Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Safety tips for diabetics in the summer!

Summertime is very tough when you are living with Diabetes. Check out a story that I did with Everyday Health on some ways to beat the heat this summer when living with Diabetes:


http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/type-2-diabetes-guide-healthy-habits/diabetes-summer-beat-heat/

Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy summer everyone Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram!

**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER!!**



Monday, July 11, 2016

Are your medications making you gain weight?!?

Many people gain weight from medications and I don't want this to be you! If you know someone struggling with weight gain tell them to review all their medications w/ their MD to see what can/cannot be changed or stopped.


There are hundreds of medications associated with weight gain as a side effect and I will only discuss the most common ones here today. 

Lets talk about a few of them by category:

A. Diabetes drugs:

1. Insulin (amount of weight gained depends on dose)
-more common with 70/30 mix, Humalog, Novolog

2. Sulfonylureas (4-12 lb weight gain over 1 year)
-Glyburide (Brand names: Micronase, DiaBeta, Glynase)
-Glimepiride (Brand name: Amaryl)
-Glipizide (Brand name: Glucotrol)
-Metaglip
-Glucovance

3. Meglitinides (2-5 lb weight gain over 3-5 months)
-Repaglinide (Brand name: Prandin)
-Nateglinide (Brand name: Starlix)

4. Thiazoldinedione (4-8 lb weight gain over 1 year)
-Rosiglitazone (Brand name: Avandia)
-Pioglitazone (Brand name: Actos)

B. Steroids:
-ALL forms of steroids: lotions, creams, pills, injections
-Weight gain varies depending on dose and duration of treatment
-When used for short term < 3 weeks, generally weight gain is minimal

Some common names for steroids:
-Predisone
-Prednisolone
-Methylprednisolone
-Dexamethasone
-Betamethasone
-Triamcinolone
-Beclomethasone

C. Antipsychotics: 
Listed from most weight gain to least weight gain:
-Olanzapine (Brand name: Zyprexa)
-Zodipine (Brand name: Nipolept)
-Clozapine (Brand name: Clozaril)
-Risperidone (Brand name: Risperdal)
-Quietapine (Brand name: Seroquel)

Your best option for an antipsychotics associated with the least weight gain include:
-Haldoperidol (Brand name: Haldol)
-Ziprasidone (Brand name: Geodon)
-Lurasidone (Brand name: Latuda)

D. Antidepressants:
The most weight gain is associated with:
-Mirtazapine (Brand name: Remeron)

Modest to substantial weight gain is associated with:
SSRIs:
-Paroxetine (Brand name: Paxil)
-Escitalopram (Brand name: Lexapro)
-Citalopram (Brand name: Celexa)
-Fluoxetine (Brand name: Prozac)
-Sertraline (Brand name: Zoloft)

SNRIs:
-Venlafaxine (Brand name: Effexor)
-Duloxetine (Brand name: Cymbalta)
-Desvenlafaxine (Brand name: Pristiq)


Least weight gain is associated with:
-Nefazodone (Brand name: Serzone)
-Bupropion (Brand name: Wellbutrin, Zyban)

E. Antiepileptics (Seizure drugs)
The most weight gain is associated with:
-Valproate (Brand names: Depakote, Depakene, Stavzor)
-Carbamazepine (Brand names: Tegretol, Carbatrol, Equetrol)
-Gabapentin (Brand names: Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant)
-Pregabalin (Brand name: Lyrica)

Least weight gain is associated with:
-Lamotrigine (Brand name: Lamictal)
-Levetiracetam (Brand names:  Keppra, Levetiractam, Elepsia)

F. Antihistamines 
-Acrivastine (Brand name: Semprex)
-Cetirizine (Brand name: Zyrtec)
-Fexofenadine (Brand names: Allegra, Mucinex)
-Loratidine (Brand name: Claritin)
-Desloratadine (Brand name: Clarinex)

G. Birth Control Pills
-Many birth control pills are associated with weight gain; however, below have the highest likelihood of weight gain

Weight gain is associated with birth contraol containing Levonorgestrol:
-Seasonale
-Preven
-Ovral
-Alesse
-Levora
-Mirena IUD
-Skyla IUD

Weight gain is also highly associated with birth control containing Etonorgestrol:
-Nuva Ringa
-Nexaplanon

The list goes on and on. If you are curious about your medications causing weight gain - ask your doctor who can do a quick search on your behalf. 

Hope this gets a few of you off medications associated with weight gain and on the road to a healthier, happier life.

Cheers! Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram!



 

**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER!!**



Sunday, July 10, 2016

Healthy Breakfast Recipe: Frittata with Spinach, Mint & Gouda! NO extra calories with butter or crust here!

I love making eggs for breakfast! They are full of protein & cook so quick.

Today I made a healthy frittata with spinach, mint & gouda! NO extra calories with butter or crust here! If you are on a diet - try to avoid crusts that are full of calories and butter.



Steps:
-Heat up a steel skillet on the stove
-Add 1 tablespoon olive oil
-Add 1 chopped onion
-Sautee onions until golden brown
-Add 3 cloves minced garlic
-Add 1/2 cup of spinach
-Add 1 tablespoon fresh mint (can use dried mint as well)
-Add 1/4 cup skim milk (or whatever milk you prefer)
-Add 1/4 cup of grated gouda cheese 
-In a separate bowl- beat 4 eggs (can also use just the egg whites to cut back on cholesterol if you wish!)
-Add eggs to the pan
-Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper
- Mix it up
- Turn up the heat to medium 
-Once the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat and cover with a lid
-Cook for 5 mins or longer until eggs are cooked through

Pretty easy right? Thats the name of the diet game -- good food, healthy, quick & tasty!

I am happy to take recipe requests! Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram!



**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER*





Friday, July 8, 2016

Healthy Summer Recipe: Balsamic & Honey Roasted Eggplant and Yellow Squash

Grilling is an excellent way to eat healthy and stay fresh. I tell my patients on a diet in the summer to grill whenever they can. Even if you don't follow a fancy recipe - just add a little olive oil, salt and pepper to any vegetable and throw it on the grill. It will taste great and is LOW calorie!! 1 cup of sliced eggplant is 20 calories!

This is such a tasty and easy recipe that I think you'll love too!

Balsamic & Honey Roasted Eggplant and Yellow Squash



Steps:
- Slice up 1 eggplant and 1 yellow squash (and add any other vegetable you wish!)
-In a bowl add in:


  • 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
-Mix in the veggies
-Add salt and pepper to taste
-GRILL IT UP! (with those beautiful grill marks on both sides)

I promise you will love this recipe. So fast, easy and healthy!

Let me know if you have any specific questions :)

I am happy to take recipe requests! Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram!



**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER*



Tuesday, July 5, 2016

EASY Recipe for Roasted Blue Potatoes

Here's a quick recipe that ANYONE can make:


Roasted Purple Potatoes 





Steps:

-Preheat oven to 400

-Slice up potatoes in 1/2 rounds

-Add in 1 tablespoon olive oil

-Add in 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

-Add in  1 teaspoon fresh thyme

-Add in 1 teaspoon dry oregano

-Add in 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste

-Mix it together

-Put it on a baking pan

-Bake for 30 mins or longer if you like it crunchier!

So easy and delicious!

Did you know?
There are more than 100 varieties of potatoes sold in the usa with 7 different types: russet, red, white, yellow, blue/purple, fingerling and petite. 
The calories and carbohydrates are similar between each potato but the purple potatoes contain antioxidants, specifically anthocyanins which can have anti-inflammatory properties!
Purple potatoes originated in two of my favorite countries -- Peru & Bolivia. But it can often be found in local farmers markets around the USA.
I choose the purple potatoes when I can (and if I'm lucky enough to find them..) BC of the extra antioxidants & its vibrant colors that adds interest & character to an otherwise traditional dish. 

Bon appetit! :)

I am happy to take recipe requests! Please feel free to ask any questions & ask/follow me @Doctor_Deena on Twitter or Instagram!



**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER*