7 minute read
HEALTH & WELLNESS
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR JUVENILE DIABETES
Just before Christmas in 2010, Tami and Joe Balavage’s 16-year-old son, Michael, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. “We quickly found out, even with insurance, how expensive this disease is,” recalls Tami. Hearing of families in the community struggling to access treatment, the Balavages founded Help a Diabetic Child (HADC) (helpadiabeticchild. org) in 2013. The nonprofit organization helps families pay for medications like insulin, plus helps them access doctor visits and additional medical supplies. In 2021, HADC assisted nearly 500 young people with diabetes. “It’s a very difficult time because sometimes you’re choosing between food and paying your rent or mortgage and insulin, and it affects the whole family,” explains Tami.
Cost isn’t the only challenge with diabetes though. Tami remembers returning home from the hospital, looking at a table full of new medical supplies for her son, and thinking, “How are we going to do this?” The feeling is familiar to Jessica Shwedel, whose daughter, Leah, was diagnosed at 5 years old. “You go from having a healthy child to one day, all of a sudden, your kid has a chronic illness,” she says. “It’s completely life altering.”
Having faced misconceptions about the disease, both mothers emphasize that type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by diet or lifestyle, but by an autoimmune process where the body destroys cells that make insulin. They also want people to recognize the symptoms like extreme thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, and fatigue. “This is not something, sadly, you learn about from a pediatrician,” Jessica explains. “I want them to know about that so that they [can] detect it early enough.”
Since Leah’s diagnosis three years ago, the Shwedel family has become involved with the local chapter of JDRF (jdrf.org), the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. In fact, Jessica serves as chair for the 2022 JDRF Hope Gala. She hopes their involvement with the nonprofit organization will help empower her daughter. “Hearing other people’s stories and other people’s daily struggles, you realize there are other people out there like you,” Jessica says.
Scott and Jessica Shwedel with their children, Seth and Leah
JESSICA SHWEDEL - SCHWEDEL STUDIO SELF-CARE
REST, RESTORE, AND RECOVER
WITH FLOAT THERAPY
Floating weightlessly in a warm pool is just as relaxing as it sounds. “It feels like you’re in the womb,” explains Brandon Stacy, owner of World Med Spa in Naples. Floatation therapy, also called restricted environmental stimulation technique, also has research-backed health benefits. Studies have found that the therapy may help reduce pain, blood pressure, anxiety, and depression, as well as improve sleep. In fact, Stacy says people often fall asleep in the first few minutes of their session. You can try float therapy yourself at the spa, which offers a floatation tank with infrared lighting. Because the World Med Spa has a tank instead of an individual pod, you can also receive a massage while floating, which Stacy notes is especially good for cancer patients and people who can’t lie comfortably on a massage table. Whether you go for the physical and mental benefits or just to relax, Stacy adds, it’s all about health, rest, and recovery. (worldmedspa.com)
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EXPERT ADVICE TRAIN YOUR BRAIN
It’s a common belief that the brain will automatically decline with age, but it doesn’t have to, according to Paul D. Nussbaum, PhD, president of the Brain Health Center. “Age doesn’t matter because your brain doesn’t know how old it is,” he explains. “It just wants to be stimulated.” He lists fi ve key areas for building brain resilience as you age, from nutrition to physical activity. You may be doing several already; for any areas you’re missing, Nussbaum encourages you to gradually build up to them. (brainhealthctr.com)
1Socialization: Isolation can increase the risk of dementia and depression. Nussbaum emphasizes the importance of staying social, especially as you age. 2 Nutrition: Nussbaum suggests following the MIND diet, which focuses on foods like vegetables, fruits (especially berries), nuts, olive oil, and fi sh. Mental stimulation: Try things new and diff erent, 3 whether it’s learning a new language, traveling, or taking a painting class. Nussbaum notes it’s best to do truly novel activities so your brain generates new neural circuits.
4Spirituality: Chronic stress harms your body and your brain. Nussbaum recommends activities like yoga, prayer, and spending time in nature to help combat it. Physical activity: Regular exercise, whether it’s dancing, swimming, yoga, or doing chores around the house, keeps you active while helping your brain stay healthy.
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COPING WITH CHANGE
Change often isn’t easy. Even if the change is a positive one, “it takes us out of our comfort zone,” explains Megan Goddard, a licensed clinical social worker, registered play therapist, and owner of Cardinal Counseling Services in Naples. To more effectively cope with change, she has a few suggestions. First, give yourself specifi c steps to move forward by creating a plan with realistic, attainable goals. If you have fears, work to challenge them with positive thoughts. She advises that you avoid internalizing worry so it doesn’t come out in other ways, like as a headache or withdrawing from friends. Remember to do things you enjoy since even small activities can have a major impact on your well-being. Above all, listen to yourself. “Acknowledge that if you’re having a hard time, that is okay,” Goddard says. “Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.” (cardinalcounselingservices.org)
WELLNESS Moving to MANAGE PAIN
This may sound familiar: You play a game of tennis or go for a run; you reach out or twist a certain way and suddenly have back, shoulder, or other pain that lasts for days. According to Spencer Richardson, owner of Meant2Move in Naples, the pain probably wasn’t caused by your day of exercise. Instead, it likely stems from a lifestyle of habits that harm your normal mechanics and posture. “When we go to try to do activities like tennis …, our body is not equipped to move in that way because it’s kind of stuck in the position of sitting” or other repetitive postures, Richardson explains. As a corrective exercise specialist, he looks at imbalances in the body to identify causes of tension and pain in other places. For instance, he explains that walking with one foot turned out indicates calf tightness, which can create torsion and pain in the knee. Because small imbalances can cause larger problems, Richardson recommends getting a professional assessment. But, there are also things you can do to help. Besides keeping your body symmetrical (uncross those legs!) and maintaining good posture, he notes that it’s important to avoid letting your body adapt to a seated position. “Everybody needs to be moving,” he says. (meant2movefit.com) 1250 Pine Ridge Rd, Suite 101A Naples, Florida 34108 239-261-9990 | www.drbnaples.com
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