Archive for February, 2008
Lizette is an 11-year old camper, who has diabetes. She is small for her age, has cataracts, hearing problems and a troubled home life. At camp, when she arrived, her blood sugars were constantly in the rage of 300 to 400 range, one time, when it got her to 100s, she would come running up to the volunteer and tell them how much better she felt. She would then play with her friends.
All the volunteers could do was smile, sometimes so touched that they wanted to cry. By the end of camp, Lizette was already injecting herself and would draw her own insulin doses. She told me the organizers that she wanted to come back next year, and she was told that they would wait for her.
The volunteers are were passionately idealistic youth and health care professionals the world over. They raise money and give their time for the diabetes camp making it a a reality for children in developing countries. AYIDA has two full-time and one part-time staff members. All others, including the members of our Board of Directors and Advisory Board, are volunteers.
February 27 2008 | Camp and Care | No Comments »
Insulin injections are the most common treatment for diabetes. In recent experiment, a procedure called islet transplantation wherein from a pancreas donor, islets are taken out. Once implanted, the beta cells in these islets begin to make and release insulin. The objective of islet transplantation is to infuse enough islets to be in charge of the blood glucose level with no insulin injections. However, transplanted islets lose their capability to function after a while. At the same time, transplant recipient requires to take immunosuppressive drugs to discontinue or put an end to the immune system from rejecting the transplanted islets.
February 25 2008 | General | No Comments »
For those prone to the most common type of diabetes, type 2 diabetes, should note that prevention is a big deal.
According to statistics from the American Diabetes Association and the International Diabetes Federation, “almost 21 million Americans and 230 million people all over the world, are affected with type 2 diabetes. Experts of the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that diabetes would affect more than 48 million people by 2050.”
They urge the patients not to be scared, rather, they should improve their lifestyle, as a big step toward preventing diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association suggests five tips, which are:
- Lose the extra weight.
- Turn away from fad diets.
- Take plenty of fiber.
- Go for whole grains.
- Increase physical activity.
February 23 2008 | Tips | No Comments »
It has always been a known by many that diabetes is for life. Also, one needs to take medication the whole life through. Those diagnosed with adult-onset, or type 2 diabetes are told this fallacy. It is interesting to note that 25% of people over 40 now are victims of this life-threatening condition.
You will be surprised to note that more and more reports are received on a complete reversal–no need for medication. These reports come from former diabetics, by those who follow a low ‘glycemic load’ diet, combining a mineral supplement and the spice cinnamon.
Fedon Lindberg from Norway, world renown diabetes doctor has reported a complete reversal of the most common form, type 2 diabetes, and even in those injecting insulin, by this radical non-drug approach. ‘A balanced low glycemic load (GL) diet, coupled with a healthy lifestyle, can also achieve non-diabetic sugar levels without the need for medication - therefore ‘reversing’ the disease,’ he says. He has challenged the Norwegian Diabetes Association to change its advice.
Despite 15 controlled studies on chromium, 13 of which show benefit for stabilising blood sugar, most diabetics are still being told ‘you get all the nutrients you need in a well-balanced diet’.
This is simply untrue for chromium. A really good, wholefood diet might give you 50mcg a day. You need 500mcg a day if you are diabetic. (It is very safe to take this much as the toxic level is above 10,000mcg.)
February 20 2008 | Care and General and Research | No Comments »
Laurie Basloe was a volunteer as as a camp counselor for the first time this summer. As early as when she was 24 years old, she had diabetes, but has never been to a diabetes camp until Campo Amigo Ecuador. She as shocked at how a lot of diabetics were not properly educated. There were a lot of misconceptions about diabetes that the campers had, especially the fear of many that that they were doomed to become blind and fat.
“I was baffled by a girl who ate only apples, cucumbers, and broccoli for fear of not being in control if she ate other foods,” Laurie said. “As each day passed, it was incredible to see how much the girls grew and how eager they were to continue learning more about their health. I was proud to be at Campo Amigo as a counselor, role model, friend and camper in my own way.”
Laurie would like to join the Belize camp in 2008, in a country where 12% of the population have diabetes and where healthcare professionals on diabetes are practically unknown. AYUDA would also like to bring camps to Bermuda and Eastern Europe. A lot of help is needed. Volunteers do their best, bt of course, funding is needed.
February 15 2008 | Camp and Care | No Comments »
Until now, researchers still continue to look for answers of the causes of diabetes to help manage, prevent, or cure the illness. Physicians are studying if genes has a big factor in having diabetes either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. And since it is not a “pass on” or catchable disease, others are still suggesting to avoid or treat autoimmune diseases, as well as allergies and asthma. Some are using high dosage prescription drug that has long term side effects wherein patients where found to have increased blood cholesterol level, kidney disfunction, and some patients has become susceptible to viral infections.
February 12 2008 | General | No Comments »
“The higher your blood glucose is during pregnancy, the greater your child’s chances of growing up to be obese”, according to a recent study published in Diabetes Care.
Metabolic imprinting is the mechanism behind this outcome. It is presumed that when children in the womb are overfed by the high blood sugars of their mothers, they become pre-programmed for obesity, or imprinted.
It was noted however that given the proper treatment of the high blood sugars would help eliminate the risk. Mothers who received treatment had children who were not likely to get fat compared to other children. This includes mothers who initially had the highest blood sugars.
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February 08 2008 | Care and Research | No Comments »