So I'm rushing around this morning trying to get out the door and start yet another glorious day.
I'm already to leave and do a quick once over to see if I have everything I need for the day. Keys? Check. Computer? Check. Phone? Check. Blood sugar machine; test strips, spare batteries, extra infusion set and a few Lara Bars just in case? Check. Great, I'm good to go.
Then, the Fashionista in me realizes that I'm only wearing one earring and I rush to the bathroom to retrieve it's mate left alone on the sink. I dash past the door (at lightning speed might I add) and BAM, MY PUMP TUBING GETS CAUGHT ON THE DOOR KNOB! OOOOUCH, it hurts like hell and my body is literally yanked back to the door frame from which it has entered.
AT THIS POINT I KNOW SEVERAL THINGS:
1. Once again I'm reminded that rushing never makes things move faster
2. My pump site REALLY HURTS
3. My infusion set must be changed before I leave the house
Ironically, I don't think about how this is putting a serious kink to the start of my day.
No, instead I'm thinking "damn I wish the cameras were rolling, I totally would have won the $10,000 on Americas Funniest Home Videos." I'll admit it people , this has happened to me before, and it's happened in front of others. Obviously, I haven't learned from this particular mistake - but on the bright side, I've been told it's quite funny to watch. Since I have this constant need to make people laugh, It's a big hit at parties.
I just have to smile and untangle my tubing, grab my earring, and get an extra infusion set from the stash I keep under the sink. It takes less than 30 seconds to replace it and I'm ready to leave for the day.
Diabetes or not, it's always something and you just gotta laugh!
Trying To Maintain And Occasionally Refrain, & Not Go Completely Batshit!
The holidays aren't about the food as much as their about spending time with friends and family, but the food certainly comes into play - BIG TIME.
So this holiday season I'm trying to "maintain" and occasionally "refrain," and still enjoy all the tastes of the season.
And I have to say, by not denying myself, I'm able (for the most part) to not go completely bat shit with the carb overloading! At least.... for now.
Granted, the Christmas party on Saturday was a bit of challenge, what with the Roasted pig (porky was 5 feet long from head to tail); shrimp cocktail, veggie crudites, a tray of Italian lunch meats that was off the hook, cheeses & homemade antipasto, fresh baked rolls, lasagna, broccoli rabe,etc . And did I mention the trays of Italian Christmas cookies, brownie cake, and an Italian cheesecake that was at least a foot thick? Yeah, it was a totally insane spread!
The party had the potential to be a recipe for disaster, both gastrointestinally and blood sugar wise.
But I refrained from the rolls and the pasta, and the chips, and paced myself with the food/portions, and honestly, with such a crazy spread, diabetes or not, pacing yourself was critical! But the real key to keeping keeping the gluttony to a minimum, is to make sure catching up with friends & meeting new ones is kept up to a maximum!
And by focusing on the people and not the ginormous spread, I was able to thoroughly enjoyed the pork and cheese, veggie crudites, broccoli rabe, shrimp, & antipasto and avoid the feeling of feeling like my stomach was about to explode! I was also able to indulge in more than my share of cookies, and maintain my blood sugar all evening - I didn't go above 168.
Diabetesalicious minds want to know: How do you keep yourself from going batshit crazy during the holidays, and still feel like your not completely denying yourself the flavors & deliciousness of the holiday season?
And what are your absolute favorite holiday meals/treats to indulge in?
So this holiday season I'm trying to "maintain" and occasionally "refrain," and still enjoy all the tastes of the season.
And I have to say, by not denying myself, I'm able (for the most part) to not go completely bat shit with the carb overloading! At least.... for now.
Granted, the Christmas party on Saturday was a bit of challenge, what with the Roasted pig (porky was 5 feet long from head to tail); shrimp cocktail, veggie crudites, a tray of Italian lunch meats that was off the hook, cheeses & homemade antipasto, fresh baked rolls, lasagna, broccoli rabe,etc . And did I mention the trays of Italian Christmas cookies, brownie cake, and an Italian cheesecake that was at least a foot thick? Yeah, it was a totally insane spread!
The party had the potential to be a recipe for disaster, both gastrointestinally and blood sugar wise.
But I refrained from the rolls and the pasta, and the chips, and paced myself with the food/portions, and honestly, with such a crazy spread, diabetes or not, pacing yourself was critical! But the real key to keeping keeping the gluttony to a minimum, is to make sure catching up with friends & meeting new ones is kept up to a maximum!
And by focusing on the people and not the ginormous spread, I was able to thoroughly enjoyed the pork and cheese, veggie crudites, broccoli rabe, shrimp, & antipasto and avoid the feeling of feeling like my stomach was about to explode! I was also able to indulge in more than my share of cookies, and maintain my blood sugar all evening - I didn't go above 168.
Diabetesalicious minds want to know: How do you keep yourself from going batshit crazy during the holidays, and still feel like your not completely denying yourself the flavors & deliciousness of the holiday season?
And what are your absolute favorite holiday meals/treats to indulge in?
GMO Food - for our nutrition? Or their profit?
There is probably nothing sacred in this world that Big Corps, like Monsanto, will not jeopardise - if, of course, they think they can make enough profit from it!
Our food, and its production, is certainly a case in point. Added to the herbicides and pesticides that have become part of our non-organic food supply for over 50 years now, GM food is the latest threat.
GMO's, of course, are crops that can be sprayed with even larger amounts of pesticides - so they are considered to be 'good' - not only for the sellers of seed, but for the chemical industry too!
This blog looks at the evidence for GMOs, and why they are so dangerous for our health, and why we should be actively avoiding them. First, though, ask yourself a question.
Our food, and its production, is certainly a case in point. Added to the herbicides and pesticides that have become part of our non-organic food supply for over 50 years now, GM food is the latest threat.
GMO's, of course, are crops that can be sprayed with even larger amounts of pesticides - so they are considered to be 'good' - not only for the sellers of seed, but for the chemical industry too!
But are they good for our health?
This blog looks at the evidence for GMOs, and why they are so dangerous for our health, and why we should be actively avoiding them. First, though, ask yourself a question.
Have you asked for GMO-based food? Did you have a problem with non-GMO food?
This Mercola article lists 4 reasons why Monsanto threatens both the environment, and public health.
1. GM crops are linked with organ failure, and other biological dangers (see below)
2. The spawning of new superbugs
3. The Monsanto herbicide, Roundup, is creating superweeds and these are currently infesting millions of acres of land. (Click here for more on this subject here).
4. Monsanto is involved in producing Aspartame (see my recent blog on artificial sweeteners).
This powerful article argues, indeed it states, that Monsanto is 'secretly' poisoning us with crops that can withstand their herbicide, Roundup. It describes how this herbicide has caused birth defects for over 30 years, goes over evidence of 'horrific reproductive disorders' caused in tests with Roundup, and how regulatory agencies have failed in their duty to protect us.
Some countries have banned GMO's already - countries which, unlike us, are not beholden to Big Corp and their industrial and commercial success. This article covers the banning of GM crops in Peru. In doing so, Peru joins countries like Austria and Hungary.
The Mercola article demonstrates just why it is difficult to get our governments to act on GMOs. There is a massive, and extraordinarily expensive GMO campaign by the Bio-Tech industry that is targetting the US Congress. It says that $572 million has been spent - in an effort to 'ease' the regulatory controls on GM crops.
The same kind of pressure is being applied in Europe. This article looks at the battle one farmer is having with Monsanto, a battle that demonstrates the power of Big Corp, and their determination to get their own way, not matter who they have to harm.
So what price the health of consumers? When compared with the profits of Big Corp, the value placed on our health appears not to be an issue. GMOs are already finding their way into our baby food, according to this article.
There are an increasing number of studies are beginning to raise questions about the health impact of GMO crops. This article, for instance, links GMOs to organ failure.
And this Mercola interview with Dr Huber links GMO crops with the destruction of our gut flora. Perhaps GMOs are going to rival antibiotics in doing this!
Certainly, we, as consumers, have a part to play in resisting this. This article looks at the importance of continuing to say 'no' to GMO's. It lists the organisations helping us to do so in USA. What this means is that there has to be political battles to ensure that foods made from GMOs are properly labelled, so that we know what we are eating, and can avoid them. It also highlights the power that corporations like Monsanto have - when this comment is made in the article:
"It's no use pretending we have a representative government when we are faced with a corporate plutocracy that owns the government".
The farming fraternity, certainly the more traditional amongst them, is not happy with GMO crops. Farming practices used throughout the centuries are being overturned. And in this video, Mercola discusses why GMO crops are destroying our food system, even though they are not living up to the promises that preceded there introduction.
GM plants are certainly a threat to organic farming. This article suggests that organic farmers in the USA are now fighting back to protect their interests from Monsanto, with 270,000 of them prosecuting the company. Of course, organic farming is of little commercial value to companies like Monsanto.
Yet another good reason to buy organic food whenever possible!
Sports Injury and Homeopathy
Practical experience confirms that homeopathy can provide successful treatment for sports injuries. It has been my experience; the experience of large numbers of sports-people. And it is being used increasingly by professional sports organisations.
Uta Mittelstadt has done a theses on the subject at the University of Central Lancashire, and she has published this on the internet, at
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/the-homeopathic-treatment-of-sports-injuries/comment-page-1/#comment-5048
This is her conclusion.
"The controversy remains. The nonpareil cannot be measured using clinical studies, but experience in practice confirms with successful treatments what studies and trials have largely not verified. Professional athletes are setting the example. They seek a holistic treatment which swiftly and gently treats their injuries and enhances their performance. It stands without question that the physique is influenced by the psyche and often “the difference between winning and losing is the champion´s mental clarity and emotional resilience”. With homeopathy there is a tool that sees this connection and takes into account the patients individual holistic constitution. “Mens sana in corpora sano – a healthy spirit rests in a healthy body” and vice versa!
It is an interesting conclusion because it highlight the problem some people have with homeopathy; that it is not 'proven' by clinical studies. Yet as sports people will tell you, and what every patient should remind themselves about, it that getting better is what is important, not 'clinical studies' that prove that it will get you better.
If clinical studies do not confirm that homeopathy work with sports injuries, when people who use homeopathy can vouch for its efficacy, this is a problem for clinical studies - not homeopathy!
Uta Mittelstadt has done a theses on the subject at the University of Central Lancashire, and she has published this on the internet, at
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/the-homeopathic-treatment-of-sports-injuries/comment-page-1/#comment-5048
This is her conclusion.
"The controversy remains. The nonpareil cannot be measured using clinical studies, but experience in practice confirms with successful treatments what studies and trials have largely not verified. Professional athletes are setting the example. They seek a holistic treatment which swiftly and gently treats their injuries and enhances their performance. It stands without question that the physique is influenced by the psyche and often “the difference between winning and losing is the champion´s mental clarity and emotional resilience”. With homeopathy there is a tool that sees this connection and takes into account the patients individual holistic constitution. “Mens sana in corpora sano – a healthy spirit rests in a healthy body” and vice versa!
It is an interesting conclusion because it highlight the problem some people have with homeopathy; that it is not 'proven' by clinical studies. Yet as sports people will tell you, and what every patient should remind themselves about, it that getting better is what is important, not 'clinical studies' that prove that it will get you better.
If clinical studies do not confirm that homeopathy work with sports injuries, when people who use homeopathy can vouch for its efficacy, this is a problem for clinical studies - not homeopathy!
The earth was still round, and revolved around the sun,
long before 'science' proved that this was so!
Anyone involved in sporting activity, who wants to minimise the time they spend recuperating from injury, should certainly consult with a homeopath. Homoepathy works. Science will have to catch up on that fact, sooner or later - and undoubtedly will.
HPV Vaccinations are unnecessary and harmful
Vaccinations are boom business for Big Pharma - but dangerous for patients. ConMed wants all young girls to be given the HPV vaccine - Cerverix in the UK, Gardasil in many other countries. And it has proven to be a disaster to many of them. But, of course, a well-hidden secret - the mainstream media just don't seem interested in telling you about it. Well, the internet will!
Natural Health have recently published a good outline of what is happening, certainly in the USA - but it is not much different in the UK.
http://www.naturalnews.com/030782_HPV_vaccinations_side_effects.html
It quotes Dr Diane Harpar, who helped develop Gardasil, as saying:
"Gardasil is largely unnecessary, and it has never been fully tested on females under the age of 15 ... [there`s] little need for the vaccine".
But governments, national health services, doctors, and Big Pharma are not easily deterred. Not only do they want all women aged 9 to 25 to take it, they now want men to take it too. Well, why should they deny themselves the profitability of men having it too! And perhaps they will argue they are being 'politically correct'!
And several US states are considering making the vaccine compulsory. Now, that would boast profits, and no doubt Big Pharma would want to contribute generously to the states (or perhaps just the leaders of the states) involved in such enforcement! It won't do much for patient health, though.
There is now so much evidence of the dangers of this vaccine, outlined in the Natural Health article, that the advice should be clear - don't allow ConMed to persuade you to vaccinate you daughters (or your sons) - keep them safe instead!
Natural Health have recently published a good outline of what is happening, certainly in the USA - but it is not much different in the UK.
http://www.naturalnews.com/030782_HPV_vaccinations_side_effects.html
It quotes Dr Diane Harpar, who helped develop Gardasil, as saying:
"Gardasil is largely unnecessary, and it has never been fully tested on females under the age of 15 ... [there`s] little need for the vaccine".
But governments, national health services, doctors, and Big Pharma are not easily deterred. Not only do they want all women aged 9 to 25 to take it, they now want men to take it too. Well, why should they deny themselves the profitability of men having it too! And perhaps they will argue they are being 'politically correct'!
And several US states are considering making the vaccine compulsory. Now, that would boast profits, and no doubt Big Pharma would want to contribute generously to the states (or perhaps just the leaders of the states) involved in such enforcement! It won't do much for patient health, though.
There is now so much evidence of the dangers of this vaccine, outlined in the Natural Health article, that the advice should be clear - don't allow ConMed to persuade you to vaccinate you daughters (or your sons) - keep them safe instead!
Mouth Ulcers and Homeopathy
Recurrent mouth ulcers can be painful, troublesome, and sometimes much worse. The advice here is to use homeopathy - which can treat the condition effectively, safely and inexpensively
Dr Shreya's Health and Homeopathic Blog: How to get rid of recurrent mouth ulcers? (Aphthou...: "Painful eating is the presenting symptom usually when a person gets ulcers in the mouth. This apparently casual condition can be extre..."
Dr Shreya lists several remedies, and then suggests that a homeopath should be seen. But if you want to try a couple of remedies first (available at good chemists, such as Boots, and at health food stores, like Holland and Barratt) these are perhaps the first one's to try.
Arsenicum Album - for ulcers that burn
Merc Sol - for ulcers that sting, and are yellowish in colour
The good thing about homeopathy is that it will do no harm; so you can try remedies just to see if they work. If they don't, or if they don't get rid of the problem for long, then you will need to see a homeopath for more careful matching of your mouth ulcers with a remedy.
PMS, PMT and Homeopathy
ConMed doctors often fob women off when they suffer from pre-menstrual syndrome (or tension), mainly because they have little to offer by way of treatment.
Homeopathy does provide effective treatment, which has the additional benefit of being entirely safe, and inexpensive. But your GP, and the NHS will probably not tell you about it.
So Robert Medhurst's recent e-article might be a useful read for anyone suffering from this condition. But every woman with PMS, PMT has different symptoms, so in homeopathy there is no single remedy, no magic bullet. A remedy has to be chosen carefully to match individual symptoms.
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/can-homoeopathy-help-with-pms/
Robert's article describes the symptoms of 12 of the major remedies homeopaths use for women who suffer from PMS, PMT. So have a read, and if one matches, try the remedy. It will be safer than HRT, or anything else ConMed has to offer.
If you find that it works, but does not completely deal with the condition, seek help from a registered homeopath who will be able to help you track down the remedy for you.
Homeopathy does provide effective treatment, which has the additional benefit of being entirely safe, and inexpensive. But your GP, and the NHS will probably not tell you about it.
So Robert Medhurst's recent e-article might be a useful read for anyone suffering from this condition. But every woman with PMS, PMT has different symptoms, so in homeopathy there is no single remedy, no magic bullet. A remedy has to be chosen carefully to match individual symptoms.
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/can-homoeopathy-help-with-pms/
Robert's article describes the symptoms of 12 of the major remedies homeopaths use for women who suffer from PMS, PMT. So have a read, and if one matches, try the remedy. It will be safer than HRT, or anything else ConMed has to offer.
If you find that it works, but does not completely deal with the condition, seek help from a registered homeopath who will be able to help you track down the remedy for you.
Rubbing Out Homeopathy
There are two fundamental questions about the health debate during the last few years.
First, why is ConMed so bad, so dangerous? Why is it allowed to kill so many people every year without there being any reaction, by governments, by National Health Services, by Medics, and little or no action to do anything about it? And why is the mainstream media, throughout the world, so quiet about the inherent dangers of ConMed?
Second, why has homeopathy been under such attack during the last 5-6 years? It has never harmed anyone. In previous decades it had operated quietly, and unostentatiously for people who wanted to use a safer and more effective form of medicine. Why have brigades of homeopathy denialists sprung up, making such loud noises, without making any sense or addressing the real health issues, and having no positive message to give themselves? And who is paying the denialists to take part in such negative activity?
John Benneths blog, 'Rubbing Out Homeopathy', is an important one in this respect, and I urge you to read it. You can find it at:
I am not usually a supporter of 'conspiracy' theories, but John has unveiled evidence, through WikiLeaks, that suggests people in high places have been convinced of the need to reduce world population, may be thinking of using the uselessness and dangerousness of ConMed to assist them, and don't want homeopathy to get in the way of their plans.
Winter Travel, Jet Lag and Homeopathy
Here are some good general tips from the Dr Weil blog.
http://www.drweilblog.com/home/2010/12/18/winter-travel-coping-with-jet-lag.html
Homeopathy is good for Jet Lag too, with remedies such as Arnica, Gelseunium. Nux Vomica, and especially Cocculus.
For a comparison between Conventional and Homeopathic treatment (and prevention) of Jet Lag, go to this website
http://www.drweilblog.com/home/2010/12/18/winter-travel-coping-with-jet-lag.html
Homeopathy is good for Jet Lag too, with remedies such as Arnica, Gelseunium. Nux Vomica, and especially Cocculus.
For a comparison between Conventional and Homeopathic treatment (and prevention) of Jet Lag, go to this website
