Vital Signs_ The Community E-newsletter from Milford Regional Medial Center
In This Issue
August 2016
News Brief News
Prediabetes is Your Warning Sign

Diabetes Monitor
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (blood glucose). Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to long-term complications; however, you can manage diabetes effectively through proper diet, exercise and monitoring your blood sugar levels.

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "prediabetes" - blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In 2012, 86 million Americans age 20 and older had prediabetes; this is up from 79 million in 2010. The good news is that you will not automatically develop type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes. For some people early treatment can actually return blood glucose levels to the normal range.
Programs
August 11, September 8
 
Monday, August 15
 
Registration for Wellness Classes opens Sept. 12 which will include a new Vinyasa Flow Yoga class
 
Wednesday, September 28
 
Lecture Series
Wednesday, October 19

Thursday, October 27

Milford Regional Medical Center
Since there are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, many people have it and do not know it. Others may experience some of the symptoms of diabetes which includes:
  • Urinating often
  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Feeling very hungry - even though you are eating
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Blurry vision
  • Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
  • Weight loss - even though you are eating more
  • Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet
Do you suspect that you or a loved one may have prediabetes? Does it run in your family?

Featured Video  video
Kailani osteoporosis lecture
Osteoporosis? You Have Options
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. It can lead to back pain and an increased susceptibility to fractures. It is a major threat to women who are 50 years of age and older, but it also affects one in five men. In this video, Milford Regional endocrinologist, Samir Kailani, MD discusses how abnormal hormone levels can affect the bones and cause osteoporosis and what medications can be taken to avoid the more serious complications of the disease.

Question & Answer QnA
Question Mark
Why is it important to have a certain vitamin D level, and how do I know if I am deficient?

Vitamin D levels have been in the news in the last several years because, through research, it was discovered that many people are not getting enough vitamin D to stay healthy. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Along with calcium, it is vital for strong, healthy bones. We naturally get vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, which triggers the skin to make this vitamin. But living in New England, we don't get enough sun exposure in the winter months. Since overexposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, many of us use sunscreen or stay out of the sun completely.

Only a few foods contain vitamin D naturally such as certain oily fish, egg yolks and cod liver oil. Milk, some orange juice and cereals are fortified with this important vitamin. In addition, as we age our skin becomes thinner and produces less vitamin D. The only way to find out if you are deficient is through a blood test.

The Endocrine Society recommends taking a vitamin D supplement of around 2,000 IU/day to reach and stay above a level of 30 ng/ml for adults who have been tested and have low vitamin D. The Vitamin D Council recommends more and the Food and Nutrition Board recommends less, so consult your primary care physician on the recommended dose for your health. If you take medications or have certain health conditions, it is especially important to get your doctor's advice before starting to take any supplements.

Read more about vitamin D at www.hormone.org.
Patient Story: The Center for Multiple Sclerosis Patient
Manning Family
Julia Manning knew something was wrong when, within days, she lost vision in one eye and suffered a miscarriage. At age 30, Julia was stunned with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. She is very thankful she found The Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Milford Regional and a long-standing support group.
 
Healthy Living Tip Healthy
Exercise Video
Importance of Exercise

Finding time to exercise on a regular basis can be difficult as we often juggle work and family life. Since exercise is such an important element to staying healthy, our diabetes educators have teamed up with Midtown Family Fitness to produce an exercise video that allows you to follow along in the comfort of your own home. Grab your sneakers, a bottle of water and a straight back chair and tune in to our tone and core chair exercise video and get started!
Good Things You Should Know Good
Elder Wellness Program
Elderly Patient

When older adults are hospitalized, their daily routines are disrupted; they can lose their bearings and become mentally confused and disoriented, known as delirium. At Milford Regional we have an Elder Wellness Program that aims to prevent a decline in mental and physical abilities during a hospital stay.

Patients over the age of 70 are assessed for possible triggers for delirium by the nursing staff. They refer patients to our Elder Wellness specialists who develop a specific plan for each patient. Our Elder Wellness volunteers are skilled and caring people that include pre-med, nursing, physician assistant and occupational therapy students, as well as retired nurses, social workers and others experienced in caring for elderly family members. The volunteers provide social visits in which they may reminisce or re-orient a patient, provide companionship, play games, lead range of motion exercises, provide mealtime assistance and other therapeutic activities.

Babies Feet
TwoMilford Regional Designated as a Center of Excellence for Substance-Exposed Infants and Their Families
Milford Regional was awarded the designation as a 2016 Center of Excellence in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Care by the Vermont Oxford Network. This nonprofit voluntary collaboration of health care professionals works together as an interdisciplinary community to change the landscape of neonatal care.

Opioid use in pregnant women has escalated dramatically resulting in a corresponding rise in the number of newborn infants who develop severe signs of opioid withdrawal. Infants with NAS have higher rates of neonatal complications and prolonged lengths of hospital stay. Extended hospitalizations are a serious burden for the complex, fragile families and can interfere with ongoing maternal treatment for substance abuse disorders.

In 2015, Milford Regional enrolled in a national multi-center quality improvement collaborative sponsored by Vermont Oxford Network. This collaborative, titled INICQ 2015: A Universal Training Solution Improving Outcomes for Infants and Families Affected by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) engaged 110 centers from around the United States in improving the quality, safety and value of care for substance-exposed infants and their families. Read more about this collaboration.

Snuggle Squad
ThreeOur Snuggle Squad Volunteers
Armed with love and compassion, Milford Regional's Snuggle Squad includes 12 highly-trained volunteers who comfort and soothe newborns in our maternity department as needed. Members of the Snuggle Squad (including seven nurses and two former teachers) are thoroughly screened, vetted and trained, and their role is to provide support to new babies and their families. Their role is particularly important in assisting babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (babies experiencing withdrawal from drugs or alcohol) and for mothers recovering from a difficult birth.

The Snuggle Squad, under the direction of a registered nurse, hold, cuddle, rock and sing to the baby while listening to gentle music in the mother's room; bottle feed the baby, change diapers as trained, connect mothers of newborns to the resources they need, and other tasks to support mom and baby.

About Our Doctors Prime
Milford Regional's active medical staff, consisting of over 250 doctors, is highly qualified to treat you and your family through sickness and in health. Whether you need a primary care physician or a specialist, you can be assured of the best possible care.

If you need a physician, please call our Physician Referral Line at 1-888-DRS-HERE (1-888-377-4373). Our Referral Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For a quick look, see our list of primary care physicians who are accepting new patients. It is important to note that not all physicians accept all insurances. Please call the physician's office directly to find out if they accept your insurance plan.
Stethoscope on a white background
DocGet to Know our Endocrinologists
Endocrinology is the study of disorders of the endocrine system which are the glands that secret hormones. Some of the more common diseases include diabetes, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis. They also treat patients who experience lack of growth, under or over production of hormones and tumors in the endocrine glands. The goal is to restore hormonal balance within the body's systems. Get to know our endocrinologists.
Don't miss our exciting new interactive web page
Stay Connected with Milford Regional
 
Engage with us Online
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube Find us on Pinterest View our profile on LinkedIn

508-473-1190
TTY/TDD: 508-473-5103
Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.