Turning the big 50!

Well, let’s see… I hope everyone is fairing well. I am trying. It has been raining here so much, I have actually thought of buying a boat, haha.

Rain is alright but not loads of it. I am writing because believe me or not I am turning 50 this coming Saturday. I am not in any way a fan of turning 50 nor do I like the fact I feel 30 but am actually going to be 50. I look young, think young, and feel for the most part, young.

Not to say that I have not had three kids, now have three grandkids, and have been married for 24 years. With that kind of thing comes comfort, familiarity and “use to its”. I like the fact that I am young looking, helps my ego a lot. The one thing I do not like is having diabetes and having things that pertain to years of having it. Diabetes can certainly age a person.

I like the same things, but my eating habits have greatly changed from my younger years, for sure. I like the same people and some have been in my life since I started school. That is a long time to know and keep in touch with a person. I have lived over half of my life with the same person, my husband and I would not know what to do without him. Those kinds of things make getting older, sweet and comforting.

Now if I was to name things I do not care for about aging it would be first and foremost, pain. Things that keep you awake in the middle of the night and those things that limit your abilities, those are the top of the list. I hate seeing those “told you so’s” hit me in the head. I do not like the fact I see my loved ones and friends die. I don’t care for tooth issues that present themselves out of the clear blue, as if to tell me my teeth are old too.

I wish sometimes I could run like the child, I use to be, and how they did many moons ago. I have not yet got to live out all my wishes and dreams. I long for the simple days of my life but cannot seem to find that peace. I do not mind wrinkles, nor do I mind the fact that I am most definitely in the “ma’am” category and not the “young lady” one. I don’t like the rude younger generation that seems to think the world owes them something. The world does not owe anyone anything, young or old.

In getting older I see things that this coming up generation never will. I will be able to tell my grandkids things they have yet to know from books or encyclopedias. I will be referred to as, “the one who knows” and I will be the considered smart for the simplest of tasks because this generation has technology in their pockets more than the fortitude to discover things “hands-on”.

I loved being wild and carefree. I never thought of myself as I am today, back in those younger years. I could not of foretold all I know and have learnt. I simply did not ever give thought to growing this age. Seems now, all I give thought to is mostly this age, peppered with memories of how things used to be.

If I could offer words of wisdom to the readers of this, out there, in this world, I might tell you to never stop believing. Never let your mind and heart grow tired of trying. Lift someone else up and hold them till they can do things on their own. Spend time with those less fortunate and try to put yourself in their place and understand why things are how they are for them. Say your prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude to those who have helped you ad brought you along beside them. Please, NEVER stop dreaming of a better life, a better world or situation. It can happen.

Image result for quotes about never stop dreaming

Things do not happen in a day, they happen when we work for them. Things do not just follow us till we realize it, we need to search for ourselves. We need to love, accept love, and graciously express it. We need to make this world, our people, and all that is in between a better place. We are not alone here. If in getting older you can be a better person, give more, be more, and achieve the impossible, you and each person you have influenced will continue. A small piece, a large piece, it does not matter, those pieces multiply.

I may be turning 50, but my mind is still good. My eyes still see, and I still feel things like for the first time. I have much to give, little I need, and advice that I need to share.

Thanks for reading! I shall see you on this side of the RAINBOW!

Michelle ❤

DIY Hanging Flower Tins or Cans

You will use actual tin coffee cans or vegetable cans

The first step is to punch holes in the bottom for drainage and drill the holes in the back for hanging. Use the hammer for the drain holes and a drill with a metal bit for the rope holes. Make sure you get it just big enough for the rope to go through, not too big.

Give ’em a few good coats of spray paint. However many you need until it looks good. Let them dry.

Put one of the rope through one of your rope holes and knot it. Then decide on your length and cut the other end accordingly. Knot that end through the other hole.

Voila! A hanging pot!

Crockpot Chili

https://www.thespruceeats.com/peggys-chili-with-ground-beef-and-beans-3055038

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef (browned and drained)
2 medium onions (coarsely chopped)
2 ribs celery (coarsely chopped)
1 green bell pepper (coarsely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
30 ounces red kidney beans (canned, drained)
3 to 4 ounces mushroom pieces (canned, drained)
15 ounces baked pork and beans with molasses (canned)
29 ounces tomatoes
6 ounces tomato paste
2 to 3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
Salt to taste

Steps to Make It

Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the grease.
At the same time, chop the onions, celery, and green bell pepper. Crush the garlic as well.
Add the cooked beef and vegetables to a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker.
Drain the kidney beans and mushrooms and add them to the slow cooker along with the (undrained) pork and beans.
Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and all of the seasonings.
Stir well until everything is thoroughly combined.
Cover and cook on low for 8 to 12 hours. To speed it up, cook on high for 4 to 6 hours.

Creative Ways to Use Leftover Chili

Too much chili? Chili is the ideal dish for leftovers, and it is just as appetizing on the second day as it was on the first. You can also ‘repurpose’ it into other dishes, so no one gets bored. Depending on the size of your family, you might even get two or three meals out of one slow cooker.

Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy a second helping for lunch the next day. You may even have enough to make tasty chili dogs for tomorrow night’s dinner. Also, consider serving the chili over a bed of freshly cooked spaghetti noodles, it’s a specialty of Cincinnati and surprisingly delicious.

Nocturnal hypoglycemia

By Meryl Krochmal, RD, CSP, CDE, CNSC · May 11, 2016

Thanks to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), it is now well recognized that intensive glycemic control can reduce the risk of diabetes complications. Despite this knowledge, one of the biggest barriers in reaching glycemic targets is the increased risk of hypoglycemia that comes with tighter blood glucose control.

Hypoglycemia is often reported to be one of the most feared complications of diabetes. With nocturnal hypoglycemia being especially worrisome for those who live alone or travel alone. It can also be concerning (not to mention disruptive) for a significant other that you share a bed with.

What is nocturnal hypoglycemia?

Nocturnal hypoglycemia is low blood sugar that occurs overnight while you are asleep. It is common to sleep through a low blood sugar when it occurs during sleep.

How common is nocturnal hypoglycemia?

According to a journal article from Medscape General Medicine:
- - During the DCCT 43 percent of all hypoglycemia episodes and 55 percent of severe [hypoglycemic] episodes reported occurred during sleep. Incidence rates vary from 12 to 56 percent, however, because 49 to 100 percent of episodes occur without symptoms the actual incidence may be much higher.¹

Why is nocturnal hypoglycemia concerning?

Nocturnal hypoglycemia can be especially dangerous because an individual is unlikely to recognize symptoms or wake up during an episode.
Undetected nocturnal hypoglycemia is a risk factor for hypoglycemia unawareness:
- Hypoglycemia unawareness is low blood glucose that occurs without symptoms, therefore, the person is unaware of the drop in their blood glucose, ultimately delaying treatment.
Nocturnal hypoglycemia may also result in physical injury, poor quality of life and possibly impairment in cognitive function.
Severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures and unconsciousness, requiring emergency care.

Why does low blood glucose go undetected at night?

When low blood glucose occurs counterregulatory hormones (such as glucagon and epinephrine) are released to raise blood glucose. The release of these hormones provides the initial symptoms (shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, etc.) that an individual may feel when their blood glucose is low. Such symptoms will likely trigger an individual to treat low blood glucose.
However, while asleep such symptoms/signals are suppressed and/or go unnoticed.
There is also evidence that the release of counterregulatory hormones is suppressed to some extent during sleep.

What increases the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia?

Any of the following medications may cause hypoglycemia (including nocturnal hypoglycemia):
- Insulin
- Sulfonylureas
  - (Diabeta, Micronase, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Amaryl, Glynase)
- Meglitinides
  - (Prandin, Starlix)
- Exercise (especially if exercise was longer or more intense than usual)
- Alcohol (especially if consumed before bed)
- Low blood glucose in the past 24 hours

Signs and symptoms of nocturnal hypoglycemia:

Vivid dreams or nightmares
Restless sleep
Morning headache
Night Sweats
Mood changes
Fatigue
Convulsions

Prevention of nocturnal hypoglycemia:

- Check your blood glucose before going to bed.
  - Discuss with your health care provider a safe blood glucose target for bedtime.
  - Many people feel comfortable if their blood glucose is at least 100 mg/dL before going to sleep.
- If your blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dL (discuss a blood glucose target for bedtime with your health care provider) eat at low to moderate glycemic index snack before going to bed
  - Whole wheat bread with peanut butter or whole grain crackers with a slice of cheese

If you were more active than usual, consumed alcohol in the evening, or had low blood glucose during the day, set an alarm to check your blood glucose at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. in the morning.
If you currently take the intermediate-acting insulin, NPH, speak with your health care provider about switching to long-acting insulin such as Lantus, Levemir, or Tresiba. Long-acting insulin has a flat action profile and does not have variable peaks (like NPH does) therefore the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia is reduced.
If you have a history of nocturnal hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia unawareness or have experienced severe low blood glucose, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) may be helpful.
- A CGM may also be beneficial if you live alone or travel alone as you can set an alarm for when your blood glucose drops below a set threshold (i.e. <70 mg/dL).

*Insurance coverage can be a challenge*

Treatment of nocturnal hypoglycemia:

If you are woken up by low blood glucose, first check your blood glucose to confirm it is low (<70 mg/dL).
Treat low blood glucose with quick acting carbs such as juice (4 ounces) or glucose tablets (3 to 4 tablets).
Retest blood glucose in 15 minutes. If blood glucose remains below 70 mg/dL, repeat the above treatment.
Once your blood glucose is above 70 mg/dL, if your typical breakfast time is still several hours away have a small snack that includes both a carb and a protein, such as a peanut butter crackers.
Make sure to discuss with your health care provider specifics on how he/she would like you to manage/treat nocturnal hypoglycemia.
If you take insulin to speak with your health care provider about getting a prescription for emergency Glucagon.

Continue reading Nocturnal hypoglycemia

Fascinating Photo

http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2015/03/photographer-captures-

amazing.html

Word of the Week

con·cin·ni·ty

Pronounced~[kənˈsinədē]

NOUN rare – the skillful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something. studied elegance of literary or artistic style.

ORIGIN mid 16th century: from Latin concinnitas, from concinnus ‘skillfully put together’.

Diabetic Information About Exercises

Fitness & Physical Activity

If you have type 2 diabetes, regular physical activity should be an integral part of your overall care plan. Not only will a program of regular physical activity improve glycemic control, it is a an important part of maintaining a healthy weight and reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) and other health complications for which people with diabetes are at high risk. Physical activity also has long list of other benefits. It is a great way to lift your mood and spirits, improve your outlook, and improve your sleep. If you join a regular exercise group (for example, a walking group or a movement class) you can make your physical activity a fun, social experience, as well.¹

What do studies tell us about the benefits of physical activity for people with diabetes?

The short-term and long-term benefits of physical activity for people with diabetes have been demonstrated in a variety of well-controlled studies.

Improved insulin sensitivity. In people with type 2 diabetes, one of the short-term benefits of physical activity is improved sensitivity to insulin. As a person exercises, muscles require glucose for energy. This has the effect of helping our bodies make better use of the insulin that we produce so that glucose can be made available to the muscle cells where it is needed.^1,2

With type 1 diabetes, where people make very little or no insulin and insulin injections are required, physical activity can have different effects on blood glucose. The effect will depend on how much insulin is present in the body at the time of physical activity and the timing of the most recent insulin injection^1,2

Improved glycemic control. A number of studies have shown the benefit of regular physical activity on glycemic control (blood glucose). An analysis of results from several studies measuring the effects of physical activity on people with type 2 diabetes found that a regular exercise program resulted in reductions in A1C values by 0.5% to 0.7% compared with a control group (a comparison group made up of people with type 2 diabetes who did not engage in exercise). ^1,2

Results from some studies suggest that an exercise program that combines both aerobic and resistance training (see below for examples of these types of exercise) may achieve the greatest benefits in terms of glycemic control. For instance, in one study conducted in 252 adults with type 2 diabetes, the combination of resistance (weight training) and aerobic (running, walking) training had a greater reduction in A1C (almost 1% point compared with a control group that did not engage in exercise) than either type of physical activity alone.³

Overall health benefits. In the Look AHEAD Study, a 4-year randomized, controlled trial conducted in 4,503 adults with type 2 diabetes who had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, an intensive program of lifestyle modification, including a program of regular physical activity, resulted in a range of health benefits, including an increased likelihood of remission of type 2 diabetes to prediabetes, improved blood glucose control, improvements in blood pressure, lipids, improvements in quality of life, improved mobility and reduced muscle and joint problems, and decreased risk for a range of diabetes-related complications (e.g., kidney disease, retinopathy).⁴
Although regular moderate physical activity alone is probably not sufficient for achieving and maintaining weight loss, as part of a comprehensive program of lifestyle modification, including healthy eating and calorie restriction, physical activity can be an important part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.^4,5

Other studies have also shown the significant benefits of physical activity in terms of cardiovascular health in people with type 2 diabetes. The Nurses’ Health Study, a large, health study conducted among nurses in the US, found that among 5,125 female participants with type 2 diabetes, those who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 4 hours per week decreased their risk of cardiovascular disease (including stroke and coronary heart disease) by 40%.6 In the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, a study conducted in 2,316 men with type 2 diabetes, risk of death from cardiovascular disease and other causes was 1.7 to 6.6 times higher among participants who were defined as low-fit compared with those who were high-fit.^7,8

Before you start an physical activity routine

There are many physical activity options for people with diabetes, including walking, cycling, swimming, rowing, and running. Your healthcare provider will determine whether it is necessary to do a pre-exercise examination, depending on the intensity of the physical activity your are planning to engage in and other factors, such as your age and existing health problems. For most people, with type 2 diabetes who want to engage in low-intensity physical activity, such as walking, no pre-exercise examination is necessary. However, if you are an older person not used to physical activity, you will benefit from an assessment.¹

Since physical activity affects blood glucose, you should get a sense of how your exercise routine affects your blood glucose by measuring levels before, during, and after your exercise routine. This will allow you to know how you will need to adjust your insulin dose (if you take insulin) or to develop a strategy for eating foods that will keep your blood glucose at a normal level during and after physical activity. Make sure to drink adequate amounts of liquids before, during, and after physical activity to avoid becoming dehydrated. In people with diabetes, dehydration can have a direct impact on blood glucose levels.⁹
Learn more about factors to consider before I start a training program.

Three basic types exercises you need
Type	Examples
Resistance Training	Weight training Yoga Resistance training
Endurance (aerobic) training	Running Swimming Cycling Walking
Flexibility Training	Yoga Stretching (passive and active) Pilates

What are my options for physical activity?

The list of activities that you can engage in to get exercise is almost limitless. From swimming and jogging to yoga and dancing, there is a form of physical activity that is fun and rewarding for every person.

Learn more about different types of exercise options:

There are three basic types of exercise: resistance training, endurance (aerobic) training, and flexibility (range of motion) training. Ideally, you should combine all three to get the full benefit of a total workout. You’ll find that certain activities are sources for some or all of the three types of exercise you need. For instance, yoga and Tai Chi can be used to increase or maintain both strength and range of motion. Some water aerobics programs are designed to provide aerobic and strength training at the same time.

However you mix these forms of physical activity, you should aim to get 150 minutes per week of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic training, spread out during at least 3 days per week, with no more than 2 consecutive days between training sessions.¹ Aerobic training of moderate intensity involves getting your heart rate up to 65% of its maximum.

Learn some pointers on how to start an aerobic training exercise routine

A good sign that your endurance training is vigorous enough is if you sweat and feel an increase in your heart rate and breathing. A good tip for how hard you should extend yourself is to find a pace at which you are slightly short of breath, but can still carry on a conversation. Determining your target heart rate is also a way to make sure that you are working hard enough, but not overdoing it. Check out the simple target heart rate calculator to find out what you should be aiming for during your workout.

Figuring out your target heart rate (HR)
Subtract your age from 220 for your maximum HR	220 – YOUR AGE (example: 50) = 170
Subtract your resting HR from your max HR	170 – RESTING HR (example: 70) = 100
Multiply the answer by 0.7 and 0.5	0.7 X 100 = 70 (70% of max reserve HR) 0.5 X 100 = 50 (50% of max reserve HR)
Add your resting HR to each of these numbers to get your target HR range	70 + 70 = 140 beats per minute 50 + 70 = 120 beats per minute
While you are exercising your heart rate should stay between 120 and 140 beats per minute

https://type2diabetes.com/fitness-and-exercise/

Continue reading Diabetic Information About Exercises

Poem

Never Free,

by MwsR<3
When you crossed my mind,

It is because you were in my heart.

I will never get to see or hear you, I am torn apart.

You and I were never given a chance

Like others are.

I can still imagine you, when I wish upon a star.

Sometimes I imagine we are so close,

Yet I’m so far from reaching my heart’s desire,

I hate being burned by this hopeless fire.

Why does it have to haunt me,

Haven’t I wished enough in one lifetime,

Haven’t I cared enough to make you mine.

My heart has been heavy like a stone because of my

Wanting to be in your life,

Instead, I was cut from you by life’s wicked knife.

For a second, I thought it would finally happen

I could actually see through this life’s forest, finally

I thought it would for sure come to be.

But it didn’t.

You will never be sharing life with me,

And I feel because of the “what if’s” I will never be free.

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Ingredients

Steps to Make It

Creative Ways to Use Leftover Chili

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What is nocturnal hypoglycemia?

How common is nocturnal hypoglycemia?

Why is nocturnal hypoglycemia concerning?

Why does low blood glucose go undetected at night?

What increases the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia?

Signs and symptoms of nocturnal hypoglycemia:

Prevention of nocturnal hypoglycemia:

Treatment of nocturnal hypoglycemia:

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con·cin·ni·ty

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Fitness & Physical Activity

What do studies tell us about the benefits of physical activity for people with diabetes?

Before you start an physical activity routine

Three basic types exercises you need

Type

Examples

What are my options for physical activity?

Figuring out your target heart rate (HR)

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