Do You Just Belong?

Are you just an active member

The kind that you would be missed?

Or are you just contented

That your name is on the list?

Do you attend the meetings and

Mingle with the flock?

Or do you just stay at home

To criticize and knock?

Do you take an active part

To help the work along?

Or are you satisfied

To only just belong?

Do you work with your committee

And get right in and mix?

Or leave the work to just a few

And talk about the Cliques?

Think this over brother

You know right from wrong!

Are you an active member

OR DO YOU JUST BELONG?

A tribute to senior citizens can be an act of gratitude, respect, or admiration for their contributions to society and life experiences!

God has blessed us in many ways and one of the most meaningful blessings He has given is the gift of “Senior Citizens.” They teach us the timeless lessons of courage, sacrifice, love and giving: giving of self and giving to God. By sharing their wisdom and experiences with us, they serve as role models for future generations to come. They continuously live on in the character, morals and values that they instill in each of us.

The Brentwood Alumni Chapter's Senior Kappa Affairs Committee (SKAC) has been very active in community activities throughout the Nashville area. The SKAC is led by Senior Kappa (60+) Brothers, but Brothers of all ages participate in assisting senior citizens around the community. All Brentwood Alumni Brothers are encouraged to support senior citizen programs at Senior Centers, Churches, Health Centers and Community Centers. The SKAC also provides volunteers at other other institutions, such as the Nashville Rescue Mission and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Kaduceus' Korner

Brother Ryan D. Mire, MD

November is American Diabetes Month

Given the statistics that 38.1 million adults in the United States have diabetes, there’s no better time than now to talk about a chronic disease that may affect someone that you know or love.

November is American Diabetes Month and I will take this opportunity to stress the importance of being screened for diabetes.

In the simplest of definitions, diabetes is a chronic condition in which the cells in the pancreas burnout and are not able to adequately make enough insulin to utilize and convert the glucose (sugar) that is circulating in the bloodstream into energy.  Subsequently, the glucose

accumulates in the bloodstream, and can lead to numerous complications, such as heart, disease, stroke, circulation, nerve problems (neuropathy), vision loss, and kidney disease/failure.

Some common symptoms of diabetes include excessive urination, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, visual changes, and poor wound healing.  

However, in the early stages, there are no symptoms (asymptomac), so the only way diabetes can be detected is through blood (laboratory) testing.  Thus, if you don’t get screened, you may not even realize you have this condition and this may limit your ability to prevent or adequately manage potential the complications listed above. 

 An estimated 1 of 5 people in the U.S. have diabetes, but are unaware!

The evidence is clear that health disparities exist and diabetes a&ects Black paents at a significant rate higher than most other racial/ethnic groups.  Blacks are at least 2 times more likely to die, be hospitalized, and develop kidney failure than whites. 

In addition on to race/ethnicity, there are other circumstances that may increase your risk, such as family history of a +rst degree relative and/or obesity.  Given these facts and stascs, I urge you to be

proactive in making you get screened by your primary care clinician. This blog does not afford me adequate time to address the topic of diabetes in its entirety (prevention, diagnostic criteria, management options, prognosis), but none of these components are relevant if you

don’t get screened.  

Do your part to get screened and make sure you don’t wait for symptoms to occur. My call to action is for each Brother (over the age of 35) to take care of your health, which includes an annual diabetes screening by your physician or healthcare professional.