Carbohydrate Counting
Diabetes Support Group Meeting Highlights
February 16, 2010
Heart Health Help
The first meeting for 2010 of the Diabetes Support Group was held at Prairie Clinic on Tuesday evening February 16. February is heart awareness month so the topic was healthy heart information.
Diabetes and heart disease are more closely related than what most people may think and research is pointed in that direction as well. They are both a chronic disease. They are both a progressive disease. There is no cure for either disease but the treatment of each is advancing. The treatments are similar in that we ask people to eat differently and increase their physical activity. If these lifestyle changes don't allow you to reach the recommended goals, your medical team then may use medication to to protect your health. A lot of the care involved is preventative but we feel there is a lot you can do personally to stay in good health. We all want to live longer but we want to be feeling well enough to enjoy the time.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death nationwide. Adults with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than those without diabetes. The heart is a hardworking organ that pumps the blood through the complex network of vessels in our bodies. Healthy blood vessels are flexible and open so that the blood can run smoothly. Like a plumbing system, if the pipes aren't clear and have debris along their interior, the fluid doesn't move as easily as it should.
When it comes to diabetes and heart disease, we talk about the basic A-B-C's.
A- for A1c which demonstrates your diabetes is in good control and therefore decreases risk of complications. Goal for most people is <7.0
B- for blood pressure and that goal is 130/80 unless otherwise determined by your provider
C- for cholesterol control. We encourage people to know their numbers and try to understand the different test results
In conclusion was discussion on a low fat diet which we encourage all people to follow whether they have diabetes or not given the prevalence of heart disease. There are healthier fats to eat and also those to limit. All fats have the same number of high calories that add to weight gain which is in itself another health risk.
The support group will meet again on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 6PM and the topic will be carbohydrate counting. All are welcome and for additional information, call Rita @643-3351. Also we encourage you to learn more about your diabetes from your provider or a diabetes educator at Prairie Clinic.
Other Important Links
|
