The Nutritionist and Nurse

02/26/2026

If you live in Minnesota and rely on Medicaid (Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare), and you have diabetes, please read this carefully.

Funding has been paused.
Providers are being paid for now, but may begin holding elective and preventative services soon.

For diabetes patients, preventative care is not optional. It is critical.

What This Means for You

If services begin tightening, you could experience:
• Delays in A1C testing
• Postponed eye or foot exams
• Slower medication authorizations
• Limited access to diabetes education programs
• Delays in endocrinology visits

Diabetes does not wait. Preparation matters.

If You Have Diabetes and Are on Medicaid:

• Schedule follow-up appointments NOW
• Refill insulin and medications
• Confirm your provider still accepts Medicaid
• Request lab orders in advance
• Ask for 90-day prescriptions if possible
• Download copies of recent lab results

Do not assume services will continue uninterrupted.

Minnesota Resources for Medicaid & Diabetes Support

🔹 Minnesota Department of Human Services
Medical Assistance (Medicaid) & MinnesotaCare updates
https://mn.gov/dhs

🔹 MNsure
Coverage options and enrollment help
https://www.mnsure.org

🔹 Minnesota Department of Health
Diabetes resources and community programs
https://www.health.state.mn.us

🔹 United Way – Dial 211
Free assistance connecting to local health and social services

The Office of American Indian Health and Tribal Relations was created in 2023 to improve the health and wellbeing of American Indian communities across Minnesota and ensure Tribal and urban American Indian communities are represented in all of Minnesota’s public health initiatives.

02/26/2026

If you, your family members, or friends rely on Medicaid services in the state of Minnesota, please take action now to protect your access to healthcare.

What’s happening?

Funding has been paused.
Providers are being paid for now, but they may begin holding elective and preventative services soon.

This means some clinics and healthcare providers could:
• Delay non-urgent appointments
• Pause preventative screenings
• Limit elective procedures
• Reevaluate Medicaid participation

Preventative care is not “extra.” It is what keeps you out of the hospital.

If you’re on Medicaid:

• Schedule appointments NOW
• Refill prescriptions
• Confirm your provider still accepts Medicaid
• Check your eligibility and renewal status

Do not wait until services are restricted.

Access to care is not something we assume — it’s something we protect.

Stay informed. Stay proactive. Stay covered.

02/14/2026

This was my blood pressure on Thursday.
My blood pressure was taken today manually was 118/72.

Usually, I am around 110 or 90. I am not complaining,

I like to share my blood pressures.

I don’t take any medications. I eat clean and drink my water and mind my business.

02/14/2026

This Valentine’s Day, I’m thinking about a different kind of love, the kind that protects your future.

Love isn’t just flowers, cards, and dinner reservations. Real love is also prevention. It’s choosing the habits today that help you stay here, healthy and whole, for the people who need you tomorrow.

Prediabetes doesn’t send a loud warning. It whispers. Quiet changes in blood sugar. Subtle weight gain. A little more fatigue than usual. And before you know it, Type 2 diabetes shows up uninvited.

But here’s the beautiful part, this is one of the few health conditions where love truly can change the story.

Love looks like:• Walking together after dinner• Choosing water instead of sugary drinks• Cooking one healthy meal at home each week• Encouraging each other to get checkups• Saying “let’s do this together” instead of “you should fix this”

Prevention is not punishment. It is an act of self-respect. It is a promise to your future self. It is a gift to your children, your family, and your legacy.

So today, I have a different kind of Valentine’s question.

Not “Will you be mine?”

But…

Will you be my Preventee?

Will you choose to protect your health, lower your risk, and take one step toward a longer, stronger life?

Because the greatest love story you will ever have is the one where you stay alive and well enough to live it fully.

02/13/2026

As a nurse and public health professional here in Houston, this story hit me deeply.

If these allegations are true, this is not just a legal issue it is a moral and ethical crisis. Medicine is built on trust. Patients place their lives, their families, and their futures in the hands of healthcare professionals believing that decisions are being made with honesty, transparency, and integrity.

Altering records in a way that affects someone’s eligibility for a life-saving organ is not just paperwork manipulation — it directly impacts survival, dignity, and justice.

This moment reminds us of several hard truths:

• Healthcare power must always be balanced with accountability
• Patients deserve clear communication and informed consent
• Systems must protect the vulnerable, not silence them
• Ethics are not optional — they are the foundation of care

As I shared recently in conversation with the fraternity, community leadership matters in moments like this. We must continue advocating for patient rights, transparency in healthcare systems, and culturally competent oversight that ensures fairness for all people.

Lives depend on it.

My prayer is for truth to come to light, for patients and families to receive justice, and for the medical community to recommit to the sacred oath to do no harm.

02/10/2026

Living With Prediabetes? You’re Not Alone — and You’re Not Stuck.

If you’ve been told you have prediabetes, this page is for you.

AreYouAtRiskForType2.com is a simple registration page for individuals who:
• Have been diagnosed with prediabetes
• Have been told their blood sugar is “borderline”
• Want structured support to prevent Type 2 diabetes
• Are ready to take action instead of waiting

This is not a diagnosis and not a quiz.
It’s a starting point for people who already know they’re at risk and want guidance, education, and accountability.

If you’ve been wondering “What do I do next?” — this is your next step.

Register here: www.areyouatriskfortype2.com

Prediabetes is a warning — not a sentence.
Prevention is possible.

Providing evidence based diabetes prevention and health education programs delivered via telehealth and community partnerships.

02/04/2026

I am about to dig in deep on this. I will pulling the bill today and read it.

This is a huge win for diabetes prevention and telehealth!

Thank you to DPAC for sharing.

02/03/2026

Black Men going to the doctor is healthy, smart, and legacy.

Let’s change the story we’ve been telling.

For too long, the idea of a Black man going to the doctor has been wrapped in jokes, fear, or silence. But the truth is simple and strong:

Black men going to the doctor for their annual physical isn’t weakness its wisdom, health, and legacy.

An annual exam is not about being “soft.” It’s about being aware. It’s about catching what the eye can’t see high blood pressure, prediabetes, heart disease, silent cancers before they steal time, strength, and dreams. Real strength is choosing to know.

That’s why we can say with confidence:

Black men going to the doctor is healthy. It’s smart. It’s legacy.

Healthy because prevention protects the body.
Smart because early detection saves lives.
Legacy because our families need us here, whole and present.

A Black man who gets his annual physical is doing more than checking a box.
He is protecting his health, his future, and his legacy.
He is saying, “I plan to be here for my children, my partner, my purpose, and my calling.”

Going to the doctor is a smart move. And for Black men, it’s an act of health and legacy.
It’s a decision that reaches beyond one appointment and touches generations.

Honoring your body includes the doctor’s office. Choosing annual physicals means choosing life, choosing responsibility, and choosing to break cycles that have taken too many of our fathers, brothers, and friends too soon.

So let this be the new culture:

Annual physicals.
Healthy Black men.
Lasting legacies.

No shame.
No jokes.
Just wisdom and love in action.

KevOnStage you are 1000% correct. Many blessings of health to you.

01/26/2026

Due to weather-related technical difficulties beyond our control, tonight’s Hypertension webinar has been shared as a recording with registered participants.

Our live sessions resume next week.

Questions?
Email host@thenutritionistandnurse.health

Registration is now open for our final session on Kidney Disease & Blood Pressure—please share with someone who could benefit.

Stay happy, healthy, and safe.
The Nutritionist and Nurse

Registration Link :

https://healthed.easywebinar.live/event-registration

01/23/2026

Avoid Hypothermia: Protect Your Body in Cold Weather

Cold weather is more than uncomfortable, it can be dangerous. Hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing your core temperature to drop below normal.

This can happen even in Texas, especially during storms, power outages, or extended time outdoors.

Who Is Most at Risk?
• Older adults
• Babies and young children
• People with diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease
• Individuals experiencing homelessness
• Anyone without heat or proper winter clothing

How to Prevent Hypothermia
• Layer wisely: Start with a dry base layer, add insulation, and finish with a wind or water-resistant outer layer
• Cover extremities: Hat, gloves, scarf, and warm socks are essential
• Stay dry: Wet clothes steal heat, change immediately
• Limit outdoor exposure: Take frequent warm-up breaks
• Fuel your body: Eat regular meals and drink warm, non-alcoholic beverages
• Keep indoor heat on: Safely use heaters and avoid unvented heat sources

Warning Signs to Watch For
• Shivering (later stages may stop shivering)
• Slurred speech
• Confusion or extreme fatigue
• Cold, pale, or bluish skin
• Weak pulse or slow breathing

If you see these signs, seek emergency help immediately.

Emergency Support
• Call 911 for severe symptoms
• Local emergency services or warming centers during storms
• 211 for shelter, heat assistance, and community resources

01/22/2026

For Dialysis Patients, People Living with Diabetes, and Individuals with Special Needs

This weather is serious, and your health matters. Please pause, breathe, and take a few moments to prepare and protect you.

If You Are on Dialysis
• Call your dialysis center now to confirm hours, transportation plans, or emergency instructions.
• Do not skip treatment unless your care team explicitly tells you to.
• Keep emergency contact numbers, medications, and your renal diet plan close.
• If travel is unsafe, communicate early with your team can guide next steps.

If You Have Diabetes
• Check blood sugars regularly cold stress and routine changes can cause fluctuations.
• Keep insulin and supplies at safe temperatures (not frozen).
• Have fast-acting carbs nearby (juice, glucose tabs).
• Eat consistently and stay hydrated, even if you’re indoors all day.

If You or a Loved One Has Special Needs
• Make sure medical devices are charged and backup power is available if possible.
• Keep caregiver contact info visible and accessible.
• Prepare a go-bag: medications, snacks, water, warm clothing, copies of care plans.
• Reduce fall risks and clear walkways and wear supportive footwear indoors.

For Caregivers & Neighbors
• Please check on elders and medically vulnerable neighbors.
• A quick call or knock can make all the difference.

Your life is precious. Rest is not weakness. Asking for help is wisdom. Prepare what you can, communicate early, and stay connected.

Medical & Health Support

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Medication errors, overdoses, toxic exposure
• Free, confidential, 24/7

Su***de & Crisis Lifeline: 988
• Mental health crisis, emotional distress
• Call or text 988 (24/7)

Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
• Emotional support during natural disasters and emergencies
• Text TalkWithUs to 66746

Disaster & Emergency Assistance

FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362
• Disaster assistance, shelters, housing help
• TTY: 1-800-462-7585

American Red Cross: 1-800-733-2767
• Emergency shelters, disaster relief, local resources

Utilities & Safety
• Local Electric / Gas Company Emergency Line (for outages or gas leaks)
• Local Emergency Management Office (county or city alerts)

Special Reminder for Medically Vulnerable Individuals

If you are on dialysis, have diabetes, use medical equipment, or have special needs, keep:
• These numbers saved in your phone
• A written list in case your phone dies
• A trusted emergency contact notified of your condition.