Sarah wrote:
Do you have some helpful hints on giving the elderly medicine?
Dear Sarah,
If the medication can be given in liquid form that may be easier. If it is a small pill you may be able to put it in applesauce or pudding to help it go down easier. You need to check the labels on the medicine bottle to see if it can be taken with food, and make sure what you give it with is on the person’s diet plan. If that does not work ask the doctor or pharmacist if the medication can be crushed or capsule emptied and put in food. Do not do this before asking as some medications are time released and it could overdose the person. Some medications are also enteric coated to prevent gastric distress.
Hope this is helpful.
Nurselady

Drew wrote: Does picking your scabs cause skin cancer?
Dear Drew,
To the best of my knowlege there is no correlaton between picking scabs and skin cancer. I do know that picking scabs can cause scarring.
One concern is how often and why you pick at the scabs. It has been documented that chronic scab picking may be associated with a compulsive disorder so you may want to speak with your physician.

Nurselady

Joy Simpson wrote:
I’m worried that I might get diabetes. It runs in my family. I’m only in my 30s but could you tell me some basic tips for preventing the onset of diabetes? Are things I can do for my diet or exercises i can do?

Dear Joy,
Yes, Joy, there are things that you can do to help prevent diabetes. Avoid eating a lot of simple carbohydrates such as cakes, cookies, white bread, white pasta, white rice, and simple sugars like candy, soda. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods like wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, and wheat pasta. Exercise is another important key to fighting diabetes. Try to find activities that you enjoy like running, playing tennis, roller blading, dancing, anything to keep you in tip top shape. Have regular physicals with your physician including blood work to check your blood glucose. I recently read an article that eating cinnamon on a regular basis helps lower blood glucose, so add some to your oatmeal or whole wheat toast.

Hope this has been helpful. Wiishing you the best of health.
Nurselady

Bethany wrote:
I have noticed a red, painful raised area that is warm to the touch on my feet(ankle, insole) 3 separate times. The areas go away after a day or two. I’m 27, don’t smoke, am on birth control but wasn’t on it when the first 2 welts occurred. I’m concerned about blood clots but my physician was not concerned that the problem was due to clotting. I’d like to find the source of the problem. Any ideas of what it could be or how I can find out on my own (since my doctor was not concerned)?

Thanks!
Bethany

Dear Bethany,
One question would be what did you do prior to the redness? Did you take a long walk? Play tennis? How long does the redness and tenderness last? What makes it go away? I believe you should probably see a podiatrist (a foot doctor) if the problem continues or gets worse. I once had a problem after walking 3 miles on the beach. My foot hurt so bad and there was some redness and heat. I went to a podiatrist and I had an infection in the tissue. He gave me an injection and it cleared up almost immediately.

Hope this helped,
Nurselady