Page 8<strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Connector</strong> www.seniorconnector.com<strong>May</strong> 2012Would you know how to help a diabetic in crisis?A coworker of mine was recently at ameeting when she noticed a fellow attendee,who was looking weak and shaky, pullsome glucose tablets out of her purse andconsume them. Knowing that glucose tabletsare what diabetics use to treat a low bloodsugar and that the meeting still had anotherhour to go, my coworker got up and foundthis person a snack to tie her over until theend of the meeting in order to prevent thisperson from having a severe drop in herblood sugars. If you were in my coworker’splace, would you have known what to do tohelp this person?The above scenario has inspired me towrite this article as diabetes, if left untreatedor if improperly treated, can lead to veryserious, even life-threatening crises. Thesecomplications arise from either the bloodsugar levels in the body being too high(hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).Due to the severe consequences of thesecomplications, in this article I would liketo review the signs and symptoms of thesemedical emergencies in orderto educate the general publicso that we are all better able toassist a diabetic if one shouldoccur. If you are a diabetic,please share this article withyour family and friends sothat they may be able to helpyou should you ever need it.It could save your or anotherdiabetics life.Low blood sugars canusually be treated if caughtearly enough. Skipping meals,sudden large increases in physical activity,or taking too much medication maycause them. The signs and symptoms ofhypoglycemia include shakiness, sweatiness,tingling of the mouth, confusion and lackof consciousness. If this occurs then it isimportant to treat this immediately with 15grams of a fast acting carbohydrate, suchas a tablespoon of honey, some glucosetablets, or ¾ cup of regular pop or juice. ItHealth MattersLaura Burgess, B.Sc. PharmCertified Diabetes Educatoris important that they theneat a snack that contains along-acting carbohydrate andprotein within 45 minutes toprevent another hypoglycemicevent. If the person is actingconfused or has started tolose consciousness, then anambulance should be calledimmediately.Pretend that you are in thegrocery store and you see aperson stumbling around andacting incoherent. They arecomplaining of feeling nauseous. As you getcloser to them, you realize that they smell“fruity”. You assume that:a) They are intoxicatedb) They are a diabetic and their blood sugaris too highc) They are a diabetic and their blood sugaris too lowIf you answered B, then you are on theright track. Diabetics who have uncontrolledhigh blood sugars often smell fruity dueto the production of ketones caused by thebreakdown of fats and protein for energyas the body is not able to utilize sugar dueto the lack of insulin. Unfortunately, thiscan often mean that they are mistakenas being intoxicated. That is why it isbest for diabetics to wear a medical alertbracelet stating that they are a diabetic. Leftuntreated, this can result in coma and deathand therefore requires immediate medicalattention. If you were to encounter a personthat fits the above description, the best wayyou can help them is to call an ambulanceright away so that they may have their bloodsugars properly evaluated and managed atthe hospital.With the incidences of diabetes being on therise in our population, at Manshadi Pharmacywe have taken a great interest in diabetes careand would be happy to answer any questionsthat you may have regarding the diagnosis,treatment, and management of diabetes and itsrelated complications.Letter to the editorNews from Cariboo ManorTravel WarningDear EditorI purchased a senior bus ticket to Vancouver Island last February from theGreyhound bus station. I deliberately bought it early to get the discount and atthat time they also charged me for the ferry. I went back to talk to the agent asI only wanted to get to the ferry and she told me that I would have to get mymoney back from the ferry agents. When I spoke to the ferry agent, I was toldthey had nothing to do with it, because the buses don’t get on the ferry anymore.I was traveling on Wednesday and the ferry is free for BC <strong>Senior</strong>s on Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday. I also specifically asked for a ticket to just the ferry, asfamily were picking me up at the ferry terminal. The bus agent told me they don’tsell tickets just to the ferry dock.Another passenger I spoke to told me that you need to buy a ticket to Vancouverand then the Bus agent in Vancouver will sell you a ticket to the ferry dock, butnot one of these agents told me this!Since February 8, 2012, I have been phoning all kinds of different numbersthat have been given me by the agents and I’ve lost track of the phone calls I havemade. At one time I even got a claim number, but still no refund.Not one of them is claiming responsibility; they just continue to give me therun around. I am writing this to warn other travelers who may run into the samesituation. ,Have I right to be upset, YES! Good luck to all of you in your travels, especiallyif you are traveling to Vancouver Island!Bernice Dyck, Kamloops■■■■Derek V. SmolukNoTARy CoRPoRATioNNotary PublicWills & Power of AttorneyRepresentation AgreementsHealth Care DirectivesReal Estate Transactions/Mortgages250-374-2727 ■ www.kamloopsnotary.caSubmitted Janet SchneiderAs my article was submittedlate last month, here’s aquick recap. John moved into the Manor last month,providing much neededmanly companionship andsupport to Andre. Aprilaccompanied a couple ofour residents to the CowboyFestival, which they allenjoyed immensely. The OldTime Fiddlers dropped in toentertain us in early March.Always ready for some toetappingmusic, our residentshappily sang along to manyof their old favourites. Wealways look forward to theirvisits. Eva and Cathy, bornon the same day, celebratedtheir birthdays in March.A carpet layer had just finishedinstalling carpet for a lady. Hestepped out for a smoke, only torealize he’d lost his cigarettes.In the middle of the room, underthe carpet, was a bump.‘’No sense pulling up the entirefloor for one pack of smokes,’’ he saidto himself. He proceeded to get outMissagh ManshadiB.Sc. PharmPharmacist/OwnerPhil dropped in the next dayfor a little St. Patrick’s Dayparty filled I’m sure, withshenanigans and tomfoolery.Everything we so enjoy.One of our former residentspassed away in March.Our condolences to Gwen’sfamily. Her time at CaribooManor is rememberedfondly. She entertained uswith her music, organizedprojects for the residents toparticipate in and enjoyedher nightly crib games withGrace, and later Jack. She ismissed.Dan arrived at the Manorin April; we now have threemen in residence! Afterenjoying Easter with herfamily at their cabin, Gracewent into hospice, but wehis hammer and flattened thehump.As he was cleaning up,the lady came in. ‘’Here,’’she said, handling him hispack of cigarettes. ‘’I foundthem in the hallway.’’‘’Now,’’ she said, ‘’if only Icould find my parakeet.’’MANSHADI PHARMACYPrescriptions • Medication Compounding •Medical Supplies • Diabetes SpecialistComing Soon - Second locationat 376 Tranquill Rd to serve you better.* Free Prescription Delivery in Kamloops *Free Daily A1C Blood Glucose Lab Result ($20 value)Trusted Advice, Wholesome Care477 St. Paul Street, Kamloops • 250-372-2223are hopeful she will get backhome soon.One of our housekeepersjust returned from a monthlongholiday in Mexico.We’re happy to have Lindsayhome, especially as Margarethas also been away,strictly following her doctor’sinstructions. Bonnie,Marguerite and Connie havebeen doing an admirable jobcovering all the extra shifts.Doris had a couple of weeksoff and Betty stepped into carry on for her. We aregrateful to our staff for theirbig hearts and the enormousamount of caring they bringto their jobs. Thank you allso much.Laura BurgessB.Sc. PharmPharmacistCertified Diabetes Educator
<strong>May</strong> 2012 <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Connector</strong> www.seniorconnector.com Page 9Raspberries ~ Delicious any time of the yearI have a new recipe, which isso delicious I have to shareit with you right away. Itcalls for frozen raspberriesso it can be made any timeof the year. Serve it withthick cream or, if you insist,vanilla yogurt.Raspberry Pudding600 gram package frozenraspberries, thawed1/2 cup sugarDrain raspberries,reserving juice in a liquidmeasure; add enoughwater to make 1 cup. Setaside. Place raspberries ina greased 8 x 8 inch metalpan, toss with 1/4 cup sugar.Set aside.Food forThoughtEnid DamerCake Topping:1/2 cup butter, softened3/4 cup sugar2 eggs1/2 teaspoon vanilla1 1/4 cups flour1 1/2 teaspoons bakingpowderpinch salt1/2 cup milk (at least 2 %)In a large bowl, creambutter and sugar until lightand fluffy. Beat in eggs, oneat a time, then vanilla. Siftflour, baking powder andsalt and add to egg mixturealternately with milk making3 additions of flour and 2 ofthe milk. Pour or scrape overtop of the berries in the pan,smoothing out the top. Setaside.In a small saucepan, bringjuice and 1/4-cup sugarto a boil. Pour over cakebatter. Bake in the centreof your oven at 350 degreesfor about 50 minutes untilbubbly at the edges and cakeis firm to the touch. Coolslightly before serving. (Ifthere are leftovers, heat nextday in the microwave.)When serving specialbreakfasts to guests with bigappetites, this recipe is hardto beat: Buttermilk Pancakeswith Raspberry SyrupThompson Valley Hospice HouseSociety gets good newsSubmitted by Steve WhiteWithin a few short days,North Thompson ValleyHospice House Societylearned that it had achievedtwo important goals. OnTuesday, March 20, BoardDirector, Joan Purverinformed the board thatthe goal of 100 members in2012 had already been metbefore the end of March.In fact it had already beenexceeded. Purver told theboard that so far 150 membershad joined the society.On Saturday, March 24Society President, SteveWhite, telephoned eachboard member to tell themthat he had just received anenvelope in the mail fromCanada Revenue Agencywhich contained excitingnews. White said, “As I heldup the envelope in my handI turned to my wife, Sheena,who is also a member of theboard, and said, “Whateveris in this envelope is eithergoing to make or mar myentire day.” The contents ofthe envelope were in factconfirmation that the society’sapplication to CanadaRevenue Agency to be considereda charitable organizationhad been approved.White went on to say,“These two happeningsaffirm our belief that ourgoal of establishing andoperating a hospice house inthe North Thompson Valleyis both supported by thecommunity and recognizedas a worthy and charitablecause.”North Thompson ValleyHospice House Societybegan as a small group ofinterested people meetinginformally to talk about thepossibility of setting up ahospice house in the valley.After meeting over severalmonths the group decidedthat it should take the nextstep and apply to become aregistered society. As part ofthis process the group hadto select its first board of sixmembers. The initial boardmembers are Joan Purver,(Barriere), Drake Smithand Jean Nelson, (Clearwater),Barb Denton, SheenaFor two solid hours, the lady sitting next to a man on an airplanehad told him about her grandchildren. She had even produced aplastic-foldout photo album of all nine of the children.She finally realized that she had dominated the entireconversation on her grandchildren.“Oh, I’ve done all the talking, and I’m so sorry. I know youcertainly have something to say. Please, tell me... what do youthink of my grandchildren?”White, Steve White, (LittleFort). The province officiallyrecognized the society in<strong>May</strong> 2011, less than a yearago.North Thompson ValleyHospice House Societyholds two major fundraisingevents each year. Thenext event, which takesplace on April 28 and 29,is the Antiques AppraisalWeekend in which Mr.Peter Blundell, an accreditedappraiser, examinesitems brought by membersof the public. Mr. Blundellprovides information abouteach item its place of originand its history. The two-dayevent is always interestingand entertaining.The annual Bike Challengeis held in the early fall.Two teams of cyclists set offat the same time, one fromClearwater and one fromBarriere, and race towardsLittle Fort. The team, whichhas covered the greater distanceat the moment thatthey meet, is the winner andowns the trophy for the followingyear.Raspberry Syrup:2 cups FRESH raspberries1/4 cup water1/2 cup white sugar1/4 cup light cornsyrup ormaple syrup2 tablespoons fresh lemonjuiceIn a medium saucepanover medium heat, combineberries,water, sugar andsyrup. Bring to a boil, thenlower heat to medium andcook about 15 minutes,stirring occasionally. Themixture will thicken slightly.Remove from heat, stirin lemon juice and coolslightly. Pour syrup throughTF$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$AEarn more, plus more.Get the rate that gets you more.Open a Tax-Free Savings Account and earn interest income that’s all yours. Visit theKamloops branch today to build a flexible investment portfolio that suits your needs.1211 Summit DriveKamloops, BCPh: (250) 828-1070cwbank.coma fine mesh strainer over abowl, pressing out all thejuice. The juice can be usedimmediately or kept in thefridge up to 3 weeks.Pancakes3 cups 1% buttermilk2 large eggs1/4 cup melted butter,cooled2 cups flour2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons baking sodapinch saltIn a large bowl, whisktogether buttermilk, eggs,and melted butter. Siftdry ingredients and addLooking to buy or sell?Office/Pager: 250-374-3331Toll Free: 1-877-374-3331Fax: 250-828-9544E-mail: edbarker@remax.netVisit a branch today to build a flexible investment portfolio that suits your needs.* Rate subject to change without notice. WestEarner ® TFSA Account only.Interest calculated daily, paid monthly. Available in-branch only.just until combined. Thebatter will be lumpy. Heat alarge griddle or skillet overmedium heat and greaselightly with vegetable oil.For each pancake, spoon 1/4cup batter onto hot griddle.Cook until bubbles appearand edges look dry. Flip andcook another minute untilgolden brown and cookedthrough. Serve immediatelywith raspberry syrup, yogurtand fresh berries.Raspberries are myfavourite berry. I hope youenjoy these two recipes asmuch as I do!For Real Estate Results in Kamloops, callEd BarkerEd BarkEr258 Seymour St.Independently Owned and OperatedFor caring, friendly real estate servicecall ED at RE/MAX 250-374-3331www.edbarker.comMember of CDICbed09_july