Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 8, 2014

Mountain Views News Saturday, February 8, 2014 
12 THE GOOD LIFEMountain Views News Saturday, February 8, 2014 
12 THE GOOD LIFE
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE 
PREDIABETES 


Dear Savvy Senior:
My 62-year-old sister was recently diagnosed with 
type 2 diabetes and was surprised when the doctor 
told her that she’s probably had it or prediabetes for 
many years. My question is what determines prediabetes 
and how can you know if you have it? 
Surprised Senior 



Dear Surprised:
Underlying today’s growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes is a much larger epidemic called prediabetes, 
which is when the blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called 
diabetes. 


The National Institutes of Health estimates that as many as 79 million Americans today have prediabetes. 
Left untreated, it almost always turns into type 2 diabetes within 10 years. And, if you have prediabetes, 
the long-term damage it can cause – especially to your heart and circulatory system – may 
already be starting. 


But the good news is that prediabetes doesn’t mean that you’re destined for full-blown diabetes. Prediabetes 
can actually be reversed, and diabetes prevented, by making some simple lifestyle changes 
like losing weight, exercising, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on carbohydrates. Or, if you need 
more help, oral medications may also be an option. 


Get Checked? 
Because prediabetes typically causes no outward symptoms, most people that have it don’t realize it. 
The only way to know for sure is to get a blood test. 


Everyone age 45 years or older should consider getting tested for prediabetes, especially if you are 
overweight with a body mass index (BMI) above 25. See cdc.gov/bmi to calculate your BMI. 


If you are younger than 45 but are overweight, or have high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, 
or belong to an ethnic group (Latino, Asian, African or Native American) at high risk for diabetes, 
you too should get checked. 


To help you determine your risk of diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has a quick, online 
quiz you can take for free at diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk. 


Diabetes Tests 
There are several tests your doctor can give you to determine whether you have prediabetes like the 
“fasting blood glucose test “or the “oral glucose tolerance test,” that each require an eight-hour fast 
before you take it. And the “hemoglobin A1C test,” that can be taken any time regardless of when you 
ate. 


If you’re reluctant to visit your doctor to get tested, an alternative is to test yourself. To do that, you’ll 
need to purchase an A1C home test kit that measures your average blood glucose over the past two 
to three months. 


The ReliOn A1c Test sold at Walmart (or walmart.com) for $9 is a popular option. With this test 
kit, you provide a small blood sample (about a drop), and send it to the lab in a postage-paid return 
mailer for analysis. The results are usually sent back within a week. 


A1C tests measure the percentage of glucose in the bloodstream. A reading of 5.7 to 6.4 percent is 
considered prediabetes, while 6.5 percent or greater is diabetes. 


If you find that you are prediabetic or diabetic, you need to see your doctor to develop a plan to get 
it under control. 


For more information on prediabetes and diabetes visit the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.
org, and the National Diabetes Education Program (ndep.nih.gov), which also offers dozens of 
free publications you can order online or by calling 888-693-6337. 


Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 



KATIE Tse.....................This and That 


THE COLONOSCOPY PILL --YOU READ 
IT HERE FIRST!

 A year ago I wrote about an epiphany I had after listening to yet another horror 

story of someone’s colonoscopy gone amuck. I brought you... the colonoscopy pill! 

Instead of snaking a probe down the body, contrary to its natural design, why not swallow a probe 

to scope out the digestive tract as part of normal digestion? I envisioned a pill with a camera that 

could be ingested, “collected,” and analyzed resulting in the full picture of one’s colon in glorious 

Technicolor! I thought for sure that I was the first person to come up with this idea. 

I was both glad and surprised when I read 
that “Given Imagining” has already designed 
these small wonders, and they’ve been used in 
the U.S. since 2001. More recently, The Daily 
Mail published an article stating “Colonoscopies 
to be replaced by a camera that comes in a PILL 
as FDA green lights revolutionary treatment!” 
My happiness over this non-invasive option 
outweighed my disappointment upon realizing 
that I wasn’t the first to think of it.


 However, there are still a host of painful medical 
procedures that need revision. The mammogram 
comes to mind. The screenings are routinely 
ordered when women turn 40. However, 
mammograms aren’t all that they’re cracked up 
to be. The imaging isn’t very clear, and every 
time you get squeezed you’re being exposed to 
radiation (which increases your risk of developing 
cancer, ironically). And if you’ve survived breast 
cancer, you can expect to be prescribed a few extra 
mammograms every year just for good measure.


 
It was during a conversation my Mom and I 
were having regarding iPads and smart phones that she came up with the idea of the mammogram 
app. (She and I know as much about technology as we do about brain surgery --diddly squat!) I 
mentioned that one of my husband’s friend’s phone could check his pulse, temperature, and blood 
pressure (okay, maybe not all that, but definitely his pulse!). “Why don’t they have phones that do 
ultrasounds?” she suggested. 

 Although I’ve never undergone a mammogram, this alternative sounded great to me! Just gel up 
your mobile device and slowly massage it over the area of concern. Heck, maybe the phone could 
even heat up to make the process less uncomfortable. If the app detected anything amiss, a buzzer 
could sound off like a smoke alarm warning you of a possible foreign body.

 Not to stop short at the detection level, my Mom further imagined that a radar beam could project 
from the phone and zap any tumor using nano-technology. At this point we really didn’t know what 
we were talking about, but it still sounded better than being subjected to a scope, vise grip, or scalpel.

 While I doubt that our medical brainchild will soon be coming to an app store near you, you must 
agree it has potential! I applaud the creators of the colonoscopy pill and encourage all you techie 
geniuses to hurry up and invent the mobile mammogram and the nano lumpectomy. If a phone can 
read your heart rate at the press of a finger, there’s no reason it can’t find a lump in your soft tissue. 

Remember, you read it here first! 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


By Pat Birdsall 

FYI: The Truth About Cataracts and Cataract Surgery- 
Final Installment 

Myth: Cataracts always require surgery. Fact: The decision to have a cataract taken out is based on 
whether it’s limiting your vision and your quality of life. For people in certain occupations, such an 
architect or a truck driver, even a little loss of vision interferes with what they do on a daily basis, 
while other people may be happy to wait because they’re seeing all they need to. 
Myth: It takes weeks to recover from cataract surgery. Fact: Cataract surgery is much easier than it 
used to be. A lot of people have 20/20 vision the very next day, though some people take up to a week 
to see well out of the affected eye. It depends on how much power is used to break up the lens. Since 
most doctors don’t use sutures anymore, there aren’t any physical limitations. You will be cautioned 
not to rub or press your eyes immediately after surgery, however.
Myth: Cataracts are inevitable. Fact: Not necessarily. By age 80, more than half of all Americans 
either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, according to the National Eye Institute. There is 
clearly a genetic component. There are patients ages 80 or 90 who will never need cataract surgery. 
Myth: There’s nothing you can do to slow the development of cataracts. Fact: Cataracts are a natural 
part of aging; however, you can protect your eyes by always donning sunglasses when you’re out in 
the sun — summer or winter. Chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure can help cataracts grow faster. 

*This short series of articles were intended to give the facts about cataracts and cataract surgery if you 
or a loved is facing the procedure. AARP 

...................................................................................... 


HELPFUL HINT: Borax- This mineral is one of the best-kept secrets off the Mojave Desert. 
As a glass cleaner, for example: Dissolve 2 Tbs. Borax in 3 cups warm water. Use as you would any 
glass cleaner. 

...................................................................................... 


FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE -Long lines were supposed to be a thing of the past once 
our neighborhood supermarket installed a self-serve checkout counter. Customers easily figured it 
out except for one woman in the front of my line. In its irritating computer generated voice, the 
machine kept reminding her to take one item after another out of the scanning zone before she could 
check the next. There was a constant “Move…your…milk” and “Move… your… produce” and so on. 
Everyone in the growing line was getting restless, but even we had to laugh when she left a bag of 
dinner rolls on the scanner and the machine commanded, “Move…your…buns.” 

~ ~ ~ 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … February Birthdays 

Hilda Pittman, Anne-Marie Stockdale, Ann Luke, Susan Henderson, Jan Reed, Peter 

Lippincott, Georgia Lippincott, Allie Attay, Ursula El-Tawansy, Gladys Moser, Sylvia Lorhan, 

Jan O’Day, Ana Ptanski, Winifred Swanson , Marian DeMars, Vickie Vernon, Mary Beth 

Knox, Sharon Lefler, and, a very special 90th Birthday to a very special guy… GORDON 
CALDWELL! Happy Birthday my friend. * To add your name to this distinguished list, please 
call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required. 

.................................................................. 


Quote of the Week: “Without love, the rich and the poor live in the same house.”

 ~Author 

.................................................................. 



ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.)
All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256 

Free Balance Class: Monday, January 27th 11:00 to 11:45 with Shannon Vandevelde. A variety of 
balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: Held Second Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am-12:00 pm: No 
appointment necessary. 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Chair Yoga: 11:00 to 11:45 Every Wednesday morning. Join Paul Hagen for this free class that 
focuses on senior yoga techniques. No reservation is necessary! 

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Lem Makupson volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of 
the month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours 

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays of 
our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes are 
provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.) 

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. 

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card. 

Lunch and Learn- “The Story of Old Pasadena”
Wednesday, February 26th- 12:00- 1:00 pm Hart Park House Senior CenterPresentation by The Pasadena Heritage will give an overview of the original downtown, which is now 
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Pasadena was incorporated in 1886.During the 
next 14 years the population of Pasadena exploded to more than 30,000 inhabitants. Learn why many 
of old Pasadena buildings have split personalities, hear the story of the Castle Green and the snake 
oil salesman who built it. And experience the real Old Pasadena with its fascinating array of historic 
buildings. Mark your calendars and don’t miss this great presentation. If you would like to have lunch 
during the talk, please make a lunch reservation with the Senior Lunch Café at 626.355.0256 or bring 
your own. 


UPCOMING EXCURSIONS: 

Feline Conservation Center (Rosamond, Ca.) Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014 

Time: 9:00 am- 4:00 pm Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center

 Cost: $15.00 (does not include lunch)
Home to over 70 of the world’s most endangered felines; the Feline Conservation Center is a breeding 
zoo and research facility. Cat lovers of all ages are fascinated by the cats (and the peacocks) and unlike 
a zoo, the Conservation Center has no moats so visitors can get as close as 5 feet away from these 
beautiful (but dangerous) cats. Following the one-hour tour is a visit to the gift shop and lunch at a 
nearby restaurant. It is recommended to bring $10-15 for lunch. Last day to register is Wednesday, 
February 19th. Level of Walking: Light to Moderate 

Whale Watching (Long Beach, Ca.) Date: Saturday, March 22, 2014 
Time: 10:00 am-3:30 pm Meeting Location: Community Recreation CenterCost: $31.00 (does not include lunch)
Don’t miss the Community Services Department’s annual whale watching excursion. The 2014 
excursion will visit the same whale watching Charter Company as 2013, which features a narrated 
cruise by Aquarium of the Pacific staff and with indoor and outdoor seating. Participants can bring 
their own lunch to enjoy on the boat, or purchase snack items on board. Children 2 and under are 
free. Last day to register is Tuesday, March 11th. 
Level of Walking: Minimal 

*Registering for Excursions can be done in person at the Hart Park House Senior Center and the 
Community Recreation Center or online at www.cityofsierramadre.com Cash, checks, and credit 
cards are accepted. Make checks payable “City of Sierra Madre”. Payment must be made at the time 
of reservation. 

.................................................................. 


Senior Cinema: FREE movies are shown this month, on the 3rd and 5th Wednesdays. ~Shown in 
Sierra Madre’s City Hall Council Chambers 

February 5th: Quartet (2012)

At a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday is disrupted by the 
arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents. Rated P-13, Start time: 1:00 
pm (run time 98 minutes) Featuring: Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay. 

February 19th: The Great Gatsby (1974)

It follows the life and times of millionaire Jay Gatsby and his neighbor Nick, who recounts his 
encounter with Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties. Rated PG Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 
144 minutes) Featuring: Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. 


We’d like to hear from you! 
What’s on YOUR Mind? 
Contact us at: editor@mtnviewsnews.com or www.facebook.com/ 
mountainviewsnews AND Twitter: @mtnviewsnews