Editor

All of you men out there who have recently diagnosed with erectile dysfunction are undoubtedly worried about their condition. Many questions may be running through your mind as well. For example: what do I do? What should I tell my partner? Is this the end of my love life? Is there anything I can do to help my condition? These and many other questions can be answered in the following paragraphs. By the end of this article, many men out there will be able to sleep a little better at night knowing that they can easily live with their erectile dysfunction.

Educate Yourself

One important thing that men can do that will not only help them but their partner as well, is to educate themselves about erectile dysfunction. Although men who have been diagnosed with ED know that it is simply the inability for a man to maintain an erection that is efficient enough for satisfying sexual urges. However, there is so much more to be learned about erectile dysfunction. By taking the time to educate yourself about ED, not only can you learn about the dysfunction itself but you will be able to learn what causes ED and methods that can be used to treat ED.

Medications

One method that can be used to treat erectile dysfunction is various types of medications. There are many different over the counter medications that you can use; however, many of these treatments prove to be ineffective. On the other hand though, you could always visit your primary doctor to discuss your options. There are several examples of prescription medications such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. Many of these medications have proven to be incredibly effective. To reap the benefits of many of these excellent treatments, make an appointment with your family doctor immediately.

Pumps

Whether pills are not exactly the type of treatment you had in mind or the medication you've tried isn't effective, you're undoubtedly looking for a form of treatment that does work for you. Another example of a treatment method that you may want to consider is the erectile dysfunction vacuum therapy pump. A VCD is simply a device that consists of an acrylic cylinder that is attached the head of the penis; a constriction band is then applied at the other end of the cylinder. The cylinder and the pump are then used to create a vacuuming effect which causes the penis to become erect. These pumps can be purchased at your local drug store. These pumps can also be prescribed by your primary doctor.

As you can tell, with the correct equipment and an adequate amount of education, you will be able to successfully live a full and romantic life with erectile dysfunction. If you have any questions or concerns about erectile dysfunction, please feel free to contact us.

 

For many individuals, night sweats are a common occurrence. Depending on the individual, the incidents could be caused by any number of things, including hypoglycemia. The good news is there are devices and diabetes testing supplies that diabetics may use to help get their night sweats under control.

Hypoglycemia sleep alarms are one type of device that diabetics may find useful. They are manufactured by an array of firms, including Giant Biosensor. The Giant Biosensor model is battery operated and can function properly in areas of high relative humidity and fluctuating temperatures.

Designed to be worn on the body like a wrist watch, it will keep track of the wearer’s skin temperature and perspiration. If the device detects a noticeable change in either, it will emit either an auditory or vibrating alarm. The ideal behind the alarm is that it will wake the person up so he or she can take action.

Once awake, it is important for the person to use his or her diabetes testing supplies straightaway. Otherwise, the person may lose consciousness or have a seizure. The level of danger involved all depends on whether or not the sweating is due to a drop in blood sugar or something else.

If the diabetes testing supplies used by the person indicates that moderate to severe hypoglycemia is to blame, glucagon or another form of medication will generally need to be administered. In most instances, glucagon prescriptions and administration information are available through a primary care physician or diabetes specialist.

Many primary care physicians and diabetes specialists may also encourage those suffering from frequent night sweats to keep a journal. The journal may prove helpful on several levels. For example, it could help identify factors contributing to the person’s episodes of night sweats and improve his or her diabetes management in general.

To learn more about hypoglycemia sleep alarms and other diabetes testing supplies that may help reduce episodes of night sweats, please contact us at (866) 422-4866.

 

In early April 2014, an article appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics that caught our eye. It shined a spotlight on a recent ketoacidosis study and diabetes testing supplies. We found it interesting for several reasons, the subject matter being one of them.

The ketoacidosis study focused on youth that were diagnosed with diabetes and how important early detection can be in regards to overall health outcomes. What the study’s team found was that many people are not familiar with the condition or the diabetes testing supplies that may be used to help detect it before the person’s health deteriorates.

For those that find themselves unfamiliar with the diabetes-related health condition, it’s important to become more informed. That’s because diabetic ketoacidosis may quickly impact type 1 and type 2 diabetics of all ages with deadly consequences.

Just in case you are wondering, it tends to occur in several situations, one of which involves an insulin imbalance. The imbalance causes the body to produce what’s known as ketones. They are organic compounds that eventually make their way into a person’s bladder and urinary track.

Once they appear, the affected person will likely experience a cavalcade of unpleasant health problems. The severity of which is related to the amount of ketones involved. The list of problems includes, but is not restricted to, extreme lethargy, intense thirst, impaired vision, mental confusion and respiratory distress.

The good news is diabetes testing supplies, like boxes of Nova Max® Plus Ketone Test Strips, may help detect the condition before many of those signs and symptoms start to appear. The strips are typically used in conjunction with other diabetes testing and management supplies. To learn more about ketoacidosis and the diabetes testing supplies that may be used to help prevent the negative health outcomes associated with it, please contact us toll-free at (866) 422-4866.

Every year, an estimated 24,000 diabetics experience blindness due to their condition. That number doesn’t even take into account those with minor to moderate vision loss. Once those numbers are factored into the equation, it becomes easy to see why diabetes is one of leading causes of vision impairment in America. It’s also why companies like Prodigy® Diabetes Care have come up with blood glucose monitors for the visually impaired.

One of the blood glucose monitors manufactured by the company is the Prodigy Voice®. The fully audible device is a modest 2” x 5”x 6” and weighs less than 11 ounces. Designed for alternate site testing, it features volume control capabilities, an ear phone jack, repeat button and set button. Together, they enable visually impaired diabetics to set-up the monitor, test and obtain their blood sugar readings with the utmost of confidence and privacy.

They aren’t the only great design features associated with the Prodigy Voice®. It also sports a USB data port, strip-eject button, 450 reading storage capacity, dead battery voice alert and an automatic turn on feature. In most instances, the blood glucose monitor also comes with complimentary diabetes management software, a carrying case, log book and start-up materials.

It is also important to know that because of all the features we mentioned earlier, the meter has already received two distinguished awards. One of them was granted by the National Foundation of the Blind and the other came courtesy of the American Foundation for the Blind. Both organizations frequently review diabetes testing supplies that are designed for sensory impaired individuals.

As we alluded to previously, the Prodigy Voice® is not the only blood glucose monitor option available to diabetics either. There are other audible devices too. Among them are Biosense Medical Devices’ SOLUS V2 and ForaCare®’s V20. To learn more about these and other blood glucose monitors designed to compensate for a diabetic’s vision loss, please contact us toll-free at (866) 422-4866.

 

 

 

When it comes to monitoring their health, many diabetics opt to choose retractable, single-use lancets because of the benefits involved. In general, such lancing devices reduce the person’s risk of falling victim to infectivity and experiencing great pain. They also tend to minimize the risk of reading errors and sustaining fingerpick injuries. One company that manufactures innovative lancing devices capable of providing those benefits to diabetics is Invacare.

Invacare’s Bullseye Safety Lancet Series features individually wrapped, ergonomically designed devices. Collectively, they are suitable for instances of low, normal and high flow. So the majority of diabetics are likely to find a retractable, single-use lancing device that they are comfortable with using.

Each one of the company’s pre-cocked lancing devices is outfitted with a tri-beveled needle or blade that’s capable of achieving a 2.2mm puncture depth. The low flow lancing device has a 25G diameter needle and is perfect for situations when blood flow is expected to be at 20-40µl. The next step up, obviously, is the normal flow lancing device. It can handle a blood flow range of 40-60µl and sports a 23G diameter needle. The high flow, on the other hand, has a 21G diameter blade and is suitable for blood flows up to 175µl.

The tri-bevel needles and blades are not the compact lancing devices only features worth mentioning. They also sport spring action mechanisms, lockable safety caps and color indicators. Together, they help to minimize the risks that we mentioned above and make routine, diabetes care related tasks go much smoother. For example, using and disposing of the lancing devices is matter of four steps. The safety cap gets removed and the patient deploys the single-use lancet. One’s that done, the safety cap gets locked back into place and the entire lancing device may be disposed of accordingly.

For more information about Invacare Bullseye Safety Lancets™ and other lancing devices that can help diabetics manage their condition, please contact us toll-free at (866) 422-4866. We carry a variety of lancing devices, including the ones that we’ve just mentioned.

 

 

For a person living with diabetes, having a blood glucose meter is essential to manage ones condition. Blood glucose levels can be affected by a number of factors, including exercise, food, medications, and stress. The meter works by inserting a test strip in the device. One then pricks a finger to draw a drop of blood which is placed on the test strip. The meter then displays the blood glucose level on a screen. The Mayo Clinic notes that there are a number of models for meters are available for a wide range of prices. One should consider the following factors when choosing one. First one should make sure ones insurance covers the particular blood glucose meter one desires. Some companies limit their coverage only to specific models. Cost is also a factor, which means not only that of the meter but the test strips as well. It does no good to get a cheaper model if the test strips that go with it are pricey. One has to ask oneself how easy it is to use and maintain the blood glucose meter. Can it be handled well? Is the display easy to read? Is it easy to put a drop of blood on the test strip? Does the meter need calibrating? These and other questions need answering when one is choosing a model. One should also research special features such as displays that can be read by people with low vision. Some store readings over time and can transmit them to ones smart phone and to ones doctor. Finally one has to ascertain what kind of support the manufacturer offers, including a toll free number and a website with instructions on how the device is used.

Have you been shopping around for a new blood glucose meter? If so, you’ve undoubtedly already realized that there are quite a few options to choose from. One of the popular ones is the OneTouch® Ultra2 Meter. Here’s a look that five things about the device that you may not know:

1 It’s Plasma-Calibrated

One of the first great things you should know about the meter is that it’s plasma-calibrated. Plasma-calibrated glucose meters differ from whole blood-calibrated devices in one key respect. They tend to give different results. The plasma-calibrated readings are typically more in line with the type of results that you’d get with a laboratory blood draw. Thus, by using a plasma-calibrated reading, you and your doctor will be better able to compare the results to your routine blood work-ups.

2 It Works in High Altitudes

Second, OneTouch® Ultra2 Meters are capable of providing accurate results at altitudes up to 10,000 feet. That’s important to know if you live in an area of high elevation or like to travel to places with high elevations. The reason why is that altitude, relative humidity and air temperature can all alter the accuracy of a person’s blood glucose meter. Over the years, information about that has been published in periodicals like the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology as well as Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

3 It will Give Readings in Tropical Climates

Third, the meter is also able to withstand high temperatures and relative humidity levels. For example, according to the manufacturer’s user manual, the blood glucose meter will continue to work effectively in environments with temperatures up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit and RH levels up to 90%. Given that, it makes the OneTouch® Ultra2 Meter ideal for use in some sub-tropic and tropical climates.

4 It Can Hold Up to 500 Test Results

Fourth, this particular meter can hold up to 500 control solution or blood glucose test results at a time. Understandably, that makes the device convenient for those that do not have the time or the other resources needed to download results into companion software on a daily or weekly basis.

5 It Has an Automatic Shutoff

Fifth and finally, the OneTouch® Ultra2 Meter has a very handy automatic shutoff feature which can help save on replacement battery costs. In addition, the cost of the meter and its corresponding batteries may be covered by your insurance plan.

To learn more about the OneTouch® Ultra2 Meter and other blood glucose testing devices, please contact us at (866) 422-4866. We’d be more than happy to help you select a blood glucose meter that suits your individual needs.

Have you ever given much thought to your saliva? If the answer is “Eww no”, you may want to change your way of thinking after reading this blog post. Believe it or not, our spit can tell physicians many things about our health. Here’s a closer look at what that could lead to in terms of diabetes testing supplies:

The last week of January 2014, researchers working at Qatar's Weill Cornell Medical College published the results of their latest study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology. The study was designed, in part, to come up with a way to add saliva swabs to the traditional list of diabetes testing supplies. The good news is the researchers were successful in their endeavors.

The way that the test works is simple. The saliva swab gets placed into the person’s mouth first. Afterward, it is removed and tested for the presence of a known biomarker called 1,5-AG. The biomarker has been previously used in blood glucose testing. Now that researchers have found a way to unobtrusively detect its presence in saliva, pre-diabetics may be able to forgo routine blood tests and opt for frequent mouth swabs instead.

Of course because the breakthrough was just made, you won’t find the swabs among a supply store’s list of at-home diabetes testing supplies just yet. In order to have the swab test done, pre-diabetics will need to visit their primary care physician and request one. At this time, there is no official word on what the saliva tests may cost interested consumers or whether or not companies plan to make them available for home testing applications in the near future.

It is also important to note that the Qatar researchers are not the only ones working on salvia based diabetes testing supplies related research either. Purdue University also released preliminary information about a biosensor that can detect glucose in tears as well as saliva in 2012. You can find more information about that development in the August 2012, Vol. 22 issue of the Journal of Advanced Functional Materials.