Events
November is American Diabetes Month
10/24/08
Events
See Live Stomach-Shrinking Surgery
12/05/06
Events, Nutrition & Exercise, Treatment Options, General
There are some people who are disciplined and determined. They eat responsibly and exercise regularly. Nevertheless, for some reason their body still manages to hold onto an unhealthy amount of fat. When diets and exercise fail to help a person leave the ranks of the obese and lower blood sugar levels, one rather dramatic option remains: stomach-shrinking surgery, also known as gastric bypass. It's a relatively complex procedure, and it carries serious risks. Furthermore, it does not absolve patients from eating a proper diet and exercising. However, it can be a powerful strategy for helping the efforts of diet and exercise pay off—especially for those who have done the work, but not seen the reward. For many people with diabetes, it can help them win the war against diabetes.
Do Not Despair
07/19/06
General, Research, Events
Moments ago, President Bush vetoed legislation that would allow federal funds to be used to create new stem cell lines. 63 senators backed HR 810 yesterday. 39 voted against it. This represents a sizeable split on the part of a number of Republicans.
This is a defeat, and it slows down the potential that we all recognize for a treatment for numerous diseases. Nevertheless, do not despair. There is still ample stem cell research occurring. It is not illegal to perform stem cell research. There are countries, companies and universities creating new stem cell lines, and pursuing research with those stem cells.
This page from the Geron Corporation highlights a human clinical trial it hopes to sponsor to treat spinal cord injuries. Its results in animal experiments have been encouraging.
This blog post highlights an organization called the New York Stem Cell Foundation, which funds a stem cell lab staffed by scientists from prestigious universities. (This comes from a Parkinson’s disease site that has a lot in common with this one :) )
Many European and Asian countries have used government funds to propel stem cell research. Potential findings would very likely translate into treatments all over the world.
Back to The Politics Just moments after yesterday’s Senate vote, actor Michael J. Fox sent a letter to President George W. Bush, encouraging him to stand down from his veto threat.
“Embryonic stem cell research transforms embryos already marked for destruction into potentially life-saving research. I can think of no better affirmation of the culture of life.
“I am asking that you, with all compassion, stand up for what is right not only for America’s continued leadership in health, science and medicine, but for what is right for the future of the 100 million American families touched by debilitating diseases. Please Mr. President, sign this legislation.” Mr. Fox writes.
However, Michael J. Fox’s letter, and the influence of many others that reach the President could not change his mind. According to President Bush’s Press Secretary, Tony Snow, the President sides with many people who believe that harvesting stem cells is murder. In a Washington DC press briefing yesterday, Snow fielded the following question from a reporter:
“Can you remind us why the President believes that it is not appropriate to use – that it is more appropriate for stem cells to be thrown away than to be used, in this case, for medical research?”
Snow responds:
“The President – I don’t think that’s the choice that the President has presented. What the President has said is that he doesn’t want human life destroyed. Now, you may consider that insignificant, but the President has said – and you have had in a number of cases the Snowflake babies, where some of those fetuses have, in fact, been brought to term and have become human beings. The President believes strongly that for the purpose of research it’s inappropriate for the federal government to finance something that many people consider murder; he’s one of them.”
Snow continues:
“Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that this government did make available already existing lines – to sort of get back to your question, there were existing lines. And the most recent figures we have are 2004, but 85 percent of all the embryonic stem cell research on Earth was conducted using those lines. There is nothing that makes embryonic stem cell research illegal; it simply says that the federal government will not finance it. As you know, there are ongoing efforts in some states, including, I think, California and Massachusetts, to use state money for it, and I daresay if people think that there’s a market for it, they’re going to support it handsomely. The simple answer is he thinks murder is wrong.”
This is a fundamental moment for our democracy. So many people have broken the shackles of the conservative vs. liberal mental incarceration. People actually learned what a stem cell is and where it comes from. Millions of people recognized that stem cells could be a source of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What a refreshing moment in political thought!
I would never try to shame a person’s faith, or mock them for following a precept of it. You need that faith, not just to get through this life, but also to make it through the eons of time where Parkinson’s and other afflictions will not follow. Personally, I I do want to point out that millions of people, who staunchly oppose abortion, recognize how millions of stem cells derived from an embryo could possibly save many lives someday. If this mathematical argument still violates your religious convictions, I respect that. Please hold fast to your faith.
Does this introduce progression down the abortion slippery slope? It is a very real risk and possibility. Could stem cell research ironically represent progression up the slippery slope and discourage abortion? Certainly. Paradoxically, embryonic stem cells also hold the potential to help elevate the pro-life stance and cancel out some pro-choice arguments. The power of the embryo to save and improve multiple lives indeed bespeaks the embryo’s value within hours of conception. It elevates the beauty and worth of life from its very inception. It cancels out the argument that we are mere blobs of protoplasm. It helps us to realize that each person represents something much larger than the here and now.
All the Diabetes Talk in Washington DC This Week
06/14/06
General, Research, Treatment Options, Living Well, Events
The American Diabetes Association hosted it’s annual scientific sessions this week in Washington DC. This is where the best minds in diabetes get together and present findings from their study. If you are very excited about digging into studies, I would encourage you to go to Dr. Richard Kahn’s blog on the event. Dr. Kahn is the scientific guru that orchestrated significant portions of the conference.
Some of the highlights from the sessions included:
You can access abstracts and other material from the scientific sessions by clicking here.
For Some Being Diabetic Isn’t Enough – They Must be Anti Diabetes
06/08/06
Events, Prevention, Research, General
Alexandria, VA – More than 500 volunteer advocates from the American Diabetes Association will meet with their members of Congress this week, urging their support for increased federal funding for diabetes prevention and research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The advocates will also urge Congress to pass legislation to expand stem cell research (the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, H.R. 810) and to support efforts to protect diabetes health coverage. The advocates are in Washington for the ADA’s biennial Call to Congress, the Association’s premier advocacy effort. This year’s Call to Congress is being held June 7-9, and for the first time, it is taking place in concurrence with the ADA’s 66th annual Scientific Sessions, the largest gathering of diabetes researchers and health professionals in the world.
The more than 500 diabetes advocates represent all 50 states. Among the attendees are children and adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, family members of individuals with diabetes, diabetes researchers, and health care professionals.
“Our advocates come from different backgrounds and have unique stories to tell, but all of us are here because we are committed to preventing and curing diabetes and to improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes,” said Larry Smith, Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association. “Likewise, we share the belief that Congress and the Administration can do so much to help fight diabetes, starting by significantly increasing the budget for diabetes prevention at CDC and diabetes research at NIH.”
Specifically, ADA advocates are urging Congress to increase the budget at the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation by $20.8 million (a 33 percent increase) or one dollar for every American with diabetes and increase the budget for diabetes research at NIH by $92 million (a 5 percent increase). Despite the growing diabetes epidemic, Congress last year passed a budget which, for the first time, cut federal funding for diabetes research and prevention. The Bush Administration’s proposed budget would further cut funding for diabetes research and prevention at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Along with meeting with their U.S. Senators and Representatives from the House, ADA advocates will join another diabetes organization, Children with Diabetes (CWD), for a rally Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Capitol Reflecting Pool. At the rally, CWD will present its Quilt for Life, consisting of more than 500 individual quilt squares representing children and adults with diabetes. ADA will also be featuring a collage on youth with diabetes. The ADA Youth Collage has been developed to provide a visual representation of all the American Diabetes Association does to help children with diabetes and their families.
Today, an estimated 20.8 million children and adults in the United States – or 7 percent of the population – have diabetes. Approximately one third of those are not aware that they have the disease. Since 1987, the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rates due to heart disease, stroke, and cancer have declined.
These efforts are orchestrated by the American Diabetes Association’s advocacy arm. You do not have to go to Washington DC to participate in these efforts. As a matter of fact, a sincere email, letter or phone call to your Representative in the House and your Senators will strengthen the effort. You can access information on how to contact your political representatives by visiting the ADA’s Action Center. The navigation links on the left hand side will let you research federal issues. It will help you know how to communicate with your representatives and their staff. Under the State Legislation link, you can see how lawmakers in your state may be affecting the progress in the fight against diabetes in your state. Here at My Diabetes Information, we hope they are voting for your health.
Managing Your Blood Sugar At the Top of the World
05/23/06
Events, Living Well, Treatment Options, General
We still have a long way to go to cure diabetes. We still have a long way to go if we are even going to solve some of the major problems along the way. With that in mind, it is thrilling to see people with diabetes doing amazing things. Today, on the highest mountain peak in the world, Will Cross became the first person living with diabetes to summit Mt. Everest. You can follow his amazing journey at http://peaksandpoles.com/
Cross uses NovoLog insulin, an analog insulin that mimics the body’s normal mealtime insulin response. He relies on NovoLog(R) FlexPen(R), a pre-filled disposable delivery device designed to simplify injections, giving Cross flexibility in administering his insulin.
“Experiencing a peak or low blood sugar level can be life threatening for anyone living with diabetes, especially someone crossing a 40-foot deep crevasse,” said Cross. “The freedom to eat when I needed to and to inject insulin within ten minutes of my meals with NovoLog FlexPen allowed me the flexibility that played a vital role in making it to the highest peak in the world.”
Cross, who is the subject of a recently released documentary, “Peaks and Poles: The Will Cross Story,” succeeded on his third attempt at the summit, after he was forced to turn back twice (in 2004 and 2005) due to weather and a shortage of oxygen. He will speak at events across the country through the remainder of the year. Again, for more information visit http://peaksandpoles.com. Hopefully this inspires you, as you consider your life’s challenges. Good luck reaching your summits.
Hopefully, those summits include the successes of Dan McCracken. He has lived for more than 50 years with diabetes. Click here to read more about his simple way of managing diabetes. He says ““If you do your planning, you can do anything anyone else can.”
Will Cross must have had similar sentiments during some amazing moments atop Mt. Everest.