Diabetic Digest - December 21, 2016

Readers:

I want to wish all of my wonderful readers a very Merry Christmas! Oh, and a Happy and Healthy New Year, too!

As 2016 begins to wrap-up, I would just like to thank you for reading. And, it's so nice to hear from so many of you.

So, enjoy this year-ending edition of the Diabetic Digest, which includes an interesting study from the diabetic community and a delicious recipe that's sure to be a hit anytime during the holiday season. Please, enjoy!

Regards,
Steve

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Comments? Questions? Email Steve



*-- Diabetic News --*
Hormonal contraception safer than expected in women with diabetes: Study
One of the first studies to examine hormonal contraception and health outcomes in people with chronic conditions is showing promise for women with diabetes.

A new study published in Diabetes Care shows no increase in the incidence of strokes or heart attacks among women who have diabetes and use hormonal birth control.

Doctors had been reluctant to prescribe hormonal birth control such as oral contraceptives, transdermal patches and vaginal rings because they contain estrogen and could increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. For women with diabetes, these risks are two to four times higher.

Researchers from the University of California Davis Health System looked at the extent of the risks of cardiovascular events in women with diabetes and how they differed with various forms of hormonal birth control.

They used data from Clinformatics, a health claims database of 15 million commercially-insured people in the United States, from 2002-2011 of reproductive-aged women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Roughly 150,000 women were evaluated for a link between hormonal birth control use and the instance of strokes, heart attacks or blood clots.

The instances of these types of events were relatively low with 6.3 events per 1,000 women occurring each year. The birth control that was the least likely to be associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes or blood clots were IUDs and subdermal implants. Estrogen patches and progestin-only injections showed a slightly higher risk.

Researchers said in a press release that one of the most surprising outcomes of the study was that 72 percent of women with diabetes did not receive any kind of prescription birth control.

"This was alarming, since women with diabetes become pregnant as often as other women," Sarah O'Brien, lead author of the study and associate professor with Nationwide Children's Hospital, said in a press release.

The goal is to bring the results to physicians in the hopes that more hormonal contraception is prescribed to women with diabetes.

"Clinicians need to get beyond the idea that birth control just means 'the pill,'" Eleanor Schwarz, professor of internal medicine at UC Davis Health System and senior author of the study, said in a press release.



*-- Diabetic News --*
HOT BACON & SWISS DIP W/ PITA CHIPS
INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. Miracle Whip salad dressing
4 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded
2 tbsp. green onion slices
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
1/2 c. buttery crackers, crushed

PITA CRISPS:
2 whole wheat pita bread rounds
3 tbsp. margarine
1/4 c. sesame seed, toasted

Directions:
Dip: Microwave cream cheese on 50% power for 30 seconds. Mix in salad dressing, Swiss cheese and onions until well blended. Spoon into 2 1/2 cup casserole. Microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with bacon and cracker crumbs. Makes 2 cups.

Crisps: Cut each pita into eighths. Split each triangle in half along outside seam. Spread rough side of each triangle with margarine. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Place triangles on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes until crisp. Serve with hot dip.

Categories: Appetizers

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