Open Talk Mom

Diabetes and Your Feet

Posted on29. Jul, 2010 by Mary Lutz.

Diabetics have to take special care of their feet, or they can become more susceptible to problems in two ways: reduced blood circulation and nerve damage.

Here’s what to look for and some prevention ideas.

If your feet are constantly cold, your legs are sore when you walk, or your feet hurt in bed at night, you may be suffering from poor blood circulation. This, in turn, can slow down the process of healing when you have cuts or other damage to your feet.

Staying physically active is one way to help improve your circulation. You also need to control your blood fat and sugar levels, as well as your blood pressure. Massage is an effective tool to incorporate in your daily foot check routine to ensure increased circulation, manage blood glucose levels and blood pressure.

And of course, don’t smoke. Smoking causes so many complications with many medications and most importantly circulation.  I am proof quitting cold turkey works when you are committed to it. I knew in my heart I would NOT allow smoking to kill me slowly anymore.

If your feet are numb, you have a burning sensation on the soles of your feet or pins and needles in your feet, you have signs of possible nerve damage.

Foot nerves are the longest in our bodies and are therefore susceptible to damage by diabetes. If these nerves are damaged, the feelings are lessened, so we could have the cuts or blisters that can lead to ulcers, and we wouldn’t even know about it.

Check your feet regularly to be sure there are no signs of injury. If you develop corns or calluses, have them treated immediately by a podiatrist. Wash and dry carefully between your toes, and keep your nails trimmed and smooth.

Everyone likes to have their feet pampered, but for us diabetics it not only feels good, it also prevents serious health problems in the future. So book that foot massage now!

Massage can become costly when it is not covered by insurance. As a solution, check out this FREE REPORT on the benefits of massage for diabetics.

Claim your Free Report: “The Benefits of Diabetes Massage” www.diabetesmassage.com

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Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Posted on29. Jul, 2010 by Mary Lutz.

I love slow cooker meals and I especially love easy slow cooker recipes. Here’s one that’s easy schmeezy for those busy days and only takes 5 minutes to prepare.

What you need:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 small onion finely diced (optional)
• 2 Tbsp. butter (optional)
• 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough

What you do:

1. Place chicken breasts, soup, onion and butter in slow cooker.
2. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours depending on the speed of your slow cooker. Mine cooks fast so 4 hours on high works for us.
3. About 30 minutes before cooking time is complete, tear biscuit dough into pieces and drop into slow cooker.

Notes:  I have several people who don’t like onions so I leave them out, and it’s just as good. Also, you can leave the butter out if you prefer. Season to taste as desired, and you can also add some frozen mixed veggies for added color and taste.

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How to Have Beautiful Winter Lips

Posted on23. Dec, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

It’s one of the major pet peeves during the winter months. Nearly everyone’s lips are dry, chapped, and sore. There is a way to keep your lips beautiful in winter time.

If your lips are chapped and sore during the winter, you may have noticed dead skin which is unsightly. Removing the skin gently is one trick to helping your lips begin to look better. How do you do that?

Run a clean, soft bristle toothbrush under warm water. Gently brush your lips to remove the dead skin. A child’s toothbrush may be the best choice since they’re designed for tender gums. Then apply lip balm and allow it to penetrate into the lip. Using a lip balm with a sunscreen will give extra protection from the sun as well as from the wind.

Avoid licking your lips. Winter air is drying to skin and lips, so its important lips get their moisture through a lip balm rather than your tongue. Licking your lips actually makes your lips drier, because the saliva from your tongue evaporates and draws the natural moisture from your lips away. So, even though it’s often an unconscious habit, try to keep your tongue in your mouth.

Some people, when they get dried and cracked lips, will bite their lips in an attempt to remove the dried skin. They may also bite their lips while in thought. Like with licking your lip, biting is a no-no – particularly in the winter. If it’s a habit, do your best to break it. Applying lip balm more often may not help you break the habit, but at least your lips will be protected between bites.

Other habits you might want to give up for the sake of your lips are smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking will dry out your lips, cause wrinkles around the lips and mouth, and thin the skin on the lips due to the chemicals in the cigarettes. Alcohol is also bad for your lips as it will dehydrate the body which normally shows in the lips first. If you’re looking for a reason to quit either of these habits, maybe having beautiful lips will be enough of a reason.

Be sure to drink plenty of water during the winter. The dry air, both inside and outside, can dehydrate you quickly. If your body is hydrated, your lips are less likely to suffer. Eating healthy meals and snacks will also go a long way to keeping your lips healthy during the winter season.

You can keep your lips beautiful in winter time if you’re willing to take care of them. Follow these secrets to help your lips remain hydrated and healthy this year rather than dry and chapped.

photo credit: Rupert Taylor-Price

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/4159721353_4009792a92_m.jpg

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