The program beings with Richard “Rick” Roberts as he shares his story about being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 10 years ago. When Rick’s wife found out she was pre-diabetic, they made some big changes. Rick connected with Dr. Choudhury and began his journey. Both he and his wife have lost weight through a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. Listen to this program to hear how Rick gained control of his diabetes, and his life.

Dr. Choudhury helps listeners to understand type 1 and 2 diabetes and the complications of the condition. She discusses the various treatment options, stressing the importance of close monitoring of your blood sugar, diet and exercise. The doctor-patient relationship is key. To quote Rick “So you’ve got to watch your nutrition, you’ve got to get some exercise, you’ve got to monitor your glucose, and work very closely with your doctor.” If you’re searching for information about diabetes, this program is a great resource.

Watch Rick’s Powerful Patient video, here.

Dr. Benjamin Starnes, Chief of Vascular Surgery and Associate Professor at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center, explains that, due to various factors including diabetes, high blood pressure, polycystic kidney disease and hardened arteries, about one in six adult Americans will have failing kidneys. Hear about ateriovenous fistula, otherwise known as a graft or catheter that’s implanted centrally into a patient’s large blood vessels to allow for dialysis. Learn about how vascular surgeons choose where to place the fistulas, and what techniques give dialysis patients the best chance at success in creating a durable fistula the first time around. Dr. Starnes explains the two different types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Many patients who face dialysis are elderly, and it can be difficult to coordinate all the necessary appointments. Dr. Starnes explains what they’re doing at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to try and combat this problem. The real goal is to identify patients whose kidneys are failing but have not failed yet. Dr. Starnes briefly discusses other causes of renal failure, including ischemic nephropathy and what can be done in those cases to prevent patients from having to go on dialysis. Watch Dr. Starnes in our P2TV section, as he discusses the importance of patient empowerment.

As with most other illnesses, the key with kidney disease is to catch it early. Don’t miss this Patient Power program to learn why it’s important for you to go see your doctor and get a baseline for your kidney health.

Beth, a 36-year-old mother of two, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 6-years-old. As an avid triathalon runner, Beth is quite active, but does admit life requires a lot of planning as a result of the disease, particularly now that she has children. Today, Beth does not remember ever living without diabetes, having lived with it for so long. She talks about some of the common misconceptions of the disease and how she is managing her diabetes daily with insulin injections. Learn how Beth is living well with her condition and how Dr. Elasy helped her manage her diabetes during pregnancy.

Dr. Elasy draws on both his clinical experience as well as his national and international connection to ongoing research. He emphasizes that diabetes is not uniform, either in its type or management. He also touches on the causes of diabetes and the importance of creating an individualized treatment plan. In addition, Dr. Elasy comments on upcoming advances that may improve the lives of those that have diabetes. Listen now and learn how you or someone you love can manage and live well with diabetes.

The program begins with Verlina, she speaks candidly about her struggles with weight throughout her life, including emotional eating and various fad diets. Verlina talks about making the decision to go through with weight loss surgery, her first experiences and preparation at Northwestern, and her recovery. She also shares her inspiration and how she’s doing now.

Dr. Nagle helps listeners to understand the various procedures available, including the importance of partnering with your physician and their multidisciplinary team to decide if and which surgery is right for you. He talks about the necessary preparations for surgery and the importance of preparing for lifestyle changes post-surgery. Dr. Nagle also focuses on diabetes and how, often, the surgery can be a cure for diabetes – as was the case for Verlina. Both Verlina and Dr. Nagle share their hopes for the future. If you are struggling with your weight and want to make an informed decision about weight loss surgery, listen to this very informative program.

Dr. Conte believes peripheral artery disease is under-diagnosed and under-treated in diabetics and often not well treated when it is identified. He begins by talking about the risk factors associated with PAD and the signs and symptoms that lead to a PAD diagnosis. Early diagnosis is key to saving limbs from amputation. He goes on to discuss the various approaches to treatment for PAD and the advantages to seeking care from a specialist and multidisciplinary team.

Dr. Conte closes by speaking about the latest research and encouraging words. To quote Dr. Conte, “I think I would like to leave off with that message that this is a disease whose complications can often be prevented by early recognition and the appropriate use of aggressive strategies in a timely fashion. Many patients do not require aggressive or invasive procedures, but when they do cross that threshold then picking the right procedure and doing it early is the best way to avoid the endpoints that we don’t want to see.” Listen to this program to learn more about preventing and treating peripheral artery disease.

Mr. Leonard starts the program by talking about his diagnosis in 1993, when he was in his late 50s. He shares how he manages his diabetes through diet, exercise and medication. He talks about the importance of monitoring his blood glucose several times per day and the importance of communication with his doctor.

Dr. Clarke begins by helping the audience understand exactly what diabetes is, and the complications associated with this condition. He talks about the obesity epidemic and how it is affects diabetes, as well as hypertension and heart disease. Dr. Clarke details the various screening and evaluations used in diagnosis. He also discusses the various treatment options including, most importantly, the behavioral and lifestyle modifications. Dr. Clarke contends that through these changes, the disease can sometimes be reversed.

He goes on to stress the importance of self-monitoring and staying in tune with one’s body. Dr. Clarke addresses foot care in diabetics and answers a variety of listener questions ranging from supplementation and how to prevent diabetes. Both Mr. Leonard and Dr. Clarke close the program by encouraging advice for others. If you are prediabetic, or just need tips on prevention and treatment, this program can be a useful tool in your research.

Treatment for gestational diabetes includes diet regulation, regular physical activity and most importantly, keeping blood glucose levels equal to those of a normal pregnant women. Dr. Russell stresses the need to test glucose levels and maintain regular doctor visits. She talks about the potential complications of gestational diabetes for both mother and baby. Dr. Russell goes into detail discussing risk factors and tips for preventing this condition during pregnancy.

In the latter part of the program, Dr. Russell addresses listener questions. You?ll hear about insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, diabetes after pregnancy, the benefits of a nutritional consultation and tips for maintaining blood glucose control through diet. If you are looking to learn more about gestational diabetes or educate yourself as you prepare for pregnancy, this program can provide you with a great deal of insight.

The Islet transplantation depends on the removal of insulin-secreting islet cells from a deceased donor's pancreas then injecting the cells into the liver of a patient with type 1 diabetes. Islet cell transplants are not a cure for type 1 diabetes but have shown significant potential to control the disease.

In this inspiring Patient Power program, Host Andrew Schorr and Dr. Fouad Kandeel, director of the Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at City of Hope National Medical Center, speak directly to patients with diabetes and offer inspiring words of hope that a cure is not far off in the future.

Dr. Kandeel says “I believe that there is significant progress being made almost every week in the field of diabetes research both for type 1 diabetes and type 2. Certainly in the case of trying to generate the islets and trying to improve the efficiency of islet transplantation, and expand the islets within the body of the individual who receives them after you give them a single islet transplant, are all very promising approaches.”

Dr. Kandeel explains how exciting the progress in islet transplantation research is in helping to control the complications of this diabetes. He goes on to explain what stem cell transplantation is doing for patients with type 2 diabetes, and how insulin pumps and the artificial pancreas are changing conventional thinking in the world of diabetes.

Diabetes treatment focuses on keeping blood sugar and cholesterol at safe levels. A daily balanced diet and regular exercise are effective for many people, but some patients may need multiple medications such as metformin, ACE inhibitors and insulin to assist in controlling their blood sugar levels.

Andrew and Donna Kay, author and diabetes lifestyle coach discuss Donna's new book The Complete Diabetes Lifestyle. Donna shares her story about the journey from diagnosis to where she is today in managing her type 2 diabetes. Upon being diagnosed in the spring of 2003, Kay’s personal crusade was to educate herself about the disease. The book sheds light on how we can create a diabetes management plan while empowering ourselves to create lasting changes for a better life. She describes how her team of health care providers combined with incremental changes in lifestyle and medications have put her in control of her blood sugars. Her family has also seen the health benefits as she models good exercise and diet management. Donna shares personal stories about the importance of finding a good team of doctors and how small changes in diet and exercise can add up to big positives!

Dr. Paul Mystkowski is an endocrinologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center and Dr. Carla Greenbaum is Director of Clinical Research at the Benaroya Research Institute. Both doctors are heavily involved in cutting-edge research, much of which has been focused on why people get diabetes and how to stop this immune process from destroying the cells in the pancreas. Learn how Islet cells, the cells within the pancreas that actually make insulin, can now be infused or transplanted into people to give them back their ability to make their own insulin.

Also touched on are the many new ways for diabetes patients to help take care of themselves: new ways to deliver insulin, long-acting insulin, insulin pumps, and new ways to measure blood sugars at home. However, this is still a very difficult disease to manage, especially as a child, and Clark, a 17-year-old diabetes patient, speaks to these difficulties. He shares with listeners how he manages the disease day-to-day, and his mother joins the program to discuss the challenges of raising a child with type 1 diabetes.

Included in the discussion are the benefits of early intervention and who is at risk for type 1 diabetes. Both doctors encourage parents to identify particular symptoms in their children to get them tested. There are simple tests to monitor the level of glucose in the urine or in the blood that can be done at the doctor?s office to determine if a child has type 1 diabetes.

Andrew?s first guest is Charlie, a 17-year old who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an infant and yet lives a completely normal life. By controlling the disease with medicines and lifestyle habits, Charlie is able play sports and go to summer camp just like any other teenager. Andrew also speaks with Dr. Ken Gross from the diabetes center at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Gross tells us how to deal with diabetes once you?ve been diagnosed, highlighting lifestyle changes and new technologies and medicines available. Another guest on this show is Ethlyn Gibson, a nurse and Community Outreach Coordinator with MultiCare in Tacoma, who talks about prevention outreach with minority populations. The last guest to join Andrew for this special episode is Andy Willmer, Executive Director of the American Diabetes Association chapter for Washington State. Andy suggests resources for those suffering from or at risk for diabetes, and what the ADA is doing to help. Find out if you?re at risk and what you can do to avoid getting diabetes.

Right now is an exciting time in diabetes research. Whether you have type 1 or type 2, and whether it is caused by obesity or genetics, diabetes patients are now able to lead normal lives as long as they are able to keep good control over the disease. Listen now to hear stories from patients and solutions from doctors.

It?s estimated that 50 percent of diabetes sufferers don't even know that they have it. Dr. Trence describes symptoms to look for, the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and how diabetes occurs in the first place. She also explains how diabetes can lead to other complications, such as heart disease, and what you can do to lower these risks. Furthermore, Dr. Trence stresses that diabetes doesn?t have to lead to complications anymore. She talks about all the ways you can control diabetes ? through activity, diet and medication ? so that you can live a long, healthy life.

Exercising, taking medication, and managing diet daily can be a difficult life adjustment for some. Dr. Trence talks about the frustrations of managing a chronic condition, but stresses how important it is. She also answers listener questions about Syndrome X, prediabetes, low blood sugar, and more. Listen to this webcast to find out what you need to do if you?ve just been diagnosed. If you have had diabetes for years, learn more about different available medications, how to maintain your health, and hear questions and inspiring stories from callers.