To treat hypoglycemia, chew and swallow four glucose tablets (containing about 4 grams of carbohydrate each) or drink about 5 ounces of orange juice or a regular (not diet) soft drink.

It is a good idea for anyone with diabetes to wear a medical identification bracelet indicating that they have diabetes, just in case they are ever unable to speak for themselves.

Older, proven medicines are often — though not always — both cheaper and safer to use than brand-new ones. Ask your doctor what different options are available to treat your condition.

Avoid “natural” calcium supplements that contain calcium from coral, oyster shells, dolomite or bone meal, because these sources are more likely to be contaminated with lead and other dangerous substances.

If you need a calcium supplement to meet your calcium requirements, choose one that contains calcium citrate, calcium lactate or calcium carbonate.

Choose supplements that have the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) seal, showing they meet government guidelines for production and dissolution.

Talk to your doctor before starting any dietary or herbal supplements. He should be able advise you about whether the supplement is safe and effective, and whether it may interact with any other drugs you take.

At your first appointment, tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you are taking. Bring a list of all of your medicines to your appointment, or bring the drugs themselves (in their original containers).

Filling all of your prescriptions at one pharmacy, if possible, can help your pharmacist catch any potential interactions between drugs you take. And when you refill your prescriptions, note whether your pills (or insulin) look different from those you normally take. If they do, check it out with your pharmacist.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are generic equivalents to the drugs you take, and consider using combination tablets that contain more than one drug to reduce your co-pays and the number of pills you take each day.

To learn more about the medicines you take, read the information sheets given out with prescriptions by your pharmacist, or talk to your doctor, nurse or diabetes educator about your medicines.

Try using a “white noise generator,” a fan or a tape of nature sounds to block unwanted noise when trying to sleep.

Avoid long naps during the day if you have insomnia. Exercising during the day can also promote sleep at night. Finally, getting some sun exposure during the day can help improve sleep.

Keeping a sleep diary can help you figure out what’s keeping you up or what works best to help you sleep. Each morning, record in your sleep diary when you went to bed, about how long it took to go to sleep, about how many times you recall waking up, when you got up and how rested you feel. Record any naps you took the day before. Also rate your energy level and alertness during the day on a scale of 1 to 10. If this doesn’t improve your sleep quality, you may want to consult a sleep specialist.

Thinner pillows may give better posture and provide more comfortable sleep to people who sleep on their backs, while thicker pillows may provide more neck support for those who sleep on their sides. You can also try a pillow or bolster behind you when you sleep on your side, or a pillow under your feet or between your knees to reduce back strain.

To help yourself sleep, reduce caffeine, limit alcohol and stop smoking. Get in the habit of using your bed only for sleep and sex. Don’t read, eat, talk on the phone or watch television in bed. Get up at the same time every morning, whether you’ve slept or not. Be patient, as it can take at least two weeks to learn new sleep behaviors.

Yes — getting regular exercise can help you fend off fatigue by giving you more energy during the day and helping you sleep better at night.

To reduce bone loss after menopause, women are advised to get 1200 milligrams of calcium a day. For your body to be able to absorb calcium properly, you also need to get an adequate amount of vitamin D.