Health

April is Defeat Diabetes Month.  The Good News and Bad News...

The “bad news” is there are more than 250,000 Iowans living with diabetes, and that number continues to rise. Although researchers worldwide continue to work towards eradicating diabetes, a cure has not been discovered. Type 1 Diabetes continues to require frequent insulin injections or a pump for survival, and Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled by oral medication, injections, or insulin.

The “good news” is both types of diabetes can be improved immensely through lifestyle modifications, such as moving your body, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains within your meal plan, dealing with stress in healthy ways, and getting adequate, quality sleep.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community & Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services are joining forces to promote National Infant Immunization Week (April 24-30, 2023) and to remind parents of the importance of ensuring children - including those age two years and under - stay up to date on check-ups and routine vaccinations.

“Vaccinating on time according to the recommended childhood immunization schedule and attending regular well-child visits provide the best protection against serious illness such as measles, polio, pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza,” said Sheryl Darling-Mooney, Public Health Supervisor. “For families that may have fallen behind schedule, National Infant Immunization Week is a great reminder to get back on track.”

April is Donate Life Month and serves as a reminder to the public to register to be an organ and tissue donor. Seventeen people in the United States die each day waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.  One donor can save the lives of up to eight people through organ donation and heal and enhance the lives of more than 300 through tissue and eye donation.

Bev Larson-Needham of Waukon is here today thanks to an organ donor. She received both the liver and kidney of the same donor, and five years later, she is living a normal, healthy life with no side effects. She encourages everyone to register to be not only an organ donor upon death, but also a living organ donor.

Lymphedema is the chronic or persistent swelling of a body part due to an obstruction of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system lies underneath the skin and works closely with the blood circulation system as it transports fluids throughout the body to lymph nodes.  While in the lymph nodes, the fluid is “cleaned” of bacteria, viruses, and other unwanted materials. The “clean” fluid is then sent to the blood and re-circulated throughout the body.

Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system is damaged and unable to move the fluid, therefore the fluid collects in the body part and swelling develops. Lymphedema can cause problems such as decreased ability to move the arms or legs, decreased strength, impaired sensation, difficulty walking, fatigue and overall inability to complete daily activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and other work tasks.  Lymphedema can be treated by an occupational therapist.

The new VMH Medical Clinic-Postville is sporting these new flags in three languages at their front entrance, letting the public know when they are open and available for walk-in patients. The Postville VMH Medical Clinic is open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Michelle Crary, NP is in the clinic four days a week, with Dr. McMullan seeing patients Wednesdays and Thursdays and Katy Maker, NP and Nurse Midwife, seeing patients every Wednesday. Tara Fink, the new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, also visits the Postville Clinic every other Tuesday. To make an appointment, call 563-864-7221, but walk-in patients are also welcome. Submitted photo.
 

Medicaid is introducing a third managed care organization (MCO) as a third option for managing Medicaid benefits, joining Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care. This new third option is called Molina Healthcare of Iowa.

Some current Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care members received a letter last week, stating  they would automatically be transferred to this new MCO, unless they send back the enclosed form requesting to remain on their current MCO. The deadline to return this form is May 18, or the transfer will automatically happen and become effective July 1, 2023.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 20, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

The topic of the meeting this month will be “Growing Your Own Vegetables.” The special guest will be Mary Engstrom of Allamakee Master Gardeners who will focus on how to grow vegetables in containers and pots, really focusing on lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and microgreens.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, feel free to call Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Anna Gearhart by Bill and Sue Blagsvedt, Marilyn Anderson, Audrey Angel, Frank and Patty Goltz, Susan and Charles LeMaster, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Ron and Kim Winters, Kent and Jeanne Hennings, Dave and Laurie Martin, and Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich.

Memorials were also received in memory of Irene Allison by Linda Flatland, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Chuck and Lois Votsmier and the Allison Family; in memory of Maxine Campbell by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Clark and Shelly Goltz, Frank and Patty Goltz, Randy and Lori Hesse, and Chuck and Lois Votsmier; in memory of Lorraine Johnson by Patsy Kerndt and Chuck and Lois Votsmier; and in memory of Fran Luther by Audrey Angel, Randy and Lori Hesse, John and Lorna Kerndt, Chuck and Lois Votsmier and Kate Wooden.

by Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care and the Iowa Department of Public Health

Public health plays an important role in Iowa’s high standard of living. The goal of public health is helping to create an environment where people can live in good health.  Public health helps make good health happen in Iowa’s homes, neighborhoods, schools and workplace.

Public health is more than just state and local government agencies. The public health community works together to fight disease and promote healthy lifestyles through the use of nutrition education, physical activity, immunization clinics, disease surveillance  and home nursing and home care aide visits.

April is Donate Life Month and serves as a reminder to the public to register to be an organ and tissue donor. According to the Iowa Donor Network, organ and tissue donation is a gift that saves and heals hundreds of thousands of lives each year. For transplant recipients and patients on the transplant waiting list, the gift of donation offers a second chance at life; a chance to move forward and fulfill the legacy left behind by the gracious donor.

Over 106,000 men and women in the United States are waiting for a life-saving transplant. That includes over 600 Iowans. One donor can save the lives of up to eight people through organ donation and heal and enhance the lives of more than 300 through tissue and eye donation. Every nine minutes another name is added to the national transplant list and 17 people die each day waiting.