Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and/or enjoyed the start of Hanukkah. Either way, most people experienced some sort of food-fest yesterday.  Some of us may have actually – gasp – overindulged!!  Say it ain’t so!  If your belly was a bit too full going to bed, today is a new day.  So instead of beating yourself up, time to decide how you are going to handle the rest of the holiday season.

Eating out or at events where there will be lots of food can be a challenge for healthy eating.   It can be even more difficult for diabetics who may experience severe fluctuations in their blood sugar levels depending on the types of calories they consume.  The American Association of Diabetes Educators put together a wonderful guide for healthy eating that is diabetes-friendly.  Includes portion control and the right combination of foods.  Everyone should follow these suggestions, not just diabetics.

Many decide to give in for the entire holiday season and think they will get back to healthy eating in January.  This can lead to folks feeling sluggish, making exercise even more challenging.  

                              Excess calories + decreased exercise = weight gain

Now is not the time to give in to the self-pity that comes after “blowing the diet”.  And in this instance, the word “diet” does not refer to a calorie-restricted meal, but refer to the healthy eating plan that we previously discussed (see BLOG 3/26/13).  There is nothing wrong with eating a few extra calories every now and again, for a special occasion – as long as you pick right back up and resume your healthy eating plan.

So to beat the blues, acknowledge and accept that you enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  You had a wonderful meal or series of meals, and then commit to resuming your healthy eating plan.  For the home cooks out there who are preparing foods for friends and families, be mindful that there may be a diabetic or two in the group.   Try to include a selection of fresh vegetables (not just prepared as a casserole) – your guests will be thankful!

                   ~ One drop of knowledge can ripple through an entire community

Last Sunday, November 17th, RadioTalk with Sister Andrena resumed after a short hiatus.  Some may have tuned in thinking we were going to discuss diabetes, as I had mentioned in my 11/14/13 blog.  However, there was a topic change at the last minute. 

A story had recently been in the news about a young mother who reported a botched circumcision on her 3-month-old son.  Since Andrena had recently given birth to her little girl, this story touched her and warranted discussion. Due to the lack of information contained in the stories that we looked at on-line, I could not directly comment on this case. So instead we spent most of the time discussing how best to advocate for ourselves and/or our loved ones when a surgical procedure is required.

Yes, circumcision, the removal of the foreskin of the penis, is indeed a surgical procedure.  It happens to be one of the most common procedures performed in newborn males in the U.S., but it is surgery.  There may be religious or cultural reasons a family may elect to proceed with circumcision but the health benefits of circumcision are debated, so it is an elective procedure.  And there are certain conditions, such as hypospadias – a birth defect that results in the positioning of the urethra in the incorrect place, where circumcision is not recommended.

For any surgery, and particularly for any elective surgery, here are a few steps to consider.
Before Surgery:

1. Talk with the doctor who is going to perform the procedure about the risks and benefits.  Not a nurse, or a social worker, or a person who sits at the front desk.  Speak directly with the surgeon.
   
2. Ask how many of this same exact procedure the surgeon has already performed.  Don’t be shy about it – ask the question.  You’d ask a mechanic how many engines he’s rebuilt before letting him or her rebuild yours.
   
3. Is the procedure the only treatment available?  If not, what other options are there, both surgical and non-surgical?
   
4. Understand what the post-operative period will look like.  Will there be much pain? How do I care for the surgical site?  Any restrictions?

After surgery:

1. Meet with the doctor to discuss how the procedure went. 
   
2. Review how to how to manage pain, how to care for any wounds, and review any restrictions in diet or activity.  
   
3. Know what number to call in case of an emergency.
   

If you don't feel comfortable asking the questions, bring a friend or family member with you who does!

With respect to the case discussed last Sunday, expectant mothers can begin a dialogue with their doctor well before a child is born to determine if circumcision is the right choice for them, even if the gender of the fetus is unknown. 

But please remember, there are risks to every medical treatment, even in the hands of the most experienced doctor.  
The best way to advocate for ourselves is to be an informed consumer.  
                      ~ One drop of knowledge can ripple through an entire community.

As a child, my family went to a predominantly black church in a poorer section of Long Island, NY called Wyandanch, located within the Town of Babylon. Despite living in the north, there were still a few of the older black women who held on fiercely to their southern roots.  I can still visualize the mounds of fried chicken, baking pans full of mac-n-cheese, and the pots of collards cooked with ham hock that were staples during Sunday church gatherings.  And yes, the desserts – sweet potato pie, cheese cake, peach cobbler – just to name a few.  At times, I would hear the grown folk talking about so-and-so not having the cobbler because they had “a touch of the sugar”.  Couldn’t understand why someone would prefer to have a little sugar instead of eating a yummy dessert.  Didn’t realize until I was older that the conversation was not about a sweetner, but about diabetes mellitus!

                                                                     What is diabetes? 

Diabetes is a disease that affects the chemistry of your body.  Our bodies can be likened to sophisticated machinery that requires specialized care to ensure all of our “fluids” are properly maintained.  Glucose is a simple sugar that is one of the main sources of fuel for our bodies; most is derived from the foods we eat, but glucose can also be produced in our liver and kidneys.  While we need to have enough glucose to keep our bodies functioning, levels that are too high can disrupt the chemical balance of the body and, over time, cause significant damage to many different body parts. The main regulator of glucose levels is a hormone called insulin.

Glucose levels can be measured in the blood, so when your doctor gets a blood test to check your chemistries, your blood sugar level is also being evaluated.  High blood sugar can be caused because someone does not produce enough or because their body is not responding to the insulin that is produced. As with most illnesses, diabetes is a spectrum of diseases - meaning there is more than one type of diabetes and it impacts people differently. 

There are 3 main types of diabetes:

The American Diabetes Association has an excellent website that reviews the basics of these diseases.  Please take a few moments to check out the site – there is an audio button to havethe site read to you!  

Despite the sweet moniker, diabetes is a very serious disease that can have devastating complications.  In the U.S., diabetes is much more prevalent among minority populations (see graphic), so it is important for these communities to education themselves about the disease and its risk factors. 

More about diabetes this Sunday, November 17th during RadioTalk on Touch 106.1FM – tune in at 9:20am to participate in the discussion (livestream: touchfm.org)!!

         ~One drop of knowledge can ripple through an entire community

Ever have so much to do, that you have actually felt paralyzed?  What about feeling so overwhelmed it was if you had the weight of the world on your shoulders?  Well, join the club.  This has been my reality for the past two months.  So please forgive the lack of blog posts. But...

                         I’m baaaack!

Not to say that I have any less to do (smile) but I was able to take a much needed vacation – the first of 2013!  I just returned last week, and really could use another vacation.  But I must say that taking 7 days away from my “normal” life has given me enough of an infusion to get back on the horse and to refocus.  So while I am hoping that another quick trip is in my near future, it is good to be back writing and fostering discussion.
      ___________________________________________________________________

I often wonder what people who are not in the medical field think about what healthcare providers do.  Is any thought given to the intense relationships, stressful scenarios, life and death situations, poor reimbursements, litigation risks, etc. that doctors face on a daily basis?  While some practices or practitioners may be less intense, the daily grind and incredible responsibility that comes with doctoring can be overwhelming.  Yet many patients who utilize the medical system are unaware of the pressures that doctors face.  Our healthcare system has voided the true doctor-patient relationship and even divorced users of the system from the costs associated with their care.  For example, when was the last time you paid a complete medical bill, versus just handing over the $30 co-pay?

Lack of personal responsibility for health care makes it easier for a parent to take their child to the emergency room for a cough instead of calling their pediatrician.  Or creates a scenario where women are inappropriately demanding MRIs for breast cancer screening instead of mammograms.  Who pays for this?  Not the individual – at least not directly.  But eventually we all do, via the rising healthcare costs, diminishing insurance coverage despite higher prices, or the ridiculous percentage of the US gross domestic product (17%) that spent on healthcare (see The Rundown on PBS NewHour), instead of other goods and services.

What happens when those who don’t qualify for Medicaid/Medicare develop a major medical problem and are uninsured or underinsured?  Unless they are independently wealthy, the costs of their medical care can be burdensome.  Healthcare expenditures are the #1 cause of bankruptcy in this nation.

The U.S. healthcare system needs an overhaul.  Anyone who says different, is making money off of the way things are currently run. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a first step towards trying to remedy a system that has been broken for decades.  Will not be the only step and will require some revisions and changes (gotta get that website working!!).  I am not savvy enough to know all of the ins-and-outs, but I think we all should at least educate ourselves about the basics of the ACA before pouting and turning our backs in defiance.  Here’s a link to a simple explanation of the ACA, but don’t let it end there.  

Be more invested in your personal health and the health of the nation – get involved!

Have you found ways to advocate for your health and the health of your family?  Please share your comments below.

                  ~One drop of knowledge can ripple through an entire community