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David Spero

David Spero

David Spero has been a nurse for 32 years and has lived with multiple sclerosis for 25 years. He is author of two books: The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness (Hunter House 2002), and Diabetes: Sugar-coated Crisis – Who Gets It, Who Profits, and How to Stop It (New Society 2006). He writes for Diabetes Self-Management and Arthritis Self-Management magazines. He is a project director with New Health Partnerships: Improving care by Engaging Patients, a project of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.


Is Weight Good for You?

For those interested in weight issues, new Canadian research shows, again, that being “overweight” — having a body mass index (BMI) of 25–29.9 — is associated with a longer lifespan than that of “normal” weight people (BMI 18.5–24.9). According to the study, people who are mildly “obese,” (obesity class I, BMI 30–34.9) have the same risk of death as normal weight people. Not until weight reaches obesity class II (BMI 35–39.9) does heaviness seem to increase mortality…

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Tight Control OK if You Want It

Surprise! I — and various other diabetes bloggers — were right. Ever since results from the ACCORD study were released last year, some in the media and the medical establishment have been reporting that strict blood glucose control is bad for people with diabetes

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Health-Care System Needs Healing

The American health-care system is gravely ill, and it’s making our whole society sick. Health care in America costs from twice to six times as much per capita as the other countries that spend the most for health care. For these trillions, we get worse health outcomes. Diabetes treatment is the perfect illustration.

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News Roundup

I’ve been dealing with a bad cold of late, but I’m still keeping an eye on the latest diabetes news. Here are some headlines that have caught my attention recently…

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Make it the “Feel Good” Diet

Two weeks ago, I discussed the “Tastes Good” diet. My entry proposed that eating for pleasure, taking your time, and enjoying your food could lead to better health. But now I want to amend the diet — the “Tastes Good” diet is good, but the “Feel Good” diet is even better…

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Does Your Body Know (What to Eat)?

I’ve been reading The Diet Survivor’s Handbook, by Judith Matz, LCSW, and Ellen Frankel, LCSW. They tell heavy people not to diet, but to learn to trust their bodies to pick the right foods. “Eat when you’re hungry; eat what your body wants; stop when you’re full” is the mantra. But would this work for you? Should people with diabetes trust their bodies? Let’s think about this…

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Try the “Tastes Good” Diet

And Diabetes Makes Three

Eat Like a Caveman?

Qi Gong, Diabetes, and Me

Proud of Yourself?

Where Do You Find Support?

Living with Fear

Coping with Frustration

Discrimination and Diabetes

Emotions and Bad Habits

Ideas in Weight Control

Insulin, Fat, And Doctors

Fitness in Ten Minutes a Day

Not So Fast With the Insulin?

Do Emotions Help or Hurt You?

Is Weight Worth Another Book?

Stress, Inflammation, Diabetes

New Study, Same Problems

Too Many Drugs

Diets Don’t Work?

Food Politics

Families and Self-Care

What’s for Breakfast?

Does Dieting Cause Weight Gain?

Your Family History

A Good Cry?

New Drugs: Myths and Facts

Furry Medicine

Preparing for Hard Times

Might As Well Vote

Does Health Affect Your Relationships?

Mistakes People Make With Doctors

Speaking Up for Myself

Self-Managing Chronic Pain (Part 3): Medications and Groups

Mind Over Pain?

Self-Managing Chronic Pain (Part 1)

The Mysteries of Pain

An Epidemic of Pain

Does Your Educator Have a Clue?

Fighting for Food

Different Foods for Different Folks

Are Your Meds Making You Fat?

Partners Speak Out About Sex

ADA Advice on Sex

New Answers on Exercise

What to Eat? ADA Speakers Disagree

In the Palace of Diabetes

How Much (Monitoring) is Too Much? (Part 2)

How Much (Monitoring) is Too Much?

The New York Times Discovers Exercise

"Angry with God"

Power Naps, Health Naps

Insurance Tips from the ADA

Stay Out of the Swamp

Getting Health Insurance

Diabetes and the Brain

Love Your Feet

The Misuse of Science

Weight, Prejudice, and Type 2 Diabetes

Write It Down

Some Things Are Worse Than Sugar

ACCORD Travesty

To Band or Not to Band

Out of Shape in Two Months

The Green Triangle

Have You Tried Group Medicine?

What’s Your Motivation?

Stop Waking Up! (Part 2)

Stop Waking Up!

Do You CAM?

New Year’s Resolutions

Going Home for the Holidays

Coping With Stress Through Relaxation

Reducing Stress

Accepting

Native Americans, Love, and Diabetes

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

Grab Some Z’s

Depression—The Power Cure

Self-Managing Depression

Depression and Type 2 Diabetes—Symptoms or Disease? (Part 2)

Depression and Type 2 Diabetes—Symptoms or Disease?

Changing a Bad Habit

Learning About Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

Carbs vs. Fats—Who’s to Blame?

Say the Magic Word

I Need Some Rest

Answering Reader Questions

How the Medical System Hurts People With Diabetes

Sicker Than Sicko

Laugh With Me

In The Mood

Sex, Intimacy, and Diabetes

Is it Type 2 or is it LADA?

Put Your Mask on First

Let’s Get Moving

Type 2 Diabetes—An Environmental Illness

Wellness is a Team Sport, Part 2: Working With Family

Wellness is a Team Sport, Part 1: "I Hate to Ask"

Introducing Myself

Disclaimer of Medical Advice: You understand that the blog posts and comments to such blog posts (whether posted by us, our agents or bloggers, or by users) do not constitute medical advice or recommendation of any kind, and you should not rely on any information contained in such posts or comments to replace consultations with your qualified health care professionals to meet your individual needs. The opinions and other information contained in the blog posts and comments do not reflect the opinions or positions of the Site Proprietor.


Diabetes and the Downturn
Find out about organizations and programs that can help with health-care expenses during tough times.

Keeping Active With Diabetes and Arthritis
Exercise can help control both diabetes and arthritis. Here’s how to get started and stay injury-free.

How Much Do You Know About Indigestion?
Learn what you can do to prevent indigestion, as well as when to seek medical help.

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