Meal plans for a diabetes diet differ depending on type of diabetes. With insulin-dependent diabetes (Type I), consistency in time meals are eaten and amounts and types of food eaten is very important to allow food and insulin to work together to regulate blood-glucose levels. If meals and insulin are out of balance, extreme variations in blood glucose can occur. In non insulin-dependent diabetes, weight control is most important principle in addition to a well-balanced diet. Consultation with a dietitian or nutrition counselor or your medical practitioner is an invaluable tool for planning meals and controlling a diabetes diet. They can also advise you on long term maintenance diet plans and make recommendations for regular exercise options.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens in All Your Rooms

Wall to wall carpet and upholstered surfaces can be reduced or replaced with hard surfaces that are easier to clean. Dust mites can not survive long on hard surfaces due to dehydration. They absorb water through contact with their environment. Dusting with a ULPA or HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner or specially treated cloths is recommended over damp mopping. The latter may increase humidity in house. Dust mites can't live at humidities below 50%. Using air conditioners and dehumidifiers during summer to keep humidity between 40% and 50% is often recommended. During winter, if using a humidifier, be careful to keep humidity in this same range. A good humidity gauge can help monitor this. Carpets that get damp on a regular basis should be replaced with hard surfaces.

Having carpets professional cleaned with superheated steam will effectively killing dust mites in them. Carpets can be treated with sprays containing 3% tannic acid to make dust mite droppings non- allergic. Benzyl benzoate powder which actually kills dust mites is also available. Reduction of contact with dust mite droppings is often preferred since these contain toxic chemicals which some people are sensitive to.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens with Air Filters

Wearing a well fitting dust mask while vacuuming and making beds can reduce dust mite allergens you inhale. Some allergists even recommend airing out a room really well after vacuuming to reduce airborne particles which are stirred up by many vacuum cleaners. Furnace mounted and portable air cleaners are available but their cost may be greater than benefits achieved by them. They definitely are not a substitute for preventative measures described above. The best are media type filters like those which meet stringent HEPA specification. Electrostatic filters are not recommended unless cleaned regularly in which case they may be as effective. Special filters can be placed on furnace air vents leading to your rooms to help trap allergens before they can enter room. Air cleaners which generate ozone should be avoided since they have little effect on allergens in air and may worsen allergy symptoms since ozone may irritate respiratory system.

Importance of an ULPA or HEPA Filtered Vacuum Cleaner

The vacuum cleaner is one of most important tools for managing dust mites and their minute droppings. Thorough cleaning of carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, curtains and drapery regularly will reduce dust mite allergens in your home. It is better to clean thoroughly once a week instead of lightly every day. In order to prevent these minute particles containing allergens from being recirculated into air you breathe, a vacuum cleaner's filtration system must be very efficient at trapping particles at least that small.

The agitation and air flow created by your vacuum cleaner to clean you surfaces causes a huge number of minute dust mite dropping to be drawn into it. They can easily pass through most vacuum cleaner bags and filters and be exhausted back into air you breathe, making it much dirtier than before. The vacuum cleaner industry is taking advantage of development of advanced filtration media to provide much higher quality exhausted air than was possible just a few years ago. The current cutting edge in vacuum cleaner technology is in area of improving filtration efficiencies of vacuum cleaners. Special high filtration paper bags are available from many manufacturers which filter much better than conventional ones. To learn more about these high filtration paper bags, see our article on efficiency of vacuum cleaner paper bags

To reduce effects on allergies and asthma caused by allergens in dust mite droppings, look for a vacuum cleaner with an ULPA or HEPA filter. It also is very important to have a completely sealed system so all air flow must pass through ULPA or HEPA filter to be cleaned by it. By combining high filtration paper bags, a Certified HEPA filter and completely sealed systems, vacuum cleaners can achieve extremely high filtration efficiencies of 99.97% at 0.3 micron size particles. ULPA filters have an even higher efficiency of 99.999% at 0.12 micron size particles. For more information about HEPA and ULPA filtration.

Summary

Dust mites are microscopic creatures which live at peace with all of us, constantly going about their routine of cleaning up our environment. Unfortunately, for about 10% of population, protein DER p1 in their minute droppings causes allergic reactions which affect their respiratory systems causing allergic reactions and triggering asthmatic attacks. A visit to an doctor specializing in allergies (allergist) can confirm which allergens you are sensitive to. They are able to prescribe a course of action which may include steps to reduce allergen exposure, medication therapy and possibly desensitization injections.

Key steps to reduce exposure to dust mite allergens include encasing mattresses and pillows, washing bedding and curtains regularly, controlling humidity in you home and cleaning thoroughly with a powerful high filtration vacuum cleaner. In extreme cases, carpets and upholstered surfaces should be replaced with hard surfaces which are easier to clean and which inhibit dust mite growth. The goal is to reduce allergen exposure to below level at which allergic reactions occur, not necessarily elimination of all exposure to dust mite allergen.

The Marble Master Stone Care System is specially formulated and developed by stone care professionals with more than 40 years of experience in natural stone industry. For more information or to purchase products, visit www.marblemasteruk.com or call 020 8807 8889.

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