Posts Tagged ‘nutrition’

Melanie Siedlinski, RN, MSN, a certified diabetic educator, will present a program on diabetes at “Breakfast with the Docs,” at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood. Two common types of diabetes are: Type 1–an auto-immune disease where the body destroys insulin and Type 2—a disease characterized by insulin resistance.

Over 20 million Americans are affected with diabetes with over half of those cases occurring in people 55 or older. In fact, one in four people over the age of 60 have diabetes.

As people age, management of diabetes changes. Treatment involving a combination of medicine, diet and exercise helps control blood sugar and prevents symptoms and problems.

If left untreated, complications may include:

•    Trouble seeing, light sensitivity or blindness
•    Sores and infections on skin and feet that could result in amputation
•    Nerve damage in the body
•    Kidney disease
•    Higher blood pressure and cholesterol
•    Heart disease and stroke

Siedlinski, a certified diabetes nurse educator at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, will present the latest information on the impact of nutrition on diabetes and demonstrate how patients can take control of their diabetes through diet and proper nutrition.

With over 32 years of experience in diabetes management, Siedlinski leads and oversees the Corporate Hyperglycemia Collaborative, which provides outpatient diabetes management classes, individualized patient follow-up and extensive outreach in the communities within the organization’s service area. Her outpatient services focus on older and lower-income clients.

She has coordinated a grant from the Glendale Heights Chamber of Commerce targeted toward diabetes screening for 200 students within community elementary schools and she provides semi-annual screening and education to hospital employees.

Siedlinski also provides quarterly lectures to seniors in the community, and has coordinated diabetes screening at numerous local events.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. And it’s not called “Breakfast with the Docs” for nothing. Participants who attend will also be served a healthy breakfast. Reservations are requested by Friday, Nov. 30.

For more information, or to reserve a seat, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.