Tag: diabetes

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Posted on

Hi, it’s Dr. Curry-Winchell, aka Dr. BCW. I’m excited to share my recent collaboration with the Health Unmuted Podcast on their mini-series “Preventing Type 2 Diabetes.” This series is a vital resource for anyone at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as their loved ones.

Understanding Diabetes

In the U.S., approximately 33 million people live with type 2 diabetes, and many more are at risk. The first episode of this series dives into the basics of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, focusing on early detection and understanding the condition.

Recognizing Symptoms and Early Detection

Episode two is particularly close to my heart, as it emphasizes the importance of recognizing early signs of prediabetes. This stage is crucial for intervention and can significantly reduce the progression to type 2 diabetes.

The Power of Diet

Diet plays a key role in managing and preventing diabetes. The third episode of the series discusses how simple dietary changes can make a significant impact. It’s not about giving up the foods you love but about understanding how food affects your body and making mindful choices.

Accessing Healthy Foods

Access to healthy food can be a challenge for many. Episode four focuses on finding resources and programs that make healthy eating more accessible, especially for those living with prediabetes.

Lifestyle Changes: Exercise and Sleep

Preventing type 2 diabetes isn’t just about diet. In episode five, we explore how regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management contribute to overall health and diabetes prevention. Small, consistent changes can lead to significant improvements.

Exploring Medication Options

Medication can be a crucial aspect of managing prediabetes. Episode six covers various medication options and the importance of discussing these with healthcare providers. It also provides resources to make medication more affordable.

The Road Ahead

Finally, episode seven encapsulates the journey of preventing type 2 diabetes. It’s a continuous process of learning and adapting. The episode provides valuable resources and next steps to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

My Takeaway

Collaborating on this series has been an enriching experience. It aligns with my passion for health literacy and proactive healthcare. I hope this podcast series empowers you with the knowledge and confidence to manage or prevent type 2 diabetes.

For more information and to listen to the series, check out Health Unmuted on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Remember, knowledge is power when it comes to your health.

Stay informed and prioritize your health!

 

– Dr. Curry-Winchell (Dr. BCW)

Gestational Diabetes

Posted on

Hi, it’s Dr. Curry-Winchell. Today, I want to discuss a significant health issue that often goes undiscussed. Gestational diabetes, especially as it pertains to the Black maternal health crisis in the United States.

In honor of National Diabetes Month and the current Maternal Health crisis I partnered with She Knows to highlight this growing concern. You can find my article from She Knows HERE

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition that can develop during pregnancy. It is usually diagnosed through screening between the 24th and 28th weeks. The exact cause is not fully understood, it’s thought to be linked to hormonal changes in pregnancy. Symptoms can be subtle, such as increased thirst and frequent urination, or non-existent, making it a potentially silent threat.

The condition not only affects mothers by increasing the likelihood of complications like premature birth and cesarean sections, but it also impacts infants, who may face respiratory difficulties, future obesity, and a higher diabetes risk later in life.

The Impact on Black Maternal Health

Alarmingly, gestational diabetes is a gateway to type 2 diabetes postpartum. Research shows that Black women are disproportionately diagnosed with type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes, this disparity could be due to a lack of consistent screenings post-childbirth, as symptoms may be mistakenly attributed to typical postpartum recovery.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition where the pancreas either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body becomes insulin resistant. This can lead to severe health issues, including vision loss, nerve damage, and increased risk of kidney and heart diseases — conditions that already have a higher mortality rate among Black individuals.

The Importance of Advocacy and Screening

Advocacy is crucial in addressing this health crisis. The healthcare system’s systemic racism and unconscious biases often lead to the dismissal of Black women’s pain and concerns. I speak from personal experience. As a physician within the healthcare system, I encountered life-threatening challenges during my childbirth due to my pain being overlooked.

For those diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it’s critical to request diabetes screenings after giving birth. As healthcare providers, we must confront unconscious biases and eradicate race-based medicine to improve health outcomes for all mothers and children.

In conclusion, while gestational diabetes is a complex condition with profound implications for maternal health, awareness and proactive management can lead to better outcomes. Help spread awareness, share this article with loved ones and those that can benefit from the information. Increased health literacy gives everyone a better opportunity to advocate for their own health. Greater awareness helps bring light to disparities and of course helps bring change.

Stay informed and prioritize your health!

– Dr. Curry-Winchell (Dr. BCW)

 

What is High Blood Sugar?

Posted on

As part of Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell’s, health series Beyond Clinical Walls, Dr. Curry-Winchell discusses, what is high blood sugar.  High blood sugar can be a serious medical condition and can lead to other disease.  Check out this video to learn more.

Dr. BCW provides helpful information from Beyond Clinical Walls to explain what high blood sugar is.  Don’t miss it.

Remember, to subscribe to Beyond Clinical Walls.  It really helps the channel and it helps Dr. BCW continue to provide helpful informations on health topics, health literacy and health inequity .  Thank you so much for your support.

How do you check blood sugar?

Posted on

As part of Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell’s, health series Beyond Clinical Walls, Dr. Curry-Winchell reviews how do you check your blood sugar. There are many different methods this test is conducted so check out the episode to learn more.

Dr. BCW provides helpful information from Beyond Clinical Walls to inform you about the relationship between diet and diabetes and how misunderstanding and misinformation can impact health outcomes.  If you have questions about diabetes, especially when it comes to the impact of diet, don’t skip this episode.

Remember, to subscribe to Beyond Clinical Walls.  It really helps the channel and it helps Dr. BCW continue to provide helpful informations on health topics, health literacy and health inequity .  Thank you so much for your support.

 

Diabetes and Diet?

Posted on

As part of Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell’s, health series Beyond Clinical Walls, Dr. Curry-Winchell discusses the relationship between diet and diabetes.  This is an important topic for health equity so check it out.

Dr. BCW provides helpful information from Beyond Clinical Walls to inform you about the relationship between diet and diabetes and how misunderstanding and misinformation can impact health outcomes.  If you have questions about diabetes, especially when it comes to the impact of diet, don’t skip this episode.

Remember, to subscribe to Beyond Clinical Walls.  It really helps the channel and it helps Dr. BCW continue to provide helpful informations on health topics, health literacy and health inequity .  Thank you so much for your support.

Diabetes and Family History

Posted on

As part of Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell’s, health series Beyond Clinical Walls, Dr. Curry-Winchell discusses the relationship between family history and diabetes.  This is an important topic for health equity so check it out.

Dr. BCW provides helpful information from Beyond Clinical Walls to inform you about the relationship between health and diabetes and how misunderstanding and misinformation can impact health outcomes.  If you have questions about diabetes, especially when it comes to the impact of family history don’t skip this episode.

Remember, to subscribe to Beyond Clinical Walls.  It really helps the channel and it helps Dr. BCW continue to provide helpful informations on health topics, health literacy and health inequity .  Thank you so much for your support.

Race and Diabetes?

Posted on

As part of Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell’s, health series Beyond Clinical Walls, Dr. Curry-Winchell discusses the relationship between race and diabetes.  This is an important topic for health equity so check it out.

Dr. BCW provides helpful information from Beyond Clinical Walls to inform you about the relationship between race and diabetes and how misunderstanding and misinformation can impact certain races when it comes to diabetes.  If you have questions about diabetes, especially when it comes to the impact of race on health outcomes don’t skip this episode.

Remember, to subscribe to Beyond Clinical Walls.  It really helps the channel and it helps Dr. BCW continue to provide helpful informations on health topics, health literacy and health inequity .  Thank you so much for your support.

 

This is What it Feels Like to Have High Blood Sugar

Posted on

Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, tells Eat This, Not That what it feels like to have high blood sugar

Read full article here

Article Snippet:

High blood sugar is a serious health concern that mostly affects people with diabetes and if left untreated can lead to major complications like vision loss, kidney disease and heart disease. There’s several reasons why blood sugar can spike like not eating the right foods, dehydration, not being active and more, but when blood sugar goes up, it can feel awful. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with  Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health and Saint Mary’s Hospital who explained what to know about high blood sugar and what it can feel like. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.

What’s Considered High Blood Sugar and How Can You Check It?

Dr. Curry-Winchell says, “The best way to check your blood sugar (glucose) levels is when you haven’t eaten anything. We call that your normal fasting blood sugar. While there’s a number of factors that can impact your blood sugar levels, we like to say “normal” is generally between 70 to 130 mg/dL. The best way to check your blood sugar is with a blood glucose meter which is widely available and an affordable option.?”

See what else Dr. BCW has to share as she answers questions for Eat This, Not That as they discuss what it feels like to have high blood sugar.

Signs You Have Diabetes, Say Physicians

Posted on

Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, talks with Eat This, Not That! and provides signs you might have Diabetes and what to watch for.  Diabetes is a serious medical condition that impacts many people across the globe and can impact anyone.  Please take the time to review this important topic.

Read the full Eat This Not That article here

Diabetes is on the rise in the U.S. and cases are at a record high. Chances are you know someone with the disease since over 37 million Americans, or 1 in 10 people have diabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and describes the diabetes as “a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most people’s bodies naturally produce the hormone insulin, which helps convert sugars from the food we eat into energy that the body can use or store for later. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t use its insulin well, causing your blood sugar to rise. High blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems over time. With type 1 diabetes, the body can’t make insulin. If you’re diagnosed with type 1, you’ll need to take insulin every day to survive. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well. The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes.” In spite of what many think, diabetes isn’t a childhood condition or something older people get. Anyone at any age can get it and Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health, and Saint Mary’s Hospital, who explained what to know about diabetes and what the signs are that you might have the harmful health condition. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.

See what else Dr. BCW has to share as she answers questions for Eat This, Not That as they discuss signs you have diabetes.