Blood sugar test: When and how to do it correctly

Do you know how to do it?
For someone suffering from diabetes, keeping a track of their blood sugar level is paramount. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin. In a diabetic patient, their body either does not make enough insulin or the insulin produced doesn't get utilised properly, which often leads to a spike in the blood sugar level. High blood sugar, if left untreated, can damage organs, increase the risk of heart attack, kidney disease and liver problem.

Constantly monitoring the blood glucose level helps to manage the health condition and prevent complications. Nowadays testing blood sugar has become easier with a portable blood glucose meter. You can test your sugar level anytime at your home with a simple blood sample test. We tell you the right time and method to measure your sugar level.
 
When to test your blood sugar

You can do the test multiple times a day to monitor the fluctuation, but it is important to consult your doctor about the frequency. Depending on your health condition, your doctor will tell you how often you should do it. You can do it:

Before meals and snacks

Before and after exercise

Before going to bed at night

Also, ask your doctor about your reasonable blood sugar range. Your doctor will tell your maximum and minimum level depending on the type of diabetes, age, pregnancy status, complications and overall health.

As per the American Diabetes Association (ADA), your general blood sugar level should be:

Between 80 and 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 4.4 to 7.2 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) before meals

Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) 2 hours after meals

Here is how you should test your blood glucose correctly

Directions

Wash your hands and dry it properly.

Put a test strip into your meter.

With the help of your lancing device (needle provided with test kit) prick the side of your fingertip to get a drop of blood.

Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood.

Wait for a few seconds for the meter to show the results on the screen.
​The risks of self-testing

There are several benefits of self-testing, biggest being it is easy and convenient. But there are also some risks like:

Multiple punctures

Excessive bleeding

Lightheadedness or fainting

Blood collecting under your skin

Infection

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

Giving up smoking cuts bladder cancer risk in postmenopausal women

Quitting cigarette smoking is associated with a significantly reduced risk of bladder cancer in postmenopausal women, suggests a study.

According to the research, the most significant reduction in risk occured in the first 10 years after quitting, with a modest but continued decline in later years.

Smoking is a well-established risk factor for bladder cancer, but findings on the relationship between duration of smoking cessation and the reduction in bladder cancer risk are inconsistent, said the study's author.

She added that while bladder cancer is more common in men, women often have worse outcomes, even when diagnosed at similar stages.

Our study emphasizes the importance of primary prevention ( by not beginning to smoke) and secondary prevention ( through smoking cessation) in the prevention of bladder cancer among postmenopausal women, she said. Current smokers should be advised to quit smoking in order to reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

In this study, the researchers sought to analyse the dose-response relationship between time since quitting smoking and risk of bladder cancer among postmenopausal women and to investigate whether risk among former smokers ever normalised to the risk faced by those who never smoked.

The study included data from 143,270 women, all of whom had supplied information on whether they had ever smoked cigarettes, how much they smoked, and whether they were current smokers. In all, 52.7% of the women were categorised as " never smokers", 40.2 % as former smokers and 7.1% as current smokers.

It showed that in comparison to never smokers, former smokers had twice the risk of bladder cancer and current smokers had more than 3 times the risk.

They found that the steepest reduction in risk occurred in the first 10 years after quitting smoking, with a 25% drop. The risk continued to decrease after 10 years of quitting, but even after 30 years or more years since quitting smoking, the risk remained higher for women who had smoked than those who never did.

However, in time-updated models that reflected those who stopped smoking during the study period, the researchers found that compared with women who continued to smoke, those who quit smoking during the follow-up years had a 39% decrease in bladder cancer risk, and the risk continued to decline over time.

She said that while the biological mechanisms of the association between bladder cancer and smoking are not known, the study results indicate that women of any age should be discouraged from smoking, and even those who have smoked for many years stand to benefit from quitting.

She cautioned that the study was based on postmenopausal women, so results may not be fully generalised. Also, exposure to smoking was self-reported.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                     FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                   

                                https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Reduce the risk of dementia with new WHO guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its inaugural guidelines for reducing the risk of dementia. According to the estimates of WHO, dementia cases are expected to triple in the next 30 years. Dementia is an umbrella term for various symptoms that leads to a decline in your thinking capability, memory, behaviour, affecting your daily routine. The world body cites that Alzheimer’s accounts for around 60-70 per cent of all the cases of dementia across the globe. Initially, you will lose the track of time and forget things, but as the condition reaches into the next phase, you might experience difficulty to communicate, forgetting recent events and names of people. In the last stage, you will not be able to recognise your family members, confusion regarding time and place and even experience difficulty in walking. There is no cure for this condition, however, with the new guidelines of WHO, you can reduce your risk developing dementia.

Keeping your weight in check: Being overweight can make you susceptible to a number of health complications and dementia is one among them. The world health body suggests that managing your weight can significantly help you lower your risk of developing dementia.

Manage your blood sugar and blood pressure: The last guideline highlights that you should maintain your blood pressure and blood sugar levels in order to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

Eat mindfully: To keep your brain sharp, you need to maintain healthy eating habits. WHO specifically highlighted Mediterranean diet that can help you reduce your risk of dementia.

Limit your alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol can have detrimental effects on your body and in some cases on your brain. This damage can lead to a condition known as alcohol-related dementia.

Not smoking: The toxins inside a cigarette can increase oxidative stress and inflammation that can up your risk of dementia. WHO recommends that quitting smoking might reduce your possibility of developing this condition.

Regular exercising:Regular exercise can give you various health benefits, but according to WHO, it can also curb your chances of cognitive decline.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com   

Campaign on asthma awareness

A Health technology firm  has launched a new campaign in a bid to raise awareness around asthma and associated respiratory issues, especially among children.

This multichannel initiative is launched with the intention of bridging the gap in knowledge around managing asthma, risks of asthma attacks and its triggers associated with indoor pollution.

According to the company, an estimated 15 million-20 million of the total Indian population suffers from asthma. “It has been observed that asthma is prevalent in roughly 10%-15% of children aged between 5-11 years old.”

The strongest risk factors for developing asthma are exposure, especially in infancy, to indoor pollutants (such as house dust mites in bedding, carpets and stuffed furniture, cats and cockroaches, PM2.5 and pollen) and a family history of asthma or allergy.

As a part of the initiative, the company is running a campaign tilted ‘‘Help your child Fight against Asthma” across its social media handles including, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google Display Network. In addition to this, it is also distributing leaflets in catchment areas to spread awareness around Asthma and its prevention.

Moreover, the company will be organising live demonstrations across 100 consumer electronics and appliances stores in the country, reaching out to respiratory patients and parents of young kids to spread awareness around health impacts of indoor air pollution, and how air purifiers help in combating asthma triggers.

Speaking on the occasion the head of the department of respiratory and sleep medicine, said, “Cases of Asthma and other respiratory allergies are on the rise. With poor air quality and rising air pollution, our purpose is to reduce the number of people suffering from asthma with proper diagnosis and treatment.”

On the campaign initiative, a researcher said, “We believe that combating Asthma starts at home, and prevention is the key. This campaign is in line with our endeavour to spread awareness to reduce asthma triggers at home and provide effective solutions to consumers to manage their Asthma symptoms better.” 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

This pill may help curb 2.7 lakh HIV cases in India

Paired with a biannual testing programme, a combination drug used to prevent HIV infection has the potential to improve average per-person survival by nearly one year and block more than 270,000 HIV transmissions in India over a period of 15 years, says a study.

The once-a-day pill, called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), can reduce the risk of HIV acquisition by over 85 per cent when taken consistently. 

The new study, suggests that making PrEP available to men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID) in India may be a cost-effective way of curbing the epidemic in the country.

"We know PrEP helps stop the spread of infection; the question is whether it is a good use of limited resources? Our study shows that PrEP is a cost-effective strategy for both MSM and PWID in India. For these groups, especially in areas with high HIV incidence, PrEP is worth rolling out," says lead author of the study. 

Using a widely-published mathematical model to project clinical and economic outcomes of HIV disease, the authors compared various prevention and testing programmes - including annual or biannual HIV testing alone, as well as PrEP paired with HIV testing - that could help reduce HIV infection and therefore improve survival for these high-risk groups. 

Their findings suggest that PrEP would increase survival substantially by reducing infection risk, while more frequent HIV testing would provide little additional benefit. 

"While the WHO recommends quarterly HIV testing for those on PrEP, our analysis identifies PrEP with semi-annual testing as the cost-effective HIV prevention strategy for MSM and PWID in India," said co-author.

However, the authors noted that a nationwide PrEP rollout would be quite costly. 

If nearly 60 per cent of MSM and PWID across India participated in the programme, it would increase HIV care expenditures by over $900 million over a five-year period, the study said.

"Our findings suggest that geographic areas of highest HIV incidence should be targeted first to reduce the budget required," said co-authors of the study.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

This mobile game may help detect Alzheimer's risk

A specially designed smartphone game can detect people at the risk of developing Alzheimer's say researchers.

The game called Sea Hero Quest, downloaded and played over 4.3 million people worldwide, helped researchers better understand dementia by seeing how the brain works in relation to spatial navigation.

Dementia will affect 135 million people worldwide by 2050. We need to identify people to reduce their risk of developing dementia, said lead researcher.

As players made their way through mazes of islands and icebergs, the research team translated every 0.5 seconds of game-play into scientific data. The team studied how people who are genetically pre-disposed to Alzheimer's play the game compared with those who are not.

The results, showed people genetically at risk of developing Alzheimer's can be distinguished from those who are not on specific levels of the Sea Hero Quest game.

The findings are particularly important because a standard memory and thinking test cannot distinguish between the risk and non-risk groups. Our findings show we can reliably detect such subtle navigation changes in at-genetic-risk of Alzheimer's compared with healthy people without any symptoms or complaints, said the researcher.

The team studied gaming data taken from 27,108 UK players, aged 50-75 years and the most vulnerable age-group to develop Alzheimer's in the next decade. They compared this benchmark data with a smaller lab-based group of 60 people who underwent genetic testing.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com 

A specially designed smartphone game can detect people at t ..

Read more at:
https://www.gadgetsnow.com/articleshow/69045966.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst