccination. The new virus proved to be unusually dangerous to young adults, and also took a surprising toll on Native Americans and obese people. Many of those hospitalized and killed by swine flu were not in groups previously recommended for annual flu shots, and that fact was another reason to expand the vaccination recommendation, experts said.
There are a few exceptions to the universal recommendation. Children under 6 months of age, who have undeveloped immune systems, will continue to be exempt. So too will people who have egg allergies (the vaccine is made using eggs) and those who have had certain severe reactions to flu shots in the past.
The panel also decided that elderly people can consider a new, revved-up version of the seasonal flu shot. It’s a Sanofi Pasteur </home/topicdl/dlt/0d855RU1IK7jA/Sanofi_Pasteur> vaccine for adults 65 and older.
In years when the flu shot is well matched to circulating flu viruses, vaccine is 70 to 90 percent effective in people younger than 65, the CDC estimates. But it tends to be only 30 to 70 percent effective in those who are older because they generally have weakened immune systems.
The Sanofi vaccine _ called Fluzone High-Dose _ has four times as much immunity-building antibodies as a standard dose. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration </news/topicdl/dlt/0aGN5Ngc6j71H/Food_and_Drug_Administration> approved the vaccine in December, and it should be available for the 2010-2011 flu season. It would cost about $25 a shot, or about twice the standard version.
The panel did not state a preference for the vaccine, however. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine through an accelerated process, and Sanofi is to do further studies to show the shot reduces flu illnesses.
By Cassie in February 2010 on February 24 2010
The Physician-Patient relationship is one of the most important relationships we have. However, outside forces including shortages of physicians, paper worl, regulations and new laws, all serve to severely limit the time your doctor may spend with you. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers several tips to make your next visit more productive for you and your doctor.
Before your visit, take time to write down questions you have. Document symptoms, and include important changes in your health history.
Let the doctor know if you have experienced changes in your life, such as family illness, death, or divorce.
Bring along a list of medications (include strenght) you are taking, and ask about any side effects you may be experiencing. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements.
Ask questions if you don’t understand or are unable to hear the doctor’s comments. If you have hearing problems or need help in comprehension bring along a family member or friend.
Be honest and inform the doctor if you are not taking your medications; not eating well; smoking.
Following instructions recommended by your physician is crucial. This especially includes taking medicine prescribed; following up on X-rays and labs; and showing up for visits to referred physicians.
Write down a summary of your visit, and if you have questions, call your physicians office and ask to speak with the nurse.
Don’t forget your next scheduled visit.
|
