A LETTER FROM DIABETES

Recently my best friend sent me messages from Nigeria complaining that her mum was almost going blind in one eye and had been diagnosed with diabetes. I was so worried and this led me to start a research on different ways of preventing/controlling diabetes, especially with regards to diet in a developing country like Nigeria.  Well I found a few preventive measures that could work well in the country but today, I will like to share with you an interesting piece I read online… A LETTER FROM DIABETES.

If you have no clue about diabetes, this letter will give you an idea about the disease including the risk factors and ways of preventing it.  Remember, prevention is better than cure! Take time out to read this insightful piece and I’m sure you’ll learn one or two new things.

 A LETTER FROM DIABETES

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Hello, it is with utmost pleasure that I write to tell you of my journey so far towards being the number one killer disease on the planet and the good news is that I’m close to achieving this dream of mine. I run in families and can be transferred through genes so you can be sure that when your dad or mum has a piece of me, you are at high risk of having me as well. I become readily available when your body does not produce enough insulin or your body cells are not responding to insulin. And even if I’m not present in your family already, you can be the first in the family to invite me.

Photo credit: http://diabetesassistant.org

All you simply have to do is stick to an only-carbohydrate diet with sugary soft drinks and I’ll be right there smiling and waiting for the right time to strike. For those of you who are obese and do not exercise, we are definitely allies already as you simply make my job easier.

You might make the mistake of underestimating my abilities and take me for granted but be sure that when I strike, you’ll urinate more often, get thirsty, lose weight and the slightest injury to you have will refuse to heal and worsen to the extent  that you might get an amputation.

I attack people all over the world but my favourite domain is in Nigeria because when I strike in some places here, they attribute it to witches in their villages giving me the impetus to spread my wings further.

Well, at this point I know what you are thinking. That I’m unfair right? But please don’t be quick to condemn because I’m not as unfair as those of you who know all about me and haven’t warned your friends and neighbours. This is because the truth is that I’m not as powerful as I sound.  I am almost powerless if you discover me on time by running a test on your blood or urine and then starting treatment with drugs and exercise depending on the type of me you are affected by.

With all these mentioned you can render me totally powerless and lead your normal life. On the contrary, if I’m not discovered early, I can go ahead to affect your eyes, heart, kidney, ears and give you all sorts of ailments that you will find difficult to cope with.

So the next time you act like I do not exist and do not take the necessary precautions, remember that I have a dream of being the number one killer disease and you are simply the next available target!.

Yours indeed,

DIABETES

Source: The Nigeria Diabetes Online Community Blog.This letter was originally written by Theresa Odoh, who was the first runner up for the 2013 World Diabetes Day Essay Competition titled “DIABETES IN NIGERIA: Protecting the future”.  

Hope you enjoyed reading that as much as I did? If you found the information useful please kindly share with others. Also if you have the symptoms highlighted in the picture above, please visit the doctor/GP as soon as possible.

Have a blessed week and remember to stay healthy :)

LadyMay

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication PART 1

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure (a systolic pressure — the top number — of 140 or above or a diastolic pressure — the bottom number — of 90 or above), you might be worried about taking medication to bring your numbers down.

Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.

Here are 10 lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure and keep it down.

1. Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline

Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you're taking more effective. You and your doctor can determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it. 

Besides shedding pounds, you should also keep an eye on your waistline. Carrying too much weight around your waist can put you at greater risk of high blood pressure. In general:

• Men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters, or cm).
• Women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (89 cm).

2. Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week — can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). And it doesn't take long to see a difference. If you haven't been active, increasing your exercise level can lower your blood pressure within just a few weeks.

If you have prehypertension — systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 — exercise can help you avoid developing full-blown hypertension. If you already have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring your blood pressure down to safer levels.

Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise program. Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions. Even moderate activity for 10 minutes at a time, such as walking and light strength training, can help.

But avoid being a "weekend warrior." Trying to squeeze all your exercise in on the weekends to make up for weekday inactivity isn't a good strategy. Those sudden bursts of activity could actually be risky.

3. Eat a healthy diet

Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

It isn't easy to change your eating habits, but with these tips, you can adopt a healthy diet:

Keep a food diary. Writing down what you eat, even for just a week, can shed surprising light on your true eating habits. Monitor what you eat, how much, when and why.

Consider boosting potassium. Potassium can lessen the effects of sodium on blood pressure. The best source of potassium is food, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than supplements. Talk to your doctor about the potassium level that's best for you.

Be a smart shopper. Make a shopping list before heading to the supermarket to avoid picking up junk food. Read food labels when you shop and stick to your healthy-eating plan when you're dining out, too.

Cut yourself some slack. Although the DASH diet is a lifelong eating guide, it doesn't mean you have to cut out all of the foods you love. It's OK to treat yourself occasionally to foods you wouldn't find on a DASH diet menu, such as a candy bar or mashed potatoes with gravy.

4. Reduce sodium in your diet

Even a small reduction in the sodium in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. The recommendations for reducing sodium are:

• Limit sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less.
• A lower sodium level — 1,500 mg a day or less — is appropriate for people 51 years of age or older, and individuals of any age who are African-American or who have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

To decrease sodium in your diet, consider these tips:

Track how much salt is in your diet. Keep a food diary to estimate how much sodium is in what you eat and drink each day.

Read food labels. If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives of the foods and beverages you normally buy.

Eat fewer processed foods. Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and processed lunch meats are high in sodium.

Don't add salt. Just 1 level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium. Use herbs or spices, rather than salt, to add more flavor to your foods.

Ease into it. If you don't feel like you can drastically reduce the sodium in your diet suddenly, cut back gradually. Your palate will adjust over time.

5. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink

Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. In small amounts, it can potentially lower your blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg. But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol — generally more than one drink a day for women and men older than age 65, or more than two a day for men age 65 and younger. Also, if you don't normally drink alcohol, you shouldn't start drinking as a way to lower your blood pressure. There's more potential harm than benefit to drinking alcohol.

If you drink more than moderate amounts of it, alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications.

Track your drinking patterns. Along with your food diary, keep an alcohol diary to track your true drinking patterns. One drink equals 12 ounces (355 milliliters, or mL) of beer, 5 ounces of wine (148 mL) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor (45 mL). If you're drinking more than the suggested amounts, cut back.

Consider tapering off. If you're a heavy drinker, suddenly eliminating all alcohol can actually trigger severe high blood pressure for several days. So when you stop drinking, do it with the supervision of your doctor or taper off slowly, over one to two weeks.

Don't binge. Binge drinking — having four or more drinks in a row — can cause large and sudden increases in blood pressure, in addition to other health problems.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Keep calm and stay healthy,

With love,

LadyMay

SOURCE: MAYO CLINIC 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00027.

"DESPISED, USED & ABUSED"- Stella's Voice

I am an orphan. No one cares about me. I am hungry. I am cold. I am despised. I am abandoned. I am abused. I am Stella’s Voice. A voice is all that is left of Stella, a handicapped orphan. Homeless, powerless, silenced. Used by evil men. Dead at nineteen. I am Stella’s Voice. I am the voice of orphans. I am their prayer for food, for warmth, for love. I am their cry for protection from sex traffickers. Will you be Stella’s Voice too?

Stella's Voice is the last cry that remains from an orphaned girl who was sold, used, and dead from AIDS by 19. There is no one in the entire world more vulnerable to sex trafficking than orphaned girls; no one knows or cares when they disappear into the night. And there is no country that fuels the engine of sex trafficking in all of Europe more than Moldova.

Stella's Voice provides a home for poverty-ridden girls in Moldova after they are aged out of the state-run orphanages at the young age of 16. The ministry also has the only Christian orphanage in the country, as well as a separate home for boys. 

Stella's Voice is more than a cry for help and rescue. It is also a beacon of help and hope, making an eternal difference for desperate children. Together, we can make Stella’s voice louder. Together, our prayers are more powerful. Together, we can make a difference. Will you be Stella’s Voice?

If YES, please contact Stella's Voice via email connecting@stellasvoice.org, Telephone 334.288.1188 or simply visit their website http://www.stellasvoice.org/donate/ to find out more info on how to help or donate things to this wonderful organisation doing their best to protect these helpless young girls.

However, if you don’t have enough to spare but still want to be Stella’s Voice, simply share this page with as many people as possible so we can help raise awareness. Remember you cannot save the whole world but you can touch one person’s life by this simple action.

 HERE IS ARE SHORT DOCUMENTARIES SHOWING YOU THE SITUATION OF THINGS 

I'M STELLA'S VOICE (6mins)

STELLA'S VOICE FULL DOCUMENTARY (29mins)

BE STELLA'S VOICE, SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS!!!

Thanks and God bless you

LadyMay

Source: Stella’s Voice Official website.

HYPERTENSION: The Silent Killer

Hypertension which is also known as 'high blood pressure' is a serious public health issue affecting about one billion people worldwide (WHO, 2013).  A report by the World Health Organisation (2013) stated that about 1 in 3 adults worldwide have hypertension. In other words, if 3 adults are sat together in a room, it is very likely that one of them has hypertension.

Due to low rennin activity in the body, high Salt diet and physical inactivity, Black people/Africans are more likely to have Hypertension. In adults between age 20-30years old, 1 in 10 people have high blood pressure and in adults above age 50years, 5 in 10 people do (Dreisbach,    2011).

                                                      

You see, hypertension is a silent killer! Many who have the hypertension do not know they have it because the symptoms are rarely obvious.  It is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and if not treated on time, high blood pressure/hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack or even death (NHS Choices, 2012).

Researchers have estimated that every year nine million people worldwide die as a result of high blood pressure (WHO, 2013). A study by the Global burden of Disease identified hypertension as the 4th contributor to premature death in developed nations and the 7th cause of premature death in developing nations (Rao et al, 2012).

Despite the fact that hypertension is one of the biggest health challenge in the 21st century, it is preventable and also easy to treat if detected early (Rao et al, 2012). So just in case you didn’t know, the normal blood pressure for a healthy person is about 120/80mmHg, you should do your best to maintain a blood pressure around this.  Anything close to 139/89mmHg means the individual is highly at risk of hypertension and the blood pressure needs to start getting monitored and followed up some lifestyle changes.

If you are based in the UK, you can check your BP for free at your local GP or with the NHS! I cannot really say much about the healthcare system in other countries but no matter where you are, checking your blood pressure should be quite cheap, stress-free and pain-free!  There are also affordable and easy-to- use sphygmomanometer/blood pressure meters available for sale at local pharmacies, you can use this to monitor your blood pressure at home yourself.

HYPERTENSION KILLS SILENTLY!  TRACK YOUR BP NUMBERS NOW & LET US KNOCK OUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE!!!

Stay healthy, fit and sweet,

with love,

LadyMay xx

May's Diaries: The journey from BabyMay to LadyMay.

 Yipeeeeee! Finally I get to start blogging. A few friends suggested this a while ago but I simply couldn't be bothered. For over a year now, I have pretty much been in my own world  jumping from one 'drama' to the other. Seriously speaking, how do atheists cope? The only thing that has kept me going is the fact that I know there is God who sees everything and makes things beautiful in his time. Trust me when I say life has been crazy and challenging but I've decided to have fun and ride however the tide.


So yes, welcome to my blog where I'll be sharing HOT gists! Lol! My stories, emotional dramas, spiritual struggles, life's challenges, health talks and the lessons God taught me during my various wilderness experiences.  I call this "The journey from BabyMay to LadyMay", you can call it "May's Diaries" if you wish but this is me, the other side of me.  



P.S.   If you are going through one challenge or the other, I just want to remind you that even though God may seem quiet, He is not dead! He is very much alive and very soon, He will make all things beautiful.  Do not give up on God yet, keep praying and  keep trusting!  "These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us." (2 Corinthians 4:17 MSG)