Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
Archive for July, 2010
Non-Pharmacologic Options for the Treatment of Antenatal Depression: A Quick Review
Jul 27th
About 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy, and the rate of depressive illness is greater in women with pre-existing histories of depression. While there are data to support the use of certain antidepressants during pregnancy, many women are reluctant to seek pharmacologic treatment during pregnancy and may benefit from efficacious non-pharmacologic options. In [...]
Breaking news: WEGO Health sponsors Ning Health Networks
Jul 19th
WEGO Health’s mission is to empower Health Activists, and today we’ve taken a big step in that direction: we are announcing that WEGO Health will provide Ning Plus service to the many health-related Ning Networks for free for one year.
Health Activists are passionate about helping others with health issues, and every day (or more often) we use of dozens of different social media tools – from Twitter and blogs to Facebook, Yahoo Answers, discussion boards, listservs, and more. Ning Health Network Creators, who have used the powerful Ning platform to build their own social networks from the ground up, are absolutely Health Activists – and we’re excited to be welcoming them to the WEGO Health Community. In addition to continuing to use the Ning Network service free of charge, they’ll meet the rest of us, share their thoughts with industry, and gain access to the community benefits WEGO Health.
WEGO Health will sponsor the costs of these Health Networks for one year, during which time we'll also work with other industry leaders to fund the expansion and extension of this sponsorship.
Health Activists are passionate about helping others with health issues, and every day (or more often) we use of dozens of different social media tools – from Twitter and blogs to Facebook, Yahoo Answers, discussion boards, listservs, and more. Ning Health Network Creators, who have used the powerful Ning platform to build their own social networks from the ground up, are absolutely Health Activists – and we’re excited to be welcoming them to the WEGO Health Community. In addition to continuing to use the Ning Network service free of charge, they’ll meet the rest of us, share their thoughts with industry, and gain access to the community benefits WEGO Health.
WEGO Health will sponsor the costs of these Health Networks for one year, during which time we'll also work with other industry leaders to fund the expansion and extension of this sponsorship.
To apply for the WEGO Health sponsorship program, please visit: http://about.ning.com/wegohealthsponsorship/
WEGO Health family and friends, join me in welcoming Ning Health Network creators – and please share news of this sponsorship with your communities!
WEGO Health family and friends, join me in welcoming Ning Health Network creators – and please share news of this sponsorship with your communities!
Spotlight on Rachel Baumgartel, Diabetes Daily
Jul 15th
Spotlight on: Rachel Baumgartel, writer for Diabetes Daily and Tales of my Thirties
Active in the Diabetes community: since 2008
Occupation: Accounting Clerk, Freelance Writer
What made you start your blog/contribute to the diabetes community?
Writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so writing about diabetes came naturally. I had been seeking out information on both forms of the condition following my Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis in March 2005, which happened only a few months after my husband (T1 since 1986) experienced a seizure due to hypoglycemia. Along the way, I discovered a rather small diabetes blogging community. The first annual D-blog day was held November 9 of that year and I joined the ranks of diabetes bloggers on that day to tell our story.
What did it feel like to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?
Being a few weeks short of my 29th birthday, it was disheartening to be diagnosed at an earlier age compared to most people with Type 2 diabetes. As I joined online message boards, I realized how lucky I was to be diagnosed relatively early on in the disease process with only slightly elevated blood glucose and no complications - so many people are not diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes until a complication arises.
What has most surprised you about having Type 2 Diabetes?
I feel healthy most days. By cutting down on processed carbohydrates and exercising several times a week, not only have I improved my physical health, but also my mental health.
What areas of diabetes research have you most excited right now?
Whenever there is a study that shows the positive effects of using insulin for management of Type 2 Diabetes, that pleases me. There are too many negative connotations associated with insulin in the Type 2 community and any studies that prove otherwise could change minds therefore saving lives.
The growing evidence that Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS) are effective in maintaining steadier blood glucose in Type 1 Diabetes. This should make insurance coverage easier to obtain for these systems.
What motivates you to continue writing about diabetes?
Writing about diabetes is a coping mechanism. Even if I struggle to write a blog post about it, I might be Tweeting about the last workout I did or how frustrated I am with fasting blood glucose readings or offering support to others. While I appreciate page views and comments and personal e-mails regarding blog posts, I still write to cope with my own everyday Type 2 Diabetes experiences.
Who do you most admire in the diabetes community online?
Kerri at Six Until Me - Kerri offers insight into my husband's world with Type 1 Diabetes as well as inspires me to stay physically active.
Becky at Tales of Princess Mikkimoto - Newly diagnosed in March of this year, watching Becky change her lifestyle enthusiastically due to Type 2 Diabetes has rekindled my own desire to stay healthy after some health concerns unrelated to diabetes.
What advice do you have for those newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?
You do not have to change your entire lifestyle overnight. Small steps are important - cutting processed carbohydrates gradually and starting an exercise program slowly are the ways to make the Type 2 Diabetes lifestyle change stick. Also, self-monitoring of blood glucose allows for trial and error in finding out what lifestyle changes best work for you. It is an important tool in any diabetes regimen, even when treating Type 2 Diabetes with only diet and exercise.
Be sure to check out Rachel's WEGO Health profile, and welcome her to the community!
Interested in learning more about Type 2 Diabetes? Join the WEGO Health Group.
Active in the Diabetes community: since 2008
Occupation: Accounting Clerk, Freelance Writer
What made you start your blog/contribute to the diabetes community?
Writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so writing about diabetes came naturally. I had been seeking out information on both forms of the condition following my Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis in March 2005, which happened only a few months after my husband (T1 since 1986) experienced a seizure due to hypoglycemia. Along the way, I discovered a rather small diabetes blogging community. The first annual D-blog day was held November 9 of that year and I joined the ranks of diabetes bloggers on that day to tell our story.
What did it feel like to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?
Being a few weeks short of my 29th birthday, it was disheartening to be diagnosed at an earlier age compared to most people with Type 2 diabetes. As I joined online message boards, I realized how lucky I was to be diagnosed relatively early on in the disease process with only slightly elevated blood glucose and no complications - so many people are not diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes until a complication arises.
What has most surprised you about having Type 2 Diabetes?
I feel healthy most days. By cutting down on processed carbohydrates and exercising several times a week, not only have I improved my physical health, but also my mental health.
What areas of diabetes research have you most excited right now?
Whenever there is a study that shows the positive effects of using insulin for management of Type 2 Diabetes, that pleases me. There are too many negative connotations associated with insulin in the Type 2 community and any studies that prove otherwise could change minds therefore saving lives.
The growing evidence that Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS) are effective in maintaining steadier blood glucose in Type 1 Diabetes. This should make insurance coverage easier to obtain for these systems.
What motivates you to continue writing about diabetes?
Writing about diabetes is a coping mechanism. Even if I struggle to write a blog post about it, I might be Tweeting about the last workout I did or how frustrated I am with fasting blood glucose readings or offering support to others. While I appreciate page views and comments and personal e-mails regarding blog posts, I still write to cope with my own everyday Type 2 Diabetes experiences.
Who do you most admire in the diabetes community online?
Kerri at Six Until Me - Kerri offers insight into my husband's world with Type 1 Diabetes as well as inspires me to stay physically active.
Becky at Tales of Princess Mikkimoto - Newly diagnosed in March of this year, watching Becky change her lifestyle enthusiastically due to Type 2 Diabetes has rekindled my own desire to stay healthy after some health concerns unrelated to diabetes.
What advice do you have for those newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?
You do not have to change your entire lifestyle overnight. Small steps are important - cutting processed carbohydrates gradually and starting an exercise program slowly are the ways to make the Type 2 Diabetes lifestyle change stick. Also, self-monitoring of blood glucose allows for trial and error in finding out what lifestyle changes best work for you. It is an important tool in any diabetes regimen, even when treating Type 2 Diabetes with only diet and exercise.
Be sure to check out Rachel's WEGO Health profile, and welcome her to the community!
Interested in learning more about Type 2 Diabetes? Join the WEGO Health Group.
Anxiety During Pregnancy Predicts Worse Outcomes
Jul 14th
In treating pregnant women with mood or anxiety disorders, we tend to focus primarily on the reproductive safety of psychotropic medications; however, it must be recognized that withholding or withdrawing pharmacologic treatment for depression or anxiety during pregnancy may carry some degree of risk. Untreated psychiatric illness in the mother cannot be considered a benign [...]
New Health Activist Blog Carnival: Health Activists on the Road
Jul 2nd
This month's Health Activist Blog Carnival is all about travel.
How do your health conditions impact vacation time? Do you have tips on how to make traveling with health issues a little less of a hassle? Maybe you even have suggestions on how you keep up with your Health Activist responsibilities while you're away from home!
Whatever you choose to write about, here's how you submit your entry to the Health Activist Blog Carnival:
- Let others know that your post is for the Health Activist Blog Carnival by including the following text at the end of your post: "This post is my July entry in the Health Activist Blog Carnival. If you're interested in participating too, you can read all about here: http://blog.wegohealth.com/2010/07/new-health-activist-blog-carnival.html"
- Leave a comment with a link to your entry on this Health Bloggers Discussion - be sure to come back often to check out the latest entries from your fellow Health Activists!
At the end of the month, we'll feature a few of our favorite submissions here on the blog. Can't wait to see what stories and suggestions you have to share!
Health Activist Blog Carnival – June Wrap Up!
Jul 1st
For our June Blog Carnival topic, we invited you to reflect on your experiences as a Health Activist and share your proudest moment with others in the WEGO Health community.
The entries this month were nothing short of inspiring - but let's be honest, that's hardly a surprise.
Here are just a few of the incredible submissions we received this month:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and has been using the web for Health Activism since 1997. In her post for this month's Blog Carnival, she writes about where that journey has taken her, and shares just a few of the things she's accomplished along the way. Be sure to read the full post to learn more about her proudest moment - starting National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week!
Alicia admits to struggling a bit with this month's topic, but we think you'll agree that her best Health Activist moment is incredibly heart warming. As the founder of The Staley Foundation, and the author of the Awesome Cancer Survivor blog, Alicia's no stranger to Health Activism - but her best moment came just a few weeks ago. Read the full post to find out what happened at the 11th annual Fabulous Females brunch that has Alicia (and the rest of us) a little choked up.
In sharing her best Health Activist moment, Ellen reminds us that sometimes the most gratifying moments are also the closest to home. Ellen became a Health Activist and an empowered patient when her daughter began showing symptoms of an autoimmune disease - learning how to find, interpret, and explain all the information she needed to understand her daughter's condition made Ellen the incredible Health Activist she is today, and it made all of her other Health Activist moments possible.
These are just a handful of the amazing posts submitted this month. If you haven't had a chance to read through all the entries, or if you'd like to submit a belated post (we won't judge!) - be sure to visit the discussion thread in our Health Bloggers Group.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Blog Carnival this month. And don't go too far - we'll be announcing July's Blog Carnival topic tomorrow!