Hannibal Regional Blog

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• What is diabetes and how do I know if I am at risk?

  It is known that with time, we are prone to developing certain illnesses. One of the most common chronic illnesses that people develop is diabetes. This is a disease in which the pancreas gradually puts out less insulin, and eventually results in a high blood sugar and the symptoms of diabetes. In honor of Diabetes Alert Day on March 28th, 2017, Hannibal Regional Medical Group would like you to know about diabetes and how to determine if you are at risk.
  
  “There are many different types of diabetes, but the most common types are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.” explains Dr. Purvi Parikh, Endocrinologist at Hannibal Regional Medical Group. “In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the problem is that the pancreas (an organ in the abdomen) does not make enough insulin early on and eventually makes no insulin. In type 2 Diabetes mellitus, the pancreas does not make enough insulin and the body becomes resistant to normal and/or even high levels of insulin. In the United States, Canada, and Europe, about 90 percent of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. You can actually do a great deal to delay or even prevent ever getting type 2 diabetes by being aware of your risk factors and leading an active lifestyle with healthy eating habits.”
  
  The cause of type 2 diabetes is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Many people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have family members who are diabetic or have medical problems associated with diabetes like high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, heart disease or obesity. Some environmental factors that contribute to your risk of diabetes are physical inactivity, high caloric foods consumption, as well as genetic factors. Dr. Parikh would like for you to be aware of some symptoms of diabetes: needing to urinate frequently, increased thirst, increased hunger (even after eating), dry mouth, fatigue, headaches, tingling/numbness in toes/feet and blurred vision. It is important to know, however, that many people with type 2 diabetes may have no symptoms at all.
  
  Screenings and timely diagnosis and treatment help prevent more serious complications of this disease. Chronic hyperglycemia (chronic high blood sugars) causes long-term damage of eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, or blood vessels, stroke, coronary heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease. You should get tested for Diabetes if you have any of the symptoms listed above, are overweight, over the age of 45, have a family history of diabetes, have a history of gestational (pregnancy) diabetes, and/or have a history of polycystic ovarian disease. If you believe you are at risk, call 573-629-3500 to get tested by your primary care provider.

• Hannibal Regional Diabetes Center

  March is National Nutrition Month and offers a reminder to reflect on our own health and wellness. Hannibal Regional Diabetes Center has two outpatient registered dietitians to help guide you in healthy eating and reaching your individual nutrition needs and goals.

  At Hannibal Regional, Marie Niemeyer, RDN, LD, CDE and Megan Kemp, RDN, LD offer nutrition services for a variety of health conditions. They are available for one-on-one nutrition counseling, whether you are interested in weight loss, needing to follow a specific diet, or have any general nutrition questions or concerns. Despite the name, outpatient nutrition services of the Diabetes Center are not limited to only diabetes but rather include a variety of other health conditions from heart disease to gastrointestinal disorders.

  Hannibal Regional Diabetes Center has a recognized diabetes program through the American Diabetes Association. The outpatient dietitians offer group diabetic education classes, one-on-one diabetes consultations and a monthly diabetic support group, scheduled the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.

  The Hannibal Regional Diabetes Center is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  Interested in nutrition counseling? Talk to your primary care physician to have a referral sent to the center via fax at 573-629-3381. Once a referral has been placed, a dietitian will be in contact with you to set up the appointment as soon as possible.

  Marie and Megan can also be reached by phone at 573-629-3382 or by email at marie.niemeyer@hrhonline.org or megan.kemp@hrhonline.org.

  Blog post provided by:
  Megan Kemp, RDN, LD
   

• Diabetes: Sugar and Carbohydrates

  When it comes to diabetes, you may assume that carbohydrate containing foods are off limits or “forbidden”. When you meet with a registered dietitian for diabetic nutrition counseling, you may be surprised to learn this is not the case. We need carbohydrates! Even with a diagnosis of diabetes, carbohydrates are an important component of our diet and our body’s preferred fuel source. Most men and women need 45-60 grams of carbohydrate per meal.

  The first step in controlling our blood sugars is knowing what foods contain carbohydrate, the macronutrient that has the biggest impact on our blood sugar. This includes foods we most often associate with carbs: your breads, pastas, rice, but also dairy foods, like milk and yogurt (they contain natural sugar, lactose) and fruit (they contain natural sugar, fructose). Finally, we have the carbohydrate foods with added sugars, such as sodas, cake, cookies, candy.

  When Nutrition Fact Labels are available, keeping track of carbohydrates is much easier and less of a guessing game. In diabetes management, the focus on the label is on serving size and total carbohydrates, not sugar. This is often a source of confusion. The American Diabetes Association nutrition recommendations encourage focusing on the total amount of carbohydrate rather than the type. Carbohydrates are composed of sugars, along with starches and fibers. All affect our blood sugars in different amounts. Paying attention to total carbohydrates rather than these individual components helps us to better control blood sugar levels.

  For any nutrition questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact one of our outpatient dietitians at Hannibal Regional Diabetes Center.

  Megan Kemp, RDN, LD
  megan.kemp@hrhonline.org

  Marie Niemeyer, RDN, LD, CDE
  marie.niemeyer@hrhonline.org

   

  Print Resource:
  Dunbar, S, Verdi, C: 21 Things You Need to Know about Diabetes and Nutrition. Alexandria, VA,
  American Diabetes Association, 2014

• Diabetes Basics: An Overview

  Diabetes (“dy-ah-BEE-teez”) is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States. If it’s not managed, diabetes can cause serious health problems. While there’s no cure for diabetes, it can be managed.
  
  Unmanaged diabetes increases the risk of:

  • Blindness
  • Nerve damage
  • Kidney disease
  • Heart diseaseStroke
    
    The good news is that you can do a lot to prevent or delay getting type 2 diabetes, including:
  • Watching your weight
  • Eating healthy
  • Staying active

• Eating Healthy with Diabetes

  Eat Smart

  • Make at least half of your grains whole grains, such as whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, and quinoa.
  • Keep a healthy snack with you, such as fresh fruit, a handful of nuts, and whole grain crackers.
  • Slow down at snack time. Eating a bag of low-fat popcorn takes longer than eating a candy bar.
  • Share a bowl of fruit with family and friends.
  • Eat a healthy snack or meal before shopping for food. Do not shop on an empty stomach.
  • Shop at your local farmer's market for fresh, local food.
    
    
    

    Cooking Hints for Diabetes

  • Stir fry, broil, or bake with non-stick spray or low-salt broth. Cook with less oil and butter.

  • Try not to snack while cooking or cleaning the kitchen.
  • Cook with smaller amounts of cured meats (smoked turkey and turkey bacon) as they have high sodium contents.
  • Cook with a mix of spices instead of using salt.
  • Try different recipes for baking or broiling meat, chicken, and fish.
  • Choose foods with little or no added sugar to reduce calories and carbohydrate count.
  • Choose brown rice instead of white rice.
    
    
    Snack Choices for Diabetes
  • Buy a mix of vegetables when you go food shopping.
  • Choose veggie toppings like spinach, broccoli, and peppers for your pizza.
  • Try eating foods from other countries. Many of these dishes have more vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
  • Buy frozen and low-salt (sodium) canned vegetables. They may cost less and keep longer than fresh ones.
  • Serve your favorite vegetable and a salad with low-fat macaroni and cheese.
    
    
    Eat healthy on the go
  • Have a big vegetable salad with low-calorie salad dressing when eating out. Share your main dish with a friend or have the other half wrapped to go.
  • Make healthy choices at fast food restaurants. Try grilled chicken (with skin removed) instead of a cheeseburger.
  • Skip the fries and chips and choose a salad.
  • Order a fruit salad instead of ice cream or cake.
    
    
    Rethink your drink with Diabetes
  • Find a water bottle you really like (from a church or club event, favorite sports team, etc.) and drink water from it every day.
  • Peel and eat an orange instead of drinking orange juice.
  • If you drink whole milk, try changing to 2% milk. It has less fat than whole milk. Once you get used to 2% milk, try 1% or fat-free (skim) milk. This will help you reduce the amount of fat and calories you take in each day.
  • Drink water instead of juice and regular soda.
    
    
    Keep on Track by Being in the Know
  • Make a list of food you need to buy before you go to the store.
  • Keep a written record of what you eat for a week. It can help you see when you tend to overeat or eat foods high in fat or calories.
  • Compare food labels on packages.
  • Choose foods lower in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol (ko-LESS-tuh-ruhl), calories, salt, and added sugars.
    
    
    Don’t Forget to Relax
  • Take time to change the way you eat and get active. Try one new food or activity a week.
  • Find ways to relax. Try deep breathing, taking a walk, or listening to your favorite music.
  • Pamper yourself. Read a book, take a long bath, or meditate.
  • Think before you eat. Try not to eat when you are bored, upset, or unhappy.

• Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes

  More than 29 million people in the US have been diagnosed with diabetes. Type 1 is most often diagnosed in younger people and children while Type 2 is often diagnosed in adulthood. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, in which the body attacks itself, and in this case, the body is attacking the beta cells which are responsible for producing insulin. Insulin’s job is to take sugar out of the blood stream. With little to no insulin being produced, blood sugars are high. In Type 2, receptor cells have become less sensitive to insulin due to large and frequent diet-related insulin release. This insulin resistance then leads to less sugar being removed from the bloodstream and again, high blood sugar levels.

  To manage Type 1 diabetes, eating a consistent carbohydrate diet, engaging in regular physical activity and taking insulin while closely monitoring blood sugars is important. Type 2 diabetes can be managed through a combination of a consistent carbohydrate diet, regular physical activity and/or oral medication or insulin.

   

  Visit deffen.com to learn more.

  Blog post provided by:
  Megan Kemp, RDN, LD