By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator History taking is an essential tool for physicians to make a diagnosis; they would go into your current physical conditions, the onset of symptoms, your working environment and genetic background if appropriate. All of you have this experience with your own doctor. Therefore, during a doctor’s visit, you will find out your health status. What I … Continue reading How Do You Know You Are Healthy?

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Walking was not my choice of exercise until the COVID 19 epidemics hit us 19 months old. My gym closed down completely. I used to participate in the many programs offered by LA Fitness; Zumba, swimming and Yoga classes. I get bored easily, hence I decided doing different activities each day would negate the idea of … Continue reading Walking – My Favorite Exercise

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator While physical activity can be a great thing for your health, make sure to take the proper precautions to avoid injury or exhaustion. You should: Consult with your doctor before beginning an exercise program to obtain medical approval. Warm up and stretch your muscles for at least 5 minutes before beginning a workout, and do a … Continue reading Exercise – Establish Safety

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator What are the first steps in establishing your exercise routine? I hope you have read the previous articles the last 2 weeks to convince yourself that there is no negotiation when it comes to exercise and your health. It is essential to maintain nourishments to your health. Let me summarize the key steps in establishing a … Continue reading First Steps in Your Exercise Routine

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Of the many readings I have on the subject of how exercise combat insulin resistance, I found Ms. Marie Feldman and Jodi Dalyai’s explanation very easy to understand. Let us present to you their beautiful write up on the topic: The positive influences on three major parts of your body: Muscles. With increased activity, muscle cells … Continue reading How Does Exercise Combat Insulin Resistance?

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator If you have read our Care Ministry article last week, you would have an earful of the impact of physical inactivity. I will continue to share with you the key points illustrated in “The Everything Guide to the Insulin Resistance Diet” written by Marie Feldman and Jodi Dalyai. Everyone should exercise. There is nothing new about … Continue reading Exercise and Your Health

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator The ill effect of the lockdown such as weight gain continues to bother me. I wanted to know more of the other health consequences of physical inactivity. Reviewing some articles, I found the following CDC write up on the impact of physical inactivity to be a good starting point to guide us in the direction of … Continue reading The Impact of Physical Inactivity

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator I have noticed a new trend since the COVID 19 epidemic. Now that the safer at home order is no longer in place, we have gathered with friends and families to celebrate our new freedom in person. Lo and behold, many of us have gained weight within these last 15 months. Staying home to avoid the … Continue reading The Horrible Story of “COVID Fat”

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Quoting my dear friend Ms. Jodi Dalyai, MS, RD, CDCES from her book “The Everything guide to the Insulin Resistance Diet”, she reported that multiple studies have shown that the best way to prevent/treat insulin resistance, as well as halt the progression of pre-diabetes and diabetes in those at risk, is through making and maintaining changes … Continue reading Insulin Resistant Diet – A Good First Step to Manage Your Diabetes

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Abstracted by Sheila Kun RN from Renewed Vitality Insulin Resistance can lead to Metabolic Syndrome, also called Syndrome X. This occurs when a person has the following four conditions: High blood pressure Elevated glucose levels (blood sugar) Abnormal cholesterol/triglyceride levels Excess abdominal fat (waist size greater than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men) … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part IX): Complications of Insulin Resistance

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator 2020 is a year not like any year that we have experienced. The pandemic has changed many people’s lives; some lost grandparents, parents, siblings, friends and co-workers. Working in a hospital, I witnessed in March 2020 some “crazy” decisions some fathers had to make. As no one knew how contagious this COVID 19 virus was, many … Continue reading Fatherly Love

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Abstracted by Sheila Kun RN from Renewed Vitality Many things contribute to Insulin Resistance. One of the biggest causes is increased amounts of fatty acids (also called triglycerides) in the bloodstream. Triglycerides are a form of cholesterol. Several studies have shown that these fats impede insulin from getting into the cells. The biggest reason for elevated … Continue reading Causes of Insulin Resistance

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator For the past few weeks we have explored the basics of diabetes; what is diabetes, how the body metabolizes food, glucose and insulin production. We also discussed the risk factors of diabetes. This week, we will explore another concept in the management of diabetes: insulin resistance. I found a good article from Renewed Vitality. So sharing … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part VII) – Insulin Resistance

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Over their lifetime, US adults overall have a 40% chance of developing type 2 diabetes. But if you’re a Hispanic/Latino American adult, your chance is more than 50%, and you’re likely to develop it at a younger age. Diabetes complications also hit harder: Hispanics/Latinos have higher rates of kidney failure caused by diabetes as well as … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part VI) -Diabetes Affects Hispanics/Latinos More – From CDC

By: Sheila Kun RN, BSN, MS, CPN, FCCPSalesian Cooperator Risk factors Factors that may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes include: Being overweight or obese is a main risk. Fat distribution. Storing fat mainly in your abdomen — rather than your hips and thighs — indicates a greater risk. Your risk of type 2 diabetes rises if you’re a man with a waist circumference … Continue reading Diabetes Type II (Part V): Abstracted from the Mayo Clinic

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