Avoiding hypoglycemia unawareness

Hi fellow bloggers,

Last week I shared with you a patient story about "hypoglycemia unawareness" — a condition in which a person with diabetes doesn't experience the usual warning symptoms of hypoglycemia. This week I'd like to share some risk factors and possible treatment strategies for such hypoglycemia unawareness.

Long-standing type 1 diabetes. Reduced awareness of hypoglycemia is common among people who have long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes. Many of those who've had diagnosed diabetes for 15 to 20 years report having lost their ability to perceive low blood glucoses and to often failing to treat and prevent severe hypoglycemia.

Severe hypoglycemia is an episode in which the person with diabetes is unable to treat him or herself and needs the assistance of another person. This includes prompting by a relative or friend to drink juice or eat.

Being an older adult and having type 2 diabetes. There also have been an increasing number of hypoglycemia unawareness episodes in those with type 2 diabetes; adults older than 65 seem to be most at risk.

Strict avoidance of hypoglycemia. Strict avoidance of hypoglycemia for several weeks to months can restore at least partial awareness of warning symptoms. Strategies for avoiding hypoglycemia when you have hypoglycemia unawareness or don't experience the warning symptoms include:

Aim for a higher blood glucose targetTry to more accurately count carbohydratesAvoid overcorrection or stacking of insulin dosesTest your blood glucose and adjust your insulin dose more frequentlyConsider blood glucose awareness training education programs to help you learn to identify new symptoms and improve recognitionConsider a personal continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that sounds an alarm when your glucose gets too lowConsider a service dog that can recognize low blood glucose

Glucagon for emergencies. Glucagon is the treatment of choice if someone with diabetes is unconscious or unable to swallow. The length of time a person is unconscious, is more of a concern than how low the blood glucose number is.

Ask your health care provider for a prescription for Glucagon or GlucaGen and for instructions on how to use it. Instruct your family members or friends on how to use this in an emergency and on how to access the emergency response team, such as calling "911."

Have you lost any awareness of symptoms of low blood glucose? How have you coped?

Regards, and have a good week.

Nancy

blog index

View the original article here

Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, Variety Pack of Cinnamon, Oats 'n Honey, and Peanut Butter, 12-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

The Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars Variety Pack includes Cinnamon, Oats 'N Honey, and Peanut Butter, giving you lots of choices when you want to grab a quick, healthy snack. All three varieties of granola bar are made with whole grain rolled oats and full of classic crunch, making them a completely natural energy boost that contains no cholesterol or trans fat.

Variety Pack Crunchy Granola Bars Fresh air. Big sky. Open spaces. Whether you're on the slopes or on the links, the classic crunch of Nature Valley Crunch Granola Bars is a perfect way to fuel up naturally. Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars are 100% natural and an excellent source of whole grain. Delicious, wholesome and easy to bring along, they're the Energy Bar Nature Intended. ® Nature Valley's Commitment to the Great Outdoors Nature Valley has a commitment to helping make nature enjoyable and accessible while protecting and preserving nature in places like our national parks. Nature Valley sponsors a wide range of groups, all of whom have one thing in common: they all serve as guides and catalysts for people who want to enjoy a healthy, active, outdoor lifestyle. About Nature Valley When you need energy for your active lifestyle, turn to the original granola bar - Nature Valley. Since 1975, Nature Valley has used wholesome ingredients to make the best-tasting granola bars around, with new flavors and types for every taste. Check out all our products available at Amazon.com and enjoy the Taste Nature Intended®. Nature Valley Granola Bars give you the energy to get to and enjoy your favorite place in nature, your own personal Nature Valley.

Price: $30.24

Click here to buy from Amazon

Cancer survivors can thrive on inner strength

What is resilience? For you as a cancer survivor, it might be defined as the ability to recover, the strength to move forward, and the awareness of the needs of your own body.

Resilience is a strength that comes from within and is self-motivating. Research has shown that cancer survivors, when questioned, many times identify their own inner strength as one of the primary sources of strength as they experience and recover from a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Many of you can identify with this concept, although it may be hard to put into words at first. Here are a few thoughts to consider as you reflect on your own resilience:

How do you bounce back from difficult situations? What are your coping mechanisms?How do you gain strength and courage to move forward? What motivates you?Are you able to ask for help when you need it? What is your support system?What inspires you and makes you feel whole as a person?

I have met so many survivors who have this amazing ability to survive and thrive despite the physical and emotional stress of cancer. Please share your thoughts on this topic. I would love to hear your opinion on what you feel is resilience and how this inner strength has helped you in your experience.

blog index

View the original article here

Silverbiotics (American Biotech Labs) Silver Biotics

Fiber one is a super food and is deliciously simple and easy to make.

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars, Strawberry, 8-Count Bars (Pack of 6)

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars
Low on calories, high on nutrition, Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars get you on track with energy in a quick and easy package. Made with a soft, golden baked crust of wheat and whole grain oats and filled with real strawberry puree, Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars offer flavor everyone will love. Not only do Strawberry Nutri-Grain Bars taste great--they are packed nine essential vitamins, eight grams of whole grains, three grams of dietary fiber, and two grams of protein--in each bar. Whether you start your day with a Nutri-Grain Cereal Bar, add it to your child's lunch box as sweet nutritious treat, or enjoy it as a mid-day snack, Strawberry Nutri-Grain Bars offer more of what your body needs to live well and help you eat better all day.

A Healthy Way to Begin the Day
Starting the day with a balanced, great-tasting breakfast can put you on the fast track to good nutrition and better overall health. While many kids and adults forget this important first meal, research has shown that a nutritious breakfast at the beginning of the day can decrease the risk of obesity, heart disease, and other nutritionally related conditions in kids and adults. Kids who eat breakfast:

• Are more alert in school, with better concentration, memory and grades
• Get more fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, riboflavin, zinc, and iron to help build stronger bodies
• Have more energy to pursue healthy and active lifestyles

Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars help busy families on the go satisfy the nutritional requirements of breakfast in a quick and easy format that can be eaten at the table--or--as life demands, on the road.

Snacks Matter

• Start Out on the Right Foot: Studies have shown that when you make the right snack choices at the beginning of the day, you are more likely to make good snack decisions the rest of the day. Eating a Nutri-Grain Bar as a mid-morning snack provides four-times more whole grains than traditional morning snacks.
• Take Control of Your Portions: Regular snacking helps prevent over-eating at mealtime and provides children with needed energy to keep their brains and bodies going throughout the day. In fact, up to 25 percent of the average American's calories come from snacking between meals. In order to eat snacks and treats in a healthful way, it is essential to pay attention to portion size. Individually wrapped Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars provide a nutritious snack that will also satisfy your sweet tooth in one 120-calorie serving. Easy to pop into a lunchbox, a backpack or purse, Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars provide a great option for nutritious eating on the go.
• A Snack Everyone Can Agree On: Arguing with kids over the snacks they take to school is second only to arguing over bedtimes. Parents push for nutritious snacks while kids want something sweet. Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars offer the nutrition parents require with the taste that children will love--thanks to the soft, golden crust and sweet, fruit filling.

Whole Grain Goodness
More people are becoming aware of the benefits of eating whole grains. Still, most people don't get enough whole grains and up to 80 percent of us are not consuming levels of whole grains recommended by the FDA. Each Nutri-Grain Cereal Bar contains half of a serving (eight grams) of the recommended three servings or more of whole grains people need each day--in a low-calorie and low fat package. Whole grains never tasted this good!

Eaten on the run, at the table, as a snack, breakfast, or treat--Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars are a fast and versatile way to ensure that you and your family get the daily nutrition you need.

About Kellogg
Kellogg Company is a leading producer of cereal and convenience foods--a company you can rely on for great-tasting, high quality foods. Kellogg was founded in 1906, in Battle Creek, Michigan. For more than 100 years, innovation and their commitment to being the best has guided the company. From being the first company to offer premiums in cereal boxes to being the first to fortify the cereals, Kellogg has historically been a leader in industry, innovation, and marketing.

The founder, W.K. Kellogg, had a strong commitment to nutrition, health, and quality. His vision continues to drive improvement in the products and processes, with the goal of providing great-tasting, nutritious products that meet the most rigorous quality standards.

With more than 100 ready-to-eat cereals around the world, consumers count on Kellogg for great-tasting, convenient, and affordable choices that meet their nutrition needs.

Price: $21.28

Click here to buy from Amazon

Bring back the salad days

Salad is a great way to fill your plate and your body with nutritious but lower calories foods. Unfortunately, salad is only making it onto our plates 36 times a year. Yes, that's correct. Americans are making salads for less than 10 percent of meals — a decline of 20 percent in the past 15 years.

Could it be that when you think of salad you think of iceberg lettuce? I'll admit that doesn't necessary illicit excitement in me either.

Time to break the mold! Salads make a beautiful side dish or an entire meal. And the possibilities for flavor are plentiful.

Start with the base. Experiment with new lettuces and vegetables. Try one of the mixes that come right out of the bag or carton. Or mix a new variety into your usual greens. Here are a few suggestions:

Mild options: Boston and bibb lettuce and spinachMore pungent choices: Romaine and arugulaThe strong stuff: Chicory

Next top it off with a mixture of vegetable, fruit and protein for visual appeal, an abundance of nutrients and a satisfied stomach.

Sweet and chewy: Dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, dates, raisinsSweet and crunchy: Colorful bell peppers, sweet onions such as Vidalia or golden varieties, carrotsNaturally sweet: Cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, mangosMild and crunchy: Apple, pear, zucchini, cucumberNutty: Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, soy nutsMellow and smooth: Tomatoes (try heirloom varieties), pears, grape tomatoesSharp or spicy: Hot peppers, red or purple onions, a few crumbles of blue cheese, extra sharp cheddarHearty: Meat, tofu, beans

Experiment with contrasting or complementary flavors. Combine a mild lettuce with toppings that are sweet, mild, nutty and sharp for a flavorful medley. Or combine a peppery lettuce with a few mild or mellow toppings and a sharp one to keep it interesting.

Bring back the salad! Let us know your favorite combinations.

Wishing you delicious & nutritious meals,

Katherine

blog index References The salad is in the bag. Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903999904576469973559258778.html. Accessed Aug. 10, 2011.

View the original article here

Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome

Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by Dr. James L. Wilson is a comprehensive book about the effects of stress on health. It explains what you can do to help yourself in an entertaining and easy to follow way. It includes a comprehensive questionnaire, simple self-tests, and dozens of cartoons, illustrations, charts, and case histories from Dr. Wilson's files - taking you step-by-step through everything you need to know to reclaim your life from the negative effects of stress.*

Price: $14.95

Click here to buy from Amazon