By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
Medicare pays for glaucoma screening once every 12 months for high risk individuals, such as African-Americans and those with diabetes and a family history of glaucoma. The screening must be performed by a licensed eye doctor and you must meet the Part B deductible and pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount.
By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
Blood proteins that signal early artery damage may also warn of type 2 diabetes. Researchers evaluated blood from 32,826 women and found evidence of artery damage 8 years prior to the diagnosis of diabetes. Researchers in the Nurses Health Study found elevations in E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, suggesting damaged or irritated walls of blood vessels. Ten years later, 737 women developed type 2 diabetes. Cells that line the vessel lining cells produce the other 2 proteins in response to inflammation, thus strengthening the link between diabetes and silent inflammation.
By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
Metformin is generally not recommended for use in patients with congestive heart failure or renal dysfunction. Metformin has the potential to interfere with furosemide (a diuretic) and nifedipene (a calcium channel blocker), both prescribed for hypertension. There is a risk of lactic acidosis which can be fatal.
By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
The March Hare, the Mad Hatter and the Doormouse didn’t have to worry about body fat considering the tea drinking they did in “Alice in Wonderland”. Taiwanese researchers found that people who habitually drink tea have less body fat and lower hip to waist ratios than do infrequent tea drinkers. They studied 1,103 subjects who completed questionnaires concerning tea consumption and other lifestyle characteristics. The body fat percentage of the habitual tea drinkers for more than 10 years was 19.6 % lower than the non-habitual tea drinkers and the hip to waist ratios was 2.1% lower.
For those with higher body fat, it is recommended that 2 cups of tea daily can promote a healthy body weight. They are not certain as to the ingredients in tea that lead to these decreases, but it is felt that catechines, polyphenols and caffeine are the major ingredients that could promote the healthy metabolism of body fat and its distribution. There are 4000 chemical ingredients in a tea leaf.
By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
Legendary football coach Tom Landry said coaching was “getting men to do what they don’t want to do in order to achieve what they want to achieve”. This applies to nursing educators, who help patients with diabetes adjust to changes in diet, exercise and other facets of the treatment plan.
Initially, the game plan is clear as you explain the importance of diet, exercise and how to maintain life style changes, but when the patient becomes bored with the exercise plan and frustrated with the weight plateau, they backslide and binge. Guilt sets in and turns to anxiety.
Listening is the basis of motivation. If you don’t listen you may miss the message. Steven Covey says “seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Many of us may be preparing to speak instead of listening as others talk. Listen with intent to understand, not intent to reply. The purpose of an educator, as a coach is to fuel a person’s desire. An educator is analogous to training wheels on a bike, both provide stability until the person has the confidence to ride alone.
Emotions can affect performance. If a patient feels bored we must find ways to make it interesting. We must whet the appetite and believe in every patient’s potential.
