Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Know that there are several methods to diagnose diabetes. Get a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. Undergo a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test. Have the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) test. Get a random plasma glucose test.

Answer: These tests all involve testing your blood, although they do all not measure the same thing. Testing must be conducted in a certified and sanitary health care facility, such as a physician's office or medical laboratory. Each test usually needs to be repeated on a different day so that there are then two tests that can be used to reliably diagnose diabetes.  There are three main tests used to diagnose whether someone has prediabetes (meaning you are at greater risk of developing diabetes) or diabetes: a glycated hemoglobin test, a fasting plasma glucose test, and an oral glucose tolerance test.  Note that if the blood glucose level of your blood is considered higher than normal according to one of the tests below and if you are showing classic symptoms of high blood glucose, your doctor may not require a second repeat test to make a correct diagnosis. This blood test provides information about your  blood sugar levels over the past two to three months by measuring the percentage of blood sugar attached to the hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more sugar will be attached to the hemoglobin. A level of less than 5.7% is considered normal, while a level of 5.7% to 6.4% is considered to prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher is indicative of diabetes. This test is the standard test for diabetes assessment, management, and research.  You won't need to make a special appointment at a blood lab, but instead show up with your requisition form and get a standard blood sample drawn that is then sent to the laboratory for testing. In addition, this test is advantageous in that you don't have to fast or drink anything prior to testing. It can also be performed at any time of the day. Usually you will be tested twice, with each test occurring on a different day, to assess the average percentage of blood attached to your hemoglobin. The A1C test is not recommended if it is suspected that you have type 1 or gestational diabetes. This test assesses your fasting blood glucose levels. "Fasting" means that you refrain from eating or drinking anything but water, black coffee or unsweetened tea for eight hours prior to the blood test. Your doctor will look at a variety of factors from this blood test, including the glucose level, cholesterol and levels of enzymes in the liver and kidneys, as these organs are affected by diabetes. This test is the most common diagnostic tool for diabetes because it is more convenient and cost-effective than the oral glucose tolerance test.  A normal reading is considered one of less than 100 mg/dl, while a reading of 100 to 125 indicates pre-diabetes. An FPG level of 126 is indicative of diabetes. Note that you will need to plan ahead for this test since you have to fast. For your own ease and comfort, this test is usually done first thing in the morning, before breakfast. Your doctor may want to repeat the same test on another day to confirm that the results are reliable. If your FPG level is very high, if you are showing symptoms of diabetes, or if you have been previously diagnosed as pre-diabetic, your doctor may want to move on to the next test in his arsenal, the oral glucose tolerance test to get a quick and firm diagnosis. This is a two-hour test that evaluates your blood glucose levels before and after you have a drink that is specially sweetened so your doctor can see how your body processes sugar. To prepare for this test, you'll need to make an appointment in advance for this test and fast eight hours before.  At the beginning of your appointment, the doctor or nurse will test your blood glucose level (most likely with a simple finger-prick test, where your finger is pricked and the sugar in your blood is calculated via a digital monitor). You'll then drink a glucose beverage and sit for about two hours before someone tests your blood again. A level of 139 mg/dl or below is considered normal, while a reading of 140 to 199 indicates pre-diabetes, and 200 or higher indicates diabetes. Pregnant women undergo the OGTT to determine gestational diabetes; however, their glucose levels are tested four times with high (diabetic) levels being 95 or higher fasting, 180 or higher after one hour, 155 or higher after two hours, and 140 or higher after three hours. Also called a Casual Plasma Glucose Test, this test is a blood check that occurs at any time of the day (meaning is not predicated on fasting the day before). This is usually reserved for individuals who have severe diabetes symptoms. In this test, diabetes is diagnosed when your blood glucose is 200 mg/dl or higher.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Purchase a cooking pumpkin. Cut the top off of the pumpkin. Quarter the pumpkin. Scrape the pulp and seeds into a colander. Separate the seeds from the pulp. Rinse the seeds in the sink.

Answer: It’s common for people to extract and roast the seeds from their Halloween pumpkins. While this is a fine option, there are pumpkins designed for consumption and commonly referred to as “cooking pumpkins.” These pumpkins are smaller than the large carving pumpkins used for Halloween decorations, and you may notice a minor difference in consistency and taste between the cooking and carving pumpkin seeds. Place the pumpkin on a durable cutting board and, using a sharp kitchen knife—such as a carving knife—cut the top off of the pumpkin. This will give you access to the pulpy middle of the gourd, which contains the seeds. Once you’ve removed the top, use your carving knife to slice the pumpkin into four evenly sized quarters. Do this by setting the pumpkin upright (with the place where the stem would’ve been pointing upwards), and cutting straight down through the pumpkin. Once it’s halved, repeat the process and cut each of the halves in half. If you’re removing the seeds from a large carving pumpkin, you may not need to quarter the gourd. Carving pumpkins often have a large enough opening at the top to extract the pulp and seeds from. Once the pumpkin has been quartered, grab a sturdy kitchen spoon and use it to scrape the stringy pulp (which contains the seeds) into a colander. You’ll be able to tell where the pulp ends and the pumpkin wall begins, as the wall of the gourd is much sturdier than the pulp and does not contain any seeds. If you don’t have a spoon sturdy enough for scooping out the pumpkin seeds, you can use an ice cream scoop. You’ll need to use your fingers for this: reach into the colander and remove the pumpkin seeds from the thick, sticky pumpkin pulp. You can discard the pumpkin pulp, and leave the seeds themselves in the colander. You should be able to extract about 1 cup (236 mL) of seeds from a pumpkin weighing 10–14 pounds (4.5–6.3 kg). Once you’ve removed as much of the pulp as possible and are left with only seeds, take the colander to your sink and thoroughly rinse the seeds in cold water. This will remove lingering strings of pulp.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Consider your motives. Be aware of what a relationship demands. Question whether you enjoy the person’s company. Decide if you want to take a sexual relationship further. Ask yourself if you are okay with being exclusive. Know how to handle, and dish out, rejection in a mature way.

Answer:
If you are a teenager, you may not have ever wanted a "real" relationship, then all of a sudden everyone is dating, and you think you should be, too. If this sounds like you, take a step back. Remember that dating is not a competition. Real emotions and real people are a part of romantic relationships, and you don't want to jump into a relationship just because all your friends are. Teens and young adults are ready for relationships at different times depending on maturity. In order to be in a healthy romantic relationship you must recognize what you have to be ready to give. Healthy dating relationships consist of some of the same elements as other relationships (e.g. friendships, family, etc.). However, with dating relationships, it can be easy to get caught up in the other person and neglect friends or activities. Consider the following key components to healthy relationships:  Feeling comfortable expressing your thoughts, feelings, opinions, or dreams Being considerate of the other person's thoughts, feelings, and opinions Treating one another with respect Offering support to the other Avoiding violence Being able to resolve conflicts Trusting each other Comforting one another Being able to confide in one another Communicating directly and openly Encouraging the other to have friends and other interests Being honest about past relationships or sexual activity Participating in sexual activity by choice This may seem obvious but you surely don’t want to get involved in a relationship with a person you don’t like to hang out with. Usually, when couples are "in love", they want to be together for hours on end and dread parting. While your love symptoms may not be that strong, you should still look forward to the time you spend with this person. Take note that, while you can be excited about spending time with your partner and saddened when they leave, there is a line drawn that can make this behavior obsessive or codependent. A codependent relationship means you frequently give up your needs or interests in favor of your partner's, or always want to be with this particular person only. If you spot such a pattern in yourself, you need professional help to learn how to form healthier attachments. To know if you should be starting a relationship, it’s important to determine how much you actually care about this person. Maybe you have been hooking up with someone, but don't know if you want to keep it this way or take on the title of "boyfriend" or "girlfriend".  Signs that you are interested in upgrading a sexual relationship may include having fun together and spending time that is not sexual in nature, having absorbing and thrilling conversations, being encouraged to improve yourself because of the other person, and wanting to know more about them – including meeting their friends and family.  Signs that you want the relationship to stay in the "sexual" category may include only being lovers with no friendship element, having a greater interest in sex than quality time or conversation, being consumed in the person’s physical appearance, and keeping a wall up in which you discuss things in terms of fantasy rather than real feelings, opinions, and dreams. Another way to know if you are ready for a serious relationship is your commitment to just one person. You like the person you are dating so much that you can’t imagine seeing him with another girl or having another make him bowl over laughing. The desire for exclusivity is often a major indicator of the beginnings of a romantic relationship. Be warned: extreme possessiveness, jealousy, or controlling are not elements of a healthy love relationship. Yes, you and your partner should want to turn away other suitors, but pushing away friends and losing your head if they talk to someone else is a red flag and an unhealthy attachment, or even abuse. At the start of a relationship, the last thing on your mind is the end. However, when dating, particularly in teenage years, you have to be prepared with the possibility of rejection. Your date may find someone else they like, or you may lose your interest in being in a relationship. Can you appropriately  respond to rejection? What about rejecting another, can you let someone down in a nice, firm way?  When rejected, it's okay to feel sad, disappointed, or angry (or any other emotion). Feeling this way is normal. However, use these feelings positively. Be nice to yourself rather than making yourself feel even worse with negative criticism. Make an effort to remember all the good qualities you have. Pat yourself on the back for having the courage to be vulnerable in the first place. Then, use what you learned from this situation to improve yourself and your relationships in the future.  When having to break up or reject someone, think through the conversation beforehand. Carefully go over your reasons and decide how to share them in a respectful way. Always break up face-to-face. For example, tell your date that you need to talk to him/her about something important. Initiate the conversation by saying something you like about the person. Next, explain what's not working and that you want to break up. Tell the person that you are sorry to hurt him/her. Finally, respect the other person's need for space.