When he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes three and a half years ago, his fear of complications snapped him to attention. He sought diabetes education at Providence Diabetes Education Services here in Portland, and in one class, Captain Bob was transformed.

Now the  Captain was on a mission. So he took his educator, Susanna Reiner -RN, CDE at Providence, and the concept of whole foods and the Mediterranean Diet (a la Dr. Miles Hassell) and shared it with his crew.

Was he able to win over the sailors? How about the cooks? And why are we now worried about diabetic salmon in Alaska?  Tune in and hear our version of Treasure Island, where an enclosed community, real food and one little Diabetes Educator from Providence hospital helped create corporate wellness.

Just a reminder to those whole live in Portland. Oregon Health Sciences University is hosting a Diabetes Summit on Nov. 19th with lots of great programs. You can read more about it here:
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/diabetes/2011-summit.cfm

In this episode, Chris tells us about how he has used the Chris Dudley Foundation to raise diabetes awareness and to educate the community about succeeding and living well with diabetes. It was touching to hear Chris tell us why diabetes has helped him to lead a fuller and better life.

He also talks about Pacific Northwest Diabetes Week, an annual event co-hosted by The Chris Dudley Foundation, Portland Trailblazers, Novo Nordisk and several other community partners. The event kicks off on Sunday Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR with a free sports clinics for kids to learn from the Portland Trailblazers, NBA stars like Dominque Wilkins and the Portland Timbers. The event will also offer free health screenings and plenty of live entertainment.

Thanks for sharing your inspirational message Chris!

Photo: Courtesy of The Chris Dudley Foundation

This show is made possible by a grant from the Providence Portland Medical Foundation. For more information about Providence Portland’s diabetes education programs, click here.

How many of us would prefer readily-available “natural” remedies to expensive pharmaceutical drugs? A way of life versus a “restrictive diabetic diet?”

What we put in our mouths and how we choose to move our bodies has tremendous impact on our health, and it need not be complicated. Miles shares with us his secrets for turning good food into great medicine and some simple “transformative tips” that don’t require a lot of money, prescription medications, or fancy footwork.

We highly recommend Dr. Hassell’s cookbook, Good Food, Great Medicine, which he co-authored with his sister Mea. If you want to learn more about Dr. Hassell and his dedicated team, go to:  http://www.goodfoodgreatmedicine.com

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm and expertise with us again, Dr. Hassell!

Photo: Miles Hassell and his sister Mea

This show is made possible by a grant from the Providence Portland Medical Foundation. For more information about Providence Portland’s diabetes education programs, click here.

For those of you in the Portland area, this Wednesday, September 14 at 6 p.m., Riva will be sharing her personal experiences living with diabetes at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Milwaukie, OR. Come join us!

Phil Southerland – founder of Team Type 1, and newly appointed W.H.O’s Director of Health Care Policy, Planning, and Patient Advocacy, talks with Jeff and Heather today at 9:30 a.m. PST about diabetes-related humanitarian issues world-wide, and his plans to create “equal access for life.”

Steve Edelman M.D. is an Endocrinologist and founder and director of the non-profit “Taking Control of Your Diabetes.”

He will share with us great tips about self-empowerment and improving diabetes care.  He also updated us on the inspiring reality program, “Extreme Diabetes Makeover“.

We will learn how parents can navigate the tricky waters of letting teenagers take control of their own diabetes care in a way that won’t jeopardize their health.

If you have dealt with this issue recently, we’d love to hear about it. Post a comment below or on our Facebook page.

Living with diabetes since age 14, Amy has become a “smart woman” with diabetes through trial and error. She wrote this book to help others move through the many phases specific to women with diabetes: adolescence, dating, sex, pregnancy, motherhood, etc.

Tune in tomorrow to hear her tips for transformation, and how to be a “smart woman” in relation to your diabetes.

She will help us understand why physical activity is a key factor in helping people live long and well with diabetes. It doesn’t matter if you have Gestational diabetes, Type 1 or Type 2, physical activity is good for everyone.

Only 25 years old, this energetic trailblazer does not let diabetes stop her from doing anything!

Tune in tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. PDT to hear about Ginger’s personal journey with two autoimmune conditions, as well as her determination to live fully; educating and supporting others along the way.

Helaine is the founder of www.diabetesfamilies.com and a licensed clinical social worker at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Hall Family Center for Pediatric Endocrinology. She has created an innovative online community for families touched by type 2 diabetes, providing support, education and practical tools to create healthy habits.

On Wednesday at 11:30 PDT she will share inspiring stories of families and communities who are transforming type 2 diabetes in our youth.

His memoir, “Not Dead Yet: My Race Against Disease From Diagnosis to Dominance” hits bookshelves on Tuesday, May 10^th. The first two chapters can be previewed at: www.teamtype1.org/book.

Join Jeff and Heather as they interview this man (no mere mortal) who is destined to become the hero of every kid with type 1 diabetes who ever dreamed of beating the odds.

Want to win an autographed copy of Phil’s new book? Like us on Facebook and post a comment on our wall with “I want Phil’s book.” We will select a random winner on next week’s show (5/18/11).

Tune in today at 11:30 a.m. PDT to hear from an astute, experienced, and dedicated diabetes advocate. We cover type 1 prevention, travel with diabetes, online “homeschool” individualized diabetes education, and of course – the power of community and connection with diabetes.

Jeff and Heather sort this all out and come up with some suggestions and resources to help people develop better relationships with their health care team.

You first find support then ask yourself: What can I do to make this better? Manny Hernandez did this by building an amazing social network that improves the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people.

On Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. PDT,  we speak with Manny, founder of Diabetes Hands Foundation, TuDiabetes, and EsTuDiabetes.  He tells us how the power of community combined with social media can lead to a powerful tool for people to transform their diabetes and their lives.

When her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 7 months, she was just the mom for the job. Her determination, courage, discipline, and fierce mother-love helped shape her son Phil from a sickly, comatose infant to the elite competitive cyclist and international philanthropist that he is today, 29 years later (and 4 years after his predicted death).

In our interview, Joanna shares some powerful stories of inspiration and hope, regaling the powerful help she got from kind and observant physicians, to neighbors who took Phil’s diabetes as seriously as she did, to life without television (just PBS; no commercials) or fast food (seriously), to Phil’s ultimate ability to earn his tight-reined-mother’s trust from a young age, so that she knew he “got it” and could be trusted to take as good care of himself as she did of him for so many years.

She knew he had taken on the serious dimensions of the life/death balance and essential elements of self-care that permeate our lives with type 1 diabetes. And now, he’s inspiring others around the world to do the same. Talk about paybacks

If you want to reach Joanna, her contact info is below:

Email: joanna@teamtype1.org
Facebook: joannasoutherland
Twitter: @joanna626
Google chat: joanna626
Web: joannasoutherland.com/
Web: http://teamtype1.org

If you’re Joanna Southerland, you don’t believe it; you seek contrary evidence, take all the control you can, and you raise a boy who becomes an international leader and inspiration for millions around the world.

Her son, Phil Southerland, founder of Team Type 1 and an elite competitive cyclist as well as diabetes philanthropist, was diagnosed at age 7 months with type 1 diabetes. He is not dead at age 29, and there is no evidence to suggest he’ll be dead anytime soon.

Tune in on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. PDT to hear about what it was like raising a child as a single mother in an era where there were few role models of health and vitality in the diabetes world.

Well, if you are Katie Decker, you dive into the reality that is now your life, and you embrace it full-on. In her journey over the past 8 years, Katie has truly transformed her diabetes, as well as been transformed by it.

Tune in to hear how she’s working with Peter Nerothin’s fabulous non-profit, InsulinDependence, volunteering her time to mentor others as they test the limits of their own diabetes and learn adaptive pattern management as well as confidence in their bodies and spirits.

Also hear about Katie’s fascinating words on Primary and Secondary foods. Fascinating!

Her top three takeaways?

1.  Start to build community with your diabetes care: Look to connect with people of similar interests first and diabetes second, because in the long run it will provide more inspiration and encouragement.

2.  Be specific with what family and friends can do to help: Your family and friends care about you and want to help, but they may not know exactly what to do. Take the time to think about what would be helpful and then reach out to different people to help you get that daily, weekly, monthly support so you create a support system to help you feel less alone with the responsibilities of managing diabetes.

3.  Think about the connection between primary food and secondary food in your life – Is there one thing that you can do related to your primary foods (career, relationships, spirituality, and physical movement) that will positively impact your secondary food choices (the stuff on your plate) and overall well-being?

Thanks for sharing your mindful presence and inspiring life with us, Katie!

P.S. If you want to support Katie with her fundraising effort with Testing Limits, click here. Or if you want to contact Katie, click here.

On tomorrow’s show, Health Counselor, Artist, and Insulindependence Team Captain Katie Decker shares her words of wisdom on life with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. The double-whammy of auto-immune diseases struck this determined young architect in her mid-20s, and the lessons she has learned can inspire us all to live well even with diabetes.

Mindful Breathing is about nine minutes, and best done in a comfortable seated posture.

The Body Scan is about twenty two minutes, and best done lying on your back on the floor or a mat.  Remember that the goal is not relaxation or feeling good per se, but to be fully present with, curious about, and friendly and appreciative toward each moment of experience as it arises, whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.

Feel free to comment or email Steve with any questions.

Quite amazing considering his early-life challenges. After his father died when Brett was 7, followed by his diabetes diagnosis at age 9, the support of his mother and his own internal creativity took him down the path of music.

Recent tragedies further fueled his lyrical fire, and with this recently-released album, listeners can hear such mindful musings as in “Wide Awake”: “I just can’t watch the years go by, I’m too young, I’m not ready to die.” Or more optimistically in Sunshine, he sings: “Sunshine, you’re running late, but I can wait, I can wait.”

Don’t we have to learn some patience in living with diabetes?

Anyone with (or loving someone with) diabetes can relate to his tales of blood sugar and mood swings, worries about health insurance, and the importance of support and connection with others who help lighten the load of diabetes details.

This man’s voice has to be heard to be believed! So – listen, and believe!

Steven will give us the low down on Mindfulness-base Stress Reduction (MBSR).  MBSR has been used for all types of chronic health conditions successfully for 30 years and Steven has been teaching the process for nearly 20 years.  He has ideas of how it can specifically be useful for diabetes.  Join us as we learn more.  We have been so impressed we have set up a workshop for March 12th in Portland Oregon so Steven can give anyone interested personal instruction.

When I spoke briefly with Dr Ken Ward, the lead investigator and this study, he looked at me warily when I told him how relaxing and fun my first day in the study had been. Perhaps this is more a statement on how seldom I actually “chill out” – but with three young children, two jobs, one chronically messy home, and four lifetimes worth of things I want to do, it is truly against the grain to “stop” for a day. So, being part of a study that requires that I surrender my diabetes control to trained diabetes professionals, and at the same time, confine myself to a bed for 10 hours, is truly a “vacation” day for many reasons. (You parents of small children can relate, can’t you?) This was my self-chosen exercise in Mindful Management of my diabetes for 10 hours straight. Any other day of my life is too full to allow for extended diabetes-related mindfulness.

I’d like to say my participation in this study is totally altruistic – for the advancement of research, the discovery of that artificial pancreas, help for the millions of us with type 1!! – but honestly, it’s more than that for me. When I got into my car to drive to the study, I consciously relaxed into the seat, acknowledging that in 15 minutes, I would not be solely responsible for managing my diabetes today. I had back-up. This alone is a huge gift.

Participating in a clinical trial is also a great way for me to focus on that which often gets the “quick glance” as I move on to the needs of others – my own diabetes control. Focused care, documented details – that is the essence of a trial!  Gifts of this focus include: Watching the trends, and seeing how long it actually takes my blood sugar to come down after a meal (without the random mindless snacking that so often occurs – kids leftovers, anyone?). Having help counting carbs (an inexact science when we eat real food vs. packaged), and calculating my bolus (yeah, I have the wizard in my pump, but it’s nice to have a human wizard once in a while!). And having someone to scratch her head alongside me as we ponder why it took 4 hours for my blood sugar to return to normal after breakfast this time, when last time (same breakfast, essentially the same premeal BG) it returned to my goal range within 2 hours!??

Recently, I had my highest A1c in 13 years. Plus just about every measure of general health was worse, depleted from my personal stress and lack of attention to self care. Working in this field, knowing as much as I do, that result was like a shot in my heart, a punch in my gut, and a crystal ball into a future of debilitation and devastation all at once. I try so hard!!!! I do so much!!! How could that have happened????

Participation in this study is a part of my return to more vigilant self care, and a renewed respect for my limitations. Somehow I’ve come to be 41 years old, with diabetes for 14 years, and I still have some faulty thinking about my own needs and capabilities. I’m not a risk taker, generally – I would never jump out of an airplane, take hard drugs, travel to an active war zone. And yet, with my own health, I seem to take small risks every day. Ah…equilibrating back to some kind of Balance….I burned myself out years ago trying to be “perfect,” and I never want to be that vigilant again! Life is to be enjoyed, after all!! But in this enjoyment, I am striving for a better balance between the Now I have at this moment, and the Future I hope to enjoy with good health, vibrant energy, and a sparkle in my (free from diabetes damage) eyes.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this diabetes study/spa. This is just another opportunity for Connection – with others, and with my self, that self who knows how to care for this condition. This is just another opportunity to Transform Diabetes…from pain into purpose…from coping to flourishing (thanks, Riva Greenberg!).

Thanks to these thoughtful researchers and their staff. Thanks to the organizations that fund this valuable research. And thanks to you all for “listening.”

In Good Health,

Heather

That is why his flashy and authentic way of providing diabetes education has connected with so many women around the country.  All that glamour and glitz can allow women to feel more empowered and then inspire them to care for themselves in a more loving way. Empowerment reduces fear, provides safety and improves self-confidence.

Don’t be afraid to talk about sex or any other issues which can be affected by diabetes.

Join us this Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. PST for a high energy conversation with no holds barred.

There are two routes. A Northern and a Southern. The Northern route starts today in Portland, Oregon and the Southern in San Diego, California. They arrive in July to Washington D.C. which is the endpoint.

This is a wonderful and proactive event. Another good example of “transforming diabetes.” Please show your support with a donation.

In our latest, and one of our greatest, interview, Riva reminds us that life with diabetes goes through cycles. Most of us move through shock, grief and anger, after our diagnosis, to a place of acceptance. Yet many move beyond, to a place even greater – that of flourishing with diabetes! How do you get there? By turning the pain of living with diabetes into purpose. The outcome: a life that’s even healthier, happier and more meaningful than before. Riva also talks about how health care practitioners can help patients flourish.

How do we get on this road to “flourishing with diabetes” especially with all the work of managing diabetes and the fears and worries that sometimes nip at our heels? Riva suggests some sure-fire ways:

1) Be armed with practical, medical knowledge about diabetes: Ask your health care practitioners questions, comb books, magazines and web sites. Plan to know more about diabetes than your doctor! After all, it’s your diabetes.

2) Look forward to move forward: Focus on what you want (health, happiness, managing diabetes well) not on what you don’t want (complications). Moving toward what you want creates the energy for you to sustain healthier behaviors. Being fearful does not.

3) Acknowledge your successes: Look at what you’re doing well and congratulate yourself! Then build on your successes. Ask yourself what 1 small step you can take to do a little better. Be specific about how you are going to do that, include the “when,” “where,” “how” and “how much.”

4) Connect with your strengths and resources: Think about a challenge you overcame in the past. How did you do that?  What skills did you use? How can you apply those skills now to better manage your diabetes?

5) Hang out with your positive emotions: Spending more time in appreciation, gratitude, awe, curiosity, love and hope shifts our brain, as Barbara Frederickson says in her book, “Positivity,” to a place of greater openness, creativity, building and engagement with others. This puts us in a place of emotional resilience and physically puts less stress on our hearts and endocrine system.

Here’s the BIG one: “Meaningfulness.” When you connect with why you want to be healthy, what or who makes it  meaningful to you to have your best health, then you’re on your way to connecting with a deep energy to flourish!

Don’t despair:

It’s not necessarily a straight line to “flourishing.” Sometimes you will have a day when anger and grief are as fresh as those months after you were first diagnosed. That’s O.K., it’s all part of the process. Listen to the broadcast again and get re-inspired. If, however, you’re having difficulty just getting by, you may want to seek professional help.

We’d love your comments, thoughts, and insight into your own process of turning Pain into Purpose. Email us.

heather@yourdiabetespartners.com

riva@diabetesbydesign.com

Books by Riva:

Riva Greenberg, returning for her second go-round with Jeff and Heather, gives us some practical tips and tools for finding ways to move from coping to flourishing with diabetes – and life!

In the meantime, consider voting for the ADA to receive 200K from the Members Project (American Express and Take Part). You can vote each week until Feb. 20th.

Since approximately 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, it is especially important that women of childbearing age who are sexually active are as “prepared” as possible – proper planning can go a long way towards ensuring a healthy outcome for all.

“Ideally,” women would have an A1c under 7% when they conceive; but there are plenty of success stories when this was not the case. Being informed about all the diabetes cornerstones of care is part of being prepared, too – and creating that healthy environment for the baby to grow and thrive.

Carb counting, basal/bolus requirements, knowing how exercise affects you, and developing good stress management techniques can all help empower the mother to take control of what she can, while recognizing that the hormones of pregnancy can be very unpredictable.

Regular, frequent monitoring and working closely with an experienced diabetes health care team can also help tremendously.

Have hope!! There is a lot of fear floating around in the world around pregnancy and diabetes. Don’t let that grip you; plan, prepare, take care, and do what you can each moment of the way. It is a lot of work for a mom-to-be with diabetes, no doubt. But is it worth it? We think so. Please share your comments with us.

P.S. Also check out this link which Dr. Stephens mentioned: www.diabetessisters.org

Tune in as Heather talks with Dr. Elizabeth Stephens, faculty endocrinologist at Providence Portland,  about how to have a healthy pregnancy, and what to do to raise the chances of positive outcomes for mom and infant.

Both Heather and Dr. Stephens have  type 1, both are mothers (five kids between them!), and both believe it is worth the hard work of stringent management for the miraculous outcomes you can have!

Our country needs you more than ever.

Recent statistics released by the CDC about the numbers of Americans affected by diabetes are yet another indicator of the need for shifts in the American lifestyle, and a cultural awakening to our priorities. Without our physical health, we can be limited in so many areas of our productivity and happiness.

Dr. Ann Albright, the director of the center’s Division of Diabetes Translation, reminds us that these stats indicate the importance of diabetes prevention, as the Diabetes Prevention Program strongly supported the link between moderate exercise, moderate weight loss (through healthy eating of real foods, smaller portions, less meat), and prevention of diabetes in those at high risk for diabetes.

Does coffee prevent diabetes?
What to do if you suspect “a touch of sugar?”
Do you know how many folks have prediabetes?
Why do our peers help us?
What is visceral fat, and why should we care?

Tune in Wednesday at 11:30 AM PST and feel free to share your questions during the show.

1)    In order to succeed with diabetes, we need two things:

a.     Knowledge of “what” and “how-to” manage diabetes as a medical condition

b.     Emotional awareness and resilience to get up every day and do your best

2)     It’s essential to focus on what we, as patients, (and as people!) are doing well, and to move in the direction of what we want.

3)    Living with diabetes has served to motivate Riva to manage her weight and to be active; and she helps others to find and nurture their own personal success stories.

4)    We have choices in how we deal with our diabetes.  There’s not dealing, of course, but in “dealing” – we can cope, and, we can flourish. Riva explores this with us.

5)    For health care providers out there – please, please – notice that the person with diabetes in your office is a person, and acknowledge them as such! Check out Riva’s musings on Mindful medical practices.

Riva’s two books focus on each of the two main areas of success she identified:

The ABCs of Loving Yourself with Diabetes beautifully and specifically addresses many of the emotional concerns that diabetes (any type) can present and helps readers to energize more positive emotions. It’s also a great lovesong to our selves, regardless of our health challenges.

The theme? Focus on what is working! Try to see what is already going well! Also honor that there is something psychologist Robert Keegan calls “Immunity to Change” that is normal – those invisible and often unconscious forces that keep us from making – and maintaining – those changes we really, really WANT to make (New Years Resolutions, anyone?).

To find a Certified Diabetes Educator in your area, try contacting your insurance company first to see what is covered or contact the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org

In Portland, you can access a wide array of info on Providence diabetes education services at: www.providence.org/diabetes

Steve Alper L.C.S.W. taught us a simple way to use our feet, butt, and breath to calm down during the day. Learning mindfulness meditation gives you the tools to deal with life’s bumps in a healthier fashion.

Some key points to successful mindfulness practice include:

• Self compassion
• Self acceptance
• Non judgment about the moment

Thanks for your wonderful wisdom Steve.

He started the first hospital based MBSR program in So. California in 1994. He is the director of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. He has trained thousands of people from all walks of life to meditate. Steve will talk to us about the health benefits of meditation including blood sugar regulation and improving coping skills all through mindfulness meditation.

Meditation de-mystified. “If you are an adolescent or adult and you can walk and talk then you can learn to meditate.”

1) Support is key. Friends and family who know how to step in with calm confidence and a non-plussed attitude are essential. Work with the children’s schools to educate and empower key support staff.
2) Spouses really need to support each other, too. It is humbling to know that either parent could make an error in care; best not to blame, but to use any mistakes to come together as a team. Spell each other when needed.
3)  Let your children incur some natural consequences as they get older and more responsible with their own diabetes. The Winicki’s might catch a little flack for this, but I think their attitude of “let kids be kids” is a good one. The kids have each chosen their own diabetes tools and technology: one pumps, the other doesn’t. One liked diabetes camp, the other was miserable. One wears the red-rider shirt for the ADA, the other rolls it up and stuffs it with her carb snacks. But they’re in it together.
4) Make diabetes “simply” a part of the deal in the family. Everyone has their challenges; diabetes is just one (or in their case, two) of theirs.
5) Just as we each have our similarities and our differences, so do kids with diabetes. Don’t expect each child to have the same needs or the same diabetes.

Heather and Josh Winicki of Portland, Oregon deal with all the normal “parenting stuff,” but on top of that they must think like a pancreas for two of their three children.

Heather Winicki works with a complicated algebraic equation in her mind constantly (thankfully, she’s an accountant and her husband, a PhD economist-turned-math teacher; they are good with carb ratios).

The kicker in this equation is that there are about 5 “unknowns” in each day’s equation: How much will her kids move? Eat? Be stressed? Are they growing? Sick?

Join us on Wednesday at 4 p.m. PST to meet this extraordinary family.

Susan discusses issues particularly challenging to families: negotiating with teens who have diabetes. Who gets control of what, when? She offers great suggestions to relieve inevitable tensions.

She also brings to light the importance of support, and the right (and wrong) kinds of advice and support for living well with diabetes. She referenced the BDI’s “Diabetes Etiquette Card” (available at www.behavioraldiabetes.org) as a great tool for teaching others how to communicate positively without judgment or criticism or fear.

Optimistically, she reminds us that well-controlled diabetes is the leading cause of……Nothing! That’s Transforming news in the world of diabetes, for sure.

Dr. Guzman is an internationally renowned psychologist who focuses on emotional support and diabetes. This is an area that doesn’t receive as much attention as it should and one that Heather and I believe is critically important for people living with diabetes.

Tune in at 4 p.m. PST today and we’ll ask her how the proper emotional support can help you and/or anyone in your family better manage their diabetes.

Nutritionist Karen McGeehan MA, CN, LE joined us to talk about how we can actually survive and thrive during the holiday party scene even if you have diabetes.

Karen explores the effects that food has on our neurotransmitters – those tiny communicators in our brains that can leave us feeling happy, sad, anxious, fearful, etc. Learn about how and when digestion starts (it’s way before it hits your gut).

And thankfully, Karen’s philosophy and practice does allow for indulging in the holiday foods we enjoy – even when we live with diabetes. Her tips are sensible: eat mindfully, eat what you love, enjoy it while you are eating it, and choose small portions.

She also reminds us that feeling guilty about what we eat is counterproductive, and may even contribute to unwanted pounds.

Check out our resources page for suggested readings.

Nutritionist Karen McGeehan MA, CN, LE joins us on Wednesday, December 1 at 4 p.m. PST to share some interesting concepts about how emotion affects digestion. She will break down the process of how different attachments to food can turn into food addictions. Becoming mindful of these attachments can prevent addiction to foods.

Karen will share her experiences and knowledge to help start us on the path of healthier eating practices. She will share some quick tips to help us through the the stresses of holiday eating.

It’s Diabetes Week and Portland, Oregon is doing something beautiful for everyone associated with the disease:  Oregon Health Sciences University’s  Pacific Northwest Diabetes Summit.

Fahranaz Joarder, M.D, an assistant professor of endocrinology at OHSU and one of the organizers of the Summit talked about the event and how it can make such a difference for not only those that suffer from Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes but also for those whom have Type 3 and those working in the field trying to find a cure. Plus as someone who specializes in adult diabetes especially health promotion, early intervention and nutrition, Dr Joarder gave a few extra tips that help you everyday.

In that spirit, Heather and I are going to spend Wednesday’s show at 4 p.m. PST to inform you about a very special event at Oregon Health Sciences University’s called the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Summit. This conference is not just for healthcare professionals, it’s for anyone who is affected by diabetes (which is basically all of us) but especially for people with Type 1 diabetes.

Joining us in the studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. to talk about this event is Fahranaz Joarder, M.D, an assistant professor of endocrinology at Oregon Health Sciences University and one of the organizers of the Summit. She specializes in adult diabetes especially health promotion, early intervention and nutrition.

Dr. Jeff Horacek and Heather Clute share with you their journey into the world of diabetes and how they have helped others turn diabetes from a challenge into an opportunity. In other words, never let diabetes stop you from doing anything.

They will also discuss their approach toward the Transforming Diabetes show and the important events that you should pay attention to this month like American Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day.

In his book Good Food, Great Medicine, he shares how the better use of food can actually reverse Type 2 diabetes, reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

His humble beginnings in Perth, Australia gave him a foundation that he still pursues today in sharing and caring for his patients.

Dr. Hassell is a board certified physician of internal medicine and has a private practice at Providence St Vincent in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Hassell recommends lifestyle changes in addition to a Mediterranean diet to prevent/treat/reverse diabetes. His recommendations are founded in “evidenced-based medicine” following careful scientific studies.

Dr. Hassell will debunk some of the diabetes diet myths, and provide proven alternatives to the low-fat, sugar-substitute meal plans commonly promoted in diabetes education. Dr. Hassell will help you appreciate the taste – and the blood-sugar value – in nothing other than real, simple, nourishing food. If your great-grandmother ate it, it’s probably better for your blood sugar than anything that comes in a package labeled “diabetes-friendly.”

You can listen live on Pagatim.fm on Wednesday, Nov, 3 at 4 p.m PST by clicking the “Listen Now Web” button in the upper right hand corner, or you can download it from our website later.

Also, if you have questions for us or Dr. Hassell, please leave a comment below.

Throughout my medical career we are trained to focus more on the “bad” things that happen when people don’t take responsibility for their care. Unfortunately, we don’t spend enough time listening to people and finding out what motivates each individual. I want to take out the “scare” in medicine and bring back the “care.”

Participating in a diabetes support group for 3 years has taught me the most about “caring” for those with diabetes. I’ve learned more from the support group about caring than I did in medical school. I’ve seen how listening and encouragement can help people find their own “inner teacher.” It is moving for me to see firsthand how people share and learn together with courage and compassion for one another. There is nothing more powerful or moving than watching people become self empowered and transform their lives despite living with diabetes or any other medical condition.

It is my goal to help those living with diabetes and their loved ones to find community, support and the “lightness of life” despite having an illness. Together I hope we have a heartfelt journey of education, motivation, self-empowerment, and most of all fun.