Byetta and Type 2 Diabetes

I am sure most of you have seen the latest commercials on television advertising Byetta" (Exenitide) for Type 2 diabetes. Interesting to note, Byetta actually has its origin from the saliva of a Gila Monster, a venomous lizard found in the desert regions of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. When studied, the Gila Monster was noted for going long periods of time without having to eat.This amazing lizard was found to produce a certain type of protein that slows down stomach emptying. What this means is that it stays full for prolonged periods of time. Humans are known to produce a similar type of protein, called GLP-1. Hence the new drug, Byetta was born, which is actually a synthetic form of GLP-1. Byetta comes in an injectable form, but it is important to note, it should NOT replace insulin therapy for those who require it.

Byetta was approved in the U.S. market as early as 2005 and in the two years since it has been on the market, it has not yet been hit with any controversial allegations regarding serious, detrimental side effects. Remember, the keyword here is: "YET"! Eli-Lily, the producers of the drug, have reported huge jumps in sales hitting the $164.8 million mark for its third quarter in 2007. Currently, they are working on an more advanced version of the drug, Byetta LAR, which is a long acting release formula in an effort to keep sales growing.

Benefits of Byetta include delaying stomach emptying, increasing a feeling of fullness and reducing glucagon release from the liver thereby lowering blood sugar. It may also help pancreatic cells that produce insulin live longer. Additionally, Byetta has been found to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and promote, in some cases, significant weight loss. For those patients studied, the ones who lost the most weight also had a reduction in triglycerides and an increase in their HDL's, (the good cholesterol). Overall, these effects can assist individuals with not only improving diabetic health, but also in reducing cardiovascular risk factors such as those associated with stroke and heart attack.

Of course, with any drug, there are side effects to consider and if they become bothersome, discuss this with your doctor. Your physician should also be advised of any other drugs that you might be taking that may react with Byetta, so always make sure you bring your full list of medications with you when you visit him/her.

Any drug that you take may cause a severe allergic reaction, Byetta included. If you develop hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, this is considered a medical emergency and 911 should be called immediately. Other less severe side effects of Byetta include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea
• Loss of Appetite
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Feeling jittery

It is important to also be aware of the signs of hypoglycemia that could be related to this medication. These are:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Rapid Heartbeat
• and in severe cases difficulty arousing and coma

Always keep a source of sugar with you if you begin to experience any of these symptoms, and be sure to teach family members these signs as well. If anyone that you live with is unable to arouse you, of course they should contact 911 immediately.

Remember it is important that you discuss Byetta or any other medication with your doctor prior to taking it!

Follow this link to view the latest Byetta commercial on hubpages:

http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/Byetta-and-Type-2-Diabetes

On the lighter side, you want to get a good laugh read this one:

Man Boobs: What's a Guy To Do

Study Finds Fat People More Likely to Have Bad Breath

Now there’s another good reason to go on that diet after the holidays. Tel Aviv University researchers have published a study that finds a direct link between obesity and bad breath: the more overweight you are, the more likely your breath will smell unpleasant to those around you. Click here to Read More.....

Wu-Yi Tea: Diet Miracle or Diet Scam

Wu-Yi Diet Tea is said to have many properties that essentially improve your health as well as promote weight loss. The benefits that are advertised about this "wonder" tea include:

• anti-carcinogenic properties that reduce the risk of cancer


• assists in managing high cholesterol levels


• lowers blood pressure


• inhibits the abnormal formation of blood clots


• helps with digestion


• improves immunity


• relieves tiredness


• Powerful Fat Burner
  

But are the miraculous effects of this so called "diet wonder tea" a real miracle or just another money making scam? Judge for yourself by doing your own research before buying into their high priced marketing advertisement efforts. You can start by reading this incredible article written by a fellow hubber, Maddie Ruud on hubpages.com.

Follow this link to learn The Truth About Wu-Yi Tea.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Consequence of War

Several weeks ago, during a radio broadcast, the wife of an American soldier spoke about the difficulties her husband was having after serving in the war in Iraq. As she wept, she told interviewers that her husband, who was a U.S. Marine, had recently found out that he was being re-deployed to Iraq, after having served one previous term. So distraught was he over the news, he barricaded himself in his home and vowed that he was NOT going back. And he never did. He was shot and killed by police that day, without provocation, according to his grieving widow.

Many extraordinary cases similar to this exist within American history, however most end up getting swept under the carpet, as military officials do little to investigate the cause, quick to arrest, and even historically known to execute deserters.

In 1945, Private Eddie Slovik became the 1st American soldier to be executed for desertion since the Civil War. Slovic made no secret that he did not want to fire against the enemy in World War II. Because the military wanted to make an example out of him, he was shot and killed, while tied to a post, by a firing squad. It is important to note that many others were considered deserters during WWll, but Private Slovik was the only one executed for his act.

When a human being witnesses or participates in the atrocities of war; senseless murder, bombings, child killings, rape, disfigurement....some, especially those who are particularly vulnerable to stressors in their environment, are not able to cope, thus developing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). According to the Veteran's Association, tens of thousands of U.S. solders suffer from PTSD, causing horrifying flashbacks, nightmares and intense anxiety.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), formerly known as "Shell Shock" during WWll, is defined in Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing as "the development of characteristic symptoms after a psychologically stressful event that is considered outside the range of normal human experience (rape, combat, motor vehicle crash, natural catastrophe). Symptoms of this disorder include intrusive thoughts and dreams, phobic avoidance reaction (avoidance of activities that arouse recollection of the traumatic event), heightened vigilance, exaggerated startle reaction, generalized anxiety and societal withdrawal. PTSD may be acute, chronic, or delayed".

The statistics surrounding PTSD are startling. Dr. Greg Passey, a retired military psychiatrist who treats individuals with this disorder claims that as many as one in five people with PTSD actually attempt suicide.

On December 17, 2007, Roy Thomas Bell, a 44 year old Winnipeg man who served in the armed forces for 20 years, was shot and killed by Winnipeg police when he reportedly threatened them with a bat and gun. When police arrived at the scene, Bell was pleading with police to shoot him. And they eventually did. Those who knew him suspected that this was an act of "suicide by cop" as friends claimed he was dealing with PTSD and his condition had recently deteriorated.

Most of those who join the ranks of the armed forces are young men, barely in their 20's, still developing as human beings, thus very impressionable. It becomes the military's job to make these young men "killing machines" as they develop the mentality that their mission is to either kill or be killed. When they encounter the actual brutalities of war, though pre-conditioned to maintain a certain level of detachment for their acts, their psyche becomes somewhat "fractured", as the natural inclination of human beings is that we are taught to preserve life and not take it. As this causes deep emotional scars and they return home, expected now to fully function as "normal human beings" in society, they may start to feel different. Why? Because they "are" different. How can someone who has experienced this type of horror ever be the same? Ultimately, this experience has inevitably changed them forever. For some who cannot cope, they eventually sink further and further into themselves, lost souls, not knowing where to turn.

The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), developed by the Veteran's Administration in recognition of this growing problem, "aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders". Here you can learn more about PTSD, find a facility close to you that treats the disorder and read other published material related to PTSD.

Although the Veteran's Administration is making an attempt to confront the issue in some, perhaps some would say, menial way, the Bush Administration is perpetuating it by planning to cut health care costs for Veterans. This article taken from Think Progress explains further:

"The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans' health care two years from now - even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system. Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012. ... Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly - by more than 10 percent in many years - White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter." February 12, 2007

Whatever the reason behind the Bush Administration's decision, the cuts will negatively impact Veterans, their families and our nation as a whole. As they strive to put the pieces of their lives back together, where do Vets turn when the nation that was supposed to support them, turns their collective back?

If you are suffering from symptoms that may resemble PTSD, it is vitally important that you seek prompt medical attention. Please remember, you are not alone! Don't wait until it is too late! Your life may depend upon it!

See Internet Mental Health Links for more information about this and other mental health disorders. To see the touching video that portrays WWll Veterans talking about their horrific experiences after the war, click below and scroll to the bottom of the page:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Consequence of War

Healthcare News: Obama Promises Healthcare for Vets

I am not a politically oriented person, however, I do find some political news interesting, especially when it comes to promises made by presidential candidates that have the potential to be broken. In the latest political news, democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was photographed tearfully embracing retired Air Force Veteran Andrew Hampton in Mason City, Iowa during a recent campaign stop. Hampton reportedly questioned Obama about the poor state of health care for Veterans, especially concerning himself with Veterans returning home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan severely disabled and in desperate need of health care. Hampton, who received a standing ovation from the crowd, was then approached by Obama who embraced him while onlookers cheered. As the crowd listened intently, Obama promised that if he were elected president, he would take care of all veterans as a way of "encouraging future generations to enter the military." Perhaps he should take care of veterans just because it's the right thing for the country to do. After all, these soldiers deserve access to the best health care available after risking their lives for us on a daily basis. What a self-serving comment! Some people will just say anything to get elected these days! We shall see, Obama, if you keep your promises or if you will be just another presidential candidate that fabricates stories to serve your own political purpose. Would love to hear what the rest of America thinks about the upcoming election. Feel free to post your comments.

The Food Pyramid for Older Adults gets a Makeover!

The Food Pyramid for Older Adults has recently gotten a much needed "makeover!" In response to the federal government's recent change in the general food pyramid guide, researchers at Tufts University in Boston re-vamped the Food Pyramid for seniors to create a more user-friendly model and to focus on the unique, nutritional needs of older adults.

The emphasis of the new Food Pyramid is on the need for seniors to get an adequate supply of fiber, Vitamins D and B12 from nutrient and fiber rich foods instead of supplements. Also stressed upon is the need for the proper amount of daily exercise and fluid intake.

The new Food Pyramid is available in a graphic, print-out form and has icons representing foods, fluids and exercise in the following categories:

• Whole, enriched, and fortified grains and cereals such as brown rice and 100% whole wheat bread.
• Bright-colored vegetables such as carrots and broccoli and deep-colored fruit such as berries and melon. Canned, fresh or frozen are all acceptable forms.
• Low- and non-fat dairy products such as yogurt and low-lactose dairy products.
• Dry beans and nuts, fish, poultry, lean meat and eggs.
• Liquid vegetable oils and soft spreads low in saturated and trans fat.
• Adequate Fluid intake.
• Physical activity such as walking, swimming, house work and yard work.

If you look at the top of the pyramid, you can see the little flag that reminds seniors that supplements or foods fortified with calcium, vitamin D and vitamin b12, may be beneficial to some of them. In addition, the bottom of the pyramid reminds them to drink 8 glasses of water a day, as well as giving examples of how they can include exercise in their daily lives.

Of course, the food pyramid is meant to be a guide, only. One should always consult with their primary care provider about which meal plan is best for them. The Modified Food Pyramid entitled "MyPyramid for Older Adults" will be published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Queen Latifah Celebrates Plus Size No More?

Have you heard the latest? Queen Latifah, 37 year old Oscar-nominated actress and singer, recent star of the hit musical Hairspray, has decided to join the ranks of Kirstie Alley and Valerie Bertinelli by signing on to endorse the Jenny Craig weight loss program! "We officially confirm that Queen Latifah will join the Jenny Craig program in January" Scott Parker, vice president of Jenny Craig told People Magazine. He added, "We are thrilled to have her support our mission of improving health by taking her first step toward achieving a healthier lifestyle." Does this mean she will no longer be celebrating her voluptuous, plus size figure? We hope not Queen! It is rumored that she will not be focusing on being a "smaller size," but will help promote lifestyle changes and healthy living! You go girl, we can't wait to see you on those Jenny Craig commercials!

Want a good laugh, read my latest hub on hubpages:The Laughter Diet

Eating Out and Dieting Part 1

If you are like me, you are ALONE and tend to eat out alot instead of cooking for your little ol' lonesome self! The challenge, then, becomes how to continue on your weight loss journey and still lose weight, when confronted with all those tasty, high calorie menu options that most restaurants seem to offer? This post will serve to review some of my favorite restaurants and the menu plans they feature. Each week I will feature a different restaurant that I have reviewed and hopefully, this will inundate you with information along with providing you some fun and interesting options for your dining out pleasure, while still maintaining your weight loss.

I like to frequent restaurants that are conscious of my dilemma, ones that offer a low calorie meal plan or some type of healthy menu plan. I also prefer eating at places that can give me some printed information about the nutritional content of the foods I eat, IE; calorie, fat, carbohydrate and dietary fiber content. In utilizing this information, I can then make well-informed food choices for myself, or not, if I have decided that I want to splurge that night!!!

Most of you Southern Californians are familiar with Marie Calender's, and since this is one of the restaurants that is close to my house, this is where this story begins.

When I walked in and sat down, the first thing I did was order a glass of Merlot, yes, wine is ok on a diet, as long as you only have 1 bottle and not two!!! LOL! Just kidding, but one glass is not going to kill me, so I ordered it. After reviewing the menu, I realized immediately that they did not include any nutritional information at all on it, so I asked the waitress if they had that information written down someplace else on a separate pamphlet. She advised me that they did not! Hmmmnnn, for some reason, I thought that was some sort of law in California, but maybe not. Anyways, to make a long story even longer, since I did not have that information, it was up to me to use the brain God gave me to make my choices based on my own current knowledge of healthy eating. So, in turn, I then looked over the menu.

Marie does offer a "lighter bites" menu option, but they only give you a choice of 3 entrees under that category. They also have a variety of petite salads to choose from, but surprisingly, salads, depending on the one you choose, can be pretty high in fat, carbs or calories, so, again, nutritional information would have been helpful at this point. Continuing on, the lighter bites mealplan includes:

• Fresh grilled Atlantic Salmon
• Roasted Turkey with Tomato Basil, and
• Grilled lemon chicken with broccoli

Each of the above is served with a house salad with low-cal vinaigrette dressing. They also all include vegetables, but no potatoes, rice or bread. These all sounded like great choices to me. Salmon, chicken and fish are lower in calories than red mean, just remember, NO SKIN! (I know, that is the best part!) Veggies are very low in calories, virtually calorie free and having no bread etc, means no carbs, so this is a great start, but I still have no idea of how many calories etc. that I am putting into my body. Anyways, my choice for the night was the salmon. It arrived with a plate full of broccoli and tomatoes and a pretty hefty serving of fish. I only ate half of the salmon, and took the rest home for later, as it appeared to be two servings and since I am trying to lose, who needs the extra calories. It is always a good idea to make it a habit to always take home half of what you ordered and eat it the next day. Portion sizes in most restaurants are humongous, and that is probably why we, as Americans tend to lean towards the hefty side at times!

In conclusion, this restaurant serves good food, but I would like to see them incorporate nutritional information in their menu. If I were rating restaurants on a scale of 1-10, the lowest being the least appealing to the health conscious dieter and the highest being the most, I would probably give it a high 5! Stay tuned for next weeks chapter of Eating Out and Dieting, Part 2. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas if I don't post till then.

In the meantime, I have just written a dark and grisly tale on hubpages about the dark side of medicine. Check it out here:

The Dark Side of Medicine: Doctors and Nurses Who Kill

Check out my Hubpages Articles

I have some interesting articles published on HubPages, stop by, check them out and become my fan:

http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/Depression-Are-Carbs-Poisoning-Us
http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/The-downside-of-Heliumcom-for-writers
http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/How-to-Avoid-Gaining-Weight-This-Christmas_
http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/How-to-Make-Money-Selling-on-Ebay
http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/How-to-Foster-your-Creative-Side-and-Cure-Depression
http://hubpages.com/_vajs531wdt59/hub/Make-Money-Online-With-Clickbank

Foster Your Creative Side: A Cure For Depression?

Are you more analytical or perhaps more creative? Are you good in math, but weak in organizational skills? Are you also confused yet? If so, then rest assured that much information can be found on studies that help to determine actually which side of your brain is most dominant. Why is this important? Because amazingly, research has determined that each side of the brain controls different "modes" of thinking and most of us prefer one side to the other! Want to find out which side of your brain dominates the other? Take the hemisphere dominance test now! Understanding whether you are a "right brained" person or a "left brained" person, in this author's opinion, can tell you a lot about yourself and give you much needed insight into your personality.

According to Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsycholgy and Behavioral Neurology, "Researchers have uncovered evidence that illnesses, such as depression, are associated with one half of the brain and that by activating the brain's healthier other half, a person's condition may improve" (March 2002). Therefore, it may be safe to say, accordingly, that when creative individuals activate the right side of the brain, or their "creative" side by indulging in creative experiences, their depression lessons! At least this has been part of my life experience!

I have been contemplating this concept for some time now, and thinking about how it has applied in my own life. As as I mentioned in an earlier post, I suffer from chronic depression. In the last few weeks, however, my depressive symptoms have been somewhat alleviated because I have embarked on a mission to re-release my creative side, or my "right brain" so to speak. I have always been very creative. For years, I played piano, guitar and as a child, accordion. I was also very involved in theatre and dance and have written poetry since I was a wee tot! Hence, I am classically "right brained". For a significant period of time, however, I stopped doing all these things that literally made me feel ALIVE! Consequently, in my opinion, I became increasingly more and more depressed almost to the point of not wanting to live! It was only when I started to get my creative juices flowing again that I truly felt that my depression was starting to lift. I have been amazed ever since!

The point of this post is as follows...If you are an individual that suffers from chronic depression, perhaps you are right brained as well? I invite you to challenge my theory and see if fostering your creative side will help you with your depression. Can you draw or paint? How about gardening or creative writing? What about trying out for a play or singing in your church choir? Anything that nurtures that creative spirit inside you will serve the purpose. Try it for 30 days and see if you feel better! What have you got to lose, except those nasty, debilitating symtoms of depression!

For more interesting articles related to depression and other interesting topics, please visit my hubpages! I would love to hear your comments about this post? I will revisit again when I do further research on the topic. In the mean time, let your creativity flow!