Health Expert Anna shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/753408/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/753408/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/753408/index http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/753408/143979/pump-diabetes Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:23:00 -0400 Anna For any person with diabetes, deciding to go on a pump is a big decision that involves a careful analysis of the pros and cons of both pump and injection therapy.  Many endocrinologists encourage diabetics of nearly every age to consider a pump for optimized glucose control and increased flexibility.  However, it is important for each individual to assess whether a pump is the right options for them.  For diabetic athletes, the... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/753408/143979/pump-diabetes http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/753408/143540/building-system Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:03:00 -0400 Anna   Starting out in college is a huge transition; for many young people, it represent the first time as a completely independent individual.  As students adjust to "life on their own," there are plenty of ups and downs, and there are lots of learning experiences associated with the first few months.  However, for kids with diabetes, this transition to college is an even bigger event. In this case, it is particularly... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/753408/143540/building-system http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/116270/exercise-lows Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:35:00 -0400 Anna Most fitness and diabetes sources state that exercise can cause hypoglycemia in type I diabetics.  Since I run and play hours of ultimate Frisbee without hardly ever go low, I like to think that I have a routine dialed in that prevents any exercise hypoglycemia.  However, in the past few months, I have spent a lot of time hiking with my family in the mountains, and during these hikes, I have struggled quite a bit with going low. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/116270/exercise-lows http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/114432/disease-type Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:04:00 -0400 Anna Celiac disease is an inherited, autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged by the consumption of gluten, the main protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.  It is sometimes referred to as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy.   The small intestine is lined with tiny, hair-like projections called villi.  These villi increase the surface area of the small... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/114432/disease-type http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/114679/remembering Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:03:00 -0400 Anna Last Sunday was a beautiful day. The sky was completely blue and the sun was strong. I enjoyed the nice weather by meeting friends in the park to play a pickup game of ultimate Frisbee. I met everyone to play at 2 pm, right in the middle of the day. Because of the running and the potential to fall down (lay out), I always disconnect my pump when I play ultimate Frisbee. I left my pump underneath my bag on the sideline. There isn’t any... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/114679/remembering http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/113893/achievement-1 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:32:00 -0400 Anna In the June 2010 issue of "Diabetes Care," a publication put out by the American Diabetes Association, there was an interesting study conducted by Ann Marie McCarthy, PHD, RN, PNP, Scott Lindgren, PHD, Michelle A. Mengeling, MS, Eva Tsalikian, MD, and Janet Engvall, MSN, RN, CDE at the University of Iowa.  The paper, titled "Factors Associated With Academic Achievement in Children With Type 1 Diabetes," examined factors that affect academic... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/113893/achievement-1 http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/112135/understanding Fri, 21 May 2010 12:29:00 -0400 Anna Even though I take insulin every day, I never considered the chemistry of insulin until I began working in a chemistry research lab at college.  Prior to this year, the sum of my knowledge about insulin probably came from one of those "Newly Diagnosed" pamphlets that the doctors were so quick to administer in the first few appointments.  I knew that, like all Type I diabetics, my body no longer produced insulin. Insulin, I learned, is... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/112135/understanding http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/111589/repeated-high Fri, 14 May 2010 12:09:00 -0400 Anna When I was first diagnosed, I remember keeping a detailed log book of my blood sugar and insulin.  My parents and I recorded every meter reading and how much insulin I took at each injection.  I'm not sure when exactly we discontinued that habit, but it's safe to say that I have not used a pen and paper to keep track of my blood sugar in a long time.    To some extent, my Minimed pump has filled the role of the... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/111589/repeated-high http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/107505/sick-type-1 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:23:00 -0400 Anna Even though I love winter, I dread cold and flu season, arming myself with big and small bottles of hand sanitizer and lots of vitamin C.  Usually, I stay pretty healthy, only affected by one or two minor colds.  Even though I did everything I could to stay healthy while living in the dorm, this year was a different story.   I ended up being sick for almost four weeks - with a bad cold, a 24 hour stomach bug, and finally a... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/107505/sick-type-1 http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/101902/daily-routine Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:21:00 -0500 Anna At each appointment with my endocrinologist, I have the opportunity to review my meter readings, pump settings, and daily averages from the last few months.  In addition, I receive an HbA1c reading, which represents my average blood sugar from the past three months.  Levels of HbA1c are not influenced by daily fluctuations in the blood glucose concentration but reflect the average glucose levels over the prior six to eight weeks. The... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/753408/101902/daily-routine