Posted on October 12, 2011 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Don't Skip Halloween Because of Diabetes

 

Just because little Jimmy or Judy has Diabetes, doesn't mean that they have to skip Halloween.“They can enjoy Halloween and enjoy some of the sweets the holiday offers — within reason,” says Kenneth McCormick, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist and senior scientist in the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center. “We give parents and kids three options and let them decide how they want to handle Halloween and the sweets that come with it.”

Tip 1: Count Carbs- By counting carbs, kids can enjoy some of the treats Halloween has to offer. Moderation, though is key.  The child should be monitored as to how many carbs they are eating and should take one unit of insulin for every 15 or 20 grams of carbohydrates. “This is an easy option for kids on an insulin pump because they can just dial in an extra dose of insulin to compensate for what they are about to eat. But for kids that take shots, this could prove to be more difficult or inconvenient if they have to go to the school nurse for an extra dose,” McCormick says.

Tip 2: Exchange candy- “Parents can trade gifts, money, or low carb snack for their child's candy. Parents also can provide a substitute snack for their child if a Halloween party at school is an issue,” McCormick says. “We have been advising parents to do this for many, many years, and it is a solution that continues to work.”

Tip 3: Save for dessert- McCormick says kids can savor their Halloween treats without an extra shot or dose of insulin by having them for dessert after dinner. “By incorporating a sugary treat into meal time, when a child would normally get a dose of insulin, it eliminates the need for adding doses to their regimen.”

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Posted on March 17, 2011 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Dangerous Complications for Children with Diabetes

 

A new study  purports that children with Diabetes generally have poorer eating habits than other children, leading to, what could be,  very serious complications in their future.

 Minority male adolescents 15 and above are those with the highest risk. Influential factors include a low level of parental education, low-to-middle family income,  and low parental involvement in Diabetes management. A sedentary lifestyle is also a factor. These young adults tend to have numerous cardiovascular disease risk factors. Ninety percent of children with Type 2 Diabetes have metabolic syndrome — a group of conditions that  increases the risk for coronary artery disease and stroke.

Dr. Beth Mayer-Davis, a leader in the field of childhood Diabetes, spoke about the study, part of the UNC Nutrition Research Institute’s Appetite for Life Seminar Series. She said that "Diet in children with Diabetes is, then, of utmost importance. Children with Diabetes need to be able to match insulin to food intake, eat foods high in fiber, consume whole grain breads and cereals, get enough fresh fruits and vegetables and increase physical activity."

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Posted on March 18, 2009 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Focus Express Mail Pharmacy CEO to receive Community Service Award

Focus Express Mail Pharmacy CEO Joel Shpigel will be formally acknowledged by the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Montgomery County Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission for his 'tireless work in the area of community service, community involvement, and civil rights" at the annual YAFFE-SMITH CIVIL RIGHTS AWARD LUNCHEON which is scheduled to take place on May 12, 2009.

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Posted on January 27, 2009 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Intensive Insulin Therapy Reduces Mortality in Seriously Ill Children

 

A new European study suggests that intensive insulin therapy may reduce the risk of death, infection and the length of intensive care stays for seriously ill children,

Abnormally high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) often occurs in critically ill infants and children, and increases their risk of secondary infections and death.

"Targeting of blood glucose concentrations to age-adjusted normal fasting concentrations improved short-term outcome of patients in pediatric intensive care units. The effect on long-term survival, morbidity, and neurocognitive development needs to be investigated,"Dr. Greet Van den Berghe, of University Hospital Gasthuisberg and Catholic University Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues wrote in a journal news release.

 

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Posted on November 19, 2008 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Focus Express Mail Pharmacy Donates $25,000 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to Sponsor Four Fundraising Walks.

 

 Focus Express Mail Pharmacy donated $25,000 and was a major sponsor at four walks benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) of Philadelphia and South Jersey in the Fall of 2008. These “Walks for the Cure” took place in Parvin State Park, Salem County, NJ on 10/5/08, Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, NJ on 10/19/08, and the Philadelphia Art Museum in Philadelphia, Pa. and the Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pa., both on 10/26/08. These annual events attract thousands of people to raise monies to support research efforts in finding a cure for diabetes and its complications. “It is an honor for all of us at Focus Pharmacy to provide our continued support to the diabetes community to raise awareness for juvenile diabetes and research," said Joel Shpigel, R.Ph./CEO.

 

 Left to Right) Focus Express Mail Pharmacy’s Joel Shpigel, R.Ph., CEO / Co-Founder, Robin Berger Special Events Manager South Jersey Chapter JDRF, Stephen T. Blocher Executive Director South Jersey Chapter JDRF, Ellen Rubesin Executive Director Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter JDRF, Nick Braccia, President / Co-Founder of Focus Express Mail Pharmacy and Rae London, Vice President of Customer Relations of Focus Express Mail Pharmacy.


 

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Posted on October 29, 2008 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Peds for Prevention Fights Diabetes and Obesity in Children

Public school districts in NJ, NY or PA are invited to apply to have their elementary schools participate in a month-long national diabetes education program, called Peds for Prevention™.

One selected school district will receive health education grants totaling $5,000, free pedometers for all elementary school students, weekly health education announcements and take-home tips as well as a customized interactive Web site – a total value of $30,000.

The program is designed to encourage healthy exercise and good eating habits among elementary school children and their families to avoid the risks of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Peds for Prevention™ is provided by Focus Express Mail Pharmacy, one of the nation’s leading Internet mail-order pharmacies that specializes in diabetes.

To apply, go to www.FocusPharmacy.com and click on the Peds for Prevention icon. Deadline for applications is December 17th, 2008.

 

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Posted on May 28, 2008 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Sleep Deprivation is a New Risk Factor for Diabetes

During a CBS 60 Minutes® report entitled The Science of Sleep, research endocrinologist Dr. Eve Van Cauter of the University of Chicago Medical Center said, "Sleep deprivation is a new risk factor for diabetes. We have an epidemic of diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is now occurring in children and in adolescents.

And you know, adolescents and children are sleep deprived. High schoolers are among the most sleep-deprived individuals in our society, because they have enormous sleep need - nine to ten hours. Yet they sleep less than seven hours per night."
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Posted on May 22, 2008 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Children Getting Diabetes Complications Earlier

A study published last year in the medical journal called The Lancet confirmed that children with type 2 diabetes are developing further health problems at early ages.  According to the study, many kids already have some of the hallmark side effects of diabetes such as high blood pressure, kidney problems, or early eye damage when they are first diagnosed with the diabetes.
Dr,Julie K. Silver, M.D., Harvard Medical School has some great advice on what a parent can do.
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Posted on December 19, 2007 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Diabetes Rates Are Increasing Among Youth

According to the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes is on the rise as more and more kids become obese. For more, click here...
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Posted on November 20, 2007 by Joel Shpigel R.Ph.

Children at Risk for Type 1 Diabetes may be helped by Omega-3 Fatty Acids

As seen in CHILD HEALTH NEWS on September 26th, 2007, researchers in the United States have discovered that children at risk of developing type 1 diabetes may be able to lessen that risk by consuming omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

The researchers from the Universities of Colorado and Florida, and Roche Molecular Systems, conducted a study involving 1,770 children considered to be at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

The children took part in the study from the age of two and were followed for an average of 6.2 years.

The children were considered to be at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes if they had a HLA (human leukocyte antigen) genotype or had a family member suffering from the condition.

Their mothers were asked to complete a food item frequency questionnaire (FFQ) each year of the study period which covered 111 different foods.

After factors such as family history of type 1 diabetes, caloric intake, and total omega-6 fatty acid intake were allowed for, the researchers found that an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a 55 percent reduction in the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Lead author Jill Norris says the study results suggest that a higher consumption of total omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of islet autoimmunity (IA) in children at increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes.

Experts believe type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that results in the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas; although the disease mainly affects children, the exact cause remains unclear.

Type 1 diabetes is treatable there is no cure; it is thought to be influenced by both environmental and genetic factors.

Mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon are fish rich in omega-3.

The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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