UPMC Expert: Embracing Emotional Health in Diabetes Care

Renee Hughes, BSN, RN, ADCES
Diabetes & Nutrition Care Center, UPMC

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. An estimated 10 percent of Americans are living with diabetes — that’s about 38.4 million people. Diabetes is classified in two ways – Type 1 and Type 2. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes cause similar symptoms and need lifelong management after diagnosis. But the two diseases have different causes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels and without it, blood sugar levels remain elevated at high levels which can lead to complications like heart problems, kidney issues, vision loss, and even nerve damage.

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes develops much later in life, usually in middle age. It is a condition caused by a breakdown in the metabolic pathways that regulate insulin and blood sugar levels. The body becomes resistant to insulin, making it harder for your cells to take up glucose and convert it to energy. Genetics plays a role in if you may develop Type 2 diabetes. It is more common in some families — especially those of Black and Hispanic ethnicities. But environmental factors like an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise also play a role in whether someone develops this disease.

The diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes is an alert that can help you slow the condition’s progression with adjustments to diet and lifestyle. Whether you’re diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you’re in for a lifetime of management. But how you manage diabetes also depends on which type you have.

Dry conditions have elevated the risk of wildfires across the Commonwealth, and Pennsylvanians are encouraged to avoid outdoor burning on all lands

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced that it is prohibiting campfires on state park and forest lands until further notice, and encouraging Pennsylvanians to avoid burning on all lands amid extremely dry conditions across the Commonwealth.

While Pennsylvania saw heavy rain and flooding over the summer, recent dry conditions, paired with sunny days, unseasonably warm temperatures, and low humidity, have heightened wildfire risk. The 10-day forecast for most of Pennsylvania predicts little or no precipitation, exacerbating the already heightened situation.

Pennsylvania has experienced 100 reported wildfires in the past week, with many more unreported. Several volunteer firefighters were injured in blazes this weekend and these ongoing wildfires have strained state and local resources.

Paid For By The Potter County Democratic Committee

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  The congregation at the United Methodist Church of Port Allegany honored their pastor with a gift.  Not to be out done, the Junior Church children presented Pastor Jim with a vase of flowers with their pictures thanking him for “helping us grow”. UMC would like to thank all of the community pastors for all they do all year through.  

After learning to play guitar, write music, create computer code and design a video game, what is the next thing that Bradford native, Daniel Picklo decided to tackle?  Writing his first novel!  That’s exactly what Picklo, a Senior Web Developer for BridgeRev, (an Oklahoma City based company), did in 2024.  His debut novel, The Dead Don’t Forgive, released on Saturday, October 5 through Amazon.com in paperback format.  The hardback edition became available by October’s end. 

Picklo, a Bradford Area High School and Pitt-Bradford alumnus, has been employed in the Marketing and Technical Services industry for ten (10) years, but states, “Writing and storytelling were always my first real passions. But, realizing that most authors cannot live off of their writing, I looked at other avenues that could provide a living.”  Picklo expressed his gratitude for the position he’s currently afforded that enables him to write for fun.

The Dead Don’t Forgive is a psychological-thriller, set in the Pacific Northwest.  The protagonist, Sam Stratton, battles grief and remorse for the untimely death of his young wife.  In an effort to find healing, Sam treks into the wilderness on a therapeutic, 3-day hike with others who battle their own private demons.  The intrepid group soon discovers that their pasts are more similar than previously thought, as they disappear deeper into the rugged wilderness.  Thoughts of healing and atonement are quickly replaced by the struggle to survive.

Paid For By The Potter County Democratic Committee

11-4-2024. 1800

Elk County

City of St Marys

Penn Highlands Elk

763 Johnsonburg Road

Male dropped a backpack off in the elevator and is running through the hospital

Called in by Medic A16

THIS IS ONLY A DRILL

DRONES FLYING AROUND THE AREA

Everything posted on this post, is said over a public scanner channel. Nothing said on non public channels is posted

18:03 – Reporting a loud explosion and guns shooting. Requesting all units to expedite

18:04 – MCI Command requesting EMS From Station 120 and 320

1806- Both EMS stations Acknowledge. Medic 12-1 & 12-4 Responding. EMS Staging at the eye clinic per A1. Ambulance 323 Responding

18:07 – A1 on scene with EMS Command. 323 reporting to station 120

18:08 – One Individual reported to be on the roof

18:09 – Two Victims on the roof

18:12 – Fire department staging at the medical arts building

PD

Elkland Search and Rescue

Medic 120

Ambulance 320

Company 1

To pass on the generosity shown to our department during Flood Debby, we will be donating our 1990 Chevy Tanker truck to Elk Mills Poga Fire Department in Bulter, Tennessee. We will also be sending a number of pallets of equipment, both from Crary Hose and items donated to us by Towamencin, Bon Air and other fire departments that donated through those departments. This fire department lost EVERYTHING from the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The level of impact this has on a volunteer fire department is immeasurable, and we are so thankful we are now in a position to help.

Thank you to Ground Shaker out of Muncy, PA for transporting the truck. Ground Shaker is accepting donations for fuel. You can find them on Facebook.

Thank you to Chief 5-10 Brent Skelton for all of your work over the last few weeks to make this happen! Communications are still difficult with those affected by Helene, but Brent’s persistence paid off.

The volunteer Firefighters and First Responders of Crary Hose Company send our thoughts and prayers out to all people affected by natural disaster. We only wish we had more to give.

Paid For By The Potter County Democratic Committee

The Gator Network hosted a Watch Party held at Fillhart’s Friendly Inn in Roulette.  Gator Network interviewers for the evening were  Jeremy Morey, Doug Archer Andrew Young and Kerry Hawver, pictured here with cameraman/producer Jason Okerlund (pictured far left).  Also pictured are the first of the Gator team to arrive as they preview their questions for the upcoming interviews.  They are (front, seated) Julian Kaple, Bradly Stilson, Gavin Moses, Kellen Veilleux, Liam Hawver, Ethan Tarbox; (back) Isaac Postlewait, Carson Neely, Aiden Bliss, Nick Wilfong, Brayden Babcock, Chase Boyd, Coach Justin Bienkowski, Gavyn McKervey, Tristan Kiser, Tyler Fillhart and Patrick McMahon.  The third  picture is of QB Brennan Fillhart and Isaac Postlewait being interviewed by Kerry Hawver.  The Gator Network will be broadcasting the Gator’s playoff game with Keystone, being played in Kane.  Kick-off is 7 p.m.