Lisa M. Rasolt
Program Director
lrasolt@DefeatDiabetes.org
Awareness + Action = Prevention®
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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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Latest News news
What To Expect From an Eye Examination – Part I All eye examinations should start with a detailed ‘case history.’ Diabetics, in particular, should be asked about how long they have had diabetes, the specific medications they are using for diabetes treatment, the previous diagnosis of any diabetes complications, the frequency and range of home blood glucose readings, the most recent home reading, and the results of their last glycosylated hemoglobin test.
What To Expect From an Eye Examination – Part II All patients, diabetics included, should have their visual field checked by professional examination regularly, as visual field loss can be very subtle until severe damage has occurred (as in glaucoma). At some point, the patient will be “refracted,” the process through which a new eyeglass prescription is determined (‘tell me which lens choice is better, choice #1 or choice #2’).
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Did You Know?
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in adults in developed countries. IDF, 2004
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Save Your Sight: Preventing Vision Loss from Diabetes A study found that more than 4 million US adults aged 40 or older have diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness. "The results of our study are important for public policy because they demonstrate that there's a large need for management and detection of eye disease in people with diabetes."
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Mr. Diabetes® Says
When Thales was asked what was difficult, he said, "To know one's self." And what was easy, "To advise another." - Diogenes Laertius, Circa A.D. 200
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Diabetic Retinopathy a "Major Public Health Problem" in US In the US, approximately 8% of diabetics develop potentially blinding retinopathy before the age of 40, epidemiologists report in the Archives of Ophthalmology. In a second report, researchers found that diabetic retinopathy threatens the vision of nearly 30% of adults with type 1 diabetes before 30 years of age.
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Did You Know?
In examining the measures of care for diabetes (annual retinal eye exam, influenza exam, Hba1c, foot exams, and bi-annual lipid profiles), only 20.7% of patients said they had received all five major tests in the past 1 or 2 years. US Agency for Health Care Quality and Research (AHRQ)
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Study Links Diabetes and Alzheimer's Diabetes might significantly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's bolstering the evidence linking the two diseases. The researchers calculated that diabetics faced a 65 percent increased risk of developing the mind-robbing disease.
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Did You Know?
The US has regulated that foods that contain trans fat, must state it on the label starting in 2006. But the Danish people have gone one step further and decreed that foods containing trans fats will no longer be sold in Denmark as of Jan, 2004
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Dairy Can Help Burn Fat Adults on a reduced-calorie diet who ate 3-4 servings of dairy foods each day lost an average of 24 pounds. the study indicates that 3-4 daily servings of milk, cheese or yogurt help people lose more weight by helping them burn more fat in the abdominal region, when compared to those who just cut calories or took calcium supplements.
Diabetics at Higher Risk of Pneumococcal Infection Researchers estimate that 24 of 1000 hospital admissions for pneumococcal bacteremia may be attributed to diabetes. The finding supports the recommendation that diabetics benefit from pneumococcal vaccination, especially if they have chronic heart or lung disease.
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Diabetic Recipes recipes
Here are light, tasty and EASY to prepare recipes from America's Healthiest Mom, Jyl Steinback. They also have what so many low fat and low carb dishes lack: that Dash of ZIP!
Artichoke Quiche Appetizer Squares
Red Pepper Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
Garlic Chicken
Fish Baked in Lettuce Wraps
Breaded Portabello Mushrooms
Gingersnaps
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Islets of Humor Islets
May 2004
By Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE
see more of Theresa's cartoons and read about Theresa
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Treatments on the Horizon
Insulin Patch In Pipeline For Diabetes Patients with depression and diabetes may soon join those getting pain relief, birth control hormones and help quitting smoking through skin patches that can deliver medication for days at a time.
Researchers One Step Closer To Creating Oral Insulin University of Toronto researchers have shown that "designer molecules" can interact with the body's insulin receptor, a step toward the development of an oral medication for diabetes.
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New Insulin Treatment For Canine Diabetes The Food and Drug Administration has approved its first-ever canine diabetic treatment. Before today's announcement, veterinarians would treat diabetes in dogs using human insulin. But the F-D-A says human insulin isn't compatible with a dog's metabolic system.
New Anti-Obesity Device On Trial In Italy Surgeons in Italy have started testing a novel way to combat the growing scourge of obesity -- a device implanted into patients that gives them the sensation of feeling full.
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Nutrition News Nutri
May 2004
By Barbara Quinn, MS, RD, CDE
How to Decipher a Food Label
Long gone are the days when people with diabetes were told, “You can’t eat sugar.” Now we know that all carbohydrates---sugars and starches---can affect blood sugar levels. Sounds simple enough…until you look at a food label. Here are some helpful hints: to read more
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Readers' Forum read
Q - Please provide for me the symptoms of diabetes. I cannot afford to see a doctor. Is there a test available that is not a million dollars to get done? - Deborah - for our answer
Q - I spoke to my mother in law yesterday and she told me she was supposed to start Dialysis. She has been an insulin dependent diabetic for some years. I don't know too much about her medical history but she said the Dr. told her that her kidney's were functioning at 15%. I don't know what that means but I know it can't be good.
My concern is that she says she isn't going to do the dialysis. She is quite religious and plans to leave it in "God's Hands". She says she has too much to lose if she starts dialysis.
Do you have information on this subject or know where I might find some advice? I am really worried about this but don't know how to get her to understand how important this is. Thank You in advance for any information you can provide. - Kathleen - 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.