Stories on Health

It’s almost impossible to go through life without having some kind of legal issue. As a diabetes patient, you naturally encounter many more people than you otherwise would—doctors, lawyers, insurance agents, and other providers—due to your contact with so many different types of people. And though nobody enjoys the hassle and heartache lawsuits generate, sometimes you will find it impossible to avoid.

First, protect yourself proactively first by knowing your rights. It’s even a wise idea to have developed a relationship with a lawyer over the years, someone you can consult with casually to see if you should proceed formally. Being litigious for no good reason wastes your time (and everyone else’s), but don’t be caught off-guard. If the time should come that you need to address legitimate legal issues related to your diabetes, you’ll have a trusted resource to consult on the law as it relates to you and your condition.

While most dietitians and physicians encourage diabetics not to change their diets (except to reinforce the importance of moderation), a properly balanced diet will help diabetics control their blood sugar level so that they feel better. In this busy world, prepackaged or fast foods may be more convenient, but their often high sodium and high fat content makes them dangerous to your health when you need to control your blood sugar. A lot of people get overwhelmed with the thought of cooking for themselves, but it doesn’t have to be a complex ordeal.

With just a little searching, you can quickly find simple, low sugar, healthy recipes from any number of resources, including fellow diabetics, your local library, or online. The American Diabetes Association has a huge collection of nutrition tips and techniques for you to use at no charge. Most importantly, when you are cooking, remember to make sure your meals are balanced. That means that you should eat lots of vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, and fish, yet limit your intake of fats, sodas, and dairy. Cooking all of these can be fast and painless, and with the right recipes, you’ll save money and feel better as well.

As a diabetic, you see more than your fair share of health fads and trends come and go. One of the most common is the argument supporting the use of antioxidants. It seems like everywhere you turn, you will find studies and statistics on antioxidants and how good they are for you. On TV, on the Internet, and in magazines, we learn that “oxidation” to your cells may be partly responsible for the effects of aging on your health and certain diseases. And though various researchers support various theories about the best way to incorporate antioxidants through diet and supplements, there is still no definitive proof that antioxidants even contribute to your health, diabetic or not.

Some of the major antioxidants are those you’re very familiar with: vitamin c, vitamin e, beta-carotene, and etc. While there are studies that suggest these supplements help your immune system, blood sugar levels—and even your ability to avoid or treat diseases like diabetes—perhaps the safest course of action before changing your diet or supplement intake is to consult your doctor. As you know, diabetics have particular nutritional needs and it’s safer to have as much information as possible as well as inform your doctor about any major health changes you are making.

With each new presidential election come new attitudes and attention towards topics like diabetes. As each administration differs, so do its policies on topics like health care and research. Politics is never a one-sided issue, but there are a few things you can do to make sure your personal interests are represented. First, stay in touch with how your elected congressmen are voting on issues important to you. If you dislike their voting, or if you see a crucial vote coming up, contact them directly to let them know how you feel. They may not know how important an issue is otherwise.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do as a diabetic is to make sure you stay informed. Informed about current funding, grants, and ongoing research so that you know where your money as a taxpayer is going. Find out how organizations you support feel about legislation. Despite the fact that being involved (and following) in politics can seem like a huge game with no winner, what’s important is that you make your voice heard. If it ever gets to be too much, simply take a moment to focus on what is constant in your life instead trying to make sense of the omnipresent fluctuations of political agendas.

In today’s unstable job market, learning how to network effectively is more important than ever. As most people involved in the business world will tell you, networking is one of the best ways to advance your career as well as stay in the loop regarding business trends. However, networking is also invaluable when it comes to staying abreast of the latest developments in medicine, finances, politics, and even diabetes.

In general, networking brings people of like minds, interests, and needs together so that all can benefit from shared knowledge base. Sometimes networking simply means being a good conduit for others’ information, but with networking and diabetes, you connect not only with other diabetics, but with doctors, nurses, researchers, and caregivers. You can make real connections with real people so that you find real answers.

Local, national, regional—use diabetes groups, blogs, and networks for everything you can imagine, then explore it for those things you couldn’t imagine. It’s a faster way to find solutions than searching on your own! From treatment to education, networking is one of the best ways to face the challenges of diabetes, and to get real-time, human perspective on any topic—and for a reminder that you are not alone.

In case you didn’t know, the primary cause of legal blindness in the working population of the United States today is diabetes mellitus. Of the fourteen million Americans with this health issue, it is estimated that a diabetic is 25 times more likely to go blind than a person in the general population. In fact, some sources say that vision impairment is occasionally already present in many newly diagnosed cases of diabetes. The unfortunate thing is that most vision impairment due to diabetes can be averted.

As always—the most important safeguard is to monitoring of your blood sugar closely. With prolonged high blood sugar levels, it is possible to develop a condition called retinopathy in which capillaries lose their ability to carry essential nutrients to the retina. According to the National Institutes of Health, diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year. In its early stages, there are few physical symptoms, which is why it is so essential for diabetics to have annual dilated eye exams. Proper care of your overall health—as well as making sure your eyes are regularly evaluated—can make a tremendous difference in the quality of your life.

When you get diagnosed with diabetes, it’s as if you have to learn to live in an entirely new body. With diet/blood monitoring, changes in routine, and side effects of the disease and medications, it can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. One of the least invasive and most cost-effective treatments is simple: Massage therapy.

Although some people balk at the “luxury” and price of massage therapy, there are many benefits that should be of particular interest to diabetic health: Circulation and relaxation. Just having diabetes can be an inherently stressful condition, and stress can strain many of your systems and organs, not to mention your overall mental health. Excessive worry can also be an issue. If you spend a great deal of time worrying and fretting, you will not only do more damage to your body, but you also run the risk of impairing your relationships. Massage therapy will give you a chance to let go of those thoughts for a while and produces endorphins, which will help you feel better, keep things in perspective, and lower your stress hormone levels.

The other amazing benefit of massage therapy for diabetics is a big one: Improved circulation. No one can dispute that massage therapy aids the stimulation of your blood, lymph systems, and muscles, which in turn help carry oxygen and other nutrients—including insulin—to the rest of your body. High blood sugars can sometimes cause a thickening of connective tissues, which can cause stiffness and pain in the muscles and fascia. Working the muscles with massage not only ensures they are getting what they need, but also preserves flexibility and range of motion.

Massage therapy is a painless and relatively affordable way to help manage your diabetes. Don’t let laziness or fear keep you from feeling better at any opportunity.

According to the Census Bureau, nearly 16 percent of Americans—about 47 million people —are uninsured. Medical bills actually cause more than half of all personal bankruptcies in the United States. Though most people are insured through their employers, an increasing number of companies are not offering insurance. The cost of private insurance is often prohibitive.

Getting insurance coverage can be especially difficult for people with diabetes because we usually fall into the “high-risk” category based on pre-existing health conditions. If you don’t have a policy through work, insurance companies are still willing to insure you, but unfortunately the rates are higher. Some people can be tempted to “wait it out” until they absolutely have to get treatment.

There is only one smart choice: Regardless of the cost, health insurance is essential for a diabetic to stay healthy. Check-ups, monitoring, medicines, and hospital visits are all necessary for you to get your blood sugar under control and maintain good overall health. Complacency about diabetes will only cause you more problems in the long run. Please don’t let financial obstacles keep you from acting. You can find an insurer for your budget plan.

A lot of people will tell you that vitamin and mineral supplements are waste of money; that you can get all you need from a balanced diet and single multivitamin daily. But the truth is that getting proper nutrition is never that simple—especially when you have diabetes.

Supplements are available for most ailments and many people choose to try “natural” remedies for things such as sleeplessness, nerve pain, heart function, etc. While some people feel an improvement while taking supplements for health, it is always a safe bet to let your doctors know what you are taking and to keep a close eye on whether the supplements are, indeed, helping you.

Of course you know that nutritional supplements alone cannot provide effective control over blood sugar. But being conscientious about diet and making sure you get proper all-around nutrition goes a long way in keeping your blood sugar levels managed and stable. If your body has the fuel it needs (including vitamins, enzymes, and minerals it cannot readily supply for itself), it will help you feel better. If you feel better, you will have more energy and be able to keep your body fit and trim—and if you have diabetes you know how important a healthy weight is to your overall health.

When I first started going to college, I struggled with whether or not I should tell my professors that I had diabetes. On the one hand, I didn’t want them (or anyone else) to think I was asking for special treatment. But on the other hand, I wanted them to have a heads-up if I need to eat a snack in the middle of class or leave to take my insulin.

Most importantly, I did not want my condition to interfere with my university education. Even if I had to spend time in a hospital or for doctor visits, I wanted my teachers and classmates to know that I would still pull my weight 100%, not use diabetes as an excuse to slough work or ask for timeline extensions.

I did finally decide to go ahead and share my condition with my university teachers. Not because I wanted to wear an “I Have Diabetes!” badge on my sleeve, but because it occurred to me that information is the most important thing. “Hiding” my condition will not do anyone any favors; instead, I hope being a good example will take just a little more of the stigma away from the disease.

Don’t be afraid to let people know about your condition. The more people hear about it, the more they will be comfortable and curious about it, which could lead to more research—which could even lead to a cure one day.