Want more info on -Boric Acid for Yeast Infections.

Want to learn about how to save some money at the pharmacy?  90 Ways to Save on Your Prescription Drugs -totally free, ya’ll!

First off, a couple of  disclaimers -the studies that were done including coenzyme Q10 often contradict each other.  CoQ10 supplements can interact with some medications- so be sure to check with your physician or pharmacist before starting CoQ10.

CoQ10 is used in our body at the cellular level.  Signs of low CoQ10 include muscle pain, high blood pressure, angina and even periodontal disease.

1. Statins:  Statin medications help treat high cholesterol.  They can also block the body from making CoQ10.  It is thought that taking CoQ10 supplements can help prevent muscle aches that can occur with statins.  100 -200mg/day.

2.  High Blood Pressure:  CoQ10 100-120mg/day is thought to help control blood pressure.  The supplement should be used along with your regular high blood pressure (not instead).

3.  Diabetes: CoQ10 100-200mg/day has been shown in some studies to help decrease A1C.

4.  Migraines: CoQ10 100mg three times a day can help decrease migraine frequency.

As I mentioned earlier, studies have shown contradictory results.  Less than 300mg/day is considered safe.  Diarrhea and nausea are the main side effects of CoQ10. 

Have you taken CoQ10?  Please tell us about your experience -leave a comment

Fast forward a bit…to a few years ago….a study was done that found that cinnamon can help people with diabetes type 2 control their blood sugar.   Cinnamon was thought to help move the glucose from the blood into the cells (a good thing) -decreasing blood glucose.  Great news and then…. 

Unfortunately, follow up studies did not show the same results.

So, what now?  The general idea is -What can it hurt?!   A few things to think about…

1.  Cinnamon should NOT take the place of any diabetes medications.  Think of it as a supplement. 

2.  If you choose to take cinnamon -it is just 1/4 teaspoon a day…it can just be shaken over food or taken in a capsule form.

3.  There are different kinds of cinnamon -cassia cinnamon was the kind used in the study.  Conveniently enough, cassia cinnamon is the typical cinnamon we all have in our spice racks.

I know, this doesn’t really clear much up -but hey that’s the info we have to work with right now!  

Want to see how vinegar can help control blood sugar?  Read Vinegar for Diabetes Type 2.

Want to learn how to save some bucks?  90 Ways to Save Money on Prescription Drugs.

The seeds that are used in the chia pet are edible too.  Chia seeds are high in fiber and protein and contain calcium, magnesium, B vitamins (great for energy) and antioxidants.

Chia also has a high level of ALA type omega-3 (like the kind found in flaxseed)…which is typically good but too much ALA can increase triglycerides -so take note if your TG are high already!

Chia seeds have been used for centuries and now, thanks to Oprah, have become popular again!  Chia seeds can help patients control blood sugar and blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. 

Chia is especially helpful with controlling blood sugar.  When chia reaches your belly it causes a gel that allows carbs to be digested at a uniform rate -that decreases the blood sugar super lows and highs.

Want to add chia to your diet?  Chia oil supplements, gels, whole seeds, seeds in drinks, bread, chips…the list goes on.   You can even add chia seeds to a glass of water -stir, let sit for 5 minutes, stir and drink…simple enough.

Have you been eating chia?  Tell us about it, go ahead and leave a comment!

There are a couple of articles for background info about Diabetes Type 2 Overview and What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?

Which brings us to -How to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain…

Number 1 treatment:  Blood glucose control!  If the blood glucose levels are kept within range, neuropathy can be slowed and possibly reversed.

In addition, to help with pain…

1.  Antidepressants

• Cymbalta (duloxetine) -typical dosing for DPNP is 60mg once daily.  It is only available in brand only-pricey!
• Elavil (amitriptyline) or Pamelor (nortriptyline) -both come in generic and are well tolerated but can cause drowsiness and general dryness (dry mouth, eyes…)
• Effexor XR (venlafaxine ER) -dosing is usually 15-225mg daily.  Brand only so pretty pricey.
• Celexa (citalopram) and Paxil (paroxetine) -these aren’t used alone but can be added on to other therapy

2.  Anticonvulsants

• Neurontin (gabapentin) -this is the most popular drug to treat DPNP.    It is available in generic.  Gabapentin should be titrated slowly because of side effects like dizziness and sedation.
• Lyrica (pregabalin) -like gabapentin but more potent (and expensive)
• Tegretol (carbamazepine), Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Dilantin (phenytoin) -all can help but aren’t usually used because of the major side effects.

3.  Pain Drugs

• Ultram (tramadol) -works well for pain in general and DPNP -it has pain and antidepressent activity.  Inexpensive and well tolerated.
• OxyContin (oxycodone CR) -major pain medicine -lots of side effects and can lead to addiction but when the pain is bad -it works!

4.  Topical -Lidocaine patches -work well as an add on therapy.  

5.  Natural Remedies

• Capsin (capsaicin) -topical cream that is made from chili peppers!  The big picture is, capsaicin causes enough irritation in the area that the pain receptors are overwhelmed and “shutdown”.
• alpha-Lipoic Acid -an anti-oxidant that helps decrease pain and numbness.  Typical dose is 600mg daily.
• Evening Primrose -500mg up to 8,000mg daily.  Helps nerves function better (more sensation; less pain)
• Borage Oil -1,000 -4,000mg daily.  Works similarly to Evening Primrose
• Acupuncture and Magnet Therapy

We would love to hear your personal experiences!  Please leave us a comment!

Would you like some help saving money on your prescription meds?  Please see our FREE video series on 90 Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs.

When you get your new blood glucose monitor, be sure to turn it over and call the 1-800 number on the back.  Why bother?  Well, by calling this number, you will be able to register your monitor, and the benefit of doing so is one that you don’t want to pass up! 

By registering your monitor, you will give yourself the opportunity to get a replacement monitor for free (yes, I said FREE).  Once your glucometer crashes, you can call the manufacturer for a replacement, and 9 out of 10 times, they’ll hook you up with a new one free of charge!  Cool, huh?

Also, if you happen to buy faulty supplies for diabetes (i.e. test strips) definitely call the manufacturer to see how to resolve the issue. 

I was at work the other night and a representative from the maker of Accu-Chek Aviva test strips dialed me up to see if I could help some people that were in need of new test strips.  The couple was staying at a local hotel while on holiday when they discovered their Accu-Chek Aviva test strips were not working.  They called the manufacturer to see what their options were.  The representative called me to see if I’d give them a box of 50 test strips at no charge, and in return, the manufacturer would send my pharmacy the same item in order to replace what we gave away.  It was a done deal! 

In addition, the company was going to send another box of test strips to the couple’s home at no cost.  Who knew such patient assistance existed? 

This is just one example of how the manufacturing companies will help patients out.  It just takes a little effort on your part to get the help that’s needed! 

Just a quick post for today!  If you have similar stories or advice on how to get the pharmaceutical companies to work with you, please comment below.  You can also e-mail me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com. 

Speaking of free stuff, don’t forget about our video course on how to save money on your prescription drugs.  It truly is available at no charge…just trying to give a helping hand to those who are interested! 

Catch ya later!

First off, what is neuropathy?   It is a general term used to describe disorders of the nerves. 

Then, what is diabetic peripheral neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is due to high glucose in the blood that leads to nerve damage.  The damage can interrupt the signal traveling from a part of the body (ie foot) to the spinal cord and brain.   The damage can lead to the “pins and needles” feeling, pain and numbness.

People with diabetes also have a higher risk of infection -add this to a numb area on the foot and you have the makings for a serious infection.  Which is why foot care is a big deal for patients with diabetes.  I always tell this story when someone says, “I can deal with some tingling and numbness, what’s the big deal?”

When I was working in the Diabetes Clinic, I met Mr. B.  He had diabetes for many years.  He never really changed his eating/exercise habits and didn’t really keep an eye on his blood sugar.  We discussed some medicine and he started it- begrudgingly.  At this point Mr. B had a little non-painful peripheral neuropathy (just some numbness around the toes).  We did a full foot exam and talked about him (or someone else) checking the bottom of his feet everyday. 

Mr.  B. missed a few appointments over the summer (he was visiting his grandkids).  While away, Mr. B. stepped on a sharp stone -it made a small puncture on the pad of his big toe.  He didn’t feel it because of the numbness.  Fastforward 8 weeks,  Mr. B. comes in for his appointment with great stories about the grandkids.  We do a foot exam, Mr. B. has a serious infection and his right toe is amputated within a few days. 

I asked Mr. B. about the foot exams and he said, he thought it was silly and was embarrassed to ask someone else to look at his feet because sometimes he has trouble seeing the bottom of his feet.

What is it with infections being so serious in people with diabetes?  People with diabetes get infections more easily, heal slower and often don’t feel the warning signs due to neuropathy.

Number 1 way of avoiding diabetic peripheral neuropathy?  Controlled blood sugar levels!

Once a patient has diabetic peripheral neuropathy…

1.  Controlled blood sugars can slow the progression and may actually reverse some of the damage done. 

2.  Foot Care -this includes regular foot examines with a medical professional and checking the bottom of the feet and between the toes daily -for dry, cracked skin, calluses and early signs of infection.  I am, as most healthcare people are, very intense about foot care.  Even wearing socks so that the seam rubs the foot can lead to an infection!

3. Medications -there are no medications to specifically treat peripheral neuropathy.  There are drugs that can help control blood sugar and then there are drugs that can help with the pain caused by neuropathy. 

I will go into the medicines used to treat pain associated with peripheral neuropathy in the next article.

For now, there you have it -a diabetic peripheral neuropathy overview.

Please leave some feedback!

And Please see our *FREE* video course and manual on 90 Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs.

So, just to go over some of the benefits of caffeine…

Headaches:  Taking caffeine with pain medication (Tylenol, Alleve, Motrin, etc.) works better than pain meds alone.  Caffeine helps the pain medicine get into the brain faster and more efficiently which leads to better pain relief!

Mental Alertness: Which is why most of us love a cup of joe in the morning!  Caffeine gets into our brain very easily and helps us be wakeful and focused (to a point).  When caffeine is mixed with taurine (like in Red Bull) it has shown a small increase in mental performance.  Even more effective is when caffeine is mixed with glucose (like most energy drinks).

Asthma: Caffeine can help improve airway function in people with asthma up to four hours -this is an FYI!  Definitely don’t take a cup of coffee instead of your inhaler.

Diabetes: Studies have shown that about 300mg of caffeine/day (about 2 cups of coffee) decreases the risk of developing diabetes type 2 by about 20%!

Bloating:Caffeine is a diuretic -it helps you pee some of that extra fluid out -this is why it is one of the ingredients in Pamprin.

Hypotension: People who have low blood pressure -a little caffeine throughout the day can help. 

Gallbladder and Parkinson’s Disease: 2-3 cups of cofee/day can decrease the risk of both gallbladder and parkinson’s disease. 

Weight Loss…not really: Caffeine is thought to suppress appetite, increase calorie burning and promotes water loss -unfortunately studies have shown that caffeine as a weight loss aid is of minimal, temporary benefit .

Some negatives about caffeine:  (just a few)

Caffeine can cause insomnia, nervousness, belly issues/nausea, increased heart rate, headache, agitation.  Caffeine can also worsen depression and anxiety. 

One more negative about caffeine…caffeine withdrawal -I won’t go into it here but you can watch the video Catie did about  caffeine withdrawal.

Small note here about the ultra popular Red Bull and Vodka drink.   I had a couple of people come into the pharmacy and ask…“Can Red Bull and Vodka kill me?”  It sounded funny to me at first but it is actually a really popular concern!  So, here is the dealio -no. 

However, taking in too much caffeine can be fatal (very rare!).  In addition, alcohol (the vodka) will increase the levels of caffeine (from Red Bull) in the body.  Lastly,  taking caffeine while drinking can cause a false sense of alertness so that people may think they are less drunk then they really are -so beware!

There you go a quickie -next time people are dissing on coffee, soda, red bull -go ahead and throw some statistics of the benefits of caffeine at them!

I know there are caffeine lovers out there -drop us a comment!

Also, why not learn How to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs by watching our *FREE* video series -that way you can afford those expensive lattes!

Here we go…There is a TON of info about diabetes type 2…so here is some general info (and then we’ll get to the drugs!)

What is diabetes all about?

Super simplified – diabetes is a disorder involving insulin that leads to high levels of sugar in the blood (blood glucose). 

What is insulin? 

Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that works as a key -it opens the door so that glucose can move from the blood into the cell (where it belongs and is used for energy). 

So, we eat >food is broken down into glucose > glucose moves into the cells > cells use energy to live! 

Why is it a bad thing for glucose to stay in the blood?

First off, because we need the glucose (energy) to get into our cells so our bodies can function!

Secondly, when too much glucose stays in the blood for long periods, it can cause some major problems, like: disease of the kidney, heart, blood vessels, eyes and nerves -which means it can lead to blindness, heart attack, stroke, numbness and infections -serious stuff!

What is the difference between diabetes type 1 and type 2?

Diabetes type 1is typically diagnosed in kids and young adults.  Only about 10% of people with diabetes have type 1.  In type 1, the body does not produce insulin.  People with type 1 are treated with injectable insulin. 

Diabetes type 2 is the most common form.  The body either does not make enough insulin or the cells ignore it.  People with diabetes type 2 can be treated with lifestyle changes, insulin and oral medicines. 

What are some symptoms of high blood glucose?

The sneaky part of diabetes is quite often there are no symptoms!  That is why it is good to have your fasting glucose levels at your annual doctor’s appointment. 

Some people do have symptoms -they include lotsa thirst, intense need to pee and blurred vision.

Who can develop diabetes?

Everyone and anyone!  But there are some that are at more risk than others…higher risk groups include:

1.  People of Hispanic, African and Asian decent

2.  People who are obese

3.  People who have high cholesterol or high blood pressure

4.  People with a first-degree relative (mom, dad, sister, brother, son, daughter)   that has diabetes type 2

How do I know, for sure, if I have diabetes?

Blood test…yes, needles are involved!  Just so you know, these tests need to be done two seperate times to be considered a diagnosis.  Here are some specific numbers…

1.  Fasting blood glucose levels -this means no eating or drinking (besides water) for 8 to 12 hours (book that appointment early so you can eat!   )

• Prediabetes: 100-125mg/dL (or 5.6 to 6.9mmol/L for the Europeans )
• Diabetes: >126mg/dL (7.00mmol/L) 

2.  Random glucose level -this may be self explanatory but it means a level taken regardless of when you last ate…

• This one can not be used to diagnose prediabetes
• Diabetes >200mg/dL (11.1mmol/L) plus symptoms like increased peeing and/or thirst

3.   Oral glucose tolerance testing…this one is kinda gross!  You first fast for 8 hours then you drink a solution with 75 grams of glucose in it (imagine ridiculously sweet soda).  Levels are taken before drinking then 2 hours after (so you usually have to hang around -boring!)

•    Prediabetes: 140-190mg/dL (7.8-10.5mmol/L)
•    Diabetes: >200mg/dL (11.1mmol/L)

4.  Then there is A1c -this measurement is not typically used to diagnose diabetes but some docs use it.    This is a blood test that shows the average blood glucose levels over the last 2-3 months.  It is quite often used to monitor and manage diabetes (once diagnosed).

• So, this is not officially used as a way to diagnose diabetes but people without diabetes have an A1c <6
• Once diagnosed with diabetes type 2, the goal is an A1c <7

Okay, I feel good about having covered the basics- if you disagree or have some questions…please/por favor leave a comment!

We will be going to How do I treat diabetes? next!  For now, we do have an article about  How vinegar can help regulate blood glucose levels.

An additional article is What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?

This is a big topic!  So please, please, please leave a comment or shoot us an email with questions and/or comments!

And, if you want to learn how to save some money on your medications for diabetes, please see our *FREE* video series (and written guide) 90 Ways to Save Money on Your Medications

Just a few notes on natural/home remedies…

1.  Natural or home remedies often have quite a bit of anecdotal evidence but no hard scientific fact…   

• Mostly because there is not much money in these remedies, so none of the companies want to  put funding into researching a product that won’t make them too much money.

2.  The FDA (the government agency that approves drugs) does not regulate natural remedies…

• So, the natural/home remedy does not need to prove that they actually work
• The herbs do not need to actually contain the amount of herb that the label states

3.  Natural/home remedies do have side effects!

• Vitamins and herbs are drugs too
• Oftentimes, they will have less side effects because they are not as potent as synthesized drugs

Here are some of the articles (in no particular order)… 

Neti Pot -Helpful or Harmful?

Benefits of Caffeine

Hoodia for Weight Loss

Natural Remedy for Heartburn

Vinegar for Diabetes Type 2

Hangover Remedies

Honey for Cough in Kids

Healthy Vegetarian

Home Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings

Magnets for Arthritis Pain

Leamonheads for Upset Stomach

Elderberry for the Flu

Treatment for Sebaceous Cyst

If you want to see them all, please see our Natural/Home Remedies Category.

We would love to hear about your natural/home remedies!

Once again, if you want to SAVE MONEY on YOUR MEDICATIONS! Watch our video series *free*