WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 29, 2018 13
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
OP-ED
HONOR THE
HELPERS FOR THE
HOLIDAYS
The holiday season is upon us. Now it
is the time for caring, sharing and giving.
It is a time where we travel to visit
friends and relatives and exchange
presents. But I feel it is also a time to
recognize members of our communities
who do things for others and off er
acts of kindness.
It is a time to honor those who go the
extra mile and help those in the most
need. We need to applaud our police,
fi refi ghters and EMS workers who do
their best to save lives and property.
And yet not only during the holidays
but all year long and risk their lives
protecting all of us.
If you see any of these thank them
for a job well done. It is also those in
civic, and faith-based organizations
that do what they do to help those in
great need of human kindness. Also,
let’s not forget our brave men and
women in the military who are serving
our country and protecting us
world-wide.
Please say a prayer this holiday
season for our heroes and that God
will keep them safe as they do for us
year round.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
DON’T LET AMAZON
PRICE OUT QUEENS
Hopefully, your editorial board
shares at least some of the widespread
concerns regarding the deal to bring
Amazon to Long Island City. If you
have already read several analyses,
you know this is not some sort of local
NIMBY reaction, but a well-grounded
position against corporate welfare and
a lack of transparency in the deal.
I recall Walmart was kept out of New
York City because of fear of its impact
on small stores. The disastrous impact
of Amazon’s business model on bricks
and mortar stories and communities
is already well known, and now this
impact will be doubled with the rapid
and artifi cially imposed gentrifi cation
of LIC and the surrounding area.
Some real estate interests may profi t,
but the community will struggle.
These promised jobs? They are for
those who will replace us.
Of course, the issue is complex, but
in raising objections and questioning
the claims of (some) politicians,
we will face developers with deep
pockets.
This city should serve human beings
and human interests. The billions
promised to Amazon would be better
spent directly on schools, mass transit
and aff ordable housing!
P. Adem Carroll,
Flushing Interfaith Council
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We must act to stop diabetes
BY DR. RAMON TALLAJ
Diabetes impacts millions of
Americans across the country
and many of us have been aff ected
either directly or through a loved
one, by this silent killer of a disease.
As we think about how to prevent
or manage diabetes, we must acknowledge
that the Hispanic community is
at a higher risk for developing Type
2 diabetes and we must take action to
address this. In fact, over our lifetimes,
Hispanic men and women face a signifi
cantly greater risk of developing
Type 2 diabetes – more than 50 percent
compared a 40 percent risk for
US adults on average.
This is the case for many reasons including
a lack of culturally competent
care, health insurance disparities, and
low household income.
So, what can we do? The solution
lies in understanding the greater risk
our community faces of developing
type 2 diabetes and taking action to
prevent it.
First, it’s important to understand
the basics of diabetes. Diabetes occurs
when the body’s blood sugars are at
levels above normal.
There are three main types of
diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cannot be
prevented because it is caused by an
autoimmune reaction that the body
cannot control. It is usually diagnosed
in children and young adults. By
comparison, Type 2 diabetes is oft en
diagnosed later in life, although it is
becoming a problem for children and
teens, and can prevented or managed
through a healthy lifestyle. Finally,
gestational diabetes is specific to
pregnancy but is a risk factor for Type
2 diabetes.
Diabetes is called the silent killer
because sometimes there are no clear
symptoms making it diffi cult to know
if you have it. Even though more than
30 million Americans are currently
living with diabetes, 1 in 4 are unaware
of it. That is why it is important
to look out for risk factors and be sure
to talk to your doctor about testing
your blood sugar.
Risk factors for prediabetes and
Type 2 diabetes include the following:
• Being over 45 years old
• Being overweight
• Having high blood pressure
• Not being physically active
• Having a history of gestational
diabetes or having a baby weighing
more than 9 pounds
However, many of these risk factors
can be mitigated. Losing even a modest
amount of weight or engaging in
physical activity three or more times
a week can help prevent or delay the
onset of Type 2 diabetes by up to 58% in
people with prediabetes and 71 percent
for people 60 or older. Additionally,
having a healthy and balanced diet
can help. You can control your diet
through reduced portion sizes and
choosing to eat more vegetables, fruits,
and whole grains instead of high fat
foods like cheese, whole milk and fried
foods.
We must also urge our policy-makers
to invest in health education for
diseases like diabetes and understand
the cultural-specifi c disparities our
community faces so that we can build
a system that combines high-quality,
eff ective care that reduces costs for
patients, institutions, and localities.
By taking the above listed steps,
being aware of your family history,
and making regular visits to your
doctor, we can make strides toward
preventing and managing this
disease.
Dr. Ramon Tallaj is Chairman of the
Board of SOMOS Community Care, a
network for physicians in New York
City dedicated to serving Medicaid
participants and low-income families.
SNAPS
SAYING GOODBYE
TO BELOVED SHALIMAR DINER
PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM @cellenium
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