Be Kind to your Heart!
By: Jessica Cook MS, RD, LD/N (Director of Education)
February is the time of year to think about the ones you love, but most importantly remembering to love yourself. It is believed that the heart represents love and loving emotions, so please take the time to read through this issue of Healthy Living with Diabetes to obtain new heart healthy ideas to ensure your heart will bring you many more loving years to come.
Heart Care for Every Day
By: Gail Starr LCSW, CDE
The heart, for centuries, has been the symbol for love. And what better person to love than yourself? It is the love of self that allows us to take care of ourselves and to be able to love others.
It is in this context that this article is being written. Self-love and self-care. What a great gift to give yourself. And in doing so, it is also giving the gift of “less worry” to your loved ones.
Out of control blood sugars are a direct connection to the illness of the heart. They affect the entire circulatory system. The question is how to keep blood sugars controlled through the celebration of love.
Here are some ideas:
- Use flowers instead of candy.
- Go dancing with a partner, spouse, or friend, or even take a dance class on your own.
- If going out for dinner, share the dinner. It brings intimacy to the experience.
- Make sure medicines are taken as directed.
You can write a letter or card verbalizing that you are making the commitment to taking care of yourself every day and thereby making every day Valentine’s Day. Give it to your partner and see what happens. If there is no partner, give it to yourself. You are a very important person and you deserve to have a healthy, happy life.
How Can You Mend a Diabetic Broken Heart?
By: Dr. Paul Aoun
Having diabetes predisposes someone to a greater risk of heart disease.
Unhealthy lifestyle choices, limited physical activity, and resultant
weight gain predispose to
changes in large blood vessels that may predate the diagnosis of diabetes
by several years. Also, those who have diabetes tend to develop cardiovascular
disease at a younger age and are at risk for recurrent heart problems.
Reducing your risk of heart problems involves a comprehensive approach. Developing healthy eating habits in conjunction with structured activity programs are cornerstone strategies to help improve blood sugars, circulation, and overall wellbeing. In addition, your doctor may prescribe medications to complement your lifestyle changes and help you achieve better blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The earlier you adopt these strategies the better, it is never too late to turn the tide around and incorporate positive steps in the right direction. Palm Beach Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists (PBDES) are proud to be an American Diabetes Association Center of Recognition, with the only office-based Certified Diabetes Education program in South Florida. Our team of endocrinologists, dietitians, diabetes educators, and a weight loss coach work together to develop individualized strategies to help you reach your goals.
If interested in the comprehensive healthy living program PBDES offers, please feel free to call (561) 513-5100 to speak with our director of education today!
Choosing Heart Healthy Foods
Palm Beach Diabetes & Endocrine Specialists are now offering Supermarket tours to help you choose foods that are not only heart healthy, but h p you to manage your blood sugar levels. Our supermarket tours allow patients to browse through your local supermarket with a certified diabetes educator to better understand common grocery store tricks, food label reading and carbohydrate counting. Plus feel free to get your grocery shopping done with us while you learn about choosing the best foods to make you feel great and lose weight!
Classes are held once a month at different Publix locations. The cost of the class is $40 per person. If interested in attending the next Supermarket tour at your local supermarket, please call our scheduling department at (561) 513-5100!
At Healthy Living with Diabetes we want to ensure that you are satisfied with all services received. We also would like your input on educational workshops that you would like us to offer, information you would like to read about in our Healthy Living with Diabetes Monthly or feedback on any workshop that you may have attended.
You can contact the director of education personally by email: jcook@PBDES.COM or leave a message at (561) 513-5100. We would love to hear from you!