cvs

I want to let you know that CVS is holding a facebook chat on Thursday 2/24 from 12-2 EST.  It’s a great opportunity for you to discuss or hear from a pharmacist about medicine as it relates to diabetes and a few other topics.  If you check out their facebook page, you can post a question that they may answer during the session.  Hope to see you there!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Diabetes Event – Facebook Chat is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

This one is so easy it makes a layup seem impossible.  Heading into the NFL championship weekend for the AFC and NFC, it’s only appropriate to feature Jay Cutler as this week’s PWD.  Jay started his career with the Denver Broncos and was traded to the Chicago Bears.  Now Jay is one win away from his first Super Bowl appearance as quarterback for the Bears.

• Jay Cutler
• Born April 29, 1983
• Type 1 Diabetes, diagnosed in May 2008

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Guess That PWD #8 (Person with Diabetes) is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

*****

A short time ago, I started dating a woman who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 14 years. In order to avoid being a burden whenever the subject arose, I set out to discover what I could so that I would better understand her condition. As I learned, I became aware of how important regular exercise was in addition to a controlled diet. However, what struck me about many of the sites I came across was that, while many offered help to those beginning a fitness routine, there was a distinct lack of attention to practicality. I realized that, especially for a person with diabetes (PWD) just starting workout routines, many of the difficulties arising from exercise could be eliminated by simply staying home to run on a treadmill or lift free-weights rather than heading to the gym.

Fitness is an essential part of any PWD’s life as it both enables the body to better regulate its own blood-sugar levels and helps to prevent unwanted side effects like poor circulation. However, establishing a fitness routine can prove tricky for people keeping a close watch on their blood sugar levels; especially those who prefer to inject insulin themselves rather than use a pump. Newcomers to regular exercise run the constant risk of underestimating their carbohydrate requirements, over-correcting and quickly running low, or even over-compensating and coming up high. Furthermore, outdoor exercise runs the additional risk of removing a PWD from home conveniences. This either requires that each excursion out of doors be accompanied by a pack full of emergency sugars, testing kit, and insulin, or that a PWD throw caution to the wind, potentially resulting in an dangerous blood-sugar state.

Working out at home presents none of these difficulties and provides additional benefits with regard to diabetes. Not only is a person constantly within reach of quick sugars and backup insulin, but they are also in a known environment where even the deepest, mind-fogging hypoglycemic state wouldn’t confuse them damagingly. In the home environment, changes to workout routine can be made with comparative safety. Likewise, just using exercise equipment also offers PDWs numerous advantages. The consistency of cardio workouts accomplished on treadmills, ellipticals and the like increases one’s ability to predict and regulate changes in blood sugar. A PDW may even want to use exercise equipment to incorporate resistance training into their workouts. Free-weights and home gyms provide the sort of exact control over workout intensity and duration that behooves a PWD.

An older PWD, who might be suffering from lasting secondary symptoms, can also benefit from at-home exercise. The low-impact nature of most home workouts lends itself well not only to those suffering from ordinary back and joint difficulties, but also those who are experiencing a loss of feeling in their extremities, reducing the chance of unintentional self-injury. It is also easy to maintain an existing home exercise routine if diminished sight and other sensory complications effect a person’s ability to exercise outside the home.

It has been my intent to offer a suggestion that is both practical and convenient to PWDs who desire to use exercise as means of helping treat their condition. I hope that I have been of some help to those—especially the newly diagnosed or new to fitness—struggling with establishing exercise routines, and that the advantages of home exercise will increase the comfort and practicability of fitness for them.

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If you are interested in providing a guest post, please contact me for more information or to submit a proposal.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Exercising at Home – A Convenient Alternative is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

• English muffin: 20-25 carbs
• Banana: 25 carbs
• Slice of bread:  20 carbs
• Diet Soda: 0 carbs
• Monster Lo-Carb: 6 carbs
• Cereal/Pop Tarts: a bazillion carbs (Trust me I’ve counted)
• Organic Pinto Beans: 19 carbs

You get the idea.  Sometimes it’s a guess, but more often it’s as quick as checking the nutritional facts on the label of the food item.  It’s a bit harder if you eat healthy, especially when it comes to a salad with lots of fresh veggies.  Now to the point of this post.

Whenever I look back reflecting on why my blood sugar is 300, many times it is because I really had no idea how many carbs there were (typical for bad or unhealthy food) or I grossly underestimated how much I ate (portion size).  I would also venture to say that one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is not counting the condiments or sauces.  Here are some examples of “hidden” carbs:

• Spaghetti sauce: 13 carbs per half cup
• BBQ sauce: 15 carbs per 2 tbsp (wowza)
• Honey Mustard: 12 carbs per 2 tbsp

General Tso’s

On a rare occasion when I get Chinese food, my absolute favorite dish is General Tso’s Chicken (white meat only; I’m picky).  The problem is that whenever I get it with my wife, I have a HUGE delayed spike in my blood sugar.  The amount of insulin I take seems not even to matter.  I can pretty much set my watch to the spike.  The problem is I tend to eat a lot more than I should and it’s LOADED with sugar.  When you think of a Chinese chicken dish you tend not to think too much about the carbs.  I tend to focus on the white or fried rice that comes with it when counting carbs.  So when I bolus, my guess is about 20 carbs for the sauce.

A typical dish of General Tso’s sauce contains almost a cup, yes a CUP, of white sugar for 6 servings.  My guess is that I’m eating about half, which would make it a half cup.  So just the sauce alone has 100 carbs (a cup of white sugar is around 200 carbs).  The point of this post is to really drive home the fact that counting the carbs in sauces and really make or break your blood sugar control.  Heck, it could even save your life!

P.S.  My wife and I met at College in Smithfield, RI.  To this day, about 10 years later, I dream about our dates out and getting the General Tso Chicken at a little place down the street from Bryant University called Asia.  Best EVER!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

The Secret Is In The Sauce is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Hint: Jazz Singer

And the answer is…. Tony Bennett.  Growing up with grandparents who were 100% Italian and spending a lot of time with them, I know Tony Bennett.  No, that’s not were my name came from, that’s another story.  And when I refer to Italian, I’m not talking Jersey Shore Italian.  I’m talking about traditional Italian.  It wasn’t Christmas unless Tony was ripping some classics.  Favorite TB song: The Best is Yet to Come.   Talk about 180 degrees from last week – Buster Douglas to Tony Bennett.

• Tony Bennett
• Born August 3, 1926
• Type 1 Diabetes

So is there any of the 5 PWD so far you didn’t know about?  If nothing else, I would bet you’ve learned a few more famous people with diabetes.  If there is someone you would like to see on GTPWD to try and stump the readers, just drop me an email at tony [at] bloggingdiabetes.com or use the contact form.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Guess That PWD #5 (Person with Diabetes) is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

In an attempt to make this blog as readily available as possible, the posts are now available on Amazon’s Kindle.  Plus, I’m fairly certain that Santa is going to be bringing me a new Kindle for Christmas.  The cost is a mere .99 a month, which I wish I could waive.  Seriously, Amazon keeps like 99.99% of the monthly subscription (I exaggerate, but not by much).  Really, my preference would be to let everyone read it via Kindle for free and waive the fee.  I guess it might be a small price to pay for being able to read the posts just about anywhere.

With today being Cyber Monday, (here come the spam bots for that keyword) I figured it would be a nice time to announce this release.

Check out Blogging Diabetes on the Kindle for a 14-day trial.  As a special offer to my readers, I will include free shipping on all subscriptions via Kindle for TODAY ONLY!

Also, here is an interesting workbook that Amy from DiabetesMine has made me aware of.  The book is geared towards teens with type 1 diabetes and their parents.  The book helps the teens and parents work together because before the parents know it, their teens will be adults and off on their own.  I can imaging those years can be very difficult and hopefully this book can help!  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Type 1 Diabetes: Help With The Hard Stuff

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Blogging Diabetes Now On Amazon’s Kindle is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Happy Thanksgiving from Blogging Diabetes!  I have so much to be thankful for and to cherish.  I always like to take a minute and thank the men and women of our armed forces serving around the world that help keep us safe and allow us to celebrate holiday’s like this.  To them: A huge THANK YOU!

I wish everyone a joyous start to this year’s Holiday season and for us with diabetes, excellent control amidst all the goodies.

~ All the best ~

Tony

P.S. Tomorrow is black Friday and I will be NO WHERE remotely close to any stores.  Matter of fact, I probably won’t leave my house and will just enjoy some daddy time with my girls.

For those of you shopping, what’s the hot item this year?

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Happy Thanksgiving! is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

All you need to do to immediately get access to the guide is simply enter your name and email address in the form below or in the right sidebar.  I have created a Blogging Diabetes Newsletter that is going to be loaded with tips and information exclusive to those who sign up.  Similar to the Blogging Diabetes facebook page, there is information, tips and giveaways (like Chobani) that I will only make available to the subscribers.  You definitely will not get inundated with messages and I will never share your information, period.  So sign up now – you won’t regret it!

A special thank you goes to the following folks for helping to provide feedback on the guide:

• George
• Stacey
• Cherise
• Lorraine

P.S. This guide was complete well before last week’s DSMA discussion.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

7 Simple Ways to Save $1000 is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

I really have a soft spot for children, especially my girls.  There’s just something special about a child’s innocence and unknowing view of the world.  It would be crushing enough if one or both were to develop diabetes.  Tack on the thought that I could have caused it and that could be a parent’s worst nightmare.

Do I want a cure for diabetes?  Hell yes!  Is that wish for me, maybe a little.  But, I truly want a cure for:

1. The children with diabetes (CWD)
2. The thought that somebody I love develops diabetes

I didn’t develop a dysfunctional pancreas until I was 22 years old.  So I got to enjoy a diabetes-free childhood and most of college.  When toddlers are diagnosed with diabetes it really breaks my heart.  I said it before, I will always hope for a cure, but plan for never getting one.  Articles like this make me hope even more.

The article suggests that daughters who had obese Dads with diabetes (DWD – Hope this doesn’t stick) at time of conception were more likely to develop diabetes.  Of course this was only in rats, but still…

• Article
• AOL Health Summary

Key Takeaway – there aren’t any studies that I’ve ever read that suggests a healthy diet causes any issues.  Eat healthy.  A high-fat diet isn’t good for anyone or any sperm.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Dad’s Diet May Cause Diabetes in Daughters is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

1. Anybody can be diagnosed with diabetes, toddlers/infants included.
2. A healthy diet of someone with diabetes is the same as someone without diabetes.
3. Diabetes is emotional, stressful and sometimes very depressing.
4. If you have diabetes, you’re not alone – there’s a whole diabetes online community (DOC) that can be found on twitter, facebook and diabetes blogs.
5. There’s no cure and no, insulin isn’t a cure.  Double no, an insulin pump is not a cure either.
6. I hate needles just as much as the next person.

Please consider contributing to an organization that is researching a cure.  Thanks Gina for organizing dblog day!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

6 Things I Want People to Know About Diabetes is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Please take less than 2 minutes to watch the video and spread the word!  Every little bit helps. Click the “Share This” button below to share with your friends or family via twitter, facebook and many other options.

Thank you to all those involved and for everyone reading this!

Tony

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Diabetes Awareness is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Rock it out!  Captured while waiting at BWI.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Fearless Diabetes is a post from: Blogging Diabetes