Diabetes News – April 2019

April is National Gardening Month

What Are Some of the Health Benefits of Gardening With Diabetes?

Exercise is one of the main benefits.

Did you know to clear land for 30 minutes burns around 200 calories while weeding for 30 minutes burns about 182 calories, and planting bulbs or seeds for half an hour burns about 162 calories?

Bending, walking and stretching all help keep your heart and body healthy. Use rainwater collected in a barrel to water plants with an old-style watering can rather than using a hosepipe or sprinkler system. This method adds to the number of steps you do each day, tones up arms and avoids water wastage too.

Growing your own produce means you are much more likely to want to eat it. Nothing beats the flavor of something you have made from scratch with your own ingredients. Think of all the yummy dishes you can create, like this one:

Tomato Cucumber Salad        

Ingredients

  • 2 cups tomatoes, cut into bite sized pieces

(cherry and Roma tomatoes work well)

  • 3 cups cucumbers, sliced into 1/4” coins
  • 3 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons red onions, diced
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. Add cherry tomatoes and cucumbers to a bowl. 
  2. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar on top. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Toss everything to coat. Garnish with diced red onion and fresh basil.
  4. Chill, covered in refrigerator until ready to serve.

COMMUNITY OFFERINGS:

HEALTH & WELLNESS SCREENING – offered by Firelands Regional Medical Center

You must Pre-register for all Lab Work at 419-557-7840.

Norwalk Health & Wellness Screening

Dr. Ruggles’ Office 348 Milan Ave. Suite 2 Norwalk, OH

Saturday April 20, 2019

7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Castalia Health & Wellness Screening

Dr. Kuns’ Office 101 South Washington Castalia, OH

Saturday May 11

7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Health & Wellness Screenings include:

  • Complete Blood Count with Metabolic & Lipid Panel (No Eating or Drinking for 12 Hours – Water Allowed – includes liver and kidney function studies, fasting blood sugar, thyroid, cholesterol, HDL/LDL and triglyceride levels along with a complete blood count.) – $45;
  • Hemoglobin A1C (A three month report card on how well your blood sugars have been running. A test used to diagnose diabetes and/or to evaluate how well your treatment plan is working.) – $25;
  • PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)- $30;
  • Vitamin D – $35;
  • TSH – $25

Diet and exercise are an essential part of diabetes management. So is routine testing.

The A1C test—also known as the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test—is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. It’s one of the commonly used tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, and is also the main test to help you and your health care team manage your diabetes. Higher A1C levels are linked to diabetes complications, so reaching and maintaining your individual A1C goal is really important if you have diabetes.

Last quarter, 68% of our diabetic patients had an A1C of less than 9%. Talk with your provider to discuss the right options for you, including programs such as DEEP.

Diabetes Empowerment Education Program – DEEP

WHEN:

April 10, 2019– May 15, 2019            5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

WHERE:

Townsend School Computer Lab
207 Lowell Street, Castalia

COST:

Free

CONTACT:

Serving Our Seniors /Tina Elmlinger

419-624-1856

The presenter is Tina Elmlinger, Healthcare Advocate Trainer. Classes are held once a week for six weeks for Erie County residents who are aged 60 or older and are pre-diabetic or diabetic. A spouse or caregiver may also attend. Advanced registration is required419-624-1856. Please call and leave your name, phone number and the name of the program you wish to attend. If the class is cancelled, you will be notified.

Additional dates and locations:

WHEN:

April 22, 2019 – May 27, 2019           5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

WHERE:

Ritter Library

5680 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion

WHEN:

May 9, 2019 – June13, 2019              6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

WHERE:

Sandusky Library       

114 E Adams Street, Sandusky

WHEN:

July 10, 2019 – August 14, 2019        1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

WHERE:

Kelleys Island School

528 Division Street, Kelleys Island

Cost is free, but you must pre-register.