Search Results for: blog diabetes vocabulary

Migrating Birds Lead the Way to New Diabetes Drug

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Is a new diabetes treatment FOR the birds? No… it’s FROM the birds. Researchers from Louisiana State University took a look at how migrating birds make such long flights — and survive without starving. As it turns out, the birds develop seasonal insulin resistance. One function of a bird’s hypothalamus is metabolism control. During different parts of the day, a bird’s metabolism can process fuel differently. Brain chemicals like dopamine regulate whether a migrating bird is insulin resistant or not. Insulin resistance is the same thing that leads humans to develop type 2 diabetes. Most people (as you may have … Continue reading →

Diabetes Vocabulary

Having diabetes can mean learning a whole new set of vocabulary. If you or someone you love has diabetes, you’ll be learning the names of drugs, different tests, complications, and more. Here are some words and phrases you might run into: Blood urea nitrogen: a waste chemical excreted by the kidneys. Above-normal levels can indicate kidney damage. Diabetic nephropathy: kidney damage associated with diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy: nerve damage associated with diabetes. Fructose: a simple sugar that occurs naturally in honey and fruit. Glucagon: a hormone that can be injected to raise the blood sugar level of a person with hypoglycemia … Continue reading →

Special Needs Parents, There’s an App for You

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Smartphone technology means we can access the internet from anywhere, turn on our lights at home while at work and check the oil level on our car from inside our home. Great…luxurious and probably not all that necessary, but great. On the other hand, what gets me excited about smartphones is the potential they have to be helping hands to parents of children with special needs and to adults with special needs. The list of available applications ready and waiting to aid and assist is growing. From the hearing impaired to the diabetic, there’s an app for you. Non-Verbal or … Continue reading →

Genealogy and Your Health

Did you know that you can use genealogy to keep yourself and your family healthy? Medical research shows that certain genetic disorders, as well as the tendencies to develop certain preventable health conditions, are hereditary. A family medical history is a useful tool that you and other members of your family can use to assist your physicians in caring for your health. Unfortunately, some families are at an increased risk for developing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and certain cancers. If you discover any of these conditions as you research your family’s medical history, let your doctor know. Your … Continue reading →

My Forced Weight Loss Journey – How It Started

I used the word “forced” in the title when I guess no one can be truly “forced” to lose weight. But, let me tell you a bit about my history and why I felt this was forced. When I was younger, I was very active, but like many of us, I became more and more sedentary as the years went on. I married for the first (and only!) time at 36 and right before I turned 40, I realized if we were going to have any children, we had better get started! I was very lucky in that we got … Continue reading →

Two Dozen Motivating Reasons to Lose Weight:

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I’m happy to be guestwriting in this blog. You can also find me at the Adoption Blog here on Families.com, where I’ve written for over 2 1/2 years. Our responses to food are often not totally planned. Try programming your brain to think in new ways by reading, every morning and evening, your reasons for losing weight and possible things you can tell yourself in a tempting or difficult situation. Here are two dozen of my most serious motivations for losing weight. (My next blog will share two dozen more light-hearted–but sometimes no less motivating–reasons.)Maybe some of them are yours. … Continue reading →

When a Dog Goes Blind

My next door neighbor’s dog, Simba, has had a rough road lately. First he was diagnosed with diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome, then shortly after that (not even a week later) he went blind. How They Knew Simba Was Blind When I was little, our family dog Mike went blind. I don’t remember exactly when it happened or how we knew. I’m fairly sure my dad was the first to notice it. I got to thinking about that because I asked my neighbors how they figured out Simba was blind. It’s not like he can just shout all of a sudden, … Continue reading →

What Does Light do for Your Body?

Natural light isn’t just good for maintaining your circadian rhythms. The right amount of light at the right time of day can do amazing things for your body! Light helps you wake up. Head for the brightest light you can find when your alarm clock goes off and you’ll shake off sleep faster. Want to be even more alert? Don’t wear sunglasses during your ride to work. If you have to wake up before the sun is up, try putting a compact fluorescent bulb in your bedside lamp. (Look for bulbs marked daylight or 6500K.) The color range of this … Continue reading →

Understanding the Language of Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, you will soon learn that pregnancy has a vocabulary all its own. When you visit your doctor or midwife, you will hear new words and may be nervous to ask. Learning some of the commonly used terms can help you feel more confident about your pregnancy and in communicating with your health care provider. Alpha Fetoprotein Test is a blood test done early in the second trimester to detect the level of alpha fetoprotein in the pregnant woman’s blood. High levels can indicate a brain or spinal cord defect. Low levels can indicate an increased risk … Continue reading →