Humulin or Lantus, Which Insulin For Your Child?
Humulin or Lantus? When my daughter, who was 8, was first diagnosed the Children’s Hospital that was treating her put her on an insulin program of short acting Humalog NPH and long acting Humalin N. You should have seen me that first day of training after a long night in the emergency room where she was diagnosed. I was a raving lunatic to begin with so my brain was mostly mush at that point. Add to that everything began with “H”. Mix this “H” with that “H” but first charge this “H” with air, then draw this “H” first followed by that “H” but make sure you roll this “H” between your palms and for crying-out-loud don’t shake that “H”. Anyway I guess osmosis worked and all of that information finally seeped in. We were officially diabetic now.
For those of you who may not be familiar with it, Humalog and Humalin (short and long acting insulins) are mixed in the same syringe and injected 3 times a day usually before meals. Your child is allowed a certain amount of carbohydrates for each meal that the doctor figures out based on age, weight, etc., and that’s your number. My daughter’s was 65 carbs max per meal and 35 max per snack. However your child hits their magic number that’s it. Whether it’s 65 slices of ham or half a pop-tart. Plus she had to eat 6 times a day at certain times everyday.
Well the time came when she decided she wanted a little more freedom of choice and asked me about trying Lantus. My first thought was if it’s not broke don’t fix it. But I can have a cupcake whenever I want so I decided my opinion was secondary. So we looked into it. Lantus is a long lasting insulin. One shot at night and she had a 24 hour basal dose of insulin. “One shot” I’m thinking to myself “that’s great”. But wait, you also have to take a shot of short acting insulin (a bolus) everytime you eat. 10 meals 10 shots, 3 meals, 3 shots. Even I could figure that out. You base the amount of short acting insulin on the number of carbs you are about to eat. Talk about freedom! Compared to what she had been doing it was like being re-born. she didn’t care that it would mean more shots. All she heard was she could eat what she wanted when she wanted. Birthday cake, pizza parties, popcorn at the movies, boy she was ready to go. The first thing she wanted to have was a Blizzard from Dairy Queen. I looked at the chart on the wall and it read 125 carbohydrates. That was half a days carbs in a paper cup! After a couple of days of gluttony things got back to normal pretty quickly.
Remember that freedom I mentioned, it came at a price. This insulin regime is a lot of shots. Add those to the required blood tests and your talking about a lot of holes per day in a little girl. One more thing, her nighttime Lantus shot was 19 units. that’s a lot of insulin all at once. In her case it went in like battery acid. These shots are no fun. However, after several months on the Lantus regime her life and the rest of my family’s lives are pretty close to pre-diagnosis normal. All in all it was the right thing to do. If your doctor is suggesting Lantus or your child is asking about it, consider all of the above. We’re glad we did it.
My Search for Happiness in the First Year of Sobriety
DAY 1: HOUR BY HOUR
Happiness in sobriety? Could this really be possible? Yes, I know I need to quit drinking if I want to continue to live. Survival during sobriety maybe, but happiness seems almost out of the question.
I do feel a little glimmer of hope when I see other sober women who seem happy. Could I get there too? I won’t think about that now. First I must somehow find a way to quit drinking. I will try to get through today without a drink. I will survive this day hour by hour. I know that I have to begin to really try.
DAY 3: PROUD BUT SCARED
It’s been three days without a drink! I feel proud of myself but I’m also scared to death that I won’t be able to maintain this. Maybe if I accept the fear but don’t let it take over, I can continue. The women in my group have given me praise for what I have accomplished. That feels good. I don’t want to let them and myself down. Just one more day, I can do it!
I am feeling uneasy about myself. Thoughts have been coming to mind about what I don’t like in my life, oh, what I wouldn’t give to have a drink to numb my brain. How can I stay sober and deal with all these problems in my life too? I feel angry, it’s not fair! I also feel angry at myself for letting my life get so out of control. Guilt will just get me drinking again so I can’t go there. I need to try to think positive and just know that not drinking is enough for now.
3 WEEKS: MORE IN CONTROL
It’s been three weeks! I heard once that to establish a new pattern, it takes 21 days. It’s true that I feel a little more in control now.
My need to drink seems to occur more with mental triggers than with a physical need. When I feel sad or lonely or angry, it’s the worst. Staying with my real feelings and honoring them is tough.
My group keeps telling me that getting to know myself will help me stay sober. Then why do I feel all this guilt about what I seem to need or desire. Will I have to change all the relationships in my life? Will they stick with me when they get to know the real me? It’s too scary to think about if they are unwilling to grow and change with me.
3 MONTHS: COULD THIS BE PEACE?
It’s been three months with no alcohol. When I was walking on the beach today, I felt a moment of peace and acceptance with myself. Could this be happiness? I noticed that as soon as I tried to soak it in, I felt a desire to drink again. Why do I want to sabotage myself? Is it because I don’t think I deserve to be happy?
1 YEAR: ACCEPTANCE
It’s been over a year now. My life used to be filled with busy activities, always finding a way to distract from what I really felt. Drugs and alcohol also served this purpose. Now my work is to accept my feelings, sit with them daily during meditation, and try to live in the moment as much as possible.
I used to think happiness was something big, like exhilaration or joy, when I felt ecstatic! Yes, that is happiness, but those moments come rarely. Jean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., founder of the Women for Sobriety Program, was right when she said happiness is created, not waited for. It takes practice to feel happiness or at least peace.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Someone once told me that if I had the key to happiness, I would be happy while doing the dishes. Yeah, right! The truth is that life is often filled with many small, repetitive tasks. Happiness comes during those moments when I know that I am doing the right task, and that only occurs when I know what my bigger picture is.
My more difficult and long-term goals include keeping my Women for Sobriety group going, building my business, and learning art and dance. When I know that I am working steadily towards those goals, I can enjoy the beautiful view of nature I see outside my kitchen window and feel happiness while doing the dishes!
APPRECIATION
I need to work on developing awareness and appreciation of the small moments throughout the day that provide the opportunity for me to feel happy: a beautiful blue bird flying in front of my window while I type this, my daughter singing in the other room, me writing this on New Year’s Day because I had a desire to.
I wish for you the strength to look inward and find your own road to happiness.
Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement – L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is synthesized in the body from the amino acids lysine
Understanding Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction is done using a local aesthetic. A large volume of saline solution containing the aesthetic and a drug called “Epinephrine” is injected directly into the areas where there are excessive fatty deposits. Epinephrine is important in the surgical process because it shrinks capillaries and minimizes blood loss. Minor sedation may be required for those who feel a little nervous about the surgery; however the patient is usually completely conscious during the surgery.
Benefits of Having Tumescent Liposuction
• Fewer skin irregularities
• Less bleeding
• Reduced bruising
• Faster recovery
Procedure
A small incision is made in the skin, allowing the tube connected to a vacuum type machine to suck up the fat. The tumescent method uses smaller cannulae than that of any other type of liposuction which results in less bruising or bleeding. An elastic compression garment is worn to help the skin contract and heal. This helps to sculpt the bulging areas of the skin and help to achieve more attractive contours.
There are risks associated with having any type of surgery. Tumescent liposuction is a very safe procedure with very few side effects. If the following types of side effects occur they are usually easily corrected.
• Skin irregularity
• Lumpiness
• Dimpling
• Loose skin
• Infections
Tumescent Liposuction Recovery
Recovery time varies dramatically from person to person. Many patients are able to walk out of the office without assistance and get back to a regular routine within a few days. It takes almost six weeks for any scar to begin to soften and a full year to be complete.
A patient may feel a little numbness in the area that has been treated because the local anaesthesia remains in the tissue for twenty-four hours or more after surgery.
Most patients will usually only experience minor discomfort after the numbness wears off.
Most patients are generally alert and able to function; they do not experience nausea and grogginess associated with general anaesthesia.
The sooner a patient can begin to move around, the faster the healing progresses.
Physical exercise is not recommended until at least a week after having the procedure.
Seven Secret Agents That Can Help You Live To 120
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B’s – about how they boost the immune system and help the body repair itself. Well, that old hat. There are supplements now that are so far ahead of those that it’s like comparing a model-T car to the space shuttle. This stuff is the real cutting edge in nutrition and we’ve got them for you right now. Are you ready to slow down the aging clock? Here we go.
1 – Alpha-GPC. This nutrient, derived from soy, provides high levels of choline, which protects brain cells. It also increases levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which triggers an increased release of HGH (human growth hormone). This hormone is naturally present in the human body when we’re young but decreases steadily as we age. Studies have shown that increased HGH can reduce body fat, boost energy levels, and restore youthful immune function.
In animal studies, alpha-GPC corrected age-related brain decline. In human studies it helped stroke victims retain cognitive functioning and improve mental functioning and mood of people with dementia. Dose: 600 – 1200 milligram.
2 – Ashwagandha Root. This herb is used extensively in Ayurveda – the traditional medicine of India. It stimulates immunity and, as an antioxidant, rescues cell-damaging free radical. Its anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to be helpful with such inflammatory conditions as arthritis. increased oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, which rejuvenates cells. In addition, 70% of the men in the study said that their sexual performance improved – some men even reported fewer gray hairs.
3 – Beta-Glucan. This nutrient is derived from baker’s yeast, young rye plants, and medicinal mushrooms. It activates macrophages – key immune cells that fight bacteria and other disease-causing organisms. Beta-glucan enhances the effectiveness of conventional antibiotic therapy. It acts as a free-radical scavenger, removing cells damaged by exposure to radiation, chemotherapy, and environmental pollution. It also lowers total and LDL (bad) cholesterol which increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. It also reduces risk of infection by stimulating white blood cell activity. Dose: 300 mg to 1,000 mg. per day.
4 – Lemon Balm. Lemon balm is an important anti-oxidant. It contains a high concentration of phenols – chemicals that fight cell-damaging toxins. This herb can improve sleep, decrease the pain of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, boost mental functioning, and combat viruses and bacteria. Avoid if you have glaucoma. Dose: 1,000 mg. to 1,500 mg. per day.
5 – Omega-3 fatty acids. Also called essential fatty acids (EFAs), omega-3 fatty acids aren’t manufactured by the human body and must be supplied by diet or supplement. They are found primarily in fish but are present in smaller amounts in green, leafy vegetables, soybeans, nuts, and flaxseed and canola oils. Omega-3s decrease blood level of triglycerides (bad fats) and homocysteine (an artery-damaging amino acid) and lower blood pressure. They help thin the blood, preventing blood clots – lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Omega-3s also act as anti-inflammatories, helpful in the treatment of such autoimmune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. They are the building block of the outer layer of brain cells and may help treat depression. Dose: 3 g. to 10 g of fish oil capsules a day. It is extremely difficult to get sufficient omega-3 through dietary sources. The best sources are mackerel, salmon, sea bass, sardines, anchovies, and tuna. 6 – Evening Primrose oil. Evening primrose oil is derived from the seeds of the evening primrose plant. The active ingredient is gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and omega-6 fatty acid.
As the body ages, it loses its ability to convert dietary fats into GLA. Supplementing with evening primrose oil is important in combating the general effects of aging. It also may help in treating rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, nerve damage, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s-related memory problems. Dose: 3,000 mg. to 6,000 mg. daily.
7 – Resveratrol. This naturally occurring anti-oxidant is found in many plants – including the skin of grapes. Red wine is the main dietary source. Resveratrol decreases the stickiness of blood platelets, reducing the risk of blood clots. It may help prevent the development and progression of various cancers. Red wine provides little, if any resveratrol (less than a milligram per glass. Supplements provide 15-20 milligrams per serving.
Vitamin C May Improve Smokers Blood Circulation
A dose of vitamin C may give a quick boost to the poorer-than-average blood circulation seen in healthy young smokers, a study suggests. The study of 25 healthy men found that although smokers initially showed poorer results on a test of blood flow to the heart that changed after they took a large dose — 2 grams — of vitamin C.
Shortly after taking the vitamin, the 13 smokers showed blood circulation on par with that of the 12 non-smokers, according to findings published in a leading heart journal.
However, lest smokers think they can undo heart damage by chasing a cigarette with a vitamin C pill, the researchers say their findings underline the dangers of smoking.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, a substance that helps clear the body of cell-damaging molecules called oxygen free radicals. Because of this, it’s thought that the vitamin may counter the “oxidative stress” that smoking puts on the lining of the blood vessels — a mechanism by which smoking leads to artery disease.
The new study looked at the effect of oral vitamin C on coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), a measure of how well blood flow speeds up to help the heart when it’s under high demands. Past research has shown that smokers show poorer blood-vessel dilation in response to blood flow, and have a diminished CFVR.
The research team used a non-invasive ultrasound technique to measure CFVR in smokers and non-smokers, before and after they took vitamin C. They found that before taking the vitamin, smokers had a lower CFVR than non-smokers did. Two and four hours after the dose of vitamin C, however, smokers’ average CFVR was “restored” to a more-normal level.
Though the men in the study were given a large dose of vitamin C, researchers pointed out that it’s probably useless to take doses beyond 200 milligrams, because the body will excrete the excess.
Moreover, it’s not clear that loading up on vitamin C can benefit smokers. Some trials have found that taking C supplements does not improve smokers’ blood vessel function, at least in the short term.
Researchers said further, large-scale trials should look at whether daily vitamin C supplements cut smokers’ long-term risk of coronary artery disease.
Test Your Indoor Air Quality!
How safe is your Indoor Air?
1) Does your home have carpeting?
* Carpeting captures dust, dirt, chemicals and everything we track in from the outdoors. Carpeting also outgases formaldehydes and other chemicals used in processing.
2) Do you have an attached garage?
* Carbon monoxide from cars running in the garage (even for a few minutes), will enter the home no matter how insulated the garage is.
3) Do you have any indoor furry pets?
* All pets with fur create some dander, dust and odors into your environment.
4) Do you allow smoking in your home?
* Smoke is made up of over 400 chemicals and will remain in your environment for up to 10 years.
5) Do you use store-bought cleaning products in your home?
* Just because a cleaning product is available in a store does not mean it is safe. 99% of all store-brand cleaning products are highly toxic. The fumes don’t just disappear, but are present in the air and on surfaces until someone touches them or inhales them.
6) Do you dry-clean some of your clothes?
* Dry cleaning uses many chemicals that outgas into your air.
7) Do people live in your house?
* Sounds silly, but people cough, sneeze, constantly shed skin, etc. We are constant
pollution producers.
If you open your windows for ‘fresh air’ do you have a street, factory, animals or other pollution carrier close to your home?
* Cars, factory pollution and even farm animals can create odors and/or chemicals that will float into your house.
If you answered YES to 3 or more of these questions, then you may have some indoor air issues that need to be addressed!
Most of the above problems can be easily fixed with some simple Healthy Home tips.
Whats In My Water?
Threats to our drinking water are increasing due to our aging water system infrastructure and increased pollutants invading our water sources. Because the source of our drinking water varies, the treatment it receives before coming to our tap also varies. For these reasons, we can no longer take the safety of our drinking water for granted.
Some of the more common natural sources of pollution include:
microorganisms; underlying rock; nitrates and nitrites; heavy metals found in underground rock that contains arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium; and fluoride. Human Activities causing pollution include: bacteria and nitrates from human and animal wastes, septic tanks and large farms; heavy metals from mining construction, and older fruit orchards; fertilizers and pesticides; industrial products and wastes from local factories, industrial plants, gas stations, dry cleaners, leaking underground storage tanks, landfills and waste dumps; household wastes such as cleaning solvents, used motor oil, paint, paint thinner, pharmaceuticals (discarded medications flushed down the toilet); lead and copper; hormones passed into the system through waste.
Most of us are familiar with problems caused by ecoli in the water or problems caused by lead poisoning, but not much is heard about problems from hormones or medications that make their way back into our drinking water. In truth, little is known about the long term effects of pharmaceutical contamination.
Hormones fed through the system can create a variety of problems. A study done in the UK found that high concentrations of female hormones (from women using contraceptive pills) were changing the sex of approximately half of all male fish and possibly affected male fertility. Other studies have shown antidepressants can trigger premature spawning in shellfish while drugs designed to treat heart ailments block the ability of fish to repair damaged fins.
If a water supplier determines that drinking water has been contaminated, they are required to inform their customers of any violations within 24 hours. It should be noted that in 2001, one out of every four community water systems did not conduct testing or report the results of testing which could lead to problems that are undetected.
The EPA uses a generalized standard for measuring contamination of our water which can put some groups in jeopardy. Children and infants, the frail and elderly, and pregnant women and their unborn babies can face a greater risk to infection. Others who are undergoing chemotherapy, living with HIV/AIDS, and transplant patients also faced an increased risk.
One contaminate that concerns me the most is nitrate. Nitrate is generally found in fertilizer and puts infants at immediate risk when it exceeds the national standard levels. An excess of nitrate in an infants system can cause “blue baby syndrome” which can be fatal without immediate medical attention. It has been recommended that infants, young children, nursing mothers, pregnant women and certain elderly people use extreme caution.
Families using well water as their primary water source are not subject to regulation by the EPA and therefore face a considerably greater risk. Although a water filtration system can be helpful, many serious problems can only be found by testing and go unnoticed.
What can you do about it? Using a home water filtration system can help, but you will need to do your homework. There are many different types of filtration systems available and each has it’s advantages and disadvantages. In June of 1998, CNN published an article referencing a study done by The Center for Environmental Health which used 16 different brands of water filtration systems which showed that six brands produced water that exceeded the limit for lead, with two (one made by Franke Inc. of Pennsylvania and Omni Corporation of Indiana) generated water with readings substantially higher than the limit.
If you are considering purchasing a home filtration system reference on Consumers Guide (http://www.consumersearch.com/www/kitchen/water_filters/reviews.html) before going to the store. Families using well water should read “Alternative Considerations” Consumer Guide (http://www.consumersearch.com/www/kitchen/water_filters/fullstory.html). A general reference for qualities to look for can be found at World Wise(http://www.worldwise.com/watpur.html).
The same holds true for buying water. FDA’s rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state The FDA also exempts carbonated water and seltzer, and fewer than half of the states require carbonated waters to meet their own bottled water standards. The NRDC tested 103 brands of bottled water and the results can be viewed at SUMMARY OF NRDCs TEST RESULTS (http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/appa.asp)
Anyone concerned about the quality of their drinking water can take call their state drinking water program or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800 426-4791) for a list of state certified labs, or purchasing filters certified by NSF International (800 NSF-MARK) to remove the contaminants of special concern to the consumer (NSF certification is not, however, a complete guarantee of safety).
Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement – L-Tyrosine
L-tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a role in the creation of protein. The body can make it from the amino acid phenylalanine but nutritional sources include animal meats, wheat, oatmeal and seafood.
It performs a multitude of important roles in the body including the alleviation of depression, enhancement of thyroid efficiency, strengthening of the immune system, prevention of neurological degeneration and protection of the skin.
Bodybuilders find it useful for several reasons:
1. It offsets the stress and fatigue associated with intensive training.
2. It helps in the retention of muscular protein.
3. It heightens mental alertness thus helping to offset mental fatigue.
With any amino acid supplement overdosing can lead to weakness and nausea so care should be taken in applying small doses and increasing them gradually until an optimum level is reached. Bear in mind that many protein powders and other supplements are fortified with amino acids so check the labels carefully. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed in all instances.
Nutrition Hidden Poison
Did you know that there might be poison in many of your favorite foods found on grocery store shelves everywhere? Breads, crackers, cookies, energy bars, tortillas, frozen pizza are just a few examples of these dangerous foods. The poison in these items is called partially hydrogenated fat, often referred to as trans-fatty acids.
A trans-fatty acid is usually made from a vegetable oil- corn, cottonseed, or soybean, for example- that has been treated by a process called hydrogenation to make it a solid at room temperature. Originally, when margerin first appeared in supermarkets, consumers were led to believe they could lower their risk of heart disease and cancer by replacing butter with this product. What became evident later is that the chemical process that made vegetable oil “look” like a saturated fat by solidifying caused it to act like one as well, making high levels of either fat a health risk.
Some of the harmful effects of trans-fatty acids include:
§ Cause you to store fat and burn sugar
§ Increase levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol
§ Decrease levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol
§ Increase your perception of pain
Thankfully, trans fats are starting to appear on nutrition information on some food products. This trend will continue to rise as the law goes into affect next year forcing brands to disclose the amount of trans fat per serving.
Still, I’m betting you will see foods advertised as “low in trans fat.” Don’t fall for it.
Small amounts of trans fats are more harmful than larger amounts of saturated fats. A small increase in saturated fats results in a 17 percent increase in coronary artery disease. A similar increase in trans fats leads to a 93 percent increase!
As a general rule, avoid all foods containing trans-fatty oils. Most of these include foods that have to sit on a shelf, such as baked goods, snack chips, some national brands of peanut butter, candy bars, cookies, etc. Even some supposedly healthy diet products that are marketed as a food to help you lose weight contain this poison!
Don’t make the mistake of eating these product just because they’re there, or because “everyone else is.” Take your health into your hands and make sure you read those labels!
Author Information
Kevin is a personal trainer and triathlon coach in San Diego. He has owned a personal training company, and consulted in the fitness field for over 9 years. Author of the E-Book, The Healthy Burn, a comprehensive fat-burning plan for couch potatoes, competitive athletes, and anyone in between.