Tips

Type 2 diabetes is not only the fastest growing disease on the planet, its one of the main illnesses for which N-Style ID designs medical alert and medical ID jewelry.  Since January is the month of proactive planning to make positive change in our lives, we focused our first 2013 blog on lifestyle and diet tips for people with Type 2 diabetes.

With concentrated efforts to make practical lifestyle and diet changes, managing and minimizing the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be accomplished in anyone’s life. Type 2 diabetes is generally caused by genetics and obesity combined with a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits.  People that carry excess weight, especially in their midsection, are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Any plan to minimize the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes is always centered on incorporating healthy lifestyle changes into our daily routine.  The thing about the recommended changes for diabetics, is that they are virtually the same for people not suffering from diabetes who are looking to improve their overall health. So the good news is that a Type 2 diabetic is not alone in seeking a healthier lifestyle.  Diet and exercise goals can be made with your partner or friends. Here are the core changes needed to improve the overall health and well-being of people with Type 2 diabetes: Eating Habits and Meal Patterns

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Stick to the same meal times each day.
• Managing and tracking the amount of carbohydrates at each meal or snack will keep your blood sugar level steady throughout the day.
• It’s not just the actual food you eat that affects blood sugar levels but how much you eat and when you eat affects blood sugar in the body.
• Omega-3 fish oils can improve glucose tolerance, high triglycerides, and cholesterol levels
• Incorporate high-fiber, low-glycemic-index sources of carbohydrates like whole-grains, fruits, vegetables into your diet.
• Limit intake of saturated and trans fatty acids.

Regular Exercise and Weight Loss

• Exercise promotes cardiovascular fitness and weight loss, lowers high blood pressure, improves lipid profiles and improves blood sugar control.  Since excess fat in the body can decrease the number of insulin receptors in the body, weight loss is a critical component to managing diabetes.

Limit Alcohol Intake

• Alcohol is essentially pure sugar so it worsens glucose tolerance. Try to completely refrain from or drastically reduce your alcohol intake

Stress Management

• Stress is very bad for people with diabetes. Unmanaged stress elevates blood sugars. Identify techniques to help lower stress levels such as reading, meditating or yoga.

There are endless online diet and exercise programs for people with Type 2 diabetes to help them achieve their goal of a healthier lifestyle: Online Recipes: http://www.joybauer.com/recipes-for-Type-2-Diabetes.aspx http://www.diabetesinanewlight.com/ http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307365,00.html http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/ Exercise Tips and Programs http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/fitness/ http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20425548,00.html http://www.everydayhealth.com/diabetes/type2/managing/weight-lifting-get-strong.aspx And finally, wearing your medical alert /medical ID jewelry is also a core tool in managing Type 2 diabetes. It’s surprising that many adults with Type 2 diabetes don’t where medical alert jewelry. The importance of wearing medical ID jewelry for your overall health can’t be understated. In the event of an emergency, first responders need to know of your condition so they can administer proper care thus potentially saving your life. Continue reading...

Medical alert jewelry is a simple and effective way to get you immediate and proper medical care and to save your life in the event of an emergency. If you were in an emergency, first responders need to know if there is a serious or chronic medical condition involved that requires special medical attention. Medical alert and medical ID jewelry will alert first responders and bystanders to your medical condition thereby enabling the appropriate care. All medical personnel are trained to look for medical ID jewelry. In a serious medical situation, time is of the essence and can be the difference between life and death. There are many medical conditions that should be immediately known to first responders, such as:

• - Diabetes
• - Food Allergies
• - Implants like pacemakers
• - Severe Asthma
• - Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• - Drug Allergies
• - Shunts for dialysis patients
• - Alzheimer’s
• - Bee Sting Allergies
• - Coronary heart disease
• - Renal Failure
• - Transplant Surgery
• - People on blood thinners
• - Mentally disabled
• - Cancer patients
• - Person’s having bariatric surgery

Everyone with a serious medical condition should wear a medical alert bracelet. Medical alert / ID bracelets are designed to be noticed by trained personnel. It’s important to note that both medical alert necklaces and bracelets are considered appropriate ID tools by the medical profession. Emergency personnel are trained to check any jewelry on your person to see if it is medical id jewelry. However, its been documented that EMTs always look for bracelets first. Additionally, depending on the type of activity you are engaged in, you may consider a different choice of medical alert and medical ID jewelry. For example, if you normally wear an ID necklace and you’re heading to the mountains to go skiing, it’s advisable to switch to an ID bracelet, as first responders would not have to dig through so many upper-body clothing layers to find your ID necklace. The information contained on your medical alert jewelry is just as important as actually wearing your alert jewelry on a regular basis. Here’s an example of the type of core information that must be included on your medical ID jewelry:

• - The Star of Life symbol
• - Statement of your type of medical (and if you take insulin)
• - Food or drug allergies
• - Prescription information
• - In-case-of-emergency (written as ICE) contact number information
• - Add anything else paramedics must know, including noting any implants (e.g., pacemaker or insulin pumps that shouldn't go in an MRI scanner)

In recent years, medical ID jewelry has come a long way in terms soft of looks. Gone are the days of the standard stainless steel bracelets.  Fashionable jewelry styles are available for women, men and children that look great and allow for variety, but still convey the vital life-saving information medial alert jewelry was originally designed to do. If you have a medical condition that requires alert jewelry there really is no reason not to be wearing one with so many styles and options available on the market today. At N-Style ID we've created hundreds of fun and fashionable medical alert jewelry for men, women and children. Continue reading...

Just because your child has a food allergy, it doesn’t mean that your child can’t have a safe and fun-filled Halloween. With advanced planning and some creative thinking, celebrating Halloween with your child can still be a blast. Reading labels, staying vigilant and being mindful of alternatives to traditional Halloween revelry (and treats!), are critical for a safe and healthy Halloween for children with food allergies. When it comes to reading labels, at Halloween it can be a challenge because the mini-sized treats don’t usually have the ingredients listed, rather the ingredients are listed in the large bag that the mini-candies come in. Also, with miniature candy, often times the ingredients are slightly off from their larger non-Halloween packaged counter parts. Knowing that the majority of child food allergies stem from peanuts, milk, shellfish, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, soy and strawberries, have a look at the most popular candy and chocolate on the market. A vast majority of Halloween candy contains one or more of the ingredients that cause children’s food allergies. Always stay away from any treats that contain the following: - Chocolates (milk, eggs) - Candy or chocolate with caramel (contains milk) - Candy & chocolate with nuts - Candy bars with cookie centers, like Twix and Kit-Kats (wheat) - Licorice, Twizzlers and Tootsie Rolls (wheat) - Any candy or chocolate that contain strawberries Safe candy actually does exist at Halloween. Look for: - Dots Life Savers - Gummies - Dum Dum Suckers - Skittles - Starburst - Jelly Beans, Mike & Ikes - Nerd’s and most types of gums If you’re ultimately not up for the ensuing battle of taking candy away from your child after an evening of trick-or-treating, but don’t want to take the Halloween experience away from your child, many experts suggest that you take the time to deliver non-candy “goodie-bags” to your neighbors so they can give then to your child when she gets to their home. Items to consider including in the goodie-bags can be simple yet totally enjoyable for your child: glow sticks, temporary tattoos, small toys, puzzles, practical joke toys, stickers etc. While all the emphasis may be focused on keeping your child safe from dangerous treats, its important to remember that part of keeping them safe at Halloween, is to focus their attention away from the candy-filled side of this holiday. Here are some great “distractions” and alternative fun during the Halloween season: - Focus the emphasis of the holiday on planning and creating their unique Halloween costumes - Go all out and involve them in great Halloween decorations for the house - Design a Halloween themed scavenger hunt -- Your child and their friends can go door-to-door in search of the scavenger hunt items instead of candy - Throw an over-the-top hunted house party on Halloween night and invite all of your children’s friends over. - Have your child “run” the hunted house to provide her an exciting responsibility Regardless of how you end up spending your Halloween, for your own peace of mind always remember to carry antihistamine and epinephrine (be sure to have it at your child’s school too, especially during Halloween), and if your child doesn’t already wear one, a medical ID bracelet is mandatory for proper care in the event of an emergency. Continue reading...

The winter season brings with it many joys: holiday parties, family reunions, presents, and cold weather activities like sledding and snowman building. For people living with diabetes, however, the winter also presents challenges: changes in blood sugar and circulation due to the cold, changes in activity level and diet, and also more stress. Continue Reading Continue reading...

The holiday season is a joyful time of year, especially for children eagerly anticipating special treats like sweets and toys. For parents of children with food allergies, however, it can also be an anxious time. Those same treats that kids look forward to can be life-threatening dangers to children with food allergies. The threat may seem obscure to some who don’t have kids with food allergies. In fact, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), food allergies affect 6 million children in the U.S., a full 8 percent of the population. This means that food allergies should be on everyone’s mind when preparing food for holiday gatherings. With proper preparation and raised awareness, the holidays can be less worrisome for parents and safer for children. Continue Reading Continue reading...