The Keys To A Healthy Mind, A Peaceful Temple, And An Uplifting Soul

It is March, Springtime is in the air. This is the time to plan in preparing to take care of your temple with the benefits of eating healthy and being in a great state of mind.          
           
I dedicate this essay to anyone who is diabetic or who has been diagnosed as borderline diabetes, in addition, the risk and the concerns involved when diabetes goes uncontrolled by adopting a poor lifestyle; an inadequate diet, non-motivation, and not keeping the Chi at its peak to perform at its maximum performance.          
           
What is diabetes          
           
Diabetes Mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It’s also your brain’s main source of fuel.          
           
Diabetes I, mainly happen when your immune system destroys cells in your pancreas called beta cells. They’re the ones that make insulin.          
           
Diabetes II is a chronic condition in which the body does not use insulin properly. This causes blood sugar levels to rise, which can lead to other health problems.          
           
Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.          
           
It is very crucial to take care of one’s self from head to toes.          
           
An Eye Exam          
           
The first exam I will recommend is a complete dilated diabetic eye exam. During your screening the Ophthalmologist or Optometrist will rule out certain aspects that could be a deterring factor of having a normal vison acuity, such as to rule our Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degenerative Disease, or Glaucoma and during that eye exam, early Cataracts will be ruled out.            
           
Please make sure your get this exam on a yearly basis.          
         
Dental Checkup          
           
Most people do not realize being a diabetic can affect the health of your gums, therefore, please make it a priority to floss, and use a non- alcoholic antiseptic mouth rinse I cannot stress the importance of that regiment enough; it keeps gingivitis away (inflammation of the gum line), and the smile is what surely attracts. Your pearly whites are your signature to the world.

If you have dentures, please keep your dentures clean prior to usage.          
           
Please make sure this exam is done every six months to a year.          
           
Foot Exam          
           
This is the biggest overlooked exam, and please pay close attention to your feet, your skin in general. There are several concerns for a person living with diabetes or caring for a diabetic loved one.           
           
The toe nailbed should be kept dry and clean at all times, and not yellowish, if so, then there is most likely a fungal, which may require medical attention for a prescribed topical fungal emollient.

The legs should be supple, as in good vascular circulation and no signs of pitting edema (Pitting edema is when a swollen part of your body has a dimple (or pit) after you press it for a few seconds).          
           
If there is any numbness or tingling to the toes, or legs, make sure you tell your physician to check you for Diabetic Neuropathy, that is a medical condition that befalls many diabetics.          
           
Diabetic Neuropathy is a serious diabetes complication which primarily affects fifty percent of people with diabetes. This condition is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. Anyone who lives with diabetes and when the glucose is high or uncontrolled it can impair nerves throughout your body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet.            
           
You should get your feet checked every time you have a follow-up appointment with your physician.          
           
There are other tests that should be done during a diabetic exam, such as getting your urine tested, to rule out any abnormalities regarding the kidney function; to see if there is any glucose, or ketones noted(High ketone levels in urine may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of diabetes that can lead to a coma or even death) the Ph Balance (this urine result looks at how acidic or alkaline a person’s urine is, the average value for urine pH is 6.0) WBC (bacteria) RBC (possible trauma to kidney or stones) or nitrate (UTI).                     
Fasting Labs (A test whereas you will refrain from eating or drinking anything after twelve midnight).          
           
A Cholesterol test for a diabetic it is very vital and an overall key to keep the kidneys functioning and hypertension controlled.

Most physicians will prescribe some form of statin medication, it is use as a precautionary measurement for someone who also has high blood pressure, and diabetes, a medication combination to make sure you do not end up on dialysis after the kidneys fails to function and filter out its toxins, therefore, take your medication(s) as prescribed.          
           
This test should be repeated only after comparison from the last results or if there is a slight elevation and your physician has to make any adjustments to your medication(s) or supplementing with another.          
           
A1C is a test to advise your physician how well you control your blood sugar levels. Most results show your average over the past 3 months, and if you take your medications, exercise and modify your diets, with the four groups on the food pyramid, then they should be within a normal range.          
           
For women who have diabetes          
            
It is a known fact, you are more prone to suffer from reoccurring yeast infections, therefore, make sure your get your GYN exams and your Pap Smears every two years and every six months for any abnormal Pap Smear, in addition, if you are forty and over, you may as well get a mammogram, and earlier if you fall heredity to Breast Cancer.          
           
Therefore, if you are a diabetic, please take care of yourself… make this your year to shine, it will be summer soon and you want to make sure you are feeling good from the inside and admired from the outside.          
           
And that has been a medical summary from my heart to yours.          
         
SKC, interim, DON, APRN