Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi

"Super!" Conference

It's that time of the year again...well, almost. In just over a month, the Diabetes Foundation will be hosting its 30th-annual (Wow! Thirty years! It just goes to show how successful these meetings are!) diabetes Super Conference. This conference is an amazing opportunity to interact with some of the nation's leading diabetes experts on subjects of interest to every member of the family- kids, parents, caregivers, siblings- type 1 or type 2. Last year's conference sold out and had a lengthy waiting list, and even though the conference will be held in a bigger venue this year, it is still expected to sell out! (Can I get another "Wow"?!) All of us at the DFM are really excited about the Super Conference. It is wonderful to see so many people turn out in droves to learn about how to take better care of themselves and/or the family members they love.

So, who will be the featured speakers this year? I'm so glad you asked!

- Ann Albright, PhD, RD, Director, Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

- Chef Luis Bruno, Executive Chef at the Mississippi Governor's Mansion

- James R. Gavin, III, MD, PhD, Endocrinologist and Past President of Morehouse College

-Nicole Johnson, MA, MPH, Miss America 1999, host of dLife TV and author of "Living with Diabetes"

- Stephen W. Ponder, MD, FAACP, CDE, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Driscoll Children's Hospital

- Joe Solowiejczyk, RN, MSW, CDE, Internationally acclaimed family therapist

- Ed Thompson, MD, MPH, Mississippi State Health Officer

These people comprise an INCREDIBLE lineup of speakers! They bring such a breadth of knowledge to the table and will be giving talks to people affected by type 1 or type 2 diabetes, children and adults. Visit our Web site for more information: www.msdiabetes.org.

Trust me, it's going to be "super!"

Here is a link from last year's conference:
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7616429&nav=menu119_3

Kids Helping Kids 'D-Feet' Diabetes

November has been an action-packed month for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, with four School Walks taking place around the state! The DFM is committed to education, and this commitment has inspired us to work with our state's children to combat diabetes, one school and classroom at a time! During National Diabetes Month, the DFM participated in numerous educational programs, including Mississippi's School Walk for Diabetes!

Ocean Springs Middle School participated in Mississippi's School Walk for Diabetes during the second week of November. It was a week of diabetes tips, daily lessons on diabetes management and prevention, and plenty of walking! All of the P.E. classes walked for diabetes every day, and on Wednesday, over 450 students came to school early to show their support for the DFM and help 'd-feet' diabetes! This school was absolutely tremendous in their school spirit and enthusiasm for raising diabetes awareness!

Madison Avenue Upper Elementary participated in Mississippi's School Walk for Diabetes the third week of November, and these kids were amazing! Not only did each grade participate in a big School Walk at the end of the week, but all of the students took part in diabetes classes throughout the week, where they were given the opportunity to ask questions about a disease that, as most of them pointed out, affects nearly every person's family, including their own.

These were just two of the programs that took place in November. The DFM loves getting to the heart of diabetes by working with our state's future leaders and empowering them while they are children to not only learn about diabetes, but also to take charge of their health.

Cut the Calories, not the Cheer

‘Tis the season for good food. Unfortunately, good food does not always equate to healthy food. The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) offers a few tips for cutting the calories, without cutting the holiday cheer.

“Foods are among the many pleasures of the holiday season, but for many people, these present a challenge,” said Irena McClain, MPH, associate director of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. “What many people may not know, though, is that most foods, even traditional holiday goodies, can fit into a healthy-eating plan, because the secret is moderation and balance.”

The DFM suggests these effective tips for holding the line at holiday stand-up events:

· Remember that juggling drinks and small plates, shaking hands and mingling with friends and family can take attention away from the foods that should be on the holiday naughty list.

· Be sure to eat small, low-calorie meals during the day so that the holiday foods can be enjoyed later. Eat a healthy snack right before the party, because a hungry stomach can sabotage even the strongest willpower.

· Don’t rush to the food immediately after arriving at the party. Meet and greet, get a beverage and settle in first.

· Make only one trip to the buffet table, and be selective.

· Keep portions small. Often, a taste is all that is needed to satisfy a craving or curiosity.

· Skip the fried foods, and eat crackers, bread and fruit.

· Fresh vegetables are always great. Have a small dollop of dip, just enough to coat the carrot stick or broccoli.

· Broiled shrimp or scallops are also a good choice. Choose cocktail sauce or lemon and horseradish as a condiment.

“If you’re attending a dinner party away from home and need to bring a dish of your own, make a low-fat version of a family favorite,” McClain said. “And if possible, choose two appetizers instead of an entire entrée or share an entrée with a friend.”

Likewise, there are a few additional, simple ways to keep the cholesterol and calorie count low. For example, choose skinless white meat of poultry, because it has fewer calories and fat than dark meat. Eating a roll is fine– if it’s fresh, butter or margarine may not be needed.

Keep the helpings of food to a minimum. Try to keep the total amount of food eaten to a portion size equal to a normal-sized portion.

“Remember to be realistic during the holiday season– trying to lose weight during the holiday season may be a self-defeating goal,” McClain said. “However, strive to maintain your normal weight. Depriving yourself of special holiday foods or feeling guilty over a particular food choice is not part of a healthy-eating strategy– and certainly not part of the holiday spirit.”

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) is the state’s only nonprofit health organization that provides diabetes research, information, patient services and advocacy, and its mission is to provide hope through research, programs and service to the 346,500 Mississippians with diabetes. Every dollar raised by the DFM stays in the state to support these efforts. In addition, 90 cents of every dollar raised goes towards the organization’s charitable purposes. The DFM is the one diabetes organization totally dedicated to all Mississippians– from children to seniors– who live with diabetes.

For additional help with diabetes-friendly recipes or eating patterns, call 1-877-DFM-CURE or visit the DFM Web site www.msdiabetes.org.

Additional Web sites of interest:

• http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes/gallery/0,28548,1848222_1683337,00.html
• http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy-eating/healthy-diabetes-thanksgiving-collection/index.html
• http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/ssp/index.aspx