Diabetes Health Talk

Endless Possibilities

Talk to your health care team about which activities will be safe for you. Your health care provider’s advice will depend on the condition of your heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, feet, and nervous system.

Choose what you’ll do and make detailed plans. Think about what activities are realistic for you and choose the ones you think you can do. Start slowly. Your activity should be somewhat challenging but not overly difficult.

Learn your blood glucose response to exercise. Checking your blood glucose before and after exercise can show you the benefits of activity. You also can use the results of your blood glucose checks to prevent low blood glucose or high blood glucose.

If your blood glucose is high before you exercise (above 300), physical activity can make it go even higher, so be cautious about doing something active. For those with type 1 diabetes, if your fasting glucose level is above 250 and you have ketones in your urine, it’s best to avoid physical activity.

Learn how to avoid low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). Keep in mind that low blood glucose can occur during or long after physical activity. Low blood glucose most likely occurs if you:
Take insulin or diabetes pill
Skip a meal
Exercise a long time
Exercise strenuously

If low blood glucose is interfering with your exercise routine, eating a snack before you exercise or adjusting your medication may help. Talk to your health care team about what is right for you. During activity, check your blood glucose if you notice symptoms such as hunger, nervousness, shakiness, or sweating. If your blood glucose is 70 or below, have 2 to 5 glucose tablets, ½ cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice, or ½ cup of a regular soft drink to raise your blood glucose. After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again. If it’s still below 70, have another serving and repeat these steps until your blood glucose is at least 70.

Accu-chek Meter with skins

Got mine, ordered the Sports Skins. This is a great opportunity for diabetics and those watching their blood sugar.

Eye Exam

Last fall I had my eye exam and came out in the clear. I am so lucky, as I’ve been diabetic since my kidney transplant in 2003. Millions of people are not that lucky, unfortunately.

Diabetic Retinopathy can happen to anyone with diabetes type 1 or type 2. How can you stop it? By controlling your blood sugar and having annual eye exams. You have the power to control your diabetes and it’s symptoms.

You should see a health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms:

Spots floating in your vision
Blurred vision
Dark streaks or a red film that blocks your vision
Poor night vision
Vision loss
Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy is usually classified as early or advanced:

Early diabetic retinopathy. Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the most common type of diabetic retinopathy. It can be described as mild, moderate or severe. When you have NPDR, the walls of the blood vessels in your retina weaken.

Advanced diabetic retinopathy. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the most severe type of diabetic retinopathy. When you have PDR, abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina.

Tests and diagnosis

Diabetic retinopathy is best diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. During the exam, your eye doctor will look for:

Abnormal blood vessels
Swelling, blood or fatty deposits in the retina
Damage to the nerve tissue
Growth of new blood vessels and scar tissue
Bleeding in the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye (vitreous)
Retinal detachment

As part of the eye exam, your doctor may do a retinal photography test called fluorescein angiography.

There are a wide variety of treatments and preventative maintenance available. Take control of your diabetes!

Microscope

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells, and it usually starts in childhood; type 2 diabetes is a metabolic derangement, often tied to obesity later in life.

Few studies have looked at how a family history of type 2 diabetes impacts the offspring with type 1 disease, according to a report in the medical journal Diabetes Care.

To investigate, Dr. Per-Henrik Groop, from Helsinki University Hospital, and colleagues analyzed data from 1860 patients with type 1 diabetes. About a third of the subjects had parents with type 2 diabetes.

On average, the onset of type 1 diabetes occurred at 17.2 years of age in the group with a family history compared with 16.1 years in the group without parental diabetes.

There’s no clear-cut answer to why this occurs, though, scientists say.

As with both types of diabetes, watch what you eat, exercise and take your medications as prescribed by your doctor or health care provider.

By eating low carb, low starch, low sugar foods, you deprive the body of the ability to raise your blood sugar, and you’re feeding your body healthy, nutritious foods it needs anyway. You’ll feel better, not only because your blood sugars will lower, but also because you’ll start losing weight. I know I do, since I’ve been eating more fiber-rich vegetables, like Eggplant, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Carrots, Bell Peppers and the like. You can make so much with just a few ingredients.

There haven’t been any more studies about Delayed Type 1 diabetics who have parents with Type 2 Diabetes.

Atkins Diet

Here’s the study, in a nutshell: low carb diets reduce blood sugar. Here’s the long explantion.

Dr. Eric C. Westman, of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues compared the effectiveness of the two diets in 84 obese patients with type 2 diabetes. They were assigned to a low carbohydrate (less than 20 grams per day) ketogenic diet or to low-glycemic reduced-calorie diet for 24-weeks. Those on the low-carb ketogenic diet had no restrictions on their daily calorie intake.

The participants on the low-carb ketogenic diet had greater improvements in A1C, a measure of long-term blood glucose control, than those in the low-glycemic reduced-calorie diet group.

Those in the low-carb ketogenic diet group also lost more weight and had an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol compared with those in the other diet group.

It was possible for 95.2 percent of those in the low-carb ketogenic diet group and 62.1 percent on the low-glycemic reduced-calorie diet to eliminate or reduce their diabetes medications.

“Lifestyle modification using low carbohydrate interventions is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes,” the researchers conclude.

The most popular low-carb ketogenic diet is Atkins. David Draper has the best advice and I would submit this for those who are wanting to lose weight, lower their blood sugars. His number one rule for proper nutrition.

RULE # 1- Stay away from fats, excessive salt and simple sugars. This eliminates 99% of the fast foods, munchies and soft drinks. Who needs them? In a few short weeks, you won’t want them, wonder why you ate them and feel sick if you do!

Walking Trail

Easy lifestyle choices. That’s the phrase from health professionals for diabetes prevention. Making healthier choices like eating more fiber-rich vegetables and whole grains with less saturated fat, starches, cholesterol, and empty carbohydrates. Walking is one of the best and most easily attainable lifestyle change one can make in the fight against diabetes, according to doctors who treat those with Diabetes type-2. Here are more healthy lifestyle tips:

1. Get more physical activity

Whether you lose weight or not, physical activity lowers blood sugar and boosts your sensitivity to insulin — which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range.

2. Get plenty of fiber

It’s rough, it’s tough — and it may reduce the risk of diabetes by improving your blood sugar control. Fiber intake is also associated with a lower risk of heart disease. It may even promote weight loss by helping you feel full. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

3. Go for whole grains

Although it’s not clear why, whole grains may reduce your risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels. Try to make at least half your grains whole grains.

4. Lose extra weight

If you’re overweight, diabetes prevention may hinge on weight loss. Every pound you lose can improve your health.

5. Skip fad diets and make healthier choices

Low-carb, low-glycemic load or other fad diets may help you lose weight at first, but their effectiveness at preventing diabetes isn’t known; nor are their long-term effects.

Talk to your doctor or health care provider before starting any health change. Now, go out there and get healthy!

Hemoglobin A1c

Research shows that even those without Diabetes risk of dying during the next 4 years — from a number of different causes — increased by 16 percent for every 1 percent increase over an established reference value.

Background: What is A1C?

Hemoglobin A1C, which measures how much sugar is attached to individual red blood cells. The hemoglobin A1C, however, is primarily used to monitor treatment once a person is known to have diabetes, and not to make the initial diagnosis. Normal hemoglobin A1C levels are less than 6.1 percent. If a patient has two fasting blood glucose measurements greater than 125 mg/dl and an elevated hemoglobin A1C, that is widely accepted as confirming the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (even without an OGTT).

A normal hemoglobin A1C, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that blood sugar levels are normal or that you don’t have diabetes. Therefore, the hemoglobin A1C cannot be used by itself as a diagnostic test, and an elevated fasting blood sugar level will still need medical attention even if the A1C is normal.

So, in essence, it’s not just Diabetics that must watch what they eat, exercise and live a healthier lifestyle. Having a low A1C (6.1 or below) should be everyone’s goal. It’s by no means the only health number to strive for (good blood pressure is another at or below 120/80), but it means you’ll be healthier. My A1C was 6.5 (not bad for a diabetic!) last month and my doctor was just speechless. Felt good after months of getting berated. My weight was 40 pounds less than when he previously saw me.

It all stems from eating healthier, cutting out saturated fat and carbs, and walking. Remember, start small and make achievable goals.

Diabetes Desserts

Becoming diabetic doesn’t mean depriving yourself something sweet (and having only hard sugar-free candy). When I found I was diabetic and then started my lifestyle goal losing weight, I never deprived myself of dessert. It’s a common notion that when you deprive yourself something or cut out something altogether, you crave it then binge. Here’s some great dessert ideas:

* No-sugar hot chocolate with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top
* A low-calorie parfait made of sugar-free pudding alternately layered with sugar-free whipped topping
* Sugar-free gelatin made with fresh fruit or canned fruit packed in extra light syrup

Here are some more ideas for delicious, diabetes-friendly desserts.

Fruit Treats
Fruit is naturally sweet, and it’s easy to dress it up as a healthy treat for your entire household. Here are a couple of ideas:

Melon Salad
In a medium bowl, combine 3 cups of cubed cantaloupe and 3 cups of cubed honeydew melon. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves and 1 tablespoon honey. Toss gently to coat. Makes 6 servings.

From Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cooking. Reprinted with permission from the American Diabetes Association Inc.

Fruit Salad With Yogurt Dressing
In a medium bowl, toss together 2 cups of sliced strawberries, 1 cup of blueberries, and 2 cups green grapes.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup plain, fat-free yogurt; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour this dressing over fruit and toss gently. Makes 5 servings.

My favorite is sugar-free cocoa and sugar-free chocolate pudding cups with a dollop of whipped cream. I am so grateful for Atkins low-carb bars! They are tasty, only 5 grams carbs per bar. They satisfy that need for a crunch, sweetness and flavor.

More dessert ideas:

For Chocolate Lovers and Banana Fans
Looking for a special dessert to serve at a celebration? Try Rondinelli’s recipes for banana fans and chocolate lovers.

Banana Split Cake
6 1/2 graham cracker sheets (two 1 1/2-inch squares per sheet)
1 ounce sugar-free, instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups fat-free milk
8 ounces light cream cheese
10 ounces canned, crushed pineapple packed in juice, drained
4 medium bananas, sliced
8-ounce container light whipped topping
3 tablespoons pecans, chopped

* Cover the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan with graham cracker sheets.
* In a medium bowl, prepare pudding with 2 cups fat-free milk, according to package directions. Add cream cheese to pudding and whip together. Spread pudding mixture over graham crackers.
* Spread the crushed pineapple over the pudding layer and top with bananas, then spread whipped topping. Sprinkle pecans on top.
Exchanges: 1 fat, 1 1/2 carbohydrate (makes 16 servings, 156 calories per slice)

So enjoy your cake and eat it too.

American Diabetes Association

In 2008, the American Diabetes Association had a lot to be proud of. Their accomplishments prove that one organization can have such a profound and positive affect (and effect) on so many lives. They should be proud of what they have accomplished, and have lain the groundwork for other to continue the fight for health and equality.

The ADA provided $42.5 million toward funding research to combat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in people of all ages and races. This research is key to all people affected by diabetes as it has a significant impact on prevention, treatment, and the search for a cure.

A significant legislative victory that was a major break through for the diabetes community came with the extension of two programs funding diabetes research, prevention, and education at the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Fighting Discrimination Against People with Diabetes

Having worked in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and Workers Compensation Adjusting and holding my Certified Rehabilitation Counselor’s license, This year’s passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is another success in the fight against diabetes and the discrimination that may come with having a chronic disease. This legislation, which is the most significant piece of anti-discrimination legislation for people with diabetes since the original Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, restores the true intent of the landmark law and ensures that people with diabetes and other serious illnesses are protected from discrimination.

Creating A Healthy Environment

The American Diabetes Association works with the diabetes community to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people with diabetes. To pursue this mission, the Association continues to provide people of all ages, ethnicity and backgrounds with access to credible, reliable information and support through community programs that reach people where they live, work, play and worship.

Oats

According to the research, they are looking to develop new dietary plans which could improve diabetes control, delay the need for people with type 2 diabetes to start tablets or insulin to control their blood sugar, and potentially reduce the risk of some of the complications of diabetes, said UHI Professor Sandra MacRury, who works at the school’s Department of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Science.

Many oat-based cereals are on the market, so if this study turns out evidence Oat cereal will curb, delay or reduce diabetes type-2, I may start buying Oat cereal again.

Oat cereal has already been proven to reduce cardiovascular disease, cholesterol and fat in the blood. The only issue is many cereals are high carb, which I’m avoiding. A low-carb diet, in my case, has led to weight loss and reduced blood sugars. Anything that helps me reduce blood sugars is ok in my book.

If there is an oat cereal or product that will reduce blood sugars and be low-carb at the same time, you can bet i’ll be looking into it seriously.

Orowheat makes a light carb bread, called “Orowheat Light” that is only a 5.5 carbs per slice, so a sandwich at lunch or toast in the morning is only 11 carbs. Thats much better than other breads, being twice or 2 1/2 times that carb count. Another low carb product I buy is Dreamfields Pasta. It’s only 5 carbs per serving, compared to 30-45 carbs per serving of all other pastas.

Love my bread and pasta!

blood sugar monitor

In the study, there was no statistical difference between the two groups: one that was closely monitored for glucose control and the second that was not. Each group had equal numbers that passed from cardiovascular disease at the same rate. According to the article, In fact, the number of sudden deaths in the intensive-therapy group was three-times that of the standard-therapy group, and more people who received intensive therapy experienced severe adverse events.

Intensive therapy had no significant impact on a patient’s progression to eye problems like diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, or on a patient’s development of neuropathy.

The study’s doctors state it is important to monitor your glucose and follow a regimen for diabetes.

By eating healthy, taking your medications, exercising, you can reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease caused by diabetes. Always ask your health care provider or doctor before undergoing any health care changes, such as medications (that includes vitamins, minerals, herbs and supplements), any exercise routine or monitoring device. Diabetes can be monitored so one can lead a healthy, productive life.

Another way to live a healthier life is to cut out bad habits, such as smoking, eating a high saturated fat and high carbohydrate diet and being sedentary. Reversing these lifestyle choices that lead to diabetes and cardiovascular failure will enable you to live a healthier life.

Always notify your doctor or health care provider if anything changes in your management of diabetes, such as a change in glucose levels, skipped or missing medication or a change in eating habits and exercise. These will help your doctor to better manage your diabetes and help you to avoid cardiovascular disease.

Human Skeleton

Scientists already knew the two caused bone fractures in certain women, but were unsure of the magnitude.

Sonal Singh of North Carolina’s Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Singh and colleagues at Wake Forest, working with researchers at Britain’s University of East Anglia, based their findings on a pooled analysis of 10 previous clinical studies lasting at least a year involving 14,000 patients.

They concluded that if TZDs were used by diabetic women aged around 70 for a year, one additional fracture would occur among every 21 women. Among younger women, around age 56, use of the drugs would lead to one extra fracture for every 55 women.

Always be sure to ask your doctor or health care physician of your medications and side effects. Also ask if those side effects need to be addressed, such as additional calcium, in this case. Before starting any new medications or supplements, herbal remedies and minerals, discuss those with your doctor. There may be adverse reactions between then that may increase your sypmptos or have unwanted side effects you hadn’t counted on.

If you need additional calcium, that is easily remedied, by adding more low-fat milk and cheese to your diet, or vitamin D pills or getting just ten minutes more sunshine per day (with your sunscreen and protective covering. ). Exercise is also important to stop bone loss or calcium leaching from your body. Just a ten minute walk a day is all it takes to get started with healty bones.

Green Tea

In this study,

EGCG, the investigators found, reduced the severity and delayed the onset of salivary gland damage associated with Sjogren’s syndrome — a condition with no known cure.

EGCG also dramatically slowed the development of type 1 diabetes in the rodents. At 16 weeks, they found, 25 percent of the mice given the green tea compound had developed diabetes, compared to 67 percent of the mice given water. At 22 weeks, 45 percent of the EGCG group had diabetes, while 78 percent of the control group did.

Green Tea is becoming something of a wonder. Science is proving more and more what Asian countries have already known: that Green Tea is beneficial for one’s health. I drink two mugs of Green Tea a day, which has been shown to be a fat fighter, helping me lose 41 pounds. Green Tea also aids digestion (especially drinking after meals), removing helping to remove waste from your body, in turn, giving you more energy, feeling less weighed down.

Green Tea with added herbs is growing in popularity. There are Green Teas with Ginsing, ginger, Chamomile, Lavendar and Jasmine, to name a few. Green Tea is great for an afternoon pick-me-up, instead of a double tall espresso with whole milk, mocha and whipped cream.

So, to help yourself and those around you, suggest they drink more Green Tea, maybe with a little honey and/or lemon.

Insulin Crystals

More and more teenagers with diabetes type-1 or type-2 are skipping insulin shots or pills, fasting, using diet aids, vomiting or using laxatives in order to shed a few pounds. While they may be successful in shedding weight, many may not know the danger they are putting their health in.

They may be causing themselves heart, kidney, liver or eye problems or failure. Their heart and other organs must work harder to compensate by not taking care of themselves. Closely monitor their medications, if you must, to ensure they are taking the proper dosages at the proper times.

If they are concerned about weight loss, sit down and calmly discuss proper nutrition, exercise. Try not to turn it to a lecture, because that’s the surest way to lose their attention. What most people respond to is some listening to them and gently showing them proper eating and exercise habits. Will it happen overnight? No. But, it will happen, over time, by showing proper eating habits, fixing fresh foods with herbs and spices.

Find an activitiy that appeals to them: walking is the best activity known to humankind. There are many health benefits, and weight loss is among them. In 2007, I lost 41 pounds by cutting out fried, fatty, high colesterol foods and walking from 30-60 minutes every day. It’s just one pound a week (the FDA’s recommended weightloss).

What is metformin?
Metformin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels.

Metformin is for people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Metformin is sometimes used in combination with insulin or other medications, but it is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking metformin?
Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling light-headed, and fainting.

You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have congestive heart failure. Older adults may also have a higher risk of developing lactic acidosis. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to metformin, if you have kidney disease or kidney failure, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

liver disease; or
a history of heart disease.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use metformin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether metformin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take metformin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Metformin should not be given to a child younger than 10 years old. Extended-release metformin (Glucophage XR) should not be given to a child younger than 17 years old.