Dear Do-Good-er Politicians, Make ALL Medications Affordable

I hate politics... a lot and I only believe about 25% of what is reported on the news. What I hate even more are the months before the Presidential election. All the "hot topics"  and "injustices" that become front and center are sometimes such a joke.

One that really got me was the great cost of an EpiPen. Really. Let's talk about the cost of ANY medical condition and you know what you find?! Someone is making a ton of money off of sick people. With that said, yes EpiPens are overpriced and save lives but so do many other medications. Let's attack the big bad pharmacy as a whole.

I worked in the hospital for a long time and one of the repeating causes of hospitalization was uncontrolled diabetes. Some were there because they simply didn't take care of themselves but a lot more were admitted because they could not afford their medication AND supplies needed. Here is a post that I really found note worthy:

"Recently, you may have seen the public outcry over the cost of EpiPens. While I sympathize with you, I want to share with you a couple of pictures. These two pictures represent the cost of the life saving devices and medications that I have to use/take daily. It will never end, because my disease currently doesn't have a cure. I have Type 1 Diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease. In short, my body attacked my pancreas, rendering it unable to produce insulin. EVERYONE needs insulin to live. Only difference between you and I is your body produces it's own. I have to inject mine. Every time I eat, and every time my blood sugar is at an unsafe level. Please do not confuse this with the more commonly known Type 2. Type 2 is where your body becomes RESISTANT to insulin, which is why Type 2 in most cases can be managed by diet and exercise. No amount of diet or exercise will make my pancreas work again. Now that we have that established, back to the two pictures. The first one is the ESSENTIAL supplies and medications that a Type 1 needs to survive and live a healthy life. The second, are considered "luxury" items. (I'll never understand why they are considered that by many insurance companies, but that's another story for another day). Those prices are the retail prices of the specific items for a ONE MONTH SUPPLY. Just one month! As most of you know, not everyone has health insurance, and even more don't have sufficient coverage, and while they may not pay FULL retail price, they still pay very large deductibles and co-payments. This is ridiculous! This is NOT OK! Did you know that the very same insulin in Canada costs about $25 a box? The very same insulin! It's almost $800 here in America! How is this fair?! There are mothers out there PLEADING with others to help them afford their 7-8 month old baby's LIFE SAVING MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES. How is this ok?! We need to see a change. You shouldn't have to pay $3,000 A MONTH just to keep yourself or your child alive!!

Please, I never post things to share. I don't ask for much but this, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. PLEASE share this post. We need to make a change, and we need it NOW. Our lives are NOT for profit!"
#mylifeisnotforprofit #makeinsulinaffordableforallamericans

              Author: Crys Allen of Boise Idaho

So here is my outcry for all you do-good-er politicians  

Make ALL Medications Affordable.

The Ultimate at Home Weight Loss Program: Unicity Transformation, Make Life Better

I have looked into countless diet programs, wonder pills and magic in a bottle... dare I go on... that many people are easily lured into when they just don't feel good on the inside and out. I find that most of the enticement comes from the fast and quick results that are promised. 

"Drink this for 14 days and lose 10 pounds"

"Take 3 of these pills before each meal and lose as much as 5 inches from your waistline"

The problem with these types of  claims isn't that they won't in fact deliver, it is much worse. If you do anything drastic to your diet you will see a great shift regardless if it is good for you or not. The real questions to ask yourself are:

Is this a realistic change to my diet and lifestyle?

Will I keep the weight off? For how long? If the answer is less than a year, it's junk.

Will I learn how to make better choices with food?

Do I have anyone I can talk to for guidance?

What are your goals and will this product/program help you get where you want to be? Do you want to make a change or do you just want a quick fix?
And most importantly, what am I actually taking? Caffeine, loads of sugar, excessive amounts of protein and so on.

If you need or want to lose weight, you need: a personalized meal plan, personalized exercise goals and a support system. The worst thing you can do is to try and do it alone. Everyone needs a team, people who support you. 

The Unicity Transformation program has it all! You get a specialized program and a health coach! Yes, real live people to talk to you from the privacy & comfort of your own home. 

Individuals who wish to join Transformation must go through a pre-screening process and provide a detailed social and medical history and identify their goals. So, if you are serious and ready to make a change, give Unicity Transformation a chance! Visit HERE to learn more. 

*An affiliation with Unicity does exist. I support the transformation program as a whole and will provide product reviews based on personal experience. Reviews will be honest. As always, contact your healthcare provider as you feel necessary.

For the Heart of It, Life's Simple 7

You only have one heart, take care of it. 

These are the current recommendations from the American Heart Association, Life's Simple Seven, to maintain a healthy heart and lifestyle. Following these simple steps can make a huge impact on your overall health and more specifically your heart. 

• Don't smoke: If you don't smoke, perfect. If you do, make a plan to STOP. I haven't heard a health claim yet that has convinced me that smoking is good for your health in any way. #badisbad
• Maintain a healthy weight: This does not mean you need to make a goal to look like a super model or hope for a frail stick figure. This means you need to focus on a size that make YOU feel good. #saynotohollywoodsideaofpretty
• Engage in regular physical activity: Get moving! Don't be idle. If you like to shop become a mall walker and window shop. If you like to watch TV series, do it while on a treadmill. If you like the outdoors, ride a bike. If you hate to exercise, find something you do enjoy and add some activity to it. Start small and when your goal becomes easy or second nature, change it up!
• Eat a healthy diet: Keep a food journal and start to identify your problem areas. Make better choices and choose wisely but still enjoy life. 
• Manage blood pressure: Check it! Numerous pharmacy's offer free blood pressure checks. Find out your numbers. If they are in a healthy range, periodically check it (every 3 months). If they are off: go to your doctor, clean up your diet and start exercising (don't try to run a marathon, start small and simple). Keep track of your numbers and how you feel. Knowing how you physically feel will help to identify when your blood pressure may quickly change. Know your body and listen.
• Take charge of your cholesterol: Get it checked! Know your number. If it is >200 you need help. Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body naturally makes it (we need it for several body processes) and from animal products we consume. So, every time you eat dairy products, meats, cheese or anything from an animal you are eating a cholesterol food. Plant based foods do NOT contain cholesterol. So how do you lower the cholesterol in your diet? Eat less animal products and MORE fruits and vegetables.
• Keep your blood sugar at a healthy range: Simple, check it. Either check it with a home glucose monitor (2 hours after a meal) or at a well visit with your doctor (they will check your glucose level when running basic blood tests). Visit HERE for healthy blood sugar ranges and to learn about your Diabetes Report Card.

Diabetes Report Card: Hgb A1C

What is A1C?

Hgb A1C or glycosylated hemoglobin, is a two to three month average of your blood glucose (sugar) level. It measures the amount of glucose that attaches to the red blood cells (RBC). Because RBC's live about three months, the A1C test shows your average blood glucose level during that time.

What should my A1C level be?

 

What's your number?