Your Questions
Answered
Jay Turnbull, MD
Jay Turnbull, MD, is a Family Medicine Physician
with Aspirus General Clinic. Exclusively for readers
of
Pathways
, he shares his expertise on some
frequently asked questions.
Q
I was just diagnosed with
diabetes. Do I have to give
up sugar?
A
The quick answer: Give up, no;
cut back, yes.
People with diabetes can have a
sugary treat once in a while. But it
should be a small serving enjoyed
in the overall context of a diet and
exercise plan that keeps diabetes
under control.
Of course, if you’d asked this
question years ago, you probably
would have gotten a different answer.
Scientists once thought eating sugar
would send blood glucose levels
dangerously high. It was off-limits
for people with diabetes.
Today, we know that glucose
levels are affected by the total
amount of carbohydrates you eat.
The exact type of carb, such as
sugar, isn’t as important.
So a small amount of sugar is
probably OK as long as you swap
it for other high-carb foods. For
instance, you might skip having
a roll with dinner so that you can
have some dessert.
Keep in mind that even a small
portion of a sugary treat is likely
to have a lot of calories and little
nutritional value. That’s another
reason it should be enjoyed only
occasionally.
Most of the time, stick to a
healthy meal plan that features
vegetables, whole grains, fruit,
nonfat dairy products, fish and
lean meat. Your doctor or diabetes
educator can help you devise a plan
that’s right for you.
Q
I’ve heard a lot about
whooping cough recently.
What can I do to avoid it?
A
Get vaccinated. Whooping
cough, also known as
pertussis, is a serious respiratory
infection that can be deadly for
babies. The DTaP vaccine protects
young children from whooping
cough. Kids should receive five
doses of DTaP as part of their
regular childhood immunizations.
Children ages 11 or 12 and adults
need a one-time booster shot,
known as Tdap, to continue to be
safe from whooping cough. These
shots are especially important if
you are going to be around babies.
If you have a newborn, keep your
baby away from anyone with cold
symptoms. Ask everyone coming
into contact with your child on a
regular basis to get vaccinated. If
you have concerns, talk with your
doctor.
Q
My dad has colorectal cancer.
Should I get tested?
A
If you’re between the ages
of 50 to 75, you should be
screened for colorectal cancer
regardless of family history.
And if you have a close relative
with the disease, your doctor
may recommend earlier or more
frequent screening.
People with an average risk
have about a 5 percent chance
of developing colorectal cancer.
(Men’s risk is slightly higher than
women’s.)
Your risk can be nearly double
that, however, if you have a parent,
sibling or child with the disease.
And if your relative was diagnosed
before age 45, your risk may be even
higher.
A family history of cancer in
further-removed relatives, such as
aunts, uncles and grandparents, is
also relevant and should be shared
with your doctor.
Talk with your doctor to decide
on an appropriate screening
schedule.
Make an appointment
with a provider for
one-on-one counseling.
Call the General Clinic
at
715-623-2351
.
• Pathways
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