Diet and Health Articels

Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Research, Products, Support

The hemoglobin A1c has been regarded as the undisputed champion for measurement of glycemic control...until now. Those of us running from diabetic complications understand the necessity of this test. Waiting 3 months (or more) gives these glycated red blood cells a lot of time to play havoc with our small blood vessels, over time resulting in a quagmire of diabetic complications. Glycation is the cause of the long-term complications of diabetes. There is a gap between the data provided by daily blood glucose testing and the information on the long-term health of the diabetic patient supplied by the HbA1c test.

Epinex Diagnostics developed the G1A to measure the albumin in the blood, not the hemoglobin. The albumin lifespan is much shorter than the hemoglobin. Albumin regenerates every 2 to 3 weeks, whereas hemoglobin takes 120 days. Albumin is a serum protein in the blood that can be measured more precisely, more frequently, resulting in more effective diabetes management. The G1A test requires a drop of blood, as opposed to the full laboratory tube needed for the A1c test. The G1A test takes 5 minutes, whereas the A1c results could take weeks. In contrast to daily blood glucose and semi-annual A1c testing, the G1A glycated albumin index offers amore accurate predictor of glycation by testing once a month, instead of testing the A1c every 3 or 6 months.

I'm not sure about you, but if someone said they know of a way to manage my diabetes that is more effective, less time consuming, and allows for earlier therapeutic intervention-- sign me up! The G1A has the potential to become the new industry standard for diabetes management. Ask your doctor if he or she has heard of it yet. If they dismiss the idea-- ask them how important accuracy is in diabetes management. There's your answer.

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Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Diet, Lifestyle

Yes folks, that cursed holiday is once again upon us. We each deal with the ritual in our own way. A bucket of candy on the front porch for some, a designated door greeter to toss treats for others, or just simply pretending nobody's home. Whatever your answer to this nutritionally vacant event, we all know it's all about the kids. In search of a few bright ideas for an otherwise brainless act (a little bitter? maybe), here are a few options for diabetics on Halloween.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation posted a Survival Guide for Parents. By the time your diabetic child is trick-or-treating or being invited to Halloween parties, they generally know what they can and can't eat. The best ideas to help make sure there on no real scares on the 31st include: bartering candy for cash or toys, focus on fun and not food, and if all else fails-take inventory to cautiously measure the carnage of carbohydrates.

This leads to the next article, published by children with DIABETES. They went the realistic route of addressing the carbohydrate consequences of Halloween. They feature a table of carbohydrate values for common candies found door-to-door. Smart cookies, those children with DIABETES folks!

Last, but certainly never least is the American Diabetes Association. They focus on some guidelines to emphasize the sport of Halloween. Their top suggestions include: emphasizing the creative efforts of your child's costume, planning a Halloween party where you have full control over the menu, and indulging in the activities of the holiday like hayrides and haunted houses. All great tips to help parents and kids make it through yet another Halloween. Boo!

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Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Events, Support

The Children with Diabetes Quilt for Life is an ongoing project devoted to the people living with diabetes. The quilt was the idea of Jeff Hitchcock, founder of Children with Diabetes. CWD is a company that promotes understanding of the care and treatment of diabetes, especially in children. The idea was quickly adopted by the many families that participate in online support through the Children with Diabetes web site.

For many, diabetes is about numbers. For those who have contributed to the Quilt for Life, diabetes is about them. In the Quilt for Life, diabetes is transformed from the impersonal to the personal, from the abstract world of numbers to the real world of children living everyday with finger sticks and insulin injections. Each square on the quilt comes with a story, a face, and a family that is affected by diabetes. Each of the quilt squares represents someone with diabetes, someone who hopes for a cure. The Quilt for Life is shown at all Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conferences. You too can participate! After you've completed your quilt square, fill in the Quilt Submission Form and send it with your quilt to the address shown on the form. It's that easy!

The Children with Diabetes Quilt for Life has created a national buzz. It was displayed at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on June 8, 2006. The Quilt for Life displayed at the same time the 2006 American Diabetes Association Call to Congress and the 66th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association occurred. The Call to Congress is the ADA's premier lobbying day, during which Diabetes Advocates from across the country meet with their elected officials in Washington, DC to discuss diabetes issues. CWD and the ADA are working together on several fronts, all aimed at helping families who have kids with diabetes.

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Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Lifestyle, Support

While at school, children may need help with the management of their diabetes care programs. I remember those days in elementary school, sitting in the nurses office, dazed and confused, sipping on my little juice box. I don't recall ever checking my sugars while at school. But that was back in the 80s. Nowadays, those who are sanctioned to care for your child's diabetes at school must meet a few mandates. For the record, your principal or local board of education can tell you the diabetes care policies of your school.

A few question you may want to ask are: where they are permitted to test their blood sugar (classroom, gym or cafeteria), where are they permitted to administer injections (are needles allowed anywhere outside of the nurses office), location of storage areas for diabetes supplies, the level of diabetes management the school personnel may administer to your child (may they give injections or prick fingers for blood samples), and the rules regarding disposal of syringes and lancets.

The American Diabetes Association developed guidelines that schools and day care providers should enforce for adequate care for diabetics enrolled in their program. These guidelines include: personnel trained on the symptoms and treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia (including blood sugar and ketone testing), immediate access to testing supplies, privacy for diabetes management, permission for student to treat hypoglycemia anywhere it occurs, permission to miss school without consequences for required medical appointments, and access to fluids (such as water) when necessary.

A handbook (88 pages) is available for download from the BD Diabetes Learning Center. Parents and school personnel can educate themselves on Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed. This is a definite A for effort, BD. Gold Star!

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Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Drugs, Research

On Tuesday, October 17, the clouds parted and the medicinal gatekeepers welcomed the birth of a little bundle of joy from Merck & Co, named Januvia. Weighing in at $4.86 per tablet, and guaranteed to control blood sugars without the undesirable side effect of weight gain, Merck said Januvia would be in pharmacies in the near future.

This is a new class of pills called DPP-4, or dipeptidyl peptidase IV. These are inhibitors that work to enhance the body's own ability to lower blood sugar. In clinical trials, patients did not gain weight. Yippee! Taken once a day, Januvia is expected to face competition from Novartis AG's rival medicine Galvus, which is awaiting FDA approval, possibly next month. The first generation of drugs designed to combat insulin resistance notoriously caused water retention and gain weight.

The empirical evidence is shining through already. A survey of about 60 physicians, conducted by Reuters Primary Research, shows the vast majority of doctors intend to start prescribing Januvia and Galvus right away. Dr. Stuart Weiss, a New York University Medical Center endocrinologist, said the drug's ability to control blood sugar spikes without added weight gain was a big draw. "In the face of a diabetes epidemic, this drug ... is particularly an inviting choice," said Weiss, who has consulted for several Merck competitors, including Novartis. If the near $5 a day price tag doesn't send your budget into a tailspin, you might have the shelf space for a DPP-4 in your near future. Praise be the DPP, for the sugars will come down and the scales won't creep up!

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