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Senior News September, 2004 Vol. 25. No. 9
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
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Diabetes Day Sept. 15 Simple tips to delay diabetes symptoms or complications by Rich Spini Managing or preventing diabetes complications is one of the most difficult challenges a senior can face. It takes a lot of work to stay healthy and keep ahead of diabetes. However, one can prevent the complications or delay the onset of symptoms by following some basic tips. For people with diabetes: Keeping blood sugar within acceptable limits will delay and diminish the onset of diabetes complications such as nerve damage, blood vessel and heart damage, kidney problems, eye disorders and more. Keep fasting blood sugar between 70 and 140 mg/dl and after-eating levels less than 160 mg/dl. Test frequently (at least three times a day, first thing in the morning, before the main meal, and 90 minutes after the main meal). Frequent testing can be time consuming and costly, but the benefits include tighter control of blood sugar and decreased diabetes-related complications. Exercise: I cannot stress enough the importance of exercise. The best exercise, if it is possible for you, is simply walking a little every day. Results from the Diabetes Prevention Program prove that it does. In this study, men and women who walked 30 minutes per day, every day, lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and reduced their risk for developing diabetes by 58 percent. Walking also lowers blood pressure and reduces stress, further decreasing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Eat healthy: Another simple tip to prevent diabetes or delay complications is to eat a healthy diet. Think about the type of food you are consuming. Reducing fats in our diets is a good idea. Keeping cholesterol numbers down will prevent cardiovascular disease. In addition, it's important to watch the number of carbohydrate servings per day. One carb serving is generally considered 15 grams (equal to one small slice of bread or one medium-sized apple). For people prone to diabetes, consider restricting the number of carbs to no more than six choices (90 grams) a day. In addition, it is important to consider the type of carb consumed. Simple carbs such as white bread or fruit juice tend to hit the bloodstream rather quickly and produce an immediate rise in blood sugar. A better idea is to eat carbs that are complex and high in fiber, which will delay the rise in blood sugar and insulin release in your body - choose an apple with the skin rather than drinking apple juice. I am confident that if you follow these three basic tips, you may prevent the onset of diabetes and will definitely prevent diabetes-related complications. Please call me at Cloney's Pharmacy, 707-443-7086, if you have further questions. Feel free to stop by our store at 2515 Harrison Avenue in Eureka Sept. 15 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for our annual Diabetes Day. Or call me any time to set up an appointment to discuss your diabetes or medication questions. Visit our website at www.cloneys.com. --Rich Spini is a pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator with Cloney's Prescription Pharmacy. |
Senior News