Which of course meant they tasted like crap. Except for you weirdos out there that LIKE your food all healthy and stuff instead of drenched in butter, dipped in chocolate and wrapped in bacon. (BACON!) We know you eat your vegetables. It’s ok. We promise only to make faces at you behind your back while we’re drumming up the courage to attack our own pile of steamed veges as they grow in size before our very eyes, threatening to eat US before we eat them….

…what, that’s just me? Alrighty then, moving on. I have a point, I swear.

BBC reported recently that a team of researchers at the University of Warwick has discovered that eating broccoli can help reverse some of the damage done due to diabetes due to the compound called sulforaphane. (…which sounds like something that also gives you smelly gas, but maybe that’s just me too!)

Anyway, this compound encourages production of enzymes that protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules that cause cell damage. This adds to the other benefits of the jolly green vegetable as it has also been linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. Since people with diabetes are up to 5 times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases, it seems a no-brainer to me - eat more broccoli.

Even if it’s green.
And a vegetable.
And tastes like a green vegetable.
And not like Bacon.

Sigh. This eating stuff that’s good for you is HARD. Any die hard broccoli fans out there with recipes to die for?! Cough em up in the comments, ya’ll!

[I even decided not to mutter that his 'walk the perimeter of the US' didn't include Alaska, the biggest state of them all. Of course, it doesn't include Hawaii either, so guess there's no flight allowed. *g* We get left out of a lot of things, us Alaskans. We're used to it. It's the reason we call ya'll the 'Lower 48' Hee!]

Andy Mandell is the executive director of the Defeat Diabetes Foundation, and an insulin dependant Type 1 diabetic. His Wake up and Walk tour is an effort to put a face on Diabetes and raise awareness, as well as funds for the continued research into the cause and cure of Diabetes. With a stride of 30 inches, he figures each of his estimated 21 million steps will be once step per person in the United States that has Diabetes.

Here are the facts about the tour:
Began: December 1, 2000 — Madeira Beach, FL (450 mile trial walk)
Re-commenced — January, 2002 � East Milton, FL
Duration: 6-7 years (or however long it takes!)
Route: West — Western FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, CA
North — San Diego, CA to Seattle, WA
East � ID, MT, ND, MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME
South — ME, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, PA, MD, VA, Washington DC, NC, SC
End Point: Madeira Beach, FL
Personal Stats: Insulin Dependent Diabetic — Diagnosed 1985
Born April 23, 1945
Height 6�4�
Weight � 250 lbs.

Andy Mandell, or Mr.Diabetes, was a runner and martial artist who had to give up running due to diabetic neuropathy. He decided to start walking then, and has since walked 9,700+ miles of the 10k mile Wake up and Walk Tour.

So check out the tour, and the foundation, as Mandell finishes his walk - there’s a ton of information on the Defeat Diabetes website, I’ve barely touched the surface, so I’m certain there is something there for everyone. So go, check them out, and tell them Lessa sent ya!

Diabetes is something that must be controlled for the long haul, and we’re lucky that there are some great role models that show us while changes need to be made, it doesn’t have to steal your life, at all. Even Pro football players.

The NFL is in the middle of training camps, preparing for the upcoming season, and recently Wade Wilson, quarterback coach for the Dallas Cowboys, and Jay Cutler, Denver’s starting quarterback chatted a bit about real life, blood sugar, insulin pumps and managing life with Type 1 diabetes.

“It’s a constant battle,” said Wilson, who has lived with diabetes the last 22 years, “but if he can handle professional football, he can handle diabetes. I told him I’d be pulling for him.”

Wilson was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1986, at the start of his fifth season with Minnesota. He played another 14 seasons, and has been an assistant coach since 2000. He’d lost 20 pounds and was urinating all the time, and those are the symptoms that sent him to the doctor. He didn’t think diabetes, as he had no family history, even though his insulin-making cells were being destroyed.

Cutler, age 25, has almost the same story to tell. He’d lost 20 pounds during last season, was hungry all the time but never gained weight. He continued to play, passing for 20 touchdowns and 3,497 yards. In April he received his diagnosis for Type 1 diabetes after a workout at Vanderbebilt - his alma mater - where he was weak and lathargic.. He’s regained his weight, and his arm is strong as of Wednesday’s practice between the Bronco’s and the Cowboys.

“There have been a lot of people that have played with diabetes,” Cutler said. “Even now, athletes have diabetes, especially Type 1, and they are playing. There are people that play with pumps on, so it definitely can be done. I am managing it right now, and it is going well.”

He wears a pump during practice to regulate his insulin, while Wilson takes injections. Wilson took injections, and the trainers had sugar on hand for him just in case. As a player, he had a workout program, and now watches what he eats. Cutler has hired a personal chef to help him monitor what he eats. He knows he’ll be judged on his performance, not on the disease. You are judged on how well you play, and how many games you win.

After their short meeting, Cutler was impressed. “He (Wilson) went through his career with it, and I don’t see any reason why I can’t.”

Check out the Jay Cutler Foundation for more about Jay, and his efforts to aid Diabetes Research!

A little bit about me, while I’m getting my feet wet here on a ’serious’ blog. I, myself, am not diabetic currently (much to the shock of my doctors, as I am rather round and Rubenesque.) but as Barbara explained before me, my dad is, and has been battling the Diabetic Demons since I was but a wee lass. My sister also fights against her blood sugar among other ailments, in between running Triathlons. (If I’m not careful, she’s going to take over my ‘Good Daughter’ status!) It’s highly likely that if I don’t start to behave soon, I’ll be on that sugarless train too.

I’m a SAHM, 38 widowed with three kids - two teenagers (16 and 14) and a 9 year old. Oddly enough, I don’t worry so much for my health (Yes mom, I know I should even more now) but for that of my kids, though changes are hard to make. I’ve two kids who are overweight - though not as bad as me, not even close - and one with a metabolism that boggles the mind. She works off meals by BREATHING. Seriously. I’m hoping that while I write this blog, and delve farther into the issues, it will cause me to get off my ass and try something new.

Covered in butter. Dipped in chocolate. And wrapped in bacon.

…wait, where was I?

Introductions! Yeah!

Clearly I’m a bit more irreverent then your your every day medical type blogger. It stems from a severe dislike of research, and a healthy dose of snark. Please feel free to comment, use the comment form, say hello, say “OMG WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WOMAN”, and be as opinionated as you wish. All I ask is for common courtesies - we’re not here to attack one another, but to help.

So bare with me while I get a handle on this here ’serious’ thing, hm? We’ll have fun. I promise. (Yes, I’m completely aware of the connundrum there. Heh.)

Today . . . at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we salute our Veterans in thanks for all that they have done for us.

A few years ago I discovered that Taps (played at funeral services for men and women who have served in the US armed forces, as well as at memorial events) has not only a haunting melody, but the following words:

Words to Taps
(Note: there are no “official” words to Taps - below are the most popular.)

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
‘Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
‘Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

I can no longer hear this haunting medly played without a lump in my throat.

This page has a “history” of Taps.

My thanks to all who have served . . . those who are still serving . . . and to those who have lost loved ones in service. I have a grand uncle and an uncle buried in Arlington National Cemetery. And, my father and his brothers all served in the Army during WWII. All have now been laid to rest in various places.

I salute you and thank you all for your selfless service to “man and country.”

It seems that Billy has a heart for those with diabetes. He is going to compete in the Reality Castaways Dodgeball event in early December to benefit Reality for Diabetes.

How can you help?

Come watch or even better, play against, no wait, even better, play with your favorite past Contestants from the CBS show Survivor in a Celebrity Dodgeball tournament. Then hang out for a special VIP after party where you can rub elbows and hear stories about Reality TV’s biggest Reality TV Show.

In the First Tounament, Fans will compete with and against the Reality Castaways then in the second Tournament watch teams from Fiji, Cook Islands, Guatemala, Vanuatu, Asia(Thailand & a surpise), Panama(Exile & Allstars), and a Hybrid Bomb Squad compete(Palau, Pearl Islands & Exile).

There are 4 ways you can get involved to help raise money for a great cause.

1) Purchase a ticket to the event/after party - Cost $100
2) Purchase a VIP pass and participate in the tournament against your favorite Survivor contestants - Cost $150
3) Purchase the Immunity Idol pass and get to play on a team with your favorite Survivor contestants - Cost $200
4) Make a seperate donation to help us find a cure.

Check the above website for more VERY IMPORTANT!!! information, okay?

And, Billy . . . thanks from the bottoms of our hearts! Muah!

Billy Garcia, Survivor, diabetes, Survivor Dodgeball

“>Gestational diabetes, which is on the rise nationwide, is becoming more recognized as a significant risk to mothers and their babies. In the news, here is an article about gestational diabetes - and what might cause it. I confess that I don’t understand a lot of what is being said in the article - but it sounds like they (the infamous “they”) might be getting a handle on why gestational diabetes happens.

At the least, it looks like they have the sequencing down - the timing of when it starts and when it stops - or the body starts using insulin again properly. There is talk about “islets” and “menin” and “prolactin”. You know . . . all that scientific jargon that none of us really understands - but when it HELPS us, we are thrilled. Right? Right.

———————–

In other news . . .

The swimming continues - I am getting to be more comfortable putting my face in the water. What?!! You already do that when you swim? Well, friends, I do not like to have my face in the water - there may be psychological reasons for that, but I am not going to worry too much about all that. I am taking it slowly and now get my face wet a lot more often than I used to 8 weeks ago when I started swimming with my daughter.

8 weeks - tomorrow starts week 9.

Last week a coworker came up behind me and mentioned “you know, you are trimming down!” I thanked her and sort of shook my head. Later in the day I got curiouser and curiouser and finally went to the back bathroom to step onto the medical type scale there . . . .

. . . . drum roll, please . . . .

I have lost EIGHTEEN pounds!

Yeah, you coulda knocked ME over, too. How awesome is that? I knew that my (brand new!!!) work slacks were starting to be a bit loose in the legs and seat . . . but I hadn’t thought too much about it really.

May just have to have them taken in soon.

It’s a nice problem to have, right? Right.

You say you’re a diabetic . . .

or

someone in your family is a diabetic . . .

AND

you say you’re an Idol-izer . . .

OR

you just love to watch American Idol . . .

AND

you love to write . . .

or

know someone who loves to write . . .

Well, then, friends . . . we have got something for you!

Elliott Yamin is

According to Idol Stalker and Watching American Idol You may win tickets to an Elliott Yamin concert.

It’s a “creative expressions contest” so put on your thinking caps and sharpen those pencils and get set to write. Here are the submission/format catergories:

Short essay or poem - 500 words or less
Photograph(s) - Up to three prints
Original drawing or painting - no larger than 43cm x 66cm (17″ x 26″)
Music - Original composition, up to three minutes in length (instrumental and lyric)

Participant categories in the Inspired by Diabetes contest are:
Children (age sub-groups 5-6, 7-8, 9-12, 13-17 years old; includes children with diabetes or family members or friends under 18)
Adult with diabetes (ages 18 and older)
Family member or friend of a person with diabetes
Health care professional

If you’re reading here, I’m pretty sure you fit in one of those categories!

Eliott will serve as judge of the entries, and will donate several ticket passes to his tour. The entry deadline is January 31, 2008.

To learn more about Inspired by Diabetes and how to enter the Creative Expression Competition, please visit the Inspired by Diabetes website.

elliott yamin, american idol, inspired by diabetes

We make sure that there are nutritious snacks available every day for the participants - fruit, bagels, muffins, juice, etc. There are also the not quite so nutritious snacks - chips, chocolates, etc. The days are long - the subject is hard - there is a need for comfort food, too.

One of the participants has gestational diabetes so we saw her check her glucose levels several times through the week.

That opened avenues for discussion, of course. Discussion about diabetes are ALWAYS a good thing. It is important to be open and to share when you find you can help someone grow in their own mental/physical/emotional health. In sharing with others we also can be helping ourselves. So . . . as the kids say . . . it’s all good.

And, speaking of kids - and getting to the title of this entry . . .

I came home a bit early one night this week and popped the tv on and happened to see the Jonas Brothers on Ellen. Hubby and I looked at each other and shared our feelings - it’s like stepping back 40+ years and seeing the Beatles perform with screaming teeny-boppers in the audience. The early Beatles - you remember them, the clean-cut youth from across the pond who smiled and charmed all of America’s girls?

The Jonas Brothers are home grown - teens from New Jersey; 19-year-old Kevin, 17-year-old Joe, and 14-year-old Nick.

The reason I’m writing about these young singers? Nick Jonas has Type 1 Diabetes. Here’s his story - in his own voice:

He’s a great spokesman for Type 1 Diabetes.

diabetes, type 1 diabetes, juvenile diabetes, nick jonas, jonas brothers

Hubby (type 2 diabetes) told me yesterday that he would probably never be able to go swimming again. He is worried about his feet - he has another infected toe. As disappointing as it is for me to know he won’t be joining me in the pool - it must be much more disappointing to him. He LOVES to swim.

Nor is it apparently a good idea to use the foot spas that are so popular.

Several years ago I bought hubby a foot spa for Christmas. I looked EVERYWHERE in our small town trying to find one - finally had a small pharmacy order one for me. Nowadays you can find one in every sort of store - they are coming down in price, too.

This all comes back, of course, to the fact that diabetics should take extra good care of their feet.

Hubby wears cotton socks year round - in the colder months (Alaska, remember?) he wears a pair of polar fleece socks over the cotton socks.

Every night when he takes off his socks, he checks them for any tell-tale signs of bleeding or oozing. He then checks each toe with the help of a hand mirror to see if he can see any cuts or bruises.

Even the smallest cut can become infected. With neuropathy, the sensation of pain that would drive any of the rest of us bonkers just is not there. Hubby has found infected sores in the past that he did not even know were there.

He doesn’t feel it if I or one of the grandkiddos step on his toes - he doesn’t feel it if he stubs his toe into a door or wall - he doesn’t feel the same pain you or I might.

So, he has to take these preventive precautions.

Right now he has a prescription to use a hyperbaric chamber to help increase the speed at which his foot heals. Last time it was amazing just how quickly all that extra oxygen caused healing.

So - take good care out there - and if you are wondering if foot spa usage - or swimming - are appropriate for you, please check with your physician. Follow his/her instructions.

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Like contests? Like knitted dish cloths? Come on over to Knitting Passion and check out the new contest - be sure to sign the comments and let me know you’ve been there and that you want one of the skully dish cloths!