I'm a sucker for Google News on diabetes. Yes, I ask for it every day, unwavering. Today had an attention-grabbing headline: the diabetes miracle breakthrough revealed - the root cause for diabetes. Why not, right? Next stop - adLAND.
Alas, it's a focus on Type 2 diabetes and how the pancrea...
Type 2 Diabetes: The Pancreas' Reacts to the Insult of Poor Food Choices
4/30/09 11:24am
Hide new beta cells from white blood cells
I recall just the other day suggesting exactly such a fix:
http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/626258/main.html
4/30/09 11:25am
I think its a crock. I am also tired of clicking on diabetic info and finding that it is about type II. My husband is type I and has been for over 35 yrs, I am more interested in finding out everything I possibly can about the disease as we haven't been married long and I would like to help keep his glucose under control. We have classes here at the hosp where I work but they are always type II. I do realize that type II has become nearly epidemic, but there are still some of us out here waning good info on type I does anyone know a good site for just type I? Thanks from Oklahoma
4/30/09 12:37pm
It is very hard to find one site that answers everything! I'm the community leader on this site for just type 1. If you have things you are interested in, please feel free to shoot me an email! We are always open to suggestions and if we already have your you question answered, I can send you the links to that information.
I've lived with type 1 for 39 years and am active in JDRF as well as this site for just the reasons you have shared.
Finding the answers via the internet is frustrating to say the least! Just from the research point of view, there are so many trials in process, or coming into human trials, that I can not even begin to decipher all the potentials. For information on research and interesting statistics regarding diabetes, you should sign up for Allie's posts!
Please share with me what you need and I'll do my best to direct you here on this site, or to other sites as well!
4/30/09 1:52pm
Hey "Anonymous" in Oklahoma -
I don't blame you and thank goodness I'm not the only one sick of the ads veneered in "news".
One day...in the not too distant future...perhaps news will be made of two worlds: the "news" and the "truth" from the real people who read it!
Back to my land of milk and honey (sugar free) yeah, right.
4/30/09 3:26pm
Thanks for the reply, I'm always amazed at the people who have lived w/type I for a long time, its my greatest fear to face losing him. I'm not sure what I specifically want to know, just everything! I would though like to know why some days he willcrash in the middle of the night and most nights he's fine. I've been watching, recording and he basically does the sme things and same foods, i can't find a pattern, but boy when he crashes its so bad I have to call the paramedics and its scary, plus I worry about the long term effects. Any info or sites you can pass my way are appreciated. Thanks from an Okie
5/ 2/09 9:56pm
Hi Okie,
There are some books you should read since you are just getting started with helping your husband. The first one to crack is Gary Scheiner's Think Like a Pancreas. In this book, Gary offers strategies to working out problems, like lows, and offers sage advice to help combat. There are charts to know how much carb you need to treat lows. If you husband is suffering lows in the night, he needs to have a snack before bed and he may need to cut back on basal. Is he pumping? You should do a basal test to see how he does, then if he falls low, you know it needs adjusting. Gary's book has all of this in it.
Your husband's target blood glucose range may be too low, we all need to adjust every so often, he may need a higher target to avoid the lows. Do both of you feel confident with your CDE and how often does he see the CDE? For all the years I've had diabetes, I still use my CDE, Judy, at least once a month and right now I just jumped it to every two weeks until I find my footing with my pump vacation. The reason I do this: it is someone who studies this stuff, lives with the disease and advocates for my health. It takes the pressure off of having to think about diabetes all the time and coming up with a strategy on my own. When I worked with professional athletes, they needed a coach, b/c it is too hard to manage a strategy without them. All athletes know they need someone else to coach them or they would never win! That's the way I think about a CDE and if they are not helping you succeed, time to change!
On being fearful, think positively, it does help! I've been living with diabetes for 39 years and I have no complications, I have another friend who has had diabetes over 50 years and also has no complications. The trick is to want to be proactive in your defense.
Certainly your building your knowledge of diabetes management and knowing how to be his diabetes partner is a great asset and a powerful testament to love!
4/30/09 1:16pm
Why don't we just go the whole hog and go back to breast milk?
Since it is the "best" start in life surely some manufacturer can come up with an adult version?
4/30/09 5:06pm
not quite- interestingly, babies fed synthetic breastmilk gain more weight than those on the real thing- so there is speculation that synthetic breastmilk may lead to (relative) insulin resistance- of course, someone could open up a real breastmilk shop, but the analogy to the dairy industry would be unpalatable figuratively and literally!?
5/ 3/09 12:38am
Relying on breast milk (i.e. human milk) may possibly avoid developing Type I diabetes. I recall one article from years ago that contemplated that a human immune system might conclude that the trace amount of bovine insulin in cow's milk was a foreign invader and in attacking it was led to treat ones own insulin producing beta cells as enemies also.
5/ 4/09 4:40pm
that was an interesting hypothesis, but the epidemiology never bore it out- that is, the cultures that use higher rates of cow's milk didn't have higher rates of DM- that being said, there is a real concern with introducing cow's milk too early to avoid risk in general of autoimmune responses- the general reccomendation is no earlier than 1 year old- so the other question is if breastmilk avoids type 1 better than formula, the concern being that a diabetic mom will have more insulin in her breastmilk than normal- i'm not aware of any studies on this- for now everyone agrees that when in doubt, breastmilk is optimal
5/ 1/09 3:44pm
I hear you loud and clear. But, I can not honestly say I've found any information on diabetes that came from anywhere other than adland. Even the peer reviewed studies are promoting one treatment or other, none of which come without a price. To complete the skinning process, they require a membership or a per-abstract fee to view the information. I haven't found an exception yet.
Face it, Diabetes has you by the pancreas, but Adland has you by the Wallet!
5/ 1/09 4:33pm
5/ 1/09 7:06pm
I think the internet is often the hardest way to find vital information regarding research. It's one of the reasons I went back to JDRF was to be up close and personal with companies doing research.
I'm happy to Allie here arguing for research and giving us insights b/c she goes to the source to fact find! not all of us have that time, but if one of us here can and offer that information for us to read, then we can advocate better for our diabetes management and it's progress toward better products and potentially a cure!
In case you missed Allie's previous posts:
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/498417/68162/repair-tomorrow
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/498417/68504/meet-community
We need more patient advocates talking about research to help wade through the information that is out there! It's hard when companies are sending out the info or the press is covering one story. For example Dr. Burt's Stem Cell Transplant. I assumed it was only for newly diagnosed type 1 patients until I read Allie's blog on it!
5/ 1/09 11:28pm
Yes, that was your euphemism for "we have some wonderful news from the world of medicine and it will only cost you $X.00 to hear it." I just wanted you to know, I think we have all fallen for it and can sympathize, but I think it's much bigger than Google. I've found that my daily life is not near as much of a struggle if I just ignore the snake-oil peddlers and enjoy what life I have.
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I laughed when I read this, because I often do the same thing! While looking for information, I'll click on something that catches my eye and it's like Alice down the rabbit hole! Titles can be so sneaky!
Plus the baby food comment.. I laughed and then gaged! A fruit smoothie for me please!
For "real" news in diabestes, read the abstracts in the research journals, then if something catches your eye, go to the nearest library or medical school library and read the full article. These reports are peer-reviewed, and often contain nutritional information that one can try on his/her own (if it makes sense).
On the other other hand, I put little belief in preliminary research that deals with rats or other small animals, has a small sample size, and has only been done once or twice. I look to see who paid for the research, but don't discount that done by the pharmaceutical companies entirely.
But you knew that-----
Hey Ann,
The news should have subheadings nowadays. If it's a hidden ad (which usually seems to be the case in Google alerts) -- it should say something at the top. Like a banner with "feature ad" or something.
Or maybe I'm expecting too much of the media? :) Who am I kidding. I love the media!!!
Hey Pauline,
I'm slightly red-in-the-face...but I never get that scientific with the news. I'll read and then look for PubMed studies. But it'll be a change of pace for me to move myself out to a local medical library for certainty. Although SUNY Stony Brook is right nearby. I really should take a page from your book :)
Thanks for the suggestion!