Recent studies have shown that more and more children are coming into their first dental check up with cavities and gum disease than ever before. There are many factors at play – diet, hygiene, beverage consumption, etc. And, more and more counties, cities and states are no longer adding fluoride to you drinking water. This means you must find another source entirely. I know as a mother, I am always wondering if I am doing right by my children, making sure they have all the nutrients as well as teaching them healthy and life long habits.

Decay is Preventable

Unfortunately most dental insurance companies will not cover regular check-up for children until they are at least 4 years old, unless a medical doctor requests the referral. This means that it is up to the parents and the pediatrician to make sure that the infant’s teeth are developing in a healthy pattern. According to the First Impression Clinics of Wisconsin “Decay in baby teeth can progress rapidly if left untreated. Infants can suffer pain, infections and difficulty with chewing. Infants acquire cavity-causing bacteria from drinking bottles, nursing, sucking on toys, from adults who blow on their food, and sharing a drink.”

 Curious about your child’s likelihood of Cavities? Use the Cavity Predictor on the First Impressions Website.

Infant Dental Care Does Matter

Right from the beginning you should use a wet and clean wash cloth to rub down your child’s gums twice a day. This will help remove bacteria as well as get them used to the sensation of having their teeth brushed. Dr. Tom Turner – president of the Wisconsin Society of Pediatric Dentistry – feels that “The most unsettling myth many parents believe is that baby teeth don’t matter because they are not permanent. ‘This is absolutely incorrect,’ says Dr. Turner. ‘Baby teeth pave the way for adult teeth. Tooth decay in baby teeth can enter the underlying bone structure. If the baby teeth fall out too early, there can be major problems for the subsequent permanent teeth.’” Once the first tooth shows you should switch from the washcloth to a soft bristled tooth brush. But still brush over the entire mouth, not just the tooth.

Quick Note on Fluoride

You have probably noticed that lots of children’s toothpastes’ advertise “Fluoride-Free”. I know I was confused by this, because don’t we need fluoride for healthy teeth. The simple answer is yes we do. However, fluoride can be very tough on the stomach, especially on a child’s. And until children have the full technique of spitting out all of the toothpaste, it is better use fluoride-free toothpaste, to avoid an upset tummy later.

The Intake Effects the Outcome

The things your child eats and drinks will directly effect the health of their teeth. You want be sure that your children get enough calcium rich foods as well as the entire balanced diet as advised by the USDA’s Food Pyramid (www.mypyriad.gov). You also want to limit the number/amount of sugary drinks, this means drinks that are high in carbohydrates that can turn to the acid that breaks down tooth enamel. And of course try to limit the number of sweets, especially hard candies, that essentially coat the teeth in damaging acids. Try to ween your child from the bottle as early as is logical – but no later than 24 months.

 The most important concept I hope you take away from this is that your children need to brush their teeth at least twice a day for at least 1 minutes until the age of 8 when it needs to increase to 2 minutes.

For more tips and information about children’s dental care visit First Impressions Dental’s Best Care Website

Disclaimer: I was in no way compensated to publish this post.

Related posts:

1. Preschool Dental Lesson – Importance of Brushing Teeth
2. Toothbrush Painting
3. Preschool Theme – Preschool Dental Health

Did you know that cases of food poisoning actually increase in the summer months in the US? There are two main culprits: 1. eating at outdoor picnics where the food is not always keep at appropriate temperature and 2. Eating questionable restaurants while on vacation. Furthermore, young children are even more susceptible to not only getting food poisoning but suffering more as a result. Here are few key things to keep an eye on in either situation.

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is one of the most difficult of the common ailments to diagnosis. Mostly because it can be caused by a variety of things – bacteria, parasites, viruses, and other toxins. But essentially it is a result of ingesting food that contains one of these unsavory items. Common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Some specific forms of food poisoning have their own symptoms, like salmonella is usually accompanied by fever. Children tend to be more intensely affected by food poisoning, manily because their stomachs are just not strong enough to combat the bugs. If you are pregnant you also want to be very careful. These bugs can occasionally have especially adverse affects on an already delicate stomach.

Eating at Outdoor Picnics/BBQs

There are two main players in the backyard food poisoning game.

1. Food not kept at temperature. Often people will set out all the food in original containers and/or bowls and leave it all sitting out throughout the event. Things like potato salad, fresh meats, dipping sauces, fruits and most vegetables will begin to go bad after about an hour at temperatures that are too high. This is when they start to breed the bacteria that cause food poisoning. Additionally, flies and other bugs may land on the food, leaving all sorts of icky stuff behind.  So how do you avoid this sort of thing? Well for starters get food tents to place over the food, to keep flying and crawling things out. Then you can double bowl the perishables with ice in the bottom bowl to keep the food cool enough. If you plan to leave the food out for an extended period of time, make sure you keep the ice refreshed.
2. Undercooked meat is another offender.  When cooking on the grill, many people tend to under cook meats, especially chicken. It is important to invest in a quality food thermometer, for any cook, but especially for grilling meats. A quick tip – when checking the temperature you always want to reach the middle of the cut of meat, but stay away from the bone. The bone will be hotter than the meat and give you an inaccurate reading. You want to be sure that meat is cooked to the appropriate temperature.

Poultry – 165deg

Pork – 160deg

Ground Meat – 165deg

Eating Out on Vacation

Sure we all love to be adventurous when we are on vacation. I know my family and I like to try new things, especially if it is totally unique to the location. But you have to be careful. Not to be prejudice but some locales and even entire countries do not have the same health regulation that we do. There are few things to keep in mind when eating in questionable places. If it looks or smells funny – other than just different – pass on it. There are very few edible foods that have a grey tinge to them and the smell of rotten food is very recognizable. However, many foods that are contaminated will still look totally normal. Try to find a moderately clean place – this means clean dishes, utensils, and drinking cups. Only drink the water if you are sure it is safe, water can carry a myriad of bacteria and parasites. And go with your gut to protect it. If you aren’t too sure, then pass, especially if you have children with you.

Related posts:

1. Store Food Safely to Prevent Family Illness
2. Fitness Friday: What’s Your Food Hiding From You?
3. Hand Washing Tips for Kids in the Kitchen

You have seen the onslaught of “Whole Grain” this and “Whole Wheat” that, I am sure.  It has become marketing slant that almost all food manufactures are jumping at if their product allows. But what does it really mean? And why should you consider if for you and your family?

Whole Grain Vs Wheat

It may seem like a dumb concept but there really is a difference between WHOLE wheat and wheat products. Take bread for example. Did you know that “wheat” bread is simply white bread dyed brown (with molasses usually – yes that’s sugar!) and fortified with all the nutrients (including fiber) that are leeched out during the milling and production process?  That molecular difference is that a whole grain still has the germ, bran and endosperm while a processed or refined grain might have the endosperm, but not always. The germ (the portion of the grain responsible for germination of the plant) is what gives us folic acid, Vitamin E, thiamin and zinc – and all naturally. The bran (the outermost layer of the grain) gives us fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. When you by items that do not say “Whole Grain” but still say they have these nutrients, you are getting chemical substitutes of what you could get naturally from the source.

Sometimes it is all about Semantics

If the ingredient does not say “WHOLE” it is most likely in some way milled or processed away from the whole grain. You will often see words like “enriched” or “fortified” in front of flour. This is misleading, in most cases because as I mentioned above, the “fortified” part is mostly like a synthetic version of the natural nutrients. You might even see “wheat flour” but if it is not “whole wheat flour” it is probably the milled version dyed.  Here is a list taken from the FDA.gov website:

U.S. standards of identity

The following names indicate whole-grain products, in accordance with the federal government:

• “Whole wheat bread”
• “Whole wheat millet”
• “Whole wheat buns”
• “Whole wheat macaroni“
• “Whole wheat spaghetti”
• “Whole wheat vermicelli”
• “Cracked wheat” (as an ingredient, not part of a name, as in “cracked wheat bread”)
• “Crushed wheat”
• “Whole wheat flour”
• “Graham flour” (as an ingredient, not as part of a name as in “graham crackers”)
• “Entire wheat flour”
• “Bromated whole wheat flour”
• “Whole durum flour”
• “Bulgur (cracked wheat)” (note that “bulgur” by itself may or may not indicate whole grain)

 Why Eat Whole Grain?

Whenever you can decrease the processing of a food item, the better it is for your body. Our bodies were designed to eat the food that naturally occurs around us. Once you start consuming more additives and preservatives than natural substance, you start to compromise your body. These synthetic nutrients are harder for our bodies to digest, they are also second rate, in most forms, to the natural version. There are lots of ways to get your whole wheat intake – pasta, bread, cereal, bagels, and just about any baked good can be made with whole wheat flour instead of white flour. And in my personal opinion, I think that the whole wheat food items have heartier taste and are more filling.

Related posts:

1. Multi Grain Bread
2. 10 Simple Steps to Healthier Eating for Kids
3. Get Fit Monday! – 3/22/2010

If you want to successfully raise a child with diabetes, you have to learn to share your child’s diabetes with your child.  Yes, you read the sentence right. You the parent need share your child’s diabetes with them. 

Not an easy concept to grasp, but it’s important, because by allowing your child to participate in their disease, you’re planting the seeds for confidence, acceptance, and independence for living with life with diabetes.

Kelly’s Story

As a former child with diabetes who is now a woman of a certain age with diabetes, the best gift my parents ever gave me was allowing me to play an active role in my diabetes. I was the baby of the family, and they could have easily done absolutely every single diabetes related thing for me, but they didn’t. Instead, they were generous enough to share my diabetes with me.

 When I was first diagnosed with “The Big D” way back in 1977, a time I like to refer to as “The Diabetes Dark Ages.” A time when we tested urine instead of blood sugars and the diabetes diet was anything but flexible.

 My parents had six children and two other daughters with type 1 diabetes, it was a given that I’d participate, not an option.

 I have a vivid memory of my father sitting on the corner of my hospital bed and telling me: “Kelly it is what it is, do what you have to so you can live a great life.” My dad spoke from experience, he had Type 1 diabetes as well.

 When I arrived home from the hospital, I still couldn’t give myself needles. Back in the day, you had to give yourself injections before they’d let you leave the hospital. I was so afraid of needles that the Nurse Educator made a deal with my parents. I could go home, but my mom, dad, & sisters had to promise to work with me regarding shots.

 The first steps were small. My parents let me gently roll the bottles to warm up the refrigerated insulin and prep the bottle tops with alcohol. They filled up the needles and gave me the shots.

 Finally, under my parent’s watchful eye, I filled up the needle myself, and a week later, I gave my first shot in my left thigh.

 I remember feeling incredibly proud! I knew I was doing something that none of my friends could do, and have to tell you, no longer being afraid of getting insulin shots made my confidence soar!

 My parents never altered my life because of diabetes. Instead, diabetes became a part of my every day life and routine.

There was never any comparisons of life before verses life after diabetes – life was life, and life was what you made of it, period.

 I still took gymnastics three times a week and tap dancing class on Saturday mornings, but I learned to carry snacks and to recognize lows.

 And just as important, I learned to speak up whenever I recognized those symptoms. Diabetes made me speak up for myself early on, because I knew that my life depended on it.

 Something wonderful my mom did early on was to have me read the exchange list to her as she prepped the food. Not every for every meal of course, but if I happened to be hanging out in the kitchen while my mom was cooking dinner, I’d look at the Food Exchange poster (YES, poster) and read the exchanges for the meal. I felt like I had a say (did I want to choose the potato or rice for my one of my starches?) and some control regarding my life and my life with my diabetes.

 It also helped me learn the exchange list without out making it seem like required reading. Heck, I didn’t realize I was learning!

 Because of the steps my parents allowed me to take regarding ”owning” my diabetes, I never hid my diabetes from the world or my classmates.    I was never ashamed to be Kelly K, the girl with type 1 diabetes- I was OK with it. Now being Kelly K, the geek with the glasses was a totally different story for a totally different post, but I digress~

 Bottom line, every child learns responsibility at their own pace.

Having a child with a chronic illness is frightening on every level possible. As a parent, your instinct is to “do” for and protect your child from the bad.

 But no matter how much you do, diabetes isn’t going anywhere.

 And if you don’t allow your child to feel like they play some part (no matter how small) in owning diabetes, how can you expect them to grow up to be an adult who lives a successful, happy, and independent life with diabetes?

About the Author: 

Kelly is a Diabetes Blogger, Advocate, Writer, Humorist and Expert at living life with Diabetes Consultant.  Her blog, Diabetesaliciousness- provides her with a voice, and her readers with a Diabetesalicious perspective. A type 1 diabetic for over 30 years, Kelly comes from a family of Type 1′s. 

Her unique approach of educating patients and their families through laughter and knowledge has been called validating, informative, empowering and funny.

Kelly knows first hand the importance that knowledge; Diabetes myth busting, laughter, and exercise play in managing a chronic disease and is passionate about others becoming empowered as well.

She loves the color green, cupcakes, her nieces and nephews and any and all things having to do with the water!

She’s no fan of the Diabetes Police or being a neatnik- though she’s working on the latter! 

Kelly Kunik
http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/
Spreading Diabetes Validation through Humor,Ownership & Advocacy~

Related posts:

1. The Details on Diabetes: A Six Week Journey
2. Living with Diabetes: Meet Gina
3. The Difference Between Type I & Type II Diabetes

Congrats to the Winner – Elena!

This giveaway is now closed!

The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook:  A Flavorful, Low-Fat, Heart-Healthy Approach to Cooking (American Diabetes Association/March 2010) by Amy Riolo.

A Little Bit About the Cookbook

Rich in flavor, heart-healthy fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, the Mediterranean style of cooking has proven to be beneficial for people with diabetes—and for good reason.  This delicious diet of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole-grains can help lower blood pressure, glucose levels, and risk for heart disease without cutting out amazing taste.  Based on traditional recipes from Italy, Greece, Egypt, Morocco, as well as Turkey, Algeria, and more, THE MEDITERRANEAN DIABETES COOKBOOK is filled with over 200 healthful and delicious recipes.

With recipes from Corsican Prawns with Chickpea Cream or Spicy Israeli Tomato Spread to Veal Scaloppini with Eggplant Veloutè or Chicken Fattah, the recipes in THE MEDITERRANEAN DIABETES COOKBOOK are easy to prepare for a simple dinner at home or for entertaining friends and family. There is even a section devoted to sumptuous desserts like Pineapple Tiramisu and Baked Egyptian Pumpkin Pudding.  Each recipe includes time-saving tips, cultural and historical background of the recipe’s origin, concise preparation instructions, and food-related information that promote a diabetes-friendly and healthy attitude towards food.  At the end of each recipe, a section called the “Healthy Living Tradition” lists the caloric exchanges and breaks down the amounts of fats, carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins in the dish to encourage readers to make better, more meaningful choices in their diet and lifestyle.

Sample Recipe

Among the delectable dishes included in THE MEDITERRANEAN DIABETES COOKBOOK is:
______________________________________________________________________
Sicilian Swordfish and Eggplant Bundles (Involtini de Pesce Spade e Melanzane)

Swordfish and eggplant are culinary ingredients that Sicilians inherited when they were under Arab rule.  Before the arrival of the Arabs, swordfish was not eaten because of its reputation as being extremely difficult to catch. Sicilian fishermen learned how to catch swordfish from the Arabs.  Even today, Sicilian fishermen use Arabic words instead of Italian ones when fishing.   Serve this delightful dish with Baby Artichokes with Herb Sauce.


1 medium eggplant, sliced lengthwise into paper-
    thin slices
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped boxed tomatoes
1 cup strained boxed tomatoes
2 Tbsp freshly chopped basil
2 Tbsp pine nuts
1/2 tsp sea salt, divided
1/8 tsp freshly grated pepper
Dash crushed red pepper flakes
2 boneless swordfish fillets (3/4 lb total)
 
1. Preheat broiler.  Place eggplant slices on a baking sheet.  Brush with 1 Tbsp olive oil, and bake for a few minutes until tender and cooked through.  Remove from oven, and set aside.
 
2. Heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add garlic, and cook until it releases its aroma.  Do not let garlic turn brown.  Stir in chopped and strained tomatoes, basil, pine nuts, 1/4 tsp sea salt, pepper, and pepper flakes.  Stir and cover.  Reduce heat to low.  Simmer for 5 minutes.
 
3. Meanwhile, place a large piece of wax paper on a work surface. Place fish fillets on wax paper, and cover with another piece.  Use a flat-edged meat hammer to pound fish until they are very thin, about 1/4 inch. Check under the wax paper from time to time to make sure that fish is not tearing. Cut each piece in half to make 4 pieces.
 
4. Top each piece of fish with thin layers of the eggplant slices. (If you have extra eggplant slices, reserve them as a garnish). Starting at the wide end, roll up fish, completely encasing eggplant. Use toothpicks or skewers to secure the rolls. Slowly remove lid from tomato sauce, and add rolls to simmering sauce. Cover, and cook for 10–15 minutes, turning once, or until fish is cooked through.
 
5. Transfer fish to a serving platter, remove skewers, and top with remaining sauce. Season with remaining 1/4 tsp salt, if desired. Serve remaining eggplant slices along the sides of the dish.

________________________________
Healthy Living Tradition
A Turkish restaurateur told me that while he was working as a chef in Turkey, no one would hire him unless he knew at least 40 different eggplant dishes. Any less than 40 meant that you were a novice and didn’t possess enough experience to work in fine restaurants. Take the Turkish challenge: try to collect 40 healthy eggplant recipes. Your body and your taste buds will be grateful.
________________________________


Exchanges/Choices
                 3 Vegetable
                  2 Lean Meat
                  2 Fat

Serves 4
Serving Size 1 bundle

Calories 250
                 Calories from Fat 115
Total Fat 13.0g
                 Saturated Fat  2.1g
                  Trans Fat  0.0g
Cholesterol 35mg
 
Sodium 405mg
Total Carbohydrate 14g
                 Dietary Fiber  4g
                  Sugars 7g
Protein 19g

The Giveaway Details: 

Laurie has agreed to send One Lucky Busy Mommy Media Reader their own copy of The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook!

This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on June 10th, 2010

Comment on this post to be entered to win.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

Additional Giveaway Entries

Earn additional giveaway entries by doing one or all of the following. Comment on this post each time your earn an additional entry.

1. Follow Busy Mommy Media on Twitter and tweet the following:
   

   Enter to #win a copy of The Mediterranea Diabetes Cookbook for #diabetes @busymommymedia Pls RT http://goo.gl/VBWy

2. Get updates from Busy Mommy Media by signing up for the  Busy Mommy Media Newsletter, subscribing to the Busy Mommy Media RSS feed, or  Sign up to receive updates from Busy Mommy Media.
3. Start or respond to a conversation in our Blog Frog Community.
4. Blog about this giveaway and link back to the giveaway post.
5. Stumble this post.

Related posts:

1. Cookbook Review: The $5 Dinner Mom
2. The Details on Diabetes: A Six Week Journey
3. All About Braising (Closed)

Are you getting enough fiber? Not likely, as research says that 90% (no that is not a typo, the study actually says 9 out of 10!) of Americans do not get enough fiber each day.  Fiber might seem like a mundane and useless topic but it is really more important than most people think. Proper fiber intake can prevent things like constipation, and diarrhea, post troublesome issues, as well as certain types of cancer. Fiber is a huge part of a healthy diet. Just like Grandma always told you being regular is super important to a happy healthy life!

Signs You are Not Getting Enough Fiber

If you have heart issues, they could be directly linked to your high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.  Fiber can actually lower the bad cholesterol in your system. It also can decrease the inflammation of arteries due to water retention.

If your bowel movements are not substantive, soft and easy to pass, you do not have enough fiber. If you have hard, small and difficult to pass BMs you need to add fiber to your diet. Conversely, if you have watery BMs, fiber will work to “bulk up” your BMs by absorbing some of the liquid from your stool.

General intestinal discomfort is another possible sign that you are not getting enough fiber. If you are not regularly fully evacuating your digestive tract it can lead to discomfort in your abdomen. Your body is not designed for foreign bodies to take up space for extended periods of time. This can also result in crankiness.

How Much is Enough

One important thing to point out is that your necessary fiber intake is related to your age. As you get older you need to be even more vigilant when it comes to your fiber intake. Under the age of 50 you should shoot for a daily consumption of 20 grams.  While over the age of 50 you should try for 21 grams. One gram may not seem like much but, just wait till you start looking at how much fiber is in things.

It is also important to make sure that your children get enough fiber. Discuss proper intake with your pediatrician, as it will change at varying age ranges in children. One really easy source of fiber for children is Apple Juice, just be cautious to offer 100% juice with no added sugars.

Where to Get Fiber

When it comes to the nutrients of life, I always say it is best to get them from their natural source. There are lots of products out there that have added fiber (Fiber One Bars, bran cereals) or can be used to add fiber to just about anything (benefiber, Metamucil). And don’t even start to try to list all of the other foods that are “enhanced” with extra grams of fiber. Theses are fine sources, and will help you get your daily requirement. But it is always best to try to find natural sources of fiber. These include oats, brown rice, beans, and fruits and vegetables with the skin on – like apples, pears, potatoes and yams.

Related posts:

1. Vitamins and Your Kids
2. Free Sample of Fiber and $5 in Coupons
3. How Much Water Did You Drink Today?

In 2000, Gina Capone was a typical 25-year old; she was working as a graphic designer and spent lots of time with her friends and family. She knew that one day she wanted to be a mom, but it wasn’t a priority; she had plenty of other things to accomplish first. Then, in November of 2000, Gina started feeling “funny.” After a light walk, she would get dizzy and have to sit, and most of the time she just felt tired; she knew something was very wrong. Feeling scared and uncertain, Gina found out that she had Type 1 diabetes. Once touted as ‘childhood diabetes’, Type 1 diabetes is no longer rare in adults; it is a thoroughly permanent and life-altering condition.

As the shock wore off and the weight of truth settled in, Gina resorted to the one place she knew she could find answers to her endless questions: the Internet. After hours and hours of searching, however, Gina found that the Internet was flooded with information – and only a small portion of it was good or helpful. “What about all those people who, just like me, are struggling to find answers and need support and guidance during this difficult time?” she thought. With that in mind, she knew she had to take action.

Soon after her diagnosis, Gina co-founded DiabetesTalkFest, a site that hosts live chats with clinical and research professionals in the field of diabetes. She also started blogging about her daily experiences and struggles with the disease at diabetestalkfest.com/blog. She knew other people were undoubtedly going through the same tribulations that she was, and by giving voice to her own experiences, she was offering her support and guidance. Through it all, she maintained that, “If I can get through it, anyone can.”

Now, Gina is the President and CEO of TheDiabetesResource.com, a comprehensive diabetes directory covering every aspect of diabetes, such as medical professionals, diabetes support groups, endocrinologists, blogs, camps, insurance resources, accesso­ries as well as national diabetes events, online monthly chats with experts and more. The site centralizes the pivotal information relating to the disease, and offers a network of support for those who need it.

Gina is now happily married and she can’t wait to start a family. Before getting pregnant, however, Gina needs to make sure her blood glucose is under control, which will ensure the safety of both she and the baby during pregnancy. These blood glucose levels are known as A1c levels. Early in pregnancy, high sugar levels may increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects, and nearer to the time of delivery, high levels can cause the infant’s size and weight to be larger than normal, and can increase the risk of complications.

To ensure that her quest for a healthy A1c will be successful, Gina is using all the tools that are at her disposal.  She is in regular contact with her doctor and uses a Medtronic Minimed Paradigm insulin pump, which is used to give her the proper amount of insulin when she needs it throughout her day and when she eats. She also uses an integrated Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) that checks her glucose levels every 5 minutes. The data from the CGM provides trend graphs and arrows indicating how fast and in which direction her glucose is moving, which is extremely important – especially while she’s trying to get pregnant or while she’s exercising. That important information will be even more helpful when she actually becomes pregnant. A CGM isn’t designed to replace her regular blood glucose monitor, however. The CGM is mainly useful for tracking data trends, so she uses her blood glucose monitor on a regular basis. While CGM’s are considered by diabetes advocates to be “the best thing since sliced bread,” it happens to be very difficult to get insurance companies to cover their costs. Gina believes so much in Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems, that she created the CGM Anti-Denial Campaign (http://cgm-antidenial.ning.com/), where she provides members with crucial information for obtaining coverage through their insurance companies. 

Gina is the also community manager of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) type 1 diabetes social network Juvenation.org, where she strives to lend her support and diabetes expertise to those who may have recently been diagnosed, friends and family members, or even to longtime patients through her own personal stories and experiences.

The Diabetes Resource is growing every day, and soon, some very exciting new features will be added to the site. “It’s hard work,” said Gina, “but it’s so rewarding. I want everybody to have the pivotal information that I should have had when I was diagnosed.” Gina has become a social media entrepreneur, a diabetes advocate, and is considered a thought-leader within the diabetes community. She’s had ups and downs and everything in-between, but one thing is for sure: whatever the challenge, she can handle it.

Written by: Jen Allen, KAS Publicity

Related posts:

1. The Details on Diabetes: A Six Week Journey
2. The Difference Between Type I & Type II Diabetes
3. Raising a Child with Diabetes

One of the hardest times to eat right is when you eat out! By “out” I mean any time you eat away from home. That means picnics/BBQs, the office, play dates and restaurants. Anytime, that you are not in total control of the menu choices, you are at a risk for making bad food choice. Let me first say that I am a firm believer that you can splurge a little when it comes to your food consumption, but only on very special occasions and you should make allowances for it.

Plan Ahead

If you know that you will be going out to a BBQ on Saturday afternoon or out for your friends’ birthday party on Friday night try to do these prep steps

Eat light but filling before you go

Drink lots of water before, during and after – this helps you to feel full faster

Run an extra few miles (or whatever form of exercise you choose) that morning

If you are going with a group and they are indecisive about where to go – pick a place that you know you can get something healthy to eat.

If you eat at work, ask your boss to request healthy choices in the vending machines.

If you are going to a restaurant try to look up the menu online – and figure out what you will order before you get there. This allows for less time to peruse the menu and pick something that sounds yummy but you will regret later.

While you are there

Try not to graze – this is especially difficult at picnics and BBQs, but you have to do your best to keep track of what goes in!

Share an entrée with someone else – or order a half-portion. Same goes for desserts (although it’s better to skip them all together)

Substitute the fries for veggies, the hash browns for fruit, mash potatoes for salad or rice.

Only order one alcoholic beverage – you would be shocked by how many calories and carbs are those dang Mai Tais!

Know your forbidden fruits – what’s your weakness? Chips and salsa, or maybe breadsticks? If you can, ask that they just don’t bring it out. If other’s want it, ask if they will put it on the other end of the table.

I am not trying to put the kibosh on your fun get-togethers. I just want you to be conscious of the lasting effects of a night on the town. You can still have a really great time going to just about anywhere with your friends and family. You just need to plan ahead and make good choices when you get there.

Related posts:

1. Eating Healthy on the Go
2. 10 Simple Steps to Healthier Eating for Kids
3. Ideas for Mom’s Night In

The Winner of the Functional Fitness DVD is: susan smoaks
Congratulations!

In week two of our journey we are joined by Suzanne Andrews. She is going to discuss the importance as well as the precautions of exercise in Diabetics.

If you have diabetes, it is essential to begin and maintain an exercise routine. A health care professional must first evaluate you for symptoms that could be aggravated by particular activities. You might also undergo a cardiac stress test.

Exercise is part of a well-established health regimen for people with diabetes. Dr. Ronald J. Sigal, who studies the long-term trends of the illness, reports in a 2004 Diabetes Care article that increased activity is associated with prolonged lifespan, enhanced lung function, and decreased accumulation of dangerous fat coating the abdomen. Sigal defines “increased activity” as exertion equivalent to walking briskly approximately two hours and fifteen minutes per week.

Increased activity also lowers bad cholesterol, raises good cholesterol, stabilizes blood pressure, enhances the effectiveness of insulin, improves mood, and boosts self-confidence.

Managing your blood sugar is crucial to a safe exercise plan. You should check it before, during, and after your session. A test thirty minutes before you plan to begin will indicate whether exercise is safe. If your glucose level falls below 100mg/dL, try a piece of fresh fruit or whole grain crackers, but do not exercise until it reaches the 100 to 250mg/dL range. Blood sugar elevated beyond 300mg/dL is too high for exercise. Symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and dry skin. You must not exercise in this instance, because your sugar levels could continue to escalate. You might be able to lower your sugar using prescribed medications. Consistent adherence to your exercise plan will contribute to lower blood sugar over time.

During exercise, watch for symptoms of hypoglycemia, a blood glucose level of 70mg/dL or lower. If you feel shaky, nervous, irritable or confused, if you develop a hand tremor, or if your skin becomes cold and damp, stop exercising. Take glucose tablets, drink four ounces of fruit juice or sugared soda, or eat several pieces of hard candy. Recheck your glucose in 15 minutes. Have another snack if necessary. Repeat the process until your blood sugar level is above 70mg/dL. You can resume exercise when your sugar level is stable. Continue to monitor it closely several hours after you finish.

You must also take special care of your feet when you exercise. If you have diminished sensation in your toes and feet, and/or poor circulation, you are especially vulnerable to injury and infection. It is therefore important to choose proper footwear. A protective exercise shoe features ample toe room, a removable, flexible insole, a sole that cushions the ball of the foot, and a stabilizing, firm heel. Since exercise places extra stress on your feet, you must be vigilant for signs of injury. Do daily checks for cuts, sores, swelling, and infected nails, both before and following exercise. Wiggle your toes for five minute sessions, once before and once after exercise. If your feet are severely affected by neuropathy, try seated activity. Chair-based stretching and strengthening enhances everyday functioning, and in some cases seated exercise leads to an increased activity level.

Knowing which activities to avoid is as important as identifying the beneficial ones. Isometric Exercises for example, could put you at risk if you have high blood pressure, eye problems or damaged blood vessels. Isometric movement also potentially aggravates vascular conditions. Avoid activities requiring heavy strain but minimal movement.

Just as diabetes compels you to modify your diet, it also requires you to approach exercise differently. Be mindful of these guidelines for your safety and comfort. Do not allow your symptoms to discourage you from staying active!

For more than 25 years, Suzanne Andrews has been teaching therapeutic exercise including, strength training for weight loss, water aerobics, low impact aerobics, yoga and FUNctional fitness. As the host of FUNctional Fitness on Public Television, the most trusted source on TV, she offers you a safe, effective and FUN workout to lose weight, increase your ability to function, get strong, boost your energy and increase your health. As an Occupational Therapy Practitioner, she is committed to helping you live a more functional life with medically designed fitness DVD’s that are engineered from years of therapeutic exercise education experience and Dr. approved.

Enter to Win

Suzanne Andrews, Occupational Therapy Practitioner/L and Host of PBS TV’s Functional Fitness has produced a doctor recommended Functional Fitness Diabetes DVD medically engineered to inhibit diabetes symptoms. Movements in the DVD are identical to what is used in therapy for diabetics.  Free preview of Functional Fitness Diabetes DVD here.

Suzanne has agreed to send One lucky winner their own copy of Suzanne Andrews’ Functional Fitness Diabetes DVD.  This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on May 26, 2010

Comment on this post to be entered to win.

Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

Additional Giveaway Entries

Earn additional giveaway entries by doing one or all of the following. Comment on this post each time your earn an additional entry.

1. Follow Busy Mommy Media on Twitter and tweet the following:
   

   Enter to #win a doctor recommended Functional Fitness DVD for #diabetes @busymommymedia Pls http://bit.ly/cWzl0z RT

2. Get updates from Busy Mommy Media by signing up for the  Busy Mommy Media Newsletter, subscribing to the Busy Mommy Media RSS feed, or  Sign up to receive updates from Busy Mommy Media.
3. Start or respond to a conversation in our Blog Frog Community.
4. Blog about this giveaway and link back to the giveaway post.
5. Stumble this post.

Related posts:

1. The Details on Diabetes: A Six Week Journey
2. The Difference Between Type I & Type II Diabetes
3. Raising a Child with Diabetes

Here is the first article in our six part series: The Details on Diabetes. Brandy Barnes has written a great article explaining the difference betwen Type I and Type II Diabetes.

Diabetes: What’s in a Name

Most people have heard of diabetes, but many are unclear about the different types of diabetes.  In fact, it is not uncommon for a person living with the disease to be unclear about which type of diabetes he/she has.  Today’s fast-paced, web-focused world often leaves the newly diagnosed patient on their own to educate him- or herself about the disease.

 Over the years, the names of the types of diabetes have changed and new types have been added to the list.  What used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes is now known as Type 1 diabetes and what used to be referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes is now referred to as Type 2 diabetes.  There has also been a lot of talk recently about new types of diabetes such as Type 1.5 (slow-onset type 1) or pre-diabetes (high glucose levels, but not high enough for a type 2 diagnosis).  To keep it simple and because the majority of people with diabetes fit into the categories of Type 1 or Type 2, the focus will be on those two distinct, yet similar types of diabetes.   First, let me start by erasing a common a stereotype about diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is not a young person’s disease and Type 2 diabetes is not an old person’s disease.

Type 1

Essentially, type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make any insulin.  Insulin (a hormone) is essential to human life because it is responsible for absorbing the glucose from ingested carbohydrates.  In a person without diabetes, food enters the bloodstream and causes the glucose level to rise slightly.  The pancreas is immediately alerted to secrete the right amount of insulin to keep the glucose level within a healthy range.  When insulin is not readily available to be secreted into the blood stream, glucose levels rise rapidly.  Very high and very low glucose levels can be fatal.  In order for a person with Type 1 diabetes to live, he or she must take insulin injections daily or use an insulin pump.  Understandably, this type of diabetes comes on more rapidly and symptoms are much more visible. Although it is most often diagnosed in children and young adults, more and more type 1 diagnoses are occurring at a later age.  There is no known cause for this type of diabetes, and therefore no way to prevent it.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% of diabetes cases.  In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces some insulin, but not enough to process the glucose from carbohydrates properly. In some cases, insulin is produced but the person’s cells no longer respond to it– often referred to as insulin resistance.  It is common for people with type 2 diabetes to begin treatment with diet and exercise to control their blood sugar level and then move to oral medications.  Eventually, the pancreas “burns out” and can’t produce enough insulin.  At that time, insulin injections are required to regulate glucose levels. Insulin resistance appears to be linked to obesity which is why people with pre-diabetes are told to monitor their diet and to increase their exercise to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes is much more gradual in onset, making it easy for people with type 2 diabetes go for many years undiagnosed.  This type of diabetes used to be seen only in older adults, but due to sky-rocketing obesity rates among children and adolescents in the US, people are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at younger ages.

While there are differences in the two types of diabetes, there are also similarities.  For example, the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same: frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue and irritability.  People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes must do similar tasks on a daily basis: monitor their carbohydrate intake, check their glucose levels regularly and have carbohydrates on hand to treat low glucose levels.  Regular exercise and good nutrition are strongly recommended for people with both types of diabetes to manage their glucose levels.  In addition, regardless of the type of diabetes, individuals with both types of diabetes often deal with similar emotional issues (such as depression) that are related to the 24-hour-a-day management required by diabetes.  Both types of diabetes also put people with diabetes are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, so people with diabetes require more frequent check-ups.  The complications caused by consistently high glucose levels are also the same for both types of diabetes: kidney disease, blindness, and amputations are the most common.  However, the most important way that people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar is in their ability to live happy, successful, healthy lives if the disease is managed.  Regardless of what type of diabetes someone has, it is a manageable disease and it should not stop anyone from reaching his or her full potential in life!

Brandy Barnes, MSW is the Founder/Executive Director of DiabetesSisters (www.diabetessisters.org), a national 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women with, and those at risk of developing diabetes; and to advocate on their behalf.  She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in social work with a concentration in health settings from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She currently lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband and daughter.  DiabetesSisters will be hosting the first-ever national conference for women with diabetes- the Weekend for Women Conference- in May 2010.  For more information or to register, please visit www.diabetessisters.org/weekend-for-women-conference. 

Related posts:

1. Living with Diabetes: Meet Gina
2. The Details on Diabetes: A Six Week Journey
3. Raising a Child with Diabetes