Diabetes Myths and Truths

published at everydayhealth.com
Despite the tremendous amount of medical information now available to the public, many inaccurate ideas still persist about the nature and treatment of diabetes. Read on to separate fact from fiction.

The Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

The Truth: Years ago, folks called it "sugar diabetes," implying that the disease was caused by eating too much of the sweet stuff. Medical experts know now that diabetes is triggered by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. However, being overweight — which can happen if you indulge in high-calorie sugary foods — does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

The Myth: People with diabetes can't eat any sweets or chocolate.

The Truth: If part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes than they are to people without diabetes.

The Myth: People with diabetes can only eat special diabetic foods.

The Truth: A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for everyone: low in fat (especially the saturated and trans fats found in butter, lard, full-fat dairy products and meats, and solid vegetable oils), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole-grain foods, vegetables and fruit. Diabetic and "dietetic" versions of sugar-containing foods offer no special benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

The Myth: All diabetics have to take insulin injections.

The Truth: Injected insulin is usually only necessary for those with Type 1 diabetes, in which the body no longer produces it own insulin. Those with Type 2 generally have plenty of insulin, but their bodies don't respond well to it. Some people with type 2 diabetes, particularly if blood-glucose levels are poorly controlled, do need diabetes pills or insulin shots to help their bodies use glucose for energy. However, most type 2 cases can be helped without medication, by losing weight, adopting a healthier diet, increasing exercise and other lifestyle changes. (By the way, insulin cannot be taken as a pill, as the hormone would be broken down during digestion just like the protein in food. Insulin must be injected into the fat under the skin for it to get into your blood.)

The Myth: If you have diabetes, you have to stay away from starchy foods like bread, potatoes and pasta.

The Truth: Whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta, brown rice and starchy vegetables such as potatoes, yams, peas and corn are part of a healthy meal plan and can be included in your meals and snacks. These foods, high in complex carbohydrates, are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gastrointestinal system running smoothly. The key is portion size. Most people with diabetes should limit themselves to three or four servings of complex carbohydrates a day.

The Myth: Type 2 Diabetes only affects blood-sugar levels, decreasing your energy.

The Truth: Type 2 diabetes affects many different systems and organs of the body, including the cardiovascular system, leading to stroke or heart disease; the eyes, which can result in conditions from dry eye to retinal disease (retinopathy); the nerves, causing severe damage (neuropathy) that can necessitate lower-limb amputation; the kidneys, which fail and require dialysis; and the skin, which can become prone to infections. Experts predict that, over the next 30 years, there will be 35 million heart attacks, 13 million strokes, 8 million new cases of blindness, 6 million kidney failures, 2 millions amputations and 62 million deaths — all linked to diabetes. Learn more about many serious complications and how to cope with them.

The Myth: Only adults can develop Type 2 Diabetes.

The Truth: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in school-aged children. About 1 in every 400 to 600 children has type 1 diabetes, which was used to be called "juvenile diabetes," which is caused by disruption of the pancreas' ability to produce insulin. However, in recent years more and more children and teens have become overweight (10 to 15 percent, about double the number of two decades ago), and so increasing numbers of young people are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. According to several studies, since 1994, cases have increased from less than 5 percent to between 30 and 50 percent. Two million of those age 12 to 19 (or 1 in 6 overweight adolescents) have pre-diabetes.

Last updated: March 14, 2008
Republished with permission from Woman's Day, a publication of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.

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Talk Therapy proves effective for terminal cancer patients

-as published in The Freeman, April 21, 2008-

Talk therapy can help treat depression symptoms in patients with terminal cancer, according to Japanese researchers who reviewed the results of six studies that included a total of 517 patients with incurable cancer and depression.

The primary type of depression treatment for these patients was supportive expressive group therapy, in which they were encouraged to discuss their deepest fears and feelings and to help each other cope with them.

The review authors found that the benefits of this kind of treatment were only slightly less than those found in clinical trials of antidepressant drugs in general patient populations.

"Psychotherapy can be a promising treatment for ameliorating depressive states in advanced cancer patients if they prefer to receive it, "said review lead author Tatsuo Akechi, an associate professor of psychiatry and cognitive-behavioral medicine at the Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences.

However, Akechi and his colleagues found that psychotherapy did not significantly improve patient anxiety. This may be because there were too few patients to give enough statistical power to demonstrate an effect, Akechi suggested.

The researchers didn't examine whether psychotherapy could improve survival or response to cancer treatment. The review appears in the current issue of the journal The Cochrane Library.

"The key finding is that psychotherapy for depression for gravely ill cancer patients works," David Spiegel, associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Standford University School of Medicine and an expert on therapy in cancer patients, said in a prepared statement. He wasn't involved in the review but was one of the lead investigators on one of the studies included in the review.

Spiegel said that many doctors don't look for depression in patients with advanced cancer, or they consider it a normal and untreatable response among dying patients. Spiegel noted that only about 25 percent of patients with terminal cancer suffer depression due to their situation, which is different than the grief, sadness and anger, associated with the thought of dying.

"Depression and existential dread or sadness is not the same thing. Patients with depression feel hopeless, helpless and worthless. They feel like a burden to tohers," Spiegel said.

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Shocking Facts About Pharmaceutical Industry

Another article of Mercola.com of which I want to share with everybody.

Shocking Facts About the Pharmaceutical Industry

Big drug companies have been accused of putting profits above patients, spinning false PR campaigns and more. Here are some of the most shocking facts about the pharmaceutical industry.

The price of drugs is increasing faster than anything else a patient pays for: The prices of the most heavily prescribed drugs are routinely jacked up, sometimes several times a year. Some medications have a mark-up of 1,000 percent over the cost of their ingredients.

Your doctor may have an ulterior motive behind your prescription: Drug reps often give gifts to convince doctors to prescribe the medications that they represent. These drug reps usually have no medical or science education.

Pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than research: Almost twice as much!

Guilty of Medicare fraud: Pharmaceutical companies are being tried in federal courts as a result of their exploitation of Medicare. AstraZeneca had to pay more than $340 million in penalties for coaching doctors to cheat Medicare.

The combined wealth of the top 5 pharmaceutical companies outweigh GNP of sub-Saharan Africa: In fact, the combined worth of the world’s top five drug companies is twice the combined GNP of that entire region.

Americans pay more for prescription meds than anyone else in the world: $200 billion in 2002 alone.

"New" Drugs aren't really new: Two-thirds of “new” prescription drugs are identical to existing drugs or modified versions of them.

Drug companies are taking advantage of underdeveloped countries to perform clinical trials: In developing countries, government oversight is more lax.

For more shocking facts, click the link below.

Sources:

• Nursing Online Education Database March 27, 2008

Plastic Recycle Symbols - what does it means?

Have you seen recycle symbols in your plastic bottles? Do you know what does it means? I happened to read an article from Mercola.com regarding plastic recycle symbols and it is must to let everyone know about this.
Number 1 Plastics -- PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

• Found In: Soft drinks, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
• Recycling: Pick up through most curbside recycling programs.
• Recycled Into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers

It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20 percent), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

Number 2 Plastics -- HDPE (high density polyethylene)

• Found In: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
• Recycling: Pick up through most curbside recycling programs, although some only allow those containers with necks.
• Recycled Into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing

HDPE carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

Number 3 Plastics -- V (Vinyl) or PVC

• Found In: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
• Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
• Recycled Into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats

PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

Number 4 Plastics -- LDPE (low density polyethylene)

• Found In: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
• Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
• Recycled Into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile

Historically, LDPE has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

Number 5 Plastics -- PP (polypropylene)

• Found In: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
• Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
• Recycled Into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays

Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

Number 6 Plastics -- PS (polystyrene)

• Found In: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
• Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
• Recycled Into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle.

Number 7 Plastics -- Miscellaneous

• Found In: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
• Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
• Recycled Into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products

A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.

Sources:

• The Daily Green March 31, 2008

Can Exercise Ease Anxiety?

If you exercise regularly, you know that a good workout can help you feel less stressed and better able to cope with problems. But can exercise help relieve anxiety disorders?

Some research shows that physical activity can modestly decrease anxiety symptoms. Exercise also boosts self-esteem slightly and improves social interaction skills, both of which can help reduce anxiety. Just how exercise helps isn’t known, but researchers believe a combination of factors probably come into play. Exercise increases endorphins, natural chemicals that act like painkillers. And when done with a friend or in a class, it can promote social interaction.

While it’s fair to say that exercise is beneficial for both mind and body, studies reporting that it reduces anxiety should be viewed with caution. For one thing, few of these studies used subjects diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Instead, they relied on participants’ self-reports of anxiety symptoms. It’s unclear whether the reported benefits would hold true for people with anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the studies didn’t differentiate among types of exercise, intensity, or duration, so it’s impossible to recommend a specific regimen. Despite the unknowns, the authors of a recent review article in The Physician and Sportsmedicine recommended that clinicians strongly encourage people with anxiety to exercise regularly in addition to adhering to proven treatment programs.

Besides boosting your mood, regular exercise offers a host of other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, protecting against heart disease and cancer, and helping prevent diabetes.

-from Everyday Health

Anti-Cancer Cabbage Soup Recipe

By Dr. Ben Kim
If you want to significantly lower your risk of developing cancer, consider eating cabbage at least a few times a week. Cabbage belongs to the Cruciferous family of vegetables - other vegetables that belong in this family include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, Bok Choy, watercress, and arugula.

Phytonutrients found in cabbage and other Cruciferous vegetables stimulate your genes to increase production of enzymes that detoxify your cells, resulting in elimination of free radicals, toxins, and potential carcinogens from your body.

If you do a search through the archives of peer-reviewed and indexed journals at the National Library of Medicine, you'll find numerous studies that indicate that people who eat large amounts of cruciferous vegetables have a lower-than-average risk of developing lung, colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, and bladder cancer.

Perhaps the most powerful, anti-cancer phytonutrient found in cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables is indole-3-carbinole, a compound that stimulates cellular detoxification, including estrogen detoxification. Indole-3-carbinole's ability to prevent estrogen dominance is what makes cruciferous vegetables like cabbage an excellent food choice for cancer prevention, particularly breast cancer prevention.

If you want to enjoy the many health benefits of cabbage but don't know where to start, give the following Cabbage-Miso soup a try. It's super easy to make, and is one of the tastiest soups that we enjoy in our home.

Cabbage Miso Soup Recipe

6-8 servings

Ingredients:

4 cups (around 10 ounces) chopped green cabbage
6 cups water or vegetable broth (vegetable broth adds lots of flavor)
2 celery ribs, diagonally sliced
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
8 garlic cloves, 4 finely chopped and 4 sliced
1/3 cup miso (or Korean den jang)
Few drops sesame oil per bowl(optional)

Directions:

1. Bring 6 cups of water or vegetable broth to a boil in a big soup pot. Add cabbage, celery, onion, carrot, and sliced garlic. Cover, reduce to low-medium heat, and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

2. Stir in chopped garlic, then turn off heat. Dissolve miso with some of hot soup liquid in a cup or bowl, then pour it into the pot. For an extra zing of flavor, add a few drops of sesame oil to each bowl just before serving. If you enjoy sweet and sour soups, add fresh lime juice (about 1 lime for the whole pot) right before adding the miso.

Enjoy this nourishing cabbage and miso soup - it goes wonderfully with a bowl of rice and kim chi, a fermented Korean cabbage dish.

How to Choose a Weight-Loss Program

Some people lose weight on their own, while others like the support of a structured program. If you decide to join a weight-loss program, here are some questions to ask before you join:

• Does the program provide counseling to help you change your eating and activity habits? The program should teach you how to permanently change those eating and lifestyle habits, such as lack of physical activity, that have contributed to weight gain.
• Does the staff include qualified health professional, such as nutritionists, registered dietitians, doctors, nurses, psychologists, and exercise physiologists? Qualified professionals can help you lose weight safely and successfully. You need to be evaluated by a physician if you have any health problems, take or plan to take any medicine, or plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds. If your weight-control plan uses a very low-calorie diet (a special liquid formula that replaces all food for 1 to 4 months), you will also need an exam and follow-up visits by a doctor.
• Does the program offer training on how to deal with times when you may feel stressed and slip back into old habits? The program should provide long-term strategies for preventing and coping with possible weight problems in the future. These strategies might include setting up a support system and a regular physical activity routing.

• Do you help decide on food choices and weight-loss goals? In setting weight-loss goals, the program should consider your personal food likes and dislikes, as well as your lifestyle.
  

• Are there fees or costs for additional items, such as dietary supplements? You need to know the total costs of participating in the program.
• How successful is the program? Many programs don’t gather information on how well they work, but it is worthwhile to ask what percentage of people who start this program complete it, what percentage of people experience problems or side effects (and what are they), and what is the average weight loss among those who finish the program.

-from Everyday Health

Are Women More Stressed?

A survey of 30,000 people in 30 countries has found that in similar circumstances, women are more likely than men to say they are under stress. Other studies suggest that women are three times more likely than men to become depressed in response to a stressful event. And women are disproportionately subject to certain kinds of severe stress — especially child sexual abuse, adult sexual assaults, and domestic violence.

Everyday experiences as well as traumatic ones may provoke stress, leading to depression in women. Women, who are often raised to care for others, tend to subordinate their own needs more than men. For example, women who work outside the home also tend to work a "second shift" — taking care of housework, children, and older relatives. Many have too much to do in too little time, with too little control over how it is done. Marriage and children, while a haven for some women, ratchet up the stress level for others. Studies have found that, compared with their single counterparts or married men, married women are less likely to feel satisfied. In an unhappy marriage, the wife is three times more likely to be depressed than the husband. Being a mother of young children increases your risk for depression, too.

Another kind of stress is poverty. Women are on average poorer than men — especially single mothers with young children, who have a particularly high rate of depression.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can involve emotional fluctuations on top of physical symptoms such as bloating and tiredness. Women with PMS may feel sad, anxious, irritable, and angry. They may also suffer from crying spells, mood changes, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in daily activities, and a feeling of being overwhelmed or out of control. Sometimes depression is mistaken for PMS, or vice versa. To help distinguish the two, chart your symptoms through two menstrual cycles to see if they appear only in the week before menstruation and go away a day or two after bleeding begins. If a clear and persistent pattern emerges, it’s likely that changing hormone levels are to blame. If a clear pattern doesn’t emerge, depression may be the culprit.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of PMS that occurs in 2%–10% of menstruating women. It can cause symptoms similar to a major depressive episode in women who are unusually sensitive to the changing hormone levels of the menstrual cycle. Some of that sensitivity may be due to interactions between female hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate mood and arousal.

Whether PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or depression is at the root of your symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the fluctuations in your mood and how best to treat them.

Researchers are also investigating whether hormones play a role in depression around the time of menopause. Some women report feeling depressed during perimenopause, a time of transition that occurs in the months or years before menstruation stops. It’s commonly believed that declining levels of estrogen are to blame, although this has not been proved scientifically. When estrogen is given to treat depression, the results have been mixed. For now, estrogen’s role in depression during perimenopause remains controversial.

There is evidence to suggest that genes play a role, too. Researchers have identified certain genetic mutations that are linked to severe depression — some of which are found only in women. In one of these cases, the mutation is in a gene that controls female hormone regulation. These biological differences could account for some of the difference in the rates of depression between men and women.
-from Everyday Health