Hello again, all friends with diabetic dry skin!

                                        FLOWERS FOR YOU, WHO READ MY BLOG.....

I'm posting an article which is especially important for us South Africans, who are experiencing a very cold winter at the moment.

It all makes perfect sense, but there is one paragraph which I do not agree with. All the remedies that are named there are not really beneficial to severely dry skin, excema and others, as they contain preservatives and chemicals.

Being a great fan of natural remedies, I recommend to use COCONUT-OIL instead. I have a vast amount of research on this humble, affordable and time tested oil. It helps the body from the inside and out to get enormous benefits for the heart, blood pressure, memory, immune system, infections, diabetes and slimming. I take 2 tablespoons a day in different ways: in a hot beverage, melted into warm foods, used as sandwich spread or made into delicious, sugar free chocolate or biscuits. I use it as hair conditioner, skin-food (very good!!) for body, face, hands and feet. If your temperatures are lower than 25 Celsius, it is a kind of solid white substance. Immediately on skin contact it will melt into the softest and mildest lotion you ever have used. PLEASE try this!
And next time I will post some really nice recipes for homemade cosmetics, remedies and cooking with Coconut-Oil. See you then.

From a website called C-Diabetes comes the following info:

Diabetes affects many body organs, including the largest of the body, the skin. Some skin conditions are specific to diabetes, but most of them also occur in the general population. In addition, the clinical symptoms and complications of skin disease are frequently more severe in the context of diabetes.

Dry skin (also called xerosis or asteatosis) is one of the numerous dermatological problems associated with diabetes. Although by no means the most serious complication of diabetes, you may find it extremely bothersome and problematic.

What is Dry Skin?

Rough, dry and scaly skin affects at least 75 percent of people with diabetes over the age of 64. Dry skin is aesthetically unappealing, uncomfortable, itchy and can set the stage for eczema like outbreaks and other skin infections. Dry skin covered with scale may appear in a generalized pattern or in localized round patches. In more severe cases, the skin loses its suppleness and cracks with erythema (redness or inflamation) becoming evident in and around the involved areas. Pruritus (itching) is the most prominent feature of this condition. Rubbing and scratching can aggravate dry skin, causing more itching and inflammation and potentially leading to infection. Dry skin can be localized such as on the legs, feet, hands and/or face or it can progress to all the skin.

The Causes

Dry skin is usually caused in large part by environmental factors. Although dry skin may be present in a person with diabetes year round, it is particularly present in the winter. When people turn on the heat in their houses, the indoor humidity decreases and there is also increased exposure to cold dry winds outdoors. Soaps, detergents, hot baths and showers remove the skin’s natural oils (sebum) and promote dry skin. When you run the water in your tub, keep the temperature cool to lukewarm.

In addition, in people with diabetes, damage to small blood vessels and to small nerves may further promote dry skin and its complications.

It is important to treat dry skin because:

• It can cause intense itching and irritation;
• It can lead to secondary infection, localized folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles on the skin) or even cellulitis
• It can lead to ulceration particularly on diabetic feet with loss of sensation.
• Daily treatment can prevent these problems and complications.

Treatment

Addressing the environmental factors is the foundation of treatment and prevention. This includes keeping the temperature as low as is comfortable and increasing the humidity through the use of humidifiers. The skin should be protected by wearing gloves when using cleaning agents, solvents and other household detergents. Bathing should be kept to a minimum and extremely hot baths and showers should be avoided.

Products such as Dove® unscented cleaning bar or Cetaphil® wash (a grease-free emollient) can be used for washing. After bathing, an appropriate emollient such as petrolatum, or products containing lanolin or Aquaphor can be applied in liberal amounts. A good skin tip is to blot yourself dry after showering or bathing, leaving some water on the skin. The emollient can then be applied to trap some of the moisture in the skin. To this regimen can be added to products containing 10 to twenty percent urea that can hold moisture in the skin. An alphahydroxy acid (AHA) lotion can often restore the structure and function of dry skin. Creams and lotions are generally preferred by people as they are less greasy and thus more cosmetically acceptable. Urea and lactic acid mixtures are often not well tolerated for dry skin on a sensitive area such as the face, and they may sting if applied on open areas (i.e. unhealed cuts or rashes). Products with emollient bases may be better alternatives.

If there are eczematous changes or infected areas associated with the dry skin, a family physician or dermatologist should be consulted as topical steroids or antibiotics may be necessary.

The “diabetic foot” is a special case in point, as it is very prone to infection and ulceration. Roughness, dryness and fissuring require prompt treatment to avoid more serious consequences. A similar regimen of emollient and urea-containing preparations can be use. The simple act of putting a cream or lotion on the foot daily also forces one to check the feet daily.

Daily treatment of dry skin is a highly recommended, necessary and cost-effective way of preventing further problems and complications.

LOTS OF WARM GREETINGS FROM COLD SOUTH AFRICA,
Barbara

For the sweet tooth: mini-cinnies

Hi again, guys and girls,
it seems to be that I am maintaining this blog since long enough for 'google' to put me out there.
Getting inquiries and comments from the USA suddenly, which is fantastic. Thank you all.

As a reward for me and you I give you a delicious recipe for a baked cinnamon apple strudel, or mini-cinnies.

A good (in contrast to naughty) diabetic will of course replace the brown sugar with something more wholesome, like the fantastically sweet 'stevia'.

Go well, keep well and may you always have enough! (diabetic recipes, insulin, fresh air and optimism!!

One bite of these Nutty Baked Apples and you'll feel like you've just sunk your teeth into a warm bite of apple pie, but without the large amount of fat and carbs from the dough!

Serves: 8

Preparation Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 30 min

What You'll Need:

• 4 baking apples
• 2 cups water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons light butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon*, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg*
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

What To Do:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut the apples in half horizontally and core them (see Tip), making sure not to go through the bottoms. Place the apples cut-side up in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour water around the apples and place the cinnamon stick in the water.
3. In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, butter, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and the nutmeg; mix well. Stuff the mixture evenly into the apples.
4. In another small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and the granulated sugar; sprinkle evenly over the apples.
5. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Serve warm.
6. Serves 8 with a serving size of 1 apple half.

Notes

• To make this a gluten-free recipe, use seasonings with no added starch from a gluten-containing source.
   
• If you don't have an apple corer, you can use a melon baller, a spoon, or knife--just make sure not to go through the bottom of the apples.

Read more at http://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com

I love to refer to the above link for diabetic-friendly recipes.

Lots of friendly greetings,
Barbara / South Africa

Good management is possible

To be thoroughly informed about your diabetes is paramount to lead a good life in spite of the sometimes life threatening effects of this sickness. It is not (yet) curable, but manageable.

So here is some more information from a very reliable free source.
Kind regards to all,
Barbara 

This blog post is a virtual mine of information. Use the links and be one step closer to controlling your health. Wednesday, May 13, 2015 Diabetes Your Pancreas: 12 Things to Know QUIZ It’s not large, but this gland does a lot! Do you know just how hard it works? Test your smarts. 9 Tips for Flat Abs SLIDESHOW Achieving a toned midsection requires the right combo of diet and exercise. Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight SLIDESHOW Find out what things could be stalling your weight loss -- they might not be what you think. What Is Diabetic Neuropathy? ARTICLE Learn how the different types of nerve pain affect your body, and what you can do to help relieve the discomfort. Tips to Avoid High Blood Sugar ARTICLE It can be serious if left untreated. Know the warning signs. Why the Mediterranean Diet Works SLIDESHOW This diet focuses on veggies and healthy fats, so it can be a good choice for weight loss and heart health. Top Picks • Can Inflammation Harm Your Health? • Healthy Recipes • Calorie Counter Protect Your Vision • Diabetes and Your Eyes • Eye Care Essentials

Destressing

Hi, my friends, near and far,
not only diabetics sometimes stress themselves out over serious or not so serious issues. Stress leads to an even weaker psychological condition and therefor it is important to beat it, diabetic or not!
Here are a couple of easy ways for stress relief:

The day-in and day-out stress of managing type 2 diabetes can make your blood sugar levels spike. Try these tips to manage both overall stress and your diabetes.

By Diana Rodriguez

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH

The stressors, both large and small, that you encounter every day can take a toll on your health. Add to that the stress of managing type 2 diabetes, and your stress levels can soar along with your blood sugar. Although you can’t get rid of stress altogether, learning how to manage it can help you better control your type 2 diabetes.

Stress is your body’s response to a perceived danger, whether it’s real or imagined. Your body has an immediate reaction to stress — your blood sugar shoots up and your heart kicks into action and begins working harder. This extra effort from your heart can take a toll on your arteries, veins, and heart, and make your blood pressure rise, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Over the long term, chronic stress can strain various systems in the body which are already at risk because of your diabetes, including your digestive, renal, and immune systems.

The way you choose to react to stress can make the problem worse if it leads you to make poor choices or stop taking care of your diabetes. “Emotional stress may or may not affect blood sugar control directly, but it can definitely distract some people from tending to their diet, exercise, medication schedules, and more,” says Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, author of "Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week," and a registered dietitian in Newport News, Va.

When you feel stressed, don’t turn to unhealthy habits — create healthy new ones that can relieve stress more effectively.

Tips to Rein In Type 2 Diabetes Stress

If your diabetes management is a source of stress, find ways to make it easier. Address your diabetes head on, even if doing so seems challenging, because the alternative can be worse for your health. “Ignoring diabetes increases stress in your life because it can lead to complications and often makes people feel guilty,” Weisenberger says.

Try these tips to relieve some of the stress of type 2 diabetes management:

• Set clear goals for diabetes management. Setting goals can help you feel less overwhelmed by diabetes. “Make three or four very specific goals about what you will do to take care of your diabetes,” Weisenberger says. Decide to pack your own healthy lunch three days a week or measure out all of your servings of starch for the week ahead. “These are the types of things that will be empowering and bring you results,” she says.
• Create medication reminders. Struggling to remember to check your blood sugar levels or take your medications on time? Set an alarm on your phone or digital calendar to remind you. You might also use a pillbox to keep meds organized.
• Keep your regular appointments with your doctor. Don’t miss a checkup — each one is an important opportunity to check in with your doctor. Between visits, write down problems, questions, and anything else you want to discuss at your next appointment.
• Enlist help with cooking. If shopping, planning, and prepping healthy foods has you feeling stressed, ask a family member or friend to take on some of those responsibilities. Or you might ask a diabetes educator or dietitian for help planning easy, healthy meals.

More Tips to Better Manage Stress

One of the best ways for your body to release stress is to get regular exercise and recover with a solid night of sleep. “Don't underestimate the power of physical activity and adequate sleep. Plan for these daily.

Although these changes are simple, they may not be easy to stick to at first. Here's how to turn these lifestyle steps into everyday habits:

• Break exercise into manageable blocks. Don't get stressed because you can’t find time to exercise. Break exercise up into shorter, more manageable amounts. Schedule a 10-minute walk after each meal to meet the goal of 30 minutes of daily exercise.
• Go to bed at the same time each night. Consistency helps ease stress. Choose a time that allows you to get at least six, and up to eight, hours of sleep.
• Practice deep breathing or meditation. Take a few minutes each day to simply breathe and visualize letting go of your stress. People with type 2 diabetes who engaged in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program that focused on meditation were less depressed, had less psychological stress, and had lower diastolic blood pressure levels.
• Find ways to let the worry roll off your back. Don’t let the challenges of diabetes diminish the joys of everyday life. Take time every day to do something you enjoy. Make it a point to visit with friends and family, and get in a daily laugh, whether it’s by watching a favorite sitcom, catching up with a funny friend, or just looking up cute animal videos online. Try not to sweat the small stuff, like slow-moving traffic. Make the changes that you are able to, and learn to accept the fact that you can’t change everything.

Stress management shouldn’t be perceived as a luxury — it’s an important part of improving your overall health and your diabetes. If stress management is a struggle for you, consider talking to your doctor or a therapist. Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health, especially when you’re managing a chronic condition like diabetes.

Emotional effects of diabetes

One aspect of diabetes, which is often overlooked or not acknowledged by the patient and his family and friends is the effect it has on emotional well being. It can lead to depression and other complications, which don't manifest in psychical symptoms like neuropathy etc.

• 
  

DR. SANJAY GUPTA

The Emotional Effects of Diabetes

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta

For people with type 2 diabetes, managing their emotional health can be as important as keeping their blood sugar under control. The condition requires constant attention, and that can trigger feelings of stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that diabetics are much more likely to have an anxiety disorder or depression. They may neglect their diet, stop monitoring glucose levels, or revert to unhealthy habits.

Steve Sternlof, PhD, a psychologist with the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma, talks about the psychological impact type 2 diabetes can have and ways to help patients cope.

How do you know if a diabetes patient is suffering from stress or anxiety?

There are different situations. It might be someone who is not compliant with their self-care and isn’t checking their blood sugar regularly or taking their medications as prescribed. Their doctor notices this and sees their A1C [hemoglobin test] levels are up and there are problems. In that case we might get communication from their physician, and we’ll help them work through their issues and come up with a game plan.

It might be a patient who is severely depressed and openly talking about their level of sadness and that they’ve given up hope. Their diabetes is affecting them socially and putting a strain on their relationships or marriage.

Sometimes patients are good at hiding these feelings. It’s important that doctors ask questions and probe beyond how their medical care is going. A lot of patients are reluctant to talk about their feelings unless asked. When a doctor is willing to ask questions above and beyond whether or not they’re checking their blood sugar, the patient is more willing to talk.

What are some of the major mental health issues that affect diabetics?

There’s a high correlation between diabetes and depression. It can come in different forms and different levels of severity. Some people just get down a few days out of the week or month, others have chronic depression. It can be difficult for them just to get out of bed and function in their daily lives.

It can also create anxiety in that people worry about how they’re going to talk about their disease to other people, and whether or not they’ll understand what they have to go through.

They also worry about how diabetes will affect how long they live, they worry about complications, whether or not they’ll go blind, if they’ll need a limb amputated. It creates a lot of stress and worry. Even if their diabetes is under control, it’s that “what if” factor.

Diabetes also has a big effect on interpersonal relationships. People who have these depression or anxiety problems and have a chronic illness tend to withdraw from others and isolate themselves. The problem is a lot of depressed patients put loved ones off. I tell family members to not give up—the patient may not respond after the first or fifth time, but maybe after the twentieth time. They at least have to leave the door open.

How do you help someone diagnosed with diabetes cope with the pressures of constant self-care?

It’s a big struggle. People live their lives and have a certain way of living it and have certain habits and routines. Those things are very hard to break. When you get diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t have to totally break them. But now you have to fit in something else throughout the day every day for the rest of your life. This involves checking your blood sugar, taking your medication, watching what you eat, doing some kind of physical activity, following up with your doctor.

Some people decide their diabetes care either doesn’t fit into their routine or it falls short on their priority list. Most people will list their job and their family and other things way above diabetes care on their priority list.

I usually have new patients reflect on why diabetes care is such a low priority when it involves taking care of their health and quality of life and how long they’ll live well with the disease. It’s helpful when they can make that connection on their own that if they don’t take care of themselves and don’t manage the disease properly, then they’re not going to be around to have a job or spend time with their family.

Does there need to be more of a focus on mental health in caring for people with diabetes?

When the emphasis is just on the physical – that my body isn’t performing the way that it should – that’s difficult for some people. It’s helping to change their thinking and have them realize that while they may not have control over the way their body uses insulin, they can at least control how they feel about it. Everyday life, even without diabetes, is tough enough. When you add diabetes that requires so much of someone every single day, it creates an extra burden of stress. Sometimes people don’t feel like they have an avenue of escape. It’s important they have something they can find joy or comfort in.

Please keep warm, my friends in South Africa, and cool in the Northern hemisphere.

I greet you all,

Barbara

Extra tip out of my favorite remedy box:

Please also give Lavender or Valerian tea their chance to relieve anxiety.

Hypo / Hyper

This is a crucial article for all Diabetes 1 and 2 patients.

Hypoglycemia: How to Prevent, Recognize, and Treat Low Blood Sugar

Although diabetes treatment is designed to avoid high blood sugar levels, sometimes your blood sugar can drop too low. Here's how to recognize hypoglycemia symptoms and treat them promptly.

By Beth W. Orenstein

If you have diabetes and are taking insulin to treat it, it’s likely that at some point you’ll experience hypoglycemia, or a drop in blood sugar below normal levels. This situation is sometimes referred to as an insulin reaction.

According to the American Diabetes Association, everyone with diabetes experiences hypoglycemia from time to time. Because your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or use it efficiently, your blood sugar levels can fluctuate. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar and keeps its levels steady in the bloodstream. When blood sugar levels fall, you can feel shaky, faint, and seem confused. “It’s an uncomfortable feeling,” says Anuj Bhargava, MD, an endocrinologist at the Iowa Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Des Moines.

How low blood sugar levels have to drop before hypoglycemia symptoms set in can vary from person to person, Dr. Bhargava says. “Different people have different definitions of hypoglycemia,” he explains. Most define hypoglycemia as a blood sugar level below 70 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL). Others believe it’s below 60 mg/dL or even 50 mg/dL.

What’s most important, however, is clueing into the way you feel. Hypoglycemia can happen when you least expect it, and it’s often sudden, so you need to be prepared.

Causes of Hypoglycemia

If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels can drop for a number of reasons. Prevent hypoglycemia by avoiding these situations:

• Not taking your medications as directed
• Skipping meals, eating too little, or making poor food choices
• Exercising too hard without refueling or properly adjusting your insulin intake

“When you’re physically active, you increase your body’s utilization of glucose — the blood sugar your muscles use to function,” says Lois Jovanovič, MD, an endocrinologist and chief scientific officer of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif. “This will lower your body’s blood glucose, which is great. But if you haven’t decreased your insulin to account for the effects of exercise, you may experience low blood sugar.”

How to Recognize Hypoglycemia Symptoms

If you know how to spot the symptoms of hypoglycemia, you can treat the condition as soon as you feel it coming on. “The number one symptom is extreme hunger — feeling like you want to eat anything and everything — and you’re likely to raid the cookie jar or refrigerator,” Dr. Jovanovič says. You may even become angry or argumentative. This is especially noticeable when such behavior is out of character for you. “The classic example is of a normally soft-spoken person becoming harsh or combative when a family member asks them to test their blood glucose," she says.

Other possible hypoglycemia symptoms include:

• Headache
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Chest pain or heart pounding
• Tingling in or around your mouth
• Anxiety
• Agitation

Most cases of hypoglycemia aren’t serious and the condition is treatable — if you recognize the symptoms in time, you can more than likely keep it from becoming dangerous. However, if your blood sugar level gets extremely low, there’s a risk of fainting or seizures — scary complications that are rare but possible. A diabetic seizure can lead to coma or even death, Jovanovič warns.

Steps to Correct Hypoglycemia

Mild hypoglycemia can be easily treated with food. “I recommend the ‘rule of 15’,” Bhargava says. “If you test your blood sugar and see that it’s low, eat or drink 15 grams of carbohydrates. Wait 15 minutes. Test your blood sugar again. If it’s still low, eat another 15 grams.” Four or five soda crackers, a half-cup of juice, or a cup of milk will provide 15 grams of needed sugar. You can also use sugar tablets, which are made for people with diabetes and sold at drugstores.

If your blood sugar level doesn’t budge, seek medical help by calling 911. Emergency personnel can give you a shot of glucagon, another hormone created by the pancreas that will increase your blood sugar, Bhargava says.

If you’re prone to episodes of hypoglycemia, carry suitable snacks or sugar tablets with you at all times. Also alert others so that if they see you struggling with symptoms of low blood sugar, they can get you help immediately.

A final word of caution: Don’t over-treat hypoglycemia. Many people with diabetes do, Jovanovič says, and they then have rebound hyperglycemia, or blood sugar levels that are too high, which will make you feel even worse. Only eat as much as you need to get your blood sugar level back to a healthy point.

Last Updated: 03/08/2013

This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2015 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.

Happy Easter with Strawberry Cheese Pastry

Good day, friends!
Before you even think I forgot and will forsake you, here's a delicious recipe just in time for your Easter baking. I promise to do more regular posts and apologize. Life threw me some heavy curve balls which are now out of the way. Enjoy:

Strawberry Cheese Pastry

Strawberries and cream are a match made in heaven. We know you'll feel the same way after trying our Strawberry Cheese Pastry. With good-for-you ingredients and a shortcut crust, we know you'll make these again and again!

Serves: 16

Serving Size: 1 pastry

Cooking Time: 45 min

What You'll Need:

• 3/4 cup reduced-fat graham cracker crumbs
• 2 low-fat strawberry cereal bars
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
• 2 cups frozen strawberries, thawed
• 8 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup fat-free sour cream
• 3/4 cup Splenda baking blend
• 1 cup liquid egg substitute
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

What To Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Place graham cracker crumbs, cereal bars and cinnamon into a food processor. Process until fine. Press crumbs into bottom and 1/4-inch up sides of baking dish.
3. Drain strawberries well and set aside. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, whip cream cheese until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Arrange strawberries in single layer over the crust. Pour filling over the top of the strawberries.
4. Bake about 45 minutes, or until firm in center. Cut into 16 pieces. Serve warm or chilled.

source: www.everydaydiabeticrecepies.com

Kind regards from yours truly,

Barbara