tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330838542024-02-09T01:46:17.235+05:30diabetes pediaAnything at all that you would like to know about diabetes care, diabetes diets, the causes and types of diabetes, diabetes prevention and related matters. Free information & quick responses to your questions. Search here with keywords related to any aspect of diabetes management. Email drsbanerji@gmail.com or leave a post here if you do not find the information you need: an answer is guaranteed within 24 hours. NO SPONSORED POSTS HERE!Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-52016390408025214792007-10-07T12:56:00.000+05:302007-10-07T12:59:22.930+05:30Starch Blockers and Diabetes Management<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" align="center"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Disciplined eating and drinking can keep type 2 diabetes away on its own. Many people spend years in pre-diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome, before lapsing in to states which require oral medication and even insulin injections to preserve the remnants of health.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Why are we such suckers for binge eating, and stuffing our systems with unnecessary calories? Both the Internet and mainstream media are replete with low-calorie recipes, and advice on how to diet sensibly. Doctors, if we care to pay heed to them, are generally conservative and diligent in warning patients of the dangers of diabetes, long before the disease actually knocks on the door.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Temptation and social norms are two incredibly influential barriers to preserving normal glucose metabolism. Food can look so good, and we may feel so terribly hungry, that large and second portions, forbidden snacks, and everything we should keep away from our bodies, enters with delightful ease! Prevarication is awfully common, and who does not make promises to get serious about dieting from tomorrow?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Keeping away from sugar and fat holds center stage when it comes to diabetes prevention. The latest sugar substitutes are incredibly close to the real thing, and cooking media without saturated fats, and food preparation methods with minimal oil, add up to enable a pretty satiated life even as we battle against diabetes. However, what can we do about carbohydrates?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is all very well to say that people with diabetes must stay away from bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta. Those of us to love to eat and feel hungry even as our plates are emptied, despair at the thought of skimping, or having to do away with filling foods altogether. Diets would be so much easier to maintain if only we could eat something filling to our heart’s content!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">There is no utopia in diabetes prevention and management, at least not as yet, but starch blockers can make life easier for people threatened by or afflicted with type 2 diabetes (Kurzwell, and Grossman, 2004). These products keep carbohydrates away from blood, release sugars in to our systems at moderated rates, and effectively reduce the glycemic indices of some comfort foods.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Pitfalls of OTC Diabetes Diet Management</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">The main obstacle to more widespread use of starch blockers is the fact that so many brands are freely available without prescriptions (Stamos, 2007). One need not even make the effort to walk around the block to a retail shelf to buy a pack, because starch blockers are even available online. OTC starch blockers can harm diabetes management, and effectively give the entire therapeutic area a bad name.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">OTC starch blockers are sold as nutritional supplements rather than as drugs. This means that they bypass the entire regulatory process in terms of testing for efficacy and safety. The main ingredient is herbal, so who knows if all batches of production will be the same as the ones which have been reported in literature (Udani, Hardy, and Madsen, 2004)? The average person with diabetes cannot fully rely on such brands, and who would like to take a chance with a health matter?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dosage is another issue with OTC starch blockers. Confusion or uncertainty could result in taking too much, or not enough to achieve the desired results. Your body does need a certain amount of carbohydrate for continuing and vital energy needs, so going overboard with OTC starch blockers can harm you! A starch blocker is likely to affect prescription medicine for diabetes, so effectively there is no staying away from your physician (Clinical Studies, 2007)! OTC starch blockers, if they work, are likely to affect digestion and bowel movements. Again, dealing with such issues without professional help is a mug’s game, so there is no sense for anyone who suffers from diabetes, in trying to experiment with an OTC starch blocker. It is best to use this class of products with the advice and prior approval of your doctor.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">When to Ask for a Starch Blocker Prescription in Diabetes Management</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">A doctor may not prescribe a starch blocker in the first instance, hoping that you will be able to follow a diet, exercise, and medication plan to prevent or to manage diabetes, without distress or unbearable inconvenience. However, perhaps you travel or entertain frequently, causing lapses from your prescribed diet and exercise regimen, or perhaps the portions of carbohydrates you are allowed simply leave you wishing for some more to eat.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">A prescription starch blocker will allow some increase in your daily carbohydrate intake (The Fundamental Answer in Managing Dysglycaemic Disease Progression, not dated,). Your doctor may decide that starch blockers are not suitable for your case, if for example, you have a troubled digestion, or for another reason, but there is no harm if you make a suggestion, especially if a modest increase in your plate of pasta will make you especially contented! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Limits to Starch Blockers in Diabetes Management</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Make no mistake-no starch blocker prescription will completely sever the yoke of diabetes management. It is not as though you can look forward to gorging on potatoes or bread to your heart’s content. You could well have to submit to additional tests when you first start a starch blocker, just to adjust your oral hypoglycemic or insulin doses. You will probably have more wind in your belly than before, and cannot discontinue popping the starch blocker pills without prior permission from your doctor. You must take a prescription starch blocker precisely before each major meal, or with food, for there is no point in carbohydrates hitting your intestines before the blocker gets there. Ponder on these limitations before you decide that resisting slightly smaller portions of rice, potatoes, pasta, and bread, is not as pleasant as living with a prescription starch blocker.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i style="">I declare that I have no financial interest in promoting any brand of prescription starch blocker.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Do send me an email or leave a post here if you would like more information on starch blockers and diabetes.</span></p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" > </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">References</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Kurzwell, R, and Grossman, T, 2004, <i style="">Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever</i>, Rodale</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Stamos, J, 2007, <i style="">The Truth about Starch Blockers: Can They Speed Up Weight Loss? </i>Article in WebMD, retrieved October 2007 from:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-starch-blockers?page=1">http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-starch-blockers?page=1</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Udani, J, Hardy, M, and Madsen, D, 2004, <i style="">Blocking carbohydrate absorption and weight loss: a Clinical Trial using Phase 2 brand proprietary fractionated white bean extract</i>, Alternative medicine review, 9(1):63-9</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><i style="">Clinical Studies</i>, 2007, web site of Phase 2, retrieved October 2007 from: <a href="http://www.phase2info.com/clin_studies/clin_stud1.asp">http://www.phase2info.com/clin_studies/clin_stud1.asp</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><i style="">The Fundamental Answer in Managing Dysglycaemic Disease Progression</i>, not dated, website of Glucobay, retrieved October 2007 from: <a href="http://www.glucobay.com/en/index.html">http://www.glucobay.com/en/index.html</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-48758808823797491572007-08-13T11:11:00.000+05:302007-10-07T12:58:12.188+05:30Roadblock on the Metabolic Syndrome to Type 2 Diabetes Highway<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"></st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Has your physician given you a clean bill of health, while grumbling about your weight, girth, build, and bad habits at the same time? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Cast scorn on doctors who prophesize that you may end up with type 2 diabetes, though your readings are fine at this time, but even small steps can delay the onset of this expensive and restricting condition, if not pull you back from the brink for all time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >The math of dieting and exercise can be confusing because there are so many alternatives in terms of calories ingested and used. That is why the web site linked below, which I found today, is such a big deal: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:13;" ><a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">http://www.myfitnesspal.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Rest assured that I have no financial angle in pushing this service on you, but the truth is that I use it myself, and simply think that you might want to as well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-24713696534388547932007-08-05T17:54:00.001+05:302007-08-13T11:13:12.077+05:30Dangers of Loud Snoring in Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Men are especially guilty of ignoring protests about their snoring from bedroom partners, though obese and older women, or those with receding jaws, may suffer from this condition as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Snoring is not a minor matter as far as medicine is concerned, especially for patients with diabetes. It is not just a matter of disturbing the sleep of the person who shares your bed. Loud snoring could mean that you do not have a restful sleep at night, which results in your feeling low, irritable, and drowsy during the day. Worse, blockage of your airways could reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood, and damage your heart as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Losing weight is the best way to correct a snoring habit. Excess fat tends to line the airway passage. Some people have anatomic peculiarities, particularly with respect to the shapes of their jaws, and this can cause snoring to disturb the peace at night.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >A physician can prescribe aids to keep the airways free and open at night, though surgery to correct parts of the mouth may also be required. It is important to tell your physician about your snoring habit, and to have it checked out. Diabetes puts your heart at risk in any case, and you do not want snoring to add to the problem. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >What if you sleep alone? You can suspect that perhaps your airways are blocked if you do not feel fully rested on awakening from sleep in the morning. Your physician can order special tests in a sleep laboratory to check on any doubts you may have.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-25763623218193437492007-07-30T08:30:00.001+05:302007-08-05T17:56:07.359+05:30Meet the Fast Food Challenge in Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >A deep crust pizza with your favorite toppings; an ice-cream float with irresistible colors, syrup, and caramel; a diabetes diet is much easier to follow when all you see is the boring old menu your nutrition expert has written out for you!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Looking at delicious meals, snacks, and beverages you enjoyed in your days before diabetes, can melt the steeliest resolve. That goes for portion control as well, when you have a hotel buffet before you with no spouse watching over your shoulder!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Satiety hormones can rescue diabetes diets from ruin. They work very much like insulin, with injections under the skin before major meals. You do need separate syringes though, because these hormones cannot be mixed with insulin.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span class="minusone"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Pramlintide is an important satiety hormone which can improve your diabetes management by helping you feel satisfied with the food and portions prescribed for your condition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span class="minusone"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:red;" >Ask your doctor about the link below, which I retrieved earlier today, if you have trouble sticking to your diabetes diet, or if you are sorely tempted to have flings with fast food and sodas:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span class="minusone"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://symlin.com/2000-symlin-information.aspx">http://symlin.com/2000-symlin-information.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-1389273579920468482007-07-22T10:45:00.002+05:302007-07-30T08:32:02.537+05:30Benefits and Risks of RYGB in Type 2 Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Four letter acronyms are like expletives with that number-effective but hurtful. RYGB can sure help with type-2 diabetes, but then it can kill you as well!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >RYBG (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) is a form of major surgery which physically curtails how much you can eat or drink, restricts calorie uptake from ingestion, and protects essential digestive processes, all in one go. Every major surgery carries risks of infections and clots in blood vessels, but RYGB is even more dangerous because it involves stitching back excised parts of intestines and stapling parts of the stomach as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Any man more than 100 pounds overweight, and women more than 80 pounds overweight, is a candidate for RYGB. However, you may wish to consider the option even if you have trouble managing your type 2 diabetes. I would hope that this should not be the case, given the state-of-the-art in terms of diet control, exercise management, and the latest drugs and insulin delivery forms. Perhaps the dire risks of RYGB will entice you to follow your prescription for type 2 diabetes control more strictly! Seriously, RYGB is a realistic option if you run the risk of developing complications from uncontrolled or poorly managed diabetes. Better lose a part of your gut than your eyes, feet, or kidneys!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <b style=""><i style=""><span style="">Ask you doctor about RYGB or let me know if you would like links to detailed information<br /></span></i></b><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-73475851056632672702007-07-15T08:06:00.001+05:302007-07-22T11:18:13.621+05:30Diabetes and Celiac Disease<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Oats and barley are not as popular today as they should be, but rye and wheat are almost inevitable in a typical diet. Such foods are important sources of complex carbohydrates. They play pivotal roles in keeping blood glucose levels stable in people under treatment for diabetes. Cookies with sugar are out, but the average diabetes diet is built around plenty of bread and pasta.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Celiac disease, like diabetes, is difficult to suspect in its early stages. You could have a bout of diarrhea, but then that can happen to anyone, and there are myriad reasons for such an event. A child may fall off planned diabetic meals, but that could be plain boredom? A person with diabetes may suffer from hypoglycemia, but then the doctor may have got drug doses wrong. Yet, any of these transient conditions may be because of developing celiac disease, and your physician might not think of it: actually, you may even forget to report it!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Celiac disease is the inability to digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, barley, oats, and rye. The disease results in physical damage to the lining of the digestive tract, so it has serious implications for the long term if it is neglected or ignored. Celiac disease is easy for a doctor to confuse with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and some other disorders of the digestive tract. It is tempting to overlook symptoms as well when we are busy with the more pressing issue of diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes and celiac disease can and do co-exist in some patients.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Celiac disease can be uncovered by blood tests after consuming food with wheat or any of the other cereals which contain gluten. A person with celiac disease will produce antibodies after eating bread or pasta, and these can be picked up through tests for specific antigens. A surgeon can also excise a small portion of the intestine for microscopic examination, which will reveal the characteristic physical damage of celiac disease.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:red;" >Do ask your doctor whether you have been tested for celiac disease, whether or not you have diabetes, and if you believe that you do not digest bread, pasta, and other processed foods.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Rice is a great option if you have celiac disease. The flour can make great pancakes, apart from getting your carbohydrates from the fragrant grains. However, staying away from gluten altogether can be quite a chore because powdered wheat flour is so ubiquitous, not just in processed and restaurant food, but in packaging material for some products such as chewing gum.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >The best way to stay away from gluten altogether should your blood test and biopsy show that you have celiac disease, is to shop and dine at specialty outlets which certify their products and offerings to be completely gluten free.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Your nutrition expert needs to know if you have celiac disease, especially if you have diabetes. Remember that children with type 1 diabetes may have gluten intolerance as well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-42976957049675137092007-07-08T09:10:00.000+05:302007-07-15T08:07:10.317+05:30Something for People with Diabetes to Try<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style=""> </span>High blood pressure and diabetes are dangerous but common bed fellows. Many people with either one of these conditions often develop the other over time. Neither hypertension nor diabetes have obvious distinguishing symptoms in their early stages, so large numbers of people may suffer for long periods of time without knowing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style=""> </span>Both high blood pressure and diabetes require lifelong or long term prescription medicines. It is not usual to come across things which you can do on your own to keep either blood pressure or blood sugar under control.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style=""> </span>That is why you should click on the following link which I found earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.resperate.com/">http://www.resperate.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Rest assured that I have no financial interest in the company which makes this device, or in enticing you to buy a unit. However, I can vouch from personal experience, that regulating breathing, especially slowing down expiration, does help bring down blood pressure, and that learning to regulate breathing on your own needs weeks with an expert guide.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-76693525263493431282007-07-01T06:32:00.001+05:302007-07-08T09:12:02.055+05:30Pros and Cons for a new U.S. Ally for Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >It is not often that people with diabetes can buy medicines on their own. However, <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> residents with this disease are now one up on other nationalities with glucose metabolism issues and weight problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >The U.S. FDA has cleared a new presentation of a drug which doctors have prescribed for some time now, for weight loss: you can buy the new product without a prescription. You should remember to take a multi-vitamin pill every day with this stuff, because it could deprive you of a few important dietary nutrients.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >The medicine works by preventing fat in your food from crossing your gut and entering the blood stream. The unabsorbed fat just passes out with stools, which can become oily with more wind than usual, as a result.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >This does not mean that you can gorge on fats-certainly not if you have diabetes. However, it will help as an overall weight loss plan. It could therefore help to keep the creeping pounds away when you first get your diabetes under control.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >The medicine has had some disturbing side-effects in animals, but <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> regulators have sided with the brand owner, and have allowed the product on <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> retail shelves.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Why not take a print out of the product web-site when you call on your physician next? Here is the link, which I accessed earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.myalli.com/"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >http://www.myalli.com/</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.myalli.com/"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The active ingredient on which Alli is based, is available in the United States and in most other countries, in a different presentation, by prescription.</span></span><br /></span></a></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-88321748104516243452007-06-24T12:05:00.000+05:302007-07-01T06:34:06.176+05:30The Colors of a Diabetes Diet<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Brilliant red, eye-catching orange, formal black and virginal white-there is almost no end to the rainbow of dazzling colors which fruits and vegetables can lend to every diabetes diet. However, there is more to these wondrous fruits of nature than meets the eye.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >Fruits and vegetables are generous reservoirs of invaluable minerals which modern diets may overlook. Some of them, especially through their peels, provide fiber to keep ageing lower digestive tracts in good working order. Everyone needs multiple daily servings of fruits and vegetables, but such a habit is especially helpful for people who suffer from diabetes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">A word of caution though, for mangoes, sweet limes, guavas, and grapes are prime examples of fruits which do much more harm to diabetes than any good. Similarly, vegetables which are fried or dressed with oil are unsuitable for diabetic diets.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Green is the color of nature, so it is a great place to start a palette of fruits and vegetables for diabetic meals. Spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and peas, offer not just delightful hues of green, but are full of health-giving ingredients of which every person with diabetes can plan relatively generous portions.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Brown is a natural partner for green. Beans come in a nearly endless variety, and some of the tastiest ones have earthy shades of brown. Ask your nutrition planner to add both color and health to your repertoire of greens with liberal touches of beans!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;" >Where would we be without red and orange? Carrots and tomatoes are full of vitamins and anti-oxidants. No diabetic diet can do without them, and this is not just because of their cheerful colors. Peppers also come in shades of red and orange that can lend as much color to any table, as their nutrition benefits for diabetes management.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Black and white, are important colors in any picture and this applies to diabetic diets as well. Black beans, onions, mushrooms, and asparagus, are some delicious examples. You can add potatoes to the list, as long as you restrict intake, and stick to boiled or baked versions.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" >So go ahead and have a blast! Add a riot of color to every diabetic meal plan, and remember that there are sound benefits for diabetes management beneath every pile of low-sugar fruits and vegetables of every hue.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-49348626552297219042007-05-12T12:33:00.001+05:302007-06-24T12:08:15.352+05:30Diabetes, Middle-Age, and Eating Disorders<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >I used to think that anorexia and bulimia were diseases of adolescence, until I cam across the following link earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=602851">http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=602851</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Perhaps older people can indulge in binge eating without others knowing. Come to think of it, I do know some people who seem to undertake severe fasts and diet restrictions on occasions, though I have not associated such behavior with anorexia until now.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Eating disorders, at any age, have serious implications if you have diabetes. Anorexic thoughts can lead to potentially fatal hypoglycemia, while complications of diabetes may surface quickly if a person with a glucose metabolism problem indulges in bulimic behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >An HbA1c test will help a physician uncover eating disorders in a patient with diabetes, and such doubts can be reinforced by keeping track of changes in the BMI (Body Mass Index).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >It remains to be said that </span><b style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:red;" >rigorous and unvarying</span></b><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" > adherence to a given diet is a fulcrum on which diabetes management is balanced. Therefore, please seek urgent medical help if you have diabetes and develop strange feelings about how much-or how little you eat!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Please email me in confidence if you wonder whether you may have anorexic or bulimic tendencies, which could complicate your diabetes condition. I can guide you with points to discuss with your physician.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-87659792562744210082007-05-10T07:24:00.001+05:302007-05-12T12:34:25.800+05:30Diabetes and Strong Bones<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Let me start with a disclosure: I make a living partly from ultrasound evaluation of bone quality. However, no ulterior motives prompt me to warn you today that you should ask your physician about your bone quality at least once a year, if you have diabetes. Older women are especially vulnerable, but obese men with sedentary lifestyles, and those who abuse nicotine in any form or alcohol, are also likely to have osteoporosis. The latter is a silent condition, so will never know for sure without an annual check.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Diabetes puts indirect strain on bones, especially as you grow old. This is because persistent fluctuations in blood glucose levels affect nerves and blood vessels, making you stumble and fall more frequently than others with good eyesight, strong limbs, and flexible joints.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Take a look at the following link I accessed earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/health_library/reuters/2007/04/20070410elin025.html">http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/health_library/reuters/2007/04/20070410elin025.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Regular checks on bones matter for all women in or near menopause, and for older men as well. However, it is doubly important if you have diabetes as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Write to me if you would like more information on osteoporosis and fragile fractures in older people.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-82041740658660859572007-05-09T08:23:00.000+05:302007-05-10T07:25:07.774+05:30Diabetes and Allergies<p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Type 1 diabetes and allergies are both disorders of the auto-immune system. Yet these two medical conditions are most probably controlled by entirely independent sets of genes. People with diabetes do not necessarily have allergies and vice-versa. Take a look, if you have a penchant for medical statistics, at the following link I accessed earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/ejep/2005/00000020/00000008/00007920">http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/ejep/2005/00000020/00000008/00007920</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Type 2 diabetes develops for reasons completed unrelated to the immune system. You may have all your white blood cell counts in order but enjoy normal glucose metabolism. However, what about the reverse? A person with diabetes who also suffers from allergies can present special problems for clinicians. Sneezing and a cold can play havoc with blood glucose levels and affect diabetes medication dosing as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Take a look at the following link I came across today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/plagued-by-pollen?ecd=wnl_day_040907">http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/plagued-by-pollen?ecd=wnl_day_040907</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Keep this excellent article handy. Share it with friends as well. It could be the best present to welcome the summer which is around the corner, or even upon us, depending upon your longitude!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Allergy management, especially the preventive aspects, matters for everyone, but is especially important if you have any form of diabetes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-17670534123573311882007-05-08T06:03:00.001+05:302007-05-09T08:24:34.514+05:30Fight Aging through Diet in Diabetes<p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Who wants to become old? It is sad that elixirs to stay young are so elusive for most people, because adding the right ingredients to your daily meals is such an enjoyable way of keeping senility at bay. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Diabetes exacerbates the problems and threats of old age because even brief periods of abnormal blood sugar destroy brain cells and the blood vessels which keep our minds in fine fettle. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Here is a link I accessed today, which is full of fresh ideas about how to eat well, and keep the ageing process under control at the same time:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/aging-well-eating-right-for-longevity?ecd=wnl_day_030707">http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/aging-well-eating-right-for-longevity?ecd=wnl_day_030707</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >It does not matter whether you have diabetes or not, as far as these eating habits are concerned: the ideas in this outstanding article should work for all of us!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-42517124290991195712007-05-07T08:30:00.001+05:302007-05-08T06:04:31.902+05:30Delicious and Filling Ideas for a Diabetes Diet<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >A diabetes diet requires expertise. You could get the calorie balance wrong, or leave out some vital ingredients, if you are not trained in nutrition matters, and try to scramble a diet together on your own.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Nevertheless, there is no harm in letting your diet expert know what you like to eat and when. Snacking is a common bug bear because many of us love to do it, though diet experts seem to focus on major meals alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Here is a link I cam across today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/tips/snacks.html">http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/tips/snacks.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >These healthy, delicious, and filling ideas should go a long way in making any diabetes diet most bearable.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Enjoy!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-63840861999690519682007-05-06T03:48:00.000+05:302007-05-07T08:40:50.289+05:30Food for Thought if You Have Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Take some deep breaths slowly, lie down in a calm and cool place, and then access the following link:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_47383.html">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_47383.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_47383.html"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This link is available on the Internet for a limited period of time. Please write to me for the substance of information available on this link if you happen to try and access it after it has been removed.</span><br /></a></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Diabetes and hospital visits have an unfortunate but undeniable correlation. Hopefully, you will steer clear of complications by following your doctor’s prescription to a T, but regular visits for check ups, and even overnight and short duration admissions in rooms and wards of hospitals cannot be ruled out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >The link in this post relates to hospitals in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but that does not mean that medical institutions and services in most other countries are any better.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Errors in hospitals are never desirable, but they can spell especially serious problems for people with diabetes. Planning ahead makes the difference between landing up in a poorly managed hospital, and choosing a well run one for your care.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Ask your physician for hard data on hospitals in your place of residence, and ensure that your insurance policy covers care in the most reliable institutions available.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-90278793092222928032007-05-05T04:57:00.000+05:302007-05-06T03:49:46.565+05:30No Short Cuts for Physical Exercise in Diabetes!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >I do not know about your place, but the health supplement in my Sunday newspaper invariably carries an advertisement for an electrical device which substitutes a daily walk or any other form of working out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >This apparently magic device costs just about $100 and I almost fell for it until I came across the link below:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/poole-exercise.jsp">http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/poole-exercise.jsp</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Now one may argue that a large trial could show that electrical stimulation does indeed burn as many calories as conventional physical exercise, but I would not believe this until I read a paper in a respected medical journal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >So save yourself the embarrassment of asking your physician if you should buy an electrical stimulator, and get your walking shoes out instead! However, you should let me know if you come across a valid alternative to exercise for diabetes management, because I am as lazy as anyone else!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-16560897092383580322007-05-04T09:38:00.000+05:302007-05-05T04:58:44.414+05:30Menopause and Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >I do not mean to be a male chauvinist, but older women need to be extra watchful for diabetes and its management.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Men do tend to put on inches around the waist as they age, but weight gain is distinctly more pronounced for many women as they journey in to menopause.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Some women may develop pre-diabetes or even Type 2 diabetes after they stop menstruating, while others who have suffered from diabetes even before reaching menopause may experience insulin resistance as they age. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Take a look at the following link which I accessed earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><a href="http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/karelis-reduced-insulin-sensitivity.jsp">http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/karelis-reduced-insulin-sensitivity.jsp</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Ladies, do consult your physician as you approach menopause to keep close tabs on your glucose metabolism! Everyone needs checks at least once a year, while those with established diabetes should monitor their conditions once every six months.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-34775665090840087712007-04-07T20:41:00.001+05:302007-05-04T09:39:52.299+05:30Complementary Medicine for Mental Wellness in Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >I must warn you, at the outset of this post that I am in an anecdotal mood today!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Here is a bit of unscientific advice for staying cheerful and optimistic about life with diabetes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >It is something you can do on your own, </span><span style=";font-size:16;color:red;" >though your physician’s prior permission is a must.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:red;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Try aromatherapy with lavender to keep anxiety and depression at bay. I can help you with a supply source if you let me know where you live. It is best to mix a small amount of a concentrated extract with carrier oil, and to inhale the vapors from warm water.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >It is best to use lavender before retiring for the night, as it is normal to feel drowsy after inhaling the vapors.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Friends and family without diabetes can also try lavender for mental wellness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Lavender is also available as a cream and in oral forms, but it is best to stay away from such things, as reactions and effects on digestion are possible.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-77528986198978635272007-04-03T19:45:00.001+05:302007-04-07T20:42:15.056+05:30Disclosure Laws and Diabetes Care<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Disclosure rules about payments by pharmaceutical and other health care companies to medical practitioners are not uniform everywhere, and may not even exist in some countries. Implementation of the rules may also be less than complete, with companies making excuses about trade secrecy and individual privacy to avoid making full and transparent disclosures.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Most physicians do not allow monies that they receive for their professional services to commercial organizations, to affect their decision-making regarding their prescriptions for tests and for medicines. However, patients may have doubts in this respect, so it is best to avoid misunderstandings.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Most medicines used for diabetes management have side-effects, interactions with other drugs, and have to be used with care. The number of tests available to monitor patients keeps expanding, and generic versions of drugs come to market in relentless waves. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Doctors should always inform their patients if disease management involves some form of payment from a commercial health care enterprise. Patients should also ask questions about this: it is best for all concerned to clear the air!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p><o:p> </o:p></p> <p><o:p> </o:p></p> <p><o:p> </o:p></p> <p><o:p> </o:p></p> <p><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-15387559417452209502007-03-29T20:28:00.000+05:302007-04-03T19:46:08.209+05:30Diabetes, Drinking, and Delusion<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >“Who me: never!”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Even the most indirect and subtle questions about alcohol abuse or addiction inevitably draw indignant denials. People graduate from social to habitual drinking, oblivious of the developing addiction. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >The drinking habit, even if occasional, calls for special precautions in diabetes. Please see my post of December 27, 2006 in this web log. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Are you in danger of drinking more than you should? Visit the following link, which I retrieved earlier today, to check on your relationship with alcohol:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-use/MH00123<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Let me know if you need help to improve your score.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-29408757884100079652007-03-28T06:52:00.000+05:302007-05-07T08:43:24.811+05:30Pre-Conception Diabetes Prevention and Pesticides<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >The metabolic syndrome, poor dietary habits, family histories, and sedentary lifestyles, are all known risk factors for women to develop gestational diabetes, but do pesticides also play a role? Farm labor and wives of male farmers do occasionally come in contact with pesticide concentrates, drift, and residues, but information on how such exposures impact diabetes is limited. The following link, which I accessed earlier today, is an example of the uncertainty which surrounds connections between pesticides and diabetes: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_46736.html">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_46736.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_47383.html"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This link is available on the Internet for a limited period of time. Please write to me for the substance of information available on this link if you happen to try and access it after it has been removed.</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >I think it is best to separate the issues of pre-conception diabetes prevention and exposure to pesticides. Diet and exercise should suffice to keep gestational diabetes at bay, and close monitoring of glycosylated hemoglobin throughout pregnancy will ensure that both mother and fetus stay well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Pesticide exposure has a number of risks apart from the open question of diabetes, and it is safest if all women of child bearing age avoid contact with these chemical toxins in any form.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Gestational diabetes and pesticide exposure have serious consequences for fetal development. Health literacy about such matters is a crucial part of pre-conception care.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Please mail me if you would like more information about gestational diabetes, pesticide exposure, and how to manage such risks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-52235742488038205222007-03-26T09:03:00.000+05:302007-03-28T06:54:09.555+05:30You Can Stem the Alzheimer’s Rot in Diabetes<p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >I do not know about you, but I fear old age more than death! It is not just a matter of diabetes. Even my loved ones with normal glucose metabolism should have someone to provide total and loving care, should they live to lose some of their mental faculties.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Everyone needs to know about dementia, because we may be called upon to look after a parent even if we do not suffer from any type of this dreaded condition ourselves. Alzheimer’s is the best known, but not the only form of dementia.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Medical scientists are not yet certain about the causes of various kinds of dementia including Alzheimer’s. There are a few studies which indicate that there may be links with diabetes, but we are not sure of the inter-connections as yet. It is known however, that poorly managed diabetes will damage blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to deep recesses of the brain. </span><b style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:red;" >It is therefore reasonable to assume that excellent diabetes management will help keep brains in good working condition as we age.</span></b><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" > Unfortunately, keeping blood glucose under control is not a guarantee against dementia, but it could help to delay onset and progression.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Some amount of loss of mental faculties is normal with ageing. It is therefore <b style="">nearly impossible to distinguish various kinds of dementia from normal ageing</b>. Experienced clinicians can make informed judgments, especially with the aid of modern brain scans, but only an autopsy can support a confirmed diagnosis.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >There is no room for despondency because <b style="">there is much we can do to manage dementia. </b>Here is an outline of 3 points which you should discuss with your Primary Care Physician, or mail me for individual counsel:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="">1.<span style=""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Keep blood glucose within normal levels at all times. Monitor your glycosylated hemoglobin every 6 months to make sure that you have your diet/exercise/medication blend just right.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="">2.<span style=""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Exercise your brain. Nerve tissue is like muscle in the sense that it wastes away if you do not use it. Work on your logic. Write on subjects you know well-even if no one reads it! Learn new subjects. Throw away calculators and do sums in your head. Memorize songs, psalms, or whatever you like. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><span style="">3.<span style=""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Ask a Psychiatrist to monitor changes in your GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning) <b style="">every year</b>. This will act as an early warning system, and help you stave off or slow down any type of dementia.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Since there are no firm assurances available in this area, you should be proactive and tell people such as your doctor, close family, and best friends, how you would like to be treated should you develop dementia. Hopefully, such decisions will never have to be implemented, but it is comforting to decide on how to deal with such extreme tragedies on your own, rather than have others think on your behalf<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Dementia incidence good rise dramatically as life expectancy grows. It is now possible to live much longer than ever before, even with diabetes. It will pay to be forward-looking, and to prepare for comfortable and dignified life in old age.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /><i style=""><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-35138154677408791372007-03-19T12:16:00.000+05:302007-03-26T09:05:03.215+05:30A Possible Solution to Insomnia in Diabetes<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Juggling with the Glycemic Index of each item of diet is central to managing diabetes. Choice and timing of medicine depends on what you choose to eat, how much you eat, and exactly when. Many complications of diabetes arise simply because patients get tired of diet restrictions, and just eat or drink on impulse. Worse, work or travel may delay a meal, making you vulnerable to dangerously low blood glucose as prescribed medication taken earlier continues to work.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Close cooperation between a diet expert and a patient helps every physician who manages diabetes, to do a better job. A part of meal planning is the quantities and timings of carbohydrate intakes, since they raise blood glucose relatively quickly. I just came across the following link, which suggests that taking some of your carbohydrate quota at night could help you fall asleep sooner: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552716?sssdmh=dm1.250543&src=nldne">http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552716?sssdmh=dm1.250543&src=nldne</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >This is merely a preliminary finding, but it fits in with my personal experience that a couple of spoonfuls of rice helps me with some quick shut-eye. I avoid eating the delicious white stuff for lunch on a working day because you never know when the boss drops in and catches you napping at the desk!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Some folks have trouble getting to sleep at night, and many take tablets to help with insomnia. Why not try some rice instead? You have to ask your nutrition expert first though, if you have diabetes!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Sweet dreams!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-72220737863699174262007-03-18T14:04:00.000+05:302007-03-19T12:17:52.152+05:30A Useful Step towards making it Easier to Take Insulin in Time for Diabetes Management<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Insulin scores over oral medication for diabetes because it does not have many of the side-effects of the pills we are prescribed for this disease. However, forgetting to take a dose of insulin, or taking too much, has serious consequences. Doctors always worry that patients may suffer the serious consequences of extreme blood glucose level variations due to lapses in insulin medication.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >Digital recording of insulin doses and timings go a long way in improving the safety of this hormone administration. A simple but very useful innovation is to allow such automatic recording on an insulin device. Such a product is now available by prescription in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >, and should soon become standard features on all insulin pens and syringes everywhere in the world.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33083854.post-26013228497830020372007-03-17T22:07:00.000+05:302007-03-18T14:06:21.758+05:30Ethnic Minorities May Fall Prey to Diabetes Because of Changes in Traditional Diets<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >It is common knowledge that many processed food brands have unhealthy combinations and levels of saturated fats, sugar, and salt. Some serious diseases of the lowest reaches of the digestive tract are related to reduction in fiber content of modern diets.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >These observations relate to mainstream communities in the first world, but what about the poor, displaced, and forced to the margins of societies? Ethnic minorities forced to live in environments alien to their ingrained habits may lose much of their hereditary wellness. Diabetes is one of the chronic conditions with alarming incidence amongst ethnic minorities.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Genes must have something to do with the propensity of </span><st1:place><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >Aleutians</span></st1:place><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >, Polynesians, Asians, and Africans to develop diabetes, but inappropriate changes in diet may also contribute to the problem. Minor cereals, indigenous varieties of staple grains, and the meat of animals in the wild, may hold keys to good health in descendants of people accustomed to living in harmony with nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-size:16;color:blue;" >These thoughts have crossed my mind after I accessed the following link earlier today:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:22;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/01/28/100loc_a1elkside001.cfm"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:16;" >http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/01/28/100loc_a1elkside001.cfm<o:p></o:p></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/1600/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/864/468/320/ONJMT%20Signature.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Dr. S. Banerjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873163289327442988noreply@blogger.com0