Health Expert Jackie Smith 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/963029/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/963029/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/963029/index http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/132493/endocrinologist Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:31:00 -0500 Jackie Smith Following a referral by Dr. Z, this week I will be visiting an endocrinologist for the first time. Wait. What? What does an endocrinologist do anyway? For that matter, what is this endocrine system I've heard so little about?The internet is a wonderful thing because in a matter of a few click thrus and minutes of in-depth research I now know this: The endocrine system is a group of glands. Glands are organs that make hormones. There are a lot of... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/132493/endocrinologist http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/128016/appointment Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:31:00 -0500 Jackie Smith There was no doubt I was stressed about my last doctor’s appointment when I needed to go in for my type 2 diabetes checkup and lab work – and for good reason. The results were as I feared: HIGH.   Fasting glucose: 238 HbA1c: 9.7 I gasped even though I was not surprised by these results. As I said, I could feel it. Moreover, I am so disappointed in myself.   Looking back, my HbA1c a year ago was a 7! With those good... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/128016/appointment http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/117700/doughnuts Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:50:00 -0400 Jackie Smith What has two thumbs and made breakfast this morning? This girl!   That’s right – two poached eggs, a slice of sourdough bread toast with cheddar cheese and a pat of REAL butter, a few cherries and milk. Nommers. The best thing: it took about five minutes to prepare and didn’t come in cellophane wrap, a paper bag or from an establishment with the word “donut” in its name.   It’s not easy to find... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/117700/doughnuts http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/116629/diabetes-tweets Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:51:00 -0400 Jackie Smith So, I have a hard time sitting down and writing 300 or 600 words on topic, but I can type out 140 characters on any subject like a champ! My thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s INCEPTION? I’ve got some. A few publicity messages for work projects? I’ve got them covered. Links to anything that led to a few minutes of amusement? Why should I be the only one distracted at work? Grumpy comments about the world at large? Try and stop... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/116629/diabetes-tweets http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/114374/2-relationships Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:40:00 -0400 Jackie Smith   I am no longer coupled. After 15 years and countless issues, the one issue that finally broke us up was my, now 5 year old, type 2 diabetes.   Well, that’s his take. I won’t reenact the same fight that we’ve had again and again but I’ll say this: as more time passed following the diagnosis and I continued to gain weight and high blood sugar levels, he developed resentment about how unhealthy and unromantic... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/114374/2-relationships http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/113226/storybook Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:16:00 -0400 Jackie Smith   Once upon a time, in a scorching hot land near to some and so very far from others lived a girl older than others and younger than some. Now, she didn’t believe in fairytales like some silly girls who raced to balls in search of Prince Charming. Yet she did secretly hope that one day, after school and establishing herself professionally, she would meet a young man with whom she would join in a mutually satisfying relationship based... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/113226/storybook http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/111502/making-learning Fri, 14 May 2010 12:00:00 -0400 Jackie Smith   I can’t do it all. There are some people who can, and I commend them. I admire them. I want to be them. They can have a successful career, keep a beautiful home, be the wife every man dreams of, mother three little ones, care for their ailing mother, volunteer for charities, garden, refurbish antique furniture, solve soduku puzzles and so on. Not me.   I rush about trying to accomplish everything, tasks are done haphazardly... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/111502/making-learning http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/108670/keeping-common Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:52:00 -0400 Jackie Smith The common cold has been uncommonly common for me in recent months. I typically get maybe one cold a year but this season, in spite of getting the flu and H1N1 shots, I succumbed to the onslaught of viruses hurled my way. I’m currently wrapping up the latest attack – congestion, sore throat, cough, overall tiredness – with a lingering throaty voice that makes me sound like a 30-year smoker or teen queen Miley... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/108670/keeping-common http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/107985/traveling-type Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:59:00 -0400 Jackie Smith For months some girlfriends and I have exchanged emailed suggestions of grand adventures which we hoped to take “one day.” Among those adventures suggested: a cooking class in Tuscany, a trip to see the whales along the California coast, fossil hunting in Montana, restoring a Buddhist temple in Tibet. No suggestion was belittled. None were considered too small or too impossible. The only qualifications were that it had to be... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/107985/traveling-type http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/105578/diabetes Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:13:00 -0500 Jackie Smith I am frustrated. For seven weeks now I have been eating better and exercising when I can, but I have yet to see results. I weigh the same, my waist measurement is the same, and my blood sugar numbers are the same. What is going on here? Maybe my problem is more complicated than a value meal and a busy schedule.  It has been suggested to me that perhaps I don't really want to get healthy and that all will fall into place when I am ready for... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/963029/105578/diabetes