Asian American Diabetes Initiative

Chefs Ming Tsai and Joanne Chang prepare diabetes-friendly meals

Photo Credit: Shannon Kelley Felton via Metro US

This week, the Joslin Diabetes Center’s annual tasting event gathered chefs such as Joanne Chang and Ming Tsai to benefit the center’s Asian American Diabetes Initiative, which aims to promote awareness of the greater diabetes risks for people of Asian descent.

“Regardless of whether you are East Asian or South, we see a greater risk of diabetes at a lower body mass index,” says Karen Lau, head of the initiative. “The usual BMI for diabetes risk is around 25%, but we see it at 23% for Asians. That small percentage is a greatly increased risk, and it’s more likely to go undetected.”

But regardless of ethnicity, Lau says a diabetic-friendly diet can prevent the condition: “Healthy eating is for everyone. A family can struggle with a different diet for a diabetic member, but a healthy diet is healthy for the whole family.”

 Lau's diabetic-friendly diet tips:

Brown carbs vs. white carbs  “What affects blood glucose most are carbs, and certain types of carbs,” she says. “Simple carbs — like white flour and white rice — are bad, while complex carbs like brown bread and brown rice are better. Complex carbs have higher fiber, which helps stabilize blood glucose levels.”

Fat counts  “Often times, a high-fat diet is not good for blood glucose. Fats increase insulin resistance too. So the amount of dietary fat has to be controlled.”

Lose the salt  “Watching salt intake is important,” Lau adds. “The dietary guideline for the general population is 2,300 mg of sodium a day. That’s about one teaspoon. People with diabetes should have less than 1,500 mg. Use spices, garlic, scallions and onion to bring out flavor instead.”

Portion control “There’s a greater risk of diabetes if you’re overweight. But as we see with the Asian population, a thin person can be at risk. Even eating too many complex carbs will increase blood glucose. Too much of a good thing can be bad.”

Watch the sugar  “It’s a common misconception that sugar causes diabetes,” Lau says, “but it still should be limited. Look at product labels and watch out for foods which have sugar or high fructose corn syrup at the top of the list.”

Nutritionists at the Joslin Diabetes Center approved these two recipes from Ming Tsai and Joanne Chang as diabetes-friendly  - Chicken-Onion Meatloaf with Sambal-Worcestershire Gravy and Joanne Chang’s Thai Ginger Chicken Salad

Click here, and scroll down for recipes

Diabetes and American Indians

Wouldn’t it be great if fighting diabetes was as simple as eating better and taking medication? But it’s not that easy, particularly among American Indians, who have the highest prevalence of the disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Indians have a 17% incidence rate of diabetes, the highest among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Mugur Geana, associate professor of journalism and director of the Center for Excellence in Health Communication to Underserved Populations at The University of Kansas, is the principal investigator for a study that will use a web application to deliver tailored health information about best practices in diabetes management to two American Indian communities in Kansas: Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation in Kansas and the Iowa tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.

The web application was developed by Geana, according to a news release. The grant is funded by the Center for Diabetes Translation Research from the Washington University in St. Louis.

View full article

Diabetes Myths, Risks and Life Saving Tips

The problem with diabetes is that people don't understand it. It often shows up unannounced. The symptoms aren't too obvious. And millions of people who have it don't even know it - yet . . . 

By the time diabetes is diagnosed, damage is being done in the body to the heart, eyes and nerves.

Happily, diabetes can be detected early with a simple blood test. It can be prevented or delayed with smart eating habits. And it can be managed on a daily basis with medications and diet. That's the good news.

But here's the alarming news: Six million Americans have diabetes and don't know it - yet, according to Shawn Murphy, executive director of the American Diabetes Association serving Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.

“Diabetes just doesn't show up like a heart attack or stroke, and it can't be found on an x-ray,” she said.

Even more startling, 57 million of us are in a condition known as prediabetes, meaning we're on the brink of developing diabetes right now.

“One of every three people born after 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime,” said Murphy, “and among minorities, one of every two will (referring to the higher risk for Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans, among others).”

The Biggest Myth about Diabetes continue reading

Baldo Comic Strip Illustrate Diabetes Epidemic

A nationally syndicated comic strip, Baldo, is joining the Caller-Times as it takes a look at the Coastal Bend's diabetes epidemic.

The comic strip's co-creators, Hector Cantú and Carlos Castellanos, offered to provide Baldo characters and archived content to help illustrate the series, which starts today, after learning of the newspaper's plan to commit the next year toward exploring diabetes in the Coastal Bend.

The Baldo strip, which appears in more than 200 papers nationally, including the Caller-Times, features a Hispanic teen named Baldo Bermudez and his family members.

Full article at Caller.com

Less Calories and Salt Helps Fight Diabetic Retinopathy

Eating less calories, salt helps fight diabetic retinopathy

 A study in Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that eating less calories may help reduce risk of diabetic retinopathy in African-American people with Type 1 diabetes or prevent the progression of the disease.

The study found baseline total calorie intake was significantly associated with 6 year incidence of vision threatening diabetic retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes patients, either proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, and the incidence of severe hard exudates.

For the study, African American patients were followed up for six years and dietary information was surveyed at baseline.

Petrochemicals in the Body

There were so many visitors to our last blog posting about Women, Blacks and Hispanics Diabetics Linked to Plastic Chemicals, I decided to post additional information about how to protect yourself and your family. We can't get away from "plastics" and "chemicals" - but we can at least know what is harmful - Charles

The Petrochemical Industry has provided us with  valuable medical and much needed industrial products, however petrochemicals are also dangerous - depending on their use. 

Do you know that Petrochemicals are found in most food products, our water, household cleaning products, personal care products, household furnishings, and even children's toys? 

These petrochemicals CAN be absorbed through the skin and scalp, and then human organs and tissues - and over time these chemical agents can lead to nerve, liver and brain damage, birth defects, acute asthma, and cancer - Shocking, but true.

There are more than 80,000 chemicals in use today - far more than we humanly know how to categorize, and more than we know what to do with. More important, we have no idea of the effects on the human body, or the effect on our environment of  90% of these chemical compounds.

Chemicals are released into the air, water and ground. These chemical releases can severely affect human life and the environment. In this case, we cannot talk about one without the other. We all breathe the air, drink the water, and much of our food comes from the ground, and water.

So Where Do We Start?

You may find toxins almost anywhere in your home, but some of the important places to consider eliminating toxic substances are:

• Household Cleaning Products
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Water
• Personal Care Products
• Home Furnishings

Household Cleaning Products

When you use toxic cleaners, the chemicals stay in the air for hours, even days, and you and your family breathe them into your body. The residue left behind by these chemicals are also toxic to anyone who touches or uses the surface where the chemical residue is left.

Now, to further complicate this toxic problem, when you use additional chemicals on these surfaces, the combination of chemicals can actually create another toxic compound.

It is advisable to get fresh air into your home as much as possible to disburse these chemical agents, and look for cleaning products that are natural and made from non toxic ingredients.

Experts say the average household contains anywhere from 3-25 gallons of toxic materials, most of which are in cleaning products. There is no government law that requires manufacturers of cleaning products to list ingredients on their labels, or to test their products for safety.

So, it's up to you, to choose your cleaning products wisely.

When you buy new cleaning products, look for manufacturers who list the natural ingredients on the label. Also you should purchase products that contain non-petroleum-basedchlorine and phosphate free surfactants, products that are , and products that claim to be "non-toxic" and products that are biodegradable.

A note of caution: some cleaners may advertise that they are "environmentally sound" but will fail to provide a full list of ingredients. In looking for products, make sure you can read the list of ingredients.

Some products are marketed as non-toxic and natural, but do not list the natural ingredients. Remember, the manufacturer that gives you the most information about its product is usually the manufacturer you can trust.

While these chemicals have been used for years to clean homes and offices, studies now show that these chemicals have an adverse effect on humans. We've become used to reading the words "Danger, Toxic, Warning or Poison" on the back label of cleaning products, but never considered the risk to our health if we used these products "safely".

Well this was yesterday, but today we know these chemicals produce toxic fumes and leave toxic residues throughout our home no matter how "safely" we use them.  

Safe Food and Drink

Purchasing organic food, and growing your own vegetables is the safest way to reduce the amount of toxin in your food intake.

Frozen products and canned foods contain petrochemicals. Fruits and vegetables (which are supposed to be food for you) are highly contaminated with petrochemicals used in fertilizers, pest control and petrochemical solutions that "make" your fruit look better - as in "shiny".

Since our government has not taken the problem of food safety seriously, it will be up to the American people to demand safe food, free of pesticides and petrochemicals.

Water is another big safety issue. Tap water is treated with chlorine or chlorine dioxide. These two petrochemicals can form into chloroform, which is linked to liver, nervous system damage and kidney failure.

Bottled water has become a billion dollar operation, however buying bottled water is not assurance the water is free from harmful chemicals.

Aspartame - Artificial sweetners such as Nutra Sweet and Equal both contain phenylalanine and methanol, and should be avoided. Splenda (sucralose) is marketed as natural because it is made from sugar. It starts out as sugar, but winds up as an artificial, synthetic product. The structure of sugar is changed chemically by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups.

These product types are also used in many of the diet soft drinks, and thousands of other "diet" or low carb products.

Personal Care Products

Every bathroom cabinet in America is full of chemical compounds, and other harmful synthetic substances.

Once again, the federal government does not require companies to provide a full disclosure on what chemicals are used to make personal care products.

Your mouth wash, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and other hygiene products contain a wide variety of chemical compounds and synthetic substances - all petroleum based. Since consumers are not allowed to know the chemical make up of these products, you obviously have no idea what harmful chemicals you apply to your body on a daily basis.

While many natural products on the market may be higher in cost, they are the choice for those who take their health, and their families health seriously.

When choosing natural products, the best products contain a list of the ingredients - and these ingredients will have familiar names - unlike the 20 or more letter ingredients that most of us cannot pronounce.

For example, many natural soaps contain olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and organic botanical extracts.

Females need to be aware that tampons are made from rayon (highly chlorine-bleached wood pulp) and/or low-grade cotton, which has often been grown overseas and has been treated with DDT. Many tampons are subjected to chlorine-based bleaching. Women should consider switching to sanitary pads that are non-chlorine beached rather than tampons.

Non permanent Hair Dye contains a combination of peroxide and ammonia, which has been proven to damage and alter the molecular structure of hair, and can cause allergic reactions. Permanent dyes contain tiny amounts of coal tar, which is a harmful petrochemical for the body.

The quest to have "brighter" clothes has brought about Optical Brighteners, also called optical bleaches or fluorescent whitening agents. This is a group of colorless, fluorescent chemicals that absorb ultraviolet light and emit it back as visible blue light. The blue light actually masks the yellowing, and makes it appear brighter and whiter.

Optical Brighteners have been a marketing genius for companies that manufacture detergents, however in reality they are simply a "special effect", and your clothes are not cleaner, nor are they brighter or whiter.

Optical Brighteners stay on your clothes, and can produce skin reactions, and irritation to any part of your body. As for the environment, the chemicals are toxic to fish, and over time scientist state these chemicals can actually mutate bacteria. Optical Brighteners are also non-biodegradable, and once they get into the ground or water, they stay.

Home Furnishings

While energy efficient homes save money on utilities, these tightly constructed homes, schools and business buildings do not allow the flow of fresh air. In these air tight environments, chemical fumes from paint, stains, furniture, cleaning products, and other materials create a toxic environment.

While we are all concerned about the breathing quality of the outside air, recent studies show the air in the average homes is 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside.

Older homes that were built before 1980 have their own particular toxic problems - lead paint on the walls and woodwork. In an older home that has lead paint, just opening and closing doors and windows can release fine lead particles into the air, and when remodeling an older home, more of these dangerous particles get into the air, and home furnishings.

When the Consumer Products Safety Commission studied air pollution, it found that outdoor air contained an average of less than 10 volatile organic compounds (or VOCs-a type of airborne pollutant) while indoor air contained approximately 150.1 VOC's.

Carpet is one of the most toxic elements in our homes. The carpet backing is made of toxic petrochemicals, the pad is toxic, and the glue is also toxic. These chemicals are especially harmful to small children, who spend time playing on carpeted floors, and also household pets.

When choosing a company to clean your carpet, be aware many of the companies use harmful petrochemicals, and the fragrance to disguise the chemical order is also toxic. Search for companies who do not use these products.

How about the furniture in your home? Well, furniture made from plywood or particle board are treated with formaldehyde and can emit toxic fumes in your home for up to five years after purchase.

The cushions on your couch and chairs are made from polyurethane plastic and are covered in acrylic, polyester or polyvinyl chloride - more toxins.

Your children's toys are not exempt from toxins. Toxic plastic toys are made of poly vinyl chloride (PVC). In order to keep the plastic flexible and soft, the use of the chemical phthalates is used. This chemical emits toxic fumes that are inhaled by children, as well as ingested when children put these toys in their mouths. Even the infamous Barbie doll is made of PVC.

Another cause of concern are games and puzzles that contain mercury beads. Mercury is extremely poisonous, can be absorbed through the skin, and lead to death.

According to Greenpeace, children are exposed to a variety of these plasticizers via vinyl childcare products like toys. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has requested that toy manufacturers cease using polyvinyl chloride, however many PVC toys still remain on the market.

What Can You Do To Decrease Toxins in Your Body & Home?

• As mentioned above, you should have as much fresh air circulating through your home as possible.
• Only use paints and stains that are low VOC, and avoid spray paint entirely. One example of a good low VOC paint is Benjamin Moore Eco Spec - ask around for other low VOC paints. 
• Purchase furniture that have whole wood frames, along with cotton and wool cushions
• If you dry clean your clothes, take them out of the plastic bag, and air out for 3-4 days before bringing into your home. Perc is a toxic chemical used in the dry cleaning process, and it causes damage to the central nervous system, birth defects, and cancer. Initial effects upon breathing Perc is usually headaches and dizziness. 
• When purchasing children's toys, try to find toys made from polyethylene or polypropylene, which are both non-chlorinated. If you are not sure of the chemical make up of a plastic toy, it is best to avoid buying at all, especially in the case of small children and babies. 
• Burn Candles made from beeswax or vegetable wax instead of petroleum based paraffin wax.
• Purchase an Air Purifier, and also a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filer (High Efficiency Particular Air) - both are excellent if you suffer from allergies. 
• Switch to natural household cleaning products
• Purchase fruits and vegetables from as many local merchants as possible, or buy organic fruit and vegetables in the store
• Become pro-active, learn which products to avoid, contact government representatives about your concerns, and be sure to tell your family & friends

Chronic Exposure

The good news is that the majority of people are not normally exposed to large doses of chemicals. Chronic exposure is the term used for exposure to chemical substances at levels significantly below the toxic level.

In other words, we normally do not inhale or ingest enough chemicals to kill us immediately, but instead inhale or ingest enough chemicals that may eventually cause serious health problems, and harmful effects to our environment.

The petrochemical industry is growing by leaps and bounds, and petrochemicals are here to stay. Governments are not requiring full disclosure of petrochemicals in products people use everyday, so it will be up to the people to demand these changes, along with adopting more natural products and foods into their lifestyle.

Also take a look at products made from petroleum YOU use everyday -
Popular Products Made From Petrochemicals



More Information About Petrochemicals 

What Are Petrochemicals?

History of Petrochemicals

Petrochemicals in the Body 

Harmful Petrochemicals 

How Plastic Is Made 

Dangers of DEA - Personal Care Products 



Other Useful Sites


National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides

Pesticide Action Network of North America

A Recipe For Soul Food Sanity

"Good Lord, good meat, c'mon, let's eat!"

That abbreviated grace uttered over a plate of soul food is one of the few laugh lines from New York filmmaker Byron Hurt's (shown at left) new documentary, Soul Food Junkies. 

Scheduled to screen Sunday at the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, Soul Food Junkies is a thoughtful, historical, and personal examination of the unhealthy effects of African American eating habits.

Nationally, nearly half of all African Americans suffer from high blood pressure. In Philadelphia, 20% suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Black children are 15% more likely to be obese than white children.

Mayor Nutter, in his ongoing crusade to make Philadelphia a safer, greener, more active, and healthier place to live, twice proposed a two-cent-an-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages - only to get gulped down by Big Soda.

Read more at philly.com

Women, Blacks and Hispanics Diabetes Linked to Plastic Chemicals

Do you know? Phthalates are added to some cosmetics, perfumes and other personal care products to stabilize colors and fragrances. 

A wide variety of household goods rely on phthalates, including vinyl flooring, adhesives, shower curtains and cosmetics. More than 75% of Americans have phthalates in their urine.

A group of chemicals found in household plastics and medical supplies is linked to higher rates of diabetes in women  - up to double the rate for women with the highest levels, according to new research led by Harvard scientists.

Blacks and Mexican Americans and women living in poverty are exposed to the highest levels of some of these compounds, called phthalates, the scientists reported.

Until now, most phthalate research has focused on reproductive consequences because these compounds seem to disrupt male hormones. Boys exposed to phthalates in the womb had signs of feminized genitalia, which may lead to fertility problems. Researchers also have found neurological effects, including reduced IQs and attention problems in boys.

Black women in the study had more than double the concentrations of DEP, the phthalate in cosmetics, and DBP, the phthalate in adhesives and lacquers that was linked to a double rate of diabetes, when compared with white women.

Mexican-American women had 75% higher concentrations of DEP. Poor women had up to 78% higher levels of BBP - the phthalate in vinyl flooring that was associated with a double rate of diabetes  - than women living above poverty level.

This article has been condensed - Read full article here

Chaka Kahn Goes Vegan To Cure Type 2 Diabetes And High Blood Pressure

Legendary singer Chaka Kahn has been turning heads lately after dropping 60 pounds. 

Her secret?  In a recent interview she says she "went off meat, became vegan, stopped all the dairy, stopped all the meat."

Diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes and high blood pressure, Kahn was put on medication last year which she had to take -- until she decided to change her diet.  She recently adopted her granddaughter and realized she had to be here for the girl, and said this was her main influence to lose weight and get healthy -- "so I can be here for her."

Kahn undertook a liquid diet for four months  - "My Vitamix was my best friend" - eating green smoothies and protein smoothies. Then she went vegan.

Today, 60 pounds lighter, she is off all medication and no longer has high blood pressure of Type-2 Diabetes.

No great surprise here.  More and more people are discovering you can reverse serious disease and heal yourself by going low-fat plant-based.

Article Source: vegsource.com

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 
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else

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

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

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.

Continue Reading

Diabetes Accounts For More Than One-Third of Indian Health Costs

Diabetes accounts for more than one-third of Indian Health Service costs - Washington state doctors get access to Rx tracking

A study of American Indian adults in central Arizona found that a high proportion of Indian Health Service costs go to treat patients with diabetes.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of diabetes among all U.S. racial or ethnic groups and are 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than the general population. Continue reading - amednews: News in brief - Jan. 16, 2012 ... American Medical News

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

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: 

Wide Disparities in Health Care by Race and Region

Race and place of residence can have a staggering impact on the course and quality of the medical treatment a patient receives.

According to new research showing that blacks with diabetes or vascular disease are nearly five times more likely than whites to have a leg amputated, and that women in Mississippi are far less likely to have mammograms than those in Maine.

The study, by researchers at Dartmouth, examined Medicare claims for evidence of racial and geographic disparities, and found that on a variety of quality indices, blacks typically were less likely to receive recommended care than whites within a given region.

But the most striking disparities were found from place to place.

For instance, the widest racial gaps in mammogram rates within a state were with a difference of 12% points between the white rate and the black rate. The statistics were for women ages 65 to 69 who received screening in 2004 or 2005 in Massachusetts, California, Illinois, and California.

In all but two states, black diabetics were less likely than whites to receive annual hemoglobin testing. But blacks - 66% were far less likely to be screened than those in Massachusetts and Colorado.

Disparities in the rate of leg amputations were particularly stark. The rate for blacks was about 6 per 1,000. The rates for whites in three Southern states were much lower, about 1.3 per 1,000.

Such variations may be partly explained by regional differences in education and poverty levels, but researchers increasingly believe that variations in medical practice and spending also are factors.

In health care, it’s not only who you are that matters - it’s also where you live.

The study was commissioned by the nation’s largest health-related philanthropy, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which recently announced a three-year, $300 million initiative intended to narrow health care disparities across lines of race and geography. Officials said it would be the largest effort to improve health care quality ever undertaken by a charity in the United States

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, senior vice president of the foundation, said that more than a third of the $300 million would be spent to hire national experts to help regional coalitions tailor their quality improvement plans. The remainder of the money will be devoted to research, evaluation and the promotion of quality standards.

The areas selected for the grants are Cincinnati; Cleveland; Detroit; Humboldt County, Calif.; Kansas City, Mo.; Maine; Memphis; Minnesota; Seattle; south central Pennsylvania; western Michigan; western New York; Willamette Valley in Oregon; and Wisconsin.

The foundation’s endowment, now about $10 billion, was financed originally from the wealth of its namesake, who died in 1968 after building Johnson & Johnson into one of the world’s largest sellers of health and medical products.

The group has been a major force in curbing tobacco use, and has more recently turned its attention to obesity, announcing a five-year, $500 million effort on that front last year.

Source: Latinos for National Health Insurance

Diabetic Celebrity Health: Halle Berry

One in 20 women, such as Oscar winner Halle Berry, have diabetes during pregnancy. But once diagnosed it can be managed.

A condition known -- not surprisingly -- as gestational diabetes.

As the baby grows in the womb, hormonal changes can result in higher blood-sugar levels in the mother. The hormones in question are produced by the placenta - via which the mother delivers nutrients to her growing child.

The bigger the placenta grows over the course of the pregnancy, the more hormones it releases - and the greater the chances of diabetes.

Normally, the upsurge in hormones is countered by the pancreas, the organ that supplies the body with insulin.

Gestational diabetes occurs when the organ struggles to produce the required amount of insulin.

There are also indications that it is more prevalent among the overweight -- though given her regulation Hollywood figure, Berry hardly had cause to worry on that front.

However, in up to 50% of cases, there is no discernible cause of the condition. In the unborn child, gestational diabetes can lead to birth defects.

The most common complication is called macrosomnia, by which babies are born oversized. This happens because the foetus produces excess insulin to absorb the large levels of glucose it is receiving from the mother.

That, in turn, serves as a growth trigger resulting in newborns with larger than normal heads and shoulders, which increase the chance of an injury during childbirth.

No less worrying is evidence that pre-existing diabetes among mothers - most commonly linked to obesity -is on the rise. A US survey found recently that the number of woman with diabetes during pregnancy doubled in the past seven years.

Pre-existing diabetes poses a threat to both mother and child: the risk of miscarriage and still-birth climbs sharply and there is a possibility the infant will be born with birth defects.

However, once it has been diagnosed, gestational diabetes can be managed during pregnancy.

The mother will probably be advised to limit the amount of glucose in her system by adopting a low-sugar diet. Exercise has also been shown to help.

Should neither of these produce the desired result, doctors will recommend insulin injections, to bring down blood-sugar levels.

Should the pregnancy otherwise go smoothly, the long- term effects of gestational diabetes are minimal. The mother's blood-sugar levels will, in most cases, revert to their pre-existing levels shortly after childbirth.

Souece:

Independent - IE

ANGIE STONE

ANGIE STONE - STONE URGES DIABETES SCREENINGS

Soul singer ANGIE STONE is urging African-Americans to get tested for diabetes - because it is one of the most serious health challenges facing the black community.

The 47-year-old, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes eight years ago, has teamed up with Eli Lilly + Co. on the F.A.C.E. (Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered) Diabetes Campaign to advocate screenings for the disease, which affects more than 3 million African-Americans in the U.S.

She insists it is vital people get the symptoms diagnosed early before it is too late. She says, "Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes after I started experiencing a few common symptoms associated with high blood sugar - including frequent urination and excessive thirst. I couldn't stop going to the bathroom, and no matter how much water I drank, I couldn't get enough.

Despite having a family history of the disease, my diagnosis came as a shock because I didn't think I was a candidate for diabetes. Even after I was diagnosed and my doctor prescribed medication, I didn't truly take the disease as seriously as I should have. I was in denial about my condition and the importance of taking my medication, changing my diet and getting more exercise."

Contactmusic.com - Ilkley,England,UK