MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'diabetes type 2'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:01:02 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3614717&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FWQ75WkROcAg%2Fthe-latest-on-artificial-sweeteners-and-obesity.html Do artificial sweeteners lead to weight gain? A lot of people rushed to judgment against artificial sweeteners based on preliminary evidence that they might increase appetite or sugar cravings, or even cause elevated blood sugar levels. But the ensuing research has failed to deliver a definitive indictment. Although there seems to be a correlation between diet soda consumption and weight gain, it is hard to say whether this is a biochemical effect. It could just be that people prone to weight gain are more likely to choose sugar-free foods in an (apparently ineffective) attempt to stem the tide. I've also always suspected a behavioral component. Maybe people unconsciously over-compensate for the calories they save with the diet soda. ("I'm having a diet soda so maybe I can aff... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3614717 Mon, 31 May 2010 14:51:49 +0100 3614717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577664&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FRQuw90awDoo%2Fcan-nd-help-the-lapd-get-in-shape.html As the population grows fatter, the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies are having trouble finding recruits that can pass basic fitness tests required for entry. (Read more from USA Today)  And the situation among the existing ranks may be even more dire. Once you're on the force, there are often no further fitness requirements. According to researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, our first responders (police, fire, and emergency response personnel) are increasingly overweight, obese, and out of shape--putting both themselves and public safety at risk. Dr. Kevin Jablonski, of the Los Angeles Police Department, is concerned enough about the health, safety, and effectiveness of his force that he's hired a full-time Registered Dietitian to provide nutritio... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577664 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:17:23 +0100 3577664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538407&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FrRPnwK3soDA%2Fskimping-on-sleep-might-increase-risk-of-type-2-diabetes.html In trying to come to terms with the twin threats of obesity and diabetes, most of the attention is focused on diet. Are we eating too many carbohydrates? Too little protein? Too many calories? Too little fiber? Sometimes, the spotlight is widened to include exercise: Do we need more physical activity? More intense exercise? More frequent sessions? Longer duration? But there's a third spoke to this wheel--one that we rarely consider.  Maybe we're not getting enough sleep. Just one night of sleep deprivation impairs your body's ability to utilize glucose--one of the key hallmarks of Type 2 diabetes. It's purely anecdotal, but I've frequently observed that my appetite (especially for carbohydrates) increases when I'm sleep deprived. There are plenty of oth... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538407 Thu, 06 May 2010 14:30:23 +0100 3538407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526978&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FOeolBtFsV9s%2Fhow-would-an-hfcs-ban-affect-public-health.html Researchers will continue to debate whether or not high fructose corn syrup represents a unique threat to our health. But regardless of what the truth turns out to be, consumers have already made up their minds. And as far as manufacturers are concerned, the customer is always right. “Our focus is on consumer preference, not the science,” a ConAgra representative told the New York Times. (See "The Sweet Talk Gets Harder")In response to persistent angst over high fructose corn syrup, manufacturers--who continue to argue that fears about HFCS are unfounded--are nonetheless starting to remove high fructose corn syrup from processed foods and replace it with cane sugar.  So, what effect will removing HFCS from the food supply have on our nation's obesity and diabetes ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526978 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:05:40 +0100 3526978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515651&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FxFwkrBqH4us%2Ffructose-poison-or-nutrient-or-both.html Given the escalating rhetoric on fructose, I think it's time to revisit a couple of basic facts and try to regain some perspective. Fructose is not a toxin. It is not a man-made "chemical." The fact that is it metabolized in the liver does not mean that it is a poison. Fructose is a naturally occurring mono-saccharide (sugar) found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, eggs, dairy products and other whole foods. It has been part of the human diet since the beginning. Presumably, our bodies are well-adapted to it.  In fact, there might be an evolutionary advantage to the ability to metabolize sugars through multiple pathways--including one that does not lead to an immediate rise in blood sugar.All nutrients are potentially toxicAs the National Academy of Sciences states: ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515651 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:12:00 +0100 3515651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511703&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fjessica-bernstein-rethinking-diabetes-from-the-ground-up.html Jessica Bernstein wants to take “control” out of the diabetes vocabulary. So read the headline when she was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle last week. Jessica is a San Francisco Bay Area psychologist who was diagnosed herself with type 1 diabetes when she was just a year old. She’s spent much of her [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511703 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:00:25 +0100 3511703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501727&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FuFm4yU2kQuw%2Fmore-evidence-linking-sugar-to-heart-disease.html The American Heart Association now recommends that you keep added sugars to less than 5% of your calorie intake.  That's about 25 grams or 1 1/2 teaspoons per day for an average-sized adult.  This week, a new study published in JAMA adds weight to the argument. A team of researchers analyzing dietary records from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found a strikingly linear correlation between added sugars and heart disease risk factors. As sugar intake went up, HDL ("good" cholesterol) levels went down and triglycerides went up. The average intake of added sugars, by the way, was about 16% of total calories.  Sweet and Natural It's tempting to blame excessive sugar consumption on too much processed food. And, re... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501727 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:31:01 +0100 3501727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429473&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FijoSOtBjB4M%2Fhigh-fructose-corn-syrup-even-bad-guys-deserve-a-fair-trial.html If all the high fructose corn syrup on the planet were to disappear tomorrow, you wouldn't find me shedding a tear. Thanks to government subsidies and a glut of cheap corn, HFCS is produced in massive quantities. As a result, our food supply has been flooded with cheap, empty calories and we're fatter and sicker as a result. But I was disappointed by the latest research on HFCS and the way it's being reported.  In an effort to put the last nail in the HFCS coffin, Princeton researchers have hit the newswires with a sensational research result: Rats fed high fructose corn syrup gain significantly more weight than rats fed sucrose, even when both groups eat the same amount of calories.  That sounds pretty damning.  But if you read the entire study, I think yo... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429473 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:21:42 +0100 3429473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378413&cid=t_106678_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F03%2F18%2Fdiabetes-alert-day-is-march-23rd%2F March 23rd is Diabetes Alert Day. Sponsored by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), it's a day dedicated to helping those who could have diabetes recognize that they are at risk. Almost six million Americans don't know they have diabetes and that number is quickly rising. If you think that you might be at risk or are worried about people you know who might be at risk, the Diabetes Risk Test will let you know whether you have reasons to be concerned. If you determine that you're a high-risk person, you might consider getting a blood test. Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, genetics or memberships in a high-risk group. African-Americans, Hispanics and Native-Americans are among those in high risk groups. Type 1 diabetes has risk factors that include viral infection, environmental tri... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378413 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3378413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374322&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F03%2Ffrom-ireland-with-love-and-diabetes.html I often wonder what it would be like to have diabetes in a different western industrialized country — one that has a sensible, functioning health care system, for example. Or just someplace smaller, and greener. This being St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d look up Ireland. Here are a some interesting wee tidbits that Google coughed up: ♣ [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374322 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:38 +0100 3374322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362587&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FQ9j37zO_ptc%2Fjuice-and-diabetes-risk.html Here's an interesting follow-up to my recent post How healthy is 100% fruit juice, really?. A large study, conducted in China finds that people who drink two or more servings of juice a week are 25% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely drink juice. This is consistent with another large 2008 study, which also found that increased juice consumption led to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes--but that eating more whole fruit decreased diabetes risk.Those who view fruit juice as a way to improve their (or their kids') nutrition might want to think again. Eat fruit. Drink water. (Source: The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S.) The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362587 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:26:48 +0100 3362587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335527&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fflashback-friday-excerpts-from-the-dr-seuss-%25e2%2580%259cfun-with-diabetes%25e2%2580%259d-book.html This Tuesday, March 2, was Dr. Seuss’ birthday. I can’t believe I nearly missed it this year. I really should make it an annual tradition to reprint the following, which I penned back in March 2005. This thing has ricocheted around the diabetes community, across the US and beyond: Excerpts from the Dr. Seuss “Fun with [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335527 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:00:14 +0100 3335527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267234&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F3orBQ9c_HpY%2Fvinegar-and-carb-digestion-the-details.html Adding vinegar to a meal is known to reduce its glycemic impact, or the speed at which the carbohydrates are converted into blood glucose. But a new study from the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism offers some welcome details.How much does it take? Adding about two teaspoons of vinegar to a meal containing complex carbohydrates can reduce their glycemic impact by about 20%.   Interestingly, vinegar does not seem to slow the metabolism of simple sugars such as those in fruit, juice, or sweetened foods and beverages.  It appears to affect only complex carbohydrates, which are found in grains, cereal, bread, pasta, and beans.It's easy enough to include vinegar in a meal of pasta or beans--just add a salad with vinaigrette or some pickled vegetables. But how do we work v... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267234 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:54:27 +0100 3267234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262577&cid=t_106678_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F02%2F11%2Feye-exams-early-warnings-of-undiagnosed-diabetes%2F Eye exams may warn doctors of undiagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes increases your risk for vision loss fourfold, and it's the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people ages 20-74. Retinopathy is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the retina. However, because of delayed diagnosis, about 10 -20 percent of people with type 2 diabetes already have some degree of eye disease when their diabetes is diagnosed. If ophthalmologists notice that a patient is exhibiting symptoms of retinopathy, they should recommend additional testing. After 20 years nearly all people with type 1 diabetes and 60% of those with type 2 diabetes have developed retinopathy. To cut back on the chances of developing retinopathy, people with type 1 diabetes s... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262577 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212547&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwayback-wednesday-keeping-illness-secret.html My 12-year-old daughter’s become obsessed with a website called FMyLife, if you’ll excuse the expression.  It’s a collection of mishaps and hard luck stories that might not be a bad model for the StupidDiabetes.com concept we discussed here, come to think of it. But what I wanted to point out was an entry about diabetes that [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212547 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:00:17 +0100 3212547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205063&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fmetformin-for-type-1-diabetes-really-why.html You’ve heard it before: someone with type 2 diabetes goes on insulin. That’s no surprise. But how often have you heard the reverse — someone with type 1 going on Metformin? Since the launch of Symlin in 2005, it’s not uncommon for people to treat their type 1 diabetes with a supplemental injectable medication. But hang around [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205063 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:00:45 +0100 3205063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146159&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwayback-wednesday-wisdoms-from-my-favorite-joslin-doc.html The following post, dating back to June 2005, was one of the first expert interviews I ever published here at the ‘Mine.  It was originally titled ‘Surprising Interview with a Joslin Researcher,’ although that title seems quite dated to me now, because the good doctor’s recommendations are so basic (yet still so relevant, and with [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146159 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:20:44 +0100 3146159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3126574&cid=t_106678_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2009%2F12%2F29%2Fdiabetes-risk-factors-you-never-considered%2F Almost 24 million people in the United States have diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association. Think you're not at risk? Think again. Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, can be caused by genes, viruses or foods. Type 2 diabetes is more likely to be linked to age, medications, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Gestational diabetes, which usually occurs around weeks 24-28 of pregnancy, has been linked to the hormones produced by the placenta that hinder the action of the mother's insulin. Even if you're convinced your safe, check out these shocking risk factors. Breast size: If you're a size D or larger at age 20, you may be up to five times more likely to develop diabetes than your flat-chested friends. Birth month: If you're a spring baby, you're more likel... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3126574 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3126574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056823&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fits-the-holidays-lets-commiserate.html What? Nobody made annoying comments about your having pie at Thanksgiving last week? I find that hard to believe… I’m just sure that all of us with diabetes have some Holiday Season stories to share (good, bad, and ugly).  You have exactly one more week now to enter the DiabetesMine Holiday Survival Sweepstakes — share your [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056823 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:56:03 +0100 3056823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048296&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fwayback-wednesday-hypo-school.html I was chatting with diabetes investor / expert / friend Robert Oringer the other day, who has two teenage sons with Type 1 diabetes. “I’m obsessed with finding ways to prevent severe hypoglycemia,” he pronounced. I guess I knew this about him, but it reminded me of just how complex and scary blood sugar lows [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048296 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:58 +0100 3048296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3040053&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2Ft9frgzceTEY%2Fone-point-away-from-diabetic.html Q. I was recently told by my doctor that I am 0.1 point away from becoming a diabetic. Needless to say, I'm worried and I started changing my diet and lifestyle to get me through this. But I am getting really confused on what I can and cannot eat. I was watching carbs, then learned I have to start watching the starch in foods, now I’m reading about eGL and have no idea what to eat.  Question #1: Can you tell me how my body processes food and turns it into sugar? I mean: if I eat something with 2g of sugar, 15 carbs and with an eGL of 5, what am I actually eating in a sugar count? Question #2: Do I really need to worry this much or just avoid junk food, fast food, potatoes, rice, grain products, start getting some exercise to loose weight and call it a day?  A. I'... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3040053 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:31:59 +0100 3040053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3030045&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fhappy-thanksgiving-2.html Don’t worry. Be happy.  Enjoy the day! (And the long weekend!) That is my 7-year-old’s artwork, btw: Mr. Scarecrow.  Does he look bummed, just because he might be missing a functioning heart?  No Sir.  So no bemoaning your dead pancreas today People, OK? Hey, if nothing else, be glad you’re not an astronaut;  if you thought [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3030045 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:00:25 +0100 3030045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012455&cid=t_106678_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FNkxtEUaQATk%2F Living with diabetes is more than taking insulin or medication. Those who have diabetes or know someone who does knows that living with diabetes is a lifestyle. Insulin or medications, like metformin or glucophage are not a cures for diabetes, although that is a common belief. Insulin and medications merely manage the disease, allowing the person with diabetes to continue living as normally as possible. Unfortunately, the disease still can cause significant damage to the body, as the sugar levels fluctuate. People with diabetes who manage to keep their blood glucose (sugar) under strict control have a better chance of avoiding complications. However, avoiding the development of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, is even better. Type 1, what used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012455 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:33:39 +0100 3012455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999880&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FD_ZOeYuL1gM%2Fhow-much-fructose-is-to-much.html Q. I'm confused by conflicting things I've read about fructose.[In this article], I read that: When large amounts of fructose are ingested, they do "provide a relatively unregulated source of carbon precursors for hepatic lipogenesis." In other words, if you eat too much fructose, the liver can make the excess into fat.  But later in the same article, another scientist is quoted as saying:There is no evidence that reasonable consumption of fructose in a typical diet has any adverse effect on the liver or that it produces more body fat than sucrose or glucose. I'm confused. Should we be concerned about fructose actually being stored as fat?  And how much fructose would a typical person have to eat for fat conversion to begin?A. Notice that whenever the n... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999880 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:23:16 +0100 2999880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954721&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F11%2Finsulin-patch-pump-co-opens-up-rd.html Welcome to another “Where Are They Now?” update on a DiabetesMine Design Challenge entrant.   This year, we received a paper entry on PicoSulin, a “revolutionary miniature insulin pump with direct Penfill Cartridge loading.” I heard from the Geneva, Switzerland-based company last week that their website is now live, presenting in particular a new patch pump [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954721 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:10 +0100 2954721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2948365&cid=t_106678_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FnEMCKLsq9m0%2F Not too long ago, many of us didn’t know anyone who had diabetes. Now, it’s almost impossible not to know someone who has it. Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, has exploded and continues to do so in the western world. A disease once rarely seen in children, type 2 diabetes is now affecting them in large numbers, grossly affecting their health as adults. According to the American Diabetes Association: 24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes 57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes 1 out of every 3 children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue Unfortunately, not everyone who is diagnosed with diabetes takes it seriously. Diabetes is a disease that is more than just high blood sugar (glucose) leve... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2948365 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:12:22 +0100 2948365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2944121&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FN1KbuuqiYuI%2Fstrange-science-meat-consumption-increases-risk-of-type-2-diabetes.html A new meta-analysis concludes that a diet high in meat increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 17%.  Eating a lot of so-called "red" meat was associated with a slightly higher increase (21%), and a high intake of processed meats increases your risk by a whopping 41%.Media reports are quick to point out that this is just the latest in "an ever increasing list of bad news for red and processed meat." In all of these studies, the division of meat into "red" and "white" seems totally arbitrary, as I discussed at length in this post: Meat and mortality: What does color have to do with it?  In this particular case, the authors concede that the apparent association between meat consumption and diabetes risk could be explained by other factors.... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2944121 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:01:12 +0100 2944121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934970&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FEDrCRfEv4Mc%2Fdoes-candy-turn-kids-into-monsters.html Trying to rein in the amount of sugar kids eat is hard enough.  Having a plastic pumpkin full of candy in the house sure doesn't make it any easier.There are plenty of compelling reasons to limit kids' intake of sugar. Candy is a source of empty calories that can displace more nutritious foods, lead to weight gain, and wreak havoc with insulin metabolism. (Type 2 diabetes used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes, but no more.)But many parents are also convinced that sugar turns kids into little monsters--making them hyper-active, aggressive, or otherwise unmanageable. Yet the research fails to bear this out.Is it all in parents' heads? Controlled studies have measured the effects of sugar consumption on behavior and cognitive performance and failed to find any connect... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934970 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:39:47 +0100 2934970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883175&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FKqM9Ai8wfkk%2F In some medical circles it’s called Type 3 Diabetes. Teenagers and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, if overweight or obese, can develop type 2 diabetes later in life. It’s a double whammy and the medical consequences of such a diagnosis don’t look good. First, let’s briefly cover the basics of diabetes. Diabetes is Elevated Blood Glucose Levels Higher than normal level of glucose in the blood is diabetes. Glucose is the main energy source for the brain and nerves and comes from digesting carbohydrates. Because of its importance as an energy source, glucose blood level is normally kept within a narrow range. Two hormones help to keep glucose in this normal range. First, there is insulin. Insulin is released by the pancreas as glucose levels rise after a m... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883175 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:28:54 +0100 2883175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851996&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fdan-hurley-on-diabetes-part-2-transformative-technology.html Welcome to Part 2 of my talk with award-winning journalist and Type 1 diabetic Dan Hurley, whose new “epic book” Diabetes Rising is due out soon.  In case you missed it, read Part 1 of the interview here.  Today, Dan talks about achieving the impossible — an artificial pancreas that works, and a diabetes [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851996 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:40:46 +0100 2851996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828422&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2Fs1_N2EjcYHY%2F Adult onset diabetes, like the common ulcer of a few years ago, makes a lot of work and provides a lot of money for the medical system. There was a cure for the biological disease of stomach ulcers but the doctors were telling us it was stress-related (Everything is stress-related to some extent, as the Pauling research that won a Nobel Prize for Vitamin therapy [especially 'C'] has proven.) and many people suffered under the surgeon’s knife until recently. The homeopathic war with the FDA and drug-pushers is a very interesting study in deceit and power. For example it took until last year for the research at the University of Alabama led by Dr. Campbell to confirm what won a Nobel Prize a quarter century ago. The immune system and lymph system is vital to the interplay between soul ... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828422 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:00:11 +0100 2828422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793442&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FC3PJgkwnxi0%2Fis-paleo-the-new-mediterranean.html The Mediterranean Diet has been king of the hill for the last several years. While low-carb and low-fat camps continue to trade jabs, each amassing roughly the same number of studies in its favor, the Mediterranean diet (which is neither) has risen above the fray, trumping every diet it's compared with in study after study.Just last week, for example, I noted a study finding that the Mediterranean diet helped diabetics lose more weight and use fewer medications than a low-fat diet.But I sense a shift of power (or at least of focus) in the works.  The "Paleo Diet" has been garnering a larger and larger share of popular attention and support as the latest Solution To All Our Problems.  And now the research community is beginning to test the theory, designing studies... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793442 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:04:30 +0100 2793442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782262&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fthe-vincent-50-for-diabetic-feet.html Speaking of taking care of your diabetic feet, I was contacted this week by a European company called MeDaVinci working feverishly on a high-tech home scanning device that they hope will prevent amputations in thousands of patients who already have neuropathy. Their system is called the Vincent 50 — after the St.Vincent Declaration, a decree signed by [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782262 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:52:08 +0100 2782262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778636&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwayback-wednesday-dry-between-your-toes.html You cannot be too careful with your feet. I was reminded of this wisdom big time last week, when I heard about an acquaintance who’s been diagnosed with melanoma and had to have two toes removed.  She’s very fair, and apparently never put sunscreen on her feet.  Have I ever done that? Not sure. Do [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778636 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:00:59 +0100 2778636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778513&cid=t_106678_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FpwAP683__to%2F Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or you’re considered to be prediabetes, you likely have many questions. While your best bet to answer questions about your health care is your own doctor, nurse, or dietitian, sometimes they’re not available or can’t give you the one-on-one time that you feel you need. To deal with this, online coaching services have begun to spring up for particular illnesses, such as diabetes. I received an email from one such service, Fit4D, a personalized diabetes coaching service. In it, they announce a free 2-day On-Line Open House: Fit4D, a personalized diabetes coaching service, is offering the unique opportunity for all who are diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes with a free two day Online Open... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778513 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:51:14 +0100 2778513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766330&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FunG07Oh0YcE%2Fwhats-so-magical-about-the-mediterranean-diet.html Forget the mouse studies. After a couple weeks of controversial and much-contested rat studies on the effects of carbohydrates on various aspects of metabolism and disease, here's a study involving 200 newly-diagnosed, diabetic humans.  Half were told to follow a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains, and monounsaturated fats from poultry, fish, and olive oil and limiting carbohydrates to 50% or less of total calories. The other half were assigned to a "low-fat" diet, which also emphasized whole grains and discouraged sweets and high fat snacks. Fat was limited to 30% or less of calories and saturated fat to 10% or less of calories. After four years, the Mediterranean group had lost more weight and was only half as likely to need anti-diabetic medic... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766330 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:07:16 +0100 2766330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766234&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fdiabetic-skin-cells-morphed-into-beta-cells-theyre-human.html {Editor’s Note: apparently I’m all over Time magazine this week, or it’s all over me…} Finally, some breakthrough diabetes research that does not only involve mice! Time magazine’s August 31 issue reports on new a stem-cell-based study that involved taking skin cells from two people with type 1 diabetes, exposing the cells to “a cocktail of [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766234 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:32 +0100 2766234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2762173&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FvzfTZave6Yg%2Fcan-a-high-fat-diet-increase-insulin-resistance.html I was just re-reading Tara Parker Pope's article in the NY Times on the now-famous rat study which found that high-fat meals impaired cognitive and athletic performance. Predictably, the study was dissed and dismissed by the low-carb and pro-fat bloggerati.(By the way, for those who dismissed the study because it involved rodents, data from a parallel human study are still being analyzed but appear to line up with the original findings.)Whatever the merits and implications of this particular study, I was struck by the following quote from Pope's article:It’s not clear why fatty foods would cause a short-term decline in cognitive function. One theory is that a high-fat diet can trigger insulin resistance, which means the body becomes less efficient at using the glucose, or blood s... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2762173 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:47:55 +0100 2762173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2761960&cid=t_106678_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FSDMoKhzNNtE%2F Type 2 diabetes is on the rise. It’s one of the diseases afflicting humans that is often preventable. Preventable because lifestyle plays a large role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 – it’s caused by the pancreas’ inability to produce insulin. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin but either not enough or the body can’t properly use the insulin that’s being produced. It used to be that type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes and then the name changed to insulin-dependent diabetes. Originally, it was thought that only children developed type 1 diabetes but now we know that people as old as their late 20s can develop it. Then, it was insulin-dependent be... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2761960 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:47:59 +0100 2761960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758032&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwayback-wednesday-crap-high-blood-sugar.html Four years ago, I got really upset when my blood sugar surged. If you asked me then, I’d have sworn that in four year’s time, I’d have it all figured out and these surges would be a thing of the past - hah!! Thus, I bring you, from October 2005, an all-time favorite [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758032 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:00:53 +0100 2758032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758159&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FdjTRxFwTeKM%2Fcan-very-active-people-tolerate-a-higher-glycemic-diet.html Q. How important do you think the glycemic load is for someone who is very active? I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and therefore have a very high glycemic load by the end of the day (about 170). The website says to try and keep it below 100, but in order for me to do that, I would have to restrict fruit intake to the point where my diet would be deficient in many vitamins and minerals, not to mention the fact that I wouldn't have enough energy to do many of the things I love to do. A. In order to help orient people who aren't familiar with the concept of glycemic load, we include a note next to the eGL display saying that "Typical target is 100/day or less."  But if you click on the "what's this?" icon, you'll get a slightly more expansive com... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758159 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:38:33 +0100 2758159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752107&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fhealth-diabetes-and-whine.html You can’t imagine how disappointed I was when I read the latest headlines last week claiming that red wine may not be so hot for your health after all. Funny, I mostly drink white myself, but it was so comforting to know that just one of life’s consumable guilty pleasures was actually “good for you.” In [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752107 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:00:21 +0100 2752107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2748116&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F08%2Finsulin-gel-patch-and-nasal-spray-in-the-news-bah-humbug.html New briefs this week: An Australian company that makes “cosmeceuticals” is developing an insulin gel patch in collaboration with the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School. A Japanese company that makes synthetic fabrics is developing an insulin nasal spray with Hoshi University in Tokyo. Hey, I don’t make this stuff up.  As you well know, [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2748116 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:00:27 +0100 2748116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2716279&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FXQB0jOV6Hgo%2Fmore-evidence-that-saturated-fat-has-been-falsely-accused.html What if cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are really all the same disease? An excellent commentary in this month's issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association lays out a compelling and detailed map showing how obesity and insulin resistance interact to promote the growth of cancerous tumors. The authors argue that weight loss (if appropriate) should be a central feature of cancer prevention and treatment. Going a step further, the journal's editors suggest that obesity (and insulin resistance) is the common culprit in all of the Dreaded Three: cancer, diabetes and heart disease.  Now, if you ask the dietary establishment how to prevent obesity, cancer, and heart disease, they will most likely advise you to reduce your intake of t... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2716279 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:24:05 +0100 2716279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709423&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F1H_SMJoJ_l8%2Fare-grains-necessary-to-a-healthy-diet.html Q. What is the purpose of eating grains?  If you are tracking your nutrition and getting all of the necessary nutrients, is there any reason that you couldn't eliminate grains from your diet? A. What?! You want to eliminate one of the five basic food groups? Grains are the foundation of the Healthy Food Pyramid.  They must be essential to a healthy diet. I'm kidding, of course. As far as I'm concerned, grains (such as wheat, corn, oats, rye, etc.) are not essential to a healthy diet.  I think the main reason that grains have long been counted as a basic food group is that dietary policy-makers have viewed them as an innocuous way to cover one's calorie needs (plus maybe some pressure from agricultural lobbies and interests). You see, the powers-that... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709423 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:28:30 +0100 2709423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695576&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwayback-wednesday-treating-diabetes-with-cannabis.html Here’s a post from my very first year of blogging that continues to pop up in Google searches with surprising regularity.  I suppose the mysteries of the medicinal qualities of ‘pot’ will never cease to fascinate.  Have a look at what I discovered back then, and do let us know if you’ve got anything more [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695576 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:22 +0100 2695576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2691796&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FlZPxG-NxO_0%2Ffour-steps-to-a-longer-healthier-life.html A giant study (involving over 20,000 subjects over 8 years) looked at how four "healthy lifestyle habits" affected the risk of common diseases like heart disease and cancer. The four habits they chose to track? 1. Never smoking 2. Maintaining a BMI of 30 or lower (Calculate your BMI here.) 3. Engaging in at least 3 1/2 hours of physical activity per week 4. Eating a healthy diet, which was defined as one high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in meat. (Don't shoot the messenger!) Less than 4% of the subjects had zero healthy behaviors. About twice as many (9%) could take credit for all four.  Here's what's making headlines: The Four-Behavior Group had: 93% lower risk of diabetes 81% lower risk of heart attack 50% lower risk of stroke 36% ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2691796 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:45:59 +0100 2691796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674455&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwayback-wednesday-crap-high-blood-sugar.html Four years ago, I got really upset when my blood sugar surged. If you asked me then, I’d have sworn that in four year’s time, I’d have it all figured out and these surges would be a thing of the past - hah!! Thus, I bring you, from October 2005, an all-time favorite [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674455 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:53 +0100 2674455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667761&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FELzDyJeyCMc%2Fseven-out-of-ten-kids-have-low-vitamin-d-levels.html A new report reveals that 70 million American kids (ranging in age from toddlers to teens) are at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and bone problems due to deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D.  Low vitamin D levels are about 6 times more common in young black Americans because darker skin produces less vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. See also this story in the Washington Post.) This storm has been gathering for quite some time.  Vitamin D levels in adults are also low and vitamin D deficiency is being linked to an increasing number of serious, chronic conditions and auto-immune diseases. (See also my post "Vitamin D. Now I'm a believer"). Everyone seems to agree on what's causing the problem. We spend less time outdoors, we've... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667761 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:15:55 +0100 2667761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662548&cid=t_106678_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F0APSdfQFcBQ%2F The FDA in the United States has approved a new medication for the management of type 2 diabetes. Onglyza (saxagliptin) is taken once a day to help normalize blood sugar levels. Currently, management of type 2 diabetes includes a lifestyle component (healthy diet and exercise) as the first part. If lifestyle changes don’t help regulate blood sugar issues or the diabetes is too severe, doctors have a few options for medications. Usually, type 2 diabetes is managed first with oral antihyperglycemics, pills that help the pancreas and insulin work more effectively. The main difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is that with type 1, the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin. To manage this, people with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin at least once... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662548 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:02:58 +0100 2662548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660973&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FjCOMBv-0ce0%2Fmy-view-on-low-carb-diets-its-complicated.html Q.    From reading your blog it seems that a lot of your readers back low carb diets.  Being a student studying nutrition, everything I have read has said that a low carb diet is terrible for your health.  Can you address your views on this in your blog? A.   It's something that comes up a lot on the blog and always seems to elicit very strong opinions.  Several regular commenters are quite ardent about the evils of carbohydrates.  My views are somewhat more moderate.  I do think that refined carbohydrates are a big part of the problem with the Western diet.  I think that overconsumption of refined carbohydrates (especially in the context of a sedentary lifestyle) contributes to obesity, diabetes and re... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660973 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:42:25 +0100 2660973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602182&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F07%2Ffinding-an-endo-101.html From the “Advice Column” file today: Sometimes finding a good endo can seem harder than finding your soul mate! Whether it’s disagreements over treatment or they seem to be stuck in the stone-age on A1c levels, it’s discouraging how difficult it is to find Dr. Right.  We have all witnessed stories of people who have had [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602182 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:56 +0100 2602182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2580422&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FlQTV87omAyk%2F Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. This form of diabetes is mainly found in children. The primary problem in all forms of diabetes, regardless if it is Type I or Type II is that the glucose (sugar) levels of the body are too high. In a healthy person, the beta cells in the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin in response to sugar in the blood. The sugar gets there through the food and drinks we consume. Normally, the insulin helps to move the sugar from the bloodstream and into the cells of the body where it can be used for cellular processes. The insulin triggers gates located in the membranes of the cells to open, allowing the sugar to flow in. A person with Type I diabetes can not make enough or any insulin. This produces the abnormall... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2580422 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:35:51 +0100 2580422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576908&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FG9Hsv2s2E8M%2Fcounting-carbs.html Q. I'm restricting my carb intake to lower my blood sugar levels and lose weight. What number should I use to track my daily carb intake? The number of carbs listed on the nutritional label? The number of net carbs (not exactly sure what that is)? The GI number? The GL number? A.  Let me see if I can clear up the confusion about what all these numbers mean. Each number tells you something slightly different about the quality and quantity of carbohydrates in a food. You could choose any of them as your "marker." Each has pros and cons, which I'll outline below. Total Carbohydrates, which is the number you'll find on the nutrition facts label, represents everything that's not protein, fat, or alcohol.  It includes starches, sugars, and fiber.&#016... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576908 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:27:02 +0100 2576908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561503&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FFY_bqTmDI70%2F There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin. An individual with diabetes type I will have to inject insulin throughout the day in order to control glucose levels. Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control glucose levels or the cells not responding to insulin. When a cell does not respond to insulin, it is known as insulin resistance. When a subject is diagnosed with type II diabetes, exercise and weight control are prescribed as measures to help with insulin resistance. If this does not control glucose levels, then medication is prescribed. The risk factors for type II diabetes include: inactivity, high cholester... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561503 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:57:29 +0100 2561503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512565&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2F2yOpg6-ZpEw%2F LifeScan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company and makers of the OneTouch® Brand of diabetes testing supplies, has identified several incidents of counterfeit OneTouch® Ultra® and OneTouch® (Basic®/Profile®) Test Strips. These test strips being sold in the United States are intended for use with various models of LifeScan’s OneTouch® Brand Blood Glucose Monitors used by people with diabetes to measure their blood glucose(1). Source: LifeScan, Inc. · OneTouch® Ultra® Test Strips – Genuine(L) Counterfeit® · Click Here to Download Image Performance testing of the counterfeit test strips obtained by LifeScan to date shows erratic test results that do not meet LifeScan’s performance specifications. It is unknown how counterfeit test strips which may be in the... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512565 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:44:22 +0100 2512565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473962&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fall-in-one-diabetes-devices-where-have-they-been.html Nope, these innovative designs for “all-in-one” diabetes devices (everything you need for both glucose testing and insulin injections in one package!) were NOT shown at the ADA Expo this past week.  That’s because they don’t exist yet, except in the minds of some more of our űber-creative contestants in this year’s $10,000 DiabetesMine Design Challenge. And [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473962 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:48 +0100 2473962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2470019&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FJDRlqRKq1xg%2Fgood-news-for-diabetic-coffee-lovers.html There's been some evidence to suggest that drinking coffee may have negative effects on blood sugar control. I know that many Type 2 diabetics--including some who have posted on this blog--have definitely observed this to be true.  Drinking coffee before or with breakfast can lead to a much higher rise in blood sugar than breakfast without the coffee, for example. Although coffee may well affect the rate at which your body metabolizes the sugar from your meal, the latest studies suggest that it doesn't matter in the long run.  A study of several thousand diabetic (type 2) men revealed that those who drank coffee were at no increased risk of complications or death. (Source: The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S.) The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2470019 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:14:00 +0100 2470019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469859&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fpatch-pumps-cgm-creeping-towards-the-closed-loop.html Slowly but surely, a fully integrated “closed loop” or “artificial pancreas” system doesn’t seem so pie-in-the-sky anymore. By that I mean: the real diabetes device news coming out of this week’s annual ADA Conference was not any product launch in particular, but what I view as a “clear and present” push towards a more automated diabetes [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469859 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:57:09 +0100 2469859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453046&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F06%2Foff-to-adas-annual-meeting-in-new-orleans.html Today kicks off the American Diabetes Association’s 2009 annual conference, this year in balmy New Orleans.  I won’t be responding to emails today, because on I’m underway! It’s actually a nostalgic day for me, because my decision to attend the ADA conference taking place in San Diego four years ago was a milestone — being there amongst [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453046 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:41 +0100 2453046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2448048&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fmuch-ado-about-safe-diabetic-feet.html I wanted to note that our runner-up for the DiabetesMine Design Challenge Grand Prize was an item called FootSafe. Please watch the video, which is both compelling and heart-wrenching:     As noted, picking our winner was an extremely difficult decision, because for those patients effected, diabetic neuropathy and the damage it can do is horrific. To [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2448048 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:12 +0100 2448048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442959&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2Fpl7fe5PnPXM%2Frestricting-carbs.html Q. I've read that you need to restrict carbs and calories in any diet attempt. However, I've also read that one should consume lots of fruits and veggies, both of which are primarily carbs. What do I do? A. First, let me point out that although restricting carbohydrates is a popular (and effective) approach to weight loss, it is not the only way to lose weight.  The only thing needed for a successful weight loss program is to consume fewer calories than you use.  You can cut calories by restricting carbs or fats--or simply by eating a little less of everything. But, back to the root of your question:  are the carbs in fruits and vegetables unhealthy? No!  You're absolutely correct that fruits and vegetables are close to 100% carbohydrates. Ho... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442959 Thu, 28 May 2009 14:35:07 +0100 2442959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2406295&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F06OkOonaGiA%2Ffructose-friend.html Q. I've been reading conflicting information about fructose.  Is it low-glycemic index or not, a good idea for diabetics or not?  I'm concerned because there's diabetes in my family.  There's fructose added to breakfast cereals and my favorite low-fat frozen yogurt.  If I'm eliminating foods with high-fructose corn syrup from my diet, is some fructose from these sources OK?  What about the powdered fructose sold from the grocery store? A. Fructose does have a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar, meaning that it causes less of a rise in blood sugar. That's because fructose is not absorbed into the blood stream like glucose but is processed in the liver instead. Note that fructose is not calorie-free, however. It contains ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2406295 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:01:40 +0100 2406295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2390213&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2F73AcQ7CUexI%2F The term diabetes refers to higher than normal levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Type II diabetes, also known as NON insulin-dependent diabetes, was commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes until recently when the name no longer accurately describes the population with this disease. Kids with type 2 diabetes Type II diabetes, in the past, was relegated to the adult population. However, in the new era of ever rising cases of childhood obesity and heart disease, the term adult onset diabetes is quickly becoming a misnomer. The number of children that are presenting to doctors with this disease is rising at epidemic rates. Unlike Type I diabetes, where there is little to no insulin being produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, in Type II diabetes there is plenty of insulin. T... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2390213 Tue, 05 May 2009 05:49:34 +0100 2390213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376905&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FxPYoSJIszng%2Fsmall-healthy-c.html We've always known that Type 2 diabetes was in large part a "lifestyle" disease.  Now, a new study pins some staggering numbers to this.  Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk of being diagnosed with diabetes by up to 90%. Here's what you need to do: 1. Get a little bit of regular exercise. No marathons required. Even a small amount of physical activity makes a big difference. 2. LImit your alcohol consumption to two drinks a day or less. 3. Quit smoking (or don't start). 4. Keep your weight and your waist size from expanding.  You don't need to be rail thin. Just keep your your waist size under 35 inches and your BMI under 25 (calculate your BMI using our Daily Needs Calculator). 5. Eat a bit more fiber and a little bit less sugar and refined carb... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376905 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:36:03 +0100 2376905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376907&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2Fhf8LNxjNk3M%2Fsugar-free-food.html Q. When my daugher was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a year ago, I bought every sugar-free thing that I could for her. Now her liver enzyme levels are elevated.  I'm wondering whether the sugar-alcohols in diabetic foods may have something to do with it.  A. Because your daughter has at least one diet-related medical concern, I hope you are working with a dietician or nutritionist. No-one can (or should) diagnose your daughter's medical issues over the internet.  Diabetics often have elevated liver enzymes.  And to my knowledge, sugar alcohols are not generally linked to liver problems. But your letter brings up an interesting issue. You don't say how much sugar alcohol your daughter is consuming but you write, "I bought every sugar-free thing that I could.&qu... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376907 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:10:52 +0100 2376907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2342060&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F6M297PwB6aY%2Fagave-hype.html Q. I have seen lots of hype about "agave nectar" being low in calories and having a low-glycemic-index. But in comparing the data, I found that it contains almost exactly as many calories as something like honey which is definitely not low-calorie. Are there any other factors that would affect the body's glycemic response besides caloric density? A. I'm really glad you asked this question!  Many people, who have seen agave touted as a healthier sweetener, mistakenly believe that it's lower in calories. But you're absolutely right: Agave syrup or nectar contains virtually the same amount of calories as other liquid sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. However, caloric density is not the only thing that determines glycemic impact, or how a food is likely to affect your b... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2342060 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:14:00 +0100 2342060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2269415&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FFIrJRg5jPBQ%2Fwhat-kind-of-mi.html Q. I'm concerned with blood sugar control and am wondering what kind of milk (low-fat, whole, soy, almond, lactose-free, etc.) would be best to put on my breakfast cereal? A.  If you're concerned with blood sugar control, you should get acquainted with the estimated glycemic load (eGL) tool here on Nutrition Data.  The eGL predicts how various foods affect your blood sugar. (You can read more about how the eGL is calculated on our eGL Help Page.)  As a general rule, a food with a lower eGL may be a better choice for blood sugar control. Foods with an eGL of less than 10 are generally considered "low glycemic" and the eGL for 1 cup of whole milk is 9.  (Keep in mind that the eGL changes when you change the serving size. The eGL of TWO cups of milk would be 1... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2269415 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:11:32 +0100 2269415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260356&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fstatin-ed.html Funny how issues can swirl right past you, until they become personal. Then suddenly you awake to find yourself at the center of the storm!  What I’m getting at here is that a few weeks ago, my endo decided I should start taking a statin drug.  And all of a sudden, all the hullaballoo over [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260356 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:42 +0100 2260356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182967&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F6EilKYU-if0%2F Many people get confused when it comes to the different types of diabetes. Type 1 used to be called Juvenile Diabetes, because children were often the ones who got the disease. However, over the years the name was changed because adults were also getting the disease. Type 2 diabetes is also called adult-onset. It is preventable and often comes with poor diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1. Here’s a video explanation with more information about both types of diabetes, what research is currently being done, and what you can do to help in the effort for a cure. Tags: type-1-diabetes, type-2-diabetes, what is diabetesShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182967 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:56:33 +0100 2182967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2174075&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FNjBVElaXAzw%2Fhigh-fat-diet-n.html A study done at Georgetown University using mice found that a high fat diet did not provoke obesity. However, a high-fat diet combined with chronic stress, did.  Another study, recently published in Circulation, found that mice exposed to air pollution were more likely to develop insulin resistance and abdominal obesity compared with mice who ate the same high-fat diet but enjoyed cleaner air. We've known for a while that stress and heart disease are linked. Although these are rodent studies, I think its becoming clear that stress and environment may play a role in obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as well--and that we're going to need to think more holistically about tackling these problems. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out how individual nutrients and dietary factors affec... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2174075 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:37:25 +0100 2174075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512546&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F1UWDJL5DT5w%2F Ok, so yesterday after 20 plus units of insulin, I was reminded why I don’t and havent eaten a Big Mac and fries for probably over 5 years. I think I figured out this 57 million people with Pre-diabetes thing…Wow One of those, I’m low I better eat big kinda brain sequences..A brain starving for sugar [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512546 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:14:06 +0100 2512546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512551&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2Fw1tgyAH1ZnA%2F Wow, who woulda thought….?  I recently was lucky enough to celebrate my 46th Birthday and have been a Diabetic for almost 45 of those 46 years. I think back to how lucky I have been to be born to parents who were so totally involved and who told me I could do or achieve anything [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512551 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:13:48 +0100 2512551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018664&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F475017006%2F I recently read on the ADA website that they believe there to be 57 million americans with Pre-diabetes. Holy cow! That would mean with 24 million Diabetics, and 57 million Pre-diabetics, there are 81 MILLION Americans who are basically some kind of diabetic. With a U.S. population of about 300 million, that mans that about 1 in 3.7 [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018664 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:33:10 +0100 2018664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2007188&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F472513525%2Ftype-2-diabetes.html Although Diabetes Awareness Month (November) is now over, the importance of raising awareness continues. Twenty-four million Americans now have the disease and those numbers are expected to explode over the next decade, thanks to our rising obesity rates.  Once known as "adult onset diabetes," Type 2 diabetes is also on the rise in children.  It doesn't have to be this way. Of all the serious diseases that most commonly affect us (heart disease, cancer, etc.), diabetes is the one over which you have the MOST direct influence.  This past Sunday, I did a segment on WBALTV in Baltimore, stressing that people with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes are very much in control of their destiny. Watch here: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/18174098/index.html (Source: The ND Blog: ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2007188 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:21:19 +0100 2007188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955937&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F450779962%2F The Misadventures of Lil’ Johnny…..Here is my most recent video….Its pretty funny,   feel free to blast it around the net if you like it….. I will be sending out 1 a week for the next 3 weeks, so stay tuned for more misadventures of Lil’ Johnny… I hope you like it…...............Bob (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955937 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:14:06 +0100 1955937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918486&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F436058425%2Fsix-myths-about.html November is Diabetes Awareness Month and with the number of adults and children with Type 2 Diabetes growing every year, I think we've all become more aware of this condition than we used to be.  Nonetheless, myths and misunderstandings about this largely preventable condition abound. Myth #1   All Type 2 diabetics need to take insulin or other anti-diabetic drugs for life. Not so!  Even if you are currently using insulin or anti-diabetic medications to manage your Type 2 diabetes, you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your need for drugs by losing weight, exercising, and sticking to your diet plan. (No-one should discontinue any medications without consulting their physician). Myth #2   If I’m diabetic, I shouldn’t eat fruit. It's true that fru... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918486 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:35:49 +0100 1918486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1880733&cid=t_106678_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F421670548%2Fmeet-patrick-pe.html I have a friend who sets two or three alarm clocks to be sure she doesn’t oversleep. Sometimes it takes more than one wake -up call.  At the young age of 39, Patrick Pete had already been diagnosed with diabetes, had surgery to place a stent in one of his arteries, and was being treated for high cholesterol. Then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. As he was recovering from cancer surgery, Patrick had an “A-ha” moment. “I realized that the way things were going, I probably didn’t have a very long lifespan in front of me.  I figured I could either get depressed, or take action. I decided to take action. I started exercising and, for the first time in my life, I started really paying attention to my diet.  "Nutrition Data helped me take control. I starte... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1880733 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:03:29 +0100 1880733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1866117&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F415769645%2F I posted this today on my new site at www.joyofdiabetes.ning.com    It kinda sums up how D’ life and it’s rhythm just get better with practice. As I played drums last night , I noticed how I have improved at carrying some simple rhythms consistently during the songs. I used to struggle a lot more to carry [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1866117 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:21:11 +0100 1866117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1803311&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F395457675%2F I think that I shall never see a sight as beautiful as a 93 ...on my glucose meter     after lunch today….... It’s always a battle        to keep the ball in play…. For as I fight this chronic disease        my glucose levels oft’ do as they please….. But Aha,,,,I’m the winner…today I have won -I look toward tomorrow for more Diabetes fun…   Keep going…......Love [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1803311 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:06:58 +0100 1803311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1780251&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F387599627%2F Here is one that I always liked that helps show the power of our minds….It is true of our diabetes management also….your mind and your thoughts have a huge impact on your diabetes control. “Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1780251 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:13:10 +0100 1780251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711787&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Flets-treat-diabetes-as-health-crisis-it.html For today's posting, I've included a video which is really a full-length television segment featured on ABC's 20/20 news program which showed back in October 11, 1999. The irony, however, is that in spite of the fact that this program aired nearly a decade ago (9 years ago), not much has fundamentally changed since the program first aired. Have a look at the video here (which is approximately 15 minutes in length): ABC copyright site license for this video is on file with The FAIR Foundation. Please include this copyright license notice with any postings. You may wish to have the latest Flash video player (recommended) or Microsoft video player technology downloaded. The FAIR Foundation was formed because of the inequities in disease research spending by Congress and the National Institu... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711787 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 +0100 1711787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1701168&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2FwC3BM9ITwnQ%2F Sometimes I am proud of myself for making the right choices Sometimes I am frustrated for having to But it is all worth it!     Tags: choices, Diabetes, diabetic, family, feelings, frustrations, inspiration for people with diabetes, type-2-diabetesShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1701168 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:13:21 +0100 1701168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497664&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F305589361%2F Reading through all the diabetic news today, I saw a trend. There are apparently 10 billion things that cause or increase your risk for diabetes. I always take what I read with a grain of salt. Here are two examples of what I found. They are now saying that sunlight, vitamin D, helps prevent the occurrence of type 1 diabetes among children.  Which means the opposite, children living in higher altitudes, will have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure triggers photosynthesis of vitamin D3 in the skin. This form of vitamin D also is available through diet and supplements. Thoughts? Now the second cause of diabetes that I saw today… long term pesticide use. Licensed pesticide applicators who used chlorinated pesticides on more than 100 days in t... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497664 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:19:32 +0100 1497664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439979&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F289412888%2F As part of the theme day here at the health and wellness channel, my post is all about mental health. For more, Alicia at Mental Health Notes has the complete line up. Depression. Ahh, the taboo topic that isn’t so taboo anymore. As I have written before depression affects so many people across the board. Diabetics are no exception. Researchers found that depression alone, and not lifestyle factors like being overweight, can trigger Type 2 diabetes in adults 65 and older, a population with a high prevalence of diabetes and depression. Researchers measured depressive mood and thoughts at a particular point in time as well as over the long term. By doing this, they were able to get a more conclusive and accurate view of depressive symptoms. By measuring depressive symptoms before diabe... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439979 Tue, 13 May 2008 12:47:17 +0100 1439979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1434588&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F288120656%2F Please join in and help make a difference. Go check out Amy at Diabetes Mine as she announces the 2nd Annual Diabetes Mine Design Challenge… 2nd Annual DiabetesMine™ Design Challenge * a competition designed to foster innovation in diabetes design and encourage creative new tools that will improve life with diabetes * Two of the most enticing design concepts will win a package of prizes to help further their creative efforts: $1,000 in cash, some pro-bono professional advice from world-renowned design experts, and free access to the next Health 2.0 conference for one adult winner.Submissions can be made beginning April 30, 2008, until Monday, May 26st, 2008, at 11:59 pm PST. The winners will be announced on Friday, May 30th, 2008. Tags: contest, diabetes mine, diabetes research, d... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1434588 Sun, 11 May 2008 16:02:27 +0100 1434588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432739&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F287178544%2F A new method that uses nanotechnology to rapidly measure minute amounts of insulin is a major step toward developing the ability to assess the health of the body’s insulin-producing cells in real time. This could help in future forms of treatments that could be used to improve the efficacy of a new procedure for treating type 1 diabetes which has showed the ability to free diabetics from insulin injections for years. If you would like to read further exactly how they overcame the nanotube technology in order to complete the research, click here. Tags: Diabetes, minute insulin, nanotechnology, nanotube, type-1-diabetes, type-2-diabetesShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432739 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:11:00 +0100 1432739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336906&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F260460784%2F This study shows that there is a direct and positive correlation between insulin resistance and decreased testosterone among males. This is the first study of its kind to show the link in type 1 diabetics. Tags: Diabetes, labido, low, male, testosterone, type-1-diabetes, type-2-diabetesShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336906 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:47:35 +0100 1336906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1097759&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F201197196%2F “There’s a fair amount of evidence that starch-based foods don’t cause weight gain like sugar-based foods and don’t cause the metabolic syndrome like sugar-based foods,” said Dr. Richard Johnson, the senior author of the report, which reviewed several recent studies on fructose and obesity. “Potatoes, pasta, rice may be relatively safe compared to table sugar. A fructose index may be a better way to assess the risk of carbohydrates related to obesity.” Ok, so this is not the answer to your holiday munchies given that most cakes, pies and cookies are loaded full of fructose, but it does offer up the idea that a slice of bread or baked potato here and there might not be the worst thing ever. Yee-ha! I do hope, yes I said hope, that there is more rese... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1097759 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:45:50 +0100 1097759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030162&cid=t_106678_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F185328257%2Ftype_2_adult_diabetes_can_be_d.html Researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center believe that adult onset diabetes, Type 2, can be predicted in childhood based on a study they conducted on 814 children since 1973.The study found that a parental history of diabetes and the presence of a metabolic syndrome in childhood are significant predictors in determining who will develop type 2 diabetes as an adult.Metabolic syndrome consists of at least three of the following health problems: high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high body mass, high glucose and/or low levels of high density lipoprotein."Pediatricians and family physicians should evaluate children and adolescents for metabolic syndrome and whether there is a family history of diabetes," study lead author John Morrison said in a prepa... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030162 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:00:13 +0100 1030162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007332&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fmore-problems-with-galvus-other-dpp-4.html There's a new and troubling problem connected with DPP-4 inhibition. Read about it here: New Safety Warning Delays Norvartis Diabetes DrugGalvus is the other drug that uses the same mechanism to lower blood sugars as Januvia does. It is a DPP-4 inhibitor which has been approved for use in Europe and Latin America, but so far, not in the U.S.. It came up for approval around the same time as Januvia, but the FDA refused to approve it citing vaguely described "skin-related findings."The chances are very good that these skin related findings are the same ones that have recently been discovered to occur with Januvia, including the potentially fatal Stevens-Johnson syndrome, where your skin separates from your body, as well as other allergic skin reactions including severe rashes and swelling. T... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007332 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:26:00 +0100 1007332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1001112&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F178862244%2F Ok, so I was correct a few weeks back when I wrote about Halle Berry being a type 2 diabetic. And it seems that even though she has been a type 2 diabetic for quite some time, it doesn’t mean she is a very swift diabetic… It seems that Ms. Berry has ticked off many diabetics in the world. Take this with a grain of salt. As I have told you before I love celebrity news so I found this while searching one of my fave websites, as embarrassing as it is… Perez Hilton. Yes, I am THAT person. The actress has been quoted saying that she was a Type 1 diabetic but now she has been able to ween herself off insulin to be a Type 2. SOMETHING THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.   Pregnant HALLE BERRY is winning her battle with diabetes, thanks to a healthy diet and good living. The actress was... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1001112 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:40:48 +0100 1001112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=995009&cid=t_106678_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F177744831%2Fnovember_is_diabetes_awareness.html and the American Diabetes Association will be highlighting a different facet of the illness every week of the month.Many Faces of DiabetesWeek 1: Caregivers. ADA will offer resources and information to those that take care of those diagnosed with diabetes.Week 2: Employees. Promotion of healthy lifestyles in the workplace can prevent type 2 diabetes, save lives and save companies money.Week 3: Diabetes around the world. Motivating people to fight diabetes through public awareness and the development of policies for the prevention, treatment and care of those with diabetes.Week 4: At-risk populations. Raising awareness of the trend that indicates minorities are at high risk of developing diabetesWeek 5: Youth and Type-1 Diabetes. Promotion of resources and information for children wit... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=995009 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:00:41 +0100 995009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=995010&cid=t_106678_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F177719073%2Fdiabetes_causes_cures_and_prev.html Of the estimated 20.8 million people in the U.S that have diabetes, 6.2 million people are undiagnosed and unaware. Could you be one of them?Type 1 DiabetesType 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. It is the body's inability to produce insulin which is the hormone needed to convert glucose (sugar), starches and other food into energy. It is an autoimmune disease that is fatal unless treated with insulin injections to replace the missing hormone and control glucose levels. Type 2 DiabetesType 2 diabetes is usually referred to as "obesity related" or "adult onset" diabetes. It is characterized as the body's inability to properly use insulin causing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. It is manageable with exercise and diet modification. Center ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=995010 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:00:22 +0100 995010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=972778&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fmore-bad-science-cereal-for-breakfast.html Your friends in the grain business have been busy promoting the latest study that supposedly shows that eating "whole grain breakfast cereal" prevents heart failure.Whole Grains Do a Heart GoodAs reported in U.S. News and World Report: "Compared to those who ate no whole-grain cereal, men who consumed 2 to 6 servings per week saw their risk of heart failure fall by 21 percent, while those who ate 7 or more servings per week reaped a 29 percent reduction in risk, the researchers reported in the Oct. 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine."What's wrong with this study? Well, for starters, we know nothing else about the weight, diets, ethnic heritage, and lifestyle of these people who ate whole grain cereal for breakfast, but it is very likely that they ate those breakfasts because the... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=972778 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:13:00 +0100 972778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=923688&cid=t_106678_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F10%2F3%2Fis-the-new-age-of-enlightenment-finally-dawning.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DHere are three headlines from today’s paper:Front page: “GOP Losing Grip On Core Business Vote”. For obvious reasons.Opinion page: “Immigration Losers” by Richard Nadler, President of Americas Majority Foundation, a Midwest public policy think tank (and I might add, a Republican organization in the mold of the Taft dynasty): “ …Republicans need to repudiate… the immoral, uneconomical goal of mass deportation”.Opinion page: “The Future of Bioenergy”, by Juan Enriquez, managing director of Excel Medical Ventures, cofounder of Synthetic Genomics, and founding director of Harvard Business School Life science Project.The first article Chronicles the takeover of the Republican party by the social conserva... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=923688 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:30:11 +0100 923688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903420&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Feasd-imbecile-insulin-dosing-schedules.html The "DUH" of the Week goes to the geniuses at EASD who reported studies showing that giving "insulin" to a person with Type 2 diabetes and extremely high blood sugars doesn't do much when that "insulin" is ONLY a basal insulin prescribed at the wrong dosage. Imbecile mistake #1: Prescribing only a basal insulin which has no impact on post-meal blood sugars. What part of "Very high blood sugar spikes after meals damage the body" don't these people get? Imbecile mistake #2: Giving patients only enough insulin to lower their fasting blood sugar to a level that is still way too high. I have spoken with many Type 2s whose doctors tell them they are doing great if their fasting blood sugar "on insulin" is around 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/L). Since this means that every time they eat a few grams of car... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903420 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:39:00 +0100 903420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891645&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fthree-different-conversations.html This past week I had some version of the following exchange with three different people. One works at the local diner. One is an executive at a well known political action organization. One is an excellent dentist. All occurred in the midst of a conversation about something else. Me: I maintain a web site that summarizes what mainstream lab research tells us about controlling diabetes.Other Person: Oh, really. My [mother/father, sister/brother, aunt/uncle, and grandparents -- chose 3] all died of diabetes. I really worry about it. Me: Have you tested your blood sugar after eating?OP: No. Why would I do that?Me: To get an early indication of whether you are developing diabetes--so that you can cut back on the carbohydrates you eat and prevent it from getting much worse.OP: Carbs? Why carbs.... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891645 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:41:00 +0100 891645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882671&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fwhy-monitoring-doesnt-reduce-high-a1cs.html This AP news releaseDiabetics Try New Round-The-Clock Sensortouting the success of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (GGMS) cited this statistic attributing it to Dr. Irl Hirsch of the University of Washington: Diabetics who do the worst job fighting their disease aren't going to put in extra effort to improve just because of a sensor, says Dr. Irl Hirsch of the University of Washington."We learned that lesson the hard way," says Hirsch, who presented research at a recent diabetes meeting suggesting the sensors instead will most benefit patients who can't lower their blood sugar to optimal levels — a score below 7 on a test called the A1C — despite following best-care guidelines.Hirsch finds the sensors help lower A1Cs between 7 and 8.5, but not those who start out higher.[emphasis... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882671 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:15:00 +0100 882671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867339&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fbeware-cortisone.html Today's e-mailbag brought a letter from someone who reported that their blood sugar deteriorated significantly after a single shot of cortisone administered by an orthopedic doctor and that, even two months later, it has not returned to the level it was before the shot.I wish this were an isolated, oddball occurrence, but sadly, it is not. Years ago when I posted a question on the old alt.support.diabetes newsgroup about the events leading up to a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, I heard from several people who said that their blood sugars, which had been marginal before a cortisone treatment, became fully diabetic afterwards. It was only then that I connected my own diabetes diagnosis with the ten day long course of prednisone I'd been given the previous year and and realized that it was only a... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867339 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:26:00 +0100 867339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=847341&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fworst-non-facts-from-nutritionists.html Here are a randomly chosen list of horribly bad advice people with diabetes have reported getting from registered dietitians in the last couple months. They all have in common that they are completely wrong.1. If your blood sugar goes below 100 mg/dl, it's a hypo and you have to eat some carbs right away to bring it back up. (Told to a Type 2 controlling with only diet and exercise!)No. The normal blood sugar range goes down to 70 mg/dl. The ideal blood sugar for someone who is controlling with diet alone is mid-80s.2. Your brain stops working if you eat less than 130 mg/dl of carbs a day. No. Your brain works fine with 0 carbs as long as you eat enough protein that the liver can convert that protein to provide the roughly 60 grams of carbs you need to run your brain. About 58% of the prot... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=847341 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:29:00 +0100 847341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828195&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fif-bill-gates-got-diabetes.html This study is particularly important. Despite the fact that a whole series of short term dietary studies have established the superiority of low carb dieting for people with diabetes, every single review of their data concludes "caution is required as we still do not know the long term effects of this diet" and then goes on to suggest they are probably bad. This study would answer that. Both these studies would cost a lot of money because they would require large populations to be followed for many years. But "a lot of money" when you are discussing medical studies is something like $30M over ten years, which is lunch money for Microsoft Bill. For now, this is our only hope of seeing ANY research that doesn't "prove" that oral drug A makes a tiny but not clinically significant (as opposed ... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828195 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:53:00 +0100 828195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=811213&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Ftodays-nytimes-diabetes-report-misses.html Gina Kolata wrote a series of articles that appeared in today's New York Times. One of them, "Obesity only part of the puzzle" cites two findings that have been published on my web site for 3 years--that there's an 80% concordance among identical twins for Type 2 diabetes--strong evidence that it is genetic, and that only a very small fraction of the obese ever develop diabetes. Kolata says 10%. I written at least 5 letters to the Times over the years protesting their articles stating as a fact,"Obesity causes diabetes," so this was very good news. Unfortunately, the good news ended there. Instead of featuring the "Diabetes NOT caused by obesity" news, the paper chose to give most of its attention to another article by Kolata that reads like an advertisement for statin drugs. The article ... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=811213 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:11:00 +0100 811213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=805907&cid=t_106678_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F17%2Fcounterfeit-test-strips-traced-to-china%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Daily News, CareYou pull out a test strip, prick your finger, place a drop of blood on the end of the strip and stick it into your meter. A few seconds later, voila, an accurate blood sugar -- unless you have purchased a counterfeit test strip. Last September, diabetics in the U.S. and Canada started calling Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) LifeScan hotline, complaining their OneTouch Test Strips were faulty. Without a prescription, the test strips sell for about $1.00 per strip, in boxes of 25, 50 and 100. We all know there are many diabetics out there without health insurance, one of the worst injustices of our country. I get sick to my stomach when I think of the uninsured shelling out $100 to $200 for a month's supply of strips. No... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=805907 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 805907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=740509&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Ftype-1s-hating-type-2s.html This post is about one of the dirty little not-so-secrets of the online diabetes community. Type 1s often complain of how much they hate the way that the general public confuses them--innocent victims of an autoimmune attack--with those disgusting, fat, lazy type 2s who caused their own disease.But despite what you read in the media, the science is very clear on the fact that most Type 2s did not "cause" their diabetes any more than the Type 1s did. Like Type 1s, Type 2s start out with a genetic make up that predisposes them to develop their form of Diabetes. This genetic make up causes them to develop insulin resistance long before they are overweight, and is instrumental in their subsequent weight gain. It may also result in errors in the way that their mitochondria work--the cell's fat ... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=740509 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:32:00 +0100 740509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707389&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fhappy-birthday-to-this-blog.html It's been a year since I started this blog and almost exactly a year to the day after I started this blog, it got chosen as a Diabetes Information "Top Ten" site by healthcenteral.com. Gotta love that!The other major development has been that, for some reason beyond human understanding, the Wall Street Journal has been featuring a link to this blog on all its health-related articles, even when they have nothing to do with the subject of the blog. This, of course, means that I'm getting a lot of traffic from people whose only interest in health is financial, and that investors, like those who participate on the discussion board, "Investors Village," regularly denounce me for what has to be the delusional belief that my blog postings are sending the value of their Amylin or Pfizer stocks low... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707389 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 12:51:00 +0100 707389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=700745&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2F33k-average-pharma-payment-to-vt-endos.html [NOTE: This blog entry appeared in a different form earlier, but a concerned friend who, unlike me, gets paid to write about diabetes, feared that the wording might cause drug companies to sue me. I have therefore rewritten it in such a way that should preserve my modest assets from drug company legal attack.] It's no secret that doctors often prescribe the newest, most expensive drugs and medical devices to patients when there are often older, better-tested drugs and devices that would do the same or even a better job. One reason for this is that drug and device companies provide huge financial incentives to doctors who prescribe their expensive new drugs and devices.How big are those financial incentives? An article in today's Now the New York Times gives you a clue. The Times reporters ... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=700745 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:26:00 +0100 700745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=683327&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fnew-what-they-dont-tell-you-summary.html My Web Site, What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes has grown over the past three years to where it contains an entire book's worth of information--a full 85,000 words. The downside of this is that the amount of information on the site can be overwhelming to new visitors. So I've put together a new introductory page which sums up the message of the site and helps the visitor decide which pages they want to visit. Here's what I've come up with. If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement please let me hear them:THE NEW SITE INTRO: You Can Avoid Deterioration and Complications No Matter How Bad Your Blood Sugar is Right NowType 2 diabetes does not have to be a progressive disease. Doctors think it is progressive because they don't recommend blood sugar targets that are low enoug... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=683327 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:01:00 +0100 683327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675444&cid=t_106678_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F16%2Ftest-your-blood-sugar-in-style%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Products, Support You know diabetes is entering the mainstream when you see a tv ad hawking designer blood glucose meters. I'm not much of an impulse shopper, but these little buggers are sharp! LifeScan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company, now offers their OneTouch(R) UltraMini(TM) blood glucose meter in four bold colors -- Silver Moon, Limelight, Pink Glow and Black. The sleek body is small enough to slip into your pocket or purse, with easy to read results in just five seconds. The meter uses OneTouch(R) Ultra(R) test strips. LifeScan's website claims the strips are covered at the lowest co-pay by more health plans than any other strip. Not bad. Americans eat up designer gear. Diabetes is on the rise. I predict a Personal Digital ... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675444 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676281&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fr-insulin-cheap-effective-and-unknown.html If you are injecting meal-time insulin, you're probably using one of the analog insulins: Humalog or Novolog. Your doctor probably told you these are the newest, fastest insulins, and that is true. What he probably didn't tell you because few doctors know this, is that regular human insulin (R insulin) can be a better choice for many type 2s.The reason your doctor doesn't know this has a lot to do with price. A 10 ml vial of the Regular Human insulin Novo Nordisk sells as Novolin costs about $20 at Wal-Mart. A vial of Novolog, Novo Nordisk's analog insulin, costs somewhere around $94. With that kind of price differential--the analog being almost five times the cost of the Regular--which of its two meal-time insulins do you think Novo-Nordisk is promoting to doctors?But if you think that No... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676281 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:09:00 +0100 676281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674823&cid=t_106678_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F12%2Fmore-on-the-stem-cell-act-and-bushs-promised-veto-take-actio.html As I wrote earlier, President Bush has vowed to veto the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, SB5, when he returns from his European trip. This bill offers hope of a cure or, at the very least, more effective treatments for many chronic illnesses, including Types 1 and 2 diabetes, Parkinsons, Alzheimers and many others.In an eloquent Op-Ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Dwight Holing, a member of the national Board of the American Diabetes Association, explains why this bill is so important. (I have had the pleasure of serving as President of the SF Bay Area's ADA Leadership council with Dwight serving, until recently, as Chairman.  When Dwight speaks on the subject of diabetes, we all should listen.)Here are some excerpts from his opinion piece [with my comm... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674823 Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:18:57 +0100 674823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623794&cid=t_106678_134_f&fid=35137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdiabetesupdate.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fukpds-found-many-more-complications-in.html A visitor commented on the previous post with the remark that a Type 1 might have great difficulty achieving the 7% A1c safely. That could lead into a whole nother debate about what is a safe blood sugar target for people with Type 1, but that is a debate that would be more appropriately conducted between people with Type 1, which I am not. So I'll leave it alone.But that comment made me want to focus on another very important point about the UKPDS study. The UKPDS study was an attempt to duplicate the DCCT study which first came up with the finding that lowering the A1c to 7% resulted in a significant drop in microvascular complications.The important thing to realize--which your doctor may not know--is this: The DCCT study only involved people with Type 1 diabetes. The UKPDS study was an ... Diabetes Update blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623794 Fri, 18 May 2007 14:01:00 +0100 623794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=516397&cid=t_106678_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F02%2Fbenfotiamines-shield-from-high-blood-sugar-toxins%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Research, Products, SupportBenfotiamine can help diabetics protect delicate microvessels. Much of the damage of diabetes is caused when glucose-derived compounds, called triosephosphates, accumulate in small vessels. Transketolase, turns these toxic compounds into harmless chemicals that can be removed from the body. benfotiamine increases transketolase activity, thus reducing or eliminating the complications associated with diabetes. Administration of benfotiamine helped to prevent retinopathy in test subjects with diabetes. Study subjects who received benfotiamine for 36 weeks demonstrated completely normalized levels of damaging toxins in the retina, preventing or delaying the onset of diabetic retinopathy. In a 24-week st... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=516397 Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 516397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=461143&cid=t_106678_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F2%2F18%2Flarval-therapy-just-another-name-for-cleaning-wounds-with-maggots.html Maggots. They are fly larvae. Yuck, you think. Double yuck, if you have ever seen them. But, wait a minute, we have known for a long time that maggots can clean infected wounds. It’s just darn hard to explain to a patient and his or her family. “Hi, Mr. Smithy, you have a nasty infection there, but we have just the treatment for you. We’ll just smear some fly larvae in your wound and let them have their way.”There are reputable studies of this practice. To pretty it up, however, the researchers have come up with names that make it seem more sophisticated than it really is. One article used the term “maggot debridement therapy,” no doubt referred to as MDT. A recent article in the well-respected and well-read journal, Diabetes Care, has cleaned up the nam... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=461143 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:57:02 +0100 461143