MOD is an advocate for Diabetes education and outreach with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy American Pharmacists Association (APhA-ASP). This blog is here to serve as a diary so others can be inspired and maybe a little entertained by her antics all in the name of healthy lifestyles.
Today, nearly 1 in 3 children in America are overweight or obese. If we don't solve this problem, 1/3 of children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes or chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma at some point in their lives. "Let's Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams." It gives parents information and fosters an environment that supports healthy choices. (Information above retrieved from the Let's Move! website). Here are pictures from our Move Your Body class.
The dance leader taught 34 middle and elementary school students how much fun exercise can be. Everyone laughed, learned some new dance moves, and got their heart pumping.
Ingredients (Makes 6 servings) 1 boxDreamfieldsRotini, Penne Rigate or Elbows 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 3 large cloves garlic, minced 1 pound (90%) lean ground beef 1 can (8 ounces) no salt added tomato sauce 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 package (10 ounces) spinach leaves, shredded 1/4 cup shredded fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Salt (optional) 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Preparation
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beef; cook until no longer pink, stirring and breaking beef into pieces.
Stir in tomato sauce and oregano. Continue cooking 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add spinach, basil and red pepper flakes; continue cooking 3 minutes. Season with salt, if desired.
Drain pasta. Add to skillet; toss with beef mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutritional Information (1/6 of recipe)
401 calories 27 g protein 14 g digestible carbohydrates* 11 g total fat 4 g saturated fat 49 mg cholesterol 178 mg sodium 8 g total dietary fiber
I found that healthy cooking can be fun and delicious. People with diabetes can work with a diabetes educator or dietitian to design a meal plan that includes the foods they love. Foods high in carbohydrates raise blood sugar the most and need to be monitored throughout the day. Round your meals out with meat and non-starchy vegetables. For more diabetes friendly recipes look here: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/recipes/
Last month, some pharmacy students partnered up with 'The Challenge Program' and helped out at the Green Street Academy Health Fair to teach the students about healthy snacking.
We made delicious fruit and yogurt parfaits and trail mix. We also showed students how to read a nutrition label. It is healthier to limit the amount of fat and sodium. If you have diabetes you want to monitor the amount of carbohydrates in each meal. Check the fiber and vitamins section of the label to see if the item is healthy for you.To maintain a healthy diet it is a good idea to look at the nutrition label of all the foods you eat. Below is an image from the National Kidney Foundation providing more information about nutrition labels.
MOD conducted blood pressure screenings at Professional Pharmacy and at a local health fair as part of the Million Hearts Initiative. The initiative is to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.
It is especially important for people with diabetes to control their blood pressure.
Below you can see a section of the fact sheet from the million hearts website. It explains what the blood pressure numbers mean. People can reduce their blood pressure by eating less salt. Try to eat no more than 1500mg of sodium a day. That is less than 1 teaspoon of salt! Most people with high blood pressure need 2 or 3 medicines to lower it. Work with your pharmacist and doctor to find the medications that are best for you.
MOD went to the wellness fair to educate University of Maryland staff, students, and the community about diabetes. We talked to 62 people and conducted the diabetes risk assessment. We also provided hand-outs on how to prevent type 2 diabetes and about blood glucose.
Below you can see clips from the handout we gave up on how to delay type 2 diabetes. The handouts came from the American Diabetes Association website. http://www.diabetes.org/
Operation Diabetes Participated in a Script Your Future event at Safeway to encourage medication adherence.
Above you can see a picture of the wallet cards that we handed out. It reminds patients of their pledge to take their medications and contains a list of the medications that they are taking. It is important to carry your medication list with you at all times so you can discuss them with your pharmacist and physicians. We handed out 246 wallet cards encouraging medication adherence.
We asked the people who stopped by our booth to write on a post-it note what they are pledging for. For example, one person wrote that they are taking their medications because they want to be healthy for retirement. Another person pledged that they will take their medications to be healthy to see their grandchildren graduate high school. Pledging to take medications for a specific reason reminds patients of the importance of taking medication to stay healthy.
