Jan 6 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30681002
It is monitoring the glucose levels and perhaps it can be used with some adjustments to monitor blood glucose.
This would certainly make living with diabetes so much easier. Apple is also rumored to be working on this with the Apple Watch.
Sep 19 2014
I am a firm believer in technology being used to better the lives of diabetics. I think way too much money is spent chasing a cure and not enough on alleviating the day to day nightmare of diabetes. Let’s hope Apple is able to do it.
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2013/08/apple-creating-an-iwatch-that-could-monitor-glucose.html
Aug 17 2014
It is very sad to hear that the incidences of diabetes continue to rise dramatically. Although new research seems to be all the time making progress, I often wonder if the amounts of money being spent trying to cure diabetes is misguided. Perhaps more should be done to prevent and manage it better.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/40-percent-of-americans-will-develop-diabetes-study-says/
Jul 31 2014
As temperatures rise this summer I am reminded that as a father of a son with an insulin pump it is really important to keep the pump and insulin at a temperature that is not too hot. Ideally it should be in the 20s (20s Celsius). Temperature changes (hot and cold) are bad for insulin and reduce its effectiveness. If you find that you have bad blood sugars for no apparent reason, take a look at your insulin and evaluate if you have been in extreme temperatures. If so, change it!
Also, be very careful with your pump when out in hot weather – especially on the beach. I know one pump user that actually had her pump melt on the beach completely ruining it. Make sure you keep it in a cool place and out of the direct sun!
We at radrr.com do offer a product that works with our cases that can help. It is high tech ice (used in hospitals to transport organs) that can be reused many, many times. How it works is you hydrate the ice pods the first time you use them by soaking them in water. Then you pop them in the freezer and let them freeze. You then place them in the case pockets on either side of your pump and you are good to go. The ice pods do not give off moisture so you will not get your pump or clothes wet, and the ice lasts much longer than real ice. Depending on the temperature, you can get several hours of cooling from them. We provide a pack of 4, so you can change them out when you notice that they are no longer cool. Also, the added insulation of the pods alone help to protect your pump from the heat.
Think about protecting your pump the next time you are out in the summer heat!
David
radrr Founder
Jun 10 2014
Get 20% summer discount at all our kids insulin pump cases and accessories! Start the fantastic summer with a new insulin pump case now! 
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Jun 3 2014
Watch our product video and see for yourself how great Radrr’s universal insulin pump cases are. We have great designs, especially for kids with diabetes type 1. They are made of high quality materials and affordable at the same time. We hope you love them.
You can find and order these products at our website: www.radrr.com
May 22 2014
Wearing an insulin pump can be fun with radrr insulin pump cases. radrr pump bags are fun, cool and stylish. Professionally designed and made of the highest quality, durable, materials that protect your pump and keep it securely with your child at all times, day and night. radrr cases make living with a pump easier!
Find more diabetes accessories at www.radrr.com!
May 22 2014
Researchers in Germany have further endorsed the effectiveness of a blood test that helps determine whether some adult diabetics diagnosed as type 2 diabetes are actually in the early stages of having type 1 diabetes.
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults (LADA) like type 1 diabetes, is an autoimmune response that that destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. It is often misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes because it looks and acts a lot like type 2– arising usually in adulthood and progressing slowly– but, unlike type 2 diabetes, LADA results from the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.
A test for glutamic acid decarboxylase, or GAD, antibodies, has long been used as a method of differentiating between LADA (which is sometimes referred to at type 1.5 diabetes) and type 2 diabetes in people over age 30. With LADA as well as type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system begins to attack its own beta cells. When the immune system attacks pathogens, one weapon in its arsenal is the creation of antibodies that bind to the foreign objects and mark them as invaders. In the case of autoimmune diabetes, the body begins to create antibodies against parts of proteins that are not foreign, but rather are associated with its own beta cells. GAD is one of the earliest proteins to be targeted by antibodies, and so by testing for the presence of GAD antibodies, doctors can determine whether there is an autoimmune reaction to beta cells taking place.
“At diagnosis, people with LADA usually do not require insulin right away because they are still producing some insulin,” according to Christy L. Parkin, MSN, RN, CDE, Associate Editor of Diabetes Forecast. “Because of their older age, they are often misdiagnosed as type 2 and started on oral medications. They may be normal weight or slightly overweight (not typical in type 2). LADA has characteristics of type 1 and may include insulin resistance, like type 2 diabetes. The main difference between LADA and type 2 is the autoimmune response, which is similar to type 1. The loss of beta cells is much more gradual in LADA than in type 1, though. It can take several years before blood glucose control starts to worsen.”
Given the differences between the necessary treatments for LADA and type 2 diabetes, a good diagnostic tool is clearly needed. However, up until now, the effectiveness of GAD antibody testing as a diagnostic has not been completely endorsed by the scientific community. Researchers at the Institute of Diabetes Research at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, partners in the Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung (DZD – German Center for Diabetes Research) however, have concluded a study that recommends use of the test in diagnosing LADA.
The study looked at reactions to injections of the GAD antibody in 46 LADA patients over 30 months. The subjects in the study were injected under the skin with different doses of GAD, or a placebo, producing an immune system reaction that impacted the insulin making beta cells. It was found that subjects with a strong reaction to the GAD antibody had correlating low insulin production.
“Our findings show that the GAD antibody affinity is a valuable … diagnostic marker in LADA patients,” according to lead investigator Dr. Peter Achenbach. “As with childhood type 1 diabetes, we can forecast the progression of the disease and adapt the therapeutic measures accordingly. The antibody affinity should now also be taken into consideration in clinical studies involving LADA patients.”
Other testing for type 1.5 diabetes that may be used in conjunction with the GAD test to determine if a person has LADA include determining c-peptide levels to measure insulin production levels, and tests for islet cell antibodies.
The supportive vote on GAD antibody testing is good news– it’s estimated that 10 percent of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have LADA (type 1.5), according to Dr. Jeff Unger, in the journal, American Family Physician.
In many cases, people who are diagnosed with type 2 but who have LADA will experience higher and higher blood sugars as insulin producing cells die off and oral medications do little or nothing to properly control their levels. High blood sugars might also be accompanied with weight loss, a classic symptom of untreated type 1 diabetes.
There are no formally established treatment procedures for LADA, according to the Mayo Clinic. Typically, however, patients diagnosed with LADA take insulin rather than oral diabetes medications, and otherwise treat their condition similarly to how they would be treated if they were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Once a diagnosis is made, the best option moving forward is to work with a physician to tailor a specific treatment plan.
For some people, such as Caraline McLeod, the diagnosis makes a world of difference in how they care for themselves.
Diagnosed with type 2, McLeod followed her doctor’s advice on exercising to lose weight, taking oral medication, and testing her blood sugars on a regular basis. Even though she reached her target weight and got in better shape, her blood sugars inexplicably continued to rise.
“I carried a deep sense that part of the puzzle was missing,” McLeod says in an interview with ABC Health and Wellbeing. “I became paranoid that some aspect of my lifestyle had contributed to this rapid progression, wondering if diet tonic water or my shampoo could be the hidden enemy. While I told myself that denial is one of the phases of grief and perhaps normal under the circumstances, I continued to obsess.”
When she learned about LADA, McLeod immediately went to her doctor for a GAD antibody test.
“Two weeks later the results came back strongly positive. Perhaps most people would have been unsettled with such a result, but I simply felt relief. In one fell swoop, my questions had been answered. I now knew why there had been no pre-diabetes and why exercise and diet had not spared me.
“I was referred to an endocrinologist who confirmed type 1 diabetes, and who encouraged me to be proactive in my own treatment. Indeed, he confirmed what I’d already read – that starting insulin early might spare my remaining beta cells.”
Like McLeod, for many diabetics diagnosed with a condition they don’t, in fact, suffer from, the correct diagnosis made though a GAD test provides the best chance for achieving improved long term health and happiness.
Alex O’Meara is a regular contributor to ASweetLife. He writes the blog The Other Side of Diabetes.
Source: Click
May 20 2014
Recently, I stopped by a bookstore to browse. As a budding dietitian and someone who also has a bit of a weight problem, it didn’t take me long to find my way to the diet and fitness section. Although I shouldn’t have been surprised, I was taken aback by the overflowing wall of books on various diets and schemes to lose weight. With so many choices in reading material, it’s no wonder people have such a difficult time figuring out what to eat! It seems like everyone and their brother has an idea of what you should do.
But T1 people like me have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a different diet. It’s not just weight management that we want, but also good BG. So how do today’s trendiest diets stack up for managing Type 1 diabetes? At Insulin Nation, we’ve examined 5 of the most popular diets out there and asked Certified Diabetes Educators and Registered Dietitians to give us their take on what fits for T1 and what doesn’t:
What it is:
Veganism eschews eating any and all animal products, including dairy and eggs, as well as using animal-based products like leather. It’s possible to get enough protein through the right combinations in a plant-based diet, but it requires research and planning, especially when it comes to getting all the amino acids you need. Veganism has gotten easier in recent years with the growing availability of supplements and fortified products to help practitioners get all the nutrition they need. However, it’s important for vegans to keep to a diversified diet, and not rely on easy carbohydrates in meals, which not only can raise blood sugar but also can pack on the pounds.
What experts say:
“Anyone pursuing veganism, whether Type 1 or not, would need to make sure they are getting a balance of nutrients, particularly iron, Vitamin B12, protein, zinc, omega 3′s, and calcium,” says Lise Gloede, RDN, CDE, who specializes in vegan and vegetarian diets at her private practice in Virginia.
“There are so many places to get protein in a plant-based diet that it’s not a concern that a vegan would be protein-deficient if they are eating from all the food groups in a balanced way,” says Jennifer Smith, RD, CDE at Integrated Diabetes Services in Pennsylvania; Smith also is T1. “Getting rid of all of the animal-based fats and protein can also decrease inflammation in the body, which in itself can help to decrease BG levels.”
What it is:
Raw foodism is the belief that the healthiest foods are uncooked and unprocessed foods, mostly consisting of fruits, uncooked vegetables, eggs, raw dairy, and raw fish. Raw foodists believe that cooking food destroys important enzymes when heated over 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people who follow raw foodism are also vegan, but it’s not necessarily required, since some fish, like sashimi, is eaten raw.
However, it’s not nutritionally better to eat all foods in their raw form. Protein can be difficult to get, since legumes and meat usually should be cooked to be safe and digestible. Also, some vegetables, like asparagus, spinach, and mushrooms, are healthier when they are cooked because the heat activates the health-promoting nutrients. But others, like broccoli, onions, and red peppers, really are better eaten raw.
What experts say:
“It’s high in fruits and veggies, since these are easily eaten in their raw form, so from the standpoint of blood sugar control it can be gentle on management,” says Smith. “The only processed foods allowed are those that have been processed through fermentation, such as kimchi, or those processed in vinegar. However, It can be an expensive and time-consuming diet to follow, and it’s best for those who have or can easily use kitchen gadgets.”
What it is:
The macrobiotic diet involves eating grains as a staple food, supplemented with other healthy foods, such as local vegetables. It also requires avoiding the use of highly processed or refined foods and most animal products; some people on the macrobiotic diet will still eat seafood. Macrobiotic enthusiasts also believe the manner in which you eat is important; they believe it’s best to focus on slow, thoughtful chewing — which can actually be a boon for people who overeat, since it can take up to 20 minutes to register fullness.
What experts say:
“Choosing carbs that are low on the glycemic index will help with control of diabetes, but the diet tends to be heavier in carbs than other ‘diet plans’…due to heavy emphasis on grains and fruit and veggies,” says Smith.
What it is:
A gluten-free diet eliminates the protein gluten that is found in wheat, rye, and barley. There has been an upward swing in the diagnosis of celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and wheat intolerance in people around the world. The number of cases of celiac disease has doubled in the last 20 years. Because celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, approximately 10% of people with T1 will find themselves going gluten-free, whether they like it or not.
What experts say:
The official word from registered dietitians is that there is no reason to be gluten-free unless you have an identified intolerance to gluten, whether it’s an allergy or celiac disease. It’s also important to recognize that not all gluten-containing products are created equal. Gluten is found both in healthier items, like whole grain bread, and in processed junk food, like donuts and cookies. Cutting out cookies is probably going to do more for your blood sugar management than cutting out all gluten.
“It’s not commonly understood that many gluten-free products are just as refined as those commonly made with gluten-containing grains,” says Smith. “Something made with rice flour may be free of gluten, but it will not be kind for post-consumption BG control.”
Many people find themselves feeling better when cutting out gluten, but it may have more to do with the improvement in the overall quality of their diet, says Lori Zanini, RD, CDE, who works at a private practice in Los Angeles. “When people cut out gluten and wheat and feel results, it could be because they are cutting out the processed, high sugar foods that contain the wheat, but not the wheat itself,” she says.
What it is:
Nicknamed the “caveman diet,” Paleo is best described by what you can’t eat: no grains (naturally gluten-free), no legumes (including peanuts), no dairy, and no artificial sweeteners or refined products. With an emphasis on protein, vegetables, and fruit, it can be a healthy diet to try, but some find it difficult to maintain.
What experts say:
This diet falls at the bottom of U.S. World & News’ annual list of best diets because it eliminates whole food groups, but it can help manage blood sugar. Many people on the Paleo diet start eating more protein and less carbohydrates, which can help stabilize blood sugars.
“I like Paleo in that it promotes protein and fiber from vegetables and avoids processed foods,” says Wishnick. “I would never push someone to eat bread or pasta, but lentils and quinoa are good for you. They have beneficial nutrients.”
Smith adds that it’s important to remember that the liver will convert protein into glucose when it’s deprived of carbohydrates, so people with diabetes will often find themselves needing some insulin for a low-to-no carb meal.
“Often people with diabetes will experience improved blood sugars from the drop in carb content,” says Smith. “But they may also experience odd swings in blood sugars hours after a meal due to the lower carb and higher protein and fat nature of the meals.”
Insulin Nation recommends consulting with a dietician, a certified diabetes educator, and/or your medical professional before making any significant dietary changes.
Source: Click
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