May is Stroke Awareness Month

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is suddenly interrupted. Then brain tissue is damaged. Most strokes happen because a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain or neck. A stroke can cause movement problems, pain, numbness and problems with thinking, remembering or speaking. Some people also have emotional problems, such as depression, after a stroke.

If you have diabetes, your chances of having a stroke are 1.5 times higher than in people who don’t have diabetes. But your risk is even greater if:

• you’re over age 55
• your family background is African American
• you’ve already had a stroke or a transient ischemic (ih-SKEE-mik) attack (also called a TIA or a mini-stroke)
• you have a family history of stroke or TIAs
• you have heart disease
• you have high blood pressure
• you’re overweight
• you have high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels
• you are not physically active
• you smoke

You can’t change some of these risk factors. But you can lower your chances of having a stroke by taking care of your diabetes and tackling some of the other risk factors, such as losing weight if you’re overweight.

Typical warning signs of a stroke develop suddenly and can include:

• weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• sudden confusion or trouble understanding
• trouble talking
• dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
• trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
• double vision
• severe headache

If you have warning signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. Getting treatment as soon as possible after a stroke can help prevent permanent damage to your brain.

For more information on Strokes: https://www.stroke.org/

May is also National Mediterranean Diet Month (which happens to be a heart healthy diet with tons of flavor). A Mediterranean-style diet typically includes:

• plenty of fruits, vegetables, bread and other grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds;
• olive oil as a primary fat source; and
• dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts.

Fish and poultry are more common than red meat in this diet. It also centers on minimally processed, plant-based foods. Fruit is a common dessert instead of sweets.

Greek Chicken Gyro Salad

Servings 2 salads

Ingredients

• 6cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 8-ounce Chicken Breast sliced or chopped
• 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans drained
• 1cup cherry tomatoes sliced
• 1cup sliced cucumber
• 1/2avocado chopped
• 1/4cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1/4cup sliced red onion
• 2pita bread pockets
• Canola oil spray
• Paprika
• 1/4cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4cup red wine vinegar
• 1clove garlic peeled and minced
• 2teaspoons oregano
• 1teaspoon sugar
• 1/2teaspoon each of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Store bought or Homemade Tzatziki sauce for drizzling

Instructions

1. Add the lettuce to a large serving bowl and top with the sliced chicken, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, olives and red onion.
2. Cut the pita breads into triangles and spray with canola oil. Sprinkle with paprika and toast until golden. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
3. To make the dressing add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, sugar and salt and pepper to a small canning jar. Top with the lid and shake well until blended and emulsified. Season with more sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to taste. Drizzle with the tzatziki as desired.

Homemade Tzatziki sauce

Ingredients

• ½cucumber , halved with skin and seeds removed
• 3/4cupGreek Plain Nonfat Yogurt
• 2cloves garlic , pressed or minced
• 1tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1tablespoon fresh dill , minced
• Pinchof kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare the tzatziki sauce by grating the cucumber. Gather the cucumber together and place in a paper towel and press the water out of the shredded cucumber and place in a medium size bowl.
2. Add the yogurt, garlic, red wine vinegar, fresh dill, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

Community offerings: *

* Many community offering have been postponed or canceled as a result of the coronavirus/COVID 19.  Please call the number listed for the event to verify availability, dates and times. If you have questions regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19 please call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634) Or, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html or https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/.

Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)

COST:
Free

CONTACT:
Tina Elmlinger
419-624-1856

The Diabetes Empowerment Education Program [DEEP] is offered every Wednesday for six weeks. Good attendance is important. This free program is for diabetics, pre-diabetics, and spouses or caregivers of a diabetic.  Residents of Erie County, aged 60 or older, please call 419-624-1856 to register.

Diabetes Support Group – Firelands Regional Medical Center

The Diabetes Support Group presented by Jean Feick CNP,CDE, meets the third Wednesday of each month Sept–November and January-May from 12:00pm –1:00pm.  This meeting is free to the public and no registration is required. Attendees are welcome to purchase lunch in the hospital cafeteria and come to the adjacent Cafeteria Meeting #1.  A different topic will be reviewed each month. If you have questions, please contact the Diabetes Education Department at 419-557-6992.

HEALTH & WELLNESS SCREENING – offered by Firelands Regional Medical Center

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

Castalia Health & Wellness Screening

Dr. Kuns
101 South Washington St.
Castalia, OH

Saturday, May 9
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Huron Health & Wellness Screening

Dr. Williamson and Rousseau
300 Williams St.
Huron, OH

Saturday, June 11
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Norwalk Health & Wellness Screening

Dr. Ruggles
348 Milan Ave,
Norwalk, OH

Saturday, July 11
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Port Clinton Health & Wellness Screening

Dr. Braniecki and Widmer
3960 East Harbor Road,
Port Clinton, OH

Saturday, August 15
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, but 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.