As a C.D.E. and R.N., I have been teaching people to care for themselves when they have diabetes for over 20 years. Many times during our education sessions, I will discuss a term or phrase that seems common to me, but my patient usually gives me a curious look and are unfamiliar with the term. I […]
As a CDE/RN, I am often asked questions relating to diabetes. I have picked the ones most frequently asked and hope that they answer some of your questions.
Question 1: Most glucose meters come with a control solution. What is it used for and why is it important? How can I order a refill […]
It’s about that time of year when many of us are planning our summer vacations. Preparing for a vacation can add unnecessary stress. Stress is unhealthy and can impact your blood sugar levels so it’s time to put yourself at ease with your preparation and let the fun begin right now! Start enjoying your vacation even before you leave with these packing tips. Below are some tools you may consider using on your next excursion!
Springtime is always a great time to clean the rugs, upholstery and draperies, but we tend to forget about cleaning and updating something more important, like the old fashioned medicine cabinet. After inhaling an extremely spicy meal, I recently attacked my medicine cabinet at midnight for some Pepto-Bismol tablets to put out the gastric burn. Unfortunately, the tablets expired on 2009. I guess that I am lucky that I have not had a problem since then, yet I went to sleep in misery. I was negligent in updating my over –the –counter medicines and now promise to be better prepared.
Flu season usually runs from late October with a high occurrence rate through February. Hopefully, you all had your flu shots last fall and will continue to do so every October. Now that winter is over, spring season brings us less colds and flu. We have warmer, sunny, breezier days and lots of seasonal allergies. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology state that approximately 50 million Americans have some form of allergies.
There are three grades of fish oil: cod liver oil; health-food grade fish oil; and pharmaceutical-grade fish oil. Due to its inferior purification process, cod liver fish oil and food grade fish oils are found to contain some contaminants such as mercury, PCB’s, and DDT. Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils are […]
According to the American Diabetes Association, when it comes to the prevention of diabetes, excess weight is a leading risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that losing five to ten percent of one’s body weight can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. It is a well-known fact that […]
Omega-3 fatty acids are getting a lot of attention these days from both the American Diabetes (ADA) and American Heart (AHA) Associations, especially for its benefits (lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure) to those people with diabetes who also have high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure.
Both the ADA and AHA agree that Cardiovascular […]
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Prevention is becoming the new buzz word in health care these days. American medicine has always been based on taking measures to treat the illness after it occurs instead of trying to prevent it. Today, some of us are afraid we will not get the proper care when we need it and others realize that doing some basic self-care is the way to prevent future problems. Starting from head to toe, I would like to recommend some simple products to get you on track to better self-care with your diabetes.
A new year represents a fresh start for all of us. It is a great time to start the year off on the right foot. January 1st is a date to think of all the things we could improve and begin to implement them. However, after a few months, if that long, reality sets in and we are back to our old habits. With diabetes, not following through on good self care can result in potentially harmful health complications. Now is the time to make a commitment to your health today and for the next 360 days, and beyond. I recommend these essential and easy-to-keep steps for all-year-round care.