General Diabetes Information

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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.

A by-product of fat breakdown is ketone production, which is toxic to the body. This complication is known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and can lead to illness or even death. Ketones accumulate in the blood and can be recognized in the blood about 2-4 hours prior to appearing in urine. This makes a blood test more accurate than a urine test to detect ketone levels.

To continue our exploration of diabetes and heart health during American Heart Month, I would like to introduce you to pulse oximetry, also known as “pulse ox.” In a nutshell, pulse oximetry devices measure how much oxygen is in your blood. Low oxygen saturation (hypoxemia) in blood can impede body function and harm vital tissues, resulting […]