Dr harold Gunatillake

A better way to check your diabetes: Written by Dr Harold Gunatillake FRCS-Health writer Most Sri Lankans do ignore a simple test to check for diabetes when required after the age of 40, as they do not realise the serious issues of the disease and the ability to control better when detected early. Those who have a family history of diabetes do check to find out whether they have got high blood sugar levels. To check for fasting blood sugar finger prick test would do. If you have your own glucose testing monitor, you could check it at home when required. In a normal non-diabetic person the reading would be about 90mg/dl. (6 mmol/l). When it reaches 126mg/dl (6.9mmol/l) you would be considered a pre-diabetic. The complications with pre-diabetes and full blown diabetes are similar. So, it is important at the pre-diabetes stage to nip in the bud by eating ...

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Breast Cancer-Treatment When breast cancer is detected early removal of the breast is the most common management, with or without adjuvant, radio and chemotherapy. Mastectomy is the name given to breast removal. In the past radical mastectomy was the standard treatment when the cancer was limited to the breast tissues and local underarm glands. This includes the removal of the breast tissues, regional lymph glands within the breast and the arm-pit, plus the pectoralis minor muscle for better exposure for the removal of the lymphatic tissue. ...

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Why do your legs swell? Written by Dr harold Gunatillake –Health writer When you are young and active swelling of the legs and round the ankles are a rarity unless you suffer from a disease like nephritis- chronic inflammation of the kidneys due to many reasons. Venous blood pumping from the feet and legs work efficiently through the pumping action of the peripheral heart and that would be your calf muscles. There is an efficient lymphatic system which takes extra-cellular body fluids in the legs towards the heart an additional system to remove fluid (lymph) from the lower extremity. ...

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Cheese: Bursting With Calcium – by Dr. Harold Gunatillake – Health writer   Nomads in the Middle East and Central Asia carried milk in containers made from animal stomachs, when bottles were unheard of then. When on the move the milk got curdled due to an enzyme called rennet remaining in those stomachs which separated the milk into curds and whey. This was an accidental discovery. There are murals in Egyptian tombs showing the way cheese was made, then. Sri Lankans don’t traditionally use cheese in their curries. It is too expensive and that would be the main reason why it’s not included in the Asian cuisine. If you cook with cheese, you can use it straight from the fridge in the frozen state. If it is used as an appetiser or to settle your stomach after a heavy meal, it is best to serve at room temperature. Soft cheeses ...

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Alcoholic drinks when having diabetes Written by Dr Harold Gunatillake-Health writer Yes, true, people having raised blood sugar need to be careful drinking alcohol. They still can enjoy a drink or two without guilt, but intelligent drinking is the solution. Men with diabetes can still enjoy two drinks a day, just like the non-diabetics and women too can have just one drink a day. A sugary drink like a cocktail can raise your blood sugar, and if you are on insulin medication you could whack small insulin shot to maintain a steady blood sugar level. Those on anti-diabetic tablets unfortunately may not have this flexibility. If you drink on empty stomach, on the other hand a strong alcohol drink will bring your blood sugar level too low. ...

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Problem with drinking Bottled water Good advice by Dr Harold Gunatillake We need water to survive. When space scientists want to find out whether there are living organisms in planets the first thing they want to find out is water availability.  We need water for transporting nutrients in the body from cell to cell. It is a wonderful God-given solvent, sometimes we refer to as ‘Adam’s Ale’. We need water for our temperature regulation, muscles activities, joint lubrications maintain electrolyte balance, control of pH, and proper functions of organs like liver, brain and kidneys and getting rid of waste material among others. ...

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Oxalate stones in your kidneys  Envelope shaped Calcium oxalate crystals Written by Dr harold Gunatillake –Health writer As you grow up you could manufacture stones (calculi) in your body, such as in organs like the gall bladder, kidneys and so on. Our discussion today is about kidney stones emphasis on oxalate stones. Most kidney stones include calcium stone which are radio-opaque and seen on plain X rays. They are mainly oxalate stones a naturally occurring substance in food-vegies fruits nuts, chocolate and so on as oxalic acid. One cannot pin-point the cause or causes that create kidney stones. Taking too much of calcium do not produce calcium oxalate stones, either. These stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances that you eat. High doses of taking vitamin D supplements, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. ...

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