This is a good app for android Smoking And Pregnancy 

(Scan the QR code to download Free Smoking And Pregnancy App)

To help mom to be with smoking problem. Understand how smoking can affect your health and unborn baby.
Good collected information text , video and help link to be share in the app.
-Smoking Cessation
-Maternal health
-Women and smoking
-May cause Breastfeeding Difficulties
-Smoking Causes Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema
-The effects of smoking on pre-natal development
-Quit Smoking Tips
-EFFECTS OF SMOKING
-Puzzle games to relax
"GET YOUR LIFE BACK!!!"

Smoking And Pregnancy

Tobacco smoking and pregnancy is related to many effects on health and reproduction, in addition to the general health effects of tobacco. A number of studies have shown that tobacco use is a significant factor in miscarriages among pregnant smokers, and that it contributes to a number of other threats to the health of the fetus.
Ideally, women should not smoke before, during or after pregnancy. If this is not the case, however, the daily number of cigarettes can be reduced to minimize the risks for both the mother and child. This is particularly important for women in undeveloped countries where breastfeeding is essential for the child’s overall nutritional status.
 

Smoking Before Pregnancy:

It is important to examine these effects because smoking before, during and after pregnancy is not an unusual behaviour among the general population and can have detrimental health impacts, especially among both mother and child as a result. It is reported that roughly 20% of pregnant women smoke at some point during the three months.

Smoking during pregnancy:

In the United States today, approximately 10% of women smoke during pregnancy (March of Dimes. 2010. Smoking During Pregnancy.) Of women who smoked during the last 3 months of pregnancy, 52% reported smoking 5 or less cigarettes per day, 27% reported smoking 6 to 10 cigarettes per day, and 21% reported smoking 11 or more cigarettes per day.
In the United States, women whose pregnancies were unintended are 30% more likely to smoke during pregnancy than those whose pregnancies were intended.
 
Down load the free app to learn more.....
Cheers 

Besides food safety, what does kitchen organization have to do with nutrition? An organized kitchen is a more inviting space. If you like being in your kitchen, you're more likely to use it! And eating at home usually means healthier meals. Just consider that the average person eats about 134 calories more a meal when eating out.

Ready to get your kitchen whipped into shape? Try these tips:

De-clutter. Get rid of old or expired food items. Throw out or recycle kitchen utensils that are broken, never used or duplicates.Organize by function. Group like items together. For example, put breakfast items all on one shelf, and baking items on another.Set the stage. Put pots and pans near the stove, dishes near the sink or dishwasher, and herbs and spices near the food prep area. Go vertical. All out of cupboard, drawer or countertop space? Invest in hooks or other hardware to hang up your pots, pans, utensils and aprons.Beautify. Kitchen organization can be attractive as well as functional. Use ceramic bowls or decorative baskets to hold fruits and vegetables or napkins and dish towels.

Don't overwhelm yourself by taking on the whole kitchen. Give yourself 30 minutes and see what happens. That 30 minutes might inspire you to tackle another cupboard or even your freezer next. Rediscover the joys of being in the kitchen. Make a meal and savor it — and your space.

- Katherine

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Are you considering the use of an insulin pump? More and more people with type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes are wearing insulin pumps. Insulin pumps deliver rapid-acting insulin 24 hours a day.

Insulin pumps deliver insulin in three ways:

Basal rate. The insulin pump delivers small hourly increments of rapid- or short-acting insulin over a 24-hour period. The basal rate replaces a long-acting insulin injection and accounts for approximately 50 percent of a person's total daily insulin requirement. Boluses. These insulin injections are required to cover carbohydrates eaten at meals.Correction. A correction is used to adjust the pre-meal insulin bolus for glucose values outside of the blood glucose target range.

Benefits of insulin pumps
Insulin pumps can:

Improve blood glucose control by delivering individualized basal ratesEliminate inconvenience of multiple daily injectionsIncrease lifestyle conveniences — you have more flexibility about when and what you eatOffer precise dosage delivery in basal rates as low as 0.025 units per hour and bolus rates of 0.1 unit dosesAllow temporary basal rates Deliver a special meal bolus to match the delays in the absorption of certain foodsUsually result in fewer large swings in your blood glucose levelsReduce frequency of hypoglycemia

Disadvantages of insulin pumps
On the flip side, an insulin pump:

Can malfunction, delivering too much or too little insulinIncreases risk of diabetes ketoacidosis — the pump uses only rapid-acting insulin, and if insulin delivery is disrupted for any reason, your blood glucose will rise rapidly putting you at risk of ketoacidosisMay be expensive — costing around $7000 for the pump itself, with supplies costing about $1500 a yearIs attached to you all day every dayWon't take care of all your blood glucose problems — you'll still need to test your blood sugar before meals and at bedtime, and the person using the insulin pump will continue to give a bolus before meals

Most insulin pump users would agree that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. My two sons with diabetes both use insulin pumps and wouldn't have it any other way. If you're considering an insulin pump, you must currently be on a multiple daily insulin dose program, be experienced in carbohydrate counting, and test your blood sugar at least four times a day. A good candidate for an insulin pump must also be able to understand and work with mechanical devices or computers. Please discuss with your diabetes care team if insulin pumps interest you.

Peggy

Everyone can benefit by paying more attention to choosing healthy foods, right?

For the most part, yes. However, a small number of people seem to become obsessed with the "perfect diet." These individuals fixate on eating foods that make them feel pure and healthy — to the extent that they avoid foods with any: 

Artificial colors, flavors or preservativesPesticides, genetic modificationUnhealthy fat, sugar or added salt

For some people with orthorexia:

Preparation techniques must result in "clean food," meaning it's been washed multiple times, cooked to ensure no bacteria and minimally handled.Eating out is out of the question because it's important to avoid food that they don't buy and prepare.

The term "orthorexia" has been used to describe this disorder. It comes from the Greek words "orthos," meaning straight or proper, and "orexia," meaning appetite. According to experts including Dr. Steven Bratman, the doctor who first described and named this disorder, what tips the balance from being committed to healthy eating and having orthorexia is the extreme limitation and obsession in food selection. Orthorexics find themselves being unable to take part in everyday activities. They isolate themselves and often become intolerant of other people's views about food and health.

Studies have looked to at whether this disorder is more common in groups more likely to have a keen interest in a healthy diet, such as medical residents, dietitians, students in nutrition, fitness club members and those in the performing arts (ballet, symphony orchestra and opera singers). Each of the professions studied showed some incidence. However, the studies were unable to determine if the incidence was higher than that in the general population.

Health professionals have proposed that orthorexia be officially recognized as a new mental disorder. Currently it remains controversial and grouped with other not yet accepted disorders such as night eating syndrome, muscle dysmorphia (obsession with muscle building) and emetophobia (constant fear of vomiting).

Whether it's recognized as a true medical problem or not is beside the point. It's important to seek professional help when striving for a healthy diet becomes an overwhelming drive that takes over. Orthorexia that features obsessive compulsive behaviors can be effectively treated with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy by a trained therapist.

blog index References Bartrina JA. Orthorexia or when a healthy diet becomes an obsession. ALAN. 2007;57(4):313.What is orthorexia? Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2005;105(10):1510.Bosi ATB, Derya C, Guler C. Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in resident medical doctors in the faculty of medicine. Appetite. 2007;49(3): 661.Kinzel JF, et al. Orthorexia nervosa in dietitians. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 2006;76(6):395.Korinth A, et al. Eating behaviour and eating disorders in students of nutrition sciences. Public health Nutrition. 13(1): 32-37. 2009.Eriksson L, et al. Social physique anxiety and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance impact on orthorexia test in fitness participants. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 2008;18(3):389.Aksoydan E, et al. Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among Turkish performance artists. Eating and Weight disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity. 2009;14(1):33.Vandereycken W. Media hype, diagnostic fad or genuine disorder? Professionals' opinions about night eating syndrome, orthorexia, muscle dysmorphia, and emetophobia. Eating Disorders. 2011;19(2):145.

Summer has arrived for many of us, and summer makes me think of travel and camping trips. Traveling with diabetes requires a little advance planning. Preparation depends on where you're going and what you're doing. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides some good travel trips that I'd like to share:

See your doctor before leaving

Ensure good blood sugar control. If your blood sugars aren't well controlled, allow enough time before your trip to improve control before you leave. I'd also recommend seeing a certified diabetes educator, if possible, for help.Get a letter and prescription from your doctor. Ask for a letter and a prescription with a list of your medications for diabetes pills or insulin shots. The prescription will cover you if you run out or lose your insulin or medications while away. However, in the United States, prescription laws may vary from state to state. When my son forgot his insulin, we went to a pharmacy from the same chain that he usually gets his prescriptions from and he was able to get a vial of insulin. Prescription laws may be different if you're traveling abroad. The ADA recommends that you write for a list of International Diabetes Federation groups — see www.idf.org.

Prepare for an emergency abroad

Know how to find a doctor. You can get a list of English-speaking foreign doctors from the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers — see www.iamat.org, or call 716-754-4883. If you have an emergency while traveling and you don't have a list with you, you can contact the American Consulate, American Express, or local medical schools for a list of doctors.Wear a medical I.D. bracelet or necklace. It's important to wear identification that states that you have diabetes. It could also be helpful to know how to say "I have diabetes" and "Sugar or orange juice please" in the language of the country you'll be visiting.

Pack extras

Pack extra medication and insulin. Aim for at least twice as much as you think you'll need. Keep your medication and insulin with you in a carry-on bag, because checked luggage can be lost.Keep snacks available. Bring well-wrapped, air-tight snacks such as crackers, cheese, peanut butter, fruit, and some form of sugar, such as hard candy or glucose tablets, to treat low blood glucose.Protect supplies from heat. Insulin stored in very hot or very cold temperatures may lose strength. So, don't leave your insulin in the car. Meters and supplies are also sensitive to extreme temperatures. If you're camping or backpacking, consider storing insulin or meter supplies in a cooling pack made specifically for diabetes supplies.

Understand potential insulin issues

Try to use the same insulin. Stick with the exact brand and formulation of insulin as prescribed by your provider. But if you run out while you're on the road and you're unable to fill your prescription for some reason, you can buy NPH or regular insulin over the counter in the United States. Contact a physician for equivalent doses. You can discuss this with your physician before leaving for your trip.Be aware of differences abroad. In the United States, insulin is usually sold as U-100 (100 units of insulin per mL). Outside the United States, insulin may come as U-40 (40 units of insulin per mL) or U-80 (80 units of insulin per mL). If you need to use these types of insulin, you must buy new syringes to match the new insulin. When my son had emergency surgery for an appendectomy in Ukraine, he was allowed to use his own insulin. Adjust for time zone changes. If you're crossing several time zones, talk to your doctor or a certified diabetes educator to help you plan the timing of your injections. Bring along your flight schedule and information about the time zone changes. Note that if you need to inject insulin during a flight, be careful not to inject air into the insulin bottle. In the pressurized cabin, pressure differences can cause the plunger to "fight you."

Take care once you're there

Monitor your blood glucose more often. Jet lag may make it hard to tell if you have high or low blood sugar.Carry hypoglycemia treatment. If you're more active than usual, your glucose may go too low. Carry along snacks if there's a possibility that meals will be delayed or missed.Be careful about what you eat. Avoid tap water overseas, and ask for a list of ingredients in unfamiliar foods.Protect your feet. Wear comfortable shoes, and check your feet daily for blisters, cuts, redness, swelling and scratches. I talked to a man who'd hiked in the Arizona desert for several hours; when he got home, he saw blood on his socks. A cactus needle had pierced through his shoe and wedged a quarter-inch into his foot! Because he had peripheral neuropathy, he hadn't felt it.

Lastly, it can be helpful to prepare for airport security if you're flying to your destination. Check the ADA's webpage on air travel and diabetes for more information about how security measures may affect you — www.diabetes.org.

Happy travels!

Peggy

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A new school year means new challenges, but packing your children's lunch boxes needn't be one of them. Use these tips to create healthy, kid-friendly lunches.

Be smart about food safety. Stave off food-borne illness with a few common sense precautions:

Start with a warm up. If you plan to pack soup or other hot entrees, use preheated insulated containers. To preheat, just fill with boiling water and let stand a few minutes before adding the hot food. Get the Chills. Surround your perishables with chilled items. Sandwich them between cold packs. Freeze bread, water bottles, 100% juice, or yogurt tubes to keep the inside of your lunch container cold until lunch time.Made in the shade. Encourage your children to store their lunch boxes away from direct sun and any heating or cooling sources.No worries. Pack items that aren't temperature sensitive to avoid the worry of unsafe bacterial growth.  Pack small packets/cans of meat or fish and whole grain crackers for make it yourself mini sandwiches at the lunch table.  Peanut butter, bread, bagels, and wraps, fruits, and veggies are all safe bets too.

To create nutrient-packed lunches, remember to cover the basics:

Grains. Make whole-grain bread, mini bagels, pita or tortillas the basis of healthy sandwiches. Pack in a container that keeps them from being squished or crumbled and fresh tasting.Fruits and vegetables. Make fruits and veggies easy to munch by cutting them into bite-sized pieces. Choose fresh, dried or canned. Send along a small container of yogurt for dipping. Again, pay attention to packing to protect food from unappetizing bruises. Protein. The standard PBJ is a great choice. If food allergies nix peanut butter, explore other protein-rich spreads for sandwiches. In addition to lean lunch meat, fish, beans, nuts, cheese and tofu are great protein sources for growing children.Calcium. Send milk in a thermos or let your child purchase milk at school. If you child isn't a milk drinker, pack yogurt, cheese or fortified juices — all good sources of calcium.

If sandwiches are losing their appeal, try a twist to deliver the same great nutrition:

Shape up. Cut sandwiches into fun shapes using cookie cutter to add pizzazz.Switch it up. Instead of bread, sandwich your protein, veggies or fruit between crackers, rice cakes, bagels, pita pockets or tortillas. Put in the subs. Try packing whole grain pasta or rice with sliced veggies and olives; peanut butter dip for fruit; dry cereal mixed with dried fruit and nuts, or yogurt with fruit and granola. Cube leftover chicken and pair it with grapes or bell pepper chunks on a toothpick for a tower of fun.Containers and more.  Kids begging for those pre-packed lunches they see ads on TV? Do it yourself with fun multi pocket containers — sliced cheese, pita pocket squares, cut up fruit or veggies. Got an eco conscious kiddo? Pack items in reusable sandwich bags in fun, fashionable prints for girls and guys.

Brighten your child's day by writing a note and stashing it the lunch box. Or go all out and use a small amount of food coloring to "stamp" your child's sandwich with a secret code or symbol.

I've got you started. Now I'm going to call on you. What do you do to ensure that lunch boxes come home empty — and not because the healthy food you packed got thrown away?

Here's to a great school year,

Katherine

blog index References Keeping bag lunches safe. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Keeping_Bag_Lunches_Safe.pdf. Accessed 8/31/2011

Throughout my years as a diabetes educator, I've seen many people faced with the shock of a new diabetes diagnosis. There's the diabetes diagnosis itself, and then being thrown immediately into the required management of the disease. Everyone processes and reacts to this information differently. Unfortunately, the disease generally doesn't allow much time to ease into its management — scheduling and giving medications and injections, counting carbohydrates, storing insulin, understanding hypoglycemia and its treatment, using blood glucose meters, foot care, exercise and much more.

People's response to a new diabetes diagnosis varies. It's natural to respond with shock and stress. You might feel dazed or agitated, have poor concentration or a narrowing of attention, have difficulty comprehending information, anxiety, panic, a rapid heart beat, sweating, and shakiness and flushing. Some statements I've heard include:

Honestly? I wasn't expecting it, I don't eat sugar.No one in my family has diabetes.I ate a bunch of candy yesterday. That's why my sugar is high.Test my blood sugar again, I don't think it's right.I can never eat cake again.I'm not overweight. How did I get this?

People are frequently told they have diabetes, then rushed into a quick education session to learn how to test blood glucose, take the medications and insulin required, modify their diet and treat low blood sugar. These quick educations sessions aren't ideal. They may happen because of lack of time, at a patient's or physician's request, or because a person doesn't have insurance. I've looked at a person sitting there in shock and wondered how much of the information he or she really absorbed. This isn't my preferred method of education, but people amaze me sometimes at how well they adapt to it.

Studies show that after three days, adults only remember 10 percent of what they read, 20 percent of what they hear, and 30 percent of what they see. However, when adults are actively involved in learning new material, they'll remember up to 90 percent of what they say and do. So, the more active a role you can play in your diabetes education, the better.

What was your reaction to first being told "You have diabetes?"

Have a good week,

Nancy

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