6 Medications That May Raise Blood Sugar
Type 2 diabetes isn't usually a party of one. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, gout, and high cholesterol, which often require additional medication.“These meds — such as beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and statins — can be lifesaving, but they can also come with side effects, such as raising blood...
Ketosis vs. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): What’s the Difference?
The ketogenic diet isn't right for everyone. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or about to undergo surgery shouldn't try the keto diet. People with chronic health conditions, especially those with liver, kidney, and respiratory failure, should check with their doctor before starting a keto diet.If you're cleared to do keto, you'll start off by cutting out most carbs and...
Risks, Side Effects, and Safe Weight Loss
Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, which prompts the pancreas to make more insulin after meals. The extra insulin helps regulate blood sugar, but the drugs can also reduce appetite and slow the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, helping people feel full faster,...
The Impact of Hormones and New Medications
One of the reasons why medications known as GLP-1 agonists or dual agonists have been so effective for weight loss is that they counteract the body’s natural responses to increase hunger and promote weight gain. “These drugs mimic naturally occurring gut hormones that control hunger and give them back to individuals in fairly high amounts,” Kushner says. As a...
Safety, Uses, and How to Avoid
Until manufacturers completely phase out Red Dye 3 in January 2027, follow these strategies for reducing your exposure.Choose natural alternatives. Instead of choosing foods and drinks that use synthetic dyes, look for safer alternatives made from plants or other natural sources, such as anthocyanins from berries or red cabbage, betalains from beets, carotenoids from paprika, carrots, or tomatoes, and...
Trump Is Taking the U.S. Out of the World Health Organization (WHO) — What That Means
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) — a move that experts say will make it much harder to combat public health threats and protect Americans from infectious diseases like seasonal flu, COVID-19, and bird flu.“The decision to withdraw the United States...
Why They Happen and How to Prevent Them
In the stressful and overstimulating world we live in, becoming so overwhelmed by your stress that it significantly affects your behavior — an emotional meltdown — can happen to all of us.An “emotional meltdown” isn’t exactly a medical diagnosis. “It’s used in popular discourse to describe when we are overcome emotionally, when we hit a breaking point,” says Robin...
What to Eat and What to Avoid When You Have Diarrhea
Occasional diarrhea is nothing to worry about. The causes of diarrhea can range from a stomach flu to a specific meal or ingredient you ate that didn’t sit well. Because certain foods can worsen symptoms, it’s good to know the foods you should eat when you have diarrhea — and what you should avoid. (1)You want to eat plain, simple foods, especially...
Prescription Weight Loss Medications: How They Work
The FDA has approved seven different kinds of prescription medication for weight loss.Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)Tirzepatide belongs in the GLP-1 medication family. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer, slows digestion, and lowers appetite. Mounjaro is the brand of tirzepatide medication prescribed to patients with diabetes, and Zepbound is the brand prescribed to those who are overweight or have obesity.Tirzepatide is...
5 Health Benefits of Alkaline Water
Some claim alkaline water can have some pretty impressive benefits, from better hydration to cancer prevention, but the research is mixed.1. Alkaline Water May Help With HydrationIn one small study of 12 male university students, researchers found those who drank natural alkaline water (the kind with minerals) for three days before intense physical activity were better hydrated than those...
