Health Tips for Oct. 17, 2018

October 16, 2018

Health-care providers and researchers with the University of Louisville are available to discuss any of the following health topics this week. Click on the headline or scroll down for more information:

DINING FOR A CAUSE: ASPEN CREEK GRILL GOES PINK ON OCT. 22

Aspen Creek Grill Oxmoor will go pink on Monday, Oct. 22, to support breast cancer and other patients at the University of Louisville James Graham Brown Cancer Center.

The restaurant will donate 10 percent of proceeds from all sales to the Brown Cancer Center’s M. Krista Loyd Resource Center to support direct patient needs such as transportation and lodging assistance.

Aspen Creek Grill Oxmoor is located at 302 Bullitt Lane, near Oxmoor Mall. The casual dining restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.  Delisha Little, a student from UofL’s Kent School of Social Work, is organizing the event. She is interning with other social workers at the Brown Cancer Center this year and also works at Aspen Creek Grill Oxmoor.

The event flyer must be presented in order for proceeds to count toward the event and can be printed out or shown on a cell phone. To download the flyer, go to the Brown Cancer Center’s “Support” website.

‘THINK PINK’ IN SHEPHERDSVILLE ON OCT. 23 HONORS BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kentucky Cancer Program at the University of Louisville is teaming up with the Bullitt County Health Department to honor breast cancer survivors in October. The “Think Pink” event will be held beginning at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Paroquet Springs Conference Centre, 395 Paroquet Springs Dr., Shepherdsville.

Former Kentucky First Lady Judy Patton and breast cancer survivor Tabitha Spencer, R.T., R(M), of Baptist Health Louisville, will speak. Health information booths also will be set up on a variety of topics related to breast cancer.

The event is free but RSVPs are required by calling the Bullitt County Health Department at 502-955-5355.

For more information, contact Pam Temple of the Kentucky Cancer Program at 502-852-6318 or pam.templejennings@louisville.edu.

KIDS WITH DIABETES CAN ENJOY HALLOWEEN WITH PARENTS’ ADVANCE PLANNING

For many kids, Halloween time is nothing but a big sugar rush. But for children with diabetes, the holiday can be very challenging for the entire family.

Fortunately, kids with diabetes can enjoy the holiday just as much as others, say providers with the Wendy Novak Diabetes Center, a partnership of the University of Louisville and Norton Children’s Hospital. It just requires a different approach: Parents should plan ahead to work the candy into their child’s diabetes meal plan or ensure they get enough insulin to cover the carbohydrates in the candy.

  • Plan ahead: Sit down with your child in advance to discuss specific Halloween plans so they know what to expect. Involving your child with these plans will more likely increase the chances of them being on board.
  • Know your candy: Educate yourself and your child about how certain types of candy can impact their bodies. Some candy like Skittles or Starburst can be used to treat a low blood sugar, but chocolate and other high-fat treats don’t work as well. This also can be used as an opportunity to teach them how to cover carbohydrates with insulin.
  • Limit pieces of candy per day: Teaching your children moderation is important. Set a rule on how many pieces of candy your child can have in a day, as long as their blood glucose levels aren’t too high. Stick to this plan and apply it to everyone in the house, not just to your child with diabetes.
  • Divide the candy properly: Divide treats into servings of 15 grams of carbohydrates and bag them individually. This will help keep your child from eating too much at one time.
  • Prepare activities that don’t involve food: Take the focus off candy. Encourage arts and crafts like pumpkin carving, watching Halloween movies, going on a hayride, or visiting a haunted house.
  • Select a favorite, trash the rest: Eating all of the candy from trick-or-treating can give a definite sugar high. Pick a treat they can enjoy throughout the week and get rid of or donate the rest.
  • ‘Make a Trade’ Game: Let your kids trade pieces of candy for something non-food related, such as a movie ticket, trip to the zoo, new toy, family outing, money, chores, a gift card, etc. This can help redefine the word treat.

For more information, including making appointments with the Wendy Novak Diabetes Center, call 502-588-3400 during business hours and 502-629-6000 after hours and on weekends.