Investigate.Inform. Inspire
By Nadia Al-Samarrie If you are unfamiliar with the code language 420, it’s a sub-culture of people who observe and describe themselves as cannabis users on April 20th. Personally, I don’t smoke pot but I do know people with diabetes who claim there are many benefits to cannabis. One subscriber who is an investment banker and has terrible neuropathy has shared that he has tried
Read more
Dear Nadia, My fasting blood sugar is 120. After 30 minutes of playing hockey, it rises to 250. I am 52 years old. Should I continue playing hockey or not? Which exercise should I do to reduce my blood sugar level? Surinder Dear Surinder Only 39% of people with diabetes exercise. Congratulations on being part of the minority. Being active for 150 minutes a week
Read more
The headline sounded too good to be true. Scientists were reporting that the old-fashioned licorice stick contains a natural substance called amorfrutins that not only lowers blood sugar but also reduces inflammation. Great news, right? Not if you’re taking the heart medication Lanoxin, also known as digoxin. In that case, regularly snacking on even a modest amount of licorice could increase your risk for developing
Read more
By Janel Johnson In November 2005, with an A1c of 7.5%, I was told that I had type 2 diabetes. It shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to me because my mother has type 2 and her mother died from complications due to her uncontrolled diabetes. My being overweight just quickened my diagnosis as I often ate fast food, skipped meals, loaded up
Read more
Dear Nadia, Does the anti- rejection medication from a kidney transplant cause diabetes? Joyce T Tiburon CA Dear Joyce, Recipients of a kidney transplant are put on a maintenance anti-rejection drug therapy because the body’s immune system will identify the kidney as a foreign object and send out t cells in droves, to destroy it. The anti-rejection drugs prevent these t cells from attacking the
Read more
I went to Starbucks to get a coconut latte and to write my “AskNadia” column. I love the leather chairs that are usually situated right near the power outlet. There were two I could see from the ordering counter and one was taken. I ordered my drink and b lined it to the brown leather chair hoping no one would get there before I did. Once
Read more
Dear Diabetes Health, I am 62 years old. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1997, and I am doing OK on metformin. My last A1c was 7.2 %. About a year ago, they put me on medicine for my blood pressure (which was 142/90) and for cholesterol. I started having less interest in sex, which I had really liked before. About that time,
Read more
Dear Nadia, In the last three weeks, my blood sugars have risen to over 200. I take Metformin twice daily and watch my food intake, I have been a type 2 for 15 years, I don’t seem to be able to lose weight, and I am tired most of the time, what can I do.I am also 75 years old. Audrey D Dear Audrey: If
Read more
How did Phillip Brenneman lose 200 pounds and get off insulin, metformin and his cholesterol and blood pressure medications? The Garrett, Ind., man says he did it literally one step at a time. And in the beginning, even that was more than he could manage. Brenneman’s first attempts at exercise took place in his chair at home. Arm circles and leg lifts were all he
Read more
Dear Nadia, Is there a correlation between statin medications for cholesterol and diabetes? Lynn F Berkeley Ca Dear Lynn, Statins are important medications that reduce bad cholesterol that builds up in the arteries. They work by preventing the liver from producing LDL, the bad cholesterol. These medications also stabilize the lining of the blood vessels to prevent strokes and heart attacks. Statin Studies: In 2009,
Read more