Craig McNabb, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehab
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Musculoskeletal Clinic
1615 Delaware St.,
Longview, WA
360-414-2700
Florencia Kantt, ARNP
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Pediatrics
1615 Delaware St.,
Longview, WA
360-414-2385
Greg Wolgamott, MD
OB/GYN
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Women’s Health
1660 Delaware St.,
Longview, WA
360-414-2800
PREGNANCY
WEIGHT LOSS
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Q
I have diabetes and
want to get pregnant.
What can I do now to
minimize the risks to my
baby?
A
Talking to your provider
before you conceive is the best
first step. Preparing can help you get
your blood sugar levels under control
before pregnancy. This is important
because the birth defects associated
with diabetes originate in the early
weeks of pregnancy, before you may
realize you are pregnant.
Your provider may recommend
having a blood test that measures
glycosylated hemoglobin (a
substance formed when glucose in
the blood attaches to the hemoglobin
protein in red blood cells) every one
to two months. This test shows how
well blood sugar has been controlled
and can help determine when it is
safest to try to conceive. The test also
may be used to monitor blood-sugar
control during pregnancy.
All women should start taking a
multivitamin containing folic acid
as part of a healthy diet at least one
month before trying to conceive.
This helps prevent neural tube
defects. Women with diabetes are at
increased risk of having a baby with
a neural tube defect, so taking folic
acid is especially important.
(See the sidebar for Diabetes
Education Classes.)
Q
I would like to
lose some weight
before I schedule a joint
replacement. What’s the
best way to lose weight
when you have arthritis?
A
For people who are overweight
or obese, losing weight prior
to having joint replacement surgery
is a great idea. Shedding a few extra
pounds can help in several ways.
It decreases the pressure on your
joints, making it easier to move. It
can ease your pain in the short term
and may also help with the operation
and your rehabilitation.
Usually weight loss comes as a
result of a healthy diet and exercise.
If arthritis pain has made it difficult
for you to exercise, you’ll need to
be creative in how you get moving.
Remember these three components
to a well-rounded exercise program:
stretching, strengthening, and
aerobics.
For stretching, try easy stretches
that put your joints through a full
range of motion. For strengthening,
choose weight-bearing exercise that
strengthens your muscles. Swimming
is an option for raising your heart
rate and burning calories. If you are
living with arthritis, water workouts
are great for strength-building and
aerobics because the water supports
your joints as you work out.
Remember, before you start any
exercise regimen, talk to your provider.
Q
Why does my
daughter need a
sports physical?
A
Sports physicals for children
are required at most
middle and high schools before a
student is cleared to participate in
school-sponsored athletics. These
examinations determine whether it
is safe for students to participate in a
particular sport.
Most sports physicals consist of
two parts, a medical history and a
physical exam. During the medical
history, the provider will ask
questions about the health of you
and your family members, including
serious illnesses, past injuries,
allergies, or previous surgeries.
The physical exam usually involves
checking height, weight, blood
pressure, vision, and limbs. This is
a great time to connect with your
primary care provider about other
challenges that might arise for your
middle- and high-schoolers, like peer
pressure, bullying, and drug use.
In addition to sports physicals,
more extensive screenings are also
available to evaluate the heart health
of school-aged athletes.
Schedule your child’s sports
physical early, so you are ready
before the season begins and have
time to follow up with any concerns.
What have
you got
to lose
?
Being overweight can stress
your joints. Every pound
you lose relieves 4 pounds
of pressure from your
knees. Before you turn to
surgery, try trimming any
extra weight first.
Interested in joint
replacement surgery but
have a BMI higher than
what is recommended
for the surgery? The
PeaceHealth team of
exercise specialists,
physical therapist
assistants, and
nutrition experts can help.
Call PeaceHealth St. John
Outpatient Therapies for
more information about
our Joints on the Move
program at
360-501-3750
.
Diabetes
Education
Classes
Where:
PeaceHealth Medical
Group Internal Medicine
Info:
Four-week diabetes
education series covers meal
planning, medications, and
diabetes self-management
options.
Call
360-636-4943
.
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