Education - Sensenbrenner Primary Care

Understanding A1C: A Key Marker in Diabetes Management

September 11, 2023

By Tyler J. Hyslep, PA-C Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder and one of the most common chronic diseases seen at our office. Managing diabetes requires close monitoring of blood glucose levels to prevent complications. One crucial tool that we use is an A1C test. A1C is a blood test that measures the average blood glucose level over the past three months. It provides a valuable indicator of long-term blood sugar control, offering insights into a person's overall diabetes management. The A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin molecules in the blood that have glucose attached to them. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. When blood glucose levels are high, more glucose binds to hemoglobin, forming an A1C. The...

Healthy Raspberry Sorbet

August 8, 2023

Education

Indulge in this vibrant summer recipe: Healthy Sugar-Free Raspberry Sorbet. This sorbet skips the added sugars for a gentle touch of natural sweeteners with a dash of lemon and mint. Ingredients: 3 cups fresh or frozen raspberries1/4 cup water1 tablespoon lemon juice1-2 tablespoons natural sweetener (such as stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit), adjusted to taste1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Fresh mint leaves, for garnish Instructions: Prep the Berries:If using frozen raspberries, allow them to slightly thaw. If using fresh raspberries, rinse them and let them drain. Blend:In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine the raspberries, water, and lemon juice. Blend until you have a smooth mixture. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little more water to help with blending. Sweeten:Taste the mixture and add your chosen natural...

Beyond the Bedside: Protecting Your Skin

August 8, 2023

Education, Uncategorized

By: Lori Blanchard Eaton “Beauty is more than skin deep.” This old saying holds profound meaning and emphasizes that inner beauty comes from qualities that are often unseen at first sight. But in some cases, beauty is a reflection of what is on the inside. Primary medicine often focuses on the solid internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and kidney as these organs are vital to life. In this month’s Beyond the Bedside, I’d like to discuss the skin, another vital organ that is important for primary prevention. The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is made up of 3 layers which consists of water, protein, fats and minerals. The epidermis, the outer layer, is an important barrier to infection, chemicals,...

Peach Crisp

July 7, 2023

Education

Ingredients: 4 cups sliced fresh peaches½ cup all-purpose flour½ cup light brown sugar½ cup coconut oil1 teaspoon ground cinnamon¼ teaspoon salt1 cup rolled oats Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Arrange sliced peaches evenly in an 8x8-inch baking dish.Mix flour, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl using a pastry cutter until crumbly.Fold oats into flour mixture.Sprinkle mixture evenly over peaches, pressing down lightly.Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes. ...

Beyond the Bedside: Beat the Heat

July 6, 2023

Education

By Dr. Eric Sensenbrenner Summer is here, which means longer days and more fun in the sun. For those who have lived in the southeast for at least one summer, you know these summer days are hot and humid. It is important to respect the outdoor elements and know how to be prepared for the heat to avoid dangerous consequences. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are common in the summer and lead to thousands of emergency room visits annually. Thankfully, they can be easily prevented. Heat exhaustion occurs when someone is exposed to hot environmental conditions too long. Often one suffering from heat exhaustion will have increased thirst, heavy sweating, nausea, and weakness. They may have a headache or feel dizzy. It is important to recognize when...

Fresh Mango Salsa

June 5, 2023

Education

1 mango - diced1 avocado - diced2 medium tomatoes, diced1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced½ cup chopped fresh cilantro3 cloves garlic, minced1 teaspoon saltDash of pepper2 tablespoons fresh lime juice¼ cup chopped red onion3 tablespoons olive oil In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and garlic. Stir in the salt, lime juice, red onion, and olive oil. To blend the flavors, refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving. ...

Beyond the Bedside: Shingles

June 5, 2023

Education, Uncategorized

By: Tyler J. Hyslep, PA-C Shingles can have a significant impact on quality of life. Luckily, there is a vaccine that can prevent it. First, let’s get to know what shingles is. Shingles is a reactivation of the Chicken Pox Virus. Per CDC, 99% of Americans born before 1980 have had chickenpox even if they cannot recall having it. Once we get chicken pox, it remains dormant in our bodies and can reactivate as shingles. Shingles is more likely to occur in people who have a weakened immune system, have had a recent illness, or have significant stress. Shingles can also happen without any known triggers. Symptoms include a painful, blistery rash that will affect only one side of the body. If the rash crosses...

Healthy Chicken Piccata Recipe

May 10, 2023

Education, Uncategorized

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - cut into 4 thin slices (cutlets)2 large egg whites2/3 cup seasoned whole wheat dry bread crumbs about 1 tbsp olive oil1 tbsp butterjuice of 1 lemon1/4 cup dry white wine1/2 cup chicken broth2 tbsp capersSliced lemon - for servingSalt and pepper to tase Directions: Season chicken with salt and pepper Pound chicken w/ a meat tenderizer until about 1/4" thickIn a small bowl, beat the egg whites until fluffyDip each chicken breast first in the egg, then bread crumbs. Heat skillet on medium low Spray the top of the chicken generously to coat and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Set aside until you make the sauce.For the sauce, clean the saute pan. Over medium-high heat, melt butter, add the lemon juice, wine, chicken broth and the reserved lemon halves, salt,...

Healthy Strawberry French Toast

April 12, 2023

Education

Bread of choice (we love Ezekiel bread!)2 eggs1 cup coconut milk (canned is great!)1 tablespoon honey1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract1/4 tablespoon cinnamon 1/4 tablespoon of nutmeg2 cups of chopped strawberries (with additional honey and cinnamon) Directions: In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, honey, vanilla, and spicesOver medium heat, begin to heat up some butter in a shallow skilletWhile the butter is melting, dunk your bread in the egg mixture on both sides until totally coated. Place coated bread in the skillet and cook on each side for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.After you finish the french toast, you can make a nice strawberry sauce by simple mashing the strawberries, a bit of honey, and cinnamon in a small bowl. It's delicious!Optional: top your french toast with strawberry sauce, greek yogurt, some chopped...

Beyond the Bedside: A New Cure for Obesity?

April 11, 2023

Education, Uncategorized

By Lori Blanchard Eaton Social media has increased public interest in a class of medications called GLP-1 agonists. Celebrities and other influencers are posting on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram about losing weight with prescriptions for medications like Wegovy, Saxenda, Ozempic and Mounjaro. I admit I’m not a big follower of social media, except maybe an occasional post to family and friends or searching for good humored posts about dogs or a new recipe. However, our culture is significantly influenced, good and bad, by social media. In light of these new weight loss trends, I thought it would be timely to make use of this month’s Beyond the Bedside blog post to provide a medical perspective on obesity and weight loss. Obesity is a medical diagnosis. It is...