THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021 Page 17 ~ LETTER TO THE EDITOR ~ Could You Have Prediabetes? Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about prediabetes, and how can you know if you have it? My 62-year-old husband, who’s in pretty good shape, was recently diagnosed with prediabetes and didn’t have clue. Could I have it too? Wondering Spouse Dear Wondering, Underlying today’s growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes is a much larger epidemic called prediabetes, which is when the blood sugar levels are higher than they should be but not high enough to be called diabetes. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 84 million Americans today have prediabetes. Left untreated, it almost always turns into type 2 diabetes within 10 years. If you have prediabetes, the long-term damage it can cause – especially to your heart and circulatory system – may already be starting. But the good news is that prediabetes doesn’t mean that you’re destined for fullblown diabetes. Prediabetes can actually be reversed, and diabetes prevented, by making some simple lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on carbohydrates. Or, if you need more help, oral medications may also be an option. Get Tested Because prediabetes typically causes no outward symptoms, most people that have it don’t realize it. The only way to know for sure if you have it is to get a blood test. Everyone age 45 years or older should consider getting tested for prediabetes, especially if you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) above 25. See CDC. gov/bmi to calculate your BMI. If you are younger than 45 but are overweight, or have high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, or belong to an ethnic group (Latino, Asian, African or Native American) at high risk for diabetes, you should get checked too. To help you determine your risk of diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has a quick, online risk test you can take for free at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Diabetes Tests If you find that you’re at risk for prediabetes, there are three diff erent tests your doctor can give you to diagnosis it. The most common is the “fasting plasma glucose test,” which requires an eighthour fast before you take it. There’s also the “oral glucose tolerance test” to see how your body processes sugar, and the “hemoglobin A1C test” that measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. It can be taken anytime regardless of when you ate. Most private health insurance plans and Medicare cover diabetes tests, however, if you’re reluctant to visit your doctor to get tested, an alternative is to go to the drug store, buy a blood glucose meter and test yourself at home. They cost around $20. If you find that you are prediabetic or diabetic, you need to see your doctor to develop a plan to get it under control. The ADA recommends losing weight and doing moderate exercise – such as 150 minutes a week of brisk walking. And when lifestyle changes alone don’t work, medication might. The ADA recommends the generic drug metformin, especially for very overweight people younger than 60. For more information on diabetes and prediabetes or to fi nd help, join a lifestyle change program recognized by the CDC (see CDC.gov/diabetes/prevention). These programs offer in-person and online classes in more than 1,500 locations throughout the U.S. Over the course of a year, a coach will help you eat healthy, increase your physical activity and develop new habits. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Police officers are held to the same justice as all citizens T o the brave members of the Massachusetts law enforcement community: The trial and conviction on all counts of former police offi cer Derick Chauvin in Minnesota conclusively demonstrates that offi cers can be, and in fact are held to the same justice as all other citizens in our nation, as they should be. At the most basic, a man needlessly lost his life to a police offi cer. At the same time, the assertions of so many who wish to demonize all police offi cers because of the actions of one police offi cer have been shown to be hollow. Due process rights do not prevent the investigation, charging, trial, and conviction of a police offi cer. Neither does qualifi ed immunity. Neither do police unions, associations, or legal defense plans. PARKING | FROM Page 1 changes to its existing City-run resident parking program and will implement seasonal 24/7 resident parking in neighborhoods abutting Revere Beach. “Our top priority in collaborating with Commissioner Montgomery and DCR was to minimize the impact this program will have on our residents,” Arrigo said. “I want to thank Secretary Theoharides, Commissioner Montgomery and their teams for working with us to identify solutions that make sense for our community. I also want to thank Senator Boncore, Representatives Giannino and Turco, as well as our City Councilors for their continued advocacy on behalf of our residents.” “I want to thank Mayor Arrigo, Senator Boncore, Representative Giannino, and Representative Turco for their willingness to collaborate on creative solutions to improve the Curbside Parking Meter Project in Revere, which will help us provide state park visitors with high-quality services and recreational opportunities,” said DCR Commissioner Montgomery. “DCR is proud of our historic partnership with the City of Revere, and looks forward to continuing to work with Police offi cers, and all citizens, are entitled to their day in court and to have an impartial judge and jury weigh the evidence against them. They are entitled to have their side of the issue heard and considered. And all of us must respect the decisions of the court system when these fundamental rules of due process are applied. Police offi cers serve the American criminal justice system, sometimes at the cost of their very own lives. We should respect the verdict of the justice system in this case, and we should continue to stand for the proposition that respecting the fundamental Constitutional rights of all persons of committing an off ense, even when that person is a police offi cer, is no obstacle to the attaining of justice. In fact, it is the very foundathe City to enhance America’s First Public Beach.” “The resolution announced today will ensure continued access to America’s fi rst public beach for both Revere residents and visitors alike,” said Senator Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop). “I appreciate the collaboration with Mayor Arrigo, the Revere State House delegation, and the City Council in meeting our shared goal to improve outcomes for our community.” “I am proud of the agreement reached today between the DCR and the City of Revere. I believe that this is a fair and reasonable balance that protects Revere residents and keeps our beach accessible to the people of Revere. By creating resident only parking along the residential/ business side of Revere Beach Boulevard, as well as on Ocean Avenue, Revere residents who live on the beach will be able to continue parking in front of their homes while also allowing any Revere resident who wishes to utilize the beach the opportunity to continue to park for free in designated areas,” said Representative Jessica Giannino. “I thank the DCR for their reconsideration and for revamping their parking program in response to the concerns raised by local tion upon which justice can be obtained. To all the offi cers who continue to defend us with quiet dignity, there are those of us who proclaim loudly our appreciation for the acts of service you perform as part of your daily routine. Even when some protest you, you protect them. This is a time to come together as a community regardless of whether you are black or white, whether you are rich or poor, whether you are a police offi cer or someone they protect and serve. We are at our best when we recognize our common humanity, and come together to make a better and safer community! Respectfuly, Skyllar Mullvaney The Horses & Heroes Foundation elected offi cials and the people of our great city.” “I applaud the changes to the DCR’s parking program. These changes will provide a signifi - cant amount of no-cost parking to the people of Revere,” said Representative Jeff Turco. “That said, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to make sure that monies raised on Revere Beach stay on Revere Beach.” Ward 5 Councillor John Powers has been a vocal opponent of the DCR plan to install parking meters along the residential side of the beachfront since he fi rst got wind of the plan in December. Powers said that in addition to residents, the meters would have been an inconvenience to friends and family visiting along the beach, as well as for the healthcare professionals providing home services to many of the elderly residents. “I want to thank the mayor, the state delegation, and Governor’s Councilor Terry Kennedy who all worked to make this happen and to eliminate the meters on the residential side of the beach,” said Powers. “This is a positive thing that shows that Revere cares about its residents.” For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net
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