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How can I prevent my child from developing diabetes, which runs in my family?

By Dr. John Maddox, Pediatrician
Pentucket Medical/ Haverhill

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 develops in childhood, but it is less likely to run in families. Unfortunately, based on current knowledge, there is not as much a parent can do to prevent type 1. Thankfully, this type is more rare. I’ll add that families that deal with type 1 are some of the most resilient that I have seen as a pediatrician.

Type 2 is more likely to run in families but is also much more preventable. Diabetes, as its core, is about not having enough insulin to help glucose get from the blood stream into the body’s cells to provide energy. The primary key to avoiding type 2 comes from good nutrition. All foods are eventually digested into glucose (also called blood sugar) as our fuel. Foods that are digested slowly allow our body’s pancreas to release insulin slowly, creating a gradual rise and fall of input and output that generates optimal health. Foods that are slowly digested (like an apple) have a low glycemic index; foods that are rapidly turned to sugar (like a potato) have a high glycemic index.

Fascinating new research reveals that a window of taste preference exists for infants ages 6-12 months. A baby might make a face the first few times peas or green beans are offered. However, with 8-10 days of persistence, we can successfully prime their palate for a healthier lifetime ahead.

Energize Your Body and Mind with Good-For-You Carbs

The diet industry has been doing you wrong by being wishy-washy about carbs. Despite what you may have heard, carbohydrates aren’t a no-no.

So, stop feeling guilty for noshing a much-needed macronutrient and focus on smart carb consumption strategies to adequately fuel your beautiful bod and brain.

Continue reading “Energize Your Body and Mind with Good-For-You Carbs”

“Living Well with Diabetes”

 

The Diabetes Educators at Pentucket Medical Associates present

“Living Well With Diabetes”

An interactive evening for those living with diabetes and those living with them.

Thursday March 29th Time: 6-7 pm

Pentucket Medical- Haverhill, One Parkway, Haverhill

2nd floor waiting room (left off the elevator)

 

Presented by: Joan Hultgren, RD LDN CDE

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

No Registration Required/ FREE

Door prizes and light refreshments will be served

Pentucket Medical Associates’ Diabetes Team receives recognition status from The American Diabetes Association

 

Certified Diabetes Educators Granted Education Recognition from The American Diabetes Association

The Certified Diabetes Educators at Pentucket Medical Associates have been granted Education Recognition again for their performance in meeting national standards for providing quality Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.

Continue reading “Pentucket Medical Associates’ Diabetes Team receives recognition status from The American Diabetes Association”

Medical Director Blog – Diabetes Management

Kenneth Adams, MD, FACC
Cardiologist and Medial Director at PMA

Many of you know me as the Senior Cardiologist at PMA and have seen a few of my blogs on heart topics. You may not know that I am also the Medical Director at PMA. This means I have a role in how we deliver medical care. I meet regularly with other providers and administrative leaders at PMA and Partners Healthcare. PMA is a member of Partners Healthcare. Continue reading “Medical Director Blog – Diabetes Management”

Diabetes-what is it and how do I control it?

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas is not making enough insulin or the insulin that is being made is not working correctly. If available and working, the insulin should be processing the food into energy. If not, glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood. A person can feel very tired, hungry, thirsty, have blurry vision and/or may urinate often.

No one knows what causes diabetes, but lifestyle, obesity, family history, ethnicity, and certain medications can be factors.

Diabetes, if uncontrolled, can cause some long term damage to the body, especially the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Gaining good control is important.

Proper medication, correct food intake for a healthy weight, regular exercise, tracking blood levels and education can help prevent complications.

Help yourself:

o Control your glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol

o Healthy eating –control calories especially from carbohydrates; reduce processed foods, avoid sweetened drinks and include fiber from whole grains and vegetables

o Exercise – helps keep muscle tone, may reduce the need for medications and helps lowers stress

o See your doctor on a regular basis

o Keep up with lab work-fasting blood glucose and a 3 month average blood glucose known as the Hemoglobin A1c (“A1c”) along with kidney function tests, cholesterol and blood pressure screening should be done.

o Make an appointment to see a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator to get a detail plan for managing your diabetes

The Importance of Paying Attention to Prediabetes

Written by Marcia Sikorski, RD, LDN, CDE; member of PMA Diabetes Education Team

Diabetes awareness is becoming a focal point to help reduce the consequences of the disease and to provide information about its management and prevention. Prediabetes is the red flag waving to tell you that you are on the path toward diabetes. There is good news about this waving flag, if you take action at this stage you may never experience the many complications of diabetes. Continue reading “The Importance of Paying Attention to Prediabetes”

Healthy Holidays: Spinach-Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Ingredients:

✦1⁄2 cup shredded part- skim mozzarella cheese

✦ 1⁄2 cup plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt

✦ 1⁄2 cup light mayonnaise dressing or salad dressing

✦ 1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

✦ 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

✦ 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard

✦1 cup loosely packed fresh spinach leaves, coarsely chopped

✦3⁄4 cup bottled roasted red sweet peppers, drained and chopped

✦1⁄4 cup thinly sliced green onions

✦3 red and/or yellow sweet peppers, seeded and cut into strips, or desired dippers

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, stir together mozzarella cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise dressing, 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, the flour, and the Dijon mustard.

2. Stir in the spinach, roasted red peppers, and 2 tablespoons of the green onions. Spread the cheese vegetable mixture evenly into a 1-quart ovenproof shallow dish or a 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.

3. Bake the dip, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the edges are bubbly and the mixture is heated through. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons green onions. Serve with red and/or yellow sweet pepper strips. Makes 21⁄4 cups.

NUTRITION FACTS PER SERVING: Calories: 21, Total Fat: 2 g (0 g sat. fat), Cholesterol: 3 mg, Sodium: 47 mg, Carbohydrates: 1 g, Fiber: 0 g, Protein: 1 g.

What Tests Should I be Running Regularly if I have Diabetes?

Diabetes can be caused when a person has high blood sugar or because the body isn’t responding properly to insulin. All types of diabetes are treatable, but it’s important to keep an eye on hemoglobin levels, LDL levels and blood sugar levels if you are diabetic.

testingbloodsugar

Self-testing blood sugar levels regularly is extremely important for the following reasons:

  • Prevent long-term complications from diabetes
  • Gauge how well your treatment is working
  • Understand how different diet changes affect your levels
  • Understand how illness affects your blood sugar levels

How often you need to test your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes you have.

For type 1 diabetes, your doctor may suggest testing your blood sugar levels three or more times a day after meals or exercise. If you are taking insulin for type 2 diabetes, it’s recommended that you test one or more times a day, depending on how much insulin you are using.

Testing Hemoglobin Levels

A hemoglobin A1c test is a test that shows how well diabetes is being controlled. The test provides an accurate estimate of your average blood sugar levels throughout a two or three month period. When used in addition to an at-home blood sugar test, diabetics are able to effectively monitor their diabetes to ensure it’s under control. Normal hemoglobin levels for people with diabetes is around seven percent, which is about two percent higher than someone without diabetes.

Why do I Need to Test Cholesterol when I have Diabetes?

When you have diabetes, you are also at a higher risk of heart disease. Monitoring cholesterol, especially LDL levels, are important when it comes to preventing heart disease later on in life. There are two ways to test cholesterol levels,

including:

  • A non-fasting test which will show total cholesterol level and can also show you HDL levels, which is the “good” cholesterol.
  • A lipid profile, or fasting test, which measures triglycerides, LDL, HDL and total cholesterol.

Contact our office for information on testing blood sugar, hemoglobin and cholesterol levels.

Green Smoothie for Weight Loss

weight loss smoothies

Replace one meal a day with this healthy, five-ingredient green smoothie for weight loss and watch the pounds melt off! The combination of protein, fiber and super foods gives your body the nutrients it needs and keeps you full for hours, reducing snacking.

Ingredients for Green Smoothie

● 1 medium banana
● 1 small avocado
● 2 cups spinach
● 1 green apple
● 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

Instructions:

1. Blend yogurt, avocado, banana, spinach and apple until smooth.
2. Pulse mixture as needed.
3. Scrape down the sides of the blender a few times to ensure you get all the ingredients.

Nutrition:

● Calories – 534
● Carbohydrates – 62.94
● Fiber – 17.5
● Protein – 18.62

Find the original recipe at roxyskitchen.com.