Trick or Treat and Mom and Dad's Achy Feet

Article by: Jennifer Clark, PA-C, MPAS

Alright parents! October has arrived, and with it comes the joys of Halloween!  It is guaranteed to be filled with festivities from picking out costumes to stocking up on candy to parties and events and finally the big night filled with trick or treating! The average child will spend 1-3 hours walking from house to house to collect their goodies, and for most of us parents, that means we are walking with them! By the end of the night your dogs certainly may be barking! What if I told you there was a way to end the busy night with legs and feet that feel great? The answer is simple…compression hose!

                Compression hose help the calf muscles to squeeze those veins in our legs a little tighter which helps them work more efficiently, therefore improving how our legs feel.  Compression hose help reduce pain and swelling while improving our circulation. I know what many of you may be thinking; you don’t want to wear something that looks like you just walked out of the hospital….unless of course that is the look you are going for with your costume! Take relief in knowing that compression hose are much more stylish than they were in the past.  Many look like trouser socks, athletic socks or knee high panty hose, so that often times you cannot tell the difference. Some even come in fun colors. I wear knee high compression hose almost every single day and my only complaint is that I wish I would have started wearing them sooner. My legs don’t feel nearly as heavy, tired, and achy as they did before I began wearing them.

You may be wondering where to get compression hose.  They are available over the counter as well as by prescription by a provider. Often times you can find them in the pharmacy section or the sock aisle at your local store. Compression hose are also used for more serious conditions such as venous stasis ulcers, lymphedema, congestive heart failure, etc. If you have any of those conditions, I recommend you discuss compression hose with your primary care provider to ensure you purchase the correct size and graduation of compression. Typically you will find 8-15 mmHg compression hose over the counter which is fine for leg discomfort.  

So this Halloween, I hope you and your family have a safe and fun night trick or treating. Grab your compression hose on your way out! Who knows… you may even be able to incorporate them into a fun and comfortable costume!

Prediabetes, A Scary Diagnosis

Article by: Clark Stream, PA-C

Prediabetes, formerly known as boarder line diabetes, is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are almost 80 million people in the United States who have prediabetes. Research has shown that long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during prediabetes.

How to Tell if You Have Prediabetes.

There are three tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have prediabetes:

• The A1C test
• The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG)
• or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism, prediabetes or diabetes.

If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG); if your blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGTT, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Both are also known as prediabetes

Prediabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. The good news is that the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study conclusively showed that people with prediabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity.  
Who should get tested for prediabetes?
If you are overweight and over age 45, you should be checked for prediabetes during your next routine medical office visit.  For adults younger than 45 and overweight, your doctor may recommend testing if you have any other risk factors for diabetes or prediabetes. These include high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, or belonging to an ethnic or minority group at high risk for diabetes.

What is the treatment for prediabetes?
 Treatment consists of losing weight (5-10 percent of total body weight) through diet and moderate exercise, such as walking, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Don't worry if you can't get to your ideal body weight.  A loss of just 10 to 15 pounds can make a huge difference.  If you have prediabetes, you are at a 50% increased risk for heart disease or stroke.  Your doctor may wish to treat or counsel you about cardiovascular risk factors, such as tobacco use, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.


What is the diet for prediabetes?

The American Diabetes Association recommends plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts, and eat more fish.  Avoiding both saturated and trans fats are a heart healthy choice.  Together, these fats can increase your total and bad (LDL) cholesterol levels while the trans fats can lower your good, (HDL) cholesterol. 

With Halloween just around the corner, can your eat candy?

Yes, if you follow some simple rules.  Beware of chocolate with trans-fat from partially hydrogenated oil.  Be warned!!  Sugar free candy is not always the best choice.  Look for artificial sweeteners and read the nutrition labels.  Candy with low fat and carbs, enjoyed in reasonable portions are your best choice.  For the prediabetic, candy does not have to be scary.