0 Whats The Right Diabetes Disease Management Program For Your Patients

The answer is "it depends."

For a good example of why thats true, check out this hot-off-the-presses Health Affairs article that describes two parallel approaches to disease management.  Both were offered side by side to a largely Hispanic and socioeconomically disadvantaged population in Los Angeles (LA). 

One program was provided in the LA Department of Health Services primary care health centers. Patients with poor diabetes control were erred to a separate turn-key "one stop" care program with non-physician educators under the direction of an endocrinologist. Using a combination of in-person and telephonic management, patients were put through a six to nine month protocol designed to optimize their medication treatment plan, foster better living habits and improve self-care.  Nurse case loads averaged 125 patients.

In LAs independently-run community clinics (many of which are federally qualified health centers), case managers and clinical pharmacists were available on-site for lifestyle counseling, education on self-care and medication management that included initiating insulin and adjusting other drugs. Nurse case loads numbered 400 patients, while the pharmacists had about 200 patients.

Based on pre-post measurements involving hundreds of patients, both the LA health centers and community clinics patients experienced impressive improvements in blood glucose control and cholesterol levels.  Thats typical in disease management programs. 

However, there were some differences.  In the LA health clinics, the program was separate, overseen by a specialist, limited to patients with poor glucose control and involved a more intense program of patient education.  In the community health clinics, the nurses and pharmacists were "part" of the clinic and, based on the caseloads, were less labor-intensive.

Despite the differences, the DMCB couldnt really tell if one approach to diabetes care management was "better" than another.  There was little information on the content of the care plans and no information  on costs.  Yet, all things being equal, the DMCB suspects that architects of similar programs nationwide are ultimately selecting from a menu of care and staffing options based not only on patient need but highly subjective (or yet-to-be-investigated) perences based on local physician culture (sometimes specialist leadership is important), access to special resources (like pharmacists) and local budgetary realities.

The key lesson in this article is how two parallel clinic systems in the same population serving a similar population decided to deploy different disease management programs.  Both resulted in patient betterment.  Both had relative strengths and weaknesses.  Deciding which approach is "better" remains a matter of local judgement based on a complex number of factors.

In other words, it depends.

Image from the Kentucky Diabetes Resource Directory

0 CDC Diabetes And Prediabetes Risk Tests

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that 25% of Americans with diabetes don’t know they have it, and that approximately 1 in 3 have prediabetes but only 7% of them know it. They developed these tests to help users learn whether they are at risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

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0 Prevent dandruff with this food

Prevent dandruff with this food - In addition to keeping the hair and scalp, dandruff, it also can be prevented by eating nutritious food. What is it? Listen more, as reported by the following 3 Fat Chicks.

Fresh food

Fresh fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants that prevent disease and maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails as a whole. So do not be lazy to eat fresh vegetables and fruits that dandruff is not easy to come by.

Fish oil

Fish oil has a specific effect on the skin, which prevents dryness and dandruff coming ward. Fish oil can be obtained by eating salmon and other oily fish or through supplements.

Milk substitute products

Several studies have shown that dairy products are not suitable if taken by people who have problems with dandruff. Because the combination of fat and other ingredients in dairy products actually aggravate dandruff. So find a milk substitute products is low or non-fat at all.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B complex also includes a powerful food to prevent dandruff. This vitamin can be found in fruits and vegetables that should be consumed every day indeed.

Lean meat

According to experts, in order to minimize the appearance of dandruff, the body needs a lot of protein. So do not forget to enter the menu of meat, especially lean, in order to obtain the maximum protein intake.

Those are some foods that can prevent dandruff. May be useful.

0 Top Secrets of Super Healthy Peoples Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick

‘Health is wealth’ but often people consider it luck to enjoy better health. Some people never seem to get sick. Well, it is not about luck. Simple lifestyle changes can do wonders for your body. What super healthy peoples are doing, the rest of us arent to keep illness at bay? Despite centuries of scientific advances, doctors still can’t tell us definitively how to stay well. So why not look for solutions from the people for whom the common cold is, well, uncommon? 

Here, 10 surprising habits of those people who never get sick—and how you can adapt them to your lifestyle for a better healthy living. These are easy ways that can help maintain a balance within your body and keep illnesses at bay.

Here are the top 10 secrets of people who never get sick.

1) Follow Proper Sanitizing Habits

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that proper hand washing is one of the easiest ways to avoid becoming sick often. Try to wash your hands with regular soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This simple habit lowers your chances of contracting serious colds and the common flu.Take a bath daily and clean all parts of your body well. Regularly check your fingernails for trapped dirt. Also, keep your home and surrounding area clean and free of germs.

2) Detox regularly
Many chemicals used commonly today—such as phthalates, dioxins and PCBs—were absent from our environment a century ago. That might be why the rates of diseases (including cancer and liver disease) linked to toxic exposures are increasing, say experts. 

Although no long-term studies on the benefits of detoxification have been done, chances are good that your health will improve if you lower the level of synthetic chemicals present in your body. Digestive issues, fatigue, breakouts or muscle pain are often signs that you could benefit from a detox program, most of which require you to limit meats and avoid wheat, sugar, dairy, caffeine and alcohol.

3. Keep a Positive Attitude

Another secret to living a healthy life is feeling positive about your life, your surroundings and different situations that we all face in life. Having a positive attitude toward life will help you feel more happy, enthusiastic, and calm.

Research done at Carnegie Mellon University found that those with positive outlooks become less sick and are more resistant to developing upper respiratory illnesses. Also, those who don’t always think positively and have a negative attitude toward things suffer from more stress and tension. Too much tension and stress are factors that contribute to many life-threatening diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart problems and others.

4) Have an Active Social Life

Studies show that people who are active socially tend to have more robust immune systems and are less likely to suffer from infectious diseases. Harvard University did a study in 2008 that found that positive social attachments might protect against memory loss and other cognitive disorders.

Also, those with few friends were more likely to suffer from heart disease, depression and anxiety. So, to remain healthy you need to take time out of your busy schedule and see your family members or friends. If your friends live far away, you can call them up or chat online with them.

5) Dont Worry, Conquer Stress

Happy people who can easily manage stress very rarely get sick. A Duke University study showed that stress damages the immune system and the heart. Stop worrying, the fear and expectation of having something adverse happen actually lowers immunity. Other studies also suggest that too much stress increases your chances of contracting bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis. Hence, it is essential to learn relaxation techniques from early childhood and try to manage stress as much as possible.

Whenever you are tense or stressed, take a vigorous walk for about a half an hour. This will help you feel more relaxed. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and sleeping seven to eight hours at night also helps. Finally, laughing often helps release endorphins in the body that act as natural stress busters.

6) Stay Hydrated

As the human body is made up of 60% water, it is true that staying well hydrated can immensely minimize your risk of becoming ill frequently. Staying hydrated helps your body maintain the proper harmony in cellular functioning, which plays a key role in transferring nutrients to different parts of the body. It also helps flush out excess toxins that enter our systems through pores and the blood stream.

The easiest way to keep your body hydrated is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try to drink 10 to 12 glasses of water daily to avoid dehydration. Also, eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in water content. Experts also recommend limiting your alcohol consumption because alcohol weakens the immune system and can cause dehydration.

7) Keep a Balanced pH Level

The body remains healthy when its systems are functioning midway between completely acidic and completely alkaline. In simple terms, it means a balanced pH level. When pH levels fall below the midpoint, the body suffers from a condition called acidosis, which can cause fatigue, rapid breathing, stomach problems and confusion. Acidosis can happen when you consume more meat and sugar. 

But eating more vegetables and fruits with alkalizing properties can resolve the imbalance.Include a lot of dark leafy greens, green beans, asparagus, carrots, cucumbers, coconuts and avocados in your diet. Also, avoid eating processed foods as much as possible.

8) Strive for a Well-Balanced Diet

A properly designed diet plan can lower your risk of becoming sick often. Food provides substances that keep us strong and healthy. Eat foods high in nutrients such as vitamin A and C, protein, carbohydrates, iron, essential fatty acids and so on. Eat fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables and avoid processed food items.

One of the most important aspects of a healthy diet is eating a variety of fruits and vegetables in their natural, uncooked state. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals along with antioxidants that boost your immune system to fight off diseases and keep you fit.

Research also suggests that onions, garlic, ginger and honey have antimicrobial and antiviral effects which can help prevent illness. Also, lowering your daily calorie intake can help you stay healthy and lower your risk of aging-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease.

9) Exercise

It has been found that those who spend at least a half an hour daily doing physical exercise do not get sick often. Exercise boosts your immune system and provides many other health benefits. If you do not have time or money to go to a gym, then try walking, running, jogging or cycling for about half an hour daily.

For better health, aerobic exercise is the best option because it gets your heart rate up and pushes nutrient-rich blood throughout the body. It also helps reduce the number of molecules in the body that lead to inflammatory conditions that weaken the immune system. Studies also have found that exercise reduces the risk of health problems like cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, dementia and depression. Exercise also slows down the aging process.

10) Get Enough Rest and Sleep

Proper rest and sleep can do wonders for your body. When you enjoy at least eight hours of peaceful sleep every night, your body will reach a perfect harmonious balance and you will feel your best. Ample sleep and rest is one of the first steps to staying healthy. Sleep deprivation can have a degenerative effect on your mental as well as physical health.

A sound sleep of six to eight hours allows you to handle the day’s stress easier, boosts your memory power, helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in normal ranges, helps reduce inflammation, prevents depression, helps manage body weight and more. It also boosts your immune system to ward off viruses and bacteria that make you ill.

These tips can make a huge difference for your body by boosting your immunity and helping you to stay fit and healthy disease free. Also, They are very easy to incorporate into your lifestyle. 

0 Ask the Internet Food Funny

Today’s question is a spinoff of yesterday’s post, and could be a nice diversion on this rainy, April showers kind of day:

Q: What is your favorite food-related comedy?

A: For about a year here on CHG, we had Favorites of the Week, which usually included a song, sketch, or piece of standup based on food. It was super fun to compile, and often yielded genius like:

Jim Gaffigan on Bacon


Monty Python’s “Spam”


Readers, what’s your favorite food comedy? Is it standup, sketch, or improv? Maybe a song? Or a simple quote?

If you have a link, please include! (Extra points for Vimeo and Youtube URLs, as Canadians can’t see Hulu. It’s kind of like their Snuffleupagus.)

Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to Cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide Net

0 Ask the Internet Favorite Processed Food

Sweet readers! Husband-Elect and I had a Bridal/Groomal Shower this weekend! And it was a surprise! And it was awesome! And pretty! And huge! And generous! And my in-laws flew in! And we got an OXO Salad Spinner that is basically the best thing that’s ever existed! It has a brake button! Who knew?

We’re just starting to recover from the busy-ness, so today is all about getting things back up to speed. Please accept this Ask the Internet question in the meantime…

Q: A few weeks ago, we asked readers what food-type item you can’t believe exists. The answers were funny and overall, pretty shocking, with the clear-and-away winner being pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This week, we thought we’d go in the other direction: What’s your favorite processed food?

A: I have four:

1. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese: Powdered cheese is a crime against nature and good sense, but I would give up a limb for this stuff.
2. CoffeeMate: in almost every flavor.
3. Aunt Jemima’s Butter Lite Syrup. Someday, they will discover that Aunt Jemima is the core component of nuclear payloads. Meanwhile, leave me be when Im huddled in a corner, chugging this straight from the bottle.
4. Breakfast cereals. Honey Nut Cheerios. Crispix. Special K Red Berries. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Kix. Honey Bunches of Oats. The list goes on. I cant help it. There are Grape Nuts embedded in my DNA.

So readers, how bout you? What processed food would you fight to the death for?

Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide Net.

0 Best Exercises for Weight Loss Improved Health

(Article first published as Choosing the Right Exercise for Weight Loss and Health on Technorati.)
People choose many different types of exercise programs, depending on the goal they intend to accomplish. Some choose cardio aerobic activities such as walking and running in an effort to lose weight, while others gravitate toward resistance forms of exercise to build muscle and improve health. It’s important to combine the proper intensity with an appropriate fitness routine to achieve the proper end result that’s right for you.

Choosing Your Fitness Goal

Physical activity guidelines have been established by the US Department of Health and Human Services which are helpful in determining the proper exercise routine to follow, depending on your fitness level and ultimate goal. Individuals trying to lose weight and body fat will want to hit the treadmill with a moderate intensity level for at least 60 minutes on most days of the week.

Many people understand that it’s important to choose some type of exercise to improve health and retain muscle mass, while strengthening the most important muscle in the body, the heart. Here you’ll want to concentrate more on short burst, high intensity resistance exercises with 10 to 20 reps working all major muscle groups. At least 20 to 30 minutes is needed each day to maintain muscle tone and optimal body conditioning.

Top Exercises for Weight Loss
Always combine regular exercise with a well balanced, reduced calorie diet for maximum results. The best weight loss exercises will combine both an aerobic aspect as well as a toning element to drive your metabolism and burn fat.

Step Aerobics:

The main point behind cardio aerobic conditioning exercises is to raise the heart rate into the training zone which increases metabolism and triggers fat release. Step aerobics is an ideal form of fitness training that targets the hips, legs and belly, prime targets for toning and weight reduction. Step aerobics can burn up to 800 calories per hour and qualifies as an inexpensive and highly effective conditioning method to burn fat.

Bicycling:
Whether you choose to ride around the neighborhood on a traditional bike, or opt for a stationary trainer, biking provides an excellent way to burn between 500 and 1000 calories per hour, depending on intensity and terrain. Biking is easy to do and is one of the best exercises to boost metabolism and promote weight loss.

Exercises to Promote Health
Health promoting exercises typically involve improved blood circulation and enhanced metabolic function. Although these forms of physical activity aren’t as intense as those which target weight loss, they lower disease incidence by improving critical bio-markers such as blood pressure, blood glucose and heart rate.

Walking:

Walking is the perfect exercise for virtually everyone. It requires nothing more than a good pair of shoes and a safe place to stretch your legs, while strengthening the heart and influencing metabolic markers such as improved cholesterol ratios, lowered blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Plan to walk at least 30 minutes a day every day of the week for maximum benefits.

Swimming:
Swimming ranks among the best forms of exercise to improve and maintain health because it conditions every key muscle group in the body. There’s no impact to joints, so there’s little risk of injury which can sideline your efforts. Swimming strengthens the heart and lungs, and has been shown to improve insulin resistance as the muscles become metabolically conditioned for peak efficiency.

Health conscious people understand the importance of regular exercise and need to make the proper choices when determining their ultimate goal. Exercises which are meant to burn fat and lower body weight require more intensity and longer training periods. Training to improve your health demands a shorter session, completed on most days of the week. Regardless of your goal, exercise is the key to sustainable weight loss and optimal health.