Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

I have disregarded my feelings, especially the bad ones, for so long to the point that I cannot know how I am supposed to feel in particular situations.
I want to feel again. I want to be able to reach out for my feelings again.I want to be able to express them in a way deeper and better than before.
I want to be able to know myself; know who I am, what I want and what I need.
I have put myself into denial for a long time to the point that I got myself lost.. lost in an endless sea with no lighthouse to guide me home.

                                                      Yours Faithfully,
                                                                Nada M.

Diabetes: What is it? How to prevent and treat it?

                     

     It is true that your brains need glucose in order to survive. However, a high level of it in your blood will probably cause diabetes. Through this article, we will try to figure out: How do you get diabetes? How many types of diabetes are there? What are the warning signs of diabetes? And what are the possible preventions and treatments?

How do you get diabetes?

Scientifically speaking, a person becomes diabetic when his body becomes unable of producing insulin. In fact, insulin is a hormone produced by an organ labeled "pancreas". This hormone is responsible of the entering of glucose from the blood to the cells in order to maintain low blood sugar levels. Therefore, when the glucose reaches its highest levels in one's blood, it will get out of the body in urine. Eventually, the body cells will get no glucose, thus no energy and power to feed on.

How many types of diabetes are there?

Actually, there are three types of diabeties:

1) Diabetes Type 1: When you produce no insulin at all.

2) Diabetes Type 2 - when you do not produce enough insulin that fits the needs of your body.

3) Gestational Diabetes - When you develop diabetes just during your pregnancy.

What are the warning signs of diabetes?

As glucose cannot pass through from the blood to the cells, the body will get rid of the extra glucose in urine. That is why diabetes go to the bathroom many times during the day. Consequently, they will feel dehydrated and need to drink more water than the usual.

Moreover, as the body needs glucose to get energy, diabetes will feel fragility and fatigue because they are deprived from the latter. So, no matter how much fruits they eat and fluids they drink, they will never feel energetic as it is a matter of insulin, not of how much sugar they consume.

The body needs energy to survive. Because it cannot get it in the usual way (through blood), it will start looking for energy sources from muscles and fat. That is when diabetes start losing weight.

Diabeties and Pregnancy:

When a woman is pregnant, she goes through hormonial changes and her body becomes in need for more glucose. When the Pancreas fails to deliver the extra insulin, the woman will be a Gestational Diabetes. The good news is that not all woman have it. And if they do (God forbid)

it will go away when they have their babies.

Diabeties and Obesity:

Being obese can cause your body cells to become resistant to insulin and this increases the risk for Diabetes Type 2. Most advanced researches concerning this issue state that most obese people are also diabetes. So, you do the math.

what are the possible preventions and treatments?

The preventions and treatments are almost alike. Here is a list that you may follow in order to keep your blood sugar level normal:

1) You have to watch your weight and maintain a healthy diet.

2) You have to do some regular exercising to keep your body healthy.

3) You have to quit smoking as soon as possible and lessen drinking alcohol.

4) You have to avoid consuming too much of the Three Poisons: Sugar, Salt and White Flour.

5) You have to check you blood sugar levels frequently.

Till this day, Type 1 cannot be prevented yet. However, Type 2 can.

      It is true that Diabetes is a really exhausting and complicated desease. But it can be treated and at times prevented. Indeed, you have to watch out you blood sugar levels and take a good care of your body before you will be obliged to use insulin syringes.

                                                                                                                 Written by: Nada Mrabet

How to Manage Stress in 3 Steps?

      As the Oxford Dictionary defines it, Stress is "a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances".

Almost everybody in this world is exposed to experiencing Stress. In a matter of fact, according to recent studies, around 75 percent of the population go through stressful events in their lives. What matters the most now is exposing the main causes, consequences, types of stress illnesses and techniques used in order to avoid them in our everyday lives.

      The first step is identifying the causes lurking behind feeling the tension. Ask yourself. What makes you stressful? Work? Committment? Too much responsibilities and duties? Housekeeping? Kids and family? Illness? Someone's death? Financial problems? All of these are considered to be "extrinsic causes of stress". Therefore, they are hard to avoid in order to skip the strain. However, by time you can cope with such stressful situations and learn how to deal with and react towards them. Also, there are some "intrinsic causes of stress" like pessimism, lack of determination,  negativity, colorless expectations, hopelessness, etc... Unlike the former causes, these can be treated, managed and why not treated.

       The second step is recognizing what are the usual consequences and illnesses of constantly living under stress without trying to manage it. They can be both mental and physical. Consequence number one? It is serious health problems! Being exposed to too much stress for too long agitates almost all of your body systems. It can cause the raising of the blood pressure, weekening of the immune system, the speeding up of the aging process, impotence, obesity, and heart attacks and strokes. These deseases are related to physical effects. The psycological effects can be for the most part: "Phobias" ( fear of certain animals like spiders and snakes, fear of heights, fear of open spaces..), "Agoraphobia" (fear of a public place to the point of never leaving one's home), and "Panic Disorder" (sudden and unreasonable panic attacks).

        The third and final step is learning about the different techniques used in Stress Management. In most situations medical treatments like Luvox, Aropax, Efexor, Tolvon, Tofranil and Prozac are not necessary as at times they may cause addiction. Hence, psychological treatments are highly recommanded. "Group Therapy" is very helpful. It is not made just for those going through severe cases of depression. On the contrary! It helps you share and discuss your problems with others like yourself finding it hard to control daily stress. "Cognitive behaviour therapy" is very efficient either especially for pessimistic people who are trying to get rid of their ways of thinking and behaviours. "Counselling" with a psychologist is another kind of psychological treatment. But it might cost too much money. That is why I recommande the "Relaxation Therapy" like doing  yoga, meditaion, picnics, sailing, etc...

         Long- term stress can cause serious illnesses. It is the result of both extrinsic and intrinsic situations. Some are easy to cope and deal with. Others need treatments; both medical and psychological. At serious cases, when the stress reaches its highest levels you have to contact: your doctor (if you have one), psychologist or counsellor, Community mental health service, your local hospital.. Nevertheless, the good news is that by time, you will learn how to treat, encounter, manage and at last prevent Stress. 

Written by: Nada Mrabet