Diabetes News – June 2020

June is National Men’s Health Month

Out of the 15 leading causes of death, men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer’s disease, which many men don’t live long enough to develop. On average, men die five years earlier than women.

The Men’s Health Network (MHN) reports that men die at higher rates than women from these 10 causes of death – heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, accidents, pneumonia and influenza, diabetes, suicide, kidney disease, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Many of the top 10 causes of death are preventable, and can be treated, if found early. You can start by following these steps.

  • Visit your primary care provider every year
  • Get your cholesterol checked, beginning at age 25 and every five years.
  • Control your blood pressure and cholesterol
  • If you smoke, stop.
  • Increase your physical activity level to 30 minutes per day, most days of the week.
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables and less saturated or trans fats.

Father’s day is the perfect day to try this recipe.

Montreal-Style Steak & Sweet Potato Frites

2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
¼ cup nonfat plain yogurt
1 tablespoon finely crumbled blue cheese
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, plus more for garnish
1-1 1/4 pounds flat-iron steak or shoulder petite cut steak, trimmed
2 teaspoons 25% Less Sodium Montreal steak seasoning

Directions

Step 1:

Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 450 degrees F. Coat 2 large rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray.

Step 2:

Slice sweet potatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut each slice into 1/4-inch-wide fries. Toss with 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl; add paprika, cumin, salt and pepper and toss again. Divide the fries between the prepared baking sheets, spreading evenly. Bake on the upper and lower racks, stirring the fries and switching the pans halfway, until browned and tender, 25 to 28 minutes.

Step 3:

Meanwhile, combine yogurt, blue cheese and chives in a small bowl.

Step 4:

When the fries are halfway done, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle steak with Montreal steak seasoning and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes per side for medium. Let rest on a clean cutting board for 5 minutes. Slice crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick pieces and serve with the sweet potato fries and sauce, garnished with more chives, if desired.

This recipe also grills well!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 3 Oz. Steak, 1 Cup Fries & 1 Tbsp. Sauce Each

Per Serving:

396 calories; 18.3 g total fat; 4.8 g saturated fat; 67 mg cholesterol; 673 mg sodium. 991 mg potassium; 30.4 g carbohydrates; 4.9 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 26.8 g protein; 26852 IU vitamin a iu; 13 mg niacin equivalents; 1 mg vitamin b6; 28 mg vitamin c; 19 mcg folate; 112 mg calcium; 3 mg iron; 61 mg magnesium;

Exchanges: 

2 Starch, 3 Lean Meat, 2 Fat

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.

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.