NEUROPATHY AND THE DIABETIC

Neuropathy is a functional change or pathological disturbance in the peripheral nerves. Know anymore than you did? Probably not. Let's see if we can get a better understanding of what all that mambo-jumbo means!

The human body's nervous system has two main parts with the Central Nervous System being the one we hear the most about. This is the part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord. The one we hear less about is also a very important one. The Peripheral Nervous System is made up of the nerves that connect the Central Nervous System to the other organs and muscles in the body. As you can imagine, the peripheral nerves affect a lot of areas of the body. Now back to our original definition of neuropathy, a functional change or pathological disturbance in the peripheral nerves, one can see how neuropathy can become a big problem.

The peripheral nervous system is made up of three different types of nerves. They are motor nerves, which are responsible for voluntary movements such as waving goodbye, walking, etc. Another is sensory nerves which allow us to feel pain, hot and cold, etc. The third type is the autonomic nerves. As the name implies, these nerves control our involuntary movements such as breathing, heart beats, etc. Obviously, the nervous system is very complex and one of more nerves may be involved in neuropathy.

Symptoms of neuropathy can come on suddenly or gradually over time, depending on the types of nerves involved. Unfortunately, diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy so we diabetics need to be aware of the symptoms because early intervention is important in treatment and recovery. In most cases, the early symptoms are weakness, pain, or numbness. Symptoms such as difficulty walking, stumbling or tiring easily, muscle cramps, trouble holding onto objects, an unsteady gait, dizziness when standing up may be symptoms. Some people complain of their hands and feet feeling as though they are wearing gloves or slippers when they are not. Because the peripheral nerves involve so many areas, there are many different types of symptoms. This can lead to problems getting a diagnosis since so many of these symptoms also relate to other illnesses. If you notice one or more of these symptoms for an extended time, check with your doctor. He or she may refer you to a neurologist, a doctor whose specialty is the brain and nerve disorders. A complete history of the symptoms should be presented and such tests as an EMG (electromyography), blood tests and urine tests will probably be done.

The key to recovery is to seek help as soon as you suspect problems. Recovery time depends on how much damage has been done and if nerve damage is left untreated for a long period of time, the symptoms could become irreversible. Don't ignore the symptoms! This is your life, your future and your comfort we are talking about here. Most of us human beings have a tendency to think it's our imagination, it will get better on its own, the doctor will think I'm just a complainer, I'll mention it when I see the doctor in six months, etc. Wrong! At the risk of repeating myself, I feel that I must stress early diagnosis and treatment is important for this one. Don't let yourself have permanent nerve damage because you waited too long to admit you had a problem.

Participating in the drama of life

From now on, I shall relegate the past to the past and consign it to the past only to drawn upon when in doubt and in need of inspiration. I shall now peer into the future with a new clear vision.

The burden of the past weighs heavily upon the mind no matter what the experts say. The past consists of both the good and the bad BUT yet we only tend to recall the negative and gloss over the positive. That's being human after all.

The unfortunate effect is that this dwelling on the negative spoils one's attitude and as attitude is the primary motivator to future action, the future is as a consequence invariably spoiled. After viewing the past negatively self doubt and self hesitancy occurs causing one to doubt oneself in almost every aspect. Ultimately there is less enthusiasm in life, and the courage to create newness or face challenges lessens. Even summoning the courage seems to be lacking.

Looking back at the past is a bad habit and everyone struggles to get rid of their die-hard bad habits. Whilst we look at others enviously when they manage to get rid of their die hard bad habit, we should not get upset; instead we should look at ourselves to see how successful we are in getting rid of our own bad habits.

We should extend mental and moral support to help them overcome their weaknesses. We must be patient, flexible and have a molding nature. Recalling the past is also largely habitual. there has to be the aim to break that habit. To take each day as if it is a new life with new possibilities.

Wisdom gives the understanding that life does not function haphazardly. It teaches that everything that happens in the theater of life has deep meaning and significance.

What happened in the past should empower us to make better decisions with the passage of time. We can never change it and we can never relive it. The power of the past is to learn form our past mistakes and to move on to a brighter future.

When I recognize the importance of time, I will know how important life is. I would understand the fact that each moment offers something more significant than what is apparent. This perception enables me to make the best use of the present moment, finishing carelessness and bringing alertness.

Management Tips - Give Feedback

Part of your job as a new manager is to give helpful feedback to employees, but it doesn't stop there. The feedback process isn't over when you reel off what you think the employee should do to improve performance. It ends when the worker understands your input and applies it successfully.

Most managers dislike giving negative feedback. They may fear that workers will perceive their well intentioned comments as personal criticism, and because it's common for rookie managers to want to be liked by their troops, they may shy away from pointing out work related defects or concerns about an individual"s effort or attitude.

Get over it!

Effective managers must give feedback every day. It can range from glowing praise to neutral observation to serious alarm. Ideally, positive input should far outweigh everything else. Employees crave compliments from their supervisor - they remember them, treasure them and share them with friends and family.

Look for opportunities to point out what workers are doing right. Don't feel you must ration praise only for rare flashes of brilliance or exceptional results. Letting people know that you admire how they handle a customer, organise their workspace or analyse a problem is in itself a form of feedback that straightens your relationship with your team.

When your goal is to provide constructive feedback that helps employees improve, set the stage. Get a two-way conversation going. Discuss the high standards you set for yourself and your crew -and find out what the worker thinks of these standards. That's better than coming tight out and saying, "Here's something you are doing wrong at that you need to work on..."

Remember that almost all workers thirst for input. One of the employees' biggest complaints is "I don't get enough feedback from my boss." Remove the mystery. Freely share your ideas, suggestions and reservations. Make individuals aware of their performance and guide them to improve.

Use this three step method to deliver feedback that sinks in:

Invite employees to evaluate their performance

Let them rate a specific aspect pf their work based on, say a 1 to 10 scale or an A to F grade. Many people grade themselves more harshly than you would. Even if they inflate their ratings, it gives you a baseline to respond with your input.

Ask follow up questions

Dig for more information. get employees to share dtails or examples that justify their self rating. Notice what criteria they use to evaluate themselves and how they track their performance.

Align your analysis with their comments

Now that you have given employees a chance to cime in, it's your turn. Begin by thanking them for explaining how they view their performance, then add..."I'd like to piggyback on what you have just said." Then endorse positive input that you heard earlier (as long as you agree) and add some fresh praise so you end on a high note.

"The good ones among managers.....do not talk to their subordinates about their problems, but they know how to make the subordinates talk about theirs." - Peter Drucker...

PRIMAVERA LAMB CHOPS

4 lamb chops, 1/2-inch thick
2 slices turkey bacon, cut into pieces
3/4 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp canola or olive oil
3 tbsp no-sugar-added apple butter
3 tbsp water
1 cup cherry tomatoes

In large nonstick skillet cook the turkey bacon according to the package directions; set aside.

While the turkey bacon cooks, put the green beans into a 2-quart casserole dish with a lid. Add the 2 tablespoons of water and cook on high for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once. Drain the beans and set aside.

Brush the soy sauce onto the lamb chops. Using the same skillet you used for the turkey bacon, heat the canola or olive oil over medium heat. Add the lamb chops and brown them on both sides.

Once the lamb chops are browned, add the apple butter and the 3 tablespoons of water and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the mixture and lamb chops, covered, for 5 minutes.

Add the drained green beans, tomatoes, and cooked turkey bacon to the skillet and cook, uncovered, around 5 minutes until heated through and chops are done.

Angel Hair Pasta with Meatballs

Who doesn’t love spaghetti and meatballs?

Most of us do, yet many of us worry that upon a diagnoses of diabetes we can no longer enjoy this favorite meal. But yes, diabetics can still enjoy a meal of pasta and meatballs!

This recipe is a perfect example using whole-wheat angel hair pasta and low-fat ground beef. Extra fiber, an especially important need for diabetics, is incorporated into the meatballs by using Fiber One Cereal as the filler. This dish with a tasty green salad makes a great, easy meal.

This Angel Hair Pasta with Meatballs is perfect for anyone including diabetics. If you are diabetic, I would suggest leaving off a yummy garlic bread. For others, the garlic bread would be a great idea. And a special note; these fiber-laden meatballs could become your “go-to” meatball recipe!

ANGEL HAIR PASTA AND MEATBALLS

* 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
* 3/4 cup Fiber One cereal
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 3/4 tsp Italian Seasoning
* 1/4 to 1/2 tsp garlic powder (depending on taste)
* 1 can (8-oz) tomato sauce
* 1 can (14 1/2-oz) diced tomatoes with green pepper and onion (do not drain)
* 1/8 tsp paprika
* 6-oz uncooked whole-wheat angel hair pasta
* chopped fresh parsley for garnish, if desired
* grated Parmesan cheese for garnish, if desired

Finely crush Fiber One cereal in food processor or in a sealed plastic bag by crushing with a rolling pin. Pour crumbs into a large mixing bowl along with the ground beef, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and 1/4 cup of the tomato soup. Blend well and shape into meatballs about 1 1/2-inch in diameter.

Spray a 12-inch nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Over medium heat, cook the meat balls approximately 10 minutes, turning occasionally to brown on all sides. Drain off excess fat, if necessary. Add the remaining tomato sauce, the canned tomatoes, and the paprika to the skillet; turn meatballs to coat. Cover skillet and cook over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the meatballs are cooked through.

Meanwhile, cook and drain the angel hair as the package directs.

To serve, place the meatballs with sauce over the pasta.
Top with additional Parmesan and the chopped parsley, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings

Per serving: 460 calories, 54 g carbs, 10 g fiber, 33 g protein, 12 g (5 g sat)fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 950 mg sodium.

Diabetic exchanges: 2 1/2 starch, 1 other carb, 3 1/2 lean meat

Enjoy!

Make it work

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy.

Do have a real happy marriage!

MARRIAGE

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question.

This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release.

The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy.

Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed.

So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this.

It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.

On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, "I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy".

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore. She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.

My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy.

Do have a real happy marriage!

8 tips to help you learn more efficiently

8 tips to help you learn more efficiently

In a rapidly changing business world where trends and technology are in constant evolution, staying abreast of evolving professional knowledge is essential if you are to build a successful, ongoing career. But finding time to study can be hard, and your methods may not be as effective as they once were. To help you learn more efficiently – and make climbing the career ladder easier – follow these eight expert tips:

1. Study less, but do it more often

It’s the night before your professional training exam. You fire up the coffee pot and prepare to study from dusk to dawn. But the next morning your mind is blank – despite a pounding heart high on caffeine. Experienced this? Lesson one is simple: don’t try and learn everything in extended last-minute sessions. Your brain prefers regular repetition. Studying for one hour a day for ten days is better than ten hours the night before the test.

2. Learn actively

Studying is much more effective when you force yourself to learn actively. Join a group where each member must share a topic. Also, be active in discussions and ask questions of your lecturers. The questioning process will help you retain information better.

3. Relate learning to your life

When reading, try to turn theory into your daily practice. If your study topic is leadership, consider how different management approaches would work in your particular work environment.

4. Read it, write it

Make sure that you take notes. This is essential for memory retention. Write down chapter headings and briefly summarise the key points as they appear. Jot down any questions that arise, or disagreements you have with the author. This is another way to make your learning active.

5. Be realistic

Before embarking on new learning, set a realistic target, then create a manageable study plan. For example, set aside two hours twice a week to learn a 20-hour unit. Give yourself six weeks to complete this. Factor in some extra time to help you cope with busy work periods or potential delays.

6. Use technology

Devices like an IPAD, Galaxy Tab, in fact any of today's smart phone devices can help you learn on the road. This is especially handy if you have to commute from home to work, or travel between jobs. You can upload digital learning files onto handheld MP3 players and listen to them when convenient. Remember to take notes.

7. Check with an expert

You studied long and hard for weeks before an important exam. You’ve never studied so comprehensively and you are sure you will have performed well. But then your results arrive and you are disappointed. It appears that your understanding of the course was off track… It happens. To make sure that you are grasping concepts correctly, check with an expert before your test.

8. Study yourself

Learning sometimes feels like a burden. But without it you may find yourself under equipped to shine in your office. All of the above tips can help you learn more effectively. However, it’s also important to consider what works best for you.