Tag Archives: body

Aug14

5 Self Care Tips To Remember

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5 Self Care Tips To Remember

There is nothing more important than looking after yourself, and we’re constantly being told that self care is the way to do it. Spend some time doing yoga and putting cucumber on your eyes, and you’ll be cured of all of your ills, right? Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but looking after yourself is still an imperative part of your health and happiness, and it gives you the boost that you need to carry on during rough patches.

But what simple self care tips can you carry with you, in order to make sure that you know how and when to take some time out? We’ve put together five here, for those seeking inner peace and well being.

Drink more water:

Okay, you heard it here first. Well, you probably didn’t. Drink. More. Water. Those three little words are what everybody needs to hear. Not only will it keep you hydrated (obviously) but it will also clear up your skin, clear out the junk from your body, and give you the energy that you need to be as great as you can be. Oh, and it’s practically the easiest thing in the world. Carry a water bottle with you at all times; you won’t regret it.

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Just relax:

A lot of us don’t relax, because we don’t even know how to. Relaxing isn’t scrolling through your phone for hours or sitting there worrying about what you should be doing instead of relaxing. It’s really making an effort to chill out and to clear your mind of everything in order to do so. Work on letting things go, so that you can get to a place of total tranquility every once in a while.

Being able to fully relax takes practice – especially if you have anxiety. It’s all about finding that “just right” thing that works for you. Maybe it’s a hot cup of tea and reading a chapter of a new book. Or, it could be popping on your favorite feel good show and enjoying some delicious gummies from https://thehempdoctor.com/delta-9-thc/, allowing the THC to calm your nerves and put your body into a state of zen and relaxation. Explore different options and soon, relaxing will become something to enjoy instead of one more thing to stress over.

Sleep well:

One of the main things that you need to do if you want to look after yourself is to sleep well. Sleeping gives your body a chance to restore itself and it’s good for the ol’ mind, too. Check out an air conditioning store nearby so that you can get the perfect sleep temperature nailed and try to maintain some kind of routine when it comes to the time that you go to bed and the time that you wake up.

If you are struggling to fall asleep or spending your nights tossing and turning, there are countless tips you can try to help. This could be a visit to your doctor, limiting screen time before bed, using soothing essential oils like lavender, or sipping on THC Drinks before you start getting ready for bed. When you find what works for you, you are going to feel so much better and well rested.

Make time for your passions:

Your passions are what make life worth living and they’re not only great because you find them enjoyable. Escaping into the things that you love is perfect for self care, as it allows you to really be yourself and let go of all of the issues that are whizzing around your mind. Whether you love art, music, or reading, make sure that you’ve got time to pursue it. You’ll feel on top of the world when you do!

If one of your passions is travel, perhaps your self care will come in the form of taking a vacation. We all need one whether it is a staycation, weekend getaway, or a big trip. Making travel plans can be both exciting and soothing as it gives your mind a literal vacation. From exploring lodging accommodations like a bed and breakfast or bruachdryne apartment rentals to scoping out the best eateries and activities, planning a trip can be as fun as taking one. The ultimate in self care!

Be kind to yourself:

Many people beat themselves up all of the time, for various reasons. Maybe you’re not where you want to be with your career, you think that you’re not thin enough, or you believe that you’ve done something wrong that is going to follow you forever. However, you need to be kind to yourself. You’ll make mistakes, but you’re on the right path. You still deserve to be happy, so don’t forget this.

If you find yourself caught in an anti kindness to yourself cycle, try doing something nice for yourself instead. Do you fancy a massage? Enter a search for “swedish massage in Alameda, CA” (or your local area) and book that appointment! Want a quiet afternoon with a good book? Curl up and make it happen! Treating yourself to something you enjoy is an amazing way to be kind to yourself and you will always feel better when you invest in number one – you!

Enjoy improving your self care rituals; you deserve it!

Aug2

Different Types Of Sunscreen: What’s The Best One For You?

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Different Types Of Sunscreen: What’s The Best One For You?

If you go out every day, you’re probably aware that you need to apply sunscreen whenever your skin is exposed to the sun. Using any kind of sunscreen is definitely better than not using any sunscreen at all. But if you can find the best sunscreen for you, make sure that it has broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and an SPF or sun protection factor of at least 30.

There is a high number of sunscreen options available in the market today. And it can be challenging to figure out which one will be compatible with your skin type and preferences. That being said, below are the different kinds of sunscreen you might come across to help you find the most suitable formula for your particular skin type.

Chemical Sunscreen vs Physical Sunscreen:

Sunscreens generally come in two main types, chemical and physical formulations. These contain different ingredients, so they behave and provide sun protection in different ways. Physical sunscreens primarily safeguard you from damaging ultraviolet rays by serving as a physical shield over the skin.

On the other hand, chemical sunscreens react with UV rays and sunlight. They then deteriorate over time so you will need to reapply them every two to three hours. This depends on how much sun exposure you’re getting. But physical sunscreens require reapplications as well.

If you can’t choose between physical and chemical sunscreens, consider hybrid sunscreens. This kind of sunscreen contains both chemical and physical ingredients and offers the same benefits. Try the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream from COSRX, one of the best-selling sunscreens in the Philippines. It’s enriched with Aloe Vera extract and has SPF 50 as well as UVA and UVB protection. It’s also lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast and greasy residue.

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Sunscreen Recommendations for Different Skin Types:

If your skin is susceptible to rosacea, acne, and dermatitis, avoid sunscreens that contain fragrances, preservatives, and those that have the ingredients oxybenzone or PABA. Opt for physical sunscreens, which have titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These are ingredients that individuals with sensitive and reactive skin can tolerate better. If rosacea or dermatitis is your primary concerns, avoid alcohol-based sunscreens as well. If your primary concern is acne, you can consider trying gel formulations. These can help regulate oil on your face and are less likely to irritate your skin.

You should also avoid heavy cream preparations since these can aggravate breakouts. On the other hand, if you’re using prescription acne topicals, these are notorious for drying out the skin. You can opt for lightweight creams or lotions instead of gels that might be too drying.

A Note on Natural Sunscreens:

“Natural” sunscreens usually have mineral bases. If you want to try one, look for a product with a coconut oil or olive oil base. These already contain natural SPF protection and can offer the most optimal protection.

Using sunscreen regularly is a vital way to counteract the adverse effects of sun exposure. For best results, choose the best formula that won’t irritate your skin so you can wear it whenever you need it.

Aug1

What’s The Purpose Of A Routine Physical?

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What’s The Purpose Of A Routine Physical?

Every year, millions of people show up to the doctor’s office, even though they’re not suffering from any symptoms. They’re not in any pain, don’t have any unsightly rashes, or bulges emanating from parts of their body where they shouldn’t. In short, they appear to be in good health. Instead of turning them away and telling them to come back when they are sick, the physician embraces them with open arms and begins taking a bunch of measurements. What the heck is going on?

Routine physicals have been a part of medical treatment for at least the last one hundred years, ever since doctors have been able to probe the body’s chemistry. The purpose of these physicals is to find out whether the body is healthy according to those markers, not just the patient’s report about how they feel. A routine exam, therefore, is all about finding unseen problems and getting on top of them early, before they start causing real damage.

Routine physicals by a family medicine doctor include the following:

Visual Exam:

Doctors like to perform a visual examination of the body. The purpose of this isn’t to make you feel awkward, but to find problems you may overlook. Doctors will peer into your eyes, ears, chest, joints, and abdomen, looking for potential problems.

Vital Signs:

A healthy pulse is essential. But, it’s precisely the sort of thing that is difficult for the patient to detect. Can you honestly say that you know the precise rhythm of your heart? The likely answer is no. During a routine physical, your physician will hook you up to specialized medical equipment that shows whether your pulse is as it should be. Problems with your pulse readings could indicate heart issues – something that needs urgent attention.

Lab Tests:

The third big pillar of the routine physical is lab tests. You go along to your checkup, your doctor removes some of your blood with a syringe and then sends it off to the lab for analysis. Your blood contains important markers indicative of your overall state of health. Doctors look out for things that might indicate that you’re at a higher risk of heart disease or diabetes. For instance, your cholesterol might be above 220 mg/dL putting you at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Again, you can’t tell whether you have high cholesterol. There’s no pain associated with the condition. So it’s sensible to go to the doctor every few months to get it checked. Regular checkups also mean that you can track your cholesterol over time. You can see if diet and lifestyle measures are improving your metabolic status or not.

Screening:

The fourth pillar is screening. The type of testing you receive at a routine checkup very much depends on your gender. For women, screening mostly involves pap smears, mammograms, and pelvic exams for risk of STI transmission. For men, the focus is on the colon and lungs because of cancer.

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If you haven’t had a physical in a while, schedule with your GP ASAP to make sure that all is well with your health.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jul28

Period Problems

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Period Problems

*FYI: This post has a trigger warning for eating disorders so read at your own discretion!*

Helloooo, darlings! When I was a teenager, I can never remember my “time of the month” causing me as much grief as it does as a twenty-something. The cramps, fatigue, bloating, and an insatiable appetite seem to be a more recent thing to the past few years. Now, the discomfort and tiredness is something that I can deal with with a Motrin and a Starbucks. But, what really bothers me is the crazy increased appetite.

For a good long while, I suffered from a vicious cycle of binging and purging and the amount that I eat in one sitting on my period definitely brings me back to that. But, oh my god, am I hungry! It’s a difficult thing to deal with and I was wondering if anyone had any tips to lessen these intense hunger pangs when Aunt Flo pays a visit. Whether that be more regular little meals, an increased amount of protein, or what have you – I am willing to try anything and any suggestions help!

Thanks in advance! ❤

What are your Period Problems? How do you make your time of the month more comfortable? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul26

A Deeper Understanding Of Eating Disorders: What You Should Know

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A Deeper Understanding Of Eating Disorders: What You Should Know

*This post contains a trigger warning for eating disorders*

Despite the prevalence of eating disorders in today’s society, the public is still struggling to understand what these are. Because of this, it becomes easy to believe the many misconceptions surrounding this family of conditions. To protect and educate ourselves with regard to this matter, it’s important that the truth is set apart from lies or misinformation. One good way to do that is to present all of the facts, like the following list of things to give you a better understanding about eating disorders:

Eating Disorders Are Medically Recognized Illnesses:

Eating disorders fall under mental illnesses. They are serious disorders which can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. This means that any eating disorder, be it anorexia or bulimia nervosa has clear diagnostic criteria for them to fall under this category. And, albeit alarming, the fact is that eating disorders have a higher mortality rate than any psychiatric disorder.

Eating Disorders Go Way Beyond Food:

While these conditions are related to someone’s eating habits, frequently, one’s view on food is not where this is rooted. In reality, there are various aspects that can influence its development. Among those factors include the biological, psychological, and sociocultural background of the patient. This means that trying to offer support with simple phrases like “eat more,” “have less”, and “be healthier” simply wouldn’t work, since the cause of the condition is rooted in issues that are often completely unrelated to food and material possessions. If you are suffering from an eating disorder, mental trauma must be worked through. This could be with a local therapist or an inpatient program. Whatever method you choose is an excellent step and talking about these feelings is only going to help you no matter how hard it is.

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Recovery Is Possible for This Condition:

As serious as they may sound, getting over eating disorders is possible. You’ll find tons of treatment options for bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders in your area. Recovery, however, takes a lot of work and the patient needs to be willing to comply with it. Along with that, they need a strong support system to help them overcome this condition. This would only be deemed effective with the guidance of a psychiatrist, because recovery goes way beyond the patient’s physical health and impacts their mental well-being. For that, it’s necessary to have a doctor guide them throughout their healing process.

Anyone Can Suffer from Eating Disorders:

One of the things people fail to understand about eating disorders, is the fact that it can happen to anyone. No matter what gender or how old a person is, there’s a risk of developing this condition. Statistics have shown that the frequency of kids experiencing this has been on the rise. It only means that this illness can easily affect anyone. What’s even more challenging is that it can be difficult to tell whether a person is suffering or not. Contrary to what most people believe, that part requires proper diagnosis and an expert’s help. This is so they can assess which particular disorder the patient has.

Whether you are the patient or part of the patient’s support group, try your best to maintain a healthy and positive outlook. This will make the arduous process of healing a little easier for those involved.

Jul26

A Brief Update: Blahhhhhhhhhh

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A Brief Update: Blahhhhhhhhhh

Hi! I swear, these past few weeks have felt like a nonstop grind for Lil Red. I don’t know if it’s so much that I’m working more as much as I’m exhausted both emotionally and physically. First it was a break up that I’m not happy about, then the passing of one of our sweet family dogs, on top of my normal work week, concluded with ninety degree weather here in Ohio. So, needless to say, I am worn out.

Although a break can’t happen this month because my schedule for my clients is already in effect, I definitely plan on taking a few days off come August. I just feel like I haven’t even had a moment to myself to process everything that’s going on in my life without the stress of work, writing, housework, and the fact that I feel like I am light years beyond in the relationship game. But, that’s neither here nor there.

Despite things all around sucking in my life, I am happy to be able to go skating every week now. It’s a nice change of pace from every other week and it gives me something to look forward to to help take my mind off of things. It feels good to clear my head when I’m on the ice. Now, if only it would stay like that post skating sesh! -__-

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How do you help yourself shake off the blues? What cheers you up when you’re feeling down? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Things To Keep In Mind For Easy Scalp Care

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Things To Keep In Mind For Easy Scalp Care

Some people are very conscious about hair care. They make sure that their hair is shiny, fragrant, and clean. However, some of these people are not too keen on taking care of their scalp. They think that scalp is just skin under the hair. While it is true, you must realize that the scalp is very sensitive skin. And dealing with sensitive skin should be handled with utmost care. You might not have realized it, but you have taken your scalp for granted. You think that it takes care of itself. It still needs your help, though. And that help should not just be another attempt to remove the flakes or your refusal to shampoo.

It is a tricky thing to do, especially if it is your first time to focus on scalp care. There are a lot of ways that will make it simple though and you’d be surprised by how easy some of these measures are. If you are looking for such methods, you are reading the right article! Here are some of the pointers that you should keep in mind:

Keep it moist:

You do not want your facial skin to dry out and you should have the same goal for your scalp. When your scalp gets dry, that’s the time when dandruff will appear. Instead of blow-drying your hair regularly, you may want to skip it and let your wet hair dry naturally. When your scalp gets in contact with heat, it will get dry. Love hot showers? You may want to rinse your scalp with lukewarm or cold water and don’t forget to use a natural anti-dandruff shampoo.

Exfoliate your scalp:

Exfoliate? You may find it quite ludicrous, as you know that exfoliation is often done for legs and arms. However, you can exfoliate your scalp to remove impurities and dead skin cells (namely dandruff). Your scalp, just like the skin in other parts of your body, has pores. And these pores also get clogged, a dilemma that you should address ASAP. You may choose to shampoo your scalp problems away, but you can always go for home remedies by using mixtures of baking soda, tea tree oil, and in some cases, brown sugar.

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Reduce the use of chemical products:

You are very expressive of yourself when you use hair dyes to color your hair. You go to the salon to get a perm. Or you are fond of using hair-styling products, such as gels and waxes. But you may want to limit your use. These hair products contain chemicals that can irritate your scalp. They may cause your scalp to dry, resulting in dandruff. Items, such as waxes and gels, actually trap dust and grime, thus making your scalp dirty – yuck.

Maintain a balanced diet:

Food may be the last thing that you will consider as far as scalp care is concerned. But remember, the scalp is a type of skin. And you need to keep it healthy by giving it proper nourishment. Eat food that is rich in protein, zinc, iron, and Vitamin B for a healthier scalp.

Your scalp is a sensitive type of skin. And it needs proper care. Leaving it bare and unprotected exposes it to certain agents and fungi that may cause it harm. You may even experience excessive dandruff, which is something that you definitely do not want. If symptoms persist, make sure you seek the help of a dermatologist.

Jul21

How To Feel More Authentic In Your Skin

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How To Feel More Authentic In Your Skin

It is incredibly easy to be confused by the tides of life, and by our impression of ourselves. Having a secure and firm knowledge of yourself and your surroundings often means you’re not taking an open-minded enough approach. After all, if we were only ever 100% sure of ourselves, we would have no need to grow, evolve, and move forward in our lives. The same goes for the circumstances in our life.

Wishing to become a more authentic person can be hard to do. But we know it’s something we would like to achieve. We know it would help us live according to our truth, to defend ourselves more readily, to be more open to those we admire, and more tolerant of those we don’t. However, it can be hard to define ‘authenticity.’ Surely even in our struggles to be authentic, we are being our authentic selves in that moment? You see how confusion can build.

What matters is your feeling, and how you chase it, provided you understand the essential elements of self-care in your quest for actualization. Let us explore personal authenticity together, and what changes you might make to encourage a more wholesome sense of you:

Help Others:

It can be extremely easy to fall into a sense of solipsism. Only concerned with our own issues, we develop a pervasive sense of tunnel-vision. It can make us much less thoughtful of others and less receptive to their ideas. Sometimes, to overcome this, taking a positive step by helping others can be worthwhile. But it’s important you don’t do this simply to ‘improve yourself’. Help others because you want to. Because there might be a cause that you think is worthy, or there’s a person you’d like to assist.

It doesn’t have to be a monetary form of help, either. Simply helping your grandmother attend that theater show she might love to see, helping someone cross the road, or even standing up for someone in a heated debate can all be forms of helping someone. When we do that, and do it genuinely, we can feel a sense of connection. Just ensure the help is consented to first of all, and you won’t make any accidental mistakes.

Like What You Like:

It can be very easy to dissuade ourselves of our interests. For example, it could be that we absolutely adore playing tabletop games with a community of our peers. But because of our highly-entrepreneurial and motivated workplace, we are surrounded by those who live and breathe work. We can feel pressure to fall in line with them, especially because we are often socially comprised to the five closest people to us. But should you worry about that? We’re not entirely convinced.

Feeling more authentic in your skin is often tantamount to simply accepting yourself, and accepting what you like. If you wish to start gardening, clay animation, painting, dancing, or anything that you would consider out of your ‘identity norms’, then go for it! Life is about trying new things and anyone who turns their nose down to your new hobbies clearly doesn’t have your best intentions in mind.

Stop Worrying About It:

Telling anyone to ‘stop worrying’ when they are worrying is often a somewhat shallow strategy. But in this case, as long as you go to bed knowing that you’ve done your best that day, then it is more than enough. To become authentic does not mean being the best-dressed, the most handsome, performing the highest standing jump, or doing the best cartwheel. It simply means being you, whatever that means, right now.

With these tips – we hope you can find yourself fondly and enjoy all life has to offer!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jul17

Lil Red For The Little Mermaid!

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Lil Red For The Little Mermaid!

Helloooo! I swear, my newsfeed on THE BOOK has been filled with bullshit on the casting for the Little Mermaid and it is the most annoying thing on planet Earth. So, when I busted out my new Little Mermaid themed bikini for the first time this summer, I knew that I had to create a joke post about me being cast as Ariel. I mean, come on, I have the red hair which should compensate for my singing voice that sounds like a dying cat! 🤣

And Ariel did have a buttload of tattoos and piercings right… or am I thinking of a different movie?

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^^^ The resemblance is uncanny! 😀

But, in all seriousness, this post isn’t about my cheeky sense of humor or a casting decision that I am 150% for. This is about bikini body positivity because, let me tell you, I have not felt confident in a bikini in a very long time. I took a client to one of our local Metro Park lakes this past Monday and saying that I was nervous to be in public in my Little Mermaid number is the understatement of the century.

I have a very love/hate relationship with my body, especially considering that I struggled with an eating disorder for a long time. And, I still have a hard time grasping that my body at twenty-five is going to be different than what my body was at sixteen. Do I love that I have bigger breasts than what I would like? No. How about the fact that I can’t seem to get rid of my little tummy no matter how healthy I eat or how often I figure skate? Absolutely not.

But, then, I remember that I love my legs and badonk that are super toned and muscular from over a decade of dedication to a sport. I love my piercings and tattoos that make me happy whenever I look at them. And, it could always be worse lol!

Even with those friendly reminders, though, I was still anxious for the grand reveal of my towel coming off. But, my client wanted to swim and that’s what was going to happen that day. So, I took a deep breath, dropped the towel, and began to walk towards the water. That’s when something amazing happened…

The first person who saw me told me that I looked awesome and little did she know, that changed my attitude for the entire lake outing. What felt like a literal blanket of insecurities for my first time in a bikini in years was lifted instantly by a stranger’s kind words and I felt good… better yet, I felt confident.

And, because I felt so happy and okay with myself in my own skin, I wanted to share the gift that the guardian angel stranger shared with me. If I saw a bikini that I thought was darling or if one of my fellow ladies was working it, trust and believe I let them know. And, watching their faces light up instantly was the best thing.

No matter what their body type is, I don’t know many girls who are thrilled about being in bathing suits. That’s why it was important to me to offer the same kindness to others that my stranger did for me. Part of being a Disney princess is having confidence and, in my Ariel inspired suit, I finally felt that way. The least I could do was help other people feel that, too.

What makes you feel confident? How do you help others to feel that way? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

What You Should Know About Pre-Diabetes

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What You Should Know About Pre-Diabetes

While having pre-diabetes does not mean that you’ll automatically develop Type 2 diabetes, it is still a serious health problem. This is because it means that your blood sugar levels are higher than normal (although not high enough to be classified as diabetes), which then raises your risks for developing not just Type 2 diabetes, but stroke and heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one out of three American adults (approximately 84 million) have pre-diabetes. The sad part, is 90% of people with this condition don’t even know that they have it. Pre-diabetes often goes undetected as you can still have this condition for years but experience no clear symptoms.

Borderline diabetes and its risk factors:

Pre-diabetes refers to the stage right before developing full-blown diabetes. It increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (five to ten times higher than those normal blood sugar levels) within ten years unless you change and improve your lifestyle. Diabetes management centers in American Fork note that this means losing weight if you are overweight and getting more exercise.

Pre-diabetes has no clear symptoms, but there are some risk factors you need to be aware of. This makes it important to consult your primary care physician and have your blood sugar tested, especially if you have the following risk factors for pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Family history of diabetes
  • Being 45 years or older
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs during pregnancy) or have given birth to a baby weighing nine or more pounds
  • Being physically inactive habitually
  • Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Identifying pre-diabetes:

If you are at high risk for diabetes, your doctor can conduct a test to confirm the diagnosis. These include:

  • A1C – Measures the average of your blood sugar levels for over three months
  • Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) – Checks blood sugar levels after not consuming anything other than water for the last eight hours
  • Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) – An optional two-hour test that measures your glucose levels two hours before and after consuming a syrupy glucose drink

You can learn more about the recommended tests for identifying prediabetes from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NDDKD).

Preventing or delaying diabetes:

If your doctor tells you that you have pre-diabetes, do take note that this does not necessarily mean that you’ll eventually be diagnosed with diabetes. It is best to engage in positive lifestyle changes or ask your doctor for recommendations in delaying or reversing the course of diabetes. Some of the things that can help include:

  • Quitting smoking if you do
  • Working with a dietician to eat healthily
  • Losing weight if you are overweight (losing about 5 to 10%  your weight can significantly lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes)
  • Working with a trained coach to get more exercise or physical activity
  • Managing stress
  • Getting support from those with similar challenges

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Learn more about diabetes and your risk of developing it by contacting your primary care physician. You should also make an extra effort in adopting positive lifestyle changes to lower your risk of diabetes and other serious health problems.