Are you at risk for developing prediabetes?
Did you know 96 million people - that's more than one in three adults - have prediabetes? More than eight in 10 adults with prediabetes don't even now it.
With pre-diabetes, your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
The good news is healthy lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems. In fact, losing weight can cut your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half.
Moving your body more, choosing healthy foods, drinking water instead of sweetened drinks and losing and keeping weight off all help to lower your possible risks. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if you're at risk.
Learn more about prediabetes.
 Happy Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Coastal Health & Wellness celebrated Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 24-30. The week highlighted the important role medical laboratory professionals play in patient care and healthcare safety.
Thank you to our wonderful lab team Celina Bullock, Cherree Windham, Virginia Lyle, Jessica Rodriguez and Courtney Luke.
 Thank you to our fantastic CHW and GCHD nurses!
Coastal Health & Wellness and Galveston County Health District celebrated National Nurses Week, May 6-12.
We can't say thank you enough to our CHW nurses: Chief Operating Officer Ami Cotharn, Infection Control Nurse Deb Howey, Nursing Director Tiffany Carlson, LVN Case Manager Jeanette Moody and CHW LVNs Antonio Enriquez, Crystal Huesca, Shawntai Lyons, Tamara Wallace and CHW LVN II Charge Nurse Dana Ayers; and public health nurses: Community Health Services Director Ashley Sciba, Public Health Nurses Gretchen Gray, Reta Melby, Ann Nutt, Jenny Strain, Shannon Lindsey, Maria Culangan, Maria Wilde, TB Program Manager Kelly Kanon, Immunizations Program Nurse Sandra Allen, Immunizations Coordinator Ashley Strain and Immunizations Program Manager Constance Almendarez.
 CHW celebrates National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day
Coastal Health & Wellness and Lisa Yarbrough, LBSW, E ED, LPC celebrated National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day on May 7. Thank you, Dr. Yarbrough, for keeping us healthy!
 CHW attends TACHC conference
We had a great time at the Texas Association of Community Health Centers Health Information Technology and Clinical Conference this month. Coastal Health & Wellness Dentist Dr. Shady Bishai, Dental Director Dr. Hanna Lindskog and Health Information Manager Luz Amaro attended sessions on tele-dentistry, tele-health, trauma informed care, cancer prevention, health equity and more.
Flossing is important to overall dental health
Cleaning between your teeth may help prevent cavities and gum disease, and it helps remove plaque. Plaque contains bacteria that feeds on leftover food and sugar in your mouth. When that happens, it releases acid that can eat away at the outer shell of your teeth and cause cavities.
Talk to your dentist and try different flossing options until you find the one that works best for you. Dental picks might help you get to hard-to-reach places while water flossers might be a good option if you have trouble flossing by hand or have dental work that makes flossing difficult.
Check out these simple tips:
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger on the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into your gums.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum up and down motions.
Don't forget medicine, supplies in hurricane kit
Being aware isn't the same as being prepared - and that's especially true during hurricane season, which begins June 1.
Key tips include developing an evacuation plan, assembling your disaster supplies, checking on your insurance coverage, preparing your home, checking on neighbors and completing a written plan to make sure everyone is on the same page.
It's important to be prepared ahead of time during hurricane season. In addition to having basic emergency supplies, people with diabetes should also put together a diabetes care kit. Put all your medical information and supplies in one place so that it's easy to take them with you if you have to evacuate. Learn what you should have in your diabetes care kit.
And, remember to stay informed by local leaders. Learn more from the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management and at Ready.gov.
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