Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™ Newsletter

February 2004
(Volume III, Issue 2)

It's cold, you've got cabin fever, Superbowl is but a memory, and sweeps month is just about over, so there's nothing on TV. This is a great time to find out the best way to take care of you. We are going to have a two part series: First in our Latest News we will focus on care received from our primary care physicians: Only 20.7% of diabetes patients said they received all 5 of the major tests in the past 2 years; doctors need to prescribe exercise; and in one metropolitan area doctors get rated. We will present two articles that emphasize collaboration between the patient and physician and the pharmacist as the missing link. Next month we will concentrate on nutrition and self- management.

Our Readers' Forum has two great questions this month. Last month we switched website hosting companies and during the transition all email was lost. Unfortunately that occurred right when January's E-Lerts™ went out. I usually receive many emails at that time, so I apologize if any of you sent one and I did not respond.

We are proud to announce the debut of DIABeducation™, the bimonthly column by Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE. Theresa discusses the universal questions: What is diabetes? How do you get it? and Can it kill you? We also have a great cartoon from Theresa in her monthly Islets of Humor.

We have some great "comfort foods" to warm you this winter that are low in calories, fat and carbohydrates from America's Healthiest Mom, Jyl Steinback.

In our Treatments on the Horizon section we present articles that state:
antioxidant foods may prevent insulin dependent diabetes; obesity may be all in the mind; stomach by-pass surgery may cure diabetes; leptin gene therapy  transforms fat-storing cells into unique fat-burning cells; and Japanese  researchers claim to have found a way to get rid of excess fat without exercising.

Mr. Diabetes^® is getting restless. He's been working hard on other projects this winter, but he'd rather be out there walking and being with you, the public. Estimated time for relaunch: end of March 2004!

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

Awareness + Action = Prevention™
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Don't forget to subscribe to Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lerts™
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Latest News news
to read entire article click on title
US Health Quality, Access Show Need for Improvement  Only 20.7% of diabetes patients said they had received all five major tests in the past 1 or 2 years (annual retinal eye exam, influenza exam, Hba1c, foot exams, and bi-annual lipid profiles).
Obesity Experts To Docs: Start 'Prescribing' Exercise Doctors trying to get patients to lose weight should write a "prescription" for physical activity, obesity experts proposed. Studies have found patients are more likely to follow a doctor's order to exercise if it's written in a prescription.
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Did You Know?
A 2000 survey published by the National Quality Control Association states that 75 percent of people with diabetes are not getting their A1cs tested.
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Doctors Get Rated On Their Diabetes Care Nearly 500 Kansas City area primary-care doctors soon will find out how conscientious they have been in providing this kind of medical attention to their adult diabetes patients — and in many cases, the news will not be good. Thousands of patients have not been getting all the tests and screenings they need, new data show. This news will come in diabetes care "report cards" that doctors are getting in the mail.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP to continue our highly recognized and well received programs, but we would like to do more. Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our web site is secure and all donations are tax-deductible.
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Patient-Physician Collaboration Key To Controlling Chronic Medical Conditions "The more patients see that their contribution to care is important and what they believe has value, the better the outcome of diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, headache."
Pharmacists: The Missing Link In Diabetes Management? As of June, 43 states grant pharmacists some degree of prescribing authority in programs that focus on managing chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, hypertension and coronary heart disease. Each state is different, but laws generally limit the authority to specific drugs or to drugs for the specific condition in which the pharmacist has specialized knowledge.
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Diabetic Recipes recipes
This has been a long, harsh winter for many in the United States. Here are some "comfort foods" that are low in calories, fat and carbohydrates from America's Healthiest Mom, Jyl Steinback.

Spicy Turkey-Pepper Rolls
Not Grandma's Noodle Soup
Crustless Vegetable Quiche
Honey Dijon Salmon
Mad About Meatloaf
Frosted Carrot Bars
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to read more about Theresa
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Treatments on the Horizon treat
to read entire article click on title
Promise Held In Treatment Of Diabetes Studies increasingly indicate that a compound of antioxidant rich foods may help prevent insulin-dependent diabetes or extend the period of remissions that are common in the early stages of the disease, according to scientists from Oregon State University.
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Mr. Diabetes^® Says
Learn from the mistakes of others - you can never live long enough to make them all yourself.
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Could Obesity Be All In The Mind? Scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Newcastle-upon-Tyne are about to embark on one of the biggest studies of its kind into the role the brain plays in making people fat. The theory behind it is that many people fail to lose weight, not because they cannot stop eating, but because the brain will not let them do so.
Stomach-bypass Surgery Cures Diabetes By 3 weeks, fasting plasma glucose levels dropped from 159 to 96.3 mg/dL. In a weight loss operation, called gastrojejunal bypass, diabetes associated with obesity can often be cured. In fact, bypass surgery was more effective than certain drugs or food restriction at controlling sugar levels.
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Did you know?
Stress-buster
A brisk 15-minute walk is equivalent in relaxation power to taking 5 milligrams of Valium. "It has biochemical effects, washing away of stress chemicals. It's very soothing. You release endorphins when you exercise. It has a calming and mood-elevating effect."
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Leptin, The Answer to America's Obese Problem?? A new study found that leptin gene therapy caused a 26% loss of body weight. Increasing leptin, a protein involved in regulating body weight, in laboratory animals transforms fat-storing cells into unique fat-burning cells, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas report. They speculate that these findings could provide "a quick and safe solution" to the obesity problem in humans.
Study Finds Way To Burn Fat Without Exercise – The Magic Pill  Japanese researchers claim to have found a way to get rid of excess fat without exercising, in a breakthrough which could lead to better treatment for obesity and diabetes.
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DIABeducation™ DIAB
February 2004
By Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE

A 9 year-old elementary student recently mailed me a list of diabetes-related questions for a science project. Aside from the endearing misspelled words, the questions were universal:

• What is diabetes?
• How do you get it?
• Can it kill you?

As a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), I was thrilled to participate. Although diabetes is in epidemic proportions, the general public and health care professionals alike are in need of accurate information about the disease.
to read more of Theresa's column and to read more about Theresa
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Readers' Forum forum
Q - I've been under a lot of stress lately and my blood sugar (which previously had been well controlled) has gone all out of whack. Could my blood sugar readings be relating to my stress? - Joseph - for our answer

Q - I am 14 years old and have diabetes. I've noticed that when my blood sugar is low I cry very easily. Also when my blood sugar is high I am very nervous and my parents and friends say I snap at them. Is there a correlation between moodiness and blood sugar? - Erica - 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.

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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.

Important Notice: The opinions and statements expressed in the Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lertsä Newsletter are directed at a general audience. Its intent is solely for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please consult a health professional on any matters regarding your health and well-being, or if you are interested in anything mentioned in the Defeat Diabetes^® E-Lertsä Newsletter. The information presented here is believed to be accurate, based on the best judgment of the Program Director, but the reader is responsible for consulting with his/her own health professional on any matters raised within.