Nothing makes it more difficult to try and lose weight or maintain weight loss than getting sick.  So what can you do this winter so that you don’t get sick?  Here are some simple suggestions…

1. How do you avoid a cold? Keep your hands away from your face and wash them often. Avoid people with colds, and ask your doctor if vitamin C may be helpful and safe for you.
2. Although depression can easily be assumed to be a result of your chronic illness, you could be someone who has Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If you find yourself blue between October and March, it may be because of the lack of sunlight, which can be a natural antidepressant. Ask your doctor.
3. Feeling stressed about the holidays? Before reaching for that piece of pumpkin pie, grab a banana. Foods that are natural stress fighters include orange juice, yogurt, low caffeine intake, carbohydrates instead of sugar, and lots of water!
4. Need a boost of energy? Here are some ideas that are recommended by health professionals.
   1. Get out into the daylight at least thirty minutes a day, or at least pen up those blinds.
   2. Exercise when possible, but never exercise when you have a temperature of 99.5 degrees F or above.
   3. Eat vegetables! B-vitamins, found in whole grains, green vegetables, potatoes, and beans, keep your immune system primed and stave off winter bugs. They also help produce neurotransmitters in the brain, which moderate your moods. When your vitamin B supply is off-kilter, you’re more likely to feel depressed, stressed, anxious, and cranky.
   4. Make personal time for yourself. Splurge on a new journal or some new pjs to get you through the winter months.
5. There are over 200 viruses that cause the common cold. Before cold season hits, talk with your doctor about what is “normal” and “not normal” for someone with your illness-make a “cold plan.” This way if you get a cold, you will know how soon to call your doctor and what over the counter medications you can safely take. Talk to your doctor now about whether a flu shot would be recommended.
6. Chapped lips bothering you? The Mayo Clinic recommends applying a moisturizer to your lips daily or as needed. You can use a lip balm or skin moisturizer. Generally, the greasier the products, the better. If all else fails, a humidifier in your home may help.

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A new Danish study is sounding the alarm on the dangers of nocturnal eating. After examining the medical records of over 2 thousand patients, researchers noted a surprising finding – those who consumed a quarter or more of their daily calories after dinner, or would wake up in the middle of the night at least twice a week to consume food, lost more teeth than non-nocturnal eaters. This held true even after accounting for other factors that may lead to tooth loss including smoking, sugar intake and age.

The reason? The flow of saliva, which helps clean our mouth by removing food debris and bacteria, is decreased during the night. The researchers say, “Practitioners should be aware of the oral health implications of nocturnal eating, increase screening and oral health education efforts among nocturnal eaters and make treatment referrals when appropriate.” And as a general reminder it is still a good idea to brush your teeth twice a day and consume only water during the hour prior to bedtime. [via BBC]

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Several posts ago, we spoke about ingrown toenails – but how can you treat an ingrown toenail? Hopefully this detailed guide will give you the information that you need.  Also remember to view the video that we’ve included this month on the right sidebar entitled “Ingrown Toenails” – please note that the video may make some of you quesy as they do show one method to treat an ingrown toenail.  View with caution!

What Is An Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown nail occurs when a nail grows into the flesh at the side of the nail. This usually affects the toes, particularly the big toe. People with curved or thick nails are most likely to develop a problem with ingrown nails, although ingrown nails can affect anyone.

Ingrown nails are most frequently caused by:

• Cutting the toenails too short or rounding the nail edges.
• Wearing shoes that fit poorly or that press the nail into the toe.
• An injury such as stubbing your toe, which may cause the nail to grow inward.

Most ingrown nail problems can be prevented by properly grooming the toenails and by wearing shoes that fit. Home treatment can often help relieve pain and allow the nail to grow out normally.

Medical treatment of an infected ingrown nail often includes oral antibiotics or topical ointments. A severely ingrown nail may have to be removed.

What causes an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail can have a number of different causes. Cutting your toenail too short or rounding the edge of the nail can cause it to grow into the skin. Wearing shoes or socks that don’t fit well can also cause an ingrown toenail. If your shoes are too tight, they might press the nail into the toe and cause it to grow into the skin.

You can get an ingrown toenail if you hurt your toe, such as stubbing it. This can cause the nail to grow inward. Repeating an activity that injuries the nail, such as kicking a soccer ball, can also cause an ingrown nail.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of an ingrown toenail is the pain from the nail growing into the skin instead of over it. If the ingrown toenail gets infected, it might be swollen or red, and it might drain pus. The area around the ingrown toenail is often painful.

How is an ingrown toenail diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a physical examination to diagnose an ingrown toenail. He or she will look at your toe where the nail has grown into the skin.

How is an ingrown toenail treated?

You can try the following steps at home to relieve the pain caused by your ingrown toenail and help the nail to grow out naturally:

• Soak your sore toe in warm water for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times each day.
• Wedge a small piece of cotton , such as part of a cotton ball, under the corner of your ingrown nail. This will help lift the nail off of the skin.
• Soak your toe and change the piece of cotton each day until the nail grows out and can be trimmed.
• Do not use a sharp object like manicure scissors to dig under your nail, because the toe might get infected.
• Do not try to use a needle to drain the pus from your toe. This could make the infection worse.
• While your ingrown toenail is healing, wear comfortable shoes or sandals that do not press on your toe.

Use these home treatment steps for 3 days. If they do not help, you might need to see your doctor. It is important to see a doctor if your toe gets infected. Your toe might be infected if it hurts more than it did before you tried the home treatment. Call your doctor if your toe is red, warm, swollen, or drains pus, or if there are red streaks leading from your toe.

Your doctor might give you antibiotics. If your toenail is very ingrown, your doctor might suggest minor surgery to remove all or part of the ingrown nail. He or she may refer you to a podiatrist.

During this surgery, the doctor will numb your toe. Then he or she will cut the edge of the ingrown toenail and pull out the piece of nail. To prevent the nail from growing into the skin again, your doctor might destroy all or part of the nail root. This is called ablation. If your doctor removes all or part of your nail but does not destroy the root, it will begin to grow back within a few months.

After the surgery it is important to take care of your toe so that it can heal. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow. He or she may tell you to:

• Soak your toe in warm water for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times each day.
• Rub antibiotic ointment 2 times each day on the toe where the nail was removed.
• Wear a bandage on your toe.
• Wear loose-fitting shoes that don’t press on the toe where the nail was removed.
• Take pain medicine if your toe hurts. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—including ASA (such as Bayer), or ibuprofen, such as Advil—might help your toe feel better. Do not give ASA to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.

How can ingrown toenails be prevented?

You may be able to prevent ingrown toenails by wearing roomy and comfortable shoes and socks that do not press on your toes. If you work in a place where your toe might get hurt, wear sturdy shoes such as steel-toed boots to protect your toes.

It is important to trim your toenails properly. You can do this by cutting your toenail straight across, not curved. Make sure you do not cut your toenail too short. You can also leave your toenail a little longer at the corners to help it grow over the skin.

If you have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, talk with your doctor before you trim your own toenails. People with diabetes have a hard time feeling their toes and might cut themselves without realizing it. Peripheral arterial disease can cause toes to be very painful.

Many hospitals and health care centres have foot care clinics, where someone can help you trim your toenails. Ask your doctor to recommend a foot care clinic near your home.

When in doubt, always speak to your doctor.  HOME SURGERY for an ingrown toenail is NOT RECOMMENDED!

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As we all know Type 2 Diabetes was (or is) called adult-onset diabetes.  It is defined by high blood glucose (or sugar) and insulin resistance.  Typically this affected adults, but more recently it is affecting people of all ages.

There are an estimated 23.6 million people in the U.S. (7.8% of the population) with diabetes with 17.9 million being diagnosed, 90% of whom are type 2.  With prevalence rates doubling between 1990 and 2005, the CDC as characterized the increase as an epidemic.  Traditionally considered a disease of adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in children in parallel to rising obesity rates.

When Type 2 diabetes is not controlled, the outcomes can be horrific – from a loss of eyesight to as extreme as a loss of limbs or even death.

Diabetics need to control their blood glucose levels diligently, otherwise face the consequences.

The blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat, and it’s also formed and stored inside the body. It’s the main source of energy for the cells of our body, and it’s carried to each cell through the bloodstream.

Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated. Hyperglycemia can cause damage to the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems in people with diabetes. These problems don’t usually show up in kids or teens with diabetes who have had the disease for only a few years. However, these health problems can occur in adulthood in some people with diabetes, particularly if they haven’t managed or controlled their diabetes properly.

So what are the symptoms of high blood glucose?

• Peeing a lot: The kidneys respond to high levels of glucose in the blood by flushing out the extra glucose in urine. People with diabetes need to urinate more often and in larger amounts.
• Drinking a lot: Because a person is losing so much fluid from peeing so much, he or she can get very thirsty.
• Losing weight even though your appetite has stayed the same: If there isn’t enough insulin to help the body use glucose, the body breaks down muscle and stored fat instead in an attempt to provide fuel to hungry cells.
• Feeling tired: Because the body can’t use glucose for energy properly, a person may feel unusually tired or sluggish.

If you are a diabetic and are on medications and are constantly feeling sluggish and tired – SEE YOUR DOCTOR!  In fact as a diabetic you should meet with your doctor on a regular basis.

There are a lot of things you can do to help lower your blood glucose levels: take your medicine on time, watch what you are eating, ensuring you are eating less more often (instead of 3 large meals, break it down to 5 smaller meals i.e., breakfast – snack – lunch – snack – dinner – snack), get exercise if you doctor has advised that for you.

Other things can increase your blood glucose levels such as illness stress, and even some medications.  If you are taking any OTC medications (over the counter) check with the pharmacist if there is any risk to you and ensure you let them know you are a diabetic.  In most cases the pharmacist will advise against certain OTC medications if you are a diabetic.  If you must take these – speak to your doctor and clear it with them.

If you are diabetic it is very important to stay in touch with your doctor and to follow your meal and medication plan to keep your diabetes under control.

Here is to your health!

Mohamed

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If you are overweight, there is a high probability that you also have diabetes.  For diabetics, personal care and hygiene are of utmost importance (really, this is important for everyone) because seemingly innocent infections could cause greater health issues. Many doctors will spend a lot of time with diabetics in ensuring that they are taking care of their disease but also of their body and the feet are one of the most important parts (though not the only important area).

Why feet?

It’s easy to wear shoes too small for your feet, or stub your toe which could result in an infection setting in and the possible amputation of your toe(s) or even feet or foot.

How can diabetes hurt my feet?

High blood glucose from diabetes causes two problems that can hurt your feet:

• Nerve damage. One problem is damage to nerves in your legs and feet. With damaged nerves, you might not feel pain, heat, or cold in your legs and feet. A sore or cut on your foot may get worse because you do not know it is there. This lack of feeling is caused by nerve damage, also called diabetic neuropathy. Nerve damage can lead to a sore or an infection.
• Poor blood flow. The second problem happens when not enough blood flows to your legs and feet. Poor blood flow makes it hard for a sore or infection to heal. This problem is called peripheral vascular disease, also called PVD. Smoking when you have diabetes makes blood flow problems much worse.

For example, you get a blister from shoes that do not fit. You do not feel the pain from the blister because you have nerve damage in your foot. Next, the blister gets infected. If blood glucose is high, the extra glucose feeds the germs. Germs grow and the infection gets worse. Poor blood flow to your legs and feet can slow down healing. Once in a while a bad infection never heals. The infection might cause gangrene. If a person has gangrene, the skin and tissue around the sore die. The area becomes black and smelly.

To keep gangrene from spreading, a doctor may have to do surgery to cut off a toe, foot, or part of a leg. Cutting off a body part is called an amputation.

You DON’T want to loose your foot/feet/toe(s) or parts or all of your leg.

What can I do to take care of my feet?

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• Wash your feet in warm water every day. Make sure the water is not too hot by testing the temperature with your elbow. Do not soak your feet. Dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
• Look at your feet every day to check for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses, or other problems. Checking every day is even more important if you have nerve damage or poor blood flow. If you cannot bend over or pull your feet up to check them, use a mirror. If you cannot see well, ask someone else to check your feet.
• If your skin is dry, rub lotion on your feet after you wash and dry them. Do not put lotion between your toes.
• File corns and calluses gently with an emery board or pumice stone. Do this after your bath or shower.
• Cut your toenails once a week or when needed. Cut toenails when they are soft from washing. Cut them to the shape of the toe and not too short. File the edges with an emery board.
• Always wear slippers or shoes to protect your feet from injuries.
  Always wear slippers or shoes to protect your feet.
• Always wear socks or stockings to avoid blisters. Do not wear socks or knee-high stockings that are too tight below your knee.
• Wear shoes that fit well. Shop for shoes at the end of the day when your feet are bigger. Break in shoes slowly. Wear them 1 to 2 hours each day for the first few weeks.
• Before putting your shoes on, feel the insides to make sure they have no sharp edges or objects that might injure your feet.

What are common diabetes foot problems?

Anyone can have corns, blisters, and other foot problems. If you have diabetes and your blood glucose stays high, these foot problems can lead to infections.

• Corns and calluses are thick layers of skin caused by too much rubbing or pressure on the same spot. Corns and calluses can become infected.
• Blisters can form if shoes always rub the same spot. Wearing shoes that do not fit or wearing shoes without socks can cause blisters. Blisters can become infected.
• Ingrown toenails happen when an edge of the nail grows into the skin. The skin can get red and infected. Ingrown toenails can happen if you cut into the corners of your toenails when you trim them. You can also get an ingrown toenail if your shoes are too tight. If toenail edges are sharp, smooth them with an emery board.
• A bunion forms when your big toe slants toward the small toes and the place between the bones near the base of your big toe grows big. This spot can get red, sore, and infected. Bunions can form on one or both feet. Pointed shoes may cause bunions. Bunions often run in the family. Surgery can remove bunions.
• Plantar warts are caused by a virus. The warts usually form on the bottoms of the feet.
• Hammertoes form when a foot muscle gets weak. Diabetic nerve damage may cause the weakness. The weakened muscle makes the tendons in the foot shorter and makes the toes curl under the feet. You may get sores on the bottoms of your feet and on the tops of your toes. The feet can change their shape. Hammertoes can cause problems with walking and finding shoes that fit well. Hammertoes can run in the family. Wearing shoes that are too short can also cause hammertoes.
• Dry and cracked skin can happen because the nerves in your legs and feet do not get the message to keep your skin soft and moist. Dry skin can become cracked. Cracks allow germs to enter and cause infection. If your blood glucose is high, it feeds the germs and makes the infection worse.
• Athletes foot is a fungus that causes itchiness, redness, and cracking of the skin. The cracks between the toes allow germs to get under the skin and cause infection. If your blood glucose is high, it feeds the germs and makes the infection worse. The infection can spread to the toenails and make them thick, yellow, and hard to cut.

Taking care of your feet is very important – one of the simplest steps to start with is ensuring that your shoes are the right size. If you wear a 12 wide, make sure you always buy a 12 wide — don’t buy something too small or normal width because you will feel it in your feet.

Once you have the right shoes make sure you check your feet regularly for any signs of corns, blisters or other foot problems.  The sooner you catch these problems, the sooner you can deal with them and prevent an infection which could cost you parts of your feet or an entire foot.

I highly recommend that you visit http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/complications/index.htm for extensive and detailed information on diabetes, diabetics and the complications that arise from diabetes.

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