I found this information at my local pharmacy and realized that many people that read my blog may have Diabetes , or know people with Diabetes. It makes a nice introduction for people that are unaware of the disease.
Our body gets the energy it needs from turning food into a type of sugar called glucose, which requires the hormone insulin. When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces properly, glucose builds up in the blood, affecting many processes throughout the body. This inability to store and convert food into energy properly is what we call diabetes.

There are three main forms of the condition: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: acanthosis nigricans, convert food, diabetes, Diabetes Treatment, dietitian, energy, family member, fatigue, food, gestational diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, insulin injections, numbness, or diabetes educator, pharmacist, polycystic ovary syndrome, recurring infections, schizophrenia, unconsciousness

A food allergy is a reaction by the body’s immune system. When a person is sensitive to a food, such as peanuts, the immune system overreacts when the person comes in contact with that food. True food allergies are quite rare, affecting only about 1 % of adults and about 5% of children.

Many people think they have a food allergy, but what they really have is a food intolerance, which is a problem in the digestive tract and does not involve the immune system. In someone with a food intolerance, either the food irritates the digestive tract or the body is unable to digest that food properly.

While the symptoms of food allergies and food intolerances are often similar, there are important differences between them as well. Eating even a tiny amount of a food can trigger an allergic reaction, and the reaction will happen every time the person eats that food. On the other hand, a food intolerance may not cause a reaction unless a large amount of the food is consumed. For example, in someone with lactose intolerance drinking a cup of coffee with a small amount of milk in it may not cause a problem, but that same person might become sick after drinking a whole glass of milk.
The foods that most commonly trigger allergies are:
� cow’s milk
� eggs
� fish (such as bass, cod, and flounder)
� shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)
� peanuts
� tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, and walnuts)
� wheat
� soy

Symptoms
Food allergy symptoms usually develop within an hour of eating the food, sometimes within minutes, and they can range from mild and annoying to frightening and life-threatening. People who are especially sensitive may have a reaction from simply touching the food or breathing in particles of it.

Symptoms of a food intolerance may be extremely uncomfortable, but they are typically less serious than the symptoms of a food allergy.

In severe cases of food allergy, the person may suffer from a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. This dangerous reaction can cause:
� tightening of the airways, including a swollen
throat that causes breathing difficulties
� shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
� rapid pulse
� dizziness, light headedness, or loss of consciousness.

These are warning signs of a serious problem and require immediate medical attention. There is a medication (epinephrine) that people with serious allergies should carry at all times. It comes in a self-injecting device, and anyone who has food allergies or knows someone who does should know how to use the device. This can, quite literally, be a life saver. Even if the reaction is controlled quickly, immediate medical attention is still necessary. A single injection is not always enough to completely control the reaction.

People with severe allergies should also wear medical identification jewelry. During a severe reaction a person may not be able to speak, and this jewelry can identify the problem for emergency medical personnel so that the proper treatment can be given quickly.

When a child has a food allergy, the parents must take special precautions. Make sure that all caregivers (including family members, teachers, babysitters, and the parents of the child’s friends) all know how to use the epinephrine injection device. Older children should learn to use the device themselves.

Parents must also impress on children how important it is not to eat the food they are allergic to. Young children should be instructed never to eat food given to them by anyone other than a family member. Older children should be instructed to ask about any food someone gives them and to make sure the person giving them the food knows about their allergy and how serious it is.

Tags: allergic reaction, allergies, allergy, anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis, dizziness, epinephrine, epinephrine injection device, family member, food, food allergies, food allergy, food allergy symptoms, food intolerance, food intolerances, immune system, lactose intolerance, light headedness, loss of consciousness, peanuts, self-injecting device

This week the Biggest Losers went on a cruise. This was a pretty fun episode to watch as there were a lot of things that people take for granted that were brought up. The Biggest Loser contestants went on a cruise ship and it was a classic vacation and answered one of those burning questions of “what happens once these people leave the ranch?” The answers were all there. First of all the cruise ship was empty except for the cast, crew and contestants and there was lots of food. It seemed that everyone was a bit nervous about being in a vacation atmosphere and for one team it was worse than the other.

First thing is exercise. All cruiseships have an exercise room that is used very little. Let’s face it most people ton vacation take time off of a diet and exercise. Bob Harper and Kim Lyons made it clear that if you are on vacation you can have a short intense workout and you will not have to worry about it for the rest of the day. The example that they used was circuit training. Circuit training with weight equipment does two things; it is a great cardio workout and is also good for working your muscle groups intensely like a weight workout.

Diet, this was a tough one as everyone loves a buffet. Bob Harper talked to his team about going around the buffet and asking questions before grabbing anything so that you do not eat a lot of high fat foods and then go for seconds. Kim Lyons said the best thing to use was a small plate because you will fill as big a plate as you have.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: bob harper, Bob Harpers Blue, family member, Florida, food, food delivery challenge, Indiana, kim lyons, Massachusetts, weight equipment

I have found a list of 99 ways to get more exercise. These tips range from stuff to do at home and around the neighborhood to things to do around the city with your family and neighbors.

Exercise Getting started…

1. Schedule a regular time throughout the week for physical activity.
2. Take turns selecting an activity for the family to do as a group each week.
3. Start a log of daily fitness activities for each family member.
4. Adapt all activities to suit those with special needs and preferences.
5. Help everyone to find something active that makes them feel successful.

Exercise Tips for the Home

6. Designate indoor and outdoor play areas where rolling, climbing, jumping, and tumbling are allowed.
7. Buy toys or equipment that promote physical activity.
8. Select fitness-oriented gifts with the recipient’s skills and interests in mind.
9. Limit time spent watching television programs, videotapes, and playing computer games.
10. Use physical activity rather than food as a reward (e.g. family goes in-line skating).
11. Include grandparents, other relatives, and friends whenever possible.
12. Emphasize the importance of having fun and learning; avoid a push “to win”.
13. Get off the couch and change the channel manually — or better yet, turn it off!
14. Spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Exercise Tips for the Kitchen

15. “Pack your own” nutritious snacks and meals for family outings.
16. Keep fresh fruit and vegetables washed, cut-up, chilled and readily available for post-exercise snacking.
17. Have attractive containers of water available during and after workouts.
18. Take the family grocery shopping so everyone can learn to read the nutrition labels (find the cereal that offers the most fiber per serving; find the tastiest non-fat cheese).
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, co-worker, cycling, diabetes, family member, fever, food, Golf, hypertension, kite flying, modified backyard sports, Olympic, physical education teacher, school board, school physical education teacher, skiing, Softball, stroke, Tennis, volleyball, water sports