This is a love story. Get a cup of coffee, sit in your favorite chair and have your crying towel at the ready, there will be tears.

Back when I was not famous, or as good looking as I now am (smile), I had this idea about a diabetes wellness program and set out to research it. My Brother, Ray, had diabetes. I watched him, for years, struggle with it. In those years of watching him he developed absolutely every complication you can get as a result of diabetes. He had stokes, retinopathy, neuropathy in both feet and everything else you can imagine, with all those complications finally beating him and taking his life, on my birthday, of all days when he was just 48 years old.

A year before he passed away, I was diagnosed with diabetes. It scared me to death because I had been watching Ray and seeing what he was going through. No way did I want any of that I can assure you. Understand, Ray and I lived in different states so I did not see him all the time, I only heard about his latest bout with diabetes.   Read More . . .

Available for more than two decades, insulin pumps have replaced daily injections for many patients with type 1 diabetes. Now, new research shows them to be a safe and effective option for those with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes.

In the first long-term study comparing the efficacy and safety of insulin pumps to multiple daily shots in people with type 2 diabetes, insulin pumps were found to be equal to injections for lowering average blood sugar levels. While many people with type 2 diabetes can control their disease though lifestyle changes or oral medications, at some point they may require insulin to keep their blood sugar levels under control.

Insulin pumps are worn next to the skin and deliver a programmable, continuous flow of insulin. About the size of a pager, the pumps are worn both day and night.

Patients Prefer Insulin Pumps

In the newly reported study conducted at multiple centers, 132 people with type 2 diabetes over the age of 34 were randomly selected to receive insulin for six months, either continuously by an insulin pump or by multiple daily injections. Three months into the study, both groups had similar improvements in blood sugar levels. But roughly nine out of 10 patients on the insulin pump preferred it to taking daily injections, citing convenience, ease of use, and flexibility as reasons. Side effects such as low sugars or hypoglycemia were similar in the two groups. The findings are reported in the September issue of the American Diabetes Association publication Diabetes Care.

Lead researcher Philip Raskin, MD, of the University Of Texas Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, says he believes a slight advantage in treatment outcome would have been seen in those on the insulin pump if the study had been done at one treatment center instead of multiple centers. Raskin is a consultant for the insulin pump maker Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, which funded the study.

"My view is that there is probably a small advantage, in terms of control, in using a pump over multiple daily injections," he tells us, "Certainly, our patients liked it better."

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is funding a larger, multiple-center trial testing insulin pumps in people with type 2 diabetes over the age of 60. The study will include cost-effectiveness analysis, and, if favorable, may result in insulin pump therapy being covered by Medicare for some patients. Results from the trial are expected sometime next year.

Insulin Pumps Not for Everyone

ADA spokesman Nathaniel Clark, MD, says insulin pump manufacturers have a strong economic incentive for promoting the delivery system for people with type 2 diabetes since 90% to 95% of diabetic people fall into this category. But he adds that insulin pumps may very well help some type 2 patients manage their diabetes better.

"There are people with type 2 diabetes who, despite multiple daily insulin injections, have problems with unexplained [low blood sugar]," he says. "In these patients, I can see a use for delivering a predictable amount of insulin with a pump. Pumps may have a legitimate place in the treatment of these selected patients. But they are not the be-all and end-all for type 1 diabetes, and they are even less so for type 2 patients."

Both experts agree that patients should not switch from shots to a pump simply because they view it as an easier treatment option. "Being on the pump requires a lot of work," Raskin says. "You still have to watch what you eat. You have to monitor your blood glucose levels several times a day. Just because you're not taking shots doesn't mean you can forget you have diabetes."

Gila monsters are poisonous lizards. They don't have fangs like vipers. Instead, they grab onto their prey with vice-like jaws while their grooved teeth leak venom-containing spit.

The lizards live in the desert, and eat as few as four times a year. Between meals, their hunger system shuts down. A chemical called exendin-4 is found in their venom. When ingested with saliva, it wakes up the lizards' metabolic system.

Oddly, this reptile molecule works in humans, too. It lowers blood sugar and promotes weight loss. And by a separate mechanism, it protects insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and stimulates the growth of new beta cells. Beta cell death is a major factor in progression of type 2 diabetes.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, IN are developing exenatide. Lilly is a WebMD sponsor.

Alzheimer's Protection, Too?

A compound similar to exenatide has two unpronounceable names: HSEGTFTSD and [Ser(2)]exendin(1-9).] In animal studies, this compound protected brain cells from toxic injury by plugging into a brain molecule called GLP-1R.

The report, by University of Auckland researcher Matthew J. During, MD, and colleagues, appears in the August 17 issue of Nature Medicine.

GLP-1R may therefore be a promising target for treatment strategies directed towards degenerative brain and thought disorders, During and colleagues conclude.

We at Diabetics 4 Diabetics do not recommend going out to the desert and try to catch, capture or milk a lizard. Let the pharmaceuticals do the work for you. Smile.

For your real estate needs, we recommend Sherry McQueen, of the Mimosa Group. She is a great supporter of Diabetics 4 Diabetics, a sponsor of Diabetics who cannot afford our program and a darn good person. You can reach her at 480.905.1843, or her cell, 602.672.0872. And if you should want any more information, email her at: smcqueen25@cox.net. For more information on Sherry and what she can do for you, we also recommend her website which will answer most your questions: http://www.mcqueenrealty.com. We trust her. You can as well.

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that helps the body's tissues absorb glucose (sugar) so it can be used as a source of energy. The condition may also develop if muscle, fat, and liver cells respond poorly to insulin. In people with diabetes, glucose levels build up in the blood and urine, causing excessive urination, thirst, hunger, and problems with fat and protein metabolism. Diabetes mellitus differs from the less common diabetes insipidus, which is caused by lack of the hormone vasopressin that controls the amount of urine secreted.

In the United States, about 16 million people (6 percent of the population) suffer from diabetes mellitus. Every year, about 800,000 people learn they have the disease. Diabetes mellitus kills about 193,000 U.S. residents each year, and it is the seventh leading cause of all deaths and the sixth leading cause of all deaths caused by disease. In Canada, more than 2.2 million residents (7 percent of the population) have diabetes mellitus, and the disease contributes to more than 25,000 deaths a year.
Read More . . .

Control your diabetes through Diabetes Education, Nutrition Education and Exercise Education.

Don't let it control you!!!

Mission Statement

The focus of Wellness and Education Center will be working one-on-one to educate diabetics about their disease and teach them to control their diabetes through proper nutrition, exercise and diet. The nutritional instruction will be based on proven and medically sound practices. Their meal plans will be monitored closely and adjustments made as necessary. The clients will have a customized exercise program designed to their individual limitations. This program is designed to work in conjunction with the clients’ personal physicians. The progress of the clients will be provided to them and their physicians as quarterly updates. They will also have indefinite group support, advice and guidance.   Read More . . .

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find someone to fix your darn car when it breaks down without getting ripped off. Believe in or not, I found a company that is honest! Accurate Diagnostic and Auto Repair, 2637 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ. 85032, Phone 602.393.0773 and ask for Jim or Nina Holt. I am telling you, from personal experience, they were the most wonderful people I have ever dealt with, bar none. They are small enough to make you feel important and big enough to handle any automotive concern. And mention that you are a diabetic and they will give you a nice discount to boot! accurateauto43@msn.com.

A scraped foot that never heals. An infection that ends in prosthetics. Over 5.9 million people never realize they have Diabetes. But with careful observation, says specialty footwear retailer Foot Solutions, Inc., they don't have to find out the hard way.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 17 million people - 6.2 percent of the population - have diabetes. Yet, not knowing can contribute to the worst-case scenario. From 1997 to 1999, over 82,000 diabetics required lower-limb amputations annually.

"Minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes and blisters can lead to ulceration or, worse, amputation if left untreated," noted Dr. Randall Leraaen of the Accelerated Healing Clinic. "Regularly examining your feet is the first important step to keeping your feet. The second is to protect them. Fortunately, diabetics can select from specially made footwear that keeps their feet safe from abrasions despite poor circulation or neuropathy."

Neuropathy involves insensitivity or inability to feel pain, heat and cold, explained Dr. Bill Faddock, the on-staff podiatrist for Foot Solutions at its Marietta, Ga. headquarters. Signs of neuropathy include numbness or tingling in the feet. In some cases the condition can progress into severe and disabling pain. According to Dr. Leraaen that's where diabetic footwear can help.

Diabetics have a host of products specifically designed for their feet. Diabetic socks have extra padding, and no bumps, ridges or seams. Custom-made insoles can distribute pressure points more evenly over the surface of the foot. And, specially designed diabetic shoes support and stabilize the foot without the sliding, pinching and pushing common to most footwear. "The goal is to eliminate excessive instability or movement within the shoe," explained Dr. Leraaen.

Residents with Medicare Part B insurance may already have the coverage required to cover most costs for special shoes or inserts. Dr. Leraaen noted that anyone can check to see if they qualify for the program by calling his office at 602.439.5559.

Dr. Leraaen offers some tips to protecting the diabetic foot:

1. Follow Doctor's Orders.
   • Keep blood sugar levels within the recommended range.
   • Stay physically active using a program planned by your doctor.
   • Make foot care a priority.
   • Let the doctor check your bare feet for injuries or neuropathy.
2. Become Your Own Pedicurist.
   • Wash feet daily with warm - not hot - water, then dry your feet, even in between toes.
   • Moisturize your skin on top and on the bottom of your feet, not in between toes.
   • Gently smooth corns and calluses with a pumice stone if at low risk for foot problems.
   • Every week trim toenails straight across and file edges with an emery board or nail file.
3. Pamper Your Feet.
   • Examine feet daily for cuts, blisters, red spots and swelling.
   • Always wear comfortable, protective shoes and socks. Never go barefoot.
   • Wear shoes on the beach or on hot pavement.
   • Wear socks at night to cover cold feet.
4. Keep the Blood Flowing to Your Feet.
   • When sitting, raise your feet and don't cross your legs for long periods of time.
   • Wiggle your toes and raise your ankles for 5 minutes, two or three times a day.
   • Don't smoke - it restricts blood circulation.

Accelerated Healing Clinic
13704 North 51st Avenue
Glendale, AZ. 85304

602.439.5559

Dr. Randy Leraaen focuses on health, wellness and total foot comfort, providing custom insoles, orthotics and an extensive line of comfort shoes designed for dress, play work or exercise. For more information on custom orthotics and how to care for your feet, call Dr. Randy TODAY

When I finished developing the Diabetic Wellness Program the last thing I ever thought about was including chiropractic care as part of that program. What I have learned since then has been nothing less than a revelation to me. It does serve a very important purpose, especially for diabetics, and the results are nothing less than spectacular.

To the lay person it sounds silly but I am telling you I have jumped on the bandwagon after seeing the results of spinal manipulation, physiotherapy and soft tissue massage on a couple of my patients who were using a chiropractor at the same time as participating in the D4D program. Their sense of well being, flexibility and general attitude was better than ever and because of that, they did better than ever. I looked into what made the difference, their Chiropractor. Then I did some research into this avenue of approach and, based on those findings, have now incorporated chiropractic care into the Diabetic Wellness Program. It honestly works and the positive results are overwhelming.

I have included in this magazine some of the findings I discovered so you can read about it yourself. I think you will be as impressed as I.   Read More . . .

• Training to become a Doctor of Chiropractic requires a minimum of six years of college study and clinic internship. Training includes two years of the basic health sciences and the remaining four years focusing on the correction and prevention of spinal and structural problems that affect the nervous system.
  
  
• A four-year DC degree course averages 4,485 hours, which is comparable with medical curriculums.
  
  
• A Chiropractor must pass difficult state and national boards to obtain licensing. Chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states.
  
  
• Chiropractic services are covered in most major health insurance programs, Medicare, Medicaid, as well as state and federal workmen's compensation programs.

Doctors of Chiropractic have been correcting vertebral subluxations in patients for over 100 years, resulting in the recovering and improvement of almost every known health problem. In 1999, 442.8 billion dollars was spent on diabetes research in the United States, none of which was spent on research related to Chiropractic. Given that recent findings in molecular and genetics research clearly shows that molecular signaling breakdown is a critical component of diabetes, Chiropractic must be explored and researched as a way of both preventing and improving Diabetes.

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system, and especially the spine and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body. "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning "creating an effect by the hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting bones, muscle tone, or joints related to an area of the body which is functioning improperly.

What Conditions Benefit from Chiropractic Care?

Although chiropractic is used most frequently to relieve back pain, studies have found it to be effective for a variety of conditions, such as migraine and other headaches, neck and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and infantile colic. Many neurological problems can also benefit from chiropractic care, including numbness, tingling, burning or aching pains, and nervous system problems from injury or disease (such as diabetic neuropathy).

Does Chiropractic Hurt?

Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment which lasts only seconds. This is most common at a first adjustment and often does not recur. If you are afraid of a painful adjustment, you should know that Dr. Wexler has many newborn patients, and is skilled at gentle adjusting.

Is Chiropractic Safe?

Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The possibility of injury from a skilled chiropractic doctor's treatment is less likely than the probability of being struck by lightning in one's lifetime! (Less than one chance in a million.)

Diabetics 4 Diabetics' recommended restaurant of the year! JB's Family Restaurants! If you are looking for value, healthy meals, quality service and a restaurant that cares about diabetics, it's JB's Family Restaurants without question. JB's staff has really impressed Diabetics 4 Diabetics by providing healthy meal options that provide diabetics with a delicious, high value alternative to other restaurants. With 23 locations to chose from there is always one close by you.

The data is in and the news is nothing short of alarming! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a statistic that's potentially far more frightening than the threat of AIDS in our nation. According to the Atlanta-based team of researchers, while Diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the US with more than 800,000 new cases each year, is rapidly become a household word. Increased risk of death is not the only reason. For when one factors in the increased risk of blindness, heart attacks, kidney failure and nerve involvement, only then can we appreciate the wide impact of a disease (Type II) that's potentially preventable.

Let's explore the fundamental differences between the two principle types of Diabetes. Type I Diabetics typically experience the disease in childhood due to the failure of specific pancreatic cells to produce insulin, a hormone needed to drive glucose into cells. Type II Diabetics (almost 16 million in our nation) tend to develop the disease later in life. They typically have sufficient or even elevated levels of insulin, yet their insulin receptors do not function adequately to meet their needs.

While genetic components certainly exist, the principle risk factors for Type II Diabetes are preventable. These include obesity and diminished physical activity.

Beginning with weight, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the World Health Organization (WHO) consider overweight as a BMI (Body Mass Index) from 25 to 29.9, and obesity as a BMI of 30 or more.   Read More . . .

Driving accidents and traffic violations are twice as common among people with type 1 diabetes as in people with type 2 diabetes or those without the disease, suggests a new study that explains why: One in three people with type 1 diabetes surveyed say they had experienced at least one hypoglycemic stupor in a two-year period.

Hypoglycemia results when blood sugar levels are abnormally low -- causing trembling, dizziness, confusion, belligerence, blurred vision, and sometimes unconsciousness. They can occur frequently in people with diabetes on insulin therapy, those attempting to achieve "tight" (near) normal glucose control with intensive insulin therapy, and in people with diabetes that have numerous complications from the disease. By comparison, episodes of hypoglycemia were reported by only 8% of people with type 2 diabetes.

Though hypoglycemia is generally more likely to occur in any person with diabetes who requires insulin, researchers found no difference in traffic mishaps between people with type 2 diabetes who use insulin and those who did not. In fact, patients with type 2 diabetes had a similar rate of accidents as people without diabetes -- and half their rate of traffic violations.   Read More . . .

A carb is not a carb is not a carb -- at least when it comes to diabetes and getting control of high blood sugar. A low-glycemic index diet may be the way to go, say researchers.

Even foods with the same carbohydrate content can trigger a wide difference in blood sugar levels -- as much as fivefold. It all depends, say some researchers, on the food's glycemic index, a number that indicates how much and how quickly blood sugar increases after consuming a carbohydrate-containing food.   Read More . . .

Curves Fitness Center: Linda Nickey

For our female patients in the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area we recommend Curves, 13215 North Verde River Drive, Suite 5, Fountain Hills, AZ. 85268, Phone: 480.837.8688. Ask for Linda Nickey or Kitch Bertram. Both are fully certified, will provide you with programs that are designed with whatever limitations you may have and assist you in reaching your goals. They are very good people and we enjoy a strong safe relationship with them as you will as well.





Chiropractic Care

Dr. Randy Leraaen, of the Accelerated Healing Clinic is the man we recommend for your Chiropractic needs, Orthonics and Manipulation under Anesthesia. We at Diabetics 4 Diabetics find ourselves recommending Dr. Randy, as he is known by his patients, more and more because this man takes care of our diabetics and honestly cares. You can call his office at 602.439.5559 to set up an appointment or visit his website at: http://www.dr-randy.com/.


Automotive Repair

Ok, here is the big one. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find someone to fix your darn car when it breaks down without getting ripped off. Believe in or not, I found a company that is honest! Accurate Diagnostic and Auto Repair, 2637 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ. 85032, Phone 602.393.0773 and ask for Jim or Nina Holt. I am telling you, from personal experience, they were the most wonderful people I have ever dealt with, bar none. They are small enough to make you feel important and big enough to handle any automotive concern. And mention that you are a diabetic and they will give you a nice discount to boot! accurateauto43@msn.com


Doctor of the Month

Need a good physician? How about our choice, Dr. James L. Gross? He cares. He's a nice person. He knows diabetics needs. He's our choice for all your health needs. You can reach him at 10250 North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, Arizona. Call and set up an appointment at 480.614.2242. You'll be very happy with this doctor, we guarantee it!




Our Other Favorite Physicians

	Dr. Joan Bailey Dr. Angelo Chirban Dr. Florin Gaidici Dr. Melissa Hulsing Dr. Janice G. Johnston Dr. Randy Leraaen Dr. Kristine Sarna	Dr. Daniel Bauer Dr. O Lourdes Concha Dr. Rebecca Goldman Dr. Richard Jacoby Dr. Silvia Kaufman Dr. Gary Reed Dr. Scott Steingard	Dr. Whitney R. Calkins Dr. Dena Cornelius Dr. Jeffery Haberern Dr. Gregory J. Johns Dr. Erol Le Blanc Dr. Heidi Rula

Centers, Groups and People Who Make A Difference in Diabetics Lives

	Jane Sepiol, FNP Arizona Medical Center Family Care Physicians ValueOptions Youth Treatment and     Evaluation Center John C. Lincoln Hospital Neighborhood Family Physicians Sherry McQueen, Mimosa Group Liberty Press Fitness West John Puccio, Pro Racquetball Player Arrowhead Health Tim Moe, Accu-Chek Lou and Pat Rovella, SDHS Lyle Flint, Ph.D., EB Communications	Pepper Ridge Medical Center United States Racquetball Association Steingard Medical Group Arizona Racquetball Association JB's Family Restaurants Darold & Karen Key, Key Sports Dennyne McPhee, West USA Reality Accurate Diagnostic & Auto Repair Linda Mojer, Racquetball Magazine JoAnn Freda, Pro Racquetball Player Curves, Fountain Hills Doug Rhoads, Attorney At Law Melissa Friesen, Accu-Chek Cynthia Walton, SDHS Ashley & Krystal Walton,     Student Volunteers