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Normal A1C Remains the Same for All Ages

DEAR DR. ROACH: Do you find in your practice that “normal” A1C for non-diabetics changes with age? — D.D. ANSWER: The hemoglobin A1C is a measure of how much sugar is on a hemoglobin molecule. Blood sugar will attach to hemoglobin, and the more sugar in the blood, the more that will become bound to hemoglobin over the lifetime of a red blood cell. The A1C then provides a very good (but not perfect) guide to blood sugar over the past two to three months. The A1C is not reliable in people with abnormal or unusual hemoglobin types, or in people with a condition of increased ...

Grandparents Have No Idea Why They’re Out In the Cold

DEAR ABBY: My brother “Brian” and his wife, “Laurel,” have an adult son, “Dick,” who dated a girl I’ll call “Crystal” for 10 years before they got married. Everyone got along fine, until Crystal gave birth. After their first child was born, Crystal started withholding visits from my brother and his wife. Crystal and Dick had two more children. The oldest is now 6. The only way Brian and Laurel see their grandchildren is if there’s a family reunion, wedding, etc. Crystal allows her parents to see the kids and spend time with them whenever. Brian and Laurel are ...

Dear Heloise: With the holidays coming up, I plan to bake cookies for our smallish family gathering. How should I determine how many cookies to bring? — Jo in Kansas Jo, you should plan on having between three to six cookies for each person, depending on the size of the cookie and if other desserts are offered. — Heloise UNDER THE SINK Dear Heloise: Recently I took a look at all of the cleaners I had accumulated under the sinks and in the utility room of my home. I’ve found there really are only five cleaners I use all the time, so I decided to organize these areas by asking ...

Daughter’s Fashion Choices Causes Mom Embarrassment

DEAR ABBY: Our 19-year-old daughter is wonderful in many ways. She’s smart, attends a university on academic scholarships and earns excellent grades. The problem is the way she dresses. Her shorts are so short they show some cheek, the bathing suits she wears in our backyard pool are almost thongs, she runs at the track in spandex and a sports bra and gets catcalls. I understand the outfit would be OK for a formal race, but at the track? Why not throw on a T-shirt? The most recent example was a Sunday afternoon, ladies-only baby shower, to which she wore a pale pink (it looked nude) ...

National Mill Dog Rescue

Today’s Sound On is about a kind and caring dog rescue organization: Dear Heloise: I know you are a friend to all critters, and I’d like your readers to know about National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR). They pick up and rescue hundreds of dogs and puppies from puppy mills all over the country. These dogs — which are deemed no longer usable for breeding — are too old, too sick or are still unsold, and would otherwise be killed. Many of these mills regularly call on NMDR to come and get these animals before they are put down. NMDR gives these dogs and pups any treatment they need to ...

Hidden Phone Used Nonstop Is Hard for Colleague to Take

DEAR ABBY: I am unsure how to handle a coworker who is constantly on their cell phone (hidden between their legs) during their four-hour work shift. I have reminded them to leave their phone in their car since they have a hard time not checking it or texting during work hours. We have spoken several times about this unacceptable behavior, which improves for two days and then reverts back to using their cell phone as usual. Is this generational acceptable behavior that I am missing? I’m in my mid-50s, and I can live without texting friends and family while I’m supposed to be ...