One of the most devastating things about diabetes is that in getting this one disease, it puts stress on your entire body. Simply by being diabetic, your body can be attacked by a multitude of other diseases, like kidney failure.

Diabetes is hard on anyone, but the elderly have an especially difficult time because of the maintenance required to keep the disease in check. Now, a new study suggests that elderly diabetics also have a “higher level of residual renal function when they start dialysis,” which means more are starting dialysis than ever before. In addition, they generally …read more

Here’s one thing that really bugs me about being diabetic: insurance companies that don’t cover testing supplies. That seems to go against common sense for me. Wouldn’t it be in the best interest of the insurance company to encourage diabetics to remain as healthy as possible? Wouldn’t they want to help diabetics avoid complications as much as they could?

Complications not only prevent diabetics from living a more normal life, they also cost money. I would think insurance companies would want to prevent that. Maybe the answer to that would be legislation.
In Ohio, for example, …read more

If you had a word to describe your feelings about diabetes, what would it be?
That’s the question that the folks behind the Diabetes Handprint initiative want to know. They are asking everyone to create a virtual handprint that has the word you’d like to use to help bring awareness to diabetes. In exchange for every virtual handprint made, they will give $5 to one of two diabetic charities.
I chose the word, “blessed.” That might seem like an odd word for someone who has had Type 1 Diabetes for 20 years, but I feel like getting the disease …read more

Looking for Diabetes Notes? You’ve found us! Diabetes Notes is part of Blisstree now. How do you like our new digs?
Don’t worry, I’ll still be providing diabetes news and updates here. And the “Putting a Face on Diabetes” interview series remains alive and well! (A little “health” humor there! Tee hee).
This is an exciting time for diabetics everywhere, as each day we know more about the disease and get closer to a cure.
Remember if you’re a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic who is interested in being interviewed, please send me an email at: …read more

As we slide into fall and the skies get darker earlier, sweatshirts are on at the bus stop and the leaves are turning beautiful colors, I can’t help but think… winter will be here soon.
When you really stop and think about it, aren’t you more active in the summer months than the winter months? I think I am with the pool, walks in the evenings and running with the kids all day long. So this little tidbit of information shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.
A five-year study found people treated in the summer were on average 8% more likely to …read more

Persons with heart disease need to worry with controlling their overall cholesterol levels and not just “bad” cholesterol levels.  So important that this is re-examined. High cholesterol and heart disease do not mix!
Researchers found that 37 percent of Americans with diseases that affect the heart and vascular system had reached recommended levels of LDL-C (bad cholesterol), but only 17 percent were at recommended levels for all lipids – LDL-C, HDL-C (“good” cholesterol) and triglycerides. In contrast, 85 percent of those without cardiovascular diseases were at recommended LDL-C levels, while 67 percent were at recommended levels for all lipids. 
What do we …read more

Here is some scary news for you… diabetics and high blood pressure. Doctors are not sure when to treat their patients even when posing and increased risk for advanced heart disease by being a diabetic.
But a new study finds that even when people with diabetes show up in their doctor’s office with a high blood pressure reading, there’s only a 50-50 chance that each of them will get some sort of attention for it. That might mean a change to their medications, or a plan to follow up a few weeks later to see if the reading is still high. …read more

Well, we are feeling better for the most part around my house. My middle daughter is still hurtin’ a little. Her “belly still hurrrrtttsss”. We are almost back to normal though, as normal as we can be, haha.
My bloodsugars are back on track as well. I was 101 last night and 94 and 98 today. I ate a vanilla low carb yogurt for breakfast and I was oh so bad at lunch. I was embarrassingly bad. I met my hubby for lunch. You see during all that sickness over the weekend, he was on a 6 day golf outing with …read more