Alan L. Rubin

Alan L. Rubin, MD has been a physician in private practice for more than 30 years. He is the author of several bestselling health titles, including Diabetes For Dummies, High Blood Pressure For Dummies, and Thyroid For Dummies.

Articles & Books From Alan L. Rubin

Cheat Sheet / Updated 06-24-2024
Diabetes, which is excessive glucose in your blood, leads to serious health problems if left untreated.You should follow the American Diabetes Association screening guidelines to get tested for diabetes at the earliest possible time.If you have diabetes, this Cheat Sheet is a handy reference to screening guidelines, rules for living with diabetes, and continuing your diabetes care to better control the disease.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-27-2024
The first step to dealing with high blood pressure is understanding your blood pressure measurement — those over and under numbers. When you know what your blood pressure is, you need to know what to do next. The good news is, you may be able to prevent high blood pressure or reduce your blood pressure by making some lifestyle changes.
Article / Updated 11-30-2023
Managing diabetes means controlling the amount of fat that you eat. Food terms in recipes and menu items can help you identify high-fat and low-fat foods. Understanding these terms will help you determine which foods and recipes to avoid. These terms indicate a low fat content: BakedBroiledCooked in its o
Article / Updated 11-30-2023
You can take simple steps to improve your eating habits for healthier living with diabetes. Follow these simple tips to make a difference in your health: Keep a food diary.Figure out why you eat the way that you do.Avoid missing a meal; eat at regular times.Sit down for meals.Use water in place of caloric drinks.
Article / Updated 11-30-2023
If you're diabetic, you should understand that your body weight, body mass index (BMI), and kilocalorie intake affect the way you manage your diabetes. So take the following steps to calculate your ideal weight, BMI, and kilocalorie intake: Weight: Follow these general rules for calculating your ideal weight.
Article / Updated 09-25-2023
If you’ve wholeheartedly made lifestyle changes trying to reduce your high blood pressure and it doesn’t seem to be working, you may need high blood pressure medication. Numerous drugs exist for high blood pressure, but you need to meet with your doctor to discuss what medicine is right for you. Drugs for hig
Article / Updated 09-25-2023
When you have a blood pressure reading, the doctor will tell you two numbers: the SBP (systolic blood pressure) over the DBP (diastolic blood pressure). Use the following chart to compare your SBP and DBP numbers and classify your blood pressure. If your SBP and DBP fall into different categories, use the higher category.
Article / Updated 09-25-2023
Secondary high blood pressure is a result of a specific illness. Usually, once the disease is treated, your blood pressure returns to normal. These signs may indicate you have secondary high blood pressure:Onset of high blood pressure before age 20 or past age 50Flushing spellsRapid pulseIntolerance to heatVe
Article / Updated 09-25-2023
If you’ve been diagnosed with prehypertension or high blood pressure, like millions of others, adopt these changes to help prevent, or lower, high blood pressure to a healthy level. Doing these things may prevent the harmful effects of high blood pressure:Make sure you definitely have high blood pressure by checking it several times.
Article / Updated 09-25-2023
After you’ve received your initial blood pressure measurement, follow these recommendations for follow up visits with your physician and any actions you may need to take if you have high blood pressure:SBP mm HgDBP mm HgFollow up RecommendedUnder 120Under 80Recheck in two years120-13980-89Recheck in one year;