THRIVING WITH DIABETES

Archived Columns

11-06-08 -- American's Afraid of That?

More people are afraid of being in a plane crash, hit by lightning, attacked by a shark, or bitten by a snake, than developing diabetes.

10-23-08 -- Play Peek-a-Boo with your Pump

"What are you going to be for Halloween?" seems to be one of the biggest questions these days in classrooms (or around the water cooler for that matter).

10-09-08 -- The D Word - We're not Talking Diabetes

Taken from 10 Steps to Better Living with Diabetes by Ginger Kanzer-Lewis, RN, BC, EdM, CDE. Published by the American Diabetes Association ©2007.

09-25-08 -- What - me worry?

Take a sneak peek behind the highly anticipated book to be published by the American Diabetes Association this fall - Your First Year with Diabetes: What to Do Month by Month. This book offers straight-forward, easy-to-read advice to create a care plan that won't take over your life.

09-18-08 -- Seven Steps to Healthy Living for You and Your Family

September kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. But whether you are Hispanic/Latino or not, we all combat similar feelings of putting our family's health care needs ahead of our own. There is no need to feel guilty about spending time and money on your own personal health. Taking care of your diabetes or preventing yourself from developing type 2 is not only good for your sake, but for your family's as well.

09-11-08 -- Men, Sex, and Diabetes: What You Need to Know

Tired? Depressed? Problems in your love life? The cause could be your work life or family matters. But chances are it could be your diabetes.

09-03-08 -- Nine steps to better cholesterol

Taken from 16 Myths of a Diabetic Diet, 2nd ed., by Karen Hanson Chalmers and Amy Peterson Campbell. Published by the American Diabetes Association ©2007.

08-28-08 -- Dating with Diabetes

The waiter arrives. He places the entrees in front of you and your date. You look at the food. You glance towards the bathrooms. What do you do? Do you check your blood glucose at the table or do you politely excuse yourself and hope he or she doesn't think something is wrong?

08-21-08 -- Thriving with Diabetes at School

The long, hot summer has come to a close, and it's time for your child to put away the bathing suit and sport those new school clothes. In addition to stocking his or her backpack with new supplies and the lunch bag with healthy choices, if your child has diabetes, it's also time to make sure that your child's diabetes needs will be met when he or she returns to the classroom.

08-14-08 -- Talking About Diabetes at School

Whether your child eats snacks or checks her blood glucose levels in the classroom or nurse's office, her classmates may want to know why. Your child or her teacher can probably answer their questions by simply saying a few words about diabetes.

08-07-08 --  Do you know what you are eating?

Lose weight. Stay away from sodium. Eat less fat — but eat more fiber. Does this sound familiar? Is it confusing for you? You are not alone.

07-31-08 -- Penny-pinching Times? Don't Shortchange Your Care.

Gas prices? The housing bubble? Stock market woes? The recent economic downturn has been difficult for many. Even though you may be able to park your car in the garage or wait to invest in that new home improvement project, you cannot take a day off from your diabetes. And as we all know - diabetes is expensive.

07-24-08 -- Moving Out on Your Own?

Are you about to move away from home? If so, you are taking a big step – maybe the biggest one you have ever taken on your own. Now so many things are really your responsibility, including your diabetes.

07-17-08 -- This is Only a Test

"Easy, quick, and virtually painless!"  We all know the incredible advances that have been made in glucose monitoring over the years, but still not everyone checks their glucose as often as they should.  Even though there are many perfectly logical reasons to test your blood glucose frequently, there are also a variety of things that keep people from testing as much as they should.

07-10-08 -- Short Cuts to Avoid Picnic Pitfalls

Picnics are a quintessential summer event.  But they can also put you in a quandary – pasta and potato salads to the left, piles of hotdogs and hamburgers to the right, plenty of alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks behind you, and an entire table dedicated to ooey-gooey desserts straight ahead.  What do you do?  You could hide under a lawn chair – or – you could learn how to take some short cuts to enjoy your summer feast without having to loosen your belt at the end of the meal!

06-26-08 -- Top ways to a relaxing vacation -- with diabetes!

Whether you are going on vacation, or are planning a "stay-cation" at home, summer is a time to kick back and relax. For a person with diabetes, that might sound easier than it actually is. But with just a little bit of planning, a relaxing vacation can be simple. Here are some tips to ensure that your summer is fancy free and.

06-19-08 -- Research You Can Use -- Now!
The American Diabetes Association just wrapped up the largest diabetes meeting in the world. Approximately 15,000 health care professionals from around the world shared the latest in diabetes research. So what does this mean to you? Here are some quick "news-you-can-use" highlights of research presented at the meeting:

06-12-08 -- Could Your Dad's Health Be in Jeopardy?
This Father's Day, show dad you care by encouraging him to assess his risk for diabetes or other diabetes-related complications such as heart attack or stroke.

06-05-08 -- Tips for Really Helping a Person with Diabetes
If you have diabetes and you would like more help and support from someone you are close to, ask that person to read this column.

05-29-08 -- For Your Eyes Only
The American Diabetes Association recommends that most people with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam every year.

05-22-08 -- Just a Drop of Common Sense
Article about alcohol and diabetes by David Marrero, PhD.

05-15-08 -- Tips to Trip By
The Art and Science of Traveling with Diabetes

05-05-08 -- Thinking of Becoming a Mom?
Take the Diabetes Risk Test—For Your Health and Your Baby’s

04-29-28 -- Celebrating Cinco De Mayo… the Healthy Way!
Bring out the margaritas, chips and guacamole…it’s the most celebrated holiday of Mexican culture in the United States.

04-24-08 -- The Power of One — What Can You Do?
What difference can one person make anyway?

04-17-08 -- Fresh Start = Fresh Air
Experts say we only need to exercise for 30 of those minutes.  So why is it so hard to get motivated?

04-10-08 -- Is Your Pantry Suffering from Sticker Shock? 
So how do you plan healthy menus for you and your family without breaking the bank?

04-03-08 -- And you thought toe jam was bad? 
2 feet – 10 toes – 8 tips to care for them

03-27-08 -- To snack or not to snack?
That is the question: Some myths state that people with diabetes should be snacking constantly to keep their blood glucose levels level.

03-20-08 -- Fat: the good, the bad, the ugly 
Do you ever feel like you need a dictionary when figuring out what types of food to buy?

03-13-08 -- Breakfast!
The most important meal of the day

03-06-08 -- Don't get fresh with me!
Eat your fruits and vegetables – while saving money and time

02-28-08 -- Could a dog save your life?
A growing number of canine companions are helping people with diabetes avoid dangerous hypoglycemia.

02-21-08 -- February Got You Down?
Learn the facts about Diabetes and Depression.

02-14-08 -- Sex and Diabetes
Sexual dysfunction is more common than you think among people with diabetes.

02-07-08 -- Soup of the Day – Friend or Foe?  Tips for eating out
Going to a restaurant can sometimes feel like navigating through an obstacle course.

1-31-08 -- Help I'm sick. How do I handle my diabetes?
When you’re sick, your body is also stressed. To deal with this stress, your body releases hormones that help you fight the illness.

1-24-08 -- The Cost of Diabetes – What it Means to You
What would you do if you had $174 billion?  You could buy 476 million-dollar homes, each day, for a year.

01-17-08 -- 4 Ways to Save Your Heart
Adapted from February 2008 issue of Diabetes Forecast published by the American Diabetes Association

01-10-08 -- Diabetes Diet Debunked
Taken from 16 Myths of a Diabetic Diet, by Karen Hanson Chalmers and Amy Peterson Campbell