Goodbye 2012, Welcome 2013

Thoughts of wisdom for Melanie as written by her alter ego. 

A short background of 2012
The year 2012 for you and your family has been a roller coaster ride, if I may call it. Job challenges, financial difficulties, debts, health issues and the most tragic part the death of your beloved mother.

Fear of loved ones death
I wouldn't elucidate on the tragic part so much as this stage in your life also makes me vulnerable. Maybe when you completely get over this, you can write another article to inspire and touch other people's lives by your experience.

Depression
Your heart is crying quietly and you are teary-eyed every time your mother's last days knocks on your thought. I would imagine how miserable your heart is when it stays in your mind. I think it is called depression. You need to learn to get out of it and accept. Otherwise, you will make people around you also feel miserable. Remember they also need you.

Acceptance
After the storm the sun will shine again, it's the cycle of life. You cannot put all your might in fighting this temporary thing, you can only accept, learn from it, move on, invest on what matters most and prepare for the afterlife which is eternal. Otherwise if you do, you will only use up all your power and still end up a loser. You need to realize that life is full of tests, and this challenge is just one of them. Overcome this stage and be a victor.

Friendships
Be strong. You are not alone. We are here. We love you. We are here to support you. God is Good. Keep the faith. These are some words from friends and loved ones to cherish. Not only that it helps you get a sense of life, but most of all it says you are not alone. Cherish life and treasure friends & loved ones.

Discoveries
You see? Every painful events in your life makes you stronger. This is also the time where you feel most comforted by your friends and loved ones.They are gifts from God to you.

Gratitude
Community makes all the difference and you have filled my heart with more purpose than you know. Thank you for all your support, creativity, ideas and for making connections. 

Compass for 2013
I know you like to help, inspire and touch other peoples lives specially those who needs the most. Think of Hope, Passion, Love, Prayers, Life, Faith, Gratitude and Breaking Passivity as your compass for 2013. 

With that in my heart, I wish you, your family, your loved ones and friends all the best for 2013.

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Pre-diabetes Prevention

Lifestyle interventions to prevent Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)

Recent studies of patients with IGT have shown success for lifestyle interventions in delaying or preventing the development of diabetes. There is strong evidence that a structured program of diet and exercise can reduce the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes in patients with IGT. Patients with IFG and IGT should be advised on the benefits of modest weight loss, good dietary habits, and regular physical activity.

Lifestyle interventions (Table 1) can be difficult to implement because it is impractical for the usual family practice systems to provide intensive dietary and exercise interventions similar to those used in clinical trials. However, lifestyle interventions are highly effective and superior to drug therapy, and should be the first choice in treating patients with IGT or IFG.

Although pharmacologic agents have been shown to be successful in preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes, whether these agents can prevent complications of diabetes or protect against cardiovascular disease remains unknown. Routine use of pharmacologic agents as a substitute for lifestyle modification should be discouraged until more studies have been conducted and the cost-effectiveness of drug therapy has been assessed. A healthier lifestyle can modify other risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Drug therapy can be considered when aggressive lifestyle interventions are unsuccessful.

TABLE 1
Recommended Lifestyle Changes

---

Daily calories
	Fat: <25 to 30 percent
	Saturated fat: <10 percent
	Carbohydrates: 50 to 60 percent
	Protein: 15 to 20 percent
Daily fiber intake: >15 g for every 1,000 calories consumed
Foods: salad, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, legumes,    lean meat; minimal intake of refined sugars
Exercise*: moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking or biking,     for 150 minutes per week
Weight loss goal*: 5 to 7 percent of body weight
Counseling by professionals on weight reduction and exercise with regular follow-up     and reinforcement

---

*—The literature varies as to specific recommendations for weight loss and exercise.

Sources: www.aafp.org, www.wikipedia.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Understanding insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps the body use glucose for energy. Glucose is a form of sugar that is the body's main source of energy.

The body's digestive system breaks food down into glucose, which then travels in the bloodstream to cells throughout the body. Glucose in the blood is called blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. As the blood glucose level rises after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin to help cells take in and use the glucose.

When people are insulin resistant, their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin. As a result, their bodies need more insulin to help glucose enter cells. The pancreas tries to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. Eventually, the pancreas fails to keep up with the body's need for insulin. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, setting the stage for diabetes. Many people with insulin resistance have high levels of both glucose and insulin circulating in their blood at the same time.

Insulin resistance increases the chance of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Learning about insulin resistance is the first step toward making lifestyle changes that can help prevent diabetes and other health problems.

4.10 minutes video explanation on insulin glucose and you

source: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov, www.youtube.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Pre-diabetes - Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)

Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a pre-diabetic state of hyperglycemia that is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology. IGT may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years. IGT is also a risk factor for mortality. IGT is defined as two-hour glucose levels of 140 to 199 mg per dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol) on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.

The risk of progression to diabetes and development of cardiovascular disease is greater than for impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

Although some drugs can delay the onset of diabetes, lifestyle modifications play a greater role in the prevention of diabetes. Patients identified as having an IGT should exercise regularly, lose 5 to 7 percent of body weight, and limit intake of  sugar and highly processed carbohydrates.



8.31 minutes video explanation on Impaired Glucose Tolerance


Sources: www.aafp.org, www.wikipedia.com, www.youtube.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Pre-Diabetes - Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG)

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG), more commonly known as pre-diabetes, is defined as glucose levels of 100 to 125 mg per dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol per L) in fasting patients.

Impaired fasting glucose occurs when blood glucose levels in the body are elevated during periods of fasting, but not enough to prompt a diagnosis of diabetes.This pre-diabetic state is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology, although of lesser risk than impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

IFG can progress to type 2 diabetes mellitus if lifestyle changes are not made. There is a 50% risk over 10 years of progressing to overt diabetes. A recent study cited the average time for progression as less than three years.

Fasting blood glucose levels are in a continuum within a given population, with higher fasting glucose levels corresponding to a higher risk for complications caused by the high glucose levels. Some patients with impaired fasting glucose can also be diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance, but many have normal responses to a glucose tolerance test.


5.50 minutes video explanation on knowing your fasting glucose level by Dr. Meschino


Sources: www.aafp.org, www.wikipedia.com, www.youtube.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes can harm your eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, the back part of your eye. This is called diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors 
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition.

There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy:
- Nonproliferative develops first
- Proliferative is more advanced and severe

The chance of getting retinopathy and having a more severe form is greater when:
- You have had diabetes for a long time
- Your diabetes has been poorly controlled

Other problems that may develop are:
- Cataracts -- cloudiness of the eye lens
- Glaucoma -- increased pressure in the eye that can lead to blindness
- Macular edema -- blurry vision due to fluid leaking into the area of the retina that provides sharp central vision
- Retinal detachment -- scarring that may cause part of the retina to pull away from the back of your eyeball

Symptoms 
Most often, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Blurred vision and slow vision loss over time
- Floaters
- Shadows or missing areas of vision
- Trouble seeing at night

Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms before major bleeding occurs in the eye. This is why everyone with diabetes should have regular eye exams.


6.40 minutes video explanation on understanding diabetic retinopathy

Sources: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.youtube.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is kidney disease or damage that can occur in people with diabetes. It is also known as Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome, or nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis and intercapillary glomerulonephritis.



Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Each kidney is made of hundreds of thousands of small units called nephrons. These structures filter your blood and help remove waste from your body.

In people with diabetes, the nephrons thicken and slowly become scarred over time.
    - The kidneys begin to leak and protein (albumin) passes into the urine.
    - This damage can happen years before any symptoms begin.
    - The exact cause is unknown. However, kidney damage is more likely if there is poor control of diabetes and high blood pressure.

In some cases, your family history may also play a role. Not everyone with diabetes develops this kidney problem.

People with diabetes who smoke, and those with type 1 diabetes that started before age 20 have a higher risk for kidney problems.

People of African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian origin are also more likely to have kidney damage.

Symptoms
Often, there are no symptoms as the kidney damage starts and slowly gets worse. Kidney damage can begin 5 to 10 years before symptoms start.

People who have more severe and long-term (chronic) kidney disease may have symptoms such as:
    - Fatigue most of the time
    - General ill feeling
    - Headache
    - Nausea and vomiting
    - Poor appetite
    - Swelling of the legs

Sources:  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.wikipedia.com, www.youtube.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is damage to nerves in the body that occurs due to high blood sugar levels from diabetes. About half of people with diabetes will develop nerve damage. Most of the time symptoms do not begin until 10 to 20 years after diabetes has been diagnosed.

Nerve injuries may affect:
Nerves in the skull (cranial nerves)
Nerves from the spinal column and their branches
Nerves that help your body manage vital organs,
    such as the heart, bladder, stomach, and intestines (called autonomic neuropathy)

Symptoms often develop slowly over several years. Which symptoms you have depend on the nerves that are affected.

People with diabetes may have trouble digesting food. This can make your diabetes harder to control.

Symptoms of digestion problems include:
- Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food Heartburn and bloating
- Nausea, constipation, or diarrhea
- Swallowing problems
- Throwing up food a few hours after a meal

Tingling or burning in the arms and legs may be an early sign of nerve damage. These feelings often start in your toes and feet. You may have deep pain, often in the feet and legs. Nerve damage may cause you to lose feeling in your arms and legs. Because of this you may:
- Not notice when you step on something sharp
- Not know that you have a blister or small cut
- Not notice when you touch something that is too hot or cold

Damage to nerves in your heart and blood vessels may cause you to:
- Feel light-headed when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension)
- Have a fast heart rate
- Not notice angina, the chest pain that warns of heart disease and heart attack

Other symptoms of nerve damage are:
- Sexual problems.
   Men may have problems with erections. Women may have trouble with vaginal dryness or orgasm.
- Not being able to tell when your blood sugar gets too low
- Bladder problems. You may leak urine and may not be able to tell when your bladder is full.
   Some people  are not able to empty their bladder.
- Sweating too much -- when the temperature is cool, when you are at rest, or at other unusual times.

Sources: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.endotext.org

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetes Complications

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are chronic, life-long conditions that require careful monitoring and control. Without proper management they can lead to very high blood sugar levels which can result in long term damage to various organs and tissues.

Cardiovascular disease: affects the heart and blood vessels and may cause fatal complications such as coronary heart disease (leading to heart attack) and stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in people with diabetes, accounting in most populations for 50% or more of all diabetes fatalities, and much disability.

Kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy): can result in total kidney failure and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant. Diabetes is an increasingly important cause of renal failure, and indeed has now become the single most common cause of end stage renal disease, i.e. that which requires either dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Nerve disease (diabetic neuropathy): can ultimately lead to ulceration and amputation of the toes, feet and lower limbs. Loss of feeling is a particular risk because it can allow foot injuries to escape notice and treatment, leading to major infections and amputation.

Eye disease (diabetic retinopathy): characterised by damage to the retina of the eye which can lead to vision loss.

Women with gestational diabetes may have children who are large for their gestational age.

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetes Management

Today, there is no cure for diabetes, but effective treatment exists.  If you have access to the appropriate medication, quality of care and good medical advice, you should be able to lead an active and healthy life and reduce the risk of developing complications.

Good diabetes control means keeping your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. This can be achieved by a combination of the following:

Physical Activity: a goal of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day (e.g. brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing) on most days of the week.

Body weight: weight loss improves insulin resistance, blood glucose and high lipid levels in the short term, and reduces blood pressure. It is important to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Healthy Eating: avoiding foods high in sugars and saturated fats, limit alcohol consumption, processed foods, instant, ready-to-eat food items with added chemicals to increase shelf life, carbonated drinks, food items from refined flour, candy and microwaved foods. Eat more of nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, hazelnut, pecan), berries and fruits (strawberries, apples, peach, pears, apricots, blueberries, green and black grapes), green leafy vegetables or salads (spinach, broccoli, beans, roots and tubers), fish (cod, halibut, salmon), whole wheat and water.

Avoid tobacco: tobacco use is associated with more complications in people with diabetes.

Monitoring for complications: monitoring and early detection of complications is an essential part of good diabetes care. This includes regular foot and eye checks, controlling blood pressure and blood glucose, and assessing risks for cardiovascular and kidney disease.

1.29 minutes Diabetes animation

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetes Prevention

At present, type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. The environmental triggers that are thought to generate the process that results in the destruction of the body’s insulin-producing cells are still under investigation. Type 2 diabetes, however, can be prevented in many cases by maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active. Studies in China, Finland and the United States have confirmed this.

IDF (International Diabetes Federation) recommends that all people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes be identified through opportunistic self-screening. People at high risk can be easily identified through a simple questionnaire to assess risk factors such as age, waist circumference, family history, cardiovascular history and gestational history.

Once identified, people at high risk of diabetes should have their plasma glucose levels measured by a health professional to detect Impaired Fasting Glucose or Impaired Glucose Tolerance, both of which indicate an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Prevention efforts should target those at risk in order to delay or avoid the onset of type 2 diabetes.

There is substantial evidence that achieving a healthy body weight and moderate physical activity can help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. In primary prevention there is an important role for the diabetes educator to help people understand the risks and set realistic goals to improve health.

IDF recommends a goal of at least 30 minutes of daily exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, cycling or dancing. Regular walking for at least 30 minutes per day, for example, has been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 35-40%.

Here's a video debate on what's the healthiest diet. It's quite confusing, but just a friendly reminder that a healthy diet combined with physical exercise of 30 minutes per day would help prevent the onset of diabetes.


Video Source : youtube.com

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetes Warning Signs

Individuals can experience different warning signs, there may be no obvious warning, but some of the signs commonly experienced are:

A tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet
Blurred vision
Weight loss
Tiredness
Lack of interest and concentration
Frequent urination (polyuria)
Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
Increased hunger (polyphagia)
Vomiting and stomach pain
Frequent infections
Slow-healing wounds

If you feel these warning signs, specially if you are in your 40's, it might help if you consult a doctor and check your blood glucose level, remember prevention is better than cure.

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people get started on their online journey. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which a person has high blood glucose, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

There are types of diabetes.

1.) Type 1 results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes".

2.) Type 2 results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 90% of all cases of diabetes.Several risk factors have been associated with type 2 diabetes and include; obesity, diet and physical inactivity, increasing age, insulin resistance, family history of diabetes and ethnicity.

See this 1.24 minutes video explanation on active fat causing type 2 diabetes

2.29 minutes video explanation on how type 2 diabetes develops

3.) Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.

4.) Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition is sometimes called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test used to diagnose it.


People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes.

Studies have shown that most people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight—about 10 to 15 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds—by making changes in their diet and level of physical activity. People with prediabetes also are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Diabetes Symptoms and Cure

I am researching for the types of diabetes, its symptoms and cure as I wage war to this debilitating disease that took the life of my beloved mother at the age of sixty three, after 18 years of battling diabetes. According to my Doctor I am pre-diabetic. Blurred vision and tingling hands are some symptoms I feel, plus I have elevated blood sugar and cholesterol level based on the blood exam I recently had. Hopefully the gift of knowledge will be able to help me fight this disease, so help me God.

Together with exercise, it seems the best thing to do to reverse the underlying cause of diabetes is to eat whole food plant-based diet and avoid foods that contains animal fats (i.e butter, cheese, cow’s milk, meat and  poultry) as recommended by Dr John McDougall. Pills provide temporary answers that may bring major dangers, like heart attack, kidney failure and others.

This video by Dr. John McDougall runs 1hr 21 minutes, watching this is a good investment of time that could help reverse the cause of diabetes and drop the level in cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid and blood pressure.  

Video Source : www.diabetes-symptoms-magic.com, www.youtube.com

For more researched articles to understanding diabetes, see topic links below:
Types of diabetes
Diabetes warning signs
Diabetes prevention
Diabetes management 
Diabetes complications
Understanding insulin resistance
Pre-diabetes: Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG)
Pre-diabetes: Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Nephropathy
Pre-diabetes prevention

Prevention is better than cure. God bless and best of health to you!

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people be healthy. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Pinoy Culture in an Artwork by Rhayxielle

This is in support and to motivate a young artist, Rhayxielle, who invested considerable time in doing the below artwork for our enjoyment. Keep going and continue what you love to do Rhayxielle!

The drawing below was meticulously hand-drawn and then scanned, while exhibiting feat of discipline, patience and perseverance to create the final piece of art showcasing Filipino Culture - Bayanihan, Palosebo, Luksong tinik, Fiesta, Pagmamano and the Sarao Jeepney. Just one sample of her artwork that I love. 

She maybe able to help you with your drawing project. Just in case, you may send her a private message in Facebook  http://facebook.com/rhayxielle .

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people get started on their online journey. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.

Thank You Manny Viloria!

As a member of the SWA Ultimate community, I would like to thank Manny Viloria for his ongoing effort to provide answers, insights and advise to SWA and non-SWA members through his blogs and websites that is particularly helpful to keep the community informed ; about what’s going on with WU payout request, Anti-cybercrime Law, Is SWA a scam, How to embed video in your blog, and many more.

I’ve known Manny since 2008, when I joined an online mentoring club. In that community of bloggers, I remember he was the first person who answered my question about an online payment system and provided information on some other questions I had back then.

Then in 2012, when I learned about SWA, I researched about it and a blog post by Manny Viloria came in first from Google. I contacted him if I could join SWA thru him, but he declined and informed me about the SWA Culture – wherein you join SWA thru the first person who introduced you to it. From that conversation, I reckon, this is a person with integrity and really loves to help people without asking for anything in return.

A picture of him in left, see the close resemblance with Ivan Mayrina of GMA Network?  :)

The above post is brought to you by Melanie Santiago, who enjoys helping people get started on their online journey. Click here to get to know Melanie Santiago better.