Are you diabetic? A 2016 study concluded that 81% of all amputations in Canada are a direct result of diabetic complications.
The Canadian Diabetes Association estimates 750,000 Canadians do not know they have diabetes.
Who’s at risk? If you are over the age of 40, have a parent or sibling with diabetes, are of Aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian or African descent, or have had gestational diabetes, you are at a higher risk. Other high-risk groups include people who: are overweight, have high cholesterol and/or blood pressure, a high glucose level or heart disease.
For diabetes education for amputees, please visit: https://www.waramps.ca/pdf/english-site/ways-we-help/health-and-well…/diabetes.pdf
Community News
Balance Your Hormones
What does hormonal imbalance look like? Hot flashes, night sweats, pain, bloating, irritability, foggy brain, irregular cycle, and fatigue. If you suffer from any of these symptoms and haven’t been able to find relief, why not try balancing your hormones naturally. Biofeedback testing and treatment helps to detect imbalances and stimulates hormone-producing organs to balance the body. Another effective option is to get your body tested to see if it is lacking specific hormone-related nutrients. If you are, natural nutritional formulations can be taken to correct the hormonal imbalance and relieve your symptoms.
Heat Stress or Heat Stroke?
Unlike heat stroke, a person with heat stress doesn’t typically have an elevated temperature or confused thoughts. It’s common to have heat stress when playing sports in the heat or working with heavy clothing on. People with heat stress should go into the shade, take off extra clothing, cool their body with tepid water, and drink lots of fluids. It is more common to get heat stress than heat stroke, but if you’ve been in the heat for an extended period of time, and find that you have a temperature higher than 38°C and are showing signs of confusion, you should go to the hospital immediately.
Sports Massage for Golfer’s Elbow
Do you suffer from pain and tenderness inside your elbow? The pain and inflammation are usually a result of overusing the arm in a sport like golf or volleyball, where you repeatedly bend the wrist (wrist flexion) against resistance. Activities that subject your wrist and fingers to excess or repeated stress, like through throwing, hitting, or improperly lifting, combined with poor conditioning or lack of adequate warm-up, can contribute to golfer’s elbow. Massaging and stretching the muscles softens up the tissues and increases the blood flow to aid healing, and improves muscle function. Golfer’s elbow is a very treatable condition, although it can take a few sessions.
Need Cosmetic Dentures?
Teeth have three main functions: chewing food, lip support, and speech. The loss of your teeth can have negative effects on your self-confidence and your overall quality of life. Since your teeth provide structure and support to your cheeks, tooth loss can result in the sagging of your face. It is essential that your missing teeth are replaced as soon as possible. A new set of cosmetic dentures can instantly improve your appearance and remove facial flaws. Age is inevitable, but cosmetic dentures can help brighten your smile and make you feel young again!
Many Forms of Elder Abuse
The definition of elder abuse encompasses many different forms of behaviour, including:
• Psychological abuse in the form of threats, insults, or humiliation.
• Financial abuse, in which a trusted individual steals or misuses an elderly person’s money, forges their signature, or pressures them to make or change legal documents.
• Physical abuse such as hitting, pushing, or restraining an elderly person.
• Sexual abuse, including sexual harassment and non-consensual sexual activity.
• Neglect of an elderly person who requires care.
Speak to your loved ones about elder abuse and learn more about the resources available to help victims in your community.
7 Benefits of Adaptive Clothing
Adaptive clothing is specialized clothing that is modified to enable easier dressing for people with a disability. The clothing is made to help people with a high degree of disability, as well as their caregivers, or to assist individuals with a lower degree of disability to dress independently. The seven benefits of adaptive clothing are:
• Typically incorporates flat seams to reduce friction.
• Discreet adaptations make the clothing look as normal as possible.
• Has easy access with snaps and Velcro.
• Roomy design to accommodate incontinence aids.
• Longer rise in the back to accommodate sitting in wheelchairs.
• Elastic waist for increased comfort and reduced effort when dressing.
• Allows wearers dignity and independence.
Focus on Self-Improvement
“Don’t criticize them; they are just what we would be under similar circumstances.” – Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln had learned by bitter experience that sharp criticisms end in futility. Do you know someone you would like to change, regulate, and improve? Great! That is natural. You may even feel justified. But why not begin on yourself? From a purely selfish standpoint, that is a lot more meaningful than trying to improve others – yes, and a lot less risky.
Anyone can criticize, condemn, and complain – and many do.
But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.
Product Review: DoTerra TerraShield® Spray
Say yes to SUMMER adventure! Would you like to try an effective Natural Alternative to conventional, chemical-laden bug spray? When it comes to outdoor protection, there is no better defense than Mother Nature’s offerings. The TerraShield® spray by DoTerra acts as an effective, natural, safe repellent for you and your whole family. This newly updated formula contains a select blend of essential oils including Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, Catnip, Lemon Eucalyptus, Litsea, Arborvitae, Nootka, and Vanilla Bean Absolute—all of which possess specific compounds known to protect against environmental annoyances.
Wilderness Edge for Your Wellness Needs
Imagine taking a break from it all and focusing on how you feel, both physically and mentally. Letting go of the stresses, chaos, and noise of day-to-day life. Getting away and focusing on your personal wellness is important, and Wilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre offers an easy and affordable way to do just that.
Connecting with Nature
Located just one hour from Winnipeg in beautiful Pinawa, Manitoba inside Whiteshell Provincial Park, Wilderness Edge hosts a variety of retreats for people of all ages and specializes in hosting groups. Being located in a provincial park means that the centre is surrounded by nature. The sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors are waiting for you just outside Wilderness Edge’s doors.
Surrounding the centre are wetlands, forests, nature trails, and a local sandy beach. Experiencing the calming effects of immersing yourself in nature can help you feel more grounded and at peace. Observing local wildlife such as deer and a variety of species of birds can make you feel more connected to the natural world around you, also helping to calm your mind.
Moving Your Body
These natural spaces are also a great place to participate in physical activity, which is critical to improving your overall wellbeing. Hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, tubing, and canoeing, are just some of the great activities that await you at Wilderness Edge. For winter guests, we offer ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. You can choose to take advantage of expert-guided activities, or do some exploring on your own.
Other activities available include golfing at a nearby golf course, horse riding at a nearby ranch, beach volleyball, tetherball, horseshoes, pool, ping-pong, and tennis at the nearby courts.
Finding Inner Peace
Those who are seeking a more relaxed wellness retreat will be happy to know that Wilderness Edge can accommodate those experiences as well. The centre offers a 13-person outdoor hot tub that overlooks Winnipeg River, a newly renovated 10-person sauna, and three firepits in the courtyard that also overlook Winnipeg River.
Solitude and serenity can be found at Wilderness Edge, and for those who are focusing on their spiritual and/or mental wellness, the centre offers a place to recharge, disconnect from the outside world, and channel your energy inward. If you would prefer not to leave your room during your stay, arrangements can be made to have your meals delivered to you, ensuring you have minimal outside distractions.
Reuniting with Loved Ones
Socializing and connecting to those closest to you also contributes to your overall wellness. The daily stresses and fast pace of life can sometimes get in the way of truly communicating with and enjoying the presence of your close friends and family members. Sharing stories, laughing, crying, and supporting one another are things we don’t always have the time, or the energy, to do.
Wilderness Edge offers a perfect opportunity to focus on your relationships, whether with a spouse or significant other, your immediate family, your extended family, or a group of close friends. Unplugging from the demands of daily life and learning more about one another is an important step in building stronger relationships.
You can participate in team-building activities like kayaking or team sports, which allow you to learn how to work together and solve problems, while also having fun. Or you can take a walk in the woods and find a renewed sense of adventure that will give you shared memories for years to come. Sometimes, just relaxing together, whether around a firepit or in a hot tub enjoying the view, can be a meaningful experience, allowing a peaceful opportunity for deeper conversations.
Exploring Your Creativity
Getting in touch with your creative side can be a great stress reducer and mood booster. Wilderness Edge offers a variety of creative activities, including painting on canvas, rock painting, cake decorating, flower arranging, clay sculpting, and making wind chimes. These classes offer guided instruction, as well as all of the materials needed to create your masterpiece.
If you prefer a less structured approach to finding your inner creativity, why not bring some art supplies with you and spend time during your retreat creating whatever you’d like? With plenty of inspiration in the form of plants, animals, trees, and water, drawing, painting, and photography should be a breeze. Or get a group together to work on a fun craft project.
Eating for Health
Another important aspect of wellness is eating right, and Wilderness Edge offers tasty, nutritious meals for all of our guests. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a night snack are all offered during your stay. A variety of foods are provided, all made fresh and served buffet-style so you can try a bit of everything. Our chefs are able to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions, provided these are mentioned ahead of time.
One reason many of us tend to overeat or not eat properly is because we’re so pressed for time or stressed that we turn to food as a source of comfort or see it as something that “has” to be taken care of. By getting away from our usual stressors, we have the opportunity to truly enjoy food and consider what we’re putting into our bodies. Wilderness Edge provides the time and space for you to remember how good healthy eating can actually make you feel.
Those who are looking to fast for spiritual or personal reasons can find a peaceful, supportive environment at Wilderness Edge. The serene environment is perfect for focusing on your fasting journey and taking the time that you need to rest.
If you’ve been looking for a chance to leave the daily grind behind and take some time to focus on your mind, body, and soul, consider booking a retreat at our centre. Gather a group of your closest friends who could also use a break, and come experience what Wilderness Edge has to offer. Visit https://www.wildernessedge.com/ and https://www.wildernessedge.com/retreats/, or contact us at 877-753-2535 or info@wildernessedge.com for more information.
Travel Tip: Cindy Knows Travel
Traveling, for most, is an exciting and enlightening activity filled with rich experiences and a plethora of surprises. But it can also present challenges, especially in the context of maintaining one’s wellness routine. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Marrakesh, Morocco—a totally outside-the-box trip that I was equal parts excited and nervous about. Morocco, as a whole, has never been at the top of my bucket list. Keeping up with my healthy habits is relatively easy when I’m in, say, Costa Rica or the Virgin Islands, but Morocco presented new challenges. Here are five things you should know when travelling to a country like Morocco: 1. Pack healthy snacks. 2. Download a few meditations. 3. Indulge in a spa treatment. 4. Hydrate all the time. 5. Be flexible and kind to yourself.
