NBA Great Earl Monroe Raising Diabetes Awareness

Earl Monroe will never forget that day in 1998.

The NBA Hall of Famer and South Philadelphia native hadn't been feeling well for a few months. He was sweating while sitting on the couch in his air-conditioned house. He was hungry even after eating big meals.

So after urging from friends and family, Monroe met with his doctor, who gave Monroe what he took to be a death sentence - 18 years after dazzling crowds with his ballhandling, Monroe was told he had Type 2 diabetes.

Read more at Philly.com Sports 
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African Americans Hit by Lack of Living Kidney Donations

Kidney failure is at an epidemic level in part because it is linked to the obesity epidemic

At every transplant center in the nation, African Americans are the least likely to receive a kidney from a living organ donor.

Research published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, used data gathered from all 275 transplant centers in the U.S., and showed that those facilities serving predominantly African American populations had even higher rates of living donor transplant disparities.


Read more Study: African Americans Hit by Lack of Living Kidney Donations

One Cause of Fatty Deposits in the Hearts of Diabetes Patients Settled

Reading newsletter from US Wellness Meats, and ran across this article . . . Charles

The impaired substrate metabolism of diabetes patients is often expressed in an increase in fatty deposits in the cells of the heart muscle. Until now, the exact cause of this was unknown.

Now, researchers at the MedUni Vienna in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of MedUni Vienna in cooperation with the MR Centre of Excellence Vienna have shown that high blood sugar in combination with high levels of insulin - not an influx of fats - results in such deposits within a few hours. This could form the basis for even more heart-friendly treatments of diabetes patients, especially in the early stages of the disease.

In the study, published in the respected American journal Diabetes, 18 healthy women and men were given a large amount of grape sugar intravenously. "Within as few as six hours, the glucose already caused clearly visible fatty deposits in the heart. The injection of grape sugar, in combination with the release of insulin caused by the sugar, resulted in an overexertion of the heart's metabolism", said the study's director, Michael Krebs of the University Department of Internal Medicine III. This proves that fatty deposits can occur without the direct influx of fats.

This was made visible for the first time using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. "This method makes it possible to observe the beating heart, not only as it works, but non-invasively and without ionizing radiation as it metabolizes energy", explained Martin Krssak (University Department of Internal Medicine III).

In Austria alone, around 500,000 people are affected by diabetes. "The first diagnosis usually occurs by accident and on average five years too late", said Krebs. Most patients with diabetes die of heart diseases. "Our data show that the foundation for damage can be laid early on, especially in patients with high blood sugar and hyperinsulinemia - an elevated insulin level - during prediabetes and early diabetes." Building on these new findings in relation to elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and hyperinsulinemia, MedUni Vienna is conducting studies that should help to make the treatment of diabetes patients even more heart-friendly.


Resource:
Medical University of Vienna. "One cause of fatty deposits in the hearts of diabetes patients settled." ScienceDaily, 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 May 2012.

Source: US Wellness Meats Newsletter - http://www.grasslandbeef.com/StoreFront.bok

Addressing Health Care Disparities for Racial, Ethnic Minorities Takes Commitment

Racial and ethnic disparities in health care show up in many ways, say West Michigan health care leaders:

• High rates of tuberculosis and alcoholism among American Indian men
• A low rate of health insurance for Latinos, regardless of income level
• A lack of data breaking down health care outcomes for minorities

Addressing health care disparities for racial, ethnic minorities takes community commitment, speakers say | MLive.com

Diabetes Foot Care Video

It is important for you to care for your feet, so a cut or sore doesn't get infected and lead to amputation





More health related videos at www.clearlyhealth.com

Diabetics Must Keep Their Sights on Vision Health

Did you Know? - Diabetics are 25 times more likely to become blind than those who do not have diabetes. And the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to get a diabetes-related eye disease. Blindness caused by diabetes is highest among African-Americans and Latinos.

If you have diabetes, you should have an overall eye exam each year. You could have a diabetes-related eye disease and not know it.

Diabetes-related eye diseases include:

• retinopathy
• cataract
• vision fluctuation
• double vision

Why should diabetics have an annual eye exam?

Pupil dilation is the only way to tell if you have a diabetes-related eye disease. This exam can find eye problems caused by chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure (hypertension).

For some people, an eye disease is one of the first signs that they have diabetes. Many times there are no early warning signs or symptoms. In fact, most people do not realize that their vision is slowly getting worse. Finding and treating diabetes-related eye diseases early can prevent vision loss 95 percent of the time.

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Diabetes Decoder - Restaurant Foods To Avoid

Menus can be daunting . . . 

And when you have a health concern like prediabetes or diabetes, it can be even trickier to pick the right dish.

To help figure out if your dinner out is diabetes friendly, chef Sam Talbot, author of The Sweet Life: Diabetes without Boundaries picks out some common red flag words found on menus.

Here, in his words, 21 menu items to watch out for - and what to eat instead.

Head over to Yahoo Health for the 21 menu items 

Sonas PSA: The Link Between Hearing Loss and Diabetes

Sonus, a national strategic partner of the American Diabetes Association, has launched a PSA initiative to inform individuals of the link between hearing loss and diabetes.



The connection stems from solid research including a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, stating hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease.

Read more at Diabetes Mine - The 411 on Diabetes and Hearing Loss

The New Face of Diabetes Forecast

The June issue of Diabetes Forecast is all new -- with a modern, fresh look and a sharp focus on diabetes. 

Diabetes Forecast, a publication of the American Diabetes Association, is the country's premier magazine about diabetes. 


The new Diabetes Forecast will place a spotlight on the diabetes self-care behaviors: Healthy eating, Physical activity, Medication, Monitoring, Problem solving, Coping and risk reduction. 


From food tips to fitness recommendations to the latest developments in research, Diabetes Forecast provides people living with diabetes, and their families, the information and encouragement needed to lead healthier lives.

Read More The New Face of Diabetes Forecast

Dribble to Stop Diabetes

The NBA encourages basketball fans to live an active, healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about diabetes prevention and management. 

NBA/WNBA FIT, the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League are teaming up with Sanofi US and the American Diabetes Association in a strategic alliance to create awareness for this disease. We will work to promote the importance of healthy, active lifestyles, as well as diabetes awareness, prevention and management through a new campaign, Dribble to Stop Diabetes.



Ambassadors for the campaign include Carlos Boozer of the Chicago Bulls, Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever, NBA Legend Bob Lanier and New Jersey Nets Head Coach Avery Johnson. -- all of whom have personal connections with diabetes either through their own struggle or that of a family member.

More info
http://www.nba.com/nbafit/stopdiabetes/