Diabetes is a growing world-wide epidemic, but there’s good news. Research shows choosing healthy habits makes a positive difference.
RESEARCH SHOWS CHOOSING HEALTHY HABITS MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
CLEVELAND CLINIC’S DOCTOR MARY KELLIS DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE STUDY, BUT SAYS MAKING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RISK FOR TYPE-TWO DIABETES.
CG: Dr. Mary Kellis/Cleveland Clinic
“What they found was that people who had the healthiest lifestyle, had a seventy-five percent reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who had the least healthiest lifestyle.”
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RESEARCHERS ANALYZED DATA FROM STUDIES WHICH INCLUDED ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE.THEY FOUND THOSE WHO DID NOT SMOKE, DID NOT DRINK ALCOHOL, EXERCISED, HAD A HEALTHY DIET AND WERE NOT OVERWEIGHT, HAD THE BEST CHANCES OF AVOIDING TYPE TWO DIABETES.
DOCTOR KELLIS SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO DIABETES RISK, IT’S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT DIET. SHE SAYS EATING A DIET HIGH IN WHOLE GRAINS AND FIBER, AND LOW IN REFINED SUGARS IS KEY.
CONSUMING TOO MANY REFINED SUGARS,SUCH AS WHITE BREADS, PASTAS, RICE AND SWEET DRINKS, CAN CAUSE INSULIN LEVELS TO SPIKE VERY QUICKLY AND RESULT IN CHANGES IN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.DOCTOR KELLIS SAYS IF YOU’VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PRE-DIABETES, IT DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN YOU’LL GET DIABETES –BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO TURN THINGS AROUND.
CG: Dr. MaryKellis/Cleveland Clinic
“You can definitely prevent progression to diabetes. Importantly, we found that even losing five to seven percent of your weight can substantially reduce your risk to develop diabetes.”
DOCTOR KELLIS ADMITS IT CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING TO KNOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO ACHIEVE YOUR HEALTH GOALS.
SHE RECOMMENDS TAKING BABY STEPS AND TACKLING ONE NEW HEALTHY HABIT AT A TIME.COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE STUDY CAN BE FOUND IN DIABETOLOGIA.
Diabetic Nephropathy is the #1 cause of kidney failure
Almost a third of people with diabetes develop kidney disease.
People with diabetes often have other chronic conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and blood vessels disease, as well as nerve damage to their bladder, bladder infections and nerve damage, which means kidney disease is either already present or likely to be on the horizon.
Diabetes comes in two main types and each one requires different treatment.
There are two types of kidney disease in people with diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the kidney disease may already exist by the time they’re diagnosed with diabetes.
About 90% of people with diabetes have the Type 2 version. In this case their bodies don’t produce enough insulin naturally or work well. Diet and exercise are critical for them.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include: always feeling tired and hungry, frequent urination, blurry vision, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, always thirsty, wounds that won’t heal, sudden weight loss, sexual problems, vaginal infections. See your medical provider to get tested if you recognize these symptoms in yourself.
In type 1 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy develops a decade post diabetes diagnosis.
Type 1 sufferers need to regularly inject themselves with insulin or use an insulin pump. It may develop at any age.
Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy
Early onset of diabetic nephropathy has no symptoms. As kidney function worsens, symptoms may include:
Poor appetite
Weakness
Trouble concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Swelling of hands
Swelling of feet
Swelling of face
Nausea
Itching (a sign of end-stage kidney disease)
Extremely Dry Skin
Drowsiness (a sign of end-stage kidney disease)
Muscle twitching
Irregular heart rhythm (a sign of increased potassium in blood)
When your kidneys cannot remove the waste from your blood, it builds up in your body and can reach poisonous levels.
It’s a condition known as uremia that’s extremely dangerous as people can become confused and occasionally comatose.
Diagnosing Diabetic Nephropathy
Specific blood tests and urine tests can diagnose kidney damage. It also can be detected early by finding protein in the urine.
If you have diabetes, make sure to have your urine tested annually.
Treatment for Diabetic Nephropathy
Treatments are available that can help slow the progression of kidney failure.
It’s important to maintain blood sugar control to lower blood pressure. Some medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can help slow down the progression of kidney damage.
If a person has side effects from taking ACE inhibitors, another class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can often be given instead.
If not treated, kidneys will continue to fail and larger amounts of proteins can be detected in the urine.
Advanced kidney failure requires treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant from a cadaver donor. The waiting list for a kidney is currently close to 100,000 people. The other option is finding a living donor that is a match–a family member (they’re not always a match), spouse, friend or a stranger willing to give you the gift of life.
A kidney specialist is called a nephrologist and you need to find one as soon as your kidneys begin to fail so they can help you with diet and treatments.
With medical guidance and dietary changes, symptoms can be eased, and progression of the disease can be slowed.
FLOOD SISTERS KIDNEY FOUNDATION is an excellent resource if you’re experiencing kidney failure or are in need of finding a living kidney donor.
Jennifer Flood and her sisters founded the foundation after finding a total stranger to be a living donor for her father ten years ago. It began with her tenacious use of social media (on Craigslist) that caught broadcast media attention nationwide.
The awareness not only saved her dad’s life, but left her and her sisters with an abundant supply of willing living kidney donors, which then sparked the idea to start a foundation to help other people.
“Upon kidney failure, a lot of people end up on dialysis and then enter themselves on the long waiting list without realizing we have resources available to help them understand their best option is to find a living kidney donor.”
“Our foundation helps by actively seeking perfectly healthy strangers who are willing to donate their kidney now.”
–Jennifer Flood, President/CEO, Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation
Dolly Parton with (left to right) Jennifer Flood’s daughter, Heather Flood and their Mom Roseann Flood
Flood Sisters Kidney Foundationhas gained the attention and support from celebrities like Jon Bon Jovi, Barbara Corcoran, Dolly Parton, Geraldo and many more who helped a loved one find a non-related living kidney donor through their foundation.
“For us today, it starts with a commitment to provide trusted MDTV compliant education and awareness. Working with MDTV select hospitals to navigate through the clutter and ultimately providing an altruistic living donor for our client in need.”- Jennifer Flood, President/CEO, Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation
Rachel Ray, Barbara Corcoran with friend matched with living kidney donor
But Flood sisters are not stopping there because as Jennifer says:
“Almost one-third of people with diabetes develop kidney disease. Kidney failure is not just for the rich and famous. It’s actually even more pervasive in poor communities.”
Since 1972, poor people who get stuck on dialysis automatically become covered by medicare insurance and the dilemma is they lose all hope or just don’t know about the living kidney donor transplant option.
According to MDTV it costs over $75,000.00 to educate a community and find just one altruistic living kidney donor. It seems such a small price to pay to save a life, especially since the cost of dialysis is $84,000.00 per year (paid for by Medicare).
Paul Argen, CEO and Executive Producer of MDTV says, “Flood Sisters broke the code for people who are stuck on dialysis and want the best option to return to some normalcy. I am so impressed with thegreat work of Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation that we now have formed an exclusive partnership of collaboration to fund this effort with a long-term commitment to penetrate hundreds of these communities nationwide. Our partnership not only will give people renewed hope and save lives, but deliver a unified channel of education for families, hospitals, caregivers, providers, public health and the media to embrace. We are getting ready to move the needle in this disease state –a much-needed Angelic Gift for society. Stay tuned. Coming soon.”
Jon Bon Jovi with his good friend and attorney Jerry who found a living donor match
Remember, only people with end stage kidney disease can be listed for deceased donor transplantation. But living donor transplants can be “pre-emptive” taking place before the need for dialysis. This has a lot of health advantages.
People who choose pre-emptive transplantation have a lower risk of death and loss of kidney transplant function, compared to those who spent time on dialysis beforehand.
The good news is according to 26 studies involving almost 500 kidney donors, 95% of kidney donors in the United States, rate their experience as good to excellent.
Chuck Scarborough with 3 sisters (twins Cynthia & Jennifer and Heather on rt) and their dad, Daniel Flood
We support the work of Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation as the best resource for matching people with living kidney donors and raising awareness about it.
You’re not a celebrity, non-celebrity or number to them. You’re family.
Other complications of diabetes include:
dental and gum diseases
eye problems and sight loss
foot problems, including numbness, leading to ulcers and untreated injuries
Fatal complications include heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
In the case of kidney disease, this complication can lead to kidney failure, water retentionwhen the body does not dispose of water correctly, and a person experiencing difficulties with bladder control.
Regularly monitoring blood glucose levels and moderating glucose intake can help people prevent the more damaging complications of type 2 diabetes.
For those with types 1 diabetes, taking insulin is the only way to moderate and control the effects of the condition.
Meantime, everyone in the world can benefit from paying attention to their nutrition and how it affects them.
Here Are Nutritional Tips for People With Diabetes and Kidney Disease
Sodium
Sodium can build up when kidneys start to fail, causing fluid to accumulate in tissues. It’s called edema, and will show up as swelling in hands, face and lower extremities.
Most organizations recommend limiting sodium to 1,500-2,300mg/daily. Besides table salt itself, other high sodium foods you want to avoid are: bacon, ham, canned or instant soups, canned vegetables, cheese, crackers, salted nuts, olives, potato chips, processed foods, soy sauce, barbecue sauces, bottled sauces, pickles, bouillon cubes, dehydrated soups.
Read sodium content on all labels.
Reduce or eliminate processed foods.
Potassium
When kidneys can’t filter out potassium, too much can circulate in your blood.
An excess of potassium can be very dangerous because it can cause irregular heart rhythm, which could become severe enough to cause your heart to stop working.
Restricting high potassium foods can help prevent this from happening.
Regular blood tests to monitor your potassium levels can alert your doctor to potential problems. If you must restrict your potassium levels, most people need to limit their intake to ~2000mg/daily.
If you are someone who has diabetes and often experiences low blood sugar, you’ll want to avoid treating with orange juice and will want to use glucose tablets instead.
High-potassium foods include bananas, broccoli, raisins, tomatoes, apricots, baked beans, beets, cantaloupe, collard and other greens, molasses, mushrooms, nuts, oranges, peanut butter, potatoes, dried fruit, salt substitute, and chocolate.
Phosphorus
Hyperphosphatemia (high phosphorus levels in the blood) does not typically become evident until stage 4 chronic kidney disease.
When kidneys start to fail, phosphorus can start to build up in your body. This causes an imbalance with calcium, which forces the body to use calcium from the bones.
It’s important to keep phosphorus levels close to normal to prevent weakening bones.
Reducing high phosphorus foods you eat is one way to keep phosphorus levels down. If you must, most people benefit from restricting phosphorus to 800-1000mg/daily.
Reducing phosphate additives includes eliminating foods that contain ingredients such as, sodium acid pyrophosphate or monocalcium phosphate.
Other foods rich in phosphorus to avoid include beer, bran cereals, peanut butter, caramel, cheese;, cocoa, cola, dried beans, ice cream, liver, milk and milk products, nuts, and sardines.
Carbs
If you have diabetes and kidney disease you still want to include carbohydrate sources, but from vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.
You want to avoid beverages and sugars with sucrose and high fructose corn syrup. .
If you are someone with advanced kidney disease you may have to discuss reducing intake of high potassium and high phosphorus sources of carbohydrate with your dietitian.
Protein
Too much protein can be bad for your kidneys if you’re living with kidney disease.
When choosing proteins, aim to include lean sources of protein, such as white meat chicken, fish, turkey, and lean beef.
Fats
Focus on incorporating healthy fats into the diet such as oils, and fatty fish and avoid saturated fats and trans fats – processed meats, full-fat cheese, and desserts.
It seems like there’s almost nothing left to eat after you see this list. Fear not.
Discuss your nutrition with your dietitian as it can vary depending on your treatment plan.
Again, symptoms of kidney damage are:
Urinary issues, anemia, itchy skin, feeling excessively cold, chills, nausea, vomiting, swelling in ankles, legs or face, shortness of breath, metallic taste in mouth or bad breath.
See your physician for a blood and urine test to check the wellness of your kidneys if you’re concerned. They don’t automatically check this. You need to ask.
Many pregnant women worry about what’s safe and not safe to drink while expecting.
A recent study says women with gestational diabetes who drink diet soda during their pregnancy could be putting their children at risk for weight gain.
Salena Zanotti, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic did not take part in the study, but said previous studies have shown that drinking diet soda in moderation during pregnancy is generally safe, but this most recent study is the FIRST to look at the potential impact long-term.
Researchers looked at data from more than 900 pregnant women with gestational diabetes between 1996 and 2002.
About nine percent of the women surveyed drank at least one diet soda per day.
”What they found, when they looked up to seven years which is a long time so far for these studies that their infants, especially the boys, had a higher risk of being overweight and being obese,” says Dr. Zanotti.
Researchers say the women who consumed diet soda were 60 percent more likely to have babies with a high birth weight compared with women who did not drink any diet soda during pregnancy.
Likewise, the children born to the women who drank water instead of sweetened beverages were 17 percent less likely to be overweight by age seven.
Dr. Zanotti adds, “What remains to be determined is whether the diet soda alone was the problem, or whether the women who drank diet soda also ate diets high in fat and sugar.”
She says sometimes pregnant women will eat sugary and high fat foods and think it’s okay if they’re drinking diet soda, when really it’s only okay to drink it if they’re eating a well-balanced, low fat, higher protein diet.
If you wanted to have an occasional soda, you could have one a day, if thats what you want to have, says Dr. Zanotti.
For some people they’ve given up a lot of things that they really like and this is their one vice and I think thats fine, if they’re doing everything else correctly.
Dr. Zanotti says, “Water should be a womans beverage of choice during pregnancy.”
She says too much sugar is a problem whether it’s real sugar or a sweet substitute.
“Excessive sugar intake leads to excessive pregnancy weight gain, which means a higher risk of having bigger baby and a higher risk of having to deliver the baby via a cesarean section.”
Also, if you’re unaware an updated American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation urges parents to avoid giving fruit juice to children under one year of age.
Children’s health is so important and it begins at pregnancy.
Pathfire: If you’re using the web browser, click on the ‘Provider Directory’ and look for the ‘Cleveland Clinic’ tab. Use the ‘Video News Feed Locator’ if you’re getting Pathfire via satellite.
Related stories. USA Today and Washington Post released a story about plastics in tea bags. I scrolled to the end to find out which tea brands were harmful. Apparently, the tea bags that form those cute triangles have plastic in them. Even though they look like paper, it’s plastic that holds it together. Okie-dokie. Here are other brands containing plastic:
“So which tea bags contain plastic?
Brands that use plastic sealants include Tetley, Twinings’ ‘heat-sealed’ and ‘string and tag’ ranges, Yorkshire Tea and some Aldi tea bags.
Co-Op and PG Tips have all switched to 100% compostable bags.
Abel & Cole and Teapigs using plant-based SoilOn and Clipper makes a plastic-free teabag made from bananas, while some Tetley and Twinings ranges are biodegradable.
But if you want to be absolutely sure your tea is plastic free, loose leaves are the best way to go.” -Published in USA Today, September, 2019
Kerri Sparling has been living with type 1 diabetes for over 27 years, diagnosed in 1986.
She lives her life by the mantra “Diabetes doesn’t define me, but it helps explain me.”
Diabetes Symptoms: 1. Always tired 2. Frequent urination 3. Sudden unexpected weight loss 4. Wounds that won’t health 5. Sexual problems 6. Always hungry 7. Blurry vision 8. Numbness or tingling hands or feet 9. Always thirsty 10. Recurring bladder, skin, gum or vaginal infections 11. Dry itching skin
See a physician if you experience all or most of those symptoms.
Diabetes is a demanding disease that requires day-to-day and hour-by-hour management.
Eating nutritious foods is key to diabetics and non-diabetics in order to stay healthy.
Now, there is integrated technology to help millions of Americans living with diabetes better manage their disease.
A NEW FDA-APPROVED, INTEGRATED INSULIN PUMP AND CGM TECHNOLOGY HELPS STREAMLINE DIABETES MANAGEMENT.
Kerri Sparling, the author of one of the first and most widely-read diabetes patient blogs Six Until Metalks to MedCrunch about her experience.
Kerri has been living with type 1 diabetes for over 27 years.
Six Until Me is one of the first and most widely-read diabetes patient blogs. http://www.sixuntilme.com
Kerri is joined by diabetes management expert Dr. Korey Hood. Dr. Hood works closely with people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in clinical, research, and advocacy settings.
Kerri and diabetes management expert Dr. Korey Hood discuss what this significant approval means for those living with insulin-dependent diabetes.
They discuss diabetes management, the benefits of insulin pump therapy and Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology, features of the pump and how it helps with blood glucose control, and the importance of choice for people living with diabetes
The Animas® Vibe™ Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System for the management of insulin-requiring diabetes was developed by Animas Corporation. The Animas® Vibe™ System is approved for use for adults over 18 years of age.
As an integrated system, it allows patients to view glucose data and administer insulin right from the pump; simplifying and aiding their ability to make more informed decisions to fine tune insulin delivery and manage their diabetes. The Animas® Vibe™ System is intended to complement, not replace, information obtained from standard home glucose monitoring devices.
Kerri is a passionate advocate for all-things diabetes. She is the creator and author of Six Until Me, one of the first and most widely-read diabetes patient blogs, reaching a global audience of patients, caregivers, and industry. Outside of her blog, Kerri’s work can be found at diaTribe, Animas, and in diabetes outreach like JDRF’s Countdown magazine, in addition to her extensive diabetes YouTube channel. Well-versed in social media and its influence on patients, Kerri presents regularly at conferences and works full-time as a writer and consultant. Her first book, Balancing Diabetes, debuted in Spring 2014.
MORE ABOUT DR. KOREY HOOD:
Korey K. Hood, PhD, works closely with people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in clinical, research, and advocacy settings. Dr. Hood’s academic position is at Stanford University School of Medicine where he directs NIH- and foundation-funded research projects and provides clinical care aimed at promoting health and quality of life outcomes. Much of this work focuses on building positive coping and problem-solving skills to prevent diabetes distress and depression, and increasing the uptake of diabetes technologies and social media. He is the chair of the American Diabetes Association’s Behavioral Medicine and Psychology Interest Group, has published over 65 peer-reviewed scientific articles, and is passionate about finding a balance between diabetes management with technology and optimal quality of life for people with diabetes.
KERRI SPARLING, Diabetes Advocate and Blogger
DR. KOREY HOOD, Psychologist, Diabetes Expert & Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine
More than 1 in 3 Americans is at risk for diabetes, and it doubles for African-Americans.
Risk Factors for Adult Diabetes include:
1. Age 45 or older
2. Race/Ethnicity
3. Diabetes in Family
4. Lack of Physical Activity
5. Being Overweight
6. High Blood Pressure
SYMPTOMS:
Increased Thirst
Increased Need To Urinate
Blurry Vision
Recurring Skin, Gum, or Bladder Infections
Dry, Itchy Skin
Unexpected Weight Loss
Slow-Healing Cuts or Bruises
Tingling Feet or Hands
Loss of Feeling in Extremities
It’s one of the reasons one of the most iconic figures in music is passionate about raising awareness about risk factors for adult diabetes.
Another reason is his father has it, which also places him at risk. His manager’s father also had it. Since 5,000 new people are diagnosed each day, he wants to make sure everyone gets screened.
Rev Run is not only a legend in Hip-Hop, front man for RUN DMC, selling tens of millions of records worldwide, but he is widely credited for ushering rap music into the mainstream culture.
He also starred in MTV’s “Run House,” co-authored several books and is a sought after DJ and speaker.
His latest venture is teaming with The Novo Nordisk Ask Screen Know Campaign to help people know if they are at risk and to share tips on making healthy changes at home.
He created a website called askscreenknow.com to raise awareness and help others take precautions just as he is doing. I asked him how he gets people to get screened.
“I tell people do it for the ones you love…I look in my children’s eyes and realize I can be neglecting my health and hurt everybody in my family.”
-Rev Run
Joining him is wife, Justine Simmons. Justine is an accomplished author, jewelry designer on HSN, co-author of a best-selling book with her husband, philanthropist and loving wife and mom.
Justine also works with the Simmons family charity organization helping children with art resources. She joins Rev Run in urging people to take a Risk Assessment Test.
She discusses how they keep their family healthy since they are at high risk for adult diabetes.
[On Men Being Afraid to Get Tested]“You hear about these men passing (away) and it could have been prevented.”-Justine Simmons
Maria Dorfner is a health journalist and founder of NewsMD and Healthy Within Network (HWN). Her stories and original health programs have appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, Fox, CNBC and Discovery. Her book, “Healthy Within” is available at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/maria_dorfner
Partial list of her awards include an Outstanding Achievement Award from March of Dimes, Media Recognition Award from American Heart Association for a series she created for CNBC called “Heart Smart,” a Medical Reporting Scholarship from American Medical Association, a Freddie Award for Excellence in Medical Reporting, Commitment to the Advancement of Women in Media from Pace University, Angel of a Sponsor Award from Make-A-Wish Foundation. She’s part of the CNBC Originals team that launched the cable network and also co-founded Cleveland Clinic News Service and more. She is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in American Women and the 2019 recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from them. She began her career as an intern at NBC in New York City during her sophomore year of college at Pace University. NBC awarded her a scholarship to attend graduate school at Columbia University at night during her tenure.
This is her blog
Health story you’d like to share? Contact maria.dorfner@yahoo.com
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