New Jersey Institute of Balance - December 2017

HAVE YOU TRIED Physical Therapy for Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where either the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells in the body do not react normally to insulin. When either of these conditions occurs, it causes levels of glucose in the blood to become too high, which can lead to health problems. Physical activity and exercise are important and effective in lowering high blood-glucose levels, and physical therapists can help people with diabetes improve or avoid related problems. They can also teach sedentary people how to increase their daily physical activity in safe, effective, and enjoyable ways. Individuals with diabetes are at risk of complications like heart disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, eye disease, kidney disease, nervous system disease, peripheral vascular disease, skin issues, cell death, amputations, and premature death. Once someone has been diagnosed by a physician, a physical therapist can evaluate their symptoms and the physical problems associated with the condition and provide individual, specialized treatments. Physical therapy for diabetes is meant to help those with the disease participate in safe, effective exercise programs to improve their ability to move, perform daily tasks, reduce pain, and lower blood-glucose levels. After a physical therapist reviews an individual’s blood-glucose record and examines them for skin wounds, the therapist will then

conduct an assessment of the individual’s strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance.

The physical therapist will then choose specific activities, treatments, exercises, and stretches to help restore normal movement, strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, pain levels, and healthy blood glucose levels. The therapist will also discuss activity goals and prescribe at-home exercises to speed up recovery. Diabetes is a condition with many serious complications. However, physical therapy can reduce those complications while simultaneously improving physical fitness and lowering blood glucose levels. Talk to your physical therapist about diabetes treatment today. Thai Spaghetti Squash

With Peanut Sauce

HAVE A LAUGH!

Ingredients

Peanut sauce: •

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1 medium spaghetti squash

1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk ¾ cup unsweetened peanut butter ¼ cup coconut sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons white vinegar 2 teaspoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons red curry paste

Olive oil

Salt

1 garlic clove, minced ¼ cup chopped parsley

• • • • •

2 tablespoons crushed peanuts

Directions 1.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Half squash and scoop out seeds. Drizzle inside of squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place squash on baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. Let cool. Using a fork, scrape out spaghetti squash strands. Place sauce ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat

and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, parsley, and ¼ of the peanut sauce and combine. Add spaghetti squash and crushed peanuts. Stir to combine until heated through, about 2 minutes. Once served, drizzle with more peanut sauce. Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com. 3 www.NJIB.com 5. 6.

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