I was 219 this am
YUCK
This week my goal is no DRIVE THRU and gym twice a week.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sleep Step 7
Step 7: You Snooze; You Lose
One surefire way to fight your fatigue is to ban the snooze button. You've decided what time you are going to get up every day - and that does not mean 15 minutes early and snoozing until it's time to get out of bed.
Sleep involves several stages: REM sleep is accompanied by vivid dreams and memory consolidation; the third and fourth stages of sleep are deep and restorative. Each night you cycle through these stages. When you hit the snooze button, you alternate between wakefulness and light sleep, which might feel comforting - but there is no physical or mental benefit from this. Set your alarm later and get more REM or quality sleep.
Sleep involves several stages: REM sleep is accompanied by vivid dreams and memory consolidation; the third and fourth stages of sleep are deep and restorative. Each night you cycle through these stages. When you hit the snooze button, you alternate between wakefulness and light sleep, which might feel comforting - but there is no physical or mental benefit from this. Set your alarm later and get more REM or quality sleep.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Weight Check in
Tomorrow is weight check in ... it is the day that i start doing something about this weight ... which means tomorrow night i will have to find my gym membership card ... HMMMMMMMMM wonder where it is
Friday, February 11, 2011
More tips for reducing Cholesterol
1. Set a target.
You know you've got to get your cholesterol number down, but how low do you need to go? That depends on several factors, including your personal and family history of heart disease, as well as whether you have cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
If your risk is deemed high, "most doctors will treat for a target LDL of less than 70," says James Beckerman, MD, a cardiologist in private practice in Portland, Ore. If your risk is moderate, a target LDL of under 130 is generally OK, Beckerman says. If your risk is low, less than 160 is a reasonable target. "The trend now is to treat people earlier, especially if they have two or more risk factors," he says.
2. Consider medication.
Lifestyle modifications make sense for anyone with elevated cholesterol. But if your cardiovascular risk is high, you may also need to take a cholesterol-lowering drug. Michael Richman, MD, medical director of the Center for Cholesterol Management in Los Angeles, calls drug therapy "the only thing that will work fast" to lower high cholesterol. "Everyone should do the basics, like stopping smoking and losing weight," Richman tells WebMD. "But these things lower the risk only modestly. They're nothing to write home about."
Beckerman agrees. "Lifestyle modifications are important, but we should also be emphasizing the benefits of medication when appropriate," he says.
Several types of cholesterol-lowering medication are available, including niacin, bile acid resins, and fibrates. But statins are the treatment of choice for most individuals. "Statins can lower LDL cholesterol by 20% to 50%" says Pamela Peeke, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
3. Get moving.
In addition to lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol, regular physical activity can raise HDL "good" cholesterol by up to 10%. The benefits come even with moderate exercise, such as brisk walking.
Robert Harrington, MD, professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., urges his patients to go for a 45-minute walk after supper.
Peeke tells WebMD, "I ask people to get a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. If you work at a desk, get up and walk around for five minutes every hour."
Whatever form your exercise takes, the key is to do it with regularity. "Some experts recommend seven days a week, although I think five days is more realistic," Richman says.
4. Avoid saturated fat.
Doctors used to think that the key to lowering high cholesterol was to cut back on eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods. But now it's clear that dietary cholesterol isn't the main culprit. "Eggs don't do all that much [to raise cholesterol]," Beckerman says. "You don't want to be throwing down six eggs a day, but recent data suggest that it's really saturated fat" that causes increases in cholesterol. And if you cooked your eggs in a slab of butter, don't overlook the fat in the butter.
"One of the first things to do when you're trying to lower your cholesterol level is to take saturated fat down a few notches," says Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, the author of several nutrition books, including the forthcoming Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Heart Disease. "The second thing to do is to start eating more 'smart' fats," Magee says. She recommends substituting canola oil or olive oil for vegetable oil, butter, stick margarine, lard, or shortening while cutting back on meat and eating more fish.
5. Eat more fiber.
Fruits and vegetables, including whole grains, are good sources not only of heart-healthy antioxidants but also cholesterol-lowering dietary fiber. Soluble fiber, in particular, can help lower cholesterol. Beckerman says it "acts like a sponge to absorb cholesterol "in the digestive tract. Good sources of soluble fiber include dried beans, oats, and barley, as well as fiber products containing psyllium.
6. Go fish.
Fish and fish oil are chockablock with cholesterol-lowering omega-3 fatty acids. "Fish oil supplements can have a profound effect on cholesterol and triglycerides," Beckerman says. "There's a lot of scientific evidence to support their use." Fish oil is considered to be quite safe, but check with your doctor first if you are taking an anti-clotting medication.
Magee recommends eating fish two or three times a week. "Salmon is great, as it has lots of omega-3s,"she says. But even canned tuna has omega-3s, and it's more consumer-friendly. The American Heart Association also recommends fish as the preferable source of omega-3s, but fish oil capsule supplements can be considered after consultation with your physician. Plant sources of omega-3s include soybeans, canola, flaxseeds, walnuts, and their oils, but they don't provide the same omega-3s as fish. The biggest heart benefits have been linked to omega-3s found in fish.
7. Drink up.
Moderate consumption of alcohol can raise levels of HDL "good" cholesterol by as much as 10%. Doctors say up to one drink a day makes sense for women, up to two a day for men. But given the risks of excessive drinking, the American Heart Association cautions against increasing your alcohol intake or starting to drink if you don't already.
8. Drink green.
Magee suggests green tea as a healthier alternative to sodas and sugary beverages. Indeed, research in both animals and humans has shown that green tea contains compounds that can help lower LDL cholesterol. In a small-scale study conducted recently in Brazil, people who took capsules containing a green tea extract experienced a 4.5% reduction in LDL cholesterol.
9. Eat nuts.
Extensive research has demonstrated that regular consumption of nuts can bring modest reductions in cholesterol. Walnuts and almonds seem particularly beneficial. But nuts are high in calories, so limit yourself to a handful a day, experts say.
10. Switch spreads.
Recent years have seen the introduction of margarine-like spreads and other foods fortified with cholesterol-lowering plant compounds known as stanols.
11. Don't smoke.
Smoking lowers levels of HDL "good" cholesterol and is a major risk factor for heart disease.
You know you've got to get your cholesterol number down, but how low do you need to go? That depends on several factors, including your personal and family history of heart disease, as well as whether you have cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
If your risk is deemed high, "most doctors will treat for a target LDL of less than 70," says James Beckerman, MD, a cardiologist in private practice in Portland, Ore. If your risk is moderate, a target LDL of under 130 is generally OK, Beckerman says. If your risk is low, less than 160 is a reasonable target. "The trend now is to treat people earlier, especially if they have two or more risk factors," he says.
2. Consider medication.
Lifestyle modifications make sense for anyone with elevated cholesterol. But if your cardiovascular risk is high, you may also need to take a cholesterol-lowering drug. Michael Richman, MD, medical director of the Center for Cholesterol Management in Los Angeles, calls drug therapy "the only thing that will work fast" to lower high cholesterol. "Everyone should do the basics, like stopping smoking and losing weight," Richman tells WebMD. "But these things lower the risk only modestly. They're nothing to write home about."
Beckerman agrees. "Lifestyle modifications are important, but we should also be emphasizing the benefits of medication when appropriate," he says.
Several types of cholesterol-lowering medication are available, including niacin, bile acid resins, and fibrates. But statins are the treatment of choice for most individuals. "Statins can lower LDL cholesterol by 20% to 50%" says Pamela Peeke, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
3. Get moving.
In addition to lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol, regular physical activity can raise HDL "good" cholesterol by up to 10%. The benefits come even with moderate exercise, such as brisk walking.
Robert Harrington, MD, professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., urges his patients to go for a 45-minute walk after supper.
Peeke tells WebMD, "I ask people to get a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. If you work at a desk, get up and walk around for five minutes every hour."
Whatever form your exercise takes, the key is to do it with regularity. "Some experts recommend seven days a week, although I think five days is more realistic," Richman says.
4. Avoid saturated fat.
Doctors used to think that the key to lowering high cholesterol was to cut back on eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods. But now it's clear that dietary cholesterol isn't the main culprit. "Eggs don't do all that much [to raise cholesterol]," Beckerman says. "You don't want to be throwing down six eggs a day, but recent data suggest that it's really saturated fat" that causes increases in cholesterol. And if you cooked your eggs in a slab of butter, don't overlook the fat in the butter.
"One of the first things to do when you're trying to lower your cholesterol level is to take saturated fat down a few notches," says Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, the author of several nutrition books, including the forthcoming Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Heart Disease. "The second thing to do is to start eating more 'smart' fats," Magee says. She recommends substituting canola oil or olive oil for vegetable oil, butter, stick margarine, lard, or shortening while cutting back on meat and eating more fish.
5. Eat more fiber.
Fruits and vegetables, including whole grains, are good sources not only of heart-healthy antioxidants but also cholesterol-lowering dietary fiber. Soluble fiber, in particular, can help lower cholesterol. Beckerman says it "acts like a sponge to absorb cholesterol "in the digestive tract. Good sources of soluble fiber include dried beans, oats, and barley, as well as fiber products containing psyllium.
6. Go fish.
Fish and fish oil are chockablock with cholesterol-lowering omega-3 fatty acids. "Fish oil supplements can have a profound effect on cholesterol and triglycerides," Beckerman says. "There's a lot of scientific evidence to support their use." Fish oil is considered to be quite safe, but check with your doctor first if you are taking an anti-clotting medication.
Magee recommends eating fish two or three times a week. "Salmon is great, as it has lots of omega-3s,"she says. But even canned tuna has omega-3s, and it's more consumer-friendly. The American Heart Association also recommends fish as the preferable source of omega-3s, but fish oil capsule supplements can be considered after consultation with your physician. Plant sources of omega-3s include soybeans, canola, flaxseeds, walnuts, and their oils, but they don't provide the same omega-3s as fish. The biggest heart benefits have been linked to omega-3s found in fish.
7. Drink up.
Moderate consumption of alcohol can raise levels of HDL "good" cholesterol by as much as 10%. Doctors say up to one drink a day makes sense for women, up to two a day for men. But given the risks of excessive drinking, the American Heart Association cautions against increasing your alcohol intake or starting to drink if you don't already.
8. Drink green.
Magee suggests green tea as a healthier alternative to sodas and sugary beverages. Indeed, research in both animals and humans has shown that green tea contains compounds that can help lower LDL cholesterol. In a small-scale study conducted recently in Brazil, people who took capsules containing a green tea extract experienced a 4.5% reduction in LDL cholesterol.
9. Eat nuts.
Extensive research has demonstrated that regular consumption of nuts can bring modest reductions in cholesterol. Walnuts and almonds seem particularly beneficial. But nuts are high in calories, so limit yourself to a handful a day, experts say.
10. Switch spreads.
Recent years have seen the introduction of margarine-like spreads and other foods fortified with cholesterol-lowering plant compounds known as stanols.
11. Don't smoke.
Smoking lowers levels of HDL "good" cholesterol and is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Cholesterol and Heart Disease
In the annual physical, your doctor checks your cholesterol levels. But what is it? And what do the numbers say about your health?
Cholesterol is a type of lipid or fat. In our bodies, it travels through our blood stream in particles called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are bad because they can lead to a buildup of plaque in arteries.
A mass of plaque can narrow your arteries and restrict blood flow – much like trying to sip juice through a clogged straw. Eventually, the plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms, cutting off the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Hello, heart attack and stroke!
High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the other hand, are good because they pick up the LDL clogging your arteries and take it to the liver, where it’s processed and eventually excreted.
A total blood cholesterol level of 200 and above is cause for concern, according to the American Heart Association.
Try these 8 super-foods. Aim to eat all eight daily.
1. Oatmeal
Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that acts like a sponge to soak up cholesterol.
How to sneak it in: Add cinnamon or dried cranberries to your morning oatmeal for a flavor boost. Oat-bran is a highly concentrated source of beta-glucan and it’s easy to mix into homemade bread, muffin and pancake batter.
2. Almonds
Almonds contain two powerful antioxidants – vitamin E and flavonoids – which prevent the oxidation of LDL, a precursor to plaque buildup.
How to sneak it in: Eat almonds with their skins, which pack a hefty dose of flavonoids. Stir a handful into yogurt or spread two tablespoons of almond butter on whole-wheat bread.
3. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds contain lignan and soluble fiber, which block the production of LDL and increase your body’s ability to get rid of cholesterol.
How to sneak it in: Eat ground flaxseeds rather than whole ones, because your body can better absorb its nutrients. Brill likes to sprinkle them into her morning oatmeal. New studies also show that whole flaxseeds are better than flaxseed oil for lowering cholesterol.
4. Garlic
Garlic impedes the liver’s ability to make cholesterol.
How to sneak it in: Chop garlic into small pieces to release its flavor. Sauté it with steamed spinach, add it to sauces and soups or purée roasted garlic with cooked potatoes and olive oil for a heart-healthy version of everybody’s favorite: mashed potatoes.
5. Phytosterol-Containing Foods
Phytosterols are a fat found in plant foods such as fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. They interfere with cholesterol absorption by blocking it from your intestinal cells.
How to sneak it in: Even a vegetarian diet provides no more than 300-400 mg of plant sterols a day.
So supplement this with foods containing added phytosterols – chocolate bars, margarine, cheese, granola bars and cookies, to name a few – but keep an eye on saturated fat and trans-fat content.
6. Apples
Apples, particularly the skin and outer flesh, are rich in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help prevent plaque buildup.
How to sneak it in: Chop, slice or dice ’em, but leave the peel on for maximum health benefits.
7. Beans
Beans contain a special soluble fiber that’s fermented in the colon. Healthy bacteria eat the fiber and bean sugars to form short-chain fatty acids, which travel to the liver and inhibit LDL cholesterol production.
8. Soy Protein
Soy protein contains phytoestrogens – compounds that increase the number and effectiveness of LDL cholesterol receptors, improving the liver’s ability to get rid of cholesterol in your bloodstream.
How to sneak it in: Order a soy latte at your favorite coffeehouse, throw tofu into a fruit smoothie, use soy flour when baking, or mix a handful of roasted soy nuts with dried fruit for an energy-boosting trail mix.
Two More Tips
A healthy diet isn’t your only defense against cholesterol.
“Every step works to lower cholesterol in a specific way,” Brill says. “By combining them all, you get an extremely powerful LDL-lowering approach.”
Here are two of her favorite non-food-related tips:
9. Take Metamucil (Psyllium Husk)
Metamucil contains psyllium husk, a fiber that prevents cholesterol from entering intestinal cells. This fiber soaks up cholesterol so you excrete it rather than absorb it into your body. It’s “the most powerful LDL-lowering viscous soluble fiber in existence,” Brill says. How to sneak it in: Adults should consume 10-25 grams of soluble fiber a day, advises the National Cholesterol Education Program, but most get only 3-4 grams.
Brill says you should get half your fiber from a supplement and the rest from food.
Take half your daily dose of Metamucil before breakfast and half after dinner to avoid overloading your body on fiber, which can cause gas, constipation or diarrhea.
Work up to 12 capsules a day, for a total of 6 grams of psyllium husk.
Or use the powdered version, which you can mix into water. It varies by product, but most Metamucil powders contain 3.4 grams of psyllium husk per serving.
10. Work Up a Sweat
Brisk exercise speeds blood flow in your arteries, reducing your chances of inflammation and clogging (two precursors to hardening of your arteries).
How to sneak it in: You don’t have to hit the gym to get some exercise. Clip on a pedometer while you run errands and aim for 10,000 steps a day.
Cholesterol is a type of lipid or fat. In our bodies, it travels through our blood stream in particles called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are bad because they can lead to a buildup of plaque in arteries.
A mass of plaque can narrow your arteries and restrict blood flow – much like trying to sip juice through a clogged straw. Eventually, the plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms, cutting off the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Hello, heart attack and stroke!
High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the other hand, are good because they pick up the LDL clogging your arteries and take it to the liver, where it’s processed and eventually excreted.
A total blood cholesterol level of 200 and above is cause for concern, according to the American Heart Association.
Try these 8 super-foods. Aim to eat all eight daily.
1. Oatmeal
Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that acts like a sponge to soak up cholesterol.
How to sneak it in: Add cinnamon or dried cranberries to your morning oatmeal for a flavor boost. Oat-bran is a highly concentrated source of beta-glucan and it’s easy to mix into homemade bread, muffin and pancake batter.
2. Almonds
Almonds contain two powerful antioxidants – vitamin E and flavonoids – which prevent the oxidation of LDL, a precursor to plaque buildup.
How to sneak it in: Eat almonds with their skins, which pack a hefty dose of flavonoids. Stir a handful into yogurt or spread two tablespoons of almond butter on whole-wheat bread.
3. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds contain lignan and soluble fiber, which block the production of LDL and increase your body’s ability to get rid of cholesterol.
How to sneak it in: Eat ground flaxseeds rather than whole ones, because your body can better absorb its nutrients. Brill likes to sprinkle them into her morning oatmeal. New studies also show that whole flaxseeds are better than flaxseed oil for lowering cholesterol.
4. Garlic
Garlic impedes the liver’s ability to make cholesterol.
How to sneak it in: Chop garlic into small pieces to release its flavor. Sauté it with steamed spinach, add it to sauces and soups or purée roasted garlic with cooked potatoes and olive oil for a heart-healthy version of everybody’s favorite: mashed potatoes.
5. Phytosterol-Containing Foods
Phytosterols are a fat found in plant foods such as fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. They interfere with cholesterol absorption by blocking it from your intestinal cells.
How to sneak it in: Even a vegetarian diet provides no more than 300-400 mg of plant sterols a day.
So supplement this with foods containing added phytosterols – chocolate bars, margarine, cheese, granola bars and cookies, to name a few – but keep an eye on saturated fat and trans-fat content.
6. Apples
Apples, particularly the skin and outer flesh, are rich in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help prevent plaque buildup.
How to sneak it in: Chop, slice or dice ’em, but leave the peel on for maximum health benefits.
7. Beans
Beans contain a special soluble fiber that’s fermented in the colon. Healthy bacteria eat the fiber and bean sugars to form short-chain fatty acids, which travel to the liver and inhibit LDL cholesterol production.
8. Soy Protein
Soy protein contains phytoestrogens – compounds that increase the number and effectiveness of LDL cholesterol receptors, improving the liver’s ability to get rid of cholesterol in your bloodstream.
How to sneak it in: Order a soy latte at your favorite coffeehouse, throw tofu into a fruit smoothie, use soy flour when baking, or mix a handful of roasted soy nuts with dried fruit for an energy-boosting trail mix.
Two More Tips
A healthy diet isn’t your only defense against cholesterol.
“Every step works to lower cholesterol in a specific way,” Brill says. “By combining them all, you get an extremely powerful LDL-lowering approach.”
Here are two of her favorite non-food-related tips:
9. Take Metamucil (Psyllium Husk)
Metamucil contains psyllium husk, a fiber that prevents cholesterol from entering intestinal cells. This fiber soaks up cholesterol so you excrete it rather than absorb it into your body. It’s “the most powerful LDL-lowering viscous soluble fiber in existence,” Brill says. How to sneak it in: Adults should consume 10-25 grams of soluble fiber a day, advises the National Cholesterol Education Program, but most get only 3-4 grams.
Brill says you should get half your fiber from a supplement and the rest from food.
Take half your daily dose of Metamucil before breakfast and half after dinner to avoid overloading your body on fiber, which can cause gas, constipation or diarrhea.
Work up to 12 capsules a day, for a total of 6 grams of psyllium husk.
Or use the powdered version, which you can mix into water. It varies by product, but most Metamucil powders contain 3.4 grams of psyllium husk per serving.
10. Work Up a Sweat
Brisk exercise speeds blood flow in your arteries, reducing your chances of inflammation and clogging (two precursors to hardening of your arteries).
How to sneak it in: You don’t have to hit the gym to get some exercise. Clip on a pedometer while you run errands and aim for 10,000 steps a day.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Step 6
Step 6: Go Back to Sleep
More often than not, we are awakened at least once a night: we can't keep ourselves from waking, but we can help ourselves to go back to sleep.
Here are some tips to keep minor disturbances from interfering with a full night's sleep:
Keep a notebook and pen on your bedside table. Begin writing to-dos and reminders an hour before bed so that you aren't compiling a mental list for the next day. If you awake suddenly remembering an important task, write it down rather than trying to commit it to memory.
Keep a glass of water on your bedside table so that you don't have to get up and go to the kitchen if you are thirsty.
Try counting backwards from 300 by 3s. Simple math can keep our thoughts from wondering and yet isn't so difficult that it will frustrate you.
Use progressive relaxation, a technique that involves tightening and relaxing groups of muscles. Start with the hands and move up to the arms, shoulders, neck, and head, and then down to the legs and feet.
If you're still awake after 15 minutes, get up and do something quiet, like reading a book. Don't turn on the TV or read the latest Facebook updates. You have to let your body and mind slow down to be able to slip into sleep - so that means quiet activities only.
More often than not, we are awakened at least once a night: we can't keep ourselves from waking, but we can help ourselves to go back to sleep.
Here are some tips to keep minor disturbances from interfering with a full night's sleep:
Keep a notebook and pen on your bedside table. Begin writing to-dos and reminders an hour before bed so that you aren't compiling a mental list for the next day. If you awake suddenly remembering an important task, write it down rather than trying to commit it to memory.
Keep a glass of water on your bedside table so that you don't have to get up and go to the kitchen if you are thirsty.
Try counting backwards from 300 by 3s. Simple math can keep our thoughts from wondering and yet isn't so difficult that it will frustrate you.
Use progressive relaxation, a technique that involves tightening and relaxing groups of muscles. Start with the hands and move up to the arms, shoulders, neck, and head, and then down to the legs and feet.
If you're still awake after 15 minutes, get up and do something quiet, like reading a book. Don't turn on the TV or read the latest Facebook updates. You have to let your body and mind slow down to be able to slip into sleep - so that means quiet activities only.
Good News / Bad News
A1C down to 7.1
Cholesterol up ... so here goes the battle to reduce that ... look for some upcoming interesting stuff about cholesterol
Cholesterol up ... so here goes the battle to reduce that ... look for some upcoming interesting stuff about cholesterol
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Cholesterol
I have not been taking my cholesterol meds for some time as when i take them i get horrible horrible leg cramps and all i can get from the doctor is to stretch which does not help. I have been trying to do things on my own so today's test will see if i am better than prior tests :)
CHOLESTEROL 272 184 275 242
CHOLESTEROL/HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN
7.0 4.0 6.3 6.1
HDL 39 46 44 40
LDL CALCULATED 168 90 166 153
TRIGLYCERIDE 323 241 327 245
HDL cholesterol level. This is the "good" cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol level. This is the "bad" cholesterol.
| 10/22/2008 | 2/19/2009 | 5/12/2010 | 9/14/2010 |
|---|
CHOLESTEROL 272 184 275 242
CHOLESTEROL/HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN
7.0 4.0 6.3 6.1
HDL 39 46 44 40
LDL CALCULATED 168 90 166 153
TRIGLYCERIDE 323 241 327 245
HDL cholesterol level. This is the "good" cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol level. This is the "bad" cholesterol.
HGBA1C
Last night i fasted .. fasting is a hard thing to do it really throws my whole system outta wack but i did it ... these are prior results i am sure hoping for a much better result than the last time :)
HGBA1C Standard range
11/3/2008 7.1
2/19/2009 7.2
7/28/2009 6.6
5/12/2010 8.6
9/14/2010 8.0
HGBA1C Standard range
11/3/2008 7.1
2/19/2009 7.2
7/28/2009 6.6
5/12/2010 8.6
9/14/2010 8.0
Monday, February 7, 2011
Weight
Got on the scale this am and really didn't like what i saw ... it is time to do something about it !!! only I can do something about it!!!
I am at 213 the heaviest i have been since my wedding ... and now since my sugars seem to be under control it is time to get this weight OFF OFF OFF ....
I am at 213 the heaviest i have been since my wedding ... and now since my sugars seem to be under control it is time to get this weight OFF OFF OFF ....
Retinopathy
****been having blurred vision might be worth another check ?????
Combating Retinopathy
Prevention is crucial in keeping your eyes healthy
By Erika Gebel, PhD
Spotting Symptoms
Early detection and treatment are keys for preventing vision loss in people with diabetic eye disease. A common symptom is blurred vision, which can be caused by macular edema or blood vessel growth on the retina. Leaky blood vessels may make floating spots appear or increase in the field of vision. Even though blurred vision or spots may go away, these symptoms require a prompt checkup by a doctor familiar with diabetic eye disease. Failing peripheral vision may signal glaucoma, while overall blurriness could indicate cataracts.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people over 10 years old with type 1 diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam within five years of diagnosis and then each year. People with type 2 should be tested shortly after diagnosis (since many will already have had diabetes for years) and then annually. Pregnant women with preexisting diabetes are at particular risk for eye disease, and ADA recommends an examination during the first trimester of pregnancy.
During an eye exam, the doctor will test vision, check eye pressure, and dilate the pupils to allow a thorough inspection of the retina and optic nerve. Sometimes a doctor injects a special dye into a patient’s arm that travels to the eyes, making the blood vessels easier to examine.
Getting Treatment
People who have had diabetes longer, are older, and have poor blood glucose control are all more likely than others to get diabetic eye diseases. High blood pressure is thought to worsen retinopathy, because it stresses the capillaries in the eyes. Studies show that optimal control of blood glucose and blood pressure can reduce the risk of developing retinopathy or slow its progression.
If nonproliferative retinopathy is detected, the first step is usually to get blood glucose and blood pressure under control. If macular edema or proliferative retinopathy is discovered, prompt treatment is needed. Laser photocoagulation, which can “burn” damaged blood vessels shut, is the most common therapy. Another treatment option for severe bleeding is a vitrectomy, surgery that removes some or all of the gel-like vitreous humor from the eye. Glaucoma may be treated with medication, lasers, or surgery. Treatment for severe cataracts involves removing the eye’s lens and replacing it with an artificial one.
Vision problems are far from inevitable. By getting regular medical checkups and keeping a sharp eye on blood glucose control, people with diabetes can greatly up their odds of a life full of seeing the sights.
Combating Retinopathy
Prevention is crucial in keeping your eyes healthy
By Erika Gebel, PhD
Spotting Symptoms
Early detection and treatment are keys for preventing vision loss in people with diabetic eye disease. A common symptom is blurred vision, which can be caused by macular edema or blood vessel growth on the retina. Leaky blood vessels may make floating spots appear or increase in the field of vision. Even though blurred vision or spots may go away, these symptoms require a prompt checkup by a doctor familiar with diabetic eye disease. Failing peripheral vision may signal glaucoma, while overall blurriness could indicate cataracts.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people over 10 years old with type 1 diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam within five years of diagnosis and then each year. People with type 2 should be tested shortly after diagnosis (since many will already have had diabetes for years) and then annually. Pregnant women with preexisting diabetes are at particular risk for eye disease, and ADA recommends an examination during the first trimester of pregnancy.
During an eye exam, the doctor will test vision, check eye pressure, and dilate the pupils to allow a thorough inspection of the retina and optic nerve. Sometimes a doctor injects a special dye into a patient’s arm that travels to the eyes, making the blood vessels easier to examine.
Getting Treatment
People who have had diabetes longer, are older, and have poor blood glucose control are all more likely than others to get diabetic eye diseases. High blood pressure is thought to worsen retinopathy, because it stresses the capillaries in the eyes. Studies show that optimal control of blood glucose and blood pressure can reduce the risk of developing retinopathy or slow its progression.
If nonproliferative retinopathy is detected, the first step is usually to get blood glucose and blood pressure under control. If macular edema or proliferative retinopathy is discovered, prompt treatment is needed. Laser photocoagulation, which can “burn” damaged blood vessels shut, is the most common therapy. Another treatment option for severe bleeding is a vitrectomy, surgery that removes some or all of the gel-like vitreous humor from the eye. Glaucoma may be treated with medication, lasers, or surgery. Treatment for severe cataracts involves removing the eye’s lens and replacing it with an artificial one.
Vision problems are far from inevitable. By getting regular medical checkups and keeping a sharp eye on blood glucose control, people with diabetes can greatly up their odds of a life full of seeing the sights.
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