Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter

February 2003
(Volume II, Issue 1)
*********************************************************
Don't forget to subscribe to Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™
*********************************************************
Obesity is America's greatest THREAT, says the Surgeon General of the United States.

Many of us have made resolutions to lose weight this year. This issue of E-Lerts™ will emphasize the severe consequences of obesity: 
    Obesity leads to DIABETES!
    Obesity leads to shorter life spans!
    Obesity leads to higher medical costs!
    Obesity in pets leads to DIABETES!

But we're not going to present only alarming information. We will show you what you can do about it. We'll give you great Southwestern Recipes by Jyl Steinback that you will swear are too good to be diabetic! We'll tell you 10 reasons why diabetics should exercise.

We have also had a wonderful response to our Readers' Forum and welcome your questions and comments. I will respond to all questions in a timely manner, but some require more research and take longer.

Important Latest News articles include HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Reduces Diabetes by 35% in some women and First Children with Type 2 Diabetes Have Grown UP and the statistics are alarming!

We have just revised the Defeat Diabetes^® screening test. So far we have sent over 1,100,000 screening tests to over 2000 schools in the United States free of charge. Check out our schools program.

Our website is evolving. New pages are being added and others reviewed and revised. Call to Action is our latest page. Visit our home page at www.DefeatDiabetes.org.

Thanks to our many supporters the Defeat Diabetes Foundation is able to provide critical information for children and their families. WE NEED YOUR HELP to continue our highly recognized and well received programs, but we would like to do more.

The Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible.

Good Health,
Lisa M. Rasolt
Program Director
lrasolt@DefeatDiabetes.org

*********************************************************
Did you know?
Nationally, diabetes has increased more than 50% in the last 10 years? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

*********************************************************
Latest News
Obesity Is America's Greatest Threat, Surgeon General Says Excessively fat people are walking time bombs who often end up with life-threatening maladies such as hypertension, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. "Type 2 diabetes, unheard of in young people just 20 years ago, is trickling into our schools and, left unchecked, it leads to serious illness and possible death," he said.
Veterinarian Bill Warning Over Obesity More than 2.5 million cats and dogs are overweight and could cost their owners over £1bn in vet bills. Obesity can cause heart and joint problems as well as other long-term illnesses including diabetes.
*********************************************************
Don't miss the latest news, the greatest recipes, your questions and more from Mr. Diabetes^®
Subscribe to Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter.
*********************************************************
Obesity Means Higher Medical Costs Overweight and obese people incur up to $1,500 more in annual medical bills than healthy-weight people.
10 Reasons Why Adults With Diabetes Should Exercise For physical, emotional and social reasons exercise is especially important for adults with diabetes.
*********************************************************
"Steps to a Healthier US" initiative 
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said,  The nation's insurance companies were "wrong-headed" because they emphasized treating illness rather than preventing disease and then announced a $125 million initiative to prevent diabetes, obesity and asthma. The program will prevent diabetes for at least 75,000 Americans and obesity for at least another 100,000 Americans.
*********************************************************
Study Says Obesity Cuts Life Span For Young Adults, Too Being obese at age 20 can cut up to 20 years off a person's life, with the biggest impact on black men, according to yet another study that underscores the long-term dangers of being overweight.
Fat At 40 'Slashes Life Expectancy  People who are obese at 40 can lose up to seven years off their life, research has found. The findings mean that being fat in middle-age increases the risk of dying early as much as smoking. If a woman is obese and a smoker at 40, she risks dying 13.3 years sooner than a slim non-smoker. An obese male smoker was found to lose 6.7 years from their life expectancy.
*********************************************************
With no Government funding, Defeat Diabetes Foundation relies on the generosity of "We the People" to help keep our programs going and growing.   We can't do it alone ... We need your financial support! DONATE NOW!
*********************************************************
HRT “Could Cut Diabetes Rates”  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reduce diabetes by more than a third in women with heart disease, according to a new US study. However, the researchers, from the University of California, are not recommending using hormones to prevent the disease, and are calling for further studies.
The First Children with Type 2 Diabetes Have Grown UP!  Alarming results for the first group of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In this group of people, who are now aged between 18 and 33 years, a high rate of deaths (9%), dialysis (6%), and miscarriage (38%), one toe amputation and one case of blindness have been reported. This high level of diabetes-related mortality and morbidity in the young points to a very bleak future for the increasing number of children now developing Type 2 diabetes. 
Big Gut With Diabetes Can Kill It's long been known that having a potbelly and high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack or stroke, but a medical study out last week has estimated that people with those risks and others are two to three times more likely to die prematurely. Experts say about one-third of middle-aged men and women in the USA have the same cluster of risk factors, called metabolic syndrome.
*********************************************************
Mr. Diabetes^® says:
"Take care of yourself. Good health is everyone's major source of wealth. Without it happiness is almost impossible." - Lloyd Shearer


Mr. Diabetes^® at  Williams Elementary School, Oxnard, CA

Follow Andrew P. Mandell, Mr. Diabetes^® on his epic 10,000+ Wake Up and Walk^® tour around America. Come out and join him. He needs your support and participation.
*********************************************************
Diabetic Recipes
For those cold winter days, we've selected some great Southwestern recipes that will be sure to warm you up. And they are good for you too! by Jyl Steinback (www.AmericasHealthiestMom.com)

Brunch - Vegetable Frittata
Appetizer - Quesadillas (Microwave)
Soup - Black Bean Chili
Bread - Mexi-Cornbread
Main Course - Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Dessert - Dessert Pears
*********************************************************
Did you know?
If a 200 hundred pound man loses 14 pounds he can reduce his risk of developing diabetes by 50%?
*********************************************************
Readers' Forum
Here are two of the questions we have received since our last E-Lerts™:
Q - My husband is a diabetic. And I was wanting to know is there any food that he could munch on, because he is always craving something to munch on. Do you know a low calorie, sugar free, and carbohydrate free food I could give him? - Patti -for our answer

Q - I have a son who is almost 13 years old. On his father's side there is a long history of diabetes. His father, grandfather, grandmother and uncle all have or have had it on his father's side. No pediatrician has been able to tell me if there is anything I can do now (while he is still young) or what, if any, precautions can be taken so he doesn't get diabetes. He is very active and has zero body fat, but as most adolescents, he takes in a lot of sugar.

If you can tell me what if anything I can do to detect or prevent him from acquiring this awful disease, I would be most grateful. - Linda - for our answer
*********************************************************
Did you know?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the estimated annual cost of treating obesity-related diseases is about $100 billion. About $127 million per year is spent treating children and adolescents.
*********************************************************
This concludes the Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter.

If there are specific questions you have, you may reach us at info@DefeatDiabetes.org.  

Please join us and subscribe to the Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter.

To unsubscribe, please go to our unsubscribe form.

The Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible.