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Health 1st

By Kelly Taylor, PA
Endocrinology, Diabetes, Medical Genetics
Find out your risk for diabetes with a free screening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 16 in the university hospital by Starbucks.

Certified educators will be available to answer questions and provide educational materials, log books, diet information and menus for the upcoming holidays.
   
Diabetes affects more than one in 10 adults in the nation and approximately 30 percent of the population has pre-diabetes. Those who are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes include: a person with a family history of diabetes; a diagnosis of impaired fasting glucose or pre-diabetes (fasting blood sugar between 100-125); someone who is  overweight, especially carrying excess abdominal fat; being sedentary; having high blood pressure; having high cholesterol; having a prior history of gestational diabetes or large-for-gestational age baby; and being of a certain ethnic background - Native American, African American, Hispanic, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders.

Lifestyle changes are the first line for prevention and treatment of diabetes.  Maintaining a healthy body weight and ensuring a waist circumference of less than 35 cm in women and less than 40 cm in men can help prevent the onset of diabetes and associated conditions, such as heart disease. Studies have shown that lifestyle changes can lower the incidence of diabetes up to 60 percent and are more effective than medication at increasing lifespan in patients with diabetes. 

Steps to making healthier food choice
  • Eat at regular intervals. Eating smaller portions four to five times a day keeps our blood sugars more stable throughout the day. 
  • Don’t drink your calories.
  • Eat foods that encourage satiety.  High fiber, high protein foods and those with increased water volume, such as fruits and vegetables, provide a sense of fullness and will help reduce your total caloric intake. 
  • Monitor portion sizes.
  • Plan ahead. It’s hard to make good choices if you don’t have the right food readily available. 
Health 1st events
  • Massages: Free massages are offered to employees on Tuesday nights and midday Wednesdays. Look for broadcast messages for locations and times.
  • Flu shot clinic: Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the university hospital.
  • Worksite screening: A screening will be held Nov. 18. Visit http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st
  • Healthy holiday cooking demonstration: Join executive chef Fred Bennett as he prepares a healthy entrée featuring produce available from local farmers——Nov. 19, 12:30 p.m. at the farmer’s market in front of the library.
Contact Susan Johnson at johnsusa@musc.edu to become involved in employee wellness at MUSC. Events, speakers, classes or any other ideas are welcome.

Friday, Nov. 12, 2010


The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.