Sickle Cell Trait can affect Diabetes test results?

     Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) is a commonly utilized test to diagnose, treat and manage diabetes. When a blood work is ordered, clinicians observe the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose (sugar) attached to the blood over a two-three month period. According to the American Diabetes Association, a normal HbA1C reading should be below 7 percent. However, a new study has demonstrated that people who are Diabetic with Sickle Cell Trait exhibit lower HbA1C levels. Such variations could result in a delay of diagnosis, treatment, and management of Diabetes. Researchers found that the results from HbA1C tests displayed lower HbA1C levels in people with Sickle Cell Trait who were Diabetic. Also, people who live with Sickle Cell Disease have blood cells that survive a mere 10 to 20 days, while those without the sickle cell normally have blood cells that live longer- 90 to 120 days.

     Due to the difference in the HbA1C reading, it was thought that persons with Sickle Cell Trait also have red blood cells with a shorter life span. The study measured more than 4,600 people, each given a HbA1C test and another fasting blood sugar test. Data for the HbA1C test was skewed (falsely low) as 29 of percent people with Sickle Cell Trait were diagnosed with pre-diabetes versus 49 percent without the trait. This questions the reliability of the HbA1C test for diagnosing and monitoring people with Sickle Cell Trait as there may be other factors that alter the results, such as the shorter lifespan of sickle cells. The HbA1C test can skew HbA1C blood sugar levels, in turn, delay Diabetes diagnosis and treatment. In such case, other more reliable tests should also be used to compare and more accurately diagnose, treat and monitor Diabetics who also carry the Sickle Cell Trait. Do you know your Sickle Cell Trait status? Make an appointment with TOVA today (cdc.gov).

                                                                 Paris Davis,BA




                                        TOVA Community Health
                               Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center
                                            601 New Castle Ave
                                        Wilmington, DE 19801
                                      302-655-6187 ext. 500
                                  contact@tovacommunityhealth.org

Comprehensive Sickle Cell care in a Medical Home in partnership with John Hopkins

TOVA Community Health

Executive Director/Founder  Dr. Anderson

601 New Castle Avenue

Wilmington, DE 19801

(302) 655-6187 ext. 500

www.tovacommunityhealth.org

Harvard Study found Vitamin-D deficiency overdiagnosed in African-Americans

   Harvard University Researcher, Dr. Thadhani and his colleagues found that African Americans had significantly lower vitamin-D levels compared with white subjects in the study.

Photo taken from http://cdns.yournewswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/vitd1.jpg

    Despite having lower levels of vitamin d levels, Bone density levels and calcium levels were higher in African Americans compared with white individuals.   In a previous TovaCares blog, I also discuss that persons of darker skin complexion do not absorb vitamin D as well as persons of lighter skin complexion.  This may also attribute to the variation of vitamin D levels in African-Americans.  The findings suggest that treating African Americans for vitamin D deficiency solely based on vitamin D levels (250HD and D-binding protein levels) may not be warranted. 

   TOVA Healthy Tidbit, Remember to always discuss your concerns with a licensed Healthcare Provider. This can be easily done by writing or jotting down about three pertinent questions to discuss at your next appointment. 

  To Read more about this study,

click on the link Vitamin-D overdiagnosed in African-Americans

Tova Community Health

Dr. Anderson

Executive Director/Founder

Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center

601 New Castle Ave.

Wilmington, DE 19801

(302) 655-6187 ext. 500

www.tovacommuinityhealth.org

Delaware State University launches Sickle Cell Anemia Pilot Project (SCAPP) in partnership with the TOVA.

         SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PILOT PROJECT (SCAPP) launched at Delaware State University

The Department of Social Work, College of Education, Health and Public Policy, is pleased to announce a new Sickle Cell Anemia Pilot Project (SCAPP) at Delaware State University. The project will serve DSU students and members from African American and Latino communities in Kent and Sussex counties. It will provide: 1) direct care coordination services to individuals with sickle cell anemia, 2) outreach and education workshops, and 3) counseling and support services. SCAPP will partner with the DSU Health Center, DSU Counseling Center, and the DE Center for Health Promotion.

Join the Delaware State University Foundation by making to donation to the 

TOVA Fund.  You contribution is Tax Deductible.

DSU Thanks for All you Do,

Dr. Anderson

Executive Director/Founder of Tova Community Health

Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center

Breaking the silence of an Unspoken Disease-Sickle Cell

  

TOVA Portrait

Sickle Cell  Tears

All Rights Reserved

   A student at Howard High School in Wilmington, DE in the TOVA Volunteer program was asked by Dr. Anderson to draw a picture of her interpretation of Sickle Cell Disease Anemia.  Interestingly, the picture depicts three young ladies who appear to be talking about  the debilitating nature of sickle cell.  This causes the young (appears to be) Caucasian girl to cry sickle cell tears.  Oftentimes, people with sickle cell and especially teenagers do not talk about their disease with their peers.  Yearning to fit in and be normal is a great feat.  However, this young lady with her beautiful black hair (with scattered sickle cells) is educating her friend about sickle cell.  Her friend appears to be crying tears of sickle cell.  The other young girl is listening on with a compassionate heart.  That being said, I urge my patients to share with their peers and colleagues about Sickle Cell Disease and refrain from keeping silent.  If people with Sickle Cell Disease do not open up and share, then the campaign for more public awareness will be in vain.  You can make an Impact if you just open up-Don't be Afraid.

Copies of the portrait can be purchased for $20.00.  A portion of the proceeds will go to support the TOVA General Fund which provides medical and financial support to families living with Sickle Cell Disease.

TOVA COMMUNITY HEALTH

Sickle Cell Specialty Center

601 New Castle Ave.

Wilmington, DE 19801

(302) 655-6187 ext. 500

www.tovacommunityhealth.org 

Can Anyone tell me how to get DOC to offer more healthy options for Inmate commissary packages?

                                         

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 TOVA Community, 

        I received this e-mail last week from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.  I have an uncle who is serving time in prison for a rap sheet to long to write in this blog.  Nevertheless,

my uncle suffers with Mental Illness (Alcohol and Drug Abuse) and also lives with Heart Disease, Diabetes. 

He asks me to pick out items for his care packages but these snacks are heavy in carbs and simple sugars!

For inmates who have chronic conditions, there is a limited supply or healthy option items to choose from.  If an inmate has a diagnosis of Diabetes, there should be at least 10-12 items on the list which should in include fresh fruits, vegetables and other  healthy snacks

         For now, I will continue to do my best to pick high carb and sugary snacks that are 'somewhat healthy' and hope for the best.    Dr. Nina

TOVA Community HealthSickle Cell Specialty Center(302) 655-6187 ext. 500www.tovacommunityhealth.org

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Breaking the Culture of Silence with Mental Illness

  This was a comment that was sent from Facebook in response of our former Heisman Trophy winner  Rasaan Salaam who left this earth too early.  Please, Please, Please do not suffer with Depression in silence.

healthyblackmen.org/

  Seek help by making an appointment with your primary care provider or  a licensed health professional:  nurse, social worker, behavioral health specialist or psychologist, psychiatrist).  Fonda Bryant is testimony that one can break down the walls of Stigma and receive care that saved her life. Thanks Fonda for sharing your powerful testimony.  The TOVA Community is forever grateful!

Fonda Bryant December 30 at 3:56am As a culture and as a society, we have to start talking more about mental health and busting down the walls of stigma. Something people don't understand, a LOT of these athletes had a mental condition long before they came into the league, especially in the black culture. We have been taught to get help for a mental condition is a sign of weakness, we don't need help, and it's a white person thing. From the religious side, you have pray about it, don't claim it or give it to God. I was 35, when my depression finally got so bad, I almost took my own life. I didn't want to die, I just wanted the pain to go away. The sad thing, I didn't know until I went into a mental facility that depression ran on both sides of my family. We didn't talk about mental health much and when we did, it was always in a negative manner. I don't smoke, drink or have never done drugs, I was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance. Thank goodness, my aunt heard my cry and I got the help I needed. Today, I am a passionate advocate for mental health, speaking for those who are ashamed to get the help. I am not ashamed to tell my story if it will help others. 117 AMERICANS die DAILY to suicide, that 819 a WEEK, 3,270, a MONTH, and that's not including the 22 veterans that die daily. the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24, is SUICIDE, 2nd leading cause of death on college campuses is SUICIDE, with 1100 college students a year, 10th leading cause of death is the US, more people die by suicide in this country than car death and homicides combined, every 12.8 minutes. Where is the outcry?! The CDC released the suicide stats this year, suicide is at a 30 YEAR HIGH. It's called the "Silent Epidemic," with 90% of people who take their own life have a mental condition at the time of their death. STIGMA is the #1 reason why people don't get help for their mental condition. Society makes US feel ashamed of something we can't help. The brain is an organ just like our heart, kidneys and lungs. It's the most powerful organ and it can get sick too. To many of these athletes are suffering in silence as well. Football is a violent and brutal game. The saying, "Mentally TOUGH" is used all the time. For a player to let anyone know that they are dealing with a mental condition could end their career, or make them look weak even though the NFL is doing a little better with dealing with mental health. CTE is a growing problem but they need to make athletes comfortable enough to get help for their mental condition, so things like this won't keep happening. Also, society needs to get educated on mental health and the warning signs of suicide. The more educated you are the more you can spot the signs of suicide and save a life.

                                                           TOVA Community Health

                                             Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center

                                                        (302) 655-6187 ext. 500 

                                                 

                                                 www.tovacommunityhealth.org