Battling For Health

Since it is the last day of the month, I thought we would take a look back at February.

We’ve talked about neuropathy, what it is and how it affects the body. diabetes.battlingforhealth.com/2008/02/what-is-diabetic-neuropathy/

Reviewed The Big Book of Diabetic Desserts, which will be given away in just a few more days! Don’t miss out on the contest to win your own copy. diabetes.battlingforhealth.com/2008/02/the-big-book-of-diabetic-desserts/

Talked about making healthy choices. No matter who you are, diabetic or otherwise, healthy food is important to your health. diabetes.battlingforhealth.com/2008/02/healthy-choices-healthy-eating/

One of my favorite entries is on going green. Recycling can be a part of your routine. You don’t have to toss out all of that packaging! Bottles, syring caps, boxes, all of it can be reused or recycled. diabetes.battlingforhealth.com/2008/02/get-green-diabetics/

My next favorite post is the links to diabetic recipes. The internet is such a vast resource for all of us. You do not have to eat ‘blah’ food to be healthy. The links in this post will help you find recipes for children or adults. diabetes.battlingforhealth.com/2008/02/food-food-and-more-food/

I’ve also found new blogs that are interesting. I have placed them in my blog roll, but yesterday I spoke with a blogger I hadn’t met just yet. His name is Ken and his blog is www.battlediabetes.com . Who could resist another fighter in the battle?

March is going to be an amazing month. We are going to discuss how to ‘clean’ out our lives. Since March is the month when most people in North America are beginning to feel the effects of spring, we’re going to have a month of springing into action, breathing fresh air, and planting the seeds of good health into our lives.

If you have any suggestions, questions, or would just like to talk about you diabetes, feel free to contact me via the site or through my email.

diabetes.battlingforhealth.com/contact/

julie@BattlingForHealth.com

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By Terrye Harris

On December 13, 2004, my world shattered into a million pieces. After a 2 year long battle with schizophrenia, my youngest son, Jonathan took his own life at the age of 19. The day Jonathan died, I kept telling myself this is the worst day of my life. Little did I know through the haze of shock that surrounded me,that there would be many more worse days to follow.

The first six months, it was all I could do to keep breathing. During this time I believe I could have actually laid down and willed myself to die. The only thing that stopped me was knowing that I could not leave my remaining sons and my grandchildren, as they also were trying to deal with this horrific loss. I was acutely aware that they needed me, their mother, now as never before. So somehow, I managed to keeping breathing and keep moving through life one step at a time.

At the six month point, I began to realize that I had to find help dealing with my loss and heartache. Rage consumed me, rage that the mental health system was ineffective in dealing with my son, rage that my son had to fight this mental illness to begin with, rage that I lost my beloved son. I started grief counseling and I joined a parents of suicide survivor support group. The parents support group has helped me with every step that I have made on this journey. It was not long before I realized that being able to talk to other parents who had suffered the same loss, was as essential to my well being as the air I need to breathe. Through the counseling and support group I have come to understand that what I feel is completely normal, that I am not losing my mind.

I strongly urge anyone who has lost someone to suicide, to find a support group to connect with.

It has only been a little over 15 months for me, I am still new on this journey which lasts a lifetime. I have been through the first birthday, the first memorial day, the holidays where the empty place at the table stabs at my already broken heart. I think of Jonathan 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The pain is so all consuming there are no words to adequately describe it.

But I have survived, I am surviving and I will survive, but it is not an easy road. I take one day at a time and deal with that day as it comes. That’s all I can do right now, that is all any of us in this nightmare can do. I survive for those that I love who remain here with me. I survive to make sure that my son, Jonathan is remembered. As long as I live he will not be forgotten.

There are a lot of statistics on suicide, I survive to remind people that there are faces behind those numbers. Faces of children, brothers, sisters and spouses who were loved by family and friends. That behind those faces were wonderful people who had much to contribute to the world we live in.

When I heard about the memorial quilt for Tennessee, I knew that my son’s picture had to be there. Jonathan’s picture is on one other quilt, a suicide memorial wall and in a memorial book. I don’t place my son’s picture and name on these memorials for me, I do it for him. To show the world how much he is loved and how deeply his absence hurts.

I try to tell Jonathan’s story every time an opportunity arises. Schizophrenia,depression, bipolar diseases are serious mental illness, often terminal. Suicide occurs when these diseases become fatal. I survive to try to raise awareness that the mental health system must be improved, to prevent others from having to walk in my shoes. I look at my grandchildren and worry for their futures if they or their children ever have to face the disease.

The day I buried my son, I also buried a piece of my heart. I will miss him until the day that I take my last breath. Any joy that I experience is bittersweet knowing that he is not here to share it with me. Some days, the blanket of shock still cushions me, it all seems so surreal. He’s not really gone, he is just in the other room. Other days the pain rips through me as if it will tear me completely in two. This is the way of the journey of grief.

My faith in a loving and merciful God , my faith that Jonathan is happy and no longer suffering, my faith that I will see my son in eternity sustains me on this road. And I draw comfort from knowing that death cannot destroy what is important. That Jonathan is still my son and always will be, that I am still his mother and always will be and most importantly that I will love him for all eternity. Love is all powerful and cannot be destroyed by death. Often, the world is changed one person at a time. And because of this, it is my obligation to the world and my son to survive.

Terrye Harris
www.pos-ffos.com
www.pos-ffos.com/groups/soc.htm

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrye_Harris

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Since I come from a family of lawyers and politicians, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that my grandmother was the center of much debate. We tend to think that debate actually solves problems, even incurable, terminal diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. One of her children told me that having my motives constantly questioned would keep me on my toes so I could offer my grandmother better care. Actually, she went beyond questioning - she called the Department of Elderly Services a few times to investigate us.

If it took thirty years, in essence, to settle my great-grandparents’ estate, it should come as no surprise that we spent twenty years deciding where my grandmother should live. Of course, she pretty much ignored everything we said (if she could hear it at all) but it made us feel better.

Linda at God, Mom, Alzheimer’s, and Me hasn’t gotten much respect either, not even from her mother. But the thought came to her recently, “You could be out of a job.”

Sometimes, when I think about my grandmother, that’s all I care about. I don’t care about how I was treated or whether I was provided for. I spent thousands of dollars to provide for her. I don’t care about what low-pesticide, high-antioxidant foods we could have given her to make her live to 96 instead of 95. I don’t care about what we could have done to make her children happier. I just miss her.

We debated all the possibilities, accused each other of good faith and bad faith, and guess what? All my grandmother’s problems have been solved. But not because we were so smart, skilled, clever, or educated. Because my grandmother died two years ago, almost as soon as her professional caregivers took over and I moved out.

I will be moving out too, someday to go where my grandmother has gone (perhaps). Someday I may be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps sooner than I think. Next week, someone else will be taking over as the writer of this blog, just as someone has taken over care of my grandmother’s house. In the end, it’s foolish to hold onto the pain. Let’s just hold onto the joys.

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Our Poor Feet.

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that you should be checking your feet daily. So many people, diabetic and non, fail to do this. We pause to hop into the shower or bath, scrub, but never really give our feet a good once over.

This is not a good thing! Our feet are essentially the workhorses of our bodies. If our heart and brain are the organs pulling tough duty, then our feet are the appendages getting double work. Each day our feet are pounded against the ground, often in ill-fitting shoes. Toes crushed together, shoe parts poking into the skin, and laces drawn too tightly.

Is it any wonder that foot problems affect everyone?

Get to Know Lefty and Righty

Each day, take the time to get to know your feet. Before and after bathing, inspect your feet carefully from the ankles, to the toes, and the soles. Before bathing, look for areas that may be cracks or wounds with soil in them. By knowing where and injury is, you can clean it thoroughly. After bathing, check the same areas and make sure you did not miss any other possible injuries.

Look for nail problems, blisters, swelling, and raw areas. If you are diabetic, do not use hot water to wash your feet. I know this can be hard to stick to, so when you bathe, use a gentle hand in scrubbing. If you are a caregiver to a diabetic who is unable to bathe themselves, use water that is slightly warmer then room tempatures to wash their feet. Never rub the skin to dry, only blot. Use a soft material like micro-fiber or cotton for drying between the toes.

Care of DaFeet

Cut and file your nails with care. Cut straight across and file the sharp corners. If you are unable to cut your nails or are worried you may do it incorrectly, see a podiatrist. While you are cutting your nails, please do not cut on anything else! Your podiatrist should be the only one to remove corns or calluses. Wounds caused by cutting these types of skin build-ups can cause infection, leading to possible toe or limb loss.

Wear socks that are clean and dry. White socks with loosely woven ankle areas are best for diabetics. This reduces the risk of cutting off circulation. You can find these socks at flea markets of all places! Recently I was able to purchase 6 pair of diabetics socks for only $2 USD by finding them on accident at a flea market. Happy accident! Wear them to bed if your feet are always cold. Try to always keep your feet warm and dry in the winter. If you have nerve damage, you may need to touch them with your hands to know their condition. Do this during the day, often in cold weather.

Furthermore, always wear shoes. Walking barefoot can cause small wounds you do not feel which can become infected. Avoid smoking, as this lowers circulation. Massage will help circulation, if done correctly, but smoking can reduce this benefit.

Just remember, take care of your feet so they can carry you ever on towards good health.

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Alzheimer’s disease is such a hot topic, it’s hard to keep up with everything that is being said about it. Here are some blog posts and articles that you may have missed earlier this month.

The February 7 issue of Nature, quoted by HealthCentral, reports that amyloid plaques, considered the main sign of AD, can form in one day in laboratory mice. At least one doctor cautions that, despite the headlines, this doesn’t mean that AD can form in one day. AD develops more slowly. The study also found that soon after the plaque appeared, specialized cells called microglia appeared. Doctors wonder if microglia might actually fight the growth of plaque.

The Alzheimer’s Association is reaching out to African-Americans, who are more susceptible to high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes and heart disease, problems that have been linked to increased Alzheimer’s symptoms. They offering a Healthy Heart and Brain Kit. Some assembly required?

Drugs called amyloid inhibitors, which were supposed to fight brain clumps and plaques, actually cause clumping themselves, according to a report last month in Nature Chemical Biology. HealthDay and Yahoo News quote the leader of the study as saying these drugs “seem to act not in the way people expect them to and want them to.”

Mona at The Tangled Neuron wonders if people with AD are steered into creative activities, whether the disease affects the brain in a way that actually makes people more creative, or whether people with AD just realize that they need to seize the moment. By the way, Mona’s blog includes a list of blogs written by people with dementia.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy wants to spend $2.4 billion to fight AD. That is, he wants to establish a research facility and a network of nursing homes.

Joanne at Writing After Dark takes care of her 84-year-old mother, and says that Seroquel (quetiapine) is helping her mother sleep through the night. The drug was intended to treat schizophrenia and the depression and manic episodes in bipolar disorder, but it’s given to many people with Alzheimer’s. Researchers say it can actually make cognitive functioning worse. But every drug works differently for different people, and a daughter ought to know when a drug seems beneficial for her mother. My grandmother tried to stay away from them all. She took only aspirin and Namenda, though I’m not certain that they helped her.

You’re supposed to ingest lots of antioxidants (such as leafy green vegetables) because oxygen can actually hurt our cells, make us older, and cause brain deterioration. The process, called oxidative stress, is being studied at the University of Michigan. It helps me to compare the process to rusting.

Some herbs not only make food taste good, they’re good for your health. Mint is said to be a natural antiseptic. Garlic, and to a lesser extent, leeks and onions, fights infection, possibly by making people want to stay away from you (just kidding). Now a component in rosemary may help prevent oxidative stress in the brain, which means that it may be good for people with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The active ingredient in rosemary is carnosic acid. Rosemary is good on fish, chicken and even asparagus.

If spending more on medicine makes people live longer, why do impoverished Albanians live almost as long as the socialized French, when Albania spends about $400 a year per capita on health care, and France spends ten times a much? That’s what Panda Bear, MD wants to know. If longevity were tied to health care spending, I calculate the French would live an average of 780 years.

I’m far from being a Tibetan Buddhist, but The Literate Kitten quotes from Living Without Regret: Growing Old in Light of Tibetan Buddhism by Arnaud Maitland: “Change is the dominant flavor of reality. What if we could take taste change as if it were a delicacy? No longer would be have to cling to the illusion that ignoring time lets us hold it at bay.” I’m convinced that many people can’t deal with Alzheimer’s disease because they can’t deal with aging. But what’s the alternative to aging? You tell me.

SharpBrains reports that the market for “brain fitness” software is expected to reach $227 million in 2007. Even Nintendo is developing these programs, and nursing homes (and baby boomers) are buying them. Clinical evidence shows they have a positive short-term effect, but the jury is still out about their long-term effects. Notice that Nintendo is not advertising BrainAge as a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Not yet.

Patrick Meade gave a seminar on Alzheimer’s disease at Ohio State University this month, but he had to revise his notes pretty severely. He writes, “It’s interesting to look at my notes from two years ago and see how dated everything is. Two of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s are now discarded entirely and one other is questionable. Most of the drugs we were pushing back then are also history…”

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Alzheimer’s disease takes away language in pieces, not all at once. You may think of people with that disease as being mute, but in the early stages, many people with Alzheimer’s are not mute at all. For some, their gift of gab can help reassure themselves and others that they aren’t quite gone.

In my grandmother’s case, I’m not sure how much to attribute her unusual language to the disease. I think she always used unusual, colorful language. I know my mother always did. I know the uncles/poets in the family always have. It’s hard to get a straight answer out of them sometimes.

But my grandmother’s speech was probably made more colorful at times by her inability to remember the conventional words for things. So she needed to come up with the unconventional word, any word that might serve her purposes.

When I say colorful language, I don’t mean of the nautical variety. She didn’t swear like a sailor. (Mrs. Watson says if her mother had ever heard her using that sort of language, she would have had part of her skin removed.) I think she sometimes used a few mild oaths, but not like her children do.

No, my grandmother loved poetry, and had written some verse of her own, when she was much younger and more confident. She loved language, and loved variety in language.

She would often call me “Children”, even though I’m her grandson and middle-aged. I think it was one of her quiet, persistent delusions, that there were children around the house still, even though they had been gone for thirty years.

We tried to get her to stay up as late as she could, and to eat as much as she could, knowing that weight loss in the elderly is linked to approaching death. But eventually, she would tell us she could eat no more, and always with a fresh simile:
“I’m as full as a stuffed piggy.”
“I’m as full as a stuffed sock.”
“I’m as full as a stuffed pillow.”

Once she complained to me, “Children, I feel like I’m nine… er, like I’m one hundred years old.” She had caught herself. She was ninety years old.

But the all-time language winner came one night after we finally allowed her to collapse into bed.

“Children, your care for me is beyond human endurance.”

Thank you, Grandma. It’s good to be appreciated.

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Planning healthy meals as a diabetic is important. You do not need to settle for plain fare, much like I tell others who are interested in eating healthier; all food can be delicious. All it takes is a bit of imagination to change boring food to spectacular meals.

Here are a few links to help you plan and cook better meals. You can find recipes, the diabetic food pyramid, a food planner, and even a virtual grocery store tour.

Diabetic Recipes

Diabetes Food Pyramid

Diabetes Food Planner

American Diabetes Association Virtual Grocery Store

Most recipes above are geared towards adults. Kids with diabetes want to have fun, tasty food, too! Here are some links to sites where you can grab recipes for your diabetic children.

Diabetic Recipes For Kids

More From Kid’s Health (not just diabetes, other conditions, too)

Children’s Diabetes Foundation Recipes

Juvenile Diabetes Site

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I have obtained this list directly from the playlist of the mp3 player of a fitness expert - MY WIFE! - Even I listen to this mix from my musicmatch while I am on the Exercise Bike in the mornings .. and there’s not even one B-52’s song on the list!

You see .. my wife just upgraded her 500MB mp3 player to a 2GIG mp3 player and we were looking for some fun and fast-paced workout songs to add to our playlist. We asked a few friends, we searched the internet, and we reviewed my vast 3500+ mp3 library on my computer. Here is what we came up with!

Feel free to add these songs to your playlist and keep your heart moving and have some fun and listen to music while you exercise! I have added a YouTube link beside each song to give you an idea how the song sounds like - in case they are new to you.

Starting Off With One Of My Favorite Videos (1-1)

* REPUBLICA - Ready To Go - U.S. Mix

(click PLAY while you are scanning this list! :D)

The rest are in alphabetical order, by Artist ..

#’s (2-2)

* 2 UNLIMITED - Get Ready For This (YouTube)

A’s (3-5)

* ADAM & THE ANTS - Goody Two Shoes (YouTube)
* ASHLEY SIMPSON - La La (YouTube)
* ATC - Around The World - la la la la la la (YouTube)

B’s (6-13)

* BEASTIE BOYS - Sabatoge (YouTube)
* BECK - Loser (YouTube)
* BEE GEES - Alone (YouTube)
* BLACK EYED PEAS - Hands Up (YouTube)
* BLACK EYED PEAS - Hey Mama (YouTube)
* BLACK EYED PEAS - Pump It (YouTube)
* BLONDIE - Maria (YouTube)
* BODY ROCKERS - I Like The Way You Move (YouTube)

C’s (14-18)

* C & C MUSIC FACTORY - Everybody Dance Now (YouTube)
* CAKE - The Distance (YouTube)
* CHARLIE BROWN JR. - Tudo Que Ela Gosta De Escutar (YouTube)
* CHINGY - One Call Away (YouTube)
* COLDPLAY - Clocks (YouTube)

D’s (19-23)

* DAFT PUNK - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (YouTube)
* DAFT PUNK - Technologic (YouTube)
* DANZEL - Pump It Up (YouTube)
* DARUDE - Sandstorm - Best Techno Club Mix (YouTube)
* DEELITE - Groove Is In The Heart (YouTube)

E’s (24-27)

* ELVIS vs JXL - Little Less Conversation (YouTube)
* EMINEM - Lose Yourself (YouTube)
* EMINEM - Without Me (YouTube)
* ERUPTION - I Can’t Stand The Rain (YouTube)

F’s (28-33)

* FATBOY SLIM - The Rockafeller Skank (YouTube)
* FERGIE - London Bridges - Oh Sh*t (YouTube)
* FINGER ELEVEN - Paralyzer (YouTube)
* FINGER ELEVEN - Suffocate (YouTube)
* FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Relax (YouTube)
* FRANZ FERDINAND - Take Me Out (YouTube)

G’s (34-39)

* GEORGE BAKER - Little Green Bag (YouTube)
* GEORGE MICHAEL - Faith (YouTube)
* GLORIA ESTEFAN & MIAMI SOUND MACHINE - Conga (YouTube)
* GNARLS BARKLEY - Crazy (YouTube)
* GODSMACK - I Stand Alone (YouTube)
* GROOVE ARMADA - I See You Baby - Shaking That A** (YouTube)

H’s (40-40)

* HOOBASTANK - Crawling In The Dark (YouTube)

I’s (41-43)

* ICE CUBE - You Can Do It (YouTube)
* INCUBUS - Pardon Me (YouTube)
* INXS - Pretty Vegas (YouTube)

J’s (44-47)

* JENNIFER LOPEZ - Let’s Get Loud (YouTube)
* JET - Are You Gonna Be My Girl (YouTube)
* JIMMY EAT WORLD - The Middle (YouTube)
* JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - Sexy Back (YouTube)

K’s (48-50)

* KELIS - My Milkshake (YouTube)
* KILLERS - When You Were Young (YouTube)
* KYLE MINOGUE - Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (YouTube)

L’s (51-53)

* LIMP BIZKIT - Faith (YouTube)
* LINKIN PARK - One Step Closer (YouTube)
* LIVE - I Alone (YouTube)

M’s (54-61)

* MADONNA - Beautiful Stranger (YouTube)
* MADONNA - Die Another Die (YouTube)
* MADONNA - Ray Of Light (YouTube)
* MARILYN MANSON - Beautiful People (YouTube)
* METALLICA - Enter Sandman (YouTube)
* MOBY - Bittersweet Symphony Remix (YouTube)
* MOODY BLUES - English Sunset (YouTube)
* MUSE - Stockholm Syndrome (YouTube)

N’s (62-64)

* NITTY - Nasty Girl (YouTube)
* NO DOUBT - Hellagood (YouTube)
* NO DOUBT - Running (YouTube)

O’s (65-65)

* OUTKAST - Hey Ya! (YouTube)

P’s (66-67)

* PORNO FOR PYROS - Tahitian Moon (YouTube)
* PRINCE - I Would Die For You (YouTube)

R’s (68-78)

* RADIOHEAD - Creep (YouTube)
* RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Killing In The Name Of (YouTube)
* RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Know Your Enemy (YouTube)
* RAMMSTEIN - Du Hast (YouTube)
* RAMMSTEIN - Ich Will (YouTube)
* RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - Can’t Stop (YouTube)
* REDNEX - Cotton Eyed Joe (YouTube)
* RICKY MARTIN - Livin’ La Vida Loca (YouTube)
* RIHANNA - Hey Mr. D.J. Turn The Music Up (YouTube)
* RIHANNA - S.O.S. - Rescue Me (YouTube)
* ROBBIE WILLIAMS - Let Me Entertain You (YouTube)

S’s (79-87)

* SALIVA - Click Click Boom (YouTube)
* SCOOTER - Faster Harder Scooter (YouTube)
* SCOOTER - Maria - I like It Loud (YouTube)
* SEAN PAUL - Get Busy (YouTube)
* SEAN PAUL - Temperature (YouTube)
* SHAGGY - I like To Move It Move It (YouTube)
* SHAMEN - Move Any Mountain (YouTube)
* SIR MIX A LOT - Baby’s Got Back - I Like Big Butts (YouTube)
* SNAP - I’ve Got The Power (YouTube)

T’s (88-95)

* TAG TEAM - Whoomp! There It Is (YouTube)
* TEA PARTY - Temptation (YouTube)
* TECHNOTRONIC - Pump Up The Jam (YouTube)
* TEDDYBEARS STOCKHOLM & MAD COBRA - Cobrastyle (YouTube)
* TOM PETTY - Running Down A Dream (YouTube)
* TRAPT - Headstrong (YouTube)
* TV ROCK FEAT - Flaunt It (YouTube)
* TYKWER/KLIMEK/HEIL - Lola Rennt - Run Lola Run (YouTube)

U’s (96-97)

* U2 - Elevation (YouTube)
* UNDERWORLD - Underneath The Radar (YouTube)

V’s (98-100)

* VENGABOYS - Boom Boom Boom Techno Trance Dance Mix (YouTube)
* VERVE - Bitter Sweet Symphony (YouTube)
* VOODOO GLOW SKULLS - Charlie Brown (YouTube)

W’s (101-102)

* WILL SMITH - Wild Wild West (YouTube)
* WISEGUYS - Start The Commotion (YouTube)

SUGGESTIONS?

If you have any other suggestions for songs to add to our RUNNING playlist .. please add your choice in our comments! Feel free to add a link too

Need something from Amazon?

Amazon.com Widgets

~~~~

Special thanks to additional suggestions from Char, Brian, and Raj

Advertisement: @ HART Market We have combined many of our marketplace blogs into this one consolidated site.

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How stress affects diabetics.

Stress can cause higher glucose levels in people with diabetes. While in diabetics who have Type 1 Diabetes, the levels can be higher or lower, in Type 2 diabetics, the glucose levels are almost always higher when stress is a factor. This can be from lowered self care, abuse of alcohol, or other factors.

Stress affects everyone in different ways. How each person reacts to stressful factors is also different. Some people choose to use anti-depressants, some may use herbal remedies, and others try natural stress reducing methods like music and meditation.

Deal With It

No one can live entirely without some sort of stress. Of course, there are those who are able to let everything ‘roll off their back’, but even these people experience stress at some point in their lives. It is how they deal with the stress that is different. Your personality is a huge factor in how you will react.

Personally, I have two ways of dealing with stress that is built into my personality. One, High alert! I go into a super alert mode and deal with each thing that comes my way in an analytical manner. Mechanically driving myself through every problem, eradicating anything in my way.

Two, Oh my gosh what do I do?? This one happens when another stressful situation suddenly rears its’ head when I am in the first ‘mode’. Dealing with one, two, or even three things at a time is fine, but sometimes all it takes it the tiniest thing to set me spinning out of control. I know quite a few other people who have agreed this is how they are, as well.

So, got any ideas?

Well, I can’t tell you exactly how to deal with your own stress, only give you ideas on how you may be able to combat it. As a diabetic, you cannot rely on herbal remedies or ‘drinks’ like people who do not have the disease. The reason is that you must take care in everything you put into your body. Herbs are like any other medicine, they can react with your insulin or presciptions. Before taking any herbals supplements, talk with your doctor. Research the herb and check to see if there are any listed drug interaction warnings.

Aromatherapy is a safe method of stress reduction for diabetics. You are not eating or injecting anything, so no drug reactions should occur. Candles, oils, herb sachets, and potpurri are all great ways to introduce a calming scent to your home or office.

Massage therapy is also safe for some. Massage can loosen muscles and give you a very calm feeling. Foot massages are easy to give to yourself and if you are checking your feet each day (as you should be!), you can give yourself a quick foot rub.

Music, especially instrumental music is great. Nothing to cause an allergy, drug reaction, or unplanned pregnancy. (hey, we all know sex can be a stress reliever!)

Sex as a stress reliever

I bet you thought I would forget to go into this one. Sex is an amazing stress reliever. If you are still healthy enough to participate in sex, then by all means, have as much safe sex with your partner as possible. Orgasm is a wonderful, proven stress reliever. If you are in a committed relationship, the intimacy from being close to one another, whether or not you have full intercourse, is perfect to reduce stress. Those who are in love are the first to tell you that when in their lover’s arms, they forget everything else.

So…if you are going to try sex, why not integrate all of the above ideas, too! One perfect evening of stress reduction!

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I find such help from Kris’s blog Dealing with Alzheimer’s, because she can describe so clearly what it’s like to have it, beginning in her 40s. After three years of being turned down, Social Security finally granted her disability benefits. When she first began her blog in 2004, she was still working full-time, but now she spends time as a member of the Early Stage Advisory Group and makes handmade cards, and does other things that a wife and mother (and sports fan) like to do.

Kris says:

I cannot explain to someone when this is happening to me. Like for example, when I find that I can’t make dinner — at the time I can’t tell my husband why I can’t — I just tell him I can’t do it and he does it.

On my “foggy days” nothing seems to really be in focus. It is like I am a step behind things. I don’t think clearly…….not enough to really throw me off, but enough to know that I am not myself.

This disease is so much harder on the caretaker and I always feel guilty about that. It’s hard for us to explain what is going on and you’re supposed to know — it isn’t always that easy, is it!!!

My 95-year-old grandmother would often say, “Children, I’m just blank.” She said it without any visible strong emotion, and I would always reassure her that it was all right to be blank, as far as I was concerned. But I don’t think it was all right as far as she was concerned.

Still, I forget how important it is not to probe and add new confusions and distractions. With my grandmother, I tried to keep things in order, but I made a point not to do it at my grandmother’s expense. If something bothered me but didn’t bother her, why then, it needed to stop bothering me. Incontinence was one exception, of course. She may not have felt uncomfortable, but she would be healthier if she stayed clean.

One-tenth of those with Alzheimer’s disease - more than half a million in the United States alone - were diagnosed before age 60. Mary at the Alzheimer’s Awareness Source says she has had five loved ones with early onset. Early onset Alzheimer’s must be worse, because people can’t blame their confusion on their age. They still feel young, or at least middle aged - most commonly in their 50’s. I just saw a TV ad that proclaimed, “50 is the new 30.” But when you have Alzheimer’s disease, 50 is the new 80. I will be 50 next year.

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