Life style

For many, fall is a time for raking leaves, sitting around the campfire, picking apples and going to corn mazes and pumpkin patches. But don't forget that fall is also the time to get your flu shot. And if you have diabetes, a flu shot is especially ...

For many, fall is a time for raking leaves, sittin...

Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters seem to be in the news a lot. I've been watching the coverage following hurricane Sandy. Among other things, people have been coping with the loss of their homes, a lack of electr...

Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and oth...

I have a friend who's so embarrassed about her nail fungus that no one is allowed to see her feet. Her feet are always covered with socks, slippers, shoes or water shoes (if she's at the beach or pool). Nail fungal infections affect about 12 percent ...

I have a friend who's so embarrassed about her nai...

We're currently in the midst of the holiday season. Your mind may be filled with all kinds of tasks you need to accomplish — running to the store, picking up the dry cleaning, ordering gifts, grocery shopping, planning parties, cleaning house, baking...

We're currently in the midst of the holiday season...

Many of you will be flying for the holidays. You may be wondering how Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations at airports affect you, particularly if you use an insulin pump. Diabetes supplies First, it's a good idea to arrive at the...

Many of you will be flying for the holidays. You m...

Did you know that 25 percent of those who have type 2 diabetes don't even know they have it? March 27th is American Diabetes Association Alert Day. We'd like to encourage everyone to take their Diabetes Risk Test and share it with your family and fri...

Did you know that 25 percent of those who have typ...

If you're like most people, you have a number of health concerns and visit multiple doctors and pharmacies. Keeping track of it all is a challenge. With a personal health record, you can gather — and manage — all that information in one easily access...

If you're like most people, you have a number of h...

How does one, day in and day out, cope and continue to cope with a chronic disease such as diabetes? Is there ever a halcyon time? "Halcyon" comes from a bird identified with the kingfisher, and in an ancient legend it nested at sea during winter sol...

How does one, day in and day out, cope and continu...

When testing your blood sugar, do you use the first drop of blood or the second? We teach patients to wash their hands with soap and water, dry them, and then test their blood glucose using the first drop. We advise that if the person isn't able to w...

When testing your blood sugar, do you use the firs...

Most of us aren't crazy about needles, and many people just plain freak out around needles. Recently, I had a patient tell me, "I've had diabetes for 19 years, and I still have trouble with the needles and insulin injections — I even have a couple of...

Most of us aren't crazy about needles, and many pe...

Diabetes research is turning up new information on diabetes and diabetes management all the time. In 2009, I wrote a blog about the effects of heat on blood glucose control if you have diabetes. I mentioned, then, that heat doesn't have a direct effe...

Diabetes research is turning up new information on...

Clinical trials are research studies to test ways to detect, prevent or treat disease. You might have a family member involved in a clinical trial, or you might be considering whether a clinical trial is an option for you. Choosing to participate in ...

Clinical trials are research studies to test ways ...

New pharmaceutical company research is leading to an influx of new drug classifications for type 2 diabetes in the United States. The diabetes education department at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., is having difficulty keeping the patient education b...

New pharmaceutical company research is leading to ...

Palliative care can provide pain and symptom relief, support and coordinated, holistic care for people who have serious illnesses. Find out more about palliative care. If you or a loved one has a serious or life-threatening illness, you might have th...

Palliative care can provide pain and symptom relie...

Timothy Moynihan, M.D. Scary claims circulate on the Internet that everyday objects and products, such as plastic and deodorant, are secret cancer causes. Beyond being wrong, many of these myths may cause you to worry unnecessarily about your own he...

Timothy Moynihan, M.D. Scary claims circulate on ...

Blood and bone marrow donation is a voluntary process. You agree to allow doctors to draw blood stem cells from your blood or bone marrow for transplantation. Blood stem cells are the cells that make all of the body's blood cells. They form and matur...

Blood and bone marrow donation is a voluntary proc...

Blood donation is a voluntary procedure. You agree to have blood drawn so that it can be given to someone who needs a blood transfusion. Millions of people need blood transfusions each year. Some may need blood during surgery. Others depend on it aft...

Blood donation is a voluntary procedure. You agree...

I'm considering kidney donation. Are there long-term risks? from Erik P. Castle, M.D. Research has shown that there's little long-term risk for kidney donation, provided you're carefully screened before becoming a donor. As a potential kidney donor, ...

I'm considering kidney donation. Are there long-te...

Cosmetic surgery, or plastic surgery, might seem like the easiest way to shave years off your appearance or improve your physique. If you're not satisfied with your appearance, cosmetic surgery may help you not only to look better, but also to feel b...

Cosmetic surgery, or plastic surgery, might seem l...

Should I avoid products that contain triclosan? from James M. Steckelberg, M.D. There currently isn't enough evidence to recommend avoiding use of products that contain triclosan — an ingredient added to certain soaps, cosmetics, clothing, cookware, ...

Should I avoid products that contain triclosan? fr...

Medicare is the U.S. health insurance for people age 65 and older and also for some younger individuals with certain disabilities. Medicare is made up of four parts: Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) Medicare Part B (medical insurance) Medicare P...

Medicare is the U.S. health insurance for people a...