| Welcome to the June issue of the
Access Digest newsletter. This month, we discuss retinopathy or
otherwise known as eye disease. As with most complications associated with
diabetes, managing your glucose level, blood pressure, and cholesterol can
greatly reduce the risks associated with diabetes. In this issue, we take a
closer look at the causes of retinopathy, and how to prevent it. |
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Important
News – Lifescan Medical Device Recall |
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A Class I Recall
has been issued on OneTouch Ultra and FastTake
blood glucose meters from LifeScan. According to the FDA, a
Class I Recall is “the most serious type of recall and involves situations in
which there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause
serious injury or death.”
LifeScan temporarily stopped shipments of the OneTouch Ultra,
OneTouch FastTake and OneTouch InDuo Systems for
the following reasons. These meters can be set to the wrong unit of measure
causing the users to misinterpret blood glucose readings. In addition, certain
events such as dropping the meter can result in a brief power loss, re-setting
the unit of measure and/or the code number used to program the meter to match a
particular vial of test strips, resulting in the user misinterpreting blood
glucose readings. |
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From the beginning
of 2004 through mid-March of 2005, LifeScan has received 40
worldwide reports of adverse events associated with these meters being set to
the incorrect unit of measure.
Access Diabetic Supply is currently offering all of its customers
who use a LifeScan meter, a free replacement meter of their
choice. Users should continue to test their blood glucose. LifeScan, Inc., is
instructing patients to confirm their meter's unit of measure and the code
number each time they test.
For more information on this product recall and the meter replacement program,
please call us at 1-800-276-5712. |
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In
This Issue |
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| The American Diabetes
Association defines retinopathy as "a term used for all the
abnormalities of the small blood vessels of the retina caused by diabetes, such
as weakening of blood vessel walls or leakage from blood vessels." Most people
with diabetes will eventually develop some form of retinopathy at some point in
their lives. About 21% of Type 2 diabetics have some form of retinopathy when
they are diagnosed. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United
States and accounts for 8% of legal blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.
The good news is that studies have proven you can control what
happens to your eyes. People who maintained tight glucose control were 4 times
less likely to get retinopathy. As with most complications associated with
diabetes, tight glucose control, diet, and exercise have a tremendous impact on
your eyes. In addition, reducing high blood pressure will also limit potential
eye problems.
Did you know that eating a baked potato will skyrocket your glucose? Did you
also know that grapefruits have one of the lowest glucose loads? The glycemic
index (GI) ranks carbohydrates based on their immediate effect on blood glucose
(blood sugar) levels. Understanding the GI of your foods is essential to
helping manage your glucose levels. Eating french fries, corn flakes, cheerios,
watermelon, or a bagel is worse than eating table sugar.... not that we're
recommending that you eat table sugar. As part of a healthy diet it's essential
that you understand the glycemic load of the foods you are eating.
Last month we received several questions from our readers. We have
posted some of the more common questions for everyone to read. If you have
questions or comments, please email them by clicking on the link in that
section of the newsletter and send them to us.
We hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter and thank you for
choosing Access Diabetic Supply as your choice for diabetic
supplies.
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Diabetes
and Your Eyes
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What is
retinopathy?
The American Diabetes Association defines retinopathy as a common form of eye
disease that is found in most people with diabetes. If left untreated, it can
develop into the more serious form of retinopathy, proliferative, that can
eventually lead to blindness. The longer you have diabetes, the more
likely the blood vessels in the retina will be damaged. Typically there
will be no symptoms and your vision will not be affected until the damage to
your eyes is significant.
Read more
The Statistics (source:
American Diabetes Association)
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Nearly all patients who have
type 1 diabetes for about 20 years will have evidence of diabetic retinopathy.
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Up to 21% of people with type 2
diabetes have retinopathy when they are first diagnosed with diabetes, and most
will eventually develop some degree of retinopathy.
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In the United States, diabetes
is responsible for 8% of legal blindness, making it the leading cause of new
cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age. Each year, between 12,000 to
24,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes.
Read
more |
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Eye
Care
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There are several things you can
do to help prevent Proliferative Retinopathy.
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Maintain tight glucose control
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Reduce high blood pressure
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Quit smoking
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Visit your eye doctor at least once a
year
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Immediately visit your eye doctor if you
have any problems with your eyes
Read more
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Healthy Living:
Monthly Recipe & Glycemic Index |
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Glycemic Index is a measure of the food's ability to elevate your blood sugar.
Understanding the Glycemic Index of foods is essential to making the right
choices. Low glycemic foods include: apples, pear, grapefruit, kidney
beans, green beans, skim milk, and soy milk. High glycemic foods include:
baked potato, corn flakes, cheerios, graham crackers, and watermelon.
Below are links to finding the glycemic index of different foods:
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This month, our feature recipe is an old faithful dish - Pasta Primavera.
This entree includes spaghetti and vegetables which are both very low on the
glycemic index. This recipe is very nutritious, low in calories, fat,
cholesterol, and carbohydrates. It is a healthy meal any time of the day.
Pasta Primavera
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Pasta
Primavera - Source:
American Diabetes Association
Ingredients
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8 oz uncooked spaghetti
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2 tsp - margarine
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1 ea - onion, cut into wedges
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2 cups - broccoli florets
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2 ea - small carrot, thinly
sliced
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1 ea - zucchini, thinly sliced
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1 ea - yellow summer squash,
diced
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3/4 cup - low-fat, low-sodium
chicken broth
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1/3 cup - chopped fresh parsley
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1/3 cup - chopped fresh basil
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3 Tbsp - lemon juice
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1/2 tsp - salt
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1/4 tsp - fresh ground black
pepper
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3 Tbsp - grated Parmesan cheese
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Directions
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Cook the spaghetti according to
the package directions, omitting salt; drain well.
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While the pasta is cooking, heat
the margarine in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté about 1 minute.
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Add the vegetables and chicken
broth; stir. Cover and simmer about 6 minutes. Add the parsley, basil, lemon
juice, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook 1 minute more.
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Add the spaghetti to the
vegetables; toss well.
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Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese at
serving time.
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Nutritional
Information - Pasta Primavera |
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| Amount Per Serving
(serving size 1/2 cup of cooked pasta) |
Calories
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225 |
| Calories
from Fat
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52 |
| Total Fat |
6g
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| Saturated
Fat |
01g |
| Cholesterol |
2mg |
| Sodium
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242mg |
| Total Carbohydrates
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37g |
| Dietary
Fiber
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5g
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| Sugars |
5g |
| Protein
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8g |
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Questions
& Answers - Ask the Experts |
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Each month our staff will provide answers
to questions about our service and take your feedback. If you have urgent
questions about your order or your meter, we encourage you to call our customer
care department at 1-800-276-5712. We will do our best to provide answers to
all your questions, and we encourage you to also consult your physician.
Below are a few of the common
questions our customer care department answered from our last newsletter. We
hope you find them helpful.
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Access
Diabetic Supply |
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