Letter from the Editor #492

Oct 26, 2009
1,422 views

I was having a conversation with a group of interns and residents last week and we were talking about diabetes and obesity. One of the older residents who has children made the case that because of safety issues our kids get driven everywhere. She pointed out that when she was young she walked everywhere and now she was afraid to let her 12 year old walk the 9 blocks to football practice. Another of my students felt that we were eating more than enough food and that was causing obesity. This caused me to send them on a research mission, and my FAMU intern found a newly released article with the following data. According to Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, people would have to do with 500 kcal/day less to reverse the mean body weights to that of 1973. They also indicated that there seems to be a decrease in physical activity equal to 110-150 min/d walking. Too bad we can’t just turn back the hands of time.

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There has been a lot of things going on behind the scenes when it comes to changes in diabetes care. Often the big news comes from ADA, EASD, or IDF, but this week the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has published a new, first-of-its-kind diabetes algorithm to help patients with Type 2 diabetes achieve glycemic control, and we are proud to be able to offer you a copy. This new algorithm takes into consideration different A1c levels, aggressive therapies, and cost and potential side effect issues. There are 2 great charts that outline treatment steps as well as effects and side effects that you will want to print out and post. To get your copy of this groundbreaking algorithm, click here.

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Recently Dr. Andrew S. Rhinehart shared one of his books with us. Many of you asked us about his other books. This week Carla Leto, University of Florida College of Pharmacy Doctoral Candidate, has reviewed another of his books for you, I Have Diabetes! Now What?

Announcements:

dLife: November 1, 7PM ET on CNBC

Author, businessman, and star of the hit reality show, “Little People, Big World,” Matt Roloff shares his dLife. Plus the answers to all of those embarrassing diabetes questions you were afraid to ask, and a mother who is trying hard to keep her young son from following in his grandfather’s footsteps. For more inspiring stories, watch dLifeTV: Sundays on CNBC at 7 PM ET, 6 PM CT, and 4 PM PT.

TCOYD: San Diego TCOYD Latino Conference, Nov. 7, and TCOYD in Albuquerque, Nov.21

CGM, weight management, carb counting, insulin use in Type 2s, advanced pumping techniques, motivation, foot screening, health insurance, tai chi, Type 3 issues, grocery store pitfalls and gems, empowerment, keeping your kidneys kicking, cooking demos, zumba dancing, laughter, integrative medicine, Type 1 research update, cutting edge treatments for neuropathy, sexual health and diabetes, the list goes on and on and on. Register today! www.tcoyd.org

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We can make a difference!

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Check out this week’s “Test Your Diabetes Knowledge“ question.

Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief