As the rates of diabetes increase in both children and adults, it is time to discuss a very important part of being a diabetic — your diet. You diet is a vitally important to your heath. There are many resources online and in print (books,articles etc) but there are reasons to be cautious when recommendations for dieting seems extreme. Crash diets are not an option if you  are a diabetic. Here are some key points in monitoring your nutrition:

• Consume breads that are highest in fiber.
• Protein is important and make it…

Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many people are able to stay active outdoors with the assistance of canes, walkers, rollators and wheelchairs. However these devices are a safety hazard when certain parts start wearing out. Please take a moment to check the condition of your assistive device before going outdoors.

Brakes

Wheelchairs and rollators with worn brakes are a safety hazard. Your local surgical supply store or medical supply vendor can assist with repairing or replacing worn brakes.

Rollator Brake

Rubber Tips

Walkers and canes have rubber tips that provides traction and absorbs impact. Over time these…

Today much research is being done on infant development and sleep positions. Why? Because it is very important for infant safety that the “Back to Sleep” position be utilized as it has proven to decrease the number of deaths from Sudden Infant Deaths (SIDS). In terms of “tummy time” and infant development, much has been determined since the Back to Sleep Campaign started in 1994. First, the number of head deformities are on the rise. Our infants need tummy time to develop muscle control in their head and neck as…

As the heat of summer continues many children and adults take to our many beaches, pools and rivers to swim. There is nothing more refreshing than a dip in calm water to cool off. But the waters surrounding NYC are not calm. Drowning has been the second highest cause of death in children from the year 2000 to 2006. Many of these deaths are in children who can swim. Nothing is more frightening than to be caught in a riptide on one of our beaches or a current in a…

As the temperature keeps rising and the sun seems hotter than ever, many are retreating to the shade. Smart move as protecting your skin from the damage of the sun starts at a very young age and continues through adulthood. Here are some pointers to be ’sun safe’ this summer:

• Dress in light clothes (whites, etc.) to keep body temperature cooler.
• Peak sun damaging hours are from 10 AM to 3 PM. Retreat to cooler places during this time.
• Children under the age of one should stay out of the sun, especially during peak sun…

Grab bars are valuable in helping the elderly prevent falls in the bathroom. A few questions I normally ask before I recommend the installation of a set of grab bars are:

1. Do you have difficulty getting in and out of the tub or shower?
2. Do you use the towel rack or sink for support?
3. If you use a shower seat, do you have trouble getting on and off it?
4. Have you recently fallen while taking a shower?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, installing grab bars may be a good idea.

Grab Bar…

Well I guess the 95 degree weather outside is proof that summer is here, and it is going to be a hot one. As we are coming out of June with record temperatures and now into July with more of the same, it is important to remember that children and adults can suffer from heat stroke and sunburns. Use caution.

Here are some quick suggestions:

• Avoid being outside between 10AM–3PM as the sun is at its’ peak.
• Hydrate well, you and your children need to keep water on hand and drink it!
• Newborns should…

Are you expecting your first child or just given birth? Congratulations on becoming a parent!

Wanting to give the best to your baby is natural and making your home environment safe is a must, but childproofing your home may seem daunting. Never fear, it may be daunting, but it is doable!

Home safety can start before the baby arrives but if you haven’t given it much thought, it is OK to start now. The first thing you want to do is get down on your hands and knees to see what they see.…

Scoliosis. You may have heard about it and probably even know someone with it. It is much more common than you think as there are millions of cases of scoliosis in this country alone.

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine in either an s-pattern or a c-pattern. In children, it may be congenital or related to some other underlying diagnosis (like Cerebral Palsy), but most cases in children and adults are from an unknown cause. Treatment is either surgical or the use of a brace — if it is…

Photo by Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The thrill of learning how to ride a bike has to be one of those memorable moments that many of us may have achieved as children. For some it may have been as an adult that we first were exposed to and taught to ride. As we try to go more GREEN in most cities through out the US there are bike paths popping up in many new places. For children the pleasure of riding is not just for those raised in the suburbs but also in more…