Defeat Diabetes® E-Lerts™ Newsletter

June 2005
(Volume IV, Issue 6)

Incidence of diagnosed diabetes rose 41% in 6 years, says the CDC. It's not just in the United States, but all over the globe. From 1997 to 2003, diabetes among U.S. adults age 18-79 years increased from 4.9 to 6.9 per 1000 population, which is 41%. In part, it may be because the diagnostic criteria was changed  where fasting glucose was lowered from 140 to 126mg/dl.

But the real change is due to increasing obesity in the United States. About 89% of new diabetics were obese or overweight. While there doesn't seem to be more detection in the general population, there is in the obese, which could either be due to enhanced detection or a real growth or disease in that group.

In our Latest News - Supplements we have very positive news how supplements are good for the diabetic heart, reduce weight associated with anti-diabetic medication, and can lower LDL cholesterol.

Some new information in Latest News - Complications including heartburn and air pollution. In Latest News - Risks we've uncovered new ones and some guideline for women to follow.

Congressional Proclamation for Mr. Diabetes®, Andy Mandell
On June 14, 2005, the Hon. Dale E. Kildee of Flint, Michigan, rose on the floor of the House of Representatives "to recognize the accomplishments of a man who has brought a new sense of awareness to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetes in America.

"Mr. Speaker, Andrew Mandell is a shining example of triumph in the face of adversity. He is a survivor rather than a victim of his disease, living with it rather than suffering from it. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding his strength as well as his commitment to improving the quality of life for us all. " Read more

THE WALKÔ has now reached Detroit, MI (6484.1 miles).  It was an unqualified success!!  Read more about Mr. Diabetes® and The Mr. Diabetes® Wake Up and Walk® Tour,  June 2005.

Two-thirds of people with Type 2 diabetes are not in control of their blood glucose: This is what a report from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) reveals. This finding is worrisome, because high blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, and cause serious complications. These complications can include heart disease, vision problems and blindness, kidney disease, circulatory problems, and even amputations. In fact, diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. This month's Readers' Forum addresses measuring blood glucose.

One reason Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE became National Diabetes Educator of the Year for 2004-2005 was because she knew how to bring humor into diabetes. This month's DIABeducation™, Theresa illustrates how humor can prolong your life.

Don't miss this month's Islets of Humor™ by Theresa Garnero. It will give you a "dose" of laughter.

Summer time and the living is easy. Go for the grill and some cold soups and veggie Diabetic Recipes by Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom.

In our Reader Submissions section, we are honored to have Usha Dhiman share a poem about her life as a type 1 diabetic titled The Enemy.

In Treatments on the Horizon there are new studies about type 1 diabetes and insulin.

Defeat Diabetes Foundation has moved to its new, permanent location. We are only 3 streets away from our former location, still trying to find files and supplies and get everything up and running, but are thrilled with our new home. Our new address is:

Defeat Diabetes Foundation
150 153rd Avenue, Suite 300
Madeira, Beach, Florida  33708

Good Health,
Lisa M. Rasolt
Program Director
lrasolt@DefeatDiabetes.org
www.DefeatDiabetes.org
Awareness + Action = Prevention®
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Did You Know?
Checking blood sugars with Less OUCH!: The finger stick has been the method of self-management that people with diabetes have learned to live with but certainly don't love. Fingertips are tender spots. This study showed that pricking your palm-which has high capillary density but fewer pain receptors - yielded equivalent results to fingertip testing. No new meter needed! ADA
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Latest News - Supplements
Chromium Significantly Reduced Weight Gain Associated with Anti-diabetic Medication  Chromium picolinate reduced weight gain associated with anti-diabetes drugs and also improved blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. These findings are important because more than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight and chromium picolinate is easily available as a nutrition therapy in retail stores.
Soluble Fiber Effective and Safe Additive for lowering LDL Cholesterol Psyllium is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated add-on therapy for elevated cholesterol. Soluble fiber supplements are recommended to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Chromium Good for the Diabetic Heart Chromium supplementation can lead to a shortening of a harmful heart rhythm, which may lower cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetics.
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Defeat Diabetes® Public Awareness Programs donate
Defeat Diabetes Foundation needs your financial support for all of our Defeat Diabetes® Public Awareness Programs. Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible. Please Donate Now
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Latest News - Complications
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Diabetics, an under Diagnosed Complication Heartburn is noted in 42% of patients with neuropathy versus 24% patients without neuropathy.
People With Diabetes More Sensitive to Cardiovascular Effects from Air Pollution Hospitalizations and deaths related to cardiovascular problems increased among diabetics when levels of air pollution were higher.
Cardiovascular Disease Already a Factor for Teens With Type 1 Diabetes  Artery walls begin thickening as early as the midteen years in young people with type 1 diabetes. Early atherosclerosis is more pronounced in teen boys than in girls and also in teens who smoke or have relatively high total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels.
Periodontal Disease Linked to Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes Brushing and flossing could do more than just maintain healthy teeth and gums; they also could help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with diabetes.
Retinopathy Occurs Sooner In Pre-diabetes Retinopathy can lead to blindness in people with diabetes and may occur far sooner than previously thought, possibly when patients are still in the prediabetes stage or when glucose levels are only slightly higher than normal.
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Did You Know?
75% of Type 2's do not know their A1c number. It can be explained to them what their number means by converting the A1c number into a number they can understand like a 6% A1c is equal to them having a BG reading of 135mg/dL every second of the day for the last 90 days. If they are only checking their fasting readings, they will see that it is much higher then what they thought it was.
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Latest News - Risks
Asian Americans Face Higher Diabetes Risk and Not Being Screened Asian Americans are twice as likely as whites to develop diabetes, studies show, even among those who aren't overweight. Yet doctors may not screen Asian Americans often enough because doctors don't know enough about the aspects of diabetes special to this group.
New Lipid Management Guidelines for Women at High Risk of Heart Disease  Cardiac disease has decreased in men during the last two decades but not in women. New in the guidelines established by the American Heart Association (AHA) for lipid management are three recommendations.
Diabetics With Acute Coronary Syndrome at High Risk  Almost one in eight diabetics hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) do not survive for 6 months, according to the results of a new study.
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Did You Know?
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who consumed two or more servings of fish per week had between 50 and 60 percent lower rates of stomach, colon and pancreatic cancers. Cook Once, Eat for a Week, By Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom
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Congressional Proclamation for Mr. Diabetes®, Andy Mandell
On June 14, 2005, the Hon. Dale E. Kildee of Flint, Michigan, rose on the floor of the House of Representatives "to recognize the accomplishments of a man who has brought a new sense of awareness to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetes in America.

"Mr. Speaker, Andrew Mandell is a shining example of triumph in the face of adversity. He is a survivor rather than a victim of his disease, living with it rather than suffering from it. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding his strength as well as his commitment to improving the quality of life for us all. " Read more
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THE WALKÔ has now reached Detroit, MI (6484.1 miles).  It was an unqualified success!!  Read more about Mr. Diabetes® and The Mr. Diabetes® Wake Up and Walk® Tour,  June 2005.
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Readers' Forum forum
Two-thirds of people with Type 2 diabetes are not in control of their blood glucose: This is what a report from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) reveals. This finding is worrisome, because high blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, and cause serious complications. These complications can include heart disease, vision problems and blindness, kidney disease, circulatory problems, and even amputations. In fact, diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the US.

Here are 2 questions we've received about measuring blood glucose:

Q - What is the best way to measure control? - Ramona - for our answer

Q - If I'm measuring my A1C, is blood glucose self-monitoring also necessary? - Freddy - for our answer
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Did You Know?
Sleep better and boost your mood! About eight strawberries provide 20 percent of the RDA for the folic acid your body needs to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that may prevent insomnia and depression. Cook Once, Eat for a Week, By Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom
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Diabeducation™diabeducation
By Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE
June 2005
Those Who Laugh, Last
A recent patient, whom I shall refer to as “Shirley,” shared a wonderful story about her grandmother’s insistence that the family use daily laughter.

About 70 years ago, Shirley’s grandmother, May, made the entire family go to the basement before breakfast, to listen and laugh to a waxed-cut record of a laugh track, every day. It’s hard to imagine doing something like that today, let alone in the 1930s. Well, Shirley and her young sister made a pack on a regular basis while clasping pinkies, “Promise—we will NOT laugh today!” Sure enough, morning would role around and to the basement the family went. And without fail, everyone would eventually crack up.

Shirley pleaded with her grandmother, “Why? Why do you make us do this?” to which May replied, “You feel better, don’t you? Laughter is the best medicine going!” Read more
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Mr. Diabetes® Says
The four cornerstones of character on which the structure of this nation was built are: Initiative, Imagination, Individuality and Independence. Edward Rickenbacker
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Islets of Humor™ humor
By Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE
June 2005

see more of Theresa's cartoons
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Did You Know?
What's the difference between green and black olives? Maturity! Cook Once, Eat for a Week, By Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom
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Diabetic Recipes recipes
Summer time and the living is easy. Go for the grill and some cold soups and veggies by Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom.
Chilled Carrot Soup with Garden Herbs
Berry Cold Berry Soup
Stuffed Cucumber Slices
Grilled Veggie Sandwich
Scallops Yakatori with Peaches
Italian Garlic Chicken
Note: In the May 2005 E-Lerts™ Newsletter, before the correction, in the Creamy Chocolate Pie recipe ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder was mistakenly omitted. Thank you to a loyal reader for bringing that to our attention.
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Did You Know?
Each 1% change in A1c represents a change of approximately 35 mg/dl mean plasma glucose. (mean blood glucose results are 10-15% lower. Most blood glucose meters are calibrated to read as plasma glucose.) Diabetes Care 27 (Suppl.1):S91-S93, 2004
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Reader Submissions submissions
Usha Dhiman has honored us with a poignant poem about life as a type 1 diabetic.

The Enemy
It stalks you day and night
flows through your veins all the time
Ready to pounce on you
on the slightest clue
read more
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Did You Know?
Cucumbers are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables; they've been growing around human dwellings since at least 7750 B.C., coming originally from India and Burma to Europe. Cook Once, Eat for a Week, By Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom
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Defeat Diabetes® Public Awareness Programs donate
Defeat Diabetes Foundation needs your financial support for all of our Defeat Diabetes® Public Awareness Programs. Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible. Please Donate Now
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Treatments on the Horizon
Beta-Cells Regenerate Even In Type 1 Diabetes  A new study provides evidence that the pancreas continues to form beta cells even in the setting of long-standing type 1 diabetes.
Inhaled Insulin Fast-Acting and Effective The results of a study of healthy volunteers indicate that inhaled insulin has a faster onset of action than does subcutaneously injected insulin lispro or regular human insulin.
Insulin Identified as Trigger for Causing Type 1 Diabetes  Insulin, the hormone most closely linked to diabetes, has turned out to be the cause of the inherited form of the blood sugar disease.
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Did You Know?
Patients treated for a deficiency of iron, B12, or folate can have an inaccurate A1c reading because this can cause a preponderance of red blood cells. Blood 59:1348-1350, 1982
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This concludes the Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter.

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