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If you were recently diagnosed with diabetes, it’s very important to keep on top of your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about testing blood glucose.

When Should I Test?

While you should double check with your healthcare provider, the best time for testing blood glucose is before every meal and two to four hours after eating if possible. This means you’ll be testing three to six times per day. Additional times to test include:

• During periods of stress or illness
• While pregnant
• When you suspect your blood glucose is low
• When you change medications

How Do I Find a Good Glucose Meter?

Ask your doctor which one he or she recommends. Then, find a glucose meter with features important to you, such as portability, ease of use, a b...

If you rely on a power scooter to get around, you want to take proper care of it so it lasts for many years. Regular cleaning and maintenance is important for your scooter to remain in good working condition. Here’s how to maintain, inspect and clean a power scooter.

The first step before performing any maintenance is to turn off the scooter’s power and disconnect the power cord. Remember, these are general tips for caring for your power scooter. Always refer to the manufacturer’s product manual for more information about your specific mobility device.

Dust and Clean a Power Scooter

Keeping your scooter dusted and clean helps it look great and run smoothly. Here’s what you should do:

• Dust all exposed surfaces with a soft, dry cloth.
• Apply glass cleaner or liquid soap to a cloth an...

Wearing compression socks improves circulation by preventing fluid build-up in the legs. The improved circulation helps prevent edema, or leg swelling.

Here are five situations when your doctor might recommend compression socks as part of a treatment plan:

When damage to the lymphatic system occurs due to cancer treatment or other causes, a lymphedema pump can provide beneficial home treatment. Convenient home treatment is especially helpful for patients who don’t live near a treatment location, lack transpiration or want to save money and time long term.

Medical experts offer many options to help with relieving pain from a tailbone injury. Called by the medical term coccydynia, a tailbone injury can be caused by trauma from a fall or other accident, giving birth, having an abnormally mobile tailbone and, on rare occasion, from infection, tumor or fractures. Oftentimes, the cause is deemed idiopathic, or unknown.

Formerly simple activities like bathing and showering can become challenging after surgical procedures. When bathing after surgery, your incisions typically must stay dry for a while, so be sure to shower after surgery only when your doctor tells you it’s okay. Follow doctor’s instructions carefully, no matter what you read here or anywhere online. General post-surgery bathing or showering tips include:

• Opt for sponge baths until you’re able to shower safely.
• Unless your physician instructs you otherwise, remove wound dressings or bandages before taking your shower. However, certain waterproof bandages can be left on while showering.
• If you have paper strips on top of your surgical incisions, they should start peeling off during showers...

When caring for a bedridden family member or loved one, you’re naturally concerned with their comfort. For the home use of a hospital bed, use these tips to make it as comfortable as possible.

Choosing a walker to assist with your mobility can be a bit complicated. Once you’ve made your choice and mastered its use, however, you’ll be pleased at your improved abilities. You’ll soon be able to go about your daily routine more safely and comfortably. Here are some useful tips to help you choose a walker wisely:

There are many medical reasons for using a stethoscope, including assessing lung, heart and bowel sounds and detecting narrowed arteries, which produce whooshing sounds called bruits. The stethoscope can also be used to help measure blood pressure along with a blood pressure cuff.

Leg and foot ulcers are slow-healing or recurring open wounds on the lower extremities.