Study Compares Drugs for Common Diabetic Eye Disease

Title: Study Compares Drugs for Common Diabetic Eye Disease
Category: Health News
Created: 2/29/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/1/2016 12:00:00 AM

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

Eat Well to Celebrate National Nutrition Month

Have you ever wondered, “What can I eat?”

You’re not alone! For many people, choosing foods is one of the most challenging aspects of managing diabetes. Let the American Diabetes Association® be your source of up-to-date information on nutrition. March is National Nutrition Month®— the perfect time to find delicious ways to eat well.

So, where should you start?

The most important step is finding a healthful meal plan that works for you. People often ask which diet is best for people with diabetes. But it is the position of the Association that there is no “one-size-fits-all” eating pattern. Many options can be helpful for managing diabetes, whether your choice is Mediterranean style, low fat, lower carbohydrate, vegetarian or DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).

The next step?

Fill your grocery cart and your plate with “nutrient-dense” foods. Nutrient-dense foods are some of the best choices you can make: nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains and starchy vegetables, nonfat or low-fat dairy and healthy fats. These foods provide more vitamins, minerals and fiber for fewer calories.

Remember that it’s easy to choose nutrient-dense foods in the right portion sizes when you Create Your Plate. Fill half of it with nonstarchy vegetables, such as salad, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and tomatoes. The other half is for your protein and starches.

Also keep in mind that the federal government’s new 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting added sugars and saturated fats and reducing sodium intake. This recommendation is based on scientific evidence and is important for all Americans, including people with diabetes.

Satisfy your flavor cravings with these tips:

Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages.

• Skip regular soda, fruit punch, sports drinks, sweet tea and other sugary drinks.
• Drink water, unsweetened coffee or tea, sparkling water or other zero-calorie drinks.

Limit saturated fats by replacing them with small amounts of healthy fats. (Healthy fats are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids, which can decrease your risk for heart disease.)

• Cook with liquid vegetable oils instead of butter, shortening or lard.
• Choose avocado, nuts, seeds or olives instead of cheese.
• Use trans-fat-free spreads instead of butter.

Consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. (Your health care provider may recommend even less if you have high blood pressure.)

• Shop for lower-sodium versions if you buy canned foods, salad dressings, frozen dinners, deli meats and other processed foods. Drain and rinse canned vegetables and beans before adding them to your meals.
• Cook with less salt and more herbs and spices, such as chili powder, cilantro, parsley, basil, curry powder, ginger or thyme. Brighten up flavors with vinegar, garlic or fresh lemon or lime juice.

For more information on healthful eating, cooking tips and recipes, visit diabetes.org/recipes and sign up for Recipes for Healthy Living.

And don’t forget to join us on Wednesday, March 9, at 7 p.m. ET for our #AskTheRD Twitter chat!

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/1L1UOXt

Live. Work. Play: Simintha’s Diabetes Story

Working for the American Diabetes Association® means making a difference for millions of people and working toward a future free of diabetes and all its burdens.

We all have a story to share. Some of us live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes or prediabetes. Others have loved ones with the disease or have lost someone to the fight.

The following are personal stories from the Association’s staff about why we are so committed to the mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

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Simintha Esson
National Director, Corporate Alliances
Home Office (Alexandria, Va.)

On Wednesday, March 5, 2014, my father lost his fight to type 2 diabetes. When I received the call, my world was immediately turned upside down. I felt like I had been destroyed! The painful numbness of hurt filled my soul and I was beside myself with guilt, anger and confusion.

My father was affected by this disease for more than two decades. But unlike with other illnesses, he seemed just fine. There were no clear physical signs that my dad’s body was being demolished each day by this silent killer called diabetes. It wasn’t until about nine years ago that the snowball hit and everything started to change. He lost sensation in his limbs and developed other major complications to the point that, while only in his mid-40s, he could not walk.

The remaining five years of his life were spent in and out of assisted living homes and emergency rooms. I hate diabetes because it took my dad from me way too soon! He was only 52 and I still needed him. I miss him every day! Every time I need some advice or I want to share things about my day or just hear him call me “a big knuckle head,” my heart breaks because I will never have those moments with him again.

I’ll be honest. Before I began working at the American Diabetes Association’s Chicago office in 2008, I had no clue how to help my dad. We unknowingly replaced sugary foods with foods that were high in sodium and saturated fat, none of which were good for my dad. We had no clue these foods were not good choices for him. I think this is a common mistake people make when they don’t have access to diabetes education.

I know working with the Association helped extend my dad’s days because of the information and resources I got here and shared with him. Our visits changed from me bringing him some fried chicken to me bringing him pears, which he loved.

After I lost my dad, I decided to run the Chicago Marathon in his honor. I ran those 26.2 miles not only to honor him and raise funds for the Association, but also to inspire others who are going through the same situation. I strongly believe that if more people understood this disease, they could do something about it before it’s too late.

Every day that I work here and hear the stories and meet the people in the community who are going through similar situations, I am renewed. My dad used to tell me he was proud of me and the work I do here. His words drive me every day. I share my story with you not because I want pity, but because I want action.

Together, we can all make a difference. Stop Diabetes®!

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To learn more about nationwide employment opportunities and life at the Association, please visit diabetes.org/careers.

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Insulin Resistance

Title: Insulin Resistance
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 2/10/2004 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 2/25/2016 12:00:00 AM

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Join our #AsktheRD Twitter Chat — March 9 at 7 p.m. ET!

Knowing what to eat can be confusing. Everywhere you turn, there is news about what is or isn’t good for you. But a few basic tips have weathered the fad diets and withstood the test of time. This is why the American Diabetes Association® is committed to teaching the best choices, so you’ll know what to focus on for meals and snacks.

And with March being National Nutrition Month®, it’s the perfect time to find delicious ways to eat well! The Association is excited to host an #AskTheRD Twitter chat on this very topic Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. ET—featuring a nutrition expert with experience in diabetes management.

Our Associate Director of Nutrition, Sloane Mendelsohn, MS, RD, LDN, will offer tips to eating right with diabetes. This is a chance to learn about the Association’s dietary recommendations and have your own questions answered live!

To participate, just log on to Twitter, follow @AmDiabetesAssn and follow #AskTheRD. Watch for updates throughout March 9—we’ll be answering all questions that are tagged #AskTheRD.

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Living with Diabetes in College: Deanelle

For young adults living with diabetes, preparing for college can be a difficult time. Managing diabetes while trying to make sense of a new world, social network and expectations can be especially challenging. You’re not alone! There are many resources in place to help support this transition.

The following are stories shared by College Diabetes Network (CDN) Students, involved in CDN’s Student Advisory Committee (SAC), about their experiences heading off to college, and navigating life on campus, with diabetes.

The College Diabetes Network provides programs for young adults with diabetes to help make their college experience safer and more successful. The American Diabetes Association is working with CDN to help further this goal.

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Name and Age: Deanelle, 17

School:  University of North Carolina (UNC, Chapel Hill), Class of 2018

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in November 2002 and I’ve been interested in diabetes education and advocacy ever since. I enjoy forming lasting friendships with other people affected by diabetes—and now I get to do so in college.

One of my first such experiences was at the American Diabetes Association’s Camp Carolina Trails in King, North Carolina. Attending camp was the first time I met a large group of people with diabetes. It was a special experience for me because I learned not only how to better manage my diabetes, but also how to have a positive mental attitude when facing the obstacles that happen in my life. Last year I actually returned as a counselor!

I’ve been blessed with opportunities like these and an exceptional transition into college. My parents and health care team helped me by being supportive of my health needs and by understanding how excited I was. My health care team helped by telling me about their own experiences in college and making sure that I understood what immunizations or other health information I needed to give to the university. My family was there every step of the way before I left for college and they occasionally call me to check up on me or to ask me how my day is going.

When looking into colleges and universities, I did not research UNC’s health services and accommodations because I knew the faculty advisor of Heels and Hearts, UNC’s CDN chapter. I felt comfortable coming to UNC because I knew this advisor would answer all my questions. These services were helpful because they allowed me to excuse myself during an exam if my blood glucose was low and to get special dietary accommodations.

I choose to tell my roommate and college professors about my diabetes because it will ultimately be safer this way. It’s safer because you do not know what will happen when managing your diabetes. At one moment you could be fine, and the next moment you could be experiencing hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. But honestly, sometimes I get nervous about telling them simply because I do not want them to worry about me; I don’t want to add the stress.

When I did tell my professors, I was happy to find out they are well educated in type 1 diabetes. I also answer my roommates’ questions so I can debunk the misconceptions they might have about diabetes.

When talking to friends about diabetes, I usually tell them about my faulty pancreas. Then I talk about the significance of the pancreas and describe what happened to mine. I tell them about what I have to do to self-manage, including checking my blood glucose, counting carbohydrates, being aware of my body, checking my feet for cuts or bruises, visiting my endocrinologist and being prepared for the off days with diabetes when everything seems to be going wrong.

I would like to raise significant awareness about diabetes with my CDN chapter because it is a great way to reach other students living with diabetes. I also want to teach others about the disease. I am a strong advocate of education because it may save someone’s life. I am on the UNC Mock Trial team, and whenever we leave the state for a competition my friends ask me if I have my insulin. This simple reminder can help save my life.

Before heading off to college, I wish I knew better stress-management techniques because being stressed out effects self-management and your performance in class. It can also affect your interactions with friends, which in turn could also affect your diabetes. Exercise is important for me because it helps with stress and blood glucose control. But trying to fit it into my schedule is very difficult. In high school I played sports, so I was very active and kept to a strict schedule. College gets strenuous and stressful at times; the best way to clear my head is to get some exercise.

My advice to incoming freshman and high school seniors? Ask a lot of questions and do not be afraid to share that you have diabetes. Especially because diabetes is a large part of who you are. By telling others and being comfortable with it, you stress less and also put yourself in the best position to succeed in college.

It takes a team to effectively manage your diabetes—and  your life.

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The College Diabetes Network (CDN) is a 501c3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to use the power of peers, access to resources, and grassroots leadership to fill the gaps experienced by young adults with diabetes and make their college experience safer and more successful. CDN’s vision is to empower young adults with diabetes to thrive in all of their personal, healthcare, and scholastic endeavors. CDN has over 80 campuses with 60+ affiliated chapters. Sign-up for more information here.

Diabetes Forecast magazine and the College Diabetes Network recently published a “Thrive Guide for Young Adults” with tips for doing college with diabetes. Visit diabetesforecast.org and diabetes.org for more information.

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Dedicated complex pediatric wound care service

Bernabe KQ

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