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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2628 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Innovations Save Money, Energy Take Time Each Day To Manage Diabetes And Free Up More Time To Live Your Life (NAPSA)—Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and each year, approximately 2 million more are diagnosed. It’s not uncommon for people new to diabetes to feel confused, overwhelmed or fearful about how to manage and live with this chronic condition, but with the right support from a trusted health care team, which includes a certified diabetes educator, people can learn strategies for controlling their diabetes so that it doesn’t take over their lives. Diane Kress, a certified diabetes educator, author of “The Metabolism Miracle” and the upcoming “The Diabetes Miracle,” and someone who herself has diabetes, provides various tips to her patients, including a concept called “DTime™.” DTime is a time she recommends people set aside each day to focus on their diabetes. It’s when they test their blood sugar, log their results and plan for healthy eating and exercise. “DTime helps patients focus on the important things they need to do each day to manage their diabetes, and, as a result, it frees up time so they can live their lives,” says Kress. To help patients make the most of their DTime, a free five-video series has been created that simulates a one-on-one, on-demand coaching session with a certified diabetes educator. Thanks to interactive digital capabilities, viewers of these DTime videos have the ability to customize their sessions based on their interested topics and personalize their learning journey. Tips from Kress in these videos include: •Regular blood sugar testing. Testing is a key to gaining control of diabetes. Regular testing reveals whether blood sugar levels are within a normal range and provides physicians the data DTime™ helps patients focus on the important things they need to do each day to manage their diabetes and, as a result, it frees up time so they can live their lives. necessary to make appropriate decisions about treatment. It also keeps patients “honest,” since blood sugar levels are impacted by food choices, medication and exercise. “Not testing isn’t an option,” says Kress, “because when it comes to blood sugar control and our long-term health, what we don’t know can hurt us!” •Food. Having diabetes doesn’t have to prevent you from enjoying a variety of delicious foods, as long as you make smart food choices. In the DTime series, Kress takes viewers to a supermarket to shop along various grocery aisles to educate about healthy food choices, and she gives tips on how to incorporate the occasional indulgence in a healthy diet for diabetes patients. Kress also notes that understanding appropriate serving sizes can help. She says it helps to visually draw lines on our plate and eat only as much as fills each section. She suggests dividing the plate into three sections—with the left section as half the plate and the right side divided into two smaller halves. Nonstarchy vegetables, such as broccoli or carrots, can fill the entire left side. Whole grains, such as pasta, brown rice or sweet potatoes, can take up onehalf on the right, while the remaining half can hold hearthealthy lean meat, fish, poultry or meat substitute. Understanding appropriate serving sizes makes it easier to put together healthy meals at home and when dining out. •Exercise. Staying active is important in maintaining good blood sugar control. Before beginning, Kress recommends taking a few minutes to prepare and make sure you have all the tools you need—such as a blood glucose meter, drink and a snack. Any activity will work, as long as it’s enjoyable and fits into a daily schedule. Kress suggests trying to find something enjoyable that you can do for 30 minutes every day. Take a few minutes to learn more about ways to manage your diabetes so you can find more time to live your life. The free DTime videos are sponsored by LifeScan, maker of OneTouch Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems. They can be viewed at www.youtube.com/OneTouch. (NAPSA)—In today’s real estate market, more Americans are choosing to stay in their homes and focus on renovations and improvements rather than moving. Home improvement expert Jodi Marks notes that many homeowners are looking for meaningful fixes, such as decorative enhancements and spacesaving strategies, that can make a home feel fresh again. “People are also focused on saving money and energy by looking for building products that offer both current and long-term benefits,” said Marks. “Like many architects and designers, homeowners are turning to plastics to help reduce energy and maintenance costs.” According to Marks, innovations in plastic building and construction products have made it even easier for homeowners to save money, make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. Some of these innovations can be made of recycled plastics. All types of plastic bottles and containers, when properly recycled, can go on to lead a “second life” as new products for homeowners, such as decking and furniture. Here’s a look at the ways: •Windows: Applying plasticbased caulks and sealants is a quick, easy fix for drafty windows. If replacement windows are needed, vinyl plastic windows provide excellent insulation to help maintain an even temperature in the home. This cuts down on heating and air-conditioning, saving homeowners money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. •Decking and fencing: Lumber made with plastics is durable, doesn’t require painting or staining, and is easy to maintain. It’s also resistant to fading, mold and mildew. Some plastic lumber is even made with recycled plastic grocery bags. •Flooring: Plastic-composite Innovations in plastics can help you save time, money and energy at home. laminate flooring is readily installed over almost any existing, hard-floor surface. Each piece simply locks into another, so even a large room can be installed in an afternoon. Because of plastics, composite flooring is durable and both stain and moisture resistant, which means it requires little maintenance and works well in just about any room of the home. Luxury vinyl tile—a tough, durable tile that’s already proved itself for many years in commercial settings—is thicker and made entirely of plastics, with a beautiful finished look to rival traditional materials. It also locks into place over existing flooring for a do-it-yourself project. •Roofing: Plastic roofing can look like slate or wood shakes and it’s long lasting and tough enough to withstand extreme weather. Manufacturers often offer a 50year warranty; some even offer a lifetime warranty when the product is installed by a professional. It can also help provide additional insulation protection as part of the roofing system, as well as reflect heat, so it helps reduce heating and cooling costs and energy use. •Insulation: Adding foam and other plastic insulation when renovating or re-siding a home can help homeowners save on heating and cooling bills. For example, plastic house wrap can reduce infiltration of outside air by up to 50 percent. To learn more, check out Plastics Make it Possible at www. plasticsmakeitpossible.com.