By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator What happens in diabetes when your insulin stops working? One could stop making insulin, slowdown in its production or fail to use its own insulin. For example, glucose cannot enter the cells where it’s needed, so the amount of glucose in the bloodstream continues to rise. This is called hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). When blood sugar … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part IV): When Insulin Stops Working

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Last week we discussed how insulin open the receptors in the cells to allow glucose to be used or stored in the cells. This week let us examine the balancing act of the rise and fall in insulin and blood sugar. Our blood sugar rises and falls many times during the day and night. It depends … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part III): Understand the Balancing Act of Glucose

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator The prevalence of Diabetes type II in our country prompted me to invest our coming weeks to the understanding of what diabetes type II is about, why it happens, and how to manage this condition. Last week we briefly reviewed what the condition is and what are some of the presenting symptoms. I am always curious … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part II): Digestion of Food and Production of Insulin

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator More than 34 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10), and approximately 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over age 45, but more and more children, teens, and young adults are also developing it. On a personal base, I never had to worry about blood sugar 10 years ago. … Continue reading Diabetes Type II

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator The hypothesis that children have stronger immunity against COVID 19 infection is very interesting and rather convincing. Any parent could tell you that children tend to get sicker with common colds. Some of those common colds are caused by seasonal corona viruses. Another theory is that because children are so frequently infected with theses common respiratory … Continue reading Why Children Have Fewer Cases of COVID Infection? Part II

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Looking at this graph, almost everyone agrees it is time to go back to “normal activities”. Data is from 3/26/2021. For children, going back to school seems like a logical step; kids benefit so much from interacting with other kids as part of their normal growth and development. However, in many parents’ mind, going back to … Continue reading Why Children Have Fewer Cases of COVID Infection?

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator This is the last discussion from the excellent article authored by Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH, Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer, hope you have come to a better understanding the importance of sleep and benefited from his tips on getting a good night sleep. Mindfulness Meditation and Sleep Mindfulness meditation can be a useful component … Continue reading Sleep and Brain Health Part V