Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter

April  2003
(Volume II, Issue 3)
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Don't forget to subscribe to Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™
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COMPLICATIONS CAN BE DEVASTATING!!
People with Diabetes are vulnerable to a variety of complications over time. Health-care providers all agree that strict control of blood sugar makes complications less likely. Control of blood sugar is the best way to minimize the risk of complications.

But, even the very best control may not be able to eliminate all complications, and the risk increases with the length of time you have diabetes. Diabetes complications affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, feet, mouth, and large and small blood vessels. Also, Diabetics have a higher susceptibility to other illnesses.

In this issue of E-Lerts™ we will highlight in our Latest News articles that stress in detail some of the complications diabetics suffer. On our website, www.DefeatDiabetes.org  we have a page devoted to Complications of Diabetes.

Try some of the great Recipes from Jyl Steinback's new cookbook, Cook Once, Eat for a Week.

Mr. Diabetes^®, has crossed the Golden Gate Bridge after  a triumphant visit in San Francisco on his Wake Up and Walk^® Tour. March 25, 2003 was declared Defeat Diabetes Day by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Tour Manager Bob Brooks, Mayor Willie Brown, San Francisco, and Andrew P. Mandell, Mr. Diabetes^®

Take a look at our Readers' Forum; we've been getting great questions and comments from our readers.

Thanks to our many supporters the Defeat Diabetes Foundation is able to provide critical information for children and their families. So far we have sent over 1,245,000 screening tests to over 2300 schools in the United States free of charge. Check out our schools program.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to continue our highly recognized and well received programs, but we would like to do more.

The Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible.

Good Health,
Lisa M. Rasolt
Program Director
lrasolt@DefeatDiabetes.org

Awareness + Action = Prevention™
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Did you know?
CVD (cardiovascular disease) is a major complication and the leading cause of premature death among people with diabetes---at least 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.  CDC Diabetes Surveillance Report 1999
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Latest News
Diabetes Linked to Development of Alzheimer's Disease People with diabetes are at increased risk of going on to develop Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Arvanitakis presented these findings here April 3^rd at the 55^th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.  "We found that diabetes is associated both with a higher likelihood of Alzheimer's disease and a greater rate of decline in perceptual speed."

Dangerous Cardiovascular Complications Endanger Pregnant Diabetic Women  Early development of a restrictive pattern of ventricular filling in pregnant diabetics can lead to complications during delivery.

Diabetes Among Siblings, Obesity: Risk Factors For Heart Disease Studies have suggested that the "metabolic syndrome" -- a cluster of health problems that includes high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and obesity – increases the risk of heart disease. Now, research delves in a little deeper, finding that two important risk factors for the syndrome, family history of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, are independent predictors of heart disease.
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With no Government funding, Defeat Diabetes Foundation relies on the generosity of "We the People" to help keep our programs going and growing.   We can't do it alone ... We need your financial support!
Make a "Tribute", "Memorial", or "General" donation.
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Diagnosing Diabetes in the Dentists Office  The first indication can be a pesky mouth sore that will not go away, or an unusual oral dryness. Diabetes, which frequently shows signs in a person's mouth, is something that your dentist wants you to be aware of.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Linked to Diabetes  An emerging body of research has linked a common but misunderstood gynecological disorder among women with one of the most rapidly growing illnesses in the United States -- diabetes. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, affects up to 10 percent of American women of childbearing age. It occurs when the ovaries manufacture too much testosterone, the so-called male hormone, rendering them unable to produce eggs. If you have PCOS you probably have subtle insulin resistance.

Premenopausal Diabetics Have 30 Times Higher Risk of CVD Death Premenopausal women with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes have a greatly increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.
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Did you know?
Middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes have the same high risk for heart attack as people without diabetes who already have had a heart attack. CDC Diabetes Surveillance Report 1999
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Blood Sugar Linked To Loss Of Memory  New research found that people who don't process blood sugar normally — a silent, pre-diabetic condition — are likely to suffer poor memory and even a shrinkage of the brain region crucial for recall. The good news: If the small study from New York University were confirmed, simple diet and exercise could help many people protect their brains from the fogged memory associated with aging.

Diabetes Among Siblings, Obesity: Risk Factors For Heart Disease  Studies have suggested that the "metabolic syndrome" -- a cluster of health problems that includes high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and obesity – increases the risk of heart disease. Now, research delves in a little deeper, finding that two important risk factors for the syndrome, family history of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, are independent predictors of heart disease.
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Did you know?
Sixty-Six Percent of people who have heart attacks also have diabetes or pre-diabetes.  That according to researchers in Sweden. The Lancet, June 22, 2002
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Clogging of Leg Arteries Overlooked by Primary-Care Doctors  Diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a form of atherosclerosis that affects arteries leading to the legs and feet. Aggressive treatment to lower blood pressure in diabetics with clogged leg arteries significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes, researchers say.

Diabetic Ulcers Linked to Foot Structure Abnormalities  Diabetic patients with neuropathy, a common complication of the disease which causes loss of sensation in the feet, should be screened for certain biomechanical problems, such as limited ankle and big-toe mobility. Identifying and monitoring diabetes patients with pre-existing foot problems early in the course of the disease could improve the success of treatment for foot ulcers and lower the incidence of recurrence, infection and amputation.

To read more go to Latest News.
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Diabetic Recipes
Here are some great tasting recipes from Jyl Steinback's latest cookbook, Cook Once, Eat for a Week.  (www.AmericasHealthiestMom.com)

Appetizer - Melba Cheese Puffs
Soup - Tomato Soup
Main Dish - Tequila Chicken Strips
Potato - Honey Mustard Fries  
Vegetable - Lemon-Pepper Asparagus Spears
Dessert - Cherry-Almond-Cheese Tart
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Don't miss the latest news, the greatest recipes, your questions and more from Mr. Diabetes^®
Subscribe to Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter.
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Readers' Forum

Here are two of the questions we have received since our last E-Lerts™:
Q - Is a burning sensation under the bottom of the feet a symptom of diabetes? - Kathy - for our answer

Q - I'm a Type 2 diabetic and my vision is fine, but my doctor insists that I get my eyes checked annually. Is this really necessary? - Peter - for our answer
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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.

If you liked our E-Lerts™ Newsletter, found interesting and informative articles, or enjoyed our delicious recipes, please forward this newsletter to someone you know who may also benefit from reading it.

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The Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible.