Check out my new website

This blog post counts as #880 that I’ve written and posted on my blogger site since I began in 2011.  My newest venture has been building a website.  Please check out my new website at

http://www.sharonehohler.com/wp/  I am certain it will be a work-in-progress but I am proud of my accomplishment.  (Not bad for a non-technie person like me).

 

 

In the News--what causes high blood pressure--salt or sugar?

"Too much salt will give you high blood pressure".  We’ve heard this from researchers and doctors all the past 50 years.  Millions of us have tried to be mindful of how much salt we eat and lower our salt intake.  Will too much salt give you high blood pressure?  Is this a true statement?  Some researchers are questioning this statement.  They are suggesting maybe it’s processed sugar, not salt, that causes hypertension. 

This revolutionary research published in American Journal of Cardiology reports that lowering salt intake has had very poor results (lowering a person’s systolic –top number—by 5 mm Hg and the diastolic –bottom number by 2.5mm Hg.  The researchers are recognizing that insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) and obesity occur in the same people who have hypertension (high blood pressure).  Doctors know that the high sugar levels in a person’s blood causes the body to shift fluid into blood vessels and reach a dilution level the body needs.  Could this increased volume inside blood vessels be causing the high blood pressure?   Could it be the processed sugars we are eating?   The researchers are concluding that processed sugar is bad for us and we eat too much of it. 

http://www.kshb.com/news/health/new-study-calls-sugar-not-salt-the-main-enemy-of-a-healthy-heart

If this is true, we can improve our health by cutting back on processed foods, especially sweet foods.  We can eat more fresh fruits and decrease our cake intake.  Watch this topic; I bet we will hear more about this. 

 

In the News--Can we avoid Alzheimer's disease?

This headline refers to research that is piling up.  Researchers are recognizing that diabetes and Alzheimer’s are connected.  People with out of control diabetes are being recognized as increasingly risky for developing Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, some researchers are calling Alzheimer’s disease, “type 3 diabetes.” 

As I have pointed out the last few weeks, out of control diabetes does harm quietly to our blood vessels, hearts, kidneys, and other parts of our bodies.  Why not consider that it can damage our brains?  While we need some sugar for our brain cells to function properly and to think well, a high level of sugar in our brain circulation may be causing damage there also. 

So what researchers suggest we do?  If we do not have diabetes, focus our efforts on healthy lifestyle to prevent developing diabetes.  If we have been diagnosed with diabetes, work with our doctor to keep the diabetes under control.  A normal blood sugar level will help prevent complications and damage.  Here’s some things we can do:

·       Eat more healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat meats and cheeses.  Eat less processed, sugar-laden foods.

·       Work to lose weight if you are overweight.  (Not an easy thing to master for many of us.)

·       Add exercise to our days.  The Mayo clinic suggests 30 minutes most days.  While this sounds like a lot, start slow and work on it.  Also increase slowly and in small amounts to avoid hurting yourself.

·       Brush and floss daily.

·       Watch your feet for sores daily.  http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/diabetes-and-alzheimers/ART-20046987?p=1

Happy Easter

 

We hide Easter eggs, let our kids hunt them and enjoy too much candy.  We gather together with family and loved ones to enjoy a big meal.  (Ham is the traditional Easter meal for my family). 

But the most important reason for Easter Sunday happened centuries ago. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning.  He had been crucified on a cross on Friday (three days earlier). We Christians believe this sinless Jesus took our sins and faults on himself and died to give us the gift of forgiveness.  We celebrate our risen King Jesus. I am sharing a link to a youtube.com video.

 

Join me in listening to Casting Crowns sing O Glorious Day at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODpgyqGCYM

  

 

  

 

  

 

Watch Your Feet

A person with diabetes (especially uncontrolled diabetes) needs to inspect his feet frequently (daily).  As the high blood sugar does damage to blood vessels and nerves, the decreased blood flow and nerve damage can cause feet to lose feeling.  That person may step on something and not realize there is an injury until the foot becomes swollen, reddened and infected. 

 WebMD “Diabetes and Foot Problems” webpage says this: 

·       Work with your doctor to control your blood sugar/diabetes and protect your feet. 

·       Wash (not soak) your feet DAILY in warm water (check the water temperature with your elbow to avoid a burn.  Your hands may have decreased feeling also.

·       Dry your feet well, including between toes

·       Inspect your feet daily for sores, blisters, redness, calluses. 

·       Weekly check your toenails.  Trim straight across with a nail clipper.  Don’t round corners or cut down besides the nails.  Smooth freshly cut toenails with a file. 

·       Wear well-fitting shoes that protect your feet.  Closed-toe shoes will protect your feet much more than sandals or going barefoot. Going barefoot isn’t a good idea for people who want to protect their feet from injuries.  Check your shoes before you put them on to make sure Fido or the kids did not leave something inside which could injure your foot. 

·       Wear socks or stockings that fit well and have soft elastic.

·       See your doctor for any foot problems that get worse, including sores which do not heal

·       They give additional suggestions on how to care for your feet at http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/foot-problems?page=3  Do you know whether your insurance/Medicare will pay for podiatrist care of your feet?   Check as they might include that as a covered service. 

 

Diabetes ABC

Did you know you have a diabetes ABC? 
·       A:  A1C (a blood glucose test which shows your blood sugar average for the last 2-3 months. 
·       B:  blood pressure  Your blood pressure shows the pressure inside your blood vessels when your heart is pumping (the systolic or top number) and when your heart is resting (diastolic or bottom number).  When your blood pressure is high, your heart is having to work too hard and damage can occur.  What is your blood pressure?  The ADA recommends below 140/90.  Your doctor may have a lower number as the American Heart Association has lowered their recommended blood pressure goal to 120/80. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/Understanding-Blood-Pressure-Readings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp
·       C:  Cholesterol levels affect your blood supply to all parts of your body.  A recommended total cholesterol level is below 200, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) should be under 100 mg/dL. HDL (healthy or good) cholesterol should be above 40 mg/dL for men (50 mg/dL for women) and triglycerides should be below 150 mg/dL.  High triglycerides mean you are eating more than your body can process. 

Other recommendations for caring for your type 2 diabetes involve healthy eating, losing weight if needed, and physical activity.  Do you know that many hospitals/medical centers/clinics provide diabetes teaching classes?  If you are newly diagnosed, ask if diabetes classes are available and whether your insurance/Medicare will pay for these classes.  If you get some new recipes which fit your new diabetic lifestyle, you may find it easier to eat healthy and keep your blood sugar under control.  Also regular physical activity helps lower blood sugar as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. 

I have seen people who upon learning they were diabetic, worked with their doctors and controlled their blood sugar by losing weight and eating healthy.  If diet and losing weight aren’t enough to control the blood sugar level, medications may be needed to control a person’s blood sugar.  Diabetes pills and insulin medications are available by prescription to help keep blood sugar within normal range.  People dealing with diabetes must work with their doctor to get the best management of this condition. 

 

Next week --Watch your Feet

 

Type 2 diabetes

Normal metabolism means our bodies break down foods (especially carbohydrates) into sugars which are carried throughout our body to the cells which need the sugar to operate properly. These sugars provide important energy to most cells in our bodies.  For example, without simple sugars, our brains don’t think well.  We would become confused and unable to focus. When our blood sugar levels rise, our pancreas releases insulin.  Insulin helps sugars enter the body cells and keeps our blood sugar level under control. 

In type 2 diabetes, also called insulin resistance, this balance of sugar and insulin regulation is impaired or lost.  Blood sugar levels can become low early as the pancreas makes extra insulin, but as the pancreas fails to make enough insulin, the blood sugar levels become high and stay high, bathing the body in sugary blood.  The body quietly begins to suffer damage. 

But notice I said quietly.  Many people do not know they have diabetes.  

In 2012, 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, but 8.1 million do not know they have diabetes.
Do you wonder if you have developed type 2 diabetes?  The American Diabetes Association gives a risk test which tells you if you are at risk.  Check it out at http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/at-risk/risk-test-paper-version.pdf

What puts us at risk for developing type 2 diabetes?

When doctors talk about risk factors, these are health and lifestyle issues which can affect whether we develop a certain disease.  Usually there are two categories of risk factors:  those we cannot change and those we can change. 

Risk factors we cannot change include our genetics (our inherited genes which may be good or bad).  If your blood relatives (parents, siblings) suffer from diabetes, you face an increased risk.  Age and gender (which we cannot change) may increase our risk of developing diabetes. 

Risk factors we can change involve being overweight, having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, having unhealthy eating patterns, high blood sugar results on blood tests, and being physically inactive.  These behaviors may be contributing to type 2 diabetes and they can be changed with lifestyle changes. 

What are symptoms? The classic symptoms of diabetes are poly dipsia (abnormal thirst), poly phagia (hungry even when you have eaten) and polyuria (have to urinate more than normal).  Other symptoms are extreme fatigue, slow healing cuts/bruises/injuries, and tingling/numbness in hands and feet.  With the gradual onset of these symptoms, many people do not recognize they have developed type 2 diabetes. 

The high sugar content in our blood causes damage to our blood vessels .  That means every blood vessel from our coronary (heart) circulation to our tiny blood vessels which bring circulation to our eyes and nerve endings.  That explains why type 2 diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, nerve damage, and vision problems.  But there is much we can do to keep our blood sugar levels under control and prevent/delay the damage type 2 diabetes can cause. 

The American Diabetes Association gives this good news:  “keeping blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol on target can help prevent or delay problems.”  American Diabetes Association, Taking Care of Type 2 Diabetes.  Find this patient education booklet under Facts About Type 2 diabetes at http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/facts-about-type-2.html?loc=db-slabnav  

 

Next week I will talk about what we can do to protect our health after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.