#Youth diabetes management

[wellhealthhub]

Diagnosing Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there! Welcome to our ultimate guide on diagnosing diabetes. We’re all about providing you with the latest and most accurate info on health topics, and today, we’re diving into the world of diabetes diagnosis. So whether you suspect you might have diabetes or you just want to expand your knowledge, this article is the place to be. Let’s start by understanding what diabetes is all about. It’s…

[doberbutts]

Anyway yes, people who can X should be accomodating to people who can't X. People who can walk should accomodate people who can't. People who can hear should accomodate people who can't. People who can see should accomodate people who can't. And on and on. When that doesn't happen, it's a problem that deserves to be talked about.

But the problem is not and has never been "physical disabilities are more important and deserve more accomodations than mental disabilities"- nor the other way around either.

People love to dunk on folks with ADD/ADHD but you know? As someone with ADD raised by diabetic parents I gotta say there's a lot of similarities here. People with ADD, myself included, often forget to eat and when they do eat they often load themselves up with carbs and sugars because those foods make their brains feel good. People with diabetes have to closely monitor their meals and often crave sugars and need a blend of sugary and protein-rich snacks on hand. This is not to say ADD and diabetes are exact one-to-one disabilities.

But having grown up watching my parents manage their diabetes, I too am very aware of meal times and blood sugar and constructing meals that will tide you over and having a blend of sugary and protein-rich snacks on hand Just In Case. I am able to manage my ADD better in this way because I have experience from watching my parents. I also need access to snacks and to be able to say to my boss "I need to go eat something real fast" without being punished.

I had a training client who was the image of "able bodied mentally ill" outside of the usual creaks and squeaks associated with age, her body worked just fine. But after a series of incidents in her youth- a car accident that left her with a serious brain injury, coming home from the hospital afterwards to immediately have her house broken into and herself raped by an intruder, and assorted medical malpractice while she was healing from both- she has a serious and extreme case of agoraphobia and spent the next 40 years completely unable to leave the house. She would hide and wail and scream when deliveries of groceries and other goods would come, because it meant a stranger (and usually a man) would be at her door. She could not go more than a couple steps outside to get her mail and especially not if other people were outside.

At some point her therapist suggested getting a pet, one that *had* to go outside, to help her. So she got a dog and contacted a trainer (me) and we got to work. And she did improve! The dog has been a huge help to managing her symptoms! But you cannot seriously expect me to have worked with this woman for years and then belittle mental illnesses as being lesser when this woman also shares the inability to even leave her house let alone go inside a grocery store. Even today there are times when she simply cannot, she cannot will her body to move out of her door and into transportation let alone into the building.

When she first started coming to me she thanked me for not belittling her or making her feel bad for classes she had to cancel because she couldn't force herself to take the first step over the threshold. That is when she told me what happened to her and that while it sounds terrible she was really happy to have found a trainer who knew something personal about trauma and brain injuries. She is also a case where I feel her ESA should be considered service dog not because of training or tasking but because her need is so high and she is just completely incapable of doing anything without the dog in her arms.

Anyway I think of her any time someone says "but you can walk through the door". There's nothing wrong with her legs so in theory sure she could. But often she *can't*, not because of anything physical, but because she is very severely mentally ill.

[lostloveletters]

Bruised Fruit Chapter 7 (Michael Corleone x OC)

Summary: Gloria's last night out before she's a married woman only fuels her hesitations about marrying Michael, but despite her attempts to distance herself from him, he pulls her in deeper with an earth-shattering revelation.

Note: This takes place pre-Vatican II which changed a lot of things in the Catholic Church, including how mass was celebrated (seems like weekday mass has always been short though, lol), but it’s nothing too significant for now. Additionally, the name Ciro is pronounced Chee-ro in Italian.

Warnings: Angst, descriptions of pregnancy, mentions of abortion. Predominant Catholic themes and symbolism, mainly involving guilt.

Chapter 6 | AO3 Link | Masterlist

Do not interact if you're under 18, terf or radfem, or post thinspo/ED content. I will block you.

“Okay, so my parents are watching the kids tonight, and I know your people will be there, but I left the number for the club anyway,” Gloria said, slipping her foot into a black heel.

“Alright, darling. Don’t have too much fun,” Michael said, though she knew he loathed the idea of the bachelorette party the moment Vivian brought it up just two weeks prior.

It didn’t help that Connie and Sandra jumped on the idea too, even though a wedding date hadn’t even been set yet. Gloria hadn’t heard anything about the annulment in a while. She supposed the other Corleone women were just as antsy as she was to get out and go somewhere for the night.

Vivian insisted as soon as she sniffed out the slightest resistance from Michael, claiming it was only fair because the Corleones had already thrown their own engagement party in Lake Tahoe, and Gloria’s parents certainly wouldn’t do anything of the sort. He only conceded when Connie mentioned a nightclub the family operated in Manhattan. Gloria was itching to get back to that scene, thoroughly bored by domesticity.

“I’ll probably be back late. Don’t wait up for me.”

Michael smiled a bit, the purplish-gray bags beneath his eyes betraying yet another days long bout of insomnia. While Vivian and Jackie were over for dinner just two evenings before, Vivian had offered to get him in with one of the doctors at Sacred Heart to write him a prescription for sleeping pills. Michael had politely refused, insisting he was fine and had his own doctor.

Pride wouldn’t allow him to resort to turning to medication to cure his insomnia, not when he was already so reliant on it to manage his diabetes. Knowledge of his having that condition was so closely guarded, Gloria wasn’t always sure who in the family knew and who didn’t.

At times, Gloria wondered if Michael considered his suffering through his insomnia a form of self-appointed penance. Then again, that would require him to feel guilt about something. She tried not to think of Fredo, his memory potentially haunting his brother, but it was difficult not to when her own brother was around more often. 

A car horn outside signaled the arrival of her partying companions for the evening. Michael had arranged the driver, a newer family associate who had worked for the man who previously lived in their house before he passed away.

“If you need anything, call the house. If I don’t pick up, someone else will,” he said. “I love you.”

She gave him a quick kiss. “Love you too.” She grabbed her purse and rushed out the front door. Off to the races.

Connie was halfway out the back window of the car parked outside. “C’mon Glo, there’s room back here if we all squeeze in!”

Gloria shook her head, opening the front passenger seat instead. “I’ll sit up front with Ciro.”

The young man smiled at her remembering his name. They’d only spoken twice before, though she saw him more often when she’d bring the kids into the city after school to meet Michael at Genco and go for dinner. Ciro usually stood guard outside the olive oil company’s modest office building, stoney and suspicious-looking until he’d see her and smile, betraying his youthful face.

“Good evening, Mrs. Corleone,” Ciro said.

Sandra reached over the seat, playfully shaking Ciro’s shoulder. “Not Mrs. yet Ciro! That’s why we’re going out tonight!”

Vivian cheered, and Ciro laughed, smiling once more at Gloria before driving off. He entertained their antics, even bashfully acquiescing to Connie’s invasive question as to whether or not he had a girlfriend.

“No,” he answered, “not for some time.”

“C’mon, a good-looking guy like you?” Vivian asked.

“I’m focusing on work right now,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right for me to have a girlfriend and not be able to spend any time with her.”

“Aw, Gloria, tell Michael to give Ciro a vacation so he can find himself a nice girl,” Sandra said.

Gloria scoffed, “That’d go over well.”

They arrived at the nightclub not long after that, greeted by a bright, neon green sign for The Archer.

Ciro pulled up to the valet, all of the passenger doors opened for them upon their arrival. He parked directly in front of the club’s main entrance, the only car allowed to do so.

“I’ll be out here. You find me when you need to be driven home,” he said.

“You can’t come in for one drink?” Gloria asked.

He shook his head. “Thank you, I really can’t.”

Their coats and bags were collected at the door, the host emphatically reminding them that all drinks were on the house as he led them to a VIP booth.

The Archer had recently been remodeled, the walls covered in emerald green, scale-shaped tiles that resembled a snake’s glimmering skin beneath the club’s dim lighting. The booth was a sleek, modern white, deceptively creamy yet plush to the touch as it wrapped in a semi-circle around a crystalline table with gold accents. 

Funny, Michael wouldn’t be caught dead in the very nightclub he owned. Instead, he preferred old-fashioned, kind of run-down family-owned places with generous servings, strong wine, and attentive table service. The owners would always come out from the back to personally greet him, offering antipasto or a bottle of wine on the house. It almost made Gloria feel like being with a celebrity. And he was, in a way, among this eccentric group of people to whom he was more important and influential than the president.

A waitress came by the table to take everyone’s drink orders, Gloria requesting her usual rum and coke. As soon as she walked away, a waiter practically ran to the table with glasses of champagne for all four of them.

“Courtesy of Mr. Corleone,” he said.

Gloria smiled. “Thanks.”

“How about a toast, huh?” Connie proposed.

“Alright, may you and Michael have at least fifty wonderful years of marriage and half a dozen kids running around,” Sandra said.

“You’re supposed to be wishing her luck, not her worst nightmare,” Vivian joked, though it was clearly missed on Connie and Sandra.

“She’s kidding,” Gloria quickly said, shooting a glare at her sister-in-law. 

“Nothing but happiness for you and Michael, god knows what he would’ve done if you weren’t around, Gloria,” Connie said, not missing a beat.

Vivian grinned as she gave her toast. “Here’s to committing to the same cock for the rest of your life.”

Sandra laughed loudly, nodding in agreement, “God willing!”

“This is getting out of hand,” Connie snickered.

“Alright, cheers,” Gloria said, clinking glasses with her companions. 

Gloria threw back the champagne, not caring for the taste but dealing with it for the significance of the occasion. Still, she wanted it gone by the time her rum and coke came around. She tried to pace herself on her first drink, sipping while listening attentively to Vivian dishing the latest gossip from the hospital. Though it seemed she was catching Sandra and Connie up on just about everything that had happened since she started working there nearly fifteen years before.

“There’s this woman who works down in the maternity ward, her husband used to be a priest,” Vivian said.

“Hold on, was he a priest when they met—“ Sandra’s eyes widened as Vivian nodded, “Madone , and I thought I’ve sinned.”

“I mean, there are plenty of ‘em around at Sacred Heart. I’m just surprised they didn’t fire her.”

“All those nuns probably aren’t so innocent themselves,” Connie said.

Gloria laughed. “God, if my mother heard you all right now.”

“Oh, I don’t tell her half the stuff that goes on there. She’d have a heart attack,” Vivian said.

After another round of drinks, Gloria decided it was time to dance. She wasn’t particularly great at it, but it was fun, and dancing on her own in the house wasn’t the same. Michael refused to join her, especially when it came to the more upbeat, contemporary songs she preferred, but late at night, in tender moments when it was just the two of them, she could convince him to share a slower dance with her in the confines of their bedroom.

She loved Michael best in their bedroom. She didn’t have to restrain herself there, not when they were in bed together or just in each other's company. He showed unprecedented vulnerability there, the way he had during their clandestine rendezvous in Las Vegas hotel rooms, when he didn’t have to be Don Corleone. Any time she’d been with Michael outside of a bedroom, whether as his mistress or his fiance, there’d have to be distance, restraint, like they were respectable people when they both knew they were the opposite. 

So she let loose on the dancefloor, probably the last time she’d be able to go clubbing like that. The end of an era. She downed another glass of champagne in memory of the soon to be deceased party girl. She’d made it last longer than most. Wincing at the taste, she quickly ordered another rum and coke.

Her rotation of dance partners was dizzying as everyone moved about haphazardly. She wasn’t sure if rock n’ roll was on The Archer’s usual rotation, or a special request someone had made on her behalf that night, but at least she was going out with a bang. 

Leaning against the bar, feeling sweat begin to roll down the side of her face, the bartender offered to pour her a shot. She accepted, throwing it back just as ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream’ began to play. One of the few contemporary songs Michael would dance to with her. She wouldn’t sit that one out in his absence.

Her gaze fell to Ciro, now standing by the coat check. Maybe it'd gotten too chilly waiting outside.

She waved him over. 

His dark brows furrowed and he pointed to himself. 

She nodded. 

“Will you dance with me, Ciro? I love this song,” she asked when he walked over.

“I don’t know…I’m supposed to be working—“

“Just this one?”

He nodded, reluctantly taking her hand in his. He kept a safe distance between them, almost laughably farther apart than the other slow dancing couples who were wrapped in each other’s arms.

“Ciro’s a very Italian name,” she said over the music.

He chuckled softly. “Well, I am Italian.”

“You probably have half a dozen brothers and sisters.”

“Eight of us,” he answered. “I’m the fifth.”

“So I bet we all don't seem that crazy to you.”

“No, not at all.”

“How old are you, anyway?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Me too,” she said. “Y’know up until a few months ago, I used to work in a place like this.”

“Out in Las Vegas, right? Don Corleone mentioned it once.”

“I can imagine what else he’s said about me,” she joked.

“He cares about you very much. At least what I overhear,” he said, quickly adding, “I don’t make it my business to eavesdrop.”

She smiled. “It’s alright, Ciro. Your secret’s safe with me.” The song came to its end a little too soon for Gloria's liking. “Thanks for the dance.”

He nodded. “I should get back now.”

Thinking she should do the same, she made her way back to the table. Dancing with Ciro felt nice, almost normal, though she didn’t have much of a comparison for what normal was. Before she was engaged, she supposed.

Vivian reached for her hand, patting it. “I gotta call it a night.”

Sandra nodded. “Me too.”

“Lightweights,” Connie teased.

“Too old is more like it,” Sandra said. “Gloria, I’m gonna be asleep before you and Michael even have your first dance at the wedding party.”

“Thanks for coming out tonight,” Gloria said with a smile. “It was fun.”

They parted with kisses on the cheek, and she watched as they made their way over to the coat check, gathering their things while Ciro got the car ready outside.

“More drinks?” Connie asked.

“I could get a few more rum and cokes in me,” Gloria said.

By the time a server brought over her fifth of the night, she was beginning to doubt her own statement. By Connie’s own admission, she hadn’t restrained herself when it came to the near-endless shots of tequila that were brought to the table every few minutes it seemed. She switched things up with a martini, however.

“You know Sandra and Tom are—”

“I kinda figured,” Gloria said. “Takes one to know one.”

“I feel bad for Theresa, but I mean, after Sonny was killed, Tom was the only one who could get through to Sandra. Sonny loved all of us, but Tom was his favorite brother even though he’s not blood. I guess it was only natural for them to share their grief that way."

“I can’t imagine,” Gloria said. 

She really couldn't. Michael seemed larger than life, impervious to death itself. If anything, he was to be feared over the great unknown, colder and more distant than death and whatever lay beyond it could ever hope to be. If even a fraction of what she read in the papers were true—and she knew they were—he dealt death like a deck of cards. No matter the hand, it was always in his favor. 

“Sonny would’ve liked you,” Connie said. “I think–he would’ve been glad for Michael. He always saw the best in people. At least, to me he did.” She downed the rest of her martini, nearly slamming it on the table when she finished. “Then Michael blamed Carlo for it, and he—Carlo could be a mean fucking prick, believe me, but he was my husband. What gave him the right to—”

“The right to what?”

“But Sonny was hot-headed. It could’ve been anyone who set him up. Then right before we moved to Nevada—dead. It’d been nearly ten years, but that didn’t matter. An eye for an eye. I don’t think I’ve really been happy since,” Connie lamented quietly.

The noise in the bar became muffled. Gloria’s lungs burned with each breath she tried to take, as if she were suddenly dropped into the deep sea without oxygen. Her vision blurred, watery and uncertain. Maybe it was how Fredo felt when he drowned. Drowned.

She realized then the extent of Michael’s unwillingness to forgive–inability sounded more like it.

Connie grabbed Gloria’s shoulder, shaking her a bit. “Hey, I’m drunk, what do I know?” 

Gloria forced a smile. 

She could hardly concentrate when Connie steered the conversation elsewhere, and within an hour, they decided to call it a night. Ciro had returned from dropping off Vivian and Sandra, and Gloria felt almost bad asking the guy to drive back to Long Island again. He didn’t seem to mind, though, helping Connie into the car when she nearly tripped over her coat on the way in. Gloria sat in the back with her this time, her gaze drifting between the buildings out the window and the back of Ciro’s head.

He dropped Connie off at her place first, walking her to the door and making sure she got in alright. 

“Ciro, will you drive around just a little bit more?” Gloria asked when he returned to the car. “I’m not ready to call it a night yet.”

He hesitated, but nodded, driving down a side street instead of continuing on the way back to the house. As homes and street signs passed by, she knew the direction he was heading. Her eyelids grew heavy, yet she awoke when he parked near the Long Beach boardwalk. The cool sea breeze reinvigorated her when she stepped out of the car.

He followed her to the boardwalk, the both of them leaning against the wooden railing just a few inches apart.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Not really, but what can you do?”

Nothing. There was nothing he could do. He was young, and in the family hierarchy probably a buttonman or soldier, whatever it was called. Maybe not even made yet. From what she'd gleaned working in Vegas and conversations with Michael, it took a long time for someone to officially be considered part of the family, and besides earning trust and respect, one task was almost certainly required of these men. It wasn’t like she could ask outright ask him, ‘Hey Ciro, ever killed someone for my fiance?’ Regardless, she didn’t want to know.

They watched the ocean waves in silence, the moon glittering off of the water in the pitch dark night. She wished she could dive under and emerge somewhere far across the sea.

“It’s getting late. I should bring you home now,” Ciro said.

Gloria wordlessly began making her way back to the car. A melancholy swept over her as they neared the house.

“Thank you for everything tonight, Ciro. It means a lot.”

“Good night, Gloria.”

She smiled, waving at him as she made her way up the short walkway to the house.

For the next few days, she avoided Michael when she could. Something about being around him made her feel uneasy. Or maybe it was the morning sickness, which she made attempts to hide from him by going on early walks and throwing up in neighbors’ flower bushes. The first time it happened, she attributed the sickness to food poisoning. Except food poisoning didn’t last for weeks on end. 

Gloria spent more time at her parents’ house, knowing Michael would generally steer clear of there unless absolutely necessary to go. Ironically, she spent more time with Anthony and Mary as a result, the kids asking her to bring them with her whenever she’d express her desire to go over. Her parents doted on them. Her mother and Mary were usually occupied in the crafting room, probably painting while Julia educated Mary on the ins and outs of New York's Democratic politics. Anthony had quickly grown close with her father, the two of them watching Yankee games in the living room whenever they were on. When they’d all walk to the park up the street, they’d play ball, Julia and Mary playing outfield while Gloria would referee from the wooden park bench nearby.

“Mary says you’re sick all the time in the mornings,” Julia said one afternoon, taking a seat next to her daughter.

“I drink too much,” Gloria lied. She hadn’t drunk since the bachelorette party, when after two days of vomiting she began to suspect the worst.

“When was the last time you bled?”

“Stress can cause that too.”

“You should make a doctor’s appointment.”

“They’ll tell me it’s nothing.”

Julia held up her hands in acquiescence. “Whatever you say.” That didn’t mean her mother was finished throwing hardballs her way. “When was the last time you went to mass?”

Gloria groaned. “Mom—“

“Drop the kids off at school tomorrow morning and then meet me at the church. St. Catherine's still has daily mass at 8:30.”

Anthony and Mary had been enrolled in the same Catholic school Gloria had gone to growing up. Even though there were parishes closer to Gloria and Michael, it had become their parish by virtue of her family already going there. They certainly weren’t going to turn down the generous donation to the parish on behalf of the Corleone family.

During the tour of the school before Michael had enrolled the kids, Gloria felt an indescribable deja vu sitting in the principal’s office again. Except she wasn’t in trouble, and the nun behind the desk was relatively young and incredibly nice, far more so than Sr. Margaret had been. Sr. Jeanne expressed that she’d do everything she could to make Anthony and Mary feel welcome despite starting there in the middle of the school year.

“I’m gonna drop the kids off at school tomorrow,” Gloria said later that evening. “I’m meeting my mother at 8:30 mass.”

“What brought this on?” Michael asked.

“She asked me. I guess I figured I’d humor her.”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time at your parents’.”

“So?”

“Nothing. It’s good to spend time with family,” he said, almost dismissively, but she could hear his displeasure lurking beneath the surface.

He noticed she was avoiding him and clearly thought her parents’ dislike of him had something to do with it. But he couldn’t protest it, not a man so obsessed with tradition and hierarchy. Despite how Americanized she was, Gloria and her family were still Sicilian, so as long as she and Michael weren’t married, her parents preceded him.

The following morning, Gloria drove her own car to drop Anthony and Mary off at school. It was a nice drive with the weather getting warmer, so they left the windows rolled down, Gloria’s favorite rock n’ roll station playing on the radio while the kids sang along to the songs they’d begun to recognize. 

When she pulled up to the school, she parked just between it and the church. She walked them up to the front doors, giving each of them a hug and extra lunch money.

Her mother arrived at St. Catherine’s just as Gloria made her way up the steps of the imposing church. The last time she stepped foot in St. Catherine’s was her high school graduation nearly a decade prior. It looked exactly the same as the last time she was there—marble floors and brick walls that led to a high ceiling supported by wooden rafters with ornate gold leafing. Each step one took inside the building would echo throughout. It was pretty much impossible to leave in the middle of mass unnoticed, which some people tried to do after communion.

She genuflected before getting into one of the wooden pews, her mother following. A few minutes went by, and they were joined by a friend of her mother’s, an older woman who also seemed to attend mass daily.

“Gloria, it’s been so long! Good to see you again, dear,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“And congratulations on the engagement. About time for a woman your age.”

Gloria smiled as politely as she could. 25-years-old and these people considered her nearly dead for not having a husband. If she had it her way, she wouldn’t even be engaged. 

“Any plans for kids?” she pried.

“Believe me, we’re trying,” Gloria said, feeling especially pleased at the scandalized expression that fell upon the old woman’s face, unable to react as mass was starting.

Though it’d been a while, Gloria knew weekday mass was always shorter than Saturday night or Sunday morning mass. She could endure half an hour of it.

As mass proceeded, she could still vaguely follow, though her Latin was rusty. St. Catherine’s offered four languages to its high school students. Gloria found French confusing despite her mother’s near insistence she take it, and Spanish was too close to Italian which was highly discouraged by her parents. She settled on Latin, and it ended up being one of the few subjects she consistently did well in, occasionally earning As on her report cards amongst the usual Bs and Cs.

She went through the motions of mass almost mechanically, her muscle memory of the service emerging from the mental depths she’d buried any piety under. The only reading for the mass came from Matthew, toward the end of chapter 18. Among the half-comprehensible verses, she caught one word in particular. Dimittam. To let go of or release-forgiveness.

Her chest tightened at recognition of the verse: Lord, how often shall my brother offend me, and I forgive him?

Jesus’ answer was symbolic, the nuns had told her. Forgiveness was limitless, to be doled out generously whether to one’s own brother or to those who didn’t deserve it. 

She thought back to what Connie had said at The Archer, the reason why she’d been avoiding her finance ever since. Coincidence, or a sign from a distant god that her suspicions about Michael were right. For as long as she’d known him, he could never let things go. She hadn’t minded it when it was for her benefit, like on their first trip to LA together. They had gotten dinner with Johnny Fontaine at a swanky nightclub he recommended. Gloria had nearly passed out when Johnny introduced them to Liz Taylor. Yet, later on that night, some up-and-coming actor wouldn’t give her the time of day despite her being a fan of his, complimenting his performance in his latest movie. The following morning he sent over a bouquet of flowers and personally called to apologize for his behavior, claiming he hadn’t been feeling well the night before when they met. Funny…she couldn’t remember his name anymore.

What had been on her mind wasn’t a perceived slight from an actor, though. If his own family wasn’t spared from his wrath, then neither was she. The priest’s homily was about forgiveness, something Michael rarely if ever doled out. Gloria could certainly hold her own grudges, but she couldn’t exactly do anything about them like he could. Maybe she understood the reasoning behind his ordering Connie’s first husband to be murdered; she'd want the same if someone had set Jackie up to die. But she couldn’t shake Fredo from her thoughts. What could he have possibly done to be denied forgiveness by his own brother? 

Her gaze drifted up toward the large crucifix on the wall behind the altar. Try marrying Michael Corleone.

Miraculously, she wasn’t struck down by a bolt of lightning, but after receiving communion for the first time in years, she prayed for Fredo’s soul, wherever it was.

Mass ended not long after, and she left her mother to talk with her obnoxious friend. She froze upon seeing Michael waiting outside for her.

“Michael, hi,” she said.

He smiled a bit, “Just ‘hi’? No, ‘I’m glad to see you’?”

“Of course I’m glad to see you.”

She gave him a kiss, a bit awkward and chaste, but she could chalk it up to being outside of a church.

“It’s a nice morning for a walk,” he said.

She nodded. “There’s a garden behind the convent. It’s pretty this time of year.”

He took her hand in his, and they meandered to the convent behind the church, following the worn stepping-stones to the prayer garden. Colorful and full of flowers, beautiful in the springtime, each blossom at its peak in May when they’d celebrate the Blessed Mother. She paused to look at a rose bush. Probably only a few days away; she’d know if she’d been paying attention.

“Darling, are you alright?”

She hummed. “Sure, I’m fine.”

“If you’re trying to convince me, you’re not doing a very good job.”

“The homily today was about forgiveness.”

“And?”

Her fingers twitched against his palm. “It’s just–you seem to have a hard time forgiving people.”

“Forgiveness isn’t compatible with what I do. You know that.”

“Is it worth it?”

“Does it matter?”

“I guess not.”

“Forget about all of that. I have great news.” He squeezed her hand. “We got a letter from Cardinal Spellman this morning. The Vatican approved the annulment.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh my god. This is actually happening.”

“We can finally set a date.” He smiled. “How does this summer sound?”

Too soon. “Perfect.”

“Why don’t we head home? I’ll drive us back in your car. Ciro has to run an errand for me, anyway.”

The drive back to the house wasn’t nearly as pleasant as the one she took earlier in the morning. No rolled down windows taking in the spring breeze or rock n’ roll stations playing her favorite songs. It was almost eerily silent, and a foreboding grew in her stomach as they neared the house. Or maybe she had to throw up again.

Something was off when they walked inside.

“Where is everyone?” Gloria asked, the house unusually empty for a weekday.

“I sent them out, gave them the day off. There’s something we need to discuss alone.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, it’s just something I want to keep between us. We can talk about it in my office.”

She nodded, though she was sure her heart was going to jump out of her throat when she followed him into the room. He closed the door behind her despite their being alone. A heavy dread set over her body, and suddenly she felt cold, shaking as she sat down on the couch. He leaned against his desk, lighting a cigarette in his mouth and handing it to her.  

“Very few people know what I’m about to tell you, Gloria. Kay didn’t know. Most of my family still doesn’t,” Michael said. “You cannot repeat this to anybody. Do you understand?”

“I won’t.”

“You’re not going to be my second wife. Kay was my second wife.”

“What happened to your first wife?” Her curiosity was slaughtered the moment she asked. Looking into his eyes suddenly felt like being dragged to the second circle of hell.

His words cut through her curiosity with a closely controlled violence. “She was killed in Sicily by a car bomb that was meant for me. Her name was Apollonia. We were only married for a few months.”

Gloria froze. There it was, that drowning feeling again. Limbs heavy, lungs burning, sound muffled, everything moving in slow motion as the cigarette fell from her hand and onto the carpet. Her head drooped, and she let out a pained wail.

Her father’s words from just a few weeks prior echoed in her ears. ‘Has he got you living in some fantasy world? Where all that shit won’t touch you? That if you look the other way or keep your head in the sand, nothing will happen? He has no right promising you peace or safety when he deals in the opposite.’

Michael approached her cautiously, the way one does a wounded animal as not to frighten it. 

“Why would you tell me this?” she asked, looking up at him through the mess of black hair that had fallen in her face, voice strained as she held back a sob.

He knelt beside her, brushing her hair back to reveal black tear tracks that streaked down her cheeks. “So that you understand why I do the things I do, things I can’t always tell you about. Kay never understood, I don’t think she wanted to, but now you do. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you, and our baby. I had the man who did it killed, and I’d do the same for you, but it won’t come to that. Do you understand?”

There was no denying it anymore. No use in throwing up in flower bushes on early morning walks in the neighborhood to hide the clear signs of morning sickness from Michael. Whatever was inside of her, she wanted it out. Wished she could reach inside of herself and give it to him if he wanted it so bad. Kay’s abortion wasn’t so puzzling anymore. 

Against all better judgment, she clung to him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Trapped with him, by him, his arms wrapping around her like a snake. She’d heard being burned alive was the most painful way to die. Unless it was instant, Apollonia spared the agony and passed it onto Kay, who through her abortion passed it onto Gloria. But there was no one else to turn to or confide in, no one who could do a damn thing about it.

“Gloria, it’s alright. As long as you listen to me, nothing will happen to you. No one will touch you.”

“You can’t promise that! You don’t know!”

“I love you,” he said, holding her tighter. “I love you.”

“More than you loved her?”

He was silent.

[penelopepitstopp]

It's my diaversary today!

I almost never make posts like this but I guess this one seemed like a bit of a milestone. Been t1d for 3/4 of my life! 15 years since 5 year old me went to my hospital appointment to be treated for 1 disease (HSP booooo) only to get diagnosed with another! Wow, 2 for 1 baybeh, what a bargain! Well, I got rid of that first one a while back but looks like the t1's here to stay.

Anyway, here's my face from a long time ago, the day after I was diagnosed (my mum thinks it is anyway but her memory is notoriously awful) when I went to a friend's 6th birthday party and ran around like crazy and ate shit loads of cake (hah, look at them trying to be optimistic and putting grapes on the table).

Gotta give a big shout out to my mum who was never overly protective and always the right amount of supportive (and very creative in her swearing for all the days we went out and she forgot to bring my insulin) and the amazing diabetes youth team who were fucking incredible even when I was going through periods of being a little shit and pretending that my t1d didn't exist (do not recommend this).

Anyway. Being type 1 diabetic sucks. It's awful, it's stressful, it manages to fuck with you just when you think you've got things under control... It's also the reason for some of my best friendships, I think living with it has genuinely helped me to be a more empathetic person, and the technology is improving and advancing so fast it's fucking crazy. (Like, 5 year old me would have their mind blown if they learnt they'd get to be an android one day.)

And finally, just to make sure this doesn't get too off theme, I've also provided some truly inspirational quotes from the legend himself as he aces a task.

Also very much love that this was one of the top comments on YouTube for this task:

[goblissofficial]

🥗 The Importance of a Balanced Diet for Overall Well-being

Maintaining a balanced diet is crucial for your overall well-being. Here’s why a balanced diet matters and how it benefits your health:

1. Nutrient Intake 🌈 Benefit: Ensures your body gets essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Impact: Supports immune function, energy levels, and overall health.

2. Weight Management ⚖️ Benefit: Helps maintain a healthy weight. Impact: Reduces the risk of obesity-related conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

3. Energy Levels 🚀 Benefit: Provides sustained energy throughout the day. Impact: Enhances productivity, physical performance, and mood.

4. Mental Health 🧠 Benefit: Improves brain function and mental clarity. Impact: Reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.

5. Disease Prevention 🛡️ Benefit: Lowers the risk of chronic diseases. Impact: Protects against heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers.

6. Digestive Health 🌿 Benefit: Promotes a healthy digestive system. Impact: Prevents constipation, bloating, and other digestive issues.

7. Stronger Immunity 🦠 Benefit: Boosts your immune system. Impact: Enhances your body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses.

8. Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails 💅 Benefit: Provides the nutrients needed for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Impact: Promotes a youthful appearance and prevents deficiencies that cause brittle hair and nails.

9. Longevity 🌟 Benefit: Contributes to a longer, healthier life. Impact: Increases life expectancy and improves quality of life in older age.

Tips for a Balanced Diet: Variety is Key: Include a wide range of foods from all food groups. Portion Control: Be mindful of portion sizes to avoid overeating. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Limit Processed Foods: Minimize intake of high-sugar, high-fat, and high-sodium foods. Regular Meals: Maintain a consistent eating schedule with regular meals and snacks.

Prioritize a balanced diet to enhance your overall well-being and enjoy a healthier, more vibrant life! 🌟 #BalancedDiet #HealthyEating #WellBeing #Nutrition #Healthylifestyle

[seogoogle1]

Exploring the Myriad Health Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle

In recent years, the vegan health benefits lifestyle has gained significant traction, propelled not only by ethical and environmental concerns but also by a growing recognition of its health benefits. Choosing a vegan diet means abstaining from all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and even honey, and instead, focusing on plant-based foods. This shift in dietary habits can lead to a multitude of health advantages, ranging from reduced risk of chronic diseases to improved overall well-being. Let's delve deeper into the myriad health benefits that accompany a vegan lifestyle.

Enhanced Nutrient Intake

One of the primary misconceptions about veganism is that it leads to nutrient deficiencies. However, when appropriately planned, a vegan health benefits diet can provide all the essential nutrients the body needs for optimal functioning. Plant-based foods are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. By incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds into their diet, vegans can ensure they meet their nutritional requirements without the need for animal-derived products.

Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases

Numerous studies have shown that adopting a vegan lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The absence of cholesterol and the lower intake of saturated fats in a vegan diet contribute to improved cardiovascular health. Additionally, the high fiber content of plant-based foods helps regulate blood sugar levels and promotes digestive health, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders.

Healthy Weight Management

Obesity has become a global epidemic, leading to various health complications. a vegan health benefits diet, characterized by its low-calorie density and high fiber content, can be an effective tool for weight management. Plant-based foods tend to be more filling than their animal-based counterparts, leading to reduced calorie intake and increased satiety. Moreover, studies have shown that vegans tend to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and lower rates of obesity compared to non-vegans.

Improved Digestive Health

Fiber is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system, promoting regular bowel movements, and preventing constipation. Since plant-based foods are naturally rich in fiber, individuals following a vegan diet often experience improved digestive health. Furthermore, the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides a diverse array of beneficial nutrients that support gut microbiota, fostering a balanced and resilient microbial community in the intestines.

Enhanced Athletic Performance

Contrary to the misconception that vegans lack sufficient protein for muscle growth and athletic performance, many athletes have successfully adopted a vegan diet and achieved remarkable results. Plant-based sources of protein, such as legumes, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and quinoa, provide ample amino acids necessary for muscle repair and recovery. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based foods can help reduce exercise-induced inflammation and promote faster recovery.

Improved Skin Health

The old adage "you are what you eat" holds true when it comes to skin health. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds provides essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that nourish the skin from within. The abundance of vitamins A, C, and E found in plant-based foods helps protect against oxidative damage, promote collagen production, and maintain youthful skin. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory properties of a vegan diet can alleviate skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Environmental Sustainability

In addition to personal health benefits, adopting a vegan health benefits lifestyle can have a positive impact on the environment. Animal agriculture is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction. By choosing plant-based foods over animal products, individuals can reduce their carbon footprint, conserve water resources, and help mitigate climate change. Embracing sustainable eating habits not only benefits current generations but also preserves the planet for future generations to come.

Conclusion

The health benefits of a vegan health benefits lifestyle extend far beyond personal well-being, encompassing environmental sustainability and ethical considerations. By embracing plant-based foods and eliminating animal products from their diets, individuals can experience enhanced nutrient intake, lower risk of chronic diseases, healthy weight management, improved digestive health, enhanced athletic performance, and radiant skin. Furthermore, the transition to a vegan lifestyle aligns with principles of compassion, sustainability, and global responsibility. As awareness continues to grow, more people are recognizing the profound impact of their dietary choices on their health, the planet, and all living beings.

Website: https://cruelty.farm/

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Eliza Mondegreen

Published: Mar 7, 2024

How does a professional organisation respond when a scandal breaks? Some issue smooth denials, leaving not so much as a seam for critics to pick at. Some finger bad apples. Others dare to admit faults and strive for transparency. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) took a rather different tack, issuing a bizarre statement this week in response to the publication of files exposing malpractice at the organisation.

WPATH President Dr Marci Bowers begins by marking the territory (“We are the professionals who best know…”) and appealing to authority (“widely endorsed by major medical organizations around the world”), before moving on to distort the conflict (the WPATH files are not, in fact, a bid to “de-legitimize” anyone’s identity). The stray comment about the shape of the world attempts to paint critics as anti-science, the equivalent of flat-earthers.

Bowers then asserts that “gender, like genitalia, is represented by diversity”, which sounds like the sort of meaningless twaddle Google Gemini cooks up. Bowers wraps up by twisting the stakes (patients “deserv[e] healthcare”) and minimising the scope of the organisation’s work (“small percentage of the population… [that] will never be a threat to the global gender binary”), a plea in effect: leave us alone!

The statement is nonsensical because the brief was impossible. WPATH needed to speak simultaneously to two entirely different audiences — the world outside and the organisation’s own membership — who needed to hear entirely different things.

For decades, the field of gender medicine has insulated itself from scrutiny and criticism. The public and policymakers were never supposed to get a glimpse into the inner workings of the field. They were supposed to defer to the “experts” and not look too closely at what they were being asked to support.

The WPATH files look much too closely, shining a spotlight on risks and uncertainties and harms so specific that they will be difficult to forget: patients with tumours, patients whose ages and developmental delays and serious psychiatric conditions mean they could never meaningfully consent to the interventions they underwent, patients who regret being sterilised because they now want children. These files provide fuel for policymakers seeking to regulate youth gender transition and patients trying to sue. The fallout is just beginning.

WPATH’s members, on the other hand, need to see this brutal exposé as a devious plot against a noble cause. WPATH has been preparing its membership for just such a faith challenge for years, instilling an embattled mentality. For years, the organisation’s conferences and events have promoted the narrative that gender clinicians are a misunderstood and persecuted vanguard within medicine who will be vindicated in the future but must suffer heinous accusations in the here and now.

Over the years I’ve spent researching gender medicine, I’ve come to see the field’s obvious harms as a product of enculturation. Becoming a good gender clinician means overcoming one’s reservations and doubts about the interventions provided in service of the cause.

Unlike medical practice in other areas — such as diabetes management or cancer treatment — the field of gender medicine has no objective markers of illness to go by, only the patient’s testimony that her body as it is is unbearable and must be changed. At WPATH’s 2022 conference in Montreal, I heard the same story over and over again: clinicians standing up and telling their fellow believers how they overcame their doubts. A plastic surgeon felt uncomfortable the first time a patient asked him to perform a “nullification” surgery, which removes all external genitalia. In a twisted recapitulation of the hero’s journey, the surgeon then worked through his reservations and now performs these extreme surgeries on a regular basis and encourages his fellow surgeons to follow his example.

The doubts gender clinicians recall are eminently reasonable: they wondered if pre-teens could really consent to sign away their future fertility. They worried about their patients’ troubled pasts and what role experiences of abuse and trauma played. They wondered if some of their patients would accept their bodies if given the time or change their minds months or years down the road. Then they “did the work” and came to see affirming a patient’s current gender identity as a moral imperative.

When I hear stories like these, I see clinicians who — at first contact with the field of gender medicine — knew better. Whether gender clinicians can return to the basics of their medical training and reconnect with their moral intuitions remains to be seen. But the damage they’ve done in the meantime is on full display.

[principallajara]

Shout out to both the Girls on the Run & Drama Club after school clubs that have been working hard this year to push past their physical limits and grown in their confidence. Parents, please remember that Girls on the Run is for 3rd through 5th graders and Drama Club is for 6th through 8th graders. Please reach out to Counselor Hudson for Drama Club information and Ms. Wy for Girls on the Run specifics.

Many people, parents and others alike, wonder about the benefits of having after school activities like Girls on the Run and Drama Club. They require resources to maintain and effort from students and staff. They also don't guarantee your kids will be track stars and famous actors. These extracurricular activities have many benefits for our students and it's time we talked about some of them.

Running is a fantastic form of exercise that offers many benefits for both physical and mental health. From a physical standpoint, running is great for cardiovascular health, as it helps to strengthen the heart and lungs, and can also help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Teaching children at a young age to appreciate running will give them foundation for maintaining their health as they get older. Running tones and strengthens muscles throughout the body, particularly in the legs and core. Mentally, running is a great way to relieve stress and improve mood, as it releases endorphins that can help to boost feelings of happiness and well-being. This is especially important for children and teens who are learning to regulate and manage their emotions. Running also improves focus and concentration, which can be useful in both personal and educational settings. Overall, running is a fantastic form of exercise that offers numerous benefits. 

While Running improves students physical and mental health, Drama improves students creative and social skills. Drama clubs provide an opportunity for students to express themselves creatively and develop their artistic talents, through acting, singing, dancing, and stage design. Drama clubs also help students to develop the important life skills of  public speaking, teamwork, and innovation. Through participating in productions, students learn to work collaboratively with others, both on and offstage, and to take on responsibilities that help to build their confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, drama clubs can be a great way for students to form new friendships and to build a sense of community within their school.

Extras curricular activities are often overlooked and underappreciated because we consider them extra but they're honestly essential for helping our youth grow into full and vibrant leaders of tomorrow. 

[skin-care-news]

The Ozempic Face: A Comprehensive Analysis

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a well-known medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Apart from its efficacy in managing blood sugar levels, it has also been associated with a unique side effect known as the "Ozempic Face." This article sheds some light on the phenomenon of Ozempic Face, exploring its definition, potential causes, symptoms, and management, as well as its relevance in the context of diabetes treatment.

Understanding Ozempic

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, a class of drugs that mimics the action of incretin hormones, leading to increased insulin secretion, decreased glucagon release, delayed gastric emptying, and reduced appetite. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, has been shown to be highly effective in improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes.

What is Ozempic Face?

The term "Ozempic Face" is not an official medical term but rather a colloquial expression used by patients and some healthcare professionals to describe a distinct change in facial appearance observed in individuals taking Ozempic. Reports suggest that patients undergoing Ozempic treatment may experience subtle alterations in facial appearance, such as fuller cheeks and a more youthful look. These effects are attributed to the medication's impact on subcutaneous fat and have garnered considerable attention in online diabetes communities and social media platforms.

Potential Causes

The exact mechanism behind Ozempic Face is not yet fully understood, and research in this area is limited. However, it is believed to be related to the medication's impact on adipose tissue, which is the body's fat-storing tissue located beneath the skin. Semaglutide's activation of GLP-1 receptors may affect adipocytes (fat cells) in a way that promotes fat storage and decreases fat breakdown, particularly in facial areas. Nevertheless, more research is needed to elucidate the underlying biological processes responsible for this phenomenon.

Symptoms of Ozempic Face

Patients who experience Ozempic Face typically report changes in facial features that include:

Fuller cheeks: One of the most commonly reported symptoms is a plumper appearance in the cheeks, giving a rounder and more youthful look.

Smoother skin: Some individuals notice a smoother texture to their facial skin, possibly due to increased subcutaneous fat.

Diminished wrinkles: There have been reports of reduced facial wrinkles or lines, contributing to a more rejuvenated appearance.

It is crucial to emphasize that these effects may vary between individuals, and not everyone taking Ozempic will experience Ozempic Face. Additionally, the intensity of these changes may differ from person to person.

Management and Relevance

There are no specific guidelines or recommendations regarding the management of Ozempic Face. Since it is considered a cosmetic change rather than a medical concern, many individuals do not seek treatment for this side effect. If the changes in facial appearance become bothersome to the patient, they may consider discussing alternative treatment options with their healthcare provider. However, it is essential to weigh the potential benefits of Ozempic's efficacy in managing diabetes and promoting weight loss against any cosmetic side effects.

It's important to note that Ozempic Face is not a reason to discontinue Ozempic treatment, especially if the medication is effectively controlling blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss, which are critical factors in managing type 2 diabetes.

As with any medication, it is essential for patients to be aware of potential side effects and to have open discussions with their healthcare providers about their experiences. If patients are concerned about Ozempic Face or any other side effects, they should seek guidance from their healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about their diabetes treatment plan. Overall, Ozempic remains a valuable option in managing type 2 diabetes, and its potential side effects should be weighed against the benefits it offers in improving patients' quality of life and overall health.

[thefoodangel]

Sweet corn helps manage constipation, ensures ideal internal functions like cell generation, and effectively combats many digestive problems. It is a healthy snacking option for people with diabetes too. This starchy snack is low in fat and free of sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats. It is rich in vitamin C and packed with fiber.

1. Delays Aging Process

If you want to remain young and maintain youthful looks, then you definitely have to consume sweet corn. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants useful in preventing the aging process.

2. Enhances Skin Texture

With the regular massage of corn oil, there is a considerable enhancement in your skin texture. A host of essential minerals and vitamins, regular consumption of sweet corn ensures you have radiant skin and good vision.

3. Removes Facial Acne Scars

Owing to its high vitamin E content, a paste created with sweet corn can work wonders to remove facial acne scars.

4. Enhances Blood Circulation In The Scalp

The corn oil enhances blood circulation in the scalp, thereby promoting the follicles to produce healthy and strong tresses.

[wellhealthhub]

Understanding A1C and Its Role in Diabetes Diagnosis

Hey there! At Well Health Hub, we’re all about sharing valuable info on diabetes and everything related to it. Today, we’re diving deep into the importance of the A1C test when it comes to diagnosing diabetes. We want to give you a resource that goes beyond the usual articles out there, providing you with a clear and in-depth understanding of A1C and how it relates to your blood glucose levels.…

[whentherewerebicycles]

weight talk under the cut

I got really out of my food and exercise routines during the months of the job hunt + big move + adjusting to new bleh work stuff (understandable) and my weight swung up quite a bit higher than it’s been in a while. but I did a pretty focused reset of my eating habits maybe six-ish weeks ago and I am starting to slowly see some of that stress weight come off. to be clear I like my body as is and while I have vague targets for where I’d like my ‘resting’ weight to be eventually I don’t diet or calorie count and I don’t stress too much about hitting certain ~milestones or whatever the way I used to in my lightly disordered eating youth. that said I think I do want to prioritize steadily and sustainably losing weight this year, for the following reasons:

health reasons (mostly my PCOS + family risk factors for diabetes and heart issues etc)

fertility reasons (moderate weight loss is supposed to increase chances)

🤰reasons (I’ve been reading about this a lot and if it’s within my control I’d like to make a concerted effort to not put on a lot more weight than I need to sustain a healthy pregnancy, especially since PCOS makes it really difficult for me to lose excess weight once I’ve put it on)

emotional reasons (this isn’t weight specific but: I feel a LOT better and sleep better when I’m eating well and getting a good amount of exercise. since I will have to go off most/all of my meds if I get pregnant I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to take care of myself in other ways!)

I don’t know how long the IUIs will take, but I have budgeted for up to 6 cycles and I think I’d like to focus my food/exercise habit-building plans on a 3-6 month timeline. gonna return to this later today to do some more journaling and planning I think! but for now I want to stop & recognize that I’ve made huge progress towards the goals I set back in the spring 2020, when I realized I needed to change everything about my relationship to food/exercise. I eat SO many more kinds of vegetables than I used to and have learned to prepare healthy delicious meals. I’ve virtually eliminated processed foods + refined carbs and sugars from my everyday diet and have figured out ways to make that feel positive rather than restrictive or punitive. I’m curious about food and interested in new foods in a way I never was before like, age 27 lol. and I’ve experienced a couple stress-related setbacks (where I relapse into old eating habits) and been able to gently reset/get myself back on track. I consistently get 5-7 hours of moderate intensity exercise every week and I’m going to work on gradually building up to an additional 2-4 hours of higher intensity exercise at the gym each week. and while the scale isn’t everything, I’ve lost between 25-30 lbs (it’s fluctuated a bit with stress) in a little under 3 years. which probably isn’t as much as I could lose with crash dieting or whatever but my goal isn’t to lose fast but to lose sustainably in a way that gradually lowers my ‘resting’ weight aka the weight my body seems to kinda settle into. that feels really good to me!!! an average of 10 lbs per year seems doable and sane and not punishing.

it doesn’t make a ton of sense to set weight loss goals given the uncertainty of babymaking lol but if it does take me a while, I’d love to try to use careful food management + more exercise to slowly shed 5-7 lbs in the next six months, just to get myself comfortably into the 160s. the periods in my life where I’ve been the most physically fit my resting weight was between 145-150 and that 150 range has always felt like a good weight on my frame. soooo just gotta keep doing what I’m doing! working on building those good habits! tuning out the noise of weight loss pressure etc! focusing on what feels good for my body and self!

[beardedmrbean]

ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) — Authorities in Vermont say Ugandan activist who fled his home country after he says he was repeatedly tortured for his human rights work and would fear for his life if he was deported can stay another year.

Steven Tendo, a 37-year-old pastor, was granted a one-year stay on deportation or removal on Tuesday. After a meeting at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office in northern Vermont, he thanked the two dozen advocates and friends who gathered outside the building to show their support. The newspaper VTDigger first reported on his case from Vermont.

“You mobilized, you spoke on my behalf, you poured out your hearts,” Tendo said to the small crowd. “I mean, I can't express how I feel but I am so happy and I promise I am going to be a very successful Vermonter."

In Uganda, Tendo started the nonprofit Eternal Life Organization International Ministries, that he says, among other things, helped youths to vote, incarcerated youths and those calling for reforms to express themselves in a legal and organized manner. The Ugandan government eventually saw the organization as a threat and targeted him, he said. Starting in 2012 he says he was repeatedly tortured and that government operatives severed the tips of two of his finger. He was arrested multiple times on trumped up charges but never convicted, he said.

Emails were sent to the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Washington, D.C., seeking comment.

Uganda's human rights environment has declined markedly over the past year, according to the 2022 World Report from Human Rights Watch. In the spring of 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the election in which longtime President Yoweri Museveni won a sixth term “was neither free nor fair." In announcing some visa restrictions, Blinken said “opposition candidates were routinely harassed, arrested, and held illegally without charge. Ugandan security forces were responsible for the deaths and injuries of dozens of innocent bystanders and opposition supporters.”

Tendo fled Uganda and in late 2018 sought asylum in the United States and protection under the Convention Against Torture. For a little over two years, he was detained at the Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Texas where a judge did not find him credible and denied him asylum. During his detention — which Tendo said was worse than the torture he endured in Uganda — his health declined. He said he was denied a diet to manage his diabetes, was not allowed to check his sugar levels and he became blind because of his uncontrolled sugar levels.

In August of 2020, 44 members of Congress wrote a letter to the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security urgently requesting that Tendo's deportation be halted and that he be released for “life-threatening medical reasons.” Amnesty International and other organizations also called for his release, which happened in February of 2021. An email was sent to ICE seeking comment.

After his release, Tendo was invited by the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network to live in Vermont, where he now works at the DREAM Program Inc., a nonprofit that helps youth, and he has a separate night job. He had an operation to correct the vision in one eye.

DREAM Program founder Michael Foote described Tendo as “fantastic," as he stood with others outside the immigration office on Tuesday to support him.

“He exudes charisma, and leadership and so he’s been a real asset on the fundraising side, which is where he is focused, but also an important bridge to the new American community in the Chittenden County area,” he said.

Dian Kahn, a member of the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network, who helped Tendo for about nine months when he first arrived in Vermont, also stood outside the building.

“Steven is a brilliant, caring, very special person that really wants to bring community good and in Vermont those are our values here for a lot of us,” she said.

State officials have also taken on his cause. In November, Vermont's congressional delegation and Lieutenant Gov. Molly Walsh wrote letters to acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement asking her to “exercise prosecutorial discretion in Mr. Tendo’s case." Amnesty International also sent a letter saying his “removal would constitute a grave injustice and a clear breach of U.S. obligations not to return a person to possible persecution or torture.”

Tendo appealed the judge’s decision denying his asylum to the Board of Immigration Appeals and was denied, then lost his appeal for a review of that decision in federal court. He says he plans to talk with lawyers about what to do next. He is intensively grateful for all the support and says he loves Vermont and being a Vermonter.

“I have a passion to help people in need and become a solution,” he said.

[drcolinknight]

Diagnosing Diabetes in Children: Key Considerations

Diagnosing Diabetes in Children: Key Considerations https://ift.tt/gwRrbJQ Diabetes, a disease where the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin is impaired, is a serious and increasingly common condition affecting children worldwide. Insulin, a hormone, is critical for the body to correctly manage sugar. While it may seem daunting to consider the possibility of your child having diabetes, early diagnosis, and management are crucial for their health and well-being. Understanding the critical considerations in diagnosing diabetes in children can help parents and caregivers navigate this process with confidence and clarity. Recognizing Symptoms: One of the first steps in diagnosing diabetes in children is recognizing the signs and symptoms. These include increased thirst and urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, irritability, and blurred vision. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly. Family History: A family history of diabetes can increase a child’s risk of developing the condition. If there is a family history of diabetes, it’s essential to monitor your child’s health and discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider. Routine Screening: Children who are overweight or obese, as well as those with other risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes or specific ethnic backgrounds, may be screened for diabetes during routine medical appointments. Screening typically involves blood tests to measure blood glucose levels, including fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, and oral glucose tolerance tests. HbA1c Testing: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing is another essential tool for diagnosing diabetes in children. This blood test provides an average of a person’s blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. Elevated HbA1c levels may indicate diabetes or pre-diabetes and can help healthcare providers assess a child’s risk and manage their condition accordingly. Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: It’s essential to distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes when diagnosing children. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes, the cells of the body don’t respond normally to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity and physical inactivity. While Type 1 diabetes is more common in children, the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in youth is increasing. Comprehensive Evaluation: Diagnosing diabetes in children requires a thorough evaluation by a healthcare provider, including a physical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests. This evaluation helps determine the type of diabetes, assesses the child’s overall health, and guides treatment decisions. Multidisciplinary Approach: Managing diabetes in children often requires an interdisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals such as pediatricians, endocrinologists, dietitians, and diabetes educators. Together, these professionals can provide comprehensive care, including medical management, nutritional counseling, and support for the child and their family. Resources: There are many resources online as well as special, in-person programs such as camps for children with diabetes.  The post Diagnosing Diabetes in Children: Key Considerations first appeared on Dr. Colin Knight | Pediatrics | Miami, Florida. via Dr. Colin Knight | Pediatrics | Miami, Florida https://ift.tt/wyrjpkG September 18, 2024 at 10:14AM

[sizarwellnesswellnes]

Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity Medicine in Maryland: Sizar Wellness

As our understanding of health and wellness evolves, more people are looking for advanced ways to extend not just their lifespan, but their healthspan—the number of years they live in vibrant health. Longevity medicine is at the forefront of this transformation, offering innovative strategies to improve vitality, slow the aging process, and enhance overall quality of life. For those seeking the best in longevity medicine in Maryland, Sizar Wellness provides a pioneering approach.

What is Longevity Medicine?

longevity medicine maryland focuses on proactive, preventive healthcare designed to delay the onset of age-related diseases and promote a longer, healthier life. It combines modern medical science with holistic wellness practices to optimize body functions, enhance physical and mental well-being, and reduce the risks of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia.

Rather than waiting for illness to strike, longevity medicine takes a preemptive approach, using cutting-edge diagnostics, lifestyle modifications, nutritional therapy, and even advanced technologies such as genetic testing and regenerative treatments.

The Sizar Wellness Approach to Longevity

Located in Maryland, Sizar Wellness stands out in the field of longevity medicine with its patient-centered approach that integrates modern medical techniques with individualized wellness plans. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Sizar, the clinic offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support patients in their journey to better health, increased energy, and extended longevity.

Personalized Health Plans

At Sizar Wellness, every patient receives a unique treatment plan tailored to their individual health needs and goals. The clinic performs extensive diagnostics to assess factors such as hormonal balance, metabolic function, cardiovascular health, and more. These insights enable the team to develop a customized approach to optimize each patient's health and slow the aging process.

Hormone Therapy and Optimization

As we age, hormonal imbalances can lead to a decline in energy levels, cognitive function, and physical vitality. Sizar Wellness specializes in hormone optimization therapies that restore balance and help patients regain their youthful energy, strength, and mental clarity. Whether it’s bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) or other natural hormone interventions, these treatments are central to the clinic's longevity programs.

Nutritional Counseling and Supplementation

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of longevity. Sizar Wellness provides expert nutritional counseling to help patients adopt diets that support long-term health, reduce inflammation, and combat oxidative stress. In addition, targeted supplementation is often recommended to address nutrient deficiencies and support overall wellness.

Regenerative Medicine

Innovative regenerative medicine techniques, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell therapy, are some of the cutting-edge treatments offered at Sizar Wellness. These therapies focus on repairing and rejuvenating tissues, reducing the effects of aging, and helping patients recover from injuries or chronic conditions more effectively.

Lifestyle Optimization

Achieving longevity isn’t just about medical interventions—it also requires lifestyle changes. Sizar Wellness helps patients optimize their physical activity, sleep, stress management, and overall lifestyle to support healthy aging. The clinic works closely with each patient to implement lasting habits that enhance well-being and ensure a longer, healthier life.

Why Choose Sizar Wellness for Longevity Medicine in Maryland?

functional medicine maryland is more than just a healthcare provider; it’s a partner in your journey toward optimal health and longevity. With an emphasis on science-backed treatments and personalized care, the clinic offers patients the tools and support they need to maintain peak physical and mental performance well into their later years.

Key Benefits of Sizar Wellness:

Comprehensive diagnostics for early detection of health risks

Holistic approach that addresses both medical and lifestyle factors

Advanced therapies like hormone optimization and regenerative medicine

Individualized care tailored to each patient’s unique health profile

A Future of Health and Vitality

In today's world, the possibility of living longer while maintaining excellent health is more achievable than ever before. Longevity medicine offers a promising pathway for those who want to live their later years with vitality, independence, and joy. At Sizar Wellness, Maryland residents have access to some of the most advanced longevity treatments available, all under the care of a dedicated and highly skilled team.

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The Bountiful Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle on Health

Introduction: In recent years, the popularity of veganism has soared, not only as a dietary choice but as a lifestyle embraced by many for its ethical, environmental, and health considerations. While the ethical and environmental arguments for veganism are compelling, this article will delve into the myriad health benefits that come with adopting a vegan diet and lifestyle. From reducing the risk of chronic diseases to promoting overall well-being, veganism offers a wealth of advantages for those who choose to embrace it.

Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases: One of the most significant health benefits of adopting a vegan diet is the reduced risk of chronic diseases. Numerous studies have shown that Vegan Health Benefits tend to have lower rates of heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer compared to omnivores. The absence of animal products in the diet means lower intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, which are known contributors to cardiovascular problems. Additionally, the abundance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes in a vegan diet provides essential nutrients and antioxidants that help combat inflammation and oxidative stress, further lowering the risk of chronic diseases.

Weight Management and Improved Metabolic Health: Obesity and overweight are significant contributors to various health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. Vegan Health Benefits, typically rich in fiber and low in saturated fats, can aid in weight management and improve metabolic health. Plant-based foods tend to be less calorie-dense while being more nutrient-dense, allowing individuals to feel fuller for longer periods and consume fewer calories overall. Furthermore, studies have indicated that vegan diets may enhance insulin sensitivity, potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Enhanced Digestive Health: A plant-based diet is naturally high in dietary fiber, which plays a crucial role in maintaining digestive health. Fiber promotes regular bowel movements, prevents constipation, and supports a healthy gut microbiome. By fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, fiber helps reduce the risk of digestive disorders such as diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Moreover, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides ample prebiotics—non-digestible fibers that nourish gut bacteria—further supporting digestive wellness.

Lower Blood Pressure and Reduced Risk of Stroke: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a significant risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. Vegan Health Benefits, characterized by their emphasis on whole plant foods and minimal processed foods, have been shown to help lower blood pressure levels. The abundance of potassium-rich foods, such as leafy greens, bananas, and potatoes, helps counteract the effects of sodium and promote healthy blood pressure. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based foods contribute to improved vascular function and reduced arterial stiffness, further decreasing the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular events.

Improved Skin Health and Anti-Aging Benefits: The saying "you are what you eat" holds true when it comes to skin health. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats can contribute to a radiant complexion and delay signs of aging. Plant-based foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that nourish the skin from within, helping to combat oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, the absence of dairy products in a Vegan Health Benefits may benefit individuals prone to acne, as dairy consumption has been linked to increased acne severity in some studies. By promoting hydration, collagen production, and overall skin vitality, a vegan diet can help individuals achieve a healthier, more youthful appearance.

Potential Reduction in Allergic Reactions and Food Sensitivities: Food allergies and sensitivities can significantly impact one's quality of life, leading to uncomfortable symptoms and dietary restrictions. While allergies are primarily determined by genetics and immune system responses, some evidence suggests that vegan diets may help reduce the risk or severity of certain allergic reactions. By eliminating common allergens such as dairy, eggs, and shellfish, individuals may experience relief from symptoms related to food allergies or sensitivities. Additionally, the diversity of plant-based foods in a vegan diet can help support a robust immune system, potentially reducing the likelihood of developing new allergies over time.

Conclusion: The health benefits of a vegan lifestyle are vast and compelling, offering individuals the opportunity to improve their well-being while making ethical and sustainable dietary choices. From lowering the risk of chronic diseases to promoting digestive health, veganism provides a holistic approach to nourishing the body and mind. While transitioning to a vegan diet may require thoughtful planning and education to ensure adequate nutrient intake, the rewards in terms of Vegan Health Benefits and vitality are well worth the effort. By embracing a plant-based lifestyle, individuals can not only transform their own health but also contribute to a more sustainable and compassionate world.

Website: https://cruelty.farm