American Diabetes Association Archives

Prediabetes, Could It Be You?

November 10, 2017 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

According to the centers for disease control, one out of three people in the United States have prediabetes, and nine out of 10 Prediabetics DON’T KNOW they are!

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and I want you to to be aware of this problem that nine out of 10 people do not even know they have. Maybe you have never even heard of the term prediabetes. So what is it? Having Prediabetes means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If you have Prediabetes, then you may be at risk for type II diabetes. The CDC has developed a simple test to score yourself and see if you are possibly Prediabetic. If your score indicates that you are Prediabetic, then I recommend that you make an appointment with your health care provider as soon as possible.

Type II Diabetes is known as a lifestyle disease and it can be prevented. Statistics show that 15-30% of people with Prediabetes will develop Type II Diabetes within five years. You can prevent and/or reverse your Prediabetic condition, and possibly prevent the onset of Type II Diabetes by incorporating these three simple habits into your daily routine.

The number one thing you must do is learn to eat a more healthy and balanced diet, a diet that includes a good lean protein and fruits and vegetables. In addition, you must drink more pure water and less sugary drinks, such as sodas.
The second habit you need to add to your routine is being more active by incorporating daily exercise. You don’t have to join a crossfit gym, but you do have to get up and be intentional about being active every day. If you haven’t been active in years, just walking 30 minutes a day would make a huge difference in your body.
The third recommendation is to lose those extra pounds you’ve been carrying around. Of course if you do follow my first two recommendations that should happen naturally. If you are diligent, it will be quick at first, which will feel great! It will slowly taper off though, so don’t be discouraged. Just get the ball rolling and it will pick up speed!

Check out my latest episode on The Feeling Good Podcast, “90: Help! We Have an Epidemic – What Can We Do to Stop It?” where I talk about prevention, reversal and management of diabetes.

Schedule a call with me today for a FREE health consultation and find the right coaching package to get you feeling good again!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Christmas Movie Series #1 “Why Buddy the Elf Really is Magical”

December 17, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

This week I have my editor, and first born son, Cody Carson guest writing on the blog. He and his wife live in North Carolina where they are missionaries with the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club. You can find out more about their ministry by clicking here!

Buddy the Elf really is magical! If you don’t know who I’m talking about then you probably haven’t seen the hilarious movie Elf, starring Will Ferrel. It is one of my and my wife’s favorite Christmas movies, and we’ve seen it on television several times throughout this Christmas season.

I’ll catch up on it if you have never seen it, no spoilers here because you really should watch it ASAP if you haven’t had the pleasure … Buddy is a human orphan that climbed into Santa’s bag of toys as a baby. He was taken back to the North Pole and raised as an Elf. As he grew though, all the other Elves began to notice that he was a little different, mostly because he was three times their size, but Buddy never considered the fact that he wasn’t an elf. It wasn’t until he was 30 years old that his world came crashing down around him! Papa Elf, his adopted father, told Buddy that he was a human and who his real father was. Upon learning that news Buddy set out on a journey to New York to find his father and throughout the movie his Elf culture continually and hilariously clashes with human culture.

One major difference in the two cultures is the food they eat. As Buddy explained at his father’s dinner table one night, Elves have four major food groups: Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corns, and Syrup. Now this is where the magic really comes into play, because if that is mostly what elves eat, then they wouldn’t be cute and little for long. Buddy the Elf, who is already 6’4″ would probably be over 500 pounds, if that is what he had eaten his whole life. With a sugar filled diet like that, every elf would certainly be type II diabetic. They wouldn’t have a need for those cute little wooden shoes anymore, because both of their feet would have to be amputated. There would be no more time for making toys, because they would have to be making insulin just to survive.

We laugh at the silliness of Will Ferrel’s character, but during the holiday’s how many of our own diets aren’t too dissimilar from his four main food groups? We have to realize that we aren’t magical like Buddy, and that we can’t continue to eat unhealthy diets and still be healthy people. It just doesn’t work like that for humans! However, there are several ways we can imitate Buddy that will help us have a more enjoyable Christmas season!

Buddy always has a smile on his face, and he takes it upon himself to use his smile to spread Christmas cheer! I would challenge you to do the same. Don’t be caught with a frown on your face this Christmas!

Buddy is unapologetic about love! For the people that mean the most to you make sure they know it this Christmas! Don’t let the year end without telling your family and friends that you love them.

Compliment people this Christmas! Everyone hears enough criticism on a daily basis. Be the one to break the negativity cycle and use your words to build people up and put a smile on their face and yours!

Although Buddy’s diet borders on the worst I’ve ever seen, his Elf character traits is something we can all aspire to this Christmas. If we can eat less like Buddy and act more like him then we will all have a merrier Christmas!

Merry Christmas from North Carolina,

Cody Carson

*All Images property of New Line Cinema

Prediabetes, Are You One of The 9 Who Doesn’t Know?

November 13, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

According to the centers for disease control, 1 out of 3 people in the United States are Prediabetic, and 9 out of 10 Prediabetics DON’T KNOW they are!

November is national diabetes awareness month, and I want you to to be aware of this problem that nine out of 10 people do not even know they have. Maybe you have never even heard of the term Prediabetes. So what is it? Having Prediabetes means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If you have Prediabetes, then you may be at risk for type II diabetes. The CDC has developed a simple test to score yourself and see if you are possibly Prediabetic. Click here to get a copy of the test! If your score indicates that you are Prediabetic, then I recommend that you make an appointment with your health care provider as soon as possible.

The number one thing you must do is learn to eat a more healthy and balanced diet, a diet that includes a good lean protein and fruits and vegetables. In addition, you must drink more pure water and less sugary drinks, such as sodas.
The second habit you need to add to your routine is being more active by incorporating daily exercise. You don’t have to join a crossfit gym, but you do have to get up and be intentional about being active every day. If you haven’t been active in years, just walking 30 minutes a day would make a huge difference in your body.
The third recommendation is to lose those extra pounds you’ve been carrying around. Of course if you do follow my first two recommendations that should happen naturally. If you are diligent, it will be quick at first, which will feel great! It will slowly taper off though, so don’t be discouraged. Just get the ball rolling and it will pick up speed!

Take this risk seriously! The Diabetes epidemic is at an all time high in the United States and in the world today. I encourage you to do your part, start living a healthier lifestyle, and help put a stop to this epidemic! If you’re not sure how to get started with these recommendations and don’t believe you have the will power to do it on your own, don’t be discouraged. You’re not alone, many others, just like you, feel the same way. That is one of the reasons I created the Fine in 49 online health course, to help people reach their health goals and lead a more balanced, healthy and vibrant life. Our first official class will begin on Monday January 4th, 2016, just in time to stick to those New Years Resolutions and make 2016 the best year of your life! Go to www.carsonnatural.com/finein49 to get more information or to sign up today!

If you or someone you know is struggling with Prediabetes or Diabetes and would like to have personal health coaching contact me at [email protected]

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Exercise is NOT a Dirty Word!

August 30, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Last year I attended a certified lifestyle coach training program conducted by the CDC under their initiative to combat the growing epidemic of diabetes.

The program was geared toward teaching pre-diabetic patients to make lifestyle changes to prevent them from becoming a full blown diabetic. We were taught in this course to shy away from using the word exercise, and replace it with the term physical activity instead. Their logic was that people are more likely to participate in something that is called physical activity than exercise, sort of like how people don’t want to be buried in a grave yard anymore but rather in a memorial garden. Regardless of the logic, it is the current state of affairs, and if calling it physical activity instead of exercise will help somebody be more proactive about taking care of their health then I can support it.

Exercise or physical activity should be part of our daily routine, as I believe it is essential to living a healthier and more vibrant life. It’s benefits have been proven over and over with numerous clinical studies. I live a very busy lifestyle, as do most other people in this crazy world we live in today, and I strive every day to include exercise as a part of my daily routine. I believe you can do this as well and these recommendations can help!

First change your attitude about exercise! Unless you have a major physical disability, exercise is not that hard. As I recently told the “Fine in 49” class that I am teaching, it’s a matter of having the will to do so. Will is the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action. As a famous athletic company once said, “Just Do It!” Second plan for it, and schedule it even! Are we so busy that we can’t even carve out 30 minutes for physical activity? Most people spend much more time than that watching television every day. If you can’t turn the TV off, exercise while you’re watching. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Third, acknowledge that exercise really can be fun. There are many physical activities that we can include our family or friends in. I have a pre-diabetic client that on most evenings can be found with her family riding bikes together. I tend to work out alone most of the time because it’s a great stress reliever for me, but I also enjoy long walks along our country road with my family. I recently went hiking in the mountains, something that was a tremendous amount of fun for me; however, if I was not consistently physically active, I would not have been able to enjoy those beautiful mountain trails.

If you need a little motivation to help you get started with an exercise or fitness plan, then all it should take is a quick look around at the all the unhealthy people that surround you. Sadly they are everywhere today. Also think about your friends, colleagues, or family that may have died or become disabled way earlier than they should have because they didn’t take care of their bodies with physical activity. Look at the diabetes epidemic we are facing today in the United States and even in other parts of the world. I have no doubt in my mind that making physical activity or exercise a part of your daily routine can make a difference in all of these cases. I want to encourage all of you who may be thinking, “Well I’m too old to exercise or I’m not physically able to exercise” to not let that discourage you from starting a fitness program of your own today. If a 75 year old widow lady can start walking 30 minutes a day and lifting weights then why can’t you? If Rosie, a lady with debilitating arthritis, can start lifting small 1 pound weights every day to strengthen her muscles and bones, what’s preventing you from starting a program? It doesn’t matter your age or your disability, there are a variety of different physical activities that you can get involved in, so don’t wait another day. Get started today living a healthier and more vibrant life. I understand that everybody’s situation is different and that you may have some issues where some types of physical activity or exercise could cause you harm, so please consult with your health professional before starting any type of exercise program. Let’s get moving, let’s get healthy, and let’s get happy!

If you’re interested in starting your own fitness plan or having a health coach help you achieve a new level of wellness, then please fill out the contact form. Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Connect With Me On Social Media

Get Fit, Don’t Sit! 4 Ways to Combat Your Sedentary Workplace

May 7, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

May 6th, 2015 was the inaugural Get Fit Don’t Sit day sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.

This is a cause that I can definitely get behind. Each year most Americans are living a more sedentary lifestyle than before. Check out these alarming statistics on the effects of a sedentary lifestyle from this infographic from the American Diabetes Association! Most of our jobs confine us to a desk and more days than not we’re so tired and stressed when we get home that sitting or sleeping is what we end up doing there as well. Our bodies are crying out for activity and we have to answer the call. I want to provide you with four low impact office exercises that you can perform to break up the 5-8 hours of sitting a day while at work. Research shows that it is best to get active every 90 minutes and that activity increases blood flow, concentration, and energy levels. So for your next day at the office try and follow this routine based on the typical 8 – 5 work-day.

Work Day Workout

8:00 – Arrive at work after a healthy breakfast, ready for the day!

9:30 – Time for first break, jump up and push your chair under your desk and do 2 or 3 sets of Air Sqauts. Place your feet shoulder width apart and your arms stretched out in front of you. Bend your knees, while keeping your back straight and your head up. Do 15 in a row and take a 1:00 minute rest between sets.

9:40 – Back to work and feeling good!

11:10 – Lunch may be coming soon, but before you go eat you chips and dip at your local Mexican place do 2 or 3 sets of Desk Dips. Place your chair to either side of you and face away from your desk. Put your palms on the desk and with your knees slightly bent dip down until your elbows form 90 degree angles and then push yourself back up. Do 10 in a row and take a 1:00 minute rest between sets. For added difficulty place your feet in your chair!

12:30 – Back from lunch and back on the grind!

2:00 – This next exercise is a core, hamstring, and leg exercise that you don’t have to leave your chair for, but you will need to turn it around to face away from the desk. It’s the Wooden Leg! Place your hands on the chair by your sides, keeping your back straight and one foot flat on the floor. Raise the other foot straight in front of you. Hold it there for 5 seconds, and then raise it as high as you can for 5 seconds. Exercise each leg 10 times!

2:10 – On the home stretch!

3:40 – Final exercise for the day is a twist on an oldie but a goodie, Desk Push-Ups. Move your chair aside and while facing the desk place your hands on it. Keep your back and legs straight and drop your body until your elbows are at 90 degrees and then push yourself up. Perform 2 or 3 sets of 10 taking a 1:00 break in between. For added difficulty, drop down on the floor for a traditional push-up.

3:50 – Only one hour left between you and the door. Finish strong with the extra energy you’ve given yourself from staying active!

There are plenty of other ways to stay active at work as well. Replacing your chair with an exercise ball increases core strength and improves posture, and another way that is becoming increasingly common is using a stand up desk. If you have any questions about additional ways of leading a healthier life, fill out the contact form on CarsonNatural.com or click the Ask Dr. Phil Microphone.

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

According to the centers for disease control, one out of three people in the United States have prediabetes, and nine out of 10 Prediabetics DON’T KNOW they are!

Check out my latest episode on The Feeling Good Podcast, “90: Help! We Have an Epidemic – What Can We Do to Stop It?” where I talk about prevention, reversal and management of diabetes.

Schedule a call with me today for a FREE health consultation and find the right coaching package to get you feeling good again!

*This week I have my editor, and first born son, Cody Carson guest writing on the blog. He and his wife live in North Carolina where they are missionaries with the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club. You can find out more about their ministry by clicking here!*

Buddy the Elf really is magical! If you don’t know who I’m talking about then you probably haven’t seen the hilarious movie Elf, starring Will Ferrel. It is one of my and my wife’s favorite Christmas movies, and we’ve seen it on television several times throughout this Christmas season.

Buddy always has a smile on his face, and he takes it upon himself to use his smile to spread Christmas cheer! I would challenge you to do the same. Don’t be caught with a frown on your face this Christmas!

Buddy is unapologetic about love! For the people that mean the most to you make sure they know it this Christmas! Don’t let the year end without telling your family and friends that you love them.

Compliment people this Christmas! Everyone hears enough criticism on a daily basis. Be the one to break the negativity cycle and use your words to build people up and put a smile on their face and yours!

Although Buddy’s diet borders on the worst I’ve ever seen, his Elf character traits is something we can all aspire to this Christmas. If we can eat less like Buddy and act more like him then we will all have a merrier Christmas!

Merry Christmas from North Carolina,

Cody Carson

*All Images property of New Line Cinema

According to the centers for disease control, 1 out of 3 people in the United States are Prediabetic, and 9 out of 10 Prediabetics DON’T KNOW they are!

Last year I attended a certified lifestyle coach training program conducted by the CDC under their initiative to combat the growing epidemic of diabetes.

Connect With Me On Social Media

May 6th, 2015 was the inaugural Get Fit Don’t Sit day sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.

Work Day Workout

Connect With Me On Social Media

This week I have my editor, and first born son, Cody Carson guest writing on the blog. He and his wife live in North Carolina where they are missionaries with the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club. You can find out more about their ministry by clicking here!