High Blood Pressure is one of the greatest health problems we are facing.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 13% of American adults live with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), and 34.5% have prediabetes. Of the 13% of adults with diabetes, 90 to 95% have type 2, which is diabetes that develops due to poor nutrition and lifestyle habits. Here are some tips to help lower your blood sugar. 

 The Risks of High Blood Sugar?  

The risks of high blood pressure are very high. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can cause many problems in people with diabetes that can be consequential. Mayo Clinic reports that complications from high blood sugar in people with diabetes include heart disease, nerve damage, damage to the eyes, bone and joint problems, and infections to the teeth and gums.  

Manage Your Carbohydrate Intake  

Carbohydrate consumption must be controlled and limited especially people who are over thirty. Controlling carbohydrate intake is one of the most important ways to prevent high blood sugar in people with diabetes. According to the  American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes should learn to count their carbohydrate intake carefully.  

Carbohydrates exist in three forms: sugar (simple such as table sugar), fiber, and starch (complex such as bread). Counting your carbohydrates means considering all three kinds, but your main focus is starch and sugar. The nutritional information label on your food packaging can help determine the number of carbohydrates in packaged foods.  

Eat More Fiber  

Of the three types of carbohydrates, fiber is the most useful for diabetes. Research has shown that dietary fiber helps control and slow down sugar digestion and absorption by the body. In other words, fiber contributes to a more even level of sugar in your bloodstream throughout the day, thus avoiding the quick spikes typical of highly refined sugars.  

Exercise Regularly  

Exercise is the key to control or prevent diabetes. Research suggests that exercise is an excellent way to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Exercise improves insulin sensitivity, uses up dietary carbohydrates, and makes you healthier generally. Increased insulin sensitivity means that your body can better use up the blood sugar present in your blood.  

Since a sedentary lifestyle contributes to type 2 diabetes, keeping a regular exercise schedule can help with the symptoms and keep your entire body healthier.  

Drink More Water  

Instead of grabbing a sugary drink, researchers and physicians suggest drinking more water. According to studies, people who drank water before a meal had lower blood sugar than people who did not drink water. Moreover, people who drink water regularly have a generally lower risk of suffering from diabetes in the first place! 

Reduce Stress in Your Life  

There seems to be a link between type 2 diabetes and chronic stress. Research studies show a link between stress levels and high blood sugar. When you are stressed, the hormones cortisol and glucagon increase in your bloodstream, contributing to your blood sugar level spikes.  

Get Enough Sleep  

Just like with stress, lack of adequate sleep increases the cortisol levels in your blood, which increases your blood sugar, according to research. Low-quality sleep is linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes so getting enough high-quality sleep is essential for lowering and controlling your blood sugar. 

Monitor Your Blood Sugar Regularly

The best way to control your blood sugar is to monitor it regularly. Gilgal Medical has all the diabetes supplies you need to know the effect of food, sleep, and exercise on your blood sugar.

Good news for all the ostomy patients out there!! A new and better way has been opened for people to buy ostomy pouches, skin barriers, barrier strips, ostomy paste and other ostomy supplies online. Gilgal medical supplies in partnership with major medical supplies has launched ostomy4less.com which will provide all ostomy, urinary and wound care supplies at ultra low-cost.

For too long ostomy patients have been at the mercy of few players who charge exorbitant prices for live saving medical supplies. We want to bring a fundamental change to this. Gilgal will be partnering with companies such as Hollister, Convatec, Coloplast to help patients with no insurance  who have to spend hundreds of dollars per month to get supplies.  Customers can order supplies online and have them shipped to their address in twenty four hours. In most cases, we will try to get supplies the same day. Customers tend to believe that Amazon has the cheapest ostomy supplies. But, this turned out to be false. Thousands of customers have already signed up with us to get their supplies at cheaper rate in ostomy4less.com

Gilgal Medical Supplies is the world leader in providing essential, life saving medical supplies on same day or in twenty four hours. 

There may be situation where you are running out of supplies such as Ostomy Supplies, urology supplies, CPAP supplies and incontinence. When you travel you may lose your medical supplies or run out of your supplies. Gilgal Medical has the strategic capability to help you with getting you the right supplies on time to alleviate the stress and difficulty associated with it. Simply call us at 407 891 2120 to get your supplies delivered directly to you.

We are also providing mobility supplies such as wheelchair, scooter and transport chairs when you are going for cruise or out of town travelling.

Mepilex® Absorbent Foam Dressing is indicated for exuding wounds and wounds with compromised or fragile periwound skin, featuring Safetac® technology. Can be used under compression.

Mepilex^® absorbent foam dressing is trusted around the world to manage a wide range of chronic and acute wounds. The product is easily conformable and highly absorbent, to effectively manage wound exudate.

Every Mepilex wound dressing includes Safetac^® –the original contact layer designed to minimize pain and trauma at dressing change, so you can remove it easily without damaging the skin.¹  That means less pain for your patients.²  Safetac also seals the wound margins to protect skin from damaging leakage and maceration. ³ 

Mepilex may be cut to suit various wound shapes and difficult to dress locations.

• Soft and conformable
• Less pain during dressing changes ² 
• Seals wound margin to avoid maceration³   
• May be used under compression

The best new upright rolling walker on the market is now in stock at Oswald’s!

The UPWalker Standing Walker is a revolutionary innovation in mobility. This option is for individuals with special mobility needs. Gilgal Medical is pleased to offer medical grade upright walker to the public at affordable prices. Offering the stability of a traditional walker with the mobility of a rollator, the UPWalker is a unique product for people with unique needs. With customizable handles and armrests, the UPWalker is truly one of a kind. Available in 3 sizes (Standard, Small, and Large).

Features:

• Adjustable-height armrests and handles with locking brakes
• Comfortable canvas seat and backrest
• Sit-to-stand seat handles, making it easy to get up
• 8″ wheels, making outdoor travel easy
• Foldable frame; folds to just 10.5″ across for easy storage
• Comes with personal bag, backrest and cup holder

You’ve decided to purchase a mobility scooter. This is the first step to enhancing your mobility. Yet, there are so many different types of scooters out there. How do you know which electric scooter is right for you? When choosing the right mobility scooter, it’s important to ask yourself several questions. Gilgal Medical is the leading distributors of the pride scooters.

• Do I want a 3-wheel scooter or a 4-wheel scooter?
• How will I use my motorized scooter?
• How fast do I want my power scooter to go?
• How far do I want to travel with my mobility scooter?

First, it’s important to understand the major differences between 3-wheel and 4-wheel electric scooters. A 3-wheel scooter has many benefits, such as a sharper turning radius and more leg room for taller individuals. Three-wheel power scooters are also better suited for smooth, indoor surfaces. In contrast, 4-wheel motorized scooters provide a broader and more stable wheelbase, ensuring better weight distribution. Four-wheel scooters are also well-matched for outdoor driving. The second thing to anticipate when choosing a mobility product is how you will use your scooter. If you need a scooter mainly for inside your home, you want a device that offers a tighter turning radius, such as the Zero Turn 8 or the Go-Go Elite Traveller®. These scooters fit through door frames and maneuver around corners easily. If you prefer to use a scooter outdoors, you need a product that is more rugged and can handle varied terrain, while still offering comfort and stability. The Revo™ 2.0 features suspension components that absorb shock, giving you a smoother and more enjoyable ride. To some, the speed of a scooter is important, as well as safety features. The Raptor cruises up to 14 mph and is equipped with a regenerative braking system. If you are concerned about visibility, then look for a motorized scooter that offers LED lighting. This ensures your safety when driving your scooter in low-light environments. Lastly, the range of a scooter can also play a huge role in choosing the product that is right for you. Many scooters are battery-powered. Consider how far you want to drive your mobility scooter on one charge. Depending on the kind of batteries used, the Victory® 10.2 can travel up to 13 miles in a single charge. Still not sure which scooter is a good fit? Search for our authorized dealer Gilgal Medical and take a Pride® scooter for a test drive today!

A great piece of advice. Never buy scooters from unauthorized dealers online who may not provide you the warranty or tech support.

Raised toilet seat is one of the top needs of elderly people. Getting the right raised toilet seat is very important for our der ones. There may be hundreds of out there to choose from. But ordering the appropriate toilet riser can be little confusing. 

A raised toilet seat, as it sounds, is nothing more than a convenient and comfortable way to be seated on the toilet for those with limited mobility. The mobility challenges that often come with age likely lead to needing a raised toilet seat.

As we have described in previous posts (how to design a safe bathroom and the cost of doing so) there are important and reasonably priced ways to make your bathroom safe. To help you through this process we have researched the Best Raised Toilet Seats for seniors and describe them below, along with tips and background information.

What is a Raised Toilet Seat?

A raised toilet seat is an assistive technology for those with limited mobility designed to help them use the toilet while seated. The raised seat reduces the distance the older adult needs to lower themselves to the seat and stand back-up again. The difference of a few inches can make the world of difference when sitting down and standing up.

How is a Raised Toilet Seat Helpful?

If you do not have mobility limitations going to the bathroom is an afterthought. A raised toilet seat helps to bring back the normalcy and comfortability of going to the bathroom, alone. They are designed to elevate the seat just a few inches. This can make a great difference when sitting down.

The raised toilet seat puts less pressure on your joints and muscles when having to only lower yourself a few inches and standing up much easier as well. The benefits include: reduced pain, comfort, safety and much more.

Who Needs a Raised Toilet Seat?

Anyone that has difficulty bending down, has stiff joints, weak hips, recovering from (hip, knee or back) surgery, as well as finding the transition from sitting to standing difficult could use a raised toilet set. In addition, anyone that has difficulty lowering themselves down to 15-inches (standard height of a toilet) could benefit from using a raised toilet seat (which raises the seat between 17-21 inches).

What is the Size and Shape of a Raised Toilet Seat?

When adding a raised seat to your toilet, it will increase the total height between 2-to-6 inches. The seat itself will either be with a round or elongated front. The options of raised seats accommodate both types. You need to pay attention to extra wide risers and consider the total height in your purchase.

To determine the right height, consider that your knees and hips should be at the same height when sitting on the toilet. If the seat is too low or high it can be uncomfortable and more difficult to get up-and-down. To assist with making the best purchase possible, do some initial measurements to find the right height for you:

1. Measure from the floor to the back of the thigh (behind the knee) (e.g., 20 inches)
2. Measure the current height of the seat (e.g., 15 inches)
3. The raise needed for your toilet seat equals the measurement in step two subtracted from the measurement in step one! (e.g., 5 inches)

Will Insurance Pay for My Raised Toilet Seat?

You should always check with your insurance company when making a purchase like this. In general, most insurance companies (including Medicare) do not cover a raised toilet seat directly but they will cover a commode chair. A commode chair, as defined by most medical services, is a chair that helps individuals with limited mobility get to and from the toilet or bathroom safely and serves as a mobile toilet when unable to reach or it is inaccessible.

Medicare Part B will cover the commode as durable medical equipment (DME) when ordered by a doctor for use in your home if you can’t use a regular toilet. If you choose to position the commode chair over the toilet then Medicare will not cover it.

Common Attachments for Raised Toilet Seats

When purchasing a raised toilet seat, you will want to explore and consider all of the available attachments and additional features. Some of the most common attachments include:

• A toilet lid to go over the raised seat instead of leaving it open.
• Splash guards help to prevent any unwanted splashing or leakage when using the toilet.
• Built-in arms are pre-designed seats with arms already attached (instead of buying them separately).
• Removable padded handles for the support arms.
• Support arms are add-ons (removable) to the seat to help with lowering and raising yourself from the toilet seat.

How to Install Your Raised Toilet Seat

Each toilet seat riser will have different instructions for installation. You will likely have to remove the toilet lid to install the seat and it may then go on top or in storage. You should have a screwdriver handy to remove the lid.

Most importantly, you want to ensure there is a secure fit on the existing toilet seat or toilet bowl.

For many seats there are just a few steps for installation but with additional features comes additional steps. Don’t worry! There are plenty of easy-to-follow instructional videos online should you need them.

Safety Features to Consider

Safety should always be your top priority when caring for your aging loved one. To make sure the raised toilet seat is safe, consider the following key attributes:

Slip resistant pads will secure the raised toilet seat and, in many cases, allow for an easy-installation. If you need additional support when getting up-and-down then support arms and clamping them down will be essential. A slip in bracket, attaches to the toilet in seconds without knobs, clamps, screws or other complicated devices, gives an older adult with leg or knee challenges easier access.

Top 10 Raised Toilet Seats

Review each of the top 10 listed below to find the best option for you for price, height, weight-limit, support arms and other important features to keep your aging parent safe when going to the bathroom. The top companies listed below include: Carex, Drive Medical, Essential Medical Supply, PCP, AquaSense, and Vaunn Medical.

Each of the raised toilet seats listed below has a unique difference that may just bring the comfort and support you need.