Diabetes-Friendly Red, White and Blue Recipes for July 4th

The Fourth of July: A time for fun, fireworks, family, friends and FOOD!

Everyone loves an American themed dessert on July 4th. Don't pass on your favorite red, white and blue treat, make it diabetes-friendly instead.

Here's an Independence Day twist on a simple diabetes-friendly recipe:

1. Begin by preparing American Diabetes' Recipe for Raspberry Mousse.

2. Scoop the prepared mousse into a glass parfait cup, filling it 1/4 of the way.

3. Top with whipped cream until the glass is half full.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the parfait glass is full. You should have four red and white alternating stripes (see image above).

5. Finish with a sprinkle of blueberries on top for a red, white and blue "Americana Parfait."

iPhone App Tracks Carbs, Insulin and Glucose

A new iPhone application from Universal Tracking System allows you to track carbohydrate intake as well as insulin and glucose levels. The App organizes your medical data graphically and by date to make sharing your blood glucose levels with your doctor or family a breeze.

Here is a video demonstrating the features of the App:

Dogs Sniff Out Low Blood Sugar Levels

Dogs in Britain are being trained to warn their diabetic owners when their blood sugar levels drop dangerously low. K-9s are already used to sniff out cancer, drugs and explosives, but this could be groundbreaking for diabetes care.

Dogs' hypersensitive noses are able to identify tiny changes in blood sugar levels which can indicate a hypoglycemic attack. 65% of people surveyed with insulin-dependent diabetes at a hospital in Belfast, Ireland reported their dogs reacting by barking, whining or licking during a hypoglycemic episode.

The Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs research facility in Southern England currently has 17 rescue dogs undergoing animal training to be paired up with diabetic owners. The facility hopes the research will lead to the invention of an electronic nose to act just like a dog's nose and detect dangerous changes in blood sugar levels.

Diabetic Health Tips: Beat the Summer Heat

The Summer heat can sunburn, dehydrate and exhaust anyone. But those with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes need to take extra precautions in the Summer in order to regulate glucose levels and prevent dehydration.

Here are some tips to keep you cool in the Summer heat:

1. Hydrate - When heat combines with high glucose levels, dehydration can occur very quickly. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, avoiding juices, sports drinks, sodas, caffeine and alcohol.

2. Avoid the Sun Between 10 AM and 2 PM - When the sun is at its hottest you are more likely to burn, become dehydrated and suffer from heat exhaustion. Exercise in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid over-perspiration which can dehydrate your body.

3. Keep Your Diabetic Testing Supplies Cool - Insulin and Glucose Meters should never be kept in direct sunlight or above room temperature. Keep your testing supplies in a cooler or insulated carrying case.

4. Monitor Your Blood Sugar - Heat causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate unexpectedly. Check your blood sugar at least four times a day and extra carry snacks when leaving home.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Dads with Diabetes

Father's Day is just around the corner. If your Dad has Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, why not show how much you care with a gift that celebrates your Diabetic Dad? Here are a few Diabetes friendly gift ideas for Dads:

Low-Carb Gift Basket - Healthy, low-carb snacks are great for diabetics. Well Baskets has an all natural low-carb gift basket filled with vitamin and nutrient rich snacks like smoked salmon, pistachios and artisana nut butter.

Magazine Subscription - Men's Health, Diabetes Forcast and Diabetes Self Management all feature articles, information and news about Diabetes, health, nutrition and fitness.

Donate to the American Diabetes Association - Make a tax-deductable donation to the American Diabetes Association in honor of your Dad. The funds will go toward research to find a cure for Diabetes. Your Dad will also get a personalized e-mail or card with your message to announce your donation.

Cook a Diabetes Friendly Meal - Invite your Dad over for a Diabetes friendly meal. There are plenty of delicious recipes and ideas from American Diabetes. Whether your Dad loves Mexican, Italian, Seafood or American cuisine, American Diabetes has recipes for Appetizers, Entrees, Salads and even Desserts.

Remember - Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st!

New Treatments Offer Hope for Type 2 Diabetes

According to a recent article, there are new treatments that offer hope for those with Type 2 Diabetes.

In this article, new medications and types of insulin continue to come forward each year. There are types of insulin ranging from rapid-acting to short-acting to long-acting. Multiple categories of diabetes pills are helpful ranging from sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and meglitinides. All work in different ways to lower blood sugar, stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin, improve insulin's effectiveness, or block enzymes that help digest starches to slow the rise in blood sugar.

In the past two to four years, two treatments have emerged as growing choices among diabetic patients because they show the ability to effectively control diabetes with little risk of weight gain, a side effect for many patients.

Diagnosing and Monitoring Diabetes using a Spit Test

A new painless method was discovered in detecting diabetes, using saliva, holds promise, suggests research presented Friday at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) annual meeting in Houston.

If the research pans out — would forego needle-pricking patients, especially unappealing to the growing number of children with the condition. Instead, patients could simply spit into a cup. It also would cost a lot less as well.

Through the course of his team's research, Nagalla estimates they identified 487 unique proteins, approximately a third of which had not been previously found in human saliva. Of those, 65 proteins indicated a difference between patients with normal blood glucose levels and those with diabetes.

That doesn't rule out using traditional methods of testing diabetes, as using traditional monitors result in more accurate readings.

[Read the entire article here]

The Cure for Diabetes? A Healthy Diet

Diabetes is one of the most deadly diseases in America. However, a change in your diet may be all it takes to lessen the effects of the disease. Research shows that 80% of new cases of diabetes are caused by lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise. 

A healthy diabetic diet is not unlike the South Beach or Atkins diet. The key is limiting carbohydrate intake, especially simple carbs and sugars. Keeping this one rule in mind will help regulate your blood glucose level naturally. 

This is why American Diabetes Services features diabetes friendly recipes for you and your family to enjoy. The recipes are intended to supplement diabetes treatment, but they are also a great preventative measure for those at-risk of developing diabetes. 

Enjoy Great Tasting Recipes for Diabetics

Even though a person is a diabetic, that doesn't mean they are deprived of great tasting, delicious meals, especially desserts!

Here is a great recipe that is diabetic friendly for Oatmeal Cookies!

In order to make these diabetic cookies, you'll need the following ingredients:

* 1/2 c. margarine
* 1 egg
* 1 tsp. sucaryl solution
* 1/4 c. milk
* 1 c. flour
* 1/2 tsp. baking powder
* 1/8 tsp. baking soda
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1/2 c. raisins
* 1 c. rolled oats

Cream margarine until smooth. Add beaten egg, sucaryl solution, and milk. Sift and mix dry ingredients and then add to first mixture. Beat in vanilla, raisins, and rolled oats. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake. You can use 1/4 cup margarine and 1/4 cup applesauce or 1 banana instead of using the full amount of margarine.

Check out the American Diabetes website for more dessert recipes, as well as side dishes, entrees and appetizers!

Freedom Medical Services expands into online pharmacy

Freedom Medical services finished the acquisition of Health Plan Pharmacy, an online mail order pharmacy. Freedom Med will be expanding their product offerings and such as discount prescription drugs and medical supplies nationwide. This move is also going to help Freedom Medical begin managed care programs.

Patients of both companies will benefit from the product selection and customer care. Freedom Med will help with all their medical needs.

Elixir moves diabetes drug into Phase 3 trials

According to an article on diabetes medicine clinical trials, Elixir Pharmaceuticals Inc. has initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial of its drug for type 2 diabetes, officials report.

The Cambridge-based biotech reports its drug, mitiglinide, is designed to help diabetics control their blood sugar and assist them in producing insulin. Company officials said they hope to seek approval of the drug from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration somtime during 2009.

The Phase 3 study involves 300 patients at 50 sites in the United States, according to the company. The trial is expected to conclude in the middle of 2008.

If you have type 2 diabetes and you're on Medicare, you may qualify for a free glucose meter. Visit American Diabetes Services to find out.

Can Selenium Really Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

A recent article on type 2 diabetes reported that Selenium, an antioxidant included in multivitamin tablets thought to have a possible protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes, may actually increase the risk of developing the disease, an analysis by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.

Results of a randomized clinical trial using 200 micrograms of selenium alone showed that 55 percent more cases of type 2 diabetes developed among participants randomized to receive selenium than in those who received a placebo pill.

"Among participants taking selenium supplementation, those who had the highest levels of selenium in their circulation at the beginning of the study had the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the average 7.7 years of follow-up," he said, "and the increase in risk is unlikely to be a result of chance."However, in the general population, very few people, if any, take selenium supplements only, every day, for nearly eight years, so we can't be sure that these findings apply to the public at large.

For more information about diabetes and to see if you or someone you know may qualify for free diabetic supplies, vist www.AmericanDiabetes.com.

Dentists May Be Able To Determine If You Have Diabetes

According to an article on diabetes and dentistry, you may not know it, but your mouth can tell doctors if your body is unhealthy. Dentists are often the first to see if you're at an elevated risk of type two diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

Dr. Ruth Cauthen of Ghent Family Dentistry helped 61-year-old Ronald Branch with his health and his job. He was struggling with controlling his blood sugar for two years, and his primary care physician was about to put him on insulin. Doctor Cauthen knew she could help.

She diagnosed him with periodontal disease, a serious bacteria infection of the mouth. Combined with his type two diabetes, it was life threatening, and could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Dr. Cauthen pulled 14 of Ronald's teeth and got the periodontal disease under control. An infection can wreak havoc on diabetics. Once the infection was gone, Ronald's blood sugar improved.

Dr. Sheila Garris is hoping for more success stories like this. She recently attended a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona with diabetes experts and dentists. They're leading the way for dentists and doctors to work closer together helping diagnose periodontal disease and diabetes. Dr. Garris said, "Dentists may be the first people to identify diabetes by identifying periodontal disease and primary care may be the first ones to recognize periodontal disease, and they're going to need the help of the dentists to help control the diabetes."

Dr. Garris says periodental disease doesn't mean you always have diabetes but it is an indicator along with family history and obesity. If you have been diagnosed periodontal disease, you should also set up an appointment with your primary care physician to go over any other possible health problems.

Study May Set New Bar for Gestational Diabetes

According to a recent article on gestational diabetes, pregnant women with high blood sugar levels may be at risk for some of the same problems faced by women with gestational diabetes -- the risk of a Caesarean delivery and a big baby who might have health problems down the road, researchers said.

They said the seven-year international study, presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in Chicago, may spark a new look at where to draw the line for diagnosing a woman with gestational diabetes. The condition -- in which a woman who has never had diabetes loses her ability to use insulin properly during pregnancy -- affects about 4 percent of all pregnant women. In the United States, there are about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes each year.
Treatment usually consists of diet and exercise. If left untreated, the mother can transfer extra blood sugar to the fetus, causing the fetus' pancreas to make extra insulin to handle the overload of sugar. This extra energy can produce large babies that may have trouble breathing at birth and could become obese as a child and develop diabetes in adulthood.

The study, led by Dr. Boyd Metzger of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, involved 23,325 women at 15 centers in nine countries who were tracked during pregnancy. What Metzger and colleagues found is that the higher a woman's blood glucose got, the more likely the child was to be large, to be delivered by Caesarean section, to have low blood glucose needing treatment and to have high levels of insulin. "We found that some problems occurred even in ranges previously considered within the normal range for pregnant women," Metzger said in a statement.

He said it is likely that the level of a mother's blood glucose used to diagnose gestational diabetes will be lowered based on the study's findings. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association.

World Waking up to Diabetes Crisis

According to an article in the UK's Telegraph, diabetes is expected to soar in developing countries over next 20 years.

There are the obvious opportunities for the insulin producers, but as diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, strokes and amputations, a wider group of drug makers could be involved.

Diabetes will this year kill as many people around the world as Aids, prompting scientists to call the fast-growing disease the greatest epidemic of current times.

Signs that developing countries are preparing to put some of their stretched budgets into fighting diabetes is not just good news for their people. It could create an opportunity for the drug industry. Not only will there be a large growth of diabetes sufferers in rich countries, where patients can afford the latest treatments, but the explosion of diabetes in poor countries creates an opportunity for Big Pharma to enter new markets where prices are low but volumes large.

Lars Rebien Sorensen, chief executive of Novo Nordisk, the world's largest maker of insulin, said: "Diabetes is growing fastest in Africa, Asia and Latin America. "At the same time we are seeing pressure on the US healthcare system, where there could be price controls. That is going to put pressure on global growth."

There are also opportunities to develop low-cost blood sugar monitors and even solar-powered fridges to store insulin.

The world is on the cusp of recognising the crisis and funds such as the foundation set up by former US President Bill Clinton are beginning to show an interest in creating a global fund to pay for diabetes medicines, in the same way that a fund was established for malaria, tuberculosis and Aids medicines.

One of the world's most eminent scientists working on diabetes, Paul Zimmet of Australia, told the gathering in Nairobi: "There are competing conflicts - HIV, malaria, earthquakes, Sars, climate change and water shortages. But diabetes is one of the greatest epidemics in world history."

If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you may be able to get your meter and testing supplies for free. Medicare and most private insurance companies pay for these products. For more information, please visit http://www.freedomed.com.

Medical Advances Against Diabetes Haven't Benefited Women, Study Says

In a finding that partly challenges the conventional wisdom that women live longer than men, a new study suggests that the medical advances of the last few decades against diabetes haven't benefited women.

According to a recent article, researchers found that the death rates of diabetic men dropped in recent decades, while those of diabetic women increased. It's not clear why the discrepancy exists. "I do not have a clue," said Dr. Larry Deeb, President of Medicine and Science for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), when asked why women are falling behind. "But I do know that it argues that something we're doing isn't right. If you're a woman, and you have diabetes, it may be we're not aggressive enough about taking care of you."

In the new study, researchers led by Edward Gregg, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examined health surveys spanning 1971 to 2000 to determine the death rates of Americans with diabetes. The researchers looked at about 27,000 people.They found that among diabetic men, the death rate from all causes dipped from 42.6 to 24.4 deaths per 1,000 persons between the two time periods. But among diabetic women, the death rate actually rose from 18.4 to 25.9 per 1,000, even as the life span of non-diabetic women grew longer.

An estimated 9.7 million American women have diabetes, and almost one-third of them don't know it. Women with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes, according to the ADA.

For more information about diabetes and related services, please visit the diabetic resource center at http://www.freedomed.com.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug May Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes

A recent Swiss study has found that long-term glucose levels dropped significantly after 13 weeks of treatment with a drug designed to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that daily injections of Anakinra led to a drop in long-term levels of glucose in the blood, while they increased in people given a placebo. To assess whether or not this could have an effect on people with type 2 diabetes, the researchers randomly assigned 36 people to receive a once-daily placebo injection and 34 people to receive once-daily injections of 100 milligrams of anakinra for 13 weeks. The study was published in the April 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Sometimes, beta cells -- insulin-producing cells -- in the pancreas are destroyed in type 2 diabetes as they are in type 1 diabetes. Through previous research, the study’s authors learned that a substance called interleukin-1 beta was a factor in the demise of these cells in people with type 2 diabetes. The drug Anakinra is an interleukin-1-receptor antagonist, which means it can block the action of interleukin-1 beta. "Our study is proof of concept for a mechanism underlying the disease and (may possibly) block its progression," said Dr. Marc Donath, one of the study’s authors, who added, "Interleukin-1 beta may be involved in other complications of the disease, such as arteriosclerosis. Therefore, this therapy may also prevent cardiovascular events. However, this remains to be shown."

Anakinra was well tolerated by the study participants, and Donath and his colleagues plan on conducting larger, follow-up studies of the medication. "This study points to inflammation as definitely having a role in the (diabetes) story," said Dr. Stuart Weiss, an endocrinologist at New York University Medical Center, and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. But, Weiss said that while this avenue of research is "worth pursuing, I wouldn't get my hopes up for a clinical application, especially since the drug appears to lose its effectiveness over time." Additionally, Weiss pointed out that it appeared the drug was more effective in thinner people. "The authors don't really discuss this, but it's an interesting finding -- it's not what we'd expect."

For more information about diabetes and services for diabetics, please visit American Diabetes Services.

Diabetes Expert Preaches La Vida Low-Carb

In 2004, Dr. Mary C. Vernon co-authored the book Atkins Diabetes Revolution. Her specialty is working with diabetes patients and introducing them to a low-carb diet that is touted to be highly beneficial.

In December 2006 she became more widely known as she was featured in Men’s Health magazine. It was then that her efforts were brought to the forefront and she is now receiving the recognition earned for being at the forefront of the cutting edge advances being made in diabetes treatment.

According to Dr. Vernon, incorporating a low-carb diet in everyday life is the best way to keep diabetes in check. As she says, “Carbohydrate control is the best way to manage both types of diabetes -- the type with high levels of insulin secretion (usually called Type 2) and the type with no insulin secretion (usually called Type 1). In the case of high insulin secretion, low levels of dietary carbs bring the insulin levels down, which stops your body from storing fat and allows your body to begin to burn fat. This allows your body to begin to return to normal levels of blood sugar.” She has seen tremendous improvement in her patients once they make the change to the low-carb lifestyle.

Dr. Vernon further contends, “Giving [patients] control over their diabetes by giving them the tools to eat in such a way that they require less medication”.

For more information about diabetes and services for diabetics, please visit American Diabetes Services.

Tokyo Team Uncovers Possible Diabetes Cure

A Tokyo University team, led by Professor Takashi Kadowaki, might have found a link behind visceral fat-induced diabetes which might also uncover a cure for the disease. They published their findings in the U.S. medical magazine Nature Medicine.

Visceral fat (also known as internal fat) was long suspected a culprit for the onset of Type-II diabetes. When it accumulates (most often in overweight older adults), adiponectin decreases. Adiponectin is a protein hormone responsible for several metabolic processes including glucose regulation and the breakdown of fatty acid. Adiponectin works to lower blood sugar and neutral fat levels. A decline in this hormone can cause metabolic syndrome; resulting in diseases such as diabetes.

This study has revealed the inner workings of this process that were previously unclear. In tests involving mice, the researchers found two types of protein on the surface of the liver cells. Blood sugar and neutral fat levels fall when proteins and adiponectin join – which boosts fat-burning functions. Obese mice however, have visceral fat accumulated and fewer proteins on the surface of their liver cells. So when the researchers found increased proteins, the blood sugar levels would decline. The research team found that even if the quantity of adiponectin decreased in obese people, diabetes could be cured if the proteins increased.

If you or someone you know has Type-II diabetes , you may qualify for free diabetes supplies. Visit American Diabetes Services to find out.

Oral Insulin Tested to Prevent Type I Diabetes

It’s possible that oral insulin can delay or prevent Type I Diabetes. Studies are undererway now per the U.S. National Institutes of Health. More than 100 centers from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia are included in the study. The goal from the research is to prevent the onset of type I diabetes. Researchers feel that if the disease can be delayed even by a few years it can alleviate the challenges that diabetics face of having to constantly keep their insulin in balance. The end result will be that complications arising from diabetes also will be delayed much longer.

The study tests a group of individuals most likely to develop the condition by administering an oral dose of insulin to see if it will prevent or delay its onset.

A pilot study called “The Nutritional Intervention to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes (NIP) Trial” is also being conducted on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, to see whether it could be used to prevent the disease in infants less than five months old.

Diabetes is a disorder characterized by high blood sugar. Type I diabetes creates an autoimmune response that destroys the insulin producing cells while type 2 is a general insulin resistance. For more information about diabetes, related services and links, visit American Diabetes Services.