6 JUNE 2017 ARCAD A NEWS By Tiffany Pankow More than one in three Americans has prediabetes and 90 percent of them don’t know it. With prediabetes, your blood sugar levels are impaired but aren’t high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Because most people don’t have symptoms, it can go undetected without screening. Unfortunately, many with this condition will develop diabetes within a short time if the condition isn’t addressed. If you have prediabetes, you’re at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. If diabetes develops, add blindness, kidney failure and amputation to the risk list. The good news is that you often can prevent diabetes with healthy lifestyle modifications, education and sometimes medication. Identifying the early stages of glucose impairment before diabetes develops is an important way to reverse and prevent chronic disease. If you have one or more of the following risk factors, talk to your doctor about screening for prediabetes with a blood test. • Age greater than 45. • Overweight or obese. • A history of gestational diabetes. • Limited exercise. • Elevated blood pressure. • A family history of diabetes. If you have prediabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, several lifestyle changes can greatly decrease your risk. Although making lifestyle changes can be challenging, even small adjustments can have lasting results. • Losing 5-7 percent of your body weight can prevent or delay the progression to diabetes. • Replacing processed and packaged food with vegetables, fruits and lean protein such as chicken, fish, and turkey improves nutrition and decreases calories. • Avoiding white flour in pasta, pastries and bagels and instead choosi ng whole grain options for carbohydrates can improve blood sugar levels. • Increasing exercise to a goal of 150 minutes per week and getting enough restful sleep can also help lower glucose levels and prevent diabetes. • Managing stress is another important component of a healthy lifestyle. • Limiting added sugar in foods to 25 grams (6 teaspoons) a day for women and 37.5 grams (9 teaspoons) for men is an American Heart Association recommendation. For more information or to find a doctor to help you with screening or treatment for prediabetes, visit honorhealth.com/ medical-services/primary-care. — Tiffany Pankow, MD, specializes in family medicine with HonorHealth Medical Group. A healthy lifestyle is key to reducing diabetes risk HEALTHY TIDBITS Now Accepting Applications for 2017-2018 Preschool – Grade 8 Schedule your private tour and learn why generations of families continue to choose STCS to help prepare their children for the high school of their choice! SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS · 2010 National Blue Ribbon School · 99% acceptance rate to Catholic High Schools · New 10,000 sq ft Early Childhood Center · National Junior Honor Society · ITBS scores above national and local averages · Chromebooks, Ipads and computer lab · Accelerated Reading Program · Competitive sports 5th – 8th · All school performances · PE, music, foreign language, library, art & computers · Vibrant Christ-centered community · Financial aid and scholarships available 602-840-0010 x200 5001 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018 WWW.STCS.US A 2010 National Blue Ribbon School, Saint Theresa Catholic School offers a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students spiritually, academically and socially for the high school of their choice. Preschool through Grade 8 Accredited by Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) Schedule your private tour today! Saint Theresa Catholic School Saint Theresa Catholic School & SPORTS COLLECTOR CAR CENTER Servicing Your Car Is Not Our Job, It’s Our Passion • F actory Trained Technicians Using St ate of the Art Equipment • F amil y Owned & Serving The East V alley Since 1973 • Shuttle Service, Pick Up & Delivery A v ailable at no extra cost 480.968.5000 | www.sccarcenter.com • Jaguar & Range Rover Experts • Honor Most Extended W arranties • All Service Guaranteed/ Parts & Labor * All required factory maintenance Services S E R V I C E

7 JUNE 2017 ARCAD A NEWS Arcadia News 25 th Anniversary Feature Publisher’s Note: Straight Up with a Twist is how my life began at the Arcadia News, when I was hired as a humor columnist 20 years ago. This column fits with Father’s Day and just so you know, Hambone is now 11 years-old, so he has his own money. He can holler all he wants for a ‘sicle, providing he brought his wallet with him. By Greg A. Bruns Perhaps there is no greater moment of humility, complete with the laser surgery- like removal of all pride and control, than the Grocery Store Toddler Meltdown. The missus and I joined the parenting club a couple years ago, when our son Hambone 1 was born. Since birth, I would estimate that 90% of the time, whatever Hambone wants, Hambone gets. So it should come as no surprise to me when Hambone hollers for a ‘sicle (his terminology of the frozen confection). Especially when I’m pushing him through this magical building where we just fling things we want into our cart and take them home. In his eyes, there’s just a brief pause near the exit where the checkers fawn over the boy and toss all our goodies into sacks, so what’s stopping us from taking everything in this place home? Do we just need a bigger car or what, daddy? In fact, there’s probably two thousand popsicles in that freezer, and if I’m trying to tell Hambone he can’t have any of them, it makes no sense! I had visions of this moment when I would be face-to-face with The Public Tantrum. In my mind’s eye, it would be like a hostage negotiation: calculated risk with a bit of conciliation and understanding between two semi-rational parties, culminating in a better father/son relationship, all at the expense of a sliver of pride. Easy-peasy. The next seven paragraphs happened in approximately three seconds: Hambone is facing me in the little grocery cart crotch-kicking seat. We turn the corner as I realize that I’ve foolishly steered us down the frozen confections aisle. This is my first mistake. There’s absolutely nothing I need down here, but it’s too late to double back. Committed and now compromised, I accelerate and hope the frozen pizzas on the other side of the aisle will distract my cargo. Once the speed of the shopping cart increases, Hambone instantly becomes aware that a juke is in the works. He haphazardly scans left and right, trying to focus on his surroundings, taking in maybe 25 or 30% of the environment. This is all his keen sense of grocery store awareness needs to make an assessment of his location. “Can we get ‘sicles daddy?” he asks in his sweet little best-behavior voice. My second mistake is slowing the cart, even for a nanosecond. This gives the false sensation that the thought has occurred to me to fulfill Hambone’s request. All Hambone knows is, the very second he blurts out his desire, there is an instant physical response (cart slowing) that seems to indicate his wish will be granted. If I say no, I might as well hand him the popsicles, rip them right back out of his hands and throw them on the roof of the store – it’s the same thing. Here comes my third mistake – it’s something I’m still working on. There’s this slight lull. The calm before the storm. One last chance to just stop the cart, grab the ‘sicles and bail. I know what’s going to happen when I say no. I know Hambone is going to go ‘Rain Man’ on me right here in the store. I scan my mind for the right answer – the perfect solution to the problem. But all I can come up with is the f limsy, unconvincing excuse, “We have plenty of popsicles at home.” As figured, Hambone freaked. He left me no choice but to extract him, abandoning the cart and bolting for the door. I’m surprised no one stopped me to make sure I wasn’t abducting the child. Between Hambone’s howls, and my nervous trotting toward the car, I’m sure that’s what it looked like. Once I got his spastic body into the car seat (those joint locks during super-fits are hard to break!), I shut the door and breathed a sigh of relief. It was like when they locked The Hulk in that concrete bunker with the eight-foot-thick safety glass. Yeah, he was totally pissed , but at least he’s in there and not out here , you know? By the time we got home, Hambone’s brain had delivered some natural Valium and the screaming was reduced to whimpers and sniffles. Later that day, when his Mother came home and asked how my day alone with our son went, I told her we had a great time. I even told her about the popsicles we enjoyed together out by the pool (see, we did have some at home). Since Hambone is only two, I’m sure he won’t remember this incident, but I bet somewhere in the deep recesses of his brain, something told him that if he makes a scene in the grocery store, eventually he will get what he wants. — Greg A. Bruns can be reached at greg@arcadianews.com. 1 To prevent preschool ostracizing, our son’s name has been changed for this column. The Great Popsicle Meltdown As part of our anniversary celebration throughout 2017, we will re-print some of our favorite photos and stories from the past 25 years. These specials are identified with our “25th Anniversary Feature” banner at the top of the page. In fact, there’s probably two thousand popsicles in that freezer, and if I’m trying to tell Hambone he can’t have any of them, it makes no sense! ” Looking for Fun this Summer? Visit our website for information on Summer Camp options for students in preschool through 8th gr ade! Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH ✦ 2312 EAST CAMPBELL AVENUE ✦ PHOENIX, AZ 85016 (2 blocks south of Camelback & 24th Street) Held in air conditioned rooms! Lots of bargains and treasures! Wednesday, June 21st 8am to 2pm Thursday, June 22nd 8am to 12pm and 4pm to 8pm Friday, June 23rd 8am to 2pm Saturday, June 24th 8am to 12pm Tuesday, June 20th, Pre-sale 4pm to 8pm $5 admission for adults (children are free) | Admission includes hot dog, chips & drink