Friends With Diabetes - A LOW-CARB TISHREI LIFE ...friendswithdiabetes.org/files/pdf/Tishrei5777.pdfFor the people with type 2 diabetes amongst our readership, the article, “Start

F R I E N D S W I T H D I A B E T E S

Fall ‘16 תשרי תשע"ז | Vol. IX | Issue 1

A LOW-CARB TISHREI

Our YoungestClub Members

25|

5|

10| LIFE INSURANCE

Dr. Henry AnhaltDirector, Division of Pediatric EndocrinologySt. Barnabas Medical Cntr, Livingston, NJ

Dr. Robin GolandCo-Director, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, NY, NY

Dr. Joel M. GoldmanDirector of Endocrinology & MetabolismBrookdale University HospitalBrooklyn, NY

Dr. Martin M. GrajowerRiverdale, NY

Dr. Michael James HallerPediatric EndocrinologyUniversity of Florida

Dr. Kevan HeroldImmunobiology and MedicineYale University, New Haven, CT

Dr. Irl B. HirschDivision of Metabolism,Endocrinology and NutritionUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WA

Dr. Rubina HeptullaDivision Chief PediatricEndocrinology & DiabetesAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY

Dr. BatSheva LevineChildren’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Dr. Noel Keith MaclarenBioSeek Clinics, NewYork-Presbyterian,The University Hospital ofColumbia and Cornell, New York, NY

Dr. Lyle MitznerJoslin Diabetes CenterBoston, MA

Dr. Alexander PerkelvaldDiabetes, Endocrinology& MetabolismBeth Israel Medical CenterBrooklyn, NY

Dr. Robert RapaportDirector, Division of PediatricEndocrinology & Diabetes Mount Sinai School of MedicineNew York, NY

Dr. Barak RosennDirector, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal MedicineSt. Luke’s-Roosevelt HospitalNew York, NY

Dr. Desmond SchatzAssociate Chairman of Pediatrics,Medical Director, Diabetes CenterUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Dr. Svetlana TenDr. Elka Jacobson-DickmanBrooklyn, NY

Dr. Roy E. WeissChief of Endocrinology,Diabetes and Metabolism,University of ChicagoChicago, IL

Dr. Don ZwicklerEndocrine Associates of RocklandPomona, NY

sWxc

F.W.D. is under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi

M. M. Weismandl shlit”a of Nitra–Monsey, endorsed by many other renowned Rabbonim, and by leading medical professionals.

The information in this publication is meant to be used in conjunction with, and under the guidance of, your health care professional. It is NOT meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions, nor as advice or prescrip-tions. It is provided for educational purposes only. In the event that you use the information without your

doctor’s approval, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but F.W.D. and the authors of this publication assume no responsibility. We strongly advise that you inform your doctor of any changes you wish to make.

Please consult your physician for medical ques-tions, and your Rav (Rabbi) for halachic (Jewish law) decisions.

FWD does not assume responsibility for the kashrus of any products advertised in these pages.

31 Herrick Ave. Unit B Spring Valley, NY 10977(845) 352-7532 Fax: (845) 573-9276 [email protected]

FRIENDSWITH DIABETES INTERNATIONAL

ריעים מתוקים

PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Dear Readers,It’s been a while since we published last, as can be witnessed by the vast amount of mazel tovs in our mazel tov section. We’re sure that there have been many more simchas by our members, though not everyone finds it important to share them with us. So we wish all of you our best wishes in all areas of life.

While on one hand we give the impression of a very large organization, given the thousands of members we serve, in reality we survive on a very meager budget, with limited personnel. So we need to prioritize what and how often we can do things.

When asked what the long term goal of the organization is, we reply that our goals are limited by our resources. In our dreams we wish to publish newsletters more often, make a weekend retreat for married couples every year (with a 100k price tag), organize teen Shabbatons for girls, Shabbatons for English speaking boys, and one for Yiddish speaking boys, too, an extravaganza filled with fun for the younger kids, seminars and support groups for the parents, and so on.

If we were to let our dreams go further, we can even envision a week-long summer camp for the youngsters, with the teens of the group serving as staff. Sounds very exciting and productive, doesn’t it?

However, when we awaken from our dreams we come to realize our limitations. So we do what we are able to do, and continue going forward at our pace, with Siyatta Dishmaya.

Speaking of the teen boys Shabbatons, you might realize that we veered off from our decade-long motto, which was to be inclusive vs. divisive; we believe that all types of “Friends With Diabetes” are equally welcome, and people from all backgrounds should be able to mingle together at our functions. However, over the years, we came to realize that some boys from ultra chasidish communities don’t

understand English discussions (a pity), and boys from other communities cannot communicate in Yiddish (a chaval, too). So in order for everyone to gain maximum benefit from those functions, we were forced to divide them into two groups.

We hope you enjoy this packed newsletter, with its array of informative articles. One bothersome topic is being able to purchase life insurance for someone with type 1 diabetes. If your control is out of hand, demonstrated by an elevated A1c, you probably don’t deserve to be able to get one (ouch). But for those of us who take good care of ourselves, and do our utmost, shouldn’t we find a listening ear by the underwriters of insurance companies, to recognize and appreciate our efforts, and give us some affordable insurance options?

For the people with type 2 diabetes amongst our readership, the article, “Start the year right with a low-carb Tishrei,” is especially for you, to give you the boost for a lasting “New Year resolution.”

Those who enjoy biking, or those who wish to start enjoying it, we hope you will love the “Biking with Diabetes” article. We can all gain from moving a bit more.

We also included a fresh twist with articles on parenting the youngest of our groups, the babies and toddlers. Those who find themselves in these shoes, will hopefully find it amusing. At some points our eyes fill with tears at the struggles these parents face, but reading on, we realize that Hashem gives nisyonos only to the special people who are equipped from Heaven with the kochos to handle them. We wish all parents loads of healthy and easy nachas from their kinderlach.

Wishing all of you a כתיבה וחתימה טובה, and a שנה טובה ומתוקה.

Rabbi Hirsch Meisels

בס“דFOREWORD

Tishrei 5777 | 3 | Going ForWarD

Members and their wives upon the birth of their babyBOY 19 118 582 655 741 778 847 2915 2992 3582

GIRL 16 270 458 807 2567 2937 3273 3505

Members and their husbands upon the birth of their babyBOY 79 417 652 754 96 842 2353 2854 3393 4715

GIRL 283 315 2148 2433 2722 2949 3226

Members upon their Bar Mitzvah846 2113 2357 2368 3030 3190 3253 3340 3352 3376 3449 3549 3551 3576 3580 4644 4685 4773 4928 4929 831 3164 4462 4771 4888 4910

Members upon their engagement and MarriageBOY 199 395 572 747 807 847 2065 2271 2360 2768 3205 3246 3292 3303 3321 3467 4542 4583 4643 4749

GIRL 2148 2290 3406 3480 3527 3561

Members and their wives upon the birth of their babyBOY 19 118 582 655 741 778 847 2915 2992 3582

GIRL 16 270 458 807 2567 2937 3273 3505

Members and their husbands upon the birth of their babyBOY 79 417 652 754 96 842 2353 2854 3393 4715

GIRL 283 315 2148 2433 2722 2949 3226

Members upon their Bar Mitzvah846 2113 2357 2368 3030 3190 3253 3340 3352 3376 3449 3549 3551 3576 3580 4644 4685 4773 4928 4929 831 3164 4462 4771 4888 4910

Members upon their engagement and MarriageBOY 199 395 572 747 807 847 2065 2271 2360 2768 3205 3246 3292 3303 3321 3467 4542 4583 4643 4749

GIRL 2148 2290 3406 3480 3527 3561

A long, hot summer and boom!! Autumn heralds

the Yomim Noraim: Rosh Hashana, followed quickly by Yom Kippur and Succos. True, maintaining a low carb diet during the holidays may be a challenge, requiring thought, effort, focus and creativity, but adhering to your healthy way of life is definitely possible. And with the success of a low-carb Tishrei behind you, your year ahead will be off to a good and healthy start!

Start The Year RightWITH A LOW-CARB

TISHREI


Much h a s

b e e n d i s c u s s e d

about holidays and the dieter. It seems no matter which

diet someone is trying to stick to, it is hard to say no to tempting Yom T ov dishes. But for anyone who is trying not to eat the enticing foods on the table, it’s good to keep in mind that Rosh Hashana

is just two days, with the occasional Shabbos added in for a special three-day-long celebration. That is less than 1% of the year, and while temptation might be at a high, remembering to keep the big picture in mind can provide a lot of strength. If starting to stress, about the food

or the holiday in general, just repeat to yourself: It’s only

two days.

Festive, food-based, a nice portion spent around the Yom Tov table are all true. But the holiday doesn’t have to be a low-carb nightmare. There are plenty of delicious, festive

dishes that won’t

add many carbs to your daily al-lowance. And if you’re starting to panic, just keep this in mind: like every other holiday period, it isn’t all about the food. Try fo-cusing on the non-edible parts. Some ideas to get you off on a good foot: Address your spiritual needs. Give tzedaka. Buy the nic-est flowers you can, or a flower-ing plant that might accompany you a good part of the year. Dress up the table with a new table cloth, or platter or pitcher.

Then as the holiday approaches and you must give thought to meals and food, prepare, or ask for help in doing so, your tastiest and most special low-carb dishes. Use interesting vegetables, delicious meats, unusual spices, and add little touches to add to the festivity of the holidays.

ROSH HASHANA NEW FRUITOne way to add some

zing to the year (without a lot of carbs):

Add some easy novelty to the celebration by making your new fruit a brand new one. While once a pomegranate or star fruit was considered extraordinary, today they are fairly pedestrian. If you can, purchase a new fruit

Going ForWarD | 6 | Tishrei 5777

Much h a s

b e e n d i s c u s s e d

about holidays and the dieter. It seems no matter which

diet someone is trying to stick to, it is hard to say no to tempting Yom T ov dishes. But for anyone who is trying not to eat the enticing foods on the table, it’s good to keep in mind that Rosh Hashana

is just two days, with the occasional Shabbos added in for a special three-day-long celebration. That is less than 1% of the year, and while temptation might be at a high, remembering to keep the big picture in mind can provide a lot of strength. If starting to stress, about the food

or the holiday in general, just repeat to yourself: It’s only

two days.

Festive, food-based, a nice portion spent around the Yom Tov table are all true. But the holiday doesn’t have to be a low-carb nightmare. There are plenty of delicious, festive

dishes that won’t

add many carbs to your daily al-lowance. And if you’re starting to panic, just keep this in mind: like every other holiday period, it isn’t all about the food. Try fo-cusing on the non-edible parts. Some ideas to get you off on a good foot: Address your spiritual needs. Give tzedaka. Buy the nic-est flowers you can, or a flower-ing plant that might accompany you a good part of the year. Dress up the table with a new table cloth, or platter or pitcher.

Then as the holiday approaches and you must give thought to meals and food, prepare, or ask for help in doing so, your tastiest and most special low-carb dishes. Use interesting vegetables, delicious meats, unusual spices, and add little touches to add to the festivity of the holidays.

ROSH HASHANA NEW FRUITOne way to add some

zing to the year (without a lot of carbs):

Add some easy novelty to the celebration by making your new fruit a brand new one. While once a pomegranate or star fruit was considered extraordinary, today they are fairly pedestrian. If you can, purchase a new fruit

that is truly new (to you). A few weeks ahead of the holiday, ask your greengrocer what rare fruit he can supply. By tasting some-thing you’ve never eaten before, you might find a new food you enjoy. If you have young children, often picky eaters, you will be modeling the value of expanding your taste buds and of enjoying the bounty of Hashem’s garden.

Passion Fruit is a good one to start with. Packed in a hard shell that can be cut in half to create its own small cup, the juicy fruit can be scooped out with a spoon. With only 4.2 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g dietary fiber, and about 10% of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C, it is a sweet and tingly experience. Another unusual fruit to try is the dragon fruit, or pitaya, with about 8g carbs per fruit. The bright green and pink outside gives way to a white seeded interior. It touts several nutrients including Vitamin C, B1, B2 and B3 and 1 g fiber. Often utilized in Chinese cooking, there is the lychee. Small in size and wrapped in a hard shell, lychee are also a great source of vitamin C and contain just 1.8 g carbs.

Besides the new fruit, there are lots of traditional foods and food

customs that you may want to incorporate into your New Year celebration. While you likely have your own holiday food traditions, there are plenty of foods eaten in Jewish communities around the world that might add a positive note to your Yom Tov experience. These include dates, beans, leeks and beets. While none of these foods are considered low carb, a small portion can go a long way. Beans are delicious in soup or as the main ingredient in a hearty

bean salad. With 15g of both fiber and protein, one cup of cooked black beans con-tains 41g of carbs

and is a rich source of folate and thiamine. Instead of the sweet dressing many use in a three-bean salad, toss cooked beans with chopped bell peppers, scal-lions, a bit of grated carrot with an Italian-style salad dressing. Beets, though somewhat carby at 10g per 100 grams, contain 2.8 g fiber, plus magnesium, vitamin B6, potassium and iron, and add an earthy sweetness and beau-tiful color. One of our favourite beet salads, which is lovely too as part of a festive luncheon or barbecue supper, combines chopped or shredded cooked beets with a simple vinaigrette, chopped onions and a mix of parsley and cilantro leaves.

ROSH HASHANAIS JUST TWO DAYS


SUCCOS:LET’S MEATLet’s fast forward a bit

to Succos. In addition to preparing dishes that can be carried and eaten in the Sukkah, those following a low carb diet must also prepare food that ad-heres to their way of life. No prob-lem, just grab your trays, and let’s see what we can cook up.

Depending on the holiday weather, eating in the Sukkah can be a pleasant, al fresco dining experience spent enjoying the last days of summer – or a less-than-wonderful, shivering as if it’s the middle-of-winter affair. If the weather is nice, choosing summery or early autumn type foods is perfect.

In warm weather, grilling is a great option as the foods are imparted with a summery flavour from the fire. Homemade kabobs or strips of chicken or turkey cubes on skewers are easy to prepare, fun to eat, and super low-carb. Other great options for the grill are marinated skinless chicken breasts, chicken quarters, steak, hamburgers and low-carb hot dogs. Rub the meat with a spice mix or brush on a low-carb or

low-sugar barbecue sauce. Though not traditional (as a holiday meal), a Sukkah barbecue can be very fun, especially for the younger crowd. Serve the grilled meats with a low-carb Cole slaw, grilled vegetables (quartered peppers and onions, sliced zucchini and eggplant, green beans. Just lightly brush on oil and sprinkle with salt and other herbs and spices (rosemary, oregano, thyme, cilantro) before grilling. For smaller items, such as string beans, oil, season, and wrap in foil before putting on the grill. For those with a larger carb allowance, grilled and seasoned small potatoes and corn on the cob sliced in 1-1.5-inch rounds benefit in taste and appearance from being cooked on the grill and make a nice addition to the meal.

When temperatures drop, heavier warming food is ideal, and perhaps nothing is better than a thick, hearty beef soup or chili. While beef soups are often pretty carby with large quantities of barley and potatoes thickening the pot, we make ours with sweet potatoes, zucchini, celery,


tomatoes, white beans and parsley in addition to onions, carrots, and a small amount of potatoes and barley. The vegetables impart flavour and color while lowering the o v e r a l l c a r b count. A pot of meaty chili is perfect for cooler weather, satisfying, hearty, and it can serve a surprise guest or two easily. Chili is one of the recipes that lend themselves to adaptation, welcoming a variety of ingredients to match what is in the pantry. Starting with dry beans, preparing chili can take some time, but you can take a shortcut with canned. And nearly any bean will work, such as white, black, red, and pink, though a combination is nice too. Canned chopped tomatoes save time as well, but feel free to use fresh if you prefer. Delicious as a meaty main dish or as a vegetarian one, just add spices

(cumin, garlic, fresh coriander), chopped onions and other vegetables if you like. Chili does not have to be full of jalapenos or pepper – chili can be as mild or as spicy as you like.

T ishrei is a fes t ive t ime, and choosing to make good food (and good food choices) will help you begin the year on the right foot. Focus on your health and enjoy the

goodness of the New Year all year long.

GRILLING IS A GREAT OPTION AS THE FOODS ARE IMPARTED WITH A

SUMMERY FLAVOUR


E D U C A T E

R E G U L A T E

E M P O W E R

TYPE 1 / TYPE 2 / GESTATIONAL DIABETES / PREDIABETES / DIABETES PREVENTION / PCOS

Our expertise includes:» Diabetes Education and Self-Management» Advanced Insulin Pump Therapy; Fine-tuning of basals and bolus ratios» CGM Analysis » Individualized meal planning and weight management» Extensive knowledge of diabetes medications » Collaborating with your physician to reach your healthcare goals» Fingerstick and injection training (gestational and newly diagnosed)

A Specialty Nutrition Practice dedicated tohelping you achieve blood sugar control.

I've been working with Rochie for 4 months now.My A1c is down from 9.9% to 6.2% and I've lost 30pounds! My doctor (and my wife) are thrilled! Aaron L, Type 2, 50 years old

Rochie helped me lower my A1c from 7.2% to6.1%... which helped lower my life insurancepremium. Y.B, Age 30, Type 1 for 20 years

[ yw

eiss

desi

gn@

gmai

l.com

]

ROCHIE LEBOVITSRegistered DietitianCertified Diabetes Educator

call today 732.806.5695or email [email protected] and Skype consultations available

Mention this ad and a donation will be made to FWDGoing ForWarD | 10 | Tishrei 5775

LIFEINSURANCE

F O R T Y P E 1 D I A B E T I C S

IS IT POSSIBLE?

Insurance agent Cheskel Lauber* will

long remember his first professional encounter

with type 1 diabetes.

“I was dealing with a recently-diagnosed type 1 client, a newly married young man who was eager

to invest in a solid life insurance policy. We were sitting in my minivan as I

gently broke the facts to him: Due to his new

status as a diabetic, no insurance agency

was ready to offer him coverage; he had simply

been declined.”


Mr. Lauber sighs at the memory, “This client lost himself. He be-came so agitated, that he began grabbing at the CDs in my glove compartment, throwing them around the car… The desperate and devastating image remains seared in my memory.”

The insurance market can be harsh on people with preexist-ing medical conditions. As a market governed by caution and tradition, its overwhelming at-titude towards type 1 diabetes continues to reflect the medical realities of several decades ago. Although we know that diabetes

today can be efficiently man-aged to just barely interfere with a long and healthy life, the insur-ance powers-that-be have not yet embraced new policies to reflect that.

However, Mr. Lauber asserts, it is possible to find a decent plan even with the prevailing stigma. “Since that first memorable expe-rience, I’ve managed to acquire competitive insurance policies for more than one diabetic client. I am confident that the insurance market will slowly gain a more benign attitude towards diabe-tes in general.”

THE INS AND OUTS OF INSURANCE:A BASIC PRIMER

Upon applying for insurance coverage, an individual will generally undergo a compre-hensive health screening by the agency. Blood and urine is drawn and medical (as well as financial) records are carefully scrutinized. The insurance agency will then

make a decision regarding your request for coverage. If they en-vision you paying their annual premiums for many uneventful years to come, then you have a best case scenario, and will be of-fered an “ultra preferred” status at the company’s most attractive annual rates. Many applicants

AS A MARKET GOVERNED BY CAUTIONAND TRADITION, ITS OVERWHELMING

ATTITUDE TOWARDS TYPE 1 DIABETES CONTINUES TO REFLECT THE MEDICAL REALITIES OF SEVERAL DECADES AGO.


will be accepted at the slightly lesser levels of “preferred” or “standard”. But if the company categorizes you as a more risky client, then they will offer you a substandard or “rated” policy, ranging from level A (1 level be-low standard) through I (9 levels below standard). Of course, an agency may also reject an appli-cant entirely.

A rated policy carries a higher price tag in the form of additional annual premiums. Moreover, it will begin yielding a profit at a slower and later rate than a standard plan. And finally, the policy may be more rigid and offer no waiver of premium in the event that the insured is temporarily out of work.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKINGInsurance is a complex field which is best navigated with the help of a reputable agent. (A wide range of policies are avail-able and some basic, low-yield plans may be obtained without the disclosure of a client’s medi-cal information.) To get the most for their money, Mr. Lauber ad-vises applicants with diabetes to stay away from term life insur-ance and to aim for a whole life policy instead.

If you are seriously considering a life insurance policy, remem-ber that a solid history of good diabetes control can help you receive better offers. Try obtain-ing a letter from your doctor at-testing to your compliance over time. Agencies are particularly wary of someone who has been just recently diagnosed and has not yet demonstrated the dis-cipline necessary for long-term

control. “Ultimately,” explains Mr. Lauber, “much depends on the individual underwriter who is reviewing your case.” So do turn to an experienced agent who knows the ins and outs of the market, but under all circum-stances, do not take the results as a personal insult.

If my type 1 is so well-controlled that all my blood work returns within perfectly normal range, can I get away without disclosing my medical condition? Mr. Lau-ber strongly advises against this. “Your doctor’s records will be reviewed,” he explains, “so it is nearly impos-sible that the agency won’t get wind of your diabetes. And in that case, you may find yourself facing criminal charges ch”v.”

AS A MARKET GOVERNED BY CAUTIONAND TRADITION, ITS OVERWHELMING

ATTITUDE TOWARDS TYPE 1 DIABETES CONTINUES TO REFLECT THE MEDICAL REALITIES OF SEVERAL DECADES AGO.


“Disappointed but not Depressed”:MIRIAM’S STOR Y

Miriam, a member of Friends With Diabetes,shared her personal experience:

Chasdei Hashem, I am a young person in good physical health, with optimal

body weight and no history of family illness. Oh yeah, there is one little glitch: I have type 1 diabetes, relatively well controlled for over fifteen years. I am deeply attached to my Dexcom con-tinuous glucose monitor and my Medtronic pump and I have always viewed myself a s a healthy person. So when my husband purchased a life insurance policy several months ago, I eagerly applied for my own policy as well. My blood work returned with B”H excellent results including an A1c of 6.3% (slightly past the upper normal limit of 6.0%).

My dedicated insurance agent presented my case to a range of agencies, some very popular and some lesser known, in the hope that I would be given an attractive offer. Several weeks later, I re-ceived a polite letter from PennMutual informing me that, “After underwriting your application we found it necessary to charge an additional premium. Our decision was based on your history of Type 1 diabetes under good control.”

It turned out that I only received offers rated several levels below standard. After deliberating for a while, we decided that these weren’t financially worthwhile and that I would not purchase any policy at all for the time being.

For me, this experience was deeply disappointing, but I’m not going to get down about it. The attitude of the insurance world did threaten my self-image as a healthy person despite having diabetes. But I will continue doing the best I can to remain well-controlled and I hope that, with time, insurance agencies will begin seeing diabetes as the manageable and livable condition it has become in the century since insulin was finally discovered.


A HOPEFUL FUTUREMr. Lauber agrees. “I think the rea-son why diabetes is so negatively regarded is because the exciting advances in this field are relatively new,” he explains. Glucose meters are just a few decades old, insulin pumps caught on fairly recently, and continuous glucose sensors are cutting edge. Not only that, but much promising research remains in the works even as this article goes to print; the gold standards of diabetes care are still evolving. As such, type 1 comes with an in-creasingly positive prognosis and will hopefully soon be regarded as an easily managed condition.

The great insurance empires were built on tradition and prudence. They have not yet adapted their

entrenched views of diabetes as a disease with poor quality of life and lower life expectancy. Mr. Lauber draws a comparison with Crohn’s disease. “Until recently, individuals suffering from Crohn’s were routinely denied insurance coverage. Today, they are increas-ingly being offered standard plans. I envision diabetes heading in the same direction within several years.”

And it’s our tedious commitment to excellent diabetes control that will slowly help that change come about.

*Although the name of this specif-ic agent had to be changed, more information can be obtained by contacting FWD.

TYPE 1 COMES WITH AN INCREASINGLY POSITIVE

PROGNOSIS AND WILL HOPEFULLY SOON BE

REGARDED AS AN EASILY MANAGED CONDITION .


Realtexture,

taste, and quality!

An ALLNATURALSUGAR

SUBSITUTE that has

nothing to hide...and everythingto show for!

It’s finally here...

Safe for diabetics Zero Glycemic index Measures equvilant to sugar NO aftertaste! Great for baking & cooking! Zero calorie sweetner Great for weight loss

URecomended by Rabbi Miesels

TO BE FOUND IN ALL SUPERMARKETSAND HEALTH FOOD STORES

Distributed by:

845-877-7090

Comparable to

But incomparably

better.

Comparable to

Realtexture,

taste, and quality!

An ALLNATURALSUGAR

SUBSITUTE that has






Distributed by:

845-877-7090

Comparable to

But incomparably

better.

Comparable to

Realtexture,

taste, and quality!

An ALLNATURALSUGAR

SUBSITUTE that has






Distributed by:

845-877-7090

Comparable to

But incomparably

better.

Comparable to

How Sweet is Friendship!

Girls’ ShabbatonD iabe tes somet imes seems to be a l o t

abou t food and b l ood suga r f rus t ra t i ons .

But at FWD, d iabetes is about f r iendsh ip ,

fac tua l know ledge , and fac ing

cha l l e nges head-on ! Tha t ’ s

the message a bunch o f

fun - l ov i ng g i r l s rece i ved

a t t h i s y e a r ’ s F r i e n d s

With D iabetes Shabbaton .

FWD Events 2015

Z


Just a few mo-ments after her daughter returned home from this highly successful event, one participant’s mother had this to share: “Zeldy* looks ANEW - recharged - full of light and positively shining!”

Another parent raved, “My daugh-ter came home on such a high! She gained so much new infor-mation and made many new friends!”

Even those who joined reluctantly returned home feeling satisfied and rejuvenated. They spoke about the beautiful atmosphere, the aesthetic details, and the de-lightful programming. But more than any-thing

else, they spoke about new worlds of knowledge and friendship. They had been touched by the magic of FWD.

This year’s Shabbaton was enhanced by Mrs. Rochie Lebovits RD CDE of MyType Diabetes Management in Lakewood. As guest dia-betes educator, she spoke with the girls and shared lots of diabetes-specific tips during pertinent ad-dresses and while min-gling informally with them. Her advice was

practical and true-to-life. Many girls expressed their appreciation for the heightened comprehen-sion and new facts she imparted.

Friday night, Mrs. Lebovits de-livered an eye-opening address, tackling what she refers to as the “What, When, and How of Diabe-tes Management.”She discussed the core foundations that directly affect diabetes control as a whole.

The “What” referred to the amount of carbs being eaten. Mrs. Lebovits conveyed to the girls that simple things like using measuring cups and scales are fundamental prin-cipals in diabetes man-agement. No


one, no matter how experienced they are at counting carbs, can beat the accuracy of the measur-ing cup they will buy for 99 cents at Walmart!

The “When” was synonymous with “When will you eat?” Accord-ing to Mrs. Lebovits’s framework of diabetes management, it refers to the importance of sticking to a scheduled pattern of eating for optimal outcomes. Sticking to a meal plan need not mean a mo-notonous lifestyle of eating the same foods, she assured the girls. Rather, Mrs. Lebovitz emphasized eating on a consistent basis with set times while avoiding grazing or ‘noshing’ throughout the day. One advantage of a more organized eating pattern is that it allows for much greater accuracy in assess-ing basal settings and bolus ratios.

The “How” of diabetes manage-ment signifies the fine-tuning that follows once the basics were established. Says Mrs. Lebovits, “Once we have worked out ac-curate carb counting, scheduled our eating properly, and adjusted basals and boluses to their ap-propriate amounts, we can then determine ‘How’ certain foods affect our blood sugars.” With all other factors out of the picture, it is easier to figure out what it is on certain days that “just doesn’t seem to work”.

After her presentation and all throughout Shabbos Mrs. Lebovits was available to answer any ques-

tions the girls had. Many girls took advantage of this wonderful op-portunity and walked away with a clearer understanding of topics and with new goals and commit-ments to help better their control.

In highlighting the importance of checking blood sugars, Mrs. Lebo-vits encouraged the girls to stand up and share personal stories in which they were in an awkward or uncomfortable situation, yet they tested their blood sugar anyway because they knew it was the right thing to do. Many of the girls stood up, some with more than one story to share! Hearing about the cour-age these girls used to overcome their diabetes challenges gave so many others the inspiration to be able to do the same. As Mrs. Lebovits pointed out, “being com-fortable with your own diabetes, and sometimes facing it head-on,

יחד כולם הודוtogether in

harm nyFriends With diabetes's

upcoming

Teen-Girls Shabbaton

9th grade and up

פרשת וארא, תשע“ה אי”הJanuary 18, 2015

in monsey, ny

starting Friday afternoonwith a full motzei shabbos program

To reserve please call asap 845.352.7532 X 770


*all names are �ctitious

is a key element in allowing you to achieve the best control possible.”

“There are no words to describe the enthusiasm and energy that Batshe-va* came home with after the Shab-baton!” enthused a grateful parent, “She was so inspired and uplifted from the whole Shabbos experience and especially [by] the diabetes educator.

[It] was a truly motivating experience.”

In trademark FWD style, each partici-pant was whole-heartedly accepted for who they were, even as each girl was gently prodded to reach a little higher in her self-care goals. Perhaps one teenager said it best when she declared, “Shabbatons like this will bring Moshiach!”

Boys’ ShabbatonsTo accommodate the needs of a wider range of families, FWD this year presented two separate boys’ Shab-batons. 35 Yiddish-speaking boys were hosted in Monsey for Shabbos November 7th, while an even larger group of 50 boys gathered in Mor-ristown, New Jersey May 4th. Both events featured FWD’s standard Shab-bos fare: emotional connection, prac-tical information, exciting entertain-ment, and a refreshed commitment to diabetes self-care.

Highlights of the Monsey Shabbaton included prominent local speakers and a rousing Friday-night kumzitz. The Morristown event was graced by Gary Scheiner whose lectures covered topics from exercise and motivation to basals, boluses, and the CGM. The boys were also held spellbound by Ya-kov Rosenthal who entertained them with his knowledge of graphology.

Despite the large number of partici-pants, each and every boy left feeling uplifted and inspired. “I could not let the day pass without thanking you for

giving Ruvi* the Shabbos of his life!” wrote one grateful mother. Another enthused, “Shimi was a bit hesitant to go and we needed to push him a bit, but Baruch Hashem he came home on a high!”

The most heartwarming comments came from participants who imple-mented immediate improvements in their self-care habits. One set of par-ents reported the purchase of a brand new food scale following their son’s renewed interest in accurate carb-counting. “Levi’s entire attitude to diabetes changed over this Shabbos,” shared yet another grateful parent, “Gary Scheiner really convinced him of the benefits of tighter blood sugar control.”

In the words of Mr. and Mrs. Katz, “Our son Yehuda explained, ‘Ma, it wasn’t about the food or entertainment! It was great because of the people!

“We think that for a teenage yeshiva bachur to express those feelings really says it all!”


Do you exercise? You can list the bene�ts by heart: Exercise helps us reach and maintain a healthy weight and keep our bodies in top physical form; it increases our sensitivity to insulin and enhances blood sugar control; and it just plain makes us feel

good. We’ve all experienced that unique “high” that comes from a vigorous physical workout.

So…do you exercise? Perhaps one of the best ways to ensure you will actually stick to an exercise regimen is to adopt an

activity that you’ll really enjoy. In this special feature, Going ForWarD catches up with two of our very own members who

are avid cyclists. They’re so passionate about biking, that by the time you �nish reading this article you may just want to don

your own helmet and join the club!

A NEW SPIN on

Diabetes Control


Meet Our Cyclists!Shmaya F*: When I was diag-nosed six years ago with type 2 diabetes, my doctor assured me that a good workout combined with a healthy diet would whip me back into shape without the need for medi-cations. So I started on a quality diet and joined a local gym. My passion for bik-ing took o� indoors while I was doing a program called “spin-ning”. By the follow-ing summer I had adopted out-door biking and was enjoying it tremendously.

My doctor was right: within a few weeks my sugars were well-controlled and I was completely o� meds. The diet and exercise worked for three years; then I was diagnosed with type 1 diabe-tes. So today I do take insulin via

my Omnipod pump, but I’m still committed to my biking.

Debbie R*: I’m a veteran type 1, with diabetes for approximately 18 years. Sports have been an

outlet for me and I enjoyed rollerblading at the shorefront. As that became logisti-cally more di�cult, I decided to buy a bike which I could ride more locally. One thing led to the next, and I soon advanced to a competitive level of cycling. Today, this

sport takes up a signi�cant chunk of my daily schedule and it adds an incredible dimension to my life.

What’s In a Sport?Shmaya: Biking is for everybody and can be done at so many dif-ferent levels. You can cycle to and from work or take a relaxed spin around a scenic park. What I’m involved in is the more com-

WITHIN A FEW WEEKS MY SUGARS WERE WELL-CONTROLLED

AND I WAS COMPLETELY

OFF MEDS.

petitive form of the sport. In the summer, I try to ride about 200 miles a week. That means I’m working out �ve or six days weekly and I do push myself hard. However, so as not to over-tax my body, I will spend some days cycling at a slower pace and doing a recovery ride.

Debbie: Competitive cycling is really intense. Avid cyclists in-vest a lot of money and training in their sport and are constantly pushing the limits. At the peak of a workout, my heart rate (which I track with a heart monitor) will hit 170 bpm and my muscles will be pumping furiously. My current schedule includes two hours of cycling, six times per week, with additional hours in-vested on days o� from work.

How They Do ItShmaya: When I was diagnosed with type 1, I learned a major life lesson: I could do everything I was used to doing previously… but I would need to spend some additional time planning before-hand. So while I can no longer just get up and go biking, I could still keep up my d emanding exercise regimen if I prepared myself properly. To prevent low blood sugars, I always check for

extra insulin on board before be-ginning a ride, and I make sure to eat 15 to 30 grams of carbo-hydrates. What’s worked for me also is setting a temporary basal rate of 0.05, which I program to end about thirty minutes before I expect to be done biking.

Debbie: My own experience has been quite the opposite! Because my cycling regimen includes in-tense bursts of anaerobic exercise, it causes my muscles to release large amounts of stress hormones that actually work against insulin. So in the short term, a vigorous workout will raise my blood sug-ars. I don’t lower my basal rates at all and usually need to take an ex-tra unit of insulin at the end of my ride. However, to prevent lows, I will deliver only about half of my regular bolus for any food I eat prior to working out. And I always carry loads of sugar on me just to be on the safe side!

I usually experience a signi�cant drop in blood glucose about 4 hours post exercise. Throughout the day, I can feel the e�ects of my workout in an overall in-creased sensitivity to insulin.

What Makes It All WorthwhileShmaya: The thrill of competi-


tive sports is hard to describe and

it takes on a life all its own. At this point, I can-

not imagine a day without my biking.

On top of that, of course, there’s the bene�t of increased blood sugar control. There is no ques-tion that the intense exercise tames my blood sugars across the board. Combined with a dis-ciplined diet, I have B”H continu-ously been able to maintain an a1c in the 6% range.

Debbie: Cycling has truly brought blessing to my life, in so many di�erent ways. Despite the initial rise in blood sugar, the exercise has a wonderful lower-ing e�ect on my glucose overall. I look and feel healthy and �t and I often think that exercise is that elusive “magic pill” for diabetes that scientists are always strug-gling to discover.

My biking has made me more knowledgeable and aware of my diabetes control. It makes my blood sugars more predictable and consistent. And as an added ben-e�t, my contact with other type 1 cyclists has been a major source of support and motivation in my life.

Our Expert AdviceShmaya: When you have type 1 diabetes, starting a new exer-cise program can be daunting. I would tell you to take the time to learn your own body. Every indi-vidual and even every workout is di�erent and may require a di�er-ent approach. The most impor-tant advice I can give is to keep a log of what you did and how your body responded to the ex-ercise. Although there are always variations and surprises, you will eventually see the pattern and discover what works best for you.

Debbie: It took me many months to start developing some kind of formula of how to adjust my in-sulin for the exercise I was doing. And even now, I would say I do have a system, but it’s far from a perfect science. Factors like how much and what I eat, my baseline levels of insulin resistance, and many other variables I don’t even know about, keep my sugars un-predictable and exciting!

But after all is said and done, this activity is worth every precious- if painful- minute! I would love to hear from others in our group who are already involved or would like to learn more about biking.Our interviewees, who are not presented with their au-thentic names, can be reached via the FWD office.

PART 1 OF A SERIES ONRAISING CHILDREN

WITH DIABETES

by Menucha Jacobs

Meet Shalom*, the cutest little boy in town. He loves raisins, American cheese, and raiding the nosh closet. He likes �ushing his insulin pump down the toilet and, as he grows older, he enjoys guessing what his meter reading was. His age at diagnosis? One year old.

When Shalom was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he was

a nursing baby who was just barely starting on solid foods. “Those were very stressful days,” remembers his mother, “with extreme blood sugar highs and lows.” Now a spunky 8-year old, Shalom and his diabetes still keep his parents on their toes, but things have de�nitely got-ten somewhat easier.

When diabetes is diagnosed at a

YoungestClub

Members

OurINTRODUCING:


tive sports is hard to describe and

it takes on a life all its own. At this point, I can-

not imagine a day without my biking.

On top of that, of course, there’s the bene�t of increased blood sugar control. There is no ques-tion that the intense exercise tames my blood sugars across the board. Combined with a dis-ciplined diet, I have B”H continu-ously been able to maintain an a1c in the 6% range.

Debbie: Cycling has truly brought blessing to my life, in so many di�erent ways. Despite the initial rise in blood sugar, the exercise has a wonderful lower-ing e�ect on my glucose overall. I look and feel healthy and �t and I often think that exercise is that elusive “magic pill” for diabetes that scientists are always strug-gling to discover.

My biking has made me more knowledgeable and aware of my diabetes control. It makes my blood sugars more predictable and consistent. And as an added ben-e�t, my contact with other type 1 cyclists has been a major source of support and motivation in my life.

Our Expert AdviceShmaya: When you have type 1 diabetes, starting a new exer-cise program can be daunting. I would tell you to take the time to learn your own body. Every indi-vidual and even every workout is di�erent and may require a di�er-ent approach. The most impor-tant advice I can give is to keep a log of what you did and how your body responded to the ex-ercise. Although there are always variations and surprises, you will eventually see the pattern and discover what works best for you.

Debbie: It took me many months to start developing some kind of formula of how to adjust my in-sulin for the exercise I was doing. And even now, I would say I do have a system, but it’s far from a perfect science. Factors like how much and what I eat, my baseline levels of insulin resistance, and many other variables I don’t even know about, keep my sugars un-predictable and exciting!

But after all is said and done, this activity is worth every precious- if painful- minute! I would love to hear from others in our group who are already involved or would like to learn more about biking.Our interviewees, who are not presented with their au-thentic names, can be reached via the FWD office.

PART 1 OF A SERIES ONRAISING CHILDREN

WITH DIABETES

by Menucha Jacobs

Meet Shalom*, the cutest little boy in town. He loves raisins, American cheese, and raiding the nosh closet. He likes �ushing his insulin pump down the toilet and, as he grows older, he enjoys guessing what his meter reading was. His age at diagnosis? One year old.

When Shalom was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he was

a nursing baby who was just barely starting on solid foods. “Those were very stressful days,” remembers his mother, “with extreme blood sugar highs and lows.” Now a spunky 8-year old, Shalom and his diabetes still keep his parents on their toes, but things have de�nitely got-ten somewhat easier.

When diabetes is diagnosed at a

YoungestClub

Members

OurINTRODUCING:


very young age, it has a thunder-ous impact on the entire family. Parents, who often know next to nothing about the condition, suddenly need to check blood sugars, count carbohydrates, and monitor symptoms of tots who are too young to be involved in their own care. Crises crop up with regularity and those child-hood rites of passage- temper tantrums, stomach viruses, and the terrible twos- are all viewed through a di�erent and more dangerous lens. And siblings, too, need to readjust to a real-ity in which one child suddenly requires more than his regular share of attention.

In the Beginning:The DiagnosisIt was a di�cult winter and baby Shalom was coming down with one ear infection after the next. But no amount of antibiotic seemed to clear up the problem. In fact, Sha-lom was steadily refusing to eat and a nagging whine sup-planted his adorably expand-ing vocabulary. Things reached a head while the young family was attending a simcha out-of-town. Shalom was staying with his grandmother who noticed his progressively worsening symptoms: By now, the baby was vomiting and lethargic. He was whisked yet again to the pediatrician, who this time di-agnosed him with dehydration.

“The scariest part was watching him just lay there,” remembers his mother. “He no longer cried; instead he just stared at us, glassy-eyed, emitting labored and shuddering breaths. I knew that something was seriously wrong.” When a blood sugar reading was �nally obtained, the results were stark: his reading was too high for the meter to interpret. At that moment, the diagnosis was almost a relief; at last, Shalom could be given the treatment he really needed.


Four-year-old Aryeh Leib* was diagnosed when he began dis-playing the classic symptoms of excessive thirst and trips to the bathroom. In fact, the little boy who had been entirely toilet trained sudden-ly began hav-ing accidents. Alarmed, his parents checked his blood sugars on several di�er-ent meters. All, unfor tunate ly, displayed simi-lar results: Aryeh Leib’s blood glucose was in the 500 mg/dl range.

Shoshana’s parents were clue-less when she presented with similar symptoms at age 5. She was running continuously to the bathroom and gulping down so much water that she would be begging for more even while still swallowing the last of the life-giving drops. But her parents were only mildly alarmed and could not imagine what might be causing these strange symptoms. In the thick of a sweltering summer, Shani’s doctor �nally diagnosed her with type 1 diabetes; the little girl presented with a blood glu-cose of 600 mg/dl.

It was a Friday afternoon. “Can we push o� dealing with this until

next week?” Shani’s mother in-nocently asked. Her doctor’s re-sponse was a decisive, “No! You’re going to the emergency room immediately!” And thus began a �ve-day-marathon hospital stay.

When Shani’s younger friend Huvi was diag-nosed only one year later at age 3, her parents were devastated but much savvier.

Diabetes: The Daily GrindDiabetes can be anxiety-induc-ing at any age, but when parents �nd themselves caring for a very young child with diabetes, that worry can be all-consuming. “I used to live with the constant fear that something would go wrong,” shares Shani’s mother, “but I learned to relax over the years. I try to be prepared and one thing that’s helped is hav-ing an extra loaner pump in the house, just in case…”

There’s a lot to be on top of. Food… insulin… pump sites… batteries… An uninterrupted night’s sleep becomes almost impossible, as parents awaken to check on their young one’s blood glucose, and, often, to take appropriate action. (“Those

THE SCARIEST PART WAS

WATCHING HIM JUST LAY THERE


overnight blood sugars are hard,” agreed so many parents, “get-ting them controlled is impos-sible sometimes.”) Sick days can turn suddenly sinister if a child is too ill to eat or so sick that stress hormones drive blood glucose sky-high. And, oh, those frus-trating temper tantrums!

The Fights We Have...“Whenever Huvi would act un-usually fussy or cranky, I suspect-ed that her sugars might be low. But in her hysterical state she would often resist checking her blood sugars. I sometimes had to beg her to let me prick her or to swallow some juice,” her mother relives the frustration.

It’s a constant guessing game as long as a child is too young or immature to express what he is feeling. “Shalom can literally bounce o� the walls when his sugars are low,” says his mom, “but when he’s misbehaving in bed at 10:00 pm, the last thing I really want to do is make an entire production and start serv-ing him sweets… And on top of that, we never really know: May-be, just maybe, our son is being

a regular hyper little boy?!”

It’s not unusual for little fash-ionistas to insist on wearing only their favorite out�ts, but diabetes lends the classic argu-

ment a whole new twist. “Huvi prefers wearing her pump right on her skirt band, where it’s eas-ily accessible, so she refuses to put on a dress. I �nally learned to buy her only skirts and tops;

those adorable dresses were just hanging forlornly in the closet.” In general, she adds, it doesn’t bother her much that her little one �aunts her diabetes so openly. But there are times, like when the class puts up a per-formance for a crowd, when she gently persuades her daughter to be a little more discreet.

Counting those CarbsAdministering mealtime insu-lin for our youngest members means dealing with erratic eat-ing habits, less-than-ideal food preferences, and any host of last-minute surprises. “Because I never know exactly how much Aryeh Leib will actually eat,” ex-

EVERY STOMACH VIRUS AND EAR

INFECTION WOULD SEND HIS BLOOD SUGARS SOARING


plains his mother, “I sometimes give insulin after he’s �nished with his meal. However, this will de�nitely cause a greater spike in blood sugars so I try hard not to do it.”

She also shared the drama of her son’s abrupt “dislike” for whole wheat bread. “Leiby suddenly insisted on eating only white bread, but that caused a huge blood sugar spike hours later. It took us a while to �gure out how to deal with this new food pref-erence.” Ditto for Shani’s craving for pasta and Shalom’s infatua-tion with butter-smeared white rolls (although, in his case, the butter probably dampened that post-meal high)..

Leiby’s mother puts things in perspective when she adds, “Overall, carb counting has be-come as natural for me as mak-ing a bracha before I eat; I do these for my son almost without thinking.”

Mishaps and MayhemWhen Shalom was little, every stomach virus and ear infec-tion would send his blood sug-ars soaring. His parents would administer insulin corrections and keep an anxious eye on his ketone levels,

sometimes calling his doctor for a hurried consultation. “Look-ing back,” laughs his mother, “he wasn’t really sick more often than anybody else. I guess it just seemed that way because each sick day was so stressful.”

Huvi’s mother can’t forget the time her daughter’s insulin pump site accidentally dis-lodged during the night. By the time they caught on, the little girl’s blood sugar was danger-ously high and she was nau-seous and lethargic. “The crazy part was that her ketones just wouldn’t go down, even after


her blood sugars stabilized. Huvi was acting miserable and weak; we were beside ourselves with worry. But when we called her doctor, we only reached a resi-dent who lashed out at us: ‘Why, you don’t even know what to do to help your daughter!’ Boy was he right, but he wasn’t very helpful either!”

Like all di�cult experiences, this one resolved itself eventually too. Because despite the long list of things that can- and do- go wrong, our children with dia-betes continue to thrive!

Our Pet Peeve: Why don’t people just GET it?!The most frustrating part, for many of these hard-working parents, is dealing with the lack of knowledge and understand-ing in the broader community. This community includes school personnel who are wary of ac-cepting their children, obstinate and illogical insurance represen-tatives, the above-mentioned resident doctor, and, yes, the lady who says: “You’re letting her eat that?!”

Says Sholom’s mother: “It really bothers me when people at-tempt to minimize our di�cul-ties and wave diabetes away with a comment like, ’At least it’s not [name your least favorite life-threatening disease].’ Yes, we appreciate our blessings, but, hey, this is hard!”

At the opposite end of the spec-trum, we don’t want people tak-ing a needlessly bleak view of diabetes either. Huvi’s mother relates painfully, “I remember when my daughter was newly-diagnosed and a friend invited

her over to play. I felt close to this child’s mother so I ex-

plained some diabetes basics to her, but her

reaction shocked me. ‘Forget it,’ she told me quickly, ‘I don’t think you should send Huvi to play here anymore.’ Years later, that comment still stings.”

Encounters like these only com-pound the natural trepidation every parent feels when allow-ing their youngster with diabe-tes to venture away from home. In fact, worries about their child’s wellbeing combined with the hesitation of others to assume care for this unknown condition, often push parents to create their own daycamps or kiddie groups. When necessity does impel the child to begin attend-ing school or to stay elsewhere for a weekend, the community at large is put to the test. Thank-fully, they often come through with remarkable grace, and there are many won-derful school sta� members, family, and friends who devotedly involve themselves in dia-betes care. These amazing people can be lifesavers not only for our too-sweet little ones, but espe-cially for the overwhelmed par-ents who �nally get to take a break.

Still the Sweetest Kids AroundThey execute the most dreadful tantrums when their sugars are low (and no, they do not wan-na drink juice now!); they land the most exquisite highs after sneaking candy from the pan-try; they’re the cause of endless lost sleep and days spent nego-tiating with stubborn insurance reps and doctors’ o�ces. They occasionally decide they’ve had enough of diabetes and are ready to forgo the entire ordeal. Honestly, their parents tend to agree.

But they’re also the sweetest little heroes around.

Shalom was in daycamp, his Ani-mas Ping [insulin pump] proudly

in sight. “Hey,” asked a little boy, “what’s that thing you’re wearing?”

“Oh, that?” was Shalom’s airy re-sponse, “You stand there and I’ll snap a picture of you with it!” After the child dutifully

posed, Shalom explained that his ‘camera’ was not a digital model and so his little friend would not get to see his picture after all.

“HEY,” ASKED A LITTLE BOY, “WHAT’S THAT THING YOU’RE

WEARING?”


Aryeh Leib takes a di�erent ap-proach. The kids in his class know that “you have to test Leiby”, but they were full of questions when they noticed his pump site one day. The Morah dismissed it as a band-aid, but Aryeh Leib would not agree. “Oh no!” he proudly insisted, “That’s my pump ‘cuz I have diabetes.”

And Huvi, too, insists on wearing her pump clipped to her skirt and proudly visible. “I like to take my daughter along when I intro-duce diabetes to her teachers or counselors,” says her mother, “because she is so absolutely cute and full of personality and grace. Yes, she does have diabe-tes, but that’s only a tiny part of who she is.”

Heroic kids tend to have parents who are heroes, and the parents in our club are exactly that. “We have drawers over�owing with diabetes supplies in our house,” Shalom’s mother shares. “Some-times I encounter those drawers and I feel so overwhelmed… angry, even… I wish we could just be a normal family whose drawers are �lled with games and books and toys. But at other times, I open those drawers and I feel so grateful for all the tech-nology and helpful medical in-novations we’ve been blessed with. Baruch Hashem, our chil-dren are growing and thriving- whether with diabetes or with-out. We are so lucky.”* Yes, all names and some details are

�ctitious.

Check out “Letters to my Son”, an inspirational �rst-person account. Look out also for upcoming installments covering the following subjects:

· Is “Good Control” really possible for our youngest members? And… are sugar free and low carb foods a staple for our kids, or not?

· Don’t Lose Your Balance!- How can parents care-fully control their child’s blood sugars, while slow-ly transferring the responsibility and letting their child live a normal life?

If you have something meaningful to contribute to this series, contact the FWD o�ce to be considered for an interview.

We’re not done with this topic!


The following series chronicles one mother’s journey with her son and his type 1 diabetes. The excerpts are from an actual, ongoing letter this creative and upbeat woman worded directly to her little boy, beginning after his �rst birthday. Going Forward is proud to present this special gem to our readers. Whether there is a child with diabetes in your life or not, you are sure to be amazed and inspired!


The First YearApril 25, 2009 Hi there, cutie pie! Today you

ate some cheerios and I was

busy crawling on the floor and

counting all the pieces you

dropped so I could know how

much insulin to give you. It’s

been two months since you

were diagnosed but we’re still

getting used to this. So now

I’m busy COUNTING CHEERIOS.

In case you are wondering,

5grams (¼ cup) is about 70

cheerios.

April 28, 2009 Sick day! Last sick day we end-

ed up in the hospital on IV. I

sure hope that it doesn’t hap-

pen again. We checked for

ketones religiously. We also

upped your Lantus. Now you

get 1.5 units in the morn-ing and 2 units at night.

April 30, 2009 Still sick. Today we got moderate ketones. As

soon as I saw that I said, “Oy, Hashem Yer-

achem!” The color on the ketostick matched your shirt. It’s actu-ally a pretty color, but nonethe-less scary. Later

B”H it went down to trace. [Your

older sister] Chaya said, “it’s not

Hashem Yerachem anymore?”

May 5, 2009 Today we started using Novo-

log. We got some diluent from

Dr. F, which she got from Novo-

Nordisk. The only problem is

that they are stopping to make

this diluent. The other option

is to mix the insulin each time

with saline, right before I give

you the shot. That means it

would take a lot more time to

prepare each shot, and it would

be more di�cult to leave you

with other people when you

need a shot. Now we are us-

ing the Maimonides pharmacy

to mix the insulin. It’s the only

pharmacy that we have found

around here that has a sterile

hood. Dr. F said she has a diabe-

tes conference in June and the

Novo-Nordisk company would

be represented there so she

would try to �nd out more info

on the diluent.

May 27, 2009 You started liking cheese; really

liking cheese! It is a great 1 CHO

snack.

June 20, 2009 Last night we accidentally

gave you 6 units of Lantus as a

correction instead of 6 units of

Novolog. Since it was Shabbos

we did not call a doctor1. We just

tested your sugar very often. We

ended up testing you about 14

times in 24 hours and it was like

a roller coaster. You went from

being HI to 77, then back up to

476, down to 64, back up to 545,

and then �nally down to 77. It

was a draining Shabbos.

June 22, 2009 Hello there Mister! I spoke with

Dr. J on the phone two times

today. First we upped your cor-

rection, and then you hit a low.

So I called her right back, and

she lowered it by 50. So now

your correction scale is 1:300

using diluted insulin. She is

talking of putting you on the

pump, and even taking you off

the diluted insulin while you

are still using syringes.

July 20, 2009You got your pump and-oh my!

Everything is like new all over!

You look mighty cute with that

thing hanging o� your pants. We

want to order you a skin so we

will hopefully not ruin the pump

by tomorrow.

July 22, 2009 Tonight is ‘change pump site’

night. HELP! I am quite nervous

about this. Tonight is also the

vachtnacht for [your cousin]

Simcha Kahn.

OK we did it! We called Animas

and they walked us through the

whole thing step by step; it was

some production, but B”H we

managed!

August 10, 2009 Hey you! I haven’t written in a

while. Things have been very

hectic, to say the least! Chang-

ing your site has definitely got-

ten smoother; Totty and I do

it together. We are all getting

used to it and it is not as scary

as it seemed originally. We

are using the Comfort Short,

which has a cannula that goes

in at an angle. We put it in by

hand. I hope that soon we can


switch to the one that goes in

automatically.

Today was a very exciting day!

We had our �rst FWD event for

kids. It was a cruise and it was

great. You were the smallest kid

on the boat and you did not

enjoy the magic show, but you

really liked the cheesecake that

they served. We got to see oth-

er kids with pumps, and I think

that blue is the most popular

color for boys. I enjoyed talk-

ing with other mothers. There

were a number of kids that were

diagnosed at a year, but none

are as young as you now; all are older. There were

also many kids who were pretty

newly diagnosed, even more re-

cently than us. Now you must be

really tired and you are in your

crib but you want to come out. It

is 10:00 at night and you are cry-

ing for juice. We are out of light

grape juice and diet PowerAde. I

must buy more tomorrow.

August 26, 2009Today you woke up and your

number was 41! That’s your low-

est number so far. I just hope we

never go that low again.

September 5, 2009 Well, what do you know? This

morning you hit 37 and you still

had insulin on board!! I hope

you are not trying to outdo

yourself. Of course it had to

be on Shabbos, which is def-

initely the best day for such

excitement. I almost passed

out. You were shaking like a

leaf and you did not even

want any cookies. Imagine

that, my little cookie mon-

ster refused cookies and

even cake. B”H you took or-

ange juice and then I gave

you ‘lala’ (challah), which is

an all time favorite by you,

with cream cheese on top

(otherwise known as ‘but-

tah’). It’s good that you felt

better because we walked

to Bubby and Zeidy for the

seudah, even though I was


still a mess inside. I guess to-

morrow we’ll call Dr. J or Neesha

to change some things; mean-

while we’ll give less correction

overnight. I think I’ll set my

alarm to check on you tonight

because it’s already past 12 a.m.

and I’m scared I’ll sleep straight

‘til morning without it.2 G’nite!

Love ya!

September 6, 2009You will never guess what I am

beating myself up about today!

For breakfast you ate a nice

bowl of oatmeal and raisins, and

guess what I forgot to do? Buzz

you, of course. Well, that ex-

plains the HIGH GLUCOSE that

we got today.

September 10, 2009Hey, little man! We went to Nee-

sha yesterday, and now your

carb ratio is 1:20; that’s a long

way from where we started. We

switched to the inset 30 [infu-

sion set] so now we don’t have

to put the needle in by hand

any more. It’s great because I

don’t feel like I am jabbing this

humongous needle into you.

(Yeah, I know it’s the same nee-

dle but somehow it is easier.)

And besides that, we can get rid

of the Sharps container because

you can put the cap back on and

throw the infusion set straight

into the garbage! I think that is

pretty grand. Happy day, buddy!

September 14, 2009 Today you woke up with large ketones and I panicked. It was

“Hashem Yeracheim” this

time. The ketones made sense

because you were over 400 the

entire night, even though we

tried correcting. I gave you an

injection with a syringe. You

did not like that, and I don’t

blame you. Boruch Hashem the

ketones went down, and so did

your numbers, all the way to 69.

October 9, 2009Guess what? Your A1C is slowly

coming down; it’s 8.9. Very nice!!

We will get you there soon

hopefully, but it de�nitely ain’t

easy.

October 13, 2009 We just came back from being

away for Sukkos. You sure gave

us a run for our money! We were

having so much trouble with

your site that I was afraid that

we would run low on supplies.


For some reason the cannula

kept getting bent, and so your

insulin was not being absorbed

properly. The �rst few days, we

had to change your set every

day instead of every other. We

got in touch with two Animas

reps and Totty �gured out what

we were doing wrong. We man-

aged to get some extra sets and

syringes and Baruch Hashem we

did not have any more trouble

after that.

November 24, 2009Just last week you hit 38,

which is quite low, young man!

We woke you up to test your

sugars, and wow, were we

surprised to see how low you

were. You were also very cute

on Shabbos when Totty asked

you the colors of some things.

When he showed you the

soda bottle and asked what

color that is, you answered,

“Diet soda.”You are very cute and you always

remind me to do emla [so

you won’t

feel any pain when we change

your site] and to buzz you.

December 16, 2009Hey, little guy who is as cute

as a button! I haven’t written

in ages. Let’s catch up on the

news. Your pump has officially

been thrown into the toilet,

along with many other things,

so now we lock the bathroom

door to keep you out. You hit

38 not too long ago, right this

minute you are 74, but at sup-

per you were 554. I was nervous

to give you too much insulin

because a couple of times you

bottomed out lately, but the

last time I gave you a partial

correction it didn’t work. Okay,

I admit, I am getting frustrated.

Can you blame me? Truth is,

maybe I am to blame because

I should have called the doc-

tor today and I didn’t. You were

sick for the last week or so, and

it seems that after you are sick

we always need to make major

changes.

December 20, 2009Hey, buddy, you’re making lots

of trouble! We never changed

anything because I haven’t spoken to Dr. J yet. But on

Motzei Shabbos at the Kahn Chanuka party you threw up about 3 times, and then an-


other couple of times when we

got home. You couldn’t keep

anything down, and your num-

bers kept dropping. And all this,

during a snow storm! So we

ran to Dr. Bulmash’s o�ce and

after he checked you he de-

cided that you had a stomach

virus but didn’t need IV. Then

we trudged through the snow

back to Bubby’s house. You

were still throwing up so [your

aunt] Baila came home with us

and slept over just in case we

would need to run to the hos-

pital. Boruch Hashem you �nal-

ly kept some apple juice down

and today your numbers have

been in the 70’s. We are going

to Dr. J on Tuesday and she will

probably tell us to lower your

nighttime basal and maybe

also your carb ratio. My, you

keep life exciting!

February 3, 2010Hey, buddy, what do you

know? The longest year of my

life has passed just a few days

ago. I can’t believe that you are

diabetic for a year; it feels like

ages! You already know why

you have a pump and you say

“diabetes”. It is the cutest thing

in the world.

The other week you kept go-

ing low, no matter what we

did. You reached 34, my friend!!

It was scary but I did handle it

better than I used to. In a few min-utes we have an interview at Yeled V’yalda Headstart pro-gram. I am quite nervous, but I know that you can’t stay home always and forever. I guess other people will learn to help take care of you until you are big enough to do it yourself. (You certainly like

to help test yourself, so you

are already on the way.) I

love you!

*The names of the author and her im-

mediate family are �ctitious.

1. It is important to note that in a

case like this it would be perfectly

permissible to call a doctor on

Shabbos. (Obviously, this wasn’t

necessary for the Kahns, as they

had the confidence and knowl-

edge to handle their unexpected

challenge as well as any doctor

could.)

2. Mrs. Kahn comments: “For many

years, I would wake up during the

night to check my son’s sugars. If I

was extremely tired or really had

to check the sugar by a certain

time then I would set an alarm as

a precaution, to make sure I got

up. Today, thanks to the wonder-

ful Dexcom CGMS, I sometimes

get to sleep better.”


OUR CLIENTS CALL IT

THE NO-HUNGER DIET!A healthy carb-controlled

Fat & Weight LossprogramCall for Details

845.352.7532PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS BY:Mrs. M. Brull, Monroe = ext. 202Mrs. G. Schnitzer, Williamsburg = ext. 204Rabbi Y. Feldman, New Square = ext. 205Mrs. Fisho�, Lakewood = ext. 206Mr. Weiss, Belgium = call 0489/40.29.56הרב יעקב, ומרת האס

call 077/333.2374 = בית שמש, ארץ ישראל

for everyone!

DY

NA

GR

AFI

K 84

5-35

2-12

66

FOUNDED AND DIRECTED BY

Rabbi Hirsch Meisels

NEW LOCATIONS

COMINGSOON!

Documents

Friends With Diabetes - A LOW-CARB TISHREI LIFE ...friendswithdiabetes.org/files/pdf/Tishrei5777.pdfFor the people with type 2 diabetes amongst our readership, the article, “Start