Category: Chronic Conditions

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High Blood Pressure: What Everyone Needs To Know

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There is no question that the past year has, for the most part, been a stressful time for many. Stress, among its many harmful effects on health, also tends to elevate blood pressure—regardless of your age. While there are many practical things you can do to relax and de-stress, the purpose of this article is to help inform you on a topic that is often dangerously overlooked: high blood pressure.

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Carb Counting for Diabetes: 3 Easy Steps (with diabetes food list)

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When you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range is not only essential in keeping your diabetes under control, but it can help you feel your best. The easiest way to stabilize your blood sugar level is to watch your carbohydrate intake. This is because any carbohydrate food you eat (e.g., milk, fruit, bread, and pasta) is immediately digested into glucose (sugar), which causes your blood sugar level to increase. In this article, I will discuss one of the more “advanced” methods of diabetes meal planning: the “carb counting” method. A simpler method is the Diabetes Plate Method, so be sure to check out that article as well if you haven’t yet, along with the rest of the posts in the Diabetes Series!

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Understanding Chronic Pain

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Do you live with chronic pain? Does pain seem to infiltrate every area of your life, to the point that it is affecting your quality of life? If so, you are not alone. 

In this article, I will discuss some of the most important aspects of understanding chronic pain—its complex condition and how it works. In a subsequent post, I will present a “Chronic Pain Toolbox” that will equip you with essential self-management skills, so that you can be empowered to regain the quality of life you deserve.

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How to Control Blood Sugar Levels: A Diabetes Guide

How To Control Blood Sugar Levels: A Diabetes Guide

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In my previous articles, I discussed both the importance of knowing your Diabetes ABC’s as well as how to easily make diabetes-friendly diet changes. In this article, I will focus on another essential diabetes skill: how to control your blood sugar levels and keep them in a healthy range. By knowing what to watch for and knowing how to react, you can be empowered to truly take control of this condition. 

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Diabetes Plate Method: Meal Planning Made Easy

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In my last post, I introduced one of the fundamental elements of effective diabetes management, which consists of knowing and understanding important health indicators (such as your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol). Now I will discuss another important skill that will play a massive role in determining whether your diabetes worsens or improves in the future—and that is eating the right way.

While there are many ways to approach meal planning, the Diabetes Plate Method (also called the “Create Your Plate” method) is an incredibly simple way to monitor portions and your carbohydrate intake, even if you are in a situation where you cannot plan ahead of time. 

For those who do not have diabetes, or have been told that they have pre-diabetes, you will find that this method is so simple and practical that you can easily incorporate it into your life to help you eat in a more balanced way. So let’s get started!

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Diabetes Basics: What You Need To Know

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Like most chronic conditions, diabetes is a disease that–while serious–should not deprive you of a long and fulfilling life. With that said, you might be feeling overwhelmed at the vast amount of information there is to know about the condition. If this is you, fear not! This article will cover the Diabetes Basics…which is essentially what you need to know in order to gauge how well you are managing your diabetes. 

In other articles, I will discuss how to eat successfully with diabetes by presenting two ways of meal planning (the Plate Method and Carb Counting). Together, you will be equipped with the skills you need to take control of your health once again.

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