By: Jessica Cook MS, RD, LD/N (Director of Education)
Spring is in the air, which means growth, change, rebirth and new beginnings. This also means it has started to become warm outside again making this the perfect time to start a fresh, new exercise routine outdoors. Try walking, biking at a local park, gardening or enjoy the warm waters of South Florida with a swim in our lovely oceans. Whichever forms of activity you choose remember that physical activity is the only inexpensive, non-invasive way to stay young! Not to mention it helps reduce blood sugar levels, cholesterol as well as blood pressure. Try to make it a point to get 30 minutes of physical activity every day and get ready to start a new journey to a healthier you! Included in this issue of Healthy Living with Diabetes you will find compelling articles written by our education and medical staff to add back that spring in your step. Please enjoy!
By: Ines Enriquez-Cobo RN, CDE, CPT
When you have diabetes, you are at an increased risk of having cardiovascular
disease. This means your chances of having a heart attack or stroke are
higher. In addition, many people with type 2 diabetes have high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and may be overweight, which add to the risk
of cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes and you smoke, that can
also double your risk of cardiovascular disease.
The good news is that you can lower your risk for heart disease. The first
step is to know your risk factors. These include cigarette smoking, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Other risk factors
include obesity or being overweight, physical inactivity and a family
history of cardiovascular disease. The next step to reduce your risk is
by knowing your ABC’s:
A is for A1c. Aim to keep your A1c (average blood glucose) test 6.5% or less.
B is for blood pressure. Aim to keep blood pressure less than 130/80 mmHg.
C is for cholesterol. Aim for an LDL value less than 100 mg/dL.
How can I lower my ABC’s?
Losing weight is as easy as 1,2,3 with our Healthy Living with Diabetes 1,2,3 program!
Here at Palm Beach Diabetes & Endocrine Specialists, we offer an American Diabetes Association accredited education program, which involves registered nurses, certified diabetes educators, licensed clinical social workers, and registered dietitians under physician supervision to help you not only control your diabetes but lose weight in the process!
Our accredited 1,2,3 program will let you attend a one on one visit with our education team and construct a personalized healthy meal plan as well as blood sugar testing pattern specifically for you. We will also review any medications you are taking, answer questions regarding medications and take a comprehensive look at what you can do to control your health for years to come. Our 1,2,3 program also allows you to attend one of our group class sessions to gain more information on food label reading, sugar alcohols, exercise, weight loss, mindful eating and so much more!
Currently, we offer our education classes at five locations including Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Wellington and Boynton Beach to best serve you close to your community. Class schedules can be provided in our offices, emailed or mailed to you upon request.
If interested in scheduling your Healthy Living with Diabetes 1,2,3 program today, please contact 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!