Have you been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes? Are you a caregiver to someone living with diabetes? Do you need help making healthy food choices, but don’t know where to start? Try “Dining with Diabetes.” Attend this series of two-hour classes held once a week for four weeks, Nov. 8-Dec. 6. Lessons focus on planning meals and snacks with delicious healthy recipes; cooking demonstrations and food sampling; motivation and support; ideas for low-impact physical activity; and an understanding of how diabetes affects your overall health. Classes will be held at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, Sunflower Room at 21st and Ridge Road in Wichita. The cost of the class is $35. Register online at http://sedgwick.ksu.edu or call 316660-0100.
316-667-2429 www.mounthopedental.com
Protect your dog from deadly algae
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For duck hunters and their dogs, wading through mucky water is part of the experience, but one type of “muck” can be especially dangerous for four-legged hunting partners – harmful algae blooms. An algae bloom may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water and be colored blue, bright green, brown or red. This season, if the water appears suspicious or there is decaying algae on the shore, hunters are urged to avoid contact and keep their dogs away. Dogs that swim in or drink water affected by an algae bloom or eat dried algae along the shore can become seriously ill or die. Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria called “cyanobacteria,” which occurs naturally in water. Under the right conditions, the bacteria can rapidly multiply (bloom) and produce toxins. Although algae blooms typically begin in May, they last through October or later. Algae blooms coincide with longer days and warm water temperatures. They flourish in nutrient-laden waters. However, dead algae can wash up on shorelines and in marshy areas – posing a risk to dogs that eat, drink or ingest it while licking their fur. Dogs are usually exposed to the toxins by drinking algae affected water. However, they may still be exposed if they walk on, roll in or eat decaying algae along the shore or retrieve a bird with algae on its feathers. The signs of illness in dogs usually occur within 30 minutes of exposure and include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, convulsions, difficulty breathing and general weakness. If your dog has ingested algae, or has any of these signs after exposure, contact your veterinarian immediately as algae poisoning can quickly lead to death. People may also become ill after contact with algae-produced toxins. Symptoms vary, depending upon the type of exposure (e.g. direct contact, ingestion, inhalation) but can include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headache. If you, or your dog, come into contact with algae, rinse the exposed area with clean, fresh water. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for cyanobacteria when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom. When a bloom occurs, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and other lake managers, responds by warning the public. KDHE does not sample private bodies of water such as farm ponds or livestock watering tanks. For the most up-to-date list of waters currently experiencing algae blooms, or to report suspected algae visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness. Hunters and the general public can also access current lake conditions by calling 1-855-HAB-LAKE or 1-855-422-5253.
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Sign up for ‘Dining with Diabetes’