From Our Parish Nurse 

Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Checks    

I recently announced that we would be having a blood sugar and cholesterol screening Sunday.  Only about 10 people signed up.  Selma Hospital laboratory will generously send a lab person to draw blood.  But this was not enough to have lab personnel take time on a Sunday morning to draw blood.  And all of this was to be done at a very reduced rate per test at only $4.00 per test.  Please consider this as an opportunity to know how your body is doing. 

I know that a lot of you have frequent checkups with your own physician.  But some do not.  Here are some reasons why it is important to check these things.

A rising number of people have diabetes and heart problems.  There is an epidemic of young people who have diabetes and heart problems at even younger ages these days.  It is due to our genetics and our diets.  Too much fast food and not enough activity at an early age is part of what is to blame.  Those who are genetically prone to these have an even harder time controlling their blood sugar and cholesterol.

Pre-diabetes is term that some people will hear from their physician.  This is when your fasting blood sugar is not in the normal range but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.  Pre-diabetes shouldn't be taken lightly.  It means that you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.  Often, pre-diabetes has no signs or symptoms.

Metabolic syndrome is another newer term one might be diagnosed with.  This is a group of metabolic risk factors that can also lead to diabetes and heart disease.  It also has no signs or symptoms.

I am going to go into these more in the next edition of Chimes so that you know more about them.

But for now, please remember that if you have Pre-diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome you might not be feeling ill.  You might not feel bad at all.  But the time for possible prevention of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease is during this time.  Diet and exercise can reverse this process.

Another signup sheet will be going up.   Date and time to be announced as we need enough people signed up before I can book the lab personnel.  Breakfast will be provided by our high school group as you must have these tests fasting (no eating or drinking after midnight).  Teens can sign up if their parents will sign a permission slip. 

Take care of yourself.  Think PREVENTION!!

I hold you in my heart,

Barbara Petersen