Diabetes-related changes in circulation can contribute to the breakdown of collagen, which may lead to skin dryness, itching, and other problems. Combine this with winter’s cold temperatures and dry air and your skin may become even more vulnerable, particularly to infections. With a little care, though, you can keep your glow this winter. Try these tips for good skin care from the American Diabetes Association:

• Moisturize the dry areas. Moisturizer helps fill in cracks and gaps in the skin, temporarily restores elasticity, and can help protect you from infections. Use a moisturizer wherever your skin is dry; don’t use moisturizer in damp areas, such as between your toes and inner thighs, or under your arms.
• Dry the moist areas. Having diabetes puts you at a higher than average risk for fungal skin infections, especially in chronically moist areas. Use a powder, such as talcum powder, in places where skin touches skin, such as between your toes, under your arms, and between your upper thighs.
• Wash wisely. Too much time spent in hot water can strip the oil from your skin, so be mindful of your time in the shower. Take short showers using warm—not hot—water. Use a mild soap-free cleanser or a moisturizing body wash, and apply moisturizer to dry areas soon after toweling off.
• Use sunscreen. Remember, the winter sun can give you a sunburn. So, use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above, and apply at least 30 minutes before going outside—reapply as the package directs.
• Treat minor cuts and scrapes. Pay attention to all minor skin injuries and irritations. Wash cuts and scratches right away, and see your doctor if you develop wounds that won’t heal or irritations that appear to be worsening. Remember that the feet are particularly vulnerable in people with diabetes. Always wear comfortable shoes and socks, and check your feet regularly for signs of problems, such as red spots, blisters, or sore areas.
• Manage blood sugar levels. Keep your diabetes well managed. People with high glucose levels tend to have dry skin and less ability to fend off harmful bacteria. If you have skin issues, your blood sugar may not be optimally controlled. Talk to your doctor about the options for diabetes management, including regular physical activity, a healthy diet, medications, stress management, and insulin.

Source: American Diabetes Association

While vitamin B12 is best known for combating fatigue, it has many other critical functions in the body. In fact, many people who lack B12 do not even have significant fatigue, according to a report in Mother Earth News. Perhaps most importantly, B12 is also responsible for forming myelin, which insulates nerve fibers and produces neurotransmitters. A deficiency of B12, therefore, may lead to a whole bunch of problems with the nervous system. Fortunately, supplementation can help maintain normal blood levels. B12 in the form of methylcobalamin, at 2,000 mcg per day, is recommended for oral use.

Source: Mother Earth News

Need help curbing your sweet tooth or saving for a dream vacation? Try going for a run. According to preliminary research published in Behavior Modification, regular exercise may help people develop better self-control. The New York Times reported on the small study which consisted of two trials. The first trial included four sedentary, overweight men and women; the second trial included twelve women of varying ages, body weights, and fitness levels. For both trials, participants began by taking a test that engaged them in a mental task called “delay discounting” to evaluate their self-control and impulsivity. In the test, participants were asked to consider choices on a questionnaire between smaller/sooner or larger/later rewards. Then, participants began a two-month exercise program that consisted of three 45-minute sessions of walking or jogging each week. Researchers tracked the participants’ physical progress, and asked them to fill out the delay-discounting questionnaire again at the end of every week and one month after the exercise program ended. Based on their answers, the researchers determined that:

• Participants who completed the exercise program displayed better delay discounting (more self-control and less impulsivity) than they did prior to the exercise program.
• Attending more workout sessions or increasing the intensity of their workouts was correlated with greater improvement in delay discounting in women in the second trial.
• Improvements in delay discounting were still evident one month after the exercise program ended.

These early findings suggest regular exercise may help people who struggle with conditions related to high impulsivity, such as obesity, gambling, and substance abuse issues. However, while the delay-discounting questionnaire is accepted as a valid measure of self-control, the impact of exercise on decision-making in the real world needs to be demonstrated. While we await larger clinical trials to determine whether exercise could help us resist that double-chocolate chip cookie from our favorite bakery, it’s important to remember research has found exercise provides a myriad of other benefits, such as improved immune function, weight management, and cognitive function. And, as one of the researchers pointed out, exercise in itself is an example of delayed gratification: it’s not always pleasurable, but people do it for the sense of accomplishment they feel afterward and to achieve long-term health goals.

Source: New York Times

In response to scientists who question the efficacy and safety of multivitamin and mineral (MVM) supplements, leading researchers from Oregon State University, Tufts University, and Harvard recently published a letter in the Annals of Internal Medicine advocating the use of MVM supplements. The researchers cite the largest and longest study of MVM supplements, the Physicians’ Health Study II (PHS II), which showed statistically significant health benefits from taking MVM supplements and suggested that MVM supplements may help decrease ones’ risk for chronic disease; these results, their letter adds, are consistent with other randomized, controlled trials. The researchers also point out that many US adults do not receive adequate amounts of several nutrients. Partly for this reason, they argue that MVM supplements can play a critical role in filling nutritional gaps, without any adverse health effects.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine

Because people with diabetes can feel depressed when their blood sugar levels drop, the first step in managing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is to take control of your blood glucose. That means eating regular meals, choosing whole foods that have lots of fiber, and avoiding processed foods and sugar when possible. Here are some other tips for maintaining or recovering a positive mood in the winter:

• Exercise. Exercising regularly can improve blood sugar control, increase energy levels, lead to better sleep, and trigger the release of hormones and other chemicals associated with positive mood and contentment.
• Light therapy. Light therapy has been shown in some research to help people with SAD, and has even been found to improve insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes, decrease carbohydrate cravings, and improve sleep.
• Certain supplements. Supplements such as B-complex vitamins, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish may have a role to play in helping you with wintertime depression, but speak with your doctor before beginning any supplement regimen.

Source: Psychiatry Research