Archive for March, 2011

Dark Cocoa May Lower Insulin Resistance

March 31, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet, Diabetes Control 
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Dark cocoa has been linked to a reduction in risk factors for diabetes such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dark cocoa has also been shown to lower insulin resistance in diabetics.

It’s believed that the health benefits arise from the polyphenolic flavonoids in cocoa – antioxidants with the potential to prevent heart attacks which are also found in fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee and wine.

Most commercial chocolate is high in sugar and fat, offsetting its possible health benefits, so more research is needed about the risk/benefits ratio of eating a regular dark chocolate bar.

To read the entire article on WebMD, click >HERE<.

International Diabetes Association Supports Bariatric Surgery as Treatment Option in Diabetes Control

March 31, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Weight Management, Diabetes Research and News 
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The International Diabetes Association (IDA) has taken the position that bariatric (weight loss) surgery should be considered early on as a cost-effective treatment option to avoid serious complications in type 2 diabetics who are moderately or severely obese.

The IDA 2011 position statement was released around the same time that the FDA expanded the approval of the Lap-Band Adjustable Gastric Banding System procedure for use in a wider range of obese patients, including diabetics. Read the full article

Diabetes in Children: Adjusting to Life with Juvenile Diabetes

March 29, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes in Children 
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It’s hard enough to cope with parenting an adolescent, and if you throw juvenile diabetes into the mix it may feel impossible. Educate yourself; make a plan with your diabetes team, and keep the lines of communication open between you and your child, and you can go back to disagreeing about things like dating and borrowing the car.

Signs and Symptoms

Because of the changes your child will experience with puberty, the signs and symptoms of diabetes in children may be difficult to recognize, so regular check-ups are important. Type 1 diabetes usually shows up at 10 to 12 years of age in girls and around 12 to 14 years of age in boys, but may present earlier or later. Some of the symptoms of juvenile diabetes are: Read the full article

New Hormone Pathway May Replace Insulin Therapy for Diabetes

March 28, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Medication, Diabetes Research and News, Insulin Injections 
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Researchers have discovered a hormone pathway that they are hopeful may eventually lead to new type 1 diabetes treatments to replace insulin therapy. Currently, America’s approximately one million type 1 diabetics rely on multiple insulin injections per day to control their blood sugar.

The pathway involves a hormone with insulin-like characteristics called fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF 19). Unlike insulin, FGF 19 does not cause excess glucose to be stored as fat, also raising the prospect of a new anti-obesity treatment.

To read the whole story, click here >Science Daily<.

Artificial Pancreas Awaiting FDA Approval for Clinical Testing

March 26, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes in Children, Diabetes Research and News, Insulin Delivery 
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A group of parents of children with diabetes who formed a non-profit foundation in 1970 called the Juvenile Diabetes Research Association (JDRA) has raised almost 1.5 billion for diabetes research, and is close to their goal of developing an artificial pancreas.

In 2006, the JDRA funded a consortium of engineers, mathematicians and diabetes experts to collaborate on computer programs for a possible artificial pancreas. In early 2010, the JDRA hired Animas Corporation, a provider of high tech insulin pumps, to assist in the development of the automated insulin delivery system.
Read the full article

Diabetize Your Favorite Recipes

March 23, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet 
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Part of the challenge of living with diabetes is eating well without feeling deprived. The American Diabetes Association has some helpful tips to “diabetize” your favorite family recipes so they can remain part of your lifestyle. Among their suggestions:

1)   Reduce sodium.

2)   Reduce saturated fat.

3)   Pump up the vegetables.

4)   Increase fiber.

5)   Reduce portion size

Click here for the full post >American Diabetes Association.<

Adjusting to Life With Childhood Diabetes

March 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes in Children 
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Photo: binababy12

It’s hard enough to cope with parenting an adolescent, and if you throw juvenile diabetes into the mix it may feel impossible. Educate yourself, make a plan with your diabetes team, and keep lines of communication open between you and your child, and you can go back to disagreeing about things like dating and borrowing the car.

Signs and Symptoms

Because of the changes your child will experience with puberty, the signs and symptoms may be difficult to recognize, so regular check-ups are important. Type 1 diabetes usually shows up at 10 to 12 years of age in girls and around 12 to 14 years of age in boys, but may present earlier or later. Some of the symptoms of diabetes in children are:  Read the full article

Giving Your Cat Insulin Injections

March 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes in Dogs and Cats, Insulin Delivery 
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cat in gardenIf you have experience with feline diabetes you know how hard it can be to watch your furry family member suffer through weakness, vet appointments, diet changes and, possibly the most challenging of all, insulin injections. Knowledge of proper cat insulin injection techniques can make your life and your cat’s life easier. If you have any questions or concerns talk to your vet.

Prepare the Insulin

  • Start by filling the insulin syringe slightly more than your cat’s dose
  • Tap the insulin syringe to remove air bubbles
  • Slowly push the plunger until you have the correct dosage of insulin in the syringe

Read the full article

Animus Issues Urgent Recall Notice to Insulin Pump Users

March 12, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Research and News, Insulin Delivery 
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In a rare development that all insulin dependent diabetics should be aware of, Johnson & Johnson has recalled around 384,000 cartridges for its Animus Insulin Pump.

To date, twenty-two injuries have been reported as a result of faulty insulin pump cartridges leaking at the side where the plunger is. The leaks can result in the diabetic using the cartridge receiving a lower insulin dosage than they intended. Read the full article

Diabetes Medications May Hold the Clue for New Weight Loss Drugs

March 4, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Weight Management, Diabetes Medication, Diabetes Research and News 
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Barbie doll with tape measure

Photo credit: Kirsche222

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are “one step closer to developing effective, FDA-approved treatments for obesity”, according to Matthew Hayes, PhD, of the University’s School of Medicine. The researchers say current type 2 diabetes medications may hold the clue for new anti-obesity drugs.

Hayes and his team are the first to identify the body mechanisms that produce the feeling of being full, or satiety. This mechanism helps explain why type 2 diabetes medications which target a hormone for insulin production called GLP-1 often promote weight loss, presumably by causing diabetes patients to feel fuller and eat less.

Read the whole story here>Science Daily<.

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