Diabetes is preventable and treatable
AgriLife extension service offers cooking classes
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN – According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of people with diabetes has increased by 3 million to a new high of 24 million. This means that almost 8 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes.
Almost a quarter of people over 65 have diabetes. In addition, 57 million people have pre-diabetes, which means they are at very high risk for developing diabetes.
Are you or someone in your family at risk for type 2 diabetes? Your risk is higher if you are over 45 years of age, especially if you are over your recommended weight. You are also at higher risk if you are less than 45 years of age and have any one of these risk factors: physically inactive; have close relatives with diabetes; are a member of high-risk ethnic populations such as African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander; have delivered a baby weighing over 9 pounds; have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or triglycerides, polycystic ovary syndrome, tests indicating your body is not handling glucose well, or a history of vascular disease.
If you think you are at risk, ask your doctor or clinic for a fasting blood glucose test. Then, make sure you understand the results when they come back to you. Ask for a copy, and keep that copy somewhere so you can find it and compare future results.
There are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
Walking 30 minutes daily for five days each week at a moderate speed and losing 7 percent of your body weight, 58 percent of the people participating in this study did not develop diabetes.
If you know you have diabetes and you want to learn more about how to make sure you do the best you can by keeping your blood glucose in the range recommended by the American Diabetes Association (70 mg/dL to 130 mg/dL), ask your doctor or clinic for help finding diabetes self-management classes in your community. Doctors and other health care professionals can provide advice and medicines, but the person with diabetes has to manage it every day.
Texas AgriLife Extension Service of Kaufman County is offering a 4-week series “Cooking Well with Diabetes.” The series will include cooking demonstrations, as well as discussions of research findings on diabetes. The class will provide useful, practical information to help you with make healthy decisions.
The class will be from 3 - 5 p.m. on Oct. 19, Oct. 26, Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, at the Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative, in Kaufman. The cost is $25.00 per person.

Chamber sets Rock ’n Roll party
Special to the Monitor
SEVEN POINTS–The much anticipated new fall party “A Night in Rock ’n Roll Alley,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. (doors open) Saturday, Oct. 22, at Lakeplex Lanes in Seven Points.
Ticket holders will be treated to a night of bowling, Dino “Danger” Perelli, playing his best rockin’ oldies music for dancing, a diner fare dinner, billiard tournament, games, live auction and lots of surprises.
It will all be presented with a retro ambiance, so if you have an old bowling shirt, a poodle skirt and bobby sox in your closet, wear it, or just dress casual.
Samples of auction items include an Emmit Smith autographed mini-football, donated by TexasAbility, wall map and ads donated by Lone Star Maps, Limestone picnic table with two benches donated by Jiba stone Center and a round of golf for four by Cedar Creek Country Club.
Other items are a three-piece picnic set donated by Skip Smith Insurance, bowling parties donated by Lakeplex Lanes, flags flown over the U.S. Capitol and the state capitol by Rep Lance Gooden and more for auction and for sale in all price ranges.
New this year is a 10 by 10 foot space at the Dallas International Boat show in December. This is a great opportunity for a business to secure space. Donation by IBS in Dallas.
Tickets are $40 each. competition is from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Every bowler in the tournament must have an event ticket and teams are asked to sign up in advance.
Advance tickets are available at the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce HUB office, 604 S. Third Street, Suite E, Mabank, at Prosperity Bank, Seven Points and First State Bank, Gun Barrel City.
For information call the chamber at (903) 887-3152, info@CedarCreekLakeChamber.com  or www.CedarCreekLakeChamber.Com. 

 

Pets and their vets need techs
Special to the Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Lakeside Animal Clinic proudly honored their veterinary technicians during National Veterinary Technician Week, Oct. 9-15.
Pets are important members for many families, yet sometimes they don’t receive the care they deserve. As a member of the veterinary healthcare team, veterinary technicians are educated in the latest medical advances and skilled at working alongside veterinarians to give pets the best medical care possible.
They work closely with the veterinarians, veterinary assistants, practice managers, patients and owners to provide the essential link with all involved in the care process.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Inc. (NAVTA) proclaimed Oct. 9-15 to be National Veterinary Technician Week.
“Technicians are an integral part of the veterinary healthcare team, and celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week gives them the credit they deserve. It also provides an opportunity to teach the public about what veterinary technicians do on a daily basis,” says Sandy Sponaugle, NAVTA Communications Director.
This annual event recognizes veterinary technicians for their contributions in pet healthcare, as well as veterinarians, assistants, practice managers and others involved in this care.
This year, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a company dedicated to helping pets reach their full potential through quality nutrition and healthcare, sponsored the week-long celebration.
NAVTA is a nonprofit organization that represents and promotes the veterinary technician profession.
NAVTA provides direction, education, support and coordination for its members.
Incorporated in 1981, NAVTA is the national organization devoted exclusively to developing and enhancing the profession of veterinary technology.
Pets give us unconditional love and veterinary technicians give us peace of mind. For this reason, they were celebrated during National Veterinary Technician Week.
More information about NAVTA can be found at www.navta.net or by calling (888) 99N-AVTA.