Making the Most of your Diabetes Appointments

On 7/20/2010 the topic of discussion at the Prairie Clinic Diabetes Support meeting was making the most of your diabetes appointments. If you come prepared, it is more likely to benefit both provider and person with diabetes. We encourage you to bring list of questions. If the list is too long, it may require setting priority for items and saving some for the next visit.

Ideally we would ask that you record your blood sugars on paper for review. In fact we encourage that everyone write them down so you are able to make notes as needed. Sometimes it is helpful to know that you went out to a buffet dinner later in the evening and that is what caused you to have a high sugar reading. Also please record that you skipped a meal or were late eating it and then had a low blood sugar. We like for you to learn from your testing... Read More

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

On Tuesday, June 15 the Diabetes Support Group had a guest speaker, Dr. Michael Zolper. Dr. Zolper is a Chiropractor from Zolper Family Chiropractic located in Baraboo and he specializes in helping patients who suffer from peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is caused by nerve damage. It can result from injuries, infections, exposure to toxins, and medications. One of the most common causes of PN is diabetes. Symptoms of PN include numbness, weakness, burning pain, and loss of reflexes. In many cases, the symptoms of PM improve with time. Medications and alternative treatments, such as chiropractor care, can also be used to treat or reduce symptoms. It is always important to discuss with your doctor the best treatment option for you and your symptoms... Read More.

Celebrate National Dairy Month!

June is National Dairy Month - time to make sure you are consuming enough dairy products needed to keep your bones and teeth strong. A calcium-rich diet may lower your risk of some diseases, such as osteoporosis, hypertension, certain cancers, and may help manage your weight. Nutrient-rich dairy foods are also one of the most economical sources of nutrition.

How much dairy products do you need? It is recommended that you get three servings of low-fat or nonfat milk, cheese or yogurt every day. Here are some tips to include low-fat or nonfat dairy products into your day... Read More.

Medication Madness

Medication Madness was the topic for the Diabetes Support Group at their monthly meeting on May 18. Between the newer medications for diabetes that your friends may be taking or the advertisement on TV, more people are presenting at the clinic asking if they can try something else for their diabetes. There have been several new medications released in the last 5 years and even a couple within the past year which is exciting that there are more options out there than previously.

There still is no standard for one pill that everyone can take. It still requires trial and error to some extent to see what medication is going to work for the individual. Some people develop side effects to the medication and therefore have to take an alternative. For people with type 1 diabetes, the only treatment for them is insulin injections... Read More.

Tylenol Recall

April 30, 2010 - McNeil Consumer Healthcare, in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has initiated a voluntary recall of some children's tylenol products because they may not meet required quality standards. This recall is NOT being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events. However, as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children. Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing . You can go www.mcneilproductrecall.com and enter the lot number on your tylenol product to find out if it is on the recall list. If your TYLENOL® product LOT # is recalled, you will be taken to the product details. If the TYLENOL® product LOT # you enter is not recalled, you will get a message letting you know.

Care of Kidneys

On April 20, 2010 the Diabetes Support Group met at Prairie Clinic to learn more about the care of kidneys when you have diabetes. Because kidney damage can occur for years without symptoms, the best way to check if you have kidney problems is to see your provider and have lab tests done at least annually. Having diabetes puts you at risk for kidney disease.

Normally the kidneys serve as the filtering system of the body and it is actually the tiny blood vessels that do this work. They remove unwanted substances from your blood and extra fluid to the bladder and leave the body in the urine. The filters keep the protein and minerals in your body. The kidneys also help regulate blood pressure and stimulate your bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

The best way to learn whether you have kidney problems is to have a sample of your urine checked for protein. If your test is positive for protein, a repeated test will be done to confirm the results. Protein in the urine can also be early warning sign of heart disease or retinopathy (eye disease). There are also some blood tests that detect kidney damage... Read More.

Hypertension

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without a single symptom. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. Unless you have symptoms of extremely high blood pressure, there's probably no need to make a special trip to the doctor to have your blood pressure checked. In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases in adults, there's no identifiable cause... Read More.

Prairie Clinic Welcomes Dr. Beatrice Murray

On April 1, 2010, Beatrice Murray, M.D., joined Prairie Clinic. Dr. Murray is a pediatrician who enjoys working in a rural area and with a medical group working to provide quality medical care.

Dr. Murray is originally from the area, having been born in Reedsburg and attended high school in Baraboo. She went to University of Chicago for her undergraduate work and medical school at University of Southern California. To learn more about Dr. Murray... Read More.

Dr. Murray is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment with her, please call Prairie Clinic at 643-3351.

Prairie Clinic Participates in Wisconsin Immunization Registry

Prairie Clinic participates in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) program. WIR is a statewide database of immunizations to help keep everyone on track for their recommended immunizations and provides that information to health care providers and schools... Read More.