Diabetes Screening and Prevention and Management
A review of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identified the areas surrounding our community-based Family Health Centers with frequent diabetes related admissions. Based upon this information, NuHealth leadership identified diabetes care and management as an organizational priority. Patients are provided specialized care, education and additional evaluation for management of diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition in which a person has a high blood sugar (glucose) level, either because the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or because body cells don't properly respond to the insulin that is produced. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas which enables body cells to absorb glucose, to turn into energy. If the body cells do not absorb the glucose, the glucose accumulates in the blood leading to vascular, nerve, and other complications
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. .
In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
In gestational diabetes, pregnant women are affected when their bodies are not able to make and use all the insulin needed for pregnancy.
Additional Diabetes Information can be accessed by clicking on the following links:
American Diabetes Association “Living with Diabetes” and “Food and Nutrition”
http://www.diabetes.org/
American Diabetes “Eating Right”
http://www.eatright.org/
US Department of Heath and Human Services “National Diabetes Education Program”
http://ndep.nih.gov/
Pediatric Obesity
Based upon national concern and awareness of our vulnerable patient population, pediatric obesity has been identified as a high priority quality measure. Guidelines have been established for the measurement of body mass index (BMI), in addition to the creation of an obesity program and treatment plan.
Obesity means having too much body fat and that a child’s weight is greater than what is considered healthy for his or her height and weight. Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use up in physical activity and daily life. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Contributing factors include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active..
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for children. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at 2 years old.
For children, BMI is used to screen for obesity, overweight, healthy weight, or underweight. However, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. For example, a child may have a high BMI for age and sex, but to determine if excess fat is a problem, a health care provider would need to perform further assessments. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings.
After BMI is calculated for children and teens, the BMI number is plotted on the CDC BMI-for-age growth charts (for either girls or boys) to obtain a percentile ranking. Percentiles are the most commonly used indicator to assess the size and growth patterns of individual children in the United States. The percentile indicates the relative position of the child's BMI number among children of the same sex and age. The growth charts show the weight status categories used with children and teens (underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese).
BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles are shown in the following table.
Weight Status Category |
Percentile Range |
Healthy Weight |
Less than the 85th Percentile |
At risk for obesity |
85th to 94th Percentile |
Obese |
Equal to or greater the the 95th Percentile |
A detailed BMI report has been developed consisting of several different identifying factors of our ambulatory pediatric population. For example: distribution of age, gender and race; BMI percentile (less than 85th, at risk, and obesity); and BMI percentile distribution by gender.
If you think your child falls into the above category NuHealth recommends asking your Health Care Provider to refer you to one of our Nutritionists.
You can calculate your BMI by accessing the following link;
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bmi-calculator/NU00597
