Archive for October, 2008
Diabetes and Pregnancy - How Does One Effect The Other?
While expectant parents wish for a problem-free pregnancy, unfortunately this is not always the case. There are some women that suffer complications of their pregnancy and while some may be more mild than others, occasionally women are diagnosed with more serious illnesses. Medical reports show that over 140, 000 women in the USA will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes this year alone. Gestational diabetes normally occurs in the last three to four months of a pregnancy.
The cause of gestational diabetes is largely unknown, although there is some link to pregnancy hormones and the placenta. If your body is unable to make or use all the insulin it needs, glucose remaining in the blood eventually reaches abnormally high levels.
Unlike other health problems, gestational diabetes does not normally result in birth defects; however, it can have repercussions for the baby. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes tend to be large and this can lead to injuries to the child’s shoulders during the normal birthing process. The babies can have jaundice, low glucose levels and higher insulin levels than is the norm, as well as breathing problems. It is also believed that babies born with high insulin levels are at a higher risk for obesity.
Gestational diabetes can also cause problems for the mother, as delivering a larger-than-normal baby can be difficult and, in many instances, results in a caesarian section. In addition, gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type II diabetes later on in life.
As with any other type of diabetes, controlling the gestational type is possible with diet, exercise, and medication. With this type of diabetes, treatment is normally started as soon as it is known that the mother-to-be has GD. Diet plans are normally given to the expectant mother so that she can help control her blood sugar level. Foods from all the food groups should be eaten for a well-balanced diet, with greater portions of vegetables and whole grains.
Moderate exercise is also recommended to help control gestational diabetes, although previous levels of physical activity have to be taken into account. Physical activity helps the body use up the excess glucose without the need for extra insulin. If you were not exercising before you got pregnant, it would be unwise to start any strenuous exercise at this stage of your pregnancy.
It is also important to monitor your sugar level closely. Set up a routine so that you know when to test your glucose level.
If gestational diabetes is diagnosed during pregnancy, there is a great likelihood that it will go away once the baby is born. However, if a woman has gestational diabetes once, it is possible that she will have it again during future pregnancies. Some cases of type I and II diabetes are only discovered during pregnancies. In such cases, there will be the need for continued treatment even after giving birth.
To learn more go to Diabetes Cure and at Natural Cures For Diabetes
Diabetic Child - What Does The Type Of Care Involve?
Despite our best efforts as parents or caregivers, children will become sick. One such illness which is becoming increasingly prevalent is diabetes. However, keeping a diabetic child healthy is dependent on being informed about the disease, its symptoms, and treatments. Caring for the child with diabetes is the responsibility of all persons who, at some time or other, has to take care of that child. As such, parents need to ensure that all care givers are informed about their diabetic child’s dietary needs.
Most children tend to have type I diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, although children are increasingly being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well. Type I diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not work and does not produce any insulin. Insulin is needed to help break down sugars (glucose) in our body to help it work efficiently. When this breakdown of sugars does not happen, as in the case of type I diabetes, the sugar stays in the blood stream.
Because insulin is important in breaking down sugars in the body to use for energy, insulin has to be taken to control the illness. Therefore type I diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. Exercise and diet are also important helping to control this type of diabetes. Caring for the child with diabetes means that you will need to recognize the signs of the illness, as well as any resulting reactions that can occur. The main signs of diabetes in children are:
Breath smelling like fruit
Constant hunger
Pulse beating faster than normal
Headaches
Being weak and dizzy
Difficulty concentrating
Vision becoming foggy
Skin tending to be cold and moist
Experiencing seizures
Next, you should be able to identify when the child is in crisis, suffering either a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode, and you should know what to do help in either case. Hyperglycemia occurs when the sugar levels are too high. Rising sugar levels are generally a result of eating too much, not taking the correct amount of insulin, or not exercising enough. When a child is hyperglycemic, treatment by medical professionals is needed. A child suffering from high blood sugar will complain of the following:
Weakness
Extreme thirst
Needing to urinate frequently
Not seeing clearly
Not being hungry
With hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), the symptoms vary from child to child, but some of the typical signs include:
Clumsiness
Sudden mood changes
Sweating
Hunger
Seeming confused
Trembling
Headache
Tingling feeling around the mouth
The first course of action is to increase the child’s sugar intake by giving them something sweet to drink, such as regular soda, fruit juice or glucose tablets. Once the child is feeling better, you should give them something more solid to eat. If the child is too weak to swallow or is unconscious, administer the recommended dosage of glucagon and call for immediate medical assistance. Glucagon is a medication given by injection to rapidly increase the level of glucose in the blood. It is normally the first course of treatment in severe hypoglycemia.
Diet is a major part of keeping the diabetic child healthy. The caregiver has the responsibility to ensure that the child eats what is recommended. It is also important to talk with the child and let them know that they will get really sick if they eat too many sweets or other foods that can pose a risk. It is also important to let others, such as teachers, know that a diabetic child may need to snack to boost their sugar and energy levels. The child with diabetes must also have regular meals.
Physical exertion from exercising or sports is important to the diabetic child. The child with diabetes can engage in all normal activities once they observe two basic rules: They should avoid playing just before their meal time and have a snack ready so that they can replace lost sugar. Physical activity burns sugar and reduces energy, so the snack will be necessary to balance sugar levels.
Most importantly, children should be taught how to test their blood sugar levels during the course of the day, once they are able to do soon their own. This is important so that they can take insulin or eat something as needed.
Caring for the diabetic child, while calling for more vigilance in terms of their eating habits can be stress free once you and others taking care of the child know what to do and follow the rules. Also, make sure that emergency numbers are close at hand and that the child learns how to recognize symptoms of potential trouble and take corrective actions.
To learn more go to Diabetes Blog and at Reversing Diabetes
7 Ways To Better Your Skin
To look wonderful, healthy skin is a must. Good skincare is important to prevent aging. As long as you take note of these tips to great skin, you do not need to spend a lot of money to see results.
- Determine your skin type. It can be dry, oily, combination skin, normal or sensitive. Don’t share skincare products with your sister or friend because we have different skin types. Different skincare products will cater to people with different skin type. You can find out by looking at the labels.
- Wash your face in the morning and at night. Dirt and other particles on your face will be removed. To see how dirty the air is, you can try to use a piece of cotton pad with makeup remover to clean your face after a long day without makeup. You will realise that the cotton pad is extremely dirty after that. Wash your face with water that is not too hot.
- Beat the stress. If you do not handle stress well, it will harms your skin or you may see an outbreak of acne. Relax by taking a break, going for a massage, or going for a spa. This will definitely help to improve your skin.
- Be kind to your skin by not using too much strength when you scrub or exfoliate your skin.
- Make sure your skin remains moist. Your skin may crack easily if you live in places where the humidity level is low. Wrinkles may appear. It may look rough and unattractive. To prevent this, use moisturisers. Apply them just after washing your face as they will work best when your skin is slightly damp.
- Do not use soap on your face. Use proper cleansing foam or gel for your face, and use soap or shower foam from the neck and below.
- Protect yourself from the UV rays by using sunblock lotion. You may use them on your face and your body. Wearing long-sleeved tops can help protect your skin as well. No matter what the weather forecast is, you should have sunscreen on you because UV rays are present even if you are in the shade.
If you want to have healthy skin, you just need to make minor adjustments and you should be able to see great results quickly. For more ways to improve your skin, check out these tips to healthy skin.
Natural Remedies For Lowering Cholesterol Give Them A Go
Getting a check up by your local family doctor may be the only way you can determine if you have high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a condition which you should be worried about. The risks associated with high levels of cholesterol can lead to heart attacks, stokes and high blood pressure which are a result of block arteries. But high cholesterol is a thing that can be avoided with proper care.
Crucial For Your Health
Maintaining normal levels of cholesterol is a critical component of enjoying a sound health life style. If your levels have gone higher than normal then you may also want to consider the use of natural remedies for lowering cholesterol. With the danger of cholesterol building up in your arteries and blocking your blood flow you would want to try and prevent this in every possible way.
The first place to start would be to consult your doctor. They could suggest taking natural remedies for lowering cholesterol. The natural remedies would consist of taking minerals, vitamins or even herbs that can help bring down the cholesterol levels to manageable levels. There have been research studies in natural remedies for lowering cholesterol, which have indicated that taking vitamin B3 can help. Niacin, sometimes called vitamin B3, is the more common name for nicotinic acid. It is an antioxidant nutrient that helps the body inhibit the formation of damaging free radicals; it lowers blood levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides and at the same time help increases the good cholesterol HDL and so you would have a win-win situation
Eating natural foods such as unprocessed oats, rye fiber, barley, peas and beans are great for you in regards to reducing cholesterol. You can also incorporate artichoke leaf extract in your natural remedies for lowering cholesterol since it is a good way of reducing cholesterol in the body.
Also don’t forget the exercise it will help to work with the natural remedies to reduce cholesterol. However, in certain cases, doctors may even prescribe certain medications to lower high cholesterol condition though this is a more time consuming effort as compared to taking natural remedies for lowering cholesterol.
At the end of the day natural remedies and exercising should be your first consideration when trying to lower your cholesterol. If they do not work then you should consider other options. The use of natural foods and supplements is surely a more safe method in lowering cholesterol and it is also cost beneficial as well. Be sure to obtain your doctors advice first. They will recommend the most effective treatment for you and your particular case.
Maintaining normal levels of cholesterol is a critical component of enjoying a sound health life style. If your levels have gone higher than normal then you may also want to consider the use of natural remedies for lowering cholesterol.
What Types Of Medication For High Cholesterol Are There
Have your tried everything to try and reduce your cholesterol with little to no achievement then it could be time to explore the option of medication for high cholesterol. Medications for high cholesterol are used when a patient has not responded well to lifestyle and dietary changes. You will find that there is a large variety of medications and they all do different things. All the medications have different probable side effects.
Your doctor can decide what the best medication for you is. They will look at your family history and other factors such as developing heart disease. But remember that medication alone should not be used to reduce your cholesterol levels also make sure that you change your life style habits.
Statins
Statins are very accepted medication for high cholesterol. They work to lessen your body’s capability to create LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, in addition to triglycerides. This medication may in addition help to increase good cholesterol somewhat. Unfortunately there are side effects to taking the drug. You may experience diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, muscle soreness and it is not advisable to take this medication with grape fruit juice. Some people take this drug with no complaints but you should discuss any side effects you experience with your doctor right away.
Bile Acid Binding Resins
This is one of the medication for high cholesterol that work to reduce LDL levels but a side effect may be that you experience an increase in triglycerides. Other side effects associated with this drug are bloating, gas, nausea and constipation.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
This medicine does precisely what the name says. It inhibits your body’s capability to soak up cholesterol from the food you eat. This will decrease LDL levels as well as slightly decrease triglyceride levels. Your HDL levels may also increase somewhat though continued exercise and consumption of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats is advised to keep increasing HDL levels.
Fibrates
These drugs do not decrease the level of LDL cholesterol in your body. Instead it will lower the level of triglycerides and increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your body. There is a risk of developing gallstones, nausea and stomach pain in terms of side effects.
Niacin
Niacin is one of the uncommon medications for high cholesterol that are available over the counter. It is however desirable to seek prescription niacin to obtain the correct dosage. The benefits of this medication are that you will be able to up your HDL cholesterol while decreasing your LDL and triglyceride levels. Some of the more serious side effects include high blood sugar, peptic ulcers and gout.
Conquer your Headaches using Homeopathy
Headaches plague millions of people every day. Any type of headache, whether it is caused by stress, migraines, or even dental problems, can affect your quality of life and make it very difficult to get through the day. Conventional medicines are effective at covering up the symptoms for a while, but they do not work forever. Over the counter pain relievers can cause a tolerance to build up in your body after a while so that they no longer relieve your headaches as well as they once did.
Not surprisingly, many headache sufferers are turning to homeopathy for headaches.There is no better way to create a healthy body and optimise health than to use homeopathic treatments and remedies. Homeopathy for headaches can include homeopathic medicines and remedies such as stress relief, dietary changes, exercise, rest, and increased hydration.
Homeopathy for headaches is effective because it attempts to let the body come up with its own solution to a chronic problem. Some medicines actually cause the very symptoms that the sufferer is trying to clear up, calling the body’s defenses to action. Besides bringing instant relief, this can also lessen the appearance of general symptoms over an extended period of time.
Homeopathic treatments or medications for homeopathy for headaches can be found from a homeopathic health practitioner, health food and supplement stores, and from some homeopathic supply dealers. If you are looking in a health food or supplement store, you may see bottles of supplements labeled as “headache relief,” “migraine support,” or similar names. These capsules often contain the same type of homeopathic medicines that are given individually or in specific combinations by homeopathic health practitioners.
However, in order to ensure that you are taking a product that will benefit your specific type of headache, it may be beneficial to ask a homeopathic health practitioner to look at the ingredients for you. If you decide to go with a more personalized treatment, homeopathy for headaches is easy to accomplish with just a basic working knowledge of homeopathy medicines. There are many books on homeopathy where you can find homeopathy remedies for headaches and headache relief.
With homeopathic remedies for a headache, just like with all homeopathic treatment, what works for one person may not work for the next.One must experiment with various treatments to see what works best. When you do, you will be amazed at how great it feels to get through entire days without worrying about headaches.
How Does Diabetes Effect Dental Health?
Tooth decay is a result of periodontal disease. Having diabetes just adds to the potential problem of gum disease because of poor circulation in the mouth, a common symptom of diabetes. The germs that cause gum disease also affect how the body processes sugar, leading to an increase of sugar in the blood stream which then increases the level of insulin resistance. Having diabetes is complicated enough to control, but making sure that you take steps to avoid loss of teeth is important for health.
Diabetes, if not managed properly, will lead to various issues with dental hygiene. The first problem that diabetics face with oral hygiene is periodontal disease. Irregular glucose levels in the blood indirectly causes less saliva in the mouth and the diabetic will be prone to dry mouth. The drier your mouth is, the less saliva you have to neutralize salivary sugars, which lead to the development of ulcers. Monitoring blood glucose levels is an important part of controlling diabetes and maintaining healthy teeth and gums to prevent rot.
Because people with diabetes generally have poor blood circulation, they may not feel any pain or discomfort until their dental problems are at an advanced stage. As such, the diabetic should examine their mouths and look for any of the following:
- Tender or swollen gums
- Bleeding whenever brushing or flossing teeth
- Pus oozing from gums
- Teeth that seem to be longer than normal or seem to be moving away from each other
- For denture wearers, look out for loosely fitting pieces or dentures that no longer fit the way they used to
Diabetics who are not in control of their sugar level will find that, over time, they will get severe toothaches. This happens because the blood flow to the gums is reduced. The ramifications to toothaches are obvious - you will not be able to chew properly due to pain. If you cannot chew, you may be tempted to skip meals or not eat a well balanced meal.
If you notice any of these signs you need to see your dentist immediately. Like everyone else, the person living with diabetes must visit their dentists at least twice per year.
Whether or not you have diabetes you should develop good dental care habits. This means brushing and flossing daily. Use a soft-bristled brush so that you reduce the chance of irritating your gums. Ideally, you should try to brush at least twice per day and once being before going to bed. Make sure to brush your gums and tongue as well. To make sure that your toothbrush is in good condition, change it every three months. Flossing once a day is also vital to good dental health. Always rinse thoroughly after flossing to remove food particles from between the teeth.
With over ninety percent of the adult population in the USA having some form of dental problem during their lifetime, one can image how these figures can become compounded when you factor in the size of the diabetic population. If you want to keep your teeth, you need to start paying special to your dental hygiene as well as control your blood sugar levels. Controlling blood glucose levels is a strong start to ensuring you don’t lose your teeth to rot, and taking the time to check your mouth for signs of periodontal disease can help prevent many problems.
To learn more go to Diabetes Discussion and at What is Diabetes
Enjoy Increased Vigor And Vitality After Colon Cleansing.
The majority of us tend to over eat, especially of foods that are high in sugar and fats, the majority of which is processed and packaged and combined with artificial flavours, colouring, and preservatives., is it any wonder that our digestive systems are suffering?
Firstly let’s hear what the colon is and the purpose it performs.
The colon is an important part of our entire digestive system. It reabsorbs nutrients and water as well as helps in eliminating the waste products out of the body naturally.
As a result of the digestive process, toxic substances are accumulated in the colon. It can best be compared to the build up of rust, calcium and other impurities that build up on the walls of a galvanized water pipe over the years. The rust and calcium form an inpenetreable coating on the sides of the pipe, making it difficult for the water to flow through
As this happens in the colon it results in abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, irregular bowel movement and physical discomfort. With the help of a colon cleanse, you can make your digestive system work more efficiently. After you use a colon cleanse, you will note thatnutrients get absorbed from food at an optimum level and the toxins are washed out from the body before they cause any harm to the system. In fact, there are several benefits of a colon cleanse apart from making the digestive system active. Let us explore them all.
Better Absorption of Nutrients
Our body absorbs nutrients from food through the intestines. When the remaining nutrient reaches the colon, they are absorbed into the bloodstream via the colon wall. When the colon is congested with toxic substances, the rate of absorption becomes very low, say, about 10-20%. Therefore, the use of colon cleanse ensures washing out of the built-up toxic substances thus permitting maximum possible absorption of nutrients for the system.
In fact, one of the additional benefits of a colon cleanse is to promote weight loss by eliminating fecal matter coating the colon walls. Removal of toxic products out of the body and improved level of nutrient absorption does promote a good healthy system thus protecting the body from different diseases as well as by enhancing the immune function.
Relief from Abdominal Discomfort
When toxic substances are accumulated on the wall of our colon, it results in irregular bowel movement. At this point, we suffer from constipation or diarrhea. If you cleanse your colon at regular intervals, you will experience the actual benefits of a colon cleanse. You will get relief from any sort of abdominal discomforts including irregular bowel movement, diarrhea, stomach cramping, constipation, and abdominal pain.
Additionally, the benefits of a colon cleanse are noticed on the issue of gas problems or bloating. In many cases the toxins build up on the colon walls over the years. Gas problems and bloating are the apparent side-effects of toxin accumulation. As you are free from excess weight, gas problems or bloating, you will definitely experience a flatter stomach as a beneficial effect of a colon cleanse.
Increased Energy Levels
We all know that a clean colon always equals a healthy individual. After putting a colon cleanse into action, you will definitely experience a new vitality and significantly less exhaustion. You will note improved concentration levels thist is mainly because your body is able to function more efficiently due to optimum absorption of vitamins and other nutrients. This helps in sharper brain activity as well as enhanced attentiveness. Additionally, the benefits of a colon cleanse help in getting a clearer skin and healthier hair.
We all realize the benefits of external cleanliness, now we can enjoy internal cleansing as well.
Living With Back Pain
More than 65 million Americans suffer from back pain every year. Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. It is an all-too-familiar problem that can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that leaves you incapacitated.
Back pain should not be equated with a need for bed rest. Treatment is usually only necessary for chronic back pain, which is pain that lasts for more than 3 months. It can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss. Back pain is extremely common in today’s society.
Back pain can come without warning, and it can be debilitating especially if you have to concentrate on your work. It is the second most common reason people visit their family physician (just behind upper respiratory infections). It could be acute or chronic.
Chronic back pain can be treated with or without surgery, although doctors usually recommend non-surgical treatments first, and can be caused from a wide array of conditions. It is the involuntary, habituated contraction of muscles induced by emotional issues, stress and an ongoing reaction to the pain (except where there is a severe physical injury or a documented disease process). It tends to last a long time, and is not relieved by standard types of medical management.Chronic back pain can become a lifelong burden for the patient.
Lower back pain can occur in people who are overweight, in poor physical shape, have poor posture or are compelled to sit or stand for long periods of time. It is one of the most common causes of job-related disability and why some people miss work.
Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. It is an all-too-familiar problem that can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that leaves you incapacitated.
Back Pain Relief: How To Avoid Surgery
Surgery May Not Be The Right Treatment For Back Pain
It used to be that if a person had a lot of back pain their doctor would recommend surgery to fix the problem. Following the surgery, the person would usually be on bed rest for a few weeks, and then, if all went well, their back would be better - unless it wasn’t. In the past, experts agree, there was too much back surgery done. Most people weren’t any better after the surgery, and many were worse.
Now, research has shown that most back pain, even lower back pain, will resolve itself without surgery, given rest and time. In fact, for most back pain, all other options should be tried prior to scheduling surgery on the back. Less than one percent of all people ever actually need surgery for their back pain, though four out of every five people have back pain at some time in their life.
Who Needs Surgery?
Generally, physicians believe that surgery should only be considered if other methods have been tried and were unsuccessful at relieving the back pain (or the pain returns), the pain is significantly affecting a person’s day-to-day life, or if left alone the back condition could deteriorate into a more serious state.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Physical therapy can be a great way to help the back and spine heal. Along with special, specific exercises, often the physical therapist will use other modalities, such as heat or cold therapy (reduces inflammation, pain and muscle spasms), ultrasound (uses sound waves to head and encourage circulation and reduces inflammation, pain and muscle spasms), massage, spinal traction, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (uses a painless electrical currently on certain nerves to relieve pain and improve mobility of the back) and water therapy.
Some patients find relief by using medication to relieve their back pain. There are many kinds, some over the counter and others prescription. They include muscle relaxants, analgesics and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Spinal injections can relieve pain and help the doctor determine the reason for the back pain. Two kinds are Facet Joint Injections and Epidural Steroid Injections. Spinal injections are not used alone, but are used along with physical therapy and exercise. They should always be recommended or prescribed by your doctor.
Often, chiropractic care can help relieve back pain. They can palpate, apply pressure, manipulate, massage and use other methods to re-align the vertebrae of the spine.
Other methods for dealing with back pain are considered alternative medicine. They include acupuncture, certain herbal medicines and biofeedback. If you use one of these therapies, be sure to have a reputable practitioner.
Learn How To Eliminate Back Pain-Click Here!
