Diabetic Retinopathy Leading Cause of New-Onset Blindness in U.S. Adults

Although some people may not feel they need eye care, 

most early eye disease has no signs or symptoms 

Photo Credit: US News & Health

Following recommended exam schedules detects and promotes treatment of diabetic eye disease and cuts the occurrence of severe vision loss by half or more, and early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy reduces vision loss by up to 60%. Half of adult patients with diabetes do not have annual eye care, however. 

The most common reasons for skipping eye care given by individuals are that they do not feel they need it or they cannot afford it.

Medicare covers a yearly exam for diabetic neuropathy, and many individuals now have vision coverage through their health insurance. Patients with health insurance are more likely to have recommended eye exams. Lack of insurance increases the probability of eye problems. Uninsured and lowincome individuals are the patients most likely to cite cost as a reason for not seeking care, but even without insurance, dilated eye exams have low upfront costs, reduce patients’ overall costs and increase quality of life.

Read full article at US News & Health 

James Earl Jones Breaks Silence On Diabetes Journey

James Earl Jones is moving to the front lines of America’s ongoing diabetes epidemic.

Photo Credit: Huffington Post 

The award-winning actor has teamed up with Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, to help Americans manage their type 2 diabetes via ICanImagine.com. Through the site, visitors can take an interactive quiz to discover behavioral traits that can help them take control of their condition. 

For Jones, living with the chronic disease — which affects the way the body processes blood sugar — for over 20 years was a leading factor to share his personal testimony publicly for the first time.

“I’m aware of the mission we all have of living well with it. I will always be a diabetic, but there is a way to live well with it, there’s a way to live with it so I can keep working,” Jones said during an interview with The Huffington Post. “I’m 85, but I can still work. I can still do eight [Broadway] shows a week in theater. And I love that. I love still being active in my life. But it’s more important that I address diabetes, because I will always be a diabetic.”


Continue reading at Huffington Post

Radio/TV Personality Doug Banks Died From Complications with Diabetes

Doug lost a toe to the disease, as well as an eye, and was on dialysis. After a few months off the air last year, he returned early this year. Banks is survived by his wife and four children.

Diabetic Fluffy Key Lime Pie Recipe

Fluffy Key Lime Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. + chilling MAKES: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 package (.3 ounce) sugar-free lime gelatin
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 cartons (6 ounces each) Key lime yogurt
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
• 1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (8 inches)

Directions
1. In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Whisk in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust.
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set. Yield: 8 servings.


Nutritional Facts
1 piece equals 194 calories, 3 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 2 mg cholesterol, 159 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate, 0 fiber, 3 g protein. 

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat.


Recipe Source: Taste of Home

Diabetic Carrot Cake Recipe

Here's what you will need:

• Butter-flavored cooking spray
• 2 large egg whites, at room temperature (you can put the eggs in warm water for 10-15 minutes, or you can leave them out for an hour or so)
• ½ cup fat-free plain yogurt
• 3 tbsp canola oil
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt (optional)
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 4 oz unsweetened crushed pineapple with juice
• ¼ cup dark raisins  

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Lightly coat a 9 x 13 cake pan with cooking spray. Dust with flour and tap out excess.
3. Whisk together egg whites, yogurt, canola oil, applesauce, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt (if you’re using it), nutmeg, and cinnamon.
5. In 3 parts, add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stirring until just incorporated (don’t over-mix).
6. Mix in the shredded carrots.
7. Drain the juice from the pineapple. (If you want, you can keep the juice—makes a nice drink.) Stir the drained pineapple and raisins into the cake batter.
8. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon.
9. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a tester (a knife or a toothpick) inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Slide a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake. Invert onto the rack to cool completely. When the cake has cooled, you can frost it, if you want. NOTE: Cake Only:  If you frost this, the nutritional info will change (of course).

Nutritional Info (Per Serving)
103 calories (20% calories from fat)
3g protein
2g total fat (0.2g saturated fat)
19g carbohydrate
1g dietary fiber
123mg sodium

Diabetic Exchanges
1½ carbohydrate (1½ bread/starch)


Photo and Recipe Source: Endocrine Web

Drugs in the Drinking Water? Don't Ask and Officials Won't Tell

The sheer number of Americans taking drugs is one reason drugs in the water are a problem - 60% of Americans now take prescription drugs




When it comes to pharmaceuticals in the water supply, both drug industry and water treatment professionals say traces are so small they probably pose no public health risk. YET they also admit that testing has begun so recently that no one really knows the long-term effects.

"There's no doubt about it, pharmaceuticals are being detected in the environment and there is genuine concern that these compounds, in the small concentrations that they're at, could be causing impacts to human health or to aquatic organisms," noted Mary Buzby, director of environmental technology for Merck.

And the problem has only grown worse . . .  
By 2008, the Associated Press reported that 46 million Americans were drinking water containing psychiatric, cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, heart and pain drugs as well as antibiotics.

Read the full article here

Health Benefit of Mangos for Diabetics

Photo Credit: Care2

Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. 

Another important health benefit is with Diabetes
Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood. The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also has a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.

Read about the 10 Health Benefits of Mangos
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-mangos.html

Type 2 Diabetes Infographic

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and the disease often develops in stages, starting as pre-diabetes or insulin resistance. 

People with pre-diabetes have elevated blood glucose (sugar), but it isn’t high enough to be classified as diabetes.

Source: Houston Methodist Org Blog

Not All Stevia Is Created Equal!

Did you know there are (3) main categories?

1. Green Leaf Stevia
This is the least processed of all types of stevia and the leaves have basically been dried and ground into powder form.  This is the type of stevia that has been used in Japan and South America for centuries as a natural sweetener and health remedy.  This stevia is sweet, slightly bitter and isn’t quite as potent as most stevia products.  This type of stevia is about 30-40 times sweeter than sugar.

2. Stevia Extracts
Some brands of stevia today extract the sweeter and less bitter part of the stevia leaf (rebaudioside) which doesn’t have the health benefits found in stevioside.  This type of stevia may be a better option than other regular sweeteners but there aren’t many studies available yet showing it’s effects. This type of stevia is about 200 times sweeter than sugar.

3. Altered Stevia and Truvia
This is the type of stevia that you want to stay away from and in reality isn’t stevia at all.  The problem with these stevia products is the processing and added ingredients.

Read the full article here, and learn more about stevia and the side effects
http://draxe.com/stevia-side-effects/

Make the Perfect Diabetic Friendly Smoothie

Love to start my morning with an easy to make smoothie, and I always include protein powder . . . 

Infographic Credit - Diabetic Connect