Archive for January, 2008
Prevention of diabetes may depend on weight loss if you are overweight. You will be surprised how much every pound lost can help improve your health. It was observed in one study that overweight adults who lost about 5% to 10% of initial body weight, fairly a modest amount of weight, and at the same time exercised regularly were able to reduce the risk of developing diabetes by about 58% over a period of three years.
Try to focus to getting permanent changes–both in your eating and exercise habits. Involving other family members helps, as well. Think about the benefits of weight loss, like having a healthier heart, being more energetic and improving your self esteem.
January 27 2008 | Exercise | No Comments »
According to a new study, there is a slight risk for women who drink more than a bottle of soft drinks a day to develop diabetes than women who drink less than a bottle a month.  Critics of the study however say that the eating habits of these women be studied also, particularly those who take junk food as part of their diet.  The extra calories taken from soda could account for at least some of the slight increase in risk of having type 2 diabetes, the most common between the 2 types of diabetes, as some of the researchers i Harvard University say.  According to them, there is more to it than soft drinks–there should be a link in the the individual bodies react to soft drinks, or soda as they are called in other countries.
January 26 2008 | Research | No Comments »
Sometimes, it may seem easier to pop a pill or even take a shot than to put on your walking shoes and hit the trail. But the truth is that exercise, in combination with a healthy diet, is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself if you have diabetes.
Why exercise?
* Exercise burns calories, which will help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
* Regular exercise can help your body respond to insulin and is known to be effective in managing blood glucose. Exercise can lower blood glucose and possibly reduce the amount of medication you need to treat diabetes, or even eliminate the need for medication.
* Exercise can improve your circulation, especially in your arms and legs, where people with diabetes can have problems.
* Exercise can help reduce your cholesterol and high blood pressure. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
* Exercise helps reduce stress, which can raise your glucose level.
* It can lower your risk for heart disease, reduce your cholesterol levels and your blood pressure.
* In some people, exercise combined with a meal plan, can control Type 2 Diabetes without the need for medications.
Source: LifeClinic
January 25 2008 | Exercise | No Comments »
The organizers of the 3rd Annual Challenge Diabetes (5k RUN & RACE WALK) & Fun Family & Friends Fitness “Walk By My Side”
(1.5 mile) are enjoining everyone to join the Fun Run on Saturday, July 12, 2008, in Como Lake, St Paul.
Please plan to be with us again where you may even compete to set new All Time Challenge Diabetes Division Records
2008 Challenge Diabetes Promotional Poster
2008 Challenge Diabetes 5k registration form
Previous Event Results
8 AM - 5k Run, Race Walk, or Fitness Walk around beautiful Como Lake or the simultaneous 1.5 Mile Fun Family & Friends Fitness “Walk By My Side”. This is a remarkable occasion to inspire, and be inspired, by our family and friends who are walking or running through their diabetes challenges to optimal diabetes management and a better quality of life every day.
Entry Fee: $20 pre-registered/$25 race day.
You’re invited to donate more than your race registration fee in support of CC Challenge Rx Exercise programs. Net event proceeds benefit Charities Challenge Rx Exercise Events, Programs and Services. CC is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Come celebrate people with diabetes who say, “I’m Moving My Feet to Defeat Diabetes”
Info: 612-245-9160;
90% of diabetes (NIDDM) is preventable & more manageable with Rx Exercise!
From CharitiesChallenge
January 24 2008 | Fun Run | No Comments »
From HealthInsite.gov.au
The three major types of diabetes are:
Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes)
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for 10-15% of all people with the disease. It can appear at any age, although commonly under 40, and is triggered by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or chemicals in people genetically predisposed. People with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times a day and follow a careful diet and exercise plan.
Type 2 diabetes (previously known as non-insulin dependent diabetes)
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with the disease. This type of diabetes, also known as late-onset diabetes, is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. The disease is strongly genetic in origin but lifestyle factors such as excess weight, inactivity, high blood pressure and poor diet are major risk factors for its development. Symptoms may not show for many years and, by the time they appear, significant problems may have developed. People with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes may be treated by dietary changes, exercise and/or tablets. Insulin injections may later be required.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
GDM, or carbohydrate intolerance, is first diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test. Between 5.5 and 8.8% of pregnant women develop GDM in Australia. Risk factors for GDM include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a community or ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal after the birth, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life. Self-care and dietary changes are essential in treatment.
January 23 2008 | General | No Comments »
Diabetes has something to do with the body’s inability to deal with insulin properly. Sugar causes the body to go on a hyper drive mode. This is why diabetics who just had their ingestible dose of insulin go on a hyper mode that is almost exaggerated compared to those who go into a sugar-rush. It must also be noted that insulin dependents do not function at all without sugar, this actually drives them to hyperventilate and a lot of diabetics have died due to none existent sugar levels. The key here of course is balance and moderation when it comes to sugar intakes. To be safe, rely on insulin shot for sugar components and avoid it totally when it comes to food, drinks and the likes. There are a lot of sugar free choices in the market so it should not really be a problem.
January 20 2008 | Information | No Comments »
An open letter from DDD (Digital Device Dependent)
Dear Steve Jobs,
I’m writing to you on behalf of millions of people who walk around wired to little tech devices and won’t leave the house without them. No, I’m not talking about the iPod — and that’s the point. While your brilliant product line enhances the lifestyle of (100) millions, I’m talking about the little devices that keep us alive, the people with chronic conditions.
Let’s talk about diabetes, the disease that affects 20 million Americans, and I’m one of them.
Whether blood glucose monitor or insulin pump, thanks to the achievements of medical device companies, we can now live a normal life by constantly monitoring and adjusting our blood sugar levels.
But have you seen these things? They make a Philips GoGear Jukebox HDD1630 MP3 Player look pretty! And it’s not only that: most of these devices are clunky, make weird alarm sounds, are more or less hard to use, and burn quickly through batteries. In other words: their design doesn’t hold a candle to the iPod.
Most people on this planet can’t agree on much, but most do agree that Apple knows how to design outstanding high-tech devices. It’s your core expertise. It’s your brand. It’s you and Jonathan Ive.
We are, of course, deeply grateful to the medical device industry for keeping us alive. Where would we be without them? But while they’re still struggling with shrinking complex technologies down to a scale where we can attach them, hard-wired, to our bodies, design kinda becomes an afterthought.
Read more: diabetesmine.com
January 10 2008 | Open Letter | No Comments »
In addition to other treatments, oral medications such as metformin helps in reducing diabetes risk, though less dramatically. Metformin lessen the amount of glucose unconstrained by the liver and simultaneously fights insulin resistance. This drug was proven to lessen the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Metformin is not a basis for weight increase and may also produce minor weight loss. The exact method of action in metformin is not yet known but it is said that there are therapeutic benefits. Facts suggests that improved peripheral utilization of glucose due to improved insulin binding is not effective in patients who no longer have any remaining insulin production.
January 08 2008 | General | No Comments »