A holiday season like no other is upon us and our community members’ health and safety is in our hands. In this month’s newsletter, we offer: tips on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 this holiday season, information about American Diabetes Month, and gratitude to you for being members of Los Gatos Doc.
We want to take a moment to thank you for being a part of the Los Gatos Doc family. We’re grateful also for the steps that you and your loved ones are taking to stop the spread of the coronavirus. As you schedule your curbside pickups and mask up before you head out of your house for routine activities, we want you to know that health professionals appreciate all of these efforts.
“Don’t wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!” Charmaine J. Forde
Holiday Hours
Los Gatos Doc will observe the Thanksgiving holidays on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th. For the rest of that week, you can reach Adriana and Jessica by phone (as usual) at (408) 502-6040.
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Celebrating the Holidays Safely
In past newsletters, we shared about Halloween safety. With the November and December holidays fast approaching, it’s time to plan ahead and consider how we can creatively connect with loved ones during this time. Also, take a few moments to hear directly from Dr. V about how to protect yourself from COVID-19 and the flu.
Check out these resources before making your holiday plans:
“The holidays are tricky to navigate this year in the midst of the usual flu season coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, my family would be traveling by plane this season to a different part of the country. This year we’re choosing to stay put and schedule virtual gatherings based on the recommendations of an expert I follow closely, Dr. Anthony Fauci. We hope you’ll take his advice to heart and stay safe during the upcoming holidays.” ~ Dr. V
Monthly Health Observance: American Diabetes Month
“When I work, a lot of times I have to lose weight, and I do that, but in my regular life I was not eating right, and I was not getting enough exercise. But by the nature of my diet and that lifestyle – boom! The end result was high blood sugars that reach the levels where it becomes Type 2 diabetes. I share that with a gajillion other people.”
– Tom Hanks
November is American Diabetes Month, an important time to spread awareness about a disease affecting millions of people in the United States.There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 is the most common type observed (90-95%). Additionally, it’s important to note that another condition called prediabetes, a diagnosis which precedes type 2 diabetes. One in three adults in the U.S. have prediabetes and most are unaware that they have it. When’s the last time you had your blood sugar levels checked? Schedule your next visit with Dr. V to discuss possible changes you can make to your lifestyle and be on track to stay healthy.
“I am a type-2 diabetic, and they took me off medication simply because I ate right and exercised. Diabetes is not like a cancer, where you go in for chemo and radiation. You can change a lot through a basic changing of habits.”
– Sherri Shepherd
Share this important information with your friends and family members.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
In Case You Missed It / Reading Corner:
This Month’s Blog Posts
The US healthcare system is complex and making health decisions can be a puzzle for most patients. This article breaks down what healthcare literacy means and a roadmap for you to navigate health information easily.
Dr V discusses the fundamental differences between snoring and sleep apnea and how a primary care physician can help treat the condition in this article on Tumblr:
Healthier Alternatives for the November Holidays
With the holidays around the corner, it’s the perfect time to plan ahead and consider some healthier options for snacks and desserts. Give these apple and pumpkin flavored recipes a chance and share them with your friends and family!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 cored and sliced mcintosh apples (1/8 to 1/4 inch thick)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (can be omitted)
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees fahrenheit.
- Add the sliced apples to a large bowl; then coat the apples with the cinnamon and/or sugar.
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or line one with parchment paper; then line the apples flat on the pan. (You may need to use two pans so that they are not overlapping).
- Bake 2-3 hours until the chips are dry yet still a bit soft. Allow to cool completely before placing them in an air tight container for up to 4 days (if they last that long!).
Note: Depending on the thickness of your slices, these apple chips will be on the softer side.
Source: Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen
Yield: 2 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can organic or reduced-sodium chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons roughly torn, loosely packed fresh sage leaves (about 10 average-sized leaves)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon minced fresh sage, for garnish
Instruction
- Place all ingredients (except minced fresh sage garnish) in a food processor and process until smooth, scraping down the sides 3-4 times, as needed.
- Transfer hummus to a serving bowl and garnish with minced sage.
- Serve immediately (we recommend serving alongside fresh whole wheat pita bread or whole grain pita chips), or cover and refrigerate until serving (up to 2-3 days). After refrigeration, the hummus may need a quick stir before serving.
Source: Two Healthy Kitchens
Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free oats
- 1 cup pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 packets of stevia (equal to 10-15 stevia drops)
- 1 tsp (or more) Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Toppings such as : Pepitas (pumpkin seeds), Dried Cranberries & Dark Chocolate Chips
Equipment
- Parchment paper lined cookie sheet
- Flat bottomed drinking glass
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Mixing bowl
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix all of the ingredients (minus the toppings) in a mixing bowl.
- Using your hands, create approx ball shapes and place on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a flat-bottomed drinking glass, spray the bottom and press the cookies to flatten slightly, making it’s cookie form.
- Top with the chosen toppings, and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool before enjoying!
Source: Forkly
Be sure to schedule a video visit with Dr. V if you haven’t seen him in a while and learn more about what you can do to assess your health and wellness needs. If you’ve already seen Dr. V recently, our team at Los Gatos Doc is glad that you’re taking advantage of our video visit option.
Our team at Los Gatos Doc is grateful for each and every one of you. We appreciate you placing your trust and confidence in us and we couldn’t do it without you. We hope you enjoyed this month’s newsletter and we’d love it if you spread the holiday cheer by passing it along to your friends and family.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule your next visit!
Warmly,
Dr. V, Adriana, & Jessica
P.S. Don’t forget to share this newsletter with 3 friends, family, and co-workers. Spread the New Year Cheer by helping them achieve their health goals in 2020!
Dr. V and his staff would love to hear from you! Do you have questions, comments, or concerns? Contact your primary care team by phone at 408.502.6040. Please note that any replies to this newsletter will not be forwarded to your primary care team in an effort to protect patient privacy.