PRIMED

Associates in Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, a PriMed Group, 501 Kings Highway, Fairfield, CT

In response to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s critical need for essential and often costly toiletry items for homeless guests, PriMed and MED3000 employees rallied together and donated over 50 care packages to the Rescue Mission.

Healthcare providers from PriMed, a multi-specialty physician’s group with over 110 providers and 36 locations in Connecticut and employees from MED3OOO, a national provider of healthcare management and technology services with an office in Shelton, filled backpacks and tote bags with items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, dish soap, and winter hats and gloves in a Christmas Compassion in Action campaign.

“Bridgeport Rescue Mission is truly grateful for this donation of these practical and much-needed items for the men and women in our shelters.  More importantly, these gifts tell our residents and guests that they’re cared for and loved,” said Bridgeport Rescue Mission Executive Director Terry Wilcox.

PriMed Physician Dr. John L. Maiocco's Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Office, 4699 Main St., Bridgeport, CT

“In these tough economic times so many families have a limited income and even no income.  We wanted to help lighten the financial load by donating these critical items and also enjoy the rewarding experience of giving back to our community,” said PriMed’s Director of Practice Development Stacey Porto.

With the mission of fighting poverty from the inside out by providing a place of hope and dignity through a yearlong educational program, biblical counseling and case management, the Bridgeport Rescue Mission provided, from January to December 2011, 40,150 nights of shelter (an average of 110 per night) and 610,011 meals (an average of 1,671 per day).  They provide meals to students in a yearlong recovery program, overnight guests, and low income members of the community who come to their doors on a daily basis for a warm meal or meals.

For more information on the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, visit www.bridgeportrescuemission.org.

PriMed Physician Dr. Larry Novik's Family Medicine Office, 325 Reef Road, Fairfield, CT

PriMed Physicians R. Scott Prewitt, M.D. and Michael Connolly, M.D., Pediatrics & Internal Medicine Office, 2900 Main Street, Stratford, CT

November is American Diabetes Month®, a time to raise awareness of the disease and how to prevent or manage it so as to live a healthy and longer life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the next four decades, the number of U.S. adults with diabetes is estimated to double or triple, which means that anywhere from 20 to 33 percent of adults could have the disease. Currently, 1 in 9 adults have diabetes.

With so many people living with diabetes, it’s important to understand ways to lower the risk of health complications and, ideally, prevent the disease.  A key measure in diabetes management and prevention is through healthy meal planning. PriMed Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Lisa Bishop encourages people living with diabetes to improve health with healthy food choices in addition to taking other measures such as engaging in physical activity and not smoking.

“People living with diabetes know that it can be a challenge to choose a wide variety of healthy foods that they enjoy but, with a little help, it is possible,” said Lisa.  “Nutritional counseling addresses a person’s nutritional needs and medical concerns such as diabetes, while taking into consideration a person’s lifestyle and cultural preferences.”

Lisa says that eating a variety of foods provides a balanced and nutritious diet, which helps to maintain health as well as manage diabetes and help prevent other medical conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Lisa recommends the following healthy food choices:

• Breads:  Joseph’s or other low carbohydrate wraps and pitas, Deli Flats and 100 calorie bagel thins
• Deli:  Hummus and low fat cheese such as Cabot 75% or other reduced fat cheese
• Fresh Produce:  Choose from all color groups to get a wide variety of nutrients; focus on non-starchy vegetables such as cauliflower and spinach
• Meat/Fish:  Ground beef 90% lean, turkey and chicken breast-skinless, pork tenderloin and fish high in omega 3 fatty acids such as lake trout, sardines, tuna and mackerel
• Dairy:  Unsweetened plain Greek yogurt or “light” yogurt, low fat milk, sugar-free pudding
• Condiments:  Salsa, reduced-sodium soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, light mayonnaise, and unsweetened applesauce.

To make an appointment with Lisa, please call PriMed’s Nutritional Counseling office at 203-427-8192.  Please note that this number will change after December 1 to 203-371-7048.

For more information on American Diabetes Awareness month, visit  www.diabetes.org.