Remember when I wrote recently about having bacteria in my urine? For the third time this year. Remember when I wrote about the first two times earlier this year -- when I had this problem twice within about two months? Remember that Dr. C didn't think it was such a big deal? Remember that I off-handedly blamed it on my water bottles, but didn't really have any "evidence"?

Well, now I do! In a recent Diabetes Health article, plastic packaging is linked to diabetes and other health problems: Higher urinary levels of the commonly used chemical, BPA, are linked with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

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With the summer heat scorching down upon most of us, two big issues are keeping cool and keeping hydrated. For those of us blessed by dry heat, it's easy not to feel as if you're sweating; the air soaks up your skin's moisture almost before it's shed. For those of us in humid environments, the air becomes hot and heavy, our sweat clinging to us like plastic wrap, making us feel consistently hot and wet. In either case, it's easy for us to forget to replenish those fluids we so rapidly shed.

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The most recent heat wave may have passed, but summer is still in full swing -- which means heat-related health alerts. While these issues are not directly related to diabetes, diabetes can confound a heat-related health issue, making it harder to recognize and treat. Heat-related symptoms can mimic sugar-related symptoms and vice-versa, so it is in our best interests to know our normal ranges and reactions to the greatest degree possible.

The most basic heat issue is hydration. For some of us, dehydration will cause our blood glucose levels to drop; for others, it will cause those readings to rise. For some of us, the physical stress of dehydration will, at one point or another, trigger an adrenaline response and its associated glycogen release, leading to u-shaped curves (think "Dawn Phenomenon").

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Many hot-weather health issues center around proper hydration. My last post discussed how much water we should be drinking, and whether or not fluids other than water counted towards that volume. I finished up by mentioning that in addition to the amount we consume, we need to take into account how quickly we process those fluids, and what should (or should not) be in the fluids we are taking to maintain proper hydration. 

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Somewhere between work and sewing the overgown for my most recent renaissance-faire visit, I managed to miss Friday's Blog Action Day. It's not something I feel I must participate in, but it's an occasional source of inspiration -- especially when it's a topic that can be turned on its ear.

This year the topic was water -- in particular, access to clean drinking water. Washing water. Safe, parasite-free water. Something that is lacking in many parts of the world. (At least one episode of Bobby G, Adventure Capitalist showed the eponymous individual playing a major role in bringing safe drinking water to a Nicaraguan community.)

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