MARCH IS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

Diabetic kidney disease is a type of kidney disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About 1 out of 4 adults with diabetes has kidney disease.

The main job of the kidneys is to filter wastes and extra water out of your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also help control blood pressure and make hormones that your body needs to stay healthy.

With diabetes, the small blood vessels in the body are injured. When the blood vessels in the kidneys are injured, your kidneys cannot clean your blood properly. Your body will retain more water and salt than it should, which can result in weight gain and ankle swelling. You may have protein in your urine. Also, waste materials will build up in your blood.

Diabetes also may cause damage to nerves in your body. This can cause difficulty in emptying your bladder. The pressure resulting from your full bladder can back up and injure the kidneys. Also, if urine remains in your bladder for a long time, you can develop an infection from the rapid growth of bacteria in urine that has a high sugar level.

Kidney damage from diabetes can get worse over time. However, you can take steps to keep your kidneys healthy and help slow kidney damage to prevent or delay kidney failure. Kidney failure means that your kidneys have lost most of their ability to function—less than 15 percent of normal kidney function. However, most people with diabetes and kidney disease don’t end up with kidney failure.

Healthy lifestyle habits can help you reach your blood glucose and blood pressure goals. Following the steps below will also help you keep your kidneys healthy:
• Stop smoking.
• Make physical activity part of your routine.
• Stay at or get to a healthy weight.
• Get enough sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
• Take medicines as prescribed

Work with a dietitian to develop a diabetes meal plan and limit salt and sodium.

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The Diet-Betus – our version of recipe of the month just with a healthier tweak
Bring some Luck of the Irish into your home with this tasty recipe.

CORNED BEEF STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Ingredients

• 1 large head cabbage
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 can (15 ounces) corned beef hash
• 1 cup canned spaghetti sauce, divided
• 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup chopped parsley

Directions

1. Separate 12 large outer leaves from the cabbage head; set aside the remaining cabbage head. Remove the center vein from each leaf so it becomes more pliable. Soften the cabbage leaves in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from water with a slotted spoon; set aside until cool enough to handle.
2. Chop 1 cup of cabbage from the remaining cabbage head. Save any leftover cabbage to use in a salad, soup or stir-fry dish. Cook and stir the chopped cabbage, onion and celery in oil over medium heat in a medium, non-stick skillet until onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add corned beef hash, breaking it up with a spoon; mix gently. Heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce and breadcrumbs, mix well. Cool slightly.
3. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the corned-beef mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Roll, tucking the ends in. Arrange cabbage rolls, seam side down, in a shallow baking dish. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over cabbage rolls. Bake at 350F covered for about 25 minutes, until heated through. To serve, spoon spaghetti sauce over cabbage rolls; sprinkle with parsley.

NOTES:
Wrap up the flavors of the Emerald Isle in these delicious corned beef and cabbage rolls. For convenience, stuff the cabbage leaves the night before, then just cook them in the oven for an easy St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Cooked in nutrient-rich spaghetti sauce, this main dish is an easy way to fit in more veggies! Nutrition information, based on using 1/3 head of cabbage in this recipe.

Recipe Yield: Servings: 6

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Community offerings:

*Many community offering have been postponed, changed 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) –Erie County Senior Center

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.

Sandusky Health & Wellness – Firelands Regional Medical Center South Campus

1912 Hayes Avenue Sandusky, OH
Saturday, April 3
7:00 am -9:30 am

Sandusky Health & Wellness – Firelands Regional Medical Center South Campus

1912 Hayes Avenue Sandusky, OH
Saturday, May 15
7:00 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, 70% of our diabetic patients had an A1C of less than 9%. Talk with your provider to discuss the right options for you.