Have a Better Life

Can Diabetes be avoided?
NO. In Diabetes Type 1, it’s the immune system itself that destroys pancreas cells that produce insulin and it’s not possible to avoid that metabolic “malfunction”.

YES. In Diabetes Type 2, it is the incorrect food and sedentary life that make the body resistant to the insulin action, and in the majority of the cases can be avoided with the adoption of healthy food habit, weight loss (when overweighted) and regular exercise.

Not practicing physical exercise can contribute to diabetes type 2?

YES. Diabetes type 2 occurs when the insulin produced by the pancreas stops to work with efficiency. The resistance to insulin can be caused by a non healthy diet and lack of physical exercise.

Having a relative with diabetes can increase the risk to develop diabetes type 2?

YES. The family historical is a factor to be taken into consideration and the fact that close relatives (grandparents, parent, and brothers) have the disease, can be a factor of risk for the appearance of diabetes.

A woman that has diabetes while being pregnant will stay diabetic for the rest of her life?

NO. Gestational diabetes can occur in 5% of pregnant woman, disappearing in most of the cases with giving birth. However as those women get older, about 60% can become diabetics.

The tests to know the blood sugar levels should be done every day by a diabetic?

YES. Diabetic type 1 and type 2 should control daily, and sometimes several times a day, their blood sugar levels. On diabetics’ type 1, those tests are needed to know if the body needs to receive insulin (once the body is not able to produce it. Tests are done with special devices that should follow diabetics everywhere.

Before Christmas check if you need batteries for you camera, and don’t leave it for the last minute. Imagine that you are prepared to take a picture of your family during Christmas dinner and you realize you need batteries. The stores are all closed and you are in big trouble. No matter what batteries brand you need, at eastcoastphoto.com you will find a wide range of brands (Canon, Casio, Pentax, Camcorder, etc). Here you can also find rechargeable nimh batteries in case you prefer to recharge the batteries yourself. Don’t let the batteries let you down.

Just two more weeks and New Year’s Eve is arriving. For me it’s just another night, another day, probably I will stay at home, but for most people it is a celebration night. Some people choose local destinations others go to worldwide locations. Hotels in Vegas are probably full as well as Hotels in tropical countries. Some people prefer to gather some friends, rent an apartment and have some fun, others prefer to spend the night in a special hotel where there is a party included in the price. I guess the important thing is have a great night no matter where we are on New Year’s Eve.

Quinoa is a pseudocerial – it’s a plant disguised of cereal, that grows in the Andes where is called “the food of the goods”. It’s very nutritional, with whole proteins, minerals and vitamins. Of easy digestion is authorized for diabetes patients.

It’s good for: replace meat: prevents anemia (high levels of iron and folic acid); provides calcium to people that don’t eat dairy products; vary and enrich the daily meals of all the family, including elder people.

How to eat it: in grains, boiled, served with vegetables; flakes, at breakfast; milled, as any other flour (you can make delicious bread with it).

With the holidays just two weeks away be prepared to eat in the parties without stressing about gaining a few ponds. Here are some tips:

Before the party:

• To prevent you from arriving at the parties starving, before leaving home, eat some nuts and almonds without salt. When you arrive at the party, say that you are really thirsty and ask for a big glass of water with a slice of lemon.

During the party:

• Start with a huge dose of salad, soup or vegetables. After, taste a little of everything. If they insist with you to eat say I’ll be back in a minute (but don’t come back).

After the party:

• On the next day, eat light meals of soup of various vegetables, fruit and light fresh cheese.

When we speak about donations we think about money. Well Car Angel (www.carangel.com) is a company that is helping others through donations, not money but car donations as well as RV, boats, motorcycles donations. This a non-profit company that uss the items donated to make make videos for kids and teens, feeding and educational programs among others. Just in videos, 2.4 millions have already been given away.

Check one of those videos: Boat Angel.

If you have an old car you want to get rid of , donate it to carangel.com and it will be turned into money to help others.

Still thinking about the presents you have to give as Christmas present, what about costume jewelry. If I had a wardrobe with fashionable clothes I would like to have fashionable jewelry as well. Having suitable jewelry for each type of clothes, matching colors and models will make us more fashionable and will lift our self esteem. I must confess, this is something I would like to achieve, have wardrobe that makes me feel good and beautiful.