Connie Crawley, MS, RD, LD
Public Service Associate & Extension Nutrition & Health Specialist,
Department of Food and Nutrition

Document Use:

The CDC is committed to working with all the groups interested in diabetes and those who suffer from it. Task groups from all the major groups affected by diabetes have been meeting to decide how to most effectively get the message out. A big part of the message will be how to prevent complications like heart disease through better blood glucose control.

Soon public service announcements will appear featuring a variety of minority groups affected by diabetes. Besides developing new educational materials, the NDEP will serve as a resource for disseminating information about successful education programs and materials currently available throughout the country. While the National Cholesterol Education Program developed all its own educational materials, the NDEP will try not to duplicate what has already been created. According to Faye Wong, MPH, RD, coordinator of NDEP, AThere is no reason to develop new education programs and materials when good ones are already out there and other people just need to know how to access them.

• Do the materials promoting this treatment appeal to your emotions by using the words, "miracle", "easy", "ancient", "natural", "secret", "wonder drug" or "magical"?
• Is the treatment's effectiveness only "proven" by claims from "satisfied" customers or research not published in reputable scientific journals?
• Does the promoter have a degree from an unaccredited university or college or is his degree in an area of study unrelated to the science behind the product or service?
• Is the product only available from the promoter by mail order with advance payment? Is it a secret remedy only this company or promoter can provide?
• Does the promoter claim the treatment is misunderstood by the medical community and government?
• Does the treatment claim to cure a disease or condition that medical science has not yet been able to cure?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, be careful. Do not use this treatment without more information. Your medical team is your best information source. They may be open to an alternative therapy if it does not interfere with traditional treatment. If they have not heard of a treatment or if there is no proof it will help you, don't waste your time and money. Definitely do not stop another proven medical treatment to use this unproven product or procedure. Diabetes management is too expensive to waste your money on unproven therapies that may not help you and could even do you harm.

This study and other studies confirm that children who watch less than two hours of TV per day and take part in vigorous physical activity at least three days a week are more lean. Black children and Hispanic children are more likely to watch more TV and be less active. Therefore they are more at risk for becoming overweight.

What does this mean? It means children should play outside if possible and participate in active sports and games. Dr. Stephen Anderson, pediatric endocrinologist at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta, recommends that children play outside after school and do homework in the evening. This is good advice for all children, whether they have diabetes or not.

Of course those who have diabetes will need to monitor blood glucose levels more when they are active. Hypoglycemia may occur as much as 12 to 24 hours after unusual exercise. This is even more reason for regular activity. If physical activity is routine, then the meal pattern and insulin doses can be adjusted to cover it consistently. This will lessen the risk for a low blood sugar reaction.

Physical activity is good for anyone. If you want your child to be more active, you need to be more active, too. Limit TV watching and computer games for the entire family. Plan family walks. Join a family-oriented health club. Encourage team and individual sports. Buy active toys like jump ropes and bikes. Find a community center or after-school program if outside play is unsafe. You will be surprised how a few small changes can have a big effect. If you make the effort, your entire family will be more fit and live longer, healthier lives.

There are several theories about what causes insulin resistance. We do know that obesity, inactivity and high blood glucose levels make it worse. Unfortunately there are no obvious symptoms of insulin resistance before diabetes appears. Besides making blood glucose levels higher, insulin resistance also increases risk for heart disease and stroke. When you are insulin resistant, you tend to have high blood triglyceride and low HDL-cholesterol (the kind that protects you from heart disease) levels. Your blood pressure may also be high. Again, eating fewer calories and exercising more will help lower your triglycerides, raise your HDL-cholesterol level and lower your blood pressure.

Some researchers think that a diet with a moderate fat restriction may be better for insulin resistance than a very low fat diet. This meal plan would have 30-35 percent of its calories from fat rather than less than 30 percent. But this diet would be low in saturated fat with more fat calories from vegetable oils and nuts instead of high fat meats and dairy foods. To develop this kind of meal plan, you will need the help of a dietitian. The new diabetes drugs Glucophage (metformin) and Resulin (troglitazone) also help control insulin resistance. However, they work best combined with weight loss and regular exercise.

Researchers are very interested in insulin resistance. If they find out definitely what causes it, we may have even better ways to control and prevent it.

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Place tortilla on cookie sheet. Bake approximately 3-5 minutes or until tortilla is beginning to crisp but is not brown.
2. Remove tortilla from oven. Switch oven to broil.
3. Sprinkle top of tortilla evenly with mushrooms and red pepper. Top with shredded cheese.
4. Return tortilla to oven. Broil about 12 inches from heat until cheese is melted and tortilla edges are slightly brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Slightly cool before eating.

1 Serving

Nutrition information:

Exchanges: 1 starch 3 lean meats

* Featured recipe this month

Note: Portions may need to be adjusted for your meal plan.