You At Your Best

Arkansas, a lot of folks are having issues with food scarcity, which puts them in a very high risk for Type 2 diabetes. What does an endocrinologist do? In my work as an endocrinologist I help people with diabetes and a host of other hormonal abnormalities. I try to educate patients who are referred to me so they can make the choices that are best for their health. I also help them try to find resources so they can get their medications at reasonable costs. I do all I can to get the message out as to what diabetes is and what it is not. A lot of people think diabetes occurs because someone is lazy or eats bad foods. They don't realize there is a substantial genetic component to it and the health care disparities that are present in our state and our country really accelerate the process by which diabetes can occur. What is your advice to people concerned about diabetes? Prevention is always possible for people who are at risk for Type 2 diabetes. My first advice is if you have a family history, get tested at least once a year. You also want to stay active and eat healthy, eat more vegetables and fruits. Really it's common sense things that everybody knows are good for you. How has Covid-19 affected the diabetic community? Covid-19 is very concerning for people with Type 2 diabetes in particular. There is a very high risk factor for both morbidity and mortality for people with Type 2. In addition when you are seeing job losses and economic decline that, again, is going to have an impact on what resources are available to you. This gets back to the poverty component in all of this. Just having the money to be able to eat right is important. And not being able to will have an adverse effect on your condition. What kinds of advances are being made to combat this disease? We've seen an explosion of new medicines and research over the past decade. These have allowed us in the medical profession better treat the effects in diabetic individuals with therapies we did not have 20 or 30 years ago. Medications that we have available today can help reduce the issues with the heart that arise from diabetes. And heart disease is still the number one killer. We have medications that can help fight kidney dysfunction that we didn't have a few years ago, as well. Are there any local organizations you work with that you'd like to acknowledge? Locally, the Juvenile Diabetes Association whose mission is to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes is doing great work here in Northwest Arkansas. I am part of a summer camp that gets families dealing with Type 1 Diabetes together to explore ways to confront there issues. There is also an organization called Type One Of A Kind. They help raise resources for families dealing with type 1 that are in financial need. Are you involved in any other activities regarding diabetes? I actually have a diabetes clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After the 2010 earthquake I started going to Haiti on a regular basis every year. In Haiti, diabetes and diabetes related issues account for three of the top five causes of death in the country. We treat several thousand patients every year. We work through a nonprofit called helponenow.org. Basically, this is the work I do in the U.S. and I saw the need in Haiti and wanted to share my gifts and talents to help them, too. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.NW-Physicians.com or call 479-757-1750. by KAreN rICe you At your best Diabetes is a deadly disease, and learning about it is an important step towards reducing its threat. By gaining understanding of diabetes, you become more equipped and prepared to make healthier choices to decrease your risk of complications. Diabetes educators are Registered Dietitians (RDs) or a Registered Nurses (RNs) who work closely with patients and their doctor to help patients with diabetes reach their optimal health. This involves listening to each patient's unique situation and evaluating diet, exercise, stress, and medications to help formulate a plan for blood sugar control. For example, the Diabetes Education team at Washington Regional helps patients with diet planning by using food models and other carbohydrate counting resources for personalized meal planning and to help people better understand nutrition. Sometimes, improved blood sugar or weight goals can be achieved by simply adjusting the content of meals or snacks, the timing of a medication or improvements in exercise. Avoiding complications Over time, high blood glucose (sugar) damages both large and small blood vessels in the body. This damage can lead to complications such as cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, etc.), kidney disease, vision problems, including blindness and retinopathy, and neuropathy and other nervous system issues. It's important to recognize that the goal of diabetes is CONTROL. Controlled diabetes reflects that blood glucose numbers are in acceptable levels and well managed. But diabetes doesn't happen overnight, so control is not going to happen in the first week or two. With commitment, acceptance, patience, knowledge and application of the components of diabetes care, the chance for success and avoidance of complications is much improved. Am I at risk? There are multiple risk factors for pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, including family history, age, excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, certain ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American or Pacific Islander), history of gestational diabetes (during pregnancy), and more. To assess your risk, a helpful resource is the American Diabetes Association "60-second Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test" at www.diabetes.org/risk-test. Lowering risk The most important thing people can do to defend against type 2 diabetes is to set a goal of making health a top priority. This includes becoming proactive in your care and creating healthy habits and sticking to them. Lower your risk for diabetes by maintaining a healthy lifestyle — eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, get plenty of regular physical activity, and work toward and then maintain a healthy body weight. Not only does this reduce your risk of diabetes, but also reduces your risk of other weight-related health conditions. Diabetes education programs A diabetes education program or support group is a great way to learn more about your disease and get help controlling it. Each session is individually tailored to the person's specific needs. It can be group or one-on-one session. Medicare allows for the initial appointment to be one-on-one and then group classes to follow, unless the person may have any barrier to a group setting. These classes are usually divided into 2-hour sessions over a period of 4-5 weeks. Washington Regional offers diabetes support groups. In-person support group meetings are currently on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but starting in November, they plan to offer virtual diabetes support group sessions. Contact the program at 479-404-1160 or visit www.wregional.com/diabeteseducation for more information. You can also check with your health care provider to find other diabetes education programs or support groups in your area, or contact your local American Diabetes Association office at 479-464-4121 or ADAAR@diabetes.org for more information. Diabetes education an important part of care suNDAy, oCtober 25, 2020 | November - beAtINg tHe betes NWADg.Com/youAtyourbest | you At your best | 7

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