Diabetes is a common disease, yet every individual needs unique care. To manage diabetes, you will work with your PCMH team to make a plan that helps you reach your goals. Good communication with your PCMH team can help you feel in control and respond to changing needs.

Remember to keep your feet and eyes healthy; people with diabetes can develop problems with their feet and vision, you can prevent these problems from becoming serious by making sure your blood sugar is under control and make sure you routinely visit your Podiatrist and Ophthalmologist. Ask your physician how often you should have your feet and eyes checked. If you develop even minor foot problems, or experience any problems with your vision, speak to your PCMH team right away.

FHFHA currently conducts Diabetic Seminars once a month where a Certified Diabetic Educator teaches you how to manage your condition and how to make healthy choices like eating healthier, being more active, monitoring your blood sugar, reducing health risks, and taking your medication. You will learn lifestyle changes to help you work toward effective self-management. If you're interested in attending a Diabetic Seminar speak to your PCMH team.

If this is not your first time trying to quit, your are not alone. More than 70% of smokers want to quit, but few succeed without help.

Get Help Today

• Call us at 973-483-3640 for more information.

• Call 1-866-657-8677 or visit www.njquit.org for free counseling services, referrals to local programs and other information about quitting. Check with your quitline to see if it offers a reduced-price for free cessation medication.

• Visit www.smokefree.gov for an online, step-by-step cessation guide, free publications, a list of local and state telephone quitlines, and information on the National quitline network: 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

• New Jersey Quitnet (www.nj.quitnet.com) is an innovative online resource that provides a comprehensive, individually tailored smoking cessation plan. New Jersey Quitline is a hotline offering personal counseling to New Jersey residents at 1-866-NJ-STOPS (1-866-657-8677) six days a week. The services are open to all age groups.

Mammography can detect cancers up to two years before they can be felt, when the cancer is most curable. That's why it is important for women to have an annual mammogram.

Six Other Good Reasons to Regularly get a Mammogram:

• The American Cancer Society recommends that all women, age 40 and older, should get an annual screening mammogram.

• Studies have shown that mammography is the only method of screening for breast cancer that saves lives.

• Mommograms can find cancers in early stages, nearly one-to-three years before you could actually feel a lump in your breast, which greatly improves a woman's chance for successful treatment.

• A women's risk of breast cancer increases with age.

• Regular mammograms give radiologists a basis for comparison, which helps doctors find small changes in breast tissue and thus cancers are detected as early as possible.

• Although mammograms can be uncomfortable for some women, the entire procedure takes roughly 20 minutes.

While mammograms may be something that's easy to put off, there are plenty of great reasons to talk to your physician about scheduling a mammogram.

Having Pap Smears, at recommended intervals, is the most important thing a woman can do to protect herself from developing cervical cancer. A pap smear takes only a few minutes, but can save the lives of women by detecting cervical cancer early and therefore giving women the opportunity to prevent or treat any abnormalities before they become life-threatening.

The recommended Pap Test Schedule is based on your age and on things that increase your risk. For most women, it is best to have a pap test every 1 to 3 years.

Talk to your doctor about when to have your pap test especially if you have never had one or it's been a long time since your last pap test.

For your convenience, your primary care physician is able to perform a Pap Smeap during your visit.

Four Stats about Colorectal Cancer

• Most patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer have no symptoms at all. If patients wait for symptoms, for many, it could be too late.

• Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the U.S. One in 18 men and 1 in 20 women will be diagnosed with colon cancer during their lifetime.

• Colorectal screenings are lower among adults who are less educated, have lower incomes or are uninsured but do not differ between African-American and Whites.

• Nearly 90% of all colon cancer is preventable, if everyone followed the screening guidelines. African-Americans should begin their screenings at age 45—instead of age 50—advised for other populations. Those with colorectal cancer in their family should talk with their doctor about when to begin screenings.

Important Changes:

Changes in your body or bowel movements can be an important sign. If you notice any of these, see your doctor immediately:

• Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.

• Change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation for more than 2 weeks.

• Narrowing of stool that could signal an obstruction.

• Abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain lasting longer than 2 weeks.

• Feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely.

• Weakness, fatigue, and/or unexplained weight loss.

Remember, you shouldn't wait for these symptoms to have a colonoscopy.

Recommended Screening Tests — Adults, ages 50 years and older, should get:

• Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), done at home, every year.

• Colonoscopies done by a health care professional every 10 years.

Talk to your doctor and ask if you are due for a screening and which test is best for you

POLST stands for Practioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. POLST is a set of medical orders that helps give seriously ill or frail patients more control over their end-of-life care. POLST specifies the types of medical treatment that a patient wishes to receive toward the end of life. As a result, POLST can prevent unwanted or medically ineffective treatment, reduce patient and family suffering and help ensure that patient's wishes are honored. Documentation on the POLST form includes: goals of care for the patient, preferences regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts, preferences regarding use of intubation and mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure, preference for artificially administered nutrition and hydration and other specific preferences regarding medical interventions that are disired or declined. POLST is designed for seriously ill patients or those who are medically frail with limited life expectancy, regardless of their age. POLST was developed in response to provide a framework for healthcare professionals so they can provide the treatments patients DO want and avoid those treatments that patients DO NOT want. For more information, or to fill out a POLST form, speak to your healthcare provider. You can also gain access here, www.POLST.org

Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine is one of the most popular immunization shots available. It's recommended that adults renew their flu vaccine every year to help safeguard against contracting the virus. This is especially true for the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. Doses can be administered with an injection or nasal spray, preferably at the beginning of flu season, in October or November. The flu vaccine is not recommended if you are currently ill or have had allergic reactions to eggs or previous vaccines.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an extremely serious and potentially fatal condition, particularly for older people or those with weaker immune systems. That's why it's important to receive the pneumonia vaccination if you're over the age of 65 or suffer from a chronic illness. The shot is also recommended for cigarette smokers and residents of long-term care facilities, like nursing homes. The initial immunization lasts five years, after which a one-time boosters is required.

Chickenpox

While chickenpox is relatively harmless to most children, it can be extremely serious for adults. It's so serious, in fact, that since it can only be contracted once, parents sometimes encourage their children to catch it while they're still young. Even if you've never built up a natural immunity to the disease, you can still protect yourself during adulthood with a chickenpox vaccine. The inoculation is not recommended if you are pregnant, allergic to gelatin, or have a weak immune system.

Shingles

If you've contracted chickenpox before, then the virus is still lying dormant inside certain cells in your body. If this virus becomes active once again, it will cause a painful skin rash, known as shingles. It's not yet clear why shingles occurs, so the only way to effectively protect yourself from it is by getting immunized. Though it may not be necessary for all adults, the shingles vaccine is strongly recommended for individuals over the age of 50.

Tdap

The Tdap is an important vaccination designed to protect adults against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis. The vaccine is recommended for all adults, particularly if you've received a wound that's likely to become infected, or you regularly come in contact with infants.

We believe that a close and ongoing partnership between parents and their child's provider is the key to high quality healthcare. Regular well-child visits establish a continuity of care that helps build trust and improves communication. Well-child visits are a great way to make sure your child's immunizations are current. Immunizations protect your child from potentially fatal diseases. If you're not sure your child is up to date on their immunizations, speak to your PCMH team.

These visits also include physical measurements, patient history, sensory screenings, behavioral assessments, and planned procedures at the following suggested intervals:

• 3 to 5 days

• 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months

• 3 years & 4 years

And once every year thereafter for an annual health supervision visit that includes a physical exam as well as a developmental, behavioral and learning assessment.