Busy Mommy Media » Pregnancy

Review: Lindsay Brin Shed 5 Fast DVD

Pamela — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:53:17 +0000

As a mom – I of course am constantly fighting those few pounds that get added with each child. So for me, with three boys, I am fighting more like 15 (or 30 but whose nitpicking, right?). As soon as I read the description for this workout DVD I was on board. The thing that grabbed me right off is that it is an attainable goal. I have talked to all before about setting attainable goals – like 5 pounds in a few weeks – to be more successful. The huge astronomical goals are never going to happen because you will always feel as though it is too much and give up. But if you set smaller manageable goals you are more apt to reach them. You can read more about that concept in my article,

My Review

Back to the DVD, which was a real butt-kicker!! But in an absolutely awesome way! I was totally impressed by the fun and intense get to it vibe Lindsay puts on film. Sometimes when you watch a workout video you just don’t want to do. All you see is a bunch of hard bodies bouncing around with endless energy. These gals are definitely in great shape, but they look like normal people, which is encouraging. I also like the variations offered, for people at different skill levels. As an aerobics instructor, I always like to include different levels for people not just of different ability but different moods on a particular day. Because let’s face, even if you are able to drag yourself to the gym and show up doesn’t mean you have the energy to give it 1000% every single time. It is okay to just go through the motions every once in a while. In this sort of situation it is more important to just keep the workout time in your routine, then to overwork yourself.

All in all, I really enjoyed this video and think it would be a great addition to any woman’s workout DVD Library. Lindsay has very graciously agreed to offer each of you 20% off your own purchase of the Lindsay Brin Shed 5 Fast DVD. Simply click the coupon and you are on your way!

Product Description

Workout 1
Warm-up: 3 minutes
3/3 Intervals: 24 minutes
Cool-down: 3 minutes

Workout 2
Warm-up: 3 minutes
3/3 Intervals: 24 minutes
Cool-down: 3 minutes

Did five extra pounds sneak up on you in your busy life? Lose 5 pounds fast with Lindsay’s Weight Loss methods. These two total-body workouts balance toning exercises with bursts of energetic cardio for maximum fat burning in only 30 minutes. This interval training is the most efficient way to burn calories, and two different workouts ensure you won’t hit a plateau during the six week program.

You’ll lose five pounds or more in just the first three weeks with this Weight Loss fitness DVD! Lindsay Brin uses the 3/3 interval method for the most effective fat burning workout – 3 minutes of toning using multiple muscle groups to boost metabolism, and 3 minutes of martial arts/kickboxing to melt fat in exercises that are simple and effective. Follow your level- beginner, intermediate or advanced, or step up your program to advanced as you start to see results.

To lose 5 pounds even faster make sure you use Moms Into Fitness Weight Loss Plan in addition to the Shed 5 Fast Workouts. Also found on our home page.
Equipment needed:
1-2 sets of weights, optional mat

Disclaimer: I did recieve my own copy of this DVD from Lindsay Brin in conjunction with MamaBuzz, but I was in no other way compenstated to publish this post. These are real and honest opinions.

#Momstorm After-Party – How to Prepare for a Healthy Childbirth

Pamela — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:48:12 +0000

Did you miss out on this week’s #MomStorm Twitter Party?

Welcome to the Twitter AFTER Party!

This week we were lucky to have Becky Rasmussen – a Certified Child Birth Educator (CBE) and mother of seven – join our twitter party. She has coached more than a thousand expectant parents on effective birthing and fitness.The main topic of this week’s party was how to prepare for a healthy childbirth.
Here are the highlights from the MyBirthClass Perfectly Prepared Twitter Party:

Top Tips provided by Participants:

1. HotMamaGowns Lots of visualization of the birth I wanted, building the confidence in MYSELF that I could do this-my body was made 2 do this
2. MyBirthClass @busymommymedia Water aerobics are an excellent way to get the baby off your back and remove the forces of gravity
3. Chroniclescrib I also did acupuncture the last few weeks last time and LOVED it! If nothing else it helped me relax
4. EvergreenMomma water, water and more water. Only shop the perimeter of the store (fruits, veggies, dairy, protein).
5. @busymommymedia Humor is one of my favorite coping techniques in labor, but laughing hurts during a contraction
6. @hotmamagowns: Q4: Things to build stamina; swimming if possible, breathing exercises walking and pampering is ALWAYS warranted

Other Interesting Things We Discussed:

Ten years ago Harvard medical studies proved that our due dates are supposed to be 8 days later than we calculate them to be
Remember, your bodies were divinely built to do this work we call Labor.
Trouble sleeping? Improve sleep w/intercourse before bed. Male semen contains hormones that induce deep states of REM…as well as natural antibiotics
I encourage you to avoid induction and C-Section unless absolutely medically necessary. You’ll heal so much faster.

Huge Congrats to our prize winners!

Winner of the prenatal cardio and toning DVD set from @MyBirthClass was @mstyle10

The winner of the birth options audio CD from @MyBirthClass was @mgmommy0930
@Chroniclescrib was the winner of the prenatal Nutrition & Relaxation & Pain Management Audio CDs from @MyBirthClass
The winner of the All About Labor DVD from @MyBirthClass was @HotMamaGowns
The winner of the post partum recover CD from @MyBirthClass was @RaisingOlives
@kathyluman was the winner of the Common Concerns & Discomforts Audio CD from @MyBirthClass
The winner of the All About Labor DVD from @MyBirthClass was @sweetone624

For a limited time you can get Perfectly Prepared for half price at www.mybirthclass.com/MomMedia6
Want to know how can you win cool prizes? By coming back to Busy Mommy Media for the next #MomStorm Twitter Party and RSVP on the linky below the details. Remember you must be RSVP’ed to be eligible for the prizes at each party. And don’t worry, you can RSVP right up to the party time and still be eligible!

Perfectly Prepared: Prenatal Yoga DVD Giveaway

Marie — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:51:02 +0000

When I first told my mom that my husband and I would not be taking any child birthing classes to prepare for the baby, she acted like I was from an alternate universe. I tried to explain that with all the DVDS and other information sources that are available these days, we just didn’t see the need.

What I should have done is told her about the Perfectly Prepared: Prenatal Birthing & Fitness DVD/CD set from MyBirthClass and I guarantee she would have seen my reasoning. This 8-disc set features everything parents-to-be need to know about prenatal birthing, fitness and even post partum recovery.

Created by Becky Rasmussen, a Certified Child Birth Educator (CBE) and mother of seven, this extensive series includes DVDS that cover Prenatal Yoga, Prenatal Cardio, Prenatal Toning and All about Labor. Perfectly Prepared also includes Audio CDs that dive into Prenatal Nutrition, Relaxation & Pain Management, Common Concerns & Solutions and Postpartum Recovery.

Everything is broken down nicely in this 8-disc set so you can watch and/or listen on your own time, at your own pace. I especially loved the Postpartum Recovery CD since I’m a week out from my due date, and that has been on my mind a lot lately. On this disc, Becky takes you through all the things you should expect once you’ve delivered your precious baby. Topics include what happens to your body, mood swings, how to stay healthy after labor, and more.

The series also provides information on both natural and medically supported birthing techniques so you can make an informed decision.

The fitness DVDS look easy to follow; but honestly at nine months along I am having enough trouble getting off the couch, let alone trying to do an entire workout. I wish I had known about these DVDS earlier on in the pregnancy – especially Prenatal Toning.

So if you are looking for an alternative to a child birthing class, I would definitely recommend picking up Perfectly Prepared: Prenatal Birthing & Fitness. This all-encompassing set will not only help you prepare for child birth, but also educate you about the process, help you make informed decisions, keep you healthy, and let you know what to expect post partum.

Enter to Win

Enter to win prenatal yoga DVD from MyBirthclass.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and will end on July 1, 2010.

Visit MyBirthclass.com and make a comment on this post about why you think childbirth education is important to enter the giveaway.

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

In compliance with the new FTC Guildlines, please note that this is a sponsored post. I was given a set of Perfectly Prepared to review free of charge, however, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.

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Raising a Child with Diabetes

Guest Writer — Sat, 29 May 2010 00:12:59 +0000

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~

CLOSED Giveaway: THE MEDITERRANEAN DIABETES COOKBOOK by Amy Riolo

Pamela — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:22:27 +0000

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.

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

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
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What’s Your Fiber Intake?

Pamela — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:41:26 +0000

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.

Living with Diabetes: Meet Gina

Guest Writer — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:04:45 +0000

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

The Difference Between Type I & Type II Diabetes

Guest Writer — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:47:13 +0000

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.

The Details on Diabetes: A Six Week Journey

Pamela — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:28:17 +0000

I sat down the other day and started to write a post about diabetes. The more I researched the more “subtopics” I came up with and I realized that it would take several posts to cover all of the main topics. That’s when it came to me that I could really turn this into an event. So, with the help of the super smart and resourceful Rachel, I found some experts, some prizes and some great information. Over the next six weeks – every Saturday – we will have an article from a guest author.

Here is what you have to look forward to:

Week 1 – May 1st, 2010 – DIABETES: What’s in a name? by Brandy Barnes. At last a concise answer to the question: What’s the difference between type 1 and type 2.

Week 2 – May 8th, 2010 – GIVEAWAY! DIABETES HEALTH: EXERCISE CAUTION! by Suzanne Andrews. A discussion about the need for and proper methods of exercise in Diabetics. Also a chance to win Suzanne’s DVD – Functional Fitness: Diabetes

Week 3 – May 15th, 2010 – Living with Diabetes: Meet Gina – a glimpse inside the real life of Gina Capone, who is living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Week 4 – May 22nd, 2010 – Giveaway – The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook by Amy Riolo. One lucky winner will receive their own copy!

Week 5 – May 29th, 2010 – Raising A Child With Diabetes by Kelly Kunik – a great article focusing on the first and most important step of Raising a Child With Diabetes - which is sharing.

Week 6 – June 5th, 2010 Glucose Monitoring – some basic information about when, where and how to complete proper glucose monitoring.

So please mark your calendars and join in on this informational event and maybe win some prizes.

To start things off here is short video, featuring Dr. Oz as he discusses Pre-Diabetes:

Get Fit Monday – Find the Positive

Pamela — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:27:08 +0000

A lot of getting healthy and losing weight can be very difficult and often very negative. Essentially you started in a bad place and you are trying to get to a good place. But the journey there does not have to be a negative. You must celebrate the small victories (losing 5 pounds, getting into those jeans you have been wanting to wear all year, making it through aerobics class without having the feeling of wanting to give up). You have to reward yourself for those victories (a pedi for you first 20 pounds, a new book for 2 dress sizes down). My point is that if you make it a negative trip you will never stick to it. It has to be a positive thing, because some days will definitely be harder than others and you have to keep the proper perspective. You are ultimately making your life better and what’s more positive than that??

Here’s This Week’s Links

So this week I have gathered some blog postings that focus on the positive:

Kenz @ All the Weigh - ”Mind Over Matter”

Diz @ Death by Calories - “You can have it all”

Deb @ Deb Shrinks - “Going Public With Your Weight Loss”

Genie @ Diet of 51 – “The ‘Whine’ Behind the Fine”

Share the Love

If you head over to any of these blogs and choose to leave a comment, please mention that you found it on Busy Mommy Media.

If you are host a fitness blog please feel free to email me with your new posts – pamela@busymommymedia.com. You can also us the Mr. Linky Below to add a link directly to your post – please direct readers to a specific post and not just to your home page. Keep in mind that we are a family friendly website so your site must be too! Also, you cannot just be trying to sell something to our readers, there has to be some sort of informational value to your post to be included. Please use this format: Your Name: Title of Post, Your URL: Direct Link to Post. Thanks for sharing!