Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Be Happy – Save Yourself from Allergies attacks.

When You are Out of Your Home.

It is uncomfortable, not to mention very embarrassing, to experience allergy attacks while outside your place where relief is nowhere near. It is in your best interest then to stay away as much as possible from things that could trigger allergy attacks. You can follow on the following suggestions to prevent public display of allergy symptoms.

1. Avoid outdoors

First thing on our list is to avoid outdoors especially on occasions and places where your allergy symptoms are noticeably more severe. Allergens are of course more abundant outdoors than indoors which makes it more likely that you experience uncomfortable allergy symptoms outdoors than indoors. It makes sense then that it is okay to stay indoors for several days at a time especially in seasons when allergens prolific.

2. Use bug and insect repellent

If you are regularly exposed to bugs and if there are higher numbers of bugs in your region, see to it that you are always protected from them and from the things they normally carry. Always wear bug and insect repellents to prevent your self from getting allergic reactions. Also, always go out fully protected with long sleeves, long pants and closed shoes.

3. Clean Up Your Car

Driving in an unclean car is uncomfortable enough, but that does not end there. Unclean cars can also cause allergy attacks. The interiors of the cars especially the carpets, nooks and other hard-to-reach spaces are not only repositories of dirt but can also serve as breeding places for insects. Clean the interiors of your car regularly, especially if you love driving with the windows down.

4. Use protective tools

Face masks, gloves and other tools that can help keep allergens from your face and surface of the skin are very helpful in preventing allergy attacks. You can use these whenever you anticipate your exposure to allergens. Otherwise, you might get sick.

5. Know the seasons for allergies

There are several types of allergies but when it comes to classifications according to season, there are just two types: the perennial allergy and the seasonal allergy. The latter is often a product of seasonal changes. If you have been diagnosed of seasonal allergies, here are the months of the year when you must be more careful while outdoors.

  • May is the high time for grass pollen. If you are allergic with these pollens, try to know your options for allergy attacks prevention.
  • August to September- These months are most likely to cause you allergic reactions due to the high number of ragweed pollens floating in the atmosphere. Again, secure to it that you have yourself protected from the attacks of allergens.
  • During late fall- There may not be a lot going on outside but indoors, you must be on guard for dust, ash, hot temperature and humid internal environment. These are conditions conducive for breeding of some insects and bugs and for the development of molds.

If you are allergic to foods, insist not on eating them. If you are allergic to pollens, stay away from gardens, flower shops and flowers. If you are allergic to pets, keep them out of your house. Prevention from allergens and allergic attacks need not be complicated.

Just try to stay away from the causes and risks and you might be able to keep the attacks at bay.

When You Are Inside Your Home

There are medicines for almost everything but there are also people with allergic reactions who do not want to take them. So what can you do in order to avoid meds and allergy triggers altogether? Below are some must-do things so you can avoid being sick with allergy attacks.

1. Know what you are allergic to.

There is a host of allergens that people can develop allergic reactions. It is therefore imperative that you first know which allergen is making you sick such that prevention and treatment can be delivered appropriately. Once you have checked which allergen is causing your body to produce symptoms and what type of allergy you carry, you have already solved half the problem and you can move on to the next stage: prevention.

2. Allergy-proof your home.

You think you are safe within the confines of your own home, think again. There are many allergens that are sitting at your own place that you must eliminate. The presence of allergens on your couch, carpet, drapes and air ways are possibly the best explanations why you never stop sneezing, developing rashes and getting sickly. Allergy-proof your home by securing the following things:

3. Clean your home's air passages.

Allergens are minute particles that come and go through your house's air ducts which often serve as doorways for the allergen to invade your home. Be sure to regularly clean your air conditioning and air heating systems from insect droppings, dusts, pollens, grass and dried leaves. Keeping your home's air passages is the first best move you can do to reduce the quantity of allergens in your home, sanitizing them is another story.

4. Dust-proof your flooring.

Floorings, regardless of the type, are conducive as repositories of allergens, or at least the primary receivers of dirt, animal dander and other components that are causing you allergic reactions. Carpets are the worst. If you love your carpets and would not exchange them for less allergen-friendly floorings, consider employing professional carpet cleaners. They are sure to deliver deep cleaning for your carpets.

5. Use only quality air filters.

Whether it's in your air conditioning/air heating system or in individual air-purifying devices, you must always get the right and the top quality air filters. Be sure to check in your local supplies stores for really good air filters. These sometimes make the difference between skipping another allergy attack or not.

6. Check your basements.

If carpets are the repositories of allergens, basements are the breeding grounds. Since most of us do not give much attention to our basements, they tend to house our not-so-favorite friends- the allergens. So check your basement for mildews, molds, and other less inviting things. If they look somewhat out of this world-ish, they surely are not good for your allergy.

7. Invest on hypoallergenic bedding.

While materials that serve both to deliver comfortable sleep and to protect you from allergens cost more than ordinary pillows, blankets and mattresses, they are, however, very good options when you want to avoid allergy attacks. Hypoallergenic beddings are worth the extra dollars you toss in since they save you the trouble of allergy attacks at night or while you are resting.

You may be safe at your home but how safe are you from allergens and allergy attacks? Please consider our suggestions above to allergy-proof your home.

Be Happy – Save Yourself from Allergies attacks.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Be Happy – You Can Control the Allergies of Your Children.

Allergies point to the exaggerated reaction as posed by the immune system as a response to any physical contact with the substances that seem foreign to the body. The reaction is labeled as exaggerated simply because the body itself deems these substances as harmless. At the same time, those who are non-allergic have non-responsive bodies. The reaction turns in when the body realizes that there are certain foreign substances that it gets in contact with and automatically a part of the immune system is activated.

Allergens and their Nature

The allergens are those that produce the allergy. Some known allergens include the dust mite, pollens, foods, dander, and molds, among others. Simply put, the allergens are those foreign substances which when it gets in contact with the body can cause the allergic reaction. However, not all individuals exude the exaggerated reaction. There are those who don't have the allergy on any of the above mentioned allergens.

The term allergic also goes by the name "atopic". It means that your immune system gets turned on as a response to the foreign substances that gets near your body. You develop that allergic reaction when your body inappropriately reacts to the allergens. Hence, you are called allergic or atopic if you are too prone to the allergy.

Allergy and its Etymology

The term "allergy" is rooted from the Greek words "allos" or changed or different and then "ergos" that means action or work. The word likewise points out the "altered reaction" which the body succumbs to. It was firstly used in the year 1905 to define the adverse reaction of the children who received multiple shots of horse serum to fight against infection.

Determining the Causes

There are several causes that provoke any kind of allergy to develop. It can be due to dust mite, food, pets, and many others. The reaction can be in the form of eye itching, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, skin itching, rash breakout, and the list goes on.

As you know, the body has the immune system which fights off the foreign organisms that get into the body or those which are otherwise termed as the "foreign invaders" or infections. The antigens then provoke the generation of the antibodies and depending on the internal process, they may result to allergic reactions.

Like the army, the immune system aims to ruin the enemy. The protective proteins which are known as antibodies mean to target those foreign invaders. The antibodies or immuno-globulins protectively reach towards the surface and call every immune cell to action. The different types of immuno-globulins are IgA, IgM, IgG, IgD, and IgE. The latter is the one that functions as the antibody.

The Ones at Risk

The rationale behind the question "Why are some people allergic while some are not?" can be further explained by heredity as one of the many factors. The same reaction can be passed on from one generation to another. It is to be made clear that you may not necessarily carry the same allergy or disease like what your parents have or sometimes you may not exhibit the symptoms. Another factor to blame is the environment. The exposure to allergen can provoke the allergic reaction.

Allergies may develop despite the age. In fact, some people get them while they are yet in the womb. Children can carry them towards their adulthood. Some individuals experience the breakout during their adult stage.

Common Allergies

Allergies developed by adults can be particularly hard to diagnose, but even more complex to children as some common symptoms may be also similar indications of other ailments. What makes it even harder is that children are often less capable of describing the symptoms, which leave the parents guessing. When such cases occur, it is always wise to immediately seek help of a trusted physician as they are the right authority to treat and provide medications. But to make it easier for you to see if your child is suffering from a certain allergy, here are five common symptoms related to allergies:

Sinus Infections

When your body overreacts to a certain allergen, it produces more body fluids, which in turn cause the sinus passages to be blocked. There are germs and bacteria that will be able to pass through these passages and as they leave, they also invade the tissues lining your sinus cavity. This causes infection, to which people who have allergies are more susceptible because their body's immune system weakens from attempting to ward off foreign elements; and thus, causing the body to be less effective in fighting itself from germs. Sinus infections are usually serious conditions as they lead to nasal congestion, headaches, and fever.

Itching Nose

This is one of the most common allergy symptoms in children, and even in adults. The nose easily detects by becoming itchy if there are irritants or allergens in the environment. An itchy, stuffy nose can also clearly define that there are allergens and are more serious when the condition leads to cold. When your child is rubbing their nose which seems to resemble a salute action, this is already an indication of the allergy. In fact, this action has already been nicknamed as the "allergy salute." Allergic reactions can be prevented by avoiding your child from being in an environment where there are any allergens. But in any case that they get it, the itchy nose can allow you to intervene whatever allergy your child is developing.

Chronic Cough

If the child is dry coughing and it does not seem to go away, this is chronic cough. Sometimes, there is phlegm, in which case can be an indication that there is an increased fluid present in their sinus cavity; thus, is an allergy symptom you should not ignore. Remember that chronic cough is not a condition but rather an allergy symptom; therefore, it is best to eliminate the source of cough for good rather than by just treating it. However, if the cough persists even after eliminating the source, the best course of action is to seek medical help as it can be a symptom of other conditions as well.

Allergic Eczema

If the skin comes in contact with irritants, it develops a skin condition called contact dermatitis. This is less serious. However, if it is persistent and certain physical conditions occur, this can be already associated to allergies. If there are rashes, dryness, redness, and itchiness in the folds of elbows, eyes, knees, and on the face, this is a condition requiring immediate attention, specifically medical treatments.

Dark-Eye Circles

This is usually called, Denni-Morgan lines. These are taken after two physicians' names who have first established connection between the allergies and the relationship to dark eye circles. And this is also called the allergic shiners, because the discoloration or black, raccoon appearance under the eyes are the results of amplified blood flow occurring in the sinus area and not due to lack of sleep. The circles can also come with extra skin fold.

Treatment

Avoidance is always the best treatment for allergies regardless of which allergens are the triggers. Interestingly enough, the most effective, least expensive, and simplest options are not always followed. Many people choose medications or vaccinations instead, despite their drawbacks. Fortunately, there are lots of simple methods, both old and new, to help with avoidance. Remember, putting into practice any of these measures can only be helpful in managing your allergies.

The good news is that you really don't have to strip your house down to the bare bones to make it allergy proof. Thorough and regular cleaning generally makes a huge difference in keeping your house as mold and dust free as possible. Patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis that are due to dust mites, molds, or other indoor allergens can feel better by taking these simple measures:

  • Keep the home cool (between 68 and 72 degrees F);
  • Maintain a low humidity (between 40 and 50%); and
  • Make certain there is good ventilation.

When patients get started with the process of "allergy- proofing" their homes, one of two things usually happens. They either do nothing or "overdo it." Some patients become so overwhelmed with all the different methods of allergy- proofing that they simply do nothing. That's always a disappointing outcome, especially when the process is so straightforward and inexpensive. Just focusing on the basics of a routine and thorough cleaning and temperature and humidity reduction can lead to fewer symptoms and a vastly improved quality of life.

Sometimes, the opposite occurs. The allergy-proofing process becomes all consuming and inordinately expensive. Overpriced and often inefficient whole-house filtration devices are installed when simple cleaning and reduction of humidity and temperature would have been adequate. Clearly, there are situations in which extreme measures need to be undertaken. Before going down this path, however, it's best to consult with your doctor. Start with the easy things first.

Cleaning and More Cleaning: What Really Helps?

If you are going to undertake to thoroughly clean your home, it is best to ensure at the beginning that the techniques being used are the most effective. The tips discussed below will help you achieve the maximum benefit for all of your efforts.

Soap & Hot Water

Scientific studies of patients who are allergic to dust mites have shown that taking steps to minimize dust mite allergens in the bedroom leads to a decrease in allergic symptoms and medication requirements. Emphasis is placed on the bedroom since people spend at least one third of a 24 hour day there. It is also the room with the greatest number of dust mites.

New synthetic bedding materials are available that are equivalent to down for warmth but can withstand washing more easily because the fibers don't clump. The ideal water temperature for washing is at least 130 degrees F to completely kill the dust mites found throughout the bedding.

Allergy Alert

When the hot water heater is set to achieve a temperature of 130 degrees F, precautions must be taken to prevent scalding a child. For example, at bath time, always remain in the room with a child and make sure to always turn off the "hot" water faucet first and finish with the "cold" faucet.

The choice of bedding materials becomes important. They must be able to withstand the rigors of weekly hot water washing in order to kill the dust mites and remove accumulated allergens. Many bedding materials may be bulky, making them more difficult to wash. It may be easier to use several layers for warmth instead of bulky items for ease of washing. Since any type of blanket material can support dust mite growth, it is important to select one that can withstand repeated washings.

Vacuuming the Right Way

If the carpet can't be replaced by a solid surface such as linoleum or hardwood, then it must be cleaned thoroughly and frequently. Also remember to vacuum upholstered furniture, draperies, and other fabric items that cannot be washed, removed, or replaced. The trouble with vacuuming is that the allergenic dust mite and mold particles become airborne during the process. Dust mite particles can remain airborne for about 15 minutes and be redistributed throughout the home environment. Allergic persons clearly should not be doing the vacuuming and should also stay out of the area until the dust particles resettle. Dust mite particles also become airborne during bedding changes or the placement of dust covers on the mattress, box spring, and pillows. For severely allergic people, these tasks can lead to significant allergy and possible asthma attacks. Those affected by these allergies should definitely not perform these chores.

Allergy Alert

Allergic persons should not perform vacuuming tasks and should keep out of the immediate environment for at least 1 hour after the vacuuming has been completed. Damp dusting should then follow to catch any loose particles.

The vacuum cleaner collecting bag acts as the primary filter in most vacuum cleaning systems. A standard bag can be replaced with a high-filtration multi-layer bag and an exhaust filter can be added. These measures prevent the allergen particles from escaping and becoming airborne during the vacuuming process. Replacing the vacuum bags and adding exhaust filters are economical ways to increase the efficiency of an older vacuum. These bags and filters are easily obtained from allergy supply houses. The filters are available in 8" x 10" sheets that can be cut to size for any canister vacuum. Very expensive vacuum units with built-in HEPA systems (High Efficiency Particulate Air- filter) have been available for years. Now, more affordable brands of vacuums come equipped with HEPA filters and a removable canister that can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher. This system eliminates the problem with vacuum bags. As the older generation of vacuums is phased out, this development should be quite helpful in allergy control. Whole-house vacuum systems, although quite expensive, are also helpful because the dirt collection system is located outside of the house, usually in the garage.

Hard Surfaces Are Easier to Clean

Dust mites, molds, animal danders, and insect debris are difficult to thoroughly clear from the environment. However, it really is easier and quicker to clean a hard surface such as wood, tile, vinyl, or leather than it is to clean all those nooks and crannies found in carpet, fabric, or other soft surfaces.

Allergy Assist

Replacing the carpet with a hard-surfaced floor can eliminate over 90% of dust mites. If you absolutely have to have carpet, get the kind that has a low pile.

The following is a list of suggestions for how to make allergy-proofing an easier task. Hopefully, these ideas will lead to other methods you can use to thoroughly clean and maintain your environment allergy free. Take it one step at a time and focus on the bedrooms first. If you plan on moving, pay close attention to steps that can be taken to allergy-proof prior to moving into the new house. It is much easier to put these ideas into action in the beginning than after everything is in place. It's really not as hard as it looks!

Cleaning Tips

  • Avoid ornate furniture. Plain, simple designs accumulate less dust. No open bookshelves; they are great dust-catchers.
  • Keep all clothes in drawers or closets, never lying about the room. Enclose wool clothes in plastic zipper bags. Avoid mothballs, insect sprays, tar paper, or camphor. Keep drawers and closet doors closed.
  • Remove as much clutter as possible to make cleaning easier. Place hard-to-clean items in closets, drawers, or display cabinets with glass doors.
  • When choosing furnishings, it is best to go with wood, leather, vinyl, or rubberized canvas furniture and avoid upholstered pieces. Upholstery easily traps allergens and is much harder to clean. You might try washable slipcovers on existing upholstered furniture.
  • Install wood, tile, or linoleum flooring. Limit throw rugs to those that can be easily cleaned in the washer. They should be able to withstand washing weekly.
  • Use allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses, and box springs. Tape over zippers to help prevent leaks. Vacuum all casings frequently. Store nothing under the bed.
  • Use washable cotton or synthetic blankets, not fuzzy surfaced ones. Use easily laundered cotton bedspreads or coverlets; avoid chenille.
  • Install roll-up washable cotton or synthetic window shades. Avoid venetian blinds, mini-blinds, and pleated shades.
  • Use washable cotton or fiberglass curtains. Avoid draperies and decorative fabric window treatments!
  • Install central air conditioning or window units. Keep windows closed, especially during periods of high pollen counts and windy conditions. Grasses, weeds, and trees tend to pollinate during the early morning hours. Sleep with the windows closed.
  • Use Dacron or other synthetics for pillows. Avoid feathers or foam rubber, which traps moisture and promotes mold and dust mite growth.
  • Space heaters are preferred over hot air ducts. In homes with forced air heat, use filters or damp cheesecloth over inlets to reduce dust circulation. Change every two weeks. Consult your physician about air purifiers. Keep beds away from air vents.
  • Damp dusting using a dampened cloth or an oiled mop will minimize the distribution of dust through the air.

Baby's Room - Special Tips

It's a good idea to eliminate potential irritants and allergens from your baby's environment. Here's what you can do to help eliminate potential sources of allergens from your baby's world.

  • Wood or plastic chairs are best for baby's room.
  • Again, avoid all feather bedding.
  • Use dust-proof casings for all bedding.
  • Stuffed animals should never be placed in the crib and, if used, should be washable. Put most of the stuffed items in a closed chest or closet. Store them in a freezer bag when not in use.
  • When it comes to gifts for children, ask for books rather than stuffed animals. Keep the books in a bookcase with doors to help reduce allergens.
  • Humidifiers should be reserved for croup. They should not be used routinely since they increase the dust mite and mold counts. If a humidifier is required, the cool water variety is safer than a steam humidifier in terms of burns. Also, be sure to change the water daily if a humidifier is necessary.
  • Animal fur is a potential allergen. It's best to keep pets out of the baby's room.
  • Overhead mobiles and wall hangings collect dust!
  • Baby bumpers should be simple and washable. No ruffles or pleats.
  • Ruffled curtains and venetian blinds collect a lot of dust. Vertical blinds are preferable. If levelers or shutters are used, be sure to clean them weekly with a damp cloth.
  • The crib should be placed away from air vents.
  • HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air-filter) can be placed under the crib. The filter will help to decrease airborne allergens such as pollens, mold spores, and animal danders.

Be Happy – You Can Control the Allergies.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Be Happy – Meet the challenges of the youngsters having diabetes.

When people are diagnosed with diabetes, most of them are overwhelmed by the fact that they have this very serious disease. Some of them get frustrated or depressed, while others avoid a final diagnosis because they are in denial and don’t want to know that they are already diabetic.

We have to remember that living with diabetes is hard. This is why you need to understand people who have diabetes go through the denial phase. This disease can take a toll in a person's psychological health. Some get really depressed and stressed that it will aggravate the condition more.

Lifestyle changes should be made if you are suffering from diabetes. And, this can take quite a long time for the person suffering to get used to. Changing one's lifestyle is something that cannot be achieved overnight. Some may require dramatic intervention in order to get them to follow a diabetic lifestyle.

When people get depressed, most of them resort to overeating, drinking and even smoking. This is definitely something that diabetics should avoid. It may provide comfort at first but if you are a diabetic, then it can take a serious blow to your overall well-being.

If someone gets diagnosed with diabetes, they tend to go through the three emotions before they get to accept the disease as part of their life. They go through denial, anger, guilt. In the denial phase, people tend to use this emotion in order to avoid the changes they would have to make in their already comfortable life. Anger is also felt by people who get diagnosed by this disease. In most cases, they blame everyone. They blame their family, friends and they even blame their doctor for the disease. They also ask the question why they have to suffer from the disease.

Guilt is also another psychological phase that people who are diagnosed with diabetes go through. They tend to blame themselves for getting the disease and this can often lead to depression. Some even set out subconsciously to punish themselves for it.

Support from family and friends are important in order to minimize the depression they feel. By doing this, it will help in accepting the disease and that they have to live with it for the rest of their lives. The key here is to help the person suffering from diabetes to accept that they have the disease.

Another way to get the person diagnosed with diabetes to readily accept the disease as already part of their life is to educate them about diabetes. You have to remember that although diabetes is a very serious condition, there are ways to manage it effectively to the point that they will be able to live a normal life.

Once the person suffering from diabetes accepts that he or she has the disease, the easier it will be for them to live life. All it takes is a little support and education. Through these things, you can be sure that you will be able to help someone cope with diabetes.

Always keep in mind that diabetes can easily be managed if the person suffering from the disease accepts it and try to live with it as best he or she could. Through acceptance, life with diabetes will be easier for them to live.

Living With Diabetes: Diabetes in Teens and Young Adults

Diabetes is a disease that can affect everyone. Whatever the age, sex, and race are, diabetes can affect everyone. Today, there are more than 16 million Americans who suffer from this disease. And, 800 thousand new cases are diagnosed each year. Living with diabetes can be hard especially for teeages and young adults.

You have to consider that the rapid mental, physical and emotional growth of tens can add to the challenge in managing the disease. With the taking of insulin, monitoring blood glucose levels, and strictly following a meal plan, it can be very tiresome for teenagers and can really add to the difficulties of just being a teen.

Most teens tend to ease up on diabetes care and tend to act like everyone else. This is understandable as they are in the age where pressure from friends can really affect them.

Psychologically, you have to remember that the teen years are the years where the teen will test their limits, which includes testing his or her limits with diabetes. At some point, they will even refuse to adhere to their meal plans, skip insulin injections and they may even stop checking their blood glucose levels. In most cases, teens who do this suffer from the consequences of not taking the disease seriously. They may get hospitalized for DKA and can experience serious hypoglycemic actions. They often get discouraged in continuing testing their limits and will eventually try to follow the management care for diabetes.

However, there are some cases where teens refuse to do certain tasks in connection to the disease. Even if they experience the serious complications that diabetes has, some teens tend to consistently refuse to follow certain procedures in order to manage diabetes. As a parent, you need to find out why.

If you find out that the diabetes plan is too rigid, try adding more flexibility to it in order to make it easier for them to follow. Giving rewards is a great way to encourage them to follow the tasks designed to manage the disease. Set a goal in what he or she needs to achieve in order for them to be encouraged.

You also need to remember that the hormones that cause puberty can eventually affect the blood glucose levels. It can be very unpredictable and can really make diabetes a lot harder to manage. So, try to avoid blaming your teen for having high or low blood glucose levels. It may not be their fault and they may already be trying hard to keep it within the acceptable range.

Because of the unpredictable blood glucose levels that the hormones can cause, try encouraging your teen to work with you in order to solve the problems caused by this kind of situation. Instead of scolding them because of their unpredictable blood glucose levels, try to find a way to praise his or her efforts in trying to keep it in acceptable levels, especially if he or she gets frustrated with it.

These are the challenges that you need to expect when you are living with a teen affected by diabetes. Being a teen with diabetes is very hard, which is why you need to understand them more. With patience and perseverance as well as self discipline, your teen will be able to live a life that is as normal as possible.

The Challenges That You Should Expect In Children with Diabetes

It is a fact that having a child suffering from diabetes can pose new challenges and worries. It can be very stressful for parents and the child, and that it will seem that this is a death sentence to your child. However, children with diabetes can still live a full and normal life. With proper management, living with diabetes can be easy and normal.

Having an infant or toddler diagnosed with diabetes can be very frightening. They don’t know anything about the disease and it can really be challenging for parents to manage and treat the disease as the child have no way of communicating what they are feeling.

The same situation goes for preschoolers with diabetes. They really haven’t learned to recognize the symptoms of having low blood glucose level and they will never be able to tell others when they are feeling low. This is why it is very important to constantly check the blood glucose level of your child as often as possible.

However, you need to understand that the child may be frightened by lancets poking their fingers and regular insulin shots. You should expect that they will try anything in order to avoid it or at least try to delay it from getting them. It will help if the parents talk to the child and tell them that they know it hurts and also tell the children that they are being very brave. Stickers and rewards will help encourage the child to get the insulin shot or get pricked by the lancets for drawing blood for sample. Instead of scolding or threatening them with punishment, always use positive reinforcements.

However, keep in mind to avoid using food as rewards as this can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food.

You also need to keep in mind that children with diabetes can have the same fussy eating habits as other children who are not suffering from the disease. It is best not to force the child to eat the certain food you are offering them. Instead, try offering them a different kind of food, which is also good for their diabetic diet. You can also offer them juice or milk instead if they really don’t want to eat.

During school age, your children will start wanting to be like their peers. It will be often difficult for them to understand why they are different from other children as they need to take insulin and have to follow a certain meal plan. Usually, the best way to handle this kind of situation depends entirely on the personality of your child.

Some children wants to show off to their classmates about their condition, such as they try to check their blood glucose level themselves and even try giving themselves an insulin injection for show and tell. Some older children with diabetes even presented the disease as science projects. However, you need to keep in mind that there are children that will not want to bring the disease they are suffering from on center stage.

They prefer to keep quiet about it and it is important for you to let your children decide who to tell about their disease and how much to tell. However, it is important to tell teachers, coaches, family, and close friends about it in order for them to understand what your child is going through.

These are the challenges that you should expect when living with children with diabetes. It can be very challenging and depressing at first but after a while, you will see that you and your child will be able to adjust and live a normal and full life.

Be Happy – Meet the challenges of the youngsters having diabetes.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Be Happy - Manage Diabetes Properly.

Today, diabetes now affects around 16 million Americans and every year, approximately 800,000 new cases are diagnosed. Diabetes is a disease that attacks everyone. It can affect children, men, women, and the elderly. It is also a disease that spares no race. Whether you are black, white, Hispanic, Asian, or European, diabetes can affect you. This is why you need to know about the basics of living with diabetes.

Having diabetes can be hard for many sufferers. It can drastically change the way you live your life, which can be hard to adjust to and it can also cause a lot of complications that can seriously affect your overall well-being. Although living with diabetes is hard, there are ways on how you will be able to properly manage the disease in order for you to live a near normal life.

You need to understand that diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to provide enough insulin in order to convert sugar in the blood to energy. In some cases, the insulin provided by the pancreas is not properly used by the body. This results in high blood sugar level in the body, which can have serious complications to your overall well being.

Now that you know about diabetes, the next step is to know about how you can properly manage the disease. First of all, you need to remember that there is no cure yet available for treating diabetes. However, there are several treatment methods that will be able to help you manage the disease and keep your blood glucose level inside the acceptable range.

This disease is the leading cause of kidney failure. It can also cause blindness, and can significantly increase the risk of you getting heart diseases, stroke and even birth defects. Amputations are also common in diabetics and it can significantly shorten the life expectancy by up t 15 years.

If you or someone you love is suffering from diabetes, then you have to know what you are up against in order for you to know how to live a normal life with the disease.

At first, you may be overwhelmed and get depressed upon knowing that you or someone you love has diabetes. You may even feel that this is a death sentence. But, you have to consider that you feel this because of your ignorance for the disease. Although diabetes still has no cure, you will see that there are ways on how you can properly manage it in order for you or for the person close to you who is affected with the disease live a more normal life.

You need to keep in mind that even with diabetes a person can still live a full life. All it takes is extra care and proper management of the disease. The first thing you need to remember about diabetes management is the diet. The diet plays an important role in the life of a diabetic. You will need to put together a meal plan with a dietitian as well as the doctor.

In most cases, you will find that diabetics will have several meals a day. Aside from breakfast, lunch and dinner, you will see that small snacks are required in between. The meals should be taken at the same time every single day in order to help keep the body on a schedule and also regulate the blood sugar levels in the body. Skipping meals and snacks may lead to large swings in blood sugar readings, which is a very dangerous thing for diabetics.

In order for the blood sugar level within normal range, a diabetic should balance the food they eat with the insulin that the body gets from exercising as well as from injections. You can monitor the blood sugar level with a device called glucose meter. This will be able to keep you informed on the current blood sugar levels in the body, which can be very helpful in planning meals.

Diabetics should follow a certain meal plan as their body works differently from the person not suffering from diabetes. A diabetic should have low carbohydrate, low salt, low sugar, and high fiber diet. This will help regulate the blood sugar levels in the body and help prevent drastic changes in it.

Preventing or minimizing complications is your goal when managing diabetes. By strictly following the proper diet and proper eating schedule, you can be sure that you will be able to live a normal and full life.

The key to treating diabetes is to control the blood glucose level. By doing so, you will be able to properly manage the disease and be able to live a life that you can consider to be normal.

The first way to properly manage diabetes is by monitoring and recording your blood sugar level count. You can do this with a glucose meter device, which can be purchased in your local pharmacy. By effectively monitoring your blood glucose level, you will be able to effectively manage the disease.

The second way to manage diabetes is through proper diet. You have to remember that a diabetic diet is different from a normal and healthy diet. People suffering from diabetes should keep in mind that what they eat is just as important as when they eat. Generally speaking, a diabetic diet should be low in fat, low sugar, low salt, low carbohydrates and should be high in vegetables, and whole grains.

The third way to properly manage diabetes is through exercise. Exercising will not only keep your body healthy, but it will also be able to help in regulating the blood glucose levels in your body.

The fourth way to manage this disease is by attending seminars concerning diabetes. In these seminars and classes, you will be able to gain more knowledge about the disease and also find out new ways on how to effectively treat or manage it.

The fifth way to manage diabetes is through discipline. Avoid being tempted by foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt. It may look delicious but it can have serious effects on your overall well being considering the fact that you are diabetic.

Lastly, in order to really manage diabetes, you need to know how to adjust in a new lifestyle. Diabetes will literally change the way you live. It will affect everything in your life, such as your diet, exercise, relationships, and hobbies. By accepting the disease, you will see that it will be easier for you to live with it, which means that it will be easier for you to manage it.

Remember these suggestions and you can be sure that living with diabetes will never be hard. It may be challenging at first but as soon as you accept the disease, you will find that it will be easier for you to live a normal and full life.

Be Happy - Manage Diabetes Properly.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Be Happy – You Can Treat Foot Ulcers Easily.


Diabetes is a disease that can have a lot of complications. This chronic lifestyle disease can increase the risk of heart diseases, kidney disorders, blindness, circulatory problems, and it can even cause foot ulcers that can end up requiring amputation of the lower limbs.

Basically, a foot ulcer is a wound or open sore that appears on the feet. A big percentage of diabetic sufferers is affected by this and it is important that everyone should be aware of this in order to prevent it or at least know how to treat it.

Foot ulcers appear commonly on the soles of the feet. However, it can also appear on any part of the foot. This is a very serious problem for diabetics as many patients who had foot ulcers ended up requiring amputation of the affected limb. This is why diabetes is the leading causes of non traumatic limb amputation.

Foot ulcers are very common among diabetics. It is important that you should know how to prevent this from happening to you as this is the most common cause of non-traumatic amputation of the lower limbs. Any person with diabetes can have foot ulcers. However, there are several factors that significantly increase the risk. By learning about the factors that increase the risk of foot ulcers, you will be able to know how to effectively prevent it.

Poor blood glucose control is one major factor that increases the risk of developing foot ulcers. Other factors that significantly increase the risk of developing foot ulcers in diabetic patients are sensory neuropathy, poor circulation, poor foot healthcare, inappropriate or ill fitting footwear, foot deformity, and history of previous ulceration.

If you are suffering from diabetes and that you have neuropathy and reduced or poor circulation, then you are very likely to get foot ulcers. This is a classic example of the causes of foot ulcer. If you decide to go on a long walk with new shoes and that you have neuropathy and poor circulation, then it is very likely that you may develop foot ulcers. The new pair of shoes and the duration of the walk can cause chaffing in the feet, which you will not feel as you have loss of feeling in the feet or because of sensory neuropathy. The chaffing will then develop in to a blister, which you will not notice for the same reason.

As a result of poor circulation of blood, the blister will not be able to heal, which can turn in to an ulcer.

This is one scenario that can possibly cause foot ulcer. Other classic cases would be getting an ingrown toenail which can injure your feet and cause foot ulcers.

I would like to make some suggestions on how you can prevent foot ulcers. By following these, you can be sure that you will be able to decrease the risk of developing foot ulcers and decrease the likelihood of amputation. But before follow-up, kindly don't forget to consult your doctor - he may guide you proper way of curing.

The first is to check your blood glucose level regularly. By doing so, you will be able to effectively monitor and regulate your blood glucose levels at acceptable levels.

In addition to that, checking your feet using a mirror is a must especially if you have sensory neuropathy. By doing so, you will be able to know if you developed chaffing in your feet, which can develop in to blisters then in to foot ulcers.

Cleaning the feet with warm water and mild soap can also help prevent foot ulcers. Always remember that after every washing, you need to dry your feet thoroughly especially between the toes.

If you are cutting toenails, never cut down in to corners as this can cause an ingrown toenail to develop. Instead, try cutting the toenails straight across. If you are unsure on how to properly cut your toenails, you should consult a podiatrist.

Appropriate footwear is necessary for diabetics. Make sure that the shoes you get fit you adequately. Consult your podiatrist in order to make sure that the shoes you get is comfortable and one that has enough space for your feet that it will not cause injuries.

Although any diabetic patient can develop foot ulcer, there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing it.

Poor blood glucose control is one factor that can increase the risk of developing foot ulcer. You have to remember that proper diabetes management requires you to constantly regulate your blood sugar level. If you fail to do so and that your blood glucose level fluctuates, then you will end up experiencing unpleasant signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, which include foot ulcers.

Sensory neuropathy is another factor that can increase the risk of foot ulcers in diabetics. This is when the patient loses the feeling in the feet. This is due to nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels.

Long duration of diabetes can also be the cause of foot ulcers. This means that in the long run, you will likely experience getting foot ulcers.

Poor circulation of blood can also lead to foot ulcers as well as foot deformity, poor foot healthcare, and inappropriate footwear.

There are many causes of foot ulcers to develop. A classic example would be a diabetic with sensory neuropathy going for a long walk on new or ill fitting shoes. These shoes can be hard on the feet, which can cause chaffing. Because of the sensory neuropathy, the patient will not feel the chaffing, which then causes blisters to form, which the patient will not be aware of.

Because of reduced circulation, the blister will not heal and will eventually turn in to an ulcer. Because of high blood sugar levels in the body, the ulcer is unable to heal. Combine this with continual pressure on the area, and then you have a perfect case for foot ulcer.

To treat the foot ulcer, the main goal is to get the ulcer to heal as soon as possible. The faster the ulcer heals, the less chance there is that it will get infected. During treatment, preventing infection should be your goal. You can do this by regularly disinfecting the affected area. You should also remove dead skin of the wound surrounding the area as well as relieve pressure by applying pressure relieve padding on shoes.

These are the things that you need to remember about foot ulcer. Foot ulcers are preventable. The key to this is to constantly monitor your blood sugar levels as well as being aware of what's going on with your body.

Be Happy – You Can Treat Foot Ulcers Easily.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Be Happy – Remove Your Stress and Reduce Your diabetes.

Diabetes is one of the most serious diseases plaguing society today. It is a disease where it is associated with serious complications, and it is also a lifestyle disease. Living with diabetes is hard. However, you will see that there are ways on how you can effectively manage diabetes in order for you to live a life that is as normal as possible.

First of all, you need to remember that the key to managing diabetes is by knowing how to regulate or efficiently manage the body's blood glucose levels. By maintaining the blood glucose levels in acceptable levels, you will be able to prevent or at least minimize the complications brought upon by diabetes.

The key to regulating blood sugar levels is through proper diet and exercise. You also need to religiously follow doctor's orders when it comes to taking your medications. It's not easy at first but in time, you will get used to the idea of carefully planning your meals, exercising, and taking your medications exactly as how the doctor instructed.

If you are finding it hard to plan your meals, consult a dietician who is experienced working with diabetics. This way, you will be able to have an idea on how to prepare your meals. After a few weeks, you will be able to plan and make your own meals with ease.

The general rule for diabetic diet is that you should have low fat, low salt, low sugar, and low carbohydrate diet. It should be rich in vegetables and whole grains. This is not only recommended for diabetics, but it is also considered as a healthy diet for everyone.

Everyone experiences stress every once in a while. It is basically unavoidable. Besides, if you see something stressful or you are in a stressful situation, you will definitely experience it. However, you have to remember that if you are a diabetic, stress can have negative impact on your overall well-being. Living with diabetes is stressful enough. But, you need to remember that stress can also have its effects on the body, which can aggravate diabetes.

You need to understand what stress does to the body in order for you to fully understand why stress can have negative effects in people with diabetes.

Basically, stress is something your body feels when something happens that makes your body feel that it is under attack. The source of stress can be emotional or physical. It can be triggered by stressful events, such as marriage problems, or by someone striking you or hurting you.

When you are in a stressful situation, your body reacts and tends to gear up as if it is waiting to take action. This is when the levels of many hormones found in your body increases. This response from the body is what many people know as the fight or flight response.

Stress can become a problem for people suffering from diabetes as stress triggers a body response that pumps sugar in to the blood. Therefore, stress increases blood sugar levels, which you don’t really need if you are a diabetic. You have to remember that being diabetic means that you don’t have the amount of insulin to use the extra sugar in your blood as energy.

In addition to that, people tend to overeat or drink alcoholic beverage when they feel stressed. This is also something that diabetics should avoid. Because it will play havoc in your blood sugar levels, you will be entering a very dangerous situation when you get stressed.

Stress is a bad thing for diabetics as it increases blood sugar level. It also encourages people to go on binge eating and drinking. This is why stress management is recommended for people suffering from diabetes.

To effectively manage stress, the best thing that you can do is to avoid stressful situations altogether. By not being in a stressful situation, you will be able to prevent stress from affecting you and affecting your already serious condition.

If you think that your work hours are stressful, try to talk to your supervisor about it and get it changed. It is very important that they know about your condition in order for them to assign you to a more suitable work hours.

If you can, go to relaxation therapy. Here, you will be able to learn relaxation techniques that can be very beneficial for you. Exercise is also an excellent stress reliever. Go to the gym, walk, jog, or go cycling or swimming. You will not only help alleviate stress through exercise, but you will also be able to get your body to become healthier. Exercising has other benefits to diabetics too.

Always remember that stress will never go away. Time and time again, you will eventually feel it. The only way to solve this problem is by knowing how to manage stress. If you manage stress effectively, you can be sure that you will be able to manage diabetes.

Stress can make your blood sugar levels spike up. So, you can manage diabetes by managing stress. Take stress management classes and therapy. Here, you will be able to learn how to reduce stress, which will contribute to regulating your blood sugar levels.

Be Happy – Remove Your Stress and Reduce Your diabetes.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Be Happy – Continue Your Enjoyments While Living with diabetes.

It is true that living with diabetes is hard. Because this disease has no cure available yet, you can effectively manage it in order for you to live a more normal and full life. The key to treating diabetes is by effectively managing the blood sugar level.

With my experience with some of the close relatives, I can suggest you to consider the following and implement them under the supervision of your health Care Consultants.

You can undertake some exercise. Exercising is one of the keys to having a healthy body. It doesn’t only make you look better, but it will also help you feel a lot better. If you don’t exercise, then you will eventually risk getting diseases that can really affect your life. Inactivity can lead to heart related diseases and it can also lead to diabetes.

You need to undertake exercise regular but fairly moderate exercise. Try walking for 30 minutes every day. This will help regulate your blood sugar levels and also keep your heart healthy. In addition to this, you need to choose an exercise that is not hard on your feet. Getting cuts, blisters and foot infection can spell trouble. Go for gentle walking, swimming, or cycling.

First of all, type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease of lifestyle that many people are experiencing today. This disease is affected by a lot of factors, such as your weight and your activity levels. These two things are in your complete control and you need to do the right thing in order for you to effectively manage the disease.

Exercise does help diabetes. It can reduce your body's insulin requirements in many ways. The first is that exercise will be able to increase the body's sensitive to insulin. What this means is that the cells in your body will be able to better absorb insulin. Exercising can also help enhance the use of blood glucose in your body.

What this means is that it will be able to lower the blood glucose levels in your body, which can possibly reduce the amount of medication you need in order to treat and manage the disease. If you have type 2 diabetes, exercising regularly can even eliminate the need for constant medication, especially if you accompany exercise with a healthy eating plan.

You also need to keep in mind that diabetics have higher risks of high blood pressure and acquiring heart related disease as well as stroke. This is why it is more important for you to exercise now in order for you to reduce the risk of heart related diseases.

Through exercise, you will also be able to improve circulation, especially in the legs and arms. This is where people suffering from diabetes usually have problems and with exercise, it will be able to help.

You also need to keep in mind that stress can raise blood glucose levels. And, everyone knows for a fact that exercising helps reduce stress levels. So, if you want to keep your blood glucose levels from spiking, you have to reduce stress through exercise.

One great benefit of exercise for diabetics is that it will be able to significantly improve the quality of life.

The next step is by knowing the right exercises for diabetics. You need to remember that the best exercises for diabetics are cardiovascular and aerobic exercises. However, you need to choose an exercise that is not hard on the feet as injuring the feet may lead to more serious problems especially for diabetics.

So, go for gentle walking, swimming and cycling. These exercises will be able to work your heart and circulatory system. You can also try playing racket sports, such as tennis. Just make sure that you wear proper fitting shoes in order to prevent injuries on the feet.

Before you start exercising, it is wise to consult your doctor about it first. This way, you will be able to know what kind of exercise you should do and for how long each day.

Through exercise, you will be able to manage the disease effectively and let you live a full and normal life.

Management of diabetes is easy by being knowledgeable about the disease. You can’t fight what you don’t know. So, by knowing the disease, you will be able to know how you can manage it and treat it.

You also need to eat regularly. You have to have three meals a day and also a snack after each meal. This will help regulate your blood sugar level and prevent you from experiencing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar level. Skipping meals can lead to unpleasant symptoms associated with hypoglycemia where the worst thing that can happen to you is going on a diabetic coma.

If you go somewhere, always carry something sweet with you. This will allow you to correct low blood sugar levels. An example of snacks would be fruit juice, raisins, soda, and hard sweets. These foods will be able to correct low blood sugar but all these things should be taken in small amounts.

You know that you are a diabetic but do other people know this? If you go somewhere where no one knows that you are diabetic, you should have something to tell them that you are in case you get involved in an accident or you experience going on a diabetic coma. Wear a medic alert bracelet that states that you are diabetic. This will inform people and medical professionals about your condition, which can potentially save your life.

Regularly visiting your physician is also recommended. By doing so, your doctor will be able to regularly monitor your condition and help you manage diabetes. Always keep in mind that you shouldn’t take any chances when it comes to your health.

You must know the symptoms of blood sugar fluctuations. Watch out for excessive thirst, extreme hunger, sudden weight loss, frequent urination, moodiness, and nausea, gum and bladder infections. Blurred vision and itching and tingling sensations on the hands and feet are also signs that you should watch out for.

These are some of the handy hints that you should remember if you or someone you know is diabetic. By following these tips, you can be sure that managing diabetes will be easy.

Since Diabetes is a disease where cure is yet to be found, it is a very serious disease that you will need to deal with for the rest of your life. It is also a disease that is one of the leading causes of death in the country.

It is a fact that having diabetes can be very depressing. In fact, many people felt depressed during the first few weeks of diagnosis. If you have diabetes, you may want to keep in mind that it's not the end of the world. You can still continue living a full and normal life. But, you have to do so with the disease.

What this basically means is that you need to know how to properly manage diabetes in order for you to live life much easier. By knowing how to properly manage diabetes, you will see that you will be able to conquer the disease and make your life a lot easier.

I may again repeat that you must gain as much knowledge as you can about the disease and also about how your body is affected by it. You have to remember that your best defense against diabetes is knowledge.

If you are diabetic, it is important to keep in mind that you should never skip a meal or eat much later than you usually do. This can cause significant drops in your blood sugar levels, which can cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms where the worst thing that can happen to you is experience diabetic coma. Also, instead of eating one large meal, you should go for small and regular meals. You also need to have small snacks after every meal to avoid hypoglycemia and keep your blood sugar level in an acceptable level.

Always keep in mind that diabetes cannot be cured. But, with proper management, you will be able to have control over it. By having a correct weight, you will see that it will go a long way in making the disease manageable. If you are overweight, you should consult your doctor about healthy weight loss diets for diabetics. Crash diets in diabetics are not only unhealthy but potentially fatal.

You may want to remember that diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, which affects the blood vessels in the retina. You may want to get your eyes checked regularly in order to detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy. Also, stick to your medication in order for you to avoid or minimize the risk of getting diabetic retinopathy.

If you have type 1 diabetes or are insulin dependent, always have insulin injections with you all the time. Even if you are just going down the road to buy something from a store, you should never leave home without your insulin injections. In addition to that, you should try showing your friends and family how to inject it to you should you become unable to do it yourself. When you travel, always have spare supplies of insulin injections with you.

With the modern treatment methods for diabetes types 1 and 2, you will see that it is possible for you to live a normal life or at least near it. Although this won't be easy in your part, you will see that it is possible for you to manage and conquer diabetes and live a full and satisfying life.

You need to keep in mind that diabetes will not only affect your lifestyle. It will also have a significant impact on your relationships, work, emotions, as well as your hobbies. It is important to remember that diabetes can be effectively managed, which can prevent or at least minimize the complications that this disease can bring you.

Diabetes is a depressive illness. With the psychological and social impact that this disease can have on the sufferer, you can never really blame the person suffering from this disease to become depressed. In addition to that, endocrine conditions that can be related to diabetes can also interact with the chemical systems in the brain that is responsible for governing the mood.

Being suddenly dependent on insulin and having to take care of what you eat and drink can make the sufferer feel as if he or she has lost control over their life. This kind of feeling is natural in the person suffering from this disease.

If you have diabetes and you have been recently diagnosed with the disease, you have to remember that your life isn't over. Instead of fighting the illness, you have to accept it. There is no way that the disease will go away on its own.

Along with accepting the illness, you have to accept everything that the illness may bring you. This may mean that you have to accept the changes you have to make in your life, like you eating habits, exercise, and also your activities.

For most people who are suffering from this disease, you will see that it doesn’t necessarily have any effect when it comes to doing their job. There are many myths about diabetes in the workplace but you have to remember that with proper care and management of the disease, you can work the same hours, shifts, and also work as physically hard as the next person to you.

Having diabetes doesn’t mean that you can't do your favorite sporting activities anymore. In fact, you can have diabetes and still be able to win tournaments. Having an active lifestyle is compatible with diabetes. In fact, doctors encourage people with diabetes to take on sports in order for them to have exercise, which can help regulate blood glucose levels.

Traveling is also possible even if you are diabetic. You can even travel overseas in different time zones. Just remember to consult your physician about it first and do a little research about the place you plan on going to. This way, you will be able to know if the place you are traveling to provides the medicine or insulin you need for treating or managing your condition.

As you can see, having diabetes doesn’t mean that your life is over. You can still do a lot of things that people who doesn’t have this condition do. All it takes is proper management and care. And, if you wholeheartedly accept the fact that you will be living with the disease for the rest of your life, the easier it will be for you. Living with diabetes is hard.

But, with patience and self discipline, you will find that every single day will become easier and you can enjoy the life as usual.

Be Happy – Continue Your Enjoyments While Living with diabetes.