Dear Readers, Welcome to the Fall 2014 Edition of “Costco: Healthy Living with Diabetes”. Fall is the time of year for people with diabetes to get their flu shots, which Costco offers at a low cost to its members. Our immunization-certified Costco pharmacists give flu shots Monday through Saturday for less than $15. Simply stop by the pharmacy counter on your next Costco outing. In this issue, we feature great articles on diabetes care and nutrition. “An Easy Way To Take An Insulin Shot” will walk you through the benefits of using an insulin pen over a syringe. And, our article on fiber outlines some great reasons to reach for 38 to 50 grams each day. We also bring you some delicious, diabetes-friendly recipes in addition to our growing collection at www.www.keixun.com.cn For full article click here . . .?]]>
Kirkland Signature? Quit2? 2 mg. Gum Are you a smoker? If not, do you know someone who is? Most people know that smoking can cause a lot of health problems and can affect many diseases that you might already have. Do you want to quit smoking, or help someone you know quit? Q Why is smoking so bad for you? You probably already know that smoking is bad for you, but do you know why? For starters, cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Many of these chemicals are toxic to humans, and at least 70 of them are known to cause cancer. It takes at least 10 to 15 years of not smoking to lower your risk of most smoking–related diseases to the same level as someone who never smoked. The most common lung disease caused by smoking is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This disease makes it hard for you to breathe since tobacco smoke damages and destroys parts of your lung. As the disease gets worse, your breathing can get so bad that you will not be able to work or enjoy the kind of life that you once enjoyed. COPD can also lead to early [...]]]>
Colgate Total? Toothpaste If you have diabetes, you probably know that you are at an increased risk for problems with your eyes, feet, skin?and nervous system. Did you know that diabetes can also cause problems in your mouth? Take Care Of Your Teeth Poor blood glucose control lets bacteria grow easily in your mouth. Having lots of bacteria in your mouth lead to?plaque buildup on your teeth. When this happens, your gums begin to pull away from your teeth, and pockets form between your teeth and gums. These pockets can become filled with germs and small bits of food. The gums then become inflamed and may bleed when you eat or brush your teeth. This condition is called “gingivitis”. For full article click here . . .?]]>
When it comes to controlling your blood glucose, you have probably researched the impact of everything from food, to exercise, to weight control. But have you looked into how spices may impact it? Cinnamon is a spice that doesn’t just add great flavor to foods; it may help to lower blood glucose as well. The best benefit it offers is that it’s all-natural and considered safe for most people with diabetes. Does it sound too good to be true? In Medieval times, cinnamon was used for medicinal purposes thanks to its high antioxidant properties. Research now shows us that it may be a powerful player in the fight against diabetes. Cinnamon may help to lower blood glucose levels by decreasing insulin resistance. When your cells become resistant to insulin, the glucose-lowering hormone in your body, they do not allow insulin to carry glucose into your cells. This results in glucose remaining in your bloodstream and rising over time, eventually leading to diabetes. Both whole cinnamon and extracted cinnamon have been shown to lower blood glucose levels. Cinnamon has also been shown to help reduce unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure, both of which are conditions that can increase your [...]]]>
BD AutoShield Duo? Pen Needle When injecting insulin, there are many things you have to manage to make sure your blood glucose is controlled. Aside from your actual insulin plan, you must keep track of your blood glucose to make sure that it isn’t too low, and that your plan is helping you reach your goals. Often, not much thought goes into the importance of how and where the insulin is taken. Insulin should be injected into a fatty layer, where it is best absorbed. The time it takes for insulin to be absorbed and begin working in your body is important to make sure that your blood glucose is controlled. Insulin won’t be absorbed well if it is injected into muscle or other unhealthy injection sites. Unhealthy injection sites include those with bruising, scars, and lipohypertrophy (lumps under the skin). For full article click here . . .? ]]>
Weider Red Yeast Rice If you have been told you have high?cholesterol, you most likely want to take?action. If you are already on medications?to control diabetes, you may be looking?for natural options to avoid additional?medications. The good news is that?cholesterol, for many individuals, can be?managed through diet and lifestyle changes. ?Although this approach takes some work,?in three to six months, you may be thrilled?with the changes in your cholesterol levels. Eat Your?Veggies One of the top ways?to help reduce your?cholesterol levels is?by losing weight if?you are above an?ideal body weight.?Losing just as little?as 5-10% of your?total body weight can?result in improved?total cholesterol,?lower LDL cholesterol?levels, and elevated?HDL cholesterol.?To help with this,?focus on filling your?plate at each meal?at least halfway?with vegetables.?Since vegetables are?loaded with fiber and?contain few calories,?filling your plate with?these allows you to?take in less calories?while feeling full?and satisfied. And?they have another?health bonus as well. Vegetables are rich in?soluble fiber, a fiber?that helps to bind to?cholesterol and flush?it from your body. So?not only will eating?more vegetables help?to shed pounds, but?it will help to further?reduce cholesterol as?well. When preparing?vegetables, choose?steamed options?over sautéed or?fried varieties to?prevent taking in?additional calories. For full article click here . . .?]]>
Bayer CONTOUR? NEXT Blood Glucose Monitoring System THINK BACK?to when you first found out that you had diabetes. How did you feel? Most people with diabetes have a strong emotional response to finding out they have diabetes. Having feelings of anger, fear, sadness and guilt is perfectly normal. And the good news is that, over time, most people learn how to cope with those feelings, just as they learn to cope with diabetes. How? They figure out how to fit diabetes care into their day-to-day lives. They’ll have days when they struggle and other days when they get frustrated, but most of the time, they are able to cope with their feelings. They learn to manage their feelings and still do what they need to do to take care of themselves. Hearing that you have a complication from your diabetes can upset this balance. You may find that you have many of the same feelings as when you were first diagnosed. You may feel scared that you are now at risk for other complications, or you might be angry that you now have another problem to manage. Some people feel guilty or ashamed that they were not able to [...]]]>
Nature Made? Vitamins First, it is important to note that eating a variety of whole foods is a better choice for staying healthy than relying on vitamins or supplements.?Eating lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains- and limiting fats and sugar — are important for keeping your blood glucose under control. Individual foods can give you many different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, in one?serving. For example, raspberries contain vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. These nutrients, plus all?the food nutrients we have not yet discovered, work?together in your body to ensure that you benefit from all of them. Using vitamins or supplements – which do not have the full range of nutrients that whole foods do — may not?be needed unless you have a specific vitamin deficiency. (“Deficiency” means that your body does not have enough?of an important nutrient.) It’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any vitamin supplements to see if you really need them. Your healthcare provider may want you to take?vitamin supplements if you are: On a low-calorie diet and do?not eat a wide variety of foods On a vegan diet (no meat, fish, eggs or dairy products) Pregnant On a restricted [...]]]>
Kirkland Signature? OptiFiber It’s Easy To Ensure You’re Getting Enough Fiber In Your Diet Once You Know More About Where To Get It And What It Can Do For You. THE AVERAGE AMERICAN eats only 15 grams of fiber each day. This may seem like a decent amount, but recent studies show that much more fiber is needed in any daily meal plan if you want a healthy heart. What Is fiber? Fiber is a healthy compound found in fruits, veggies and whole grains like oats, wheat and rice, as well as in beans, nuts and seeds. The two types of fiber found in foods are called insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber helps to bulk stool and keep digestion at a healthy pace so any waste products can be moved out of the body easily. Insoluble fiber is found in fruits, veggies and whole grains. Soluble fiber attracts water and turns into a gel when digested. Soluble fiber helps to slow down digestion so you can better take in nutrients from the foods you eat. Soluble fiber is found in fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, beans and some whole grains. This type of fiber can lower cholesterol and help keep [...]]]>
Salt and Sugar both play very important roles in the body. Sugar provides you with energy. And salt helps balance the fluids in your body. However, many people take in too much salt and sugar, which can be harmful to your health. Sugar is a source of energy found in many different forms in processed and natural foods. Sugar is found in processed form as bread, pasta, or white sugar, as well as naturally in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Added sugars in processed foods and drinks should be limited in a healthy diet. Consuming too much sugar may lead to weight gain; sugar, in the form of glucose, is taken up by cells in the body and stored as fat. If you store too much fat, you can gain weight and increase your risk for many health problems. Although salt does not add any calories to your diet, it can raise your blood pressure by making you retain fluid. Eating too many salty foods and added salt to your meals has been linked to increased heart disease risk. Salt and sugar can make food taste better, but can also be harmful to your health. So, cut some of the [...]]]>
NO ONE ENJOYS taking insulin shots, but skipping them is not a wise or healthy option. Your heart, blood vessels, eyes and kidneys are at risk if you do not care for your diabetes well. If you can’t control your blood glucose with increased movement, good food choices and pills, you may need to inject insulin. Insulin can’t Be taken as a pill. But, you don’t have to take insulin as a shot. An insulin pen can work just as well as a syringe, and can be a lot less painful. The Research Studies show that people with type 2 diabetes who take mealtime insulin prefer to use a pen, not a vial and syringe. Many healthcare providers also suggest that people try an insulin pen when they are just beginning to use insulin. About 400 people with type 2 diabetes took part in this study, which compared two ways to take insulin. They were divided into two groups: Group 1: took insulin using a vial and syringe for the first two weeks, and then switched to an insulin pen for the next two weeks. Group 2: took insulin with a pen for the first two weeks, and then switched [...]]]>
The results of the DAWN2 study suggest that family members are seeking advice and support in an effort to become more involved in the care of their loved one with diabetes. [span9]RESEARCH IN diabetes is about more than finding a cure or better treatments. Research is also done to better understand what it’s like to live with diabetes and to learn about easier ways to manage life with diabetes. An important example of this kind of diabetes research is the DAWN2 Study. DAWN stands for Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs. The first DAWN study, done in 2001, showed that a large number of people with diabetes struggle with doing all they need to do and that almost half (43%) have had diabetes-related distress. Diabetes-related distress is the everyday anger, fear, frustration, guilt, sadness and anxiety that can occur while managing a complex and sometimes overwhelming illness. Who took part in DAWN2? The DAWN2 study was done among 8,596 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from 17 different countries, including the United States. Although there were some differences across countries, no single country did better or worse than others. In fact, it appears that people with diabetes the world [...]]]>
DAIRY PRODUCTS, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt can add flavor, richness, and a protein punch to any meal or snack. Sometimes, though, you may be on the go and not have time to get in a balanced, protein-rich meal. A healthy option may be a smoothie made with dairy-based protein powder that you can carry in a handy travel mug. Dairy-based protein powders are made from the two main proteins in milk: casein and whey. Whey powder is the most common protein powder seen on store shelves. It is easily digested by the human body. Whey protein improves muscle strength and may help fight off illness by improving the body’s immune system. Protein products also help keep people feeling full for longer between meals. They may help you eat smaller portions, lose weight and keep it off. The Research A team of experts asked several groups of obese women to exercise three times a week for four weeks. One group consumed whey protein each day. One group had casein protein every day. The last group received no extra protein. For full article click here . . .?]]>
GLUCERNA? Nutritional Vanilla Shake AS A COSTCO SHOPPER, you most likely have come across container after container of meal and snack replacement options.? From shakes to bars, these products can be marketed to do everything from help you to build muscle, lose weight, and even better control your blood glucose levels. But do they really do what they claim? Are meal replacements such as these products necessary for those with diabetes? Let’s take a closer look. What are meal replacements? Meal replacements are liquid shakes or bars that are eaten alone or in combination with foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables to replace a standard breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Meal replacements typically contain a high percentage of protein along with carbohydrates and fats to replicate the nutrients that would be found in a meal. These products are also typically fortified with vitamins and minerals. The calorie content and nutrient profile of the replacement determine whether it should be used as a meal, a snack, or as part of a meal with fruits and vegetables added. For instance, a shake with only 100 calories would not be substantial enough alone to be counted as a meal. However, this shake [...]]]>
ACCU-CHEK? Aviva Plus Diabetes Monitoring Kit LAURA DID NOTHING?about her diabetes for years. Her doctors told her that her weight, food choices, and lack of exercise could cause diabetes problems in the future, but she didn’t care. She felt fine and had other matters on her mind. She promised to focus on her diabetes one of these days, but not right now. Unfortunately, problems did develop. She now has pain in her feet and problems with her sight. She is so angry with herself for ignoring the warnings of all of those around her. If only she had done this. If only she had stopped doing that. So Much Depends on How You Look at Life Do you believe that your diabetes problems happened because you ignored past advice? If so, forgive yourself. Some of your issues will improve if you take better care of yourself. For full article click here . . .?]]>