By: Joan Wilson

1992 was the year my life changed. That's when I was told I was now among those listed as diabetics. Not having any understanding of this disease, I thought it was the end of my life as I knew it. The first thing that set in was panic. The word itself sounded real ominous and conjured all kinds of images in my panicked mind.

Here I was faced with this new challenge and all I knew was that many people died as a complication from it including my grandmother. I felt as if I was now hemmed in and the corners were closing in real fast.

Most diabetics may feel that way at first, so that's why it is so important to equip yourselves with knowledge and it will really give you the power for living.

The first thing I did was have a long talk with my doctor. Maybe some of my questions were tedious, or might have sounded foolish, but doctors understand their patients fears (or they should) mine took her time and laid all mine to rest. I came out thinking "hey, this may be the best thing that could ever happen to me!"

Just kidding, no one wants to be stuck with a disease, but ironically, I had to thank diabetes for making me more careful about the things I ate. The thought of exercise now manages to move from my thought processes, to actually being carried out, the weight, I was always complaining about wanting to lose, became a reality (although I still have a little more to lose).

The end result is that I am feeling mighty fine these days due to the change in my health habit.

If you have just been faced with this challenge or may be struggling through it, then the first thing you need to change is your attitude.

You can decide to either 'lay down and die' or get up fighting! Being the smart person you are, I know you will get up like a Trojan and fight this thing that has invaded your body.

The best weapon you have at your disposal as a diabetic is being very alert. Everyday I monitor my body. I look at my toes, I check my sugar level, take my medication and note every feelings I have. You can never be too careful where your health is concerned.

Believe it or not, many complications do not develop overnight, it first starts with one oversight, then another. Be a loyal soldier about your body and you won't even remember that you have diabetes!

Yes, I am a diabetic but that has not stopped me from putting in long hours at work, chasing my dreams and living life to the fullest. My point – don't let it stop you!

The Canadian Diabetes Association suggests those at high risk for getting diabetes get tested at least every three years. If you answer yes to any of the questions below you are considered to be at high risk for type 2 diabetes:

● Have you had gestational diabetes?
● Does an immediate family member have type 2 diabetes?
● Are you overweight?
● Are you over 40?
● Do you have high blood pressure?
● Are you of aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian or African decent?

You should also watch for common signs and symptoms of diabetes, including:

● Unusual thirst
● Frequent urination
● Weight change
● Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
● Blurred vision
● Frequent or recurring infections
● Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
● Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet

If you experience any of these symptoms for a period of time, don't take them lightly. People with diabetes can live full, active and healthy lives. The earlier a diagnosis is made the better the odds of avoiding complications and preventing the disease's progression.

By: Elizabeth Smith

Yesterday, November 14, was World Diabetes Day and it marked the first time that this monumental vehicle of "Diabetes Awareness," travelled across our globe - spurring on efforts of prevention as well as heightening perceptions on what can be done to control the disease; preventing or delaying life threatening complications.

Diabetes currently affects 246 million people globally. This historical day was especially for all of them and the many millions more at risk,

On this first United Nations (UN) observed World Diabetes Day, Diabetes communities got together to celebrate the long awaited existence of a day that recognises the severe risks posed by Diabetes and urged understanding of the disease overall.

The result of a UN landmark resolution of December 2006, November 14 has become a United Nations observed day. Marking the date of Frederick Banting's birthday who along with Charles Best first came up with the notion of insulin in 1921, November 14 will bolster a major global awareness campaign from now on.

The resolution recognized that diabetes presents as great a threat to global health as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Introduced by International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization (WHO), the idea to have a day focusing on Diabetes came as a response to concern over increased numbers of people living with the disease around the world

Many activities took place to mark this day globally. In New York, the IDF's activities included the formation of a human blue circle – the symbol for Diabetes - on the grounds of the UN, a march and a Diabetes education rally that included musical performances and celebrity appearances. For more - go to: www.idf.org.

Australian pharmaceutical company Starpharma and SSL International, which owns the Durex condom brand, have signed an agreement to develop condoms coated with Starpharma's microbicide VivaGel, the drug maker announced on Tuesday, the AAP/Age reports.

In July, at the International AIDS Society conference in Sydney, the vaginal microbicide, VivaGel, was reported as preventing HIV and genital herpes in animal and human studies.

Designed to prevent STIs by stopping viruses from entering cells and thus avoiding infection, VivaGel's active ingredient is dendrimer, a molecule that binds itself to the viruses preventing them from infectng healthy cells. Early results from research also places VivaGel as a potent contraceptive.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2006 granted an accelerated review of VivaGel. The agency also announced that it will become more involved in further human trials of the gel. VivaGel did not cause any harmful side effects in trials of 35 women in Australia. The University of South Florida and the University of Puerto Rico in July ran a two-week clinical trial of VivaGel that was funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and involved 40 sexually active, HIV-negative women between ages 18 and 24. VivaGel also has undergone testing in Kenya and still is in clinical trials there.

The companies will create a development program for the VivaGel-coated condoms and negotiate a commercial license under the agreement according to a Starpharma release. The drug company will be paid undisclosed fees under the deal, which also includes the start of regulatory and market development activities by the two companies AAP/Age reports. According to the AAP/News.com, the condoms are expected to be available worldwide in about one year.

"We are delighted to be working with SSL, whom we believe will be an excellent co-development partner for VivaGel as a condom coating," Starpharma CEO Dr. Jackie Fairley said. She added, "Our development and commercialization activities for VivaGel are gathering momentum with this SSL agreement," which is the second condom-coating deal signed by Starpharma during the past three months.

This is a much-needed option for prevention, and Farley expounded saying, "We feel the health sector has focused on finding a cure or treatment to disease, whereas we believe very strongly that prevention is a preferable option in curbing the disturbing increase in STIs in both the developed and developing worlds".

Reproduced in part, with permission from: www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/

By: Amanda Spence

The onus is on each individual to minimize chances of contracting diseases like HIV/AIDS, by having protected sex unless absolutely sure of their partner's status – through testing.

Today a sad story (sad for both accused and alleged victims)emerged. It speaks of a 22 year old Miami Club Promoter, Elidor Kersaint, who has been in prison since June for the crime of having unprotected sex while knowing he is infected with HIV. Recently more women have come forward to bring evidence against Kersaint who was born to an HIV + mother and has reportedly been infected all his life.

The question posed in a report is, what deep pain caused Kersaint's insane denial...how was he counseled and prepared from childhood to live with his disease...and most importantly – how many other Kersaints are being ignored. How do we prepare our world so people living with HIV/AIDS (especially youth who contracted this disease from birth – through no action of their own) feel free to disclose without negative repercussions.

While criminalisation of people living with HIV has become a much sought after 'prevention tool,' the argument brought forward by advocates living with HIV is: "Don’t Blame People With HIV/AIDS! You smoke cigarettes – you can get cancer...what part of YOU HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX...YOU CAN GET HIV/AIDS – doesn't everybody understand?"

Miami police are urging anyone who had relations with Kersaint to see a doctor then call police and Global HIV Advocates say "Wake up world – the majority of those who are actually HIV+ do not know their status – so do not have unprotected sex at any time with anyone – unless...you test first."

By: Dr. S. Lawson

Uterine fibroids are benign (medically harmless) tumors of the uterus. These tumors result from abnormal growth of muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue in the uterus. By the age of 50 years old the overall incidence of fibroids are 70-80% for women. Fibroids can vary in size from being undetectable by human eyes to the size of a full term pregnancy. In studying the origin of fibroids, they have been linked to hormonal imbalance, obesity, xeno-estrrogen, heavy metal toxicity, infectious microorganisms, stress and high blood sugar level. Fibroids can cause complications such as menstrual problems, pelvic and lower back pain, constipation, urinary problems, hemorrhoids, infertility, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages. Black women are four times more likely to develop fibroids than Caucasian women. They also have larger fibroids and develop fibroids at a younger age. Treatment includes hysterectomy, myomectomy, Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), gonadatropin releasing hormones (GnRH) antagonists, androgens (danazol), and focused ultrasound surgery (FUS), and essential oils.

Signs and symptoms that presents with uterine fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, period pain, urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, severe acute abdominal pain, constipation, hemorrhoids, anemia, back pain and leg pain.

Fibroids can be categorized into three types which include submucosal, myometrial and subserosal. Submucosal fibroids are located in the lining of the uterine cavity. Myometrial fibroids are located in the muscular layers of the uterus. Subserosal fibroids are located on the outer surface of the uterus. Fibroids can be detected by using pelvic examination, ultrasound, hysterosonography, hysteroscopy, hysterosalpingography.

Women who have excessive amounts of estrogen and insufficient amounts of progesterone are more predisposed to developing uterine fibroids. Women with excessive body fat are in an estrogen dominant state because fat tissues acts as an estrogen-producing organ similar to the ovaries and the adrenal gland. Estrogen is a inexhaustible hormone that stimulates DNA replication that in excess can stimulate the smooth muscle cells of the uterus to replicate excessively and cause the overgrowth of fibrous connective tissue resulting in fibroids. Xeno-estrogens are pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other toxic substances that act similar to estrogen causing DNA dysfunction resulting in abnormal replication that causes fibroids. The excessive growth of these fibroids can cause submucosal irregularity resulting in dysmenorrhea and miscarriages.

Fibroids in the subserosal layer of the uterus can cause obstruction of the colon resulting in constipation and the formation of hemorrhoids (dilated veins located in the region of the anus). Branchlike fibroids in the submucosal and subserosal layers can twist on themselves cutting off their blood supply and causing severe abdominal pain that may require surgery. Excessive menstrual bleeding due to fibroids can result in anemia and its associated complications.
Hysterectomy is the most commonly used method of treating fibroids and can be performed vaginally or abdominally. The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecology suggest that vaginal hysterectomy is the most appropriate for women with benign diseases and mobile uteri that are less than 12 weeks gestation in size.

Myomectomy is the surgical removal of the actual fibrotic tissue without removing the uterus. Myomectomy can be approached by open abdominal surgery or laproscopically (small incision in the abdomen to insert remote control camera and miniature surgical devices are used to excise the fibroid) or vaginally removing the fibrotic tissue. Another method is the Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE). UAE is a procedure where a catheter is used to deliver small particles that block the blood supply to the fibroids.

GnRH is a peptide hormone that is used to down regulate the production of FSH and LH which results in the reduction of estrogen. Two examples of GnRH are lupron and synarel. Danazol, a synthetic androgen can be used to shrink fibroids, reduce anemia, and stop menstruation. Another treatment is the focused ultrasound surgery which was approved by the FDA in 2004. It is a non-invasive procedure that preserves the uterus where the patient is placed in a MRI scanner and is subject to focused high frequency, high energy ablation of the fibroid. However, the long term adverse effects of this high frequency, high energy waves are not known.