AURELIUS - If the war against diabetes can be won with information, several experts on the disease gave an abundance of ammunition to local diabetics at the first Auburn Diabetes Fair.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Dr. Charlie Keenen speaks about regulating diabetes with insulin during the Auburn Diabetes Fair at the Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius Saturday morning.
Dr. Charlie Keenen speaks about regulating diabetes with insulin during the Auburn Diabetes Fair at the Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius Saturday morning.
Dr. Charles H. Keenen, the first of the fair's three featured speakers, addressed the audience in Fingerlakes Mall about the most important instrument of a diabetic's fight against the disease: insulin.
Keenen, also a diabetic, told the attendees who share his disease that any anxiety about insulin should be soothed by the certainty of its ability to aid diabetics. He used a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate precisely how the disease is caused by a decrease in the pancreas's ability to produce insulin, which alleviates high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) by absorbing and metabolizing the nutrient.
“Insulin is naturally occurring, so why not put something back in your body that's missing?” Keenen asked.
Keenen reminded the audience that they should not feel ashamed of insulin use and that it is not a sign of failure to treat the disease. By the time the typical diabetic is diagnosed, their pancreas has already degenerated to 50 percent of its insulin-producing ability.
Bill King, of insulin pump producer Animas Corporation, next related to the audience his experience with exercise as a diabetic. King proudly told the audience that he had run in 17 marathons since starting to use an insulin pump.
During such extensive periods of exercise, King suggested a 20/20 rule of 20 grams of carbohydrates for every 20 minutes of activity. The effort pays off in the form of improved sensitivity to insulin and optimized use of the hormone in the body.
Without exaggeration, he explained that regular exercise would also prompt the diabetics in the audience to check their blood sugar more often, sleep better and feel less depressed.
“We should all be training our bodies like Olympic stars,” King said.
Depression was a key subject of King's speech. He noted that dips in mood are usually the first symptom of diabetes to present in people who have been diagnosed.
“We need to look closely at ourselves and like ourselves in spite of the fact that we're not perfect,” he said.
This self-defeatist approach to the disease typically worsens the dangers of heart attacks and limb amputation that come with it. King encouraged his audience not to become “our own worst enemies” by losing spirit.
He asked them not to be the diabetic whose confidence deflates after walking up a flight of stairs and finishing short of breath. Instead, King told them to be persistent and walk those stairs every day until they could do so without exhausting themselves.
King's words motivated Jerome Roberts, of Port Byron, to work harder against his diabetes by doing “a lot more exercise.”
“It all has a purpose for longevity down the road,” Roberts said.
Following King's presentation, audience members took a few minutes to peruse three display tables that highlighted key technological developments in diabetes treatment.
In addition to an Animas insulin pump table, a Novo Nordisk table introduced attendees to the company's newest insulin injector, the Levemir FlexPen. The device, prefilled with 300 units of insulin, provides diabetics with a simple dial for determining how many units to inject.
A LifeScan table offered diabetics information about OneTouch monitoring systems, such as the Ultra 2 model. The device can take tiny blood samples, log the blood/glucose levels, and store the results as either before or after a meal. Over time, the results produce averages that help diabetics discover how they are affected by the food they eat and the portions.
“They really empower the patient to self-manage,” said Denise Thurston, practice management consultant with LifeScan.
The final speaker, Steven Beauchamp, territory manager from Animas, finished the morning with an in-depth discussion of the benefits of insulin pumps.
As an alternative to daily injections, pumps provide diabetics with smaller, but more frequent doses of insulin than the four or five daily shots most people require. In this respect, the pump mimics the pancreas.
Beauchamp pointed out that the device can be used by diabetics from 8 months to 82 years old. Larry White, a diabetic of 40 years from Elbridge, listened closely to the benefits of the pump Beauchamp described.
“I'm more inclined to discuss it with my health care professionals, and I'd feel more comfortable about possibly going on the pump,” White said.
As Beauchamp finished his presentation, he saw success in the dozens of diabetics leaving Fingerlakes Mall better equipped to deal with their disease.
“We had a very good turnout, and I can't wait until next year,” he said. “There's a desperate need for diabetes information in this area.”
The fair renewed Auburn resident Mike Bishop's confidence in his ability to lead a healthy lifestyle while coping with diabetes.
“You can live comfortably with diabetes; it's just a matter of taking care of yourself.” Bishop said. “It all depends on you.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
Keenen, also a diabetic, told the attendees who share his disease that any anxiety about insulin should be soothed by the certainty of its ability to aid diabetics. He used a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate precisely how the disease is caused by a decrease in the pancreas's ability to produce insulin, which alleviates high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) by absorbing and metabolizing the nutrient.
“Insulin is naturally occurring, so why not put something back in your body that's missing?” Keenen asked.
Keenen reminded the audience that they should not feel ashamed of insulin use and that it is not a sign of failure to treat the disease. By the time the typical diabetic is diagnosed, their pancreas has already degenerated to 50 percent of its insulin-producing ability.
Bill King, of insulin pump producer Animas Corporation, next related to the audience his experience with exercise as a diabetic. King proudly told the audience that he had run in 17 marathons since starting to use an insulin pump.
During such extensive periods of exercise, King suggested a 20/20 rule of 20 grams of carbohydrates for every 20 minutes of activity. The effort pays off in the form of improved sensitivity to insulin and optimized use of the hormone in the body.
Without exaggeration, he explained that regular exercise would also prompt the diabetics in the audience to check their blood sugar more often, sleep better and feel less depressed.
“We should all be training our bodies like Olympic stars,” King said.
Depression was a key subject of King's speech. He noted that dips in mood are usually the first symptom of diabetes to present in people who have been diagnosed.
“We need to look closely at ourselves and like ourselves in spite of the fact that we're not perfect,” he said.
This self-defeatist approach to the disease typically worsens the dangers of heart attacks and limb amputation that come with it. King encouraged his audience not to become “our own worst enemies” by losing spirit.
He asked them not to be the diabetic whose confidence deflates after walking up a flight of stairs and finishing short of breath. Instead, King told them to be persistent and walk those stairs every day until they could do so without exhausting themselves.
King's words motivated Jerome Roberts, of Port Byron, to work harder against his diabetes by doing “a lot more exercise.”
“It all has a purpose for longevity down the road,” Roberts said.
Following King's presentation, audience members took a few minutes to peruse three display tables that highlighted key technological developments in diabetes treatment.
In addition to an Animas insulin pump table, a Novo Nordisk table introduced attendees to the company's newest insulin injector, the Levemir FlexPen. The device, prefilled with 300 units of insulin, provides diabetics with a simple dial for determining how many units to inject.
A LifeScan table offered diabetics information about OneTouch monitoring systems, such as the Ultra 2 model. The device can take tiny blood samples, log the blood/glucose levels, and store the results as either before or after a meal. Over time, the results produce averages that help diabetics discover how they are affected by the food they eat and the portions.
“They really empower the patient to self-manage,” said Denise Thurston, practice management consultant with LifeScan.
The final speaker, Steven Beauchamp, territory manager from Animas, finished the morning with an in-depth discussion of the benefits of insulin pumps.
As an alternative to daily injections, pumps provide diabetics with smaller, but more frequent doses of insulin than the four or five daily shots most people require. In this respect, the pump mimics the pancreas.
Beauchamp pointed out that the device can be used by diabetics from 8 months to 82 years old. Larry White, a diabetic of 40 years from Elbridge, listened closely to the benefits of the pump Beauchamp described.
“I'm more inclined to discuss it with my health care professionals, and I'd feel more comfortable about possibly going on the pump,” White said.
As Beauchamp finished his presentation, he saw success in the dozens of diabetics leaving Fingerlakes Mall better equipped to deal with their disease.
“We had a very good turnout, and I can't wait until next year,” he said. “There's a desperate need for diabetes information in this area.”
The fair renewed Auburn resident Mike Bishop's confidence in his ability to lead a healthy lifestyle while coping with diabetes.
“You can live comfortably with diabetes; it's just a matter of taking care of yourself.” Bishop said. “It all depends on you.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
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Commendation: wrote on May 3, 2007 11:32 AM: