Read the Labels- they've changed!

The health conscious people of this country have been calling for unhealthy products especially those in the category of junk food to be reduced for years so when I watched “The Consumer Show” on RTE 1 on May 10th I really didn’t get upset about how the manufacturers were not giving me the value for money that I was used to.

The show featured a segment on called “Shrinking Products” and highlighted the fact that food manufacturers were reducing the size of their products but not the price. Instead I’m thinking “OMG, how is this affecting my carbohydrate intake?”

I tend to just read the label one time especially if it’s one of those little fun size treats. I have a little notebook where make note of what the label says and how much carbohydrate is in my normal portion. This way I don’t have to do the “sums” every time I have it. I know I’m still a paper gal and don’t have an iphone or similar gadget.

Now I have to recheck all my figures. So far, I’ve come across the funsize snickers bar which has reduced in size from 20grams to 18grams. I know that this only amounts to a 1 gram different in the carbohydrate content per bar. But what are the changes to the regular size bars? I assume that they don’t tell you on the pack how much they have reduced that bar by.

I don’t mind that the manufacturers did this where junk food is concerned I just wish I’d known about it sooner and that I didn’t have to do all the “sums” again.

Diabetes – Be Type Specific! Type 1 or Type 2

Now that I’m a certain age (i.e. approaching @%), when I tell people I have diabetes they sometimes do a double take. Everything they hear about diabetes places emphasis on obesity and lack of physical activity as being two of the contributing factors for getting Type 2 Diabetes. In other words, Type 2 Diabetes happens to people who are fat and lazy and therefore deserve it.

I don’t believe this to be true because I know some Type 2’s who are healthy & slim individuals. But, the more and more I meet Type 2’s the more I do see the pattern (which makes me sad).

I know I should be shouting out that people who are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes need our help and support and encouragement to avoid it, not our judgement. But instead I’m trying to distance myself from this group.

I want to ask all people who discuss diabetes, who work in diabetes awareness and prevention, to be Type specific. Don’t just say “Diabetes”, say “Type 2 Diabetes”. It will be less confusing for all of us (including the few people out there who think that because they are put on insulin they have changed from being T2’s to T1’s).

Type 1 and Type 2 are very different illnesses and should be treated in that way, especially by people who work in health promotion. Treating Type 1 and Type 2 as two sides of the same coin is confusing to the general population.

P.S. I know there are many more types of diabetes than just T1 and T2 but for the purpose of this piece I’m focusing on these two.

Hypos! Bite me!

I couldn't find a Little Miss Grumble
So let's pretent I'm Mr. Grumble.

Hypos, short for hypoglycaemia, happen when your blood sugar levels drop below a certain number and your body and brain have difficulty functioning because of the lack of fuel (sugar). My symptoms usually start with a racing heart and the “shakes”. They are the bane of live for people with type 1 diabetes.


I have 18 years of experience in hypos and I have found that the ones that happen shortly after a meal, where I have overestimated how much insulin to take, are the most difficult ones to deal with. These are the ones that force you to stop in your tracks.


I had one of these hypos the other day. I was going about my afternoon chores; folding laundry. I know very mundane. I felt it coming on so I got up and had a little something. I went back to my laundry because it’s not very taxing physically and usually I can continue whatever I’m doing with my hypos. But on this occasion, there was no sign of my symptoms going away, so I decided to test and see what exactly I was dealing with. My blood sugar level was 3.1mmols; this was after a double treatment and my symptoms were getting worse; the sweating kicked in. When the sweats kicks in its time to stop what you’re doing and tackle.


I had injected insulin with my lunch less than two hours before, so the insulin was just peaking.


So I sat in the big comfy armchair surrounded by laundry with a cup of coffee and a little something-something (not the correct treatment for a hypo but did the job just the same;-) but thinking how much nicer this treat….ment would be if I could have finished the laundry first.

Children with Diabetes Deserve a Better Service.

Last year, I became a Diabetes Advocate with Diabetes Action. Huh!

OK, I’ll back track a little.

Diabetes Action is a group who is lobbying both the government and the HSE to improve health services for people with diabetes. They work by enlisting the support of people like me, who have diabetes, to log onto their website; www.diabetesaction.ie and with a few clicks send a prepared email to our local TD’s and Senators.

When the TD’s receive multiple copies of these letters they are prompted to raise the issue in the Dail. In the meantime, Diabetes Action sends letters to all of the national and regional newspapers in the hope that they will publish our stories and bring diabetes into the mind of the general population. As a local advocate I would contact the local media providing them with local statistics and fact relating to the campaign and encourage people to support the campaign locally.

The combination of the efforts of people with diabetes, Diabetes Action and the TD’s, strongly encourages the policy makers to implement the proposals put forward by Diabetes Action and improve the Diabetes Health service.

“If the correct policies are implemented, we can dramatically improve the health of people with diabetes and save hundreds of millions of Euros in funding over the next 10 years”

So now you know how it works let me tell you a little about the current campaign which targets the services for Children & Teens with Diabetes.

The following is the press statement from Diabetes Action 4th May 2011


Children & adolescents unable to access diabetes innovations.

Diabetes Action, an advocacy group for improved diabetes health services, says that hundreds of children and adolescents with diabetes can’t access advances in care such as insulin pumps because local paediatric diabetes teams in hospitals around Ireland are under resourced.

“New treatments that control blood sugar and insulin levels are available, but patients need to work with a specialist diabetes nurse and dietician to access this care and paediatric diabetes teams outside of Dublin rarely have the resources to offer these new treatments” she says.

This often leads families to seek a referral to one of the three Dublin hospitals offering intensive treatments like insulin pumps, requiring time off school, off work and causing a separation from the care provided by the local diabetes service team.

“Dublin hospitals are inundated with referrals of children and adolescents with diabetes from the rest of Ireland, our services are under constant pressure. There is need for national reorganisation to provide the latest treatments in more hospitals” says Dr. Colm Costigan, Clinical Director for the 3 Dublin paediatric hospitals and former chairperson of the Expert Advisory Group on diabetes.

To tackle this, Diabetes Action is seeking the reorganisation of existing paediatric diabetes services into 8 regional networks, with the Dublin network acting as a tertiary hub of excellence.

“Services would continue to be delivered at existing hospitals” according to Prof. Hoey “but we’re asking for each network outside Dublin to be staffed by just one additional diabetes nurse specialist and one dietician to support future access to new treatments for diabetes across Ireland”.

The cost of this reorganisation is €750,000 (for 7 nurses and 7 dieticians) but international studies have shown that improved control of diabetes in children and adolescents can lessen the development of costly complications in adulthood by as much as 76%.

“At present 50% of children and adolescents with diabetes develop some form of long term diabetes complication by the time they reach adulthood; these complications are extremely costly to manage. We can dramatically improve health outcomes and quality of life with a very modest investment and a reorganisation of services” says Prof. Hoey

How do you give your support?

Diabetes Action could not have made this simpler.

Log onto the website , follow the prompts that bring you to a prepared email with local information. Add your name, address and email to the document and click “preview” if you would like to add your own comments, and then click “send”.

If you want to do more you can spread the word to as many people who are affected by diabetes as possible encouraging them to support the campaign. This means Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Friends, etc.

These families with diabetes need your support!

Diabetic Chocolate; a personal pet peeve!

Mmmmmmmm!

This is a huge pet peeve of mine; well-meaning people who want to buy people with diabetes that stuff called “diabetic chocolate”. If you are one of these people, who have their heart in the right place please read on. If you know someone who buys you this stuff forward the link for this blog post.

The truth is that diabetic chocolate is not all that’s it’s cracked up to be!


Why do people go in search of diabetic chocolate?

Well, I assume it goes back to the days of yore when people with diabetes were told they should not, under any circumstances, have sugar, as in sweets and treats and such.

But since then, there has been a lot of research published about this type of refined sugar and its relationship with blood glucose control. The new guidelines for people with diabetes, especially people with Type 1 who have healthy BMI’s, is that a little of what you fancy is grand.

However, we are slow to catch on to this fact. Even those of us who have Type 1 Diabetes have trouble with this concept.


Why is it not all that it’s cracked up to be? (That’s my attempt at a word play on Easter eggs).

Fact number 1; it’s a laxative!

Most of the diabetic chocolate out there is sweetened using alcohol sugars. This sweetener has been known to cause abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. On the up side; it doesn’t cause a huge swing in your blood sugars. (I would much rather have the blood sugar swing and take a bit of insulin to deal with it-thank you very much).

Fact number 2; it does have less calories but not a lot less.

The difference in calories between diabetic chocolate and regular chocolate is so miniscule that you still have to be portion conscience when you are watching your fat intake.

Fact number 3; it’s usually more expensive than regular chocolate.

Can’t really say any more than that!


So that’s my opinion but what do the professionals say;

Diabetes UK states;

” Diabetic' chocolate is not recommended. It is expensive and unnecessary. Diabetic chocolate contains fructose, sorbitol or a similar sweetener which can have a laxative effect. Diabetic chocolate is also just as high in fat and calories as ordinary chocolate, and can still raise blood glucose levels.”


American Diabetes Association states;

“When you’re considering foods with low- or reduced-calorie sweeteners, always check the Nutrition Facts on the label. Many of the food products containing these types of sweeteners still have a significant amount of carbohydrate, calories and fat, so never consider them a “free food” without checking the label. By comparing the calories in the sugar-free version to the regular version, you’ll see whether you’re really getting fewer calories.


You’ll also want to compare the fat content of the labels. There is often more saturated and or trans-fat in sugar free baked products.


Sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect or other gastric symptoms in some people, especially in children. “

Diabetes Federation of Ireland states;

“The concept of ‘diabetic’ foods or a ‘diabetic’ diet has long since been replaced by guidelines on healthy food choices and individualized advice on eating habits for each person with diabetes. Like the rest of the population, people with diabetes are encouraged to eat a diet low in saturated fat, sugar and salt, with plenty of fruit and vegetables and meals based on starchy carbohydrate foods like bread and potatoes. There is no single food, which must be excluded from the diet of people with diabetes. Total avoidance of sugar is now considered unnecessary. Consequently, the idea of legitimizing so-called ‘diabetic’ foods has also been outmoded.”


Should anyone need further information on why you should rethink your plan to buy diabetic chocolate this Easter or anytime click on this link from BBC’s Watchdog.


My Conclusion

You should treat diabetic chocolate the same as regular chocolate and eat in moderation. But why would you even bother with the expensive stuff then!

Chocolate; please eat responsibly!

Where are the Irish Diabetes Role Models?

Nick Jonas

Halle Berry & Nick Jonas have been used as Diabetes Role Models some many times that I’m kinda tired of it. I don’t mind Nick Jonas so much because he’s doing his bit as a public figure for Diabetes Advocacy but as an almost 40 year old woman I can’t relate to him. As for Halle Berry, well, ever since that whole debacle about how she weaned herself off insulin while pregnant, her credibility is in the toilet.

  

Yes, there are many, many more celebrities with Type 1 diabetes but these are the two that are most commonly used.

  

Wouldn’t it be nice to have people with Type 1 Diabetes closer to home to aspire too? I just want someone famous who is Irish and who is the complete opposite of what the public perception is of diabetes. An image I can show people who give me their pitiful face when they discover I have Diabetes that it’s not a life of pain and misery.

Surely, amoung the 20,000 Irish people with Type 1 Diabetes there are a few celebrities who would speak up on our behalf?

 

Are they hiding? Why would they hide? Should I be hiding too?

 

This is what we do have and I suppose it will do for the time being.

American Spokespeople on Diabetes Awareness

• Nick Jonas, pop star
• Miss America 1999, Nicole Johnson
• Mary Tyler Moore, actress
• Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison
• Sharon Stone, actress

 

UK Spokespeople on Diabetes Awareness

• Steve Redgrave, Olympic rower
• Philip Schofield (mother & brother with Type 1)
• Lucy Davis from “The Office”

Irish Spokespeople on Diabetes Awareness who we appreciate but have Type 2

• Gerald Kean
• Karl Spain
• Ian Dempsey

 Irish Public Figures who have Type 1 Diabetes.  

• Mary Banotti, former MEP
• Pat Carey TD from Kerry
• Catherine Brady, world champion kickboxer
• Kenneth Sweeney, former senior county footballer; Sligo

I’m doing it for Diabetes!!! Volunteers needed.

I know - its fun run season and there’s a 10K organised in your area every single weekend from now until October. The sponsorship cards are being thrown at you from left, right and centre. And I know that I’m adding to that long list of charities that need & deserve your cash.


But I’m still asking and hoping that you will join me.


The Clare 10K takes place on Saturday, the 25th June in Lees Road Sports & Amenities Park. I am looking for volunteers to walk with me (or run ahead:-s) and raise money for the Clare branch of Diabetes Ireland.


Diabetes Ireland Clare branch tries to fund raise only a couple of times a year so as to not make lots of demands on your pocket.


Why does Diabetes need money?


• 440 Irish people will die every year because of Diabetes (from CSO 2006 census).

• 314 Irish legs will be amputated because of complications of Diabetes this year (from Diabetes Action podiatry campaign).

• Study after study shows that if people with diabetes are provided with structured education on how to manage their diabetes that it reduces their risks of developing the diabetes complications that lead to death.

• People with diabetes must deliver 95% of their own care, it is of paramount importance that they receive on-going, high-quality diabetes education that is tailored to their needs and delivered by skilled health professionals.

• People with diabetes need peer support because a life time is feels like an eternity to live with a chronic illness.


Where will your money go?

Diabetes Ireland Clare branch provides;

• Support groups for all people with diabetes so that the old and the newly diagnosed people with diabetes can lean on each other.

• Diabetes Information Event where a medical professional imparts their wisdom on how to make life better with diabetes.

• Support for Diabetes Ireland’s national programmes; Sweetpea kids Club, Teen Activity Day, Structured education courses for people with diabetes.

Or you can decide where you want your money to go by ticking one of these boxes on your sponsorship card;

- Diabetes Ireland Education & Support Services

- Type 1 Research

- Type 2 Research

- Sweetpea Kids Club

- National Teen Activity Day


What do we need from you?

We need people to volunteer to participate in the Clare 10K on Saturday, the 25th June 2011. All the race details are published on www.clare10k.com Sponsorship cards and t-shirts are available by contacting me on mobile 087 641 5747 or by emailing me at clarebranchdfi@gmail.com



If you are unable to volunteer you can sponsor someone who is. You can sponsor me through my fundraising page on http://www.mycharity.ie/event/grainne_flynns_clare10_2011/

Using your credit or laser card.


Every cent counts for us and we would hugely appreciate your support!