chatwithketch

Hi Dr. Ketch, I am a 22-year old boy. My father died of diabetes and most of his brothers are also infected with the disease. Not only that, my elder brother told me that our grandfather could have died of the same disease long ago in the village. Is there any chance for us, the children, to fall on the same line of the diabetes? If so, how can we prevent it?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in. Unfortunately, yes, if you have a family history (parents or siblings) of diabetes mellitus, you are more likely to have the same condition. BUT, that does not mean that you will have the condition. Having a positive family history is like having a loaded gun. The gun may be loaded for hundreds of years and cause no harm….provided nobody pulls the trigger. The problem only starts when the trigger is pulled. In the same way, having risk factors is like having a loaded gun. Going ahead to do things that increase your risk like not eating right or not exercising, is definitely pulling the trigger.

Find below, a reminder class on diabetes mellitus with potential triggers.

Usually starchy foods we eat are converted to glucose. The body, in response to the presence of glucose in the blood, releases insulin from the pancreas. The insulin helps the glucose to move into the cells where it is needed. In Diabetes Mellitus, it is either insulin is no longer or barely being produced (Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus) or the insulin is being produced in insufficient amounts or the cells no longer responds to the insulin prod (stimulus. The latter is called Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

There is little or nothing that can be done to prevent Type 1 as it is not yet clear what causes the body to destroy the cells that produce insulin in the body. People with this type of DM will require insulin injections. However, people with Type 2 DM can control their DM using a combination of diet and exercise (staying lean and staying active). With time though, they may require oral drugs and/or insulin.

Now, how do we make exercise a part of our day? You need at least 30 minutes daily. The requirement per week is 150 minutes and so you could do 30 minutes on 5 days of the week or 1 hour on 3 days of the week. Just break it up and find ways of doing the things you love in a more active way. Activity/exercise ideas are pillow fights, arm wrestling, taking walks, dancing, joining a gym, jumping jacks during commercial breaks etc. At work, being more active speaks to getting up and walking on the spot whenever you get a phone call, walking to the printer to pick up documents and walking to colleagues’ desks to ask questions/confirm issues, walking over to the bank ATM instead of driving there, using the stairs and not the elevators, installing an exercise/activity reminder on your computer to remind you to get active if you forget to do any of the above 😀

How can we make healthy foods the easier choice? Surround yourself with the right foods. Fresh fruits, veggies, dried fruits (which can also be added t nuts), nuts, dairy like yoghurt etc Then make the right choices. It’s one thing to buy up all the healthy things that have been suggested, it’s another to eat them and not reach for the doughnut that your colleague just brought into the office. In our high powered, we-are-all-busy-racing-to-somewhere world, eating breakfast may sound like a luxury, few can afford, but guess what? Studies have shown that eating breakfast may reduce the risk of obesity and Diabetes. So, whether you’re skipping breakfast because you think you don’t have time or because you want to lose weight by kipping meals, it’s bad news. So, how can you ensure that you’re not only eating breakfast but eating the right foods?

Here are our tips for eating a healthy breakfast on the run:

Oatmeal is always a great idea. Rich in fiber which reduce cholesterol and help protect your heart and keeps you feeling fuller for longer. If you’re not a huge fan of oatmeal, you could sprinkle some cinnamon on it and be sure to take with skimmed milk. Another idea for oatmeal I learnt from a chef is overnight oats. Soak your oats with milk and unsweetened yoghurt overnight (just enough to cover the oats). Cover and leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning, bring out and sprinkle some cinnamon, add some apple or banana slices, a couple of nuts (optional)…and you’ve got a delicious bowl of healthy deliciousness in your hands! Some whole wheat/grain cereals (unsweetened) also not go amiss. Whole grain bread with peanut or almond butter (peanut butter is just ground up peanuts or groundnuts), an egg with a cup of fresh juice or some fruit slices also sounds good If you want to go for a smoothie, be sure to add some veggies (carrots, a handful of green leafy veggies etc) to ensure it is super healthy and not just another sugar rush, like I had yesterday!😀

And for more tips on how to keep eating healthy, even if you’re dining out, click on the link below!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/tips-for-healthy-eating-away-from-home

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh0ocU9Fxyu/?taken-by=ddrketch

Struggling with senior moments? Read this!

Q: What can I eat to add weight…..?

A: Before you start figuring out how to add weight, check your Body Mass Index (BMI). If your BMI is less than 18.5, you are in the underweight category. Even at that, you still will need to talk to your doctor to find out if your weight is a symptom of a medical problem.

Generally though, to add weight in a healthy way:

Focus on calorie-dense but nutritious foods like eggs, nuts and milk. Full cream milk is definitely an option, especially if you don’t have a high cholesterol level.

Eat often…6 ‘small’ meals per day is not out of place. Some exercise before meal times is a great and healthy way to work up an appetite. Taking some fruits as appetizer before mealtimes also helps stimulate an appetite. Smoothies are also great breakfast and snack options. Dried fruits and nuts can be added to cereals, salads and even yoghurt. Try not to drink too much water before or during a meal to ensure you have enough space for the main event which is the food  😀

Remember that it only takes a little effort to pile on the weight…a second on the lips and a lifetime on the hips, aye 😀 So focus on complex carbs and lay off the sugar-filled calories and pastries (these are empty calories which create more problems than they solve) and remember that nuts should be taken by the handful, dairy should not exceed 4 glasses per day, oil should be used sparingly etc. Indeed, moderation in everything…as usual

Some exercises like weight training may also help add bulk to you in the form of muscles so that you don’t look too skinny on the legs or arms.

I hope this helps 😀

A while back, I got this question…

Q: Hi, Good day ma’am! Thanks a lot for the way you have been helping lots of people with their problems. How does one stop a child from sucking her thumb always in a healthy way?

A: Interesting question!

Children suck their thumbs at an early age as a means of soothing themselves or coping with stress/anxiety or even when bored. Usually, this habit would stop between the ages of 2 to 4 years old. If it continues longer than that your baby’s teeth start to give way to accommodate the thumb leading to a situation where your baby’s upper teeth no longer align properly with the lower teeth. It can also lead to speech problems.
How do you stop a child from sucking his thumb? Hmm, I’m sure that lots of people can share a lot from their personal experiences eg tying up the thumb, putting terrible tasting stuff on it like vinegar, mustard, bitter leaf, nail polish etc. In some instances, these harsh methods get children to stop this habit but they probably latch on to another habit, like bedwetting. So, we do not advocate any of these.

What can you do as a parent? Well, if the child, is not 6 years yet, ignoring the thumb sucking is an option. Don’t go into a big fuss and fight about it. He’s more likely to stop because some children teased him about it that the fact that you screamed about it.

Talk to him about why sucking his thumb is a bad idea. Talk to him about germs that he’s giving free access into his body etc and be sure to praise him when he’s not sucking his fingers/thumb. In fact, you could go as far as providing a reward to re-enforce this good behavior.
Remember that before the age of 6 years, we still believe that your baby will kick this habit all by himself. He usually does about the age of 4-5 years.

Now that was my answer some years back. The post below suggests that there may actually be benefits to this habit! :O Read!

Q: Is morning after pill same as abortion doc?

A: The morning after pill which can be taken within 72 hours (some can be taken within 5 days) of unprotected intercourse, can help prevent pregnancy. So, technically, it means you are not pregnant yet and therefore are not aborting.

However, I always remind people that instead of asking these questions after the fact, be guided  by the ABC that guides these affairs. A is for abstinence. Honestly, this is your safest bet. If you’re not ready to deal with the responsibilities of having a baby, please leave well alone. You can’t have an STI, HIV/AIDS, or otherwise if you don’t have sex. In addition, you can’t get pregnant. Now, if abstinence is a problem, be faithful to one partner…who, hopefully, is being faithful to you too. If you can’t swear on this, revert to plan A. Finally, if all else fails, ensure that you use a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

Contraception is a good option but the answer to proper contraception is not popping a pill in panic whenever you happen to have sexual intercourse. Emergency contraceptives have their place but they are not meant to take the place of regular contraceptives, as they are less effective than the regular ones. Regular use of these emergency contraceptives may cause your periods to become irregular and unpredictable. I’m sure you don’t want to have this problem 😀 You might want to visit your nearest family planning clinic for options which can work for you.

Have a great week ahead, everyone 😀

Ever feel the sudden urge to urinate even when you know your bladder is not full? Ever had a little accident while trying to control the urge, before getting to the bathroom? This article is fo you.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-bladder-workout-tame-incontinence-without-surgery

Q: Hi, I have a problem. My periods smell really bad on the first day. Second day to my last day they are fine. What may be the problem?

A: Menstrual blood usually has some odour – not strong but definitely there as blood takes on its own scent as it comes in contact with air. The bacteria in menstrual flow can also raise a stench 😀

So how do you deal with this? Here are top tips to maintain personal hygiene and smell fresh during your period.

• Take a bath regularly. Twice a day would be great or failing that at least once a day. If your flow is heavier than normal, you just may have to increase the frequency. Remember that to wash your delicate inner self where you’re bleeding from, you usually do not require more than water and your hands.
• Change your sanitary towels often. As soon as you notice they are significantly stained, please change them. This should be every 4-6 hours at the very maximum. Aim for the lower limit 😀
• Avoid scented products. Feminine sprays, scented wipes and scented pads or tampons can make menstrual odor worse as they contain chemicals that irritate the vagina, which can lead to increased discharge, infections and increased vaginal odor.
• Carry a spare pack of deodorant and use that liberally whenever you have a pad change. Be sure not to attempt to smell like you soaked yourself in a bottle of perfume. It might also be a pointer that perhaps you’ve got something to hide.
• Scrub your hands thoroughly after a pad change. Observe all the rules of proper hand washing. This ensures that you get rid of all the bacteria and may have got on your hands and ensures that you keep the odour level down.
• Dispose of your sanitary towels properly. Do not flush them down the drain and if there is no trash can in the bathroom you are using to dispose of it, have a disposable ziplock bag to put it in and dispose it appropriately as soon as you can. Make sure that this is kept in a zipped up compartment of your bag.
• If the odour persists or becomes very strong, please see your doctor and get tested for vaginal infections. Strong odor can signify infections like bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections or trichomoniasis. These infections can be easily treated with medications, and the odour will disappear as soon as the infection is treated.

Remember that, even when the smell is not so strong, you can smell your genitals oftentimes because they are well, practically south of your nose…it doesn’t necessarily mean other people can smell them provided you’re obeying the rules of simple hygiene. And be sure to use an air freshener in the bathroom where you just changed. We don’t want to leave any tell-tale signs or smells now, do we?

For a related post, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/01/07/daily-health-tips-whats-the-cure-for-foul-smelling-genitals/

Have a great evening 😀

Q: Good evening, Please Doc I read that ninety percent of a child brain growth takes place by the time he is five years old, Does it mean that anything given to a child above five years will not help develop the child’s brain anymore or just ten percent?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in.

A baby’s brain starts developing in pregnancy and continues after birth as a result of interactions around them. This is why it’s important to ensure that babies get the right nutrition and stimulation from when they are born all the way to adulthood.

So are you correct in your assertions? The baby’s brain develops very rapidly in the first 3 to 5 years of life and the entire structure and building blocks are present by the time the child is 9 years old. Some studies show that the size of the brain does not alter much between 5 and 20 years, but the connections between developed parts continues. Getting different areas of the brain to be functionally connected happens over a period of time, and may continue up till 30 years of age.

So, to your question, even though the baby’s brain may not develop beyond the 5^th year, vital connections are happening which enable a human being act as one complex being with parts that work together even if they have different functions.

So, what can you do to encourage brain development?

• Feed your child well. Breastmilk has all the nutrients that babies need until they are about 6 months old. 6 months, introduce other nutrients like fibre, vitamins and minerals that are found in foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and meat to ensure baby is developing well
• Mother should stay off alcohol when pregnant and also teach child to stay off too as he grows
• Talk to your children, starting from when they are in the womb and after they are born. Talk to and with them. Explain things and try to understand and acknowledge their thoughts and feelings
• Provide a safe environment
• Believe in them and encourage them
• Reward them but also provide clear boundaries. They need to know what lines they cannot cross

I hope this helps.

Have a great evening J