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The importance and methods to regulate blood glucose level

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Effective management of blood glucose levels is a crucial and non-negotiable aspect for people living with diabetes. This constant and meticulous monitoring not only allows for more precise management of the disease, but also plays a preventive role in early detection and avoiding complications that may arise if left uncontrolled.

In this scenario, the glucose meter you emerge as an invaluable ally. This tool, much more than a gadget, facilitates constant, effective and accurate monitoring of blood sugar levels, which becomes a useful compass for navigating the day-to-day life with diabetes.

In this article, we will delve into the importance of monitoring glucose levels, unravel the process of monitoring it using a glucose meter, and discuss the optimal circumstances for performing such checks.

Why is blood glucose control important?

Effective diabetes management

Continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels makes it easier for patients and medical professionals to assess the effectiveness of ongoing treatment plans, which may include medications, diet, and physical activity. This helps make the necessary modifications to ensure that blood sugar levels remain within a safe and healthy range.

Prevention of complications

Extreme fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to short- and long-term complications, such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Regular blood glucose monitoring can help prevent these potentially dangerous situations and other complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision problems.

Informed decision making

Knowing blood glucose levels before and after meals, exercise, and at different times of the day can provide valuable information about how certain activities and foods affect these levels. This information can be used to make informed decisions about diet, exercise and medication.

Improved quality of life

Proper blood glucose control can improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. It can reduce symptoms related to high or low blood sugar, such as fatigue, excessive thirst, and difficulty concentrating, which in turn can improve overall well-being and productivity.

How to measure blood glucose levels?

This process is carried out using a device known as a glucose meter, which provides digital readings of blood sugar levels. Here's how to do it correctly:

1. Preparation

Before performing the test, it is essential to ensure your hands are clean to avoid contaminating the blood sample. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them completely before starting.

2. Use of test strips

Test strips are an integral part of the measurement process. They are made to react with blood glucose and provide an accurate reading. It is important to ensure that the test strips are in optimal condition and are compatible with your glucose measuring device.

3. Conducting the test

Once you've inserted the test strip into the meter, you'll need to obtain a small sample of blood, usually from the tip of your finger, using a lancing device. Place the drop of blood on the test strip and wait for the meter to read and display the blood glucose level.

In today's digital age, online pharmacies have become a convenient option to access the devices and supplies needed for diabetes management. A notable example is the Angulo Pharmacy, run by the renowned pharmacist Alfredo Carpintero Angulo.

Este online pharmacy offers a wide range of glucose meters and related supplies, making it easy to access the tools necessary for monitoring Effective monitoring of blood glucose levels from the comfort of your home.

When to check blood glucose levels?

Constant monitoring of blood glucose levels is vital for people with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2. This regular practice allows individuals to manage their condition effectively and maintain their health in an optimal state.

Although the frequency of monitoring may vary between individuals, it is generally recommended that people with diabetes monitor their glucose levels several times a day. This can include key times like before and after meals, before bed, and in some cases, during the night.

Additionally, there are certain circumstances that may require more frequent monitoring of glucose levels. For example, during periods of illness, blood glucose levels may be more volatile and need closer monitoring. Likewise, any changes to an individual's medication may affect levels and require more frequent monitoring.

It is essential to remember that each person is different and may need a different monitoring plan. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that those who suffer from diabetes seek advice from a health professional to establish the most convenient control frequency for their particular case.

Consejos para cuidar tu flora intestinal

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Tips to take care of your intestinal flora

Most of us do not take care of our intestinal flora as we should; Excessive consumption of antibiotics and following inappropriate behaviors can weaken it more than it seems.

Megalevure is a drug that helps balance the intestinal flora . It stands out for its high contribution of vitamin D3 capable of boosting the immune system, which will increase its resistance to infections, viruses, dietary changes and any change that could be harmful to the microbial ecosystem.

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In addition to using this product, we are going to give you some guidelines that will allow you to start taking care of it:

The best tips to take care of your intestinal flora

1.      Reinforce the consumption of fruits and vegetables

The first thing you should do is increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables to strengthen the immune response and facilitate digestion.

The consumption of these foods helps to regulate the pH of the stomach and prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria .

This is a list of the most recommended fruits and vegetables to stimulate the growth and activity of the bacterial flora: spinach, garlic, onion, banana, corn, apples and artichokes .

2.      Incorporate foods with high fiber content

Fruits and vegetables themselves have a high proportion of fiber. However, it is important to reinforce your intake with other foods, such as legumes, whole grains and nuts . Eating these foods regularly could ensure that the energy substrate that the bacteria in the intestine will receive will be adequate.

These compounds ensure that the movement of the intestines will be adequate, while facilitating the elimination of waste .

3.      Hydrate yourself properly

Adequate water consumption also has a lot to say about taking care of your intestinal flora. This improves the environment that the good bacteria in your body need to proliferate and survive.

Drinking enough water facilitates detoxification and lubricates the intestine , thus achieving the expulsion of waste that destabilizes the pH level.

4.      Reduce the consumption of animal proteins

Although it is true that animal proteins should not be missing from our diet (because they provide energy to the body, in addition to increasing the mass of our muscles), they are difficult to digest and increase the workload of the intestine .

Whenever possible, it is recommended to limit the consumption of animal proteins; Instead, protein should be obtained from plant sources, such as seeds, legumes or soybeans .

5.      The importance of correct hand hygiene

Hands are usually the dirtiest part of our body because they touch everything; They are full of microorganisms that can harm the body in many ways.

For this reason, wash them before eating, after going to the bathroom and in those most delicate moments . This simple gesture can help you keep your intestinal flora in good condition.

Follow these tips and you will see how you can keep it in perfect condition.

 

How it affects the skin, hair and some common dermatoses

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La piscina, ¿empeora la dermatitis atópica? ¿La piscina seca la piel? ¿Afecta la piscina al cabello? ¿Puedo ir a la piscina con un papiloma? ¿Puedo llevar a mi hijo con mariscos a la piscina? ¿Puedo ponerme el pelo verde en la piscina?

Ir a la piscina por ocio o deporte es un placer y produce muchos beneficios que no son el objetivo de este artículo. Pero este hábito genera algunos dudas en mis pacientes y muchos prejuicios por lo que he decidido escribir este artículo y referirme a literatura de calidad. Para no dejar dudas, escribo con fundamento y mi experiencia.

Para abordar cómo la piel puede verse afectada al ir a la piscina, he dividido esta publicación en dos secciones, los efectos de la piscina en la piel y el cabello y las dermatosis y la piscina.

Efectos de piscina en la piel y el cabello.

a. Piel

La natación usual en la piscina produce piel seca, picor e inclusive puede aparecer una zona con dermatitis.

Las oportunidades de tener estos síntomas aumentan con el momento del baño, y se minimizan con la ducha y la hidratación al salir de la piscina (1,2).

Si la piel se torna muy seca, puedes aplicar la crema hidratante antes de acceder al agua, si deseas algo más especial, existen cremas fundamentalmente diseñadas para ello y se llaman “cremas barrera”.

La sequedad que produce la piscina en el cabello además se puede disminuir con el uso de mascarillas o aceites hidratantes.

B. Infecciones de la piel: foliculitis por Pseudomonas o foliculitis de “baño caliente” (2)

Las pústulas foliculares (granos en el cabello) aparecen posteriormente de baños de spa, piscinas calientes, duchas o saunas con agua contaminada. Además puede aparecer posteriormente de depilarse con cera caliente contaminada.

Esta erupción suele causar mucha comezón. Responde bien al tratamiento con jabones y cremas, aún cuando si es muy inmenso necesita tratamiento antibiótico oral.

C. Dermatitis de contacto

Bien por irritación de las gafas de natación u otro roce en la repetición de movimientos (roce en los hombros al levantar la cabeza al respirar o con la cuerda, al saltar al agua, con el neopreno, etc).

En otras ocasiones, se debe a una alergia a los componentes de goma de las gafas, el sombrero, la pinza nasal o los tapones (2).

D. Morado o hematoma de las gafas de natación

Aparece como resultado de la presión de los vasos en la zona periocular. Se debe a la presión negativa y la succión de las gafas sobre la piel (2).

y. Palmeras de la piscina

Motivo de consulta usual en niños. Jugar en la piscina agarrado al bordillo produce eritema (color rojo) y descamación de las yemas de los dedos (2).

F. “Cabello verde” y piscina (clorotricosis)

Un clásico popular. Ocurre en pacientes con cabello rubio, gris o blanco por exposición al cobre. Las piscinas disponen iones de cobre de forma regular.

La aparición de cabello verde necesita un baño prolongado en la piscina y la asociación de otros factores favorables como la exposición al sol, el calentamiento del cabello y enjuagues con peróxido o el uso de champú alcalino o alquitranado (3).

El tratamiento se basa en el uso champús quelantes cobre, dicho de otra forma, absorben cobre, y con 3-5% de peróxido de hidrógeno.

gramo. Hongos, “pie de atleta” en la piscina

Ir a la piscina, duchas ordinarias, la humedad de los pliegues de los dedos de los pies, se describen como factores que aumentan el riesgo de tener hongos en los pies.

En los estudiantes que acuden muchas veces a la piscina se han encontrado más infecciones por Candida albicans y por hongos cutáneos (dermatofitos). Se ha demostrado que la piscina actúa como reservorio de hongos y levaduras (1, 2, 4, 5).

h. Verrugas plantares o papilomas en la piscina

Causados ​​por la infección por el virus del papiloma humano (VPH), son dos veces más comunes que en los pacientes que no van a la piscina. El tratamiento es la crioterapia o el uso de soluciones anti-verrugas (1, 2, 5).

I. Molusco contagioso en la piscina

Causada por un Poxvirus, es una asociación bien documentada en la literatura.

Los niños que van a la piscina disponen más riesgo de tener moluscos, la incidencia llega al 10% y en el 75% de los pacientes aparece durante el primer año de ir normalmente a la piscina.

Este nexo ha dado lugar al nombre de “molusco contagioso”, “verruga de agua” (2, 5).

Piscina: como afecta la piel, el cabello y algunas dermatosis comunes

Preguntas frecuentes sobre dermatosis y piscina

a. ¿Pueden los pacientes con dermatitis atópica ir a la piscina?

Si puedes. Aún cuando los baños repetidos en la piscina provocan sequedad en la piel y pueden aparecer irritaciones.

Un estudio reciente (5) realizado en 2758 niños de 6 a 12 años de la población catalana que iban a aprender a nadar dos o tres veces por semana, no encontró un incremento de brotes en pacientes con dermatitis atópica. Este y otros estudios no han demostrado que los niños con dermatitis atópica empeoren al ir a la piscina.

Pero además puede ser beneficioso, recordemos otra entrada de este blog (lejía y piel), donde se comenta cómo en las guías de manejo de la dermatitis atópica se han incluido baños tres veces por semana con lejía como medida para prevenir brotes de atópicos. dermatitis.

B. ¿Pacientes con psoriasis ¿Pueden ir a la piscina?

Sí, pueden ir. No se ha descrito ninguna contraindicación.

El problema es la estigmatización a la que están sometidos estos pacientes y que les impide mostrar sus placas en traje de baño. Una respuesta de ocultación normal que se vería disminuida si se conociera la enfermedad. No pasa nada, pero la gente no lo sabe.

C. ¿Pueden los pacientes con papiloma ir a la piscina?

Mi respuesta es sí, y digo “mi” debido a que no he encontrado criterios literarios científicos al respecto. Los míos son varios, la infección por el virus del papiloma es muy usual, aislar a un solo niño no impedirá que siga existiendo.

Otro argumento es que los papilomas a veces tardan muchos meses en sanar pese a los tratamientos, y no veo el sentido de perder un curso completo de natación.

Sí recomiendo a mis pacientes, por higiene en cuanto a los demás, que usen botines para asistir a clases grupales, no obstante, no creo que esta medida elimine la ubicuidad del virus.

D. ¿Pueden los niños con moluscos ir a la piscina?

Mi respuesta es si. Los motivos, las mismas que con los papilomas. Ausencia de recomendación, ubicuidad del virus y durante meses.

Si el paciente va a la piscina, sí evito que vaya a las lesiones y las “limpio” con legrado, en vez de elegir otras opciones de tratamiento que requieren tiempo para destruir el molusco.

References

1 Lazarov A y col. Enfermedad cutánea autoinformada en hidroterapeutas que trabajan en piscinas. Dermatitis de contacto, 2005

2 Tlougan B y col. Dermatosis acuáticas. Int J Dermatol 2010.

3 Schwartz R y col. Una adolescente de cabello verde. Ped Dermatol 2014.

4 Jankowski M y col. Piscinas y fungui: una encuesta epidemiológica en las instalaciones polacas de natación cubierta. Micosis, 2017.

5 Font-Ribera, et al. Asistencia a piscinas cubiertas y salud respiratoria y dérmica en schoolcildern-HITEA Cataluña. Eur Respir J, 2009.

¿Qué puedes hacer por tu salud? Así puedes mejorarla

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It has been shown that everything we do for our health will always have a much more positive effect than we might think at first. It only takes a few simple habits to get your health to improve significantly. If you want to know what are the most interesting changes in your lifestyle, do not hesitate, here you will find very interesting information.

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Your health always up to date

First of all, strengthening your immune system is the starting point to achieve iron health. There are times when we neglect our diet, or do it poorly. It is the moment in which the body begins to give alarm signals, and we feel much weaker.

There are times when changes in eating habits take time to take effect, so you must protect your immune system so as not to fall ill. These products are always perfect allies for your health, since they make it possible to be more resistant to many diseases that can leave us out of action for a while. From the annoying colds to the feeling of tiredness that often invades us.

If we talk about fatigue, this has a close relationship with our muscles. Bad postural habits, especially when working, end up causing the muscles to become very tense, not performing their function well and ending up in pain. The most appropriate thing is to buy muscle relaxants , since they help the muscles to tone up. Along with good postural hygiene, you can get the muscles of your body to respond much better., do not get fatigued and do not cause discomfort. It is also time to get going and introduce exercise adapted to your physical characteristics. Not only does it help the muscles become more resistant, but it makes your body work much better. Always do physical activities that are adapted to your condition, and that can be a stimulus so you don’t get discouraged.

On the other hand, a bad state of health shows its most palpable face in the fragility of hair and nails. In the first case, it can become quite pressing, since hair loss has a high impact on our image and self-esteem. These are the best anti hair loss products that you should count on if hair loss is already becoming evident. It is only necessary to follow the application routine, as indicated in its prospectuses. You will notice a more than evident change and hair loss will begin to slow down. It should be borne in mind that there are seasons of the year in which hair loss can be more abundant, and one of them is spring. For this reason, remedying and purchasing anti-hair loss products is the best option you have at your fingertips.

Begin to change habits

All these practices can have a much greater effect if you manage to vary your eating habits. These have a direct impact on our state of health. It is time to review your diet and incorporate foods that can benefit you. Always buy local and seasonal products, since they are cheaper and always provide a greater amount of nutrients. If you get into the habit of eating well, there is no doubt that you are doing a lot for your health. Eating well not only has a very positive effect on your health, it is also much cheaper than betting on other options. The benefit is therefore double. It is worth starting to eat in a different way, and get out of your head, the fact that eating well is eating, boring, the other way around, which is much healthier and more fun.

Of course, and in the face of any health problem, always consult your family doctor . Carrying out periodic analyzes gives us the possibility of acting in time before any type of anomaly. Investing in our health is to be aware of everything that can happen to us without going into alarmism. But rest assured that those who regularly check their blood levels or blood pressure and sugar are already doing a lot to keep their health under control.

Remember that you always have at your disposal a large number of products that, without a prescription, can do a lot to improve your health. It is always convenient to have light in our sights, since they help us feel much better and correct all those problems that may appear. Being aware that having good health is betting on a good quality of life is more than enough reason for you to start taking care of yourself. Start doing it now to get the most benefit from having strong health.

 

Zinc supplements to treat skin conditions

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Learn about 7 skin diseases in which zinc supplements could be useful according to different scientific studies.

It is estimated that one third of the world population has a deficit in the intake of zinc, mainly in undeveloped countries. Zinc deficiency is associated with malnutrition and diseases that cause severe diarrhea. In advanced countries, the probability of having a zinc deficiency is lower and is associated with absorption deficit in the intestine, inadequate intake, pregnancy and lactation (1).

Zinc deficiency causes skin diseases such as pellagra or enteropathic acrodermatitis. On the other hand, zinc deficiency has been associated with some inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, Bechet's disease or lichen planus (2).

Despite the strong link between zinc and the skin, little is known about its use as a treatment. The search for therapies anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory has led to the study of the role of zinc supplements in the skin, which is what we are going to review in this text.

Mechanism of action and forms of supplementation

Zinc is a micronutrient, or essential trace element, that participates in enzymatic processes in the body, in protein structures, and regulates gene expression (3). acts in several mechanisms body's immune system, both in innate and adaptive immunity. Decrease the activity of neutrophils, helper T lymphocytes and the expression of inflammation receptors (Toll-Like) in keratinocytes (2).

Regarding the forms of supplementation, a regular intake of zinc in the diet is necessary, since the human body lacks storage systems. Zinc can be supplemented orally in both the sulfate/citrate form and the gluconate form. In the gluconate form, studies use 30 to 90 mg per day, and in the sulfate form, 0.2 to 0.6 grams per day. It can be supplemented in pills, capsules, jellies or gel (1,2).

Zinc supplements: 7 diseases in which they could be useful

1. Viral warts

It is the most widespread indication in dermatology, despite its controversial evidence. Common viral warts are caused by a small group of human papillomaviruses and lack specific antiviral treatment. Destructive methods such as keratolytic agents (“anti-warts”), cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) or electrocautery are used to treat them.

Warts is the pathology in which oral zinc has been studied the most and there are contradictory studies, some find improvement compared to placebo, compared to others that find no differences (3). The addition of zinc supplements as a treatment for viral warts does not have adequate scientific support.

2. Acne

Compared with placebo, it shows improvement in acne lesions after 12 weeks of oral supplementation. Its effectiveness is less than that of antibiotics. When added to treatment with vitamin A, its effectiveness increases, which is fundamentally in reducing inflammatory lesions, papules, and pustules. It does not seem to have any effect on retentional acne lesions, in other words comedones or blackheads.

Zinc Supplements - Acne

Interestingly, the most common side effect of zinc supplementation in healthy acne patients was nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting, which in some cases required discontinuation of treatment (2).

3. Atopic dermatitis

Low levels of zinc have been found in the blood, hair and red blood cells in patients with atopic dermatitis. In spite of everything, these findings correspond to studies in few patients and were not related to greater severity in dermatitis (3).

There are two studies on the efficacy of adding zinc supplements to the basal treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis and another one compared with oral antihistamines. They were done in children. No differences were found in one of them and in another the severity and pruritus improved when adding oral zinc (2,4).

4. Diaper rash

In a study in 179 newborns it was found that 89 of them who were supplemented with zinc sulfate reduced the incidence of diaper rash (2).

5. Hidradenitis suppurativa

Studied in three studies, two of them without a control group and combined with other treatments. No improvement was found in the fistulas or in the pain, and in the patients who experienced improvement, a relapse was observed when oral zinc was discontinued. Despite finding clinical improvement in some patients, the study of inflammation markers in the skin of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa treated with zinc increased. Adding doubts to this clinical improvement (5).

The authors, in general, conclude that it may be a treatment to be developed, as a complementary non-pharmacological approach in this pathology that is sometimes difficult to control (6).

6. Psoriasis

It is a fairly old study, it was found that patients with extensive plaque psoriasis supplemented with zinc increased its levels in the skin of the plaques and in the blood. Despite everything, no improvement was found in redness, scaling, and thickness in patients who took it versus those who did not (placebo) (7).

7. Rosacea.

A study in 44 patients found a slight improvement with oral zinc treatment for rosacea, but this was not significant. Some patients even worsened and suffered gastrointestinal symptoms, which led to the premature termination of the study (8).

Zinc supplements to treat skin diseases: conclusions

Oral zinc supplementation may have a anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect theoretically capable of improving some skin diseases.

In spite of everything, even when submitting studies in acne or hidradenitis suppurativa the results could be promising, the evidence for use in dermatology is little and contradictory.

References

1. Roohani N, Hurrell R, Kelishadi R, Schulin R. Zinc and its relevance to human health: an integrative review. J Res Med Sci 2013; 18: 144-157.

2. Dhaliwal S, Nguyen M, Notay M, et al. Effects of zinc supplementation in inflammatory skin diseases: a systematic review of clinical evidence. Am J Clinical Dermatology 2019 [Epub ahead of print]

3. Mahmoodi H, Ghodsi SZ, Tavakolpour S. Cryotherapy plus oral zinc sulfate versus cryotherapy plus placebo for treating common warts: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Int J Dermatol for Women 2017: 20: 87-90.

4. Gray NA, Dhana A, Stein DJ, Khumalo NP. Zinc and atopic dermatitis: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol 2019; 33: 1042-1050.

5. Dreno B, Khammari A, Brocard A et al. Hidradenitis suppurativa: the role of impaired cutaneous innate immunity. Arch Dermatol 2012; 148: 182-186.

6. Hendricks A, Hirt P, Sekhon S, et al. Non-pharmacological approaches to hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review. J Dermatol Treatment 2019; 4: 1-8.

7. Voorhees J, Chakrabarti S, Botero F, et al. Zinc therapy and distribution of psoriasis. Arch Dermatol 1969; 100: 669-673.

8. Bamford JT, Gessert CT, Haller IV et al. Randomized, double-blind trial of zinc sulfate 220 mg twice daily for the treatment of rosacea. Int J Dermatol 2012; 51: 459-462.