Holistic Nutrition Education | Nutrition Therapy Institute

Nutrition Therapy Institute teaches students to become the teachers...

For more than a decade, the staff at NTI in Colorado has been teaching real people real information that can be used to inspire nutritional changes in real life situations. By combining academic excellence, practical applicability of information and flexibility in the pace you decide to go in the program, serious students agree that NTI has built one of the finest Nutrition Diploma Programs in the United States.

Personal Opportunity

NTI is on the cutting edge of a paradigm shift in education itself. Their philosophy is based on the concept that in order to be an effective practitioner, you must have experienced what you are teaching your clients. In order to effectively inspire clients to make lifestyle changes, you must have walked that road yourself.

Because of this there is significant emphasis placed on the personal development of their students in the areas of nutrition and health. Teachers are available to answer questions related to personal health and to refer students to health professionals where appropriate. In addition, their two mountain retreats are devoted directly to personal growth in relation to food choices, eating habits and detoxification. Although a few NTI students are focused on learning how to become a nutritionist to further their professional aspirations, most attend primarily to study the naturopathic and holistic principles of nutrition.

They build an ongoing foundation of support through the creation of community for students and graduates...

Within the classroom the atmosphere of shared learning prevails. Small classes, lively discussions, and student participation result in fast friendships among a community of people who share their passion for nutrition therapy and their desire to help others on their road to good health.

 Education is the food that feeds the mind and heart. NTI students leave as graduates feeling full.

No 2015 ACLS Guideline Changes For ACS Treatment.......Yet......

The AHA/ILCOR 2015 ACLS guidelines will be coming out by the end of this year(2015). So far, it appears most of the changes will be directed at the BLS level, with even more focus on high quality compressions, more efficient introduction of defibrillation through public access defibrillation programs, and more in-depth information on Return Of Spontaneous Circulation. Changes for AHA ACLS certification classes will probably be minimal.

The Meds for Acute Coronary Syndrome

It looks like ACLS meds for ACS treatment will not change:

• Oxygen
• Aspirin
• Nitroglycerin
• Morphine
• Fibrinolytic therapy
• Heparin
• Beta-Blockers

Acute Coronary Syndrome

What is acute coronary syndrome? 
Acute coronary syndrome is acute pain that results from a sudden decrease in the blood supply to the heart. The pain is so acute that it feels like the onset of a heart attack. In most cases, the patient feels as if the chest is being squeezed. In others the pain travels to the shoulders and arms and even the abdomen at times.


Causes of acute coronary syndrome
The cause of an acute coronary syndrome is not sudden. In fact, there is a slow and steady build up that can be detected in regular medical checkups. Plaque, made up of fatty deposits and calcium, accumulate in the coronary arteries over time. As the deposits increase the arteries narrow and the amount of blood that reaches the heart reduces. As the blockages increase there is a possibility of angina that results from reduced and inadequate blood that reaches the heart. When a piece of the plaque disengages or breaks off, clotting might create a complete blockage causing acute coronary syndrome.

Symptoms of acute coronary syndrome
Symptoms of acute coronary syndrome are similar to those of angina. However, they are generally more acute and severe in nature. A burning sensation in the chest and a tightening feeling that may occur immediately after exercise or consumption of a large meal are common symptoms. The pain may sometimes also occur in other parts of the body like the upper arm, shoulders or jaws. It is also not uncommon to experience nausea, vomiting, dyspnea or breathlessness, diaphoresis or excessive sweating and a feeling of lightheadedness.

Management of acute coronary syndromes 
Confirmation of acute coronary syndrome can be done by an ECG or Electrocardigram. This test records the electrical impulses of the heart with the use of electrodes. This is displayed on a monitor in the form of waves. Some blood tests can also detect a damaged heart due to the heart enzymes that leak into the blood stream. Other tests that are also done for further confirmation are Echocardiogram, chest x-ray, nuclear scan, Computerized tomography (CT) angiogram and Coronary angiogram (cardiac catheterization).

Immediate treatment includes blood thinners like aspirin and heparin to remove the blood clotting that is suspected. ACE inhibitors are used to reduce blood pressure and beta blockers are used to relax heart muscles. Surgical procedures become necessary when medicines are ineffective. Angioplasty is the most common surgical procedure that is recommended. It involves insertion of a wire with a deflated balloon into the tube. As the balloon is inflated, it squeezes the plaque against the arterial walls.

Acute coronary syndrome guidelines 

Prevention and management of acute coronary syndrome include various lifestyle management guidelines. Some of these are:

• Quitting smoking 
• Consuming a heart healthy diet that is low on saturated fat, red meat and salt and high on high fiber food like wheat, fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meat. Consider asking your primary care physician for a referral to a Registered Dietitian for this. 
• Regular cholesterol and blood pressure check-ups to ensure levels are under control
• Maintenance of health weight with regular exercise
• Taking significant steps to reduce stress levels
• Limiting consumption of alcohol

How To Become A Nutritionist | Nutritional Therapy

**Another post by Jason Goodwin**


Everything you put in your mouth has a benefit or a consequence. When we eat nutrient-dense, properly prepared whole foods our bodies thrive. When we eat processed, chemically concocted foods, our bodies suffer. Our bodies get confused by all of the weird, unnatural, hard to pronounce “ingredients” we eat on a daily basis. Your body does its best to adapt, but eventually it will protest by giving you all sorts of problems and symptoms.

Make the connection between food and health.

A NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST evaluates your health profile to find what macro and micro nutrient deficiencies may be contributing to your health issues. The uniqueness or “bioindividuality” of each person means that there is no one-size-fits-all nutritional plan. A Nutritional Therapist will work with you to create a personal protocol to fit your particular needs and goals. Getting the appropriate nutrients transported effectively throughout your body means better health and overall wellness. To consider if Nutritional Therapy is a good fit for you, or if you're researching how to become a nutritionist, ACEND has tons of information on accredited nutritionist programs across the Country, as well as more in-depth nutritional therapy information.

Surgical Tech Programs In California

What Does a Surgical Technologist Do?

There are many important roles in the medical field that don’t get as much public attention as, say, surgeons or other major roles. One of these is the surgical technologist, who provides a valuable service in the health care industry but might not be familiar to many prospective students. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics states simply that surgical technologists assist during surgical operations under the direct supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other personnel. Their role is largely a preparatory one, helping to organize the operating room and get the scene ready for the operating surgeon.

Before an operation begins, surgical techs set up the instruments the surgeon will need, assemble the sterile and non-sterile tools, and check to make sure everything is functioning correctly. A surgical technologist will also often work with the patient by cleaning and disinfecting their incision areas. The tech will transport the patient to the operating room, monitor their vital signs, and assist the surgical staff in donning gowns and gloves. Basically, a surgical technologist is a medically trained assistant who helps get things done in the operating room, allowing the surgical team to work together smoothly and perform operations with greater ease. But a surgical technologist isn’t just a pair of hands. The role requires training and education, as underscored by the Association of Surgical Technologists in their job description of surgical techs. They stress that surgical techs have learned and maintain expertise in both the theory & application of aseptic and sterile techniques, and therefore possess the skills needed to competently combine advanced knowledge of human anatomy, proper implementation of technologies and tools, and a solid understanding of surgical procedures to facilitate a surgeon's performance of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Surgical technologists often operate sterilizers or other light machines during the surgery, as well as pass instruments to the surgeon. Some surgical technologists with additional training and certification can also serve as surgical assistants, which involves controlling blood flow and other tasks under the surgeon’s supervision to help the surgery be executed safely. Enrolling in one of the surgical tech programs in Bakersfield Ca is a great way to become a vital part of the operating room process and the larger health care industry.

Training To Become A Surgical Tech In California

The decision to become a surgical technologist is a big one but one that will most likely lead to a rewarding career as a vital member of a hospital staff or assisting physicians in private practice. Pursuing a career as a surgical tech is easier than you’d think, especially if you do your research.

First things first: Find a good school. No matter what you’re studying, it’s imperative that you graduate from an accredited college or university. Accredited schools are those that have passed muster with regional or national accrediting agencies and have been judged as worthy institutions. They provide a quality education that’s respected by employers, and more importantly, only graduates from accredited universities are eligible to take certification exams in the surgical technologist field. Be VERY wary of surgical tech schools online. Properly accredited schools rarely accept prerequisite courses such as anatomy, physiology, and other science courses that are taken online.

The U.S. Department of Education maintains a searchable database of higher education institutions that have been accredited by legitimate agencies, and a pair of other organizations — the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools — provide searchable lists of accredited programs that will allow you to sit for the exam to become a certified surgical technologist.

With a degree from one of the surgical tech programs in California, you will be ready to study for and take the certification exam. Becoming a certified surgical technologist will greatly improve your earning potential and job opportunities, though you’ll need to retake certification exams every few years in order to maintain your CST status. You can also choose to advance to the role of surgical first assistant, which requires more training and study. There are a variety of career resources available for surgical technologists, too. The Association of Surgical Technologists, a professional organization for the field, devotes a section of its website to job opportunities for qualified surgical techs.

It’s also a good idea to stay in touch with local hospitals and the surgeons you worked with during your schooling and internship period. Often, the best way to learn about available jobs is to know someone who needs a qualified tech and will think of you. Becoming a surgical technologist is an easier goal to achieve than you might think. With the right preparation before choosing a school, and taking the certification exam after graduation, you’ll be able to enter the medical field and become an integral part of a surgical team.

Acute Coronary Syndrome | Bakersfield ACLS Training

Acute Coronary Syndrome or ACS is a catch all term used to describe a set of symptoms consistent with acute myocardial ischemia when the symptoms are not pathognomonic. Myocardial ischemia is a condition in which insufficient blood flow is reaching the heart muscle. This is usually a result of atherosclerotic plaques building up in the coronary arteries. Symptoms The symptoms of ACS are typically tightness in the chest that radiates into the left arm, anxiety or a sense of impending doom, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms that might occur are nausea, vomiting, sweating and palpitations. In female patients, the elderly, and those with diabetes there is a higher occurrence of atypical presentation. This can translate to other, non-specific, symptoms such as feeling weak or lightheaded to a complete absence of symptoms, all of which are explored during Bakersfield ACLS Training.

There are three distinct subtypes of ACS:

• Unstable Angina
• non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
• ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ACS usually involves an Electrocardiogram. Elevation in the ST segment indicates that damage has occurred to the muscle and that intervention is required immediately. In the absence of ST segment elevation, it is more difficult to distinguish between unstable angina and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Blood tests can be administered to look for increases in cardiac enzymes. The most accurate indicators for myocardial infarction are increased Troponin I and Troponin T. A second, common predictor is an increased Creatine Kinase level. Another diagnostic tool that can be employed is the ACI-TIPI. The ACI-TIPI is a rough algorithm that uses demographic information and EKG information to provide an estimate of the likelihood of myocardial infarction.

Treatment

In the event of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, there are several treatment options. Aspirin is often administered on-site by paramedics to reduce clot size. Beta blockers are often administered to reduce the work load on the heart. Anticoagulants, such as heparin, may be administered to prevent further clots. ACE inhibitors are often administered to prevent some of the heart enlargement. Clearing the blockage as soon as possible is key to patient survival in the case of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. In most cases an angioplasty and stent placement is performed within an hour or two when possible. Doctors can also use intravenous Thrombolytics to break up clots. For non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, the treatments tend to be the same, though without the same time constraints. If an angioplasty is not a viable option due to recent surgery, a bleeding disorder, or multiple blocked arteries, coronary artery bypass surgery can be used to restore blood flow.

Exercise and Nutrition – What’s More Important Than Breakfast?

***This post was written by friend and former coworker Jason Goodwin, an experienced personal trainer and current nutritionist student in California......I'll go ahead and assume he knows what the hell he's talking about.......***

A healthy diet and nutrition has been forever focused on breakfast being key to your daily performance and eating habits. You have hear it over and over again, read it everywhere, and been asked about it time and time again by trainers and nutritionists who work with you – Breakfast. What are you eating, when and why? They will tell you how breakfast is the single most important meal of the day.

These exercise and nutrition professionals will tell you how you have to have it to get your metabolism jump-started after a 7-8 hour sleepy slow down, and that eating breakfast will assist you in potentially losing weight through the day. It is true that skipping breakfast is a bad idea, especially if it forces you to over-feed at lunch or dinner. Assuming a lunch at noon and dinner at 8:00 the night before, one will have gone up to 16 hours without a meal if they pass on breakfast. On a regular basis this is detrimental to your weight as well as your mental and behavioral functions. I do advocate starvation practices over the short term and on a planned and infrequent basis, but as a way of life well, we have to eat.

Breakfast Is A Must To Jump-Start Your Metabolism

While skipping breakfast can cause you to eat more than normal at your following meals and can lead to unhealthy snacking and craving, this does not make it the most important meal of your day. Being the intense, weight training, fit, fighting machine, that you are – the most important you eat each day is the first meal immediately after your vigorous workout! This is the key to exercise nutrition.

‘Post Workout Nutrition’ is an important practice that has to be done correctly to maximize all of your time and effort in the gym. Feeding those starving muscles the correct ingredients and at the right time can help trigger recovery and muscle growth to ensure you build the most muscle possible. And as we have hammered home in previous articles, more muscle burns more calories and fat!



Too many people spend too much time in the gym, training with intensity, yet failing to show much or any progress even after a year of training. Many times the culprit is not the exercise or effort, but rather it is the timing of nutrients and nutrition after your session. Immediately after training your body is still breaking down muscle (catabolic), not building new muscle fibers, and this process has to be halted and changed to an anabolic (muscle building) state as quickly as possible. Exercise depletes your carbohydrate reserves and protein structures at the muscular level, these must be replenished right away, as your body sends the message to “recover”. Recovery happens when the body is fed the right macronutrients at the right time, coupled with the required rest.

Proper Post Workout Nutrition Maximizes Your Ability to Build Muscle

In order to feed those starving muscles you want to use the hormone insulin to your advantage as it will hammer home all those valuable nutrients directly to your ripe and ready muscles. Eating sufficient carbohydrates is what triggers this insulin spike, so a post-workout meal full of carbohydrates and fast digesting protein is essential. Insulin will shuttle the protein and carbs to your muscles leading to replenished energy stores and moves the amino acids in protein to the muscles where recovery and muscle growth occurs.

A guideline to follow for healthy nutrition and exercise recovery is 1 gram of carbohydrates and roughly 0.4 gram of protein for every kilogram you weigh, again, use this as a guideline because finding your own way is the best approach. Post workout fat intake should be kept low because the insulin spike we purposely create with carb consumption is going to send most of these nutrients into storage (carbs for glycogen and protein for repair) and we need this to happen quickly. Fat slows absorption, which means the nutrients will take longer to get to their desired destination.

Finally, your first meal after your strenuous workout should be immediately after exercise when the muscles are primed for compensation. It has been proven that a meal within 1 hour (within 45 minutes is best) of exercise is far more beneficial than one consumed 3 hours after a workout. This is why a fast digesting whey protein shake with easily digested carbohydrates is so helpful.

Your post workout nutrition is the most important of the entire day, every day, it is the difference between muscles growing or muscles being broken down. More muscle burns more calories even at rest so more fat is burned daily. Yes, please eat your healthy breakfast every day, but missing your post workout meal can be damaging.

Pharmacy Tech Certification In Bakersfield - PTCB

PTCB certifications are issued by the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board), this is the national organization that creates the board exam which you will sit for after training.

There are two parts to PTCB certifications and to being a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT):

1. Pharmacy technicians must sit for and pass the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE). Once a pharmacy technician has passed the exam, he or she may use the designation of CPhT.
2. To continue to hold certification, a CPhT is required to obtain twenty hours of continuing education for recertification within two years of original certification or previous recertification.

Some important points to note regarding PTCB certifications are:

• Exam schedules - PTCB certification-s exam is given 3 times a year in MARCH, JULY & NOVEMBER.
• Application fee – $120
• Continuing education – Must complete 20 hrs every 2 years before license renewal, make sure to keep a record of completed ce (continuing education) credits for each year.
• Eligibility – Candidate must have a HS diploma or GED and never have been convicted of a felony, however, there may be certain cases where the PTCB may make an exception, contact them for more information.
• Exam format – 140 multiple-choice questions. Fifteen of the 140 questions are pre-test questions and will not count toward your final score. However, there is no way to know which questions are pre-test questions and therefore you should answer every single question within the allotted time if you can.
• Exam questions - Questions may cover all aspects of pharmacy and if you recall I mentioned on the checklist that good pharmacy tech courses should cover most aspects of pharmacy.
• Reexamination – The PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination) may be taken by eligible candidates as many times as needed to earn a passing score. A new application including appropriate documentation and $120 in fees must be submitted each time to the PES (Professional Examination Service). This is an agency that conducts testing on behalf of the PTCB.
• Passing score – if you receive a score of 650 or greater then you’ve passed the exam.

Once you pass the exam the board will issue a license in your name and you will then be able to use the credentials “Cpht” (Certified Pharmacy Technician), it is these credentials that employers want to see when they make their hiring decisions.

A point to note is that not all states require a pharmacy technician to be certified in order to work in a pharmacy BUT regardless of the state’s requirement most employers may only hire pharmacy technicians that are certified or are in the process of becoming certified or are in training to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Bakersfield Ca - Why Take The PTCE?

Uncertified techs may become a liability if they are not experienced and may not possess the necessary pharmaceutical knowledge in order to function efficiently within the pharmacy team. This could give rise to lawsuits towards the company if, for example, the wrong medication gets dispensed to patients. There can also be other medication errors of which the uncertified tech is a cause of.

Completion of one of the accredited Pharmacy Tech Programs Bakersfield Ca qualifies the student to sit for the PTCB certification exam. So, certification is essential and sooner or later states that do not have PTCB certifications requirement will adopt them.  Also, if you’re certified you may very well start at a higher salary than someone that isn’t.
The PTCB has created a candidates guidebook to certification that can be downloaded for free from their site HERE. This guide will cover the above points in detail and will also have contact info for the PTCB.

Bloodeborne Pathogen Training In Bakersfield Ca

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious micro-organisms that can cause disease and may be found in blood or other body fluids. Bakersfield-area healthcare workers can learn how to safeguard themselves and others against bloodborne pathogens as part of the American Heart Association's Bloodborne Pathogens course. Such training modules can address appropriate policies and procedures for safe dealing with bloodborne pathogens and other bio-hazardous materials.

Dangers of Bloodborne Pathogens

Exposure to bloodborne pathogens can cause a person to become infected with serious diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Medical professionals are at particular risk to exposure to bloodborne pathogens due to the nature of their work.

Risks to Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers and Bakersfield nursing students on clinical rotation may be exposed to blood and other potentially infectious bio-hazard materials, such as human tissue and body fluids, on a daily basis. Blood should always be considered potentially infectious and handled accordingly. Bloodborne pathogens can be passed along via a prick or cut to a person’s skin or exposure to a mucous membrane. Such exposure can be the result of an accidental jab from a needle or cut from contaminated medical waste.

Prevention of Exposure

The health threats presented by bloodborne pathogens are very real. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that all workplaces develop a bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan. Such plans call for details on instituted employee protection measures and what to do if exposure occurs. For healthcare workers who may regularly come into contact with bloodborne pathogens, it is important to learn how to properly handle and dispose of medical waste. It is also important for employees to be aware of what personal protective equipment might be recommended to help safeguard against bloodborne pathogens.

Medical Assistant Programs In Bakersfield Ca

What Is A Certified Medical Assistant?

Doctors do not perform all the basic tasks related to the medical, administrative and surgical procedures, due to the constraints of time and other obligations. Thus for most, medical and administrative tasks they use the support of a medical assistant. A Medical assistant is a professional who performs routine tasks that are necessary for the proper functioning of health care offices. This includes patient care like measuring a patient’s vital signs, maintaining health records and up keep of various medical instruments. The work can be broadly divided into three categories:

General medical assisting: This includes effectively communicating with the patient and being well versed with various medical terminologies.

Administrative medical assisting: Administrative assisting can involve work in the health insurance sector or with financial bookkeeping required for a public or private hospital.

Clinical medical assisting: This usually involves intensive training and is very important in complementing the work of a health care department. It includes sterilization, maintenance of medical instruments, measuring a patient’s vital signs, and being able to obtain samples for various pathological procedures like blood test.

Steps Necessary To Become A Certified Medical Assistant In Kern County

MA's are required to complete one of the Medical Assistant programs in Bakersfield Ca that takes a year to complete or they may even complete an associate degree medical assistant courses that takes two years. Formal medical assistant training is highly recommended and most accredited programs do offer internships and training. The internship may be within a hospital setting or a general physician’s office. There isn’t any medical assistance licensing requirement, however certain states require them to pass a certain test before they can perform certain procedures like X-ray testing.

Medical Assistant Training Schools In Kern County

Qualification includes only a high school diploma. But a formal education through medical assistant schools or sometimes medical assistant classes is preferred. There are various medical assistant training programs that are offered by vocational schools, community colleges and universities. These programs are usually a yearlong for a certificate course, while associate degree programs may extend up to two years. Accreditation Bureau of Health Education Schools and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs are the two recognized agencies that provide accreditation to medical assistance programs in the country. It is advised to check for accreditation through either of these agencies before applying for any diploma or degree programs. After competing either of the programs assistants can take certificate exam for CMA. CMAs are usually preferred by employers over other applying assistants.

Job Opportunities For Certified Medical Assistants

Employment opportunities for Medical Assistants in Kern County are expected to grow at a rapid rate due to the growth of healthcare sector and due to an aging population. Outpatient settings have also grown in number in the past few years, and this trend is expected to continue. Since, medical assistants work mostly in these setting the job prospects are expected to get better as time passes. In such a scenario medical assistants with a good education, training background and certification can expect good medical assistant jobs offers coming their way. A Medical Assistant salary lies in the range of $29,000 to $37,000 annually.

Hours Worked As A Back Office MA Now Count Towards Physician Assistant Clinical Hours Worked

Some Physician Assistant Programs require a minimum of 3000 hours of clinical work. In past years, this was typically restricted to nursing and hands-on hospital clinical care. The Stanford Physician Assistant Program, which has a Kern County satellite program in Bakersfield, now counts hours worked as a back office medical assistant towards their 3000 hour minimum clinical hours prerequisite.

What Is A Nurse Practitioner?

Advanced Practice Nursing

A nurse practitioner is, in essence, an advanced registered nurse. An NP has completed all of the necessary education and training to become a registered nurse, but has gone on to achieve an advanced degree and completed a residency, much like a physician does, in the field of his or her choice. While the education process is more involved and requires a greater time commitment, choosing this path has a variety of advantages to you as the medical professional and to your prospective patients.

Greater Job Opportunities

The job outlook for advanced practice nurses is very bright. There is a continuing demand for nurses, and as this is not likely to change in the foreseeable future. As the medical field continues to change and grow, the role of nurse practitioners has become a very important one. Because of their advanced education, nurse practitioners can take on many of the duties and responsibilities which were once limited only to physicians. This means that as an NP, you can enjoy a fulfilling career in a hospital or doctor’s office with more responsibilities and a greater degree of autonomy than you will have experienced as an RN. Most hospitals and clinics, as well as many ambulatory units and physician’s offices are adding nurse practitioners to their staffs and relying more and more heavily on them, creating even more job security in the field.

Choose Your Specialty

As a licensed nurse practitioner in the field of your choice, you can drive your career in the direction that best suits you. Neonatal nurse practitioners specialize in the care and treatment of newborns, while family nurse practitioners focus on diagnosis, wellness, and disease prevention from the arena of family practice. Other Nurse Practitioner specialties range from child and adult acute care to oncology and anesthesiology, and everything in between. When you choose your nursing program, whether you are starting from the beginning or returning to school as a registered nurse, you will have the opportunity to make decisions about the focus of your training.

Boost Your Income

The average salary for an experienced registered nurse is around $68,000 per year, nationally. Nurse practitioners, depending on specialty average $89,000, up to $100,000 per year or more. Your long term employment will more than pay for the schooling required to make the jump from one to the other. Why the disparity between salaries? The higher level of education achieved by the nurse practitioner allows him or her to treat patients independently in many cases. This means that he or she has the ability to see patients, make diagnoses, and provide treatment without the direct oversight of the physician. This ability to see and care for patients in the place of a physician at certain times greatly amplifies the value in the work place.

Choose Your Venue

The use of nurse practitioners has become commonplace in a variety of different environments, so you can choose the career that you find most rewarding. You will find nurse practitioners in almost every department of most large and small hospitals. Public health clinics make use of nurse practitioners as a money saving alternative to bringing on more doctors. Physician’s offices hire nurse practitioners to handle the overflow of patients that often prevent physicians from keeping track of their appointments in a timely manner. For example, an emergency appointment in a pediatrician office for an ear infection or a fever can be handled by the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, rather than a Pediatrician.

The Advantages To The Facility

It is an advantageous move for a hospital or clinic to offer employment to nurse practitioners to supplement their staff of physicians. Much of the care provided by a nurse practitioner can be done at a lower cost because the hourly cost of physicians is far higher than that of a nurse practitioner. A strategic mix of physicians and NP’s adds up to a wise and frugal way to offer excellent care to the patients of the facility.

Additionally, public health clinics, which often see more cases of influenza, strep throat, and the like than anything else can function far more economically without sacrificing a high level of care to their patients by employing nurse practitioners. A family nurse practitioner can provide much of the necessary diagnosis and treatment care that a physician can, at a lower cost.

The Advantages To The Patient

If they are not properly educated, patients may feel unsure about their feelings toward nurse practitioners, simply because they are not doctors. However, a nurse practitioner is well trained and is able to administer excellent care, and when a doctor’s office or hospital floor is staffed with an NP or two, the patient can count on prompt, timely care because they do not have to wait for a physician to become available. The practice of using nurse practitioners can also bring down the total cost of a hospital stay or procedure.

Online LVN Schools In California

The BVNPT's Stance on Online LVN Schools In California

California's Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) recently put out ANOTHER disclaimer on unapproved LVN programs. There's still tons of fly-by-night programs claiming to be accredited LVN programs. BVNPT has been dealing with this issue for many years, but they still have people attempting to sit for the NCLEX after finishing one of these programs. These programs claim proper accreditation, but accredited by who? It simply comes down to: if you pay for and complete an "online" course, it WILL NOT be accepted by BVNPT. Every once in a while I have someone coming through my Bakersfield shop talking about their plans to take one of these Online LVN Schools In California.

The latest cutsie little trick is to take one of these online courses that a State other than California will accept. So, for instance, a student will take either an online or "blended" LVN program in South Dakota, and get licensed in that State. Then, the person attempts to "challenge" the Boards in California. This is one of the pathways pitched to unsuspecting students by these "Online" schools. BVNPT has already caught onto this trick, and even if another State took the "Online" degree, California STILL won't accept it. So, with the average tuition for these online LVN programs running close to 30K, trying to get around BVNPT's firm stance on "Online" programs will leave you 30K lighter. You may have a degree suitable for framing, but you won't be getting licensed. Slowly but surely, the workarounds out there are being shut down by California's LVN Board.

The easiest way of dealing with this problem is to simply go to the Board's website HERE, and you'll find a list of the approved LVN programs in California. As more & more California Community Colleges tighten their LVN to RN Bridge program requirements, and the LVN scope of practice is narrowed, the value of an LVN license in California is already decreasing dramatically. These online scams are just adding fuel to the fire.

EMT Training In Bakersfield Ca

The Bakersfield College EMT program is a 7.5 unit course.

Every State requires all (volunteer, professional) Emergency Medical Technicians to be certified. Some States & Counties give their own certification tests in order to make sure their EMS personnel are well-prepared. Some states require a registration with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). In order to be able to do your job as an EMT, you need to stay current with recertification every two years, in addition to CEU's. Schools and employers who offer EMT training in Bakersfield Ca must receive approval from the County of Kern Emergency Medical Services Department. Some standards are clearly set forth, such as the length of any EMT program. Kern EMS mandates training of no less than 152 hours, 24 of which must be clinical hours in a hospital or pre-hospital setting. The EMT training programs are specialized in injury assessment and in treating heart attacks, respiratory distress, broken bones, severe bleeding, acute complications of diabetes, and other medical emergencies. In addition to the coursework, the students practice what they've learned, either in a hospital, or in a pre-hospital setting. The equipment in the training sessions usually includes backboards, stretchers, braces, oxygen tanks and splints. In order for students to successfully complete an EMT certification program, they have to pass both a written and a practical exam, which has to be supervised by NREMT. If a student wants to promote and to receive additional EMT training, he/she needs to take the first step of completing the EMT-Basic certification first.

EMT-Intermediate

For EMT-Intermediate, there two options available: EMT-Cardiac and Shock Trauma. The first part of the training program consists of learning how to administer several medicines. In the next part, they learn how to administer cardiac medication and how to analyze cardiac arrhythmias. In the EMT-Intermediate training program, students usually receive 50 hours or so of extra training. The EMT-Intermediate training is not recognized in all States. In California, for example, EMT-Intermediate is no longer recognized. Over the past decade or so, the trend seems to be moving away from Intermediate training. In Kern County, the Bakersfield College EMT program remains the most popular program. At 7.5 units, the program provides a good introduction to EMS, and employment opportunities for new EMT's remains strong. Bakersfield Memorial and Hall's Ambulance are a couple of the larger employers of new EMT's in Kern County.

Phlebotomy Training In Bakersfield Ca

Kern County Phlebotomy Training Opportunities

Phlebotomists in Kern County complete either on-the-job training, cross-train from another health care profession that require blood drawing skills, or formal phlebotomy training in Bakersfield Ca. However, new regulations in the State of California were adopted and signed into law stating that all prospective phlebotomists must:

• Either possess a GED or High School Diploma
• Complete 40 hours of didactic instruction
• Log 40 hours of clinical work
• Successfully perform 10 skin punctures and 50 venipunctures 

Work Environment

Typical work environments for phlebotomists include home health services, individual patient's homes, public health clinics, pharmaceutical companies, blood banks, for-profit laboratories, research institutions, physician's offices, hospitals, prisons, and assisted living facilities. Phlebotomists routinely work with nurses and physicians, lab technicians, and ancillary staff members. They deal with doctors and nurses, laboratory technicians, and support workers in various locations. Needless to say, on their rounds they will deal with both sick and healthy patients, from newborns to senior citizens.

Work Hours

Phlebotomists usually work regular office hours (Mo-Fr 8 AM to 5 PM). Sometimes they may have to work on weekends. Phlebotomists need to have an up-to-date First Aid Certificate, and they need to have a driver's licence if they are required to travel to collect samples.

Salary

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, research indicates that salaries reports that earnings are wildly varied, and levels of pay are mainly governed by qualifications and experience. Once established, competent phlebotomists who have maintained a stellar reputation are able to stay at the top of the pay scale. Currently the average salary is $32,000 - $46,000 for phlebotomists.

Educational Requirements

Students with an interest in attending a vocational program specializing in phlebotomy certification typically will need to have their GED, H.S. Diploma, or the equivalent. Although many phlebotomists are trained on the job or transition over from other health careers, in Kern County, there are 5 approved programs at technical/vocational schools that can be completed in less than one year.

Bakersfield Community College offers a One Semester phlebotomy certification program.

Skills Refinement

As with so many jobs learning does not end upon graduation. Since this is a hands-on profession, skills that were taught in the classroom are refined on the job. As the number of blood draws increases, the more confidence is gained, and the better the blood drawing techniques become.

Professional Continuing Education

In addition to taking continuing education courses through web sites or professional magazines phlebotomists can attend professional continuing education courses and participate in workshops often offered at local hospitals to keep their knowledge up to date and maintain their credentials.

10 Tips From A Student Nutritionist In California

Keeping close to nature in the foods we choose allows us to maximize our health potential; we feel better, and live longer with less risk if a chronic disease.  Eating pure and whole foods will strengthen the entire body.  Make the following changes slowly, to ensure that they are incorporated as part of a permanent lifestyle change. For students researching how to become a nutritionist in California, the following 10 guidelines are becoming increasingly acceptable by mainstream Acend Registered Dietitians:

1.  Eat more plant based proteins: soy milk, tofu, dried beans and legumes (chick peas, black eyes peas, kidney beans, split pea), nuts & seeds and their butters, sprouted breads and bagels, quiona, splet, wheat berries, millet and other high protein grains, soy protein powder. When you do eat meat, choose lean cuts of meat and boil, bake, roast or steam.
2. Eliminate hydrogenated and trans fats from your diet. Check all labels carefully as they are in many packaged, frozen and prepared foods. Instead of margarine use organic butter or ghee (clarified butter, a very clean version of butter). Make your own salad dressings with olive oil. Cook with canola or macadamia nut oil. Sprinkle flax seeds in soups hot cereal. Foods with good fats in them include: avocado, nuts & seeds, tuna, salmon cod, sardines and trout.
3. Drink plenty of clean water; either bottled or filtered. Follow manufacture's directions for changing filters, dirty filters give dirty water. Read more about clean water.
4. Buy organic produce and try to eat 5-10 servings per day. When cooking vegetables lightly steam or stir fry with canola oil. Invest in a juicer and juice fruits and vegetables for a nutrient dense snack. Limit fruit intake (1-3 servings/day) and focus on vegetables. If you feel like your diet is lacking in fruits and vegetables take a supplement rich in carotenoids, or a xanthone rich juice.
5. When you eat diary, meat, or poultry, buy organic, hormone free, no antibiotics.
6. Reduce the intake of sugar in your diet. Try using the following to replace sugar while cooking- honey, raw sugar, pure maple syrup, pureed apple juice concentrate, barley malt syrup, pureed fruits. Read labels and note hidden sugars: sucrose, glucose, maltose, lactose, fructose, and corn syrup. Experiment with stevia in your cooking. Stevia is a herbal, no calorie natural sweetener and flavor enhancer.
7. Ensure adequate fiber intake everyday by eating high fiber foods: whole grains, fresh produce, brown rice, oatmeal,  beans and legumes. Take a fiber supplement if necessary. Add fiber slowly to the diet. Ensure adequate water intake to prevent constipation. Take fiber supplements separate from other supplements as it will interfere with other supplements.
8. Ensure adequate calcium intake through foods or a calcium supplement. High calcium foods are spinach, kale, collards, seaweeds, low fat and hormone free diary products, soy milk. Take a calcium and magnesium supplement; they work together synergistically. Vitamin D is needed to metabolize calcium. Ensure Vitamin D intake, through supplementation, exposure to sunlight, Vitamin D fortified milks and cereals, and salmon.
9. Processed and packaged foods contain many additives, artificial coloring and flavors, and preservatives such as nitrates and MSG. Avoid these foods as much as possible.
10. Take a food based multi-vitamin/mineral complex everyday. Men, children and post-menopausal women should take a multi-vitamin/mineral complex without iron. Women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin/mineral complex with iron. 

Probiotics: Strengthening the Immune System Against Infections

These friendly bacteria help fight microorganisms that can harm us

Immune Defense

In the early 1900s the Russian immunologist Elie Metchnikoff theorized that taking yogurt with lactic-acid producing microorganisms throughout life could be the primary factor explaining the difference in life expectancy among various ethnic groups.

In a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemistry (JAC), researchers explain the idea that bacteria in fermented products help to balance out unhealthy microorganisms. This helps the normal human microflora to continue to act as a strong barrier against illness-causing microorganisms from both internal and external sources.

Every day people around the world come into contact with millions of microorganisms that can cause infections. Thanks to the human immune system we’re normally able to successfully battle these infections. The immune system is a network consisting of cells, tissues and organs. White blood cells or leukocytes proactively destroy the microorganisms that cause disease or infections.

The two basic types of leukocytes are phagocytes, which destroy infections, and lymphocytes, which help your body to recognize organisms you’ve been exposed to previously and to destroy them. Lymphocytes are the cells that produce the antibodies, which continue to reside in your body and make you immune to a particular disease or infection.

According to the JAC study, probiotics play several roles in boosting the immune system and preventing or treating infections, beyond increasing the amount of healthy bacteria. Probiotics limit the colonization or multiplication of disease-causing bacteria. They also produce antimicrobial substances such as bacteriocins, organic acids and peptides.

The study also indicates that some strains of bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) have adjuvant-like effects. Basically this means that they make the immune system respond more effectively to infections.

Studies show that probiotics can prevent or treat infections in the gastrointestinal tract such as ulcers and viral gastroenteritis (or stomach flu). Other research shows that LGG and Saccharomyces boulardii are also very effective in treating children with diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Lactobacillus GG is also an effective treatment for diarrhea caused by antibiotic use.

Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that taking the probiotics L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14, which exist in the intestine and vagina, orally can help to treat infections of the urogenital tract, and keep it healthy.

The most common species of probiotics used in foods and supplements are Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, or Streptococcus thermophilus. However, in many cases the probiotics in food have been killed. When you’re choosing probiotics to boost your immune system and fight infections, look for those with “live bacteria.”

Sources:

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2002) 50, 625-627. Probiotics in human infections
Å. Sullivan and C. E. Nord.
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/5/625#DKF194C6

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 73, No. 2, 437S-443s, February 2001 Probiotic agents to protect the urogenital tract against infection. Gregor Reid.
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/5/625#DKF194C6

Nutritional Coaching

nu·tri·tion / n(y)o͞oˈtriSHən/ Noun:   The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. Food; nourishment.

Everything you put in your mouth has a benefit or a consequence. When we eat nutrient-dense, properly prepared whole foods our bodies thrive. When we eat processed, chemically concocted foods, our bodies suffer. Our bodies get confused by all of the weird, unnatural, hard to pronounce “ingredients” we eat on a daily basis. Your body does its best to adapt, but eventually it will protest by giving you all sorts of problems and symptoms that look like this:

• ALLERGIES
• ECZEMA
• SINUS INFECTIONS
• FATIGUE
• SLEEP DISORDERS
• PSORIASIS
• MIGRAINES
• ANXIETY
• MUSCLE CRAMPING
• ACNE
• ACHY JOINTS
• HEMORRHOIDS
• BLOATING and GAS
• DIARRHEA
• CONSTIPATION
• MENTAL SLUGGISHNESS
• DIFFICULTY LOSING WEIGHT
• REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES
• HORMONAL IMBALANCE
• MENSTRUAL DISORDERS
• MOOD SWINGS
• DEPRESSION
• TEETH CLENCHING
• DARK CIRCLES
• HEARTBURN
• FOOD CRAVINGS
• DRY SKIN
• DEPRESSION
• DECREASED LIBIDO
• ASTHMA…. 

just to name a few.

Make the connection between food and health.

A Nutritional Coach evaluates your health profile to find what macro and micro nutrient deficiencies may be contributing to your health issues. The uniqueness or “bio-individuality” of each person means that there is no one-size-fits-all nutritional plan. A Nutritional Coach will work with you to create a personal protocol to fit your particular needs and goals. Getting the appropriate nutrients transported effectively throughout your body means better health and overall wellness. To consider if Nutritional Coaching is a good fit for you, Google "Nutritional Coach", and make sure you read their reviews, check their bona-fides, and consider setting up an appointment.

How To Become A Nutritionist | Dietitian Definition

A Registered Dietitian: The Nutrition Expert

A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements enabling an individual to possess the credential "RD." As members of the health care team, RDs provide an essential component of medical care—medical nutrition therapy (MNT).

Medical Nutrition Therapy

MNT is the assessment of the nutrition status of a client followed by therapy, ranging from diet modification to the administration of specialized nutrition therapies such as intravenous or tube feeding. MNT includes review and analysis of medical and dietary history, laboratory values, and anthropometric measurements. It involves management of appropriate nutrition intake and self-management training.

RD Requirements

• Complete an approved program in dietetics and a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Complete supervised practical experience in an accredited dietetic internship, program in dietetics, or professional dietetics practice program
• Pass a national registration exam
• Maintain continuing education credits

Areas of Practice

Registered dietitians are trained to work in many areas of practice:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Digestive diseases
• Enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Heart disease
• Perinatal care
• Pressure ulcer management

Employment Settings

• Hospitals
• Clinics and ambulatory care centers
• MCOs
• Physician practices
• Private practice
• Consultation
• Community and public health programs
• Extended and long-term care facilities
• Home care

State Regulation

Many states and commonwealths also have laws regulating dietetics practitioners. These laws safeguard the public by establishing and enforcing minimum competency standards for persons working in a regulated profession, and those researching how to become a nutritionist.

The State of California has registration. Registration is an entitlement law that prohibits use of the title "dietitian" by persons not meeting state-mandated qualifications.  

Nutritional Education & Preventative Measures

The American Heart Association states that the best approach to preventing illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and stroke is diet and exercise. This is great because what is in our own control can be changed in as short a time frame as a matter of weeks. if you have a family member/loved one who has had heart surgery at a relatively young age, with lifestyle choices being a contributing factor, learning from that can provide first-hand experience that changing our eating and exercise habits has an immediate impact on our body and it’s metabolism. Even though the weight loss may not show as immediately as we wish, the blood chemistry begins to improve immediately and so our overall health will follow.

In the past 7 years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people eating according to the guidelines given in the American Diabetes Association nutritional resource guide. Eat according to their guidelines to give yourself the best chance at a long life of wellness. Canola oil is one of our best choices for use in food preparation since it has the highest amount of omega 3 in its composition, compared to other available cooking oils. This means less saturated fat consumption and more of the “good” fat. Habits are created by repeating the same behavior time and time again. Whether we make the right choices or develop the right habits is totally within our control.

American Diabetes Association Resource Guide

We all have favorite foods we eat time and time again. All we need to do to make a very substantial positive change to our personal health is to find about 10 favorite dishes from The American Diabetes Association nutritional resource guide and make those our favorite recipes to eat repeatedly, while retiring our unhealthy favorites.

Olive Oil and Balsamic Appreciation

NOTE: (Gross) Vegan Recipe submitted by Cal State Bakersfield Nutritionist student Alexandria Woodbridge :

Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are two products that vegans eat every day or every week, and yet most of us know too little about the range of possible flavors in both products. Since I can’t recommend a vegan cheese tasting party because in my mind, vegan cheese isn’t quite good enough at this point to warrant one, this soiree will allow vegans to appreciate olive oil and balsamic in a similar way.


To get more information on the range of flavors for olive oil, please visit The Olive Oil Source website and look at their tasting sheets for olive oil. You can print out a few of them as a reference for your guests at this party. As far as tasting balsamic vinegar, it is very similar to wine tasting as it is also made from grapes. Learn a bit more about balsamic vinegar by visiting its Wikipedia page.

Now to get down to the nitty gritty of this soiree.  Purchase three bottles of fine olive oil and three bottles of fine balsamic vinegar from an Italian food store. As these products keep for quite some time and are always a necessity in the kitchen, don’t feel guilty about the splurge.

Now arrange small bowls or dipping plates around your home with the oils and vinegars in them. Some can be in the kitchen, some on the windowsill, some on the balcony, etc…  The reason I like the oils and vinegars scattered is that it allows people to move around your home instead of being stuck in one place.

Place each bottle besides the bowl or plate containing the product, so that guests can note the ones they really enjoy. Now scatter lots of bread baskets around the house as well, containing a nice range of baguettes (some soft, some toasted), foccacia bread, and other types of light colored breads that will allow the full flavor of the oils and vinegars to come through.

This soiree is very simple and can be the vegan equivalent of a wine and cheese. Make sure to provide some good background music, wine, and the menu below which uses balsamic vinegar and olive oil as ingredients in the dishes.

Menu

Drinks

Red and White Wine

Appetizers

A myriad of baguettes and other lovely breads to dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Baked Portobello Mushroom and Tomato Salad

Preheat the oven to 350.
Scrape the gills from portobello mushroooms caps using a spoon.  One per person.
Fill mushroom cap with 1 Tbs of pesto (recipe to follow) and top with breadcrumbs.
Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the mushroom is very fragrant.  You can broil the breadcrumbs if you’d like them a bit more golden.
Now serve on a plate with a few slices of tomato drizzled with olive oil, balsamic, salt, and pepper.

To make the Pesto: In a blender, food processor, or bullet, blend 1 bunch of fresh basil with a few handfuls of either pine nuts or walnuts, a few Tbs of vegan parmesan cheese, 1 clove of garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, a few splashes of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. There are many possible variations to pesto, including the use of sundried tomatoes, spicy eggplant, or fresh black olives. You can use this recipe for many things, including the traditional use, served over pasta.

Main Course

Fiddlehead Risotto

Fiddleheads are baby ferns that haven’t yet unfurled.  They have a very distinctive taste and work well in this risotto.


In a medium or large cooking pot, fry 3 cups of cleaned and trimmed whole fiddleheads, 1 bunch of  chopped green onions, and 8 tofurkey slices cut into thin strips in 2 Tbs of olive oil.

• When everything is golden, add 2 cups of risotto rice (arborio rice) and continue to fry for a few minutes to give the rice a bit of color.
• Prepare 6 cups of cold vegetarian stock (I like to use vegetarian chicken stock from the Trader Joe's) making it only mildly salty in a large mixing bowl.
• Now using a soup ladle, ladle 1 spoonful of the stock into the rice and stir until the liquid is absorbed.  Now repeat, adding the stock 1 ladle-full at a time and giving the rice a few minutes to absorb the stock each time while stirring constantly.  Continue to add stock until the rice is cooked thoroughly, stirring constantly.  This process will take about 20-25 minutes.
• Once the rice is cooked, stir in 1/3  cup of plain flavored soy coffee creamer, 3 Tbs of pesto (recipe above with the Baked Mushroom Salad recipe), 1/4 cup of vegan parmesan cheese, and pepper to taste.  You probably won’t need to add salt.

Serve topped with a bit of finely chopped green onion.

Dessert

Olive Oil Chocolate Cake with Candied Mint

For this recipe, prepare the candied mint at least a day before you plan to serve the cake.

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• In a 10-inch round springform cake pan or any other 10-inch round baking dish, mix together with a whisk;
• 1 1/4 cups of white or pastry flour
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of salt
• Whisk dry ingredients until they are well mixed.  Now to the dry ingredients, add;
• 1 cup of soymilk
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• 1 Tbs of lemon juice
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• Whisk until batter is smooth, wipe edges of cake pan with a paper towel, and bake for 40 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean.)

To make the candied mint:

Melt 2 Tbs of honey or other liquid sweetener in the microwave for 15 seconds in a small bowl.
Working quickly, brush 8 nice mint leaves and 1 mint sprig (the tip of the plant) with the honey and dip them in fine sugar. Allow them to dry for a day or two. Arrange the 8 pieces of mint in a circle around the chocolate cake and put the sprig in the middle. Serve the cake with vanilla soy ice cream.

How To Become A Nutritionist | Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes Insipidus is a disease classified as diabetes but not related to the common types of diabetes. It is the result of the body not producing, storing or releasing a key hormone ADH (antidiuretic hormone also called AVP arginine vasopressint. This is the hormone that affects the kidneys). The kidneys are unable to respond to this hormone causing a deficiency resulting in the condition known as diabetes insipidus. The kidneys are most effected therefore diabetes insipidus is primarily a kidney disease. The characteristics of diabetes insipidus are excessive severe thirst (usually the person cannot get enough water and they mostly crave very cold water, ice water or just ice) and excretion of large amounts of urine that is severely diluted. Persons with diabetes insipidus can excrete if the condition is mild, up to 2.6 quarts of urine per day or if severe up to 16 quarts and this will go on day and night frequently having to go to the bathroom. Even if the person has a reduced fluid intake this will not have an effect on the amount of urine excreted.

Diabetes insipidus includes two different types with the most common being central diabetes insipidus or CDI as it is called, caused by a deficiency of arginine vasopressin or AVP, the hormone that affects the kidneys also known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH. Nutritionist students study ADH in great detail. The second type is called nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. This is a disease of the kidney caused by an improper response of the kidney to the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) leading to a decreased ability of the kidney to concentrate urine. Diabetes insipidus is classified into four different classifications. They are: neurogenic diabetes insipidus also known as central diabetes insipidus. This condition caused by a lack of vasopressin production in the brain is the most common type. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is the inability of the kidneys to respond to the antidiuretic hormone ADH. Dispogenic diabetes insipidus is due to a defect or damage in the hypothalamus of the brain that regulates thirst, and gestational diabetes insipidus only occurs in pregnancy when the pregnant woman produces too much vasopressin in the placenta thereby breaking down the antidiuretic hormone ADH resulting in an extreme form of gestational diabetes insipidus. The good news is that this type of diabetes generally leaves the woman within 4 to 6 weeks of giving birth. However in some instances medical treatment is necessary.

Diagnosis of diabetes insipidus includes a battery of medical tests to determine if the patient has the condition and if so at what stage of severity has diabetes insipidus progressed to. The common tests conducted are: the blood glucose test to determine the level of blood glucose in the blood, the bicarbonate (chemical acid) test to check for acidic levels in the blood, and the calcium test to detemine calcium levels. Blood electrolytes are also measured and a urinalysis taken to determine diabetes insipidus present in urine. Unlike diabetes mellitus where there is a sweet smell of urine due to excessive amount of glucose or polysuria with diabetes insipidus there is no smell of sweetness in the urine. Persons with any of the common symptoms of diabetes should immediately be checked out for the possibility of diabetes insipidus or any other form of diabetes.

Treatment for diabetes insipidus is based on a drug regimen predicated on what classificaiton of diabetes insipidus the patient has. With central and gestational diabetes insipidus the treatment is with the drug desmopressin which is a synthetic replacement for vasopressin. For nephrogenic diabetes insipidus treatment is with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide a drug that acts to inhibit the kidney’s ability to retain water. Dispogenic diabetes insipidus the drug carbamazepine is used because it is a anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug.

Easy Breakfast Ideas for Diabetics

There is a saying that goes, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” However, this saying is not really applicable for diabetics, given the nature of their disease. Much thought should be given to a diabetic’s breakfast eating plan, since there are studies showing that a balanced breakfast can help control a diabetic’s blood sugar levels later in the day. Remember that diabetes is a chronic illness; therefore compliance with regard to dietary modifications and lifestyle changes in general is of utmost importance.

The key to a diabetes diet plan is to eat a balanced nutritious meal at moderate amounts and at fixed and regular times throughout the day. Skipping breakfast, therefore, is definitely not an option if you want to manage your blood sugar levels effectively. There should be a balanced amount of carbohydrates in a diabetic’s breakfast every morning, around 45 to 60 grams to jump-start the day. In order to help determine your caloric intake, you can consult your nutritionist regarding your diet. However, there are simple preparations that you can do for breakfast that have been proven to be diabetes-friendly.

Cereals and oatmeal are recommended as foods for diabetics because they contain just the right amount of carbohydrates for diabetic people. You can consume these cereals either as hot or cold, depending on your preference. You can couple these cereals with a cup of milk and a piece of fruit for a totally healthy and yummy breakfast. One consideration that you need to take note of is that you should choose unsweetened cereals with lots of fiber. This is extremely beneficial to diabetics since this will help keep blood sugar levels in check.

A diabetic diet plan for breakfast can also include sandwiches, specifically the egg sandwich, since eggs are rich sources of protein. Egg sandwiches are often enough to satisfy the appetite of diabetics. Moreover, the wheat bread that you use for a sandwich can be a good source of carbohydrates for diabetics. Another creative way to eat eggs is through cooking it into an omelet so as to provide variety to your daily breakfast. You can also put the omelet in an English muffin together with lean ham and mustard for a tasty breakfast treat. Again, you can pair your sandwich with a fruit and a cup of milk. Diabetics also often suffer from high cholesterol levels, so it is advisable to get rid of egg yolks and just eat the white part of the egg instead. However, occasional intake of egg yolks is not bad, probably just one to two times per week to keep your cholesterol levels within acceptable limits.
As for your drinks, you can create a smoothie made from your favorite fresh fruits. You can mix a cup of skim milk with two servings of the fruits of your choice. Another alternative to skim milk is nonfat yogurt. Make sure that you do not add extra sweeteners to your smoothie. Hydration is also important for diabetics, so you should also consume lots of water for breakfast.