Helping Your Adult Family Member with Diabetes Management

Meal planning, daily physical activity and blood sugar monitoring, medications. The day-in and day-out requirements of diabetes management can overwhelm those with this chronic disease.

"That's where loving family members can help," says Eve Gehling, R.D., a certified diabetes educator and author of "The Family and Friends Guide to Diabetes." "The best way to help someone with diabetes is to first learn what diabetes is and how it's treated."

Doing so will help you support their efforts to manage their blood-glucose levels, giving TLC when they're ill and preparing healthful meals they'll enjoy.

Steps to take

• Offer to go to doctor appointments together or attend a diabetes education program. "Check with your local health care providers or the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association to find out what diabetes conferences or workshops might be in town," says Gehling. "Offer to attend with them, or provide a ride or baby-sitting so your loved one can attend."

• Be active together. Go walking, go dancing or rake the lawn together. Not only does being physically active help diabetes management, it also reduces stress and increases energy levels.

• Help with food shopping and meal planning, especially if your family member should lose weight. The diabetes diet is one of the healthiest, promoting heart health and weight control. The entire family can benefit from following it. If you don't want to follow the entire diet, try to avoid foods high in sugar and fats, opt for whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

• Be aware of how you think about and use food. "Many people are brought up to express their love for others through food," says Gehling. "Try to show your affection in ways other than baking or buying sweets."

• Encourage your loved one to use a meter to check blood glucose levels. Blood sugar monitoring often is the most stressful aspect of diabetic management.

"Every blood glucose test gives useful information," says Gehling. "It provides the person with a better understanding of the fluctuations that can be caused by hormones, illness, exercise, stress or diet."

Frequent blood testing also helps people with diabetes learn how to fine-tune their diabetes control.

Gehling suggests family members not focus solely on the numbers; instead, she says they should congratulate their loved ones for checking their glucose levels regularly and encourage them to continue doing so.

Family members should learn the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. They should learn how to help the loved one manage diabetes if he or she contracts the flu or other illness.

Gehling also recommends family members provide support by giving positive reinforcement rather than pointing out negatives or nagging.

"The amount of support available from family and friends is an important predictor of successful diabetic management," she says. "The type of support needed will differ from person to person, so rather than assuming what's best for your loved one, simply ask how you can help. And after you ask, the most important thing to do is listen to the answer."

IMPORTANT!

Please, please, please.....

Do NOT believe everything on the "Television" or the "Internet"!

Always, always, always...

Consult with your Family Physician or Internist about your health.

Postive Ways to Live by...

Remember to live "ONE DAY AT A TIME"

The most useless thing to do .......... Worry
The greatest Joy............................... Giving
The greatest loss................. Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work................ Helping others
The ugliest personality trait...................... Selfishness
The most endangered species................... Dedicated leaders
The greatest "shot in the arm".................. Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome............ Fear
Most effective sleeping pill........... Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease........ Excuses
The most powerful force in life...................... Love
The most dangerous pariah................................. A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer...... The brain !
The worst thing to be without................... Hope
The deadliest weapon.... The tongue
The two most power-filled words............... "I Can"
The greatest asset............... Faith
The most worthless emotion................ Self-pity
The most prized possession................ Integrity
The most beautiful attire................... A smile!
The most powerful channel of communication........ Prayer
The most contagious spirit................ Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life.............. GOD

Everyone needs this list to live by...pass it along!!!

Be Safe when using Supplements

Here are some steps consumers can take to make sure the supplements they use are safe and beneficial.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Even helpful products can be harmful, for example, if you're pregnant or nursing, have a chronic disease, taking a medication that interacts adversely with the supplement, or are about to undergo elective surgery.

Beware of these categories. Supplements for weight loss, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding have been problematic, the FDA said, because some contain steroids and prescription drugs.

Look for the "USP Verified" mark. It indicates that the supplement manufacturer has voluntarily asked U.S. Pharmacopeia, a trusted nonprofit, private standard-setting authority, to verify the quality, purity and potency of its raw ingredients or finished products. USP posts a list of verified products on its website at www.uspverified.org.

Don't assume more is better. It's possible to overdose even on beneficial vitamins and minerals. Avoid any product that claims to contain "megadoses."

Report problems. Let your doctor know if you experience any symptoms after you start taking a supplement. And if you end up with a serious side effect, ask your doctor or pharmacist to report it to the FDA, or do it yourself at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-332-1088.

***Please, do not BELIEVE all ads!

Check with your physician before trying anything!

Research in the right places. Be skeptical about claims made for supplements in ads, on TV and by sales staff. If a claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Consumer Reports provides several online links for assessing supplements at http://www.consumerreportshealth.org/.




SEPTEMBER 2010

© Consumers Union 2010.

Informattion on Supplements

Supplements to consider 11 supplements to consider *Last reviewed: September 2010

These popular supplements, listed in alphabetical order, have been shown to likely be safe for most people and possibly or likely to be effective in appropriate doses for certain conditions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement. Most supplements haven't been studied in pregnant or nursing women. The list of interactions and side effects is not all-inclusive.

CALCIUM

(calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium gluconate) Likely effective in combination with vitamin D in preventing and treating bone loss and osteoporosis. Taken daily, appears to reduce some PMS symptoms. Belching, gas. Calcium can decrease the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, osteoporosis drugs, and thyroid drugs.

CRANBERRY

(American cranberry, large cranberry, cranberry extract) Possibly effective for preventing recurrent urinary-tract infections. Large amounts can cause stomach upset, diarrhea. Might increase the effects of the blood thinner warfarin.

FISH OIL

(EPA/DHA, omega-3 fatty acids, PUFA) Effective for reducing triglyceride levels. Likely effective for decreasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and progression of hardening of the arteries in people with existing heart disease. Fishy aftertaste, upset stomach, nausea, loose stools. High doses can increase levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in some people or increase the chance of bleeding. Might increase the effect of blood-thinning drugs and high blood pressure medications.

GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE

(G6S, glucosamine sulfate 2KCl, glucosamine sulfate-potassium chloride) Likely effective treatment for reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Might also help slow progression of osteoarthritis. Nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, headache. Might increase the blood-thinning effect of warfarin and cause bruising and bleeding.

LACTASE

(beta-galactosidase) Likely effective for reducing gastrointestinal symptoms in lactoseintolerant people when used before consuming lactose or when added to milk. No reported side effects. None known.

LACTOBACILLUS

(acidophilus, acidophilus lactobacillus, probiotics) Possibly effective for preventing diarrhea while taking antibiotics. Gas. People with poor immune function should check with their doctor first. Might cause infection in people taking immunosuppressant drugs.

PSYLLIUM

(blond plantago, blonde psyllium, plantago, isabgola) Effective as a bulk laxative for reducing constipation or softening stools. Likely effective for lowering cholesterol in people with mild to moderately high cholesterol. Gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea. Some people can have a serious allergic response that requires immediate medical attention. Might decrease the effectiveness of carbamazepine, an antiseizure drug; digoxin, a heart drug; and lithium, for bipolar disorder. Might cause low blood sugar when taken with some diabetes drugs.

PYGEUM

(African plum tree, African prune, Prunus africana) Likely effective for reducing symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Nausea, abdominal pain. None known.

SAME

(ademetionine, adenosylmethionine, S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine, sammy) Likely effective in reducing symptoms of major depression, reducing pain, and improving functioning in people with osteoarthritis. GI symptoms, dry mouth, headache, mild insomnia, anorexia, sweating, dizziness, and nervousness, especially at higher doses. It can make some people with depression feel anxious. Might lead to a toxic reaction when taken with the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, certain antidepressants, or narcotic pain relievers. Might worsen symptoms when taken with the Parkinson's drug levodopa.

ST. JOHN'S WORT

(Hypericum perforatum, Saynt Johannes Wort, SJW) Likely effective for improving symptoms of some forms of depression. Insomnia, vivid dreams, anxiety, dizziness, headache, skin rash, and tingling. It can cause skin to become extra-sensitive to the sun. Can decrease the effectiveness of a wide range of drugs, including birth-control pills, heart medications, HIV/AIDS drugs, and warfarin. Might also increase the effects or side effects of certain antidepressants.

VITAMIN D

(Cholecalciferol, vitamin D3, ergocalciferol, vitamin D2) Likely effective when taken with calcium to help prevent osteoporosis. Might help reduce falls in people with vitamin D deficiency and bone loss in people taking corticosteroids. Extremely large amounts might cause weakness, fatigue, headache, and nausea, though side effects are rare. Might reduce the effectiveness of some medications, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), other heart medications, birth-control pills, HIV/AIDS drugs.





Source: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Professional Version, June 2010