This article is about preparedness but in a roundabout way.  It’s about changes I’ve made in order to be healthier and better prepared, physically, for my future.  I’m sharing in hopes that it might help some of you.  I’m also hoping you will share with me and others some of the things you have done.  I’m not going to talk about working out or getting in shape.  It’s not that I’m against it but as I mention in Preparing for Physical Limitations , I care more about functional fitness.

A little background is probably in order; I have always been a pop/soda/coke drinker.  I used to drink regular and then switched to diet ten years ago to lose some weight.  My grandmother is a type2 Diabetic, as is my father.  This gave me a 75% chance of becoming a type2 Diabetic as well.  Five years ago I was told I had become just that.

I went through a whirlwind of changes.  Meds were added but I was bound and determined to eventually control my Diabetes with diet and exercise.  Over the last five years, I have tweaked my diet and have eaten healthier than I ever have and healthier than most people I know.  I started working out and took a real world martial arts class called “Haganah”.  I’ve had a few health issues related to my back and left leg that have limited my physical activity the last couple of years.

Through it all, my weight was pretty constant and my A1C, which is the test that measures ones’ glucose level, was always on the high end.  My doctor, however, was never very concerned and added another med to control the blood sugars, saying the higher numbers could be a reaction to the pain I was having in my back and leg.  This is possible, as all kinds of stress can raise glucose levels, but it just didn’t sit right.

I went through a week or two where I was eating a very healthy diabetic diet and my numbers were even higher than usual.  I made an appointment with a diabetic educator at my clinic and brought a food log to prove I was eating a very healthy diet.  There was no reason for my blood sugar to be as high as it was. She agreed and added yet one more med, bringing the total meds to three, to control my ever climbing blood sugars.  This helped some, but they were still a bit higher than they should have been.

I started seeing a chiropractic neurologist to see if she could help with my back and leg pain.  We went over diet, physical activity, pain management and a few other things.  She said I needed to do the following: Start taking two supplements and drastically reduce the amount of diet soda/pop/coke I was drinking (she said I could have one can a day).

She asked if I was up for giving up the diet pop.  I told her I was so tired of being in pain, that if she told me to eat twigs and berries, I would.  She said she just might do that and then told me to take two natural supplements.  One was UltraGlycemX which, in my opinion, would have been the next step DOWN from twigs and berries, as far as taste goes.  This was something to mix in water twice daily.  I needed to take this while the blood sugar numbers came down and leveled off.  UltraGlycemX is a medical food that provides “Nutritional Support for Conditions Associated with Type 2 Diabetes”.

She also started me on a supplement called Protoglysen , which “provides a diverse range of botanicals to help support modulating the insulin response and support blood sugar stability”.  This is in the form of a capsule taken twice a day, and is something I will take for some time.

I had to stop drinking the diet soda/pop/coke.  She called it “poison”.  She said the chemicals, mainly the artificial sweeteners, were causing so much inflammation, which was adding to the pain and keeping any adjustment she made from doing any real good.  She said there was also a very good chance that it was the culprit for my high blood sugar levels.

She asked me to reduce the number of cans I was drinking by one or two a day, that going cold turkey might cause some nasty headaches due to the lack of caffeine, which was another thing she recommended I stop ingesting.  She said the only sweeteners I should use are Stevia or Xylitol, both being natural.  She recommended finding something to drink besides water, as many people get bored with only being able to drink water all day.

I was able to find Stevia in packets at vitamin store and even Walmart carries Stevia in the raw in packets.  We haven’t had much luck finding Xylitol.  Fair warning; Stevia can have a bitter aftertaste.  Trudee also went on the hunt for Lipton Unsweetened Decaf Iced Tea Mix and found it locally.  Another thing I found was True Lemon , which has other flavors as well.  They are an all-natural drink mix that comes in a packet you can pour into a water bottle.  Another thing I found that I enjoy very much is Sobe Lifewater.   It offers a variety of fruity drinks that are sweetened with Stevia in the form of “Pure Via”.  There are also a few soda/pop/coke companies that have started using Stevia.  Unfortunately, they are quite expensive.

I’m not going to get into the effects that Aspartame or any of the other artificial sweeteners can have, but you can find plenty of information with a quick internet search. Here are just two articles on Diet Pop; What’s So Bad About Diet Soda? And Can Diet Drinks Raise Blood Sugar Levels?

So, where has all of this gotten me?  It took me a week to get down to one Diet Dr. Pepper a day, which is what I drink now.  I stopped the UltraGlycemX a couple months after my numbers dropped down to normal ranges.  I continue to take the Protoglysen.  Remember, I said I was taking three different meds to control the diabetes and my numbers were still high?  One month after reducing to one can of Diet Dr. Pepper a day, my numbers dropped down to normal.  Roughly one month later, I saw my doctor and was taken off one Diabetes med.  I had my A1C checked and it has also dropped dramatically.  I just stopped taking a second med and my numbers haven’t risen at all.  I spoke with my doctor and he said I could stop the last med and watch the numbers closely to see if they come up.

I’m not endorsing or recommending the supplements I was put on, but if you have Type 2 Diabetes you might want to see what your doctor thinks about trying them.  I printed out information and brought it to my doctor.  He simply cautioned me to watch for potential lows, which are far more dangerous than highs.  I think the supplements had a hand in my numbers coming down, but not nearly as much as getting rid of the diet pop did.  You might be wondering why I don’t quit it completely.  It might be silly, but Diet Dr. Pepper is one of my favorite things.  I hated that I had to reduce my intake.  I look forward to my one can a day…cold dead hands.  LOL

I’m not sharing any of this for a pat on the back, but to share with you what happened when I reduced the diet soda/pop/coke.  If you drink diet pop, are a diabetic with numbers that are unusually high for no reason, or you have health issues that can’t be explained, look into the effects of the artificial sweeteners and consider reducing or stopping as much as you can.

On a side note, when my numbers were high, I hardly ever “cheated” by eating any sweets or ice cream, as I knew my numbers would skyrocket.  Since they dropped to such normal levels, I have indulged a bit and my numbers stay well within range.

 

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A short note before the article, to give everyone more of a chance to enter the contest, I will stop taking entries on Monday morning and will be emailing the winners for their address then.

 

 

Preparing for Stomach Trouble

 

Today’s topic isn’t a pleasant one, but I believe it is an important one.  I’ve written before about making sure you have some meds on hand to deal with stomach problems, but I have recently had some stomach trouble and it drove home what a problem it can be.  Though my trouble was minor, it still had me out of action at times.  I was blessed to have my stomach issues outside of a survival situation.  However, in a survival situation, being taken out by any stomach trouble could have dire consequences.

I’m not a doctor.  You should consult yours if you have questions or want more information.  You are responsible for whatever you consume.  Everything I am recommending is either over-the-counter or medicinal herbs known to aid in various digestive issues.  You should research any wild edible before consuming it.

 

Making Matters Worse

Stress and changes to the diet can cause those who normally don’t suffer from heart burn, nausea, constipation, diarrhea or any other digestive issue to have them.  If you normally suffer from digestive issues, stress and changes to the diet can make matters worse.

My point here is that even if you don’t normally have stomach issues, in a high stress survival situation, you may.  Being prepared ahead of time can keep an already bad situation from getting horribly worse.  Even if you don’t have digestion issues, others around you may, and you’ll be a super hero for helping them out.

 

Common Ailments and Their Home Treatment

 

Diarrhea

Diarrhea kills 1.5 million children worldwide every year.  That’s more than AIDS.   The most common reason is unclean drinking water.   In hurricanes or floods, the water is often contaminated with all kinds of filth.
 

OTC Remedies (Over The Counter)

Here are some OTC remedies that may help stop diarrhea;  Imodium, Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate.
 

Herbal Remedies

Astringent herbs help dry up the mucus membrane of the intestine.  Some herbs with astringent properties are; blackberry leaf or raspberry leaf. Extract of bilberry also has astringent qualities, but do not take it if you’re taking anticoagulants, as it can cause excessive bleeding.

Chamomile is an herb that may help with diarrhea; it is often used in teas.  Goldenseal is another herb.  It contains berberine, which has been shown to help with infectious diarrhea.

 
Dehydration

There are some schools of thought that say you should let diarrhea run its course.  The trouble with this is that leaving it to run its course could lead to dehydration.  To stave off dehydration you can store Pedialyte, Gatorade or mix your own Poor Man’s Gatorade..

 

Nausea

Nausea can be caused by a wide variety of things.  It can cause one to lose their appetite, and in a survival situation there is a good chance you’ll be burning off more calories than you normally do.

 

OTC Remedies (Over The Counter)

Here are some common OTC remedies that can help with nausea; Dramamine Chewable Tablets, Emetrol Cherry Flavored Liquid, Marezine for Motion Sickness Tablets, Triptone for Motion Sickness and Pepto-Bismol.

 

Herbal Remedies

Many of the herbal remedies can be brewed into a tea.  Others you might cook with.  Some of them are: ginger, chamomile, peppermint, clove, anise, basil, cumin, and concentrates of aloe.  These have been shown to sooth the symptoms in many digestive conditions.

 

Constipation

Adding fiber to your diet may help with constipation, but in times of high stress, fiber may not help.  I remember in boot camp, we ate more food than we would have if we were at home.  We were very active and we had at least ten men who suffered from constipation.

 

OTC Remedies (Over The Counter)

There are five different groups of OTC meds.  They are:

Oral osmotics: Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia, Miralax

Bulk formers: Benefiber, Citrucel, Fiber Choice, Metamucil

Oral stimulants; Ex-lax, Senokot

Oral stool softeners; Colace, Kaopectate

Rectal stimulants; Bisacodyl, Pedia-Lax, Dulcolax

 

Herbal Remedies

Again, many of these herbal remedies can be brewed into tea or used in cooking.  Slippery Elm can have laxative effects; Calendula is traditionally used for abdominal cramps and constipation.  Flax, rose hips, and dandelion are a gentle stimulant to digestion and are mild laxatives.

Untreated constipation can lead to an impacted bowel.  Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy recently wrote an article on fecal impaction.

 

Heartburn

Added stress can lead to more acid in the stomach, which can sometimes cause indigestion and heartburn.

 

OTC Remedies (Over The Counter)

Antacids; there are two types, the kind you take at the onset of heartburn, and acid blockers.  Some types of antacids you can take at the onset of heartburn are: Alka-Seltzer, Tums, Milk of Magnesia, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids and Pepto-Bismol.  Some types of acid blockers are: Axid AR, Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, Zantac 75.

 

Herbal Remedies

Just a few herbal remedies include: dandelion, fennel, catnip, peppermint and lemon balm.

 

Gas/Bloating

Let’s face it, many Prepper’s have an abundance of beans in their food storage.  Having a way to counteract the magical fruit just makes sense.

 

OTC Remedies (Over The Counter)

Here are some OTC ways to counteract gas: Gas-X, Alka-Seltzer Anti-Gas and Mylicon.  Beano can be taken before you eat to help stop gas from forming.

 

Herbal Remedies

Here are some various herbs that can be brewed into tea or used in cooking that can aide in stopping gas and bloating.  Fennel is a traditional herbal remedy for gas and bloating, as are peppermint, catnip, chamomile and cardamom.

Hopefully, with this info, you can stock up on a few items that can help you “stay in the game” in the future.

 

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It’s that time of year when the temperatures drop and many of us start wearing warmer clothes.  I want to cover a few things to keep in mind just in case you find yourself stranded out in the cold.

Those of you who live in the south may think this isn’t important, but I think it is almost more important that you’re aware.  People who live where it gets cold deal with it every year.  But if you ever travel to where it gets cold, you need to be aware of a few things.

 

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can create it.  Normal body temperature is 98.6 and hypothermia sets in when the body temperature drops below 95 degrees.  It is most often caused by exposure to cold air, water or even cold wind.  Many people have a misconception that it needs to be frigidly cold to get hypothermia, but it can happen from long exposure to temperatures of less than 50 degrees as well.  The elderly and infirm are more susceptible to hypothermia indoors at cold temperatures than younger and healthier people.

 

Some of the symptoms of hypothermia are:

• Shivering ; constant shivering is a key sign of hypothermia
• Clumsiness
• Slurred speech
• Apathy; lack of concern for one’s condition
• Muscle stiffness
• Drowsiness

The treatment for hypothermia depends on the severity of it.  For mild cases of hypothermia getting out of the cold environment and using blankets and heaters to raise the body’s temperature can be effective.  Moderate to severe hypothermia is best treated in the hospital where special treatments can be used to warm the body’s core temperature.

 

Frostbite

Frostbite is when the skin and tissue just underneath the skin freeze.  It usually affects small exposed areas of skin.  Minor frostbite can be treated at home by slowly warming the skin with warm water.  Severe frostbite requires medical attention as it can damage skin, muscle and bone.  It can also cause nerve damage.

Some of the symptoms of frostbite are:

 

• A slightly painful or itching sensation
• A cold or burning sensation
• Numbness
• Blistering in severe cases
• Clumsiness due to joint and muscle stiffness

The first stage of frostbite is called frost-nip and presents as cold red skin.  Continued exposure can result in a slightly painful or itching sensation.

The second stage of frostbite or superficial frostbite appears as reddened skin that turns white or pale; some ice crystals might form on the skin.  Skin might begin to feel deceptively warm, which is a sign of serious skin involvement.  Warming the skin at this stage might cause stinging, burning or swelling.  The skin might also appear blue or purple.

The third stage of frostbite or severe, deep frostbite will affect all layers of skin including the tissue below.  Deceptive numbness may be experienced, in which all sensation of cold or pain is lost.  Large blisters appear 24-48 hours after warming and, as the tissue dies, it will turn black and hard.

Medical attention should be sought if there are signs or symptoms of superficial or severe frostbite, or if there is increased pain, swelling, redness or discharge in the frostbitten area.

 

Five Ways in Which the Body Loses Heat

 

Conduction

One of the ways in which we lose heat is from contact with something that is colder than we are,  for example, sitting on the cold ground.  The heat from our bodies will transfer into the ground, thus making us cooler.

 

Radiation

Another way we lose heat is by radiating it to the open air.  In the cold our 98.6 body temperature is much warmer than the air around us.  We can trap that heat by wearing clothing and a hat and gloves.

 

Convection

Convection is similar to radiation, in that the air is used to steal heat, but it has to do with air movement.  Think of the wind or a fan.  In cold climates where the wind is blowing, this is called wind chill.  The temperature isn’t any colder, but because of the wind it feels like it is.

 

Respiration

When you breathe in cold air your body warms it, when you exhale you give off some of that warmth.  Trudee’s asthma can be bothered by breathing in cold air; placing a scarf over her mouth to help warm the air seems to help some.

 

Evaporation

When our bodies get too warm, we perspire to help regulate our core temperature.  On a hot day this is a good thing, but sweating on a cold day can be deadly.  Dressing in layers and removing layers as you begin to sweat can help control evaporation.

 

Car Kits

For many of us, where ever we go, our vehicle is not far away.  Every year I read new stories of someone who went off the road and was stranded for an extended time.  If this happens to you, having a Car Kit can ensure that you have the supplies you need to sustain life until you’re rescued.

One last note; I have read stories where someone was stranded and perished after a time.  When they were found, their vehicle was intact.  One of the things that should be in your car kit is a knife, you can use that knife to take the upholstery off and either use it as a blanket, or to use it as insulation over a cold window.  You may hate the idea of destroying your vehicle, but the upholstery can be fixed once you make it home alive.

 

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One of the things I’ve had my eye on for the last couple of years is pharmaceutical shortages.  I have read many reports, both local and national, about shortages on certain medicines.  We have actually been affected by it a few times, with delayed refills or only getting a partial refill and having to go back after a delivery for the rest.

I see two dangers here; not having the medication for people who require them for quality of life or for sustaining life itself.  The other danger happens when people who are mentally ill don’t get the medications they need.  I have, through the years, seen many stories of people who refused to take their medications committing violent crimes that they wouldn’t have committed if they had been on their meds.

The FDA has a webpage called the Current Drug Shortages Index, which lists voluntarily reported shortages.  Pharmaceutical companies can’t require companies to inform them of shortages or any other information about the shortage, so that list is only a list of what the FDA knows about.

 

If you don’t have a good supply of your medication, read the article I wrote called Building a Stockpile of Medicine for some tips on stocking up.

As for people with mental illness not having the meds they require to be productive members of society, let’s pray they don’t commit any crimes they normally wouldn’t.  Practicing your Second Amendment right is recommended as well.