Geriatric Care - Care of the Aged

Running is a usual affair. The beauty about running is, I see life happening around me. And every morning I will see an elderly gentlemen picking up flowers fallen under the tree and neatly keep in a basket, meant for temple visits. His activity was making me curious. One fine morning I saw him again, and decided to quench my curiosity, “why does he pick up fallen flowers, while I see a whole other elderly crowd, plucking fresh flowers”. I asked him, Uncle, I always see you picking up these freshly fallen flowers from the ground. What do you do with them? I use it to worship deities and gods in my house, he replied calmly. Now this was new. Haven’t heard anything like this before. So, I asked him again, “Why will you put fallen flowers, when there are plenty on the plant itself?”. I am helping the flowers fulfil their purpose, to be with the God in their last days. They also have life, they also want to be with God like you and me in our last days, isn’t it, he asked me. I just nodded ...

पौष्टिक आहार और संतुलित भोजन क्या है ? पौष्टिक आहार वो आहार हैं जिसमे हर ज़रूरी तत्व (जैसे protein, fats, carbohydrates और minerals) उचित मात्रा में शरीर को मिलते हैं। एक संतुलित आहार में ये सब सही मात्रा में और सही अनुपात में मौजूद होते हैं। Proteins, fats और carbohydrates रोज़मर्रा के कार्यों के लिए ऊर्जा प्रदान करते हैं। Vitamins और Minerals ऊर्जा तो नहीं देते पर शरीर के विभिन्न कार्यों को नियंत्रित करने और क्रियांवित करने मर मदद करते हैं। भोजन पौष्टिक, सुपाच्य और आसानी से उपलब्ध होना चाहिए। बुज़ुर्ग द्वारा खाये गए भोजन की मात्रा महत्वपुर्ण होती है क्या? भोजन की मात्रा से गुणवत्ता का महत्व ज्यादा है। व्यक्ति की उम्र, लिंग, शारीरिक क्षमता, ऊंचाई और वजन के अनुरूप ही ज़रूरी पोषक तत्वों की मात्रा निर्धारित होती है । छोटा आहार भी पौष्टिक हो सकता है। उदहारण के लिए 100gm गेहूँ में 12gm प्रोटीन होता है जबकि उतने ही चावल में मात्र 6.4gm प्रोटीन है। इसी प्रकार 100gm रागी में 344 mg कैल्शियम है जब की उतने ही चावल में सिर्फ 9mg। जैसे जैसे व्यक्ति बुज़ुर्ग होता जाता है, क्या उसकी ख...

The Cab Ride .... I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. Th e apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’...

Type 2 Diabetes - Little Changes That Can Make a Big Difference to Your Blood Sugar and Body Weight By Beverleigh H Piepers In your quest for better health, you may need all of the help you can get. It's not a coincidence most adults struggle with their well-being. We live in a time where it's easy to become complacent with what matters the most. We give in to temptations. We submit to laziness. Ultimately, unless a cataclysmic event inspiring the necessary change occurs, we tend to resume our indiscretions. The above summarizes how many people develop Type 2 diabetes or become overweight. If you're overweight, it's not because your body is predisposed to storing more fat.  Nor is it because you have "fat genes." Rather, it's because you've made the wrong choices time and time again. But don't fret. If you played a role in your weight gain, then you can certainly take charge of your weight loss. The same principle applies to Type...

Diabetic retinopathy: causes, prevention and treatment By  M Tyler , Sep 30, 2014 Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults and the most common ocular disease associated with diabetes, according to the National Eye Institute. The frightening thing about diabetic retinopathy is that there aren't always symptoms or noticeable changes in vision. However, the condition can get progressively worse over time and cause irreversible damage to one or both eyes. Causes Changes in blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol due to diabetes can cause retinopathy. Fragile blood vessels can develop leaks, which can blur vision and cause swelling in the eye. With the progression of the disease, blood vessels that provide nourishment to the retina are blocked. The blurred vision and swelling can eventually causes total blindness, if left untreated. Both individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. ...

Best vegetables for people with diabetes By  M Tyler , Sep 11, 2014 When you have diabetes, not all vegetables are created equal. While most vegetables are packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, some will affect your blood sugar much differently than others. Keeping a list of starchy vs. non-starchy vegetables on hand will help you make the best choices when you're grocery shopping or eating out. Non-starchy vegetables Non-starchy vegetables are the best for diabetes, as they are naturally low in sugar, carbohydrates and calories. Some common non-starchy vegetables include: -Artichokes -Asparagus -Baby corn -Bean sprouts -Brussels sprouts -Cauliflower -Carrots -Eggplant -Peppers -Greens (collard, kale, turnip, romaine, spinach etc.) -Tomato If you fill your plate mostly with non-starchy vegetables that are steamed or cooked in a light amount of oil, you generally don't have to worry about portion sizes with non-starchy vegetables. One...

A very good article on Diabetic Meals planning. I hope it helps all my readers to manage thier diabetes. Diabetic-Friendly Ways to Start Your Day By  Susan Renzo , Aug 27, 2014 No matter how much time you leave yourself for breakfast every morning, there is a healthy breakfast that can be ready when you are. Why Breakfast is Important Every person with diabetes knows they must maintain a balanced diet. Breakfast should not be the exception to that rule. A breakfast containing low glycemic foods can help prevent blood sugar spikes for an entire morning. This is one of the results of a study conducted by Purdue University. In their study, almonds were added to a balanced breakfast. Study participants felt more satisfied and had lower blood glucose readings after both breakfast and lunch. The other benefit to a healthy breakfast is the boost your metabolism gets to start your day. A revved-up metabolism keeps your energy levels up all day long. Quick Breakfast...