Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 30, 2009
Thanks to the Department of Transportation (DOT), traveling with oxygen has never been easier. On May 13, 2009, a new ruling went into effect allowing oxygen-dependent passengers to carry their own portable oxygen concentrators on-board all U.S. flights and international flights beginning and ending in the United States. The only catch, the concentrators must be approved by the DOT.
In light of the new ruling, passengers must still meet certain pre-boarding conditions including advance check-ins, having a fully charged battery for 150% of flight time, a doctor’s statement of medical necessity and properly packaged extra batteries. (more…)
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Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 27, 2009
I was born at the tail-end of an era marked by dramatic social change. It was not until much later in life that I realized they had a name for people like me. The term “baby boomer” was coined to describe the 76 million babies born in the United States between 1943 and 1960, during the post World War II birthing boom.
As this free-spirited generation ages and baby boomers face retirement, we are also faced with many contemporary challenges, particularly with America’s health care system. The question that weighs most heavily upon our minds is - can our health care system be prepared to meet our challenges?
According to the Commonwealth Fund Survey of Older Adults, the combination of rising out-of-pocket health care expenses and sluggish wage growth threatens many baby boomers’ ability to save for retirement. This dilemma increasingly raises concern because of its dramatic impact on our ability to afford health care. (more…)
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Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 17, 2009
In the hospital setting, nurses are taught to always store insulin in the refrigerator. Should this practice be any different though, when storing insulin at home?
The American Diabetes Association suggests that because refrigerated insulin may increase the pain of the insulin injection, it is safe to store it at room temperature for up to 30 days. But, room temperature does not mean in extreme heat or cold. If your insulin has been exposed to extreme temperatures, it should not be used.
Never store insulin in the freezer or glove compartment of your car. Always keep insulin out of direct sunlight.
If you have extra bottles of insulin, store them in the refrigerator until they are needed. When you need a new bottle, take it out in plenty of time for your next injection.
Before any injection, check the expiration date on the bottle. Never use insulin after it expires. Once you open your insulin, mark the date on the bottle and discard any unused portion after 30 days.
Regular insulin should be clear without any particles, cloudiness or discoloration. NPH or Lente is supposed to be cloudy but it should not have clumps or solid crystals in it. Before giving yourself an injection, inspect the bottle. If your insulin does not look normal, take it back to the pharmacy for a replacement.
For more information about diabetes and insulin use, visit the American Diabetes Association.
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Alex Bettencourt - July 16, 2009
How many of us keep a tiny list of our medical information in our wallet? We carry around our health insurance, credit and reward cards. Why don’t we carry a small slip of paper that could save our life?
A wallet list containing your medical information is essential because it could prevent a disaster in the emergency room. If you have to be treated for something immediately it’s important for doctors to know your current medications, blood type, allergies, emergency contacts and more.
If you want to print out a sample of a medical emergency card, see ours below! (more…)
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Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 16, 2009
At the age of 41, actress Delta Burke, best known for her role in the hit series “Designing Women”, was diagnosed with type II diabetes. In a 2007 interview with Diabetes Mine, Delta described her initial shock after learning she had the disease which later transformed into depression. When she was told by her doctor she would have to start taking insulin if she did not learn to control her diabetes with diet and exercise, she decided to take action. (more…)
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Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 15, 2009
A couple of months ago after undergoing routine lab work, my doctor informed me that I had prediabetes, a condition which causes your blood sugar to be abnormally high, but not high enough to be considered full-blown diabetes. (more…)
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Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 15, 2009
You have just used an insulin syringe and now you need to safely dispose of it. Is it safe to throw in your trash can? Absolutely not. Throwing a needle away in regular trash imposes many risks, including injury to anyone who may not know it’s there.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that you discard needles in a safe container when they are bent, dull, or otherwise contaminated (touched something other than clean skin). The best way to dispose of a syringe is to first remove the needle. To do this, purchase a device that was made expressly for the purpose of clipping, catching and containing the needle. (more…)
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Deborah Leader, RN, BSN, PH - July 14, 2009
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient found in many over-the-counter and prescription medications; the most common of these being Tylenol and prescription drugs such as Vicoden and Percocet.
When taken as directed, acetaminophen is generally safe and highly effective in reducing pain and fever associated with many common ailments and injuries. But an overdose of acetaminophen, either accidental or intentional, can cause severe liver damage ranging from abnormal liver function tests to liver failure and even death. (more…)
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Alex Bettencourt - July 6, 2009
What does aging in place mean? It means that thanks to advances in both medicine and technology, it is now possible for elderly to remain in their own homes while securing the necessary health care services. fIn fact, according to SeniorResource.com, more than 70 percent of seniors currently grow old in the same residence where they celebrated their 65th birthday.
Aging in place is very important for a variety of reasons. First, moving is a stressful event, one that can be even more harrowing for someone with health issues. Second, many independent living and assisted care facilities are quite expensive, and Medicare and Medicaid often cover only a portion of the bill. And third, many communities for seniors are located far from friends and family members, making the move a lonely and upsetting endeavor. (more…)
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Alex Bettencourt - July 6, 2009
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Journal recently reported that most teens (ages 15-18) neglect using their asthma medications correctly; regardless of the fact they understand it’s designed to help them breathe more easily. (more…)
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