In How a Good Night’s Sleep Fights Diabetes we showed the link between quality sleep and preventing diabetes. Keep your blood sugar in the normal range all night with the following actions…
- Take some deep breaths before going to bed. Just a couple of deep breaths promotes mindfulness…helps you relax…and makes you fall asleep faster.
- Avoid spicy food, caffeine and alcohol at night. Why? These can spike sugar levels at a time when your body needs a steady level in order to repair muscle and tissue.
- Stay cool! A cool room is easier to sleep in than a warm one.
- Make it dark and quiet. Blue lights like those from cell phones, tablets and TVs can make falling asleep especially difficult. Try turning off screens an hour before going to bed.
- Establish a habit. Our bodies like routines. Set a regular sleep routine to help your body take advantage of its internal circadian rhythm.
Not only do these steps deter diabetes, they make sure you’re at your best during your waking hours.
Healthcare costs vary based on a number of factors. Median out-of-pocket spending on health care ranged from $360 per year in Hawaii to $1,500 per year in Nebraska, according to a 2019 report from The Commonwealth Fund. While some costs are set, such as the premium price for your health plan, others can be planned or negotiated if you know the right questions to ask. 
Uninsured or underinsured people are charged more for their healthcare and typically pay more out of pocket. That’s because they don’t benefit from the reduced rates negotiated by private health insurance companies and public insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, most uninsured people do not receive discounted or free health services. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that in 2015, only 27% of uninsured adults reported receiving free or reduced-cost care. 
Allergy shots can be expensive at first because there is often a long-term course of treatment. But, they may reap financial benefits if you find relief later and don’t have the continuing costs of managing your symptoms. Your treatment may require more than one vial, which means you will have more than one injection at each appointment. Build-up injections are usually required on a regular basis for 6 months or longer. You also may need a maintenance dose less often, but those can last for 3 to 5 years. Many insurance plans will cover allergy shots, but you may still have out-of-pocket costs. 
Every year an estimated 2.8 million individuals sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Approximately 75% are classified as mild – yet the resulting effects are hardly mild. Although many people do not have visible physical signs, they develop disabling cognitive, psychological and/or behavioral impairments. Employment disabilities often go unnoticed or are misdiagnosed.
