Defeat Diabetes® E-Lerts™ Newsletter

March 2006
(Volume V, Issue 3)

In the United States, April is National Minority Health Month. According to the CDC, (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), American Indians and Alaska Natives were 2.6 times more likely to have diagnosed diabetes compared with non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans were 2.0 times more likely, and Hispanics were 1.9 times more likely.

Similar statistics apply to other races worldwide. India is the diabetes capitol of the world. Its prevalence has increased from 3% to 12%. Twenty percent of Kuwait's population suffers from diabetes.

The increasing rate of diabetes is alarming, but much of this major public health problem can be prevented with early detection, improved care, and education on diabetes self-management.

Every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes! Wow! Latest News - Serious Diabetes Complications shows the connection between diabetes and amputations, breast cancer, heart failure and life threatening periodontal disease.

Latest News - Self-Management - Self-Care: Aspirin, cocoa, marijuana compound, statins and palm glucose readings are all included here.

Latest News - Scary Statistics: Why should you care about statistics? When the US diabetes population grows 86% in the last decade and there's a 61% increase in diabetes related deaths and illnesses and more.

Great Information You Will Want to Know: It may not be the latest news, but the 3500 year history of diabetes is fascinating. People with diabetes cannot drink alcoholic beverages: True or False? And there is more.

We have some fabulous holiday Recipes from Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom and the Duke Diet and Fitness Center.

As an homage to the Oscars, this month's Islets of Humor™ by Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE, confides what really makes him sad.

In Nutrition News, Barbara Quinn, MS, RD, CDE, explains the Glycemic Index: What We Need to Know.

Treatments on the Horizon offers hope for a cure, lose 30-40% of excess weight over a period of 24 months, one day remove the need for daily insulin injections and more.

Kevin's Tech Tips by Kevin McBride teaches us how to Copy Information from a Corrupted User Profile to a New Profile and Troubleshoot Windows Drivers.

Readers' Forum: This month Mr. Diabetes®, Andrew P. Mandell, who is also Defeat Diabetes Foundation's Executive Director, answered questions he received from our readers.

We are so excited to be offering products that will especially benefit diabetics. Each one has been personally approved by Mr. Diabetes®, Andy Mandell, after a long arduous process. And there will be more to come. Learn More

Mr. Diabetes®, Andy Mandell, has left Florida and is heading north. Look for him to be on the road, starting in Seneca Falls, New York, in mid April. Updates to follow.

Happy Holidays!

Good Health,
Lisa M. Rasolt
Program Director
LRasolt@DefeatDiabetes.org
www.DefeatDiabetes.org
Awareness + Action = Prevention®
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Did You Know?
People have long thought of fish as brain food, maybe because salmon navigate hundreds of miles to spawn in the exact same place in which they were born. But the real reason salmon is brain food is that your brain is more than 60 percent fat. And for your brain to function properly you need omega-3 fats just like those found in salmon. Walgreen's March 20, 2006 Newsletter
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Latest News - Serious Diabetes Complications
Landmark Studies on Diabetic Amputation Prevention  Every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes. Podiatrists publish two landmark papers in Lancet on World Diabetes Day. The studies, which focus on negative pressure wound therapy and powerful antibiotics for the treatment of infections in the diabetic foot, offer new data and real hope in the battle against amputation.
Diabetes and Breast Cancer  A retrospective population-based cohort study, showing an increase in breast cancer for women with Type 2 Diabetes.
Diabetics Have Increased Heart Muscle Mass That Increases Risk  Increased left ventricular muscle mass suggests the future possibility of developing heart failure.
Diabetes and the Dental Patient  Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gum and bone supporting the teeth. It is a serious infection that, if left untreated, will lead to tooth loss. In untreated cases, periodontal disease can be life threatening for diabetic patients.
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Defeat Diabetes® Professional Services Plan
Save Up to 50% or More on Medical and Dental Services
There are numerous ongoing medical needs by individuals with diabetes and these individuals will have medical issues throughout their life. In many cases individuals with diabetes may lose their health coverage by employment changes, or not qualify for health coverage. For Only $19.95 per Month Learn More advertisement
This plan include spouses or significant others and dependent children at no extra costs.
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Latest News - Self-Management - Self-Care
Plavix-Aspirin Combo No Better than Aspirin Alone for CVD Event Reduction The CHARISMA trial of aspirin alone vs. aspirin plus Plavix (clopidogrel) showed no benefit over aspirin alone at preventing major cardiovascular events or death. In addition, Plavix plus aspirin for patients with multiple risk factors was associated with increased risk for moderate and serious bleeding.
Cocoa Intake Linked to Lower Blood Pressure, Reduced Risk of Death Men in the group with the highest cocoa consumption were half as likely as the others to die from cardiovascular disease.
Marijuana Compound May Help Stop Diabetic Retinopathy A compound found in marijuana won’t make you high but it may help keep your eyes healthy if you’re a diabetic, researchers say.
Statin Therapy for Type 2’s Regardless of LDL Levels and CVD The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade. Patients with type 2 diabetes are at a much greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than are nondiabetic individuals. Consequently, the treatment of CVD risk factors is a healthcare priority in this patient population.
Palm Glucose Readings Compared with Fingertip Readings Study found that variability between fingertip-to-fingertip and palm-to-fingertip measurements was in the clinically acceptable range during steady-state conditions and when glucose was rapidly changing.
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Did You Know?
Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that slows the aging process - not just premature wrinkling, but hardening of the arteries, too. Walgreen's March 20, 2006 Newsletter
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Latest News - Scary Statistics
Sixty-one Percent Increase In Diabetes-related Deaths And Illnesses Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have documented a dramatic upsurge in diabetes-related deaths and illnesses in New York City, including a sharp increase in diabetic patients hospitalized with heart attacks.
U.S. Diabetes Population Grows 86 Percent Over Last Decade Research reveals diabetes complications are widespread and growing, and patients desire to gain better control.
Rapid Rise of Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease is rising rapidly worldwide and is becoming a global healthcare problem, warn experts in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). In the United Kingdom the figure has doubled over the past decade and is expected to continue to rise by 5-8% annually, but it still remains well below the European average and that of the United States.
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Did You Know?
One in three patients with type I diabetes develops end-stage kidney failure, which eventually requires either a kidney transplant or hemodialysis treatment for life. CDC
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Great Information You Will Want to Know
Diabetes: The First 3500 Years  Everybody has their own version of when diabetes first started, was documented and how insulin got to be the treatment. Here's an accurate time line for you.
Myth or Fact? “People with Diabetes Cannot Drink Alcoholic Beverages.” Before you answer this, you need to begin by asking yourself three important questions: 1. Is my diabetes under control? 2. Does my doctor agree that I do not have any health problems which can be made worse by alcohol? 3. Do I understand how alcohol can affect my diabetes?
Adherence to Diet, Not Type of Diet, Most Important for Losing Weight  According to the results of a new study in JAMA, adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet plan, is the most important determinant of weight loss and reduction of cardiovascular risk.
What is Peripheral Arterial Disease? Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a condition similar to coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease. Most people with PAD have a markedly increased short-term risk of death from stroke and heart attack. If a blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery to the heart, a heart attack results. If the clot blocks an artery to the brain, a stroke results.
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Did You Know?
Zucchini, a member of the summer squash family, is loaded with potassium and only has 15 calories per serving. Cook Once, Eat for a Week, Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom
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Healthy and Delicious Recipes - Good for Diabetics Too
We have some fantastic recipes for Easter and Passover or anytime from Jyl Steinback, America's Healthiest Mom and from the Duke Diet and Fitness Center.
Matzo Balls for Quick-Fix Soup
Asparagus with Fresh Herbs
Green Bean Provençal
Carrot-Zucchini Kugel
Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Sauce
Garlic-Rosemary Roasted Chicken
Strawberry Fluff
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Mr. Diabetes® Introduces New Health Supplements Especially for Diabetics

advertisement  For More Information
Holt’s Diabetic Fish Oil:  Holt’s special Targeted Delivery™ system helps individuals tolerate increased amounts of fish oil that they may require for optimal nutrition. Holt’s Diabetic Fish Oil™ is guaranteed high quality. Get All the Details
Diabetic MultiVitamins:  Diabetic MultiVitamin was physician formulated to provide necessary vitamins for a healthy lifestyle. Get All the Details
Diabetic MultiMinerals:  Diabetic MultiMinerals is physician formulated to replace minerals necessary for your health. Get All the Details
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Islets of Humor™ humor
By Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE
March 2006
See More of Theresa's Cartoon's
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Did You Know?
Use stainless steel pots and pans when cooking because more vitamin C stays in your food when you do. Non-stick pans and glass cookware break down vitamin C. Walgreen's March 20, 2006 Newsletter
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Nutrition News nutrition
By Barbara Quinn, MS, RD, CDE
March 2006

Glycemic Index: What We Need to Know
Glycemic Index (GI) ranks an individual food on a scale of 1 to 100 based on how a standard 50-gram dose of that food causes blood glucose levels to rise within 2 hours when compared to white bread or glucose, which are given a glycemic index of 100. Low GI foods cause smaller rises in blood glucose levels and high GI foods cause higher rises.

Simple, huh? No one else thinks so, either. Glycemic Index may add some benefits to diabetes control, but it’s not a perfect system. Here’s why: Read More
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Mr. Diabetes® Says
A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are. Ara Parasheghian
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Treatments on the Horizon
Implantable Gastric Stimulation (IGS) Transcend™ Implantable gastric stimulation (IGS) system for weight loss is currently available in Europe and Canada and is now a part of Medtronic. This system uses gentle electrical stimulation of the stomach to enhance the normal feeling of fullness (satiety). Patients can expect to lose 30-40% of excess weight over a period of 24 months.
Pig Cell Research Offers Hope for Diabetes Cure  Transplanting pig islet cells cannot come with a lot of immunosuppression, it must be a very safe treatment.
Seaweed Bubbles May Fight Diabetes  Encapsulating insulin producing cells in tiny seaweed bubbles and injecting them into people with type 1 diabetes could one day remove the need for daily insulin injections.
Scientists Get Cells to Produce Insulin If a new finding by Burnham Institute and UCSD scientists holds true, millions of diabetics could someday drastically reduce their dependence on drugs and perhaps even have a cure. They discovered that when mixed with cells from pancreatic fetal tissue, non-islet pancreatic cells could be coaxed into becoming beta cells.
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Defeat Diabetes® Public Awareness Programs
Defeat Diabetes Foundation is very proud of the Kerner family and their commitment to the D.A.N. Project. Through their efforts and Defeat Diabetes Foundation, we are able to present 2 PSAs (Public Service Announcements) emphasizing the importance of prevention and/or early detection of diabetes.
What's worse than finding out you have diabetes...Not Finding Out!
Learn why early detection is so important!
These PSAs were produced for Defeat Diabetes Foundation by Robert M. Zakon of Newton, Massachusetts
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Kevin's Tech Tips kevin
By Kevin McBride
March 2006
How to Copy Information from a Corrupted User Profile to a New Profile
Sometimes your user profile may get corrupted, but you want a way to move your files and settings to a new profile. Read More

Troubleshoot Windows Drivers
Having problems with device drivers in Windows XP? These files are a common source of trouble, but XP includes a tool that you can use to track down and fix those pesky driver problems. Read More
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Did You Know?
The Average Patient Who Suffers from End-Stage Renal Disease Will Spend More Than $7,000 on Drugs a Year and $60,000 a year on Dialysis. Datamonitor
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Readers' Forum forum
This month Mr. Diabetes®, Andrew P. Mandell, who is also Defeat Diabetes Foundation's Executive Director, answered questions he received from our readers:

Q: I just found out I have diabetes. I am also home sick with a cold today. I had the flu about 4 weeks ago which led me to discover my diabetes. I have diabetes because it runs in my family. My uncle and aunt on my mother's side and my dad has it. I am not overweight, but need to eat healthier and exercise more.

Why do I keep getting sick???? How do I manage simple colds and why do I keep getting them? - Elizabeth -  For Mr. Diabetes® Answer

Q: I have a 17 year old son who has had Type I for three years. Do you know of anybody that has had success that is open to the public who has been able to reverse the disease through Stem Cell or whatever.  We have been going to Mexico to obtain a vaccine there that is mixed with his own blood and he gives himself shots of this vaccine that supposedly kills of the antibodies. I am a little leery of the doctor although he has scores of successes with other conditions , he doesn't return emails with my questions and I haven't been able to get results of blood work I did there either. It's very frustrating needless to say but I have heard of successes with Stem Cell in Korea.  Anything you know of that is working. Thanks very much. - Chris - For Mr. Diabetes® Answer
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Did You Know?
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television. stunning-stuff.com
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This concludes the Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter.

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

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