New Apple App for Diabetes

Dr. Fran Cogen posted an article about a new system for blood glucose downloading using an iPhone, iPod Touch or cable.

Check this out

Charles Barkley Won't Be Fat Much Longer

If Charles Barkley weren’t fat, would he still be as funny? 

The “Round Mound of Rebound” ballooned up to 350 pounds after his playing days. Naturally, his doctor grew concerned. And Barkley spoke with USA Today about it:

“The doctor said, ‘Hey dude, if you don’t lose some weight you’re either going to get diabetes, have a stroke or drop dead. It’s either A, B, or C.’”

Read more 

My Top 5 Best Fruits for Diabetics

Fruits do not have to be omitted from a diabetes diet. Fruits are full of good nutrition.

You do need to pay attention to portion sizes because they can contain high amounts of carbohydrates that can affect your blood sugar levels.

The fruits listed here are my favorite top five best fruits for diabetics and have generous portion sizes for the amount of carbs they provide.

What are the best fruits for diabetics? This can be a hard question to answer since people with diabetes adhere to varied diets and philosophies when it comes to diabetes management with food. There are exchange lists, low-glycemic diets, low-carb diets, and diets that omit any food that over a certain amount of carbs per serving.


Find out what the top 5 best fruits for diabetics

Winter Weather Especially Harsh for Those with Diabetes

Trekking through the mall on holiday shopping excursions, shoveling out the driveway and playing in the snow with the kids - every winter, your feet log some long, chilly hours.

For people with health issues like diabetes, foot health is especially important when the weather turns cold, as the disease can affect your body's circulation even more so during the winter months.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) offers some podiatrist-approved advice to help those with diabetes maintain good foot health throughout the winter months:

Read full article

10 Things To Help Women With Diabetes

It has been observed that women who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The exact cause of this type of diabetes is unclear, but it does appear to be associated with weight gain.
In fact, a sedentary lifestyle, along with poor dietary habits, popular in the culture today, is among the explanations for the dramatic increase in the numbers of women suffering with Type 2 diabetes.

The connection between diet and diabetes is that, if you eat a high-fat, high calorie diet, which a lot of us do today, you put yourself at risk for weight gain, and if you are more than 120% of your desirable body weight, in simple terms, more than 20 pounds over what you should weigh, you become more insulin resistant, you use your own insulin at less capacity than you should, and you will have higher blood sugars, which will lead to diabetes.

Diabetes is on the rise, and women with diabetes have an elevated risk of heart disease and stroke. 
The good news is that there are steps they can take to reduce their risk of diabetes complications. From the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)

Read the Top 10 do's to help women with diabetes live longer, healthier lives

Diabetic Thanksgiving Recipes

Delicious Thanksgiving recipes for everyone at the table, including people with diabetes

Food plays a central role in family celebrations and holidays, especially at Thanksgiving. If you have diabetes—or if you’re cooking for someone who does—you don’t have to eat special foods or be excluded from what “everyone else” is eating. (In fact, everyone else should be taking their cue from what’s on your plate!)

Check out Healthy Diabetic Diet Thanksgiving Menu's
Diabetic Diet Thanksgiving Recipes

Also take a look at recipes from Diabetic Gourmet Magazine
Thanksgiving and Holiday Recipes

And one more from the American Diabetes Association
Enjoying Thanksgiving

Sweets for Diabetics – Ideas for a Sweet Tooth

Got a hankering for something sweet?

When you have type 2 diabetes, your best bet is to abstain, but sometimes the craving is strong or you feel left out of festivities and celebrations. Our bodies may be wired for craving carbohydrates, and we have to learn how to handle that in a smart way. Sweets for diabetics don't have to be banned. Here are some ideas to help you satisfy that craving while maintaining control.

Your number one weapon is a plan with effective strategies so you don't find yourself giving into temptations while your brain is preoccupied with getting a sweet fix.

Sweets for Diabetics – Ideas for a Sweet Tooth

Become Involved in American Diabetes Month 2011

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to rally individuals, communities and families to Join the Millions^SM in the movement to Stop Diabetes®.

This year, the American Diabetes Association is asking individuals to take a pledge and raise their hand to Stop Diabetes.

Beginning November 1, the public can take action by taking the American Diabetes Month pledge on Facebook.

Here are other ways you can become involved:

1. Attend an American Diabetes Month event in your area
   
2. Visit www.stopdiabetes.com
   
3. Call 1-800-DIABETES
   
4. Text JOIN to 69866 (standard data and message rates apply)
   

Soft Drink Makers Target U.S. Youth

U.S. children and teenagers are seeing far more soda advertising than before, with blacks and Hispanics the major targets, as marketers have expanded online, according to a study released on Monday.

The report from the Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity also said many fruit and energy drinks, which are popular with teenagers, have as much added sugar and as many calories as regular soda.

When it comes to energy drinks such as Red Bull and Amp, the marketing is skewed toward young people, even though the American Academy of Pediatrics says such highly caffeinated beverages are not appropriate for children and adolescents, the report said.

Read full article
Soft drink makers target U.S. youth

Meals to Live, the first grocery store line of frozen meals designed for the needs of consumers living with diabetes

Meals to Live offers innovatively packaged, great tasting and convenient options to help people living with diabetes manage their nutritional requirements.

With easy-to-read packaging that clearly displays relevant nutritional information on the front, such as fat, sodium and fiber, Meals to Live is a leader in the frozen foods category. It gives consumers a convenient, easy meal option with no guesswork. Five of the eight meal options are also 100 percent gluten-free.

Founded in 2010, Meals to Live is the only line of frozen meals specifically designed for those living with diabetes. Available for purchase at more than 2,000 retail locations in the U.S. Meals can also be purchased on-line through the company's website www.mealstolive.com . Meals to Live is a proud sponsor of the Diabetes Friendly Foundation (DFF).

Meals to Live is available in stores across the U.S., including select locations of Publix, Tom Thumb/Randalls, Walgreens, Raley's, Brookshire's, Ralph's, Meijers and Sprouts and may also be purchased online at www.mealstolive.com . The suggested retail price for entrees ranges from $3.99 to $4.99.

Meals to Live is the first frozen food line to utilize the Carb Counting system - a guide nationally recognized and endorsed by the American Dietetic Association - to help easily calculate the total number of carbohydrates in each meal. Meals to Live entrees range from 18g to 58g of carbohydrates, are high in fiber and low in saturated fat, trans fat and sodium, which are important considerations for those living with diabetes.

Along with frozen entrees, Meals to Live also offers Glucose Quick Sticks, an easy-to-carry quick-dissolving flavored powder that instantly provides a healthy boost of glucose for those who face low blood sugar challenges.

http://www.mealstolive.com/

Visit them on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/MealstoLive

Healthy Fast Food Choices

Can fast food be part of a healthy diet?

The CDC estimates that most Americans get one third of their daily calories from sources outside the home, and a study from the USDA shows that people who frequent fast food restaurants have a higher BMI than people who don't. The increase in fast food consumption coincides with the increase in obesity in the past few decades.

The ideal approach to healthy living would be to limit fast food in our diets. With today's fast-paced lifestyle, that might be difficult to do sometimes. Is there a way to eat at a fast food restaurant and still have a healthy lifestyle?

Find out the six tips for making healthy choices at fast food restaurants
Healthy Fast Food Choices - How to Make Healthy Fast Food Choices

Better Neighborhood Can Improve Health

A study by researchers from the University of Chicago has shown that 'location location' as real estate agents are fond of saying, can also work for improving health.

Low income women with children who moved to better neighborhoods showed better health statistics, including reductions in diabetes and obesity.

Read more - Moving Poor Women To Less Impoverished Neighborhoods Improves Their Health

Seniors with Diabetes

 When diabetes presents in the older population, there can be different criteria for diagnoses and treatment. There are many special considerations to take into account when caring for the senior with diabetes. Management of the disease can sometimes be challenging.

Diabetes Management Challenges For Seniors
Seniors face many additional challenges when diagnosed with diabetes. Not only is the risk for Type 2 diabetes more common as people get older, but physical, financial and medical issues are often compounded as people age. Not enough insurance coverage, co-existing medical problems, difficulties with transportation, lack of social support, being unable to be physically active, all these can come into play when elderly patients are diagnosed with diabetes.


Endocrine Changes in the Elderly
According to A.D.A.M. Healthcare Center, the normal or average fasting glucose level rises 6 to 14 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) for each 10 years after age 50. Older people should have blood drawn to check glucose levels and make sure they aren't in the early stages of diabetes, or high blood sugar.

Finish reading article at About.com

Nearly 26 Million Americans on Your Holiday Shopping List?

This holiday season, make your money go further and support a great cause: stopping diabetes. How? By shopping in this year's American Diabetes Association's Gift of Hope Catalog.

Every penny of profit from the Association's Gift of Hope catalog goes directly to diabetes research.

Gift of Hope offers items for everyone on your list:

• Holiday cards, many of which were created by or dedicated to a person with diabetes
• Personalized photo gifts, including holiday greeting cards, travel mugs, phone skins and more
• House wares and seasonal gift items, such as plates, ornaments and hand towels
• Gift bundles feature cookbooks and kitchen gadgets together at a discounted price

The Gift of Hope program was started in 1971, when several Minneapolis-area parents of children with diabetes wanted to do something to fight the disease. They started selling holiday greeting cards to raise money for diabetes research. Since then, the program has raised more than $24 million for diabetes research, averaging 50,000 customers a year.

Find out more at
DiabetesCare.Net - Nearly 26 Million Americans on Your Holiday Shopping List?

Sugar Free Candy - Pros and Cons

 If you're wondering whether sugar free candy is an option for you, here are a few points to ponder:

• Sugar free candy will provide fewer carbs and calories than regular candy, although sometimes just slightly fewer. So if you're watching carbs or calories, you still need to be mindful not to overdo it. Read the nutrition label in order to keep track of how many total carbs and calories you take in.

•  Sugar alcohols (like maltitol) are often used in sugar free candy. While sugar alcohols are great for lowering the carbohydrates and calories in a food -- they contain 1-4x less calories than sugar -- they also have some possible negatives. The most common negative side effect is bloating and diarrhea. The American Diabetes Association claims that sugar alcohols are acceptable in a moderate amount, but should not be eaten in excess. So, it really depends on how well you tolerate them as to whether or not you can eat them.

• Sugar free doesn't mean fat free. Sugar free chocolate candies in particular may be high in saturated fat, which is found in cocoa butter. So be especially mindful when eating sugar free chocolates if you have heart disease, are overweight, have diabetes, or have any other reason to be careful about your fat intake. 

Head over to About.com for more pointers on sugar free candy

Wristwatch Glucose Monitors Not Accurate

Devices worn on the arm to continuously monitor blood sugar levels are not very good at detecting low blood glucose, or hypoglycemia, according to a recent study.

Hypoglycemia remains a major obstacle to the successful treatment of type 1 diabetes, especially in children. One of the greatest fears of patients and parents is the possibility of a severe hypoglycemic reaction. Low sugar can lead to disorientation or even loss of consciousness.

The purpose of the study, conducted by members of the Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet) Study Group, was to assess the accuracy of the GlucoWatch G2 Biographer (GW2B) and the continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) during hypoglycemia in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Wristwatch glucose monitors not accurate - About Kids Health:

Kids With Diabetes Can Have a Happy Halloween

There's no need to be scared of sugary treats. Children with diabetes can safely enjoy Halloween with these simple tricks.

Halloween is synonymous with costumes, haunted houses, trick-or-treating — and candy. And while no parent wants their kids to overindulge in the sugary stuff, those of children with diabetes, especially kids newly diagnosed, may be especially concerned.

"Last year at Halloween my son was 14 months old and he'd only been diagnosed [with type 1 diabetes] a month. I was terrified of the candy that his three older brothers would bring home from trick or treating," one mother wrote in the online forum Children With Diabetes.

Kids With Diabetes Can Have a Happy Halloween - Diabetes Center - Everyday Health:

New Ways to Beat Diabetes

The latest treatments for fighting the devastating disease
Over the past 30 years the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes has skyrocketed, from about 6 million in 1980 to almost 19 million today. As this problem spirals out of control, researchers are racing to find new treatments for this devastating disease.

Recently, scientists at Newcastle University in England reported that a 600-calorie-a-day diet appeared to reverse type 2 diabetes in a small group of patients who had diabetes for less than four years.

Seven patients out of 10 were still diabetes-free three months after they stopped the extreme eight-week diet, which consisted of meal-replacement drinks and three daily servings of starchy vegetables.

Finish reading article at AARP

Can You Eat Unlimited Fruit & Veggies & Lose Weight?

While it’s a common belief that eating unlimited amounts of fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight, studies proving this as a fact are limited, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, consuming foods that are more nutritious and lower in calories can lead to better health, thereby promoting a healthier weight. Fruits and veggies meet these parameters and more. They are less dense than other foods and tend to make you feel full faster.

Along with daily exercise, maintaining a healthy diet can help you lose weight and keep it off, reducing your risk for health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and obesity. A healthy diet is made up mostly of fruits and vegetables.

According to the Department of Agriculture's My Plate website, at least half of your plate during meals should be covered by fruits and veggies. Following such guidelines also can help you to cut out trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet, which can lead to a healthier weight, suggests MayoClinic.com.

Can You Eat Unlimited Fruit & Veggies & Lose Weight?

Gestational Diabetes In African-American Women Increases Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

African American women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy face a 52% increased risk of developing diabetes in the future compared to white women who develop GDM during pregnancy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the journal Diabetologia.

African American women are less likely to develop GDM during pregnancy. But for those who were diagnosed of having GDM, their future overt diabetes risk is the greatest among all race/ethnic groups.

Although Asian/Pacific Islander women are much more likely to develop GDM than African American or non-Hispanic white women, their future diabetes risk after GDM is similar to that for non-Hispanic white women, the study found

Gestational Diabetes In African-American Women Increases Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Laila Ali - Join the Fight

Lailia states “I was surprised to learn that my family and I could be at risk for kidney disease. That’s why I’m proud to partner with the American Kidney Fund to launch the Pair Up campaign. Join me to learn more about your risk-- and let's spread the word to protect the ones we love."


Laila Ali Joins the Fight Against Kidney Disease from American Kidney Fund on Vimeo.

CDC Video - A Change for Life

In this video, experts and people with pre-diabetes talk about how type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by making lifestyle changes that include weight loss and more physical activity.

People with prediabetes discuss how group lifestyle change classes helped them learn and keep healthy habits.


     

Take Steps Now to Prevent Diabetes in Your Child

About 17% of children and teens are obese. This has led to a surge in the number of children with type 2 diabetes, the form more commonly found in overweight adults older than age 40.

In response to this alarming statistic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a stern warning for the nation's parents: One in three American children born in 2000 will develop diabetes if we don't take steps now to address their fatty diets and poor fitness habits.

Find out how to Stop diabetes before it starts

Take steps now to prevent diabetes in your child

New Medication Treats Type 2 Diabetes and Cholesterol in One Package

According to the American Diabetes Association, people with Type 2 diabetes over 40 or those who have heart disease should also take a statin, such as Zocor, in addition to diabetes medication. However, many of those patients do not take a statin as reported by DiabeticLive.com.

Set to be available for sale within weeks, Juvisync is a combination of Januvia, a medication for Type 2 diabetes, and Zocor, which treats high cholesterol.

Juvisync will retail for about the same price as Januvia ($215 a month). Zocor, meanwhile, sells for about $30 a month for generic versions; Juvisync will eliminate the need to take Januvia and Zocor separately and will reduce costs for patients, especially those who are not taking statins.

Read more

India World's Largest Diabetes Capital

It's festival season in India, with the celebrations providing a perfect opportunity for family outings, late-night parties and customary feasting on sweets.

Health experts warn that the festivities, coupled with genetic predisposition and lifestyle changes brought about by the increasing prosperity of the middle class, is contributing to the country being called the world's "diabetes capital," with the highest number of diabetics in any nation.

Festivals in India are synonymous with eating and gifting sweets, and most food and confectionery shops are decked with an assortment of goodies in colorful wrappings meant for traditional presents.

Full article

Dangers of Common Painkillers

Well this is disturbing - Most of us seniors take over the counter pain meds. Just received this e-mail from AARP - Charles

There's mounting evidence that regular use is risky for older people

Most of us don't think twice about taking a nonprescription pain reliever to ease a headache or soreness that might follow a game of tennis, but there is growing evidence that commonly used painkillers such as Advil can trigger heart attacks or strokes in some people.

Two new studies show that ibuprofen, Naproxen and Celebrex raise the risk of dangerous heart fibrillation in older patients.

These nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a diverse group that also includes Motrin and prescription varieties like Celebrex and Voltaren, have been used for decades.

Read full article at AARP

Reclaiming Our Health: Guide to African-American Wellness

Michele Gourdine, MD, a pediatrician and the CEO of Michelle Gourdine and Associates, was always fascinated as to why African-Americans disproportionately suffered from a range of health issues such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

"These statistics really bothered me," Gourdine says. "I was not detached from these statistics either. This is about me, my family, my friends, the people at my church and my community as a whole."

It's that personal connection that inspired Gourdine to write Reclaiming Our Health: A Guide to African-American Wellness (Yale University Press, $19.95).

Reclaiming our Health, an interactive and empowering book, offers up practical advice and invaluable information to jumpstart one's quest for better health.



BET.com sat down with Gourdine to talk about her eye-opening book, why we all need to strengthen our health literacy and why poor health doesn't have to be our destiny.

Continue Reading

Walgreens Diabetes & You Magazine Wins National Health Award

Walgreens Diabetes & You, the free, quarterly diabetes magazine available exclusively at Walgreens pharmacies nationwide, has been awarded the National Health Information Awards' top honor for consumer health information programs and materials.

Walgreens Diabetes & You magazine is the largest diabetes magazine in the United States and features user-friendly, engaging content and expert advice from some of the nation's top diabetes experts and educators.

Two million copies of this free, quarterly publication are distributed through Walgreens more than 8,000 locations, including its nearly 7,800 drugstores, work site health and wellness centers, home care facilities and specialty, institutional and mail-service pharmacies.

In addition, the magazine reaches patients through diabetes educators, doctors' offices and other professional locations nationwide.

To view Walgreens Diabetes & You magazine online visit: http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/diabetes/archive.jsp


About the National Health Information Awards

The National Health Information Awards program is coordinated by the Health Information Resource Center(TM) (HIRC), a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. The program recognizes the nation's best consumer health information programs and materials, including brochures, books and audio/video materials. For more information about the National Health Information Awards program, visit www.healthawards.com

About Walgreens

Walgreens ( www.walgreens.com ) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion.

The company operates 7,779 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America.

Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector.

Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

SOURCE: Walgreens

Law & Order Actor Anthony Anderson Raising Diabetes Awareness

Black Americans are twice as likely to get a diabetes diagnosis as whites, and television and film actor Anthony Anderson has joined a new campaign to raise diabetes awareness among African-Americans.

NY1's Health reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report . . .

TV and film actor Anthony Anderson is best known for his work on "Law & Order" and his supporting roles in comedies, but for a while Type-2 diabetes was slowing down his usually non-stop lifestyle.

"I have this great scale at the house. Step on it barefoot, it tells you everything about yourself, metabolical age, how much physical fat you have one you, organs that have fat that can kill you," says Anderson. "I stood on that one day and at 36 it told me that I had the body of a 50 year old."

Diagnosed with diabetes 10 years ago, Anderson is now also working to raise awareness among black Americans through Eli Lilly's "Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered (F.A.C.E.) Diabetes" campaign.

Read more

Diabetes Complications Caused Former Raven’s Death

Orlando Brown  a 9 year NFL veteran - is best remembered from an eye injury he suffered when he was hit in the eye with a penalty flag which caused significant injuries, and led to an injury settlement with the league.

However it was complications from diabetes that killed former 40 year old Raven Orlando Brown - and he probably did not know he had the disease. 

The state medical examiner determined he passed away in his downtown condo from diabetes complications and they found no medical records that show he was ever diagnosed.

Angie Stone Educates Others on Diabetes

Angie Stone – a spokesperson for the Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered (F.A.C.E) diabetes initiative sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company – takes her new role seriously.

Stone was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 10 years ago and has had the challenges that come along with the diagnosis. Those challenges include setbacks and disappointments but she now feels she finally has it under control.

People with Type 2 diabetes are able to produce insulin when they are diagnosed, but the insulin they produce does not help the body’s cells use glucose for energy. According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in America.

“Through the Eli Lily Company initiative, I have been inspired to manage my diabetes,” Stone said. She has lost weight and works towards keeping the weight off. Stone has gone from a size 22 to a size 14 by changing her eating habits and cooking healthy meals.

Read More

Genetic Variant Linked to Blocked Heart Arteries in Type 2 Diabetics

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified the first genetic variant associated with severity of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Though this variant is not likely the cause of more severe coronary disease, the researchers say, it implicates a gene that could be. Such a gene has promise as a future target for treating coronary artery disease in diabetic patients.

Full article at Washington University in St Louis

50 Interesting Facts About Diabetes

There are always lots of things to discover about this disease. As you know, informed means armed.

This article will reveal 50 interesting facts about diabetes mellitus that you might have never heard about.

50 Interesting Facts About Diabetes

Diabetic Monitoring Systems

As a Diabetic the first thing you learn is the daily tracking of the level of glucose in the blood for proper diabetes management. 

Back in the 70's when the self-test systems were developed, they used a sample of blood which was chemically analyzed by the device. We've come a long way since then, the devices are smaller, more accurate and require less blood.

Currently Diabetics have a Choice of Monitoring Devices:

1. Until recently the most common monitor was a small test strip coated with chemicals to perform the test.  You pricked your finger with a lancet, and the blood drop is put on the strip, then fed into a hand held device. Seconds later there is a readout of the glucose level.

2. The best current devices allow drawing blood from areas other than the finger - Continual pricking can lead to scarring and loss of sensitivity. Another problem with pricking is running out of fingers to use, which leads to more difficulty drawing blood, and yet more discomfort. Talk to your physician about these new patient-friendly monitoring devices.

3. Other monitoring devices use a laser to make a small, painless hole in the skin. A droplet of blood oozes out for smearing onto a test strip, and you feel only a slight tingling sensation in the finger during the test. Needles are eliminated which is more sanitary and safe.

4. Devices that work while you sleep. No one wants to wake up in the middle of the night to prick a finger.  Diabetics can buy a watch that monitors glucose level and alerts the wearer by an alarm if blood sugar levels rise.

5. And still more advanced devices require drawing no blood at all. It senses the glucose level through the skin by use of an infrared beam.

6. Diabetics with hard to manage diabetes have insulin pumps that give a continual drip of insulin 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - which is a life saver to many whose levels are hard to control. 

7. And just recently the Mayo Clinic has been working on a way to make blood-sugar monitoring easier by using fluid from the eye. I have no more details on this - my doctor mentioned this to me on my last visit.

Pros and Cons of Current Devices:

One of the pros of these new devices is the ability to store results over time which helps compare glucose levels on an ongoing basis.

You can also download results to a PC and graph the data which makes the tracking process even more valuable to you and your physician. When looking for a new monitoring device, shop around and get one that will give what you need for the best monitoring. 

On the con side, most require a blood sample drawn from the body. The discomfort and sometime inconvenience that many experience cause diabetics to only use them once per day, rather than the recommended three times daily.

Sometimes you can get inaccurate readings if they're not calibrated and maintained properly. They need to be cleaned from time to time, in order to prevent old blood and chemicals from contaminating the device and throwing off the readings.

Cheers to technology helping those with Diabetes monitor this disease

C. Thompkins
Diabetic, Senior & Black
http://diabeticseniorandblack.blogspot.com/

Asthma Tied to Poorer Diabetes Control in Kids

Kids with diabetes may have a higher-than-average rate of asthma, and those with both conditions seem to have a tougher time keeping their blood sugar under control, a study out Monday suggests.

Researchers found that among 2,000 3- to 21-year-olds with diabetes, 11 percent had asthma -- higher than the roughly 9 percent rate among children and young adults in the U.S.

Asthma tied to poorer diabetes control in kids | Reuters

Lack Of Sleep Causes Diabetes Risk

An article by the American Diabetes Association in Diabetes Care links lack of sleep to higher blood sugar levels and thus possible type 2 diabetes risk.

Researchers say they are uncertain whether lack of adequate sleep causes changes in the regulation of blood sugar, the body's sensitivity to insulin, or if insulin secretion is reduced, however the results clearly showed higher blood sugar levels are present in individuals who have not had a full night's rest.

Lack Of Sleep Causes Diabetes Risk

12 Hot Mobile Medical Apps

Mobile medicine is everywhere!

There's the iPhone app that lets you cut away images of muscle layers to see what lies beneath, an e-health record system for the iPad, and a smartphone-based blood pressure monitor.

Here are a dozen innovative ones - 12 Hot Mobile Medical Apps -- InformationWeek:

Diabetes Doubles Alzheimer's Risk

People with diabetes are at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke at an early age, but that's not the only worry.

Diabetes appears to dramatically increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia later in life, according to a new study conducted in Japan.

In the study, which included more than 1,000 men and women over age 60, researchers found that people with diabetes were twice as likely as the other study participants to develop Alzheimer's disease within 15 years. They were also 1.75 times more likely to develop dementia of any kind.

Diabetes doubles Alzheimer's risk - CNN.com

Medicaid Vital to Protecting Health for Millions of Americans

Many Americans battle such medical conditions as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, and stroke, but those individuals who rely on Medicaid for their drugs and treatment will face extraordinary health challenges if Congress cuts funding for that program.

"Diabetes has a disproportionate impact on the Medicaid population because Medicaid provides important health coverage to people facing elevated health risks. Children and adults eligible for this valuable program are more likely to be in poor health and thus require the services Medicaid provides to a greater extent than individuals with private insurance," said Gina Gavlak, RN, BSN, Vice Chair of the National Advocacy Committee, American Diabetes Association. "Cuts to Medicaid funding would be harmful to the millions of children, pregnant women, and adults with diabetes who rely on the program to manage their disease and avoid dangerous and costly diabetes complications such as blindness, amputations and kidney dialysis."

Read Full Article at - Medicaid Vital to Protecting Health for Millions of Americans

Lilly Invests $30 Million For Non-Communicable Diseases

Eli Lilly and Company has announced a $30 million commitment over five years to fight the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in developing nations including India.

The first phase of The Lilly NCD partnership will focus on improving diabetes care in targeted communities in Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa. The partnership will focus on diabetes and, over time, cancer – two core business areas in which Lilly has deep expertise.

Pharmabiz :: Lilly to invest $30 mn to address non-communicable diseases in countries including India:

Blue Monument Challenge - World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day - 50 days to go til Nov 14, 2011

The 2011 edition of the Blue Monument Challenge, one of the main campaign initiatives aimed at attracting the general public's attention to the global diabetes epidemic, continues to gather momentum.

Here are the latest monuments and buildings around the world that have confirmed that they will be lighting in blue in November:

• Arco de la Calzada, Guanajuato A.C., Ciudad de León, Mexico

• Century Tower, Florida, USA

• Havering Town Hall, Romford, Essex, UK

• Jet d'Eau, Geneva, Switzerland

• Manas Statue, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

• La Techada, Capilla del Monte, Argentina

• Soldiers and  Sailors Monument, Indianapolis, USA

• Texas Diabetes Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

This year the International Diabetes Federation is encouraging blue lighting's to be associated with the promotion of the International Diabetes Federation's International Charter for the Rights and Responsibilities of People with Diabetes - a landmark document aimed at stopping all discrimination that people living with diabetes currently face.

If you succeed in confirming a blue lighting, make sure to send all the details to wdd@idf.org. A full list of confirmed lighting's will shortly be available on www.worlddiabetesday.org

Getting the Word out About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer affecting men, with about 241,000 men estimated to be diagnosed in the United States each year. Another 33,720 men will die from the disease, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society.

Getting the word out about prostate cancer

African-Americans Get Higher Blood Pressure Sooner

African-Americans who have slightly elevated blood pressure and don't do anything to change their lifestyle are more likely to have high blood pressure one year earlier than whites with pre-hypertension, according to a study published Monday.

Blood pressure numbers between 120-139 systolic (upper number) or 80-89 diastolic (lower number) are considered pre-hypertension. High blood pressure is defined as 140/90 mm Hg and greater.

Previous studies have shown that blacks have higher rates of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), heart disease and stroke compared to whites. This new study says African-Americans with pre-hypertension are more likely to progress to having high blood pressure compared to whites in the same situation, suggesting the need for earlier interventions among black patients to potentially eliminate the disparities between races for hypertension.

African-Americans get higher blood pressure sooner – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs:

How Long You Are Overweight Affects Diabetes Risk

Being obese might increase the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes, but the true risk factors may lie in how much overweight someone is and how long they've been that way.

Much like figuring how numbers of cigarettes smoked and years of smoking relate to lung cancer risk, researchers set out to see how degree and length of obesity factored into the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.

They looked at data on 8,157 teens and young adults who were 14 to 21 years old at the start of a national study. Participants self-reported their height and weight and diabetes condition from 1981 to 2006.

Excess BMI (body mass index)-years - which researchers likened to smoking-pack years - were calculated by determining to what degree people were over a certain body mass index, and for how long. A BMI of 25, considered overweight, was used as a reference.

Read more: 

UN to Plot Strategy against Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease

Later this month (9/19-20), the U.N. hosts the High-level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

The goal is to find strategies to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from chronic disease.


However, some observers say big industry is trying to influence policy and derail the meeting.

READ MORE: UN to Plot Strategy against Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease

Hospital Workers Outspend Others on Medical Careltimoresun.com

Hospital employees spend 10% more on healthcare, consume more medical services, and are generally sicker than the rest of the U.S. workforce, according to a study released on Monday.

The cost difference was even greater when dependents were taken into account, with healthcare costs 13% higher, including medical care and prescription drugs.

Hospital workers outspend others on medical care - baltimoresun.com:

Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes

Based on the award winning Bloodsugar101.com web site, this book explains what peer-reviewed research published in top medical journals has to say about:

• What is a normal blood sugar?

• How does diabetes develop?

• What really causes diabetes?

• What blood sugar levels cause complications?

• Must you deteriorate?

• What diet is right for you?

• How can you make that diet work?

• What medications are safe?

• What supplements lower blood sugar?

Written in clear and understandable language, this book provides all the tools needed to understand how blood sugar works and achieve blood sugar health.

Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes:

Motivate Those Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes

"Simple Inspirations," a new contest, sponsored by Bayer HealthCare, challenges people living with diabetes to motivate newly diagnosed patients by sharing their most inspirational thoughts about living with the disease.

The goal of the contest is to enrich the lives of everyone who has diabetes - regardless of how long they've been diagnosed - and to demonstrate that people with diabetes can live a full and engaged life by effectively managing their condition.

One grand prize winner will meet international singing sensation Nick Jonas at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Los Angeles Walk to Cure Diabetes. The winner will also appear in a video with Nick to be launched on November 14, 2011 -- World Diabetes Day. No purchase is necessary or required to claim a prize.

Nick Jonas and Bayer HealthCare Announce "Simple Inspirations" Contest to Motivate and Support Those Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes

Minority Organ Donations Insufficient to Meet Transplant Need

Minorities only account for only 25% of all organ donors, which reduces the likelihood of a match 

Minorities make up about half of all people on transplant waiting lists, according to National Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program, a Washington-based education and advocacy group.

"In minority communities, there is a high risk of diabetes, hypertension and certain genetic disorders that often cause people to need transplants. But there is strong resistance to being an organ donor -  for a number of reasons," said Lisa Upsher, program director of the Center for Organ Recovery and Education, or CORE, which will sponsor a conference on Sept. 15 about minority transplants.

Read more: Minority organ donations insufficient to meet transplant need - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Black Barbershop Outreach Program - Men's Health

The Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation launched The Black Barbershop Outreach Program in December 2007 to address the at-risk African American male population throughout the country for cardiovascular disease. During the program volunteers have measured blood pressures and screened for diabetes in over 38 cities across the country

Black owned barbershops represent a cultural institution that regularly attracts large numbers of black men and provides an environment of trust and an avenue to disseminate health education information.


Black Barbershop Outreach Program | Men's Health

Sugar Consumption

It's no surprise to any of us that over half of Americans consume so many sugary drinks on any given day

Half of all Americans aged 2 and older consume sugary drinks on any given day and at least 25% of Americans drink the caloric equivalent of more than one can of soda a day, according to a new report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Consumption of sugar drinks in the United States has increased over the past 30 years among both children and adults," wrote the report's authors, led by Cynthia Ogden of CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

Most people drink their sugary beverages - defined as fruit drinks, sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks and sweetened bottled waters - in their own home and purchase them in stores. About 36% of sugar drinks are consumed in restaurants and fast food establishments. Children drink only 2% of these beverages in schools or day care centers.

Perhaps our problem with sugar consumption results from reading articles like this - Eating Chocolate is Good for the Heart 

As a "Diabetic" this picture is making me crave chocolate - and while this is NOT good for my sugar levels, it must be good for my heart - at least according to the article -

A recent finding, that is sure to delight many of us with a sweet tooth, claims that high levels of chocolate consumption may be associated with a 33% decrease in the risk of developing heart disease.

While other factors are much more important for a healthy heart, such as exercise and proper dieting, this finding gives a nice reprieve to chocoholics.

Boosting Diabetic Care Through Electronic Medical Records

New research suggests that using electronic medical records instead of paper files could greatly improve care for diabetic patients by boosting communication.
Converting to electronic records may seem like a slam dunk when it comes to patient care. Proponents say they make it easier for doctors to communicate with patients and with one another.

The records are also supposed to cut down on medical errors by doing things like providing warnings about medication allergies.

The Obama Administration is so confident that a move to e-records will improve care and cut costs that it made the shift a key part of health care reform efforts.

Still, doctors seem slow to adopt the technology:
A HealthDay/Harris Interactive Poll conducted a year ago found that fewer than 1 in 10 adults used email to communicate with their physician.

Continue reading at USNews Health

Diabetic woman pleads not guilty in fatal crash

 Letting your blood sugar get  too low can harm you and others

 A 71-year old woman accused of crashing into a bus stop in City Heights, killing a young mother and injuring her boyfriend and their 4-year-old son, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter.

Prosecutors contend that she suffers from diabetes, experienced a bout of extremely low blood sugar and lost control of the vehicle she was driving

 View this article

Obesity Ranks Low on List Parents Think Warrant Medical Attention

Parents need help connecting the dots between having an overweight child and what their future health consequences may be . . .


A new survey released today by Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City shows more parents would find it "very important" to seek medical care for a child with diabetes symptoms (81%), asthma (80%) or a learning disability (74%) - BUT only 54% of parents feel the same approach is needed for a child who is overweight.

Read full article 

Dentists Can Identify People with Undiagnosed Diabetes

Periodontal disease is an early complication of diabetes, and about 70 percent of U.S. adults see a dentist at least once a year

The study unveiled that a simple algorithm composed of two dental parameters, (which are the number of missing teeth and percentage of deep periodontal pockets) was "effective in identifying patients with unrecognized pre-diabetes or diabetes."

Dentists Can Identify People with Undiagnosed Diabetes

Study: Too Much Salt Can Bring on Dementia

How much is too much salt? 

According to government health guidelines, if you're age 51+ or you are African American, have kidney issues or you're diabetic, you should have no more than a half teaspoon -- or 1500 mg -- of salt each day.

That applies to about half our population. If you're in the other half your limit is supposed to be 2300 mg of salt per day, or about one teaspoon.

Too much salt and too little exercise is hard on the heart, but the new research suggests it can be hard on the brain, too. A three-year study of more than 1,200 people has linked a salty diet and sedentary lifestyle to cognitive decline in old age.

Read Study: Too Much Salt Can Bring on Dementia

Type 2 Diabetes Patients Face Cancer Risk

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition, which occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin.

An 11-year study of almost 1300 people with type 2 diabetes found for the first time that both men and women with the condition faced an increased risk for all types of cancer.

However the finding that most alarmed researchers was that men aged 55 to 84 with type 2 diabetes were nearly twice as likely to develop bowel cancer as their healthy peers.

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Diabetics Monitor Blood Sugar Through Sweat

Norwegian researchers have developed a new test that checks a person's sweat to monitor blood sugar levels!

The sweat meter can be attached to a smartphone. The phone can then alert patients when their blood sugar is getting low.

Find out more . . . 

Hacker finds flaw in insulin device - Health - ReviewJournal.com

Hacker finds flaw in insulin device - Health - ReviewJournal.com

WEIGHT LOSS FOR DIABETICS

Eating Healthy with my Diabetes Store Tour — New Lenox news, photos and events — TribLocal.com

Eating Healthy Diabetes Store Tour - JEWEL-OSCO stores are holding free "Eating Healthy with my Diabetes" store tours now through December for those with diabetes, and others that want to prevent it.

Lack Of Sleep Can Cause High Blood Pressure

A lack of deep sleep may be one of the reasons why people develop high blood pressure.

A study of older men published Monday found that those who got the least amount of deep sleep were 80% more likely to develop high blood pressure, compared to those who got longer, less interrupted sleep.

Read more

Is a Diabetes Cure in Sight?

Learn more about the push for a cure in the September issue of Diabetes Forecast along with these exciting features and information-filled articles: 

A Fresh Voice: American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox not only learned how to wow the judges during the reality show's ninth season, but she also discovered the importance of diabetes control. Diabetes Forecast catches up with Bowersox about her struggles of living with diabetes while going through the American Idol experience, how she learned about better managing her health and her desire to spread hope about diabetes through music. 

The Problem of Pounds: As waistlines continue to grow across the country, Diabetes Forecast explores the basics of obesity and its causes. Discover the proven ways to lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight, lowering your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Change is never easy, but Diabetes Forecast gives you advice on how you can get down to size and lead a longer, healthier life.

A Dose of TLC: Some of our fondest food memories come from the foods that bind us together: comfort foods. Take a tour around the world and discover the foundation of great cooking with Diabetes Forecast Food Editor Robyn Webb's new cookbook, The Diabetes Comfort Food Cookbook. It's full of recipes that strike the perfect balance between what you need to eat for good health and what will make your taste buds dance with delight.

Smart Snacking: Snacking doesn't have to be a bad thing, and it certainly doesn't have to be associated with junk food. In fact, smart snacking can help with weight loss and keep your blood glucose steady. Diabetes Forecast has the healthy, grab-and-go snacks you need, including deviled eggs and fun popcorn recipes, for anytime you want to fill up on fewer calories. 

Read More

Heart Disease, Diabetes and Stroke: More Chocolate, Less Risk? - ABC News

Heart Disease, Diabetes and Stroke: More Chocolate, Less Risk? - ABC News