Down East Diabetology

10/31/2024

Dear Patients,
Thank you for choosing Down East Diabetology for your care. My goal since starting this practice in 2015 has been to increase the awareness of, prevent and improve the care of diabetes in Eastern NC.

Today that vision is clear, but we are not done. After a brief one week closing, we will reopen on December 9 as a Down East Diabetology of Contentnea Health. Contentnea Health is a system of health centers in eastern North Carolina focused on delivering primary medical, dental and behavioral health care. Under the Contentnea Health umbrella, we will continue providing outstanding medical care at our 2609 West Arlington Boulevard location. Our Dietician, Erin Tucci, and myself, Dr. Amy Howell, will continue to serve you, and many of our office staff will remain as well.

This transition also allows us to expand our services and add a second diabetologist with a focus in adult diabetic care.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you as Down East Diabetology. We look forward to continuing to serve you as a part of Contentnea Health.

08/15/2024

Happy International Relaxation Day!

Benefits of Rest:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Improving digestion
- Reducing stress
- Improving focus and mood
- Reducing anger and frustration
- Increasing blood flow to major muscles
- Reducing muscle tension and chronic pain
- Controlling blood sugar levels (lack of sleep can increase the stress hormone called cortisol which inhibits insulin production and secretion causing elevated blood glucose or blood sugar levels)

Rest and relaxation are just as important for health and success as work. Relaxation techniques including meditation and breath control can help to lower stress response, calm the mind, reduce heart rate, and lower blood pressure. Sleep is when recovery occurs in our body, muscles remodel and repair stronger; the heart gets a break from beating as hard; and the brain detoxes and consolidates life experiences and learned information into memory.

07/23/2024

Registrations for City of Greenville Park & Recs Fall Youth Athletics are currently open and filling up! Follow link below for more info and registrations. Registrations can also be made in person at Jaycee Park (M-F; 8AM-5M) or H. Boyd Lee Park (M-F; 12PM-8PM and Sat; 10AM-2PM). The city is also still in need of volunteer coaches for every age group; if you would like to volunteer please email Sophie Duncan at SDuncan@greenvillenc.gov

- Future Stars soccer: Registration will end August 12, 2024.
*Registration is open to youth born between 2009-2021 and the fee is $50 (jersey included).

- Youth Baseball: Registration will end September 2, 2024.
*Registration is open to youth ages 4-7 (as of 8/31/24) and the fee is $60/$45 (jersey included).

- Youth Flag Football: Registration will end September 2, 2024.
*Registration is open to youth ages 5-12 (as of 8/31/24) and the fee is $60/$45 (jersey included).

- Youth Tennis: Registration will end September 2, 2024.
*Registration is open across various age groups and levels. For specific tennis inquires please reach Montana Wiggs at mwiggs@greenvillenc.gov

07/13/2024

FREE summer camp opportunity for 6-16 years old with Type 1 Diabetes through the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Sunday, August 4 - Thursday, August 8th!

Carolina Trails Summer camp connects children living with diabetes to adventure, education, and fun since 1949. Safe, transformative experiences for children and their families.

07/03/2024

Sugary drinks found to reduce life span & quality by increasing risk of heart disease and diabetes! 🥤🧃🍹

A study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health also found links between consumption of sweetened beverages with weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The effects were dose dependent meaning the more sugary beverages that were consumed, the greater the risk. Other lifestyle factors seemed to weaken effects including physical activity, demographics and family history however an association with sugary beverage intake and morbidity or risk for metabolic health complications still remained.

They found that women who drank more than two servings a day of sugary beverages — defined as a standard glass, bottle or can — had a 63% increased risk of premature death compared with women who drank them less than once a month. Men who did the same had a 29% increase in risk. Furthermore, consumption of sugary beverages was found to increase risk of mortality or premature death from cardiovascular disease by 31% and from cancer by 18% when more than two sugary beverages were drank per day compared to those who had fewer than one per month.

The more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) people consumed, the greater their risk of premature death—particularly death from cardiovascular disease.

05/01/2024

Cape Fear Valley Diabetes Adventure Camp
When: June 20th - 23rd, 2024
Where: Camp Rockfish, 226 Camp Rockfish Rd, Parkton NC 28371

Cape Fear Valley Kids with Diabetes is a non-profit group that was founded in 2008 with a goal help children achieve optimal health through diabetes education, resources, and support. Camp Rockfish in Jacksonville, NC will be hosting this summer camp with a plethora of fun and exciting activities for everyone to enjoy!

To register or for more information visit: http://www.sweetkidswithdiabetes.com/diabetescamp/index.aspx

04/26/2024

TCOYD VIRTUAL! DIABETES CONFERENCE & HEALTH FAIR
Airing on May the Fourth...how could we not tie our newest edutainment event in with May the Force Be with You? Train your mind and body to use diabetes as a Force for good health and you too could wind up a Diabetes Jedi.
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/36jDRT6/g/TCOYDCal/tcoydr-virtual-diabetes-conference-may-5a3cPH2ItMf/overview

04/25/2024

Emma Dupree Health and Wellness Day
This Saturday, Apr 15, 2023 from 10:00am-3:00pm at the RA Fountain General Store
Topics include gardening with a Master Gardener volunteer of Pitt County, beekeeping and the health benefits of honey, essential oils, brain health, nutrition. We'll also have Health screenings with Galileo Medical and a table with info regarding Cypress Group of the NC Sierra Club, Also Natural High Smoothies food truck, which specializes in Seamoss - Smoothies - Acia/Smoothie Bowls.

Address: 6754 E Wilson Street Fountain, NC

The Town of Fountain again honors Emma Williams Dupree (1897-1996), an influential black herbalist lived in Fountain, North Carolina beginning in the mid 1930s. Her kind of folk medicine dates back centuries. Many friends and family would come to her for help with ailments.  She’d help as many a...

04/25/2024

"Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones" is a Movie Documentary Exploring Areas of the World Where More People Live Longer 😯

Dan Buettner’s Secrets of the Blue Zones docuseries reveals 12 habits that can add years to your life.

04/23/2024

Happy World Book Day!! Here are some great nutrition-related reads to celebrate books and enrich our minds + bodies 😊🎉📚

* The Longevity Diet: Discover the New Science Behind Stem Cell Activation and Regeneration to Slow Aging, Fight Disease, and Optimize Weight - by Valter Longo PhD
* Salt Sugar Fat How The Food Giants Hooked Us - by Michael Moss
* Intuitive Eating for Life - by Jenna Hollenstein
* In Defense of Food, An Eater's Manifesto - by Michael Pollan
* Gentle Nutrition, A Non-Diet Approach to Healthy Eating - by Rachael Hartley
* How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease - by Michael Greger MD
* Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself - by William W Li
* The Mind-Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, and Our Overall Health - by Emeran Mayer
* The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals - by Michael Pollan

03/29/2024

3 Fun Nutrition Facts You Might Not Know About Eggs:

1. Eggs contain important brain and cognition nutrients called choline and lutein. Choline plays a role in early brain development during pregnancy and infancy, particularly in areas of the brain that are used for memory and learning. Choline is an essential nutrient, meaning that our bodies can’t produce it in sufficient amounts, so we have to get it in our diets. Lutein has long been associated with eye health, but recent research has discovered lutein’s role in cognition, as well.

2. The yolk also contains protein along with an abundant amount of fat soluble vitamins! While the egg white provides majority of the protein and very important B-vitamins, all of the egg’s vitamins A, D, E and K are stored in the yolk!

3. Both whole eggs and liquid eggs are an awesome addition to a healthy diet! If you prefer the convenience of liquid eggs, you don't have to worry about the nutritional value coming in short because there are no nutritional differences!

03/19/2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/01/health/predigested-food-wellness/index.html

Many ultraprocessed foods are made by “predigesting” whole foods, a process that experts say destroys nutrients and bypasses the body’s sense of fullness.