One view: A third of Port Arthur has diabetes

Published 5:31 pm Tuesday, January 9, 2018

LaTasha Mayon, assistant director of the Port Arthur Health Clinic, said off the top of her head she thinks one-third of Port Arthur residents have diabetes.

On top of that, those with diabetes may also have another disease such as high blood pressure or heart disease or cancer.

“It’s because of our eating habits,” she said. “We’ll get in a hurry and eat fast food. We don’t pay attention to our bodies.

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“There’s a lot of diabetes here and with my family members. Someone with diabetes may have excessive hunger or excessive thirst or excessive urination or all three of these. My family member told us she was so thirsty. She kept drinking Cokes and her blood sugar reached 1,000. Normal blood sugar is from 80 to 120. We knew we had to take her to the hospital. This (diabetes management) is something near and dear to my heart.”

 

Free clinics will continue

 

To combat this, the Port Arthur Health Department is holding a free diabetic education class from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday at 449 Austin Ave. in the second-floor conference room. The classes will continue as long as they’re needed.

The two types of diabetes are Type I— insulin dependent treated with long-acting and short-acting insulin, and Type II— non-insulin dependent that can be managed through diet and exercise. Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women and juvenile onset diabetes affects children.

The primary healthcare section of the clinic treats uninsured and underinsured patients. They can see the doctor, a nurse practitioner, get lab work or an EKG or an chest X-ray for $15. Some prescriptions can be obtained from Walmart for $4. The clinic also offers free A1C screenings .

The clinic also has some free medications and a stockpile of insulin in addition to a stockpile of other prescriptions.

However, Mayon must get information from the patient’s doctor to get a prescription and set up an appointment with her.

 

Channels toward goals

 

“When someone hears they have a disease, first is denial, then anger, primary acceptance and then treatement,” she said. “Through diet care, insulin, exercise and different channels a patient can reach goals. This disorder is treatable. It can’t be cured unless you lose weight. If you quit smoking it will improve your circulation.”

Much of diabetes, however, is hereditary, so it’s good to know one’s family health history.

Mayon said anything is good if it’s done in moderation. The problem is when one overindulges. Cutting carbohydrates is primary for diabetics.

Dietician Louis Delena said a general rule when putting food on a plate is half is for non starch vegetables, one-quarter is for 3 ounces of lean meat and one-quarter for starches.

When eating out, some restaurants have their food item’s calories listed online. Some fast food restaurants have calories posted on the order sign and calories are printed on some menus.

“Plan prior to eating,” Delena said. “Healthcare comes from a meal plan.”

Information: Call the Port Arthur Health Department at 409-983-8862.