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THE NUMBER OF Americans with diabetes continues to increase each year. Approximately 17-million people have diabetes, with up to 95 percent diagnosed with the Type 2 form of the illness. Type 2 diabetes typically sets in among people 40 and older. But younger people can also be affected. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which requires regular injections of insulin, Type 2 can be controlled though exercise and a proper diet. While no single dietary approach can work for everyone, the following dietary course can go along way in staving off the ill effects of Type 2 diabetes.
* Develop and maintain a consistent meal plan and schedule.
* Keep the diet varied, with a balanced approach that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, low-fat dairy products and lean meat, poultry or fish. A good mix of healthy foods will help maintain proper blood-sugar levels.
* Always go with lower-fat options and limit your intake of saturated fats. Be sure to check nutritional labels so you know the fat and sugar content of a particular food.
* Use sugar in moderation. Better yet, look for lower-sugar options.
* Go for fiber. The American Dietetic Association recommends that all people eat 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day.
* Flush your system and keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and limit your intake of salt.
IF YOU FOLLOW SAFETY experts' advice, you have a fire extinguisher in your home, probably in the kitchen. But do you know when and how to use it? Here are some guidelines. A portable fire extinguisher should be used only:
* When the fire is confined to a small area and isn't growing.
* Everyone is safely out of the area.
* After you have called the fire department.
* If the room is not filled with smoke.
Underwriters' Laboratory's safety experts offer these tips for selecting and using an extinguisher:
* Choose a model that has the UL label and can be used on all types of home fires: wood, cloth, paper, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment.
* Learn how to use the extinguisher before you need it.
To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:
Pull the pin, hold the extinguisher away from you and release the locking mechanism.
Aim low, pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
Sweep the nozzle from side to side.
Stand at least 6 feet from the fire with your back to a door so you can escape easily.
KIDS WITH ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder who have a few hours on their hands might want to consider heading to the nearest grassy park or tree-lined street. In a study of several hundred children with the disorder, researchers found that those who spent time in green, natural settings reported fewer symptoms than kids who worked on activities indoors or who took part in activities in more urban areas. For the study, researchers recruited 406 participants - 322 boys and 84 girls - who had been diagnosed with ADHD. Most of the participants, ages 5 to 18, were on medication. The parents were interviewed by e-mail about how their children performed after activities conducted inside, outside in downtown areas without much greenery, and in more natural outdoor settings such as a tree-lined street or a park. The researchers asked parents to compare 56 activities and how their children fared afterward. Regardless of whether they were on medication, children who spent a few hours after school or on the weekend playing outside in natural settings showed a significant reduction of symptoms compared with those who had spent time indoors or surrounded by asphalt and pavement, parents reported. But the study did not quantify how much symptoms were reduced.