April is a month of renewal, as we are feeling the seasonal changes that come with the spring rains. Use your spring cleaning energy to improve your overall health and well-being by taking stock of the foods you allow into your home.  Consider cleaning out your home food storage areas.  The best diet is the "Don't Buy it ". Purge your pantry; frisk your fridge and freezer! Imagine patting your home food storage areas down for weapons of  diet destruction.

On Wednesday, April 5th, the Shawnee Clinic, as well as the rest of the health system, will close at the noon hour for health's first of the month administrative duties.  Shawnee Clinic will not re-open at 5:00 P.M.  The Extended Hours service will be closed on this particular evening and will re-open the following business day.  However, if you need to be seen for an acute illness or injury on the evening of the April 5th, you can be seen at the PlusCare Clinic, 15702 East State Highway 9, Norman, OK 73026, or call (405)447-0477.  They will re-open at 5:00 P.M. and remain open until 9:00 P.M. with the last patient accepted at 8:30 P.M.

Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children.  Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, then women without diabetes. For more information please call AST Diabetes & Wellness at 405-701-7977.  This is a message from the American Diabetes Association and AST Diabetes &  Wellness Program.

Historically, men have not been comfortable discussing issues about their health, particularly conditions like diabetes, depression, nutrition and fitness.  This has resulted in shorter and less healthy lives for men in the United States compared to women.  We encourage all men with or without diabetes to take the "modern man" challenge:  get out, get active, get informed!   For more informatiom on men's health, diabetes and other nuturitional information, please contact the Absentee Shawnee Tribe Wellness & Diabetes Department at (405)701-7977.  *This is a message from the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org and the AST Wellness & Diabetes Department.*