NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER HEALTH NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1, 2009 B3
Help, support for newly diagnosed diabetics
by Nicole Berry
tionship- building. The her physicians explained she began to take her condi- diabetes let your physician their condition. Patients lis-
meeting begins with a brief that she more than likely tion seriously by making know during doctor visits,” ten and appreciate the sup-
For New Pittsburgh Courier
positive educational mes- had diabetes prior to her lifestyle changes. Eating she urged. There are sev- port because they are also
You went to see your doc- sage. Participants have the pregnancy. After being di- healthy foods and exercise eral tests that can be com- patients and are able to
tor and what you thought opportunity to go around agnosed she was the model became a part of her daily pleted to identify the diag- provide firsthand advice on
was a normal visit turned the room and discuss how patient. She did everything routine. nosis. Younger is part of a how to live a healthy nor-
into receiving a diagnosis of they made it through the to manage her condition for As a Nurse Practitioner network of people from dif- mal life by making life style
diabetes. Your doctor tells week and develop action the safety of her unborn and Certified Diabetic Edu- ferent states whose pri- changes eating properly, ex-
you that your body is not steps for the upcoming child. After giving birth to cator, Younger now uses her mary role is to provide sup- ercising regularly and visit-
producing enough insulin week. They share menu her daughter, Younger went knowledge as a Circle of port by offering peer to peer ing their physician as
which is required to convert and snack ideas. Some par- into a state of depression Champion member to men- mentoring. They travel scheduled.
food into energy. As a result, ticipants may bring food la- and was not able to accept tor other people with Dia- around the world partici- (To read about the Circle of
you have to change your eat- bels for the physician to re- her condition. It was not betes. She encourages Afri- pating in health fairs and Champions and learn their per-
ing habits by eliminating view and ensure they are in until she lost her mother can-Americans to know visiting hospital support sonal stories visit their website at
some of your favorite dishes. compliance with their meal due to complications of un- their family history. “If groups to encourage pa- www.mydiabetescircle.com/de-
Exercise should now become plans. Participants receive controlled sugar levels that someone in your family has tients to take control of fault.aspx.)
a part of your daily routine. congratulatory applause for
You feel alone and unsure of reaching their individual
what this all means! As you goals. Woods explained that
leave your doctor’s office she is so excited about the
Health care bill clears first hurdle
with pamphlets explaining action steps that each par-
your condition and advice on ticipant takes toward fol-
how to manage your dia- lowing their individual
WASHINGTON (AP)— most sweeping changes to the tend coverage to roughly 31 marked a major victory for
betes, you wonder how you plans. “The members em-
Sweeping health care legis- nation’s health care system in million who lack it, crack Senate Majority Leader
are going to get through this brace self-efficacy, she
lation has cleared its first a half-century or more. down on insurance com- Harry Reid, D-Nev., and the
new illness that has seem- stated!”
hurdle in the Senate on a Invoking the name of the pany practices that deny White House in a year-end
ingly interrupted your life. The support group has
party-line vote. late Edward M. Kennedy, benefits and curtail the drive to enact the most
The American Diabetes been in existence for nine
The 60-39 vote clears the Senate Democrats sealed a growth of spending on med- sweeping changes to the
Association reports that years and gets most of its
way for a historic debate after 60-vote majority needed to ical care nationally. nation’s health care system
more than 1.6 million peo- participants by word of
Thanksgiving on the legisla- advance health care legisla- “It is clear to me that in a half-century or more.
ple in the United States mouth, community centers
tion. The measure is designed tion Saturday ahead of an doing nothing is not an op- While timing made Lan-
will be newly diagnosed and churches. All programs
to extend coverage to an esti- evening showdown with op- tion,” said Landrieu, who drieu and Lincoln the final
with diabetes this year. are free to the community
mated 31 million Americans position Republicans eager won $100 million in the leg- two Democrats to announce
Many of whom are unsure which is made possible by
who lack it and crack down to inflict a punishing defeat islation to help her state their intentions, Sen. Paul
of what to do and where to grant support from High-
on insurance industry prac- on President Barack Obama. pay the costs of health care Kirk of Massachusetts had a
go for help. The good news mark and The Pittsburgh
tices that deny benefits. The Two final holdouts, Sens. for the poor. clear claim as the 60th vote.
is there are many organiza- Foundation. The funding
vote came in a rare Satur- Mary Landrieu of Louisi- Lincoln, who faces a tough Appointed to office this
tions and support groups also allows the center to
day session in the Senate. ana and Blanche Lincoln of re-election next year, said fall after the death of
that help diabetic patients offer services of a physician,
Democrats posted 60 Arkansas, announced in the evening vote will “mark Kennedy, who championed
understand the disease and nurse, and educational ma-
votes in a Senate show- speeches a few hours apart the beginning of considera- health care issues for
educate them on how to terial. Meetings are cur-
down, precisely the number on the Senate floor that tion of this bill by the U.S. decades, Kirk said he spoke
manage their condition. rently held in the Braddock
needed to overcome Repub- they would join in clearing Senate, not the end.” for those “who for so many
Local support group in area, Hill District, North
lican delaying tactics. the way for a bruising, full- Both stressed they were years revered and loved
your neighborhood. Side and Beltzhoover.
The vote was a major vic- scale health care debate not committing in advance and elected and re-elected
The Centers for Healthy (Contact The Centers for
tory for Senate Majority after Thanksgiving. to vote for the bill that ulti- (him)…that I think they’re
Hearts and Souls is a local Healthy Hearts and Souls di-
Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., At a 10-year cost ap- mately emerges from next all—they all, as we do, have
Non Profit Organization that rectly for specific location and
and the White House in a proaching $1 trillion, the month’s debate. Even so, him in our minds and our
provide a host of programs meeting hours at 412-371-3282
year-end drive to enact the measure is designed to ex- their announcements hearts tonight...”
and services for African- or visit their website to learn
Americans with diabetes. more about the programs offered.
Support group meetings are www.healthyheartsandsouls.com
held on a weekly basis in /)
eight locations within various Circle of Champions
communities. The purpose of national support group
the support group is to give Circle with Champions is a
participants a forum to dis- national awareness cam-
cuss their concerns in an out- paign that provides peer to
let that encourages open dis- peer mentoring for diabetic
cussion. They can feel com- patients to help them man-
fortable, asking questions age their blood sugar levels.
and sharing stories. They re- Proper management helps a
ceive firsthand advice from diabetic patient know if
the Centers’ medical director their current meal plan is
Dr. Bruce Bloch and nurse, working for them and if
Jerry Allen who also attend changes are needed. The
the meetings. The group is American Diabetes Associa-
empowered with information tion recommends that blood
and can help educate family sugar levels are checked be-
members about their condi- fore and after meals. Mem-
tion so they too have an un- bers of the Circle of Champi-
derstanding of how to provide ons are also diabetic pa-
support for their loved one. tients who have been suc-
“It’s a place for people to feel cessful with managing their
good about themselves and blood sugar level and are
connect with others that feel able to provide firsthand
the same way,” said Execu- mentoring through the shar-
tive Director Mattie Woods. ing of personal experiences.
“The message is that you are Angela Younger, a Circle
not alone,” she concluded. of Champion member from
Upon arrival at the meet- Connecticut was diagnosed
ings, participants are in 1993 with gestational di-
greeted by lay advocates abetes which is found in
and made comfortable pregnant women. Due to
through immediate rela- Younger’s family history,
Grant to help children
with asthma in the Hill
Responding to studies emergency rooms, higher
showing that one out of health care costs, and a
every 13 children in school lessening of physical activ-
has asthma, McAuley Min- ity that can lead to obesity.
istries, the grantmaking “According to our analysis
arm of the Pittsburgh of 2008 health care usage,
Mercy Health System, has residents with asthma from
announced a $150,000 the Hill District, Uptown,
grant over three years to and West Oakland gener-
Healthy Home Resources to ated 684 physician office
improve the health of low- visits, 99 emergency visits,
income asthmatic children. 26 inpatient discharges,
The amount is part of nine and 156 hospital outpatient
grants totaling $1,192,540 visits.”
awarded to address the Healthy Home Resources
health and wellness, com- staff first inspects houses and
munity development, edu- apartments, educates fami-
cational achievement and lies on how to reduce or elim-
capacity needs of non-prof- inate asthma triggers, and
its in Pittsburgh’s Hill Dis- provides cleaning supplies in-
trict, Uptown and West cluding a HEPA vacuum and
Oakland neighborhoods. air purifier, dehumidifier,
Healthy Home Resources professional dust mop and al-
received partial funding for lergen trapping bed covers.
their Asthma Trigger Home The U.S. government has
Evaluation program, which identified asthma as a top
for the past six years has ad- research priority; studies
dressed the rise in illnesses suggest that people with
caused or complicated by low socioeconomic status
the presence of indoor aller- and families living in inner-
gens. Up to 300 children cities are more likely to be
will receive assistance affected by asthma due to
through this expanded ef- higher exposure of environ-
fort, including children in 75 mental risk factors. A re-
families in McAuley Min- port from the American
istries’ target area. Lung Association shows
“McAuley Ministries wel- children ages 5-17 have a
comes opportunities to cre- significantly higher rate of
ate partnerships with orga- asthma than any other age
nizations interested in de- group, with the greatest
veloping healthy, safe and prevalence in African-
vibrant communities,” said Americans.
Michele Rone Cooper, exec- “We are grateful for
utive director of McAuley McAuley Ministries’ com-
Ministries. “And there’s a mitment to investing re-
real need because left sources and improving the
unchecked, a child’s asthma lives of people from all back-
leads to missed school days grounds,” said Dr. Michael J.
and educational disparities, Tobin, executive director of
increased time spent in Healthy Home Resources.
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