Total Health Diabetes

Total Health Diabetes
I often come across people that deal with the reality of the expense of what it takes to maintain a healthy Diabetic lifestyle. I saw this link in my cyber travels. (Note: I do not use them, I just noticed the advertisement. If you deal with them and you don't like your experience, please let me know and I will get the word out).

How did my Diabetic friends make it through the holiday? Please let me know.

I did well going into the holiday. Actually, my sugars (blood glucose) was running lower due to increased exercise. All of a sudden something broke down after the pig out on Thanksgiving and I had to add extra management. I had to take extra insulin, I tested myself up to 9 times in a day, and felt like all my pre-holiday strides were lost :-(
When that happens, however, there is one thing to remember and only one thing to focus on - not the next week, or even the next day, just focus on the next compartment, THE NEXT MEAL. Remember that a large cruise ship is steered by a relatively small rudder and a horse is controlled by a tiny bit placed in its mouth. So can we, get ourselves back on track by just focusing on achieving success within our next small compartment.
Eat hardy - but be healthy!


Let me know how you did!

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

In recent years doctors have found that Omega 3 Fatty Acids promote heart health in people with Type 2 Diabetes. One study with 290 Type 2 diabetics with no evidence of atherosclerosis (plaque build up in the arteries), on a healthy diet, half which received Omega 3's found that after a year both groups lost weight, but those who took the Omega 3's had less atherosclerosis progression as measured by carotid artery thickness.
Talk to your doctor about adding this therapy to your treatment regiment.

Health Care Reform | Diabetes Forecast Magazine

Health Care Reform | Diabetes Forecast Magazine

CNN Breaking News About the Drug Avandia

I just received a text from CNN indicating that the FDA has ruled that the Diabetes drug Avandia will be restricted to patients who can't control diabetes with other medications.
Past research had possibly linked the drug Avandia to heart attacks. As someone that used to take Avandia, I discussed the ramifications with my doctor several years ago, and decided against using it in my diabetes related therapy. Please be well informed before continuing the use of this drug.

There IS Such a thing as GOOD SALT for Hypertensives

Researchers at Wageningen University have found that increasing the intake of potassium, while systematically decreasing the intake of sodium could be important in preventing high blood pressure. This study, that spanned 21 countries, including the US, found that our potassium intake which varies between 1.7 and 3.7g a day is considerably less than the 4.7g a day recommended to gain more positive health effects. How do we increase our potassium? Exactly, you guessed right! Eat more of the foods we all love - fruits and vegetables, and less of the foods we all hate - breads, snacks, pizza, exotic sauces, fast foods, and processed foods. Of course, as with everything, don't only use this information as a foundation for your epiphany. Proper diet, exercise, and lifestyle are always to be incorporated - as well as, seeing your doctor regularly if you want to lead a long healthy life. ;-)


The full article can be found at:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/200920.php

Tai Chi Improves Diabetes Control

Tai Chi can help control Type 2 diabetes? Check this out!

Tai Chi Improves Diabetes Control

Some Creative Ideas From Several People, Concerning Diabetes

Interesting link. Leave comments for the developers. I'm sure they value any feedback.
http://www.keyvive.com/source/diabetesmine-com/x-creativity-diabetes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+prego-diabetes+(prego-diabetes)

The Implications of US Health Care Reform on the Care and Prevention of Diabetes

The link below is a great resource for information and may answer some as of yet unanswered questions specifically concerning diabetes and Health Care Reform:
http://professional.diabetes.org/WebcastList.aspx?ses=2301&idc=140

Obesity & Diabetes | SweetSurprise.com

Obesity & Diabetes | SweetSurprise.com

(Empowerment info)

Does no sugar added mean the same thing as sugar free?

What’s your guess? Actually, the terms have different meanings. "Sugar free" means that a food contains less than 0.5 grams of regular sugar per serving. This does not apply to sugar substitutes. "No sugar added" means that the processing and packing does not increase the sugar content over the amount naturally found in the ingredients. For example, a fat-free fruit yogurt made with aspartame may claim that it has "no sugar added" because it is sweetened with a sugar substitute in place of regular sucrose. However, it cannot be called "sugar free" because the product still contains sugar - the milk it is made with contains natural sugar lactose and the fruit in it contains the natural sugar fructose.
Excerpt from:
16 Myths of a Diabetic Diet 2nd ed.
Karen Hanson Chalmers, MS, RD, LDN, CDE
Amy Peterson Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDE

Diabetes and Meters (Did You Know)?

Recently, the FDA gathered with experts and industry representatives to discuss the accuracy of blood glucose meters. FDA guidelines currently state that blood glucose meters should measure blood glucose within + or - 20% of the actual value. For example, if your bG is 200 (actual value) your meter should measure between 240 and 160. Experts are now questioning this disparity and the FDA is now considering tightening the tolerance to 15% or even 10%.
The same model using a 15% tolerance would yield bG values between 230 and 170, while a 10% tolerance would yield bG values between 220 and 180.
I don't know about you, but I'm banking on that 10% tolerance as the standard. After all, it's our lives in the balance.
;-)

Medical Education: What is a 'Statin'?

A 'Statin' is any of a group of drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol.

Are There Benefits To A High-Fat Breakfast?

From the "International Journal of Obesity, March 30, 2010" - apparently there may be benefits to a High-Fat Breakfast. Researchers studying the effects in mice, stated that a high-fat breakfast may be better than a carb-heavy breakfast. The study found that mice that ate a high-fat breakfast didn't have cardiovascular risk factors such as, weight gain, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides - while the ones that ate carb-heavy breakfasts did. According to the study, eating a high-fat diet in the morning turned on fat metabolism but also helped the mice respond more efficiently to carbs during the day. High-carb breakfasts, on the other hand, made it hard for them to use fat efficiently later in the day.
I find this interesting since much of the time people that are overweight spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to eliminate fat from their diets completely. This study seems to allude that fat eaten at one strategic point in the day may hold untapped benefits for us!
I'm definitely going to keep a watchful eye for more on this topic ;-)

Now follow us on Twitter @cdiabetes

Diabetes and Sick Days

Recently, I came across some excellent information from the Channing Bete Company of South Deerfield, MA in their "Living Your Life With Diabetes Self-care Handbook". Personally, I don't get sick much, however, occasionally a flu bug does catch up me. I thought they provided good information on how to manage if the situation arises. Here are commonly recommended tip: 


1. Call your health-care provider if:

• you've been sick or had a fever for 2 or more days and you aren't getting better
• you're vomiting or have had diarrhea for more than 6 hours
• you're showing moderate to large amounts of keytones in your urine
• you take insulin and your blood sugar level is 240 mg/dl even though you've taken the extra insulin your sick day plan calls for
• you take other diabetes medications and your blood sugar level is 240 mg/dl or higher before meals and stays high for 24 hours
• you have symptoms that may be signs of ketoacidosis, dehydration, or another serious condition
• you're not sure what to do to take care of yourself

2. Take good care of yourself

• Stick with your regular meal plan if possible
• If you're on your regular meal plan, drink plenty of calorie-free, caffeine-free liquids to stay hydrated (unless otherwise advised by your health-care provider)
• If you're having stomach problems, try a soft foods/liquids diet
• Take your normal dose of insulin
• Take your normal dose of other diabetes medications. If you're unable to keep pills down, call your health-care provider right away
• Test your blood sugar and ketones every 3-4 hours and record the results
• Report high blood sugar levels to your health-care provider. They may want you to take extra insulin
•  Ask someone to check on you from time to time

3. You may need a soft foods/liquid diet

• Each of the servings of these foods will allow you to get enough carbohydrates: 1/2 cup fruit juice
• 3/4 cup ginger ale (nondiet)
• 1/2 cup gelatin (with sugar)
• 6 saltines
• 1 cup soup/broth
• 1/2 cup hot cereal
• 1/2 cup ice cream
• 3 tsp honey
• 1 slice toast

2 Great Tips From Penny - A Lutheran Hospital Diabetes Educator

When Going To The Doctor For a Diabetic Checkup, Here Are 2 Things You Should Do Automatically:
1. Start a list between visits and be sure to review each question on the list with your doctor at your appointment.
2. Take your shoes and socks off so your doctor can examine your feet and perform a sensitivity check.


Here's One For No Charge ;-)
The longer you work out and the more intense you work out, the longer the period of control you'll experience. (Let's work out guys!!)


Thank you Penny!  :-)

I Love My Spouse...But

Just a note to all those diabetics out there who are waiting for their spouses to take care them...
If I waited for my spouse to take care of me and manage all my dietary needs, count my carbs, remind me to test myself, or to take my insulin - I'd be in a pine box right now. The facts are, if you are diabetic, YOU have to be the most responsible for taking care of YOU. I mean - if you haven't become mentally or physically challenged. My spouse is great! I love her very much - but she'll go out and buy two cakes for a small dinner party, and I have to be the one that says to myself, "You can not go through that cake like a human buzz saw." and for the remainder of the days that the cake is in existence (talking to me) I must be the mature person and simply walk in the other direction. She'll offer to do dinner at Casa D's and order the garlic cheese bread, a heavy pasta dish, another loaf of bread when the 1st one is gone, dessert and coffee, then look at me when I only eat a minute part of the pasta dish, a portion of one slice of garlic cheese bread, and less then 1/2 of the dessert and say, "I guess you weren't hungry :-("
At that point, I usually remind her (after 10 years) - I'm trying to keep my carbs to less than 130 grams for one meal :-[  (they should be 180g per day)
You see, I had to realize that she is not going to - and neither should I expect her to, adjust her food intake to a lifestyle that is my burden. Regardless of how she decides to eat, I must still stick to the requirements that make good diabetic sense. Keeping myself healthy is primarily my responsibility. When we food shop together, I can pick the foods that are more diabetic friendly. If she food shops, she usually asks me for things that I like so she can be sure to purchase them. If I food shop, she lets me know what she may have a taste for and I make it a point to purchase those items. 
I also learned that my kids absolutely hate diet soda. It doesn't matter what sugar substitute is in it - they hate the taste. Do I think they're crazy, YES - but it's irrelevant. They don't have to drink it, I do.
I guess, I had to look at being diabetic as being part of some sort of secret society. No one, including my spouse knows I'm a member of this elite group because I blend in so well - almost eating the same things they eat, but just adjusting my portion sizes. Testing myself so quickly before and after meals that no one even notices (except other elite members ;-). Empowering myself with knowledge so I can tell when any non-members are doing things that cause me to be cautious. 
It's YOUR life, YOU take charge. I'm sure all your relationships will remain intact. :-)

Food for thought...

Often, when I'm talking to other diabetics about diabetes, and in particular monitoring, treatment, and therapies - people often drop their jaw when I say that I test on the average about six times a day. Six times a day, they say! How can you prick yourself that much? Doesn't it hurt?
To this, I simply respond, "The real question is - does it hurt less than a heart attack?"
Monitoring yourself using a blood glucose monitor of some type is the single most effective way to care for yourself. You must know where you're at in order to know how to treat yourself. Please, continue to monitor, no matter what the pain factor.

Fact: A1C Aces the Test (Diabetes Forecast, June 2010)

This is information we truly need to hear, as the A1C is what most of our doctors use to determine how our therapy is going. "The New England Journal of Medicine, March 4, 2010" published an article stating: Diabetes raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which is one reason it's so important to screen for the disease and start treatment early. In a study, the A1C test - which shows average blood glucose over two to three months - did a better job of predicting a patient's risk of heart disease and premature death than did the fasting plasma glucose test, which is taken after at least an eight-hour fast. The results suggest that the recent addition of the A1C test as a way to diagnose diabetes may identify more people at risk for fatal heart attacks and strokes. Diabetes is diagnosed at A1Cs of 6.5 percent and above.

Tidbit: Money Makes a Difference

This interesting tidbit came from "The American Journal of Managed Care, January 2010".
Doctors in a voluntary program called pay-for-performance, P4P, who received financial incentives to provide good care were found to have healthier patients than doctors not in the program. P4P doctors were paid to do tests, like those for A1C and cholesterol, that assess their patients' health, and they received bonuses if they improved these measures year by year. Over three years, people with diabetes who saw doctors in the P4P program required fewer hospitalizations than those who saw physicians outside the program.
On the one side, I feel why should doctors have to be compensated more financially to provide good care. Isn't this what they're supposed to do, Hippocratic Oath and all. Or could I be wrong by creating an association between medical ethics and level of care? Either way, if it's going to work for diabetics maybe we should embrace changing our current system.

Good Advice

I love this. Diabetes Forecast Magazine posed the question, "What is the best advice you ever got about diabetes?"
Rita Franks of Ruston, LA said, "When I asked my doctor, how many days a week should I exercise?" her doctor replied: "How many days are you diabetic?" She said, "I exercise everyday now."
Even if it's a walk in your neighborhood after dinner, please do something.
Kudos to Rita and her doctor for inspiring us to healthier living.

Video Exclusive: ADA Chief Medical Officer Speaks On Diabetes Research

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Scientists need your help to find new treatments for diabetes
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Web Version: http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=_D070NLy3fwJzBVaoTexNA
Mobile Version: http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=PPbEMdmwPpulHbJ0h1_NGQ

Dear Friend,
Dr. David Kendall, our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, recently
spoke on camera about diabetes research and the ongoing progress in
our fight to stop diabetes.
Hear what he had to say:
http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=zvGs00Luq8uz1rL88j1EfA
(It will only take 2 minutes of your time!)
The American Diabetes Association funds cutting-edge research that has
led to key discoveries and advancements in the fight to stop diabetes.
These breakthroughs might not have happened were it not for the
generosity of supporters like you.
Help us continue our work. »
http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=kIHioIrLiTIh_sNFFHFdew
 Your financial support is so critical.
DONATE NOW. » Please.
http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=BM4mCeHKN91xWAbECqWlIA
Thank you for everything you do to help stop diabetes!
Sincerely,
Larry Hausner
Chief Executive Officer
American Diabetes Association
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To donate by phone:
1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-342-2383)
To contact us by mail:
American Diabetes Association -- Web
P.O. Box 7023
Merrifield, VA 22116-7023
Federal Tax I.D. #13-1623888
_______________________________________________________
Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

What is a TIA?

A TIA is a Transient Ischemic Attack or Mini Stroke. When my mother told me that my grandmother had about 13 strokes, if you include the 'mini' ones, I always thought she was exaggerating. But it's true, there is a phenomenon known as a mini stroke. A TIA occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short amount of time. The symptoms are the same as stroke symptoms but only last for a few minutes. Data from the American Heart Association says that TIA's precede strokes about 15% of the time. Do not ignore these, call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe you've had one.

Am I a Low Risk For a Stroke

According to Lutheran Hospital Stroke Center and the National Stroke Association (stroke.org):

Blood Pressure:  Lower or at 120/80
Cholesterol:  Lower than 200
Diabetes:  No
Smoke:  No
Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat):  No (normal)
Weight:  Healthy weight
Exercise:  Regularly
Family History of Strokes:  No

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

What Makes You a High Risk For a Stroke

According to Lutheran Hospital Stroke Center these factors make you a high risk for a stroke:

Blood Pressure:  Higher than 140/90
Cholesterol:  Higher than 240
Diabetes:  Yes
Smoke:  Yes
Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat):  Yes
Weight:  Overweight
Exercise:  Couch Potato
Family History of Strokes:  Yes

If 3 or more of the items above are you may need to see your doctor to discuss stroke prevention.

How to Recognize a Stroke

If you're diabetic, hypertensive, or both - you should probably learn to recognize a stroke. Why - you say, because time lost is brain lost and brain lost is decreased quality of life, and we don't want that. Based on information obtained from Lutheran Hospital's Stroke Center the signs that you may be having a stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one eye or both.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no cause.

Please make sure your family or close friends know these signs so they can act quickly and call 9-1-1.

Kudos to Those Who've Shown Us the Way

Many of us that have battled diabetes have been down many different paths; some Type 1's and others Type 2's, some 10 years others 30 years, some with positive outcomes and others with not as positive outcomes. The common thing is that no matter what path you've been on - you've had smart, well informed, well educated, and dedicated people that have taken their time to explain, teach, inform, and coach us to success in therapy (whether we believe that or not). To them I want to say thank you. These are the dedicated professionals that try to guide us even if our navigation system is off, answer all of our questions simply because they believe we deserve answers, that are patient with us when they stated the answer in 5 different ways, that humor us when we feel we've learned all we need to know - but they know different. These are those that understand and empathize with our pain and tell us what we need to hear even when they know we'll do the complete opposite. To them I say thank you, from all of of us. Hopefully, this blog will be a resounding theme for their voices and inspire many to take more control of their therapy and be empowered to master this disease, even as I've been empowered.


With that being said - let's continue with the work of educating...