Let's Talk About Diabetes at the Library

As we head into July, the St. Louis Public Library is turning its focus to diabetes. Diagnoses of the chronic condition is on the rise nationwide, with more than more than 29 million cases across the country, according to the American Diabetes Association. Having diabetes can have an impact on all aspects of your health, including increasing your risk for other serious health problems.

To help raise awareness and educate about diabetes, the Library has partnered with OASIS to provide free 6-week classes to help those with diabetes manage their disease. Led by certified diabetes educators, these classes will take place at several branches throughout the city, starting July 10 at the Schlafly Branch. Registration is required; to secure a spot, call 1-855-805-6168. For a full list of times, dates, and locations, check out our page of Upcoming Events.

On July 22, the third event in our Consumer Health Information Speaker Series will also focus on diabetes. Can I Catch That? Diabetes: What's New, What Works, and How Can I Prevent It? will feature Certified Diabetes Educator Jennifer Markee and pharmacist Amy Drew discussing the best ways to prevent and treat diabetes. The event will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 22 in the Carnegie Room at Central Library.

Check back to the blog throughout July as we offer more insight into diabetes!

Stay Cool This Summer!

Summer is officially upon us, and with it come temperatures in the 90s and a heat index higher than that. As St. Louis turns itself into a big brick oven, we all need to stop and figure out ways to beat the heat, and that means staying indoors as much as possible (especially if you're very young, very old, or have a heart condition) and drinking lots of water.

For some good general information on heat-related illnesses, check out these pages from the Centers for Disease Control, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and the American Red Cross. The Missouri DHSS also has a handy printable guide to help you manage extreme heat conditions, while the CDC has some tips on helping handle the heat if you work outside.

Also, it's incredibly important to remember the effect of hot cars on kids and pets. Temperatures can skyrocket inside a closed vehicle (and cracking the windows doesn't do much), so don't leave them in the car. Safercar.gov has some some good information on the effects of hot cars on kids, as well as some tips on what to do if you see a child trapped in a locked vehicle.

But what happens if the preventative measures don't work? The CDC has a page devoted to warning signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, the latter of which is a potentially fatal (and largely preventable) condition. The heat can also cause heat rash, which isn't as serious a condition, is still uncomfortable and can lead to infection if it goes untreated.

Finally, if nothing else, get into a cool environment! The St. Louis metro area has cooling sites available to the public, including all branches of the St. Louis Public Library. Click here for a printable list of all cooling sites in the metro area, or go to this site for a map searchable by ZIP code.

Take a Moment to Think About Alzheimer's

Every day, we hear about Alzheimer's Disease, yet for many of us, we only have a vague notion of what it is. According to the National Library of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that first affects thought, language, and memory. "In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care." While Alzheimer's generally affects older adults, early-onset Alzheimer's can affect people much younger.

So why is it something we should care about? Frankly, because it affects a lot of people. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's Disease, and more than 500,000 people a year die of the disease, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, one out of every three senior citizens dies with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Check out the video below for a quick rundown on the state of Alzheimer's today.

The St. Louis Public Library has lots of resources for those dealing with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, and for those who hope to stave off the disease through maintaining social and mental stimulation. Check out the list below for some examples.

• The Handbook of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
• Encyclopedia of Alzheimer's Disease by Elaine A. Moore with Lisa Moore
• The Validation Breakthrough: Simple Techniques for Communicating with People with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias by Naomi Feil and Vicki de Klerk-Rubin
• The Alzheimer's Answer: Reduce Your Risk and Keep Your Brain Healthy by Marwan Sabbagh
• Alzheimer's in America: The Shriver Report on Women and Alzheimer's
• The Alzheimer's Action Plan by P. Murali Doriaswamy and Lisa P. Gwyther with Tina Adler
• 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss by Jean Carper
• Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief by Pauline Boss
• Memory Books and Other Graphic Cuing Systems: Practical Communication and Memory Aids for Adults with Dementia by Michelle S. Bourgeois

You can also check out these online resources.

• The Alzheimer's Association has a great section that gives an overview of the different risk factors, treatments, and stages of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. There's also a page explaining preventative measures that can help decrease your risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease.
• The National Institute on Aging has a downloadable and printable booklet explaining the basics of Alzheimer's, as well as another booklet on prevention of the disease.
• The Washington University School of Medicine's Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Facility provides a lot of great information on the research being done locally on Alzheimer's Disease, including how to get involved in clinical studies.
• The Alzheimer's Project is a four-part documentary series created by HBO, in partnership with the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer's Association, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and the Geoffrey Been Gives Back Alzheimer's Initiative. The entire series can be viewed free of charge on HBO's website.
• The Nemours Foundation has a great page discussing how to explain Alzheimer's to children.
• Finally, any list of Alzheimer's Disease resources must include some sites to help support caregivers. Check out these pages from the National Library of Medicine, the Alzheimer's Association, and the National Institute on Aging.