According to recent estimates from the CDC, diabetes will affect one in three people born in 2000 in the United States. If you have three children or grandchildren under the age of 10 it is very likely that one of them will be diabetic. Is someone in your family diabetic? Diabetes tends to run in families. A person with a family history of diabetes is 2-4 times more likely to develop diabetes than someone without a family history further increasing the risk for our children and grandchildren.

Diabetes may run in families, but it is also a family disease.  When one member of a family  has diabetes, it affects every member of the family.  Diabetes means that everyone in the family has to be more aware of their health, what they eat and the increased risk of developing the disease.  When our friend was diagnosed, it not only changed his life but that of his family.  His wife cooks differently now.  His kids now have a family history of diabetes and their children may be at greater risk.

Forget the hype and media scare about diabetes. Just be more aware of your loved ones.  We all want our children to wear a helmet when riding a bike.  We expect our teen drivers to wear a seat belt.  We help aging parents around the house so they won’t fall.  It’s love and common sense.  To combat diabetes, eat a better and walk a little more.  It’s good for the whole family.

This shampoo is also great for your hair and doesn’t leave behind gunky residue or leave hair feeling dried out. It works well on all types of hair even on processed or treated hair. Men love it as much as women and it’s even gentle enough to use on children’s hair. It leaves your hair feeling soft and clean with a natural shine.  Beautiful hair, a healthier scalp and no more itching, doesn’t that sound grand?

1. Make a splash! Get swimming. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise with low impact so you can give your joints a break. Cardiovascular exercise helps reduce the risk of heart disease, something that is common among people with Diabetes. By strengthening large muscle groups in your body, you can efficiently absorb blood sugar. But remember, start your new exercise routine slowly and gradually work your way up.
2. Lace up your shoes and take a stroll! Walking is a great exercise to relieve stress. The best part about walking, is that it can be done anywhere without equipment. It is recommended you walk between 30 minutes to an hour most days of the week. You can even break up your walks: take the dog for a stroll in the morning, walk with a co-worker at lunch, and take a tour of the neighborhood after dinner. Walking will improve your cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and manage your blood glucose.
3. What is an exercise buffet? Pick and choose your exercises! You want to keep your body guessing and your mind from becoming bored. Cross training programs include a lot of aerobic exercise and routines that work different muscle groups. Many people do one routine Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and a completely different one Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Examples of cross training are swimming, biking, dancing, hiking, running, ice skating, and climbing stairs.

The key to any exercise program is to enjoy it. If you are bored or unhappy with your exercise routine, it will become more of a chore than a fun activity. It helps to get friends and family involved for support. So whether you’re swimming, walking, or ice-skating your way to a healthier you, be safe and have fun!

Ever wonder how a mom handles her child’s Diabetes diagnosis? Angela Allison author of 5 Children, Type 1 Diabetes, Coeliacs, Me and My Husband,offered to share some with us tips for moms who are new to Diabetes. Her own daughter, Claudia was diagnosed in May of 2008 with Type 1 Diabetes and Angela has been a supermom ever since.

Angela explained at first, a Diabetes diagnosis can be challenging and scary, but “as the days and weeks pass by, you will get into a routine and the initial panic moments will go.”  From lifestyle changes, hypos and hypers, no days off from the disease, and realizing that your child is no longer so care-free, the emotions can be overwhelming. Angela said she realized early on that she would have to take each day as it came as Type 1 is so unpredictable and there are so many influences that she had no control over.

Angela shared with us the most important tips a mom should keep in mind when mothering a Diabetic child:

1. Always make sure you have plenty of spare insulin, pens, BG meters etc. and keep some at home, in the car, at school and grandparents or anywhere you often visit. So on those occasions you have a blip it doesn’t matter.

2. Set yourself weekly realistic goals. E.g. read up on Insulin Pumps, find the best BG meter.

3. Talk to your husband or partner about how you feel and ask them how they feel. Do accept help from other people.

4. Speak openly to your child if they are of an age that they can understand. And if you have other children, always include them & make them feel involved.

5. Write down a list of questions before you have a meeting with your diabetes specialist team.

6. If you are unsure or are worried always ask for help.

7. If you feel you can’t manage speak to your Doctor.

8. Always laugh, no matter what, sleep can make any one unreasonable!!

All in all, a Diabetes diagnosis can be a terrifying realization. But with a little bit of planning, a positive attitude, and asking for help, your child’s diagnosis may become a bit more manageable.

Nut Crusted Fish

11/2 to 2 pounds of fish fillets   (Salmon and Halibut work great!  Try trout or any fish you like.)

2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp honey

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup finely chopped nuts   (Use almonds, walnuts or pecans – whatever you like.)

2 tsp fresh chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray. Place fish skin side down in pan and season with salt and pepper.  Combine mustard, olive oil and honey.  Brush on fish.  Combine bread crumbs, nuts and parsley.  Sprinkle over the fish. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until fish flakes. The recipe will serve 4 – 6.

If you are a diabetic or have a prediabetic condition, make good dental care a priority. Be sure to brush and floss twice daily.  See your dentist at least twice a year. If your blood sugar is not under control you may need to go more often. Use dental products with fluoride. Fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel on teeth and reduces cavities.  Most tap water is enriched with fluoride but  many people drink only bottled water and consequently, do not get  the fluoride they need.  Finally, avoid rinses with alcohol. Alcohol can be drying and may worsen problems associated with decreased saliva production.

Good dental care is important to overall health and well-being.  As a diabetic, start today to reduce the possibilities of additional health risks and complications.  In the words of a chinese proverb, “A smile will gain you ten more years of life.”

Spinach, tomatoes and berries, oh my! Don’t you just love the fresh taste of summer? Did you know these are some of the best foods to eat if you are diabetic? In a recent article in USA Weekend, Peggy Noonan lists the “10 super foods to fight diabetes.” Super foods are those loaded with the vitamins and minerals that are most important to people with diabetes or a pre-diabetic condition. These nutrients include vitamins A, C and E, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Most of the super foods are also high in fiber. Fiber is important because it helps you to feel full longer reducing a possible spike in blood sugar levels.Summer is a great time to make simple changes to improve your health. Take a walk. Drink lots of iced tea and enjoy the sweet, fresh, satisfying tastes of the season.

The Top 10 Super Foods for Diabetics

1. Beans

2. Spinach and dark green leafy vegetables

3. Citrus fruits

4. Sweet potatoes

5. Berries

6. Tomatoes

7. Fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids

8. Whole grains

9. Nuts

10. Fat-free milk and yogurt

We’ll share a few  fresh healthy recipes that feature super food ingredients in the coming weeks before the end of summer.

Nearly a decade ago, Nell Carter announced that she had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. At the time she was quoted as saying, “When I first found out I had diabetes, I denied it.”  She went on to say, “Being diabetic was not what I thought of as being normal, and I feared the stigma and having to take medicine and having people stick me with a needle,” she says. “No question about it: I just didn’t want the disease — but I definitely needed to hear about it.”

Do you feel that  way?

Before you decide, remember how Nell’s story ended.  In 2003, at the age of 54 she died of heart disease complicated by diabetes. Did you know that diabetics are four times more likely to have heart disease and strokes?  Heart attacks are the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths.  Her life was cut short by diabetes and the world lost an extremely talented entertainer.

Remember Nell.  Don’t deny your diabetes; manage it. Don’t let your story end like hers.