An ingrown toenail can result from a number of things, but poorly fitting shoes and toenails that are not trimmed properly are the most common causes. The skin along the edige of a toenail may become red and infected. The great toe is usually affected, but any toenail can become ingrown.
Ingrown toenails may occur when extra pressure is placed on your toe. Most commonly, this pressure is caused by shoes that are too tight or too loose. If you walk often or participate in athletics, a shoe that is even a little tight can cause this problem. Some deformities of the foot or toes can also place extra pressure on the toe.
The American Podiatric Medical Association says risk factors for ingrown toenails include:Nails that are not trimmed properly can also cause ingrown toenails.
•Wearing shoes that are too tight or crowd the toes.
•Having feet that are frequently subjected to injury during everyday activities.
•When your toenails are trimmed too short or the edges are rounded rather than cut straight across, the nail may curl downward and grow into the skin
•Poor eyesight and physical inability to reach the toe easily, as well as having thick nails, can make improper trimming of the nails more likely
•Picking or tearing at the corners of the nails can also cause an ingrown toenail
Some people are born with nails that are curved and tend to grow downward. Others have toenails that are too large for their toes. Stubbing your toe or other injuries can also lead to an ingrown toenail.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Vibram Hit With Five-Finger Class Action
It was just announced that a group of five law firms have filed a class action suit against Vibram USA, Inc. and Vibram FiveFingers, LLC in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. This class action lawsuit alleges that the company made deceptive health benefit statements about their shoes and about barefoot running.
The lawsuit asserts that: 1) health benefits claims Vibram FiveFingers has used to promote the shoes are deceptive; 2) FiveFingers may increase injury risk as compared to running in conventional running shoes, and even when compared to running barefoot; 3) there are no well-designed scientific studies that support FiveFingers' claims. The class action lawsuit, filed on March 21 on behalf of Florida resident Valeria Bezdek, also represents more than 200 people with claims against Vibram. The claims totals exceed $5,000,000.
The lawsuit asserts that: 1) health benefits claims Vibram FiveFingers has used to promote the shoes are deceptive; 2) FiveFingers may increase injury risk as compared to running in conventional running shoes, and even when compared to running barefoot; 3) there are no well-designed scientific studies that support FiveFingers' claims. The class action lawsuit, filed on March 21 on behalf of Florida resident Valeria Bezdek, also represents more than 200 people with claims against Vibram. The claims totals exceed $5,000,000.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
WWE Legend Kamala Loses Foot To Diabetes
WWE legend Kamala is at risk of losing another foot due to his diabetes-related medical problems -- this according to his son.
As TMZ previously reported ... Kamala’s left leg was amputated last year due to ongoing complications with diabetes and high blood pressure. Unfortunately the problems aren’t over.
Kamala Jr. went on "The Roman Show" today and revealed, “[My father] is havingcomplications with his other foot now ... Friday we’ll know if they have to take his other foot off.”
As TMZ previously reported ... Kamala’s left leg was amputated last year due to ongoing complications with diabetes and high blood pressure. Unfortunately the problems aren’t over.
Kamala Jr. went on "The Roman Show" today and revealed, “[My father] is havingcomplications with his other foot now ... Friday we’ll know if they have to take his other foot off.”
Monday, March 19, 2012
7 Steps to Treating Low Blood Sugar / Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar symptoms need immediate attention. Here's what you should do to handle this potential emergency.
Hypoglycemia requires fast treatment. When someone with diabetes begins experiencing low blood sugar symptoms, any delay increases the chance that the hypoglycemia could escalate into a life-threatening illness. Left untreated or not treated promptly, hypoglycemia can result in seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, and death.
Here are the steps you need to take if your diabetes management plan has failed and you begin to have the low blood sugar symptoms that indicate an episode of hypoglycemia:
1. Recognize the symptoms. The symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from person to person, but anyone taking insulin or diabetes medication should know what they are. Low blood sugar symptoms include:
Weakness or fatigue
Cold sweats or clammy skin
Confusion or fuzzy and unclear thinking
Dizziness or light-headedness
Blurred vision
Hunger Nervousness, anger, or irritability
Headache
Rapid heartbeat
Numb or tingling skin
Difficulty speaking
Shakiness
2. Make yourself safe. If you or a family member with diabetes begins to have any of these symptoms, take immediate safety precautions. Pull over if you are driving a car. Sit down right away if you are walking down steps. Hypoglycemia could cause you to lose consciousness and cause harm to yourself or others. You want to make sure that doesn't happen.
3. Test your blood glucose levels. In most cases, providing that symptoms are still mild, test to make sure you actually are having a hypoglycemic episode rather than another malady. Use your blood glucose meter to check. A reading of 70 mg/dl or lower means you need to take quick action. If symptoms are too severe to manage the testing or you can’t get to your glucose meter quickly, move on to step 4.
4. Get some carbs into your body. A diabetic undergoing an episode of hypoglycemia needs to bring blood glucose levels up quickly. Fast-acting carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, can accomplish this. If you are taking insulin or diabetes medication as part of a diabetes management plan, you should always have on hand a bit of quick-fix food equal to 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrates. Some foods that can provide this amount and quickly raise your blood sugar level include:
4 or 5 saltine crackers
5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
2 tablespoons of raisins
4 teaspoons of sugar
3 or 4 glucose tablets
1 serving of glucose gel
1/2 cup of fruit juice or regular soda
1 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of honey or corn syrup
5. Wait, then verify treatment is working. Don't keep eating, as you might over-treat and cause your blood sugar level to go too high. Instead, wait about 15 minutes and then test your blood sugar level again with a meter. If it's still too low, then eat another 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrate. Repeat until your blood sugar level is at 70 mg/dl or higher. Once you've reached that level, eat a more nutritious, carbohydrate-containing snack unless a meal is less than one hour away.
6. If your body doesn't respond, seek medical help. If you haven't responded to the carbs or if you've passed out or had seizures, you probably have a case of severe hypoglycemia and need medical attention. If someone in your family or at your workplace is aware of your condition and has been trained to give emergency glucagon injections (a substance that quickly raises blood sugar levels), they should do so immediately, even before calling 911 to get help. A diabetic treated with glucagon should respond quickly and be able to eat some food within 15 minutes.
7. Take long-term steps. If you have recurring hypoglycemic episodes or even one severe case, talk with your doctor about adjusting your diabetes management plan to better fit your lifestyle. You also should ask to have a glucagon injection prescribed to you, so that a family member or friend can administer it if you pass out or experience a seizure from another severe case of hypoglycemia.
Being prepared and knowing what to do about hypoglycemia is an important part of a good diabetes management plan.
Hypoglycemia requires fast treatment. When someone with diabetes begins experiencing low blood sugar symptoms, any delay increases the chance that the hypoglycemia could escalate into a life-threatening illness. Left untreated or not treated promptly, hypoglycemia can result in seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, and death.
Here are the steps you need to take if your diabetes management plan has failed and you begin to have the low blood sugar symptoms that indicate an episode of hypoglycemia:
1. Recognize the symptoms. The symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from person to person, but anyone taking insulin or diabetes medication should know what they are. Low blood sugar symptoms include:
Weakness or fatigue
Cold sweats or clammy skin
Confusion or fuzzy and unclear thinking
Dizziness or light-headedness
Blurred vision
Hunger Nervousness, anger, or irritability
Headache
Rapid heartbeat
Numb or tingling skin
Difficulty speaking
Shakiness
2. Make yourself safe. If you or a family member with diabetes begins to have any of these symptoms, take immediate safety precautions. Pull over if you are driving a car. Sit down right away if you are walking down steps. Hypoglycemia could cause you to lose consciousness and cause harm to yourself or others. You want to make sure that doesn't happen.
3. Test your blood glucose levels. In most cases, providing that symptoms are still mild, test to make sure you actually are having a hypoglycemic episode rather than another malady. Use your blood glucose meter to check. A reading of 70 mg/dl or lower means you need to take quick action. If symptoms are too severe to manage the testing or you can’t get to your glucose meter quickly, move on to step 4.
4. Get some carbs into your body. A diabetic undergoing an episode of hypoglycemia needs to bring blood glucose levels up quickly. Fast-acting carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, can accomplish this. If you are taking insulin or diabetes medication as part of a diabetes management plan, you should always have on hand a bit of quick-fix food equal to 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrates. Some foods that can provide this amount and quickly raise your blood sugar level include:
4 or 5 saltine crackers
5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
2 tablespoons of raisins
4 teaspoons of sugar
3 or 4 glucose tablets
1 serving of glucose gel
1/2 cup of fruit juice or regular soda
1 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of honey or corn syrup
5. Wait, then verify treatment is working. Don't keep eating, as you might over-treat and cause your blood sugar level to go too high. Instead, wait about 15 minutes and then test your blood sugar level again with a meter. If it's still too low, then eat another 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrate. Repeat until your blood sugar level is at 70 mg/dl or higher. Once you've reached that level, eat a more nutritious, carbohydrate-containing snack unless a meal is less than one hour away.
6. If your body doesn't respond, seek medical help. If you haven't responded to the carbs or if you've passed out or had seizures, you probably have a case of severe hypoglycemia and need medical attention. If someone in your family or at your workplace is aware of your condition and has been trained to give emergency glucagon injections (a substance that quickly raises blood sugar levels), they should do so immediately, even before calling 911 to get help. A diabetic treated with glucagon should respond quickly and be able to eat some food within 15 minutes.
7. Take long-term steps. If you have recurring hypoglycemic episodes or even one severe case, talk with your doctor about adjusting your diabetes management plan to better fit your lifestyle. You also should ask to have a glucagon injection prescribed to you, so that a family member or friend can administer it if you pass out or experience a seizure from another severe case of hypoglycemia.
Being prepared and knowing what to do about hypoglycemia is an important part of a good diabetes management plan.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Staying Safe During (and After) Vigorous Exercise
Q: My husband has type 1 diabetes and is training to ride in a 65-mile bicycle race. How can he best control his blood sugar levels during and after this race? His levels sometimes crash a few hours after training.
A:First, I would like to congratulate your husband on having the remarkable discipline such an activity requires. This is long and strenuous exercise. I am assuming that he has been evaluated and cleared by his doctor to participate in such physical activity, so I will focus on glucose control. When engaging in arduous exercise, people who have diabetes should be vigilant about preventing both high and low glucose levels.
The risk of low sugar levels is more intuitive to understand than high sugar levels because the body uses so much energy from glucose during exercise. In addition, after exercising, the body tries to replenish the energy stores of the muscles and the liver, which can also lead to abnormally low blood sugar levels.
High sugar levels can develop because the body considers long and strenuous exercise a form of stress. Any type of stress triggers the production of adrenaline and other hormones that inhibit insulin and increase the production of glucose. Here are some general guidelines.
Before training begins, your husband should have his diabetes controlled very well with intense insulin therapy, either with three or more injections a day or with an insulin pump. This allows for better flexibility during his training and race.
During his training weeks or months, your husband should monitor his glucose levels both before and after meals. He should also track the amount of insulin he injects, his dietary intake, and the duration of each exercise or training session. He should also check his glucose levels at 2 a.m.
Before he starts his training sessions, he should determine his glucose level. The ideal glucose level is 100 to 250 mg/dl. If it is below 100 mg/dl, then he must eat a snack containing carbohydrates. If it's above 250 mg/dl, he should also check for the presence of ketones in his urine. Ketones are the by-product of fat energy metabolism. The body reverts to this process when it lacks sufficient amounts of insulin. If he has urine ketones, he should refrain from exercising until the insulin deficiency is corrected. If his sugar is above 300 mg/dl, he must postpone his training session until his levels are corrected.
While he's training, your husband should check his glucose level frequently. He should also carry drinks that contain carbohydrates, or sugar tablets, to compensate for low levels. Having a "map" of his sugar levels (see step 2) will provide him a reference to base his insulin requirement on as well.
After exercising, your husband's body will try to restore the glucose in his muscles and liver, so it will continue to remove glucose from the bloodstream. This leads to low sugar levels even hours after he's through exercising. Your husband must check his glucose level immediately after exercising and several times later, for up to 12 hours afterwards.
Based on the records he has kept on his glucose levels, he may need to reduce his insulin dose by more than 50 percent.
It is best to exercise at least 30 minutes after injecting insulin to limit the effect of exercise on insulin absorption. If your husband exercises in the afternoon or evening, he might find his glucose level to be abnormally low in the middle of the night — his bedtime or evening insulin doses would have to be adjusted accordingly. If your husband is on NPH, the evening dose should be given at 10 or 11 p.m. Your husband will probably need to increase his carbohydrate intake in the evening to prevent low blood sugar levels in the middle of the night.
It is also generally recommended that diabetic athletes have a meal two to six hours before exercising. It should contain 83 to 200 grams of carbohydrate, a small amount of protein, and fat.
A:First, I would like to congratulate your husband on having the remarkable discipline such an activity requires. This is long and strenuous exercise. I am assuming that he has been evaluated and cleared by his doctor to participate in such physical activity, so I will focus on glucose control. When engaging in arduous exercise, people who have diabetes should be vigilant about preventing both high and low glucose levels.
The risk of low sugar levels is more intuitive to understand than high sugar levels because the body uses so much energy from glucose during exercise. In addition, after exercising, the body tries to replenish the energy stores of the muscles and the liver, which can also lead to abnormally low blood sugar levels.
High sugar levels can develop because the body considers long and strenuous exercise a form of stress. Any type of stress triggers the production of adrenaline and other hormones that inhibit insulin and increase the production of glucose. Here are some general guidelines.
Before training begins, your husband should have his diabetes controlled very well with intense insulin therapy, either with three or more injections a day or with an insulin pump. This allows for better flexibility during his training and race.
During his training weeks or months, your husband should monitor his glucose levels both before and after meals. He should also track the amount of insulin he injects, his dietary intake, and the duration of each exercise or training session. He should also check his glucose levels at 2 a.m.
Before he starts his training sessions, he should determine his glucose level. The ideal glucose level is 100 to 250 mg/dl. If it is below 100 mg/dl, then he must eat a snack containing carbohydrates. If it's above 250 mg/dl, he should also check for the presence of ketones in his urine. Ketones are the by-product of fat energy metabolism. The body reverts to this process when it lacks sufficient amounts of insulin. If he has urine ketones, he should refrain from exercising until the insulin deficiency is corrected. If his sugar is above 300 mg/dl, he must postpone his training session until his levels are corrected.
While he's training, your husband should check his glucose level frequently. He should also carry drinks that contain carbohydrates, or sugar tablets, to compensate for low levels. Having a "map" of his sugar levels (see step 2) will provide him a reference to base his insulin requirement on as well.
After exercising, your husband's body will try to restore the glucose in his muscles and liver, so it will continue to remove glucose from the bloodstream. This leads to low sugar levels even hours after he's through exercising. Your husband must check his glucose level immediately after exercising and several times later, for up to 12 hours afterwards.
Based on the records he has kept on his glucose levels, he may need to reduce his insulin dose by more than 50 percent.
It is best to exercise at least 30 minutes after injecting insulin to limit the effect of exercise on insulin absorption. If your husband exercises in the afternoon or evening, he might find his glucose level to be abnormally low in the middle of the night — his bedtime or evening insulin doses would have to be adjusted accordingly. If your husband is on NPH, the evening dose should be given at 10 or 11 p.m. Your husband will probably need to increase his carbohydrate intake in the evening to prevent low blood sugar levels in the middle of the night.
It is also generally recommended that diabetic athletes have a meal two to six hours before exercising. It should contain 83 to 200 grams of carbohydrate, a small amount of protein, and fat.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The 7 Most Dangerous Fashion Items for Your Health
Not to send you all scrambling but are you a potential fashion victim? Find out!
1. High heels: Of course, we know all about this one...heels higher than two inches "have been linked to bunions, hammer toes, stress fractures and ankle sprains." Those who are pregnant and wear sky heels are at even more risk for injury. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Tina Fey, and Jennifer Lopez have all sported sky-high footwear while pregnant.
Even though Jessica Simpson isn’t letting her pregnancy get in the way of her chic style, the singer --- who recently admitted she weighed 170 lb. when she shot her racy Elle cover --- donned six-inch heels. She admitted: "We're waddling at this point. I'm wearing six-inch heels today, and it's a lot of weight to carry on six inches."
Why risk the injury to yourself during pregnancy? Are those sky-high heels really worth years of foot problems just to look stylish during pregnancy?
2. Flip flops: "Flip-flops are even worse, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. Researchers at Auburn University videotaped 39 volunteers and noticed they had to clench their toes to keep them on, leading to foot fatigue, sore calf muscles and an altered gait, which could cause long-term ankle and hip problems."
3. Skinny jeans : Wearing practically-painted-on pants can interfere with digestion, according to an internist (who found the problem so common he dubbed it "tight pants syndrome"), and they've also been responsible for "lower back pain, yeast infections in women and a rare condition called lipoatrophia semicircularis, in which horizontal lesions appear around the thighs." Good thing flares are back!
4. Spanx: Wearing your beloved shape wear for too long can cause nerve compression and reduced oxygen intake. Consider yourselves warned.
5. Tight ties and shirts: A Cornell study says a whopping 67% of men need to loosen up at the office-wearing shirts with too-small neck sizes and too-tight ties can reduce circulation to the brain and decrease range of motion in the neck and increase muscle tension in the back and shoulders. And since ties are rarely cleaned, they transmit infections easily.
6. Heavy handbags: Wearing an oversize tote on the same shoulder can throw off your back alignment. According to the Journal, "The American Chiropractic Association recommends that women carry no more than 10% of their body weight in a bag."
7. Accessories containing nickel: "Even minute amounts of nickel in rings, earrings, belt buckles, watch backs and jeans rivets can cause an itchy red rash on people who have nickel allergy, which can begin suddenly even in adulthood."
1. High heels: Of course, we know all about this one...heels higher than two inches "have been linked to bunions, hammer toes, stress fractures and ankle sprains." Those who are pregnant and wear sky heels are at even more risk for injury. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Tina Fey, and Jennifer Lopez have all sported sky-high footwear while pregnant.
Even though Jessica Simpson isn’t letting her pregnancy get in the way of her chic style, the singer --- who recently admitted she weighed 170 lb. when she shot her racy Elle cover --- donned six-inch heels. She admitted: "We're waddling at this point. I'm wearing six-inch heels today, and it's a lot of weight to carry on six inches."
Why risk the injury to yourself during pregnancy? Are those sky-high heels really worth years of foot problems just to look stylish during pregnancy?
2. Flip flops: "Flip-flops are even worse, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. Researchers at Auburn University videotaped 39 volunteers and noticed they had to clench their toes to keep them on, leading to foot fatigue, sore calf muscles and an altered gait, which could cause long-term ankle and hip problems."
3. Skinny jeans : Wearing practically-painted-on pants can interfere with digestion, according to an internist (who found the problem so common he dubbed it "tight pants syndrome"), and they've also been responsible for "lower back pain, yeast infections in women and a rare condition called lipoatrophia semicircularis, in which horizontal lesions appear around the thighs." Good thing flares are back!
4. Spanx: Wearing your beloved shape wear for too long can cause nerve compression and reduced oxygen intake. Consider yourselves warned.
5. Tight ties and shirts: A Cornell study says a whopping 67% of men need to loosen up at the office-wearing shirts with too-small neck sizes and too-tight ties can reduce circulation to the brain and decrease range of motion in the neck and increase muscle tension in the back and shoulders. And since ties are rarely cleaned, they transmit infections easily.
6. Heavy handbags: Wearing an oversize tote on the same shoulder can throw off your back alignment. According to the Journal, "The American Chiropractic Association recommends that women carry no more than 10% of their body weight in a bag."
7. Accessories containing nickel: "Even minute amounts of nickel in rings, earrings, belt buckles, watch backs and jeans rivets can cause an itchy red rash on people who have nickel allergy, which can begin suddenly even in adulthood."
Get Pumped: For Better Blood Sugar Control in Diabetes, It's Weights First
In people with type 1 diabetes, weight training before cardio exercise was linked with less severe drops in blood sugar.
MONDAY, Mar. 12, 2012 — It’s a question many workout devotees struggle with: weights before cardio, or vice versa? Now a new report says that for those with type 1 diabetes, it may be better to pump iron before getting on the elliptical or jogging around the block.
The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, followed 12 active, young (average age 32) people with type 1 diabetes who were already running and doing strength training at least three times a week. In the first of two exercise sessions, the participants ran on a treadmill for 45 minutes, then lifted weights for 45 minutes. For the second session, the order was reversed (weights first, then running). Blood sugar levels were monitored before, during, and after each session.
The researchers found that when cardio was done first, glucose levels tended to drop and remain at low levels throughout the workout. By comparison, doing resistance exercise first was linked to less severe decreases in blood sugar, even hours after working out.
The study was small, and other factors that could have affected blood sugar were not considered. But according to Reuters Health, the findings agree with previous reports showing that aerobic workouts produce a quicker drop in blood sugar than strength training.
Balancing the health benefits of exercise with the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be tricky. During exercise, the body draws on blood glucose for energy — which can lead to those dangerous lows. Signs of hypoglycemia include dizziness, sweating, grumpiness, weakness, or hunger.
If you have type 1 diabetes and workout regularly, what else can you do to prevent low blood sugar besides switching around your exercise routine? The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends checking blood sugar first before exercising and having a snack if the level is below 100 milligrams per deciliter, as well as testing blood sugar at regular intervals both during an extended workout and after the session is completed. Wearing a medical identification bracelet and carrying food or glucose tablets during your workout are also smart ideas.
MONDAY, Mar. 12, 2012 — It’s a question many workout devotees struggle with: weights before cardio, or vice versa? Now a new report says that for those with type 1 diabetes, it may be better to pump iron before getting on the elliptical or jogging around the block.
The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, followed 12 active, young (average age 32) people with type 1 diabetes who were already running and doing strength training at least three times a week. In the first of two exercise sessions, the participants ran on a treadmill for 45 minutes, then lifted weights for 45 minutes. For the second session, the order was reversed (weights first, then running). Blood sugar levels were monitored before, during, and after each session.
The researchers found that when cardio was done first, glucose levels tended to drop and remain at low levels throughout the workout. By comparison, doing resistance exercise first was linked to less severe decreases in blood sugar, even hours after working out.
The study was small, and other factors that could have affected blood sugar were not considered. But according to Reuters Health, the findings agree with previous reports showing that aerobic workouts produce a quicker drop in blood sugar than strength training.
Balancing the health benefits of exercise with the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be tricky. During exercise, the body draws on blood glucose for energy — which can lead to those dangerous lows. Signs of hypoglycemia include dizziness, sweating, grumpiness, weakness, or hunger.
If you have type 1 diabetes and workout regularly, what else can you do to prevent low blood sugar besides switching around your exercise routine? The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends checking blood sugar first before exercising and having a snack if the level is below 100 milligrams per deciliter, as well as testing blood sugar at regular intervals both during an extended workout and after the session is completed. Wearing a medical identification bracelet and carrying food or glucose tablets during your workout are also smart ideas.
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