PopSugar

Veggie Flower Arrangement Is a Cool Centerpiece - and Snack

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:39 -0700

As a parting present to a friend, Sugar staffer (and OnSugar manager!) sabs creatively crafted a floral arrangement - made entirely out of fresh, edible vegetables! The result was a stunning centerpiece that, like a flower cake, would be a thoughtful (and edible!) gift for someone who avoids sugar.

I loved the idea so much that I had to ask sabs how she did it. Interested in making one yourself? Find out how when you read more

19-Pound Baby Sets Birth Weight Record . . . OUCH!

babysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:36:01 -0700

How would you like to give birth to a 1-year-old child? Sounds pretty painful, right? Frightening as it may be,
that's essentially what an Indonesian woman did when she delivered a 19.2-pound infant measuring 24.4 inches. These stats are more normal for a kid celebrating his first birthday, and doctors attribute the massive body weight to the mother's diabetic condition. Thankfully, the newborn is healthy and showing a strong appetite. It is a good reminder to all expectant ladies to follow through with the glucose test, and especially for diabetic mamas to monitor their diets closely as it can clearly affect their growing child.

What's the heaviest birth weight you've ever heard?

Diabetes Awareness Has a New Face: The Rock

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:55 -0700

As the new national ambassador for the Diabetes Aware campaign, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson says,

"Get outside. Play a game. Do something active together. We can make a difference in our own families through exercise, eating right, and teaching healthy behaviors to our children."

Past ambassadors include Halle Berry, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Dustin Hoffman, so hopefully The Rock can continue to raise awareness about reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by living a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes Aware helps educate folks on type 1 diabetes as well.

We should be seeing Diabetes Aware public service announcements starring The Rock soon, but until then, if you want to see the most recent PSA starring Kevin Kline and Jon Lovitz, then read more.

Say What? Bret Michaels Risks His Life For the Ladies

TresSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

"I will sometimes hold off on the insulin, which will jack my blood sugar level up to the low 200 range. It's like how a prizefighter will want to go into the ring with his blood sugar levels high. It gives you the stamina of a bull. So, yes, sometimes I will endanger my own life to pleasure a woman."

- Diabetic rocker Bret Michaels reveals that he is one unselfish lover.

Source

Diabetes and Asia

FitSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Diabetes doesn't recognize international boarders, it just plows on through. Although much has been made of the rampant rise of type 2 diabetes here in the US, it is a growing problem in Asia as well. A study in the Journal of American Medicine Association highlights how in Asia the age range of people affected by diabetes is significantly younger than the West.

In western countries the disease affects people between the ages of 60 to 79 years, but in Asia the age range is 20 to 59 years. Another striking contrast is that in Asia the population affected by the disease is less likely to be overweight than those in the West. Sedentary life seems to be the culprit on both sides of the globe. Also of note, Asian women are two- to three-times more likely to develop gestational diabetes as white women, which is significant since women who experienced gestational diabetes have a 60 percent increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes during their lifetime.

Based on analyzing hundreds of articles, data, and studies researchers concluded that the worldwide population living with diabetes could grow by a third by 2025. Unfortunately, low and middle income countries are worst hit and diabetes is an expensive disease to treat.

Source

Inedible Flower Cake Is Sugar Free and Delicious to the Eye

partysugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:15:19 -0700

My girlfriend Melissa's sister is diabetic and has to really watch her consumption of sweets. That's why Melissa decided it would be best not to serve cake at the 30th birthday brunch she was throwing her sister. However, no birthday is complete without some sort of candle and singing ceremony. This is where Melissa got creative: she created a cake entirely out of flowers! It's inedible, but beautiful to look at and incredibly thoughtful. Here's how she did it:

Start by purchasing a round cake-shaped floral foam at your nearest floral or craftshop. Soak with water.
Get a bouquet of colorful blossoming flowers. Cut them down to have a stem that is 2-3 inches long.
Insert the blooms into the foam. Get as artistic with the design as you like.
Insert birthday candles. Use longer candles to ensure that the flowers don't burn or get waxy.

Without the candles, the flower-shaped cake would make a great simple centerpiece to a wedding or shower. What do you think of this innovative idea?

Virus Can Trigger Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood

LilSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Would you vaccinate your child if it meant they could fend off a virus that triggered diabetes? A recent report said:

Although genetics is known to play a fairly substantial role in a person's risk of developing diabetes, environmental factors must also be involved and the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades.

The piece also talked about how an immunization might prevent this from happening.

Trials, Tribulations, and Rewards of Insulin Pump Therapy

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

Two months ago, a good friend of mine went on an insulin pump after living with type 1 diabetes for 20 years. Needless to say, it's a big transition. I asked her to share her experiences, and here she tells us woman to woman what to expect - from getting it on to fashion choices - when switching from daily injections to an insulin pump.

While I've resisted switching from syringes to an insulin pump for the past five years, the fact that my husband and I would like to have children finally convinced me to make the switch. Plus, as someone who was on intensive insulin therapy, I was giving myself five or more shots a day, and had the stomach bruises to prove it. Even though I have very good control of my disease, all of my doctors encouraged me to get on the pump before getting knocked up.

Overall, I am absolutely thrilled to be on the insulin pump . . . now. The first month of use was pretty rough. Low points included an accidental infusion set, which sent my bloodsugar level to 584 when it is normally 90 to 140, hooking my catheter on doorknobs (extremely painful), and a lot of issues with how the heck to wear this thing.

To see my top considerations about and reasons for going on an insulin pump, read more.

Be prepared to fight tooth and nail with your insurance company. This piece of equipment costs between $5,000 and $6,000, so if your insurance company covers part of the cost (mine covered 90 percent), you're going to have to be diligent about contacting them to keep things on track.
You will likely be miserable for the first month. The longer you are on syringes (like I was), the harder it will be for you to adjust to having something on your body constantly. Hang in there, though. You will get through it, and eventually you will absolutely love your new diabetic therapy.
This is absolutely essential for diabetic women. Women have to deal with more diabetic wonkiness due to hormonal cycles (my bloodsugars fluctuate a lot right before my period), so insulin pump therapy is perfect for us ladies. Also, this is a great way to ensure that you'll have a healthy pregnancy. Go on the pump before you get pregnant, if possible, because a month of adjustment time is a lot harder when you're a few weeks pregnant, on both you and your little one.
You can eliminate the "dawn effect." Since I was first diagnosed, I've had the "dawn effect," which means that my bloodsugar tends to go up in the middle of the night and correcting the insulin levels with syringes is very difficult. But I have virtually eliminated the dawn effect since going on the pump, as I can program different basal rates to counteract the creeping rise in bloodsugar.
You'll have to get creative with your wardrobe. I'm a big fan of dresses with pockets, and cutting a hole in one pocket and sewing the edges so they don't fray has allowed me to string my catheter tubing through the pocket, and keep my pump in my pocket. I've also sewn little pouches/pockets on the interiors of pocketless skirts and pants.
Not getting a pump for aesthetic reasons is just silly. I resisted going on the pump for years for aesthetic reasons: I was afraid that it would look weird with a swimsuit, or it would mark me as a diabetic to the rest of the world. The truth is, hardly anyone is going to notice it, even if it's clipped onto your belt. As for the swimsuit, I place the infusion set high on my abdomen, and it isn't noticeable at all under my one-piece halter suit.
Adjustable insulin rates mean you're going to be physically healthier. If you care at all about your long-term health, you need to consider going on the pump. It helps keep bloodsugar levels consistently lower, which lowers the chances of developing long-term complications such as retinopathy, which can lead to blindness, or neuropathy, which can lead to amputation.
This will not affect your sex life, except for the better. First things first: When you have sex, you detach your insulin pump, so the only thing you have to deal with is your infusion set. Initially, I was self-conscious about having the infusion set on my body, and my partner was afraid that he would pull it off when he touched my back or my stomach. We both got over this issue pretty darn quickly, and now, since my bloodsugars are under such amazing control, we don't have to worry about low bloodsugars or high bloodsugars affecting our sex life, which has only made things better between the sheets.
You're going to feel emotionally better on the pump. With tighter bloodsugar control, you'll be less likely to feel disoriented, woozy, or sleepy due to fluctuating sugar levels. This in turn has made my entire life better, including my moods, which used to dip and spike with my bloodsugars.
You may be more motivated to get active. While I've always been active, my pump has encouraged me to exercise even more. I love that I can dial down my basal rate (the tiny amount of insulin delivered hourly to maintain my bloodsugar level) to account for my increased activity level.

DrSugar Answers: Smelly Urine?

DrSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0800

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear DrSugar,
This is a little embarrassing and a little weird, but my pee doesn't smell like normal these days. It has smelled off for about a week. It smells bad and it doesn’t seem to matter what I eat. Trust me, I haven't eaten any asparagus in months. Maybe you know what causes this and am wondering if it is serious. I can't for the life of me figure it out! Any information would be helpful
-Distressed in the Loo

To see if DrSugar feels this is a symptom of something serious, read more

Smelly urine can be related to certain foods or medications, but it can also be a sign of certain diseases. The most common cause of foul smelling urine is a urinary tract infection (UTI). Sometimes the odorous urine precedes other common symptoms of a UTI such as: burning with urination, frequent urination, lower abdominal pain, and fevers. If the foul smell persists, a urinary tract infection can be easily diagnosed with a urinalysis test at your doctor’s office. A previous FitSugar post outlines some easy ways to prevent urinary tract infections, including drinking cranberry juice, wiping properly, and voiding your bladder after sex.

Other diseases can cause urine to smell abnormal. For example, sweet smelling urine can be a sign of diabetes. Other signs of diabetes include: increased frequency of urination, increased thirst, and fatigue. Severe dehydration and low carb diets are associated with an ammonia like scent in urine. Asparagus is by far the most common food-related cause of abnormal smelling urine, but you haven't been eating that so it cannot be the culprit. Other foods have been associated with abnormal urine odor, but nothing as consistent as asparagus. If the smell does not resolve soon, it would be a good idea to see your doctor for a urinalysis test, which can detect both diabetes and a urinary tract infection. Good luck.

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Top Five Ways to Prevent Diabetes

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

I just read that the rate of diabetes in the US has doubled in the last decade. If you thought diabetes was a disease that only older people needed to worry about, you should think again. About 90 percent of the new cases of diabetes are the type 2 variety, which is the form of diabetes linked to obesity. There are many ways you can cut your risk, by up to half, by being a little proactive. Here are some suggestions from Care2.

Get as close to your ideal weight as possible. Carrying extra pounds poses a huge risk when it comes to developing diabetes. More than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Include regular exercise in your schedule. Not only will exercising keep your weight down, but it also strengthens your immune system. Working out regularly, at least four hours a week, can significantly lower your risk for diabetes.
Watch those hot dogs and cheese. A diet high in saturated fat can raise the LDL (bad) levels of cholesterol in your body. This can lead to heart disease and also affect blood sugar levels for some people. So limit the animal products you consume.

To find out what else you can do, read more.

Don't overeat on a regular basis. Indulging in a few extra bites here and there is totally fine. The problem is when you consistently eat more calories each day than you burn, causing extra pounds to tack on. So be mindful of how many calories you're consuming.
Fiber, fiber, and more fiber. Not only does eating enough fiber keep your digestive system happy, but consistently eating enough has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels. Women should aim for 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day.

Source