LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Remedies for Low Blood Sugar

A hypoglycemic person must be treated immediately by attempting to increase his/her blood sugar level. Failure to do so might lead to malfunctioning organs or seizures. A diabetic patient with low blood sugar can be given a small amount of sugar at least once a day. A small amount can do no harm if their blood sugar is already high, but can be life saving if it is low.
Here are some remedies to quickly treat a patient who has suffered a hypoglycemia episode:
• Provide sugar rich foods or drinks. These include fruit juices, sugar water, cake icing, hard candy, glucose tablets and concentrated glucose paste. Diabetics must carry such items at all times to be prepared for potential emergencies.
• A glucagon medical kit is the most effective in cases of moderate to severe conditions. If the patient suffers confusion, anxiety attacks or the likes, an ambulance must be called for immediately. A glucagons dose in such a case might prove life saving until the ambulance arrives.
• If the patient falls unconscious or in a deep sleep and cannot be woken up, lie them down on their left side to prevent choking from vomiting.
• A glucose monitor should be kept available at home and used frequently to prevent any serious episodes.
• Diabetics must be very careful about their insulin injections.
• Meals should not be missed on a regular basis and patients must be very careful about their medications and dosage.

Diet for Low Blood Sugar

It seems obvious that to combat low blood sugar, your diet must contain sugar rich foods. High carbohydrate foods and dairy products are a must for hypoglycemic patients. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be immediately remedied with sugar water or something similar. Some foods should become a part of your regular diet if you experience recurring episodes of low blood sugar. These include but are not limited to the following:
• Raisins
• Graham crackers
• Candy
• Skim milk
• Regular soda or other non-diet soft drinks
• Fruit juices
• Glucose tablets
• Dextrose tablets which are a must carry for diabetics
• Sugar cubes or packets
• Chocolates
Above all, meals should not be missed and should be consumed in adequate quantities. A balanced diet can undoubtedly help to maintain blood sugar levels. When healthy meals are accompanied with periodical snacks, low blood sugar can be avoided at almost all times. A light exercise regimen can ensure metabolic consistency, which is very important as it allows the blood to better absorb glucose from the digestive system. Although heavy exercise is a potential risk for hypoglycemia, the benefits outweigh the risks, when balanced with heavy meals.
It is important to not eliminate carbohydrates from the diet. Some foods rich in complex carbohydrates are rice, pasta, cereals, bread legumes and vegetables. Small snacks must come in between meals. Foods and beverages that contain caffeine should be avoided as they produce symptoms similar to those of hypoglycemia. Alcohol when consumed, especially on an empty stomach, can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and must be avoided under all circumstances.

Life After CANCER treatment

Life After CANCER treatment

After your cancer treatment, as a cancer survivor you're eager to return to good health. But beyond your initial recovery, there are ways to improve your long-term health so that you can enjoy the years ahead as a cancer survivor.

The recommendations for cancer survivors are no different from the recommendations for anyone who wants to improve his or her health: Exercise, eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, avoid tobacco and limit the amount of alcohol you drink. But for cancer survivors, these strategies have added benefits. These simple steps can improve your quality of life, smoothing your transition into survivorship. Here's what you can do to take care of yourself after cancer treatment.

Exercise

Regular exercise increases your sense of well-being after cancer treatment and can speed your recovery. Cancer survivors who exercise may experience:

• Increased strength and endurance
• Fewer signs and symptoms of depression
• Less anxiety
• Reduced fatigue
• Improved mood
• Higher self-esteem

Adding physical activity to your daily routine doesn't take a lot of extra work. Focus on small steps to make your life more active. Take the stairs more often or park farther from your destination and walk the rest of the way. Check with your doctor before you begin any exercise program.

With your doctor's approval, start slowly and work your way up. The American Cancer Society recommends adult cancer survivors exercise for at least 30 minutes five or more days a week. As you recover and adjust, you might find that more exercise makes you feel even better.

Sometimes you won't feel like exercising, and that's OK. Don't feel guilty if lingering treatment side effects, such as fatigue, keep you sidelined. When you feel up to it, take a walk around the block. Do what you can, and remember that rest also is important to your recovery.

Exercise has many benefits and some early studies suggested that it may also reduce the risk of a cancer recurrence and reduce the risk of dying of cancer. Many cancer survivors are concerned about cancer recurrence and want to do all they can to avoid it. While the evidence that exercise can reduce the risk of dying of cancer is preliminary, the evidence for the benefits of exercise to your heart, lungs and other body systems is substantial. For this reason, cancer survivors are encouraged to exercise.

Eat a balanced diet

Vary your diet to include lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains. When it comes to selecting your entrees, the American Cancer Society recommends that cancer survivors:

• Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day
• Choose healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids, rather than saturated fats or trans fats
• Select proteins that are low in saturated fat, such as fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes
• Opt for healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes, and fruits and vegetables

It's not known if a certain diet or certain nutrients can keep cancer from recurring. Studies examining low-fat diets or diets that contain specific fruits and vegetables have had mixed results. In general, it's a good idea to eat a varied diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables.

While it may be tempting to supplement your diet with a host of vitamin and mineral supplements, resist that urge. Some cancer survivors think that if a small amount of vitamins is good, a large amount must be even better. But that isn't the case. In fact, large amounts of certain nutrients can hurt you. If you're concerned about getting all the vitamins you need, ask your doctor if taking a daily multivitamin is right for you.

Maintain a healthy weight

You may have gained or lost weight during treatment. Try to get your weight to a healthy level. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you and the best way to go about achieving that goal weight.

For cancer survivors who need to gain weight, this will likely involve coming up with ways to make food more appealing and easier to eat. Talk to a dietitian who can help you devise ways to gain weight safely. You and your doctor can work together to control nausea, pain or other side effects of cancer treatment that may be preventing you from getting the nutrition you need.

For cancer survivors who need to lose weight, take steps to lose weight slowly — no more than 2 pounds (about 1 kilogram) a week. Control the number of calories you eat and balance this with exercise. If you need to lose a lot of weight, it can seem daunting. Take it slowly and stick to it.

Stop using tobacco

Kick the habit once and for all. Smoking or using chewing tobacco puts you at risk of several types of cancer. Stopping now could reduce your risk of cancer recurrence and also lower your risk of developing a second type of cancer (second primary cancer).

If you've tried quitting in the past but haven't had much success, seek help. Talk to your doctor about resources to help you quit.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all

If you drink alcohol, keep it to a minimum. Women should drink no more than one drink a day, and men no more than two drinks a day.

Alcohol does have health benefits in some people — for instance, consuming a drink a day can reduce your risk of heart disease. But it also increases the risk of certain cancers, including those of the mouth and throat. While it isn't clear whether drinking alcohol can cause cancer recurrence, it can increase your risk of a second primary cancer.

Weigh the risks and benefits of drinking alcohol and talk it over with your doctor.