Healing and Hope

A Newsletter of the Diabetes Institutes Foundation

October 2005

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Reader,

We are very pleased to debut the Diabetes Institutes Foundation e-newsletter. Published monthly, Healing & Hope will bring you the latest developments in diabetes research, patient care and education at the Strelitz Diabetes Institutes of Eastern Virginia Medical School. Our debut newsletter features exciting new treatments for diabetes developed through the Strelitz Diabetes Institutes - Metabolic Activation Therapy and Nutrinerve. And dietitian Phyllis Woodson always has good advice to keep you eating healthy.

We’ll also feature opportunities for you to support the Diabetes Institutes Foundation. Recently, the Richmond Radiothon and the Strelitz Golf Tournament raised nearly $200,000 for the Institutes. And don’t forget the Lee Mazzilli Tournament on October 11th in the New York area. Also read all about Laird Roach's "running" campaign as she enters the New York ING Marathon. You can support her efforts by clicking here.

Enjoy! And let us know what kinds of topics you would like to hear about.

Best,
Anna Goldenberg
Executive Director
Diabetes Institutes Foundation

FOUNDATION NEWS

"Cookout for the Cure" A Rousing Success

What do you get when you combine beautiful weather, 17 grill teams, live entertainment and more than a 1,000 people? It could only be the 11th Annual Cookout for the Cure, sponsored by the International Longeshoremen's Association and the Hampton Roads Shipping Association. Boasting the biggest attendance in cookout history, supporters from across Hampton Roads and the Peninsula gathered on May 26th for what has become one of the hottest events in town. This year's event raised $55,000.

DIF Radiothon Takes Richmond

On Tuesday and Wednesday, August 9th and 10th, "Go Live Against Diabetes" blanketed the Richmond airwaves with an appeal for help in the fight against diabetes in Virginia . The Radiothon was broadcast live from the Richmond Haynes store for 22 hours. The people of Richmond area responded, pledging from homes, businesses, cars and in person over $71,500 in support for the Strelitz Diabetes Institutes.

Strelitz Golf Tournament Nets Over $116,000 for SDI

On August 7th and 8th, it was fun for all at the Leonard R. Strelitz Memorial Golf Tournament at the Cavalier Yacht & Country Club in Virginia Beach. Sunday evening a Monte Carlo themed reception yielded $5,100 in silent auction bids. The next morning 31 teams assembled on the course and almost made it through the day without rain. No one melted although they were a tad damp, and everyone enjoyed the luncheon and awards as the sun came out again. Congratulations to John Harris and his team for winning the event!

Running for Diabetes: Laird Roach's NYC Marathon Challenge

Laird Roche knows well the challenges posed by living with diabetes – her younger sister Keeling lives with Type 1. Next month, Laird will run in the New York City ING Marathon, and is seeking sponsors to help people like Keeling. Click here to help her run!

MEDICAL NEWS

Metabolic Activation Therapy at SDI

The Research Institute is establishing a new on-site treatment center for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The Advanced Diabetes Treatment Center (ADTC) will use a promising new method of delivering insulin to reduce the pain of neuropathy and lessen serious long-term complications of diabetes, such as heart attack, stroke, gangrene and kidney failure. ADTC will also investigate novel disease mechanisms that may contribute to the neurovascular dysfunction associated with diabetic neuropathy. For more information, contact JacotJL@evms.edu.

Nutrinerve Offers Neuropathy Relief

Scientists at the Research Institute have patented a new nutraceutical that combines fat and water soluble antioxidants to bolster the body’s defenses. Made from natural food products, Nutrinerve has been effective in relieving symptoms and improving some of the sensory loss of diabetic neuropathy. The Strelitz Diabetes Institutes has had clinical experience with a large number of patients who have benefited from its use. The Strelitz Diabetes Institutes has recently engaged a partner to manufacture packaging that will combine all the ingredients for easy use. Each package contains one month’s supply.

NUTRITION TOPICS

Advice on Eating Fish
Phyllis Woodson, Dietitian

Recent media information regarding safe eating of fish has been confusing. Here are the latest recommendations.

Mercury

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that pregnant or nursing women and young children should follow these guidelines in order to limit mercury intake:
1. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, ortilefish.
2. Eat 12 oz or less (2-3 different meals) of fish a week. Choose a variety of fish and seafood and avoideating the same fish more than once a week.
3. If the safety of fish from local waters is unknown, limit fish eaten from these waters to 6 oz a week and avoid eating any other fish that week.

Canned light tuna has less mercury than tuna steaks and canned albacore tuna. Tuna can safely be included weekly in the diet.

PCBs

Reports state that farm-raised salmon contain more PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and other cancer-causing substances than wild salmon from natural waters. These dangerous substances may be found in ground up smaller fish fed to the farm-raised salmon. The FDA, however, states that eating moderate amounts of any salmon is safe, but you may wish to remove the outer skin just to make sure. The largest amounts of PCBs are found in salmon from Europe and Iceland , and the smallest amounts of PCBs are found in salmon from Chile. Most farm-raised salmon in the US originate from Chile.

Arsenic

Even though there are no advisories regarding arsenic in fish from local waters, some health care professionals have expressed concern due to the inconsistent reporting of arsenic in fish from Dare County, NC waters. The best conservative recommendation may be to “go easy” on consumption of fish from these waters.

More advice on eating fish

Check with your local health department regarding the safety of fish in your local waters. The Virginia Department of Health recommends these precautions:
1. Eat small, younger fish rather than large, older fish; less contaminants.
2. Remove the skin before cooking the fish.
3. Bake, broil, or grill on an open rack to allow thefats to drain from the fish.
4. Eat less deep fried fish; frying “seals” in anycontaminants.

Why is it good to eat fish?

Fish, especially deep, cold-water fish and other foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can protect against heart disease--these foods include salmon; sardines; trout; swordfish; mackerel; herring; flounder; cod; tuna; shrimp; lobster; soy, flaxseed, and canola oils; flaxseeds; soybeans; and walnuts . And even though fish has fat, it has less of the unhealthy heart disease-causing saturated fat than other animal food sources such as beef, chicken, or pork.

Bon Appetit!

References:

The American Dietetic Association (Mar/Apr 2004). ADA Times ), Vol 1, Issue 4.
Virginia Department of Health (April 2004). Fishing Advisories.