H.E.R. – Divabetic

05/23/201905/23/2019

New Colorado Law Caps Insulin Copays to $100 A Month

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law a measure that caps copayments of insulin to $100 a month.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, who lost his brother due to diabetes, requires the Department of Law to investigate the pricing of prescription insulin drugs and submit a report of its findings to the governor, the commissioner of insurance, and the judiciary committees of the senate and house of representatives.

“For Coloradans living with Type 1 Diabetes, insulin is essential to their survival. It is the same as oxygen. The skyrocketing cost of insulin is outrageous and it is literally putting people’s lives at risk,” said Roberts. “With this new law, Coloradans will no longer be forced to choose between this life-saving and life-sustaining drug and their other expenses.”

“This bill will save me personally $35 a month because of my private insurance. For other people, it could save them all the way up to $2,000 or more a month,” said Betsy Ray, an insulin user, following the bill signing.

Rep. Dylan Roberts’ little brother, Murphy, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 10 in 2004. Murphy died last year after suffering a fall that resulted from a diabetic seizure.

“Our family learned to live with diabetes and how crucial insulin is to staying alive,” Roberts said.

New Half-Price Insulin Faces Criticism

A half-price version of Eli Lilly’s popular Humalog insulin is now on sale. But people with diabetes and critics say the measure falls short, given that patients who require insulin outside the U.S. pay far less than the $137.35 per vial price for lispro. In the U.S., the cost of insulin for Type 1 diabetics has almost doubled over a five-year period, prompting some to cut back on their medication.

We’re talking about ‘hush hush’ topics in diabetes wellness such as intimacy issues, fears and food phobias with musical inspiration from H.E.R. on May’s Diabetes Late Nite.

H.E.R. chooses to keep her true identity a secret but that’s proving harder to do after winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Song Grammy Awards this past year.

Guests include Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, Cheryl Farley “Food as Medicine” Nutritionist, Dr. Dugan Maddux and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from H.E.R.’s “I Used To Know Her: The Prelude” album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.

05/21/201905/21/2019

Can I Lose Sensation in My Clitoris and Vagina?

Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND shares answers to our sexual health and intimacy questions on May’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. LISTEN NOW.

One listener, Meghan from Alberta, Canada, who is living with type 1 diabetes, wants to know if her neuropathy can cause her to lose sensation in her clitoris and vagina. If so, what can she do?

Janis Roszler’s response: It is possible for neuropathy to cause a loss of sensation in numerous areas of your body, but diabetes-related female sexual issues tend to be more likely when psychological issues are present. Unlike men with diabetes who may develop erection problems when they have neuropathy and heart complications, women’s sexual problems seem to be more linked to depression and other emotional challenges.

If you have lost some feeling in your clitoris and vaginal area, treat any depression that you may have. Explore ways to reduce the stress in your life and intimate relationship. Maintaining your blood sugar level in a healthy range can help you feel less stressed and more energized – work with your healthcare team to achieve that. Also, when engaging in sexual activities, don’t hesitate to use a lubricant that is made for vaginal use. It can help you enjoy greater sexual pleasure with less discomfort.

Sex is an important part of life and relationships. But diabetes can affect a woman’s sex life. Some women with diabetes have less interest in sex because of depression or changes in blood glucose levels that can leave them feeling tired or irritable. Or perhaps intercourse is painful because of vaginal dryness. Problems with having sex aren’t a normal part of getting older and don’t happen to all women who have diabetes.

If you find that you don’t enjoy sex anymore, it’s normal to feel upset. Find someone on your health care team to talk with. Learn about medicines or counseling that can help.

Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND PhD is a candidate in Clinical Sexology, 2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE) , Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Janis is the author and co-author of: Approaches to Behavior – Changing the dynamic between patients and professionals in diabetes care and education (ADA,2015); Diabetes On Your OWN Terms (Marlowe & Company, 2007); Sex and Diabetes (ADA, 2007); The Secrets Of Living And Loving WITH Diabetes (Surrey Books, 2004).

Janis Roszler’s Sex & Diabetes is the first book ever to deal exclusively with sexual problems as they relate to diabetes— and the only book to discuss issues that relate to both men and women. It also shows you how sexual problems can be prevented or delayed and discusses treatments options that currently exist. Sex & Diabetes highlights the value of communication between sexual partners and the importance of having an open relationship with healthcare professionals.

In The Secrets of Living and Loving with Diabetes three experts deliver advice on issues such as handling nagging friends and relatives, injecting insulin discreetly while dining out, bringing up the subject of blood sugar highs and lows before turning out the bedroom lights, and avoiding diabetes urgencies becoming emergencies. Also included are practical tools like exercises, quizzes, questions, checklists, and coping strategies.

We’re talking about secret, hush hush topics in diabetes wellness such as intimacy issues, fears and food issues on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from H.E.R. courtesy of SONY Music.

H.E.R. chooses to keep her identity a secret but that’s proving harder to do after winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Song Grammy Awards this past year. Mr. Divabetic’s guests include Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, Cheryl Farley “Food as Medicine” Nutritionist, Dr. Dugan Maddux and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from H.E.R.’s I Used To Know Her: The Prelude album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot’.

05/18/201905/20/2019

How will dialysis affect my relationships?

Nephrologist Dr. Dugan Maddux shares answers to your kidney health questions on May’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. LISTEN NOW.

During the podcast, we raised the question “How will dialysis affect my relationships?”

Here is Dr. Maddux’s reply: Chronic kidney disease like many other chronic conditions can cause day to day stress, but the goal of kidney care is to help people live as normal a life as possible. Sharing your care plans and needs with family and friends may help them support you in living with kidney disease and dialysis. Living well on dialysis includes following a healthy diet and being active which are actions that are good for everyone!People with kidney disease, their caregivers and family should not feel alone in managing life with dialysis. Dialysis care includes support from a multi-disciplinary team including social workers, dietitians, nephrology nurses, patient care technicians and nephrologists. This care team can help with feelings of depression, being overwhelmed, and anxiety and they can help solve other common problems like transportation for medical care and how to access healthy food. Dialysis care does impact daily life, but it should not change your relationships.

Divabetic Glossary of Terms: What is a Nephrologist?

A nephrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys. A nephrologist can help people in kidney failure by prescribing medications, offering special diet advice and coordinating dialysis care when the time comes. The term nephrologist comes from the Greek word “nephros”, which means kidney or renal and “ologist” refers to someone who studies. Nephrologists are also called kidney doctors.

People with diabetes may have long-term complications that involve kidney disease and eventual failure. A nephrologist is an important member to add to your healthcare team, if you have symptoms of kidney disease.

Nephrologist Dugan Maddux champions Fresenius Medical Care’s clinical innovation endeavors across the continent and is co-founder of the Gamewood companies, including Acumen Physician Solutions. Blogger, writer, and essayist, she developed the Nephrology Oral History project chronicling early dialysis pioneers.

Read Dr. Maddux’s recent blog post on the experience of being a caregiver for family or friends with CKD, ESRD or other chronic conditions: https://newsroom.fmcna.com/whitepapers/caring-for-caregiver/

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from H.E.R.’s I Used To Know Her: The Prelude album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot’.

05/17/201905/17/2019

Walmart Sells $25 Insulin – So What?

Walmart offers a low-cost insulin option without a prescription, but it’s far from ideal for all patients.

According to Vox, doctors and diabetes advocates point out that while ReliOn may help patients in a pinch, especially those without health insurance, it’s also a formulation (known as “human” insulin) that came on the market in the 1980s, more than a decade before more refined insulins started to emerge.

The newer insulins, known as analogs, appear to be more effective at preventing dangerous blood sugar swings in people with Type 1 diabetes or those at a higher risk for severe low blood sugar. (The evidence of insulin analog’s benefits is less clear for Type 2 diabetes, but the studies are also low quality so it’s difficult to make conclusive statements.)

There’s one more problem: Because it’s available without a prescription, patients can get the drug without the supervision of a doctor, and they sometimes get into trouble as a result. So stories have surfaced about patients who required emergency care because of severe blood sugar highs and lows after self-dosing with Walmart insulin, or even dying as a result.

The cost of the four most popular insulins has tripled over the past decade, forcing many of the millions of Americans with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who rely on the drug to skimp on or skip doses.

We’re talking about ‘HUSH HUSH’ topics in diabetes wellness such as insulin’s staggering costs, intimacy issues, fears, and food issues on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from H.E.R. courtesy of SONY Music.

H.E.R. chooses to keep her true identity a secret but that’s proving harder to do after winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Song Grammy Awards this past year.

Guests include Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, Cheryl Farley “Food as Medicine” Nutritionist, Dr. Dugan Maddux and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from H.E.R.’s “I Used To Know Her: The Prelude” album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot’.

05/16/201905/16/2019

Lubes with Glycerin Are A Big ‘No No’ for Women with Diabetes

We spoke to Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on May’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast about ‘sex and intimacy issues’ for men and women with diabetes. LISTEN NOW

During the conversation we discussed that it’s common for women with diabetes to experience vaginal dryness. For this reason, lubricants can be a lifesaver in the bedroom. But if you pick the wrong one, it can be seriously harmful to your diabetes health.

Women with diabetes should avoid lubricants containing glycerin, a sugar alcohol. Too much of this sugar alcohol can lead to bacterial growth and yeast infections and UTIs.

Something to keep in mind is that many organic lubes or other glycerin free lubes use sweeteners other than sugar, such as aspartame. While this is great for those who cannot have sugar, others should keep this in mind as some people have negative reactions to aspartame. Knowing your own body and its reactions to various chemicals, and even natural sweeteners, can help you to make better decisions about the type or brand of lube you want to use.

One of the safest bets for women with diabetes is a high quality silicone lubricant. No studies have shown people having reactions to pure silicone lubricant, and many higher end versions, just as Pjur Bodyglide and Gun Oil only have four or five ingredients, most of them different types of silicone or silicone blends.

Liquid Silk and Play are two brands of water-based lubricant that do not contain glycerin.

Romantic relationships play an important role in our everyday lives. When diabetes enters the picture, it can complicate and strain even the most loving and open relationships. If you have diabetes, you may be looking for guidance on this sensitive subject – Janis Roszler and Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN, CDE’s book, Sex and Diabetes is here to give help and advice where you need it. Don’t let diabetes hinder the romance; Sex and Diabetes can help you discover how to rekindle the intimacy with your partner.

We’re talking about ‘hush hush’ topics in diabetes wellness such as intimacy issues, fears and food phobias on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from H.E.R. courtesy of SONY Music.

H.E.R. chooses to keep her true identity a secret but that’s proving harder to do after winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Song Grammy Awards this past year.

Guests include Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, Cheryl Farley “Food as Medicine” Nutritionist, Dr. Dugan Maddux and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from H.E.R.’s “I Used To Know Her: The Prelude” album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot’.

05/09/201902/19/2021

The 6 Best Questions to Ask Your Cardiologist

Everyday Health spoke with heart doctors to find out the right questions to ask to maintain heart health, and why they matter.

Question 1: What is my risk of having a cardiovascular problem in the future?

Why You Should Ask Understanding your risk for future heart disease, stroke, aneurysm and the like drives much of your care. Someone whose cholesterol is borderline but who has diabetes and a family history of heart disease will need their cholesterol treated much more aggressively than someone with a lower risk, for example. READ MORE

Question 2: What symptoms might indicate a worsening of my specific condition?

Why You Should Ask You may think you know the symptoms for some conditions, like chest pain indicating a heart attack, but a large percentage of women, and even some men, never experience these signs. That’s why it’s important that your doctor goes over all the warning signs that are personalized for you. READ MORE

Question 3: How important do you think it is to adopt new treatments and procedures?

Why You Should Ask You don’t want a doctor who just jumps on the bandwagon because every new technique needs to be studied and confirmed. But equally important, you don’t want someone so stuck in their ways that you don’t receive the benefits of medical advances. READ MORE

Question 4: Why are you recommending I take this test?

Why You Should Ask Most tests are important but patients should ask whether a test is accurate and reproducible, and will lead to a specific recommendation or change in therapy. Guidelines for appropriate tests can be found in medical journals online; if you look up a prescribed test and have questions about its value, call the office to ask more questions. READ MORE

Question 5: Why are you prescribing this medication?

Why You Should Ask Doctors — not your friends or social media buddies — are best positioned to explain the pros and cons of a drug based on the science. READ MORE

Question 6: Will any changes in my lifestyle make a difference?

Why You Should Ask Cardiovascular disease is an area where changes in lifestyle — diet, exercise, stress reduction, sleep — can greatly impact the course of the condition.

For example, the Mediterranean diet — which is high in vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats, and low in saturated fats and added sugars — was shown to improve many of the risk factors associated with heart disease in a study published in December 2018 in JAMA Network. The right diet is especially important if you are overweight or obese.

Healthline created a guide outlining what treatment options are covered by Medicare for Seniors. Find out the different parts of Medicare and what services, medications, and treatment are included under each part:

Does Medicare Cover Treatment for Heart Disease?
What You Need to Know About Medicare Part C

We’re talking about ‘hush hush’ topics in diabetes wellness such as intimacy issues, fears and food phobias with musical inspiration from H.E.R. on Diabetes Late Nite courtesy of SONY Music.

H.E.R. chooses to keep her true identity a secret but that’s proving harder to do after winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Song Grammy Awards this past year.

Guests include Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, Michael Priv, Cheryl Farley “Food as Medicine” Nutritionist, Dr. Dugan Maddux and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from H.E.R.’s “I Used To Know Her: The Prelude” album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.

Some doctors will go over lifestyle information with you, while others will refer you to dietitians, physical therapists, and other professionals they work with. Be sure to talk to your cardiologist about lifestyle changes to develop a plan that works for you. READ MORE