Month: December 2023

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Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Pink Satin Cargo Pants & Lace Top

I would like to take the time to acknowledge the 37 million people who live with diabetes in America today (and the additional 100 million living with pre-diabetes). They inspire us to help with the ongoing fight to develop better treatment options, ensure that life-saving medicines become more affordable, and ultimately, to find a cure for this debilitating disease.

Awareness takes on the added challenge that the Covid-19 virus brought to diabetes sufferers and the risk factors and complications that exacerbate the disease.

Studies show that nearly every family has at least one person who suffers from diabetes. This is alarming as these families must watch as a loved one progresses from dietary restrictions and exercise, to pills, to injections.

And it is my job as a hearing specialist to let you know that each of these 37 million people are at increased risk of developing hearing loss, and each of these individuals is at a 200-500% increased risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia.

Read more at THE HEARING LOSS AND DIABETES CONNECTION: LEARN MORE ABOUT SIGNS AND PREVENTION.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

• ·         Increased Thirst, Hunger, and Frequent Urination
• Fatigue
• Blurred Vision
• Loss of Hearing Clarity
• Slow-Healing Sores or Frequent Infections

But there is some good news here. By making small, healthy lifestyle changes, you can help to prevent type 2 diabetes. Here are some things you can start doing today:

Commit to a Healthier Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle includes getting enough sleep, increasing your physical activity, drinking more water, and eating healthier. I have created a cookbook that serves as a guide to help you through your journey of eating healthier, and would like to offer it for free to my 60 and Me friends.

Keep Track of Your Illness

Assemble a little kit for the days when your diabetes is getting you down. Include blood glucose monitoring supplies, a thermometer, tissues, ketone test strips, hand sanitizer, glucose tablets or gel, and a timer to stay on top of your glucose levels. Tailor your kit to suit your individual needs.

Lose Weight

Along with eating healthier, you will begin to lose weight. Track your progress and keep the weight off. Losing weight is an important step toward preventing diabetes.

Is It Normal or Common?

It is important to know that diabetes is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Neither is hearing loss. There is a difference between ‘common’ and ‘normal’ aspects of aging. The key is that we know the difference between these two terms and know when to speak with our physician, pharmacist, endocrinologist, and audiologist when dealing with a disease that may be ‘common’, but has a profound, negative impact on your life and health.

Get Support

For those who suffer from diabetes, it is crucial to have a support system in place. You don’t have to do it alone! Your healthcare team is there to provide education, support, specialization, treatment, and a shoulder to lean on. Tell them that you need support. Feel free to ask me questions at www.drkeithdarrow.com.

What You Should Know About Diabetes and Covid-19

If you have diabetes, you should be very cautious as the resulting complications could be worse than for others. This is especially true if your diabetes isn’t well controlled. However, sometimes getting sick is beyond our control. You should have a plan in place if you do contract the virus.

1. You will want to make sure you stay inside, get all the rest you need, and don’t overdo it.
2. Stock up for at least two weeks. You will need enough healthy food to get by – soups, vegetables, crackers, etc.
3. Be sure to have honey, juice and sugar-sweetened sodas on hand in case your blood sugar dips.
4. Insulin and other medications should be filled.
5. Have extra ketone strips and glucagon handy.
6. Keep phone numbers for doctors visible.

Be sure to check in with your doctor to determine how often you should be checking your ketones and blood sugar levels (it will be more often than usual). Also, ask if you should be adjusting your diabetes medications and what cold remedies are safe to take. Drink more fluids and call your doctor immediately if you have moderate or large ketones, are experiencing shortness of breath or extreme weakness, vomiting, or severe stomach pain.

And always keep in mind that 37 million people living with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing dementia and hearing loss.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you think is a normal part of aging? Have you been told that any one health condition is specific to the aging demographic? How common is diabetes among your friends and relatives?

Do you look forward to taking a walk every day? If so, you may well be thinking about making your next vacation one that involves walking. The fact is that once you incorporate walking into your daily routine, it’s hard to imagine going too long without stretching those legs!

Of course, there are plenty of holiday destinations where you know you’ll be able to take a walk each day. But if you’re thinking about elevating walking to the central stage on your vacation, then it’s wise to plan carefully to get the best possible experience.

How Booking Ahead Can Be a Great Motivator

Not
surprisingly, there’s plenty to think about before you book anything if you
want to be sure of having a really successful vacation. Besides, there’s
nothing like the anticipation of an exciting trip to get you through the dark
winter months!

Actually,
knowing you have a walking holiday organised can be a wonderfully motivating
factor in the months ahead. So, read on for a few tips on what to look out for
when planning your walking vacation.

Deciding on a Self-Guided or Group Tour

Firstly,
you need to decide whether you’re sufficiently confident in your map-reading skills
to go-it-alone. If you prefer to hand over the homework to someone else, then a
guided group tour may be more suitable.

Enjoy
the luxury of leaving the organising to an expert, while you make new friends
with like-minded fellow walkers.

How Much of the Day Is Spent Walking?

A
walking holiday also presents an excellent opportunity to pursue other
interests. If you’re a foodie, you may enjoy learning about an area’s food and
wine selections by chatting to local producers. Or perhaps you like visiting hideaway
villages or ancient ruins?

On
our walking tours in
Italy, you get the chance to do a little bit of everything, from
wine-tasting and cookery classes, to visiting some of Italy’s most beautiful villages
and gardens.

Choosing the Right Level Tour

How
high can you climb? And how far can you walk? Actually, it’s more a matter of
how far you want to walk. A walking holiday doesn’t need to be overly
strenuous, and picking the right level for you is very important.

This
should be one which keeps you in your comfort zone but also provides the odd
buzz of adrenaline. So, check the grading of your tour carefully, not just the
distance, but also the daily ascents and descents, to make sure that you’re
going to enjoy, rather than endure, the daily hikes.

Finding the Perfect Travel Companion

A
walking vacation is one you can feel as comfortable doing on your own as with a
partner or a friend. If you have a partner who’s less enthusiastic about hiking
than you, perhaps a friend (or group of friends) might be a better companion.

At
Hedonistic Hiking, the tours are fairly evenly split between solo travellers,
couples and small groups of friends and are extremely sociable, so there are no
worries about fitting in.

Where’s the Best Place for a Walking Holiday?

When
it comes to location, there’s clearly no easy answer. However, it’s worth
bearing in mind that, when it comes to European walking holidays, a
mountain-based tour will probably involve steeper gradients than one in say,
Tuscany.

If
you prefer to cover a greater distance, without any big highs or lows, or
aren’t overly keen on heights, then steer clear of mountainous regions. Also,
do some research into how accessible the starting and drop off points for each
tour are, and whether you can catch a direct flight there.

What About Extending Your Trip?

Once
you’ve booked your flights, extending your trip by a few more days, or even a week
or two, often makes financial sense. Add on a city break or some beachside relaxation
to really get the most out of your trip.

Or,
if you’re a real hiking fanatic, why not book two separate tours, with a week
or so of relaxation in between the two?

Prepare Before You Leave

Once
you’ve booked your trip, you’re ready for the next stage of planning!

Get Fit Before You Go

If you’re not already a keen walker, it’s a good idea to gradually get used to doing walks of a similar length to those you’ll be doing on the tour. Cycling, swimming and other aerobic exercise is also beneficial, and Pilates-based exercises are great for stretching.

Haven’t walked far in a while? Read HOW TO RESTART YOUR WALKING HABIT.

Get the Right Kit

Top
of the list is making sure that you have comfortable walking boots that you’ve
worn in before your trip.

Don’t Overpack

If
your tour includes two or more hotel stays, the less luggage you have, the
easier your packing and re-packing will be!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you think would make a walking holiday exciting for you? Have
you ever been on a walking holiday? Which location would you like to visit? Please
share your thoughts and comments with our wonderful community.

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Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Pink Satin Cargo Pants & Lace Top

For those of us prone to feeling anxious, the holidays double or even triple the worry. Anxiety escalates as we anticipate weeks of hurried preparation and activity. It becomes overwhelming. It’s just way too much!

Does This Sound Like You?

Stressed and overwhelmed…

Inadequate for handling daily life, especially now…

Troubled about most everything…

Distracted by chaotic thoughts…

Restless and nervous…

Uptight and anxious…

You’re Not the Only One

Many of us with anxiety experience disrupted sleep and tense days. Being constantly stirred up makes life frantic and crushing. Engulfed by chaotic thoughts and feelings makes calm and any sense of peace a distant dream. Who can think clearly with all this going on? Feeling like a wreck is disheartening to say the least. It’s totally exhausting – in every way: physically, mentally and emotionally. Give me a break, PLEASE!

What If You Could Calm Down and Be Anxiety Free?

Managing worry and overwhelm is doable. It really is! You can learn how to control frenzied thoughts and emotions and when you do, life is more relaxed and peaceful. Thinking slows down and gains greater clarity. Without a constant sense of dread and fear, sleeplessness begins to dissolve. You can breathe again and come back to your senses. You can actually unlock the prison of anxiety and become free.

How Would I Know?

I’ve been there! About 12 years ago, disturbing relational and legal issues plagued my family. It was an emotional nightmare. I was a mess! I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat and just went through the motions of doing what was needed each day. Obsessed with scary, unrelenting “what if” thoughts, I made frequent visits to my doctor’s office. Xanax calmed me down a bit. To say the least, I was tied in knots, miserable, and hopeless.

Over time, the crisis shifted into low gear, and I was able to process my anxiety more clearly. A strong resolve developed in my heart and mind.

“I’m not living like this anymore!” I proclaimed.

That declaration prompted a search for help. What I learned and the support I received completely turned things around for me. When I learned how to become free from the tyranny of anxious thoughts, you might say I became immune to excessive worry and fear. This put me on a path of freedom and sparked the desire to help others find the same relief and freedom. I became a certified anxiety coach so I could help others become anxiety free.

Can An Anxiety Free Life Be a Reality for You?

Most certainly! Yes! You can calm down anxiety and live more peacefully. You can learn to control thoughts and fight back with statements like, “I don’t have time for you (anxious thoughts) right now! Get out of here! I’m done with you!”

Stop Anxiety Using These 3 Steps

#1 Pinpoint the Root of the Fear Triggering Your Anxiety

This process could be challenging but is well worth it. Living an anxiety-free life begins here. Start by exploring questions like these:

• What’s underneath all this fear?
• What’s my inner critic telling me?
• What worst case scenarios are troubling me?
• What’s my worst fear and why?

#2 Change Old Thought Patterns to New Thought Patterns

Be intentional! Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts stimulates calmness and hope. No doubt about it, this is a radical shift for most of us. Repeating calming strategies tones down chaotic thinking and out-of-control feelings. Overwhelm becomes less and less an inevitable experience. This skill, used consistently, brings encouragement and confidence. Hope for anxiety-free living starts rising!

#3 Draft a Plan to Continue Practicing Daily Stress-Reducing Strategies

As you create new habits to turn around guilt-producing and fear-generating patterns of thinking, you are becoming calmer and learning how to live anxiety free. A sense of security emerges when you have a routine and backup blueprint for coping with anxious thoughts. You’re doing it, and it’s making a difference!

One Woman’s Experience

One of my clients was a retired administrative assistant who was feeling anxious about everything. Following an accident, her ankle wasn’t healing as anticipated. She was having problems with relationships. Covid had shut down her social life. Isolation was depressing her. Volunteer opportunities dried up one after the other.

I listened and shared my ways to understand anxiety and tools to settle anxious “what if” questions and thoughts. She began practicing those ways to manage worry and found success in preparing her mind and emotions for difficult conversations and situations. She started becoming anxiety free.

Say Farewell to Anxiety

Your story can be about learning how to manage anxious thoughts and feelings too. As you can tell from my story and my client’s, everything changes!

I invite you to work through the steps outlined above. Purposefully moving forward with rewiring thoughts makes a difference. It puts you on a good path towards worry free living. Go for it!

If you are really feeling anxious or defeated, I encourage you to find help even during this busy holiday season. Perhaps, like me, you are at the point of deciding to do something about your anxiety riddled life. It’s like learning to climb out of a swamp! You need to know how and lean on someone for help. If you want to learn and grow, consider working with an anxiety coach or someone who can help you.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What contributes most to feelings of anxiety over the holidays? How do you counter those thoughts? Is there any habit that has helped you in a particular situation?