Sometimes the mirror reflects issues in diabetes self-care.
Did you know that diabetes may cause hair thinning and hair loss?
People with diabetes are more likely to have a condition called alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease, causing hair loss on the scalp, face and sometimes on other areas of the body.
With alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss on the head and on other parts of the body. People with type 1 diabetes are more likely than people without this condition to develop alopecia areata.
Diabetes itself can lead to hair loss reports Healthline. The stress of living with a chronic illness may also cause hair loss, or the medicines you take to treat your diabetes. Some people with diabetes also have thyroid disease, which can contribute to hair loss.
Some people with diabetes can slow or stop hair loss by maintaining tighter blood sugar levels and managing stress.
Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Hyvelle Ferguson Davis shares her 14-year diabetes health journey which includes stroke, heart attack, surgeries and setbacks on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 6 PM, EST on blogtalkradio. TUNE IN
Hyvelle Ferguson Davis
Hyvelle was diagnosed with diabetes while pregnant with her son Ethan. The disease caught her totally off guard. “It was surreal to me,” she said. She wanted a healthy child, so diligently followed her doctor’s orders.
But not long after giving birth, she reverted to her old ways, “eating whatever I wanted to eat, thinking my meds would make up for what I ate,” she said. “I’d been checking my blood three times a day. But after having him, I didn’t. I ate anything and everything: chicken wings, red velvet cake. There was nothing I wasn’t eating.”
She kept thinking diabetes was an old person’s disease. Then, in 2014, she had a stroke. Every two minutes, an adult with diabetes in the U.S. is hospitalized for a stroke.
The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, along with industry leaders, have proudly launched the groundbreaking collaborative initiative Know Diabetes by Heart™ to reduce cardiovascular deaths, heart attacks and strokes in people living with type 2 diabetes.
How To Minimize Your Heart Risk
Prepare for your visit.Ask questions. Write them down ahead of time if you need to.
Be honest. Have candid conversations about your daily habits and lifestyle. This will help you work with your healthcare team to implement changes that are realistic for you.
Take notes. Make note of consistent symptoms, questions about your medications, and any changes in your lifestyle. These can be helpful for your next check-up. Also, take notes during your clinic visits. This can help you remember things, particularly if there are changes in your care plan.
We’re talking about ‘ROMANCE & DIABETES’ on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Camila Cabello on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN
After releasing three studio albums from 2015 to 2017 as part of Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello made her solo album debut in 2018, then this second album, Romance released in 2019 — and even she can feel the difference in the song-making process.
“I feel like this time around, I really got to bond with the people that I was collaborating with because I wasn’t trying to impress anyone anymore.”
Having diabetes affects much more than a person’s diet. It can impact every aspect of their life, including their sexual health.
When a person has diabetes, their body cannot use insulin properly, and this can lead to high blood sugar levels. Over time, these can lead to complications such as nerve damage and cardiovascular problems. Both have implications for sexual health in men and women.
We’re talking about ‘COUPLES& DIABETES’ on February’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast on Tuesday, February, 13, 2018. 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.
How we deal with the pressures of diabetes can make a real difference to the relationships we have with others including friends, family, work colleagues or one off acquaintances.
I reached out to my friend, and colleague, Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, who isa Certified Diabetes Educator and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for her advice on the subject in an exclusive interview for the Divabetic community.
Q: What are the common do’s and don’ts for engaging your spouse in your diabetes care?
Janis Roszler (JR): Ask, don’t assume.Ask your partner if they would like your help.If they say yes, ask what they would like you to do.
(JR): Learn about diabetes.The more you know, the more comfortable you are likely to feel.For example, your partner’s occasional high blood sugar level is not a problem. Complications develop when blood sugar levels remains high for an extended period of time.
(JR): Don’t be offended if your partner turns down your offer to help.Many people prefer to do certain tasks themselves.
(JR): Don’t enter the “parent trap.”You don’t want to turn into your partner’s nagging mother or father! Calmly share your concerns then ask how you can help.
Q: What is helpful and not helpful in their interactions with each other?
(JR): Watch your non-verbal communication.Rolling your eyes or turning away communicates a negative message as clearly as yelling.When you speak to your partner, turn your body towards them, employ good eye contact and listen to what they say.Don’t think about your response while they are speaking.Good listening communicates heartfelt concern.
Q: What advice can you give spouses/partners who argue about diabetes?
(JR): Most couples fight.The trick is to fight fair and repair hurt feelings at the end of the argument.Here are some rules for fighting fair:
Make an appointment to discuss the issue.Find a time when you both aren’t distracted.
Stay on topic.If you are upset about a certain problem, don’t bring up other issues that also bother you.
Don’t bring up the past.Avoid phrases like “you always…” or “you never…”They make people feel attacked.
Focus on the problem, not the person.Don’t call your partner stupid, forgetful or any other negative term.That can cause hurt feelings and prompt your partner to attack you back. The problem is the issue, not your partner.
If things get heated, take a break. When people feel angry or attacked, they stop listening. They also have a harder time feeling compassion. If things get out of hand, take a break. Set a time to resume the discussion.
End in a supportive way. After the fight, try to connect in a loving way.Hug, laugh, go for a walk, etc.Invest in your relationship.
Q: What advice can you give to spouses/partners of people with diabetes who don’t want to manage their diabetes?
(JR): You can’t control another person’s behavior.Let your partner know that you are there for them, but try not to nag or guilt them into changing their behavior.It will only stress your relationship. It is hard to watch someone ignore or mismanage their health.If watching them becomes too overwhelming, meet with a therapist who can help you deal with the situation.
Q: What advice can you give to spouses who may be afraid that their partners will develop diabetes health-related complications?
(JR): The good news is that people who manage their diabetes well dramatically reduce their risk of complications.Discuss how you can support their efforts to stay healthy.If they are open to it, join them at a diabetes class or appointment with their health provider, so you can learn what they need and how you may be able to help.
Q: Hypoglycemia is upsetting, both for people with diabetes and their partners. Both get scared, both get frustrated, and both can get angry, at each other and at the diabetes. What advice can you offer on this subject?
(JR): Create a diabetes emergency plan before a problem develops.Which snacks should be in the house?What should you say if you think your partner’s blood sugar is dropping? If your partner wears a pump and has an unexpected blood sugar swing, what should you do?Etc. If you have unanswered questions, join your loved one at an upcoming appointment with their healthcare provider and ask what they suggest.
Q:Many people use glucose monitoring devices that can share data. Are there any guidelines for partners who monitor their spouse’s blood sugar data on their iPhones, etc.?
(JR): Some people feel great comfort knowing that their partner is watching their blood sugar level.Others prefer to keep these results private.Ask how your partner feels about sharing this information.If you see that their blood sugar level is going out of range, how would they like you to communicate this information?When should you tell them?This is all very personal and should be discussed before the situation arises.
Q:Divabetic is honored to participate in Diabetes Podcast Weekto raise awareness for the ‘Spare a Rose, Save A Child’ campaign. This a wonderful cause encourages people to take the typical “dozen roses,” so popular on Valentine’s Day, and donate the value of one rose to help save the life of a child living with diabetes in developing countries. (The International Diabetes Foundation estimates that there almost 500,000 children under 15 years with type 1 diabetes. Lack of access to insulin remains a common cause of death in a child with diabetes.) Make your donation tonight by visiting the International Diabetes Federation (idf.org).
In the spirit of Diabetes Podcast Week, I’d like to ask you what some guidelines are for creating boundaries between parents and children with diabetes?
(JR): Visit the Children with Diabetes organization (childrenwithdiabetes.com).They run wonderful programs and offer online support for parents of children who have diabetes. Learn how other parents handle boundary issues.If your child is ready, encourage them to gradually start to do age appropriate self-care tasks, so they can become more independent.Let them know that they can come to you if any task doesn’t go as planned.
Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and insulin pump trainer. She is the author of several books as well as the popular Dear Janis column in Diabetes Positive! Magazine and contributes to Diabetes Health, Diabetes Forecast, Diabetes Interview, and Diabetes Self-Management . She is also a speaker on diabetes-related topics and has appeared on numerous radio programs and Internet webcasts.
In this book, 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.
One of Janis Roszler’s other books, Sex & Diabetesis 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.
TUNE IN: Diabetes Late Nite inspired by Faith Hill & Tim McGraw on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 6 PM, EST. Throughout this podcast we will be playing selected songs from Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s ‘Rest Of Our Lives’ album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Jaye O’Grey, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.
Our ‘Spaghetti Westerns’ theme for our Divabetic Father’s Day Celebration hopes to shed light on one of the more common, but often not discussed, diabetes health-related complications for men: Erectile dysfunction (ED).
Erectile dysfunction (ED) — the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex — is common in men who have diabetes. It can stem from problems caused by poor long-term blood sugar control, which damages nerves and blood vessels.
Does the man in your life keep quiet about having trouble getting an erection, keeping an erection and/or shooting blanks?
If so, then maybe the title of one of the most popular Spaghetti Western films: ‘The Great Silence’ accurately sums up what’s happening in your bedroom.
In the film, a mute gunfighter defends a young widow and a group of outlaws against a gang of bounty killers in the winter of 1898, and a grim, tense struggle unfolds.
More to the point, 95% percent of men are ‘mute’ about discussing erectile dysfunction. A national telephone survey of 502 American men age 18 or older, which was undertaken as part of the Cleveland Clinic’s “MENtion”it campaign (2016) found only 5% of men discuss erectile dysfunction (ED) with their male friends, and only 3% mention urinary tract issues.
One-fifth of men (22 percent) do not discuss private topics such as health or relationships with anyone. Baby Boomers are especially private in this regard, with only one-third having more than one person they feel comfortable sharing such information with, compared to 47 percent of Millennials.
Why is ‘The Great Silence’ About ‘ED” Still Going On Today?
In therapy, many issues are covered, but sex may still be an uncomfortable topic for many people and even therapists to talk about. Yet many people with diabetes have sexual issues that need to be resolved in order for life to be the most fulfilling that it can be.
“Once ED occurs, the man can start to become very anxious about it happening again”, says, Dr. Laura Berman, a sex educator and relationship therapist. “Ironically, this can make ED more likely to occur, and it can also complicate his relationship with his partner…. Meanwhile, his partner might have no idea what’s going on and be very concerned and even angry.”
I reached out to one of my favorite certified diabetes educators, Author Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, who also just happens to be a family therapist (!), to share some tips to help men open up about E.D:
You are not alone.ED is a very common problem that affects more than 39 million men in the United States.You are not the first man to bring up the topic with your doctor, and won’t be the last!
There is a treatment for almost every man who has E.D.If you tried oral medications and they didn’t help, don’t give up.You have a lot of options.
You deserve a good sex life.Don’t assume that having E.D. is the way things must be from now on.For most men, intimacy is very important for their mental and physical health.Don’t give up!
If you feel uncomfortable about the topic, tell your healthcare provider that you have something very personal to discuss.Hopefully, your doctor, nurse or other expert will get the hint and open the discussion for you.
What you Can Do If Your Suffering from ED!
Keep your blood glucose level under control to prevent urological and other diabetes-related problems. Medications, exercise, and a proper diet can help you manage your blood sugar levels.
Conditions like diabetes or heart disease can lead to emotional problems, including anxiety or depression. These can worsen your ED and other aspects of your health. Talk to your doctor if you start to experience feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety, or worry.
Few things can take the wind out of your man’s sails quite like learning that he’s shooting blanks. But that’s the reality for more guys than many people realize.“Infertility affects one out of 10 couples,” says Darius Paduch, M.D., Ph.D., director of sexual health and medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. “And in 30 percent of those cases, men will be the main reason.”Don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor if you have a problem that affects your sex life. He or she may be able to suggest a treatment. For example, the most common sexual difficulty of women with diabetes is painful intercourse caused by vaginal dryness. Your doctor or a pharmacist can suggest over-the-counter vaginal lubricants or moisturizers to use. Water-based lubricants are helpful when needed to make sex more comfortable. Moisturizers are used on a regular basis, every 2 or 3 days. Or, your doctor might suggest a form of vaginal estrogen.Physical problems can change your sex life as you get older. But, you and your partner may discover you have a new closeness. Talk to your partner about your needs. You may find that affection—hugging, kissing, touching, and spending time together—can make a good beginning.What is Male Infertility?Male infertility means you can’t get your partner pregnant. It often results from low production of sperm, called oligospermia, or from complete absence of sperm in your ejaculate, called azoospermia.Sperm that doesn’t move correctly, or is shaped abnormally, can also have problems reaching an egg to fertilize. Obstructions preventing the sperm from leaving the body can be to blame, too.
What Causes It?
Hormonal imbalance may be to blame. You need adequate levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin to produce healthy sperm, so low levels could cause a problem.
Certain health conditions can play a role, too. Diabetes, for instance, damages the nerves that move the sperm out of the penis, Dr. Paduch says. READ MORE
Did you know that he Spaghetti Western boomin the late 60’s and early 70’s saw close to 500 features produced throughout Europe? Such actors as Clint Eastwood, Franco Nero, Lee Van Cleef, and Terence Hill (real name: Mario Girotti) found a home in the genre.
‘The Great Silence’ Trivia: According to director Sergio Corbucci it was actor Marcello Mastrioanni who gave him the idea of the mute gunslinger, when the actor told him that he had always wanted to do a western, but unfortunately didn’t speak English. When Corbucci first met Trintignant, who didn’t speak English either, he decided that this was the moment to turn the taciturn spaghetti western hero into a mute. The name Silence is not only referring to the character’s incapacity to speak, but also to that “great silence” that is waiting for us all on the other side.
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.
“The best book on sexuality and diabetes published in the last 5 years. A must read for all persons with diabetes and their significant others.” —David S. Schade, MD.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic explores issues of love, intimacy and diabetes on this special one hour podcast, ‘Don’t Let Diabetes Kill Romance’. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to sexual health complications including vaginal dryness, sensation and performance. Up to 50% of men and 25% of women may experience some kind of sexual problem or a loss of sex drive.
Don’t equate sexual performance with love or a fulfilling relationship; focus on letting your partner know you care and want to give pleasure as part of your relationship.
LISTEN NOW:Don’t Let Diabetes Kill Romance podcastwith guests Janis Roszler MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND (2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE), Best-Selling Author Lisa Eugene, Jennifer Martsolf from Trigg Laboratories (the makers of Wet Lubricants).
Over the next week I’ll be sharing more Divabetic ‘Spaghetti Western’-themed Father’s Day Celebration blog posts showcasing Best-Selling Cookbook Author Holly Clegg‘s healthy recipes, Megrette Fletcher RD, CDE‘s advice on portions, Diabetes Advocate & ‘Rich In Love’ Spokesmodel Doris Hobbs’s vintage Western looks and fun party ideas (pictured above).
Divabetic ‘Entertaining’ Style: Burlap’s not just for potatoes anymore! Burlap tablecloths and table runners are the perfect combination of classic beauty and country charm! Burlap tablecloths come ina vast array of colors. My favorite shades of faux burlap are natural or white. These two shares are often paired together to create a clean contrast between the natural rustic shade and fresh linen-like look of white.Try one to add texture to your Father’s Day Celebration.
Divabetic ‘Entertaining’ Tip: When determining your color palette remember that you define it, your surroundings do not need to dictate your table. If you make your table the focal point, that is really what guests are going to see. So don’t stress too much about your carpet, wall color or other nearby factors. Be bold, be sassy, be a diva!
TUNE IN: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 for Diabetes Late Nite with music by Maxwell. We’re talking about Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) with musical inspiration from Maxwell.
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is an accumulation of fluid in the macula-part of the retina that controls our most detailed vision abilities-due to leaking blood vessels. In order to develop DME, you must first have diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). Poorly controlled blood sugar is a risk factor. Early symptoms include floaters, blurriness, dark areas of vision, and difficulty perceiving colors. Blindness can occur.
Guests include singer Alfa Anderson, Diabetic Macular Edema patient Maryanne Kass, Artist Bryce Chisholm, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from several of several of Maxwell’s albums courtesy of SONY Music.
