From the Desk of Dr. Cindy

By Dr. Cindy Ripsin, Boundless Medical Director 

“I’ll do it tomorrow.”  

It’s a phrase I hear often from caregivers of people with special needs, especially women.  

Caregiving for someone else is incredibly challenging and in the process it’s easy to forget your own self-care. Self-care isn’t just spa treatments and yoga classes, although both are nice.  At its core, self-care is performing the preventive care tasks that will help you live your best life even within the confines of many caregiving challenges.  

Putting off your own health checkups can leave you at risk for one of the most serious health conditions in the US: diabetes. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, diabetes is one of the most prevalent and serious chronic diseases in the United States. More than 37.3 million people (11.3%) in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it. In 2019, approximately 1.4 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in adults ages 18 years and older. That number is anticipated to grow as the U.S. population continues to age and more people become overweight or obese. 

Diabetes can lead to some pretty serious outcomes: 

• Heart disease: early heart attacks, leading to early death, is one of the most devastating consequences of diabetes, 

• Stroke 

• Blindness  

• Kidney failure 

• Loss of toes, feet or legs 

You’re at risk of type 2 diabetes if you: 

• Are overweight 

• Have prediabetes 

• Are 45 years or older 

• Have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes 

• Are physically active less than 3 times a week 

• Have ever had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds 

• Are an African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native person. Some Pacific Islanders and Asian American people are also at higher risk 

Fortunately, it’s very easy to get screened for diabetes or pre-diabetes. At Boundless Health, we welcome all patients into a non-threatening environment, with a scheduling system designed to allow me to have real conversations with all of my patients. 

For those who are caregiving someone with special needs, we can easily schedule back-to-back appointments for you with your loved one, ensuring you both get the care you need without having to make multiple trips to our office. 

Your loved ones need you, and the best way to take care of them is to take care of you. Whether it’s through Boundless Health or another care provider, make sure you’re taking time for you. 

Yours in good health, 

Dr. Cindy