Diabetics Should Prepare For Storms, Hurricanes, Heat

If the past two years have been an indication of how our weather is going to be in the future for those of us in
New England, we should do all that we can to be extra-prepared. The past two years we've experienced two hurricanes and a Nor'easter no one will likely forget any time soon. And how about that heat wave we experienced in July? We're still cooling down.

This means that everyone, especially diabetics, should be prepared for weather's worst. One of the reasons diabetics should take extra caution is because they can become dehydrated more easily than those who do not have the disease.
When a storm hits, it also makes it more difficult to obtain supplies, like water, insulin, food, and batteries, items necessary for diabetics, says medical supply specialist Marc Kaplan.
"Most diabetics know to bring extra diabetic supplies when they leave the house in the summer since they know they can easily become dehydrated and are even more susceptible to heat exhaustion when their sugar levels get low," said Kaplan, a representative of Save Rite Medical.
Many diabetic supplies can be affected by the weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold. This makes it difficult for diabetics to go out and get other supplies when these weather conditions are in play.
Most important for diabetics is for them to "have an emergency bag prepped and ready at all times," which should have "enough medicine and supplies for several days," says Kaplan. If diabetics are unsure what they should pack in their supply bags, they should consult with their pharmacist.
During heat waves diabetics are hospitalized more frequently, went to the emergency room more often, and had higher mortality rates than those who do not have the disease. In a survey, 1-in-5 respondents said they don't take precautions until the temperature rises above 100 degrees. Most didn't know what a heat index meant and how it affects them.
Besides their medical kit, someone with diabetes should always have snacks and bottled water on hand in case of a weather emergency.
Reference: UPI
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Pear and Cranberry Crisps

Serves: 6
Serving Size: 1/2 cup (1/3 of one skillet)
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Crumb Topping

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp. nonhydrogenated margarine (such as Promise or Canoleo)
1 Tbsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut into small bit
Pear and Cranberry Filling
4 small (about 5 oz. each) Bosc or D'Anjou pears, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. fresh lemon zest
2 Tbsp. slivered almonds
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat two 6 1/2 inch cast iron skillets with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Prepare the topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in the margarine and butter until coarse crumbs are formed. Set aside. You should have about 3/4 cup of topping.
3. For the pear and cranberry filling, mix together all the ingredients in a bowl. Divide the pear-cranberry mixture between the two cast iron skillets, using about 1 1/2 cups of the mixture per skillet. Top the mixture evenly between the two skillets.
4. Put the skillets directly onto the oven rack, and bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the top of each crisp with the slivered almonds. Raise the heat to 400 degrees. Continue to bake the crisps for 5 minutes, or until the topping is light brown and crisp. Remove the crisps from the oven. You can serve directly from the skillets if desired.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Eat More Fruit, Drink Less Fruit Juice

A new study published by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health reports that eating fruit, like
blueberries, grapes, and apples lowers your risk of developing diabetes, but drinking fruit juice increases it.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, was the first of its kind to look at the effects of individual whole fruits on diabetes.
"While fruits are recommended as a measure for diabetes prevention, previous studies have found mixed results for total fruit consumption," said lead author Qi Sun, an associate professor in the school's Department of Nutrition and at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "Our findings provide novel evidence suggesting that certain fruits may be especially beneficial for lowering diabetes risk."
This is the second study in recent months to show the importance of eating fruit. Researchers in a different study provided a connection between fruit and preventing deadly aneurysms that develop in the abdomen.
In this new study, researchers from the United States, Great Britain, and Singapore looked at data collected from about 187,000 participants in three long-term studies in the United States to see which fruits were associated with a risk of diabetes. Nurses and other health professionals were questioned over a period of 25 years about their diet, health, and other topics. In that group, 12,000 developed diabetes.
The researchers found that participants who ate at least two whole servings of fruit each week, especially blueberries, apples, and grapes, lowered their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 23 percent, compared to those who had less than one serving a month.
However, those who drank one or more servings of fruit juice each day increased their risk for diabetes by as much as 21 percent. Switching out three glasses of fruit juice for whole fruit each week reduced a person's risk by seven percent.
"Our data further endorse current recommendations on increasing whole fruits, but not fruit juice, as a measure for diabetes prevention," said Isao Muraki, another lead author in the study and a research fellow at the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. "And our novel findings may help us refine this recommendation to facilitate diabetes prevention."
Besides looking at fruit consumption overall, the researchers also looked at specific fruits, including grapes, raisins, peaches, plums, apricots, prunes, bananas, cantaloupe, apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, and blueberries. They examined apple, orange, and grapefruit juices.
The researchers theorized that components in fruit allow for the beneficial effects. Previous studies had linked anthocyanins found in berries and grapes to a lower risk of heart attack, but acknowledged that more research was needed to determine which components influenced diabetes.
Reference: WTSP News
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Exercises For Peripheral Neuropathy: Plantar Fascia Stretch

While facing a door frame, place your heel as close to the door frame as possible. Slowly lean forward, allowing your heel to slide back as your toes extend upward. To increase this stretch, bend the front knee toward the door frame. You will feel a stretch in the bottom of your foot and along your heel chord.
Hold: 15-20 seconds
Repeat: 3 repetitions each leg/2 times a day.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Vegetarian Chickpea Burgers

Makes: 4 servings
Serving Size: 1 burger
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

1 small onion, diced
3 Tbsp. minced celery
2 Tbsp. minced red bell pepper
2 Tbsp. minced parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Pinch ground cayenne pepper
2 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
Preparation
1. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add the celery, red pepper, parsley, and garlic, and saute for 2 minutes. Stir in the curry powder, salt, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne and remove from the heat.
2. Puree the chickpeas in a food processor or blender. Pulse until you have a coarse puree, adding a little water if necessary. In a mixing bowl, combine the chickpea puree, the vegetable mixture, and the panko bread crumbs and mix well.
3. Form the chickpea mixture into 4 patties. Heat the remaining oil in a heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat. Add the patties to the skillet and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Mushroom and Onion Taco

Makes: 6 servings
Serving Size: 1 taco
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
2 tsp. olive oil

1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
3 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed, caps wiped clean, and thinly sliced
6 (6-inch diameter) corn tortillas
2 tsp. hot or mild chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. water
1 cup finely shredded green cabbage
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1 Tbsp. finely chopped cilantro
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add the jalapeno pepper and saute for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and saute until they are soft.
2. Meanwhile, wrap the tortillas in a square of aluminum foil and fold the edges to seal. Heat the tortillas in the oven for about 5 minutes, until warmed through.
3. In a small prep bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, oregano, sugar, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Add the spice mixture to the onion-mushroom mixture and saute for 1 minute. Add the water and simmer on low heat for 1 minute.
4. To serve, fill each warm tortilla with some of the onion-mushroom mixture. Divide the shredded cabbage, sour cream, and cilantro among the tacos.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Diabetics Face Higher Disability Risk

A new review published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology finds that those with diabetes are 50 percent more likely to be disabled than those without the disease.
Disability in the review was defined as having trouble walking, using a telephone, managing finances, shopping, and even bathing, dressing, or eating.
"We found that diabetes increased the risk of disability by 50 percent to 80 percent compared to those without diabetes, and this result was consistent across all types of disability," said review lead author Anna Peeters, head of obesity and population health at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia.
"The result of this study are particularly important in the context of an aging population and increasing diabetes prevalence over time. In combination, this suggests a substantial increase in the burden of disability in the elderly in coming decades," Peeters added.
Peeters said that her research team was unsure the exact correlation between diabetes and disability. They did control for factors like obesity, sedentary lifestyle and they still found a link between the two. One possibility might be the inflammation associated with high blood sugar levels, or complications from diabetes, like heart disease, kidney problems, and limb amputations.
Studies in the past comparing diabetes and disability have had mixed results, with some showing no link, and other showing a doubling risk of disability. Peeters and her team looked at 26 studies that compared the risk of disability in people with and without diabetes. The types of diabetes were not broken down in this review.
The probability of someone with diabetes having a mobility problem, like walking, was 71 percent higher than someone without the disease. As well, trouble using the phone, shopping, or using transportation was 65 percent higher. The odds someone with diabetes would have problems eating, dressing, or bathing was an astonishing 82 percent higher.
Few studies have looked at how management of diabetes affects disability, so Peeters is unsure how well-managed and controlled diabetes affects disability. However, studies showing that poor control of blood sugar increases disability risk would corroborate their hypothesis.
"We know that good control of diabetes decreases the risk of known major complications and those complications are, in turn, associated with future disability. It is therefore highly likely that good diabetes control will decrease one's risk of disability," Peeters concluded.
Reference: US News Health
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.