12 Sep 2014

Davenport Area Volunteer Will Travel to Nation's Capital to Urge Federal Lawmakers to Make Cancer a Top Priority

By Rick Martin

Hundreds of Advocates Will Gather to Ask Congress to Support Policies that Combat Cancer

WHAT: Kristine Oswald of Davenport will join hundreds of cancer patients, survivors and caregivers on Capitol Hill next week to urge Congress to make cancer a national priority and help end a disease that still kills 1,600 people a day in this country.

Oswald, who lost her mother to cancer, will meet with her member of congress to discuss the need to support an increase in federal funding for cancer research and prevention. She will also ask that they support legislation that improves patients' quality of life and take action to close a Medicare loophole which often results in surprise costs for seniors when a polyp is found during a routine colonoscopy.

"Congress has a critical role to play in the fight to defeat a disease that kills an estimated 500,000 people in America every year. As someone who's living proof of the power of research, I'm asking Congress to demonstrate a commitment to that fight through these critical policies," said Oswald, ACS CAN.

WHEN: ACS CAN Leadership Summit and Lobby day will take place September 14-17 in Washington, D.C.

INTERVIEWS/GUESTS: Kristine Oswald, ACS CAN volunteer who lost her mother to cancer in 2008.

ISSUES: Increase funding for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and for prevention programs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Freezes and cuts in federal funding for NCI and the CDC in recent years have put continued progress in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer in jeopardy. In 2013, Iowa research institutions received $15,049,019 in funding from the NCI and the state's breast and cervical cancer early detection program received $2,474,019 from the CDC to support lifesavings cancer screenings for low-income women.

Co-sponsor legislation to improve the quality of life of cancer patients with better access to palliative care.  Sometimes the pain, stress and side effects of cancer treatment is made worse by the poor coordination among the doctors, nurses and specialists on a patient's treatment team. Patients can receive an extra layer of support, called palliative care, which improves patients' quality of life at any age and at any stage of illness. ACS CAN supports bipartisan legislation that would make palliative care more available to people who need it.

Co-sponsor the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screenings Act Half of all colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented each year if everyone over the age of 50 received screening. The biggest barriers to screening are co-pays and other patient costs. The new health care law waives co-pays for proven screenings for colorectal and other cancers, but Medicare patients can still get hit with a bill if a polyp is found during the procedure. ACS CAN supports legislation that ensures seniors receive those screenings without facing an unexpected bill.

The ACS CAN Lobby Day will culminate with an evening Lights of Hope ceremony in front of the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool featuring thousands of lights lit in honor of a cancer survivor or to memorialize a loved one who lost his or her fight with the disease.

ACS CAN is the non-profit, non-partisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, which is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.acscan.org

12 Sep 2014

Hy-Vee, Iowa Health Agencies Team Up to Promote Falls Prevention Awareness Month

By Tara Deering-Hansen

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 10, 2014) ? Hy-Vee, Inc., the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Governor's Advisory Council on Brain Injuries have partnered to help educate Iowa's elderly about ways they can prevent falls and injury during National Falls Prevention Awareness Month in September.

The seventh annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day will be observed on Sept. 23, the first day of fall. This year's theme, Strong Today, Falls Free® Tomorrow, seeks to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults. Nearly 500,000 people over the age of 65 live in Iowa.

Hy-Vee, IDPH and the Governor's Advisory Council on Brain Injuries hope to keep Iowa's older population strong and falls-free by providing education and resources through several avenues ? pharmacies, websites, social media and a Sept. 17 webinar ? during the awareness month.

In September, when senior citizens fulfill their prescriptions at a Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Iowa, they will see educational information in their prescription bags.

"Our pharmacy staff often witness and help treat the aftermath of a fall, but this initiative enables us to bring awareness to the role we can play in prevention," said Andy McCann, executive vice president and chief health officer of Hy-Vee. "We encourage our customers to review their prescription and non-prescription medications with us, as this is one of the main preventive measures our elderly can take."

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people 65 years of age and over, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Every 14 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury. And the chances of falling and of being seriously injured in a fall increase with age, the NCOA's website says.

"Older Iowans in our communities had 29,590 fall-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations in 2012. These fall-related injuries resulted in 429 fatalities and approximately $135 million in hospitalization charges," said Maggie Ferguson, IDPH brain injury and disability program manager. "We can change this by bringing greater attention to the many preventive measures that can be easily employed to keep our seniors safe."

Studies show that a combination of interventions can significantly reduce falls among older adults. Falls Prevention Awareness Month promotional materials will encourage Iowa's elderly adults to take the following steps:

  • Review all their prescription and non-prescription medicines with their doctor and pharmacist.
  • Talk to their health care provider about their risk of falling.
  • Have their vision checked at least once a year.
  • Talk to their family about their concerns.
  • Exercise to improve their strength and balance.
  • Make their home safer by removing things they can trip over.

"We thank the Iowa Department of Public Health and Hy-Vee for helping us to bring awareness to this issue. I have personally witnessed how injuries resulting from a fall can steal the quality of life from seniors and their families," said W. Dave Johnson, a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Brain Injuries.

On Sept. 17 at 11 a.m., the Iowa Falls Prevention Coalition will host a webinar titled "Aging, Fall Risk and Prevention Through Exercise." To register for the webinar, visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/760561400.

For more information about falls prevention, visit a local Hy-Vee Pharmacy; the IDPH Falls Prevention website at www.idph.state.ia.us/FallPrevention; or the NCOA website at www.ncoa.org/improve-health/falls-prevention.

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11 Sep 2014

Red Cross launches Blood Donor App

By Ben Corey
The American Red Cross is launching a first-of-its kind Blood Donor App today that puts the power to save lives in the palm of your hand. The new app makes it easier and faster for users to find a nearby blood drive, schedule blood donations, track their total donations, get rewards and invite friends and family to join them on a lifesaving team. It's free and available for download through the App StoreSM and Google PlayTM.

As the nation's single largest supplier of blood and blood products, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to bring this technology to blood and platelet donors. The attached news release details the new app and highlights its key features. By providing this information to your community, you can introduce them to a new way to help meet the constant need for blood.
11 Sep 2014

Dining Out With Diabetes

By Everyday Health
Going to a restaurant can be challenging for diabetics, but there are ways to eat wisely and still enjoy yourself.

Maintaining a healthy diabetes diet away from home requires planning ahead and making smart choices. It can be a challenge, but dining out doesn't have to be overwhelming. Many of the dietary rules people with type 2 diabetes need to follow ? limiting salt, sugar, and fat intake ? are beneficial for anyone.

The key to enjoying a meal at a restaurant is to have a plan going in, according to Dietlinde Wolter-Nitta, RD, CDE, of the Clinical Diabetes Center of Montefiore Hospital in New York City. That means knowing what's on the menu, what to avoid, and how to control the way food is prepared and served.

Here are some ideas to make your night out more fun and less work.

Tip 1: Do Your Homework

Wolter-Nitta suggests looking at the menu before trying a restaurant. "It's hard to make smart diet decisions when you're hungry," she said. "So if you decide beforehand, you can make yourself stick to it."

For people with diabetes, when they eat can be as important to maintaining their blood sugar level as what and how much they consume. It's a good idea to make a restaurant reservation whenever possible, and avoid peak times when the wait for a table is longer.

If you're concerned about slow service, speak to the waiter and ask if certain meals take longer to prepare than others.

Tip 2: Portion Control

One of the biggest challenges to eating sensibly is the temptation to finish everything on your plate. There are tricks you can use to control that urge.

"Decide to take a doggie bag home before you start eating," suggests Wolter-Nitta. "Put half of the food away before you dig in. With diabetes, you have to watch out for sugar, sodium, and fat, and this will cut those in half."

Another way to reduce portion size is to split a meal with a dinner companion. "Order an appetizer each and split an entrée," she said. "That's a great way to lower calories."

Tip 3: Know What to Eat and What to Avoid

The first thing you usually have to watch out for in a restaurant is the bread basket. "They put it out on the table and it's so hard to say no," said Wolter-Nitta. "You have to ask yourself whether you're at the restaurant to eat bread or your meal."

Sauces and salad dressings can be loaded with salt and fat. "Sauces such as butter sauces, béchamel, au gratin, and hollandaise should definitely be on the do-not-eat list," she said. If you must have salad dressing, try dipping your fork in it rather than pouring it on.

Certain cuisines are trickier than others. For instance, "Chinese restaurants add corn starch and sugar to most foods," she said. "Stick to white rice and vegetables and avoid the soy sauce."

When it comes to food preparation, ask if a dish can be baked, grilled, or broiled rather than fried. When you do eat fried food, remove the fat- and calorie-laden bread coating.

It's not just what you eat: Sugary drinks affect your weight and glucose levels, and they have been directly linked to type 2 diabetes.

Tip 4: Indulge ? a Little

"Eating dessert isn't forbidden," said Wolter-Nitta. "It's just a matter of doing it the right way." One suggestion: "Instead of going for the chocolate cake, go for a piece of fruit or something sugar-free."

A meal at a fast-food restaurant can easily exceed your daily recommended allowance for calories, fat, and salt. If you're going to treat yourself to a grab-and-go bite, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reminds you to check the nutritional information before ordering, avoid "super-sized" or "deluxe" meals, and ask for healthy substitutions when you can.

Whatever you're treating yourself to, moderation is key.

Here are some more suggestions from the ADA when ordering out: ·

Be Creative. Just because dishes are labeled "appetizers," "entrees," and "desserts" doesn't mean you can't mix things up. The ADA suggests a fruit cup as a starter, or a salad and appetizer as a main course. ·

Order Ahead. Call the restaurant and ask if your food can be prepared to meet your dietary needs. By giving the kitchen advance notice, they might be able to better accommodate you. ·

Think About What You Drink. If you're going to treat yourself to an alcoholic beverage, remember that mixers can pack a lot of calories and sugar.

Watching what you eat and drink all the time "takes a lot of discipline," as Wolter-Nitta points out. "But it pays dividends for your health."

11 Sep 2014

How to Support a Loved One Who's Fighting Cancer

By Rick Martin
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Woman Living
with Incurable Cancer Offers 4 Suggestions

Shy about asking, "What's the etiquette for supporting my loved one, friend or  colleague in their battle against cancer?" many people simply avoid the question altogether - and offer nothing.

"It's okay to wonder, and it's okay to ask. Be direct!" says Jane Schwartzberg, who has been battling stage 4 metastatic cancer for several years. She's the co-author with Marcy Tolkoff Levy of "Naked Jane Bares All," www.nakedjanebaresall.com, which shares her story with candor and humor.

Jane was a 31-year-old newlywed when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment and eventually was declared cancer free. She moved on with her life, giving birth to two children and launching a technology company. Then, when she was 42, the cancer returned. She's now 45.

"I'm a fighter, and the support I've received from my family and friends has given me  an immeasurable amount of strength, without which I don't know what I would do," Schwartzberg says.

What are some suggestions for providing support? She offers these:

•  Do it without any expectations or requirements for a response. "I'm often asked, 'What can I do to help?' " she says. "What I've suggested: Be in my life at my pace, let me take the lead; make your presence, availability and support known, but do it without any expectations or requirements for a response."

•  Embrace their big dream, even if it doesn't sound realistic. During a very low point, Schwartzberg was asked by a friend: If you could have anything, swinging for the fences, what would help you get out of this pit? Without skipping a beat, she answered, "I want to take [comedian] Larry David out to lunch." As impossible as it seemed, her friend encouraged her to write to the co-creator of "Seinfeld" -- and he accepted.

"As terrible as having terminal cancer is, there is that undeniable quality of embracing every moment, including asking your heroes out to lunch," Schwartzberg says. "Cancer brings out the boldness in people, which may entail a dream vacation to Hawaii. Don't be afraid to embrace their wishes."

•  Don't hesitate to say, "You look beautiful," when health has returned. After her chemotherapy treatments ended, Jane slowly started looking like her old self - healthy Jane, not cancer Jane. Part of reengaging with life is caring about the superficial things, at least to some extent. On the unforgettable day she met Larry David, the maître d had beforehand told her that she looked beautiful, to which Jane responded, "You have no idea how much I appreciate that."

•  Don't sugarcoat it. "If you want to really infuriate me, you'll tell me that this whole mess is beshert, Yiddish for 'meant to be' - that it's all part of a plan from a higher power," she says. "Maybe terminal cancer is part of some crazy plan, but I promise you that these are the last things I want to hear from anyone."

Don't sugarcoat or try to put a positive spin on what's going on - in fact, it's more of a comfort to Jane when others acknowledge that her situation stinks and that she is looking at a life that's far different from, and likely to be shorter than, anything she'd imagined.

About Jane Schwartzberg

Jane Schwartzberg, 45, is the co-author of the new book, "Naked Jane Bares All," www.nakedjanebaresall.com, the many-layered story - told with humor and candor -- of how she learned to embrace life when she was down for the count. Jane is a financial services executive and founder and former CEO of a start-up technology company.
"Naked Jane Bares All" was co-written by veteran writer Marcy Tolkoff Levy. Following a year of interviews and many late nights with Jane, her family and friends, Marcy formed the foundation of a colorful, poignant and even humorous collection of vignettes about how Jane continues to get back up when life throws her down.

11 Sep 2014

Chronic Pain & Painkillers: Why You Should Consider Alternatives

By Ginny Grimsley
Physician Offers 4 Natural Ways to End the Pain

Roughly 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain lasting more than six months, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine. Throughout the past decade, the use of painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin has soared by 300 percent. For many - 17,000 people per year, or 46 each day - the treatment is worse than the pain; those are the number of users who die from the medicine, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

For every person who dies from the use of painkillers, 30 more are admitted to emergency rooms due to complications.

"Those figures are appalling," says Dr. Frank King, a doctor of naturopathy, president of King Bio natural medicine company, and author of The Healing Revolution (www.kingbio.com).

"Death is just one of the many side effects of heavy-duty pharmaceuticals, and researchers unanimously agree that addiction to painkillers has risen drastically in recent years. People are so focused on pain that they miss the fact that it is a signal of deeper health problems. Don't shoot the messenger! Listen to the pain, and it will lead you to the root causes."

With decades of experience helping patients, Dr. King offers four natural suggestions for pain management.

•  Identify the root causes of pain. Pain is a signal of deeper problems, similar to the warning light on the dashboard of your car. You can mask the light with duct tape, which is what prescription drugs do with pain. You can cut the wires, which might symbolize a surgical approach. Or you can look for the root causes, which is what our more natural, holistic approach seeks to do. Address the problem, and the pain will subside.

•  Make good choices. Most chronic conditions are caused by bad lifestyle choices. Try walking more, eating and sleeping better, eliminating stress and bad habits from your life, and watch pain decrease and health increase. It's that simple. Moreover, surround yourself with a healing community of like-minded "healing buddies" who support your healthy choices.

•  Explore natural healing techniques, and if necessary, see a natural healing practitioner. You are your best doctor, on call 24/7. I developed many self-healing techniques that address the needs of every aspect of mind-body health. These techniques are free and easy to implement at home, on the job, and wherever you might be. You might also explore meditation, yoga and other approaches for filling the holes in your wholeness.

•  Look into homeopathy. Homeopathy predates modern medicine. Homeopathic medicines are safe and effective, with no known side effects or negative drug interactions. They target the root causes, not the superficial pain. I have personally seen homeopathy dramatically raise the quality of life and happiness for countless of my patients.

With the appalling death toll due to pharmaceutical pain medication, natural solutions like homeopathy are our safest, brightest hope for the future of pain management.

About Dr. Frank King

Dr. Frank King is a chiropractor, doctor of naturopathy, and founder and president of King Bio, an FDA-registered pharmaceutical manufacturing company dedicated to education, research, development, manufacture and distribution of safe and natural homeopathic medicines for people and pets. Dr. King is also the author of, The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Life, Naturally! (www.kingbio.com). A fourth-generation farmer, Dr. King raises yak, camel, boar, wisent and American bison sold under the Carolina Bison brand. He is a member of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States.

09 Sep 2014

THE POWER OF ADULT DAY SERVICES - THE FUTURE OF CARE

By Rick Martin

Jane's Place Adult Day Services Celebrates National Adult Day Care Week - September 14-20

Davenport, IA - September 8, 2014 - Every 60 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and one in three adults living with Alzheimer's will die from the disease.* These are staggering statistics that thousands of Quad City families face daily as they deal with the challenge of providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer's. Help is available with the Power of Adult Day Services at Jane's Place Adult Day Services Center in Davenport. The Quad City community is invited to learn more about the benefits of adult day services for individuals living with Alzheimer's and/or dementia at an open house Sunday, September 14 from 1-3 p.m. at Jane's Place Adult Day Center, 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806.

Jane's Place, the only adult day services center in Scott County, is located in the Center For Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI), and provides a low-cost alternative to nursing home placement with a secure, structured home-like environment that encourages fun interaction through social and therapeutic activities within a friendly group setting. "Alzheimer's is a devastating disease for the patients and their families," said Dr. Lynn B. Geick, Family Physician, John Deere Medical Group. "Jane's Place is a wonderful option to help the patient and the family deal with the transition as the disease progresses." Jane's Place works with participants who require assistance in daily living activities, such as personal hygiene, ambulation, and toileting.

Why The Need For Adult Day Services Week?

It is projected that more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. The need for adult day services has never been greater as more than 13% of Iowa adults age 65 and older currently have this diagnose.* Often family members and caregivers don't think about adult day services until they are overwhelmed and feel they have nowhere to turn.

On September 27, 1983 President Ronald Reagan highlighted the need for adult day service centers when he signed Proclamation 5107, recognizing the third week of September as National Adult Day Care Week.

In this proclamation President Reagan called upon "every American community to consider the value of adult day care centers and to give appropriate recognition to centers offering these important services." In 2004 former President Regan died from complications associated with Alzheimer's.

Today, Jane's Place is one of more than 3,500 adult day centers supporting the needs of families and caregivers who offer an alternative to nursing homes and assisted living.**

Jane's Place Adult Day Services Community Open House is from 1-3pm, on Sunday, September 14, at 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806. For more information about the services provided by Jane's Place call 563-386-7477 Ext. 236 or visit the CASI website, www.CASISeniors.org.

04 Sep 2014

Davenport, Iowa Supports a Strong Today - Falls Free® Tomorrow on Falls Prevention Awareness Day

By Rick Martin

Milestones Agency on Aging, St. Ambrose University, and the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) join forces for the Falls Prevention Awareness Day Workshop

Milestone Area Agency on Aging, the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI), and St. Ambrose University encourage seniors to attend the Fall Prevention Awareness Day Workshop on Tuesday, September 23, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806. The workshop will include helpful information and instruction on how to live a Fall Free lifestyle.

Sessions will include balance and mobility assessment, pharmacy screening (please bring a list of your current medications), vision and hearing assessment, blood pressure checks, fitness and exercise demonstrations and door prizes!

The event is free, but advance registration is required. Please call or stop at CASI (1035 W Kimberly Rd, Davenport, IA?563-386-7477) to reserve your spot today. Space is limited.

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those 65 years of age and over. Every 14 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury. The chances of falling and of being seriously injured in a fall increase with age.

This year's theme, Strong Today - Falls Free® Tomorrow, highlights the important roles professionals, older adults, caregivers, and family members play in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population.

"Falls are not a normal part of aging and the resulting injuries can steal quality life from seniors and their families," said Albert Terrillion, NCOA Senior Director, Clinical Community Partnerships. "This awareness day is an opportunity for older adults and their support communities to learn how to reduce falls risks so our seniors can stay independent for as long as possible."

Studies show that a combination of interventions can significantly reduce falls among older adults. Experts recommend: 

  • A physical activity regimen with balance, strength training, and flexibility components.
  • Consulting with a health professional about getting a fall risk assessment.
  • Having medications reviewed periodically.
  • Getting eyes checked annually.
  • Making sure the home environment is safe and supportive.
  • Having an annual hearing assessment.

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About the Falls Free® Initiative Led by the National Council on Aging, the Falls Free® Initiative includes more than 43 states and 70 national organizations, professional associations, and federal agencies working collaboratively to bring education, awareness, and evidence-based solutions to local communities. Falls Free® seeks to provide hundreds of thousands of older Americans with the resources and education needed to reduce their risk of injury. For more information, please visit: www.ncoa.org/FallsFreeInitiative. Use #FPAD14 to join the conversation on social media.

About NCOA The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for millions of older adults?especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged?and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities.

For more information, please visit: www.ncoa.org |www.facebook.com/NCOAging | www.twitter.com/NCOAging

02 Sep 2014

Carbohydrates in the Diabetes Diet

By Dennis Thompson Jr. and Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Carbs count in a diabetes diet because they directly affect blood glucose levels. If you're not producing enough insulin to regulate those levels, serious medical issues can develop.

When you have diabetes, following a careful diabetes diet is a key aspect of diabetes management, and controlling carbohydrate intake is an essential part.

Along with proteins and fats, carbohydrates are one of the three major components of food. Your body converts carbohydrates into glucose, which your cells burn for energy. Since glucose is transported to cells through your bloodstream, eating carbohydrates will cause your blood glucose level to increase.

Because carbohydrates directly affect your blood sugar level, eating too many carbs ? or the wrong sort of carbs ? can undo whatever other actions you're taking to keep your diabetes in check.

How Carbs Affect Different Diabetes Types

It's important to control your carbohydrate intake no matter which of the three major forms of diabetes you have:

  • Type 1 diabetes. If you have this type of diabetes, you cannot produce insulin, a hormone that helps cells use glucose. That means you must take insulin and other medication to regulate blood sugar. A healthy diabetes diet with controlled carbohydrate intake will make it easier to predict when you will need to administer insulin and how much to use.
  • Type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have developed a resistance to insulin, often due to obesity or poor diet. By maintaining steady blood sugar levels through carb counting, you may be able to reduce the amount of insulin or medication you need or avoid taking the drugs altogether.
  • Gestational diabetes. If you develop diabetes during pregnancy, you need to count carbs because unchecked blood sugar levels can damage the fetus as well as your own body.

Diabetes Management: Carbs and the Diabetes Diet

There are three main types of carbohydrates:

  • Sugars, often called simple carbohydrates, are converted quickly to glucose. Think of them as dry wood in a fire, burning fast and hot.
  • Starches, often called complex carbohydrates, are formed by long chains of sugars and take longer for your body to break down into glucose. Think of them as big logs that burn slowly in a fire.
  • Fiber is present in different amounts in all plant-based foods, especially in whole grains (starches). It's great for digestive health, but because it isn't digested the way the other two types of carbs are, fiber grams don't count in your carb totals.

People with diabetes need to count all the starch and sugar carbohydrates they take in every day as part of their diabetes management plan. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics eat around 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal, although you should consult with your diabetes care team to determine the right amount of carbohydrates to fit your needs and lifestyle.

Most of your carbohydrates should come in the form of starchy carbohydrates, which will convert into glucose more slowly and help your blood sugar remain steady. Healthy choices include whole grains, beans, and lentils, and starchy vegetables like peas, corn, and potatoes. Avoid refined starches like white flour or white rice, as they tend to burn as fast as sugars.

Some of your carbohydrates still can come in the form of sugars, particularly if they are natural sugars in healthy foods like low-fat dairy products, fruits, or vegetables. Just avoid added sugars such as table sugar and the high-fructose corn syrup and other types of sugars you'll find in sodas, sweets, and other processed foods.

To keep track of your carbohydrates, you need to read the nutrition facts label included on most packaged foods. Check out the serving size to figure out how much constitutes one serving, and then scan down to find the total amount of carbs contained in a serving. Usually, the label also will show how many of those carbs are sugars and how many are dietary fiber, which helps to slow the release of sugar. Always read the ingredient label closely because product names can be deceiving ? for instance, you may find a number of different forms of sugar in a processed food that isn't even a sweet.

You need to be a part-time detective to find out all the facts about carbs, but your undercover work will make it much easier to manage diabetes.

29 Aug 2014

World Alzheimers Month

By Ginny Grimsley

5 Brain-Health Tips from Bodybuilding Neurosurgeon
During World Alzheimer's Month, Take Steps
to Care for Your Most Vital Organ

As a fitness expert and neurosurgeon, Dr. Brett Osborn says he appreciates the growing public interest in general health and fitness. Now, he says, that attention needs to extend to arguably our most essential organ - the brain.

"There are several, multi-billion dollar industries out there dedicated to burning fat and building muscle; cognitive health, on the other hand, has been largely overlooked," says Osborn, author of "Get Serious, A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Optimal Health and Fitness," www.drbrettosborn.com.

"Of course, any good health expert is quick to remind readers that it's all connected. For example, what's good for the heart will be, directly or indirectly, good for the brain."

September's an appropriate time to talk brain health: its World Alzheimer's Month, and it's the beginning of football season. By now, we know that football players in the NFL, college and even high school suffer considerable head trauma, whether through big hits resulting in concussions or moderate, repeated blows, he says.

It's also soccer season in other parts of the world. Concern continues to mount about the neurological damage done to players from repeated headers, where the ball is hit by the head. The long-term effects, including depression and other mental-health problems, are similar to those suffered by American football players, he says.

"Sports can impart great habits to kids, including discipline, fellowship and an emphasis on strength and endurance," says Osborn, a bodybuilder and father. "As our children return to school and sports, health-care providers, coaches and parents need to make it a top priority to protect our student-athletes' brains."

Osborn offers five tips to help everyone maintain brain health:

•  Learn new skills. "Just as with other health concerns, brain health should be rooted in the prevention of disease," he says. Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease, the causes of which, and the cure, are unknown. However, it's widely thought that brain stimulation and activity can delay the onset of the disease. The acquisition of a new skill - whether it's learning to play an instrument or taking up waterskiing - exercises the brain "muscle."

•  Commit to actual exercise. Everyone knows that exercise helps protect the heart, but not everyone knows that physical activity is also good for the brain. The brain is not a muscle, but it can be worked as muscle is worked during exercise, which forges new neuron pathways.

"Let's face it, there is a component of learning in exercise," Osborn says. "You cannot master the squat overnight; the brain has to change. Neuronal connections, or 'synapses,' are formed through very complex biophysical mechanisms. That takes time."

•  Don't sweat stress. There is such a thing as good stress, including the acute bodily stress involved in strength training. Of course, there's the bad stress, such as psychological stress associated with work or interpersonal relationships, and environmental stress, derived from pesticide-laden food - toxins. As always, you have a choice. You don't have to accept mental stress in your life. Reconsider toxic relationships. Rethink how you handle pressure at work. Perhaps adopt a lunchtime exercise routine.

•  Fuel a better body and brain. "I don't believe in 'diets,' " Osborn says. "Fit individuals were around for eons before the term existed, and I associate the term with temporary and, often, self-destructive behaviors."

Again, it's all connected. A healthy balance of food and activity will inevitably be good for the entire body: the heart, skeleton, muscles, brain, etc. Proper nutrition is a natural mood enhancer, and good health will inevitably improve self-esteem.

•  Feed your head with smart drugs. Some pharmaceuticals may help enhance cerebral blood flow and increase concentration, including Hydergine, Deprenyl and Prozac, to name a few. Ask your doctor about these. There are also over-the-counter smart drugs to consider. Piracetam is one of the oldest and has been shown to have a variety of positive effects in patients with cognitive disorders like dementia and epilepsy. Vinpocetine has potent anti-inflammatory effects, and inflammation is a key component in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and others. You may also want to check out gingko biloba and pregnenolone.

About Dr. Brett Osborn

Brett Osborn is a New York University-trained, Board-Certified neurological surgeon with a secondary certification in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He holds a CSCS honorarium from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Dr. Osborn specializes in scientifically based nutrition and exercise as a means to achieve optimal health and preventing disease. He is the author "Get Serious, A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Optimal Health and Fitness," www.drbrettosborn.com.

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