by kelsey | May 12, 2015 | Etc.
We have some exciting news at Brown Clinic! Our Northridge facility will be getting a facelift! Renovations are underway at Northridge, thus we are moving our evening convenience care to our Main location during the remodeling. Our days and hours aren’t changing, only the location. Starting Monday, May 18th, Convenience Care will be located at the MAIN CLINIC, hours are 5-7:30pm Monday-Friday and 8-11am Saturday.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during our remodeling project!
by Dan | May 10, 2015 | Etc.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there! Too bad the weather could not be better…you will just have to stay inside and have things done for you. I am working on laundry, and then will be making Sarah brunch. You mom’s all deserve to be treated well on your day! I am thankful I still have my mom to spend time with, even more so now that my Dad is gone. This is a tough day for her too…this would have been their 60th anniversary today as well. Just spend time with them as long as you can. Today, the run club met, and the weather did not cooperate very well. Jill wanted to do a virtual 15 k run in memory of her mom. She started out and ran 4 miles with her brother first, then met up with the rest of us for the run club, and finished her 9.3 miles! Good job Jill, and for a good cause. Yesterday was the annual Avera Breast Cancer run in SF. Thousands of people running in recognition, or memory, of their sisters, wifes, mothers, grandmothers. It is a great day to start off the weekend of Mother’s Day each year. We picked up Molly in Brookings on the way down and she ran with us. That made Sarah’s day too! So to all you mom’s out there….Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for everything you do, and have done for us. It is appreciated more than words could express. We love you all very much. Keep moving everybody! Below are pictures from this weekend.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2781
by kelsey | May 6, 2015 | Diabetes
The last session until fall, of the Diabetes Support group will be next Thursday, May 14th. It’s going to be good one and we don’t want those who could benefit to miss out on it! Lance from Medtronic, the insulin pump company we work with will be there to share all of the fascinating things about the new insulin pump and equipment he has to offer people with diabetes in efforts to improve blood sugar control. Whether you have type I diabetes or type II….or you have family members or friends with diabetes, this is useful and beneficial information, thus we invite you all to join! Please register so they have a head count and we look forward to seeing you then!
Diabetes Support Group May Meeting
“Learn about Insulin Pumps & Continuous Glucose Monitoring” by Lance Wassink, Medtronic.
Located in the Prairie Lakes’ West Conference Room–1st level.
Refreshments will be available.
Register online at PrairieLakes.com or by calling the Nephrology Clinic at 605-882-5455 Monday – Friday 8 am – 5pm.
by Dan | May 3, 2015 | Etc.
Friday and Saturday this week was Nick’s final Howard Wood meet. The weather was very good…in fact, it was very warm for a typical Howard Wood. Usually it is raining, cold, windy, but he got to go out with nice weather. Their medley relay won their heat, but just fell out of the top 8 overall. Even so, they got to experience winning the heat. Here is Nick coming down the final stretch to the finish line. Determination…power…concentration. It take it all, and when in a relay, it takes all of that from everybody on the relay…but particularly, team work. You depend on each other, finish with each other, and win or lose with each other. It also creates memories that keep on going as well…this month will continue in the series of finals for Nick. I am proud of him…can you tell? However he finishes, I want him to have had fun, experience team work, as well as individual achievement. Running can accomplish all of this. But most of all, cherish memories that will go well beyond the moment…memories to look back on and smile, and be proud, and know that you gave it your all! We all can learn from this. We may never win, but that is not really the point. Life is an experience, and we need to experience to the maximum. Enjoy all of it! Keep moving everybody!
Below are pictures from the meet.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise day #: 2774
by kelsey | Apr 30, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
I apologize that is a re-post, but I have recently had questions about this hot topic, so I thought it was worthy of reposting!
One of the most frequent questions I get from patients is what the real truth is about artificial sugars. You hear all kinds of good and bad things about them, so how do you know what to believe?! Well….here’s the facts:
Artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes refer to substances that have little to no calories or other nutrients and are added to foods and beverages to provide a taste that is similar to table sugar (sucrose). Because artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than table sugar, smaller amounts are needed to create the same level of sweetness.
There are five artificial sweeteners that have been tested and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
Acesulfame-K is 200 times sweeter than sugar and it is heat stable, making it great for cooking or baking. The FDA approved acesulfame-K in 1998. Brand names include Sunett and Sweet One.
Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than table sugar and is one of the most commonly used sweeteners today. Aspartame was approved by the FDA in 1981 and is used in a variety of foods. Brand names include NutraSweet and Equal.
Saccharin is about 300 times sweeter than sugar and is used as tabletop sweetener, in baked goods, jams, chewing gum, canned fruit, candy, dessert toppings and salad dressings. The FDA approved saccharin in 1981, along with a warning label stating it was ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’. This warning label was lifted in 2000, after numerous studies cited there is no evidence that saccharin is associated with an incidence of cancer. Brand names include Sweet ‘N Low, Sweet Twin and Sugar Twin.
Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than table sugar and approved by the FDA in 1999. Sucralose is not absorbed by the body and is eliminated through the urine and feces resulting in zero calories. Sucralose is also heat stable so it can be used for cooking or baking. The brand name for sucralose is Splenda.
Neotame is 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than sugar. Neotame is approved for use in beverages, dairy products, frozen desserts, baked goods and gums. Neotame is not available for consumer purchase at this time.
Stevia has become a popular sweetener in recent years and is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni bush. Two forms can be extracted: Reb A and stevioside. Both are 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar and are calorie free. In 2008, Reb A was generally recognized as safe by the FDA for use as a tabletop sweetener and in prepared foods. Brand names include A Sweet Leaf, Sun Crystals, Stevia, Truvia, and PureVia.
There is a lot of confusion about artificial sugars due to the mixed messages consumers hear about their risks, but when you really look at the studies and evidence, there are are in fact little concerns. According the the FDA, National Cancer Institute, and several other health agencies, there is no sound evidence that these artificial sugars approved cause cancer or serious health problems. Acceptable Daily Intake levels have been set by the FDA to help you determine how much you can consume and still be safe. The ADIs are set at 100x less than the smallest amount that may be harmful. So in order to actually come close to being at risk for side effects it would mean the average person would have to consume around 20 cans of diet pop/day to experience adverse effects. Please see the charts below:
Acceptable Daily Intake for Various Levels: Note the ADI is based on kg of body weight. Take your weight in pounds divided by 2.2 to get your weight in kg.
|
ADI (mg/kg body weight)
|
Average (mg) amount in 12oz can soda
|
Amount (mg) in a packet of sweetener
|
| Acesulfame-K |
15
|
40**
|
50
|
| Aspartame |
50
|
200
|
35
|
| Saccharin |
5
|
140
|
40
|
| Sucralose |
5
|
70
|
5
|
| Sweetener |
Number of 12oz cans diet soda to reach the ADI |
Number of artificial sweetener packets to reach the ADI |
| Acesulfame-K |
25.6
|
20.4
|
| Aspartame |
17
|
97.4
|
| Saccharin |
2.4
|
8.6
|
| Sucralose |
4.8
|
68.2
|
| Stevia/Reb A |
Product info not available. Sodas containing stevia are not widely available |
30
|
There are also newer studies suggesting that the use of artificial sweeteners tricks our body as it’s not real sugar and in turn we eat more. These studies are inconclusive and not reliable.
The Bottom Line:
Adults may be able to better manage weight when sugary foods and beverages are replaced with artificial sweeteners as these artificial sweeteners are sugar free, calorie free. Studies have also shown that artificial sweeteners do not increase appetite or food intake in adults, adolescents or children. The American Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics states that, “based on studies reviewed, artificial sweeteners are safe for use in the general population.” Special populations, such as pregnant women, should limit the use of sugar substitutes and avoid saccharin, since the fetus may not be able to clear the substance quickly enough. Individuals with PKU should avoid aspartame since phenylalanine is found in aspartame. However, individuals with this genetic predisposition can use neotame. So all in all, I recommend them for those wanting to manage their weight and control their blood sugars, however moderation and portion control are key!!
Source:ADA Evidence Analysis Library (2011).The Truth about Artificial Sweeteners or Sugar Substitutes: How Much Is Too Much?.Retrieved May 1, 2012 from the American Dietetic Association. Website: http://www.adaevidencelibrary.com/files/Docs/NNSResourceDraft3.pdf
-Kelsey
