Page 2 - November News 2025

Leverage the synergy of simple adjustments Take control by managing issues
What are your goals for your health? It might help to “If you, like half of people over age 65, carry a diag-
think of health as a pyramid with three pillars: eating, nosis of diabetes or prediabetes, keep in mind that
activity, and rest and relaxation patterns. it’s not diagnosis that’s the problem, but rather the
degree to which it affects your life, both day-to-day
“There is tremendous and long-term,” says Dr. Sukol.
synergy among these
pillars,” says internal It’s not diabetes that’s
medicine special- the problem, but rather
ist Roxanne Sukol, MD, uncontrolled blood sug-
MS. “Go for a great ars; and it doesn’t
walk and you sleep matter what we call it,
better that night; get a as long as your blood
lousy night’s sleep and you circle the vending ma- sugars are well man-
chines all day. Eat too much and it’s hard to get off aged. What we call it
the couch.” (diabetes, prediabetes)
is simply a reflection of
Fight pain through gentle movement how much it’s takes to keep your sugars in the nor-
mal range.
The take-home message? You can leverage that syn-
ergy to make small improvements feel like a million Learning to involve your mind and body in the effort
bucks.
to conserve your insulin yields all kinds of benefits.
These, of course, encourage further efforts. I contin-
Even if you feel some- ue to work with patients to find ways to improve in-
what limited, whether sulin function and keep their blood sugars in the nor-
by arthritis pain, circu- mal range. It’s an ongoing partnership.
lation issues or
breathing problems, Make simple, powerful habits part
you can overcome
many obstacles with a of your life
few simple adjust- Try these recommendations for
ments. It is never too your health and wellness:
late to change your
perspective, adopt
new habits, improve 1. Choose a variety of colorful fruits and
your health and well- veggies.
ness, or see things just Each different color is a different type of phytonu-
a little bit differently. trient, or plant based nutrient, that serves as a
building block for
Gentle exercise is an your good health.
important part of effective pain management strate- Make a special
gies, and good compliance, including taking pain effort to locate
medications as prescribed, is likely to improve range fruits and vegeta-
of motion and endurance. bles in season,
whether from a
Therapeutic yoga and chair-based exercises, for ex- local farmers mar-
ample, are great choices for people who are unable ket or supermar-
to walk easily and for whom pick-up games are no ket. Frozen is also
longer a reasonable option. Exercise is also a power- good since fresh produce usually goes straight
ful mood stabilizer. from the field to the freezer.