Ekahi Health

Now that you know why keeping a medication list is important, here is what we recommend including on your list:
☑️Name & dosage of medication, including supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) medications
☑️Directions of how you take the medication
☑️Indication - what condition or symptoms the medication is used to treat
☑️Start (and end) date of the medication. If a medication was discontinues, note the reason for discontinuation
☑️Optional: what the medication looks like
☑️Keep this list in your wallet or on your phone for easy access and give a copy to a family member

September is healthy aging month so here are some core tips we recommend to all, but especially to our kupuna:
+Get moving: Consult your doctor if you normally do not exercise or if it's been awhile before starting a new exercise routine. Doing house work, gardening, or anything that gets your body in motion counts!
+Maintain a healthy diet: Metabolism slows as we age so the body may require less calories. Focus on keeping fresh veggies in your diet and stay hydrated.
+Balance mind & body: Keep your mind active by reading the newspaper, solving puzzles, or trying new hobbies. Yoga or tai chi would help with both physical/mental flexibility and balance.
+Get regular check-ups & annual exams: Be attentive to your body and communicate with your doctors to the best of your ability.
+Surround yourself with positivity: Taking care of your mental health will help bring out the best in yourself.
Celebrate and cherish your kupuna every day!

We are pleased to announce that 'Ekahi Health (including the 'Ekahi Wellness team and Central Medical Clinic) has been officially acquired by Adventist Health Castle, effective September 1, 2022. We will continue to provide services as usual and our office remains in Kuakini Medical Plaza. Check out our previous post for the current services we offer. Both organizations share a mission of offering quality comprehensive medical care to meet the community’s need. Call us at (808) 777-4000 if you have any questions. 🎉🎉

We currently have 3 services available:
1. Diabetes Management - Our team of specialists work with your primary physician to create a unique care plan for your needs/goals
2. Medical Nutrition Therapy - Meet with a dietitian for individualized recommendations
3. Diabetes Education Classes - Online group education on diabetes, meets for 1.5 hours once per week for 6 weeks
Call us at (808)777-4000 for more info. Please note: we are located at Kuakini Medical Plaza (we are no longer located at Waterfront Plaza). Appointments can be completed in person or via telehealth. Contact your primary physician and ask to be referred for our services to initiate the referral process. We can assist you in contact your doctor if you wish. Eligibility for services depend on insurance plan.

Here are some simple tips that might help you in drinking more water:
1. Keep a cup/bottle of water near you
2. Set a reminder every 1-2 hours and sip some water
3. Drink water upon waking up
4. Add slices of fruit or herbs to your water if you need some variety
5. Track your daily water intake to help you maintain good habits
6. Challenge your family/friends to meet your water intake goals together
Bonus tip: Most bottles indicate the amount of fluid ounces it holds which helps with tracking your water intake.

It's the middle of summer and we want to make sure you are drinking enough water! 64 oz. (about 8 cups) is generally a good starting point for most people. Too much water can be taxing on the body if: a) you have conditions such as CHF or b) for those on dialysis. You may need to drink more water if you a) tend to loose a lot of fluid in the day (via sweat, diarrhea, vomiting, frequent urination), b) take certain medications that increase fluid needs, or c) have early kidney disease. Consult your doctor for more specific recommendations and stay cool!😎🧊

Having high blood sugar for a long period of time increases the chances of developing 4 diseases that can result in partial vision loss or blindness: diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. Treatments for these conditions may include injectable medication into the eye, surgery, eye drops, oral medications, and/or laser treatment. Keep in mind, some of these treatments cannot reverse damage and can only minimize further damage so take care of those eyes!👀

In early stages of diabetic eye disease, there are often no signs or symptoms of damage. However when symptoms do occur, they may include blurry/wavy vision, poor color vision, dark areas/vision loss, flashes of light, spots or dark strings (aka floaters), and frequently changing vision - sometimes day to day. Please contact your doctor if you notice any sudden changes to your vision.

Diabetes - and more specifically high blood sugar (bs) - can affect the eyes in the short term and long term. In the short term, high bs can cause swelling in the tissues that help the eyes to focus, which may result in blurry vision for a few days or weeks. If bs remains high over a long period of time, it can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels of the eye and may result in serious conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts

Believe it or not foot health can reveal signs and symptoms of underlying conditions such as diabetes. If you have been experiencing any of the signs & symptoms, we encourage you to discuss it with your doctor.

Probiotics and prebiotics are both beneficial for gut health, but there is a distinction between the two. While both are available as supplements, they can be found in many foods.🧀🥒🍌🍓🧅

You don't have wait until your next blood test to estimate your A1C. You can estimate your A1C by using your average blood glucose and the equation below. Let us know if you have any questions, we are happy to answer!

If you need support mentally, emotionally, behaviorally, etc. please speak up and tell someone - whether it is a family member, friend, mentor, healthcare provider, or anyone else. Your health and well-being matters, not just physically. ❤️ Data courtesy of NAMI

It can be stretching, dancing, walking the dog, golfing, gardening, or something else that gets your body in motion - Any exercise is better than no exercise.

With a majority of Hawaii identifying as AAPI it is important for our community to be aware of the health disparities that exist in the AAPI population. Seek screenings and strive for early detection for better health outcomes.