If you find the park or even your backyard refreshing, you’re not alone. And the benefits may be stronger than you think.
If your world is all concrete and steel, could be more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as other health problems. Dutch researchers studied more than 300,000 Dutch adults and children, and discovered that those living close to more green spaces had slightly lower rates of different health conditions like asthma, heart disease, migraine, diabetes, and chronic neck and back pain.

The strongest health association was between lack of green spaces and people suffering from depression and …read more

I know, it seems odd to be told you have diabetes and then get a lecture from your doctor or nurse on the topic of foot care. As odd as it seems though, there’s a very good reason for it. You see, diabetes is a disease that is managed, not cured. And with time, if your blood glucose (sugar) has dipped and risen significantly over the years, you can develop problems, such as poor circulation – particularly to your feet.

If you know a senior who not only has diabetes but has begun showing signs of dementia for which they’re receiving antipsychotics, you may want to watch for signs of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. This seems to be an issue with the antipsychotic medications.
Researchers studied almost 14,000 seniors with diabetes who were prescribed antipsychotic medications to help manage their dementia symptoms. The patients were followed by the researchers for two years and the study results were published in the most recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine .
What the researchers found was that 11% of the group ended …read more

Medical alert bracelets, and more recently necklaces, have been around in many forms for quite a while. We see them for people who are allergic to certain things, have chronic illnesses, or special medical issues, like organ transplants. But many people don’t like to wear them. Would a tattoo be the solution?
According to this USA Today article, Tattoos being used for medical alerts , tattoos alerting people of their medical condition is becoming an option for some people. And it’s more common that we probably realize. There’s a Wikipedia entry for medical tattoos , and there are …read more

Tree nuts (pecans, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts) have for some time been known to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Now there is evidence to suggest that they may reduce the risk of non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes. Researchers from the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto are presenting a paper at this week’s Experimental Biology Annual Meeting in New Orleans to support this theory.

According to Cyril Kendall, Ph.D., of the University of Toronto, “This is the largest study done to date looking at the effect of tree nuts and …read more

Just in time for summer grilling and entertaining season, the American Heart Association is offering a free cookbook filled with diabetes-friendly recipes. All you have to do is visit the American Heart Association Web site and sign up for their healthy living newsletter.

Included are recipes for summer pork roast with vegetables, Cajun Creole smothered steaks, garlicky Greek yogurt dip, and chicken rotini salad with rosemary.
The offer is available only for shipment to US addresses.
(photo courtesy of the American Heart Association)

One of the most devastating things about diabetes is that in getting this one disease, it puts stress on your entire body. Simply by being diabetic, your body can be attacked by a multitude of other diseases, like kidney failure.

Diabetes is hard on anyone, but the elderly have an especially difficult time because of the maintenance required to keep the disease in check. Now, a new study suggests that elderly diabetics also have a “higher level of residual renal function when they start dialysis,” which means more are starting dialysis than ever before. In addition, they generally …read more

We know that obesity puts you at a higher risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes, but a recent study has found a link between “insecticides present in that fat.” Obese individuals with lower levels of organochlorine insecticides in their blood didn’t have diabetes (or insulin resistance) that other obese individuals did.

This could be one reason why certain people do not get Type 2 Diabetes, despite being overweight and out of shape.
One insecticide in particular, chlordane, was used to fight termite infestations in “approximately 30 million homes from the 1950s until it was banned in 1988.” The vapors of …read more

Have you just been told you have diabetes or know someone who has?
It’s a complicated disease. It can be managed fairly well, but it takes thought and preparation most of the time. It’s not a disease that you can forget about.

One of the first things you learn is how to test your own blood sugar levels. At first, it seems like it’s so often, that your fingers are like pin cushions. This does get better. Your fingers may not get entirely used to it, but most often, the frequency of testing goes down as you become more controlled and aware …read more

Looking for Diabetes Notes? You’ve found us! Diabetes Notes is part of Blisstree now. How do you like our new digs?
Don’t worry, I’ll still be providing diabetes news and updates here. And the “Putting a Face on Diabetes” interview series remains alive and well! (A little “health” humor there! Tee hee).
This is an exciting time for diabetics everywhere, as each day we know more about the disease and get closer to a cure.
Remember if you’re a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic who is interested in being interviewed, please send me an email at: …read more