In this episode, in essence, I talk about the importance of re-evaluating our perception of what is natural. There is such a misconception that if it's "natural", it is ok to consume in large quantities with no consequence. Also drug interactions, and issue of safety when it comes to medical marijuana. The words "herb, vitamins, and minerals" do not automatically mean fully safe, and not all vitamins come from natural sources.

Back to my podcast sequence, resuming at episode 55. I wanted to respond to the increase in botched surgeries, and complications that can arise after surgery. Some of the things I discuss in this video are not discussed by most doctors, because the goal of many of these doctors is to get you under the knife. Also how your A1C impacts your surgery, another important factor that is almost never mentioned to patients. Also, here is the link I promised to the lawyer's blog, Hospital and doctor found guilty of negligence in botched gastric bypass surgery. Here is also a short news clip from channel 5. Finally, here is another link to a case were a woman died from (yet again) doctor not qualified to perform bypass surgery, interview by Jeff Lichtman. We all have to be so careful.

Continuing with my series Diabetes 101, I talk about balancing blood sugars, carbs, insulin; and understanding the GI and the GL methods.

Our relationship with food is crucial when it comes to living a healthy diabetic life. Yet there's still so much confusion surrounding what's healthy. Like diabetes itself, food in relationship to our diabetes is a complex one. There is no such thing as a "perfect diabetic diet", but there is a such thing as eating better. I give my thoughts on food, and give personal examples of how I deal with the daily challenges of food, in real world.

Once again, I really apologize for the long video this week :-) . However, you guys know I always have good information to share. I discuss the currently 6 major types of diabetes:

Type 1

LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Aduts) (type 1/type2 combo (the insulin resistance factor in some)

Gestational * Very important - every woman should listen to this

MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young) (a newer type of diabetes)

Syndrome X

Type 2

It's my opinion that one should go out of their way to be aware of other types of diabetes, even if you don't have it; because it will increase your overall diabetes knowledge, appreciation, and understanding.  After listening to my video, you'll learn that despite their mechanical differences, all the types of diabetes are more alike than we realize.

I also speak on the importance of discriminating where you get your diabetes information from; the issue of weight, and some recent and developing news on type 2 diabetes. There has been an identification of autoantibody negative autoimmune in type 2 Diabetes Patients. Below are four downloadable resource links to more reports about this study:

GADA positivity predicts non-insulin dependent diabetes in an adult population (American Diabetes Journals)

Identification of Autoantibody Negative Autoimmune Type 2 Diabetes Patients (American Diabetes Journals)

Type-2 diabetes linked to autoimmune reaction in study (Stanford University of School Of Medicine)

Equivalent insulin resistance in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (PubMed)

Hey guys! Sit back and relax, class is now in session :-) ! I decided to start a small series on some important subjects, that haven't really been discussed in greater detail throughout the various diabetic communities (and sometimes even our doctors). The first lesson this week is on insulin. What actually is insulin?

This video is about the whole Paula Dean scandal and her diabetes diagnosis. Her diabetes has ignited heavy discussions within the diabetic community, in terms of her motives for coming out with diabetes, (and what seems to be her now "conflict of interest") cooking show. Also a word about the overwhelming judgements that not only she got, but what all diabetics continue to get on a daily basis.

There are still a lot of people who deny diabetes, they deny the devastation that it can cause, and they deny the life style changes that is needed to over come diabetes. I talk about some of these issues. In addition, I was watching a very old 1980's documentary (which I've included in the end this video (public domain)) called "Faces Of Aids".  As I was watching this video, I could not help but to notice the many striking social similarities between HIV/AIDS and the struggles of diabetes. From taking dangerous experimental drugs, to the heavy stigmas placed on us. I think you will enjoy both my video and the documentary. We must get a handle on both these diseases, otherwise they will destroy us all. What you don't know can hurt you. This is a wake up call.

For my first video for the 1HappyDiabetic project. The first subject I decided to talk about was "health supplements". I go over some of the things that can happen with herbal & vitamin supplements, and the importance of informing your doctor of absolutely everything your taking, and or planning to take.