Inside the Clinic: The Cicada Edition

Good morning, Community!

I write this looking out on my unkempt yard where I would have been this weekend un-unkempting it, but for my (irrational) fear of those pesky cicadas that are flying around in their mad rush of a swansong.

I understand that some folks are advertising how to eat these (yes, I admit) amazing specimens of nature in brownies or as deep-fried snacks, though with the caveat that if you have a shellfish allergy it is best to avoid them. Good to know….

The human species has learned to eat such a variety of foods (including insects!) and, when they can’t be easily digested in their raw state, humans have learned to cook and pickle and ferment these foods so they are much kinder to the body. It’s fascinating to think that humans can survive on all sorts of diets from vegan to carnivore and everything in between; and also fascinating to learn that, to coin the ancient adage of the Roman poet/philosopher, Lucretius, that what may be food for one is like poison to another.

All of us can probably attest to some food acting in a most unfavorable way within our own bodies, while knowing someone else who thrives on it. Learning about how food impacts the body is a key component of our diabetes education program which we are in the process of beefing up (pardon the pun!) so that it is more available to the over 100 patients of ours who suffer from prediabetes or diabetes.

The different cultural cuisines that many patients brought from their countries of origin adds a culinary and nutritional challenge to our diabetes educators as they help patients understand how one food or another may negatively impact their blood sugar and insulin response; but when have we ever not been up for a challenge? And when health and wellbeing is the goal, we are here to serve!!

Of course, we will need to engage more deeply with local partners to support our efforts in co-creating a community of health in Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore, but that will be exciting in itself! The good thing is that we have old partnerships, new partnerships, and changing partnerships that are committing to a future where our community will be heralded as an “island of opportunity” where it was once designated an “island of disadvantage”.

Stay tuned for developments over the next few months!

Meanwhile, we have settled into our new hybrid clinical operations, with onsite provider visits on Mondays and Wednesdays and telemedicine provider and counseling visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I thank you all for your flexibility and steadfastness in meeting the myriad patient and operational needs we have each week!

As we look forward to our annual fundraiser, A Virtual Toast to the Power of Community and Caring on June 19th, I urge you to share the invitation to the event with your friends and family and join with us in celebrating the small, but mighty Culmore Clinic that rose to the occasion during a devastating pandemic and now moves into a future of health and opportunity for our precious patients and vulnerable neighbors. (News Alert! If you tune in on the 19th, you’ll hear what Culmore Clinic means to our patients in their very own words!)

Warmly,

Anne-Lise