Diabetes & The TaxMan: Can I Deduct That?

Since tax time is literally just around the bend,I’ve been gathering receipts from my pharmacy, insurance premiums, and Doctors copay receipts for my accountant - Which of course makes me think about other diabetes related tax deduction questions.

Like:

Are pump batteries, glucose tabs & juice-boxes considered diabetes deductions?

Think about it, durable medical equipment like pump supplies, needles and lancets are considered tax deductions and are covered by insurance, so why not pump batteries?

You don’t need an RX for glucose tabs or juice-boxes, but we buy them specifically to treat diabetes lows, so technically, shouldn’t we be able to write them off?

Same goes for Larabars, which I also use to treat lows when I’m working out!

Speaking of working out: Can a gym membership/class/exercise equipment purchased be considered a durable medical equipment deduction?

We exercise to stay healthy & fit, AND because studies have shown that exercise helps regarding in both maintaining good blood-sugars and long term diabetes damage, so shouldn’t we able to write off the cost of Aqua Boot Camp and the redonkulous cost of joining the local gym, JCC, or YMCA?

And what about eating healthy??

I really try to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup at all costs, but it’s expensive!! And FYI: Our bodies do know the difference between sugar and HFCS, and the proof is in the blood sugar numbers!

I want a write off for buying non - HFCS crap!

Can I write off the Ezekiel bread, non hfcs / gluten free Food Should Taste Good Chips, Apple's & Eve juiceboxes & Soy milk???

Also, as a person living with diabetes - I can't wear cheap shoes.

Seriously, I can't - no way no how!

Cheap shoes = major foot issues for people with diabetes - Everyone knows that!

I'm like the freaking Princess & The Pea when it comes to cheap shoes - I can't wear them!

Uncle Sam, I need to be able to write off My Asics Gels,(the only sneakers I can wear comfortably &which cos $125 a pair,) Naot shoes & any other footwear that don't hurt/damage my feet!

I don't choose to wear expensive shoes - I HAVE TO WEAR EXPENSIVE SHOES.

I am aware that medicare covers 1 pair of "diabetic shoes," and three pairs of orthotics a year, but I'm not on medicare.

And personally, diabetes or not, people need, (not to mention wear) more than one pair of shoes a year!

And if you're a person with diabetes who gets your shoes through medicare, can you write off the shoes medicare doesn't cover?

What unconventional (but totally necessary and valid) diabetes deductions would you like to see covered, or that you actually use as a diabetes a tax deduction?

Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

“I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!”

NO, not really! But seriously Santa, there’s a few things that I’m really hoping you can help me with – some diabetes, some, not so much.

Oh, and as far as being "good," that would certainly depend on your definition of the word, but for the most part, I totally have been!

Same applies for your definitions of naughty and nice, but I digress.

Back to my list -

I’d like a cure for diabetes - like TODAY!

But if your elves can’t make that happen, (something tells me they may lack certain scientifical skills required to find said diabetes cure) maybe you could send some of your magic North Pole vibes to places like the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation so their scientists can find us a cure!

The rest of my list is simple:

Santa, (and PLEASE excuse my language,) I’d like my insurance company to get a fucking clue and cease and desist with the following criminal activities:

1 Monthly Premiums that are sky high

2. Charging an absolutely ridiculous rate for my insulin and symlin

3. Playing "eeny, meeny,miny, moe," as far as who gets CGMS and sensors coverage

4. Screwing around with the number of test strips they’ll cover a month - In this case 3 is most definitely not a magic number- it's down right deadly.

My next request requires some political maneuvering on your part. Is there anyway that legally stopping the Corn Refiners ASSociation n from changing the name of HFCS to Corn sugar – I’d greatly appreciate it!

And while you’re at it, maybe you could just put a kibosh on the whole HFCS bullshit in general!

Mr. Santa K, Please find an antidote for Bieber Fever - ASAP

Santa - I’m tired of the Media getting it all wrong re: diabetes. Please do something to stop the perpetuation of diabetes myths and stereotypes!

Side Bar: I've already written a post on this subject, but I have feel the need to bring it to your attention.

I really think the MythBusters team could help with the whole stopping the perpetuation of the afore mentioned diabetes myths and stereotypes.

Maybe, and this is just a thought because I wouldn’t want to tell you how to do your job – God knows you’re the Yuletide expert Mr Klaus. But maybe you could perhaps threaten Jamie and the crew with coal in their stockings if they don’t do Diabetes MythBusters episode, they'd actually consider filming said episode.

And finally Santa, please bless my entire DOC family this season with hope; laughter, prosperity, good health, good blood sugars & love.

They mean the world to me and I love them from the bottom of my imperfect pancreas.

They are my light; my teachers, my friends and my family – and I love them all very much.

Your Pal,

Kelly Kunik~

Diabetesalicious - Lite Edition: Featuring SAE, My Diaversary

Happy Friday and welcome to this weeks edition of Diabetesalicious- Lite, brought to you by 2 things that are worth celebrating:

SAE Day - happening on November 1st and my 33rd Diaversary, occurring this Halloween weekend.

SAE DAY

What is SAE Day? I'm glad you asked! SAE stands for Support, Advocate, & Educate and is the brain child of Sarah over at Sugabetic.
According to Sarah, the ideal behind SAE Day is to do something in relation to each letter on November 1st to “SAE” and raise awareness about diabetes (and living with diabetes) in a fantastical way.

Support: As in support events, campaigns, and fellow DOC members in their campaigns about diabetes.

Advocate: As in using your voice, writing abilities and tenacity to write letters to your elected officials about diabetes awareness and research, healthy food campaigns for your local schools, and calling up makers of your favorite foods and tell them that High Fructose Corn Syrup has got to go, or you'll stop buying their products!

Educate: As in educating others about living with diabetes. Defuse those pesky diabetes myths that haunt us all and teach others about diabetes realities.

To learn more details about SAE DAY, click HERE and read what Sarah over at Sugabetic has to say about it!

My Diversary

This weekend I will not only be celebrating Halloween, but my 33rd Diaversary of living my life with diabetes.

I will celebrate the good, the bad, and the Diabetesaliciousness of it all.

And I will celebrate my survival, the fabulous Dr's Bantings and Best, my wonderful diabetes family, and I will celebrate the little girl who has now become a woman who is grabbing life by the balls every chance she gets!

I will wear my Halloween costume (which has the potential to be fabulous) and waive my diabetes freak flag proud!

And when your Diaversary rolls around, I highly suggest you do the same!!

And YES, there wil be a more detailed Diaversary Post with pictures to follow this weekend!!

Diabetesaliciousness-Lite, Pinched Nerve Edition.

Due to a pinched nerve in my neck (most likely caused by the external rotation issues I've been having due to my ice inspired shoulder,) this week's Diabetesalicious Lite Edition will be short, because I PROMISED my Chiropractor that I'd spend a limited amount of time on my computer for the next few days.

Actually, he mentioned something about "cold turkey" and I pretended not to hear him, but I digress.

SO, for those of you American Idol/Crystal Bowersox click HERE to read Amy Tenderich's interview and be prepared to be inspired.

Bernard Farrell does a great job of keeping the D-O-C informed when new members move into dBlogville. Click HERE to read about some great new diabetes bloggers.

Jacquie Wojcik over at Typical Type 1, a.k.a Bad Pancreas, wrote yet another post that was from the heart & spoke to all pwds! Jacquie bravely admits that she is a "recovering type 2 blamer," and damn it, if she can be brave, so can I. Years ago (and by years I mean maybe 6 or 7) I too blamed type 2's for a multitude of diabetes sins. Like Jacq, I've seen the error of my ways and I will kick ass if I hear someone blaming a type 2 in my presence. But still, the guilt is with me everyday because I can't believe what a schmuck I once was. To my fellow pwds with type 2, I apologize from the bottom of my broken pancreas - which geographically speaking is a much lower place than the bottom of my heart. Read Jacquie's wonderful post right now!

Over at BlogHer, Kerri Sparling called out celebrities who have found the "diabetes cure" and schooled them good! Click HERE to read her fantastic post!

Mike Hoskins over at The Diabetes Corner Booth wrote a great post about name changes. More specifically, how The Corn Refiners Ass of America wants to change the name from high fructose corn syrup to a more "simpler" corn sugar. Once again, they think the American public is confused about the evils of HFCS. Can you say "Bite me bitches?!" Click HERE to read it!!

For those of you who read my "Chi, chi,chi Chiabetic" Post, I've now added a pic (now that I received his approval to post it) of my fantastical friend Mark and I, and Yes, I'm in a bridesmaid's dress, in a bar, after a wedding. But honestly, I think it captures our friendship & it's one of my favorite pics of us! Click HERE to see Marky Mark.

On the holiday front, today is national Hug A Vegetarian Day and Native American Day.

On the weird and wacky fact front, did you know that tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. FOR REALZ.

Rubber bands last longer when kept in the refrigerator.

The characters "Bert" and "Ernie" on Sesame Street were named after "Bert the cop" and "Ernie the taxi driver" in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." Actually I did know that one, and now you do!

"OK Doc, I'm getting off the computer now - I SWEAR!"

OK, gotta go!

Things That Make Me Go "Hmmmmmm," Damn Near End Of Summer Edition

Things that make me go HMMMMMM, damn near end of summer edition.
Those that read my blog, know that lots of things in this world make me go "HMMMMM."
Some are diabetes related and some are not, but all leave me scratching my head!

For the life of me, I don't understand why I'm bombarded with twitter followers who pitch weight loss via hypnosis, lap-band surgery, and raw food diets. Here's a thought: GET A CLUE! Just because I have diabetes doesn't mean that I'm over weight, need to have major surgery, or believe that eating raw foods 24 X7will cure me. Seriously, STOP STALKING ME!

Why is that when I'm just about to embrace REM sleep and drift off to la-la land, a low blood sugar decides to rear its ugly head?? And why do I wait a few minutes hoping that it's something else entirely?

Why does Glen Beck use a blackboard?

I find it ironical and extremely annoying that when I'm supposed to fast at midnight for blood work, I have an almost uncontrollable urge to graze at precisely 12:01 a.m. What's with that?

I also find it "ironical" that the Corn Refiners Association feels that the American people are "confused" about High Fructose Corn Syrup. We aren't confused, THEY ARE.

What's the deal with Kim Kardashian & Justin Beiber and why do I even care?

Why does the instructions on shampoo bottles almost always tell us to: Wash, rinse, & repeat?

Why do people tell me (us) "I look good, especially for having diabetes." REALLY?! It's not like I tell them that "they look good, especially for being a stupid moron."
BOTTOM LINE: I look good because of good lighting, a flattering lipstick shade and a sparkling (if not sardonic) personality.

I have absolutely now idea "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood." And what the hell is a woodchuck anyway?
OK, I just googled the above and apparently a woodchuck is another name for the North American groundhog. And for the record, woodchucks can't "chuck" wood. But if a woodchuck could chuck wood, it's been estimated that the amount of wood chucked would be damn close to 700 lbs. Say that three times fast!

HFCS - The Sweet Facts Are: We Aren't Confused - YOU ARE.

I’m confused about lots of things in life. I don’t get why people watch the Kardashians or the Jersey Shore and am “confused” as to what the attraction is to shows like that?

The concept of North, South, East, & West confuses me - and if truth be told it confuses various family members as well. In my diabetesalicious my mind, Canada is UP and Florida is down.

I understand the whole “clean up after yourself,” concept, and have understood it since nursery school. Simply put; if you make a mess, clean it up. I’m “confused” as to why BP Oil has such a tough time grasping said concept.

One thing that does not “confuse” me is High Fructose Corn Syrups negative effect on my blood sugar. I’ve done the “Diabetes Math” folks. I’ve counted the carbs, tested my blood sugar, and did the correct bolus for a snack size bag of corn chips/cookies, and was incredibly confused as my blood sugar skyrocketed to the moon.

I’ve called my CDE damn in tears, frustrated with the results of carbo counting for HFCS laden foods and was told quite bluntly: If HFCS is in the first five ingredients of a product, don’t eat it- it will wreck havoc with your blood sugars!

That was 10 years ago, and since then I’ve steered clear of the dietary demon that is HFCS.

I’ve read books, talked with numerous health care professionals, and watched documentaries on the HFCS, - it's not a pretty picture. I’ve written numerous blog posts about HFCS and tweeted facts. Seriously folks, there’s nothing “sweet” about what HFCS does to your body.

I w as mega confused when I start receiving out of the blue tweets from @Sweetfacts (a PR firm for the Corn Refiners Association) telling me that “I’m confused about HFCS” and that’s “it’s perfectly fine if consumed in moderation.” @sweetfacts also sent me lots of links to posts saying HFCS has nothing to does with the rise of type 2 diabetes in this country. YES – I laughed so hard I could barely catch my breath.

I tweeted back the correlation between HFCS being added to soft drinks in 1980, which happened to be the year children started being diagnosed with type 2. No answer on that one.

@sweetfacts @sstrumello FYI - US rates of type 2 diabetes at a crazy rate since 1980, when soda co's started substituting sugar with HFCS

I decided to tweet @Sweetfacts a rather simple question that would ease my mind regarding HFCS. I even used @Sweetfacts very own words. I asked: How does one consume HFCS in moderation when it’s in almost every processed food under the sun?

I asked this question multiple times and in multiple ways and tweeted a few other HFCS facts as we:

@sweetfacts I am confused though, because I have absolutely no idea how one consumes #HFCS in moderation - do tell!

@sweetfacts So tell please tell me because I'd love 2know how you do it. How does 1 consume #HFCS in "moderation,"since it's in everything

@sweetfacts SERIOUSLY? There's no confusion here-HFCS is NOT "a health food" in anyway,shape, or form. it's a genetically modified sweetener

@Sweetfacts FYI,I absolutely support farmers&buy fresh corn@ a wkly farmers mkt. The edible kind,not the yellow dent #7-spawner of HFCS kind

@sweetfacts Here's a question for you. Since #HFCS is in virtually EVERYTHING, how can it be consumed in moderation?

Of course I didn’t receive an answer – and there’s a good chance I won’t.

I also became royally confused when @KSGrains – another tweeter paid to tweet poetic about HFCS tweeted me this:

: @ksgrains @diabetesalic Saying #hfcs is in everything is totally misguided. Best way to eat healthy: http://bit.ly/HR7Bi

Yes, girlfriend sent me a link to the food pyramid - PLEASE!

So I tweeted:

@ksgrains Don’t tell me the "best way 2eat healthy,” I’ve been a type1diabetic since I ws 8& have been working w/nutritionists &CDES for years

@ksgrains Both personally&professionally. The nutritionists & Certified Diabetes Educators I work w/tell their patients to stay clear of #HFCS

@diabetesalic Exaggerate much? lol I think you need a good laugh -- What would Julia say about sweeteners? http://bit.ly/dyz4aH

My response:

@ksgrains NO,I tell it like it is. Julia Child ws a proponent of real food& ingredients& I’m sure she thought #HFCS ws BS.

Ironically, the producers of with the Julia Child wanna-be video and the site it airs on Sweetscam.com are rumored to be funded by those who make money from #HFCS.

I could cut and paste more tweets, but I’d rather just tell you how I feel.

I found the whole exchange and condescending attitude of both @ksgrains & @Sweetfacts to be really offensive.

I find it offensive that people who are paid by the corn conglomerate tell me and others like myself that we are confused about #HFCS.

As a person with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years, I don’t have the luxury of being “confused” when it comes to what I put in my body. My world revolves around all types of numbers.

Blood sugar numbers; carbs,fiber, fat grams and caloric intake. Not to mention A1C, blood pressure rates, kidney function rates, and cholesterol. I could go on, but you all know the diabetes drill.

I (like millions of others) MUST calculate the numbers for every piece of food I put in my body. I, like my diabetes cohorts, MUST test my blood sugar, and figure out (with the help of my bolus wizard the precise amount of insulin needed to cover every piece of food that goes into my body.

I have no choice but to test my blood sugar at least ten times a day if I want to live a great life with diabetes.

I’ve experienced first hand what a processed food product loaded with HFCS does to my body, verses it’s raw sugar counterpart. I have the numbers to back it up – DON’T YOU DARE TELL ME I’M CONFUSED.

Don’t send me to sites with “quirky” videos produced by the people who pay you to talk nice about them,

I’m offended & disgusted that @sweetfacts and @ksgrains have so little faith in my intelligence as both a consumer and as a person with diabetes.

Please guys, tell me how you feel about #HFCS – and tell them to!

And don’t even get me started on the Chiropractor on twitter who suggests pooping 3 times a day to help control your diabetes – he’s full of shit!

But I digress, and will leave that subject for another post!

What's The Point of This Post? I Don't Remember -Damn Lows!

So I eat Greek yogurt just about every morning (5 days out of 7) for breakfast, and about 4 days out of 7 for lunch. It's quick, it's easy, it tastes pretty fabulous, is 0% fat and it's super easy to bolus for.

This morning I had my coffee and Blueberry Greek yogurt, followed by a strawberry Greek yogurt and fuji apple for lunch. Then I decided to run out and do a few quick errands before I went back to do the ever so dreaded paperwork my job requires.

Any who, as I was about to walk into the CVS I began to feel low, like really low. Like can't feel my lips because their so freaking numb & I'm afraid to speak low.
I made a beeline for a place those of us in the Tri-State area know as Wa-Wa. A convenience store whose coffee is the stuff that legends are made of and whose sandwiches are pretty darn tasty if I do say so myself.

I needed to eat and was annoyed because I'd just ate 25 minutes earlier. Did I mention that the OCD part of my brain that's been obsessed with reading labels was like - NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!

So in my low blood sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup Police haze, I went to the freezer section of Wa-Wa, grabbed a Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream bar that was coated in milk chocolate, jam packed with 21 grams of carbohydrates and 22 grams of fat (which of course totally negated the two no fat yogurts) and ingredients that were all recognizable, mostly one syllable and all easy to pronounce, and proceeded to pay $2 and some change to treat my low.
Did I mention it had no HFCS?

Current BG an hour later is 120 and I'm still feeling shaky.
What's the point of this post? I don't really remember. DAMN LOWS!
But thanks for listening anyway!!

The Roadside Craptacular Expansion Project Continues

Heaven or Hell? - Photo via my iPhone

Photographic evidence taken by yours truly that that New jersey/America's Roadside Craptacular project is indeed in it's expansion stage. The above photograph was taken at the Atlantic City Frank S. Farley Service Plaza located on the Garden State Parkway, Eastbound Side, Mile Marker 20.4 on 3/10/2010

Part of me wanted to genuflect in front of this alter to the High Fructose Corn Syrup Conglomerate Gods and the other part (the rational, healthy, High Fructose Corn Syrup hating part,)was thoroughly disgusted.

Several people stopped as I took pics of the alter of HFCS and one person asked if I had a candy fetish, but I digress.

The photograph below was taken at the same service plaza, Westbound side, on November 18th, and posted on this blog Diabetesaliciousness on the same day.

Nobody loves Reese's peanut Butter Cups more than I do, but this is absolutely ridiculous!

No need to wonder why Americans have problems with obesity & clogged arteries, and type 2 Diabetes in young people.

What are your thoughts?

Photo via my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday -Roadside Craptacular

Wordless Wednesday - Roadside Craptacular via my iPhone~

HFCS and a Side of Mercury Please.....& 3 is not necessarily a magic number!

Last week while I was in pre admission testing HELL with my mom for her upcoming surgery, my mailbox was filling up with emails regarding reports about the EVIL HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) containing Mercury. I watched as the headline dance across CNN’s screen at the surgeon’s office, which was about the same time I was checking my emails via cell and received a message from Scott on the very same subject!

The next morning, I received a note regarding the dreaded HFCS from Chris Coccaro, an intern with the ocean conservation group, Oceana, a group whose purpose is to protect the world’s ocean. Currently, they're working on a campaign about high mercury fish & seafood contamination, among other things.

Me being a Jersey Girl born and bred, a girl born two blocks from the beach and three blocks from the bay, and a woman who HATES HFCS, yeah – I was interested!

Chris said he found my HFCS posts “passionate,” which was just a really, really nice way of saying I go a little nuts on the subject, which...is true. He sent me the following article from the Chicago Tribune.

OK, if my crazy rants about HFCS wasn't enough to convince you about he evils of HFCS, perhaps the fact that you might be ingesting mercury might just do the trick. Why nut just suck down the quicksilver in your thermometer - it be cheaper

I’m just posting about it now. Yeah – I know it was last week.

On a personal note, the past week has been coo-coo, but I've managed to join Twitter, which I'm still trying to learn. My "Twit" name is Diabetesalic in case your interested.

So it's been crazy and damn If I don't have the numbers to prove it. Not blood sugar numbers either, though they were a bit elevated yesterday. No, I’m talking about infusion sets! Yours truly has set a new personal record in that area. I’ve managed to rush around so damn much that I’ve ripped three infusion sets out…and its only Wednesday! Yes, you read right, three sets since Sunday! Some say 3 is a magic number. I think it’s just painful.

Cutting out of work a bit early to swim a few laps and get back into the exercise swing of things. Look for another post Friday.

HFCS - ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME?!

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

The ads for HFCS have been driving me nuts! How can we have HFCS in "moderation" when it's in absolutely EVERYTHING?
This crap's banned in Europe - High Fructose Corn Syrup - not my blog. And not those ridiculously condescending commercials that are filled with bull$h*t, unfortunately.

I've been "on my big D Soap Box regarding HFCS here at Diabetesaliciousness almost since I started blogging because I think it's horrible, and is destroying America's health and farm lands.

#########
Scott S wrote a terrific piece regarding HFCS and it's worth a few minutes of your time to get informed. Great job Scott! And thanks for the "Shout Out!"





THIS IS MORE LIKE IT!

A Little High Fructose Corn Syrup For Thought - Take 2

I found an article on mercola.com warning the public about the Corn Refiners Association media blitz regarding High Fructose Corn Syrup. Since we all know how much the whole HFCS thing drives me dangerously close to the brink of insanity..OK, IT MAKES ME NUTS!

Can You Say "KING CORN?"

I decided to copy & paste the article, (along with a few links to some really cool websites) for your review.

I wanted to make sure my peeps in dBlogville knew the deal.


Anywho, Here's the article:

"The Corn Refiners Association is launching a major advertising and public relations campaign designed to rehabilitate the reputation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS has been linked by many scientists to the nation's obesity epidemic.

The group is running full-page ads in more than a dozen major newspapers, claiming that the product is no worse for you than sugar. The ad, which features a stalk of corn, carries the headline: 'And Now a Little Food for Thought.'

The Corn Refiners Association "has been trying to counter the bad publicity around HFCS since 2004," but concluded it "could no longer afford to rely on simple grass-roots marketing tactics such as talking with nutritionists and doctors."

So next time your reading a magazine or newspaper, be on the look out for a Stalk of Corn with the Tag line: " And now a little food for thought."

Here's a thought for the TCRA: How can HFCS be "no worse for us than sugar on Honey? " Sugar and honey are actually edible in their raw form, neither are genetically engineered, and both are all natural.

HFCS is none of those things. So....How can it actually be the same?

Also, why are major food manufacturers spending big bucks to advertise their products as HFCS free? Hmmmm, kinda makes you think.

PRWatch and Organic Consumers Association
both go into more detail and have some great info on the subject - take a look!

King Corn Screening / OR in Diabetesaliciousness Speak, CHILDREN OF THE HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP Either Way - Fantastic

OK -
The "King Corn" screening was really eye opening. I suggest that if it comes town near u, go and see it. It will be airing on various PBS stations, check your local PBS station for times and dates.

The Documentary follows 2 college buddies from Boston who go back to their roots (ironically, both of their grandfathers were from the same small town in Iowa,both families worked in the farming industry) and decide to grow an acre of corn,so they can find out what that acre eventually turned into and exactly where that acre would end up. The film also becomes a primer on the the whole corn industry. It turns out, they find out just how inundated we are as a nation with High Fructose Corn Syrup.

A few highlights:

Our generation is the first one in history that will not outlive our parents, all because of health related issues.

It's amazing to me that unless your beef is grass fed, it's stuffed with corn and antibiotics. Apparently, eating a constant diet of corn makes the cows get sick and causes a potentially deadly condition called Acidosis. The cows then need to be fed antibiotics in order to fight off the acidosis and stay alive. Sounds kind of familiar to us diabetics. Basically these cattle are forced into a ketoacidotic state. SO, if the world was reversed and we lived in some alternative universe where the cows were breeding humans for consumption, we diabetics would be considered PRIME , GRADE A, CHOICE MEAT. Interesting and disturbing on many levels.
As diabetics, ketoacidosis is a KILLER and can damage our kidneys. We are told to never, ever get to the point where we are in a kidacidotic state.

I'm not really a vegetarian, I was in the late 90's but now I just eat fish & stay away from red meat ( except for like once a year) due to health issues. Ironically, since there is such a corn surplus, farm raised salmon are now being fed with, you guessed it - CORN!

Next time I order Salmon - it will be wild.

And next time I get the craving for beef (which after viewing this film, I really don't see happening.) I'm making sure all my beef is grass fed.

The film also touches upon how corn (in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup) is in virtually everything we eat. It also goes into detail how the corn grown in the US is genetically engineered ( it's called yellow dent #2,) and is virtually inedible, unless it's melted down into High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's also fertilized with large amounts of ammonia. So now we are a nation whose chock full of corn, antibiotics, and ammonia.
SCARY.


1 acre of genetically engineered, ammonia fertilized Yellow Dent # 2 corn yields 10,000 bushels.
OR
57,000 CANS OF SODA.

Today, if we were to have chemical carbon testing done on our hair, we'd find out that our bodies are are chemical makeup is 2/3 corn carbon.

Makes sense when u consider the fact that it's not not just in the food we eat, fyi - that plastic cd/dvd that you just purchased has a wrapper made from corn based plastic!

In 2004, 80.9 million acres of Yellow Dent #2 corn was planted in the United States.
INSANE


The corn conglomerate is huge and is destroying the independent farmer. Farms that have been around for centuries are forced to work and eventually sell to corporate farms or risk foreclosure.

The filmmakers interviewed a Brooklyn cab driver who lost over 100 lbs just be giving up soda. He actually stated that he never realized how just giving up soda could positively affect his health. ALL OF THE BIG SODA COMPANIES USE HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP.

He was rencently diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic, h lost his parents to type 2 diabetes, and his sister is a T2 as well.

Th film interviews 2 New York dietitians who pretty much agree that High Fructose Corn Syrup has a lot to do with the increase of type 2 diabetes.

I learned a lot about our country, about our diet, and where we are headed as a nation.
Whether your a meat eater or a veg-head, diabetic - type 1, 2, or 3, this film will teach you more than u can imagine about what goes in our bodies and our children's unknowingly.

GO SEE IT!

Here's a link to ABC - they have some audio and video interviews with the filmmakers. Curt Ellis & Ian Chaney.

30 Years and Counting OR CHA, CHA, CHA CHANGES....

In the past 30 years many things have happened Some great, some not so great, and some, down right infuriating.

Communism fell (for the most part) and Russia is now a capitalist country.
Ma Bell was dismantled and gave birth to many long distance carrier spawn.
Cell phones have taken over the world and everyone has one, making pay phones almost obsolete.
The advent & advancement of all cable and telecommunications has made us a global society.
New Coke was introduced and it failed miserably.
Water has become designer and we pay for it willingly.
Computers are no long just for geeks & most of us have one.
The Green House effect has played havoc with out environment and the polar icecaps are melting at an alarming rate. Polar bears now swim an average of 60 miles to get from 1 icecap to another.
The Boston Red Socks broke "The Babes" curse on October 27th, 2004 during a lunar eclipse. Hell did not freeze over.
Kids no longer get the Chicken Pox.
Rock and Roll has gone corporate and rock stars have in fact become the establishment.
2 of the 4 Beatles are gone.
George W was elected, TWICE - Go figure?

In 1966 High Fructose Corn Syrup was invented by the Japanese.
In 1975 food companies started to add High Fructose Corn Syrup to their food products.
In 1980 soda companies began to add High Fructose Corn Syrup to sodas.
Since 1980, childhood obeisity has steady increased every year and has now reached epidemic status

In 2005 1.5 million new cases of Diabetes were diagnosed in people over the age of 2o.

IN 2008, THERE IS STILL NO CURE FOR DIABETES.

Children Of The Corn Syrup - Bitching about The High Fructose Corn Syrup Conspiricy

It's been a crazy week, but I'm back in the diabetes saddle again.

Like most of us, I'm running around like a nut, trying to finish up (OK, start) my Christmas shopping, and prepare myself for the end of 2007. I've been walking all over Philadelphia, hitting the shops, standing in line, and being forced to watch and observe peoples behavior.

I've noticed a few things.

1. People are stressed - That's a no brainer, it is after all, the season to be jolly - which in actually means most people are on the verge of being miserable.

2. People are worrying about everything. Money, lines, work, Christmas gifts that still need to be bought and last years New Years resolutions that were never achieved. Holiday cards that have yet to be sent, and Christmas bonuses that have already been spent before actually being received.

3. People are eating crap and using food like a crutch. They stand in lines munching on chocolate bars or cookies, then they run off to the food court as a reward for spending money they don't have, for gifts that the recipient doesn't actually need. As tempers get higher our need for ingesting crap gets stronger. Most don't realize that the high High Fructose Corn Syrup in the food that they are downing is contributing to their stress, anger, and weight issues that are overtaking the U.S..

H.F.C.S is a killer and is one of the main contributors to the epidemic that is Type 2 Diabetes.
In 2007, it seems like more children are being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, than type 1.
We can't just point the finger at parents, most aren't even aware thatH.F.C.S is in almost everything, including salad dressing and tooth paste.
We need to point our HFCS soaked fingers at both the food manufacturers and our government, who have allowed the Corn conglomerate to infiltrate our country for the past 40 + years.

Over the past 8 or so years, as my friends have married off and started to reproduce, they've asked me questions regarding Diabetes and Children. I've explained that type 1 is genetic (I've gone into more detail on the blog site - see Halle Barry Postings,) and explained the warning signs. I also explain that type 2 is metabolic and that there are steps they can take in preventing the disease.

First and foremost, parents need to read labels on the food that they buy for their family.
HFCS is in the first 7 ingredients, don't buy that item, PERIOD. It will be difficult and expensive, but it will save you and your family from obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Your kids want cookies -no problem. Buy the "Newman's Own" brand or other products that pitch healthy, whole food ingredients and ditch those that use HFCS as flavoring. We weren't designed to ingest the stuff, it's much more difficult for our bodies to breakdown, and packs a serious punch in the gut, both literally and figuratively.

Much like life, it's all about the choices we make. For instance, I have a friend who drives a new Range Rover; has a personal trainer, and gets restalin shots on a monthly basis. When I explained the"Corn Syrup Conspiracy to her and pointed out how Americans, both young and old are being damaged, she wanted to know what she could do. When I explained that eating foods with natural foods could "fix" what HFCS has broken.

The only thing she could focus on was the cost of purchasing an all natural cookie."Those brands are expensive," she stated as she fiddled with her David Yurman watch. At that point I was ready to beat some sense into her and wrap that watch around her neck. Instead, I told her to put her priorities priorities in order; trade in her car in for a Honda, ditch the restilin shots and get a clue. If people who can't afford a Range Rover let alone a car can read labels and cut back on the HFCS intake, she certainly could.

Say no to products with corn syrup and yes to those without. Demand that food manufacturers take the steps to make changes in our nations diets and write your congress person to force these changes in our government.

Lastly, go see the Movie "King Corn" and prepare to be shocked and educated. I've added the trailers and a link to the movies website and blog in the Diabetes Ditties" section. Please take a look!