Healthy Eating
Developing a health eating routine into your lifestyle is not only good for your health, but it also allows you to experience a variety of flavors while still adhering to a nutritious eating plan.
As a practice, Sleep and Wellness Medical Associates takes pride in treating the whole patient. We focus on a holistic patient-centered program that provides a synergistic approach between medical, physical, and behavior therapy, as well as chiropractic care. Each patient is given an individual assessment for medical and wellness care.
One of our patients, Clarence, has taken advantage of our medical and wellness services and has made amazing progress towards a healthier lifestyle. I would like to share his story with you because I think it is representative of most Americans and it is easy to relate to his story as many of us have similar medical and physical issues.
For many years, Clarence was stuck with a sedentary job position, and as a result he slowly watched his weight climb and his health issues increase. He went from being overweight to obese, and his osteoarthritis worsened with the extra weight, so he had to receive hip replacements. In addition, he developed sleep apnea and his diabetes A1C levels rapidly rose up to the point his endocrinologist encouraged him to start insulin injections.
Clarence acknowledged his issues, held himself accountable and responsible for his situation, and began the process of turning his life around with the help of Sleep and Wellness. He was given the tools to understand basic nutrition and he kept a journal to track his daily intake. When he ate something that skewed his macronutrient, he simply adjusted his eating pattern the next day to make up for it. He also learned how to exercise effectively within his limitations, and he monitored his health to make adjustments in his medications.
Clarence is now able to move with improved ease throughout the day, the quality of his sleep has improved, he uses his inhaler less, and his medications have been lowered due to his healthy weight loss.
Vital Stats
My 2015 Partnership with Sleep & Wellness to Lose Weight, Become Fit and Improve Health
by Clarence Cobb
During the 2014 New Year’s holiday, I became extremely depressed regarding my poor health due to being overweight. In December 2014, my endocrinologist expressed concern because my A1Creadings had increased to a new high of 8.2% and my daily diabetic glucose readings continued to increase. My endocrinologist cautioned he would have to prescribe insulin if I showed no improvement by our next appointment. My sleep apnea was being treated but my weight still made sleeping very difficult. My attempts to change my lifestyle on my own had failed repeatedly.
Dr. Siddique and I discussed my weight condition for over a year during our regular visits. I resisted Dr. Siddique’s offer to pursue a medically directed program to reduce my weight and improve my overall health. When Molly Fisher, DPT arrived at Sleep & Wellness, Dr. Siddique referred me to Molly for physical therapy and strength improvement.
My sessions with Molly Fisher have led to improved physical fitness, increased strength, less dependency on asthma medication, nutritional awareness and a new motivation to achieve better health. Working with Molly, I learned to view food as the fuel for the body’s physical and mental activities. On January 12, 2015, I approached Molly with a goal to lose 36 pounds by June 29th. I asked Molly for her guidance and review of my recorded eating patterns.
For additional support and follow-up, Dr. Siddique meets with me regularly to review all of my improving test results. I am more aware of my personal health due to Sleep & Wellness’ program of face-to-face analysis of patient test results. After twenty years seeking help with my weight and health, Sleep & Wellness has provided me the comprehensive support I needed.
The results for all of the above support have produced my best test results in a decade. As of my June 16, 2015 visit with my endocrinologist, my A1C has dropped from 8.2% in December 2014, to 6.5%. On June 29, 2015 we confirmed the loss of 36 pounds since January 12, 2015. My reduction in weight along with strength improvement helped me recover from full hip replacement in less than one month. I have no sleep problems and now average 6.5 hours sleep per night vs. only 4.0 hours before losing weight. I am motivated to achieve my second goal of 2015, to lose an additional 30 pounds by December 21, 2015.
Most importantly, I can complete Molly’s physical therapy sessions without stopping to catch my breath and use my asthma inhaler!
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According to the American Diabetes Association, regular physical activity and diet are important to manage diabetes.
The A1C test measures your average blood glucose for the past 2 to 3 months. The advantages of being diagnosed this way are that you don’t have to fast or drink anything.
Diabetes is diagnosed at an A1C of greater than or equal to 6.5%
| Result | A1C |
| Normal | less than 5.7% |
| Prediabetes | 5.7% to 6.4% |
| Diabetes | 6.5% or higher |
Research shows that you can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by 58% by:
“When you are active, your cells become more sensitive to insulin so it can work more efficiently. Your cells also remove glucose from the blood using a mechanism totally separate from insulin during exercise.
So, exercising consistently can lower blood glucose and improve your A1C. When you lower your A1C, you may be able to take fewer diabetes pills or less insulin”.
Benefits of Exercise
What Sleep and Wellness would like you to take away from this transformation is that it is possible to improve your health and wellness with the right guidance, resources, and with some motivation and commitment on your part.
