Raise Your Hand to Stop Diabetes

November is American Diabetes Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about how diabetes affects the lives of millions of Americans. The American Diabetes Association is asking people to “Raise Your Hand to Stop Diabetes” by making a personal pledge to take action against this deadly disease.

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult onset diabetes, is striking people at younger ages and the rates are skyrocketing as the population grows heavier and gets less exercise. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help prevent it.

Follow these helpful prevention tips:

1. Put exercise first. Regular exercise by itself can cut diabetes risk. Choose to do things you enjoy and do them every day.
2. Keep your weight in check. Being a healthy weight is the best thing you can do to lower your risk of diabetes. Need to lose weight? Exercising and eating a healthy diet – slowly – and with smaller portions are your best bets.
3. Choose healthy fats and proteins, and skip the red meat like steaks and hamburgers, and processed meat such as bacon, hot dogs and deli meats. A diet rich in mono and polyunsaturated fats like canola and olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, can help lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease.
4. Focus on plant foods. A diet high in whole grains can help lower the risk of diabetes and keep appetite in check. Choose a good variety of whole grain foods prepared in interesting ways.
5. Cut back on refined carbs and sugary drinks. Bread, rice, pasta and potatoes that are white cause fast and furious increases in blood sugar, as do sugary drinks, fruit punch and fruit juice. Over time, eating lots of these refined carbohydrates and sugar may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. To lower your risk, switch to brown rice or whole wheat pasta and drink water, coffee or tea instead.

Source: Harvard School of Public Health

Prepare Your Home for Winter

With the winter months just around the corner, and some areas already seeing snow, now is a good time to winterize your home before the cold weather really sets in. Here are some handy suggestions on how to set up and prepare your home for winter.

• The furnace needs professional attention. At the beginning of each winter season it needs to be inspected and all corresponding ducts should be cleaned. Stock up on filters and make sure your thermostat is properly programmed. Remember to remove flammable items from around the furnace.
• Make a thorough examination of the exteriors of the house. Check doors and windows for cracks and crevices. Repair all openings appropriately to prevent cold air from entering the house. Replace cracked or broken windowpanes. Take off summer screens and install storm windows.
• Carefully examine and clean the roof, gutters and down spouts to clear them of all debris. Install screens around openings to keep away leaves and twigs. Check flashing to keep water off your home. If you expect the temperatures to drop, add extra insulation on the roof and attic. Replace tiles on the roof if required.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and follow the regulations in your area regarding these safety tools. Keep extra smoke detector batteries and install the carbon monoxide detector near the furnace or water heater.
• Buy a fire extinguisher or replace any that are older than 10 years.
• Learn how to prevent frozen pipes. Be aware of the location of the water main in your home that might need to be shut off in an emergency. Insulate any exposed plumbing pipes and drain air conditioner pipes. If you’re going to be away on vacation, leave the heat on at a minimum of 55 degrees.
• Prepare outdoor spaces by trimming trees and sealing driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
• Prepare emergency kits that will see you through the winter. Stock up on candles, matches, torches, extra batteries, first-aid kits, bottled water and non-perishable food items and blankets.

Source: SafetyEd.org

Prevent Tip-Over Injuries in Your Home

Furniture and TV tip-over incidents are one of the top hidden hazards in the home. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a child is killed once every two weeks, and tens of thousands are injured every year from TV and furniture tip-overs.

The CPSC is urging parents and caregivers to inspect and anchor furniture and TVs in order to protect young children from a preventable tragedy.

Between 2000 and 2010, the CPSC received reports of 245 tip-over-related deaths involving children 8 years old and younger. In more than half of those fatalities, the child was crushed by the weight of the TV, furniture or appliance.

Follow these simple, low-cost safety tips in any home where children live or visit:

• Anchor furniture such as bookcases, chests or dressers to the wall or the floor.
• Place TVs on sturdy, low bases, or anchor the furniture and the TV on top of it, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.
• Keep remote controls, toys and other items that might attract children off of TV stands or furniture.
• Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.
• Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
• Supervise children at all times.

Source: cpsc.gov

What’s Growing in Your Lunchbox?

Chances are you or someone in your household brings lunch to school or work. While it’s a common routine, important steps to prevent foodborne illness are often overlooked.

Here are some easy tips to keep your lunch and family safe:

Keep it cool. Perishable foods like dairy and meats should not be left out of refrigeration for more than two hours. However, in an American Dietetic Association survey, four out of five kids say they don’t have access to a refrigerator at school. To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, pack lunches in an insulated lunch bag or box along with an ice pack or frozen beverage container.

Clean it up. Remember to wash vegetables and ready-to-eat fruits like apples and grapes before packing them for the day. Also, remember to rinse peel-and-eat fruits like bananas and oranges to eliminate harmful bacteria that can spread during peeling or cutting.

Clean food containers and lunch boxes daily with warm soapy water. Disinfect counter surfaces to prevent cross-contamination as you prepare meals.

Wash your hands before digging in. Nearly 60 percent of kids say they don’t wash their hands before eating lunch, but nine out of 10 say they would wash their hands with a moist towelette or hand sanitizer if one was included in their lunch container.

Source: American Dietetic Association