With flu season upon us, it is important to take extra steps to stay healthy! Stay hydrated, take your vitamins, eat heathy, rest up, and wash your hands often, especially before eating. For those living with Diabetes, getting sick is not as easy to fight off and can bring an extra burden with managing blood sugar levels. Often the added stress of being sick causes your body to release extra hormones in the body. The hormones activate the liver to produce glucose, therefore causing an increase in blood sugar levels. In addition, when you are sick you often lose your appetite. If your body does not have enough carbohydrates readily available, it will start using fat for energy. The breakdown of fat produces ketones, therefore causing your ketone levels to rise. With both of these processes working against you, it is crucial to take extra precautions on sick days when you have Diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, you should check your blood sugar every 2-3 hours and check ketones every 4 hours as needed. Stick with your regular medication schedule, and try to eat every 3-4 hours. Lastly, rest stay hydrated, and keep an accurate log of your blood sugar and medication regime. Always get in contact with a healthcare professional if further help is needed! #BDCGreenbrae #Diabetes

Corliss Chan, one of our practitioners at our Center for Integrative Health & Wellness was featured in the January/Feburary 2018 issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine! We were very excited to hear that Corliss was featured in this national publication. Through her work at Marin General, Corliss has been inspiring people to actively participate in their own healing and wellness for over 25 years. An engaged and compassionate listener, she has helped patients cope with life and health issues, including: cancer, Lyme disease, heart health, diabetes, joint pain, anxiety and depression. Today, she leads our Jin Shin Jyutsu, Acupressure, Meditation and Guided Relaxation sessions. If you have a moment, we hope you will read the below article to learn more about Corliss and the programs she facilitates at Marin General Hospital: http://www.maringeneral.org/upload/collateral/corliss-chan-massage.pdf #Massage #Acupressure #Meditation #Guided Relaxation #JinShinJyutsu

Could an insulin patch be the next technology in the world of Type 2 Diabetes? Although the insulin patch has not been tested on humans yet, it has been successfully used on mice and scientists are optimistic about this product. Those with Type 2 Diabetes can still make some insulin, but their bodies do not use it effectively. This is referred to as insulin resistance. The insulin patch works by stimulating the body to produce insulin when necessary, and slowing down the production when the desired blood sugar level is reached. Regulating blood sugar levels is a 24/7 job. If this patch is successful, it could make this job a little easier and save many people from taking multiple insulin injections everyday! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171226134723.htm #BDCGreenbrae #Diabetes

If you are living with Diabetes, you know how hard it can be to eat out and keep your blood sugar under control. Often there are hidden sugars in meals which can leave room for inaccurate carbohydrate counting, resulting in unwanted blood sugar spikes. Check out these tips from staff at our Braden Diabetes Center to make eating out a little easier and more predictable! • Ask for brown rice instead of white rice. Brown rice is lower on the glycemic index so it will keep your blood sugar more stable over time, rather than spiking. • Try skipping the bun and ask if the restaurant will wrap your burger in lettuce instead. Or, have the burger open faced. This is an easy way to enjoy a lower carb, high protein meal without feeling like you are missing out on the fun. • Ask for corn tortillas instead of flour. This will save you calories, carbohydrates, and fat. • Often a seemingly healthy salad can be loaded with extra fat and calories. Choose a low fat salad dressing, such as a vinaigrette, and order the dressing on the side. • Plan your meal ahead of time. Try looking at the menu online before you are at the restaurant. This way you go in with a plan and can choose a healthy option before you get too hungry and go for the carb heavy food choices. If you know there will be items such as breadsticks or tortilla chips on the table, set a goal ahead of time for how much you will eat as part of your meal. Often having a plan prevents mindless snacking and overindulging. • For the occasional meal where you do indulge, eat only part of the meal and take the rest home or share with a friend! • When it comes to dessert, order something for everyone to split and have just a few bites. Or, suggest getting frozen yogurt where you can add fruit or nuts as a topping instead! #BDCGreenbrae #Diabetes

Nerve damage, or neuropathy, is a common problem for those living with Diabetes. In fact, about half of the people with Diabetes have some form of nerve damage. This can be prevented or delayed with careful blood glucose monitoring. In addition, taking good care of your feet is crucial if you have neuropathy because you often won’t be able to feel that you have hurt yourself. Check out these other steps you can take to avoid and lessen the effects of neuropathy! http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/neuropathy/steps-to-prevent-or-delay.html #BDCGreenbrae #Diabetes

We all know the health benefits of regular exercise, but did you know that exercising can help lower blood sugar levels? For those living with Diabetes, regular exercise is an important part of management that should not be overlooked. Outside of the cardiovascular and fat burning benefits, exercise requires muscles to use more glucose. This glucose is taken out of the bloodstream, thus causing a decrease in blood glucose levels. Don’t forget though, that in order for the sugar to get from the bloodstream to muscles, there needs to be insulin available to transport it. In some cases, if there is not enough insulin in the body, glucose will build up in the blood from exercise, therefore causing hyperglycemia. If you don’t currently exercise, start slow and build yourself up. Try walking for 15 minutes 3 days a week and gradually increase the frequency and duration. Make note of blood sugars before and after exercise to see how different activities affect your blood sugar levels. Always listen to your body and carry a snack with you in case your blood sugar drops too much! #BDCGreenbrae #Diabetes

Is it getting too cold to do your usual outdoor activities? Try a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout from the comfort of your own home. HIIT workouts are quick and effective, which is especially convenient during the busy holiday season. People living with Diabetes can benefit from HIIT workouts because they can improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Start slow and work your way up. Try out this basic workout, and adjust it to your intensity level. Don’t forget to listen to your body and drink plenty of water! Let us know what your favorite at-home workout is! HIIT workout: Do each exercise for 1 minute. Rest for 1 minute (or more as needed) between each exercise. Repeat entire set 3-5 times. - Jumping Jacks - Squats - Push ups - Lunges - Sit ups #BDCGreenbrae #Diabetes

Happy National Technology Day! We've come a long way from what is widely considered the first modern computer, the Z1 created by Konrad Zuse back in 1938 - Now a days, you can have 10,000 times the computing power in the palm of your hand. While consumer grade technology is generally the focus and in the spotlight, there have been many important technological advances in the medical world. The implementation of new technologies at hospitals and medical centers have resulted in reduced hospital stays, the need to perform less traumatic medical procedures, and better overall outcomes. From minimally invasive robotic surgery to the utilization of the world's smallest pacemaker, technology plays an important role in the lives of many of our patients. While it's impractical to list every single technological advancement in the healthcare industry, even in the past year, we would like to re-share a video about the world's smallest pacemaker - we're proud to be one of the first hospitals to offer this to our patients! https://youtu.be/H7bFpcgQ-O0 #TechnologyDay

Planning for a new baby? Take a tour of our Family Birth Center! Taking an in-person tour is an easy way to familiarize yourself and your spouse or partner with our facilities and our process. Tours are held the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm and the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Call 1-888-99-MY-MGH (1-888-996-9644) to schedule a tour!

Start the new year with attainable goals and a plan! Maybe this year you want to exercise more or eat out less. If you are living with Diabetes, maybe you want to lower your A1C or have less highs and lows. This might mean checking your blood sugar more frequently and making some dietary changes. Whatever you want to change in the new year, start slow and stick with it! Here's to a happy and healthy 2018! #BDCGreenbrae #DiabetesManagement

Our friends at Prima Medical Foundation are hiring in Marin! They’re looking for qualified Medical Assistants, Nurses and Administrative Professionals. If you, a family member or friend are interested and meet the employment criteria, please consider applying (or sharing)! View a list of open positions, here: https://chm.tbe.taleo.net/chm03/ats/careers/v2/jobSearch?org=ACS&cws=44

Planning for a baby means making many exciting decisions. One of the most important, even though it's down the line a bit, is where, how, and who will help deliver your baby. It's hard to think of a more life-changing experience than having a baby. Naturally, every woman has her own preferences as to how she wants to labor. We do our utmost to provide the birthing experience you desire, backed by all the expertise and advanced medical technology needed to help keep you and your baby safe. Listen, as Chris Costello, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant at Marin General Hospital, discusses how our Family Birth Center is the first choice for many Marin moms. We offer resources and care that meets your needs both medically and personally from pregnancy through delivery and beyond. There's truly no reason to go anywhere else! http://radiomd.com/audio-player/marin/item/35617-what-is-a-baby-friendly-hospital