Diabetes Tips

Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus (m?li't?s), is a chronic disorder of glucose (sugar) metabolism caused by inadequate production or use of insulin, a hormone produced in specialized cells (beta cells in the islets of Langerhans) in the pancreas that allows the body to use and store glucose.

SYMPTOMS

• Dry mouth.
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increased appetite (Type 1 only)
• Unexplained weight loss (Type 1 only)
• Feeling week, tired and dizzy
• Frequent skin infections
• Slow healing wounds
• Recurrent vaginal infections
• Blurry vision
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Fast, shallow breathing

Insulin-dependent Diabetes

Insulin-dependent diabetes, also called juvenile-onset diabetes, is the more serious form of the disease; about 10% of diabetics have this form. It is caused by destruction of pancreatic cells that make insulin and usually develops before age 30. Type I diabetics have a genetic predisposition to the disease. There is some evidence that it is triggered by a virus that changes the pancreatic cells in a way that prompts the immune system to attack them. The symptoms are the same as in the non-insulin-dependent variant, but they develop more rapidly and with more severity. Treatment includes a diet limited in carbohydrates and saturated fat, exercise to burn glucose, and regular insulin injections, sometimes administered via a portable insulin pump. Transplantation of islet cells has also proved successful since 1999, after new transplant procedures were developed, but the number of pancreases available for extraction of the islet cells is far smaller than the number of Type I diabetics. Patients receiving a transplant must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the cells.

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes also called adult-onset diabetes, results from the inability of the cells in the body to respond to insulin. About 90% of diabetics have this form, which is more prevalent in minorities and usually occurs after age 40. Although the cause is not completely understood, there is a genetic factor and 90% of those affected are obese. As in Type I diabetes, treatment includes exercise and weight loss and a diet low in total carbohydrates and saturated fat. Some individuals require insulin injections; many rely on oral drugs, such as sulphonylureas, metformin, or acarbose.

How to Prevent Diabetes

Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. Diabetes Prevention studies conclusively showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity. They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range.
While studies also showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes.


TREATMENT

• Take insulin or medications as prescribed
• Eat a healthy diet to keep your blood sugar in control and pay special attention to eating low-fat foods
• Exercise regularly to help regulate your blood sugar level, reduce your risk for heart disease and control weight
• Track the food you eat and the kind and amount of exercise you get
• Take good care of your feet as diabetes may damage nerves and reduce the blood flow to your feet
• Get regular eye exams. Diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. Early detection and treatment can slow the process and save your sight
• Have regular medical checkups. If you are diabetic or know someone who is, call a health professional if signs of low blood sugar last more than 15 minutes

Foot Health

Foot Health is usually taken for granted because of its constant use. The feet composes of the all ten toes, the heels, the ankle, and the palm of the feet. These are the basic parts of the feet as a whole unit. But how did the use of the feet become important in human history?

The feet are subjected to about a hundred or more pounds of pressure everyday just by you standing or carrying a load. Every major nerve endings are located at the bottom of the feet. That is why foot spa or massage can truly be a relaxing experience due to the nerves that gets stimulated by the right strokes and preparations. It is not practical to afford spa treatments for your feet everyday, so what pragmatic methods can you do to keep your Foot Health at top shape?
Inspect your feet everyday. Look at your feet closely when you take a bath or shower. Check if there are any superficial indications of skin problems like athlete's foot or any fungal infections and treat them immediately. Also, check for any deformities or pain felt in the area.

Do not treat your nails to fancy cuts. As much as possible, especially for women, cut your toe nails to its natural form. Do not reform the natural shape of your nails as it might cause in-grown nail that can grow painfully at wrongly cut nails.


Use the right socks. Many socks manufactured today are specialized in many ways. Some are made with anti-bacterial materials that can prevent bad odor from the feet and some have elasticity built to support the ankle and the heels. Choose different socks for different uses to protect your feet properly.


Wash and clean your feet daily. Clean and washed feet are free from foot odor problems or bacteria. The feet is almost susceptible to free bacteria on the surfaces it touches and so washing it with warm water and soap can help minimize the contamination of bacteria from your feet.


Moisturize and massage your feet once a day. A brief massage for a few minutes can help stimulate the nerve endings at the feet than can help you relax the whole day. Massaging with lotion and covering the feet with petroleum jelly at night with socks on can minimize calluses and corns.


Keeping your foot health can translate to good personal hygiene. Although the feet is usually covered from the outside, it is imperative to maintain them clean, massaged, and well-kept to maximize the use of your feet for any occasion.

Anxiety

Anxiety are serious issues the common run of the mill type of anxiety you feel each and every day is perfectly natural, and may be vary greatly from one person to another. Nevertheless, just because it's common doesn't mean it can't make your life miserable and cause serious health issues while reducing productivity.

Here are 6 Top Tips for beating anxiety

1. Take time out for relaxation and exercise every day, meditation and yoga are highly recommended.

2. Get to bed earlier for a good night's sleep. Write down all that is on your mind, so you can forget it for now.

3. Express your feelings, don't repress them. If you don't have someone to talk to, write in a journal.

4. Ask for help when you need it. The world will not fall apart if you ask for some assistance.

5. If you are feeling stressed, take a break from what you are doing, and do something fun for 15 minutes.

6. Very important, so I left it until last. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. Cut down or cut out sugar and caffeine.

Running Breathing Secrets

Proper breathing is an essential part of any training program, especially when running.Here are a few tips and strategies to help get on the right path.

Beginner runner

If you are new to running, then you need to run at a pace at which you can breathe easily and effortlessly. One way to make sure of that is by passing the talk test, this means that you can run and talk at the same time without much huffing and puffing.

Breathe in through the nose

The best way to get your blood flow and muscle well oxygenated is by inhaling through the nose. Nose breathing allows more control on your breathing cadence and rhythm.

Breathe out of the mouth

Exhale fully through the mouth, this removes Carbon Dioxide from your body, releases tension and gives a
sense of relaxation and calmness throughout the workout. It allows also for deeper inhalations.

Deep breathing

Take as much deep breaths as possible. Deep breathing ensures constant oxygen delivery to the working muscles, thus enhancing your running performance.

Don't get out of breath

As we saw earlier, getting out of breath interrupts the delivery of oxygen into your working muscles, thus you have to slow down and walk to catch a breath. For that, you should make breathing a priority when running; don't get caught or it is too late.

One last word of advice is to just have fun and let nature take its course. As you practice more and more, you will find it easier to sustain your berthing rhythm, even under intense physical activity.

fitness videos

watch and enjoy fitness videos

visit

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_videos.asp


http://www.health24.com/videos/fitness/default.asp

Endoscopy

Endoscopy describes many procedures that look inside the body using some type of endoscope, a flexible tube with a small TV camera and a light on one end and an eyepiece on the other.

The endoscope allows doctors to examine the inside of certain tubelike structures in the body. Many endoscopes transmit the doctor's view to a video screen. Most endoscopes have attachments that permit doctors to take fluid or tissue samples for laboratory testing

Risks

There is minimal risk that the endoscope may injure or puncture some part of your body. For more specific risks related to a particular type of endoscopy, check with your doctor

Preparation

The amount of preparation needed for endoscopy depends on what part of the body is being examined. For upper endoscopy, you will be instructed not to eat or drink for six to eight hours before the test. For bronchoscopy, you will need to follow restrictions on eating and drinking and take special precautions regarding your mouth and teeth. Your doctor will give you specific details. For colonoscopy, you will need to clear your bowels completely of stool before the procedure. To do this, you will modify your diet and take laxatives the day before the procedure. For sigmoidoscopy, you will need to have an enema before the test.

Before any endoscopy, remind your doctor of your medical and surgical history. Tell your doctor if you have any allergies. If you are a woman and there is any chance that you may be pregnant, tell your doctor.

It Used For

Removal of a foreign body — Endoscopy allows doctors to find and remove foreign bodies from the upper lung airways or gastrointestinal tract.

Cancer prevention — Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy allow doctors to find and remove polyps before they become colon cancers

Diagnostic evaluation of symptoms — Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy allow doctors to view organs directly and take pictures of any abnormalities that may be causing symptoms such as abdominal pain or rectal bleeding. The doctor can remove a sample of tissue (biopsy) through the endoscope during the procedure. The doctor may also obtain images of nearby organs, such as the pancreas, by an ultrasound attachment to an endoscope.

How It Is Done

In general, you will dress in a hospital gown and lie on an examination table. Your vital signs (pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate) will be monitored throughout the procedure. The type of pain medication or sedatives you receive depends on what type of endoscopy you are having

Falls and Fractures

Falls are serious at any age, but especially for older people who are more likely to break a bone when they fall.

If you have a disease called osteoporosis, you are more likely to break a bone if you fall. Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease" because bones become weak with no symptoms. You may not know that you have it until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break.


Causes
Drinking alcohol can lead to a fall because it can:

• Slow your reflexes
• Cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy
• Alter your balance
• Cause you to take risks that can lead to falls.

Some of the reasons people fall are:

• Tripping or slipping due to loss of footing or traction
• Slow reflexes, which make it hard to keep your balance or move out of the way of a hazard
• Balance problems
• Reduced muscle strength
• Poor vision

Medicines that may increase the risk of falls are:

• Blood pressure pills
• Heart medicines
• Diuretics (water pills)
• Muscle relaxants
• Sleeping pills

Prevention

At any age, people can make changes to lower their risk of falling. Some tips to help prevent falls outdoors are

Wear rubber-soled shoes so you don't slip

Walk on grass when sidewalks are slick

Use a cane or walker

prevent falls indoors are:

Use plastic or carpet runners

Wear low-heeled shoes

Keep rooms free of clutter, especially on floors

Do not walk in socks, stockings, or slippers

Be sure rugs have skid-proof backs or are tacked to the floor

Keep a flashlight next to your bed

Use a sturdy stepstool with a handrail and wide steps

Add more lights in rooms

Be sure stairs are well lit and have rails on both sides

Prevent Broken Bones

Sometimes you cannot prevent a fall. If you do fall, you can try to prevent breaking a bone. Try to fall forwards or backwards (on your buttocks), because if you fall to the side you may break your hip. You can also use your hands or grab things around you to break a fall. Some people wear extra clothes to pad their hips or use special hip pads