Artwork: Dancing fruits and vegetables
We invite blurbs and tidbit articles for inclusion in this column. Materials
received may be edited and used as space permits. Products and services included
in this column are for information only and do not imply endorsement by the
Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.
Be a Chef
Stars and important people are more and more enlisting the services of a "Personal
Chef." If you've ever been interested in this profession, you should know
the U.S. Personal Chef Association (USPCA) is holding summer training programs.
Each five-day session will teach participants how to prepare individualized/customized
meals for their clients, in their clients' home, and package them in ways that
allow reheating at the client's leisure.
For information, contact: USPCA, 481 Rio Rancho Blvd., NM 87124; telephone:
1-800-995-2138; Web site: www.uspca.com
Treat IGT
Many people exhibit some, not all, of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Their
condition has been described as "Impaired Glucose Tolerance" (IGT)
and recently as "pre-diabetes," because perhaps half of them will
progress to full type 2.
What do you do, if you have IGT- First, you work on lifestyle changes: better
diet (and less of it), regular exercise, stop smoking, cut stress. Then, if
you need it, there is now a medication, Starlix (nateglinide), from Novartis
Pharmaceuticals.
Starlix stimulates secretion of endogenous insulin, and, in recent studies,
proved useful for people who show delayed primary insulin response (a common
symptom of IGT). Studies are continuing, but Starlix is available for prescription
now.
For information, contact: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, One Health Plaza,
East Hanover, NJ 07936-1080; telephone: (973) 781-5970; Web site: www.novartis.com.
To Our Readers
To hold down costs, both the VOICE and many of our divisional mailings
are sent via "bulk mail." When we have your current address, this
works very well; but when we don't, the Post Office throws the VOICE
away, or returns it to us with a hefty "postage due" attached. They
do NOT automatically forward bulk mail!
If you move, please let us know promptly. If the VOICE doesn't follow
you to your new address, we may not have your new address. Don't miss a single
issue.
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Consider obesity. "Overweight" can come from a number of causes, separately,
or together in the way we call an "unhealthy lifestyle." If you are
genetically predisposed toward type 2 diabetes (NIDDM), and an astonishing number
of people are, being overweight and sedentary can greatly increase your chance
of developing the disease.
Years ago, before the age of convenience devices, convenience foods, television
and couch potatoes, most people's lifestyle (hard manual labor!) kept them physically
fit. Few but kings had the opportunity to be "lazy," an opportunity
now provided to all by our many household devices. We use our "conveniences"
instead of our muscles, and we are not looking after our diet, or our exercise.
Too often, we pay for it.
Being overweight by itself does not cause diabetes. There are many overweight people with perfectly normal blood sugars and A1C tests. But if you are genetically predisposed toward insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetes, a fit and healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do to keep the wolf from the door. And, if you already have type 2, the same lifestyle choices are the best thing you can do to treat it.
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Articles Needed
If you have diabetes, are a family member or friend of a diabetic, or a health
professional with an interest in diabetes, we invite you to submit an article
for publication in the VOICE OF THE DIABETIC.
Our philosophy regarding diabetes is positive. Do you have an inspiring, enlightening
story? We, the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind,
seek to show people they are not alone, and do have options, regardless of diabetic
complications. If you have experienced ramifications, others, who may be facing
the same side-effects, could benefit from what you have to say.
Perhaps you have not experienced complications--your unique insight, coping
strategies, and lifestyle can still inspire others. Are you a relative, a friend,
or a health professional? More than 308,723 VOICE readers could benefit from
your story.
For information and article submission guidelines, contact: VOICE OF THE
DIABETIC, 1412 I-70 Drive, Suite C, Columbia, MO 65203; telephone: (573)
875-8911.