Your winter wellness guide for living with diabetes
Plus the Murray Bridge Medical Centre want the community to know about chronic health care plan changes and free lung screenings.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Murray Bridge Medical Centre.
This week each and every Australian diagnosed with diabetes is being recognised during national diabetes week.
Whether its preventing type 2 diabetes or preventing complications for people living with all types of diabetes, from July 13-19 awareness and action is being made.
Winter can be especially challenging for people with diabetes, says practice manager Wendy Ziersch.
Cold temperatures and seasonal illness can affect blood sugar levels and overall health.
Here are some top winter wellness tips:
- Monitor regularly - cold temps can impact blood sugar, so keep an eye on your levels.
- Stay active - Keep moving with indoor workouts, rugged up walks or hot yoga.
- Eat smart - enjoy warm veggies, soups, whole grains and lean protein.
- Drink water - even though you may not feel as thirsty your body still needs that H2O.
- Protect your feet - cold temps and poor circulation makes for a greater risk.
- Dress for the season - layer up and keep those hands, feet and ears covered.
- Get vaccinated - flu and other viruses can hit harder when you have diabetes.
- Reach out for support - Don't do it alone, talk to you local health care practitioner.
Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of confusion and misinformation about diabetes.
This misunderstanding can make life harder for people living with all types of diabetes.
Nurse Ann Dickson-Elliott says every time a diabetics blood sugar spikes it damages them.
"I don't think patient actually realise the danger... it's not often explained well to them."
Chronic condition management plan changes
Patients living with chronic conditions such as diabetes should note that from July 1, 2025, Medicare benefits schedule items will change.
The current GP management plan and team care arrangements will change to a single GP chronic condition management plan.
Patients who are registered for MyMedicare should access management plans through the practice where they are registered.
"You now need to designate, through MyMedicare, a preferred and ongoing doctor," Ms Ziersch says.
Those who aren’t registered will be able to access management plans through their usual GP.
"It's always good for people with a chronic health condition to remain with their preferred doctor and the one they see on a regular basis," Ms Ziersch says.
Across regional areas there can often be more prevalence of chronic disease.
"This can be due to the fact that people don't want to travel to doctors, monetary issues, or other priorities."
Check those lungs out
Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Australia.
Starting this month the Australian government has rolled out a new program to improve health outcomes and save lives by detecting lung cancer early.
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program offers free screens for lung cancer in high-risk individuals using low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT) scans.
You are eligible for the program if you are aged between 50 and 70 years and:
- show no signs or symptoms suggesting you may have lung cancer
- currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past ten years
- have a history of tobacco cigarette smoking of at least 30 pack-years.
Your healthcare provider can help you work out whether you’re eligible for the program based on your age and smoking history.
In other news for the clinic a new physiotherapist will be joining, starting next month.
The clinic walls may also look a little more colourful and lively next time you come in with the unveiling of their Ngarrindjeri artworks in August.
- More information: Visit www.murraybridgemedical.com.au, call 8531 2988 or visit Murray Bridge Medical Centre at 35-37 Adelaide Road, Murray Bridge from 8am-6pm on weekdays, 8am-9pm on Wednesdays, or 9am-4pm on Saturdays.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
