Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Do you have to follow up every meal with something sweet? What about when you’re snacking at work – do you reach for a chocolate bar or  a handful of pretzels? If those sugary treats are your weakness, you’re stuck with a sweet tooth! Why do you prefer sugar? If you are looking for a reason behind your ice cream cravings and affinity for  gummy bears, you can start with your genes. According to  a recent study we saw on the TODAY show, folks with more intense sweet cravings have weaker taste receptors, meaning they need more sugar to satisfy…

Exercise is an important part of managing diabetes. But people who’ve been living with diabetes long-term develop complications related to diabetes that make some activities less safe than others. Get started the right way Remember to talk to your doctor or an exercise expert experienced with working with people with diabetes before you start an exercise regime. Also, test your blood sugar levels before and after activity. Here are a few exercise tips based on your diabetes diagnosis: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) Avoid activities that require heavy lifting, harsh, high-impact activities and anything that requires you to invert…

“Chunking” is something we all do to help with memorization, organization or to-do lists. We memorize phone numbers by putting  groups of numbers together. For example, 859-301-2570 is memorized like this: “859,” “301,” “2570”. It’s easier than memorizing it all together as “8593012570”. We organize our children’s clothes by size and season. And, we prefer to read a 500-page book with 20 chapters rather than two. Chunk your chores So, why not “chunk” your household chores and work projects? You can do this by tackling different tasks, one room at a time. Is the clutter in your garage about to…

You’re sitting at your desk, daydreaming of your  soft and cozy bed, your eyelids growing heavier, when the harsh glare of your computer monitor begins to fade and suddenly you’re dozing off. Sound familiar? Here are a few unexpected foods that could be at the root of your afternoon snoozing: Salad: Be honest, your “salad” actually consists of greens with a few other veggies and some dressing. If you’re going to eat salad for a meal, you need protein – think nuts, hard-boiled eggs or grilled chicken – or carbs. Bananas: Bananas are supposed to be a superfood packed with…

When it comes to siblings, it seems as if the oldest will always be ambitious, the middle child(ren) will always be easy-going and the youngest will always be the least responsible, right?  Not so fast. If you’re looking at your family and thinking  those personality traits don’t sound like my siblings, science is right behind you. Birth order doesn’t matter According to a recent study published in the Journal of Research in Personality, the order in which people are born does not have a significant effect on IQ or personality. If you’re the oldest and you are more responsible than…

Problems communicating are often one of the first signs a person has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The loved one affected might keep telling the same story over and over again, keep using a familiar word wrong or inventing a new word for a familiar object (like calling a watch a “hand clock”). As the disease progresses, communications difficulties are only going to get worse. The Alzheimer’s Association advises taking a deep breath, and trying to remain calm and patient to help your loved one get the right words out. Here’s their advice for communicating more effectively with someone…

If you or your children ever participated in 4-H, you know how fun and rewarding it can be.  4-H sponsors a host of programs that promote everything from  science to healthy living. One way you and your family can support the organization’s  initiatives is to attend  your local county’s 4-H fair. Even though summer is quickly winding down, we found a few fairs still worth adding to your calendar: Grant County When: Ends Saturday, August 1 Where: Grant  County Fairgrounds (115 Baton Rouge Road, Williamstown, KY 41097) What: Traditional 4-H shows will be showcased alongside  talent shows and  racing events.…

If you’ve been craving a sweet, not-too-rich dessert this summer, Skinny Mom  and the blog  Two Peas &  Their Pod have  you covered. This blueberry crisp also works well for breakfast. Ingredients: 5 cups blueberries 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 cup Quaker ® Old Fashioned Oats ¼  cup almond meal or whole-wheat flour 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut ¼  cup brown sugar ½  tsp  salt ½  tsp  ground cinnamon â…“ cup melted coconut oil For the full, printable recipe, visit the Two Peas & Their Pod blog. If you decide to try it, let us know how it is! …

Diabetes, if not properly managed, can have nasty consequences, including vision loss, amputations, heart disease and stroke or kidney failure. Diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, is another one of those consequences, according to Dr. Linda Hermiller, an endocrinologist and diabetes expert at St. Elizabeth’s Regional Diabetes Center in Covington. Diabetes causes blood sugar levels to climb too high because the body either can’t make insulin in order to break down the sugar from food to fuel cell activity (Type 1 diabetes) or because the body can’t properly utilize the insulin it does have (Type 2). Over time, excessively high blood sugar…

Did you know an  analysis of your handwriting can reveal a great deal about your personality and even your health? While not quite  scientific, the infographic below from the National Pen Company  illustrates what can be learned about you based on the style and size of your print. Judging someone solely based only on his or her  handwriting is not advised, but the topic  can be a fun dinnertime discussion with the family. Try it out and let us know if your handwriting reveals your personality!