Community News
Why a Diabetes Educator? 

Diabetes is a complex disease that affects many organs in the body. More than 50% of people who are newly diagnosed have signs of irreversible long-term complications: vision loss, kidney damage, nerve pain, erectile dysfunction, loss of sensation in hands and feet and gastrointestinal complaints. A Diabetes Educator has special training to assist those who are diagnosed with pre-diabetes, the newly diagnosed, and people with longstanding diabetes to self-manage. A Diabetes Educator is equipped with skills and knowledge to identify barriers to optimal blood sugar control that are different for each person and tailor a plan to suit each person’s needs in one-on-one and step-by-step fashion. After a few sessions you will be confident to self-manage and achieve your blood sugar targets. People say they feel better and have more energy even with marginal improvement of blood sugar control. Delay the progression of diabetes complications, not diabetes education!

Mathilda Prinsloo, B Pharm CGP CDE, www.seniorcarepractice.com

Ask your Dentist

Should you leave your dentures out at night?  Simple answer is yes.  If you cannot bear to go to bed toothless, then you must be ten times more careful to keep your dentures absolutely clean.  Brush dentures with soap or a denture cleaning paste.  Regular toothpaste is too abrasive for denture acrylic and will cause premature wear.  Brush over a sink full of water; that way, if you drop the denture, it will go splash instead of crack.  Brush your gums where they are in contact with the denture.  If they are sore or bleed then you must leave the dentures out overnight.  Soak the dentures in a cup of water with a couple of tablespoons of household bleach at least once or twice a week.  This will not harm the denture.  It will kill bacteria and spores and remove stubborn stains.  If your gums are sore or bleed for any length of time, please go and see your dentist.  You can always get new dentures; new gums are more of a challenge.

Dr. George Cadigan, www.exclusivelydentures.ca

10-Point Risk Assessment 

When do you know it’s time to get a medical alert system in your home? Take this short assessment to find out! If you answer “yes” to most of these, maybe it’s time to consider one!  Are you over the age of 55? Do you live alone? Do you lead an active lifestyle? Do you use a cane, walker or devices to assist you in walking? In the past year, have you fallen or been at risk of falling inside or outside the home? Do you take daily medication? Have you been hospitalized in the past 3 years? Do you sometimes feel weak or dizzy? In the past 12 months, have you been concerned about falling in the home? Is it important for you to continue living independently? With a medical alert unit, you can have peace of mind knowing that at any time, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, help is available at the push of a button.

www.lifeassure.com

Acupuncture for Menopause

Many menopausal women complain that “hot flash” is too mild a word for an experience that they say is more like jumping into a fire. Hot flashes can include feelings of intense heat, profuse sweating and rapid heartbeat. Fortunately, a new study suggests that acupuncture may help to reduce the severity and frequency of hot flashes with regular treatments. The most effective treatment for hot flashes is hormone therapy – the use of medication that contains estrogen or progesterone. However, such treatment can increase the risk of other health conditions, including stroke, heart disease and cancer. Many women also experience unwanted side effects from hormone therapy. This is why Acupuncture works so well as an alternative treatment. If you’re a woman experiencing painful hot flashes, give acupuncture a try!

Ling Zhao,  Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.) (CTCMA); C.M.D., Dr.Ac (CMAAC), Registered Massage Therapist (MTAM)

Get Even With Your Bra! 

For a woman who receives a breast cancer diagnosis, many things may go through their minds. If a mastectomy or a lumpectomy is required, there are alternatives to reconstruction. If reconstruction is not immediate, for the interim, there are options. A breast form or breast prosthesis can provide a balanced silhouette for all women. If a lumpectomy is required and your breasts are slightly uneven, or even a cup size different, Amoena partial shapers provide balance and confidence. The Amoena partial shapers are soft and natural looking, no one will know that you are wearing a partial breast form. They are made with Comfort+ technology, which allows you to stay warm or cool depending on your own temperature. Amoena partial forms and full breast forms are easy to wear, they simply slip into your bra to provide a smooth and symmetrical shape. Get even today!

Tara Torchia-Wells, www.theunexpectedgift.ca

Your Hair Needs Vitamins!

Did you ever wonder the impact of nutrition on your hair health? The results of a balanced, nutritionally-sound food plan are always obvious. We find poor nutrition impacts speed of hair growth, quality of hair and speed of the shedding cycle. Have you ever been on a crash diet? Ever noticed your hair was dull and lifeless? All side effects of poor nutrition. Once your nutrition gets better/ideal, your hair/skin/nails become strong and vibrant. Is it possible to ALWAYS eat perfectly? No. Capilia has recently launched their Vitalia tablets; uniquely designed with collagen and biotin, these nutritional supplements are ideal for hair growth.

www.citylooks.ca

Medication Reviews

Most people are aware that prescription medications can interact with each other, sometimes causing adverse side effects. However, over the counter products such as vitamins or herbal products can also interact with prescription medications – these interactions can potentially change the effectiveness of the drug and lead to harm, such as a fall. This in turn can lead to an emergency room visit or hospital stay. If you are on prescription drugs, it is important to have a discussion with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any over the counter products to ensure you are taking the right products at the right times. A pharmacist can also conduct a full medication review with all your prescription and over the counter products and advise you on safe medication use. If you are on a complex medication regime, a visiting pharmacist can help you monitor the effects of your medication in the comfort of your home.

Care At Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Your Attitude Can Change Your Life

How we look and take in the world impacts every aspect of our lives. Our attitude is the foundation from which life springs off of. We can’t always control what comes our way, but we do have control over how we choose to take it in and use it. There is no secret recipe for happiness and contentment. Those who choose to move through life joyously have not been blessed wth more abundance, love, success or prosperity than another, instead they take the circumstances they’ve been handed and make it into something worthwhile and life giving. Our delight and despair comes from within. A subtle shift in attitude, can uncover so many hidden gifts that can change our lives. By choosing to love life no matter what crosses your path…you create an energy that allows every aspect of ourselves to grow and thrive!

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid, Masters in Counselling Psychology, www.souls-journey.com

Pet Separation Anxiety 

Separation anxiety is a common and difficult situation that many households are faced with. It can be dangerous to animals as well as other family members. Though separation anxiety is a deep-rooted psychological disorder, there are a few simple steps that can be taken to ease the symptoms in animals. The first is to be absolutely sure that the issue is separation anxiety. It can often be confused with boredom, malnutrition or chronic pain. Once certain, here are a few tips to minimize symptoms: 1) Use a lavender oil diffuser- lavender is known to soothe nerves. DO NOT ever put oil directly on an animal as some oils are toxic.  2) Play classical music on low volume while your animal is alone. 3) Crate training- place the animal in a crate while alone to minimize destructive behaviour to him/herself and the house. Mental health is important for every member of the family!

Jill Saifer, https://soulsticespirithealing.wordpress.com

What is TMD? 

Do you have jaw pain or chronic headaches? Do you clench or grind your teeth? These problems can be related to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). These symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain with jaw restriction and locking. Making an accurate diagnosis of your TMD is essential so an effective treatment regime can be implemented. Physiotherapists can assess the muscles impacting on your jaw, your neck and your posture. A dentist should be involved to assess your bite and any unusual or excessive wearing of your teeth. A physiotherapy approach will be different for each patient depending on the source of their symptoms. Some treatments that are used are myofacial release, massage, acupuncture, joint mobilization and dry needling. The focus is to relieve pain, reduce swelling and muscle spasm, increase posture strength and restore jaw movement and alignment. Treatment is also directed towards associated neck pain, headaches and a good strengthening program for long term self-management.

Gina Imbrogno, www.prairietrailphysio.ca

Garcinia Cambogia Fruit

An incredibly efficient fat burning ingredient, Garcinia Cambogia has received much media attention for it’s effect on weight loss and food consumption control. This pure ingredient is 100% natural; it is sometimes referred to as Tamarind, and it grows primarily in the lush green mountains of India, southeast Asia as well as in Central Africa. Its primary ingredient is the dietary super supplement known as HCA, which is proven in scientific studies to stop hunger in its tracks. The tamarind fruit has traditionally been used in soups as appetizers before meals, because of the smaller portion sizes due to limited amount of food. It’s appetite suppression qualities helped make villagers feel more full (satiety) and the fruit would increase the workers’ fat burning skills (thermogenesis) providing an increase in energy and productivity.

Greg and Bridget Doll, www.myvalentus.com/lakewinnipeg