This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.
GPS
A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone he knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.
When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen. The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time
the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.
Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.
MOBILE PHONES
I never thought of this.......
This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet... etc, was stolen.
20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.' When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in
the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the lesson
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.
Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc,
And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back
Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet family and friends' who text you.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
10 Laws Newton Forgot To State
Here are 10 laws that Isaac Newton failed to share with the world…
1. LAW OF QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.
**********
2. LAW OF TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged one.
**********
3. LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.
**********
4. LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
**********
5. LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.
**********
6. BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.
**********
7. LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.
**********
8. LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will!
**********
9. LAW OF BIO MECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
**********
10. LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
**********
1. LAW OF QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.
**********
2. LAW OF TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged one.
**********
3. LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.
**********
4. LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
**********
5. LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.
**********
6. BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.
**********
7. LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.
**********
8. LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will!
**********
9. LAW OF BIO MECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
**********
10. LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
**********
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Appendicitis & Appendectomy
The appendix is a small, worm-like appendage attached to the colon.
What is the appendix?
The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow, worm-like tube up to several inches in length that attaches to the cecum (the first part of the colon). (The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm-like appendage.) The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system that makes antibodies.
Appendicitis occurs when bacteria invade and infect the wall of the appendix.
What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked. The blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix, or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. The mucus or stool hardens, becomes rock-like, and blocks the opening of the appendix into the cecum. If the blockage continues, bacteria that are normally present within the appendix invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. This causes inflammation in the wall of the appendix, and, as a result, the wall of the appendix begins to die, which finally results in the appendix bursting.
Appendicitis is a common condition that affects 6% of the population.
Who is affected by appendicitis?
Appendicitis is a common condition that affects 6% of the population. It most commonly occurs among those 10-30 years of age, though it can occur at any age. Increased vigilance in recognizing and treating potential cases of appendicitis is required for the very young and old who have a higher rate of complications.
The most common complications of appendicitis are perforation, abscess, and peritonitis.
What are the most frequent complications of appendicitis?
The most frequent complication of appendicitis is perforation. Perforation of the appendix can lead to a periappendiceal abscess (a collection of infected pus) or diffuse peritonitis (infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and the pelvis). The major reason for appendiceal perforation is delay in diagnosis and treatment. In general, the longer the delay between diagnosis and surgery, the more likely is perforation. The risk of perforation 36 hours after the onset of symptoms is at least 15%. Therefore, once appendicitis is diagnosed, surgery should be done without unnecessary delay.
A less common complication of appendicitis is blockage of the intestine.
What is another complication of appendicitis?
Blockage occurs when the inflammation surrounding the appendix causes the intestinal muscle to stop working, and this prevents the intestinal contents from passing. If the intestine above the blockage begins to fill with liquid and gas, the abdomen distends and nausea and vomiting may occur. It then may be necessary to drain the contents of the intestine through a tube passed through the nose and esophagus and into the stomach and intestine.
The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
The abdominal pain is at first not confined to one spot. The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a circular motion of their hand around the central part of their abdomen. A second, common, early symptom of appendicitis is loss of appetite which may progress to nausea and even vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may occur later due to intestinal obstruction.
The diagnosis of appendicitis begins with a thorough history and physical examination.
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
Patients often have an elevated temperature, and there usually will be moderate to severe tenderness in the right lower abdomen when the doctor pushes there. If inflammation has spread to the peritoneum, there is frequently rebound tenderness. Rebound tenderness is pain that is worse when the doctor quickly releases his hand after gently pressing on the abdomen over the area of tenderness.
Treatment usually consists of appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix).
How is appendicitis treated?
Once a diagnosis of appendicitis is made, an appendectomy usually is performed (surgical removal of the appendix). Antibiotics almost always are begun prior to surgery and as soon as appendicitis is suspected. On the next several slides we'll take a look at an actual step-by-step laparoscopic appendectomy procedure being performed.
Step 1 of 8: The appendix is located in the lower abdomen.
Appendectomy: Step 1 of 8.
This is a normal appendix in a female patient found to have an infection of the reproductive organs. Since the appendix serves no useful function, it will be removed to save her from getting appendicitis in the future.
Step 2 of 8: The mesentery (the tissue that suspends the appendix and carries blood vessels to the appendix) is divided from the appendix.
Appendectomy: Step 2 of 8.
The next step is to free up the appendix down to where it is attached to the large bowel. This requires dividing the mesentery which contains the blood vessels that supply the appendix. Bipolar forceps apply an electric current which seals the blood vessels and prevents bleeding.
Step 3 of 8: Scissors are used to free the appendix from its mesenteric attachment to the abdomen and colon.
Appendectomy: Step 3 of 8.
Next, scissors are used to divide the mesentery. Alternating application of the bipolar electrocautery forceps and scissors allow complete mobilization of the appendix down to its base.
Step 4 of 8: The base of the appendix is tied off using a pre-tied suture.
Appendectomy: Step 4 of 8.
Now the base of the appendix is tied off using a pre-tied suture which is now being positioned.
Step 5 of 8: The suture is now tightened using a fisherman's knot, which cannot loosen on its own.
Appendectomy: Step 5 of 8.
The suture has now been tightened and appears secure. The knot is a fisherman's knot, which can be tightened but will not loosen on its own.
Step 6 of 8: The suture is cut using scissors.
Appendectomy: Step 6 of 8.
As shown in this picture, the suture is now cut with the scissors.
Step 7 of 8: The appendix is cut free and ready to be removed.
Using the same scissors, the appendix is cut free and ready to be removed.
Step 8 of 8: The operation is complete and inspected.
Appendectomy: Step 8 of 8.
The operation is complete, and the area is inspected one final time to make sure there is no bleeding.
An example of an infected appendix that has been removed (left) and the resulting incisional scar from an appendectomy (right).
Are there complications and/or long-term consequences of appendectomy?
The most common complication of appendectomy is infection of the wound, that is, of the surgical incision. Such infections vary in severity from mild, with only redness and perhaps some tenderness over the incision, to moderate, requiring only antibiotics.
It is not clear if the appendix has an important role in the body in older children and adults. There are no major long-term health problems resulting from removing the appendix, although a slight increase in some diseases has been noted, for example, Crohn's disease (a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines).
What is the appendix?
The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow, worm-like tube up to several inches in length that attaches to the cecum (the first part of the colon). (The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm-like appendage.) The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system that makes antibodies.
What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked. The blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix, or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. The mucus or stool hardens, becomes rock-like, and blocks the opening of the appendix into the cecum. If the blockage continues, bacteria that are normally present within the appendix invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. This causes inflammation in the wall of the appendix, and, as a result, the wall of the appendix begins to die, which finally results in the appendix bursting.
Who is affected by appendicitis?
Appendicitis is a common condition that affects 6% of the population. It most commonly occurs among those 10-30 years of age, though it can occur at any age. Increased vigilance in recognizing and treating potential cases of appendicitis is required for the very young and old who have a higher rate of complications.
What are the most frequent complications of appendicitis?
The most frequent complication of appendicitis is perforation. Perforation of the appendix can lead to a periappendiceal abscess (a collection of infected pus) or diffuse peritonitis (infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and the pelvis). The major reason for appendiceal perforation is delay in diagnosis and treatment. In general, the longer the delay between diagnosis and surgery, the more likely is perforation. The risk of perforation 36 hours after the onset of symptoms is at least 15%. Therefore, once appendicitis is diagnosed, surgery should be done without unnecessary delay.
What is another complication of appendicitis?
Blockage occurs when the inflammation surrounding the appendix causes the intestinal muscle to stop working, and this prevents the intestinal contents from passing. If the intestine above the blockage begins to fill with liquid and gas, the abdomen distends and nausea and vomiting may occur. It then may be necessary to drain the contents of the intestine through a tube passed through the nose and esophagus and into the stomach and intestine.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
The abdominal pain is at first not confined to one spot. The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a circular motion of their hand around the central part of their abdomen. A second, common, early symptom of appendicitis is loss of appetite which may progress to nausea and even vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may occur later due to intestinal obstruction.
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
Patients often have an elevated temperature, and there usually will be moderate to severe tenderness in the right lower abdomen when the doctor pushes there. If inflammation has spread to the peritoneum, there is frequently rebound tenderness. Rebound tenderness is pain that is worse when the doctor quickly releases his hand after gently pressing on the abdomen over the area of tenderness.
How is appendicitis treated?
Once a diagnosis of appendicitis is made, an appendectomy usually is performed (surgical removal of the appendix). Antibiotics almost always are begun prior to surgery and as soon as appendicitis is suspected. On the next several slides we'll take a look at an actual step-by-step laparoscopic appendectomy procedure being performed.
Appendectomy: Step 1 of 8.
This is a normal appendix in a female patient found to have an infection of the reproductive organs. Since the appendix serves no useful function, it will be removed to save her from getting appendicitis in the future.
Step 2 of 8: The mesentery (the tissue that suspends the appendix and carries blood vessels to the appendix) is divided from the appendix.
Appendectomy: Step 2 of 8.
The next step is to free up the appendix down to where it is attached to the large bowel. This requires dividing the mesentery which contains the blood vessels that supply the appendix. Bipolar forceps apply an electric current which seals the blood vessels and prevents bleeding.
Appendectomy: Step 3 of 8.
Next, scissors are used to divide the mesentery. Alternating application of the bipolar electrocautery forceps and scissors allow complete mobilization of the appendix down to its base.
Appendectomy: Step 4 of 8.
Now the base of the appendix is tied off using a pre-tied suture which is now being positioned.
Appendectomy: Step 5 of 8.
The suture has now been tightened and appears secure. The knot is a fisherman's knot, which can be tightened but will not loosen on its own.
Appendectomy: Step 6 of 8.
As shown in this picture, the suture is now cut with the scissors.
Using the same scissors, the appendix is cut free and ready to be removed.
Appendectomy: Step 8 of 8.
The operation is complete, and the area is inspected one final time to make sure there is no bleeding.
Are there complications and/or long-term consequences of appendectomy?
The most common complication of appendectomy is infection of the wound, that is, of the surgical incision. Such infections vary in severity from mild, with only redness and perhaps some tenderness over the incision, to moderate, requiring only antibiotics.
It is not clear if the appendix has an important role in the body in older children and adults. There are no major long-term health problems resulting from removing the appendix, although a slight increase in some diseases has been noted, for example, Crohn's disease (a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines).
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
What you need to know about Diabetes Medicines
On this page:
• What do diabetes medicines do?
• What targets are recommended for blood glucose levels?
• What happens to blood glucose levels in people with diabetes?
• Medicines for My Diabetes
• Types of Diabetes Medicines
• What do I need to know about side effects of medicines?
• For More Information
• Acknowledgments
Inserts:
• Insert A: My Diabetes Medicines
• Insert B: Questions to Ask about Your Diabetes Medicines
• Insert C: Types of Insulin
• Insert D: Glyset and Precose (Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors)
• Insert E: Glucophage, Glucophage XR, and Riomet (Biguanides)
• Insert F: Starlix (D-Phenylalanine Derivative)
• Insert G: Januvia (DPP-4 Inhibitor)
• Insert H: Prandin (Meglitinide)
• Insert I: Amaryl, DiaBeta, Diabinese, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Glynase PresTab, Micronase, tolazamide, and tolbutamide (Sulfonylureas)
• Insert J: Actos and Avandia (Thiazolidinediones)
• Insert K: Actoplus Met, Avandamet, Avandaryl, Duetact, Glucovance, Janumet, and Metaglip (Combination Diabetes Pills)
• Insert L: Symlin (Amylin Mimetic)
• Insert M: Byetta (Incretin Mimetic)
• Insert N: About Low Blood Glucose
What do diabetes medicines do?
Over time, high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can cause health problems. These problems include heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, nerve damage, digestive problems, eye disease, and tooth and gum problems. You can help prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target.
Everyone with diabetes needs to choose foods wisely and be physically active. If you can't reach your target blood glucose levels with wise food choices and physical activity, you may need diabetes medicines. The kind of medicine you take depends on your type of diabetes, your schedule, and your other health conditions.
Diabetes medicines help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The target range is suggested by diabetes experts and your doctor or diabetes educator. See below for more information about target levels for good health.
What targets are recommended for blood glucose levels?
The National Diabetes Education Program uses blood glucose targets set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for most people with diabetes. To learn your daily blood glucose numbers, you'll check your blood glucose levels on your own using a blood glucose meter.
Target blood glucose levels for most people with diabetes My targets
Before meals 70 to 130 mg/dL
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal Less than 180 mg/dL
* Milligrams per deciliter.
Also, you should ask your doctor for a blood test called the A1C at least twice a year. The A1C will give you your average blood glucose for the past 3 months.
Target A1C result for people with diabetes My targets
Less than 7 percent
Your personal A1C goal might be higher or lower than 7 percent. Keeping your A1C as close to normal as possible-below 6 percent without having frequent low blood glucose-can help prevent long-term diabetes problems. Doctors might recommend other goals for very young children, older people, people with other health problems, or those who often have low blood glucose.
Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about whether the target blood glucose levels and A1C result listed in the charts above are best for you. Write your own target levels in the charts. Both ways of checking your blood glucose levels are important.
If your blood glucose levels are not on target, you might need a change in how you take care of your diabetes. The results of your A1C test and your daily blood glucose checks can help you and your doctor make decisions about
• what you eat
• when you eat
• how much you eat
• what kind of exercise you do
• how much exercise you do
• the type of diabetes medicines you take
• the amount of diabetes medicines you take
What happens to blood glucose levels in people with diabetes?
Blood glucose levels go up and down throughout the day and night in people with diabetes. High blood glucose levels over time can result in heart disease and other health problems. Low blood glucose levels can make you feel shaky or pass out. But you can learn how to make sure your blood glucose levels stay on target-not too high and not too low.
What makes blood glucose levels go too high?
Your blood glucose levels can go too high if
• you eat more than usual
• you're not physically active
• you're not taking enough diabetes medicine
• you're sick or under stress
• you exercise when your blood glucose level is already high
Some diabetes medicines can also lower your blood glucose too much. Ask your doctor whether your diabetes medicines can cause low blood glucose. See Insert N for information about low blood glucose.
The results of your blood glucose checks can help you make decisions about your diabetes medicines, food choices, and physical activity.
Medicines for My Diabetes
Ask your doctor what type of diabetes you have and write down your answer.
I have
• type 1 diabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes
• another type of diabetes: ____________________
Medicines for Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first found in children, teenagers, or young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin because your body no longer makes it. You also might need to take other types of diabetes medicines that work with insulin.
Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, once called adult-onset diabetes or non insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. It can start when the body doesn't use insulin as it should, a condition called insulin resistance. If the body can't keep up with the need for insulin, you may need diabetes medicines. Many choices are available. Your doctor might prescribe two or more medicines. The ADA recommends that most people start with metformin, a kind of diabetes pill.
Medicines for Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs for the first time during pregnancy. The hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin can cause gestational diabetes. Most women with gestational diabetes control it with meal planning and physical activity. But some women need insulin to reach their target blood glucose levels.
Medicines for Other Types of Diabetes
If you have one of the rare forms of diabetes, such as diabetes caused by other medicines or monogenic diabetes, talk with your doctor about what kind of diabetes medicine would be best for you.
Types of Diabetes Medicines
Diabetes medicines come in several forms.
Insulin
If your body no longer makes enough insulin, you'll need to take it. Insulin is used for all types of diabetes. Your doctor can help you decide which way of taking insulin is best for you.
• Taking injections. You'll give yourself shots using a needle and syringe. The syringe is a hollow tube with a plunger. You will put your dose of insulin into the tube. Some people use an insulin pen, which looks like a pen but has a needle for its point.
• Using an insulin pump. An insulin pump is a small machine about the size of a cell phone, worn outside of your body on a belt or in a pocket or pouch. The pump connects to a small plastic tube and a very small needle. The needle is inserted under the skin and stays in for several days. Insulin is pumped from the machine through the tube into your body.
• Using an insulin jet injector. The jet injector, which looks like a large pen, sends a fine spray of insulin through the skin with high-pressure air instead of a needle.
If your body no longer makes enough insulin, you'll need to take it.
What does insulin do?
Insulin helps keep blood glucose levels on target by moving glucose from the blood into your body's cells. Your cells then use glucose for energy. In people who don't have diabetes, the body makes the right amount of insulin on its own. But when you have diabetes, you and your doctor must decide how much insulin you need throughout the day and night.
What are the possible side effects of insulin?
Possible side effects include
• low blood glucose (for more information, see Insert N)
• weight gain
How and when should I take my insulin?
Your plan for taking insulin will depend on your daily routine and your type of insulin. Some people with diabetes who use insulin need to take it two, three, or four times a day to reach their blood glucose targets. Others can take a single shot. Your doctor or diabetes educator will help you learn how and when to give yourself insulin.
Types of Insulin
Each type of insulin works at a different speed. For example, rapid-acting insulin starts to work right after you take it. Long-acting insulin works for many hours. Most people need two or more types of insulin to reach their blood glucose targets.
Look at the list of types of insulin on Insert C. Check off the names of the kinds of insulin you take. Then print and write the names of your insulin under My Insulin in the chart on Insert A.
Diabetes Pills
Along with meal planning and physical activity, diabetes pills help people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes keep their blood glucose levels on target. Several kinds of pills are available. Each works in a different way. Many people take two or three kinds of pills. Some people take combination pills. Combination pills contain two kinds of diabetes medicine in one tablet. Some people take pills and insulin.
Diabetes pills help people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes keep their blood glucose levels on target.
Your doctor may ask you to try one kind of pill. If it doesn't help you reach your blood glucose targets, your doctor may ask you to
• take more of the same pill
• add another kind of pill
• change to another type of pill
• start taking insulin
• start taking another injected medicine
If your doctor suggests that you take insulin or another injected medicine, it doesn't mean your diabetes is getting worse. Instead, it means you need insulin or another type of medicine to reach your blood glucose targets. Everyone is different. What works best for you depends on your usual daily routine, eating habits, and activities, and your other health conditions.
For information about the different kinds of pills and what they do, see the inserts. You'll see the brand name and the generic name-the scientific name-for each medicine. Find your diabetes pills and check off the names. Then print and write the names of your diabetes pills under My Pills and Injected Medicines in the chart on Insert A.
Injections Other Than Insulin
In addition to insulin, two other types of injected medicines are now available. Both work with insulin-either the body's own or injected-to help keep your blood glucose from going too high after you eat. Neither is a substitute for insulin.
See the cards in the pocket of this booklet for more information about these injected medicines. Check off the kinds you take. Then write the names of your injected medicines under My Pills and Injected Medicines in the chart on Insert A.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your diabetes medicines. Do not stop taking your diabetes medicines without checking with your doctor first. See Insert B for a list of questions to ask your doctor about your medicines.
What do I need to know about side effects of medicines?
A side effect is an unwanted problem caused by a medicine. For example, some diabetes medicines can cause nausea or an upset stomach when you first start taking them. Before you start a new medicine, ask your doctor about possible side effects and how you can avoid them. If the side effects of your medicine bother you, tell your doctor.
For More Information
To find diabetes educators-nurses, dieticians, and other health professionals-near you, call the American Association of Diabetes Educators toll-free at 1-800-TEAMUP4 (1-800-832-6874). Or go to www.diabeteseducator.org and see the "Find a Diabetes Educator" section.
For additional information about diabetes, contact
American Diabetes Association
National Service Center
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1742
Phone: 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
Fax: 703-549-6995
Email: AskADA@diabetes.org
Internet: www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
26 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 1-800-533-CURE (1-800-533-2873)
Fax: 212-785-9595
Email: info@jdrf.org
Internet: www.jdrf.org
National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20814-9692
Phone: 1-888-693-NDEP (1-888-693-6337)
TTY: 1-866-569-1162
Fax: 703-738-4929
Email: ndep@mail.nih.gov
Internet: www.ndep.nih.gov
This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included the most current information available. For updates or for questions about any medications, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) or visit www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more information.
Acknowledgments
Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This booklet was reviewed by Stuart T. Haines, Pharm.D., University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore.
The U.S. Government does not endorse or favour any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1978, the Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.
This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 11-4222
October 2010
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/index.aspx
• What do diabetes medicines do?
• What targets are recommended for blood glucose levels?
• What happens to blood glucose levels in people with diabetes?
• Medicines for My Diabetes
• Types of Diabetes Medicines
• What do I need to know about side effects of medicines?
• For More Information
• Acknowledgments
Inserts:
• Insert A: My Diabetes Medicines
• Insert B: Questions to Ask about Your Diabetes Medicines
• Insert C: Types of Insulin
• Insert D: Glyset and Precose (Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors)
• Insert E: Glucophage, Glucophage XR, and Riomet (Biguanides)
• Insert F: Starlix (D-Phenylalanine Derivative)
• Insert G: Januvia (DPP-4 Inhibitor)
• Insert H: Prandin (Meglitinide)
• Insert I: Amaryl, DiaBeta, Diabinese, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Glynase PresTab, Micronase, tolazamide, and tolbutamide (Sulfonylureas)
• Insert J: Actos and Avandia (Thiazolidinediones)
• Insert K: Actoplus Met, Avandamet, Avandaryl, Duetact, Glucovance, Janumet, and Metaglip (Combination Diabetes Pills)
• Insert L: Symlin (Amylin Mimetic)
• Insert M: Byetta (Incretin Mimetic)
• Insert N: About Low Blood Glucose
What do diabetes medicines do?
Over time, high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can cause health problems. These problems include heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, nerve damage, digestive problems, eye disease, and tooth and gum problems. You can help prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target.
Everyone with diabetes needs to choose foods wisely and be physically active. If you can't reach your target blood glucose levels with wise food choices and physical activity, you may need diabetes medicines. The kind of medicine you take depends on your type of diabetes, your schedule, and your other health conditions.
Diabetes medicines help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The target range is suggested by diabetes experts and your doctor or diabetes educator. See below for more information about target levels for good health.
What targets are recommended for blood glucose levels?
The National Diabetes Education Program uses blood glucose targets set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for most people with diabetes. To learn your daily blood glucose numbers, you'll check your blood glucose levels on your own using a blood glucose meter.
Target blood glucose levels for most people with diabetes My targets
Before meals 70 to 130 mg/dL
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal Less than 180 mg/dL
* Milligrams per deciliter.
Also, you should ask your doctor for a blood test called the A1C at least twice a year. The A1C will give you your average blood glucose for the past 3 months.
Target A1C result for people with diabetes My targets
Less than 7 percent
Your personal A1C goal might be higher or lower than 7 percent. Keeping your A1C as close to normal as possible-below 6 percent without having frequent low blood glucose-can help prevent long-term diabetes problems. Doctors might recommend other goals for very young children, older people, people with other health problems, or those who often have low blood glucose.
Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about whether the target blood glucose levels and A1C result listed in the charts above are best for you. Write your own target levels in the charts. Both ways of checking your blood glucose levels are important.
If your blood glucose levels are not on target, you might need a change in how you take care of your diabetes. The results of your A1C test and your daily blood glucose checks can help you and your doctor make decisions about
• what you eat
• when you eat
• how much you eat
• what kind of exercise you do
• how much exercise you do
• the type of diabetes medicines you take
• the amount of diabetes medicines you take
What happens to blood glucose levels in people with diabetes?
Blood glucose levels go up and down throughout the day and night in people with diabetes. High blood glucose levels over time can result in heart disease and other health problems. Low blood glucose levels can make you feel shaky or pass out. But you can learn how to make sure your blood glucose levels stay on target-not too high and not too low.
What makes blood glucose levels go too high?
Your blood glucose levels can go too high if
• you eat more than usual
• you're not physically active
• you're not taking enough diabetes medicine
• you're sick or under stress
• you exercise when your blood glucose level is already high
Some diabetes medicines can also lower your blood glucose too much. Ask your doctor whether your diabetes medicines can cause low blood glucose. See Insert N for information about low blood glucose.
The results of your blood glucose checks can help you make decisions about your diabetes medicines, food choices, and physical activity.
Medicines for My Diabetes
Ask your doctor what type of diabetes you have and write down your answer.
I have
• type 1 diabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes
• another type of diabetes: ____________________
Medicines for Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first found in children, teenagers, or young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin because your body no longer makes it. You also might need to take other types of diabetes medicines that work with insulin.
Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, once called adult-onset diabetes or non insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. It can start when the body doesn't use insulin as it should, a condition called insulin resistance. If the body can't keep up with the need for insulin, you may need diabetes medicines. Many choices are available. Your doctor might prescribe two or more medicines. The ADA recommends that most people start with metformin, a kind of diabetes pill.
Medicines for Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs for the first time during pregnancy. The hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin can cause gestational diabetes. Most women with gestational diabetes control it with meal planning and physical activity. But some women need insulin to reach their target blood glucose levels.
Medicines for Other Types of Diabetes
If you have one of the rare forms of diabetes, such as diabetes caused by other medicines or monogenic diabetes, talk with your doctor about what kind of diabetes medicine would be best for you.
Types of Diabetes Medicines
Diabetes medicines come in several forms.
Insulin
If your body no longer makes enough insulin, you'll need to take it. Insulin is used for all types of diabetes. Your doctor can help you decide which way of taking insulin is best for you.
• Taking injections. You'll give yourself shots using a needle and syringe. The syringe is a hollow tube with a plunger. You will put your dose of insulin into the tube. Some people use an insulin pen, which looks like a pen but has a needle for its point.
• Using an insulin pump. An insulin pump is a small machine about the size of a cell phone, worn outside of your body on a belt or in a pocket or pouch. The pump connects to a small plastic tube and a very small needle. The needle is inserted under the skin and stays in for several days. Insulin is pumped from the machine through the tube into your body.
• Using an insulin jet injector. The jet injector, which looks like a large pen, sends a fine spray of insulin through the skin with high-pressure air instead of a needle.
If your body no longer makes enough insulin, you'll need to take it.
What does insulin do?
Insulin helps keep blood glucose levels on target by moving glucose from the blood into your body's cells. Your cells then use glucose for energy. In people who don't have diabetes, the body makes the right amount of insulin on its own. But when you have diabetes, you and your doctor must decide how much insulin you need throughout the day and night.
What are the possible side effects of insulin?
Possible side effects include
• low blood glucose (for more information, see Insert N)
• weight gain
How and when should I take my insulin?
Your plan for taking insulin will depend on your daily routine and your type of insulin. Some people with diabetes who use insulin need to take it two, three, or four times a day to reach their blood glucose targets. Others can take a single shot. Your doctor or diabetes educator will help you learn how and when to give yourself insulin.
Types of Insulin
Each type of insulin works at a different speed. For example, rapid-acting insulin starts to work right after you take it. Long-acting insulin works for many hours. Most people need two or more types of insulin to reach their blood glucose targets.
Look at the list of types of insulin on Insert C. Check off the names of the kinds of insulin you take. Then print and write the names of your insulin under My Insulin in the chart on Insert A.
Diabetes Pills
Along with meal planning and physical activity, diabetes pills help people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes keep their blood glucose levels on target. Several kinds of pills are available. Each works in a different way. Many people take two or three kinds of pills. Some people take combination pills. Combination pills contain two kinds of diabetes medicine in one tablet. Some people take pills and insulin.
Diabetes pills help people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes keep their blood glucose levels on target.
Your doctor may ask you to try one kind of pill. If it doesn't help you reach your blood glucose targets, your doctor may ask you to
• take more of the same pill
• add another kind of pill
• change to another type of pill
• start taking insulin
• start taking another injected medicine
If your doctor suggests that you take insulin or another injected medicine, it doesn't mean your diabetes is getting worse. Instead, it means you need insulin or another type of medicine to reach your blood glucose targets. Everyone is different. What works best for you depends on your usual daily routine, eating habits, and activities, and your other health conditions.
For information about the different kinds of pills and what they do, see the inserts. You'll see the brand name and the generic name-the scientific name-for each medicine. Find your diabetes pills and check off the names. Then print and write the names of your diabetes pills under My Pills and Injected Medicines in the chart on Insert A.
Injections Other Than Insulin
In addition to insulin, two other types of injected medicines are now available. Both work with insulin-either the body's own or injected-to help keep your blood glucose from going too high after you eat. Neither is a substitute for insulin.
See the cards in the pocket of this booklet for more information about these injected medicines. Check off the kinds you take. Then write the names of your injected medicines under My Pills and Injected Medicines in the chart on Insert A.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your diabetes medicines. Do not stop taking your diabetes medicines without checking with your doctor first. See Insert B for a list of questions to ask your doctor about your medicines.
What do I need to know about side effects of medicines?
A side effect is an unwanted problem caused by a medicine. For example, some diabetes medicines can cause nausea or an upset stomach when you first start taking them. Before you start a new medicine, ask your doctor about possible side effects and how you can avoid them. If the side effects of your medicine bother you, tell your doctor.
For More Information
To find diabetes educators-nurses, dieticians, and other health professionals-near you, call the American Association of Diabetes Educators toll-free at 1-800-TEAMUP4 (1-800-832-6874). Or go to www.diabeteseducator.org and see the "Find a Diabetes Educator" section.
For additional information about diabetes, contact
American Diabetes Association
National Service Center
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1742
Phone: 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
Fax: 703-549-6995
Email: AskADA@diabetes.org
Internet: www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
26 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 1-800-533-CURE (1-800-533-2873)
Fax: 212-785-9595
Email: info@jdrf.org
Internet: www.jdrf.org
National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20814-9692
Phone: 1-888-693-NDEP (1-888-693-6337)
TTY: 1-866-569-1162
Fax: 703-738-4929
Email: ndep@mail.nih.gov
Internet: www.ndep.nih.gov
This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included the most current information available. For updates or for questions about any medications, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) or visit www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more information.
Acknowledgments
Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This booklet was reviewed by Stuart T. Haines, Pharm.D., University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore.
The U.S. Government does not endorse or favour any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1978, the Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.
This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 11-4222
October 2010
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/index.aspx
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Simple Story of True Love and True Care
I was born in a secluded village on a mountain. Day by day, my parents ploughed the yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky.
I have a brother who is 3 years younger than me. I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I stole 50 cents from my father's drawer. Father had discovered about the stolen money right away.
He made me and my younger brother kneel against the< /FONT> wall as he held a bamboo stick in his hand. "Who stole the money?" he asked. I was stunned, too afraid to talk. Neither of us admitted to the fault, so he said, "Fine, if nobody wants to admit, you two should be beaten!"
He lifted up the bamboo stick. Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father's hand and said," Dad, I was the one who did it!" The long stick smacked my brother's back repeatedly. Father was so angry that he kept on whipping my brother until he lost his breath. After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded my brother, "You have learned to steal from your own house now. What other embarrassing things will you be possibly doing in the future? You should be beaten to death, you shameless thief!"
That night, my mother and I hugged my brother. His body was full of wounds from the beating but he never shed a single tear. In the middle of the night, all of sudden, I cried out loudly. My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, “Sis, now don't cry anymore. Everything has happened."
I still hate myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did. Years gone by, but the incident still seemed like it just happened yesterday. I will never forget my brother's expression when he protected me.
That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old. When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province. That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet.
I could hear him ask my mother, "Both of our children, they have good results? Very good results?" Mother wiped off her tears and sighed," What is the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?" At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front
of father and said, "Dad, I don't want to continue my study anymore, I have read enough books."
Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. "Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I will send you two to school until you have both finished your study!"
And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow money. I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother's swollen face, and told him, "A boy has to continue his study; If not, he will not be able to overcome this poverty we are experiencing."
I, on the other hand, had decided not to further my study at the university. Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; "Sis, getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will send money to you."
I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice. That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old. With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university.
One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me, "There's a villager waiting for you outside!" Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement and sand. I asked him, "Why did you not tell my roommate that you are my brother?" He replied with a smile," Look at my appearance. What will they think if they would know that I am your brother? Won't they laugh at you?" I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I swept away dirt and dust from my brother's body. And told him with a lump in my throat, “I don't care what people would say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance is?"
From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip. He put it on my hair and said, "I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have one." I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried.
That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old. I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned. After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my mother, "Mom, you didn't have to spend so much time cleaning the house!" But she told me with a smile," It was your brother who went home early to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his hand while he was replacing the window." I went into my brother's bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like there are hundreds of needle pricked in my heart.
I applied some ointment on his wound and put a bandage on it, "Does it hurt? " I asked him. "No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones keep falling on my feet. Even that could not stop me from working." In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and tears rolled down my face.
That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old. After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited my parents to come and live with us, but they didn't want. They said, once they left the village, they wouldn't know what to do. My brother agreed with them. He said, "Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take care of mom and dad here."
My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to accept the offer of being the manager in the maintenance department. But my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on working as a repairman instead for a start.
One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and was sent to the hospital. My husband and I visited him at the hospital. Looking at the white gypsum on his leg, I grumbled, "Why did you reject the offer of being a manager? Managers won't do something dangerous like that. Now look at you, you are suffering a serious injury. Why didn't you just listen to us?"
With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, "Think of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated, and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?" My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then I said, "But you lack in education only because of me!" "Why do you talk about the past?" he said and then he held my hand.
That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old. My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer girl from the village. During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, "Who is the one person you respect and love the most?"
Without even taking a time to think, he answered," My sister." He continued by telling a story I could not even remember.
"When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village. Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got home, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather that she could not even hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good to her." Applause filled up the room. All guests turned their attention to me. I found it hard to speak, "In my whole life, the one I would like to thank most is my brother," And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd, tears were rolling down my face again.
Love and care for the one you love every single days of your life. You may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it may mean a lot.
Have a nice day everyone! May this story inspire you in any way!
I have a brother who is 3 years younger than me. I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I stole 50 cents from my father's drawer. Father had discovered about the stolen money right away.
He made me and my younger brother kneel against the< /FONT> wall as he held a bamboo stick in his hand. "Who stole the money?" he asked. I was stunned, too afraid to talk. Neither of us admitted to the fault, so he said, "Fine, if nobody wants to admit, you two should be beaten!"
He lifted up the bamboo stick. Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father's hand and said," Dad, I was the one who did it!" The long stick smacked my brother's back repeatedly. Father was so angry that he kept on whipping my brother until he lost his breath. After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded my brother, "You have learned to steal from your own house now. What other embarrassing things will you be possibly doing in the future? You should be beaten to death, you shameless thief!"
That night, my mother and I hugged my brother. His body was full of wounds from the beating but he never shed a single tear. In the middle of the night, all of sudden, I cried out loudly. My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, “Sis, now don't cry anymore. Everything has happened."
I still hate myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did. Years gone by, but the incident still seemed like it just happened yesterday. I will never forget my brother's expression when he protected me.
That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old. When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province. That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet.
I could hear him ask my mother, "Both of our children, they have good results? Very good results?" Mother wiped off her tears and sighed," What is the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?" At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front
of father and said, "Dad, I don't want to continue my study anymore, I have read enough books."
Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. "Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I will send you two to school until you have both finished your study!"
And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow money. I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother's swollen face, and told him, "A boy has to continue his study; If not, he will not be able to overcome this poverty we are experiencing."
I, on the other hand, had decided not to further my study at the university. Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; "Sis, getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will send money to you."
I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice. That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old. With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university.
One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me, "There's a villager waiting for you outside!" Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement and sand. I asked him, "Why did you not tell my roommate that you are my brother?" He replied with a smile," Look at my appearance. What will they think if they would know that I am your brother? Won't they laugh at you?" I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I swept away dirt and dust from my brother's body. And told him with a lump in my throat, “I don't care what people would say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance is?"
From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip. He put it on my hair and said, "I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have one." I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried.
That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old. I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned. After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my mother, "Mom, you didn't have to spend so much time cleaning the house!" But she told me with a smile," It was your brother who went home early to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his hand while he was replacing the window." I went into my brother's bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like there are hundreds of needle pricked in my heart.
I applied some ointment on his wound and put a bandage on it, "Does it hurt? " I asked him. "No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones keep falling on my feet. Even that could not stop me from working." In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and tears rolled down my face.
That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old. After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited my parents to come and live with us, but they didn't want. They said, once they left the village, they wouldn't know what to do. My brother agreed with them. He said, "Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take care of mom and dad here."
My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to accept the offer of being the manager in the maintenance department. But my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on working as a repairman instead for a start.
One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and was sent to the hospital. My husband and I visited him at the hospital. Looking at the white gypsum on his leg, I grumbled, "Why did you reject the offer of being a manager? Managers won't do something dangerous like that. Now look at you, you are suffering a serious injury. Why didn't you just listen to us?"
With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, "Think of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated, and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?" My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then I said, "But you lack in education only because of me!" "Why do you talk about the past?" he said and then he held my hand.
That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old. My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer girl from the village. During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, "Who is the one person you respect and love the most?"
Without even taking a time to think, he answered," My sister." He continued by telling a story I could not even remember.
"When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village. Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got home, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather that she could not even hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good to her." Applause filled up the room. All guests turned their attention to me. I found it hard to speak, "In my whole life, the one I would like to thank most is my brother," And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd, tears were rolling down my face again.
Love and care for the one you love every single days of your life. You may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it may mean a lot.
Have a nice day everyone! May this story inspire you in any way!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)