5 must-keep snacks at your office desk

A good work snack can make the difference between providing energy and making you lethargic. Here's how to battle the junk food temptation with these smart choices

Almost everyone has had the mid-day snack attack! But the next time you're tempted to just reach into a colleague's bag of chips or then stop at the vending machine and grab a fizzy drink, stop yourself. There are waistline-friendly options that will cut the calories; it's just a question of getting to know them. Here are the smarter choices...

1. Mixed dryfruit:
Having dried fruits such as almonds, raisins, dates and prunes are a good idea as they make for easy-to-carry, healthy bites. Of course, don't go overboard too, as nuts are not really the lowest calorie option, but they have heart-friendly fats. Dried fruit are high in iron content and have other essential nutrients necessary for energy and a healthy metabolism.
Tip: Try this mix - 5 almonds, a tablespoon of raisins and cranberries or dried apricots.

2. Fruit
Cut up an apple or peel and have a banana at any time during your work day; it's an apt anytime snack. Oranges and red grapes are also good options. Most fruits have an 80 percent content of water that will keep you hydrated. It is also a free of bad cholesterol. Strawberries and cherries also have a high anti-oxidant value.
Tip: Sprinkle some rock salt on your fruit for taste.

3. Oatmeal
Unlike common perception, oatmeal is not just a breakfast food. As a great source of fiber, oatmeal can leave you feeling satiated for long. It can also reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. It contains a high content of vitamins and minerals. As oatmeal is bland, you can add some honey or raisins to it.
Tip: Add chopped walnuts to your bowl.

4. Crackers, granola bars
Whole wheat crackers make for a good cubicle snack. Top it with olives or light mayo. You can also have granola bars made of a mix of nuts, oats and honey. These are high in fiber, low in sugar and offer valuable protein.
Tip: Can spoon some home made salsa onto the crackers.

5. Hummus and veggies
This is a quick and delicious idea. All you need is some hummus and a cup of cut vegetables to dip into it. Try carrots, broccoli florets cucumber, celery and tomatoes. For the hummus all you will need is chickpeas and a dash of lemon juice. If you have to use an oil, try olive oil as it's healthier.
Tip: If you need a dip instead, opt for a low-fat sour cream base.

Celebrity Fitness: Deepika Padukone

Former model and national level badminton player, 25-year-old Deepika Padukone, one would agree, has an enviably toned and lean body. The leggy actress has a figure that can carry of both Indian and western outfits with equal finesse and grace.

An excruciatingly strong will power makes it easy for her to stick to exercise routines and diets without wavering. Here are a few things she and her trainer Yasmin Karachiwala are clearly getting right.
 Start young
“All throughout school, I would go for badminton practice from 5 to 7 am,” explains Deepika. “After school, I would practise for another two hours. It was a routine I stuck to every single day while growing up.

So that definitely had a large role to play in how my body developed and maintained itself. However, after I stopped playing, I also discontinued exercising for quite a few years. And my initial training tided me over that period.”

Not known to be a chubby kid, she glided through her initial years of college and modelling without much training. It was only once work became more and more camera- centric that she felt the need to focus on her body and start to tone up again.

“I was always slim but I knew my body had the potential to really look defined. I wasn’t fat or out of shape, but I wanted to look a lot better. This is when I started training with Yasmin and she introduced me to Pilates and strength training. It did wonders for my tone and definition. I may have lost maybe a kilo or two at the most in all this time, but have lost inches all around and it shows,” she says.
Mix it up
Not one to enjoy conventional gym routines, Deepika likes to shake up her regimen with a mix of cardio, Pilates and yoga, constantly trying to mentally push the limits of her endurance and physical potential.

“I do a lot of freehand weights and four to five sets of stretching exercises with 10 to 20 reps, in between Pilates or stretching routines. I don’t particularly like running so I don’t do a lot of conventional gym exercises,” she says. “I try and exercise as often as I can, but when I’m travelling or shooting, I tend to skip it for days on end.”

One of the toughest things for Deepika was the effort to break her sweet tooth. “All my teeth are sweet. It’s my weakness. When I was younger, it was only chocolates; I wouldn’t touch any Indian sweets. But now I crave anything sweet, but I try and be good. I treat myself once in a while,” she says.
Trainer talk
Yasmin goes into the details of Deepika’s training routine and emphasises on how important it is to have self-control and will power to control urges that work against you.

“Deepika tries to come in every day for an hour. But currently, for example, she is in South Africa and hasn’t been exercising for over 10 days. This is when she’ll usually work out at home with Pilates or yoga,” she explains.

Pilates has worked wonders on her body and uses a combination of strength and yoga to tighten the core muscles of the body and relax the mind. As a routine, it helps build flexibility and creates endurance in legs, abdominals, back and arms through resistance training.

It also involves a steady control on breathing that helps to relieve stress and allow proper oxygen to reach core muscles. The flexibility helps coordination and balance and adequately trains all the muscle groups in the body.
Break a sweat

Deepika’s typical workout consists of functional training at the gym with a mix of freehand and light weights, depending on what body part is being worked upon.

In addition, the Pilates machine and props such as resistance bands, wunda chair, foam weights etc, are used for an overall workout. This gives her the lean look without making the body look too muscular. “We also have a jumping series of the Pilates, which is a combination of cardio and Pilates,” says Yasmin. “Here we do the jumping squat or walking lunges that may be accompanied by light weights of a kilo or two. I also like to intersperse a minute or two of cardio between other routines.” Since Deepika exercises daily, to prevent soreness in the body, weight training is kept at a minimum.

“If she has a shoot where she is wearing shorts or a short skirt, we emphasize on her legs; if it’s a halter that exposes her back and arms, we’ll focus on push ups or pull ups, and weights are decided accordingly,” says Yasmin. “For example, she has a beach scene in her upcoming movie, Cocktail, where we worked on her entire body’s look. Usually, it’s light weights and low reps and I like using a lot of props to keep the workout engaging and fun.”

As for her diet, Yasmin encourages eating small meals every two hours that contain a combination of carbs and proteins. “We recently discovered Quinoa, a carbohydrate substitute high in fiber, which has worked wonders for Deepika,” she says.
Food for thought
This is what Deepika’s average meal plan looks like:

·         Breakfast: 2 egg whites

·         Two hours later: Fruits

·         Lunch: Proteins; usually fish and grilled vegetables

·         Two hours later: A fruit or vegetable juice

·         Dinner: Lean meat; grilled chicken or fish

Effective Living Clinic

B-3/19, 0:1, Sector 3, Vashi

Navi Mumbai 400703

Tel: 9987223811 / 9969105310

www.effectivelivingclinic.com

Do's and don'ts to get fit by 31st December

With the New Year just round the corner, everyone wants to look their best for the multiple upcoming parties.

If you've spent much time staring wistfully at that hot outfit you wished you could wear come 31st December, then look no further. Nutritionist Rekha Sharma, President of the Indian Dietetics Association helps us understand diet do's and don'ts in order to get fit by 31st December.

To be clear: Weight loss can never function in a healthy manner within just a couple of weeks. What we are looking at today is a simple plan to avoid extra weight gain, bloating, and eating habits that help you be the fittest you can currently be. A healthy, balanced diet combined with adequate exercise is a must for a toned body that looks great all year round. As tempting as a crash diet might appear, it will only work to your advantage in the short term and the few pounds that you lose by denying your body proper nutrition will result in you feeling completely drained of energy- something you clearly don't want while celebrating the New Year!

Diet Do's
- Eat small portions at regular intervals through the day.
- Picking the right food is the key especially in such a short time frame.
- The meal should contain food which is high in proteins and fiber such as egg white, whole pulses and beans, low fat milk and milk products, whole grains, oats, beans, broccoli, papaya, orange, guava etc.
- Excessive consumption of foods high in fat should be avoided.
- Choose cooking oils that are high in MUFA (mono-unsaturated fat) as these fatty acids control bad cholesterol. Oil such as canola is the right option as it is healthy for the heart and free from bad cholesterol.

Diet Don'ts
- Food containing fat should not be completely eliminated from the diet as there are good fats such as omega 3 and mono-unsaturated fats which our body needs more.
- Fasting and skipping meals should be avoided, as when this happens the body goes into a conservation mode and the basal metabolic rate (BMR) falls, which results in preservation of energy leading to no weight loss. On the other hand small frequent meals keep the BMR boosted and exercise further raises it, thus leading to the weight loss.

Break a sweat!
Having regulated the intake of food, it is important to break down the fats that are already in our body. The quickest way to do that is by following a regular workout regime. In order to shed the fat, you need to break into a sweat! You can do that by doing aerobic exercises like running, swimming, cycling or pretty much anything that increases your heart rate and keeps it up. Stomach crunches alone will not help you lose weight and will only tone the muscles.

Staying active through the day is also a great way to get some additional exercise. Simple things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking a few extra steps everyday can keep you fitter than you think.

Effective Living Clinic

B-3/19, 0:1, Sector 3, Vashi

Navi Mumbai 400703

Tel: 9987223811 / 9969105310

www.effectivelivingclinic.com

10 Most Annoying Restaurant Habits

Eating out can be a great way to relax and enjoy some good food at the end of the day! But then again maybe not! Especially if someone in the group isn't aware of any basic table manners! From shouting at waiters, to making weird eating noises, here are some atrocious restaurant habits that are best nipped in the bud! Take a look and make sure you stay clear of these annoying habits!

Making weird eating noises
No one likes to hear the person across the table chewing every bite! Worse still, trying to talk while their mouth is stuffed! We’re sure that whatever they have to say can wait until they’ve swallowed that mouthful! Also nothing can be tackier than burping after a meal, right?

Getting up to grab food
So the waiters come and place the food on the table. Don’t you hate it when someone swoops halfway across the table to grab the dish first? How desperate! Why can't they just ask someone to pass the dish?!

Talking loudly
We all love a quiet sit-down dinner at our favourite restaurant which is why it can be extremely annoying if the person you are dining with seems to be yelling loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. Not only is this incredible embarrassing but it can be pretty uncomfortable for the people sitting around you!

Crudely beckoning the waiter
Getting the waiter's attention can be easily done by raising your hand and discreetly beckoning him over! There’s absolutely no need to yell out across the room or call him with a loud “Sshhh” or “Hey You!”

Eating off others' plates
You maybe starving and your friends dish probably looks mouth-watering but that’s no excuse to reach out and help yourself to someone else’s food! In fact, unless someone offers you their food, stay away from their plate!

Not watching your kids
If you’ve brought your kids to a fancy place, it's important to note that they are behaving themselves! After all, you don’t want them running around the restaurant while other people stare at you wondering what kind of parent you are! Get them to sit down and enjoy the meal with you in a civilized manner!

Ordering more than you can afford
Know how much you are willing to spend before you actually order! There’s no point ordering the most expensive meal on the menu only to discover you’ve forgotten your wallet... again! You’ll end up asking your friends to pay for you, and they sure won’t appreciate you for that!

Constantly answering calls
If you’re at an intimate dinner with friends or family, switching off that cell phone would be the best option. No one appreciates a person who keeps shouting into his cell phone throughout the meal! If you wanted to spend your night on the phone, you might as well have stayed at home!

Creating a scene
Always remember a restaurant is a place to relax and enjoy a good meal! So don’t ever make a scene by getting drunk, picking fights with the waiter or fighting with your own family members or friends in front of all the diners! Nothing could be tackier than getting yourself kicked out of the restaurant, that’s for sure.

Refusing to pay the bill
You’ve just had a lovely meal, some pleasant conversation and a great evening. But when it’s time to pay the bill, the foods too spicy, too bland or not the way you wanted it? Or you find a hair in your meal, so you need a discount? Well guys, the restaurant is not the place for you to bargain so don’t bother!

Eating disorder : A brief understanding

Eating disorder treatment depends on your particular disorder and your symptoms. It may include psychological counseling (psychotherapy), nutrition education or medications such as antidepressants.

Eating disorder treatment also involves addressing other health problems caused by an eating disorder, which can be serious or even life-threatening if they go untreated for long enough.

If an eating disorder doesn't improve with standard treatment or causes health problems, hospitalization or an inpatient program may be necessary.

Having an organized approach to eating disorder treatment can help you manage symptoms, regain a healthy weight, and maintain your physical and mental health.

Where to start

You may start by seeing your family doctor or mental health counselor such as a psychologist. You may also need to see other health professionals who specialize in eating disorder treatment, such as:

·         Your primary care doctor or other medical doctors involved with your care.

·         A psychiatrist, a medical doctor specializing in medication management, when medications are necessary. Some psychiatrists also provide psychological counseling.

·         A dietitian to provide nutritional counseling when a meal plan is necessary.

It's best if everyone involved in your treatment communicates about your progress so adjustments can be made to your treatment as needed. Involving your partner, parents or other family members is also important.

For young people still living at home, parents will be actively involved in treatment and may supervise meals.

Managing an eating disorder can be a long-term challenge. You may need to continue to see your doctor, psychologist, or other members of your treatment team on a regular basis even if your eating disorder and related health problems are under control.

Setting up a treatment plan

At the beginning of your treatment, you and treatment professionals will come up with goals and guidelines. This will make it clear what to do if you're not able to stick with your plan or if you're having health problems related to your eating disorder.

Your treatment team will consider what your needs are and what resources are available in your area. The cost of treatment programs may be a factor. Hospitalization and outpatient programs for treating eating disorders can be expensive, and insurance may not cover all of the costs of your care. However, don't avoid treatment because of the potential cost. Work with your doctor to identify affordable treatment options.

Psychological counseling for an eating disorder

Psychological counseling (psychotherapy) is generally the most important eating disorder treatment. It involves seeing a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health counselor on a regular basis.

Counseling may last from a few months to years. A number of different methods of counseling are used to treat eating disorders. They include:

·         Cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of counseling is a short-term, structured treatment that helps you address the thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to your eating disorder. It can help you learn to recognize and change distorted thoughts that lead to eating disorder behaviors.

·         Interpersonal psychotherapy. Another short-term treatment, interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on resolving relationship issues that contribute to your eating disorder. This type of treatment may be especially helpful if you have depression along with an eating disorder.

·         Family-based therapy. With family-based therapy, family members attend counseling sessions. This type of therapy can be especially useful for parents learning how to help a teen with an eating disorder.

·         Group cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of treatment involves meeting with a psychologist or other mental health provider along with others who are diagnosed with an eating disorder. It can help you address thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to your eating disorder, learn skills to manage eating disorder symptoms, and regain healthy eating patterns.

Treatment may involve a combination of types of counseling. Your psychologist or counselor may ask you to do homework, such as keep a food journal to review in counseling sessions, and identify triggers that cause you to binge, purge or do other unhealthy eating behavior.

Nutrition education

Dietitians and other professionals involved in your treatment can help you better understand your eating disorder and help you develop a plan to maintain healthy eating habits. Goals of nutrition education generally include:

·         Education about how nutrition affects your body

·         Meal planning

·         Establishing regular eating patterns — generally, three meals a day with regular snacks

·         Taking steps to avoid dieting

Nutrition education may involve cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help you recognize faulty beliefs and thought patterns and understand how your eating disorder causes nutrition issues and physical problems.

Medications for eating disorders

Medications may help you follow your treatment plan. They're most effective when combined with psychological counseling. Antidepressants are the most common medications used to treat eating disorders, but depending on the situation, other medications are sometimes prescribed.

Taking an antidepressant may be especially helpful if you have bulimia nervosa or binge- eating disorder in that it can help reduce symptoms of binge eating and vomiting. Antidepressants can be helpful to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety or obsessive- compulsive disorder, which frequently occur along with eating disorders.

You may also need to take medications for physical health problems caused by your eating disorder.

Hospitalization for eating disorders

Hospitalization may be necessary if you have serious physical or mental health problems or if you have anorexia and are unable to eat or gain weight. Severe or life-threatening physical health problems that occur with anorexia can be a medical emergency. In many cases, the most important goal of hospitalization is to get back to a healthy weight. Achieving your ideal weight can take months, so you'll probably need to continue outpatient treatment to accomplish your goals once you get out of the hospital.

Hospital day treatment programs

Day treatment programs are structured programs that generally require attendance for three to eight hours a day. Day treatment can include medical care, group, individual and family counseling, structured eating sessions, and nutrition counseling. You may still be able to work or attend school if you're in a day treatment program.

Residential treatment for eating disorders

With residential treatment, you live at an eating disorder treatment facility. A residential treatment program may be necessary if you need long-term care for your eating disorder or you've been in the hospital a number of times but your mental or physical health hasn't improved.

Ongoing treatment for health problems

Eating disorders can cause serious health problems related to inadequate nutrition, overeating, bingeing and other factors. The type of health problems caused by eating disorders depends on the particular type of eating disorder and its severity. In many cases, problems caused by an eating disorder require ongoing treatment and monitoring. Health problems linked to eating disorders can include:

·         Electrolyte imbalances, which can interfere with the functioning of your muscles, heart and nerves

·         Heart problems

·         Digestive problems

·         Nutrient deficiencies

·         Dental cavities and erosion of the surface of your teeth from frequent vomiting (bulimia)

·         Low bone density (osteoporosis) as a result of long-term malnutrition (anorexia)

·         Stunted growth caused by poor nutrition (anorexia)

·         Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Taking an active role

You are the most important member of your treatment team. In order for your treatment to be a success, you need to be actively involved in your treatment and informed about your eating disorder, and so do your family members. Your psychiatrist or other members of your treatment team can provide education and tell you where to find information and support. It's a good idea to search for resources on your own as well.

Resources that can help you understand and cope with your eating disorder include:

·         Books and self-help workbooks

Secrets of longevity

Protect Your DNA

As we age, the ends of our chromosomes -- called telomeres -- become shorter. This makes people more vulnerable to disease. You might think there's nothing you can do, but new research suggests otherwise. In a pilot study, lifestyle changes boosted an enzyme that increases telomere length. Other studies also find diet and exercise can protect telomeres. So healthy habits may slow aging at the cellular level.

Be Conscientious

An 80-year study found one of the best predictors of a long life is a conscientious personality. Researchers measured attributes like attention to detail and persistence. They found that conscientious people do more things to protect their health and make choices that lead to stronger relationships and better careers.

Make Friends

Science has given you one more reason to be grateful for your friends – they might help you live longer. Australian researchers found elderly social butterflies were less likely to die over a 10-year period compared to people with the fewest friends. Another analysis of results from 148 studies supports the link between plentiful social connections and longevity.

Choose Your Friends Wisely

Your friends’ habits rub off on you, so look for companions with healthy lifestyles. Studies indicate obesity is socially “contagious" –  your chance of becoming obese increases by 57% if you have a friend who becomes obese. Smoking is another habit that spreads through social ties, but the good news is that quitting is also contagious.

Quit Smoking

While it's no secret that giving up cigarettes can lengthen your days -- the amount of extra time may surprise you. According to a 50-year British study, quitting at age 30 could increase your lifespan by an entire decade. Kicking the habit at age 40, 50, or 60 boosts life expectancy by 9, 6, or 3 years, respectively. 

Embrace the Siesta

A siesta is standard in many parts of the world, and now there's scientific evidence that napping may help you live longer. A recent study with 24,000 participants suggests that regular nappers are 37% less likely to die from heart disease than occasional nappers. Researchers think naps might help your heart by keeping stress hormones down.

Follow a Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. An analysis of 50 studies involving more than half a million people shows the impressive benefits of this diet. The findings show it significantly lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome – a combination of obesity, elevated blood sugar, increased blood pressure, and other factors that raise your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Eat Like an Okinawan

The people of Okinawa, Japan once had the longest life expectancy in the world. Researchers attribute this to the region's traditional diet, which is high in green and yellow vegetables and low in calories. Some Okinawans make a habit of eating only 80% of the food on their plate. As younger generations have veered from these traditions, life expectancy in Okinawa has fallen.

Get Married

Several studies show that married people tend to outlive their single counterparts. Many researchers attribute the difference to the social and economic support marriage provides. While a current marriage offers the greatest benefit, people who are divorced or widowed have lower mortality rates than those who have never been married.

Lose Weight

If you're overweight, slimming down can protect against diabetes, heart disease, and other life-shortening conditions. Belly fat appears to be particularly harmful, so focus on deflating that spare tire. A 5-year study of Hispanics and African-Americans suggests eating more fiber and exercising regularly are effective ways to reduce belly fat.

Keep Moving

The evidence is overwhelming – people who exercise live longer on average than those who don't. According to dozens of studies, regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and depression. Exercise may even help you stay mentally sharp in your old age. Ten-minute spurts of activity are fine, as long as they add up to about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.

Get Spiritual

Research suggests people who attend religious services tend to live longer than people who never attend. In a 12-year study of people over age 65, those who attended services more than once a week had higher levels of a key immune system protein than their peers who attended no services. They were also significantly less likely to die during the study period. The strong social network that develops among people who worship together may contribute to their overall health.

Forgive

Letting go of grudges has surprising physical health benefits. Chronic anger is linked to decreased lung function, heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. Forgiveness will reduce anxiety, lower your blood pressure, and help you to breathe more easily. These benefits tend to increase as you get older.

Use Safety Gear

Accidents are the fifth most common cause of death in the U.S., and the top cause of death for people ages 1 to 24. Wearing safety gear is a simple way to boost your odds of a long life. In the event of a motor vehicle crash, seatbelts reduce the risk of death or serious injury by 50%. In bike accidents, most deaths are caused by head injuries, so always wear your helmet.

Make Sleep a Priority

Getting enough good quality sleep can lower the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mood disorders. Sufficient sleep will also help you recover from illness faster. Burning the midnight oil, on the other hand, carries serious health risks. Sleeping less than 5 hours per night boosts the risk of premature death, so make sleep a priority.

Manage Stress

Dean Ornish, MD, has published research suggesting that lifestyle changes including stress management not only help prevent heart disease, but may actually reverse it. Although avoiding stress is not a viable option for most people, there are effective ways to control it. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

Maintain a Sense of Purpose

Finding hobbies and activities that have meaning for you may contribute to a long life. Japanese researchers found men with a strong sense of purpose were less likely to die from stroke, heart disease, or other causes over a 13-year period compared to those with a low sense of purpose. Another study at Rush University Medical Center indicates that having a greater sense of purpose is linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Diabetes Warning Signs

Because type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health complications, it's important to be aware of any diabetes warning signs and get tested for diabetes if you have these symptoms. Treating diabetes early, when treatment is most effective, can help prevent complications.

We'll explain the various diabetes warning signs and also warning signs of specific diabetes problems. Discover why it's important to listen to your body and alert your doctor if you notice any new signs or problems.

Warning Signs of Diabetes

Sometimes type 2 diabetes can develop without any warnings signs. In fact, about a third of all people who have type 2 diabetes don't know they have it. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor about your risk for diabetes and determined if you should be tested.

Common warnings signs of diabetes include:

·         Increased thirst

·         Increased hunger (especially after eating)

·         Dry mouth

·         Frequent urination or urine infections

·         Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)

·         Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)

·         Blurred vision

·         Headaches

·         Diabetic coma (loss of consciousness)

If you have any of the above mentioned warnings signs of diabetes, give your doctor a call and schedule a diabetes test. With the right diabetes diet, regular exercise, and medications, if needed, you can manage type 2 diabetes and live an active, productive life.

If you have symptoms of the following diabetes complications, it's important to seek immediate medical attention. Each brief discussion links to more in-depth information.

Hypoglycemia and Diabetes

As you'll learn in this health topic, hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when the level of sugar or glucose in the blood drops too low to fuel the body. Hypoglycemia is not a disease but a condition that results from a variety of causes.

Hypoglycemia is most commonly a complication of diabetes treatment (diabetic hypoglycemia). You can develop hypoglycemia by taking too much insulin or other diabetes medications or by delaying a meal. Hypoglycemia can also be the result of some medications, other diseases, or too much activity.

We'll explain more about some warning signs of hypoglycemia in this health topic, including nausea, a jittery or nervous feeling, a rapid heartbeat, mood changes, blurred vision, and difficulty walking. Severe hypoglycemia can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and may be fatal.

Hyperglycemia and Diabetes

In this health topic, we explain the dangers of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels, and diabetes. Hyperglycemia causes many of the warning signs of diabetes listed above. Hyperglycemia may be caused by skipping or forgetting your insulin or diabetes medicine, eating too many grams of carbs for the amount of insulin administered, simply eating too many grams of carbs in general, or from stress or infections.

In this health topic, we discuss hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS), an extremely serious complication that can lead to diabetic coma and even death in type 2 diabetes. This serious condition occurs when the blood sugar gets too high and the body becomes severely dehydrated. To prevent HHNS and diabetic coma in type 2 diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly as recommended by your health care provider; when you are sick, check your blood sugar more frequently, drink plenty of fluids, and watch for signs of dehydration.

Other Warning Signs of Diabetes Complications

Other warning signs of type 2 diabetes' complications may include:

·         Slow-healing sores or cuts

·         Itching of the skin (usually around the vaginal or groin area)

·         Frequent yeast infections

·         Recent weight gain

·         Velvety, dark skin changes of the neck, armpit, and groin, called acanthosis nigricans

·         Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet

·         Decreased vision

·         Impotency

If you have any of these diabetes warning signs, contact your health care provider right away so you can have a diabetes test. Even people with pre-diabetes can have the increased risk from heart disease seen in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

10 healthy habits that make you handsome

There are easier, more effective, ways to look like a million bucks than by plunking down that much on some surgical solution -- the way some Hollywood pretty-boy wannabe would.

And just your luck: all involve treating your body better. It's true, a healthier lifestyle can actually boost your physical appearance -- targeting everything from your complexion, to those bags under your eyes, to the sheen of your hair.

Follow these 10 simple health and nutrition tips to make the face staring at you in the mirror hotter than ever.

1. Care about skin care.

Too often, this advice is sloughed off like dead epidermal cells. But listen anyway: Use moisturizers to keep your skin from drying out -- and more importantly, apply sunscreen to curb premature aging and undue damage from ultraviolet rays bound to resurface in the form of leather-textured moles or other such unpleasantnesses.

"If men would simply do this, it would make the biggest difference in their appearance," says Dr. Leslie Baumann, a dermatologist and author of the best-seller The Skin Type Solution. Make it a habit, like shaving or brushing your teeth, she suggests.

2. Butt out.

As in, stop smoking. "Cigarettes cause worse wrinkling than the sun," stresses Dr. Brooke Seckel, a plastic surgeon and author of Save Your Face -- The Revolutionary 6-Step Nonsurgical Facial Rejuvenation Program. Smoking robs the skin of collagen and elastin -- which give the skin texture, strength and elasticity -- and in turn speeds up the aging process. Cigarette use can also give the skin a grayish tone. Hot!

3. Eat right.

A healthy diet equals a more glowing complexion, shinier hair and a fitter you.

"The key is to stay well balanced," says Jim White, a fitness and nutrition expert, and a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "Oatmeal is a great power food. It's loaded with fiber and can help manage hunger and lower cholesterol. Cottage cheese, meanwhile, is low in sugar and high in protein and calcium."

Overall, stick closely to a Mediterranean-type diet, with few high-fat meats and larger amounts of grains, fish and olive oil.

4. Sleep.

Get the recommended eight hours a night, at least. "Sleeping restores all organs of the body, including the skin, which is the body's largest organ," notes Seckel. "It also reduces tension and anxiety, lessening crow's feet, frown lines and worry lines."

Lack of sleep also causes those dreaded circles under your eyes. (See our Facebook photos.)

5. Hydrate.

"Skin needs water to function properly, especially to fight damage caused by the sun," says Baumann. Drinking the recommended eight glasses a day additionally flushes toxins from the body and brings nutrients to the deep layer of the skin (the dermis).

6. Slenderize.

Trimming down will not only improve your appearance but also reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes, cancer and other diseases.

"Don't go on some radical diet. Instead think about portion control," says White. "Shave your calorie intake by 500 a day by cutting back on some vices like fried foods, and you'll lose a sensible pound or two a week."

7. Be pro-antioxidant.

Antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E found in fruits and vegetables are essential. They promote skin repair and elasticity and also reduce your risk for heart disease and cancer, says White.

8. Do cardio.

A cardio workout regimen lowers stress, makes you happier and gives your skin a glow. "Do any kind of aerobic exercise that will raise your heart rate above baseline for half an hour a day, says Dr. Douglas Peterson, a sports medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic. "It could be going for a walk, taking a bike ride or using the elliptical -- something that works up a sweat a little. Don't do too much too fast or you'll get injured and quit. Exercise should be fun, and you should feel good doing it."

9. Watch the booze.

"Alcohol causes swelling of the tissues, especially puffy eyes, and often leads to bad eating habits -- causing weight gain -- and smoking," warns Seckel.

10. Stand tall.

Good posture really is a good thing. Core strength training will get rid of that unseemly slouch. (Plus, a new set of six pack abs is definitely an appearance improvement.) Dr. Peterson recommends light resistance training two to three times a week to strengthen core muscles. A certified personal trainer can work with you on a regimen that you can follow at home.