| Welcome to the October
2007 edition of Access Digest. Germs, germs,
germs -- they are everywhere! And with the
flu season approaching, there's a lot we can do
to avoid illness and infections. Things like washing
your hands after many activities, even pushing
a shopping cart! Use a portable disinfectant dispenser
or wipe when a restroom is not convenient. Brush
your teeth often. Wash, rinse and dry yourself
well. Use a disinfectant spray around the house.
Consider an air purification unit. Clean and care
for any wounds.
Our Lifestyle Tip for October is on Reducing
Germs in the Home and our Recipe of the
Month is Roasted Cod and Tomatoes.
As always, when you see "Read More" at
the end of an article, or something that is underlined,
you can click on it to be linked to another
Web site where you'll find more information. When
you find a site that you may want to visit again
in the future, you can bookmark it.
Each month we receive
questions from our readers. We post some of the
more frequent questions and answers for everyone
to read. If you have questions or comments of
your own, please e-mail them to us at the end
of this issue.
We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter.
Thank you for making Access Diabetic Supply
your choice for diabetic supplies. |
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The Potbelly Syndrome shows
that several major illnesses are just unwanted
side-effects -- or symptoms -- of changes that
our bodies make to fight infections. Each time
we are attacked by a germ, our bodies start an
acute phase response (APR) to kill that germ.
Usually, the APR eradicates the germ in a few
days or weeks and we recover completely. A few
germs, however, cannot be eradicated and they
cause chronic infections and chronic APRs. The
long-term effects of APRs include heart disease
and potbelly syndrome (PBS): obesity, high blood
pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
A healthy lifestyle, with exercise, vitamins and
a good diet, can delay the consequences of chronic
APRs for a long time. A healthy lifestyle cannot
cure APRs, heart disease or potbelly syndrome
because it cannot eradicate the germs that cause
them. Some of the germs can be eradicated fairly
easily by your doctor, but others will require
a lot of effort. Still other germs, like the herpes
viruses, can't be eradicated yet and we must wait
for researchers to find better ways to kill them.
Read More |
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Gum disease happens when germs in your
mouth start to destroy the gums and bone that
hold your teeth in place. It starts with plaque,
a sticky material made up of food, saliva, and
germs. When plaque is not cleaned away it hardens
into tartar and builds up under the gum line that
can lead to gum disease and over time the loss
of your teeth.
In turn, gum disease can make it harder to control
diabetes. It is an infection and can increase
your blood glucose levels.
Some signs of gum disease include:
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Bleeding while brushing and/or flossing
- Loose or separating teeth
- Bad breath
- Pus between the teeth and gums
- Changes in your bite
There are ways that you can fight gum disease:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day
- Floss your teeth at least once a day
- Visit your dentist at least twice per
year
- Keep blood glucose under control
Read
More
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How Can I Prevent Skin Infections? |
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After you wash with a
mild soap, make sure you rinse and dry yourself
well. Check places where water can hide, such as
under the arms, under the breasts, between the legs,
and between the toes.
Keep your skin moist by washing with a mild soap
and using lotion or cream after you wash. Keep your
skin moist by using a lotion or cream after you
wash. Ask your doctor to suggest one.
Drink lots of fluids, such as water, to keep your
skin moist and healthy.
Wear all-cotton underwear. Cotton allows air to
move around your body better.
Check your skin after you wash. Make sure you have
no dry, red, or sore spots that might lead to an
infection.
Tell your doctor about any skin problems.
Read More |
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Wound Care for
People with Diabetes |
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People with diabetes face
unique wound care needs as a result of fluctuating
blood glucose levels. They often notice that their
skin gets itchy, dry, and is easily injured. Dry,
itchy skin easily cracks, leading to compromised
skin. Bacteria and germs can get into the cracked
dry skin, feed on the elevated glucose in the body,
and cause infection. Due to poor blood circulation,
the body is slower to heal wounds. In cases where
neuropathy has set in, a person with diabetes may
not even notice an injury until infection has already
set in. When an infection is not quickly healed,
the skin becomes gangrened. This can lead to amputation.
The hands and feet of people with diabetes are particularly
susceptible to infection because blood circulation
is poorest at the extremities. It is crucial for
people with diabetes to thoroughly check their hands
and feet for cracks, cuts, or any other injuries
so that wounds can be cared for immediately to prevent
infections.
Clean your skin thoroughly, especially on the feet,
making sure nothing has come in contact that could
damage your skin and potentially lead to infection.
Moisturize your skin regularly, with specific focus
on the extremities (feet, hands), to prevent dry
skin from developing cracks in which infection can
grow. Monitor your skin regularly for dry patches
and skin cracks. If found, clean and moisturize
the area.
Read More
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Healthy Living: Lifestyle Tip &
Recipe of the Month |
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| October Lifestyle
Tip:
Reducing Germs in the Home
Diabetes can result in a weaker immune system,
which causes you to catch colds and other illnesses
easier then a non-diabetic person. It is very
important to reduce germs that are in the home.
Spray the home daily with a disinfectant spray.
Make sure to spray all door handles, light switch
plates, remote controls, kitchen cabinet handles,
refrigerator door and freezer handles, video game
controllers, keyboards, faucets and toilets. Germs
remain alive longer on hard surfaces, so make
sure frequently-used hard surfaces are sprayed
with a disinfectant at least once daily.
If possible, get an air purification unit for
the main room and bedroom of the home. Air purification
systems reduce mold spores and other air pollutants.
With diabetes, it is easier to catch colds and
other viruses. Having an air purification unit
even in just one room will help to reduce colds
and complications that can result.
Frequent hand washing is important in all homes,
even those where people do not have diabetes.
Monitor the guests that come in and out of your
home. Ask friends and relatives to postpone visits
if someone is sick. Someone visiting with the
sniffles could result in a person with diabetes
later having bronchitis or an upper respiratory
infection.
Read More
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| March Recipe: Roasted
Cod and Tomatoes |
| This
month our featured recipe is Roasted Cod
and Tomatoes with Basil and White Wine.
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| Ingredients: Green Beans with Toasted Nuts |
| Ingredient |
Measure |
| Cherry tomatoes |
2 cups
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| Olive oil |
1 tablespoon |
| Kosher salt |
1/2
teaspoon |
| Thick cod fillets, |
Four fillets, about 4 ounces
each |
| Freshly ground black pepper |
To
taste |
| Garlic, minced |
2 cloves |
| Fresh, chopped basil |
1 tablespoon |
| Dry white wine, such as Sauvignon
Blanc |
1/2 cup |
|
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Place the tomatoes in a large baking
dish (large enough to eventually accommodate
the cod fillets in a single layer). Drizzle
the tomatoes with half of the olive oil
and sprinkle with kosher salt. Roast the
tomatoes in the oven until they are very
soft, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Remove the tomatoes from the oven and
turn the oven down to 350°F. Transfer the
tomatoes to a small bowl, add the garlic
and basil, toss to combine and set aside.
4. Season the cod fillets with salt and
pepper, drizzle them with the remaining
olive oil and place them in the baking dish.
Pour the tomato mixture and wine over the
fish. Cover the dish with foil and place
it in the oven. Cook until the fish is just
cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes,
depending on the thickness of the fish.
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Nutritional
Information - Roasted
Cod and Tomatoes |
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| Recipe makes four servings |
| Calories: |
|
169 |
| Protein: |
26 grams |
| Dietary Fiber: |
1 gram |
| Soluble Fiber: |
0 grams |
| Fat: |
4 grams |
| Carbohydrates: |
4 grams |
| Saturated
Fat |
1 gram |
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Questions & Answers - Ask the
Experts |
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| Each
month our staff answers questions and asks for your
feedback. However, if you have urgent questions
about your order or your meter, we encourage you
to call our customer care department at 1-800-276-5712.
We do our best to answer all questions, but we also
encourage you to consult your physician.
Below are a few of the typical questions
our customer care department has answered on this
month's theme. Each question is linked to a Web
site that gives an answer and provides more detail.
We hope you find this section helpful. |
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Access Diabetic Supply |
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