New to #Diabetes? Ask Your Doctor These Questions!

Posting to save and share:

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a scary time for most patients. There is typically much uncertainty and an overload of information. If you have gotten the call to come in and talk with your doctor about your recent blood glucose testing, have this list of questions ready so that you can better understand your new diagnosis.

1. What is my fasting blood sugar? The fasting blood sugar is used to determine if a patient has hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, or if the patient has diabetes. Any fasting value above 100 mg/dl is considered abnormal. A fasting blood sugar higher than 126 is diagnostic for diabetes. Anything in between these numbers is borderline high and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

2. What is my HbA1c? A hemoglobin A1c is a test that measures your blood sugar over 2-3 months. It gives an idea of what your average sugars have been. To manage diabetes with diet and exercise, the HbA1c should be below 7.0%. Anything higher than this may require the use of medications.

3. Do I need to see any specialists? Ask your doctor for a referral for an eye exam and ask if you need to see a foot doctor.

4. Can I test my sugars at home? Ask your doctor for a blood glucose machine, testing strips and lancets. Keep a daily log of readings and your food intake.

5. Can I see a certified diabetic educator? This may be the most valuable referral! These professionals will explain your condition and work with you to develop a personalized management plan.

6. Is it safe for me to exercise? You may need testing on your heart before you begin but weight loss and exercise are important parts of managing diabetes. Be sure that your doctor thinks that you are healthy enough to exercise before your begin.

7. Do I need any medications? As above, the need for medications depend on your blood sugar readings.

8. How often do I need to see my doctor or have blood work? You will likely need blood work checked every 3-6 months.

9. Is my blood pressure acceptable? Blood pressure readings should be less than 130/80 in diabetic patients.

10. Is my cholesterol acceptable? Your cholesterol should be in good control. Ask your doctors if your numbers are in line with the current recommendations for diabetic patients.

Bring this list with you to your appointment if you are overwhelmed and not sure which questions to ask. Understanding your diagnosis is the first step in learning how to live with diabetes and improve your blood sugars.

SOURCE:  eZine Health and Fitnes
s

Leptin May Prevent Type 2 #Diabetes

(Found an article I want to "Save and Share")

Pre-Existing Drugs May Restore Sensitivity to Leptin, an Appetite Suppressing Hormone

Jan 22, 2009

Hearts in the medical community beat with considerable excitement at the discovery of leptin in 1994. A hormone produced by fat, leptin has a very useful talent: it tells the brain when to stop eating. So hopes were high that leptin would become the basis of an anti-obesity treatment. What could be simpler than to dose an obese person with a hormone that says, "You're not hungry any more, and you want to stop eating."

Unfortunately, a snag soon emerged. Obese people do not respond to leptin. Scientists faced two mysteries: First, how do people become resistant to leptin in the first place? And second, are there any drugs that increase sensitivity to leptin?

Those questions have remained unanswered for a long time. But a Children's Hospital Boston study, published in the January 7 issue ofCell Metabolism, may have found the answers to both.

First, it appears that a stress-induced condition causes the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that responds to leptin, to resist the hormone.

Second, two drugs (4-PBA and TUDCA), which are already approved by the FDA for use in other medical applications, appear to greatly increase leptin sensitivity. The receptivity of lab mice resistant to the hormone increased as much as 10-fold when the two drugs were used as "chemical chaperones" to prime the mice for leptin injections.

The Boston study found that a condition called "endoplasmic reticulum" stress in the body's peripheral organs leads to leptin resistance. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a cellular component that produces proteins. Other cellular components, called "molecular chaperones," then fold the protein into its ultimate three-dimensional shape and transport it. When the chaperones can't keep up, a stress response is triggered, called "unfolded protein response" (UPR).

The researchers suspected that ER stress and UPR blocked leptin's action in the brain and were at fault for the hypothalamus's leptin resistance. Previous studies had already shown that mice bred to have ER stress were leptin-resistant and tended to obesity. Once the researchers ascertained that such was the case, they turned to an experimental drug therapy that involved using 4-PBA and TUDCA as chemical chaperones.

Currently, 4-PBA (buphenyl) is used to treat cystic fibrosis and urea cycle disorders, while TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid) is used to treat liver diseases. Both are also being studied for possible treatment of Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. Because both drugs are already FDA-approved, the researchers believe that it will be easy to move them quickly to human trials.

A side benefit of the drugs' role as chemical chaperones is that they have also been shown to reduce ER stress in mice with type 2, restoringinsulin sensitivity and normalizing blood sugar levels.

Besides being a safe treatment for increasing leptin sensitivity in obese people, the drugs could also enter the rapidly expanding pharmacopeia of diabetes treatment medicines.

SOURCE: DiabetesHealth.com

#Diabetes - Blue Circle - The Universal Symbol for Diabetes

Here is another post that is to share a webpage that I also want to save for future reference and easy access - kinda like to "bookmark it", as it were (source link is at the very bottom). 

BLUE CIRCLE

The blue circle is the universal symbol for diabetes. Until 2006, there was no global symbol for diabetes. The purpose of the symbol is to give diabetes a common identity. It aims to:

• Support all existing efforts to raise awareness about diabetes
• Inspire new activities, bring diabetes to the attention of the general public
• Brand diabetes
• Provide a means to show support for the fight against diabetes

What is the history of the blue circle?

A global symbol for diabetes

The icon was orginially developed for the campaign that resulted in the passage of United Nations Resolution 61/225 "World Diabetes Day."

The campaign for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes was a response to the diabetes pandemic that is set to overwhelm healthcare resources everywhere. The campaign mobilised diabetes stakeholders behind the common cause of securing a United Nations Resolution on diabetes. The United Nations passed Resolution 61/225 ‘World Diabetes Day’ on December 20 2006.

Why a circle?

The circle occurs frequently in nature and has thus been widely employed since the dawn of humankind. The significance is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle can symbolize life and health. Most significantly for the campaign, the circle symbolizes unity. Our combined strength is the key element that made this campaign so special. The global diabetes community came together to support a United Nations Resolution on diabetes and needs to remain united to make a difference. As we all know: to do nothing is no longer an option.

Why blue?

The blue border of the circle reflects the colour of the sky and the flag of the United Nations. The United Nations is in itself a symbol of unity amongst nations and is the only organization that can signal to governments everywhere that it is time to fight diabetes and reverse the global trends that will impede economic development and cause so much suffering and premature death.

Who owns the symbol?

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) holds all rights to the blue circle for diabetes.

Promote the symbol

We encourage everyone to use the blue circle as a reference to diabetes and the millions of people affected by the disease. We welcome the use of the logo in publications: magazines, video, online information, etc.

The symbol may not be used without prior permission by IDF. It may not be used:

• To promote or refer to anything other than diabetes
• As a quality label
• For merchandising or any other form of commercial aim

While IDF holds all rights to the diabetes symbol, we can provide permission for merchandising carrying the diabetes symbol on a case-by-case basis. You can submit your proposal to communications@idf.org. Grounds for permission are (amongst others):

• Type of organisation
• Form of distribution of the material

Examples of how the blue circle can be been used:

• On posters
• On t-shirts
• Flags
• Pins

Please direct any questions related to the usage of the blue circle to communications@idf.org.

SOURCE: http://www.idf.org/node/2064

 

#Diabetes Art Day 2011

Diabetes Art Day 2100

September 1st is Diabetes Art Day, a web-based initiative for the Diabetes Online Community to “tell a story” about life with diabetes though creative visual expression. It’s a way for us to tell our stories so we can connect and share with each other and with our loved ones. It’s a way to generate diabetes awareness outside of the DOC by sharing artwork on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and community websites. Diabetes Art Day is for people young and old with any type of diabetes and their families, so children, spouses, parents, siblings, or anyone who is affected by diabetes can participate. For this one day, you’re encouraged to break out of your linguistic comfort zone, bust out some art materials, and make a piece of artwork – painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, an installation piece, a mixed media something or other, or whatever you can imagine. Whether you have lots of experience making art or none at all, Diabetes Art Day is for you to show the world what it’s like to live with diabetes in that “a picture is worth 1000 words” kind of way.

Let your creative spirit soar!

[Above text taken directly from the Diabetes Art Day Website]

For Diabetes Art Day I submitted a picture I had taken of my supply kit that I keep in my den. I changed it to all black and white with a color-pop of pink - my pink meter. I also have a blue meter, which is not in the picture, but if it had been I would have tried doing a double color-pop. Here is my submitted image:

#Diabetes - Food Conversion to Blood Glucose

Saw a similar chart on a facebook page and went  looking for this since I find it interesting  (and good to know).

Food conversion to blood glucose

Chart showing different food groups, the percentage converted to blood glucose

 and the time taken.

Carbohydrate sources: starches, (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, crackers, cereal), fruits and juices, milk, sugar

Protein sources: meats (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish), cheese, eggs

Fat sources: butter, margarine, oil, salad dressing, mayonnaise, nuts, sour cream, cream cheese

Chart source: Diabetes Support Information Exchange UK

#Diabetes - Day 223

Well, still struggling with the glucose control sans Metformin. What kills me is the fasting - start the day so high and add to it with breakfast and just hope it comes back down enough by lunch that I'm not so hesitant to eat. But don't worry, i do eat, even though I may be hesitant. Funny thing with Diabetes - the food raises the glucose but you have to eat it anyway to keep the glucose on an even keel overall. 


But I also hate to think what this is doing to my A1c so if things don't get better in a couple of weeks I will make an appointment to go in and talk to my doctor about trying something different. And then just hope whatever we try doesn't have such adverse side effects.


Until then my logbook is just acting so friendly - greeting me with "high" "high" high" all the time!

#Diabetes - Day 220

Well, it's kinda depressing to see the BG numbers starting to reflect my having come off of Metformin. My good sense knew there was a very high probability this would happen, but my questionable sense held onto the hope that we actually caught my Diabetes and got it in control quickly enough that maybe my body would have forgotten that it was suppose to have Diabetes. I mean, I've seen people post things in discussion boards to the effect of "use to have Diabetes" or "once had" and such as that. And, every time I would see this I thought to myself that this/these person/people are delusional. All of the medical information I have read says that there is NO cure for Diabetes. That's the part my good sense was always referring back to. But I guess my questionable sense kept pushing it's naive wonderings (yeah, that may be one of my made up word) in there by saying that maybe, just maybe that really only applies to Type 1 Diabetes since that seems to actually relate more to a non-functioning pancreas whereas Type 2 Diabetes seems to relate more to an insulin resistance (and I will disclaimer here: I AM NOT A DOCTOR, REGISTERED DIETITIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. THAT STATEMENT IS SIMPLY MY THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSIONS, MISALIGHNED OR NOT, REGARDING THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN T1 & T2 DIABETES). But anyway, my questionable sense kept saying that maybe, just maybe, if caught early enough, and quickly gotten in control, T2 could actually reverse and the body's cell would actually accept and use insulin correctly again. 


Well, I reduced my Metformin last Monday to 500mg per day. I took the last 500mg dose Sunday morning. I am not taking any Metformin at this time . . . and my BG numbers are starting to show it.


Good Sense knew this was a possibility, so why does it make me feel depressed when I see it in my meter? I sure wish Questionable Sense would not be so naughty!!

#Diabetes - Researchers Identify New Target for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes

Released: 8/22/2011 12:45 PM EDT
Source: Joslin Diabetes Center
Newswise — BOSTON — Aug. 22, 2011 — Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have shown that an enzyme found in the mitochondria of cells is decreased in the skeletal muscle of those with type 2 diabetes, a finding that could lead to the development of drugs to boost the activity of this enzyme in an effort to fight the disease.
A paper in published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that the enzyme, Sirt3, is decreased in the skeletal muscle of humans and animals with diabetes by at least half, compared to those without diabetes and that this may contribute to development of insulin resistance, one of the earliest manifestations of the disease. Sirt3 is found in the mitochondria, the power producers of cells that convert energy into usable forms.
“Ours is perhaps the first study to understand what is going wrong in the mitochondria of those with diabetes,” said senior author C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Head of the Joslin Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Many studies have shown that the mitochondria don’t work well in those with diabetes. This points to a cause of why they don’t work well.”
Dr. Kahn said the study sought to look at how decreased Sirt3 levels might affect the metabolism of cells, particularly how it could affect insulin action in cells. “We know that one of the hallmarks of early diabetes is insulin resistance in muscle, but we didn’t know what caused it,” he said.
He said the study showed that when Sirt3 levels are low, as they are in the case of diabetes, the mitochondria of the cells are not as efficient in energy metabolism as they should be.
When the mitochondria become inefficient, they generate what are known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen, which create insulin resistance in the muscles, he said.
“This is the first time this has been shown,” Dr. Kahn said.
The goal for the future will be to find ways to restore levels of Sirt3 or increase the activity of the existing Sirt3, perhaps with a drug, in a bid to improve insulin resistance in the muscle and improve muscle metabolism, he said.
“It is a new target,” he said.
Dr. Kahn noted that this study is one of the first demonstrations of a single defect that could affect mitochondrial metabolism and insulin signaling in the muscle.
“In further studies we will try to understand what proteins Sirt3 acts on,” he said.
He noted that one of the earliest hallmarks of diabetes is insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle. As a result, a drug to boost Sirt3 levels could be useful in the treatment of prediabetes or in those newly diagnosed with the disease, he said.
“Agents which increase Sirt3 activity could, therefore, potentially reverse at least some of the adverse effects of type 2 diabetes,” the paper concludes.
Co-authors included Enxuan Jing, lead author, as well as Brice Emanuelli, Jeremie Boucher and Kevin Lee, all of Joslin; Matthew D. Hirschey and Eric M. Verdin, both of Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and the University of California, San Francisco; and David Lombard, formerly of the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and currently at the Department of Pathology and Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Verdin noted that by “uncovering the multi-faceted role of SIRT3, we are laying important groundwork to better combat this widespread disease at the cellular level.”
The study was supported by research grants to Kahn and Verdin as well as a grant from the Ellison Foundation and the Mary K. Iacocca Professorship. The study also received support from the Joslin DERC cores laboratories.

Read the full article at newswise.com 

#Diabetes - Day 215

I have been having an awful lot of hair loss since being put on Metformin. Now, none of the literature that comes with Metformin says hair loss is a side effect, but if you search "Metformin and Hair Loss" on the internet you will finds tons of discussion boards where many many people have this same complaint.


I pretty much decided that if I have to choose between my health or my vanity, I will go with my health. If I lose all my hair I will just buy a wig and move on. Heck, I could buy two wigs and have fun with the second one by going completely different than what my hair color really is.


Well, that's all well and good, but there is another issue with this massive hair loss . . . I can no longer go in the kitchen and prepare a meal without constantly removing hair as it visibly drops off my head. It is very annoying. And even though hubby and I both know it is clean hair, really, who wants o pull hair out of their food - clean or not?!?!?


I thought I would have to get a hair turban and before going into the kitchen just wrap my head in a turban and change to a clean shirt, but I also thought my BG numbers are all so good - some almost too good, like a BG89 an hour and a half after lunch on one occasion - that I thought I would just call my doctor and see about getting off the Metformin for a while and see if the hair loss backs off.


Doctor's office of course suggested perhaps it is the thyroid and not the Metformin. Lets check that first. No problem - all it requires is a vial of my blood and a little time out of my afternoon to run down there.


Done. 


And, as a bonus, when I was at the doctors office he had the front desk send me up for a quick look at me and another weight check (lost another 3 pounds - not super great, but considering I had seriously neglected my exercise schedule during the summer while grand-kids were in and out (my justification - they came and went on different days so I was thrown off the "Monday - Friday then a weekend" concept and half the time I wasn't sure what day of the week it was.)). Anyway, I digress, back to the doctors office . . . 


He agreed that my number control had been very good and that I could come off the Metformin and we would see how that went. (Day 211)


Fast forward to yesterday afternoon - The nurse called to tell me that the thyroid test was negative. She said they look for a number between 0 and 4 and my test was a 2 - smack dab in the middle.


Now that thyroid is ruled out the only culprit left is the Metformin. Monday I reduced my daily dosage from 1000mg per day to 500mg per day. I have about 10 tablets left in this prescription and as soon as these run out I will be down to no Metformin at all. 


I realize it took a few months to build up the Metformin to the level that caused the hair loss, so likewise it will take a while for the hair loss to return to what would be (at least in my opinion) normal. 


Now the bigger task at hand to to be even more vigilant in my diet & exercise adherence to be sure I keep my glucose numbers in check. I really want to be able to keep this in control without going back on Metformin, or any meds, for as long as possible. *crosses fingers*

#Diabetes - Type 2 Diabetes: Coping With Your Diagnosis

Another good article I want to save & share. This one is from Everyday Health DOT com. Article located on their website at THIS LINK.

Type 2 Diabetes: Coping With Your Diagnosis

Living with diabetes means accepting the diagnosis and making the necessary changes to your life.

By Madeline Vann, MPH

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

"Depressed" and "disappointed" are the words used by New Orleans resident Gary Davis to describe his feelings when he received his type 2 diabetes diagnosis two years ago.

“I am a nurse, so I knew what was happening, what was coming,” recalls the 51-year-old, referring to the long-term damage diabetes can wreak on a person’s health and body. Davis admits that initially, he didn’t want to try to make the changes that would improve his health. “At one time, I didn’t even try, but I try now. Every day I try harder,” he says.

Type 2 Diabetes: Avoid Denial

Receiving a diabetes diagnosis can stop you in your tracks. But for many people, hearing the news is the wake-up call they need to start healthy habits.

A Yale study of 20,221 overweight or obese adults under the age of 75 showed that people who receive a diagnosis of diabetes are more motivated to lose weight than their peers, dropping, on average, three pounds more with their diet plan.

“The big thing is to avoid denial. It’s so easy to deny,” says Paul Robertson, MD, president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association.

Many times doctors are part of this pattern of denial, says Dr. Robertson, especially when they tell patients that their blood sugar is a "little high, but we’ll just watch it." Robertson emphasizes, "That’s the time to jump on it! Don’t deny it — watch your weight, watch what you eat."

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Related: Ease Your Insulin Needle Fears

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Type 2 Diabetes: Make Changes

Two years after getting the news, Davis confesses, “I’m still confused about what I can and can’t eat.”

And, he adds, there are some foods, like white rice, that he can’t give up. Living in the capital of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans, all of which are accompanied by white rice, this challenge may be understandable. But although Davis takes insulin to control his blood sugar, he is also taking steps to tackle diabetes by changing his diet and increasing exercise.

Based on his experience, Davis offers the following tips for coping with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis:

• Make an effort to change your diet and exercise habits. Even minor changes can help.
• Get educated about diabetes and what you need to do to stay healthy.
• If you can’t shake your sadness and get motivated, talk to a doctor about the possibility ofdepression.

“It’s hard because you have your certain lifestyle for so many years — I had mine for 49 years — and then someone is telling you [that you] have to completely change it,” says Davis.

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Related: Eight Celebrities With Type 2 Diabetes

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Type 2 Diabetes: Get Educated

Still, there is a wealth of good information out there about how to be healthy with type 2 diabetes, notes Davis. “Take advantage of the research projects. Take advantage of the literature. It’s really all about education,” he says.

Good resources for information on type 2 diabetes include your nurse, a diabetes educator, or a dietitian, all of whom can help you develop a plan for lifestyle change that will help control your blood sugar.

Type 2 Diabetes: Cope With Depression

If you find that you have a hard time getting motivated or you are continuing to feel sad or anxious many weeks after your diabetes diagnosis, consider talking to your doctor or a mental health professional about your concerns.

Not everyone who receives a diagnosis of diabetes experiences depression. But those who do may have a harder time taking steps to manage their disease. A study of 2,902 Native American adults showed that while depression does not make a person more likely to have diabetes, it does make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. Treating depression is a necessary step towards blood sugar control.

“It won’t happen overnight,” says Davis. “But if you keep trying, you can succeed.”