FINAL EXAM

After reading We The Media by Dan Gillmor, I would assume he would be able to list off several ways in which personal publishing poses challenges for traditional media. However, I would say that the fact that anyone can be a journalist, the fact that insiders are a part of the conversation, and the fact that blogs are more accessible than traditional media would be at the top of his list.

According to the text, Grassroots media creates a situation in which “outsiders of all kinds can probe more deeply into newsmakers’ businesses and affairs.” The book also notes that the information that these outsiders obtain can be released more widely and more quickly than that of traditional media. There is no waiting around for your short time slot on the news, or waiting to see if your story published. With blogging, you are in control, and within seconds what you have to say is available to the world.

Another unique aspect of personal publishing is the fact that insiders are in on the conversation. I feel as if Dan Gillmor would say this is definitely a challenge, or threat if you will, to traditional media. Because of this, those who blog are not out searching for leads; instead, people who have first had experience or knowledge are basically handing information to them. This allows this medium, which has the potential to be very bias, to be very credible.

Lastly, I’m sure Gillmor would argue that blogging and personal publishing is more accessible than traditional media. You don’t need a subscription to obtain this news, and you don’t need to be sitting in front of the TV. With personal publishing, it is easy for readers to scan through blogs during the time that they check their email. Also, you don’t have to watch an entire newscast waiting for the story you want to hear, or scan through an entire newspaper. Blogging allows you to find the story you want, when you want it, and probably with more detail than traditional media would allow.

Grassroots media is changing the journalism world. I doubt that personal publishing will ever do away with traditional media, but it is certainly making an impact, and it will be interesting to see how society grows to embrace it.

TIPS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk to Amy’s doctor, Dr. Norghese, about what family members should watch for and what to do in case of a Type 1 diabetic emergency. According to her, for type 1 diabetes the most important thing to look out for is hypoglycemia, this occurs when blood sugar drops. Most diabetics will be able to tell you when their blood sugar is high or low even without testing their blood sugar. However, blood sugar can drop rapidly and when it does their bodies begin to feel the effects immediately. I have been with Amy several times when it has dropped and it is somewhat scary. She has never blacked out but there is a good possibility that she could and one time she became so weak her boyfriend had to prick her finger because she wasn’t even able to do it. Dr. Norghese says to watch for them to be shaky, sweaty, or just acting differently (unpredictable behavior). For type I, hypoglycemia can be treated with a glucagon shot which the diabetic should have with them. Make sure the family knows how to give the shot. Also, just in case anyone should run into this probably the needle for the glucagon shot is very strong and is able to penetrate jeans or other thick materials. She also gave some helpful advice about diabetes in general. “Family members shouldn’t treat diabetics as diseased, they should consider it able to be dealt with because it is controllable,” Norghese said. Be sure to talk to your family member to know what care has been advised specifically for them so that no one is clueless if an emergency occurs.

VACATION TIPS FOR DIABETICS

Spring is in full swing and summer is nipping its heels. Amy will be heading to Tuscany, Italy this summer to study abroad for three weeks. I’m sure many of you all are planning fabulous trips also, so with the season of warm weather and no school rapidly approaching I decided to write a blog on what to do when traveling as a diabetic. Have no fear, diabetes will not keep you from going certain places or limit the time you are gone, but it is necessary to take some precautions and plan ahead so that everything runs smoothly. You should always start by having an exam before you leave. This makes sure that you are okay and lets you know if you need to get your diabetes under control before leaving. According to www.diabetes.org, the American Diabetes Association website, “Before any trip, get two papers from your doctor: a letter and a prescription. The letter should explain what you need to do for your diabetes, such as take diabetes pills or insulin shots. It should list insulin, syringes, and any other medications or devices you use. The letter should also list any allergies you have or any foods or medications to which you are sensitive.” This is so that those that those that are with you or around you will know what to do in case of an emergency. The prescription is just in case you run out of insulin, syringes, or test strips. Another good idea, which I hadn’t thought of before looking around for tips, is to call the airline, if you are flying, at least two days in advance to let them know you will need a meal low in sugar and carbohydrates. Also, diabetics should always carry some food with them in case of emergencies. When packing make sure you have appropriate amounts of all your prescriptions, some snacks in case your blood sugar drops, and some sort of id letting people know you are diabetic. One other tip it is important to note has to do with feet. It’s tempting just to run around barefoot on vacation especially when going to the beach; however, diabetics should avoid going barefoot if at all possible and should always check their feet for cuts or blisters. For more information and tips visit the American Diabetes Association website, they have a lot more information that could be helpful to you and your family, including tips for traveling abroad. Have a wonderful summer and a safe and warm vacation!

REFLECTION

LOW CARB MARKET

YUMMY SUGAR FREE TREAT

I can remember the sweltering summer days at my grandma’s house as a child. The miserable heat never stopped us grandkids; we were like our own little gang. Hollie, Amy, Emily and I were the young ones, all so close in age. Katie and Marty were our “protectors”. Our favorite adventure to take on on days like this was the seemingly long, hot trek up busy Goldsmith Lane to get Hawaiian shaved ice from this little shack. It was the perfect remedy to the sun’s powerful rays. I’m sure this yummy treat, when made the way we used to enjoy it, would be sinful for diabetics. However, I had a revelation last night. I work at Baptist East Milestone Wellness Center, a premier fitness center in Louisville, Kentucky. Our café serves a variety of healthy foods. One of their most popular products is their line of Torani flavored syrups. I glanced at the nutrition facts thinking the most likely low calorie, low fat syrups would be great for me to use in a shaved ice treat when I start back up on weightwatchers. What I found surprised me. Not only were the syrups fat free and zero calories, but they were also carb free, sugar free, and sweetened with Splenda, which from my understanding is the most suitable sugar substitute for diabetics. Wouldn’t that be a great treat? Torani syrups can be purchased online at www.torani.com. The sugar free syrups are just one line from their whole collection and the website also offers several recipes, so check it out.

HELPFUL BOOK FOR DIABETICS

Amy's strict diet makes going out to to eat somewhat depressing. When nutritional information is not available, how is she suppossed to know what is okay for her to eat? The good news is that there is hope. Shannon left a comment last week recommending a book called the Calorie King Carb. It turns out Amy had bought this book at her doctor's office during her last visit and she has also found it to be very helpful. The official name of the book is The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter and is compiled by dietian and health educator, Allan Borushek. According to its official website www.calorieking.com, it "is a National Top 100 Best Seller and is the most recommended book of its type by health professionals". The book contains 11,000 listings of nutritional facts, and includes 200 fast food chains and restaurants. .The information provided by this book has made eating out a much less stressful, and more enjoyable experience for Amy. It is not only helpful for diabetics, but really for anybody who wants to be more aware of what they are eating whether they are eating out or at home. You can buy this book online at its website, or at local booksellers and several doctors offices. (photo provided by www.calorieking.com)

CINNAMON: BENEFICIAL TO DIABETICS

Since her diagnosis, Amy has been eating oatmeal pretty much every morning for breakfast with a little bit of Splenda. She never ate it before she was diagnosed, but to her surprise she thoroughly enjoys it. I myself have never found the “mush” to be all that appealing. I asked her if she ever sprinkles a little bit a cinnamon on it since I figured that sounded good. However, in all of the meetings she has had with her doctors they have never mentioned anything about cinnamon. I figured it would be okay, but she didn’t want to risk it since her blood sugar has been up and down lately. So I decided to look into it, and what I found surprised me. It turns out that a study conducted in 2003 found that 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon added to the diet of 60 people with Type 2 diabetes led to significant decreases in glucose levels after 40 days. Also, Agricultural Research Service scientists have found that cinnamon has made fat cells more responsive to insulin, thus controlling the level of glucose in the blood. Cinnamon is in no way a cure for diabetes or a substitute for insulin, but it is okay for diabetics to consume. Bottom-line: adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to oatmeal is allowed. (photo provided by yahoo images)

POSSIBLE CURE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES

Three independent studies generate the possibility of a cure for Type 1 diabetes. In 2001, Dr. Denise Faustman of Massachusetts General Hospital claimed that by using simple injections the immune system cells that are attacking the pancreas are over stimulated. This cause these white blood cells to self-destruct, stopping the attack and allowing the pancreas to heal on its own. The study showed 67 percent of the mice were cured. When this discovery was first presented to the public it was widely rejected. It has been a long time belief that there is no cure to diabetes. However, according to the New York Times more people are taking notice now that the study has been replicated in three independent studies with successful results. Researchers from the University of Chicago, Washington University, and Harvard’s Joslin Clinic conducted the studies, and the results were published Friday, March 24 in Science. All three cases were carried out in the same way Faustman carried out her study; by injecting mice with Freud’s Complete Adjuvant, a mixture of water, oil, and parts of dead bacteria. Though over all, not even half the mice were cured, all of the researchers said that a significant proportion were. The most notable aspect of the study is that even mice that have been diabetic for a long time can be cured. In the past, what has worked on mice has not always worked in people; however, this study holds out hope that one day there will be a cure.

Bo Bo's Voice

On March 13, 2006 21 year-old Amy Holzknecht was diagnosed with Type I Juvenile diabetes. 65 shots of insulin and 129 finger pricks later, Amy is still finding it difficult to cope with the disease.

“I know eventually it will all become second nature, but it’s still new. It’s so frustrating sometimes too. It’s hard for me to eat out because I’m not sure what it is okay to eat, also right now we are still experimenting with how much insulin to take so my blood sugar is just going up and down” said Holzknecht.

According to the American Diabetes Association, type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce insulin, which is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells of the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. This type of diabetes has no cure but can be controlled through diet, insulin, tablets or a combination of these three. A diabetic must count carbohydrates to ensure that they aren’t having more than their allotted amount and must also eat foods high in fiber.

“I am allowed to have 45 g of carbohydrates for breakfast, 75 g of carbohydrates for lunch and dinner, and 15-30 g for a snack” said Holzknecht.

Amy’s diet is even more limited than most diabetics. She has been a vegetarian for the past 10 years. Not being able to eat meat along with the new restrictions of being a diabetic have made it especially hard for her to find a good meal. Luckily though, her vegetarian lifestyle does not pose a health risk when paired with diabetes. In fact, research shows that vegetarianism can be very healthy for a diabetic because their diet consists of low fat, high carbohydrate, and high fiber foods. Although foods high in carbohydrates need to be limited, eating foods that are high in fiber allows diabetics to eat foods with more grams of carbs than they would normally be able to. Amy, who is a lover of sweets is finding it hard to pass up desserts that aren’t sugar free, but there is another thing she is missing.

“Since I just turned 21 [in January] being able to go to bars is still exciting for me. It’s been hard seeing all of my friends and roommates being able to go out and have a drink, when I really can’t because beer is high in carbs and mixes are high in sugar. I can have a light beer every now in then” said Holzknecht, “I really wanted a green beer on St. Patrick’s day” she added with a smile.

As Amy’s sister I have seen how much she has been affected by the diagnosis in just a couple of weeks. It has been very hard for her to cope. This disease runs in our family, and so as a way to support Amy, our family members, and others affected by this disease I have started this blog. I will be making weekly postings about diabetes. Topics will range from tips for diabetics, to what is being done to find a cure. For more information on diabetes you can visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org, and check out this blog, thediabetesblog.