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This week’s edition of Our Health takes a look at a new medical complex in the Heights and how local residents cope with Type 1 and 2 diabetes.
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Managing diabetes 1B · Raising funds for MS 2B • Area health inspections 3B Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Page 1B
Challenges they face Though it is a challenge, Diabetes need not be an obstacle Kari Thomas vividly remembers the day her 3-year old daughter Lucia was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. “She was drinking a lot of water, and had lost weight,” said Thomas. “She was irritable too. One day at school she refused to eat at all and just wanted to drink. I took her to the pediatrician’s office and told them I wanted to test her blood sugar. They did and it was almost 400. A normal range is between 60 and 130.” They went straight to Texas Children’s where they spent the next four days, trying to get Lucia’s blood sugar under control. “I went immediately into triage mode,” said Thomas. “Grieving came later.” Lucia is one of the 24 out of 100,000 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes. The disease is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, according to the American Diabetes Association. Only 5% of people of the 2.9 million in the US with diabetes have Type 1. During November’s National Diabetes Awareness month, the health care community seeks to raise awareness about Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). The least understood of
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Northwest ChiropraCtiC
the three types is type 1. According to the Mayo Clinic, Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms can come on quickly and may include: increased thirst, frequent urination, bedwetting in children who previously didn’t wet the bed during the night, extreme hunger, unintended weight loss, irritability and other mood changes, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, and in
George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com
Major Hospitals
See Type 1, P. 10B
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
St. Joseph Medical Center
Contributed Photo (Left) Tony Cangelosi, a 17-year old Shepherd Park Plaza resident was diagnosed when he was 8 years old. Oak Forest’s Lucia Thomas received her diagnosis when she was just 3 years old. Both are living full lives with Type 1 Diabetes while regularly monitoring their health.
Woman takes control Transwestern Houston of life, diabetes with announces construction of new Heights facility Memorial Hermann For The Leader Memorial Hermann Greater Heights
1714 W. 18th Street (At Ella Blvd) Houston, TX 77008 Tel: (713) 880-4000 www.CompleteMedicalSupply.net
1906 W 18th St. Between Ella Blvd. & 610 N. Loop West Tel: 713-864-7636 www.txmedicalsuply.com
Pharmacy Contributed Photo Heights Central is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Transwestern’s Houston headquarters announces it has been retained by local developer 927 Stude LLC to provide leasing services for Heights Central, a proposed 15,000square-foot medical office building. Planned for the northwest corner of Studewood and Omar streets in the Heights, Heights Central will be the first medical office building constructed in this area in eight years. The building is expected to be completed in fourth-quarter 2016 and is currently available for prelease. Ashley Cassel, vice president with Transwestern’s Healthcare Advisory Services Group, is handling leasing services. Chris Dray, part owner of the Heights Central development, is a long-time resident of the Heights and has recognized the substantial need for medical real estate in response to the changing demographics of the neighborhood. “There is a major influx of insured, college-educated, young families in
the Heights,” said Dray. “These residents are traveling to Upper Kirby, West University, the Texas Medical Center or elsewhere to receive medical care.” “All of the major healthcare players are recognizing the need for quality healthcare providers in the area,” said Cassel. “Methodist and Memorial Hermann have both recently laid a stake nearby, which is no surprise when you take a look at the demographics of the area. We are extremely excited for this opportunity because Heights Central is one of those projects that will make a difference and fulfill a major need for Heights residents.” The three-story, Class A medical office building boasts a 4.8 per 1,000 square feet parking ratio, providing ample parking for physicians and their clientele. Heights Central provides easy access to Interstates 10 and 45 and Loop 610, as well as many nearby dining options such as Ruggles, Liberty Kitchen, Antidote and Glass Wall, which is partially owned by Dray.
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Contributed Photo Dr. Melissa Montoya Celi, M.D., is a Memorial Hermann family medicine physician who helped Cadena get her diabetes under control.
Complete Medical Supply
Texas Medical Supply, Inc.
For The Leader
See Control, P. 3B
Medical Suppliers
H ou
tion classes, led by Goodson. Recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for meeting national quality standards, the program is for people with all types of diabetes, whether newly-diagnosed or well-established, who want to improve their blood glucose control. Cadena worked with Goodson to develop a healthy eating plan, learn how to be active, monitor glucose levels, understand her medication, reduce risks and develop healthy coping skills that could help control her diabetes. “You have to want it,” Cadena said. “You can’t just take the medication and expect it to work.” Cadena began exercising, cooking and eating healthy. Soon, her
in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-757-1000 Physician Referral 713-757-7575
of
For Maria Cadena, 46, it was a question of when rather than if, she was going to become diabetic. Family history convinced her that it was only a matter of time before she joined an estimated 116 million adults and children in the United States who have diabetes or prediabetes. So Cadena threw caution to the wind and decided to live the way she wanted, especially when it came to fast food. Enjoy the drive-thru now, worry later, she thought. “I really regret that now,” Cadena lamented. “I really wish that in my thirties I would have thought about my diet more.” Cadena’s self-fulfilling prophecy came to fruition in January. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and her A1c level, which measures glucose concentration in the blood, was at 11.6 percent – more than double what is considered the healthy level, exacerbating complications from the disease. Already mourning the recent loss of her father, who was also diabetic, grim thoughts crept in for Cadena following her diagnosis. “I can’t die at 45,” Cadena said to herself at the time. “I have to take care of my mother and brother.” Cadena decided to take control of her life with the help of Melissa Montoya Celi, M.D., a Memorial Hermann Medical Group family medicine physician affiliated with Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital, and the hospital’s diabetes educator, Christine Goodson, RD, LD, CDE. Cadena attended the hospital’s Diabetes Self-Management Educa-
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By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Preferred Health
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Advance Healing Solutions of Houston 5740 W. Little York Houston, Texas 77091 Tel: 281-447-7648
Women’s care
Sharon Smith, M.D. & Amber Dobyne, M.D. The Preserve 2010 N. Loop West, Suite 260 Houston, Texas 77018 Tel: 713-697-8555 www.obgyncaretx.com
TAKING YOUR HEALTH TO
GREATER HEIGHTS. To learn more about our recent improvements or for a full list of offerings, visit memorialhermann.org/heights. Located at Loop 610 and Ella Boulevard
Greater Heights