Battling For Health

Okay, so let’s finish this conversation.

Like I said the other day, if you want to see anyone on the caregiving spectrum from a teenager to an adult child blush-talk about their loved one’s sex life.

I mean, I am grown, have children of my own and have literally written the book on teen sexuality (Straight Talk, How Teens Make Wise decisions About Love and Sex, Review and Herald, 2000). Yet, I just can’t imagine my mom and dad uh…..er…..um….. well, you know…having (whisper) sex. And furthermore, I really wouldn’t want to have to make decisions about their sex lives, especially when they were in their golden years and one of them had already died - because that would mean that one of my parents was having sex with someone other than my other parent.

However, putting your head in the sand, and ignoring the issue isn’t going to make it go away. I’ll never have to consider such things, as both of my parents are now deceased. But YOU may and again, like other care concerns, it’s better to give the issue consideration now, before it becomes a major problem.

Honestly, when I first read the story of Dorothy and Bob in Slate, I was amused. However, as I read and considered the depth of Dorothy and Bob’s relationship and the obvious furor of Bob’s son, I realized that this is no laughing matter. Most importantly, when I read of Dorothy’s depression and despondency after the relationship was abruptly forced to an end by Bob’s son, It made me realize that this issue of seniors, dementia and sexuality is an area that must be given serious consideration.

Here are some questions to consider:

1. Can someone with dementia give consent?
2. What if the current behavior violates grandma’s long standing moral principles?
3. What if the relationship violates the primary caregiver’s morals or principals?
4. Do facility employees have a right to get involved?

In this situation, there may be more questions than answers. Personally, I’d want my family to make decisions for me based upon my life’s principles, morals and values up to that point. The problem is that if I had dementia, I wouldn’t be logical enough to understand my family’s possible “restrictions” on my desires.

It’s something to think about and seriously consider. My advice. Think about it now. Consider it before it becomes an emergency. Talk about it with potential long term care providers and be prepared. As baby boomers age and the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia increases as well. This won’t be interesting or amusing. It will just be another issue that caregivers consider as they battle, the monster, Alzheimer’s disease.

What do you think? Have you been forced to think about and consider your loved one’s sex life?

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What do diabetics need to know about chromium?

Chromium is a trace element that assists in the normal metabolism and storage of fat, proteins and carbohydrates. It is also considered an insulin enhancer as it is involved in the production of insulin and the release of glucose on the cellular level.

Types of chromium include inorganic chromium, high-chromium yeast, chromium picolinate, and chromium polynicotinate. Chromium picolinate is most commonly recommended as it is the most easily absorbed.

Recommended Daily Allowance:

There is no RDA for chromium, but a daily intake of
between 50 and 200 micrograms (µg) is recommended by many physicians and
nutrition experts.

Amount of chromium in over-the-counter vitamin supplements:

Centrum: 35 mcg

One-A-Day Essential: 65 mcg

Viactive Multi Vitamin FLAVOR Glides: 12 mcg

Dietary Sources of Chromium:

Symptoms of Chromium Deficiet:

Chromium deficiencies are not common. A healthy diet will provide an intake of chromium that exceeds recommended dosages; however diets high in simple sugars, or high in processed foods can lead to deficiencies. Extreme exercise, pregnancy, infection, and stress can deplete chromium.

Symptoms of Chromium Toxicity:

• GI Upset

• Hypoglycemia

• Nausea

Chromium and Diabetes:

There have been no clinical studies to support claims that chromium is effective in weight loss or that it increases insulin production. It is also important to note that there are currently no government regulations to specify the purity, dosage or effectiveness of chromium supplements.

From the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center site:

“The FDA has recently issued a letter stating that chromium picolinate does not reduce the risk of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Chromium requires transferrin to be absorbed and is renally eliminated therefore patients with renal and hepatic dysfunction should not be routinely supplemented. To date there are no known drug interactions. Optimal dosage remains undetermined.”

In response to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial the American Diabetes Association states:

“Supplemental dietary chromium appears to have no beneficial effect in people with type 2 diabetes who are treated with oral anti-diabetes drugs.”

For more information on the study visit the ADA site.

An additional ADA statement about chromium states: “It is still controversial whether chromium supplements should be recommended for glycemic control among diabetic patients. Growing evidence suggests that chromium supplementation, particularly at higher doses and in the form of CrP, may improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in patients with glucose intolerance and type 1, type 2, gestational, and steroid-induced diabetes and in some individuals without diabetes. However, it must be recognized that most clinical studies have major limitations including small size, short term, nonrandomized design, and different doses of chromium supplementation, which may explain the high variability of the findings across studies. Therefore, more clinical trials are needed in the U.S. population to examine the robustness of the results observed in other populations and appropriate doses.”

As always it is important for diabetics to consult with their Diabetes Management Team before adding any supplement to their regime.

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The FDA has given approval for a clinical trial that is all about cancer immunity. Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the site of this amazing cancer research. Dr. Zheng Cui, an associate professor at the university, who teaches biochemistry, molecular biology, lipid biochemistry, cancer biology, and cancer immunology and his team will lead the trial.

The trial began with the accidental discovery of a mouse that was resistant to cancer. Repeated injection of cancer cells yielded zero tumor growth. Breeding the cancer immune mouse resulted in three of the seven grandchildren of the immune mouse also having the same immune characteristics.

The key to the mystery apparently lies in the white blood cells of the immune resistant mice.

The follow-up phase involved transfusing tumor ridden mice with white blood cells from the immune resistant mice. The amazing result was a cure of cancer in the tumored mice.

The next postulate: are there cancer immune humans? What about families where generations show zero cancer? The researchers will begin searching for these “cancer immune” humans. After testing, the white blood cells will be transfused into cancer patients. This process is obviously not new and is similar to a blood transfusion. The result is a bolstered immune system that is immune to cancer.

In the recent issue of the New Scientist, Dr. Cui states that “nearly 97 percent of the cancer cells exposed to certain donor immune cells were killed, while in other cases the kill ratio dropped to as low as two percent. Immune cells from patients over the age of 50 were weaker than others while stress and the time of year also appeared to factor into the efficacy rate. One potential threat to his experiment will be graft-vs-host disease. ”

Dr. Cui says, “We’ve minimized all the risk, especially for these first few rounds of trials,” he said. “We don’t know what will happen, but we hope this will cure several types of cancer and help a few people in the next months. This could be another arrow in the cancer treatment quiver.”

Check out this YouTube video on the story.

Read the full story at the News Observer or the UK Telegraph.
You can also check out this interview with Dr. Cui at the Speculist.

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Diabetes Events:

Diabetes Australia will unveil their new website on July 13, 2008 in conjunction with the start of Australia’s National Diabetes Week. Diabetes Australia is committed to turning diabetes around through awareness, prevention, detection, management and a cure.

Check out Team Diabetes Canada: Since its inception, Team Diabetes Canada participants have raised vital funds on behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association and the 2 million Canadians with diabetes that the Association serves. Team Diabetes participants not only increase public awareness of the disease, they inspire their communities to get active and involved. They create lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, while raising funds in support of the research, education, advocacy, and programming that the Canadian Diabetes Association delivers in communities across Canada. Team Diabetes participants are local heroes working to prevent diabetes at home and abroad. Team Diabetes programs allow you to walk or run in world-class marathon events in fascinating cities both nationally and throughout the World.

If you’re going to be in Washington, D.C. this August, check this out:

The Children with Diabetes Quilt for Life will be displayed on the National Mall in front of the US Capitol Building from dawn Monday, August 4, 2008 through dusk on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Everyone is invited.

“Children with Diabetes (CWD) families have a new way to let their voices be heard and their families be counted–through the CWD Quilt for Life. With each 3′ x 3′ quilt square representing someone with diabetes, this will be a powerful message to the public that our children are real people with real hopes and dreams — and they want a cure now!”

Jeff Hitchcock, CWD Founder

Headline News:

PR.COM, June 26, 2008. Idea Earth Brings Mobility to Type 1 Diabetics. “Informative new mobile website lets juvenile diabetics spotlight themselves and have access to important type 1 diabetes information 24/7.”

Bloomberg.com, June 26, 2008. Merck Diabetes Pill Januvia Set to Rejuvenate Shares. “Merck & Co. may control more than half of a $6 billion U.S. market for a new type of diabetes drug even after rivals start selling similar versions.”

Center For Disease Control, June 24, 2008: Number of People with Diabetes Increases to 24 Million. “Diabetes now affects nearly 24 million people in the United States, an increase of more than 3 million in approximately two years, according to new 2007 prevalence data estimates released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means that nearly 8 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes.”

Forbes.com, June 23, 2008: Pzifer Eyes New Use For Stem Cells. “Big drug companies have largely stayed away from testing exotic stem-cell treatments. But now Pfizer is betting that a radical new adult stem-cell treatment may be able to stave off diabetes-induced retina damage, a leading cause of blindness. ”

Battling Books:

The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle: Lifestyle Center of America’s Complete Program to Stop Diabetes, Restore Health and Build Natural Vitality (January 2008)

The companion cookbook has just been released!

The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle Cookbook: Stop Diabetes with an Easy-to Follow Plant-Based, Carb-Counting Diet (May 2008)

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Happy Friday.

Battling Cancer readers…this is your last day to post for a chance to win free books.

The rules are simple. Let me know you are out there by posting a hello by 8 pm, MST. Tonight!!

Then if your name is drawn and I email, drop me a note back with your mailing address and real world name.

Two readers will be able to choose the book of their choice from the books up for grabs at Bibliophile Is Back!

Shopping For Cancer??

CharityMall.

CharityMall.com is an online shopping system that showcases hundreds of popular merchants that have agreed to donate to cancer research every time an individual purchases something from their online store. Every merchant has committed to a different donation amount; each amount is posted on the CharityMall.com website Merchants are making these donations… individual shoppers do not spend an extra dime.

Every dime earned through CharityMall.com goes directly to the Cancer Research Foundation. The Cancer Research Foundation is a tax-exempt, US public charity created exclusively to raise funds to further and support cancer research. Their 2006 recipients include: Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Per The Cancer Research Foundation site: “In 2006, we were able to grant 90% of all donations received to cancer research and we are projected to have even better donation success in 2007.

Headline News:

U.S. News & World Report, June 26, 2008. Breast Cancer Vaccines Look Promising:But Research Still To Really Pan Out, Expert Warns. “Women with metastatic breast cancer who developed an immune response to an investigational vaccine lived twice as long as those who didn’t have an immune response, new research shows.”

ScienceDaily, June 26, 2008. Multiple Regions Of Chromosome 8 Found To Be Associated With Different Cancers. “A recently discovered, but not yet understood, section of chromosome 8, called 8q24, may contain at least five distinct regions that are associated with different cancers, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.”

Reuters, June 25, 2008. Merck’s Gardasil Not Cleared For Older Women. “U.S. regulators have told Merck & Co they cannot yet approve Merck’s application to expand marketing of its cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil to an older group of women, the drugmaker said on Wednesday.”

Endocrine Today, June 25, 2008. Bariatric Surgery May Improve Cancer in the Morbidly Obese. “Morbidly obese patients who had bariatric surgery had a greater chance of improving or preventing certain cancers, according to new study results presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Washington.”

Reuters, June 24, 2008. Study Suggests Colon Cancer Vaccine Possible. “A protein found only in the intestines may help lead the way to a vaccine that can treat colon cancers and perhaps other tumors too, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday. ”

Washington Post. com, June 23, 2008. Symptoms Plus Blood Test Boost Ovarian Cancer Detection. “U.S. researchers boosted the level of early-stage ovarian cancer detection by 20 percent through use of a blood test to detect a tumor marker as well as a woman’s report of new-onset symptoms.”

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Wouldn’t everyone love to stop worrying about dieting? Just take a pill once a day and forget about it. The pounds just melt off. Well, nutritional science isn’t quite there, yet. But it is making strides. However, anyone considering their use should be aware of both the risks and the potential benefits.

Pharmaceutical companies have taken two basic approaches to weight loss pills: those that stimulate and those that block. Stimulate what? Block what?

Appetite Suppression

In the first category are diet pills that work on the centers of the brain to stimulate the central nervous system. Several years ago these were variants of amphetamine, popularly known as ’speed’. The basic idea was to stimulate the dieter, which had the ’side effect’ of suppressing appetite.

The idea is sound. Eat less and your odds of losing weight are higher. The basic equation of dieting, no matter what method is chosen, remains the same: more calories consumed than used leads to weight gain. Consume fewer calories than you burn and the body will naturally shed pounds.

But, as with any drug, there are real side effects. Speed can produce heart palpitations, insomnia, diarrhea and lowered sexual function. In extreme cases, it may produce psychotic episodes. Over time, even the ability to depress appetite generally fades. Once the effects of amphetamine became more widely recognized, its use was discontinued.

A more contemporary prescription diet pill in this category is phentermine. It works by stimulating the hypothalamus, a gland that controls certain neurotransmitters associated with appetite. But it also plays a role in the sleep cycle, so sleeplessness can result. Still it is generally safe for short term use and the side effects are much less severe. Over a few weeks time, the desired appetite suppression is likely to fade.

Fat Blockage

The second category of weight loss pill uses an entirely different approach to eating and digestion. Here, there’s no attempt to regulate how much food is consumed, only how many calories are retained. Since every digested fat gram yields 9 calories, it is ‘energy dense’. So, removing fat from the system can help reduce the number of available calories.

Orlistat (marketed under the brand name Xenical) is a prescription diet pill that does just that. It operates by altering the body’s efficiency for absorbing fat, causing more of it to be eliminated in feces. The popular non-prescription drug, Alli, is the same drug at a lower dosage.

But, these too have side effects. Stools tend to be oily (a result of the added fat) and defecation is more likely to be spontaneous. That means it’s possible to lose control of the bowels and eliminate at undesired moments.

Summary

For many, the side effects of diet pills are well worth the benefits they give. Many users have tried a number of diet plans and find they don’t work well enough or require too much willpower. Others simply prefer to spend less time thinking about meal plans, carb to fat ratios or total calories consumed. A pill helps them diet with greater ease.

As with any approach to dieting, it’s wise to consult with your physician first before selecting a weight loss pill.

Advertisement: @ HART Market We have combined many of our marketplace blogs into this one consolidated site.

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I knew it all along, but now the Boston Globe has verified it. Naps are good for you.

And it seems with our recent article here on Battling Cancer about sleep that tells us insomnia is considered one of the most serious side effects of cancer–

45% to 50% of all cancer patients deal with disturbances of sleep–that naps are a great idea for cancer patients.

A study released by the Harvard School of Public Health and in Athens reported that Greeks who took regular 30-minute siestas were 37 percent less likely to die of heart disease over a six-year period than those who never napped. The scientists tracked more than 23,000 adults, finding that the benefits of napping were most pronounced for working men. Source: Boston Globe

The National Sleep Foundation lists three types of naps:

• Planned napping-preparatory napping-taking a nap before an event or when you know you must stay up late
• Emergency napping-when you are suddenly very tired and cannot keep your eyes open
• Habitual napping-occurs at the same time every day (my cat or your toddler)

How To Nap?

Check out this graphic by Josua Schwimmer MD:

The chart explains how to nap for the napping challenged.

Since Da Vinci, Einstein and Edison all were known nappers it might be a good idea to take this seriously.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends napping at:

• The right length: A short nap is usually recommended (20-30 minutes) for short-term alertness. This type of nap provides significant benefit for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.
• The right environment: Your surroundings can greatly impact your ability to fall asleep. Make sure that you have a restful place to lie down and that the temperature in the room is comfortable. Try to limit the amount of noise heard and the extent of the light filtering in. While some studies have shown that just spending time in bed can be beneficial, it is better to try to catch some zzz’s.
• The right time: If you take a nap too late in the day, it might affect your nighttime sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall asleep at your regular bedtime. If you try to take it too early in the day, your body may not be ready for more sleep.”

So what are we waiting for? Got your blanket? Ipod?

Let’s zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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Being diabetic doesn’t mean boring meals or uninspiring shopping experiences. Turn a challenge into an adventure. Here’s some ideas.

Have you seen the American Diabetes Association Virtual Grocery Store yet?

Create a profile and sign in first. Then explore all there is to offer on this great site.

• Virtual Grocery Store Tour: lets you see your ordinary grocery store through the eyes of a diabetic trying to make smart choice.
• A Recipe File with recipes and a place to store your favorites. It also includes tips to modify recipes.
• Meal Planning help with exchange lists, the food pyramid and information on how to read labels.
• Express Lane, ideas and recipes on how to eat fast food that is healthy.
• Shopping list lets you import ingredients from the site’s recipes or just add your own grocery needs. It is printable to take with you to the store.

Diabetic Gourmet Magazine is a great online magazine dedicated to diabetic dining and healthy living. They also offer a free daily recipe subscription bring you recipes with nutritional information daily. They also have a debut cookbook:

The Diabetic Gourmet Cookbook:More Than 200 Healthy Recipes from Homestyle Favorites to Restaurant Classics

Join the FREE Good Eating, Good Living program from KRAFT today!

You know how hard it is to find ongoing and reliable support when you’re living with diabetes. That’s why KRAFT created the Good Eating, Good Living program. Here’s what you’ll receive when you join:

• Flavorful everyday and seasonal recipes
• Recipe cards you’ll love to collect and share
• A magazine and newsletters bursting with inspiration
• Easy “How To” recipe videos

Check out the video of how to make a Mimosa Fruit Salad or the quick and easy Steak Salad recipe!

The Accu-Chek Inner Circle is an almost overwhelming site.

There is so much there. In the food and recipe department they offer:

• An interactive Recipe Box
• A carb counter that lets you figure the carb content for an entire meal <-THIS IS AWESOME!!!
• An interactive meal maker to create meals and tally carb content. <-THIS IS UBER AWESOME!!!

So register, check it out and tell me what you think.

Can diabetics use Splenda?

“Yes. Numerous studies have shown that SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, is suitable for people with diabetes. Sucralose is not recognized by the body as sugar or as a carbohydrate. It is not metabolized by the body for energy and does not affect blood glucose levels. Sucralose has no effect on carbohydrate metabolism or insulin secretion. Other ingredients in SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener products, which are added to give necessary volume and texture, add only a very small amount of carbohydrate per serving. These are common carbohydrates (maltodextrin and/or dextrose) and are the same type of carbohydrates used in other no calorie sweeteners. They contribute less than 5 calories per serving, which, when used in moderation, (4 packets or 8 tsp. granulated) is considered a free food by the American Diabetes Association. ” Source: Splenda.com

Visit the Splenda site and click on the Living With Diabetes tab.

Check out the great recipes, including this one:

Nana-Nut Bread

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 1/4 cups mashed bananas
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/3 cup reduced fat buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup chopped walnuts*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9X5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Blend the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Add oil, buttermilk and vanilla to the mashed bananas. Mix well. Pour banana mixture into dry ingredients. Stir until just mixed.

Add chopped walnuts. Stir until just mixed.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven 45-55 minutes or until rich brown and the center is set.

N* Black walnuts can be used to create a uniquely flavored banana bread.

Exchanges per Serving: 1 Fat, 1 Starch, 1/2 Fruit

YUM!

Time to run…I have to make that banana bread now!

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