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You can keep diabetes in check — when you take charge! Learn the strategies that make living well with diabetes a reality. Get your A1c where you want it to be...end the fear of complications...and enjoy renewed good health and reassuring peace-of-mind! Now you can get the answers you need from the health experts at Harvard Medical School. ✓ What is diabetes? ✓ Diagnosing and testing for diabetes ✓ Managing your diabetes: An overview ✓ Dealing with diabetes emergencies ✓ SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: Lifestyle strategies for managing diabetes ✓ Medications and surgery for diabetes ✓ Alternative treatments for diabetes ✓ Pregnancy and diabetes Dear Reader, Diabetes is a chronic disorder marked by high levels of blood sugar. That’s the textbook definition. Living Well with Diabetes is not a textbook... Living Well with Diabetes is an empowering guide for men and women who refuse to be defined by their diabetes! This Special Health Report shares clear and practical direction for effectively maximizing blood sugar control...for minimizing the risk factors for complications...and for ensuring ongoing wellness and vitality. With type 2 diabetes, there’s no room for second guessing. Diabetes can sap you of energy and compromise mobility. The long-term effects can be disheartening and disabling. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness. It can lead to kidney failure, damage to feet and legs, and can more than double your risk of heart disease. As never before, you can successfully manage type 2 diabetes! Prepared by doctors of Harvard Medical School, Living Well with Diabetes distills today’s important findings to give you clear “here’s how” guidance you can use — and trust. The report will brief you on why the body’s regulation of blood sugar goes awry. You’ll learn how and when to monitor blood sugar. You’ll be introduced to innovations that make it easier to maintain blood sugar control  to avoid spikes and dips and to prevent future complications. A workbook that works — with you — and for you! You’ll learn the steps and choices that make a measurable difference. You’ll be introduced to foods that can decrease your doses of diabetes medicines...an exercise routine that can bring down A1c levels...and one change for the better that requires no effort at all! Plus, you’ll be able to put today’s advances to your advantage. You’ll be briefed on breakthroughs in monitoring devices, medications, and new, nearly painless syringes and injectors. You’ll read which longer-acting insulin formulations are easier to administer and how 30 non-insulin options compare. You want your efforts to be rewarded. With this Special Health Report, they will be. Order your copy of Living Well with Diabetes today! To your good health, Howard E. LeWine, M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing

Create a plan to relieve your back pain At some point in life, odds are good that you’ll experience back pain: four out of five Americans do. Aches, stiffness, muscles spasms, and trouble tackling minor or major tasks may slow you down considerably. While the cause is rarely life-threatening, the pain can be debilitating. If back pain is recurrent or chronic –– that is, lasting longer than 12 weeks –– seeking good care is essential.  Get your copy of Back Pain Treatment of back pain has undergone a recent sea change. Experts now appreciate the central role of exercise to build muscles that support the back. This Special Health Report, Back Pain: Finding solutions for your aching back, helps you understand why back pain occurs, and which treatments are most likely to help. This report describes the different types of back problems and the tailored treatments that are more likely to help specific conditions.   SHOW ME MORE → The scientific evidence for different treatments is not always cut-and-dried, but here are five steps you can take to get the best results:  Get an accurate diagnosis of  your back disorder. This requires a physical exam and possibly imaging scans, such as x-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan. Blood tests and nerve testing may also be recommended. An accurate diagnosis allows you to choose among the treatment options proven to work best for your specific back problem. Seek an experienced, certified, and well-recommended health professional who understands your type of back problem. For example, this may mean a licensed physical therapist, an internal medicine physician, a physiatrist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, or a board-certified neurologist or orthopedic surgeon.  Be an active participant in your care. Shared decision making in health care means fully understanding the risks and benefits of each treatment you are considering. Be sure to ask about your full range of options––and what will happen if you decided not to treat the problem. Explore non-drug therapies, such as physical therapy, exercise, and mind-body practices like yoga or tai chi. These approaches are often effective, carry fewer risks than medications or surgery, and can help you build long-term resilience against back pain. Don’t be afraid to request a second opinion if your clinician recommends an invasive, experimental, or very expensive treatment. Doctors generally welcome your full participation in health care decisions and should support your request for a second opinion if you feel hesitant about a particular option. Treating and preventing persistent or recurrent back pain  The specific therapeutic approach depends on your diagnosis. But many people find significant relief for their chronic or recurrent back pain using one or more of these non-invasive approaches: Physical therapy that includes supervised exercise is often a first-line approach. The goals are to help strengthen the muscles that support the spine, improve flexibility, and promote better posture.  Mind-body practices like yoga, tai chi, and mindfulness-based stress reduction may also ease pain and improve your ability to function, especially when combined with other therapies. These options are generally safe, have few side effects, and empower people to play an active role in their recovery. Medications, such as NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, and drugs to relieve nerve pain. Often, medications are combined with physical therapy or mind-body practices.  Lifestyle factors play a crucial role in managing back pain. In fact, they can help lessen your reliance on medications while offering you greater control over your symptoms. Staying physically active, avoiding prolonged sitting, maintaining a healthy weight, and practicing stress reduction techniques can help reduce flare-ups and prevent long-term disability. Evidence suggests that people who engage in regular activity and make positive changes like these tend to have better outcomes than those who rely solely on medications or passive treatments like rest or massage.  Managing back pain can be challenging, but taking an active, informed approach puts you in the best position for long-term relief. By seeking the right diagnosis, working closely with knowledgeable health professionals, and embracing evidence-based treatments and healthy lifestyle habits, you can reduce pain, improve function, and regain your quality of life.  Remember, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone — support and effective options are available to help you move forward with confidence. With the right tools and mindset, lasting relief is within reach. For more on healing an aching back, review Back Pain, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Image: © gilaxia/Getty Images Share this story: FEATURED CONTENT Back Pain • Why is back pain so common? • What puts you at risk for back pain? • Types of back pain • Diagnosing back pain • Creating a treatment strategy. • SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: Beyond drugs and surgery—other ways to help your back Click here to learn more »

Getting started on the path to better balance Balance is the ability to distribute your weight in a way that enables you to hold a steady position or move at will without falling. Static balance helps you stay upright when standing still. Dynamic balance allows you to anticipate and react to changes as you move. Both types of balance work to keep your center of gravity - the point at which body weight is evenly distributed - poised over your base of support. Whether you're moving or standing still, balance requires interplay among several systems: the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the vestibular system (brain and inner ear), the visual system (brain and eyes), and a vast web of position-sensing nerves called proprioceptors in peripheral areas of the body, such as the legs. Get your copy of Better Balance Discover how you can prevent falls by improving your balance and mobility. Better Balance: Simple exercises to improve stability and prevent falls gives you step-by-step instructions for easy, effective workouts that will improve posture, increase muscle strength and speed, sharpen reflexes, expand flexibility, and firm your core. You'll also get tips for fall-proofing your home.   SHOW ME MORE → Good posture counts Although your spine is not ramrod straight - it has a gentle, S-shaped curve that minimizes wear and tear and allows for greater flexibility - proper alignment of the spine and upper body are important for balance. Watch people walk, and you'll see how common it is for people to hold their bodies unevenly. If they trip, this can make it harder for them to catch their balance and avoid a fall. Poor posture can result from various causes, such as a lifetime of slouching, weakness in key muscle groups, or tightness in various muscles and tendons. As muscles tighten up, they shorten. This curtails range of motion - that is, how far a joint can move in each direction - and it makes you less nimble. Unless you do stretches to counter this, your range of motion is likely to become increasingly limited. Muscle strength matters The so-called core muscles of the abdomen, back, side, pelvis, and buttocks are essential for holding yourself in proper alignment and making the micro-adjustments needed to stay steady. Strong back muscles are particularly important for counteracting slumping, which tips your body forward and thus off-center. Strong lower leg muscles are also important, to help keep you from swaying too much while standing. How to improve balance For better balance, you need to perform the right exercises that both strengthen and stretch muscles. Quick posture checks, ideally in front of a full-length mirror, also help improve balance. Here's what to aim for: chin parallel to the floor shoulders even (roll your shoulders up, back, and down to help find the correct position) ears in line with your shoulders neutral spine (no flexing or arching, only the spine's natural curves) arms at your sides with elbows even abdominal muscles pulled taut hips even shoulders in line with your hips knees even and pointing straight ahead feet pointing straight ahead. When to worry If you frequently feel unsteady on your feet or suffer from dizziness or vertigo (the sensation of the room spinning), talk with your doctor. Too often balance problems and risks of falling aren't discussed until a condition becomes serious. By identifying and addressing issues early, your doctor can help you avoid future problems. The process of diagnosing may begin with a physical exam and medication review, plus further testing as needed. For more information on improving your balance, check out Better Balance, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Image: © Reggie Casagrande | Getty Images Share this story: FEATURED CONTENT Better Balance • How balance works • Balance problems • SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: Safety measures to prevent falls • Activities that enhance balance • Starting balance workouts safely • Balance workouts and your overall fitness plan • Using the workouts Click here to learn more »

Discover the advances that are changing the face of skin care Learn the secrets to more beautiful skin at any age Find out how — starting right now — you can have softer, healthier, and younger-looking skin Inside Skin Care and Repair, you'll discover: ✓ What is skin? ✓ Skin and the aging process ✓ Common skin conditions ✓ Skin cancer ✓ SPECIAL SECTION: Protecting your skin ✓ Lotions and potions ✓ And so much more! Dear Reader, Now you can take care of your skin as never before. This Special Health Report shares the exciting advances that are bringing a fresh look to skin care. You’ll see how you can enjoy skin that is blemish-free...skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles...skin with a healthy glow and a more youthful resiliency and softness. Now you can lose the years — without the fears! The report reveals and explains more than 40 safe and effective treatments and techniques that can make your skin look years younger...without the pain of chemical peels or the risk of cosmetic surgery. The report will introduce you to a painless procedure that can shrink undereye bags...a new laser technique that can dramatically erase deep lines and wrinkles...a 60-minute therapy for reversing sun damage and diminishing age spots...and much, much more. You can say goodbye to the itch and embarrassment of common skin problems! The doctors of Harvard Medical School will show you how to quell and conquer a dozen common skin conditions, including adult acne, contact dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and athlete’s foot. You’ll be briefed on breakthrough medications for rosacea and psoriasis, and a surprising and quick remedy for warts. You’ll keep your skin safe, sound, and looking its best. Talk about saving your skin! The report spotlights 20 smart steps that will protect your skin from sun damage, winter dryness, environmental irritants, skin cancer, and more. You’ll learn the worst thing you can do to your skin...how to cut your risk of melanoma in half...and the four musts to look for in any moisturizer. Plus, the report will tell you about the antioxidants that protect against sun damage, and the best soap for sensitive skin. Get the facts you need for the skin you want. Order your copy of Skin Care and Repair today! To your good health, Timothy Cole Editorial Director, Harvard Health Publishing

Harvard medical experts reveal highly effective ways to help Maintain strong, functional hands at any age! Expert strategies to prevent hand pain, increase dexterity, and preserve your independence Inside Healthy Hands, you’ll discover: ✓ Ways to manage hand arthritis effectively ✓ Methods to address nerve problems like carpal tunnel syndrome ✓ Specialized exercises designed to strengthen your hands ✓ Tips for making daily tasks easier with practical gadgets ✓ When to know when to seek medical help ✓ How to prevent traumatic hand injuries ✓ SPECIAL SECTION: Surgical options for arthritic hands ✓ And so much more! Dear Reader, Your hands allow you to tie your shoes, prepare a meal, embrace a loved one, and communicate with the world. But when pain, stiffness, or weakness affects your hands, these simple activities become frustrating challenges. Yet hand problems don’t have to be an inevitable part of aging. Harvard Medical School has created Healthy Hands: Strategies for strong, pain-free hands — a comprehensive Special Health Report that reveals the effective ways to maintain hand function, treat common conditions, and prevent future problems. This essential report offers clear, practical guidance from Harvard doctors, with simple strategies you can use right away to keep your hands working well for years to come. Give us the word and we’ll send you a print or digital copy today so you can discover Harvard’s proven strategies for maintaining strong, pain-free hands at any age. Right away, you’ll learn how to: Effectively manage arthritis of the hand: Find out how to treat and reduce pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affecting your fingers, with specific techniques for each joint — from the thumb base to the fingertips. Address nerve problems: Discover the most effective treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compression issues that cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in your hands, including when surgery might be necessary. Treat tendon troubles: Learn proven approaches for dealing with trigger finger, De Quervain’s tendinitis, and other painful tendon conditions that limit finger mobility and hand function. Maintain hand strength and flexibility: Learn the specific exercises designed by Harvard hand specialists that preserve dexterity, improve grip strength, and maintain range of motion as you age. Make everyday tasks easier: Explore practical gadgets and techniques selected by occupational therapists that help with kitchen tasks, personal care, and hobbies when hand pain or weakness limits your abilities. PLUS: Are you considering surgery for severe hand pain or arthritis-related issues? Harvard Medical School experts have you covered! This Special Health Report includes a section devoted to surgical options for arthritic hands, explaining when surgery might be necessary; the different procedures available for thumb, wrist, and finger joints; and how to prepare for a successful recovery. You’ll understand your options whether you’re dealing with thumb arthritis, painful wrist conditions, or finger joint damage. Don’t wait until pain or stiffness limits your daily activities. Order your copy of Healthy Hands today! To your good health, Howard E. LeWine, M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics. Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family. PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. Visit our website at: www.health.harvard.edu Email us at: healthbeat@health.harvard.edu FOLLOW US ON:  Facebook Twitt