Early Screening Essential for Diabetes Prevention

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 80 percent of diabetes-related deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Karachi is no exception to the prevalence of diabetes. With limited facilities available for the public to exercise and poor dietary patterns of the population, only an explosion of the problem can be foreseen.

Dr Jaweed Akhter, Section Head of Endocrinology at Aga Khan University, said that early screening of diabetes is absolutely essential for proper and effective prevention.

 

“The need of screening is important as most of the people are unaware that they have suffering from the disease and only get concerned when they develop a complication. This is often too late to reverse. Adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise and maintaining normal body weight could prevent type-2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the disease. All efforts need to be made to educate people in identifying the disease early enough to fight it more effectively, “ said Akhter.

Mr Divabetic shares a Behind-the-Scene look at presenting diabetes education with DAZZLE at the ADA Expo in Pittsburgh, PA for the past five years

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Chaka Khan celebrating National Diabetes Awareness Month with guests: Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, Pam Butler MS, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, cookbook author Holly Clegg, Mama Rose Marie and Ginger Vieira, from Burlington, VT living with type 1 diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/11/13/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-chaka-kahn
See Mr. Divabetic‘s nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.

Before you decide to “trash” a veggie for good, why not try to eat it raw? Raw veggies can be more appetizing than their cooked counterparts to people who aren’t crazy about vegetables. The flavors of raw veggies can be milder than those of cooked ones.

See Mr. Divabetic live in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

20 Minutes Of Exercise Can Change Your Child’s Life!

A new study reports that just 20 minutes of daily physical activity is enough to be the difference between the onset of diabetes or dodging that bullet in at-risk children.

The study, reported in JAMA, randomly assigned over 200 overweight or obese grade school students to 20 or 40 minutes of supervised aerobic activity five days a week, or to a control group in which habitual activity (or lack thereof) was maintained, for a period of 13 weeks. The primary study outcome was insulin sensitivity, a potent marker of Type 2 diabetes risk; and secondary measures included fitness, and fatness.

Both doses of physical activity significantly improved insulin sensitivity, suggesting diabetes prevention over time. The 40-minute dose exerted a greater effect, but 20 minutes a day was clearly enough to matter.

The higher dose of activity was more effective than the lower at reducing weight and body fat, but both were significantly better than control. And in the case of fitness, measured formally with peak oxygen consumption, both doses were comparably effective, and both much better than control, i.e., doing just about nothing.

So while more exercise is better, some — and a rather small “sum,” at that — can do a remarkable amount of good. If we know — and it seems we do — that fitting 20 minutes of activity in during every school day can be enough to prevent diabetes in a large and growing percentage of our kids, it’s hard to believe we would fail to act on that knowledge.

That much more so when we consider that a daily dose of exercise is likely to enhance academic performance, rather than interfere with it. “Sound mind, sound body” should sound familiar, because it’s the kind of sensible advice our grandparents gave us. Science now points in the same direction, it just took longer to get there.

By David Katz, M.D., Director, Yale Prevention  Research Center

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at NY Fashion Week with a behind the scenes look at hat designer, Evetta Petty‘s Spring 2013 Hat Collection.

Register now for ’Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes’ - our largest free diabetes outreach event of the year promoting a diva attitude for living well with diabetes scheduled for Saturday, October 13, 2012 in Philadelphia, PA.

‘Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes’, mixes free beauty and fashion services, a Plus Size fashion show and music with interactive diabetes education in a fun, comfortable setting to broaden the appeal of diabetes educational outreach for women. Our goal is to make every woman feel more beautiful inside and out through the help of a team of certified diabetes educators, registered dietitians, and beauty and fashion experts.

Saturday, October 13, 2012, 11 AM – 4 PM

Jefferson Alumni Hall , First Floor Eakins Lounge 10th and Locust Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19107

FREE ADMISSION

Register: 1-800-JEFF-NOW

HEALTHY DINING OUT ADVICE Tune in to Divabetic’s Free monthly Diabetes Podcast inspired by Taylor Swift featuring expert advice on dining out, grocery shopping and a frank, fashion forward discussion on diabulimia, Diabetes Numerology self-care games along with ‘diagnosis to DIVA’ stories http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/09/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-mystery-diva

Look who’s on the red tomato carpet with Mr. Divabetic at Plus Night Out -NYC

Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach event in Philadelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA  and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conferences & Health Fairs in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX.

For sponsorship opportunities and upcoming outreach event details visit:  www.divabetic.org and Divabetic’s Facebook’s Group and Fan pages.

Weight Training Reduces Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

Men who do weight training regularly (for 30 minutes per day, five days per week) may be able to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 34%, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and University of Southern Denmark researchers. And if they combine weight training and aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking or running, they may be able to reduce their risk even further – up to 59%.

This is the first study to examine the role of weight training in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. The results suggest that, because weight training appears to confer significant benefits independent of aerobic exercise, it can be a valuable alternative for people who have difficulty with the latter.

The study was published online in Archives of Internal Medicine.

“Until now, previous studies have reported that aerobic exercise is of major importance for type 2 diabetes prevention,” said lead author Anders Grøntved, visiting researcher in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH and a doctoral student in exercise epidemiology at the University of Southern Denmark. “But many people have difficulty engaging in or adhering to aerobic exercise. These new results suggest that weight training, to a large extent, can serve as an alternative to aerobic exercise for type 2 diabetes prevention.”

Type 2 diabetes is a major public health concern and it’s on the rise. An estimated 346 million people worldwide have type 2 diabetes, and diabetes-related deaths are expected to double between 2005 and 2030, according to the World Health Organization. More than 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

What are you eating this summer? The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks to everyday people about their healthy appetites at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.

Meet Mr. Divabetic on the red TOMATO carpet in Phildelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association Expo in Pittsburgh, PA and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conference in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX in Fall 2012. For more glitter, games and glucose advice visit: http://www.divabetic.org

LISTEN NOW: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Katy Perry  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/07/10/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-katy-perry

Coffee Found to Prevent Skin Cancer

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have found that there seems to be a relationship between increased coffee intake (meaning the more, the better) and decreased risk of basal cell carcinoma — the most common skin cancer.

“Our results add basal cell carcinoma to a list of conditions for which risk is decreased with increasing coffee consumption,” study researcher Jiali Han, Ph.D., an associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston and Harvard School of Public Health, said in a statement. “This list includes conditions with serious negative health consequences such as Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.”

Researchers not only found a link between increased coffee consumption and decreased skin cancer risk — for example, women who drank three or more cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of skin cancer than people who drank less than a cup of coffee a month — but also a link between overall increased caffeine consumption (like from coffee, soda, chocolate and tea) and decreased skin cancer risk. Meanwhile, there was no link between decaffeinated coffee consumption and risk of the skin cancer.

In addition, there was no link was identified between increased coffee or caffeine consumption and squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, which are two other kinds of skin cancer.

“These results really suggest that it is the caffeine in coffee that is responsible for the decreased risk of basal cell carcinoma associated with increasing coffee consumption,” Han said in the statement. “This would be consistent with published mouse data, which indicate caffeine can block skin tumor formation. However, more studies in different population cohorts and additional mechanistic studies will be needed before we can say this definitively.”

LISTEN NOW: Free Diabetes Roundtable Podcast Inspired by Rev Run  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/06/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-rev-run

Diabetes & Feet

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic is joined by Divabetic Club – Philadelphia Leader, Neva White, DNP, CDE and podiatrist Dr. Ronald Renzi to discuss proper foot care for people living with diabetes.

Dr. Ronald Renzi, podiatrist at Abington Memorial Hospital, in partnership with vascular surgeon, Dr. Lee Kirksey of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, are working to publish information in professional journals to highlight key information to vascular surgeons and other healthcare professionals in the area.

African American men in Philadelphia, PA are four times more likely than white males to have foot amputations. Save Your Soles is a grassroots program focused on eliminating this disparity. Save Your Soles works with community churches and other groups to heighten awareness of this disparity and to ultimately reduce amputations. The program teaches the importance of keeping blood sugar under control, taking medications as prescribed, eating healthy foods, and getting regular exercise.

The main message is to increase awareness of the need for people living with diabetes to take care of their feet to avoid future amputations.

Divabetic Club – Philadelphia presented at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital thanks to the support of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in Philadelphia, PA. Visit: www.divabetic.org

Symptoms of Diabetes

Judi Wilcox, RD, CDE

 

 

Judi Wilcox, RD, CDE, of Hollywood, Florida, joins Mr. Divabetic to discuss diabetes symptoms in a most unusual way.  Listen here, listen now and let us know what you think!

Imagine Judy Garland Without the Rainbow

Try to imagine Judy Garland without her rainbow. We can’t! We work to help divas,  like Judy, develop their own road map for proper diabetes daily self-care that’s manageable and practical.

For over seven years, Divabetic has been presenting diabetes education in an entertaining way. From our monthly podcasts to our lively stage shows presentations, we strive to help you stay healthy and upbeat about your care so you can prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring. Help us continue to dazzle so you can lead you to the end of the yellow brick road!

Donate to Divabetic #marchofthedivas today.  Go to the ‘DONATE’ page to make your #marchofthedivas contribution on paypal at www.divabetic.org

Thank you for your support!

Angelina Has A Leg Up On Diabetes Awareness

I like to think Angelina Jolie’s ‘Strike A Pose’ moment at the Oscars was intended to help raise awareness for diabetes health-related complications prevention such as amputation. In a matter of seconds, her legs became showstoppers. Don’t take your legs for granted if you’re living with diabetes.  Let Angelina’s great pair of legs inspire you to ‘keep your feet’ by practicing proper diabetes management with a healthy diet, regular exercise, blood sugar monitoring and adherence to a prescribed medication regimen.

Proper foot care will help prevent problems with your feet and ensure prompt medical care when problems occur. Tips for proper foot care include the following:

1. Inspect your feet daily. Check your feet once a day for blisters, cuts, cracks, sores, redness, tenderness or swelling. If you have trouble reaching your feet, use a hand mirror to see the bottoms of your feet, place the mirror on the floor if it’s too difficult to hold, or ask someone to help you.
2. Wash your feet daily. Wash your feet in lukewarm water once a day. Dry them gently, especially between the toes. Use a pumice stone to gently rub the skin where calluses easily form. Sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch between your toes to keep the skin dry. Use a moisturizing cream or lotion on the tops and bottoms of your feet to keep the skin soft.
3. Don’t remove calluses or other foot lesions yourself. To avoid injury to your skin, don’t use a nail file, nail clipper or scissors on calluses, corns, bunions or warts. Don’t use chemical wart removers. See your doctor or foot specialist (podiatrist) for removal of any of these lesions.
4. Trim your toenails carefully. Trim your nails straight across. Carefully file sharp ends with an emery board. Ask for assistance from a caregiver if you are unable to trim your nails yourself.
5. Don’t go barefoot. To prevent injury to your feet, don’t go barefoot, even around the house.
6. Wear clean, dry socks. Wear socks made of fibers that pull (wick) sweat away from your skin, such as cotton and special acrylic fibers — not nylon. Avoid socks with tight elastic bands that reduce circulation, as well as thick bulky socks that often fit poorly and irritate your skin.
7. Buy shoes that fit properly. Buy comfortable shoes that do not fit tightly and that provide support and cushioning for the heel, arch and ball of the foot. Avoid high heels or narrow shoes that crowd your toes. If one foot is bigger than the other, buy shoes in the larger size. Your doctor may recommend specially designed shoes (orthopedic shoes) that fit the exact shape of your feet, cushion your feet and evenly distribute weight on your feet.
8. Don’t smoke. Smoking impairs circulation and reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. These circulatory problems can result in more severe wounds and poor healing. Talk to your doctor if you need help to quit smoking.
9. Schedule regular foot checkups. Your doctor or podiatrist can inspect your feet for early signs of nerve damage, poor circulation or other foot problems. Schedule foot exams at least once a year or more often if recommended by your doctor.

Alec Baldwin Among 79 Million Americans with Pre-Diabetes

Divabetic: Alec Baldwin's Before & After

A diagnosis of last pre-diabetes May gave award-winning actor Alec Baldwin the motivation to trim 30 pounds from a physique that, along with chiseled features, once earned him a place  among People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People.

A newly energized Baldwin, 53, revealed the health scare that lay behind his sleeker appearance during last Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, where he was named best actor in a comedy series for his work in the hit show “30 Rock.”

Alec Baldwin said that he dropped the weight in just four months by giving up sugar and bumping up his activity with Pilates and spinning, but “not as much yoga as I’d like.”

“When we’re shooting and I can’t work out, I just have to eat less,” he said. “So I’m very conscious of that. But sugar was the real killer for me. That was the problem.”

Pre-diabetes places Baldwin among an estimated 79 million Americans with elevated blood sugar levels that can put them at risk of chronic, life-threatening Type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.  Diabetes specialists recognize pre-diabetes as a distinct entity, although “many, many primary care doctors don’t recognize it or treat it” because the lifestyle interventions that can delay or prevent it are “hard to ‘prescribe,’” said  Dr. Anne Peters, director of the clinical diabetes programs at the University of Southern California.

“Losing 7 percent to 10 percent of one’s body weight with maintenance of that weight reduces the risk by half or even more,” she said.

Mr.Divabetic & Divabetic Are Health Activist Awards Finalists

Divabetic, the national diabetes nonprofit, and Mr. Divabetic are both finalist for 2 prestigious  WEGO Health Activist Awards: ‘Best In Show’ (Diva TalkRadio) and ‘Health Activist Hero’.

Diva TalkRadio is a free monthly podcast featuring diabetes education in a fun, new way. The show features a whirlwind of real-life divas, educational games, snazzy segments on food and fitness, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Mama Rose Marie and more! The best part is that it’s FREE. Tune in at divabetic.org

Mr. Divabetic has traveled to over 18 major US cities promoting a ‘Glam More, Fear Less’ philosophy. Dressed in his world famous ‘fruit suit’ he hosts national and local diabetes outreach events featuring plenty of motivational support and sparkle. His live stage shows present diabetes and wellness education in game formats with star-powerpoint presentations.

For the past seven years, Divabetic has presented ‘Wellness With A Wow’ to help educate, encourage and empower women touched by diabetes to prevent and/or delay a diabetes health-related complication. Our entertaining brand of diabetes wellness outreach was inspired by the late R & B legend, Luther Vandross, and it is in his honor that we continue to outreach to his fans, their families and their communities in non-traditional ways in non-clinical settings. Luther employed hundreds of people to support him with his music but when it came to managing his diabetes he made the mistake of  choosing to do it alone. We’re encouraging everyone to ‘Keep Their House A Home’ by building their own healthcare entourage.  Accepting your diagnosis and asking for help are both powerful ways on how to live your best life.

Yes, we believe in ‘The Power of Love.’

So can YOU!