Diabetic Digest - Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Readers:

It looks as if Spring has finally sprung. That's good news for those of us that have been cooped up in-doors all winter long yearning for finer weather that will help to motivate us to experience some worthwhile exercise and fresh air. I know I need some fresh air... and exercise.

Sunshine and fresh air are great motivators when it comes to outdoor activities. At least it is for me. I think I'm going to take a nice long walk to wake up my muscles and get them ready for a long Summer that's sure to be filled with plenty of things to get me into healthier shape.

A little fresh air and exercise will be good for all of us.

Regards,
Steve

P.S. Are you on Facebook? If you are, check out the Deal of the Day fan page. You get exclusive offers and a new deal every day. It is easy to become a fan, just Click Here and hit the like button...

Questions? Comments? Email Steve


*-- Diabetic News --*
Diabetes, folic acid intake affect fetal risk of birth defects
By: Contemporary OB/GYN Staff
Source: Contemporary OB/GYN Special Delivery

* The risk of birth defects for children of diabetic mothers is influenced by both the mother's diabetes and her intake of folic acid around the time of conception.

* Clinicians should encourage all patients contemplating pregnancy to initiate prophylactic folic acid supplementation.

Not taking vitamins or supplements containing folic acid around the time of conception may double the risk of heart and noncardiac birth defects among the offspring of women with diabetes mellitus, according to the findings of a multicenter, population-based case-control study.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, which included approximately 20,000 affected and control infants. Children with birth defects were stratified into 18 groups with various heart defects and 26 groups with noncardiac birth defects.

The results reveal a pattern of odds ratios suggestive of at least a nonstatistically significant 2-fold greater risk of birth defects among the offspring of diabetic women who didn't take folic acid-containing vitamins periconceptionally versus those who did. The pattern held true for approximately 75% of the birth defects studied. In addition, they found an association between preexisting diabetes mellitus and an increased risk of birth defects, regardless of periconceptional use of supplements containing folic acid.

But the authors were quick to note that the diabetic women who used supplements likely planned their pregnancies and so were more likely to maintain better glycemic control periconceptionally than diabetic women who did not use supplements. Good glycemic control can reduce the increased risk for birth defects to rates similar to those of non-diabetic women.

It is difficult to know whether any apparent synergistic relationship between diabetes and the lack of folic acid supplementation reflects differences in pregnancy planning and glycemic control or is a pure effect from the lack of a folic acid-containing supplement.

The authors conclude that because the risk of birth defects among diabetic women remains high, any prevention is welcome. Thus, all women of reproductive age should be encouraged to consume vitamin supplements containing folic acid.

The study was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Original Article: http://bit.ly/Hef2sm


*-- Diabetic Recipe --*
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Servings: 36
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
* 1/4 cup sugar
* sugar substitute equal to 1/2 C sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup flour
* 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons skim milk
* 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, and sugar substitute until well blended. (That should take about 3 minutes.)
3. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
4. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Alternately add milk and flour mixture to butte and sugar mixture, beating until well blended between additions.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press flat.
8. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or just until set.
9. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool completely.

Nutrition Information
Per 1 cookie: 50 calories, 1 g protein, 3 g fat, 5 g carbohydrate, 5 mg cholesterol, 50 mg sodium
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat

Original Recipe: http://bit.ly/He4iOd

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