Lisa Says: Yet another study posted here projecting the increase of those with diabetes to rise another 20 million (to 44 million) in 25 years, and ‘Medicare spending on diabetes…could exceed current projections for All Medicare costs.” Yet there is an answer, says the study’s co-author Dr. Elbert Huang, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. “The study reinforces the importance of public health efforts to prevent diabetes” by changing eating habits and exercising more. There are many balanced programs designed to assist in healthier lifestyle choices such as Dr. Neal Barnard’s Reversing Diabetes program through Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. http://www.pcrm.org/health/diabetes/. Enjoy the article and empower yourself !

chicagotribune.com
Diabetes: New cases and spending to surge over 25 years, study says
By Deborah L. Shelton
Tribune reporter
November 27, 2009

Even if the percentage of Americans who are obese stays the same, diabetes cases will nearly double in the U.S. in the next 25 years and the cost of treating the disease will almost triple, according to a new study by researchers based at the University of Chicago.

The study, published Friday in the journal Diabetes Care, found the number of people with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes will climb from almost 24 million this year to about 44 million in 2034. Over the same period, annual diabetes-related treatment costs are expected to increase from $113 billion to $336 billion in 2007 dollars.

Alarmingly, Medicare spending on diabetes is expected to jump from $45 billion to $171 billion and could exceed current projections for all Medicare costs, the researchers said. Much of the increase in cases and costs will be driven by aging baby boomers, the 77 million Americans born between 1946 and 1957.

“It’s a combination of the increasing numbers of people who have diabetes along with the cost of treating diabetes that gives us these frightening numbers,” said study co-author Dr. Elbert Huang, professor of medicine at the U. of C. “The study reinforces the importance of public health efforts to prevent diabetes — by transforming the way we eat and increasing the amount of exercise we do — and emphasizes the importance of finding new ways of treating diabetes efficiently.”

Huang also said the study’s findings could be considered conservative because the researchers’ estimates are based on stable obesity rates.

The number of people becoming obese has risen steadily for many years, though the authors predict that obesity levels among people who don’t have diabetes will top out in the next decade, then decline slightly, from 30 percent today to about 27 percent by 2033.

Costs related to diabetes are rising in part because the disease is striking people at younger ages, which can mean more time to develop expensive complications. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, amputations and end-stage kidney disease.

“The study was entirely consistent … with previous reports that the growth in diabetes is substantial and ever-increasing, and the costs of diabetes also are substantial and ever-increasing,” said Dr. David Kendall, chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association.

Earlier this month, a separate team of researchers at Loyola University Health System reported that more diabetics are becoming morbidly obese. It found that one in five people with Type 2 diabetes are morbidly obese, or 100 pounds or more overweight.

About 90 percent of diabetics have Type 2, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow glucose in the food we eat to enter cells to produce energy.

Dr. Holly Kramer, lead study author and professor of preventive medicine at Loyola University Medical Center, said the two studies go hand-in-hand because obesity is the main environmental risk factor for diabetes.

The greatest growth in obesity has been among obese diabetics who are getting heavier, Kramer said. Focusing solely on overall obesity rates minimizes the magnitude of a massive public health problem, she and her colleagues wrote in their report, published online in the Journal of Diabetes and its Complications.

“When you are 100 pounds or more overweight, losing a substantial amount of weight and keeping it off is incredibly difficult,” Kramer said. “The cost of care is going to rise substantially because these people are going to have co-morbid conditions in addition to their diabetes — likely more than one — such as heart disease, end-stage kidney disease, arthritis, sleep apnea and fatty liver disease.”

Kramer and colleagues reported that about 62 percent of adults in the U.S. with Type 2 diabetes are obese and about 21 percent are morbidly obese. Among African-American adults with diabetes, 1 in 3 is morbidly obese.

Obesity is defined in terms of body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Huang and his colleagues analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (known as NHANES) and the National Health Interview Survey regarding people ages 24 to 85. The study developed a new model of forecasting of future direct spending on diabetes and was conducted to help predict the impact of various policy scenarios as Congress debates health reform, particularly possible changes to Medicare.

Kramer and her research team worked with data from NHANES surveys completed from 1976 to 2006.

dshelton@tribune.com
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

Rex Says: new data to consider on cancer as this study shows not all cancers progress. Tests such as the PCA3 for prostate cancer can be used as a tool in determining which cancers will spread and which most likely will not.  Here is the article from the New York Times referencing info from the Journal of the American Medical Association.  Studies such as Dr. Ornish’s have also shown that lifestyle changes can reduce cancer. Of course, lifestyle is currently projected to cause up to 70% of cancers (depending on the study you read).

Cancer can reverse itself, data says

By Gina Kolata, The New York Times

Call it the arrow of cancer. Like the arrow of time, it was supposed to point in one direction. Cancers grew and worsened.

However, as a paper in The Journal of the American Medical Association noted in October, data from more than two decades of screening for breast and prostate cancer call that view into question. Besides finding tumors that would be lethal if left untreated, screening appears to be finding many small tumors that would not be a problem if they were left alone, undiscovered . They were destined to stop growing on their own, shrink or even disappear, at least in the case of some breast cancers.
“The old view is that cancer is a linear process,” said Dr. Barnett Kramer, associate director for disease prevention at the National Institutes of Health. “A cell acquired a mutation, and little by little, it acquired more and more mutations. Mutations are not supposed to revert spontaneously.”

Click here for the rest of the article

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/virginian-pilot-ledger-star-norfolk/mi_8014/is_20091101/cancer-reverse-data/ai_n41473460/

Article Copyright 2009
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Curry Butternut Squash Soup
(serves 4-6 & great for freezing)

Butter (organic or local)- 2 tablespoons
yellow onion – 2 cups finely chopped
curry powder – 5 tsp (trust me)
butternut squash – 2 med. Size (about 3#)
apples (organic or local) – 2 peeled, cored & chopped
organic chicken stock – 3 cups ( we make our own with Organic ‘Better than Bouillon’ Chicken Base)
apple juice or cider – 1 cup
Salt and pepper to taste

1. melt butter and sauté onions and curry about 25 min.
2. peel squash (EASY – use a potato peeler. Hold skinny end & work towards larger end, then work back towards skinnier end. Cut off tip and bottom. Takes about 45 seconds). Scrape out seeds, chop to bite size pieces
3. after onions are tender, add chicken stock, squash & apples. Cook till tender, about 25 min
4. Transfer to food processor and puree. Return to pot.
5. add apple juice/cider and simmer till serving

Lisa Says: Kudos to Amy Frostick for a fabulous time at the first annual Blue Moon Wicked 10K. Then on to more fun as we all ventured to Halloween/Fall Festival Parties ! It struck me however as I sat in my dirndl passing out glowstick bracelets (QUITE the hit actually) as an alternative to refined sugar (even the Obamas passed out healthy alternatives yesterday), that I needed to remind everyone of the clinical data surrounding how refined sugar suppresses the immune system. I googled that and got over 1.6 MILLION hits. Right when we are going into ‘cold and flu season’ and need to boost our natural defenses. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568832_does-sugar-affect-immune-system.html

but NO WORRIES ! consider rationing the sweets (tell the kids it makes it LAST longer) and focus on nurturing the immune system

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/cough/boost-childs-immunity/

Rex Says: “A regular 20-ounce soda contains 17 teaspoons of sugar (almost 6 TABLESPOONS) and 250 calories. The avg. American drinks 50 gallons of sugared beverages annually.” This is info from a great article from Kelly D. Brownell, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University and David S. Ludwig, associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Most Americans do not understand the amount of refined sugars that they are consuming, and the devastation it has their health.

A nationwide surcharge on syrupy beverages would provide both revenues and health benefits.

By KELLY D. BROWNELL and DAVID S. LUDWIG

The United States needs a health care sweet spot — a way to raise revenue now and to lower health care costs in the future. Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages — those with added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup or so-called fruit juice concentrates — would answer that need.

There are already minor surcharges on soda in many states — fractions of a cent per ounce in most cases. That’s not enough. What’s needed is a penny per ounce of sugary beverages. That amount would raise about $150 billion nationally over the next 10 years. At the same time, the reduced consumption of soft drinks produced by a penny-per-ounce national tax would have direct health benefits, estimated to be at least $50 billion over the decade. This $200 billion could make an enormous difference in addressing the nation’s mounting health care costs.

The average American drinks 50 gallons of sugared beverages annually. The marketplace, once dominated by a few flagship beverages such as Coke and Pepsi, has exploded into a wide array of fruit drinks, sweetened teas, energy drinks, sports drinks and other versions of sugar water. But two companies still reign: Together, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo control three-quarters of the world beverage market.

Sugared beverages are marketed with fierce precision, using sports stars and other celebrities and promising benefits ranging from increased energy to better memory. Product placements in television shows, such as Coca-Cola on “American Idol,” expose vast numbers of children to hidden marketing. Portions are also an issue — the 8-ounce bottle of the 1950s has morphed into a 20-ounce behemoth.

A regular 20-ounce soda contains 17 teaspoons of sugar and 250 calories.

For full article http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/63806572.html?page=2&c=y

Lisa Says: This is the time of year where you see more pink than Valentine’s Day. Last weekend when we were in DC at the Green Festival, we saw quite a few wearing their pink regalia diligently raising money for breast cancer something. I leave you with two thoughts: First, before you purchase products espousing their contributions to breast cancer research, visit http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/ where they have a list of questions to ensure your well intended dollars are getting to the right place AND consider that there are numerous companies that promote breast health with pink ribbons, YET THEIR VERY PRODUCTS ARE LINKED TO CAUSING BREAST CANCER. The short video clip on Eli Lilly was chilling

Second, I still take issue with the fact that with breast cancer having exploded in the country in the last 50 years, we spend billions on genetic research but few funds promoting life style education and supportive changes that we KNOW prevent not just breast cancers, but most cancers.  Are we really saying that America has undergone a genetic change in the last 50 years? or is lifestyle having an impact?

I am reposting a previous entry from Rex commenting on an article from Naturalnews.com.

Rex Says: Personally, I believe the estimates are too low on how many these lifestyle changes could affect. If cancer has skyrocketed so much in recent years, why WOULDN’T it help more than just a thrid of cancers? Americans certainly haven’t undergone a genetic change in the last 50 years, it’s lifestyle and what we’re exposing ourselves to, but remember, WE HAVE THE CONTROL.

Good Dietary and Lifestyle Health Habits can Drastically Cut Cancer Risk
by Reuben Chow, citizen journalist

(NaturalNews) Why do people get cancer? Perhaps more significantly, why have cancer rates soared so drastically over the past century? Is it because of genes? Is it because of what we are eating today? Or are stressful lifestyles to blame? Others put forth that factors such as environmental toxins and electromagnetic radiation are the main culprits. The fact is, cancer is a multi-causal disease and probably a result of a combination of the abovementioned factors. Recent statistics released by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has estimated the role of diet and lifestyle, suggesting that about one-third of the 12 most common types of cancer in richer countries could be prevented merely through a healthy diet, physical activity and the maintenance of healthy weight. In poorer, developing nations, the proportion of cancers preventable through these steps was estimated to be about one-in-four.

Details and Findings of Study

The cancers in question included those of the bowel, breast, gallbladder, kidney, liver, lung, mouth / pharynx / larynx, esophagus, pancreas, prostate, stomach and womb. For these cancers, it was estimated that 34% of cases in the US and 39% of UK cases were preventable through the said steps. This implied that there was more room for improvement in these countries.

Zooming in, it was also estimated that more than 40% of breast and bowel cancer cases in developed nations could have been prevented in the same way.

And the abovementioned figures had not even taken into account the detrimental effects of smoking, which on its own is believed to be the main cause of about one-third of all cancers.

The report had been put together by a panel of 23 experts. Their study had been based on 10 recommendations released by the WCRF in 2007 on preventing cancer; those included daily exercise, avoiding processed meats, eating less salt, and keeping healthy weight. To arrive at the estimates, the team had looked at the biggest and most reliable research studies available which covered the 10 factors.

“This report shows that by making relatively straightforward changes, we could significantly reduce the number of cancer cases around the world,” said Michael Marmot, the chair of the panel.

Importance of Dietary and Lifestyle Factors in Cancer Prevention

The possible causes of cancer were discussed earlier. What is clear about cancer is that it is certainly not an alien-like ailment which descended from the sky and invaded our bodies, against which we can do nothing for protection or recovery. “People think that somehow cancer comes from heaven, or Darwin, or from their parent’s genes, but that’s not always the case. A third are caused by smoking, and approximately a third are related to diet and physical activity,” Marmot also said.

And scientific backing seems to be increasing. “The evidence linking diet, physical activity, obesity and cancer has become stronger over the last decade and this report can play a part in people adopting healthier lifestyles. After not smoking, it is clear that diet, physical activity and weight are the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk,” said Mike Richards, the National Clinical Director for Cancer.

Holistic Action is Needed

The experts have called for urgent action, especially in view of the escalating sedentary and obesity epidemics, graying populations as well as worsening food choices. “We are expecting a substantial increase in cancer rates with the ageing population, obesity rates soaring, and with people becoming less active and increasingly consuming highly processed and energy dense foods and drinks. The good news is that this is not inevitable,” said Martin Wiseman, the project director.

But it is also quite clear that a holistic solution involving many parties will be needed if society is to stem the cancer epidemic. “There is no magic bullet, no one single fix to the problem. If we are to tackle the situation we need individuals, business and government to work together to encourage healthy lifestyles by promoting things like cycle lanes and food labeling,” said Richard Davidson from Cancer Research UK.

The panel’s report had put forth some 48 suggestions for improvement. Some include:

* Eating more fruits in place of unhealthy fatty foods.
* Consumers to check labels to ensure foods being bought are healthy.
* Lowering costs of healthy foods.
* Schools and workplaces to stop providing unhealthy foods and to encourage exercise.
* Cycling to work.
* Governments to require widespread walking and cycling routes to be put in place; this will facilitate physical activity.
* Improving access to sporting facilities.

Beyond Merely Prevention – Cancer Recovery

How about those who have already been diagnosed with cancer? Are such lifestyle and dietary changes too little, too late for them? Not according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridgeshire, which found that about 36% of men with aggressive prostate cancer could give planned surgery or radiotherapy a miss after making some basic dietary and lifestyle changes.

The changes, which included lowering salt intake, reducing alcohol consumption, eating larger amounts of oily fish, losing weight and undertaking moderate exercise, were able to inhibit or even totally stop their cancers’ progression.

As we search for complicated answers to the cancer riddle, we should not underestimate the powerful role of factors which have been with us throughout human history – dietary and lifestyle habits.

References

Clean living way to beat cancer (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7…)

Healthy meal, exercise cuts cancer risk (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…)

Adopting a healthy lifestyle ‘helps cancer suffers after diagnosis’ (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3…)

Lisa Says: I just saw on mainstream news yesterday (finally) that not everyone is sold on the effectiveness or safety of the swine flu vaccine, or the flu vaccine in general. New York nurses are filing a suit in protest (to my knowledge) to requiring the vaccine as a condition of employment. (sorry it won’t let me insert a hyperlink). http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-29-swine-flu-mandatory_N.htm

Get more info on the vaccine at the National Vaccine Information Center http://www.nvic.org/

Lisa Says: the lack of balanced reporting by mainstream media on the H1N1 vaccine effectiveness (or lack thereof) and safety (or lack thereof) astounds me. Accurate data is not being reported and the media is perpetuating the hysteria. We need to get balanced information out so that we Americans can make a more informed decision about whether or not we will get this vaccine.

This is an article posted today on NaturalNews.com

Concerns about Dangers from Swine Flu Vaccine Grow
by Melanie Grimes, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author
Email this author

(NaturalNews) Concerns about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine continue to grow as the government rushes to bring the vaccine to market. The FDA usually requires rigorous testing of any new drug, but concerns about the H1N1 pandemic has sped the vaccine through the channels without the same clinical testing as other vaccines. Even health care workers are concerned, as they are the first ones to receive the swine flu vaccine and will, in effect, be human guinea pigs.

The New York State Nurses Association is holding a demonstration against the mandatory swine flu vaccination of nurses; it was reported in Newsday. Many face the loss of their jobs if they refuse the vaccination.

Mercury poisoning is one of the concerns about any vaccination, but in recent years the additive, thimerosal, which contains mercury, has been removed from most vaccines. However, the H1N1 flu shot still contains a high level of mercury and this alone is a concern for children, pregnant women, and the elderly — the very populations who are being encouraged to take the swine flu shot.

Squalene is another additive used in vaccines that is a concern. Squalene was an additive in the vaccine given to Gulf War soldiers and is now known to be one of the causes of Gulf War Syndrome. Even the government, who approved the use of squalene in the vaccines, has admitted that it was one of the causes of the vets’ illness.

Side-effects from the H1N1 flu shot are another concern. The vaccine for the Avian flu caused a rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome and death.

One third of health care professionals are refusing to take the H1N1 vaccine, according to polls in both the US and England. Another third is unsure, leaving only one third of the health care professionals supporting the H1N1 vaccine. President Obama has stated that the H1N1 vaccine will be voluntary, but companies and hospitals are acting otherwise, and against the interests of their employees and medical staff.

Both Ireland and Greece have said that they will fine and imprison those who refuse to be vaccinated.

A recent article in Reuters reported that “adverse event reports” are expected by the public health departments after the swine flu vaccine is administered, including one million heart attacks, 700,000 strokes and 900,000 miscarriages.

The FDA is charged with protecting the American people from unsafe drugs. Their intention to speed the swine flu vaccine into production has caused concern about the safety of the new drug. Until these questions are addressed, the health benefits of the swine flu vaccine remain under suspicion.

http://www.reuters.com/news/topics/…

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/…

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

Rex Says: Got a great referral today from local media story on this site for promoting healthy school lunches. Remember, American kids today are now predicted to have a lower life expectancy their own parents, for the first time in history. Just to clarify, go more in depth in ingredients and eliminate chemicals such as High Fructose Corn Syrup which is clearly shown to cause diabetes, etc. (see our other posts).

02/07 - just diagnosed - on vacation deciding on treatment

.
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VB local since 1968 courtesy of the USN, Rex attended Cox HS and met his future wife Lisa the first day. Married since 1982 with 3 fine sons by 1987, Rex’s career has focused in the home improvement/building supply industry.

While getting a routine physical at 44 in 2007, Rex requested a PSA check per Lisa although he had no symptoms or issues. While this is not the standard for his age/race, Rex said “’Mama’ said get it and what ‘Mama’ says goes’”. His PSA was noted to be above average for his age so he was referred to a urologist. After a round of antibiotics for possible prostatitis, it was still above where the average was so he agreed to a prostate biopsy. The month after that was an adventure. Rex said when he went to urinate, he never knew if he was going to get “chardonnay, rose’ or merlot”. Frankly, after almost 2 weeks the bleeding continued, so he went back to make sure all was ok, and instead got the results. Prostate cancer at 44. Luckily, it appeared early and contained.
After consulting with the radiation oncologist and then the surgeon, Rex was leaning towards surgery (a June date was planned) but something the surgeon said struck a cord, “I take selenium every day and I’m not worried about getting prostate cancer.”
Rex still has the info on taking selenium the surgeon wrote on a prescription pad. He was stunned when the surgeon explained despite how advanced robotic prostatectomies are, he would still have to take ‘the little blue pill’ the rest of his life no matter how well he responded to the surgery. Rex left with his selenium info in hand and began praying and felt the Holy Spirit say to him , ‘there is a another way’. Another way to heal, in essence.
God began to clearly steer Rex on a path of natural healing. Rex and Lisa began researching info they had heard that ‘cancer cells can’t live in an oxygen rich environment’ and unexpectedly, a church friend who was an RN and a breast cancer survivor came to Rex with information about balancing the body’s pH levels. Rex’s brother then paid for a detox program he didn’t feel he could afford and began balancing his body’s chemistry ( i.e. alkalizing his pH levels making his body oxygen rich, not oxygen deprived). When Rex announced to his home church that he had been diagnosed with cancer, the group laid hands on both Rex and Lisa and covered them in prayer. They had been researching international treatment methods with better survival rates and a higher quality of life, and after Rex’s announcement in church, another church friend who was an herbalist who had studied under Dr. Kimberly Balas, an American Naturopathic Doctor, who had a written a similar protocol to the international approaches, came to Rex and offered to work with him. She also had felt a calling to work with those diagnosed with cancer but had not done so at that point. She felt this was her confirmation.
He began hydrating being blessed again by a high school friend who paid for bottled water delivery, and began eating only fresh and whole foods based on Dr. Colbert’s book What Would Jesus Eat, exercising, and working with Dana, the herbalist, using Dr. Balas’s protocol in April 2007 and the results have been amazing. His PSA dropped from it’s original 3.9 to 2.0 in just 2 months. His lab values normalized so rapidly the doctor’s were amazed. He dropped from 246# to a healthy 195# and now maintains 190#. He began hot yoga to work on meditation and dealing with suppressed negative emotions as clinical data shows a clear correlation with yoga/prayer and the body’s healing process.
In July 2009, he met again with the surgeon and took the new PCA3 test (a unique biomarker test which more accurately detects prostate cancer than any other screening method currently in use), and was determined to be cancer free and in great health.

Rex calls cancer his blessing. He says it took cancer to heal him, to make him well.
Now his passion is to educate the public on making the transition from the typical American lifestyle promoting disease to one supporting the body as it was designed by God to function and flourish.