Spring 2009

Newsletter
Happy Hawaiian Hula
Holiday
Diabetes Camp 11 and 12
year olds
Inside this issue:
January Camp
1-2
Flexible Lifestyle Workshops
3
JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes 2009
4
Goji Berries
5-6
Research News
6-7
Noticeboard
8
January 2009
Page 8
Diabetes Clinic Autumn 2009
WCHS
Written by campers Hannah Blinman (11) and Lauren Faulkner (10).
Monday:
On the 19th of January 2009 the 11 and 12year olds arrived at the Point
Walter Diabetes Camp. The theme was a Happy Hawaiian Hula Holiday.
We registered with the diabetes crew from PMH then went over to the
hall to meet others with Type 1 diabetes. Once we met the other campers we headed out to play some “get-to-know-you” games. Then we exchanged stories of being diagnosed. Finally, we could all do needles
with no one staring at us! In the evening we walked down to the beach
and enjoyed playing games while dodging the jelly fish.
Tuesday:
After rising early Tuesday morning, we did both rafting and the low ropes
course (trust me, it’s not as easy as it sounds). In the afternoon we did
pool activities and after dinner had a pool party. We were also lucky to
have the staff from JDRF come with a Top Secret activity where we created new inventions that have never been made before. All through the
day the diabetes educators helped control our levels and worked out our
insulin doses.
Wednesday:
The day’s activities started with a giant Word Sleuth before going out to
play team games. During the games a bush fire broke out, just outside
the camp grounds. As the fire became bigger we were forced to leave
the games and instead watched the fire engines and water bomber. We
took photos during all the action as the chopper zoomed over our heads
and put the fire out. After all the excitement had died down, we moved
on to art and craft, making pillow cases. The evening was filled with a
Quiz Night where Group 2 won. What a big day!
Thursday:
Thursday was filled with adrenalin; it was time to harness up and climb
the high ropes. We also had a try at getting a bullseye in archery. We
then became creative as we prepared for the Happy Hawaiian Hula Holiday Party. The party went off with a bang when three Hawaiian volca-
January Camp continued
Friday:
The last day of camp. We still managed to fit in some games, even though we had to do some
clean up chores. Our parents p
ihcabicked us up, and we all went home really tired but happy to have had such a fun week.
We asked our camp leaders this question:
“What was your favourite part of camp?”
The high ropes and seeing everyone having fun. Zara, Diabetes Educator
The Quiz Night. Faye, Dietitian
Making flowers. Linda Hop, Diabetes Educator
Seeing kids help each other and meeting lots of parents. Mike, Social Worker
Everything! Te You, Doctor
Being anchor person on the high ropes. Linda G, Diabetes Educator.
Seeing the city at night. Veronika, Diabetes Educator and Camp Co-ordinator.
Our authors Hannah and Lauren
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D I A B E T E S C L I N I C A U T U M N 20 0 9
Carbohydrate Counting & Insulin Adjustment Workshop
Do you want to be able to eat to your appetite, not your insulin dose?
Do you want to know how much insulin to give to correct your BGL when it’s high?
Do you want to have better control of your BGL when you exercise?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then the “Flexible Lifestyle Program” might be
for you! This 2 x half-day course, held at PMH, will give you the freedom to match your insulin
dose to your food and lifestyle and correct a high blood glucose level.
Take the guesswork out of how much insulin to give for a meal, by learning practical ways to accurately estimate your carbohydrates. This means you won’t be restricted to eating to a set carbohydrate exchange plan, but have more freedom to eat what and when you want to.
The “Flexible Lifestyle Programme” was developed by the PMH Diabetes Team in 2007 and we
have run 12 courses so far. Each course is run by a diabetes educator and dietitian, and group
sizes are limited to 4-5 families per course. The feedback from those who have attended has
been positive, with many feeling that they are more in control of their diabetes by understanding
more about their food, insulin and BGL.
The course is suitable for people using multiple daily injections (ie rapid acting insulin
(Novorapid or Humalog) at meal times, plus long acting insulin such as Lantus or Detemir).
However if you are on a pump, or using 2-3 injections a day, you will still be able to benefit by
increasing your awareness of carbohydrate counting and correction boluses.
The next course dates are:
Tuesday 14th April & Friday 24th April 2009
or
Wednesday 22
nd
April & Wednesday 6th May 2009
If you would like to know more, or to reserve your place in the next course, please phone us on
9340 8090.
A little warning: as with everything – the concept is only as good as its user.
Your effort and motivation is vital to succeed!!
☻
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JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes 2009
On the 17th January 2009 Mark Shah, one of our diabetes educator’s, completed in his second
Ride to Cure Diabetes, a long bike ride through the Barossa Valley, South Australia. This year
he decided to create a team called “W.A. Health,” trying to encourage other health professionals to join in and raise the profile of this wonderful fundraising event. Joining him in the team
was Dr David Hurley, a leading adult diabetes specialist from Perth and Mark’s wife, Angela.
Mark was part of a record 360 riders who
could choose to ride 35 km, 80 km or 160
km. Like last year he decided to ride 160
km, but, as if that wasn’t long and hard
enough, the team at JDRF decided to include
a “king of the mountain” climb up “Mengler’s
Hill.” For those who made it up to the top,
the view of the Barossa Valley was spectacular.
After 5 hrs 30 mins in the saddle he was happy to finish without injury and relieved that his
blood sugar level had stayed reasonably stable. Most importantly, their team of 3 riders and 1
support person managed to raise over $20, 000, while collectively the event raised over $1.3
million for JDRF. That means money can continue to flow for important research looking for a
cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
The finish and the pain is over!!
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D I A B E T E S C L I N I C A U T U M N 20 0 9
Goji Berries!
What are they?
Wolfberries, also know as Goji berries, are often marketed in the health market as
"Himalayan Goji berries" and "Tibetan Goji berries". They are a part of the nightshade family
and in appearance are an orange-red berry 1-2cm long. Goji berries are very rarely found in
their fresh form outside of their production areas and in Australia they are sold in a dried and
juice form. Commercially produced Goji berries are from the north-central and western
China, other areas of production include Mongolia, Nepal, and although some species do
grow in Tibet there are no reports of commercially produced Goji berries in the Tibetan region.
Marketing for Goji berries suggests that they are a ‘super food’ and are often related to
claims such as enhancing immune function, fighting cancer, increasing energy, liver protection, preventing and improving circulatory and eye problems and even weight loss.
Are they really a super food?
They contain a number of essential and trace minerals, amino acids, vitamins, carotenoids
and phenols associated with antioxidant properties and some of which are present in high
doses including calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin B2 and C. However, is this
very different to other members of the Solanaceae, or flowering fruit, family including capsicum (chilli pepper), tomato, eggplant etc?
The polysaccharides found in Goji berries do show antioxidant activity in studies performed
outside of the human body. They also contain antioxidants including zeaxanthin, high levels
of which have been linked to the prevention of age-related macular degeneration, the loss of
vision in the center of the visual field. However, zeaxanthin is not only found in Goji berries it is also found in high levels in broccoli, zucchini, corn, peas and brussel sprouts.
Other studies suggest that Goji berry consumption has anti-cancer effects and the potential
to prevent cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. However, the majority have been published in China, and none of these studies have been scientifically verified, confirmed in clinical studies or accepted over here in the west. Furthermore, the antioxidants responsible for
these effects are not solely found in Goji berries they are abundant in the wide variety of fruit
and vegetables that we consume readily.
Yes, the concentration of nutrients is high in a small portion size, but is this because they are
in either dried or juice form? And what other nutrients are higher when consumed in concentrated forms? Goji Berries are 57% carbohydrates with 40% of this being sugar. Goji juice is
17% carbohydrate with 13% sugar and often there are other fruit juices in the Goji berry mix
to make it more palatable.
What does this mean? Like other juices a regular 250ml glass of Goji juice is providing you
with ~36grams (or 7 teaspoons) of sugar.
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Goji Berries continued
Are they worth buying?
In comparison to other died fruits and juices the cost is quite high.
Goji Berries can be bought off the internet or from health food shops
with prices ranging from $15-20 per 250g (~$60 per kg) and $50-60
per litre of juice!
How much do you need to drink?
Recommend serve is 30-60ml per day which equates to $1.50 –
$3.00 per day in juice.
The bottom line
By eating a healthy balanced diet with a wide range of fruit and vegetables you are able to find
all the same nutrients in a much cheaper and readily available form. However if you like the
taste and do not mind the expense, Goji berries may make a tasty change, although it is important to remember that the evidence behind some of the marketing claims is not substantial.
Research department News
Diabetes and fitness
Bernadette Williams is a medical student undertaking a year of research at PMH. Dr Liz Davis
is supervising the project called “Determining the fitness of children with Type 1 diabetes”.
Currently there is little data on this topic. The main aim of the project is to assess the fitness
of children with Type 1 diabetes and compare them to children without diabetes. The results
of the study may also help us to determine what factors are related to high or low levels of
fitness.
Bernadette will be at Tuesday and Friday morning clinics inviting
you and your child to help with this study. If you agree, she will
measure your child’s fitness with a simple step test in a private
room. The fitness test involves stepping up and down a step at a
constant rate for three minutes.
Heart rate is continuously
measured using a band around the chest. The test is very safe and
you do not need to be fit to do it. We will take extra precautions by
doing a finger-prick test beforehand to ensure your child’s blood
glucose level is not too low (less than 4mM) and by keeping a
doctor and nurse in or near the room at all times. You are welcome
to watch and ask any questions.
If you are interested in taking part, please approach Bernadette or
Dr Davis.
Bernadette looks forward to meeting you and your child and
answering any questions you may have.
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Research department News continued...
AUSTRALIAN CHILDHOOD DIABETES DNA REPOSTIORY
We would like to invite you and your parents to participate in the Australian Childhood
Diabetes DNA Repository. This will allow researchers to identify genes or immune
markers that may increase your chances of developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Both types of diabetes tend to run in families. This means that certain genes we
inherit from our parents may increase or decrease the risk of developing diabetes.
By testing DNA samples from families affected by diabetes, we can identify genes which increase
the risk of this disease. Identification of diabetes genes is important as it will help us to understand better why some people become diabetic, and help researchers to develop new treatments.
A Repository stores samples of DNA, and keeps information about the genetic and other relevant
tests, eg for immune markers, in a database, for ongoing and future diabetes research. Diabetes
researchers, with the approval of relevant Ethics Committees, can then apply to access this
Repository rather than asking you and your family for more blood samples.
We ask for about 3-4mls (less than a teaspoon) of saliva from both biological parents and the
child with diabetes, which will be collected in a special bottle that we will supply. (This avoids the
need to collect a blood sample).
The saliva sample is coded so that you cannot be identified by name, by researchers outside
PMH. The saliva will be sent to the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research so that the
DNA can be extracted from your saliva and kept safe.
No identifying information about you will ever be released to other investigators outside the
hospital.
If you choose to participate, the saliva sample can be collected either • at home: We can post a pack out to you to complete at home and return to us in the reply paid
envelope provided; or
•
at clinic: We can arrange to meet with you in person at your child’s next clinic appointment.
If you would like to know more about this DNA Repository, or wish to participate, please do not
hesitate to call Heather Roby, Study Coordinator, 9340 8744.
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Diabetes Living contest
You could share in $3,000 worth of prizes by living well with diabetes.
Cross your fingers and live well in the meantime!
Continue to be active and healthy to live well with your diabetes. The winners and runners up will
be featured in the July/August 2009 issue of Diabetic Living with a collection of their top tips for
living well.
You could win the grand prize valued at $2,000.
You could win a personal chef to prepare six meals for you and your family at your home, to the
value of$2,000*. Ten runners up will each win$100 personal training vouchers.
Submit an entry today.
You can email your entry [email protected], send your entry by post to
Diabetic Living Contest, Fleishman-Hillard, Level 12, 1 Elizabeth Plaza, North Sydney 2060 Sydney NSW Australia.
Choose the contest option that’s right for you.
A: In 25 words or less, tell us about your biggest turning point in accepting your diabetes and
learning to live well, or
B: Tell us your top three tips on how to live well with diabetes. Provided by an educational grant
from sanofi-aventis
Close date 14.04.09
Diabetes Fits’ Weekend – April 4th &5th 2009, Perth, WA
(diabetesfits.com)
Despite the numerous health and wellness benefits, managing blood glucose levels (BGLs)
during exercise can be difficult and frustrating for people with type 1 diabetes. With this in mind,
Katherine Iscoe and Vanessa Bussau, Exercise Physiologists and Researchers from the School
of Sports Science, Exercise and Health at the University of Western Australia (UWA), are piloting
an educational sports weekend this April for people with type 1 diabetes.
This unique weekend, called ‘Diabetes Fits’, is the first of it kind in Australia and includes
educational seminars, motivational presentations and group discussions about exercise
techniques, developed over years of research. Katherine will speak about exercise physiology
and how BGLs react to various forms of exercise, while other presenters will discuss nutrition and
sports psychology. There will also be some inspirational speakers with type 1 diabetes who will
talk about their sports triumphs.
The primary aim of Diabetes Fits is to teach people living with type 1 diabetes how to minimise
blood sugar fluctuations during exercise so they can enjoy the numerous benefits of an active
lifestyle. “Practical sessions where you ‘have a go’ at fitness activities will include options such as
swimming, biking, running and general fitness training. If you are only just contemplating a new
exercise regime or just starting out, there will be beginner level sessions for you to try. Anyone
unable to participate in the ‘have a go’ fitness component can choose to simply sit in on the
presentations.
So if you have type 1 diabetes, want to meet new people, have fun and improve your health, why
not register? The fitness weekend will be held on the 4th and 5th of April at the School of Sports
Science, Exercise and Health at UWA and there is still time to book your place. If you want to
know more, simply head to the website http://www.diabetesfits.com or call Katherine on (08)
6488 3181.
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