FOUNDCARE, INC. OFFERS SCREENING AND HEALTH TIPS FOR NOVEMBER’S NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
(West Palm Beach, FL) – With a simple needle prick, Palm Beach County residents can be screened for diabetes – a disease reaching epidemic proportions locally, according to FoundCare staff physician, Dr. Serge Thys, Jr. In honor of November’s National Diabetes Month, FoundCare, Inc. is calling attention to disease screening, management and prevention. The Federally Qualified Health Center provides medical care for everyone in the community, regardless of health insurance status.
“Our priority is making sure everyone in the community is healthy, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status” said Dr. Thys, Jr. “If we can detect diabetes early, we have a much better chance of properly managing the disease and staving off some of the complications. The screening process is simple, and we encourage Palm Beach County residents to learn their risk with a simple blood test to measure blood sugar levels.”
The American Diabetes Association reports that Florida is dealing with a diabetes epidemic. Nearly 40 percent of the adult population in Florida has pre-diabetes with blood glucose levels higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In addition, every year an estimated 129,000 people in Florida are diagnosed with diabetes. However, according to Dr. Thys, a few lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes in most patients, noting “Early screening is critical.”
Diabetes is defined as a problem with the body that causes blood sugar levels to rise higher than normal and often affects minorities more than Caucasians. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, causing the body to not use insulin properly. The serious complications include heart disease, stroke, amputation, end-stage kidney disease, blindness – and death.
“I think it’s very important for people to know that this is something they can easily overlook, but it’s important to catch early,” Dr. Thys said. “It should be treated as early as possible to prevent further complications.”
Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, feeling very thirsty and very hungry, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal. Many people with type 1 diabetes also experience weight loss even though they are eating more and many with type 2 diabetes experience tingling, pain or numbness in their hands and feet. However, some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.
Dr. Thys explained that diabetes is manageable and often preventable. He offers the following tips:
Get active – exercise can help lower blood sugar and boost sensitivity to insulin
Eat right – fiber and whole grains may reduce risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels, and studies have shown that a low-fat, reduced calorie eating plan can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.
If diagnosed, get to know everything you can about the disease to make informed decisions with your doctor. A great tool is to know your diabetes ABCs:
A: A1C tests measure average blood sugar levels to keep them at reasonable levels.
B: Blood pressure regulation is key.
C: Cholesterol levels need to be kept low.
Learn to manage stress and reach out to counselors.
Follow a daily plan with healthy choices, monitoring your body for any changes.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes, or if you wish to work with a physician to help lower your risk of developing the disease, please call 561-HEALTHY (561-432-5849) to make an appointment with one of FoundCare’s outstanding providers.
FoundCare, Inc. is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center that offers pediatrics, adult medicine, chronic disease management, mental health services, dentistry, laboratory work and X-rays, and an on-site pharmacy. FoundCare accepts most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and self-pay on a sliding fee scale. For more information about FoundCare, please call 561-HEALTHY (561-432-5849) or visit www.foundcare.org.