Q. I'd like to give a holiday gift to my friend with diabetes. Any ideas?
A. Here are a few items that make great gifts:
- Diabetes-friendly
cook books.
- A diabetes
identification bracelet. Here are two websites that sell unique styles:
- www.laurenshope.com - This site
carries crystal, sterling and gold-filled beaded bracelets and gives a
portion of the profits to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
- www.nicolejohnson.com - This is the website of Nicole
Johnson, former Miss America and host of dLife TV. It offers an elegant design that Nicole
helped create.
- An exercise video
or gift certificate to a yoga class.
- Workout-related
items, including a gym bag, towel and water bottle.
You can always make a donation to a diabetes
organization. Here are a few:
Q. I’d like to donate blood. Does having diabetes disqualify me from doing
this?
A. Having diabetes should not prevent you from
giving blood, as long as you feel well at the time that you donate. However, if you used any bovine-derived
insulin produced by Novo Nordisk in the early 1980’s, you may not be eligible
to give. The concern is that the beef
content of this insulin may have introduced certain elements into your blood
that make it inappropriate to share. Please discuss your eligibility with your
local American Red Cross office or local blood donation center. Giving blood truly saves lives. I plan to do it this month and hope all of
you will too!
Q. How much should I
weigh?
A. Here is an easy
way to estimate your desired body weight:
For women:
- Measure your height.
- For
the first 5 feet, give yourself 100 pounds.
- For
each inch over 5 feet, add an additional 5 pounds.
- If
you have large wrists, which indicate a large frame, add an additional
10%.
- If
your wrists are slender, which indicate a small frame, subtract 10%.
- For
a medium frame, add nothing to your total.
Example: Joan is 5
feet 4 inches. She adds 100 pounds plus
20 pounds, which equals 120 pounds. She
has a large frame and adds 10% (12 pounds).
Her desired weight is 132 pounds.
For men:
- Measure your height.
- For
the first 5 feet, give yourself 106 pounds.
- For
each inch over 5 feet, add 6 pounds.
- If
you have a large frame, add an additional 10%.
- If
you have a small frame, subtract 10%.
- For
a medium frame, add nothing.
Example: Marc is 5
feet 10 inches. He adds 106 pounds plus
60 pounds. He is medium framed and
should weight about 166 pounds.
Remember, the weight that you calculate is just an
estimate. Your personal need may be
different. Review your answer with your
health care team.
*This article originally appeared in 2007
**please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diabetes regimen.
- For more great articles by Janis Roszler, visit the e-version of our magazine at walgreensdiabetes.com
