PMS Factor

Ask any woman: It can be difficult to weather “that time of the month” and “the change.” But managing these episodes when you have diabetes adds a whole set of complications. Here’s what you need to know to make these two experiences smooth sailing.

A new wrinkle to your menstrual cycle

Some women with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) find their blood sugar levels don’t stay steady over the week before and during their period. “Most commonly, we see women having higher blood sugars pre-period, and then these drop down when they begin to menstruate,” says William Petit, MD, medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at New Britain Hospital in Connecticut. The culprit: those fluctuating hormones that accompany your cycle. But not everyone is the same, and you need to determine how your body is affected. “Each woman needs to recognize her own pattern,” says Dr. Petit, because the effects can be variable.

To see if hormones affect your blood sugar levels, make a note of the days when you have your period in your blood glucose record book. Here, you should already be recording blood sugar levels (at least four times a day if you have type 1 diabetes) as part of your standard diabetes management. You can look for emerging patterns and speak to your endocrinologist or other health-care practitioner about the best plan for managing your diabetes at various times of the month to keep blood glucose levels optimal.

Read the rest at iVillage

The 3 day diet is one of those trendy little diets that seems to be popular today. If you follow the 3 day diet correctly, you can supposedly lose upwards to 10 pounds in just three days. That seems like a lot of weight to lose in such a short period of time, is it healthy or even possible?

While its certainly possible to lose 10 pounds or even more in just three days, it’s probably not healthy, and generally not recommended by health professionals. The 3 day diet is invariably frowned on by nutritionists as being an overall a fad diet that is not very effective in producing sustainable weight lose. Sure you can lose 10 pounds in three days, but the chances are you’ll put it right back on again when you finish.

To read the full article, go to: 3-Day Diet

The Acme juicer is highly recommended by people who know the ropes of fasting. The champion is another juicer that comes highly recommended. Some other popular brands are Omega, Green Power, Oster, and Juiceman. An Acme juicer or any other quality juicer can cost 200 dollars or more, but if you think of the thousands of dollars in medical bills you can probably save down the road, 200 dollars doesn’t seem like much. It’s an investment.

The Acme juicer, or juice extractor, is manufactured by Waring, a highly respected company, known for making quality blenders found in many an American kitchen. One model is called the Acme White Supreme Juicerator. It has a vibration-free 550-watt motor, which is powerful, but also quiet. It is an induction-type motor that has no brushes that can wear out, and it requires no lubrication or maintenance. The juicer converts both fruits and vegetables into pulp-free juice with commercial quality stainless steel blades that have a floating action, distributing the pulp more evenly and reducing wear and tear. It disassembles easily for cleaning and comes with a five-year warranty. A citrus attachment is optional (but if you suffer from arthritis, some doctors recommend that you refrain from citrus fruits and citrus juice.

To Read the whole article, go to Acme Juicer

Drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages won’t do you any good in your efforts to lose weight and keep it off, the Mayo Clinic says.

Caffeine acts as a diuretic, causing the body temporarily to retain less water. But there’s nothing to suggest that these effects are permanent, and the stimulant does nothing to reduce body fat.

The best way to lose a few pounds and maintain a healthy weight is to get enough exercise and eat a proper diet.

This is a story from HealthDay, a service of ScoutNews, LLC.