“97% of people with prediabetes are unaware they have this condition. By partnering with Freedom Meditech, our goal is to change this statistic.” – Marlayna Bolinger, Executive Director of the Skinny Gene Project

Screening for Prediabetes

Currently, 79 million Americans have a condition known as prediabetes, which generally precedes type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. They are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems, including heart disease, and stroke. Without lifestyle changes to improve their health, people with prediabetes will most likely develop full-blown type 2 diabetes within 5 – 7 years.

Since prediabetes and type 2 diabetes have no noticeable symptoms,  the disease is  commonly only diagnosed several years after its onset, when complications are already present.  The Clearpath DS-120 has the ability to detect prediabetes and early diabetes up to 7 years before complications begin.  Once a person’s risk has been determined, they can go to their primary care provider for a formal diagnosis. This information gives a person the opportunity to take the necessary actions to prevent the further development of type 2 diabetes and begin to restore their health.

The Clearpath DS-120 is revolutionizing prediabetes and early diabetes screenings, because with a 6 second, painless scan of the eye, a person will be able to understand their risk. Then, they have options on how to proceed. That’s putting the power of prevention back into the hands of the people.

Through the partnership, the Skinny Gene Project and Freedom Meditech are providing pre and post-screening education materials to be distributed to patients, including a “Next Steps” brochure to direct those at-risk to the appropriate professionals.  In San Diego, CA, the two organizations work together to provide prediabetes screenings in low-income communities that have an increased risk for diabetes.

Detecting Prediabetes

How does it work? The Clearpath DS-120 detects prediabetes by scanning the crystalline lens of the eye with a blue light to measure autofluorescence. Studies have shown that elevated autofluorescence measurements can be an indicator of glucose control, the body’s aging process and the presence of systemic disease.

Being able to identify risks of diabetes 7 years prior to complications is crucial in helping to detect and treat diabetes before it can affect an individual’s quality of life. Together, Skinny Gene Project and Freedom Meditech want to inform the public about the benefits of the Clearpath DS-120 and how its use will aid in diagnosing  undetected prediabetes and diabetes early on.

Since the first symptoms of diabetes to appear are usually related to the eye, the Clearpath DS-120 will be useful as part of a yearly check up at the eye doctor. The device could easily be implemented under a professional’s care during each visit, in addition to screenings for glaucoma and retinopathy.

By including the Clearpath DS-120 in Optometrist and Ophthalmologist offices, where patients receive an annual eye exam, we are not just increasing early detection screenings; we’re increasing the opportunity to prevent diabetes.

For more information about Freedom Meditech and their mission you can visit their website at: www.freedom-meditech.com.

About Skinny Gene Project

The Skinny Gene Project (a division of the J.Moss Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preventing diabetes. We help educate those who are at-risk; empower them with the resources, tools, and support needed to make healthy lifestyle changes; and teach them how to make the long-term social, environment, and behavioral changes needed to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

If you at-risk for diabetes, please contact us today to see how we can help!

HOW TO PLAY

Each week some of our favorite performing produce will go head-to-head. We will give you the scouting reports  for each produce team, including their offensive/defensive lineups. Using the information provided, simply guess which produce in each head-to-head matchup will prevail.  Just know that some produce are prone to pull an upset!   

To make your selection, simply cast your vote using the poll at the bottom of each matchup. Then, tell us who you voted for in the blog comments below.   For each matchup, you can only cast 1 vote, and once the winner is announced the voting for that matchup will be closed. Don’t worry if you miss one, there will be up to 4  matchups each week during March Madness and plenty of chances to earn points and prizes.

POINTS AND PRIZES

– For each head-to-head you guess correctly, you will get one (1) point.

– For each head-to- head, leave us a comment below telling us why you think your chosen produce will take the    prize, and you’ll earn two (2) additional points. {Keep it clean folks, or it won’t count.}

-If your comment is sooo good that we feature it on our Skinny Gene Facebook page, we will give you three (3) more points.

 But, the easiest way to win a prize is to GET SOCIAL!!  Here’s the deal… if your friend wins a prize, so will you.

At the end of the March Madness Produce Playoffs tournament, we will count up all the points. Each point counts as 1 entry in our prize drawing(s).

The more participants we have in our Produce Playoffs, the more prizes we will  give away!  So recruit your friends to play against you in the 2013 Skinny Gene Produce Playoffs.

So far,  UP FOR GRABS are….two (2) $25 Visa Gift Cards – 1 for the winner of the random drawing, 1 for the person who recruited them to the tournament.

Each entry counts as one chance to win.  US Only!  Winner will be announced April 9th. Winner will be chosen AT RANDOM by random.org.

READY TO PLAY!!!

(Click on the links below to pick your produce in the head-to-head matchups or to see the results)

DAY 1 : PEARS vs, ASPARAGUS  – voting is closed. Winner…ASPARAGUS!! See how they pulled it off!

From American Institute for Cancer Research

Several studies have previously linked diabetes to an increased risk in colon, stomach and pancreatic cancers. But until recently, the link between type 2 diabetes and blood cancers hadn’t been established. This is, until now!

News Story: Preventing Diabetes, Preventing Cancer

“If we can prevent diabetes, maybe we  can prevent the onset of these other cancers.”

Dr. Jorge Castillo is a doctor at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

He specializes in treating blood cancers.

“The link between cancer is an evolving matter,” he says.

Castillo says previous studies have linked diabetes to an increased risk in colon, stomach and pancreatic cancers.

He was interested in the link between diabetes and blood cancers, so Castillo and some colleagues analyzed 26 previously published research articles.

“Our study was based on 17,000 cases, which is a large study, and basically shows that patients with diabetes and we focused specifically on diabetes, type 2, which is the most common type of diabetes. Probably 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes are type 2 and we saw that by having that diagnosis of diabetes that the risk of having blood cancers increased by approximately 20 to 25 percent,” Castillo says.

Castillo found the study included all blood cancers except Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Castillo’s findings are published online in the American Hematology Journal.

While more research is needed, he said, by taking steps to prevent type 2 diabetes could translate into 7,000 fewer blood cancer cases.

Castillo says about 150,000 people are diagnosed with leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia each year.

Thanks to new targeted therapies, more patients are living longer or being cured.

Green represents a lot of terrific things, like “being green” is good for the environment and “making the green” is good for your wallet.  And if you like Saint Patty’s day, you will be sporting some green attire for good luck. 

What about eating your greens?  You never felt that lucky, as a kid, missing play time while staring at a plate of Brussels sprouts that you absolutely refused to eat.  Now looking back on those stubborn nights, you may just realize how lucky you were to be offered those wondrous greens. 

Eating foods of the green variety benefit you in many ways;  the potential for cancer prevention, protection against heart disease and type 2 diabetes, weight management, soluble and insoluble fiber, and not to mention the vitamins, minerals including calcium, antioxidants, phytochemicals, carotenoids, and flavonoids (A.K.A. really good things for your body and metabolism).Now are you interested in stepping up the greens?  

BENEFITS OF GOING GREEN 

LOW IN CALORIES:  Weight management and disease prevention go hand in hand.  By keeping your body at a healthy weight, you reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.  The lower calorie greens typically range between 10-30 calories per ½ cup serving, which can play a very important role in weight management by replacing other high calorie foods.

Low calorie greens to try:   Spinach (1 cup raw = 7 calories), Swiss chard (1 cup = 7 calories), bok choy (1 cup = 10 calories), and cucumber (1/2 medium = 8 calories)

GREAT SOURCE OF FIBER: Greens contain both types of fiber, soluble and insoluble fibers that benefit the heart by reducing cholesterol and the waist line by filling you up on fewer calories.   Both types of fiber are helpful to regulate your blood sugar control.

Fiberful greens to try:  Cabbage (1 cup chopped = 5.16 grams carbohydrate of which 2.2 grams is fiber); Brussel sprouts (4 sprouts = 5.5 grams carbohydrate of which 2 grams is fiber), artichoke (1/2 medium = 6.7 grams carbohydrate of which 3.5 grams is fiber), and spinach (1 cup raw = 1 grams of carbohydrate of which 0.7 grams is fiber).

ANTIOXIDANT RICH: Many green vegetables are an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant.  What this means is that they limit cell damage and help repair cells that have been damaged by free radicals.  When free radicals are in action, they change the cell, which may lead to health risks including illness by decreasing your immune system, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

For green vegetables with an excellent sources Vitamin C to try:  Kale (1 cup raw = 80.4 mg), broccoli (1/2 cup cooked = 51 mg), Brussel sprouts (4 sprouts = 48.4 mg), and bok choy (1 cup = 30 mg)

FULL OF FOLATE: Folate is a vitamin found in high amounts in green vegetables, which plays a vital role in cell metabolism, especially for pregnant moms, growing babies and kids.  Folate is also involved in the metabolism of homocysteine.  High levels of homocysteine are connected to heart disease.

Folate rich greens to try:  Spinach (1 cup raw = 58 mcg DFE), brussel sprouts (4 sprouts = 47 mcg DFE), broccoli (1/2 cup cooked = 84 mcg DFE), and asparagus (4 spears = 89 mcg DFE).

LOW FAT:  The majority of green vegetables are naturally low in fat and saturated fat, which is great for your heart!

The following super green veggies have less than 0.5 grams fat per serving:  Kale, asparagus, broccoli, cucumber, brussel sprouts, bok choy, spinach, artichoke, swiss chard, and cabbage.

The first section -My Story

The second section- The Catalyst

The third section-My Motivation

NEW BEGINNING- the REAL “WHY”

As I mentioned, my story has 3 parts. The one I have yet to mention is the Beginning, the WHY?

When I shared my story with the kind stranger in Union Square, I spoke about my Aunt Gloria and my need to protect my daughter from diabetes. But I knew something was missing from my answer, I just didn’t know what it was.

I thought about it as I walked back from Union Square to my hotel and wondered, “had I not answered the question? If I did, why did it feel so incomplete?” That’s when it occurred to me. I had explained how diabetes affected my family, and how prevention is being lived out in my life, but it doesn’t explain why I have the need to help others. 

WHY make the personal and financial sacrifices to start a non-profit organization to help others? Following my dream has not been easy on my family. I have been asked by numerous people why I don’t just quit and go get a corporate job; one that would be less stressful and would provide more for my family financially.

Photo by Gabriela Camerotti

Here’s the thing… sometimes you just have to follow your heart. My heart leads me to help others, because I have been on the receiving end before.

I know what it is like be in a bad situation and want desperately for someone to come save you from someone else or from yourself.

The answer to the WHY is this:  I have had my life threatened before, which has led me to want to help anyone who desperately wants the opportunity to fend off a disease that  may threaten their life. 

I believe that everyday a tragedy occurs. A person finds the strength and courage to free themselves from  a bad situation long enough to ask for help, only to be turned away and forced back into the bad situation from which they left.

I started a non-profit organization that would not just educate people, but would empower them to take control of their lives.  With support and guidance, they’re able to start a new chapter in their own life.  One in which they will be a co-author.

I am a Christian. I believe that God gives us both rainbows and rainstorms. I have definitely had my fair share of storms.

When I was 8 yrs old, a rare disease attacked my brain, taking my eye sight (in my left eye) and threatened to take my life.  I have been the target of a random act of violence and a sexual assault.  I lost many people I love, including one whose life was just beginning.

My life experiences could have pointed me towards food or other addictions. I could have easily “swapped chapters” with many of the people we serve.

The difference between my story, in which I’ve chosen to get better not bitter, and find strength out of sorrow, is that I have very loving and supportive family and friends.

Many of the people we serve don’t have a support system to help them to wade through the storm and look to the horizon for the next rainbow.

BLANK SLATE

As I mentioned in the beginning of my story, I left my conversation with the stranger in Union Square with a new opportunity; a blank slate on which I can write the next scene in my life and put it into motion.

Photo by Dougit Designs

My hope with the Skinny Gene Project has always been to give people the opportunity to live a better life.  My experiences have helped me to understand the importance of treating the person, not just the disease.  I believe we have to uplift the person if we want to defeat diabetes.

For this reason, the next chapter of my life will be a push to integrate a patient advocacy program into our organization. I want to provide prediabetes support groups and counseling that address the emotional and financial stressor that contributes to unhealthy eating.

God has given me a heart to help others. Making healthy lifestyle changes shouldn’t be about just making healthier food choices, but also about choosing to love oneself enough to truly live life.

I hope at the end, each person we touch will have the desire to pick up their pen and write a new beginning, a healthy story, into their life.

 A new study shows that eating fiber from whole grain my reduce your risk of dying from heart disease, infections, and respiratory disease!!!

Study: Fiber From Whole Grains Reducing Risk Of Dying From Heart Disease, Infections, and Lung Disease

By Denise Mann, WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC

Feb. 14, 2011 — Filling up on fiber — particularly fiber from whole grains — may reduce your risk of dying from heart disease, infections, and respiratory diseases, says a new study published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Men and women who ate the most dietary fiber were 22% less likely to die from any cause when compared to study participants who ate the least amount of fiber. The protective effect came mainly from cereal fiber in grains, not other sources of fiber such as fruits and vegetables.

“Prior studies have focused on the relationship between fiber intake and cardiovascular disease, but few have examined the link between dietary fiber and mortality,” study researcher Yikyung Park, ScD, a staff scientist at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., says in an email. “Our analysis adds to the literature and suggests that dietary fiber is associated with a decreased likelihood of death.”

Fiber-rich diets help lower blood cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels, which may explain why it is considered heart-healthy. Exactly how fiber may reduce risk of death from lung disease and infections is not known, but these diseases tend to be inflammatory in origin, and fiber may have certain anti-inflammatory properties. Heart disease is also believed to be linked to inflammation.

Still, study authors caution, it could be that people who eat more fiber are healthier overall, and that this may be why they are less likely to die from all causes in the new study.

Park and colleagues analyzed data on 219,123 men and 168,999 women who completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1995 and 1996. During nine years of follow-up, 20,126 men and 11,330 women died. Risk of death was lower among study participants who ate the most fiber.

On average, men ate 13 to 29 grams of fiber per day, and women ate 11 to 26 grams. Overall, the risk of death from heart disease, infections, and respiratory diseases was reduced by 24% to 56% in men and by 34% to 59% in women who got the highest amounts of fiber in the study.

People who ate the most fiber tended to have higher education, a self-rated health status of good-excellent, a lower BMI, be physically active, and use menopausal hormone therapy (in women). They were also less likely to smoke, drink alcohol, or eat red meat. Nevertheless, even after adjusting for many of these factors, the association between survival and fiber intake remained significant.

‘Big Suprise’

“The most interesting result was that dietary fiber was protective for respiratory disease and infections,” he tells WebMD in an email. “This was a big surprise. It was even more surprising that the effect appeared larger than for heart attack and stroke.”

“Eating more fiber, particularly fiber from grains, may be related to reduced risk of dying from many different types of diseases — not just cardiovascular disease,” he says.

The new U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that at least half of all grains consumed be whole and unrefined. The refining process removes all the bran, which contains the fiber. The goal for fiber is 25 grams per day for women 28 grams per day for men, and as it stands, most of us fall short.

Boost Fiber Now: Here’s How

So how can you get more fiber in your diet?

“The easiest way to accomplish this would be to always choose ‘whole grain’ breads, cereals, and baked goods over ‘white’ or refined varieties,” De Koning says. Specifically, breads that list “100% whole wheat flour” as the first ingredient would be a good choice over ones that list “wheat flour” as the first ingredient, as this is likely refined white flour, he says.

“Another nice way to increase cereal fiber would be to eat cooked cereals such as steel cut oats at breakfast instead of cold ones,” he says.

The new study did not look at fiber supplements. “But it is unlikely that simply taking a fiber supplement would give the same benefit of as eating whole grains,” he says. “Whole grains are high in many health-promoting compounds that might not be present in a commercially produced fiber supplement. Some of these include antioxidants, which may help to prevent a runaway inflammatory response. It is this runaway inflammation that may be responsible for high mortality due to respiratory and infectious diseases.”

Neil Schachter, MD, professor of pulmonary medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, reviewed the new study for WebMD.

“This is an impressive study, but it’s certainly not definitive,” he says in an email. “The data suggests that the amount of dietary fiber intake is associated with significantly lower mortality in this initially healthy group [and] both men and women had statistical benefits,” he says. “The benefit was primarily seen in diets with grain (not fruits) as the source of fiber.” 

Schachter says the study’s strengths are its large size and relatively long follow-up period. Its weaknesses include the fact that not all of the potentially relevant information about study participants was known to the researchers, including vaccination history and level of medical care — all which could play a role in their mortality.

If you have additional questions about how you can prevent diabetes or would like some help making positive lifestyle changes in your life, we would like the opportunity to speak with you! To contact us, please CLICK HERE!

Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control

Tweaking your lifestyle could be a big step toward diabetes prevention — and it’s never too late to start. Consider these tips.

By Mayo Clinic staff

When it comes to type 2 diabetes — the most common type of diabetes — prevention is a big deal. It’s especially important to make diabetes prevention a priority if you’re at increased risk of diabetes, for example, if you’re overweight or have a family history of the disease. In the United States alone, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expect diabetes to affect more than 48 million people by 2050.

Tweaking your lifestyle could be a big step toward diabetes prevention — and it’s never too late to start. Diabetes prevention is as basic as losing extra weight and eating more healthfully. Consider the latest diabetes prevention tips from the American Diabetes Association.

Tip 1: Get more physical activity

There are many benefits to regular physical activity. It can help you lose weight but even if it doesn’t, it’s still important to get off the couch. Whether you lose weight or not, physical activity lowers blood sugar and boosts your sensitivity to insulin — which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range.

Research shows that both aerobic exercise and resistance training can help control diabetes, but the greatest benefits come from a fitness program that includes both.

Tip 2: Get plenty of fiber

It’s rough, it’s tough — and it may reduce the risk of diabetes by improving your blood sugar control. Fiber intake is also associated with a lower risk of heart disease. It may even promote weight loss by helping you feel full. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

Tip 3: Go for whole grains

Although it’s not clear why, whole grains may reduce your risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels. Try to make at least half your grains whole grains. Many foods made from whole grains come ready to eat, including various breads, pasta products and ready-to-eat cereals. Look for the word “whole” on the package and among the first few items in the ingredient list.

Tip 4: Lose extra weight

If you’re overweight, diabetes prevention may hinge on weight loss. Every pound you lose can improve your health. And you may be surprised by how much. In one study, overweight adults who lost a modest amount of weight — 5 percent to 10 percent of initial body weight — and exercised regularly reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent over three years.

Tip 5: Skip fad diets and make healthier choices

Low-carb, low-glycemic load or other fad diets may help you lose weight at first, but their effectiveness at preventing diabetes isn’t known; nor are their long-term effects. And by excluding or strictly limiting a particular food group, you may be giving up essential nutrients. Instead, think variety and portion control as part of an overall healthy-eating plan.

Make it a team effort

The American Diabetes Association recommends blood glucose screening for everyone age 45 and older who’s overweight. If you’re older than age 45 and at a normal weight, ask your doctor about earlier testing. Also ask your doctor about testing if you’re younger than age 45 and overweight with one or more additional risk factors for type 2 diabetes — such as a sedentary lifestyle or a family history of diabetes.

Also share your concerns about diabetes prevention. Your doctor will applaud your efforts to keep diabetes at bay, and perhaps offer additional suggestions based on your medical history or other factors.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving low income and uninsured families that would not qualify for federal or state programs that would provide such care. MHM invests well over $30 million annually to provide quality healthcare to the communities surrounding their 3 primary clinics. The Skinny Gene Diabetes Prevention Program will be implemented in two of these facilities, Wesley Health and Wellness and Dixon Clinic.

The Wesley Health and Wellness Center provides care for one of the most under-served populations in San Antonio. The area has nearly 100,000 individuals (90% Hispanic), of which more than half are 185% below the federal poverty guidelines. The Dixon Clinic provides medical and counseling services to a community on San Antonio’s east side, which has a large African-American population.

In 2009, Kevin Moriarty, President and CEO, expressed to the Skinny Gene Project his great concern for the growing obesity and diabetes epidemic that was affecting their communities. MHM has excellent programs in place to help their patients control their diabetes, but they realized a more aggressive approach would be needed  to fend off this disease. To better serve their communities, Kevin decided to take it take it one step further and implement a program that focuses on diabetes prevention.

As of April 2010, we are proud to announce that the Skinny Gene Diabetes Prevention Program is successfully being implemented at MHM. Over the next 12-months, our bilingual nutritionist (Nancy Juarez), under the supervision of our Senior Registered Dietitian (Emily Barr,MS,RD,CNSC), will be working one-on-one with a total of 15 patients to help them adopt healthy lifestyle changes and prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Here are some of the new members of our Skinny Gene Family, San Antonio!

We’ve asked Nancy to share her experiences with us. Here’s what she had to say….

Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving low income and uninsured families. Their first and utmost interest is to provide the best quality healthcare they are able to offer to their patients. They provide medical, dental, and social services, along with a variety of activities, for the families they serve. They provide after-school care for children, whose parents work late, as well as computer and fitness classes for various ages ranging from children up to seniors. In the short period of time that I have worked in the MHM facility, it has opened my eyes to many possibilities and shown me the kind of help this organization can provide to its patients. Not only is there a sense of community, but there is also a real sense of family. A considerable number of families that benefit from MHM’s services are extremely grateful. If it wasn’t for MHM, these families wouldn’t have access to essential medical care, as well as the expensive medicines required to treat significant conditions and diseases. MHM has top-of-the-line equipment, which makes it possible for them to provide the best quality of care to each of their patients.

As a Skinny Gene nutritionist, I have been very lucky to have been given the opportunity to work with MHM. Since diabetes is a huge issue affecting millions of Americans in South Texas, this program will help these families by teaching them to make better food choices in order to achieve a longer and healthier life. We are currently making a difference in the lives of 15 individuals who are a part of our inaugural program at MHM. I am personally working with each of these wonderful people who are all grateful to Methodist for putting our Skinny Gene Diabetes Prevention Program in their lives. Each patient has an immediate family member or relative that has been diagnosed with diabetes, and after seeing the impact the condition has on their lives, want to prevent it from affecting them or their children.

Prior to this program, these patients (all at-risk of developing diabetes) had never been instructed by a personal nutritionist or dietitian on what they should or shouldn’t eat to lead a healthy life. Having the opportunity to have a nutritionist to guide them along the way to attain their goals is a dream to them.

All of these wonderful people are extremely motivated and excited to make very good use of what is being taught to them.

I have something in common with most of these patients—we come from Mexican descent.  As a bilingual nutritionist familiar with their culture and customs, I am able to communicate to them in a way that is meaningful and relevant to their lives. I am very pleased with the progress we have made in the short time we’ve had, but in time the difference will be noticeable and we will have paved the road for a healthier life.