The Source - Austin

Myth: People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.

Fact: A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is generally the same as healthy eating for anyone. It should be low in saturated and trans fats, moderate in salt and sugar, and based on lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and fruit. "Diabetic" foods generally offer no special benefit; most still raise blood glucose levels, cost more, and can have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Fact: The answer is not so simple. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease. Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories from any source contributes to weight gain. Research has shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association recommends avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages to help prevent diabetes. These include:

- Regular sodas
- Fruit punch
- Fruit drinks
- Energy drinks
- Sports drinks
- Sweet tea
- Other sugary drinks

These drinks raise blood glucose and can add several hundred calories to your diet in just one serving!

What To Do When Your Partner Cheats

Maybe it feels like everyone is cheating or that no one in your circle has been affected by infidelity, but the reality is it’s commonplace no matter where you live, work, or socialize. Most people have either cheated, been cheated on, or know someone affected by infidelity.

So if you’re sitting in the aftermath of a cheating partner, what do you do? As widespread as cheating is, few people know what to do when it happens or what advice to give. To start off, there’s no one-size-fits-all advice for cheating—how you respond to that situation depends on your personal history, personality, history with cheating, relationship situation, and even family-of-origin dynamics.

Click the link below to get gentle guidance on responding to infidelity and navigating the next days and weeks.

https://www.thesource.org/post/what-to-do-when-your-partner-cheats

Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you eventually will develop type 2 diabetes.

Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other factors such as family history, ethnicity, and age also play a role. Unfortunately, too many people disregard the other risk factors and mistakenly believe that weight is the only risk factor. Most overweight people never develop type 2 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are within their normal weight or only moderately overweight.

What's Causing Your Breast Pain?

As women age beyond puberty, we can get accustomed to the occasional ache or pain. Whether it’s menstrual cramps, lower back pain, or a headache now and again, it’s easy for us to dismiss physical discomfort. But knowing the cause of some of those aches and pains helps us determine whether or not they’re worth dismissing or if it’s time for a doctor’s visit.

In our newest blog, we explore some of the common causes of that pesky discomfort you may feel in your breasts from time to time.

Remember that no matter how infrequent or mild your pain is, it’s always worth bringing up in your next OBGYN visit or well woman exam. Your doctor will be able to assess your health and risk factors and give you valuable information on breast health and care.

Click the link below to learn more about common causes of breast pain.

https://www.thesource.org/post/whats-causing-my-breast-pain

November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.

Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

To find celebratory events in Texas, click the link below!

​​https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/

This Diabetes Awareness Month, we want to help educate you so you can help educate the people in your lives. We invite you to follow along this month as we share content to help keep our community informed about diabetes development, prevention, and treatments!

Many people believe diabetes isn’t a serious disease.

The reality is that diabetes causes more deaths each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Having diabetes nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack.

The good news is that proper diabetes control can reduce your risk for diabetes complications. Talk to your doctor if you believe you’re at risk for diabetes and need a blood glucose test soon.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month—an important time to raise awareness of the maternal and infant health crisis of preterm birth and ask for lifesaving donations in honor of World Prematurity Day, November 17.

The U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth. Prematurity affects too many moms and babies and is fueled significantly by disparities in our health care system, communities and institutions.

This month, we invite you to get involved in one of the many organizations that support moms and premature babies. From The Source to March of Dimes, we encourage you to either volunteer, donate items, or give monetary gifts to help boost care for families in these difficult situations.

November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country team up to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on managing diabetes by building your health care team.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It affects about 37 million Americans, including adults and youth.

While it takes a team to manage diabetes, remember that you are the most important participant in your diabetes care. This month, we challenge you to take your health more firmly in your own hands. If you have any of the following risk factors for diabetes, set up a doctors appointment soon to get tested:

- Have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Have prediabetes.
- Are overweight.
- Are 45 years or older.
- Are physically active less than 3 times a week.
- Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds.

October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month.

According to the CDC, a miscarriage refers to a loss before the 20th week of pregnancy, while a stillbirth happens at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later. The CDC estimates that approximately 24,000 babies are stillborn in the US annually.

Losing a child is an incredibly painful loss.

In fact, people who lose a pregnancy or infant may often present with symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD.

This kind of loss often requires counseling to encourage healing and emotional recovery as well as the intentional support and care of loved ones. If you suffered a pregnancy loss, we want to remind you that you have every right to grieve this loss and seek mental, emotional, and physical help. Not everyone can sympathize with pregnancy loss, so cling to the people who’ve experienced something similar and can offer helpful advice and insight. The goal is health and healing and we encourage you to spend time with people who help you find peace and a healthy path forward.

Don’t forget, The Source offers professional counseling and can help. Click the link in bio to book a free appointment and talk with someone trained to help you cope with your loss.

What Is A Doula And Do You Need One?

If you’ve been around women trying to conceive or who’ve given birth, you’ve probably heard the term “doula” tossed around. For most women, a doula is a helpful presence throughout the pregnancy and birthing process; for other women, a doula is absolutely necessary in order to have a good birthing experience.

But do you need one?

Doulas are helpful but optional. We hope this article helps you decide whether or not to invite one into your pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum journey

https://www.thesource.org/post/what-is-a-doula-and-do-i-need-one

It’s ​National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The month aims to educate Americans about what is considered domestic violence and support the current and past victims of domestic violence. But many women don't know how to fight domestic violences in their own relationships or others’ because they’re not sure if a partner’s actions are actually abusive. To observe this month, we want to clarify some signs of abuse so you know what it looks like and how to fight it.

​4 common signs of domestic abuse:

​Your partner threatens or tries to control you
​This can be anything from making you feel inadequate to telling you what to wear or how to look.

​2. You partner controls your money
Keeping cash or credit cards away from you, or discouraging you from working is unacceptable.

​3. Your partner isolates you
Cutting you off from family and friends makes you even more dependent on your partner and could be a sign of abuse.​

​4. Your partner physically abuses you
This is a serious crime regardless of your relationship status.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the US will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? While you can’t usually prevent cancer, it is important to be proactive about your health and that means constant screenings and conversations with your doctor about breast health.

At this time, a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer for most women of screening age. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. For many women, mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer.

According to the CDC, women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years. Women who are 40 to 49 years old should talk to their doctor or other health care professional about when to start and how often to get a mammogram. Talk to your doctor soon to learn about a healthy mammogram schedule for your age and risk factors.

Let’s Talk About Sexual Health Awareness

This month we’re talking about s*xual health and you. How you can get to know your body and get to know yourself. Much like general physical and mental health, s*xual health is just as important to your overall well-being. Educating yourself on your body and knowing what you need is important to being healthy. Your body, your mind, and your desires all matter when it comes to self-care.

Knowing and understanding s*xual health means understanding what safer s*x looks like. Some good questions to consider are:

What does safer s*x look like for diverse bodies?
How can we make sure we’re being safe and taking care of ourselves?
What are your needs and what are your desires?

Apart from pleasure, good s*xual health also means taking necessary precautions to avoid s*xually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. To learn more about safe, healthy, and enjoyable s*x, check out the link below and explore The Source’s s*xual health blog!

https://www.thesource.org/blog

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Ovarian cancer is rare – about 1.3 percent of women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point in their life, according to data from the NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program.

Risk factors for developing ovarian cancer include family history and the presence of inherited gene mutations. Other risk factors include the use of estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy and the use of fertility drugs.

If you identify with any of these risk factors, we encourage you to see your general doctor or oncologist for advice on screenings, preventative treatments, and any necessary changes to your lifestyle.

Even for the people who enjoy a regular run or bench press, working out can feel boring most days. So if you don't like exercise in general, 1) You’re definitely not alone and 2) You’re completely justified in feeling that exercise is monotonous. Most mainstream fitness options are hard to diversify. Many people start with running, going to the gym, or home fitness routines which can feel stale after just a few weeks.

Staying active is critical to maintaining a healthy body and mind, so we’ve collected 10 ways you can keep your exercise routine fun, fresh, and effective. Click the link below to read our new blog, “10 Exercise Options That Aren’t Boring.”

https://www.thesource.org/post/10-exercise-options-that-arent-boring

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month to everyone but especially our Latina sisters!

Around one-fifth of the U.S. population is Hispanic, and living in Texas allows us to enjoy so much of the rich heritage of Hispanic cultures. Whether you’re Hispanic or not, we encourage you to spend time this month enjoying the concerts, parades, art exhibits, food fairs, and more that are organized throughout Texas cities in September.

Of all the mysterious pains we feel from time to time, pelvic pain is the least welcomed. Pelvic pain refers to pain in the region of women's reproductive organs. But this kind of discomfort isn’t similar to a small pinch in your back or a knot in the sole of your feet; pelvic pain can feel suspicious, scary, and frustrating.

But before you go to WebMD for answers, let’s cover some of the most common causes of this kind of pain outside of monthly menstrual cramps.

Click the link below to read our new article, “What's Causing My Pelvic Pain?”

https://www.thesource.org/post/whats-causing-my-pelvic-pain

Thinking about breastfeeding your baby?

Like most things in the realm of pregnancy and parenting, the conversation around breastfeeding has evolved over the years. With more and more women being vocal about their challenges around latching, milk production, and the confusion about the benefits of breast milk over formula, many new moms are beginning to rule out breastfeeding without first considering it.

Whether you’re thinking about formula, feeding your child directly from your breast, or pumping your breast milk, it’s important to understand why millions of women, past and present, choose breastfeeding for their children.

This National Breastfeeding Month, we encourage you to read our article, “Should You Breastfeed? Here Are 5 Benefits To Breastfeeding.”

https://www.thesource.org/post/5-benefits-of-breastfeeding

This National Immunization Awareness Month, we encourage you to talk to your prenatal care provider about recommended vaccines.

If you are pregnant, getting vaccinated can help protect your baby after birth by passing on antibodies. These antibodies can give your baby protection from flu and whooping cough until it is time for their own vaccines.

The CDC recommends getting a whooping cough shot (Tdap) during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy. Getting a Tdap vaccine during pregnancy provides the best protection against whooping cough for you and your baby in the first few months of life, before your baby is old enough to get their own whooping cough shots.

Also, a flu vaccine during any trimester of each pregnancy provides the best protection against flu for you, and can also protect your baby for the first several months after birth when they are too young to be vaccinated.