Friday, August 11, 2006

Airline Travel Information from ADA

Special Announcement

New Airline Travel Security Information from ADA

Due to stepped-up airport security measures on August 10, 2006 concerning liquids and gels, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued new guidelines related to what passengers can and cannot bring on board the airplane. The TSA announcement specifically states that insulin will still be permitted aboard airplanes along with prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger's ticket. The general guidelines for traveling with diabetes supplies are still in effect.

More information about traveling with diabetes supplies, which TSA has developed in conjunction with ADA's assistance, can be found here. These tips will help ensure the safety and convenience of travelers with diabetes, while also keeping the traveling community as a whole safe.

Friday, July 07, 2006

What Exactly Is This “Gestational Diabetes”?

By Ashish Jain

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs
during pregnancy. It is one of the top health complications
that a woman has to face during pregnancy. Indeed a double
curse!

If the woman had gestational diabetes during pregnancy then she
is most likely to pass it on to the child. So, if a woman has
gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there is an increased
risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child. Timely
knowledge about this condition, goes to control it effectively
by diet and exercise. After the baby is born, the mother and
the child both recoup their original health.

One problem gives room for a series of problems. The major risk
is the birth of a fat baby. The condition is known as
macrosomia. The baby by birth will have its own problems, the
common one being damage to its shoulders during birth.

Some basic precautions have to be taken to prevent the risk of
gestational diabetes. It is taking recourse to natural methods
again! Make it a point to lose weight, if you are overweight.
Be careful and choosy about your food, and above all, do
exercises regularly. This type of diabetes is a temporary
condition, a passing phase, that occurs during pregnancy.

There is another risk for the baby. It may develop breathing
problems.

The exact causes of the gestational diabetes are not known yet.
But there are certain clues and possibilities, why gestational
diabetes occurs! It is insulin resistance.

The baby, as it grows, is supported by the placenta. Hormones
help the baby develop. But the hormones also do a damaging act.
They block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. The
mother’s body finds it hard to use insulin, so her requirement
of insulin goes up by 300 % and gestational diabetes is the
result!

Utmost care is needed to combat gestational diabetes, as it
concerns the health of the mother as well as that of the baby.
Food choices are of paramount importance. This will have
beneficial effects on the health of your baby’s growth. If you
are fit and healthy, the risk of cesarean section birth can
also be avoided.

In many cases, it has been found that gestational diabetes
leads to type II diabetes later.

Do exercises regularly even during pregnancy, but only after
consulting your doctor. This is the formative period for you as
well as for the baby. Proper exercises provide strength to your
body and act favorably for the growth of the baby within.

Shut the door on the face of the diabetes, even if it pleads
that it is only gestation. This evil does not deserve mercy.


About The Author: Ashish Jain writes about many topics. For
more information on diabetes visit http://www.diabitieslife.com.

Two Types of Diabetes and How They Differ

By A. Pruder

There are two types of diabetes, which consists of Type I and
Type II. It is important to understand the distinction between
the two and how both are treated.

Type 1 diabetes is commonly found in children and/or
adolescents, but may also occur in adults. With type 1
diabetes, there is almost always a complete deficiency of
insulin. As a result, the most common treatment is insulin
injections, a lifestyle that consists of both diet and exercise
and regular monitoring of blood glucose levels with the use of
blood testing monitors. Patients who have been diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes can continue to enjoy a normal life providing
they continue with their treatment and take special care to
follow their doctor’s instructions and/or recommendation.

With type 2 diabetes, an individual’s insulin level is usually
either normal or sometimes even elevated, but is not deficient.
This form of diabetes is believed to be more complicated than
type 1, but ironically is thought to be easier to treat.
Because insulin is still being produced inside the body, type 2
diabetes often goes undetected for years. Symptoms are milder
and may even be sporadic, which often reduces the level of
concern. The main problem with type 2 diabetes going unnoticed
is the potential for serious complications, including renal
failure and coronary artery disease. The initial treatment
phase of type 2 diabetes will likely include a lifestyle
adjustment to feature increased physical activity and a diet
that is geared toward weight loss. The next step, if necessary,
will be medication and possibly insulin therapy if needed.

Both types of diabetes require that the patient maintain normal
blood glucose levels in an effort to reduce the possibility of
organ damage, including eyesight, kidney, blood circulation,
etc. In order for this to occur, patients must carefully
monitor their food intake and make sure to participate in
regular exercise, all the while continuing to monitor their
blood glucose level.

As of 2006, there is no known cure for diabetes. A chronic
disease that effects many, diabetes is best treated through
patient education, nutrition, self awareness and long-term
care. In addition, patients are often urged to be aware of
other symptoms that may indicate complications arising from
diabetes.

The contents of this article are to be used for informational
purposes only. It should not be used in conjunction with, or in
place of, professional medical advice relating to diabetes. This
article must not be used as a basis for diagnosing or treating
diabetes, but rather an informational source designed to
explain the difference between the two types. For further
information, a diagnosis or recommended treatment method for
diabetes, individuals should consult a licensed physician.


About The Author: For more information about diabetes, click
the link to visit our website at http://www.diabetesreport.info.

Can I Go Tanning With Diabetes

Article by Kacey C. Hall

Diabetes and Tanning
If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes or are
susceptible to cold sores, be aware that these conditions can
be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet radiation from
tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition,
your skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight
if you use certain medications, for example, antihistamines,
tranquilizers or birth control pills. Your tanning salon may
keep a file with information on your medical history,
medications, and treatments. Make sure you update it as
necessary.

Protecting Yourself
Limit your exposure to avoid sunburn. If you tan with a device,
ask whether the manufacturer or the salon staff recommend
exposure limits for your skin type. Set a timer on the tanning
device that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow
signals that you’ve reached your exposure time. Remember that
exposure time affects burning and that your age at the time of
exposure is important relative to burning.

Knowing your Tanning Lotion
Some suntanning products don't contain sunscreen. It only takes
a few bad sunburns to raise the risk of skin cancer, and skin
damage builds up over years even when no burning occurs. This
is why sunscreen, which blocks UVA and UVB, is recommended. The
FDA has expressed concern about suntanning products without
sunscreen, and encourages consumers to check the labels for SPF
protection.

Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an OTC drug. Look for
products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. The
higher the number, the better the protection. Sunscreen should
be liberally applied to skin 30 minutes before going out in the
sun, and then every two hours after that.

Tanning Salons
It's true that most sun lamps emit mainly UVA radiation, and
that these so­called "tanning rays" are less likely to cause a
sunburn than UVB radiation from sunlight. But, contrary to the
claims of some tanning parlors, that doesn't make them safe.
UVA rays have a suspected link to malignant melanoma, and, like
UVB rays, they also may be linked to immune system damage.

Tanning Safely
We urge you to find out more about self tanning. You can self
tan with a Sunless tanning lotion. Sunless tanning lotion is a
tanning lotion that gives you that great tan without the
dangers of UVA and UVB! Find out more about Self Tanning!


About The Author: Self-tanning products, also called
''sunless'' tanning lotions, contain dihydroxyacetone. Find out
about Self Tanning at http://SelfTanning.ewhy.info.

How to Live with Diabetes

By Ashish Jain

One of the most dreaded diseases is diabetes. It is a killer
disease and it is really very difficult to control. Going by
the official US stats, diabetes is the third biggest giant
killer among the deadly diseases in the United States of
America. The global statistics is also mind-boggling!

First things first, how does a person become diabetic? When
your body is unable to produce insulin that is necessary for
its normal functioning, it becomes unable to absorb glucose
(sugar). When the levels of glucose take a course to the blood
stream, you become a diabetic patient.

Once you become diabetic, you have a problem for life. You live
hour by hour, during the day. Medication becomes part of your
life, which is likely to demand a good portion of your pension!
Your lifestyle will be changed. You will suddenly become a
thinking man now—thinking about diabetes. You might find your
self pronouncing the term diabetes, diabetes, and diabetes
hundreds of times a day!!

When it has finally seized you, it is not only diabetes alone!
Many other dreaded diseases live in waiting to take hold of
you. Some of them are kidney failure, heart diseases, nervous
breakdown, blindness, blurred vision, limb amputation and the
ultimate for the human body—death!

The prescriptive medicines complete the remaining process of
the damage. Many toxic side effects are reported- skin rashes,
weight gain and respiratory ailments, are few to quote.
Notwithstanding the claims of many over-the-counter drugs that
promise cure, the one thing that can really help you is your
diet control and perfect discipline as regards to time
management.

For example, your morning walks. Now, all the medical
practitioners agree that morning walks do great service to tame
the intensity of diabetics. So, you need to take a complete
brief about the articles of food that is suitable for you,
vegetables included! If anything will have the exacting affects
to take you out of the influence of this disease, it is nature!
So, have a perfect dietary discipline. It has taken many to the
path of complete recovery! Some of the local treatments have the
intrinsic capacity to tame your high blood sugar and such cases
are the only hope for the diabetic patients!

So, do not think that everything is lost for you! From the dark
ashes, sprouts a seedling!


About The Author: Ashish Jain writes about different topics.
For more information on diabetes visit:
http://www.diabitieslife.com.

Diabetes Rate Doubled in Last 30 Years

A new article from CNN.com you should check out:

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The occurrence of new cases of type 2 diabetes has doubled over the past three decades, according to a report in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

"Most, but not all, of the increase in diabetes occurred in people who were obese -- those with a body mass index of 30 or more." lead author Dr. Caroline S. Fox, from the National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute in Framingham, Massachusetts, said in a statement.

The findings are based on a study of 3,104 subjects, with an average age of 47 years, who were free from diabetes when they enrolled in the Framingham Offspring Study in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. After an initial examination, the subjects were followed to document the occurrence of diabetes over eight-year periods.

In the 1970s, the incidence of diabetes was the lowest, at 2.0 percent among women and 2.7 percent among men. By the 1990s, the corresponding rates had climbed to their highest points: 3.7 percent and 5.8 percent.

Compared with the 1970s, the risk of developing diabetes in the 1980s and 1990s increased by 40 percent and 105 percent, respectively.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Article: Coffee drinking may lower diabetes risk

A great article from CNN.com:

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Consumption of coffee, particularly the decaffeinated variety, is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study is not the first to document this association. However, in previous studies it was unclear whether the relationship was true among people of different ages and body weights and whether the caffeine component was the ingredient primarily responsible for the anti-diabetes effect.

Dr. Mark A. Pereira, from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues addressed these uncertainties by analyzing data from 28,812 women enrolled in the Iowa Women's Health Study, which ran from 1986 to 1997. All of the women were free from diabetes and heart disease when the study began.

The subjects were divided into groups based on the amount of coffee they drank: none, less than 1 cup, 1 to 3 cups, 4 to 5 cups, or 6 or more cups per day. During follow-up, 1,418 of the women were found to have diabetes.

Women who drank the most coffee were 22 percent less likely to develop diabetes than the group that drank no coffee, the report indicates. Further analysis showed that this association, which remained relatively stable by age and body weight groups, was largely accounted for by intake of decaffeinated coffee rather than regular coffee.

The coffee ingredients responsible for the possible protective effect remain unclear. Two coffee components, magnesium and phytate, did not account for the association seen. Caffeine intake from all sources, including soft drinks, also had no bearing on diabetes risk.

Although the first line of prevention for diabetes is exercise and diet, in light of the popularity of coffee consumption and high rates of...diabetes in older adults, these findings may carry high public health significance."

Monday, June 26, 2006

Diabetes Care: OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System

OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System Product Information

Save up to $50. Mail-in rebate card inside box.

(Test strips sold separately)

Meter and Electronic Logbook in One.
  • SmartButtons™ - Make your entries fast and easy.
  • Patterns are easy to see and understand.
  • Less pain, less blood, accurate results in 5 seconds.
Includes:
  • OneTouch® UltraSmart™ Blood Glucose Meter.
  • OneTouch® Ultra Control Solution.
  • OneTouch® UltraSoft™ Automatic Blood Sampler.
  • 10 OneTouch® UltraSoft™ Lancets.
  • Sporty Carrying Case.
  • Owner's Booklet.
  • Quick Reference Guide.
  • Batteries Included.
SmartButtons™ - Make your entries fast and easy.
  • Enter logbook information at any time.
  • Identifies out-of-range readings so you can add comments to your results.
What you can track.
  • Glucose result, date and time.
  • Insulin.
  • Carbohydrates.
  • Exercise.
  • HbA1c
  • Out-of-range glucose result.
  • Fats/Proteins/Calories.
  • Doctor Visit.
  • Eye/Foot Exam.
  • Weight/Height.
  • Blood Pressure/Cholesterol.
Patterns are easy to see and understand.
  1. Push the FastFacts™ button.
  2. View charts and graphs.
  3. See information about trends.
Less pain, less blood, accurate results in 5 seconds.
  • More choices for testing-arm* or fingertip.
  • Exclusive FastDraw™ design test strip requires just a tiny drop of blood.
Compatible with InTouch® 2.0.
  • A new computer program for people with diabetes.
  • Organizes OneTouch® UltraSmart™ meter entries into simple charts and graphs.
  • Helps you see trends and other factors affecting diabetes.
  • Provides printable reports you can share with your doctor.
Our OneTouch® Commitment.

We are proud that you have placed trust in OneTouch®. As a leader in Diabetes Care, our goal is to support you in the management of your diabetes with the highest quality products and services.

3 - Year warranty.
30 - Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Directions:

See enclosed instructions.

For In Vitro Diagnostic use only. Store at temperatures under 86°F (30°C). Do not refrigerate.

*See Owner's Booklet for important information before testing on your arm.

Warnings:

Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Customer Reviews of the OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System

OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System - SAVE! Up to $50 with mail in rebate** rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 6 customer reviews. I had been using a Profile until Summer 2004, when I got the Ultra. The Ultra was great - small sample size and fast results - but held no info other than the test results and date/time. I'm no good at writing things down as they happen, so my recordkeeping was messed up. Just decided to go for the UltraSmart, and it's fantastic. It records all sorts of information, making it easy to see trends or to look back and see how much insulin I took and when. It was also very easy to set up despite all the buttons and the various options.
The only thing I wish was different is the meal tags. With the Profile, you could tag any individual readings with any meal tag and the time didn't matter. For people like me with wacky schedules, forcing set time periods for each meal doesn't always work.
-- Elizabeth, Bronx, NY on February 22, 2005
OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System - SAVE! Up to $50 with mail in rebate** rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 6 customer reviews. I am newly diagnosed with diabetes, and this meter really helps me see how I am doing with managing my blood sugar. I love how I can check trends by time of day, day of week, and add in food so I can tell how what I am eating affects my blood sugar. I love it!
-- Anonymous on April 10, 2004
OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System - SAVE! Up to $50 with mail in rebate** rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 6 customer reviews. I can't believe how easy it is to test. The amount of blood needed is miniscule compared to what I have been using (One Touch Profile). I like the way it processes information in logbook form and is downloadable to a PC so you can get a clear picture of your trends, etc. This could be of value to your doctor as well. I am VERY happy with this meter and recommend it highly to anyone. Extremely easy to use!
-- Dave, Indianapolis, IN on February 21, 2004
OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System - SAVE! Up to $50 with mail in rebate** rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 6 customer reviews. The very best in blood glucose monitors. Works with very small sample of blood. Negative: The FREE downloadable (via internet) software for this only works with DB9 connector, while most computers manufactured recently don't even have a DB9 serial port. Information CAN be manually entered into the program, however.
-- Don, Hendersonvillte, TN on February 19, 2004

OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: Accu-Chek Compact Diabetes Monitoring Kit

Accu-Chek Compact Diabetes Monitoring Kit Product Information:

Save up to $65.00 Mail-in rebate card inside box.

The One With The Drum™

Includes up to $65 Mail-in Offer!

All-in-One-Convenience!
  • No Strip Handling
  • Auto Calibration
  • Choice of Test Sites
What's Inside:
  • Accu-Chek Compact™ Blood Glucose Meter (Batteries included)
  • 1 Test Drum (17 Tests)
  • Adjustable Accu-Chek® Softclix® Lancet Device with 20 Lancets
  • User's Manual and Quick Reference Guide (English and Spanish)
  • Carrying Case
  • Self-Test Diary
We are here to help make living with diabetes a little easier.

Sold Separately:

Accu-Check Compass™ and Accu-Chek Pocket Compass™ Software provide easy-to-read graphs and charts.

Accu-Chek diabetes self-testing products are covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.

Directions:

No Strip Handling.

  1. Auto Calibration
    • Simply Insert the 17 test drum and start testing.
  2. Self-Contained Strips
    • Press button and strip appears automatically. Apply small sample for quick results.
  3. Comfortable Sampling
    • Choice of test sites for more convenience.

Warnings:

Caution: A restricted license limits use of the Accu-Chek Compact™ System (meter, including the test drum). Carefully read the User's Manual before use.

For testing glucose in whole blood.

Store at room temperature between 36°F (2° C) and 86°F (30° C).

Do not freeze.

For in vitro diagnostic use.

Accu-Chek Compact Diabetes Monitoring Kit available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: The Scooter Store

The SCOOTER Store is America's leading supplier of scooters and power chairs. Their mission is to provide freedom and independence to people with limited mobility.

Click here to find out more about how you can apply for a scooter, at little or no cost to you.


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Diabetes Care: Ascensia DEX 2 Diabetes Care System


Ascensia DEX 2 Diabetes Care System Product Information


Ascensia™ ~ The New Face of Glucometer®
Uses Ascensia Autodisc Blood Glucose Test Strips (Not Included)

Test Anywhere, Anytime.

Revolutionary Disc System with Multiple Strips.
Convenient Portable Size.

  • Automatic Calibration.
  • 100 Test Memory + Four Time Specific Averages.
  • PC Download Option.
  • Serum Plasma Referenced.
  • Less Pain! Cleared for Multiple Site Testing
Sip-in Sampling® Automatic Strip-filling action

This Kit Contains the following Ascensia™ DEX® 2 Items:
  • Blood Glucose Meter.
  • Quick Training Guide.
  • User Guide.
  • MICROLET® Automatic Lancing Device with 5 lancets.
  • CLINILOG® Record Diary.
  • Carrying Case.
  • Warranty Card.
Test strips not included.

Bayer Corporation does not warrant use of the Ascensia™ DEX® 2 Blood Glucose Meter with any test strip other than Ascensia™ AUTDODISC™ Blood Glucose Test Strips.

For In Vitro Diagnostic Use.

Satisfaction Guaranteed: 60 day money back guarantee. 5 year limited warranty. (see package for details)

Bayer Corporation is dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services to our customers.

Made in USA
Model 3952M, 1 Kit

Indications:

For Self-Monitoring and Management of Blood Glucose.

Directions:
  1. Open meter, insert test disc, close meter.
  2. Move pad left (A) and slide it forward (B).
  3. Apply sample.
For complete procedure refer to User Guide.

Warnings:

Important: Before using this product, read the package inserts carefully.
Store at room temperature 59° - 86°F (15°- 30° C), and out of direct sunlight.

Ascensia DEX 2 Diabetes Care System is available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: FreeStyle Test Strips


FreeStyle Test Strips Product Information

For Use With the FreeStyle™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System.

100 Strips - 2 Vials of 50
Made in USA.

Directions:

Please read the package insert before using this product.

Warnings:

For in vitro diagnostic use only.
  • For self-testing
  • Do not use if expiration date has passed
  • Do not refrigerate or freeze
  • Store at room temperature below 86°F (30°C)
  • Do not use if box seal is broken or missing
FreeStyle Test Strips avialable at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strips



Clinical Accuracy
TrueMeasure technology to assure accuracy.

Easy
End-fill strips use extremely small blood samples.

Contents:
Use only with Precision Xtra System.

Blood Glucose Test Strip: Reagent composition:

  • Glucose Dehydrogenase (Microbial) - greater than or equal to 0.05 u.
  • NAD + (as sodium salt) - greater than or equal to 7.2 ug.
  • Phenanthroline quinone - greater than or equal to 0.4 ug.
  • Non-reactive ingredients - greater than or equal to 16.0 ug.
Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strips available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: Precision Q-I-D Blood Glucose Test Strips

Precision Q-I-D Blood Glucose Test Strips Product Information:


Now uses 30% less blood.

Clinical Accuracy: Breakthrough test strip technology.

Easy: Simple two-step testing.

Fast: Results in 20 seconds.

For us with Precision Q-I-D® Companion 2 & MediSense®2 Systems.

With each purchase of Precision Q-I-D a donation is made to the: Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, The Diabetes Research Foundation. JDF does not endorse any products.

Contents:

Reagent composition: Each test stip contains approximately 0.02 IU of glucose oxidase (Aspergillus niger) and 60 ug of non-reactive ingredients.

Directions:

Two Easy Steps for Blood Glucose Testing:

Insert test strip. Monitor turns on automatically.
Apply small blood sample - either strip to finger or finger to strip!
Accurate results in just 20 seconds!

Store at temperatures between 39° and 86°F (4° and 30°C).
Discard test strips after single use.

Precision Q-I-D Blood Glucose Test Strips are available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: BD Blood Glucose Test Strips

BD Blood Glucose Test Strips Product Information


For blood glucose testing with BD and BD/Medtonic MiniMed Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems.

For in vitro diagnositc use only. 100 Test Strips (4 vials of 25 test strips)

Each BD™ Glucose Test Strip contains the enzyme glucose oxidase (Aspergillus niger) >= 0.6 IS; additional ingredients (mediator, buffer, etc) >= 0.18 g. Each test strip vial contains a molecular sieve disiccant.

Directions:

Easy to Open Vial. Do not use if seal is broken

Please read package insert before using this product. Contents contain small parts. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Do not use if expiration date has passed. Use within 3 months of opening test strip vial.
Store at room temperature below 86° F (30°C). Do not refrigerate or freeze.

Available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Supply: OneTouch Basic Basic Profile OneTouch II Test Strips

OneTouch Basic Basic Profile OneTouch II Test Strips

New Strip...Uses Less Blood - Less Blood Helps Avoid Re-Tests*

100 Test Strips ~ 4 Vials of 25 Test Strips.

These test strips work with the following meters:

Units/cm2 of regent pad: glucose oxidase, 14 IU; peroxidase, 11 IU; 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride, 0.06 mg; 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid, 0.12mg. Vial cap contains a drying agent (molecular sieve or silica gel).

Our OneTouch® Commitment
We are proud that you have placed your trust in OneTouch®. As a leader in Diabetes Care, our goal is to support you in the management of your diabetes with the highest quality products and services. We are always there for you.

Made in U.S.A.

*Based on likelihood of obtaining a sufficient blood sample with similar needle.

Avialable at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Care: OneTouch Ultra Value Pack! Free Ultra Monitor included with 100ct Test Strips purchase!

OneTouch Ultra Value Pack Product Information:

For blood glucose testing with OneTouch Ultra Brand Meter only

One Touch® Ultra System plus 100 Test Strips Over $130 Value!
Includes Everything You Need to Start Testing:


No Waiting - Accurate Results in Just 5 Seconds

FastDraw™ Design

Smaller Blood Sample

  • Exclusive FastDraw™ design test strip requires just a tiny drop of blood
  • Automatically pulls blood into test strip
Less Blood Means Less Pain

  • Test on arm where fewer nerve endings are present
  • UltraSoft™ lancets with a thin tip for less painful penetration
  • UltraSoft™ samples adjusts to individual needs to reduce pain
Advanced Data Management

  • Large easy-to-read display
  • 150-test memory with date and time
  • Automatic 14 and 30-day averaging
  • Can be downloaded into InTouch® software for data graphing and trending*
*InTouch® software or data cable not included

Diabetes Supply: Accu-Chek Compact Test Drums


Accu-Chek Compact Test Drums Product Information

Accu-Chek Compact™. The One with the Drum.
For Testing Glucose in Whole Blood.

6 Test Drums (102 Tests)
Each Drum Contains 17 Test Strips. Simply insert the drum and start testing.
  • No Strip Handling
  • Self-Contained Strips
  • Auto Calibration
Made in Germany

Directions:

Store at room temperature, between 36°F (2°C) and 86°F (30°C).
Do not freeze.

For in vitro diagnostic use.

Available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Supply: Accu-Chek Aviva Glucose Test Strips

Accu-Check Aviva Glucose Test Strips Product Information

For use with: Accu-Check® Aviva

For in vitro diagnostic use. For testing glucose in whole blood.
  • Test Right the First Time
  • Fast 5-Second Test
  • Finger, Palm or Forearm Testing*
Available at Drugstore.com

Diabetes Supply: One Touch SureStep Test Strips

One Touch SureStep Test Strips Product Information


For blood glucose testing with OneTouch®SureStep® Meter only.

4 Vials of 25 Test Strips

Each SureStep® Test Strip Contains: Glucose Oxidase, 6.3 IU; Peroxidase, 5.6 IU; A Naphthalene Sulfonic Acid Salt 42 ug, 3-Methyl-2-Benzothiazolinone Hydrazone Solubilized 27 ug.

Vial Cap Contains a drying agent (molecular sieve or silica gel).

Our OneTouch® Commitment
We are proud that you have placed your trust in OneTouch®. As a leader in Diabetes Care, our goal is to support you in the management of your diabetes with the highest quality products and services. We are always there for you.

Made in U.S.A.

Indications:
For the quantitative measurement of glucose in whole blood.

Directions:
Read package insert before using this product. For in vitro diagnostic use only.

Store at temperatures under 86°F (30°C). Do not refrigerate. Do not use if expiration date has passed. Use within 4 months of opening test strip bottle.

Available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Supply: Accu-Chek Complete Complete Diabetes Monitoring Kit

Accu-Chek Complete Complete Diabetes Monitoring Kit Product Information

Accu-Check Compass Software Included
Accu-Chek™ Comfort Curve™ Test Strips and Control Solutions sold separately.

Total Diabetes Management System

  • Easy to Identify Patterns
  • 1000-Value Memory with Averages

Contents:

Bonus! Accu-Chek Compass Software and Cable Included:

  • Accu-Chek Compass Diabetes Software lets you further analyze results with your home computer. So you can make better decisions.
  • Show Trends and Averages. You can see patterns at a glance.

Quality Guarantee
With a 30 day money back guarantee and a 3 year warranty. (see package for details)

Made in the U.S.A.

Diabetes Supply: Accu-Chek Instant Plus Dual Testing System for Glucose & Cholesterol

Accu-Chek Instant Plus Dual Testing System for Glucose & Cholesterol Product Information

This monitor can only be used with the following items (not included).
  • Accu-Chek Instant Plus Cholesterol Control Solutions
  • Accu-Chek Instant Plus Test Strips For Total Cholesterol in Whole Blood

The Only Glucose and Cholesterol Test Available.

Glucose- Fastest test results! 12 second accuracy.
Cholesterol- Total cholesterol results in just 3 minutes.

Contents:

  • Accu-Chek InstantPlus Monitor
  • User's Manual
  • Quick Reference Card
  • Troubleshooting Guide
  • Warranty Card and Batteries

Directions:

For complete operating procedure, see the Accu-Chek InstantPlus User's Manual.

Warnings:

Do not freeze.
Store at room temperature.
For In Vitro diagnostic use.

Available at Drugstore.com.

Diabetes Supply: Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System


Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System Product Information:

Take Your Insulin Injections Without Using Needles!

  • Simple--just dial up the dosage and inject.
  • Comfortable--no needle and a quick injection.
  • Reliable--because you can clearly see the dose.

Includes the following:

  • Medi-Jector Vision Injector
  • Injection Supply Start-up Kit
  • Carrying Case
  • Instruction Manual
  • Training Video
  • Toll-free Helpline Phone Number.

Medi-Jector Vision is the needle-free way to a more independent lifestyle for people who take insulin. This advanced injection system uses disposable Needle-Free Syringes that allow easy viewing of the full insulin dose in the tip.

Indications:

Medi-Jector Vision
can be used with all brands of U-100 insulin in standard 10 ml vials.

Directions:

The Medi-Jector Vision system is simple to use in three steps. Simply fill the Needle-Free Syringe with insulin. then hold the Medi-Jector Vision perpendicular to the injection site and inject. Finally, turn the winding grip to prepare the system for the next injection.

Warnings:
  • Store and use between 50 and 85 degrees F.
  • For insulin use only.
Customer Reviews of the Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System


Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. I have used this system for about 2 years. It was very easy to learn to use. The sensation is different than with a needle. I would recommend it to anyone who takes insulin shots.
-- W. Michael H, Williamston, NC on June 3, 2004
Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. I have been using the Vision for over 2 years and I absolutely love it. I could never go back to using syringes or pre-filled pens now. The lack of needles makes this device safer and easier to use. I also don't get black and blue marks anymore. I used to have the model before this one where you had to boil the metal tip every month or so. But now with the plastic, disposable tips, its even easier to use! I definitely recommend this to all the insulin-dependent diabetics out there.
-- Anthony S, Bridgeport, CT on October 20, 2003
Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. I had trouble getting started, getting it all put together. But once I mastered that, it was wonderful. I really enjoy not having to use a needle. I used to have black and blue marks all over. Now I don't. I recommended it to my best friend, who's also diabetic.
-- Iris H, Saltillo, TN on July 11, 2000
Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. This is an exceptional product. I was completely surprised at how easy this was to learn to use. The instruction video was very helpful and very detailed. I didn't feel like I needed to ask questions after I watched the video and read the manual. This product is so great -- no more having to buy needles. And I know that my dose is right! It's wonderful. I can't say enough good things about this product. It's the best thing they've come out with in a long time. Please -- if you're insulin dependent, this is a must-have product. I'd highly recommend this to my family and have already told a friend about it.
-- Karen D, L.ake Havasu City, AZ on July 5, 2000
Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. I really liked the training video -- it was immensely helpful in using the injector. The training adapter helped me get used to handling the injector and comfortable with it. The feel of the injections took some getting used to, as it was vastly different than using needles. The only drawback was the need to get different insulin to use in it. I'd recommend this to new diabetics. I think it'd be easier to get started with this injector than to switch to it and have a lot of insulin around that you can't use.
-- Amelia D, Portland, OR on July 1, 2000
Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 5 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. It was very easy to load the insulin, inject it, and reset the system for the next use. There's much less discomfort than a needle, but you should still be prepared for a sensation. After the initial cost of the unit, the price of replacement needle-free syringes is very close to the cost of a box of ultrafine syringes. However, in my opinion, there's much less waste, better ease of use, and less discomfort with the Medi-Jector. I'm very happy with the Medi-Jector and will continue to use it.
-- Kimberly, Bend, OR on June 28, 2000
Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Insulin Injection System rates 3 out of 5 stars, from 7 customer reviews. I liked the opportunity to Test Drive this product. I, however, found this to be somewhat complicated to use. It comes with an instructional video that helped somewhat, but it took quite some getting used to compared with the traditional needle injection. I plan on practicing and using it more.
-- christine p, coggon, IA on June 28, 2000


Available at

Diabetes Test: Accu-Chek Advantage Voicemate System, Accu-Chek Advantage Blood Glucose Monitor and Voice Unit

Accu-Chek Advantage Voicemate System, Accu-Chek Advantage Blood Glucose Monitor and Voice Unit Product Information:


System Includes Voice Unit and Blood Glucose Monitor.

For the Blind and Visually Impaired..

  • Clear, Step-by-Step Voice Guide
  • Touchable Test Strips
  • Easy-to-Use, Portable
  • No Cleaning Required
  • Lilly Brand Insulin Identification

Everything you need to start testing blood glucose

  • Voice Unit (Battery Included)
  • Accu-Chek Advantage Blood Glucose Monitor (Batteries Included)
  • 10 Accu-Chek Comfort Curve Test Strips with Code Key
  • Adjustable Accu-Chek Softclix Lancet Device and 10 Lancets
  • Accu-Chek Comfort Curve Control Solution
  • Chek Strip
  • Insulin Check Vial
  • Step-by-Step Instructional Audio Tapes (English & Spanish)
  • User's Manual and Quick Reference Guide (English & Spanish)
  • Earphone
  • AC Adapter
  • Carrying Case
  • Warranty Information
Quality GuaranteeWith a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year warranty.

Made in Germany by Boehringer Mannheim Corporation

Indications:
For testing glucose in whole blood.
For in vitro diagnostic use.

Directions:
Simple Steps

Blood Test

  1. With monitor turned on, insert test strip.
  2. Apply blood and listen for results in 40 seconds.
Insulin Identification

  1. With system turned on, press Reader button.
  2. Insert insulin vial and turn until you hear voice guide.
  3. Turn vial in other direction and listen for insulin type.

Diabetes Supply: Medi-Jector Vision Needle-Free Syringe Kit A

Product Description
spikes on adapters are plastic

Medi-Jector Vision is the needle-free way to a more independent lifestyle for people who take insulin.


Indications:

  • Medi-Jector Vision can be used with all brands of U-100 insulin in standard 10 ml vials.
  • Needle-Free Syringes can be used for up to 21 injections and then must be replaced.
Directions:

Please review the Medi-Jector Vision instruction manual before ordering replacement Needle-Free Syringe kits. Replacement Needle-Free Syringes and vial adapters are necessary for use of Medi-Jector Vision. Needle-Free Syringes are available in three different versions (A, B, and C). Consult your instruction manual for directions on selecting the appropriate version before ordering.

Diabetes Recipe: Chili Mac

To boost the fiber in this recipe, try wholewheat pasta, found in many grocery and health food stores.
Number of Servings: 4
Serving Size: 1 cup chili and 3/4 cup cooked pasta
Ingredients
Name Measure Weight
Turkey Chili 4 cup ---
cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni) 3 cup ---

Preparation Instructions
1 Mix pasta and Turkey Chili and serve.

Exchanges Per Serving


3 Starch
2 Lean Meat
1 Vegetable

Nutrition Information


Amount per serving
Calories 374
Calories From Fat 67
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Cholestrol 47 mg
Sodium 558 mg*
Total Carbohydrate 53 g
Dietary Fiber 8 g
Sugars 8 g
Protein 24 g

* Not appropriate for low sodium diets.


This recipe is from Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cooking. This remarkable book provides the perfect combination of easy and elegant recipes so you have the widest range of choices for making quick, tasty meals every day. Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cooking was written by a winning chef-dietitian team, bringing you truly delicious food with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Included are daily menus and complete shopping lists for every week--and recipes to celebrate the foods that make each season of the year special. You couldn't ask for a better companion in the kitchen.

Diabetes Recipe: Fruit Popsicles

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Number of Servings: 6
Serving Size: 1 popsicle (1/2 cup)
Ingredients
Name Measure Weight
white grape juice 1 1/2 cups ---
red grape juice 1 1/2 cups ---
lemon juice 2 Tbsp ---

Preparation Instructions
1 Mix all ingredients.
2 Pour into popsicle molds. Insert wooden or plastic popsicle sticks.
3 Freeze until firm.

Exchanges Per Serving


1-1/2 Fruit

Nutrition Information


Amount per serving
Calories 78
Calories From Fat 1
Total Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholestrol 0 mg
Sodium 5 mg*
Total Carbohydrate 19 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 11 g
Protein 1 g

* Not appropriate for low sodium diets.

(Source: www.diabetes.org)

Complications of Diabetes in the United States

Statistics on Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association. For more information, visit www.diabetes.org.

Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications and certain populations experience an even greater threat. Good diabetes management can help reduce your risk. However many people are not even aware that they have diabetes until they develop one of its complications.

Heart disease and stroke

  • Heart disease and stroke account for about 65% of deaths in people with diabetes.

  • Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.

  • The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher and the risk of death from stroke is 2.8 times higher among people with diabetes.

In women with diabetes, deaths from heart disease have increased 23 percent over the past 30 years compared to a 27 percent decrease in women without diabetes. Deaths from heart disease in men with diabetes have decreased by only 13 percent compared to a 36 percent decrease in men without diabetes.

High blood pressure

  • About 73% of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or use prescription medications for hypertension.

Blindness

  • Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year making diabetes the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.

  • In people with type 1 diabetes, therapy that keeps blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible reduces damage to the eyes by 76% (New England Journal of Medicine, September 30, 1993). Experts believe that these results can also be applied to those with type 2 diabetes.

Mexican Americans are almost twice as likely and non-Hispanic blacks are almost 50% as likely to develop diabetic retinopathy as non-Hispanic whites.

Kidney disease

  • Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2002.

  • In 2002, 44,400 people with diabetes began treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

  • In 2002, a total of 153,730 people with ESRD due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant.

  • In people with type 1 diabetes, therapy that keeps blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible reduces damage to the kidneys by 35% to 56% (New England Journal of Medicine, September 30, 1993). Experts believe that these results can also be applied to those with type 2 diabetes.

Non-Hispanic blacks are 2.6 to 5.6 times as likely to suffer from kidney disease with more than 4,000 new cases of ESRD each year. Mexican Americans are 4.5 to 6.6 times more likely and American Indians are 6 times more likely to suffer from kidney disease.

Nervous system disease

  • About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve problems.

  • Almost 30% of people with diabetes aged 40 years or older have impaired sensation in the feet (i.e., at least one area that lacks feeling).

  • Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations.

Amputations

  • More than 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.

  • In 2002, about 82,000 nontraumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes.

  • The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.

Mexican Americans are 1.8 times as likely, non-Hispanic Blacks are 2.7 times as likely, and American Indians are 3 to 4 times as likely to suffer from lower-limb amputations.

Amputation rates are 1.4 to 2.7 times higher in men than women with diabetes.

Dental disease

  • Periodontal (gum) disease is more common in people with diabetes. Among young adults, those with diabetes have about twice the risk of those without diabetes.

  • Almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease with loss of attachment of the gums to the teeth measuring 5 millimeters or more.

Complications of pregnancy

  • Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies.

  • Poorly controlled diabetes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result in excessively large babies, posing a risk to both mother and child.

Sexual Dysfunction

  • Men with diabetes are 2 times as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as men without diabetes.

  • Women with type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to experience prevalence of sexual dysfunction compared with women without diabetes.

Other complications

  • Uncontrolled diabetes often leads to biochemical imbalances that can cause acute life-threatening events, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar (nonketotic) coma.

  • People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses and, once they acquire these illnesses, often have worse prognoses. For example, they are more likely to die with pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have diabetes.

Preventing diabetes complications


Diabetes can affect many parts of the body and can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney damage, and lower-limb amputations. Working together, people with diabetes and their health care providers can reduce the occurrence of these and other diabetes complications by controlling the levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids, and by receiving other preventive care practices in a timely manner.

Glucose control

  • Studies in the United States and abroad have found that improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general, every percentage point drop in A1C blood test results (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%) reduces the risk of microvascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by 40%.

Blood pressure control

  • Blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke) among persons with diabetes by 33% to 50%, and the risk of microvascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by approximately 33%.

  • In general, for every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, the risk for any complication related to diabetes is reduced by 12%.

Control of blood lipids

  • Improved control of cholesterol or blood lipids (for example, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%.

Preventive care practices for eyes, kidneys, and feet

  • Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.

  • Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%.

  • Detecting and treating early diabetic kidney disease by lowering blood pressure can reduce the decline in kidney function by 30% to 70%. Treatment with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are more effective in reducing the decline in kidney function than other blood pressure lowering drugs.

Information from the American Diabetes Association: The Genetics of Diabetes

For more information, visit Diabetes.org:

You've probably wondered how you got diabetes. You may worry that your children will get it too.

Unlike some traits, diabetes does not seem to be inherited in a simple pattern. Yet clearly, some people are born more likely to get diabetes than others.

What leads to diabetes?


Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes. Yet two factors are important in both. First, you must inherit a predisposition to the disease. Second, something in your environment must trigger diabetes.

Genes alone are not enough. One proof of this is identical twins. Identical twins have identical genes. Yet when one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other gets the disease at most only half the time. When one twin has type 2 diabetes, the other's risk is at most 3 in 4.

Type 1 diabetes


In most cases of type 1 diabetes, people need to inherit risk factors from both parents. We think these factors must be more common in whites because whites have the highest rate of type 1 diabetes. Because most people who are at risk do not get diabetes, researchers want to find out what the environmental triggers are.

One trigger might be related to cold weather. Type 1 diabetes develops more often in winter than summer and is more common in places with cold climates. Another trigger might be viruses. Perhaps a virus that has only mild effects on most people triggers type 1 diabetes in others.

Early diet may also play a role. Type 1 diabetes is less common in people who were breastfed and in those who first ate solid foods at later ages.

In many people, the development of type 1 diabetes seems to take many years. In experiments that followed relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, researchers found that most of those who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies in their blood for years before.

(Antibodies are proteins that destroy bacteria or viruses. Autoantibodies are antibodies 'gone bad,' which attack the body's own tissues.)

Type 2 diabetes


Type 2 diabetes has a stronger genetic basis than type 1, yet it also depends more on environmental factors. Sound confusing? What happens is that a family history of type 2 diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for getting the disease but it only seems to matter in people living a Western lifestyle.

Americans and Europeans eat too much fat and too little carbohydrate and fiber, and they get too little exercise. Type 2 diabetes is common in people with these habits. The ethnic groups in the United States with the highest risk are African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Pima Indians.

In contrast, people who live in areas that have not become Westernized tend not to get type 2 diabetes, no matter how high their genetic risk.

Obesity is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Obesity is most risky for young people and for people who have been obese for a long time.

Gestational diabetes is more of a puzzle. Women who get diabetes while they are pregnant are more likely to have a family history of diabetes, especially on their mothers' side. But as in other forms of diabetes, nongenetic factors play a role. Older mothers and overweight women are more likely to get gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes: your child's risk


In general, if you are a man with type 1 diabetes, the odds of your child getting diabetes are 1 in 17. If you are a woman with type 1 diabetes and your child was born before you were 25, your child's risk is 1 in 25; if your child was born after you turned 25, your child's risk is 1 in 100.

Your child's risk is doubled if you developed diabetes before age 11. If both you and your partner have type 1 diabetes, the risk is between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4.

There is an exception to these numbers. About 1 in every 7 people with type 1 diabetes has a condition called type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome.

In addition to having diabetes, these people also have thyroid disease and a poorly working adrenal gland. Some also have other immune system disorders. If you have this syndrome, your child's risk of getting the syndrome including type 1 diabetes is 1 in 2.

Researchers are learning how to predict a person's odds of getting diabetes. For example, most whites with type 1 diabetes have genes called HLA-DR3 or HLA-DR4.

If you and your child are white and share these genes, your child's risk is higher. (Suspect genes in other ethnic groups are less well studied. The HLA-DR7 gene may put African Americans at risk, and the HLA-DR9 gene may put Japanese at risk.)

Other tests can also make your child's risk clearer. A special test that tells how the body responds to glucose can tell which school-aged children are most at risk.

Another more expensive test can be done for children who have siblings with type 1 diabetes. This test measures antibodies to insulin, to islet cells in the pancreas, or to an enzyme called glutamic acid decarboxylase. High levels can indicate that a child has a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes: your child's risk


Type 2 diabetes runs in families. In part, this tendency is due to children learning bad habits eating a poor diet, not exercising--from their parents. But there is also a genetic basis.

In general, if you have type 2 diabetes, the risk of your child getting diabetes is 1 in 7 if you were diagnosed before age 50 and 1 in 13 if you were diagnosed after age 50.

Some scientists believe that a child's risk is greater when the parent with type 2 diabetes is the mother. If both you and your partner have type 2 diabetes, your child's risk is about 1 in 2.

People with certain rare types of type 2 diabetes have different risks. If you have the rare form called maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), your child has almost a 1-in-2 chance of getting it, too.

More Information on Genetics

If you would like to learn more about the genetics of all forms of diabetes, the National Institutes of Health has recently published The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes. This free online book provides an overview of the current knowledge about the genetics of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well other less common forms of diabetes. The book is written for health professionals and for people with diabetes interested in learning more about the disease.

Article: Americans need more help managing diabetes, experts say

A great article on managing diabetes from CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. patients and doctors alike show a surprising level of ignorance about diabetes and are not doing nearly enough to manage the condition, diabetes experts said Wednesday.

A survey found that although patients believe they understand diabetes, they are not doing what they need to do to control it, and their doctors are unable to help much.

A team approach that would add nurses, diabetes educators and pharmacists to the mix might work better, they suggested.

"Diabetes prevalence has almost doubled since 1980 in America," Dr. Sethu Reddy of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists told a news conference.

Nearly 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with type 2 diabetes accounting for up to 95 percent of the cases. The CDC says an additional 41 million have pre-diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes develops as a result of diet, exercise and genetic components. Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the body.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or managed with careful diet, regular exercise and in some cases with drugs.

Reddy and colleagues held a meeting they called the Diabetes Roundtable and agreed that for various reasons type 2 diabetes is not managed properly.

"We all agreed that the future of good diabetes care will not rely on a single doctor," he said. "Realistically, one doctor can't do everything for a patient."

Insurers, Medicare and other payers will often cover visits to a nurse or a diabetes educator, who can work more closely and personally with a patient, but patients need to know to ask for this care, and primary care doctors need to know to refer patients, Reddy said.

Not connecting the dots

The endocrinologists' group and the American Association of Diabetes Educators commissioned a Harris poll of 780 patients and more than 400 primary care physicians.

The findings suggest a "disconnect" between what patients know and what they actually do, said Donna Rice of the educators' association.

For instance, 69 percent of the patients said they felt knowledgeable about managing their condition. But 81 percent of the doctors said they were frustrated with the number of their type 2 diabetes patients who did not follow their treatment regimens.

Half of patients surveyed showed little or no understanding of their A1C level -- a measure of a protein that can indicate how well their blood sugar has been controlled for the past three months.

And 59 percent of patients admitted their diabetes was somewhat or not at all well-controlled.

"It's like knowledge doesn't equate to behavior change," said Rice, a registered nurse and wellness program manager at Botsford General Hospital in Novi, Michigan.

The doctors also showed they do not fully understand diabetes, according to the survey.

The majority of the primary care physicians surveyed -- 78 percent -- said insulin resistance is the most important contributor to progression of type 2 diabetes.

Yet the experts said the insulin-producing beta cells are progressively damaged in type 2 diabetes and that this process may be a more important factor than insulin resistance.

"This suggests that primary care physicians do not consistently focus on how beta cells in the pancreas work," Reddy said.

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and patients have a high risk of heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and nerve damage.

Worldwide more than 194 million people have diabetes.

Article: Experts: Half of Americans risk diabetic condition

A great article from CNN.com:


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Poor control of blood sugar may be a much bigger health risk factor than most people realize, experts told a meeting on Monday.

One study predicted that half of all Americans will develop a condition known as insulin resistance, a type of pre-diabetes that puts them at high risk of heart attacks, and another showed that high blood sugar alone made hospital patients much more likely to die of other conditions.

The studies, presented to a meeting of the American Diabetes Association, show that early symptoms of diabetes and heart disease must be treated aggressively, experts said.

These symptoms are often defined as the "metabolic syndrome" -- an aggregate of risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol and other symptoms.

"If we could just detect and treat the metabolic syndrome ... we could reduce heart attacks in this country by 63 percent," said Dr. David Eddy of Archimedes Inc., a company that makes computer-based analysis and decision-making tools.

Curing insulin resistance alone would reduce heart attacks by 42 percent, Eddy told a news conference.

Normal blood glucose levels are 70 to 110 mg/dl, and anything higher is often considered insulin resistance or impaired fasting glucose.

Eddy's company is working on a computer program that would help doctors predict which heart risk factors are the most important for their individual patients.

Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes, most of them Type-2 diabetes. But the National Institutes of Health last month estimated that a third of these people do not know it.

"We found that people with pre-diabetes clearly have an excess of cardiovascular risk factors," Dr. Desmond Williams, a diabetes expert at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the news conference.

His team examined interviews taken as part of an annual national health survey. Of the 3,000 healthy adults aged 20 to 75, 28 percent had pre-diabetes, he said -- defined as having fasting blood glucose levels of between 100 and 125 mg/dl.

Dr. Mercedes Falciglia of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio found that non-diabetic patients with high blood sugar who also suffered a heart attack, stroke or chest pain were much more likely to die than other patients with the same conditions.

Her team studied 216,000 severely ill patients admitted to 177 Veterans Affairs intensive care units.

Falciglia's team defined hyperglycemia as blood sugar levels of 111 or higher. Hyperglycemia raised the risk of heart attack death by up to five times and the risk of death from stroke as much as 15-fold, she told the meeting.

"All patients should have their blood glucose levels monitored when they are admitted to an intensive care unit because hyperglycemia occurs in one-third of ICU patients," Falciglia said.

The CDC's Dr. Venkat Narayan and colleagues looked at a person's lifetime risk of diabetes based on weight. "The average lifetime risk for diabetes for a normal weight male aged 18 years is 20 percent," Narayan said.

This increased to 57 percent for an obese male and 70 percent for a very obese male. The numbers are similar for females.

In the United states, more than 60 percent of the population is overweight and 30 percent is obese.

The Diabetes Association's Dr. Robert Rizza said diet and exercise is the place to start controlling this.

"But in the meantime don't tolerate high blood (cholesterol), high blood glucose," Rizza said. He said drugs should be used to control these in people who cannot or will not lower them with diet and exercise.

Men's Diabetic Shoes: InStride Melbourne Hook and Loop

Men's Sizes: 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13
Width: Medium (D), Wide (2E), Extra Wide (4E)
Color: Black
Price: $88.95
Shipping: Free from Zappos

Diabetic Shoes - InStride Melbourne Hook and Loop - Product Information

  • The Melbourne offers the classic look and comfort of genuine full grain leather.
  • Generous toe box will accommodate a variety of foot shapes.
  • Custom Fit System™ with 3 removable insoles allows for a custom fit for each foot.
  • Airstride™ EVA cushion in the heel and at flex points in forefoot add extra impact protection, shock absorption, and comfort.
  • Outsole is made of lightweight polyurethane with a non-skid bottom.
  • Great for diabetics, hammertoes, bunions and accommodates new "k" coded inserts or custom orthotics.
  • 68% of Fit Survey respondents said this shoe "Felt true to size".
  • 88% of Fit Survey respondents said this shoe "Felt true to width".
  • 80% of Fit Survey respondents said this shoe had "Excellent arch support".

Customer Reviews of InStride Melbourne Hook and Loop Diabetic Shoes

2006-03-17 16:32:19
Instride Melbourne Hook and Loop
Reviewer: Doug D from Sourthern California

So comfortable- This shoe is so comfortable that I am going to order another pair, but half size smaller. These are like wearing a glove on your foot. Truly a wonderful shoe.

2006-03-13 12:29:00 Instride Melbourne Hook and Loop
Reviewer: Anonymous from Cyoress, Ca

I purchased these shoes for my father, who wears a brace. The multiple sole inserts were perfect to accomadate the brace and build up his opposite foot. Also give great stability and support.

2005-12-29 20:22:33
Instride Melbourne Hook and Loop
Reviewer: Nancy from Virginia

Terrific shoes! I bought these shoes as a Christmas gift to my father who is a diabetic. We have been looking for a REAL comfort shoes designed for diabetics and those with walking problems. My father LOVED the shoes! Zappos is, as always, terrific!