Possible reasons to become diabetic:

§ Weight. Being overweight is one of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to your own insulin. Still, it's not just a matter of how much you weigh. It also depends on where the weight is distributed. If you have extra weight in the upper part of your body — particularly around your abdomen — you're especially at risk. The good news is that many people with type 2 diabetes who are overweight can improve their glucose levels simply by losing weight.
§ Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose, makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, increases blood flow and improves circulation in even the smallest blood vessels. Exercise also helps build muscle mass. That's important because most of the glucose in your blood is absorbed into your muscles. When you have less muscle tissue, more sugar stays in your blood.
§ Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling with the disease. In fact, researchers have confirmed that a variant in a particular gene increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In a July 2006 study, the risk of developing diabetes was about 80 percent higher for participants who inherited two copies of the newly identified gene variant than for participants who didn't carry the variant.
§ Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. Often, that's because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as they age. But diabetes is also increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults.
§ Race. For reasons that aren't entirely clear, people of some races are more likely to develop diabetes. More than 6 percent of the general population has diagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. But that rate doubles for blacks and Hispanics and more than doubles for American Indians. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, half of all adults have type 2 diabetes — one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world.
§ Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greater. If you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, you're also at risk of type 2 diabetes.
§ Depression. Depression seems to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, possibly because people with depression often gain weight and are inactive.

Concentration

Concentration means directing one's attention on whatever one intends. We all have a natural ability to concentrate. Have you noticed how difficult it is to get young children's attention when they are playing? Do you remember the time when you were completely engrossed in an interesting novel, a super film, an exciting match or an exhilarating piece of music? You were concentrating then. At this very moment you are reading these words, you are concentrating. It helps to know what it is like to concentrate, so that you can get back to that state of being.

Activity: Think back to a time when you concentrated on something. It does not matter what you were doing; it could be you were working or having fun. What was the situation? What were you doing? How do you know you were concentrating? What did it feel like to concentrate? How was your body? What went on in your mind? Factors that may cause Poor Concentration Lack of concentration is one of the frequent complaints among students.

Distraction is a major cause of poor concentration. There are two types of distractions: external and internal.

External Distractions External distractions are related to the physical environment of your study area. Once you have identified these distractions, it is often easy to deal with them. Some of the common external distractions are: Noise; conversations Inappropriate furniture; inadequate lighting Interruption from other people; telephone Television Work: paid or unpaid; housework The Internet; email .

Internal Distractions Internal distractions are related to you: your body, your thoughts and your emotions. Some of them can be easily dealt with once they are identified. Others can be managed with practice and/or with a little help. Some of the common internal distractions are: Hunger; tiredness; illness Lack of motivation; boredom; lack of interest Personal worries; stress; anxiety.

To Stay Away From Acidity

**Consume a small piece of jaggery after having all three meals and see what wonders it can do to keep acidity away.

**Take a cup of water and boil it. Add 1 tsp of Aniseed (Saunf) to the water and leave it overnight. On the next morning, filter the water and add 1 tsp of honey to it. Drink it thrice a day and bid goodbye to acidity.

**Take a cardamom and a clove and powder it. Consume it like a mouth freshener after having your each meal. Not only this remedy will take care of your acidity problem, but also will keep away bad breath.
**Take about 1-½ liters of water and add 1 tsp Caraway seeds (shah jeera) to it. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Drink it while warm at least 2-3 times a day for 5-6 days.

Foot Care: About Corns and Callus.

Corns and callus are the most common conditions on the skin of the foot seen by Podiatrists. They vary in symptoms from a mild callus under the foot, to an infected ulcer that can develop under a corn on a toe. They can occur anywhere in the feet but are usually located over bony prominences. Excessive pressure and sheering stress over bony prominences cause the outer layer of the skin to thicken forming corns and callus. These conditions are usually painful but with conservative care can be managed effectivelyPathologically, corns and callus are all the same. Skin thickened in response to pressure.

A callus generally refers to a more diffuse thickening of the skin (more common on the toes, but can occur under the ball of the foot) whereas a corn is a thicker more focal area (more common on the toes). A corn can occur under and be surrounded by callusThey can also be justified as a normal and natural way for the body to protect itself. For example, callus develops on the hand when chopping a lot of wood. It’s a normal way for the skin to protect itself. In the foot, the skin will thicken up to protect itself when there are areas of high pressure. The problem occurs when the pressure continues, so the skin gets thicker. It eventually becomes painful and is treated as something foreign by the body.Corns are easy to take out. The reason they keep coming back is that the cause is still there and that cause is pressure. If the pressure is not removed, they will come back.This condition is more prevalent in females as a result of wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes. Corns appear as white/ gray or yellow/ brown in colour depending on a person’s type.

CAUSES OF CORNS:Tight shoes.Deformed toes (Hammer toes).Seam or stitch inside the shoe which rubs against the toe.Abnormality of walking style.Surgery to the lower extremities.Bunions.

TREATMENT OF CORN:The first step in foot corn treatment is to eliminate the source of pressure easiest ways to avoid a foot corn.Avoid tight shoes and hosiery.Use a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the corn.Use silicone pads to alleviate pain and the occurrence of a corn.Use a foot cream, such as flexitol heel balm twice daily. Flexitol heel balm is primarily used for cracked skin on the heels, however patients have reported a 90% improvement to their corns with this creamDo not use corn plasters as they can lead to destruction of healthy skin. Corn plasters should never be used by diabetics or by patients suffering from poor circulation as it may lead to ulcers.

HOME REMEDIES:Soaking your foot corn with warm water and Epsom salt for at least five minutes, three times a day will help to soften the corn. Another common foot corn treatment is using a pumice stone on the corn which will file it down and it will begin to remove part or all of the corn.Important Note: Treating foot corns by using removing ointments that contain acid can damage healthy skin on the other areas of the foot. Also, if the foot corn is open and discharging pus or a clear fluid it may be infected and you will need to seek medical treatment for a complete evaluation.

Lemon is another valuable remedy for corns. A fresh slice of lemon should be tied over the painful area at night and allowed to remain there the whole night.

What is friendship?

It is an in-depth relationship combining trust, support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy, and intimacy. Being able to trust and relax with your friend is a big part of friendship. A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself.

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”-Donna Roberts.

Friends come in many shapes, sizes and guises: school friends, work colleagues, siblings, partners, parents, pets and neighbours.
Remember when you are young and went to some place out of home for few days. You would be excited to come home. It was wonderful. Your feeling was “I’m home. I can relax now.” That’s what friendship should be. You go out into the world and do your best, you have your ups and downs, your problems and triumphs, then you come “home” to a friend you can relax, put up your feet, you are relieved. Remember, if you still have to charm or perform, it’s is not a relief.

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus.

International Friendship Day is celebrated annually, on the first Sunday of August, time to recognise your friends and their contribution to your life. Friendship helps to bring peace and positivity to the globe - a great reason to celebrate.

Maintaining Friendship

"One must be a friend to have one." Making friends is eaisier comparing to mainting the friendship. Frequent contact is necessary. Yet it is hard to make time in a busy day and busy life to maintain our friends. We can send email, call once a week, keep in touch through short messages, by sending occasional cards, we can also plan to meet weekly, monthly, at least yearly regularly.

What do friends expect?
1-Be a good listener, refrain from offering advice or moralizing.
2-Respect your friend’s point of view. Different personalities can complement each other.
3-Never betray a trust. When violated, can riun even the best friendship.
4-Support and praise your friends, ignore their failures and imperfections.
5-Never resent a friend’s success. Instead, strive to admire their achievements.

Flexibility is always important for maintaining friendships. Be understanding when your friend has last minute changes in plans. Learn to accept “I’m sorry to cancel, can we schedule for some other day.”When there is a conflict it must be resolved for friendship to continue. Confrontation is one way to resolve conflict. Talking out is another. A cooling-off period is sometimes necessary.

Symptoms of depression

**Constant feelings of sadness, irritability or tension
**Decreased interest or joy in usual fun activities or hobbies
**Loss of energy or feeling overly tired
**Change in appetite with significant weight loss or weight gainy
**Change in sleeping patterns such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
**Restlessness or feeling slowed down
**Decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate
**Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt
**Thoughts of suicide or death