Australian research is leading to a variation on the Glycaemic Index, the food insulin index “The food insulin index (FII) may provide a better way to adjust insulin dose in Type 1 diabetes…. In time, it may also enable us to design diets to prevent diabetes,” says Dr. Jennie C. Brand-Miller, from the University of Sydney.

via Food Insulin Index Predicts Insulin Demand of Mixed Meals.

                                                     Undoubtedly there is a plethora of advice about how to enjoy Thanksgiving while having diabetes. I am not going to offer any such advice. Instead, I will suggest that we with type 1 be thankful for insulin.

Plain and simple, we’d be dead if it weren’t for the discovery by Frederick Grant Banting. That’s stark, and I mean it to be. Thanksgiving should represent a time for taking stock and regaining perspective, and not solely a meal where overindulgence is the goal. Therefore, when we sit at the table and pile on too much, or too little, skip dessert or taste all five, we should first give a silent thanks to the man who gave us the option and gave us our lives.

I believe that Dr. Banting would suggest that we do not feel guilt over our meal, that we do not feel shame. That we simply enjoy, in whatever way works for us. He didn’t work so diligently so that we should feel ostracized in our own skin. There is no reason to apologize for this disease, no reason to care what the relative across the table from you is thinking about your food choices. You live with this disorder day in and day out. No one else can do that for you. Therefore, allow yourself a day to be thankful that we have science and medicine that have provided us more than was ever thought possible before 1931.

I contradict myself. I am offering advice. So be it. We are unique and we are the same. This disease has so many common features that we fight alone and on teams. We are forever in it together, even though we are always separate. Be thankful for that. And revel in the immortal words of Whitman:

“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)…”

 ”I celebrate myself, and sing myself.”

                                     Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 1855

There hasn’t been much diabetes excitement for me today. My BG was a little high this morning but a correction bolus fixed that up for the rest of the day. In other news, Jeff had a fever yesterday. We were supposed to drive home today but the doc gave him antibiotics for a sinus infection. Therefore, we are leaving tomorrow instead. I’m anxious to go home and see my family.

So… I thought I’d share some awesome diabetes related videos with you today! What can I say? I love YouTube!

This first story is simply amazing. I can’t even begin to think about what this lady went through! She is unbelievably amazing! This video is from dLife. If any diabetic reading this doesn’t know what dLife is please check it out! It’s very cool!

The next one is a two-parter. I just thought it was so cool to hear Dr. Best talk about diabetes. I’ve always read about him and Dr. Banting but I didn’t even know video footage existed! I do think, however, that he’s stretching the truth a few things in there. At least that’s what I think from reading Michael Bliss’s The Discovery of Insulin. The patient in the interview is really cool though. It’s interesting to hear where they thought diabetes treatment was heading.

I posted this one on Facebook the other day, but I just want to make sure everyone I know watches it because it’s just too freaking adorable.

I hope you enjoyed those. And just a reminder. You can add this blog on Facebook to get updates!

Am 16. November 2009 war Weltdiabetestag! Jeder zehnte Deutsche leidet an Diabetes, die im Sprachgebrauch als Zucker bezeichnet wird. Täglich kommen Neuerkrankungen hinzu (1.000 Stück), darunter immer mehr Kinder. Beim Diabetes handelt es sich um eine Stoffwechselkrankheit, die nicht weh tut und daher oft zufällig entdeckt wird. Typische Symptome sind:

• plötzlicher starker Durst (mehr als vier Liter täglich)
• vermehrtes Wasserlassen
• schlecht heilende Wunden
• Wadenkrämpfe
• dauernde Sehstörungen und Müdigkeit
• Juckreiz
• Azetongeruch der Atemluft (ähnlich wie Nagellackentferner)
• häufige Infektionen (bei Frauen besonders der Scheide)

 Anfangs können die Symptome beim Diabetes Typ 2 völlig fehlen. Meist erfolgt eine Diagnose zufällig. Ein Bluttest beim Arzt verschafft Klarheit.

Wie entsteht Diabetes Typ 1?

Rund 300.000 Menschen sind von Diabetes Typ 1 betroffen und treten bereits im Kindes- und Jugendalter auf. Das Immunsystem greift die körpereigene Insulinproduktion in der Bauchspeicheldrüse an und zerstört die Insulin produzierenden Zellen. Es handelt sich um einen absoluten Insulinmangel.

Was ist Insulin und welche Rolle spielt es im Körper?

Das Hormon Insulin wird in der Bauchspeicheldrüse hergestellt und ist verantwortlich dafür, den aus der Nahrung aufgenommenen Zucker aus dem Blut in die Muskel- und Fettzellen zu transportieren. Ein absoluter Insulinmangel führt zum starken Anstieg des Blutzuckers und gleichzeitig zur Unterversorgung der Körperzellen.

Was ist ein Typ-2-Diabetiker?

Mittlerweile gibt es rund 90 Prozent Diabetiker mit dem Typ 2. Dieser tritt meist nach dem 40. Lebensjahr auf und spricht von einem relativen Insulinmangel. Dabei produziert die Bauchspeicheldrüse zwar Insulin, aber die Körperzellen verlieren ihre Empfindlichkeit für das Hormon. Die Bauchspeicheldrüse versucht das auszugleichen, indem sie immer mehr Insulin ausschüttet. Trotz erhöhtem Insulinspiegel gelangt weniger Zucker in die Körperzellen.

Was sind die häufigsten Ursachen für Diabetes?
Bei Typ 1 sind die genauen Ursachen noch unklar. Die Veranlagung für Typ 2 ist erblich bedingt und  wird vor allem durch starkes Übergewicht und zu wenig körperliche Bewegung ausgelöst. Oft sind gleichzeitig erhöhte Blutfettwerte und Bluthochdruck vorhanden.

Wie entsteht ein Schwangerschaftsdiabetes?
Die Ursachen liegen vor allem an verschiedenen Schwangerschaftshormonen, die zu einer Erhöhung des Blutzuckerspiegels führen. Oft ist auch die Ernährung in der Schwangerschaft nicht ideal.

Ist das ungeborene Kind durch einen Schwangerschaftsdiabetes gefährdet?
Die Nährstoffe gelangen über den Mutterkuchen und die Nabelschnur zum Ungeborenen, das auf die hohen Blutzuckerwerte mit einer erhöhten Insulinproduktion reagiert und baut den Zucker als Fett im eigenen Körper ein. Dadurch wird das Kind größer und dicker und produziert Urin, wodurch die Fruchtwassermenge zunimmt.

Die Risiken sind eine Frühgeburt und die Geburt eines großen Kindes ist schwieriger. Die Kinder haben ein erhöhtes Risiko, bereits in der Pubertät oder im frühen Erwachsenalter daran zu erkranken.

Ist Diabetes heilbar?

Nein. Einigen Typ-2-Diabetes-Patienten gelingt es aber, ihre Krankheit mit Gewichtsabnahme, Bewegung und Nahrungsumstellung in den Griff zu bekommen, ohne dass sie Medikamente benötigen. Beim Typ-1-Diabetes muss lebenslang Insulin gegeben werden.

Wo bekomme ich Infos?
Bei diabetesDE. Diese Organisation bietet neben vielen Infos auch ein 24-Stunden-Diabetes-Gesundheitstelefon unter der Telefonnummer 0180/250 52 05

WHAT IS DIABETES? WHY DO WE NEED TO CUT DOWN OUR SUGAR INTAKE?

As we know, millions of citizens all over the world have tried to let go of their mouth-watering and tasty sugary products. People don’t have any option but to leave their in-taking of sweets because their health is at risk. That is why doctors tell diabetics to shun away from sugary foods to prevent unhelpful reactions. Insulin is a substance that breakdown our sugars into tiny particles to be able to maximize by our body to produce fuel and energy, so we can do our day to day activities. When glucose builds up in the bloodstream, the cells become starved for energy since they do not have access to the glucose and in short term and long term frequent glucose build-up speeds the acidity of the blood, hurting several of the body’s organs, such as the eyes and kidneys.

TYPES OF DIABETES

Gestational diabetes could occur in women who are the age 24 years old or older, but certain women have increased risks in developing gestational diabetes. Nerve damage can cause your hands and feet to hurt, tingle or feel numb. The two key types are the Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type-1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes since it affects children. There are many types of diabetes and each one differs from each other. Finally,, the pancreas can weaken from working overtime to create more insulin and can no longer be able to create enough to keep a person’s blood sugar levels in a regular range.

DIABETES TREATMENT

You need to eat healthy when you are suffering from diabetes and sustain regular exercise routine. With correct treatment, people who have type 1 diabetes can expect to live longer and healthier lives. For type 2 diabetes, begin by eating healthy foods, and include physical activity in your every day routine and continue a healthy weight. Stay at a healthy weight and maintain a good body weight will help you keep your body going and have better energy levels.

ALTERNATIVE DIABETES CURES THROUGH THE HERBAL WAY

If diabetes is not treated, it could lead in complications like renal failure, impotence, hypoglycemia and a nervous breakdown. Once we struggle taking in sugar, diseases like diabetes may be at hand. Although this can mean future medications, there are other possible ways on how alternative diabetes cures could help you. Carbohydrates can be found in foods like pasta, rice, cereals, bread and potatoes. To name a few herbal cures, people who use bitter melon (ampalaya) or momordica charantia usually use these cures imported from the Orient. As we all know, it is still true that prevention is always better than cure. In order for the glucose to get through inside our cell, it needs the help of insulin (which is produced by the pancreas).

——————–

DIABETES CONTROL                     

CLICK HERE to Download a FREE brochure about diabetes and your kidneys.  

And, why did AgelessXtra melt fat off my mid-zone when it’s not a ‘weight-loss’ product? The answer has helped me understand the connection between weight gain, hormones and stress.

Many of us are challenged to keep our middle parts (hips, tummy, butts) from packing on extra weight as we age?  I’m talking about those of us that had slim or athletic bodies all through our twenties and but, as our thirties ticked by, this stuff started to build up like a bad fanny pack.

When I hit 150 lbs (@ 5′4″) I went on the first diet of my life.  I counted my restricted calories and exercised like crazy.   Weight loss became my part-time job.  I got down to 133 lbs and was very proud of myself. Sadly, this story ends the way most diet stories do.  A year later, I was easily back to 145 with no sign that it would end there.

I started taking AgelessXtra – advanced cell renewal formula for lots of reasons: more vital energy, mental clarity and stress management.  I wanted to help my body regenerate and repair and protect my cells from free radical damage.

The big surprise was that after about four months — my pants were falling off. I had stopped weighing myself or thinking about the weight – why bother.  So, I had not noticed that my weight was down to 130 lbs with no change in diet or exercise.  3 lbs more weight lost than when I literally worked my ass off.

I have since come to understand that as we age, our hormone levels change and women tend to pack on stress-related weight below the belt.  This is all part of the dance between stress hormones (e.g. cortisol), happy hormones (e.g. DHEA) and insulin – to name a few.

It’s not that your life is necessarily more stressful between age 35 and 50 (although for most women it is) — it’s that your body – biochemically speaking – cannot respond to normal stress like a twenty year old.

The bottom-line: the powerful plant medicine in AgelessXtra was changing the bio-chemical reality of stress in my body.  My cells were being supported to ‘chill out’…and — there was a whole cascade of positive effects that resulted in easy weight loss.

My weight landed at 125 lbs — exactly where I was in University and that’s where it stopped. I’ve now been at that weight for the last six months.

Throw some yoga and meditation in the mix and you’re laughing — literally.

Yes, I also cringed when I read that title the first time. There are so many things wrong with the phrase “childhood diabetes” and the term seems to follow me wherever I go. The reasons behind my disdain are for another blog some other day. Instead, I’d like you to meet what may be the cure for “childhood diabetes.”

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a generic vaccine that is used to prevent tuberculosis. However, it has recently been discoverd by Dr. Denise Faustman to also stop the autoimmune reaction in mice that causes type one diabetes and also prevents new beta cells from re-growing. That’s right. Beta cells can REGROW!

Now I don’t really want to talk about the science behind this because it’s relatively complicated for anyone who isn’t a nerd for diabetes research. But the jist is, it is incredibly promising research which could lead to a remarkably inexpensive cure to diabetes that could be administered by a simple injection. Amazing!

The reason I felt like sharing this story today is because of how this research is being funded. Dr. Faustman has been unable to acquire government funds for research. Her application for funds from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has also been denied. Therefore, her research is being completely privately funded by donors. Through the incredibly generosity of Lee Iacocca (of Chevrolet fame) Dr. Faustman was able to get the money to fund Phase I. However, anyone familiar with the FDA and getting drugs passed through it, knows how expensive it can be!

Therefore, a group of parents of children with type one have started a grassroots organization to directly fund Dr. Faustman’s research. There organization is called Help Cure Childhood Diabetes.

Despite the name, I found this to be an incredibly amazing idea. I have always heard skeptics talk about how drug companies don’t want to cure diabetes because then they lose all the money they are making off of us. I’ve also heard people say that groups like JDRF and ADA also don’t want to cure diabetes because then they would all be out of a job. I have always told myself that this is all completely stupid but I do often wonder if I am being naive. As a believer in capitalism I can see how there really wouldn’t be any financial incentive for a cure for diabetes. Which is why we need people with OTHER incentives to help find the cure.

I really, really love this concept and I truly hope more of it comes about!

PS. When you go to Help Cure Childhood Diabetes make sure you look at the “Meet the Chldren” page. It’ll make you smile and cry. They remind me of me. And of all my campers.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered that obesity directly affects the size of one’s brain. This as a result, affects one’s cognitive abilities. In other words, a fit individual has superior mental capabilities as compared to an overweight person.

Loss of Brain Tissue

They found that obese people have 8% less brain tissue than people of normal weight. Overweight people have 4% less brain tissue than people of normal weight. Obesity is classified as having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 and above. Someone is overweight if their BMI falls within 25 and 30.

The researchers scanned the brains of 94 elderly people.  Although the test participants were elderly, they were all  cognitively normal. They were not afflicted by brain degenerating diseases such as Alzheimer or Parkinsons. According to Dr. Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology, just a 4% loss represents, “severe” brain degeneration.

The researches also informed that the brain tissue was lost in key areas that included;

• Frontal and temporal lobes: Critical for planning and memory
• Hippocampus: Important for long-term memory
• Anterior cingulate gyrus: Responsible for executive functions and attention
• Basal ganglia: Essential for proper movement and coordination

While this study was conducted on elderly people, other earlier studies had found similar correlations for younger participants.

Other Studies

In another study published in Obesity, researchers found that higher BMI correlated with reduced brain grey matter volume in the medial temporal lobes, hippocampus and precuneus. The average age of the 690 male participants was 42.

In a study published in Neuroimage, researchers found that participants with higher BMI had reduced grey matter volumes in the frontal operculum, postcentral gyrus and putamen. The  study identified structural brain differences in obese participants  in several brain areas involved in the regulation of taste, reward, and behavioral control. The outcome of this study seems to indicate that obesity is a downward spiral. The more obese one becomes, the more one looses control over the brain area that regulates behaviour and reward. The loss of control in these areas could be the reason why some overweight people have absolutely no control over their eating habits.

Reasons for Loss of Brain Matter

Research has also found some possible reasons for the degeneration of brain tissue with increasing body fat levels. One possibility could be raised levels of cortisol that is evident in overweight individuals. A study published in Neuroscience established the correlation between elevated levels of the cortisol hormone and brain degeneration.

Another reason for brain degeneration in overweight people could be due to the lack of exercise. The lack of exercise could be the reason that one is overweight in the first place. Exercise has been shown to preserve brain mass via the release of chemicals that regenerate neurons. Colcombe published a study which found that aerobic fitness reduced brain tissue loss.

Overweight people also generally have higher levels of the insulin hormone. Insulin is a potent fat storage hormone. An overweight person may or may not be diabetic. The insulin hormone can stay elevated for long periods before medical tests show the sign of diabetes. The chronic elevation of insulin levels is detrimental to the body and the brain. A study published in Neuroepidemiology stated the degenerative effects of excess insulin on cognitive functions and brain volume.

The evidence is mounting that being overweight leads to an absolutely poor quality of life. Not only does it lead to lifestyle diseases, but also to reduction of cognitive abilities. The best thing that one can do for his or her health is to maintain high levels of fitness.

Pictures courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

]]> http://newshyderabad.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/stress-can-cause-diabetes/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:53:04 +0000 seoforever http://newshyderabad.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/stress-can-cause-diabetes/

According to popular perception the most common causes of diabetes are hereditary factors (family history), overeating or lack of exercise leading to obesity. While this is true, we often tend to forget an important cause — stress.

 Stress is defined as “a physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes physical or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.” Several diseases can be caused or worsened by stress and diabetes is one of them.

 Blood sugar levels are controlled mainly by two groups of hormones. The first group reduces blood sugar but insulin is the only member of this group. The second group called counter-regulatory hormones, opposes the action of insulin and increases the sugars.

 There hormones include cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, glucagon and growth hormone. Stress tends to increase the levels of these hormones, particularly cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. If these levels are persistently elevated, this can precipitate diabetes in a predisposed individual or worsen it in someone who is already diabetic.

 I recently treated a 52-year-old woman with abnormally high blood sugar levels of 600 mg/dl. Despite efforts to control her sugar levels with high doses of insulin and tablets, it remained above 350 mg/dl. But suddenly two months later the sugar levels began dropping and soon she was off medication as well.

 It turned out that the lady’s husband had been cheating on her, which put her under tremendous stress. But once the affair ended, she was more at peace and gradually her stress levels reduced and so did her sugar levels. This may sound like a script from a movie but truth is stranger than fiction.

 It is important to detect high stress levels in a patient, since the blood sugars will come down only if the former is controlled. Reduction of stress often leads to a dramatic improvement or even cure of diabetes.

 Very often, individuals do not realise that they are under stress and even if they do, they deny it. The first step in stress management is to make the patient understand that everyone in the world is exposed to some stress or the other at some time in their lives.

 But it should be kept in mind that a mild degree of stress can actually do us a world of good by raising our performance levels. It is important that a diabetic learns to manage stress. A healthy social life, taking time out to relax with friends and family is vital in reducing stress levels, thereby reducing the risk of developing diabetes and helping people with the problem take control of their condition.

 The writer is chairman,

Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai and Hyderabad

 Bust that stress

* Try to come to terms with a situation.

* Practice better time management.

* Improve your organisational skills.

* Try and resolve all conflicts.

* Ensure that you include some form of exercise in your daily routine and also practice yoga (pranayam) regularly.

* Eat moderately and at proper intervals.

* Try and practice relaxation techniques and also get adequate sleep.

By: Dave Schreck

Sustainable salmon

Sounds delicious and it’s politically correct.  I wonder if the fish are massaged like Kobe beef.  It’s also deceiving, sustainable usually means farm raised, however, there are a few companies that specialize in ocean-raised salmon, which guarantees a specific amount of EPA for every 100 grams of salmon.

What’s wrong with farm-raised fish?  Their feed is high in contaminates from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it’s low in EPA, high in arachidonic acid (the building block of “bad” eicosanoids) and colored with pink pigment chemicals.  Wild salmon are higher in EPA and acquire their deep red color consuming cold-water plankton.  What you find in most fish farms are soybean oil and other vegetable oils rich in omega-6 fatty acids that fuel those “bad” eicosanoids causing chronic disease, such as obesity, heart disease, arthritis and dementia.

Alternatives:

• Purchase wild salmon.
• However, the best source for your daily omega-3s (EPA plus DHA) is to supplement with OmegaRx.  It’s convenient, concentrated and pure.  1,000mg of EPA plus DHA from OmegaRx is about 60 cents.  Wild salmon at $13.99 pound will cost about $15 per 1,000mg plus contaminates!

Whole Grain Products

You mean bread, cereals, rice, even the mother of all grains, quinoa?  Yes, but they’re organic, stone ground, harvested on a full moon, free trade from responsible, humane, and passionate growers and bakers.  I applaud these individuals for their hard work and delicious products, but more than 75 percent of the population would be better off consuming much less than our government’s daily recommendations.  Why?  We are not genetically designed to consume grains.

But a seven-year German study recommended seven servings of whole grains daily for a longer life!  (Healthy Living Is the Best Revenge: Findings From the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition–Potsdam Study
Earl S. Ford; Manuela M. Bergmann; Janine Kröger; Anja Schienkiewitz; Cornelia Weikert; Heiner Boeing Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(15):1355-1362.)

You know whole grain breads, cereal, pasta, popcorn and brown rice.  This goes against what Dr. Sears has written about since his first book, “The Zone.”

Unfortunately, the Germans have a preconceived notion that eating lots of rye bread is good for you.  If they had looked at a population eating high levels of fruits and vegetables, small amounts of whole grains, a lot of fish and using primarily olive oil, they would have had even better results.  It’s like comparing Americans to Samoans and stating that Americans are healthier because they have less obesity.

You’ll get far more nutrients and better insulin control from a plate of non-starchy vegetables than from one filled with whole grains and starches.

Don’t take Dr. Sears’ word.  Have your blood checked.  See the “The Anti-Aging Zone,” “The Anti-Inflammation Zone,” or “The OmegaRx Zone” for specific blood test parameters.  Don’t have the time and want to know right now if you have elevated levels of insulin?  How are your clothes fitting?  A little snug?  Or look in the mirror.  If you’re overweight, you could be headed for trouble.

Alternatives:

• Zone Pasta and Cereal, which are balanced with proteins, carbohydrates and fat.
• Small amounts of low-carb products along with portion-controlled “unfavorable” carbohydrates.  See the Zone Food Block lists at www.zonediet.com
• Stick to mostly non-starchy fruits and vegetables.

Packaged Diet Foods

Food manufacturers are following the lead of the government promoting products low in fat but high in carbohydrates, artificial taste enhancers and sweeteners.  Unfortunately, fat is not the enemy.  It’s too many carbohydrates that stimulate your appetite by raising blood sugar and insulin levels.  Two hours later, you’re reaching for another low-fat Danish treat.

The more carbs you consume, the more insulin you make — a sure-fire way to increase your waist size while increasing silent inflammation, the root cause of chronic disease.

Alternatives:

• Become aware of your food choices.  Whole, fresh, non-starchy foods are best.
• If you need convenience consider products that are crafted to balance proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
• The ultimate solution is a more balanced diet, like the Zone, consisting of virtually equal calories coming from low-fat protein, carbohydrates (primarily fruits and vegetables), and non-inflammatory fat, such as olive oil.  This is basically a modified Mediterranean diet that gives superior anti-inflammatory results, according to recent research from Harvard Medical School.

With all the misinformation and slick marketing techniques, following a diet that enhances the quality of your life can be a challenge.  Your choices have consequences, and positive change is the result of small choices.  Choose wisely and you’ll reap all the benefits the Zone has to offer.

From ZoneDiet.com.  For more articles about healthy eating or to learn more about the ZONE go to http://www/zonediet.com.

British Journal of Healthcare Assistants 2009 (Vol 3 No 11) Contents Page

Fade Fave: Causes and consequences of diabetes

Fade Skinny: Diabetes diagnosis in the UK has risen over the years reaching epidemic levels. This article aims to improve knowledge and understanding of diabetes, not only as a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism but as a chronic disease.

(Print subscription held at Fade Library)

Diabetes melitus dikarakterisasi oleh hiperglikemia kronik karena penurunan kerja insulin pada jaringan target (disebabkan oleh kurangnya sekresi insulin, resistensi insulin atau keduanya). Penurunan kerja insulin ini berhubungan dengan gangguan metabolisme karbohidrat, lemak dan protein pada jaringan termasuk hati. Defisiensi insulin yang terjadi pada DM tipe 2 akan menyebabkan peningkatan produksi glukosa, peningkatan metabolisme protein, dan peningkatan lipolisis. Peningkatan proses tersebut tentunya juga akan meningkatkan beberapa enzim di hati seperi glukokinase, fosfofruktokinase dan piruvat kinase, enzim gluokinase dan heksokinase II, enzim glikogen sintase, enzim fosfatase dan lipase

DOWNLOAD

For most people, when you’re about to have a meal, you set the table, cook up some food, sit down, and eat. Pretty simple.

For Type 1 diabetics, there are a few more steps.

First. Figure out what to eat, making sure it’s a healthy choice, hopefully covering all the food groups. Second, figure out how many carbs are in what you’re about to have. Third, test your blood sugar – prick your finger, draw blood, stick the blood into the test strip and wait 5 seconds to get the reading. 

Based on the number on the screen, determine how many units of insulin are required (or not required) to offset a reading that is too high or too low (a “correction” amount of insulin).

The next step depends on how you give yourself  insulin. For those that are using needles and fast acting insulin, do the math to figure out how many units of insulin are required to offset the food that is about to be consumed.  Then, add that number to the correction insulin. Dial it in to the “insulin pen”,  then pinch the fat somewhere on the body, and inject the insulin.

Since I’m on an insulin pump all I need to do is enter the carbs into the pump and it will automatically calculate the amount of insulin I need, also taking into account any correction insulin.

Once you’ve been a diabetic for a while, all of the above steps are second nature, but, next time you’re about to eat, take a second to think about us. Know that we can never just sit down and eat.  

That’s the real deal with diabetes, one sugar cube at a time.

Vitamin D supplements show anti-diabetes potential

Supplements of the sunshine vitamin may improve insulin resistance and sensitivity, both of which are risk factors for diabetes, says a new study from New Zealand.

Insulin resistance, whereby insufficient insulin is released to produce a normal glucose response from fat, muscle and liver cells, was significantly lower in women following high-dose vitamin D supplementation, according to results of a randomised, controlled, double-blind trial published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

The optimal effects were observed when blood vitamin D levels were in the range 80 to 119 nanomoles per litre, said the researchers, “providing further evidence for an increase in the recommended adequate levels”.

D for diabetes

This is not the first time that vitamin D has been linked to diabetes. A recent meta-analysis of data from observational studies and clinical trials in adults showed a “relatively consistent association” between low intakes of calcium, vitamin D, or dairy intake and type-2 diabetes (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol. 92, pp. 2017-2029).

The entire text of this article is from:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Publications/Food-Beverage-Nutrition/NutraIngredients.com/Research/Vitamin-D-supplements-show-anti-diabetes-potential/?c=hpORIm6dEDu%2F8D0SEUWNgQ%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily

Prevention is important to reduce complications, says expert

Pamphlets to be distributed to educate the public

Addressing a press conference, Dr. Meher said patient education was very important for the management of diabetes. It was, therefore, necessary to put diabetics who had infection on insulin. The levels of sugar in the blood could be controlled better with insulin and the recovery of the patient was faster with better control of blood sugar. Once the infection subsides the patient could be take off insulin again, he said.

Dr. Meher said that the World Diabetes Day was celebrated every year on November 14, the birthday of Frederick Banting, who along with another scientist first conceived an idea that led to the discovery of insulin in 1922. The theme for the celebration of the day this year was “Diabetes Education and Prevention”. The awareness programme was being conducted to educate patients, he said. While weight loss played a major role in keeping the disease under check, exercise should be given primacy over diet control, Dr. Meher made clear.

He said prevention of diabetes was important to reduce risk of complications. If unchecked, the disease would be a heavy burden on middle class people.

On the occasion of the World Diabetes Day, Dr. Srikanth’s Diabetes Specialities Centre would be conducting a free medical check for 300 persons with the propensity for the disease. Diabetes specialist M. Srikanth said at a press conference that 300 persons with a propensity for the disease were identified and given coupons for the special programme to be held on Saturday.

Pamphlets would also be distributed for educating the public. A seminar would also be conducted about the disease and its impact on the lives of individuals and society as a whole would be held to celebrate the day, he said.

Researchers led by Daniel Kohane, MD, PhD of Children’s Hospital Boston, funded by the National Institutes of Health, have devised a solution that combines magnetism with nanotechnology.

The team created a small implantable device, less than ½” in diameter, that encapsulates the drug in a specially engineered membrane, embedded with nanoparticles (approximately 1/100,000 the width of a human hair) composed of magnetite, a mineral with natural magnetic properties. When a magnetic field is switched on outside the body, near the device, the nanoparticles heat up, causing the gels in the membrane to warm and temporarily collapse. This opens up pores that allow the drug to pass through and into the body. When the magnetic force is turned off, the membranes cool and the gels re-expand, closing the pores back up and halting drug delivery. No implanted electronics are required.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/chb-umt091809.php

Recent studies have revealed a startling correlation between sleep apnea and diabetes. Did you know that one-third of all Americans with diabetes and 80% of all men suffering from moderate to severe sleep apnea haven’t even been diagnosed yet? What’s even more alarming is that scientists have said that sleep apnea and diabetes go hand in hand.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a term used to describe the condition where the tissues in the back of the throat intermittently collapse during sleep, which causes temporary pauses in breathing. These pauses can last for anywhere between a few seconds and a few minutes and can occur as often as 30 times per hour.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin. Insulin helps the cells absorb glucose from sugars, to burn off as energy. Diabetes is characterized by tell-tale symptoms such as polyuria and polydipsia, as well as chronic fatigue and significant weight loss.

What you can do about it:

• Slim down! One of the main catalysts for diabetics developing sleep apnea is being overweight. A recent Temple University study reported that losing weight can greatly reduce a diabetic’s chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea.
• Pass on the last call! There’s nothing wrong with having an occasional drink every now and again, but habitual drinking can greatly increase your risk of developing sleep apnea. As I’m sure you’re well aware, alcohol is sugar in its simplest form – what do you think the body processes it as? That’s right, sugar. High sugar consumption propagates insulin resistance which can lead to both diabetes and sleep apnea.
• Check your hormones! Get your hormone levels checked! Being that insulin is a hormone, a hormonal imbalance could very well be the culprit. But by the time diabetes or sleep apnea strike, it’s too late – the damage is already done. Both sleep apnea and diabetes have no known cure, however they both can be controlled and more importantly, they can be avoided all together. By eating right, exercising and making sure that your hormones are balanced, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes and sleep apnea, or any age-related disease for that matter.   

         It was an honor to participate in this year’s World Diabetes Day 2009 at Temple School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia! 

[Pictured from left to right is Elena Ciccotelli of TrainerDiva, Inc., Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, and Dr. Kathya Zinszer of Temple School of Podiatric Medicine.]

                                           Did you know?

• 23.6 million children and adults in the US live with diabetes. This is 7.8% of the population.

• 57 million Americans have prediabetes, putting them at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

• Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.

         With alarming statistics such as these at the forefront of conversation last Saturday, the question is, what do we do about it? How do we tame the rapid growth of this epidemic?

          The short answer to this question, (yet only a piece of the puzzle) is unanimous and resounding….EXERCISE! Easier said than done? Yes. Impossible? Of course not!

          Instead of listing the numerous benefits of exercise for diabetics, it seems more appropriate to highlight an individual who has experienced these benefits first-hand. In the spirit of success, Lois, a TrainerDiva client since September 2008, truly illustrates that exercise is potent medicine!

 “In the year that I’ve been training with TrainerDiva, Inc. I’ve lost 40 pounds, dropped my usage of insulin from 40 plus units a day to about 10 units a day and improved my hemoglobin A1C levels tremendously.  I believe that it won’t be long before I’ll be totally insulin-free. Training on a regular basis has also increased my energy and strength, both of which have helped me to stay active as a diabetic. But what I find to be the most beneficial is that training with TrainerDiva, Inc. helps me stay accountable, which is extremely crucial as I continue on my journey of health.  It is one thing to diet and lose weight but it is another to learn how to make exercise and strength training a part of your lifestyle.  I know that with TrainerDiva, Inc. I will continue to stay focused and become as healthy as I can, eliminating the devastating effects of diabetes.”

         We are looking forward to participating in World Diabetes Day next year to help increase diabetes awareness and provide practical solutions for your training concerns!