44 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • NOVEMBER 2017 44 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 44 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
With diabetes, eating right is key
By JESS WINANS
National Diabetes Month is an
important reminder that many
people with diabetes do not have
symptoms so it is important to get
tested at one of Long Island’s many
regarded medical centers, such as
Huntington Hospital.
“We work in conjunction with our
nutritionist, Andrea Baron , helping
patients proactively take care of
themselves and learn more about
their disease to manage themselves
and meet their healthcare goals,”
said Kathy Giffuni, the assistant
director of nursing at Huntington
Hospital. “We are a National
Committee for Quality Assurance
Diabetes Physician Recognized
Organization where we have an
active designation talking about
excellence in diabetic care.”
Jay Stern, diagnosed with Type 2
diabetes a decade ago, has refused
to let the disease take limbs or life
like he’s seen it do to others in his
circle.
“I saw my friends, one died from
diabetes, one lost both legs then
died and the third one is my friend
who lost one leg, a couple of toes
and his hand, and he can’t afford
the insulin,” the 59-year-old retired
handyman recalls. “I don’t wanna
see it happen to me. That’s why I’m
taking care of myself.”
As one of more than 30 million
Americans – almost 10 percent
of the population – living with
diabetes, he’s gotten his A1C blood
test levels down from 18 percent to
a near-normal level of 8 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention estimates that 7.2
million are living undiagnosed.
Stern credits his success to the diabetes
wellness program, following
his doctor’s prescriptions of taking
insulin via an insulin pump, eating
right and living a healthy lifestyle.
Additionally, Stern receives home
visits from nurses who check his
blood sugar levels and one on one
counselling with endocrinologists
on how to manage his disease.
“I need to take care of myself
because I want to live a long life,”
Stern said. “Some people don’t care
when they have diabetes, they don’t
take their shots or insulin or test
themselves. I don’t want to see that
happen.”
Here are some helpful tips from the
American Diabetes Association on
how to eat healthier and manage
diabetes:
Take a Closer Look At Labels
Choose foods with less calories,
saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol
and sodium. Also, try to select
foods with more fiber, which is
listed lower on the label under total
carbohdyrate.
Cut Back on Sodium
Decreasing the amount of sodium
in the diet can help many people
lower their blood pressure. Lowering
blood pressure also means
you are decreasing your risk for
heart attack or stroke, both of
which are common diabetes complications.
People with diabetes
should aim to have 2300 mg or
less per day.
An easy strategy to cut back on sodium
is to eat more of these foods
and less highly-processed foods.
Fresh, unprocessed foods include:
fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, dried
beans, peas, and legumes, whole
grain foods prepared without salt
like brown rice, wild rice, oats,
quinoa, popcorn, and whole grain
barley unsalted nuts and seeds and
most fresh or frozen cuts of meat,
poultry and fish without added salt
water or saline.
Snack Healthy
Know your portion sizes beforehand,
and if you aren’t sure, use
measuring cups and spoons! Don’t
forget to count the carbohydrate
into your overall meal plan if you
use carb counting! Avoid mindless
snacking in front of the TV or computer
or while reading or driving.
Stock up on healthy options so you
always have them on hand.
Services offered include a diabetes
wellness program, gestational diabetes
program, nutrition program,
weight management program, diabetes
disease management and care
coordination program and healthy
living workshops.
BETTER YOU
A patient has their blood sugar levels checked.