metformin, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet

Title: metformin, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet
Category: Medications
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/31/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Just 1 in 3 Seniors With Diabetes Has Disease Under Control

Title: Just 1 in 3 Seniors With Diabetes Has Disease Under Control
Category: Health News
Created: 7/30/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/31/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Are You Up to the Challenge?

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2011 and was told I’d never race again. (Pretty sure those doctors have been proved wrong!)

Although I didn’t have a choice in my type 1 diabetes diagnosis, you CAN prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and its deadly complications. It all starts with knowing your risk.

That’s why I am proud to introduce Ryan’s Challenge. Because for me, it’s personal.

Here’s how it goes:

1. Take the free, quick and easy Diabetes Risk Test from the American Diabetes Association: http://ift.tt/1KFtWYM
2. Share the test with 5 people you care about, so they can learn their type 2 risk too.
3. If your results showed you are at high risk, talk to your doctor. You can still take steps to prevent type 2.

I started working with the American Diabetes Association and the Drive to Stop Diabetes presented by Lilly Diabetes campaign to show that people living with diabetes can still achieve their dreams. With your help, we can continue to drive awareness and education. Together, we can Stop Diabetes^®.

So, will you accept Ryan’s Challenge? Get pumped!

Thank you, on behalf of nearly 30 million Americans facing the daily challenges of diabetes.

Learn more about Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the NASCAR XFINITY Series at DriveToStopDiabetes.org.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Part 1: What is It and Are You at Risk?

Don't miss this opportunity to learn about diabetic retinopathy, the risks for people with diabetes, and how to protect your vision during a free, live, online educational event on July 29, 2015 at http://ift.tt/1ILr6UC.

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Wound care matrices for chronic ulcers

Sano H, Kouraba S, Ogawa R

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Bespoke Furniture; what does it mean?

Bespoke is a relatively old school word we have started to adopt into our new school designs . . . but what does it mean exactly?

 

On a trip to London last year, Celina returned inspired, invigorated and with this word she wanted to bring home . . . bespoke.  Loving the idea that like a tailored suit; our made-to-order, one-off, custom-made furniture could adopt a more mature description, fitting for the products we produce.

Bespoke is an adjective for anything commissioned to a particular specification.  It may be altered or tailored to the customs, tastes or usage of an individual purchaser. Although the term is more prevalent in British English, American English has begun to adopt the term replacing “custom” in many made to suit companies.

Recently we created a bespoke sofa for the Address design show curated by the talented Kate Duncan who’s vision was to bring together local creators and furniture builders under one roof.  This sofa coined the “Bossalina”, is a great example of what a piece of bespoke furniture can be.  Celina used her keen understanding of furniture design to keep in mind proportion and comfort, using the golden ratio as a guide.  This sofa can be adjusted, altered and tailored to suit any space.  Modular sections can be added to create large sectionals and mirrored seating arrangements.  We happily adopt this term and look forward to sharing with you some of the exceptional and unique bespoke designs we have been working on this year, for you and for our amazing and talented designers.

Here are (albeit a late post) some photos from the Address show!

Exposed walnut shelf, natural latex foam and feather cushions.  Soft and durable upholstery. 

Never one for a dull moment, Celina quickly stuffs the last cushion on site!

Gorgeous wares featuring: Propellor lighting, table by Nicholas Purcell, and hand crafted rug by Zoe Luyendijk

Perfectly crafted goods; ceramics by Heyday, votives by Woodlot

Lighting by Propellor, credenza by Nicholas Purcell

Slipped in like a glove; local natural driftwood featured inset

Can we sleep here please?!  Lighting by Propellor, art work by Christine Breakell-Lee

The stuff dreams are made of: credenza by the talented Nicholas Purcell

The post Bespoke Furniture; what does it mean? appeared first on Fabulous Furnishings Upholstery & Blinds.

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How a Landmark Civil Rights Law Has Protected People with Diabetes for 25 Years

When Jeff Kapche applied for a job as a police officer with the City of San Antonio in 1994, many employers were still grappling with the requirements of a new law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA had been signed into law in 1990 and it outlawed discrimination against people with disabilities, on the job and elsewhere.

Kapche, who lives with type 1 diabetes, argued he could not be denied a job simply because he has diabetes. In 2002, a federal circuit court ruled in Kapche’s favor.

A door was opened.

The need for education about the legal requirements of the ADA was not limited to employers. Around the same time, some large national day care chains denied enrollment to young children with diabetes, believing they couldn’t accommodate their daily diabetes care needs.

At the time, multiple daily injections of insulin was not the standard of care for children with diabetes, so the required care was limited to checking blood glucose levels and treating hypoglycemia with juice. Still, there was great resistance to accommodating children with diabetes, and eventually the Department of Justice stepped in to enforce the law. Another door was opened.

When Kapche and the young children attending these day care programs won their cases, it was because the ADA gave them a way to enforce their rights if they were treated unfairly because of their diabetes. Between 1990 and 1999, many doors that had for years been closed to people with diabetes were pushed open. No longer was it acceptable to keep a worker with diabetes out of a job because of fears about safety. No more could schools and other programs refuse to let people with diabetes participate.

Soon, though, this progress was halted by a series of court decisions. Over time the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of what was considered a disability under the law. Then, the lower courts followed suit.

Starting in 1999 and continuing for the next 10 years, the discrimination cases of people with diabetes were routinely tossed out of court. They were told their diabetes was not a disability under the law—with the maddening result that they could be fired for diabetes and could not challenge it.

Doors started closing once again for people with diabetes. Told their use of insulin or other medications “mitigated,” or lessened, their diabetes, they were deemed not sick enough to be covered by the law that provided the protections against the very treatment they were in court to protest.

In 2008, after years of work by advocates including the American Diabetes Association, Congress recognized the problem with the law and unanimously voted to amend it to restore its original intent. People with diabetes benefitted greatly from the ADA Amendments Act. The new law made clear that diabetes is a disability and people with diabetes are afforded its full protections and remedies.

In recent years the Americans with Disabilities Act has helped childcare providers learn how to accommodate children with diabetes. It has opened up public places such as amusement parks and courthouses and concert venues to people with diabetes. The law has also helped people make inroads in careers as firefighters, law enforcement officers, bus and truck drivers and boat captains, just to name a few. These jobs were once thought off-limits to people with chronic diseases such as diabetes.

So how do people with diabetes feel about the law turning 25? Just ask Jeff Kapche, who now lives in Katy, Texas. He faced discrimination a second time when he fought for the right to be hired as an FBI special agent based on his qualifications, not his diabetes: “Every one of us should be able to follow their dreams, not find doors slammed shut because of a disability. As we celebrate 25 years of the ADA, let’s commit to working even harder to break down barriers for people with diabetes. Our children deserve it.”

Or take it from Mike Greene, a lawyer in Portland, Ore., who also lives with type 1 diabetes. As chair of the Association’s national Board of Directors in the early 1990s, he had a vision for ending discrimination. “Today people with diabetes have many more opportunities because of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments. People with diabetes are finally beginning to achieve what we have dreamed about for decades: an equal opportunity to fully participate in employment and education.”

Kathy Butler, JD, Chair, Legal Advocacy Subcommittee, American Diabetes Association

Katie Hathaway, JD, Managing Director, Legal Advocacy, American Diabetes Association

 

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Evaluation of the Effect of Enteral Lipid Sensing on Endogenous Glucose Production in Humans

Administration of lipids into the upper intestine of rats has been shown to acutely decrease endogenous glucose production (EGP) in the preabsorptive state, postulated to act through a gut-brain-liver axis involving accumulation of long-chain fatty acyl-CoA, release of cholecystokinin, and subsequent neuronal signaling. It remains unknown, however, whether a similar gut-brain-liver axis is operative in humans. Here, we infused 20% Intralipid (a synthetic lipid emulsion) or saline intraduodenally for 90 min at 30 mL/h, 4 to 6 weeks apart, in random order, in nine healthy men. EGP was assessed under pancreatic clamp conditions with stable isotope enrichment techniques. Under these experimental conditions, intraduodenal infusion of Intralipid, compared with saline, did not affect plasma glucose concentration or EGP throughout the study period. We conclude that Intralipid infusion into the duodenum at this rate does not elicit detectable effects on glucose homeostasis or EGP in healthy men, which may reflect important interspecies differences between rodents and humans with respect to the putative gut-brain-liver axis.

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Increased Efferent Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Defective Intrinsic Heart Rate Regulation in Type 2 Diabetes

Elevated sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) coupled with dysregulated β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) signaling is postulated as a major driving force for cardiac dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes; however, cardiac SNA has never been assessed directly in diabetes. Our aim was to measure the sympathetic input to and the β-AR responsiveness of the heart in the type 2 diabetic heart. In vivo recording of SNA of the left efferent cardiac sympathetic branch of the stellate ganglion in Zucker diabetic fatty rats revealed an elevated resting cardiac SNA and doubled firing rate compared with nondiabetic rats. Ex vivo, in isolated denervated hearts, the intrinsic heart rate was markedly reduced. Contractile and relaxation responses to β-AR stimulation with dobutamine were compromised in externally paced diabetic hearts, but not in diabetic hearts allowed to regulate their own heart rate. Protein levels of left ventricular β₁-AR and G_s (guanine nucleotide binding protein stimulatory) were reduced, whereas left ventricular and right atrial β₂-AR and G_i (guanine nucleotide binding protein inhibitory regulatory) levels were increased. The elevated resting cardiac SNA in type 2 diabetes, combined with the reduced cardiac β-AR responsiveness, suggests that the maintenance of normal cardiovascular function requires elevated cardiac sympathetic input to compensate for changes in the intrinsic properties of the diabetic heart.

Source Diabetes Pathophysiology http://ift.tt/1VBErCJ

Bone Marrow Macrophages Contribute to Diabetic Stem Cell Mobilopathy by Producing Oncostatin M

Diabetes affects bone marrow (BM) structure and impairs mobilization of stem cells (SCs) into peripheral blood (PB). This amplifies multiorgan complications because BMSCs promote vascular repair. Because diabetes skews macrophage phenotypes and BM macrophages (BMM) prevent SC mobilization, we hypothesized that excess BMM contribute to diabetic SC mobilopathy. We show that patients with diabetes have increased M1 macrophages, whereas diabetic mice have increased CD169⁺ BMM with SC-retaining activity. Depletion of BMM restored SC mobilization in diabetic mice. We found that CD169 labels M1 macrophages and that conditioned medium (CM) from M1 macrophages, but not from M0 and M2 macrophages, induced chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) expression by mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. In silico data mining and in vitro validation identified oncostatin M (OSM) as the soluble mediator contained in M1 CM that induces CXCL12 expression via a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-p38-signal transducer and activator of a transcription 3–dependent pathway. In diabetic mice, OSM neutralization prevented CXCL12 induction and improved granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and ischemia-induced mobilization, SC homing to ischemic muscles, and vascular recovery. In patients with diabetes, BM plasma OSM levels were higher and correlated with the BM-to-PB SC ratio. In conclusion, BMM prevent SC mobilization by OSM secretion, and OSM antagonism is a strategy to restore BM function in diabetes, which can translate into protection mediated by BMSCs.

Source Diabetes Pathophysiology http://ift.tt/1VBEs9R

Study Refutes Notion That Diabetes Drug Actos Raises Bladder Cancer Risk

Title: Study Refutes Notion That Diabetes Drug Actos Raises Bladder Cancer Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 7/21/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/22/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Psoriasis Drug May Help Preserve Pancreas Cells in Type 1 Diabetes

Title: Psoriasis Drug May Help Preserve Pancreas Cells in Type 1 Diabetes
Category: Health News
Created: 7/21/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/22/2015 12:00:00 AM

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High Soda Intake May Boost Diabetes Risk, Even Without Obesity

Title: High Soda Intake May Boost Diabetes Risk, Even Without Obesity
Category: Health News
Created: 7/21/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/22/2015 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/1IjXjAz

Low Birth Weight Tied to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk Decades Later

Title: Low Birth Weight Tied to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk Decades Later
Category: Health News
Created: 7/21/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/22/2015 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/1IjXjAx

Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia

Title: Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia
Category: Health News
Created: 7/20/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/20/2015 12:00:00 AM

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National Association Of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Conference, August 2015

In August, I will be attending the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) conference in Denver. For the last two decades, I have been professionally involved with pharmacy chains through my work educating people with diabetes. And because the NACDS helps to promote “Pharmacies. The face of neighborhood healthcare,” they are an important partner in that endeavor. Jim Whitman, Senior Vice President at NACDS I recently spoke with Jim Whitman, Senior Vice President at NACDS, about some of the things his organization is doing to improve the health of all Americans, including people with diabetes and prediabetes–which is now half of the population of the United States. He gave me a preview of what to expect at this year’s conference. In Denver, NACDS is partnering with leading retail merchandising and technology innovators on a program called Vision 2026, which will give a glimpse of what pharmacies might look like 10 years from now. As a long time student of pharmacies, this is of particular interest to me. One focus of Vision 2026 is The Changing Diagnostic Landscape, or the role of the retail store in primary care, rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatment. As we know, retail health clinics are becoming [...]

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Adriana Mendez

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

—————

Name: Adriana Mendez
Age: 29 (diagnosed at 5)
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.

I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes for 24 years. I’m healthy as can be, with no complications, as well as a mom of two beautiful girls (which were the result of healthy pregnancies).

I’m very active: I lift weights, do mud runs, have completed two Spartan Races and more. Last month I completed my first 50-mile bike ride for Tour de Cure^® in Napa and I’m currently training for my first Century Ride. You name it, I do it!

It’s not easy to manage diabetes with all this exercise. My tip: Test, test and test some more. It’s all trial and error. Logging in all my meals and activities really helped me figure out what worked and didn’t work for me. I’ve been doing this for a few years now, so I don’t log as often as I did at first, but that does help immensely.

When I think of my years with diabetes, I tend to think less about how medicine has improved, and more about how I’ve improved. I could have the best technology (which I do), but if I don’t know how to use it, it’s not going to help me in any way. Same goes for the meds: I could have great medication, but if I don’t know how to take the correct dose, it will not work.

It’s all about knowing how to use the tools that are given to us. Knowledge is gold. There are so many resources out there. In the end, that’s what helped me manage and take control!

I’ve had diabetes for most my life, so I’ve been through the higher blood glucose numbers, missing my insulin doses and so on. I know what “awful” feels like. Now that I have great control I know what “normal” feels like – and that’s enough to motivate me, even when I’m beat and I don’t feel like I can do it.

Additionally, if I’m not in good control then I can’t do the things I love: lifting, cycling and anything else that I may get into.

If you’re newly diagnosed with diabetes, or love someone who is, READ! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask a million questions … and then ask a few more.

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Alison Scheef

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

—————

Name: Alison Scheef
Age: 52 (diagnosed at 18)
Location: Boca Raton, Fla.

I have had type 1 diabetes for 34 years. I was diagnosed at 18 and I just turned 52. It is not an easy path, and sometimes controlling blood glucose is a challenge.

I have found that saying and thinking positive things to yourself when you checking your blood glucose can really make a difference. There is no perfection with this disease. Do what you can to control it and your diet, and see your endocrinologist every three to six months. I feel good, my A1C is always normal for organ functions and I am an advocate to help others. There IS a cure. Faith, hope, believe.

The most important improvement with diabetes management: insulin, of course! The insulin pump has made significant improvements in my quality of life as well.

My motivation 24/7 is: I want to stay as healthy as possible. I have a 24-year-old daughter and I want to be a grandma one day. My daughter is healthy and gets checked for diabetes once a year. She only has a 2 percent risk of developing type 1 diabetes, according to my endo.

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, work closely with a dietician who specializes in diabetes. Learn to carb count.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions. If your doctor isn’t receptive to questions, find a new one and interview them at the first appointment. The American Diabetes Association was very helpful for me in finding doctors and getting information. They also have a fantastic website!

Don’t allow this disease to control you. You can control it.

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New Drug May Help Diabetic Kidney Disease Patients

Title: New Drug May Help Diabetic Kidney Disease Patients
Category: Health News
Created: 7/14/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/15/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Brett Streaser

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

—————

Name: Brett Streaser
Age: 43 (diagnosed at 5)
Location: Beachwood, N.J.

Growing up with diabetes was hard, but my family was terrific and watched and controlled everything I would eat.

I also love doing the Tour de Cure^® because I want to ride to find a cure. That’s my No. 1 reason. In this way, I’ve helped raise lots of money for diabetes research, in hope of someday being cured. Plus, I love riding long distances, 20-30+ miles at a time. I remember seeing a brochure for Tour de Cure 15 years ago and thought it was perfect for me. I’ve participated every year since and got my partner to ride as well. My family even volunteers at a rest stop to support me and cheer me on.

The insulin pump is the greatest advancement in diabetes care, in my opinion. It is great because I get so much freedom from it and it’s easier to control highs and lows. I love to take 20-plus-mile bike rides, go on vacations and play with my nephews. I recently started using a continuous glucose monitor too and love it especially when I’m at work and can’t always get away to test.

Staying away from complications caused by not controlling your sugar levels properly .

My advice? Gather as much information you can and find a good doctor and diabetes educator. You don’t have to give up everything, especially all the good things that you’ve enjoyed, as long as you monitor and control yourself properly.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/1Mrf9AU

Health Tip: Controlling Diabetes During Hot Weather

Title: Health Tip: Controlling Diabetes During Hot Weather
Category: Health News
Created: 7/13/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/13/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Cyndie Gantt Owen

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

—————

Name: Cyndie Gantt Owen
Age: 52 (diagnosed at 4)
Location: Silver Lake, Ind.

I was diagnosed type 1 diabetes in 1966 and am now 52. Fortunately I am in good health, thanks to my mom’s excellent care so long ago in the dark ages of diabetes management.

I have heart issues that began in 2008, partly due to family genetics and partly due, they expect, to my lifelong dance with diabetes. Other than that, I have no other complications and I know I am a very lucky girl.
My hubby and I have two kids: a 26-year-old daughter and a 23-year-old son who was diagnosed with type 1 at age 10. That rocked our world, but thankfully he is doing well!

We both use insulin pumps and they are life-savers. We’ve been waiting for, hoping for, a diabetes cure for a very long time, though.

Diabetes has given us a unique bond and understanding of each other, typically over the negative parts of our lives, such as: “I’m low” or “My set hurts…” We have our own type of fun though too, like giving each other a high-five for a good glucose reading after a tricky meal like pizza! Or laughing over the looks we get when one of us says in public, “I’m high. . .” The fact that he and I can relate to one another has offered a built-in support system. I would prefer that he and I have didn’t have this bond, though, if you know what I mean!

There have been so many advancements since my diagnosis, and so many more on the horizon that are exciting. The glucose meter was HUGE for me! Looking back at former testing options, I don’t know how any of us survived as well as we did. And then there’s the insulin pump. My life completely turned around when I obtained my first pump in 1995. It offered flexibility that I had never known, and I cannot imagine my life (or my son’s) without it.

My motivation for diabetes management is threefold:

* Because my mom took such good care of me in the beginning, I strive to continue her good work, out of my love and respect for her and all she sacrificed back then.
* Because I love my hubby and kids.
* Because I want to be as healthy as I can be, for me! On the days that diabetes does not play fairly (which is most days), I just remind myself I am stronger than it is. My friends and I like to say we are kicking Big-D’s butt.

If you’re new to diabetes, or a parent of a child with diabetes: Hugs! Although your whole world is spinning at this moment, you will survive. Find a buddy and support group as soon as possible.

Find an American Diabetes Association or JDRF walk to join. You will be amazed to see how many of us there are, and that you are not alone.

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Uncontrolled Diabetes May Boost Dementia Risk

Title: Uncontrolled Diabetes May Boost Dementia Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 7/9/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/10/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Diabetes Myths – Busted.

Diabetes myths sure have been in the news lately. A heated debate, which took place primarily via social media, peaked last week and is still being discussed among our diabetes community and beyond. And for good reason. It’s clear that we have a lot of educating yet to do about diabetes.

Diabetes, in its many forms, is a complex disease. It is a topic that doesn’t fit easily into 140 characters, try as we might sometimes.

There are many myths that make it difficult for people to understand the hard facts about diabetes—such as, it is a serious and potentially deadly disease affecting nearly 30 million Americans. Jokes or shaming to supposedly spread awareness, or perpetuating ignorant stereotypes, compound the hurt.

Diabetes threatens those we love. It is lived—and battled—every day by real people and families. It is treated by knowledgeable and caring doctors, nurses, diabetes educators and other health care professionals. Scientific researchers dedicate their careers to improving diabetes treatments and finding a cure.

We join the diverse diabetes community in setting the record straight. Let’s start with some fundamental fact-checking.

Type 1 diabetes is an unpreventable, life-threatening autoimmune disease for which there currently is no cure. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. It was formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 is caused by genetics and unknown environmental factors that trigger its onset. Just to survive, people with type 1 must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin with a pump. Multiple blood glucose checks and healthful eating and regular physical activity are also part of everyday treatment.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 95 percent of cases. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin properly, called insulin resistance, and may not make enough insulin. Type 2 is influenced by genetics, family history, age and inactivity. Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing type 2, but it’s important to remember that most overweight people never develop type 2, and many people with it are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight. Type 2 is treated with healthy eating, physical activity, oral medications and sometimes insulin or other injectables. There is no cure for type 2 either, though it can often be prevented or delayed through lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and healthful eating.

Diabetes is NOT directly caused by eating too much sugar. Research has shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes, but this is far from a cause-and-effect, and it is not the only factor. A diet high in excess calories from any source contributes to weight gain, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Sugar-sweetened beverages are a major source of those extra, empty calories. The American Diabetes Association specifically recommends that people avoid drinking sugar-sweetened beverages to help prevent type 2 diabetes. These beverages include regular soda, sweet tea and fruit drinks.

By the way, it’s also a common myth that people with diabetes cannot eat sweets. If they choose to, people with diabetes can eat sweets in moderation as part of a healthy meal plan or combined with exercise—just as people without diabetes can. And there are even times when sugar is a must: If your blood glucose level drops too low, food and drink containing rapidly absorbed carbohydrate is essential for treating dangerous hypoglycemia.

We need a constructive national dialogue about the rise of diabetes and its impact on our country. We face devastating diseases that affect millions of people young and old and of all races, shapes and sizes. Diabetes dictates how they organize their day, what they eat at every meal, how they choose to be physically active and even how they spend their money. Together diabetes and prediabetes cost our country $322 billion a year. This impact can also be measured in blindness, amputation, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack and other complications. We believe that resources spent discussing diabetes would be better spent on raising awareness about all types of diabetes and funding and conducting research to help us uncover new answers and to ultimately find a cure.

In the face of the hard facts and statistics, diabetes is best fought with knowledge and compassion. There is no “good” type of diabetes. There is no “bad” person with diabetes. The diabetes community we know and love sticks together, stands up for each other, and comes together to educate and advocate through highs and lows.

Thank you @nickjonas for standing up for people with #diabetes!

— Kevin L. Hagan (@KLHAGAN) July 2, 2015

Finally, I applaud and appreciate the #T1D and other health-related communities for coming together to educate and advocate. — Derek Rapp (@JDRFceo) July 6, 2015

Those who live with diabetes, and their caregivers, are our heroes and our inspiration. They are the reason we work every day to stop diabetes through awareness, education, research and advocacy.

We will continue this fight, united, until there is a cure.

Learn more and get the facts at diabetes.org and jdrf.org.

 

Kevin L. Hagan, CEO American Diabetes Association

Derek Rapp, President and CEO JDRF

 

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Discounts From NeedyMeds.Org

If you're looking for lower-cost sources of your diabetes management medications, perhaps NeedyMeds can help you. Visit this page to get a preview of the current list of discount coupons from the NeedyMeds.org website. You might see discounts for medications that your doctor already prescribes to you.

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Cost a Barrier to Healthier Diets for Diabetic Kids, Study Shows

Title: Cost a Barrier to Healthier Diets for Diabetic Kids, Study Shows
Category: Health News
Created: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Your Rights, One Voice: Marissa’s Story

Four-year-old Marissa was happily attending a Head Start preschool program in Philadelphia. This publicly funded program was a calm and safe place for Marissa to be during the week, since her family was struggling with health and financial issues. Her dad uses a wheelchair and her mom had been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.

So attending this program was good for Marissa and good for her family. School was a place where she could learn, have fun and play with other children.

But everything changed after Marissa was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

After learning about Marissa’s diagnosis, the school district said that she could not come back to the Head Start program. The family was told that, since there was nobody to provide diabetes care throughout the school day, the only way Marissa could attend was if they hired and paid for a nurse themselves. But that was simply not possible. So–just like that–Marissa was out of school and stuck at home.

For the next few months, Marissa’s mother, grandmother and other family members tried and tried to figure something out. They called their state representative, contacted education groups, anything to get Marissa back to school. But nobody could help them. Tired and frustrated, they thought nothing could be done.

Then a family friend suggested that they call the American Diabetes Association. They finally got the help they needed.

A Legal Advocate (a lawyer experienced with diabetes discrimination) at the Association let the family know that Marissa had legal rights. By denying her the ability to attend school, the school district had broken federal law.

The Legal Advocate referred Marissa’s case to Alan Yatvin, a Philadelphia member of the Association’s Advocacy Attorney Network. At no cost to the family, Mr. Yatvin reached out to the school district. He presented information about the law and tried to work with school officials to solve the problem. When that didn’t work, he filed a lawsuit in federal court demanding that the school district provide diabetes care for Marissa at school and allow her to return. The district then backed down and agreed to assign a full-time nurse to the school.

After almost five months, Marissa was finally back in school.

Sadly, her mother, Evelyn, died two weeks after Marissa returned to school. Although it was a hard time for the whole family, it helped them to know that Marissa was safe at school, where she belonged.

“I am disappointed that school officials didn’t understand this terrible denial of Marissa’s basic rights. But I am so happy that with the resources of the American Diabetes Association, we were able to help this sweet little girl and her wonderful family. The Association’s Legal Advocacy program made the difference.” – Alan Yatvin

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The American Diabetes Association leads the effort to prevent and eliminate discrimination against people with diabetes at school, at work and in other parts of daily life. If you need help, call 1-800-DIABETES or visit http://ift.tt/1zCIiW2.

Through our nationwide Safe at School program, the Association is dedicated to making sure that all children with diabetes are medically safe at school and have the same educational opportunities as their peers. Visit our Safe at School website for information and resources.

Give the gift of fairness — donate now to help people with diabetes facing discrimination, just like Marissa:

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Nutrition Experts Call For Fewer Restrictions On Fat, More On Sugar

Recently, healthcare providers and health researchers have suggested a few big changes to the eating guidelines they give to Americans. For decades, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans have suggested limiting foods with a lot of cholesterol, including: Egg yolks, Red meat, Butter, lard, and tallow (beef fat), Shellfish, like shrimp and lobster, Cheese, cream, and whole milk. But now, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which meets once every five years, believe it’s better to cut back on sugar than to avoid cholesterol-rich foods.

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Diet Soda Linked To Obesity In Older Adults

If you have any symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which include obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides, your healthcare provider may have suggested that you cut down on sugar. But if you switched to diet soda to achieve this, you might be putting your health at risk. According to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, older adults who drink diet sodas were more likely to have large waistlines (known as abdominal obesity). The researchers looked at about 750 people over the age of 65 who were involved in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA). The subjects were tested for waist size, height, weight, and how much diet soda they had every day. The results of the study showed that the subjects who had at least one diet soda each day had a higher average BMI than those who drank none. Compared to the subjects who drank no diet soda, those who had at least one each day also tended to have a bigger waist over time. At the final follow-up, these people increased their waist size by about 3.2 inches. Those who had no diet [...]

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Weight-Loss Surgery May Beat Diet, Exercise as Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Title: Weight-Loss Surgery May Beat Diet, Exercise as Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
Category: Health News
Created: 7/1/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/2/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Chris Coleman

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

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Name: Chris Coleman
Age: 54 (diagnosed at 8)
Location: Fitchburg, Mass.

Soon I will mark my 46th “diaversary” with type 1 diabetes. Right now, I’m healthy and doing fairly well through a lot of both hard work and luck. With me in the photo is my son, who’s had T1D for 10 years. It truly is a long road with few and painfully short breaks—if there are any at all.

Diabetes has definitely affected my relationship with my son. It’s been difficult in some ways and great in others. He gets my support, but still, I’m a dad and I like to offer up stories like “you know in my day, we only had Tab [to help correct blood glucose lows], and we liked it, dagnamit.”

We have an advantage in having other supplies to go to if there is a problem. We also have a close relationship when complications crop up. We understand what a high or a low feels like and can empathize with one another.

I also am not all over him when there’s a high reading. Of course there’s a degree of “well, yeah, that isn’t good…” for certain behaviors. But I also know that treating abnormal blood glucose readings as something done wrong will cause kids with diabetes to hide them. You don’t yell at your kid for a temperature, so there’s no need to yell about a high glucose number.

My son’s diagnosis was a very important incentive to take care of myself and my own diabetes. I am his example now. Doctors can say almost anything, but the examples at home are the best examples to go by.

All parents of children with type 1 should realize that their kids are going to deal with their condition as their parents do. If the parents worry a lot, the kids will. If the parents don’t care, neither will the kids.

I’ve seen a lot in the last 46 years. Since I was diagnosed, the biggest improvement to diabetes management has to be the blood glucose monitor. Back in my day, it was urine testing with pills dropped into a water-urine mix. That was incredibly outdated, using information hours old and potentially very incorrect. Even against the faster insulins and the pump, knowing where you are with your blood glucose is still the most important piece of knowledge to have.

If you’re new to diabetes, know that you’re far from alone. A lot of times, that doesn’t mean much. But for every problem you’ve had, someone else has had the same situation and has (or hasn’t) dealt with it. Whether you need a word of encouragement or something more substantial, there are people there who can help you.

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Randall Barker

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

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Name: Randall Barker
Age: 34 (diagnosed at 10)
Location: Iowa Park, Texas

I have had type 1 diabetes for over 24 years. I also have a daughter with type 1 who was diagnosed two years ago.

I live two hours from the American Diabetes Association office in Dallas, but I volunteer to bring awareness to my area in any way possible. I became involved with the Association in 2013. I was introduced to an associate in the office through a friend.

With help from the Dallas office, I helped organize several School Walks at my daughter’s school and even a Community Walk we named the “Stop Diabetes 5K.” I also helped get my community to issue a proclamation for American Diabetes Month in November 2014. I also serve on the Dallas World Diabetes Day Committee.

Diabetes care and technology have greatly improved since I was diagnosed. One example is just the way medication is dispensed: I started on multiple injections per day and now I wear an insulin pump with a CGM system. Another example would be the advancement of glucose monitoring. I recall my first blood glucose meter taking three to four minutes for a test result. Now they give results in five seconds!

Many things motivate me to live well with diabetes, the first being my mother. I was in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) at least 10 times during my first year with diabetes, once in a coma for three to four days. I recall one time, seeing my mother break down emotionally. She didn’t see me observe this, but that motivated me to try and do the best I could to become as healthy as possible.

My other motivation is my daughter. I want her to see by my example that diabetes cannot and will not hold her back from doing anything she puts her mind to.

If you want to support the cause, get involved! Even the smallest steps can help raise awareness of diabetes. The general public has no idea some of the statistics associated with the disease. The more people that become involved, the more this information becomes general knowledge. With that knowledge, lives can be saved, barriers can be erased and eventually a cure will be found.

Don’t be ashamed of diabetes and don’t be afraid to reveal that you have it. Reach out to other people with diabetes out there. There are people that have “traveled” down the same road and can share their experiences. Don’t go at it alone.

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Type 1 Diabetes

Title: Type 1 Diabetes
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 1/31/2005 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/1/2015 12:00:00 AM

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Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Nicole Kennedy

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

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Name: Nicole Kennedy
Age: 33 (diagnosed at 2)
Location: Sacramento, Calif.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two months before my third birthday. This month marks 31 years that I have been living with diabetes.

Back then, I was the youngest patient diagnosed at the hospital my parents took me to. The doctors explained to my mother that it was very unlikely I would live to see my teen years. Thankfully the treatment of type 1 diabetes has changed drastically since I was first diagnosed and I have not experienced any complications.

My mother was big on making sure taking care of my diabetes was just part of my life and not the main focus. I have never felt that it has held me back in any way. I do my blood tests and count my carbs on autopilot and live my life normally. These days my biggest challenge is keeping up with my healthy, boisterous 3-year-old daughter!

I have always known that I wanted kids, and growing up that was sort of my big incentive to keep my diabetes in tight control. When my husband and I were ready for a baby, I talked with my endocrinologist, who agreed that there was no reason I couldn’t have a healthy pregnancy. The only change I had to make to my diabetes care was to stop taking my ACE inhibitor (which I take for kidney protection), since that is not safe to take while pregnant.

During my pregnancy, I used a continuous glucose monitor for a short while until hormones made my skin too sensitive to wear it. Then I stuck to doing a lot of blood tests. I tested roughly 10 to 12 times each day to stay in the best control possible. The hormones during pregnancy are funny things, and my insulin didn’t always act the way it normally would. It took constant adjustments and fine-tuning to stay in the 70 to 110 range I was aiming for. I actually had the best A1C of my life while I was pregnant!

My daughter was born five weeks early due to preeclampsia, which is much more common in women with diabetes. I had always heard that women with diabetes have big babies, but since my blood glucose in such good control, my daughter grew at an average rate. I was totally unprepared for my 5 lb. 5 oz. baby girl and didn’t have anything to fit her. Thankfully my wonderful mom and mother-in-law went out and bought smaller clothes that would fit her before we left the hospital.

My life has been so much better since I started taking fast-acting insulin and using an insulin pump. I love the fact that I am no longer living my life around the peaks in my insulin; instead I’m able to do my insulin based on my day. Crazy days that don’t leave time for lunch no longer leave me in a panic trying to quickly eat something before my blood sugar crashes at 3 p.m.

The tight rope that we walk when managing type 1 diabetes can be frustrating and overwhelming. I had a while when I was really just tired of dealing with it all. I would do the bare minimum, but I wasn’t doing enough blood tests and watching things as closely as I should have been. Finally, I was tired of feeling miserable and realized my diabetes wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how much I tried to ignore it. From that point on, I decided I wanted to be living with type 1 instead of suffering from it.

I no longer feel sorry for myself or overwhelmed in dealing with my diabetes; it is just part of who I am. It may be hard on the body, but it has shaped who I am as a person, and so I am appreciative of that.

I always tell people who are new to the disease: it will get easier. It is overwhelming at first, but with some effort you will find your stasis and reach a point where you just do what you need to on autopilot and don’t have to put much energy into managing your diabetes.

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