Category Archives: Diabetes

Tom Hanks, 63, has starred in the most iconic films of our times including Forrest Gump, The Green Mile and Cast Away. As a young boy Tom was extremely shy and unpopular with students and teachers. He told Rolling Stone magazine: I was horribly, painfully, terribly shy. Thankfully he found acting which became a solace for him, and his career went from strength to strength, winning numerous accolades and becoming a celebrity in his own right. As his career soared, his health began to deteriorate and he continuously ignored medical advise to chose a healthier lifestyle. This denial led to Tom being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Speaking to Radio Times Tom said: Im part of the lazy American generation that has blindly kept dancing through the party and now finds ourselves with a malady.

"I was heavy. Youve seen me in movies, you know what I looked like, he continued. I was a total idiot.

Tom lost 35 pounds for his performance in the film Philadelphia where he played lawyer battling with AIDS.

He then had to put on 50 pounds before film production of Cast Away, only to then have to lose 55 pounds on a gruelling diet.

READ MORE: Type 2 diabetes: Poorly managed blood sugar levels could cause this serious complications

These dramatic weight fluctuations affected his health greatly and he admitted in an interview that his diabetes diagnosis might have been caused partially because of his weight or his predisposal to being heavier.

Tom revealed his medical condition to David Letterman and said: I went to the doctor and he said, You know those high blood sugar numbers youve been dealing with since you were 36? Well, youve graduated. Youve got type 2 diabetes, young man.

The Obesity Action said on their website: During a fast, or losing and gaining weight, the body may rely on stored glucose in the liver known as glycogen which is used for energy.

"During this fast, the body may use amino acids or fatty acids to help with its metabolic processes.

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"If an adequate amount of insulin is not available, as is the situation in diabetes, then this glucose is unable to enter cells.

"Instead, the glucose remains in the bloodstream in a higher than usual concentration.

Tom told Radioe Times: I thought I could avoid it by removing the buns from my cheeseburgers.

"Well, it takes a little bit more than that. My doctor says if I can hit a target weight, I will not have type 2 diabetes anymore.

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Tom Hanks health: Actor says he was a total idiot after being diagnosed with condition - Express

Mara Hall

I dont know what it is exactly that makes Mara Hall so downright loveable. Really, I dont know. What I do know, is that after speaking with her, I am convinced this dynamic actress, music teacher, producer, new mother, and champion for spreading awareness for living well with diabetes is my new best friend.

Heres what I learned about my new bestie Mara Hall. Shes best known for her comedic roles and has a very hefty body of work which includes portraying Nurse Kathleen on Greys Anatomy and numerous guest-starring roles that include Scandal (ABC) and The Quad(BET), supporting role in A Question of Faith (Silver Lining Entertainment), to name a few.

Mara made her national TV debut on the hit show Dance Your Ass Off as one of the contestants on Oxygens reality dance/weight-loss competition series. In 2015, Mara launched her social media movement and lifestyle show, I Got Something To Say #IGSTS, that empowers audiences through laughter.

Mara is also passionate about health, fashion, and beauty and loves to connect with fellow beauty queens across the U.S. and globally. The Detroit native now calls Atlanta home because shes causing all kinds of trouble on the new drama Ambitions on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

If youve not found the new showyetyou are in for a treat. Ambitions is created by Jamey Giddens and produced by Will Packer and is a multigenerational family saga that explores love, power, and politics in Atlanta. It centers around lawyer Stephanie (Robin Givens), Carlisle, the wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster, and her rivalry with Amara Hughes (Essence Atkins), a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys Office who has just arrived in Atlanta with her husband, Titus. Stephanie and Amara used to be best friends who find themselves combatants in both their personal and professional lives. Stephanies ambitious husband, Evan Lancaster, dreams of being Georgias first African-American governor and will do anything to get there. Amaras husband, Titus, is the in-house counsel for a big pharmaceutical company fighting a class-action suit brought by Stephanies powerful family. Mara Hall plays Darcia Lancaster.

Here is what Mara Hall had to share about living her very best life and working for OWNs Ambitions and living with Type 2 diabetes.

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL: Mara Hall. Mara, Mara, Mara you are a piece of work on OWNs new show Ambitions a great villain, by the way in your own words, describe the show and your character, please.

MARA HALL: (laughing) Well, Ambitions is a nighttime soap opera that explores the lives of two families in Atlanta, Georgia. I play Darcia Lancaster, one of the Lancasters relatives who comes into town amidst a lot of chaos within the family

LAS: Yeassss, Darcia is perfect for Ambitions one of the reasons I love the show.

MH: Thank you. The show also explores so much of Atlantas social life thats filled with seduction, debauchery, treachery, and wonderful storylines.

LAS: Describe your character, Darcia.

MH: My character is strong sometimes nice, sometimes nasty. There will be sauciness, lust, lies, and sex.

LAS: Are you in the writers room?

MH: (laughing) No.

LAS: It sounds like you should be?

MH: From your lips to Gods ears.

LAS: Ok, lets speak it into the universe.

MH: Amen.

LAS: Mara Hall, stepping into the writers room of OWNs Ambitions to give her ideas on more sex, more lies, more intrigue and more drum roll please, more ambition.

MH: Youre funny.

LAS: I know. Ive heard great things from creatives working on OWNs shows. Tell me youre experience, please.

MH: You know, Ive had a very positive experience working with the network [OWN]. One thing, when I initially got the original role that I was for, I was seven months pregnant.

LAS: No?

MH: Yes. The OWN network, Lions Gate and Will Packer productions were very compassionate of me being a working mother, or soon to be working mother slash, actress, while I was pregnant. They were very, very supportive of me at the time.

LAS: Thats whats up. I love hearing this its unusual but refreshing. Sorry, keep going.

MH: They supported me the whole way through my delivering my daughter, they were an amazing team.

LAS: Mommie, shout out to your daughter. What is her name?

MH: (laughing) Marley Nicole Hall-Bryson and shes eleven months. She will be a year on January 5th.

LAS: Acting is a very competitive world. What keeps you motivated?

MH: Its the impact that I have on people when I am entertaining. I know that I have something special by the way people respond to me when; Im on stage, film, on camera. Its how I make them feel. If I didnt have that certain je ne sais quoi, I would have left acting a long time ago because my real passion is music.

LAS: Music?

MH: Im a certified music teacher and Ive taught elementary up to collegiate, instrumental-band, and that is my real passion.

LAS: Amazing.

LAS: Whats next for you in television and film?

MH: Well, I finished my first short film called Juicy Ladies which I produced and its inspired by my life.

LAS: Great title and what is Juicy Ladies about?

MH: Well, as I shared, its inspired by my life as a Type 2 Diabetic. It will air on Aspire TV in February 2020 and in collaboration with that I will also have a campaign to spread the good news on how to fight and live a healthy life with diabetes as an African-American woman and to promote positivity through the community through this short film [Juicy Ladies].

LAS: This is Gods work, Mara Hall.

MH: I was diagnosed with the disease almost 20 years ago. It impacts more than 25 million Americans and my brother passed away from Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), he went into a coma because he had diabetes and didnt know it. Thats when it got real for me.

LAS: As I said, Juicy Ladies is an important work. It was a pleasure speaking and laughing with you. Lets do this again, in February, to dig into this film and talk about living with Type 2 Diabetes! Sound good?

MH: It does. Happy Holidays.

LAS: And to you, Mara Hall. Happy 2020.

Twitter Mara Hall (@Mara_Hall) http://www.oprah.com/app/ambitions-cast.htm

Original post:
MARA HALL has Ambition and a message for those living with Type 2 Diabetes - Lasentinel

India is said to be the diabetic capital of the world. This is so despite the fact that we have access to gyms, good food and enough knowledge and awareness.

Diabetes is a dietary and a lifestyle disease the no. 1 cause of high uncontrolled chronic stress. Chronic stress not only affects ones immunity but also increases the level of stress hormone called cortisol in the body.

Increased cortisol leads to high blood sugar levels, in turn leading to elevated risk of type 2 diabetes. Insulin too does get affected with high cortisol levels / chronic stress, which has an impact on overall blood sugar levels leading to either hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

However, working with the mind, body and emotional health is a huge game changer in reversing the type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is also called a nutritional wasting disease as due to polyuria ( increased urination)one looses essential water soluble nutrients in urine like vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D3, magnesium, selenium and zinc. Although by drinkingenough water one can replace the loss to a certain extent but one cannot replenish the water soluble nutrients, thus making diabetes the no 1 cause of blindness, amputation, kidney failure and increasing the risk of both heart attack and stroke.

Increased stress, obesity and inactivity increase the risk of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes leads to insulin insensitivity. Insulin affects various tissues and cells in the body like fat cells which lead to inflammation which suppresses the immune system making ones body more vulnerable.

The best approach is to get to the root cause of diabetesand arrest it

1) By taking steps to reduce stress through meditation,yoga or doing asanas. Work ongetting sound sleep,forminimum 7 hours which should naturally repair and restore muscles, organs & tissues

2) Eating a healthy, well balanced, nutritious diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils.

3) Plant based diet has a positive impact on diabetes and reduces inflammation.

4) Foods with low-glycemic load have a better impact on lowering blood sugar levels than low-glycemic index.

5) Including super foods like organic apple cedar vinegar, fenugreek seeds, moringa, turmeric, garlic, aloe vera , curry leaves and cinnamon which help in diabetes.

6) Optimum water intake of minimum 2-3 litres in a day. One can make water alkaline by adding lime, cucumber or cinnamon. For better absorption of the nutrients, to improve blood circulation and for detoxification optimum water intake is a must.

7) Regular exercise and leading a physically active life increases release of serotonin and dopamine which reduces anxiety and depression.

8) Cut back on excess consumption of caffeine or alcohol, as it not only spikes up the cortisol level but also leads to other medical complications.

So in a nutshell, a healthy lifestyle with a balanced nutritious diet, avoiding processed foods, regular physical activity, optimum water intake, sound sleep and de- stressing ones body and mind is the key to prevent type 2 diabetes.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Diabetes vs Stress and lifestyle - Economic Times

What are the chronic complications of diabetes?

These diabetes complications are related to blood vessel diseases and are generally classified into small vessel disease, such as those involving the eyes, kidneys and nerves (microvascular disease), and large vessel disease involving the heart and blood vessels (macrovascular disease). Diabetes accelerates hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) of the larger blood vessels, leading to coronary heart disease (angina or heart attack), strokes, and pain in the lower extremities because of lack of blood supply (claudication).

The major eye complication of diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in patients who have had diabetes for at least five years. Diseased small blood vessels in the back of the eye cause the leakage of protein and blood in the retina. Disease in these blood vessels also causes the formation of small aneurysms (microaneurysms), and new but brittle blood vessels (neovascularization). Spontaneous bleeding from the new and brittle blood vessels can lead to retinal scarring and retinal detachment, thus impairing vision.

To treat diabetic retinopathy, a laser is used to destroy and prevent the recurrence of the development of these small aneurysms and brittle blood vessels. Approximately 50% of patients with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy after 10 years of diabetes, and 80% retinopathy after 15 years of the disease. Poor control of blood sugar and blood pressure further aggravates eye disease in diabetes.

Cataracts and glaucoma are also more common among diabetics. It is also important to note that since the lens of the eye lets water through, if blood sugar concentrations vary a lot, the lens of the eye will shrink and swell with fluid accordingly. As a result, blurry vision is very common in poorly controlled diabetes. Patients are usually discouraged from getting a new eyeglass prescription until their blood sugar is controlled. This allows for a more accurate assessment of what kind of glasses prescription is required.

Kidney damage from diabetes is called diabetic nephropathy. The onset of kidney disease and its progression is extremely variable. Initially, diseased small blood vessels in the kidneys cause the leakage of protein in the urine. Later on, the kidneys lose their ability to cleanse and filter blood. The accumulation of toxic waste products in the blood leads to the need for dialysis. Dialysis involves using a machine that serves the function of the kidney by filtering and cleaning the blood. In patients who do not want to undergo chronic dialysis, kidney transplantation can be considered.

The progression of nephropathy in patients can be significantly slowed by controlling high blood pressure, and by aggressively treating high blood sugar levels. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used in treating high blood pressure may also benefit kidney disease in patients with diabetes.

Nerve damage from diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy and is also caused by disease of small blood vessels. In essence, the blood flow to the nerves is limited, leaving the nerves without blood flow, and they get damaged or die as a result (a term known as ischemia). Symptoms of diabetic nerve damage include numbness, burning, and aching of the feet and lower extremities. When the nerve disease causes a complete loss of sensation in the feet, patients may not be aware of injuries to the feet, and fail to properly protect them. Shoes or other protection should be worn as much as possible. Seemingly minor skin injuries should be attended to promptly to avoid serious infections. Because of poor blood circulation, diabetic foot injuries may not heal. Sometimes, minor foot injuries can lead to serious infection, ulcers, and even gangrene, necessitating surgical amputation of toes, feet, and other infected parts.

Diabetic nerve damage can affect the nerves that are important for penile erection, causing erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence). Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by poor blood flow to the penis from diabetic blood vessel disease.

Diabetic neuropathy can also affect nerves to the stomach and intestines, causing nausea, weight loss, diarrhea, and other symptoms of gastroparesis (delayed emptying of food contents from the stomach into the intestines, due to ineffective contraction of the stomach muscles).

The pain of diabetic nerve damage may respond to traditional treatments with certain medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin), phenytoin (Dilantin), and carbamazepine (Tegretol) that are traditionally used in the treatment of seizure disorders. Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) and desipramine (Norpraminine) are medications that are traditionally used for depression. While many of these medications are not indicated specifically for the treatment of diabetes related nerve pain, they are used by physicians commonly.

The pain of diabetic nerve damage may also improve with better blood sugar control, though unfortunately blood glucose control and the course of neuropathy do not always go hand in hand. Newer medications for nerve pain include Pregabalin (Lyrica) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).

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9 Symptoms of Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes: Complications, Causes ...

For the first time, scientists have been able to observe people developing Type 2 diabetes and confirmed that fat over-spills from the liver into the pancreas, triggering the chronic condition.

The research, led by Professor Roy Taylor at Newcastle University, UK, is published in the academic journal, Cell Metabolism.

The study involved a group of people from Tyneside who previously had Type 2 diabetes but had lost weight and successfully reversed the condition as part of the DiRECT trial, which was funded by Diabetes UK and led by Professors Roy Taylor and Mike Lean (Glasgow University).

The majority remained non-diabetic for the rest of the two year study, however, a small group went on to re-gain the weight and re-developed Type 2 diabetes.

Professor Roy Taylor, from the Newcastle University Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, explained what the advanced scanning techniques and blood monitoring revealed.

He said: We saw that when a person accumulates too much fat, which should be stored under the skin, then it has to go elsewhere in the body. The amount that can be stored under the skin varies from person to person, indicating a personal fat threshold above which fat can cause mischief.

When fat cannot be safely stored under the skin, it is then stored inside the liver, and over-spills to the rest of the body including the pancreas. This clogs up the pancreas, switching off the genes which direct how insulin should effectively be produced, and this causes Type 2 diabetes.

This research by Professor Taylor confirms his Twin Cycle Hypothesis that Type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat actually within both the liver and pancreas, and especially that this process is reversible.

This latest paper builds on previous Newcastle studies supported by Diabetes UK showing exactly why Type 2 diabetes can be reversed back to normal glucose control. Those studies led to the large DiRECT trial which showed that Primary Care staff can achieve remission of Type 2 diabetes by using a low calorie diet with support to maintain the weight loss.

A quarter of participants achieved a staggering 15 kg or more weight loss, and of these, almost nine out of 10 people put their Type 2 diabetes into remission. After two years, more than one third of the group had been free of diabetes and off all diabetes medication for at least two years.

In 2020, this approach to management of short duration Type 2 diabetes is to be piloted in the NHS in up to 5,000 people across England, and a similar program is being rolled out in Scotland.

Professor Taylor adds: This means we can now see Type 2 diabetes as a simple condition where the individual has accumulated more fat than they can cope with.

Importantly this means that through diet and persistence, patients are able to lose the fat and potentially reverse their diabetes. The sooner this is done after diagnosis, the more likely it is that remission can be achieved.

The team are continuing work to establish what may affect an individuals personal threshold and are supporting the roll out of the NHS Initiatives in both England and Scotland. Life Without Diabetes The definitive guide to understanding and reversing your Type 2 diabetes by Professor Roy Taylor will be published by Short Books on 26th December 2019.

Reference: Hepatic Lipoprotein Export and Remission of Human Type 2 Diabetes after Weight Loss by Ahmad Al-Mrabeh, Sviatlana V. Zhyzhneuskaya, Carl Peters, Alison C. Barnes, Shaden Melhem, Aaron Jesuthasan, Benjamin Aribisala, Kieren G. Hollingsworth, Georg Lietz, John C. Mathers, Naveed Sattar, Michael E.J. Lean and Roy Taylor, 19 December 2019, Cell Metabolism.DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.11.018

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Scientists Observe Type 2 Diabetes Develop for the First Time Caused by Overspill of Fat - SciTechDaily

Source: WENN/Avalon / WENN

Angela Bassett is focused on raising awareness about diabetes and cardiovascular issues in the black community. TheBlack Panther actress is partnering with the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association for the Know Diabetes by Heartinitiative to help educate Americans about the risk of heart disease, strokes, heart attacks and diabetes.

Bassetts work with the two health organizations hits close to home. She lost her mother to heart complications from diabetes.

I wish my family had recognized the link earlier and thats why I want everyone living with Type 2 diabetes to know about the connection to heart disease and stroke and know that they can do something about it, she said in a press release according to Black Enterprise.

Diabetes and heart disease disproportionately affects people of color, so this initiative is much needed. According to research, African-Americans are 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes than whites. African-Americans are also 20 times more likely to develop heart disease as compared to whites.

Watch Bassetts ad below.

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Angela Bassett Raising Awareness About Diabetes And Heart Disease Through Know Your Heart Intiative - MadameNoire

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A strong recurring message of individualizing patient care is echoed throughout the American Diabetes Association's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes2020 (Standards of Care)published today. Based upon the latest scientific diabetes research and clinical trials, the Standards of Care includes new and updated recommendations and guidelines for caring for people with diabetes. The Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes2020 includes simplified figures and tables that more easily guide providers through treatment options and individualized recommendations for treatment of cardiovascular disease based on patients' pre-existing conditions. Special considerations for older adults with type 1 diabetes have also been added to address the treatment of this growing population, as well as revised recommendations and additional supporting evidence for use of rapidly changing diabetes technology.

The 2019 Update to Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes, 2018. A Consensus Report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)was also published and includes complimentary information on the treatment of type 2 diabetes based on important research findings from large cardiovascular outcomes trials published in 2019 and has been incorporated into the Standards of Care2020.

The Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes2020provides the latest in comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, strategies for the prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes, and therapeutic approaches that can reduce complications, mitigate cardiovascular and renal risk, and improve health outcomes. The Standards of Care is available online today, December 20, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. ET at https:///care.diabetesjournals.org and is published as a supplement to the January 2020 issue of Diabetes Care.

Some notable updates and additions to the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes2020include:

Cardiovascular disease in diabetes

Pharmacologic updates

Glycemic targets

Personalizing patient care

Updates to the Standards of Care are established and revised by the ADA's Professional Practice Committee(PPC). The committee is a multidisciplinary team of 16 leading U.S. experts in the field of diabetes care and includes physicians, diabetes educators, registered dietitians, and others whose experience includes adult and pediatric endocrinology, epidemiology, public health, cardiovascular risk management, microvascular complications, preconception and pregnancy care, weight management and diabetes prevention, and use of technology in diabetes management. Two designated representatives of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) reviewed and provided feedback on the "Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management" section, and this section received endorsement from ACC.

"The American Diabetes Association has developed and provided diabetes care standards, guidelines and related documents since 1989, and its clinical practice recommendations are integral resources for health care professionals,"said PPC chair Joshua J. Neumiller, PharmD, CDE, FASCP,Vice Chair and Allen I. White Distinguished Associate Professor of Pharmacotherapy at Washington State University. "As diabetes research and care methods continue to evolve, so do the recommendations and clinical guidelines set forth by the ADA. Through the Standards of Care, the Living Standards and other supplemental tools, the ADA and its Professional Practice Committee strive to ensure care providers, patients, researchers, health plans, and policymakersstay abreast of the most current, research driven components of diabetes care."

Theonline version of the Standards of Care, or theLiving Standardswill continue to be annotated in real-time with necessary updates if new evidence or regulatory changes merit immediate incorporation through the living Standards of Care process. The ADA also publishes the abridged Standards of Careyearly for primary care providers in its journal, Clinical Diabetes,and offers a convenient Standards of Careappas well as a Standards of Care pocket chart. Other Standards of Care resources, including a webcastwith continuing education credit and a full slide deck, can be found on DiabetesPro.

About Diabetes CareDiabetes Care,a monthly journal of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is the highest-ranked, peer-reviewed journal in the field of diabetes treatment and prevention. Dedicated to increasing knowledge, stimulating research and promoting better health care for people with diabetes, the journal publishes original articles on human studies in clinical care, education and nutrition; epidemiology, health services and psychosocial research; emerging treatments and technologies; and pathophysiology and complications. Diabetes Care also publishes the ADA's recommendations and statements, clinically relevant review articles, editorials and commentaries. Topics covered are of interest to clinically oriented physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, psychologists, diabetes educators and other health care professionals.

About the American Diabetes AssociationEvery day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. Nearly 115 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

Contact:Sabrena Pringle, 703-299-2014press@diabetes.org

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cardiovascular-disease-technology-and-personalized-care-highlighted-in-adas-2020-standards-of-medical-care-in-diabetes-300978471.html

SOURCE American Diabetes Association

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Cardiovascular Disease, Technology and Personalized Care Highlighted in ADA's 2020 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes - P&T Community

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Students in the San Diego Unified School District have a handful of programs designed to keep them active and help ward off childhood obesity.

In 2016, the district began it's Healthy Initiative. So far, they've created wellness committees in every school. They also put their IMPACT Program into 20% of the campuses, with plans to expand in the next few years.

"IMPACT stands for Increased Movement in Physical Activity during Class Time," explains SDUSD's Kate McDevitt. It gets the students 30 extra minutes each week outside, learning easy-to-replicate activities that they can take home.

"They still have time with their PE teacher, but now classroom teachers can engage their students in station based physical activity," says McDevitt. She says it helps with their focus throughout the day.

"You can see them light up and really engage in the classroom activities and the earning theyre doing when they have time to move," she says.

In addition to the IMPACT program, many schools have local gardens where kids learn about fresh fruits and vegetables. Cafeterias have replaced traditional, high calorie options with foods that are healthier. And some schools have changed the way they do celebrations.

"We have healthy celebrations," says Ocean Beach Elementary Principal Marco Drapeau. "We still celebrate birthdays and holidays. We still make a big deal out of them. But we dont hand out the sugary treats."

The need for a more health-based approach to school comes at a time when kids' risk of obesity is increasing. According to the CDC, one in five kids in the US is obese. And one in three kids born since 2000 will develop Type 2 Diabetes over the course of their lives.

Drapeau says schools are on the front lines in the fight.

"Were at a stage right now where were competing with this," Drapeau says, holding his hands as if he's holding a phone and watching tv. "We want the kids to understand theres some real viable options for them outside staring at a screen."

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SDUSD Programs aim to curb obesity and diabetes in students - 10News

News Release, Calvert County Public Information Office

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. In collaboration with the Calvert County Health Department, the Calvert County Office on Aging is offering a six-week workshop titled, Living Well with Diabetes. This class will help pre-diabetics and those with diabetes learn how to manage their condition.

The workshop will be offered at the Calvert Pines Senior Center located at 450 West Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick. Sessions will be held every Tuesday, Jan. 7 throughFeb. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The class and materials are free. Participants must register by calling 410-535-5400, ext. 459.The Calvert County Office on Aging provides a broad range of programs and services that enable senior citizens to maintain the best possible quality of life.

The Southern Maryland Chronicle is a local, small business entrusted to provide factual, unbiased reporting to the Southern Maryland Community.While we look to local businesses for advertising, we hope to keep that cost as low as possible in order to attract even the smallest of local businesses and help them get out to the public. We must also be able to pay employees(part-time and full-time), along with equipment, and website related things. We never want to make the Chronicle a pay-wall style news site.

To that end, we are looking to the community to offer donations. Whether its a one-time donation or you set up a reoccurring monthly donation. It is all appreciated. All donations at this time will be going to furthering the Chronicle through hiring individuals that have the same goals of providing fair, and unbiased news to the community. For now, donations will be going to a business PayPal account I have set-up for the Southern Maryland Chronicle, KDC Designs. All business transactions currently occur within this PayPal account. If you have any questions regarding this you can email me at davidhiggins@southernmarylandchronicle.com

Thank you for all of your support and I hope to continue bringing Southern Maryland the best news possible for a very long time. David M. Higgins II

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Calvert Office on Aging to Host Workshops to Help Seniors Live Well with Diabetes - The Southern Maryland Chronicle

Brown rice is a whole grain thats often considered a health food.

Unlike white rice, which only contains the starchy endosperm, brown rice retains the nutrient-rich germ and bran layers of the grain. The only part removed is the hard outer hull (1).

Yet, while its higher in several nutrients than white rice, brown rice remains rich in carbs. As a result, you may wonder whether its safe for people with diabetes.

This article tells you whether you can eat brown rice if you have diabetes.

Brown rice is a healthy addition to a balanced diet, even if you have diabetes.

Still, its important to monitor portion sizes and be aware of how this food affects blood sugar levels.

Brown rice has an impressive nutritional profile. Its a good source of fiber, antioxidants, and several vitamins and minerals (1, 2).

Specifically, this whole grain is high in flavonoids plant compounds with potent antioxidant effects. Eating flavonoid-rich foods is associated with a reduced risk of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimers disease (1, 3).

Growing evidence suggests that high fiber foods like brown rice are beneficial for digestive health and may reduce your risk of chronic disease. They may also boost fullness and aid weight loss (4, 5, 6).

One cup (202 grams) of cooked long grain brown rice provides (2):

As you can see, brown rice is an excellent source of magnesium. Just 1 cup (202 grams) provides nearly all your daily needs of this mineral, which aids bone development, muscle contractions, nerve functioning, wound healing, and even blood sugar regulation (2, 7, 8).

Furthermore, brown rice is a good source of riboflavin, iron, potassium, and folate.

Thanks to its high fiber content, brown rice has been shown to significantly reduce post-meal blood sugar levels in people with excess weight, as well as those with type 2 diabetes (9, 10, 11).

Overall blood sugar control is important for preventing or delaying the progression of diabetes (12).

In a study in 16 adults with type 2 diabetes, eating 2 servings of brown rice resulted in a significant reduction in post-meal blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (a marker of blood sugar control), compared with eating white rice (13).

Meanwhile, an 8-week study in 28 adults with type 2 diabetes found that those eating brown rice at least 10 times per week had significant improvements in blood sugar levels and endothelial function an important measurement of heart health (14).

Brown rice may also help improve blood sugar control by aiding weight loss (11).

In a 6-week study in 40 women with excess weight or obesity, eating 3/4 cup (150 grams) of brown rice per day resulted in significant reductions in weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI), compared with white rice (15).

Weight loss is important, as an observational study in 867 adults noted that those who lost 10% or more of their body weight within 5 years of receiving a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were twice as likely to achieve remission within that period (16).

In addition to its potential benefits for individuals with diabetes, brown rice may even reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the first place.

A study in 197,228 adults linked eating at least 2 servings of brown rice per week to a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, swapping just 1/4 cup (50 grams) of white rice with brown was associated with a 16% lower risk of this condition (17).

While the mechanism isnt entirely understood, its thought that the higher fiber content of brown rice is at least partially responsible for this protective effect (18, 19).

Additionally, brown rice is higher in magnesium, which has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (20, 21, 22).

Due to its fiber content, brown rice may improve blood sugar control, which is critical for people with diabetes. It may also lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes to begin with.

The glycemic index (GI) measures how much a food raises blood sugar levels and can be a useful tool for people with diabetes (23).

Foods with a high GI raise blood sugar levels more than those with a medium or low GI. As such, eating more foods in the low and medium categories may aid blood sugar control (24, 25, 26).

Boiled brown rice has a score of 68, categorizing it as a medium GI food.

To put this in perspective, examples of other foods based on their GI score include (27):

In comparison, white rices score of 73 makes it a high GI food. Unlike brown rice, its lower in fiber and thus gets digested more quickly resulting in a greater spike in blood sugar (17, 28).

People with diabetes are generally encouraged to limit their intake of high GI foods.

To help reduce the overall GI of your meal, its important to eat brown rice alongside low GI foods, protein sources, and healthy fats.

Brown rice has a medium GI score, making it more suitable than white rice which has a high score for people with diabetes.

Managing your total carb intake is an important part of controlling your blood sugar levels. As a result, you should be mindful of how much brown rice youre having at a meal.

As theres no recommendation for how many carbs you should eat, you should base your optimal intake on your blood sugar goals and your bodys response to carbs (29, 30).

For example, if your goal is 30 grams of carbs per meal, youd want to limit your brown rice intake to 1/2 cup (100 grams), which contains 26 carbs. The rest of your meal could then be made up of low carb options like chicken breast and roasted vegetables (2).

In addition to watching portion sizes, its important to remember that whole grains are just one part of a balanced diet. Try to incorporate other nutritious foods at each meal, including lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits, and low carb vegetables.

Eating a varied, balanced diet one thats high in whole foods and limited in processed, refined products not only provides more vitamins and minerals but also helps maintain stable blood sugar levels (31, 32).

In fact, a study in 229 adults with type 2 diabetes showed that those with higher diet quality had significantly better blood sugar control than those with poor diet quality (31, 33).

You may want to consult a healthcare professional to determine what a balanced diet looks like for you.

Maintaining a balanced diet thats high in whole foods and low in overly processed ones has been associated with improved blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

Brown rice is a pantry staple thats inexpensive and easy to cook.

After rinsing the rice under cold running water, simply place 1 cup (180 grams) of dry rice in a pot and cover with 2 cups (475 ml) of water. You can add a small amount of olive oil and salt if desired.

Bring it to a boil, cover, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 4555 minutes or until most of the water has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes with the lid on.

Before serving, use a fork to fluff the rice for better texture.

Brown rice is a versatile ingredient that can be used in grain bowls, curries, salads, stir-fries, soups, and veggie burgers. It can also be combined with eggs and vegetables for a hearty breakfast or used in a low sugar rice pudding.

Here are some diabetes-friendly recipes featuring this whole grain:

Brown rice is easy to cook and can be used in a variety of dishes, including stir-fries, grain bowls, and salads.

Brown rice is perfectly safe to eat in moderation if you have diabetes.

While its high in carbs, its fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals may improve blood sugar control, thereby helping manage diabetes.

However, you should still watch your portion sizes and pair brown rice with other healthy foods, such as lean proteins or healthy fats, to help keep your blood sugar levels in check.

With its nutty flavor and chewy texture, brown rice can be a nutritious addition to a well-rounded diet.

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Is Brown Rice Safe if You Have Diabetes? - Healthline