Bery, bery good for my eyes.

[Annette]

Hi there,

I saw the opthomologist yesterday for my yearly check up on
the condition of my eyes.

Just 18 mths ago there was considerable concern regarding the
condition of the maculata; - degeneration was progressing to
a dangerous degree, and the doctor was very concerned. It
could have been either diabetic related or aged related, but
it was serious.

So I went looking for all I could find on anything that might
help slow the progression. Firstly I found this article:

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2001/nei-12.htm

Which is a report on a research program which aimed to slow
the progress of Aged-related Macular Degeneration, which is;

"A breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in
the central retinal area (advanced dry form); or Abnormal and
fragile blood vessels under the retina that can leak fluid or
bleed (wet form). These two forms of advanced AMD can cause
serious vision loss.

"Scientists found that people at high risk of developing
advanced stages of AMD, a leading cause of vision loss,
lowered their risk by about 25 percent when treated with a
high-dose combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene,
and zinc."

So that was a start. I was in danger of loss of vision, and
increasing my intake of Vit E, Vit C, beta-carotene and zinc
might help.

Then I took notice of the importance of bioflavinoids in
protecting the eyes from damage - and many of those are found
in abundance in berries and other strongly coloured
vegetables. I got really interested in bioflavinoids.

I didn't want to take a lot of supps, so instead started
including as many of those things that contain those
antioxidents and the bioflavinoids in my diet, OFTEN, and
only took the zinc as a supplement. I no longer take that
either, but instead eat quite a lot of almonds, which are
high in zinc.

OK, so I returned after 6 mths to the optho, fearing the
worst, and hoping that *maybe* the degeneration had slowed. To
my great surprise, it had not only stopped, but was actually
improving, so much so that I was told I should not need to
return for 12 mths, since there was no longer any urgency. My
sight was no longer at risk. The condition had not just
stopped or slowed but seemed to be in reversal.

Now it's another 12 mths later, 18mths since that first scary
dx, and the optho said the amount of degeneration was so
minute, it was trivial! I could hardly believe it, and had to
ask him to repeat what he just said. He said with emphasis
"It's TRIVIAL! I can barely see ANY degeneration!"

I wish to offer my profound thanks to Quentin, who first drew
my attention to the importance of the bioflavioids with his
posts to this group, and then guided me in my search for the
best sources of helpful nutriments in ordinary foods, and
offered many helpful ideas. The results have been far more
than either of us even hoped.

So here's to Quentin, that patient and generous man who offers
this group so much, so quietly and unobtrusively, and in easy
to understand ways. Keep your eyes in a healthy "look out" for
his posts. Blink, and you might miss something important.

Annette "The best combination seems to be an open mind to new
possibilities backed by massive testing to ensure safety. I
care more about my life than giving some possible cure a
chance. Frankly I like the Western approach of spending
millions on testing efficacy and safety. Whether the cure is
found in sea cucumber or Amazonian rain forests is
immaterial." Quentin Grady


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG
anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 /
Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 21/11/03

[Fester]

Snippered ;)

Annette ... don't suppose you could be a love and post some of
the food items you've found that contain these biothingies
could you? I don't see any reason why i can't include these
things in my diet as a precursor to problems that i might have
later on, if eating more of the right stuff will help then i'm
happy to give it a go.

Do things like carrots and stuff carry them, or do you need
stronger colourings such as beetroot?

Patrick.

[Fester]

Done a quick search and found this on the bbc site. I'm off to
get me some green peppers as snack food .... i like them
anyway and see no problem eating them at all. Sadly i can't
stand broccoli or tomatoes but i do like most citrus fruits,
just have to watch out for the sugar in them.

Here's a few links i've had a look at, they seem quite
informative so i'll have a read when i get in from work.,
funny thing is i can remember being told as a child, eat
plenty of vegetables and you'll be able to see in the dark
.... didn't know at the time how right my grandma was!

Patrick.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/complementary/other_supplements.s-
html http://www.go-symmetry.com/health/diabetes.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~Howtuz/bioflavonoids.html
http://idid.essortment.com/whatarebioflav_rfpq.htm http://www-
.findarticles.com/cf_dls/g2603/0002/2603000202/p1/article.jht-
ml?term=Bioflavonoids

[Fester]

http://get-symmetry.com/Info/vascular-retinopathy.htm

And this one too ...

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 21:51:43
+1100, "Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:

>Now it's another 12 mths later, 18mths since that first scary
>dx, and the optho said the amount of degeneration was so
>minute, it was trivial! I could hardly believe it, and had to
>ask him to repeat what he just said. He said with emphasis
>"It's TRIVIAL! I can barely see ANY degeneration!"

G'day G'day Annette,

Congratulations Annette. Fabulous news.

Congratulations on having your eyes checked out by an
opthalmologist AND doing something about the original
diagnosis. Chances of success are so much better when one has
regular checks so problems are detected at early stages.

>I wish to offer my profound thanks to Quentin, who first drew
>my attention to the importance of the bioflavioids with his
>posts to this group, and then guided me in my search for the
>best sources of helpful nutriments in ordinary foods, and
>offered many helpful ideas. The results have been far more
>than either of us even hoped.
>
>So here's to Quentin, that patient and generous man who
>offers this group so much, so quietly and unobtrusively, and
>in easy to understand ways. Keep your eyes in a healthy "look
>out" for his posts. Blink, and you might miss something
>important.

What has been discovered about macular degeneration and
nutrition in the last couple of years is absolutely amazing. I
consider myself lucky to be alive at this moment in time when
an optimistic approach to living with T2 diabetes is highly
tenable. That I am able to share that information with friends
I have never seen and improve their lives via the magic of the
internet is to live a life of gratitude.

>Annette "The best combination seems to be an open mind to new
>possibilities backed by massive testing to ensure safety. I
>care more about my life than giving some possible cure a
>chance. Frankly I like the Western approach of spending
>millions on testing efficacy and safety. Whether the cure is
>found in sea cucumber or Amazonian rain forests is
>immaterial." Quentin Grady

I read that. Wished I had said it. And discovered I did.

Thank you Annette,

You remind me of the standards I have promulgated and you
have chosen to remind me of. <darn>

Guess I had better fill in some of the dots and connect the
lines to paint a picture of what is important with
bioflavanoids etc. All our current knowledge is paint by
numbers.

Best wishes,
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[Jmmbear]

In article <bpvc9b$1sfr49$1@ID-194908.news.uni-berlin.de>,
"Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> writes:

>Now it's another 12 mths later, 18mths since that first scary
>dx, and the optho said the amount of degeneration was so
>minute, it was trivial! I could hardly believe it, and had to
>ask him to repeat what he just said. He said with emphasis
>"It's TRIVIAL! I can barely see ANY degeneration!"

Annette many many congratulations on this... (((())) As always
YMMV and this is JMO Jeanne Type 2 Diagnosed 05/28/02
189/154/120

[Alan]

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 21:51:43 +1100, "Annette"
<acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:

>I saw the opthomologist yesterday for my yearly check up on
>the condition of my eyes.
<snip>

Hi Annette.

Terrific news!

Some advice please. I've only ever had my eyes checked by the
guys attached to specs outlets like OPSM and Budget; they have
a surgery in the back room and bulk-bill.

I've never worked taken the trouble to work out the difference
between optometrists and opthomologists etc. Do you need a
specialist's referral or is it possible they may also operate
from the optical outlets?

I wear specs for reading and get my eyes checked for glaucoma
bi-annually (it runs in the family).

The haemo also does a brief eye inspction and tells me they
appear OK. TIA.

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002 , no meds, diet and not
enough exercise.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:43:01
-0000, "Fester" <fester@nospamtagmx.co.uk> wrote:

>Snippered ;)
>
>Annette ... don't suppose you could be a love and post some
>of the food items you've found that contain these biothingies
>could you? I don't see any reason why i can't include these
>things in my diet as a precursor to problems that i might
>have later on, if eating more of the right stuff will help
>then i'm happy to give it a go.

G'day G'day Fester, Annette et al,

Avoiding macular degeneration is multifactorial.
It pays to tackle the issue as many ways as possible.
Not many team sports are won with a single defender.

1. Control blood glucose tightly. The eyes don't have insulin
receptors so don't require insulin to transfer glucose
into the eyes in the way muscles do. What this means if
blood glucose is high then glucose rushes into the eye
just as the sea rushes into inlets when the tide is high.

2. Glucose in the eye can be converted to sorbitol by an
enzyme called aldose reductase. Picture sorbitol like the
bloke with a black hat in a Western. When the bloke on the
horse with a black hat rides into town something bad is
going to happen. The sombre music tells you so. You can't
be sure of which plot the Western will follow ... there
are only a few but something real bad is going to happen
when the black hatted guy rides in to the theme of
"Sorbitol, Sorbitol, Sorbitol who you gunna bowl?"

Fortunately is Westerns worthy of the name there are blokes
who wear white hats, aldose reductase inhibitors, Ari for
short. All good Westerns have a bit of tear jerking but it
better be brief so we can get on an enjoy the action. In the
shoot out between Sorbitol and Ari, the tear jerking element
is onion. Onion is an excellent source of biologically
available Quercetin. (Any resemblance to my own name is
entirely coincidental.) Quercetin is an excellent antioxidant
great for curing hay fever ... told you this was a tear
jerker. It doesn't matter if you fry up the onion in a pan on
a camp fire, Quercetin can take it just don't pour it down the
drain. Whatever, Quercetin saves the day and stops aldose
reductase from converting glucose to Sorbitol and your eyes
are saved from numerous fates worse than death.

3. If you can't stop Sorbitol from riding around shooting up
things the next best thing is having him corralled in a
box canyon. Enter stage left to great applause ...
Taurine. Taurine keeps sorbitol boxed up with osmotic
pressure. Taurine is an amino acid found in fish
especially shellfish and fish hearts etc, meat that hasn't
been over cooked. Eat some green lipped mussels or
sardines. Steak that gallops onto your plate has more
taurine than one grilled to death.

4. OK, Westerns were black and white but the audience
demanded more. They wanted colour. Now at first the
colours weren't very good. People got a bit confused with
their colours and thought beta carotene from carrots were
good for eyes. Bugs Bunny got a lot of good press when the
real hero was Olive Oil who no doubt nagged Popeye just a
little bit to eat his spinach. Spinach looks green but it
hides some good yellow stuff called lutein (yellow) that
protects the peripheral regions of the eye from the
ravages of blue and ultraviolet light. Lutein does a
wonderful job in providing sunglasses INSIDE the eye.
Young people need the sunglasses effect of lutein because
their eyes are clear. Older people need the antioxidant
effects of lutein because ... they are old. The clock of
ages gallops for T2 diabetics who don't take care. Wait
don't send money. There is more. Spinach has a special
bonus offer ... orange centres. The central foveal regions
of the eyes NEED ORANGE ... a very special orange. Nah,
not beta carotene. Beta carotene is a wannabe. THE orange
is zeaxanthin. Now it is kind of special. While lutein is
in most things green or yellow zeaxanthin is less widely
distributed. Spinach is often a good source though it
varies. So is open leaf cabbage ie collards.

Orange capsicums are the ultimate source. Persimmons are
excellent. In some countries the likely sources are going to
be the green culinary herbs eg dill, coriander, parsley. The
Mexicans have it nailed with marigold petals.

5. Some general antioxidants help; bilberries, blue berries,
Vit E, astaxanthin (the pink stuff in salmon and prawns.)
Lowering oxidative stress is smart thinking.

BUT remember there are no substitutes for lutein and
zeaxanthin for the sunscreen effects. Other bioflavanoids
will not do.

>Do things like carrots and stuff carry them, or do you need
>stronger colourings such as beetroot?

Carrots are great for lungs, its mostly the alpha
carotene. Beetroot has its benefits elsewhere but the post
is already long.

Adios Amigo.

>Patrick.

By the way I have a gig on Thursday giving a speech to the
local Rotary Club. Twenty minutes on "Hilarious Nutrition."
Twenty minutes is a tough slot to say something meaningful
and be funny.

I'm thinking of nutrition for blokes.
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[Uraqt2]

Alan wrote:

> On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 21:51:43 +1100, "Annette"
> <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:
>
> >I saw the opthomologist yesterday for my yearly check up on
> >the condition of my eyes.
> <snip>
>
> Hi Annette.
>
> Terrific news!
>
> Some advice please. I've only ever had my eyes checked by
> the guys attached to specs outlets like OPSM and Budget;
> they have a surgery in the back room and bulk-bill.
>
> I've never worked taken the trouble to work out the
> difference between optometrists and opthomologists etc. Do
> you need a specialist's referral or is it possible they may
> also operate from the optical outlets?
>
> I wear specs for reading and get my eyes checked for
> glaucoma bi-annually (it runs in the family).
>
> The haemo also does a brief eye inspction and tells me they
> appear OK. TIA.
>
> Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002 , no meds, diet and not
> enough exercise.
> --
> Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

An ophthalmologist is an MD (an eye surgeon). And optometrist
is not. My doctor told me when I was diagnosed to be sure and
have an ophthalmologist check my eyes yearly.

Just had it done last Thursday. He was surprised. My eyes
actually improved in the last year. He said the spots he saw a
year ago are gone. I attribute this to having good control
over my BG readings and improved HbA1C tests.

--
Do not reply to the above email address. The address at the
top is fictitious.
==============================================================================

Chuck -ô¿ô- ~ email: Lperry1940@mchsi.com For psoriasis
information go to: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/

[Fester]

"Quentin Grady" <quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:2p37svcbg02ne4otspk46cd21l2ofdfrnb@4ax.com...
> This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:43:01
> -0000, "Fester" <fester@nospamtagmx.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >Snippered ;)
> >
> >Annette ... don't suppose you could be a love and post some
> >of the food items you've found that contain these
> >biothingies could you? I don't see
any
> >reason why i can't include these things in my diet as a
> >precursor to problems that i might have later on, if eating
> >more of the right stuff
will
> >help then i'm happy to give it a go.
>
> G'day G'day Fester, Annette et al,
>
> Avoiding macular degeneration is multifactorial.
> It pays to tackle the issue as many ways as possible.
> Not many team sports are won with a single defender.
>
> 1. Control blood glucose tightly. The eyes don't have
> insulin receptors so don't require insulin to transfer
> glucose into the eyes in the way muscles do. What this
> means if blood glucose is high then glucose rushes into
> the eye just as the sea rushes into inlets when the tide
> is high.
>
> 2. Glucose in the eye can be converted to sorbitol by an
> enzyme called aldose reductase. Picture sorbitol like
> the bloke with a black hat in a Western. When the bloke
> on the horse with a black hat rides into town something
> bad is going to happen. The sombre music tells you so.
> You can't be sure of which plot the Western will follow
> ... there are only a few but something real bad is going
> to happen when the black hatted guy rides in to the
> theme of "Sorbitol, Sorbitol, Sorbitol who you gunna
> bowl?"
>
> Fortunately is Westerns worthy of the name there are blokes
> who wear white hats, aldose reductase inhibitors, Ari for
> short. All good Westerns have a bit of tear jerking but it
> better be brief so we can get on an enjoy the action. In
> the shoot out between Sorbitol and Ari, the tear jerking
> element is onion. Onion is an excellent source of
> biologically available Quercetin. (Any resemblance to my
> own name is entirely coincidental.) Quercetin is an
> excellent antioxidant great for curing hay fever ... told
> you this was a tear jerker. It doesn't matter if you fry up
> the onion in a pan on a camp fire, Quercetin can take it
> just don't pour it down the drain. Whatever, Quercetin
> saves the day and stops aldose reductase from converting
> glucose to Sorbitol and your eyes are saved from numerous
> fates worse than death.
>
>
> 3. If you can't stop Sorbitol from riding around shooting
> up things the next best thing is having him corralled in
> a box canyon. Enter stage left to great applause ...
> Taurine. Taurine keeps sorbitol boxed up with osmotic
> pressure. Taurine is an amino acid found in fish
> especially shellfish and fish hearts etc, meat that
> hasn't been over cooked. Eat some green lipped mussels
> or sardines. Steak that gallops onto your plate has more
> taurine than one grilled to death.
>
> 4. OK, Westerns were black and white but the audience
> demanded more. They wanted colour. Now at first the
> colours weren't very good. People got a bit confused
> with their colours and thought beta carotene from
> carrots were good for eyes. Bugs Bunny got a lot of good
> press when the real hero was Olive Oil who no doubt
> nagged Popeye just a little bit to eat his spinach.
> Spinach looks green but it hides some good yellow stuff
> called lutein (yellow) that protects the peripheral
> regions of the eye from the ravages of blue and
> ultraviolet light. Lutein does a wonderful job in
> providing sunglasses INSIDE the eye. Young people need
> the sunglasses effect of lutein because their eyes are
> clear. Older people need the antioxidant effects of
> lutein because ... they are old. The clock of ages
> gallops for T2 diabetics who don't take care. Wait don't
> send money. There is more. Spinach has a special bonus
> offer ... orange centres. The central foveal regions of
> the eyes NEED ORANGE ... a very special orange. Nah, not
> beta carotene. Beta carotene is a wannabe. THE orange is
> zeaxanthin. Now it is kind of special. While lutein is
> in most things green or yellow zeaxanthin is less widely
> distributed. Spinach is often a good source though it
> varies. So is open leaf cabbage ie collards.
>
> Orange capsicums are the ultimate source. Persimmons are
> excellent. In some countries the likely sources are going
> to be the green culinary herbs eg dill, coriander, parsley.
> The Mexicans have it nailed with marigold petals.
>
> 4. Some general antioxidants help; bilberries, blue
> berries, Vit E, astaxanthin (the pink stuff in salmon
> and prawns.) Lowering oxidative stress is smart
> thinking.
>
> BUT remember there are no substitutes for lutein and
> zeaxanthin for the sunscreen effects. Other bioflavanoids
> will not do.
>
> >Do things like carrots and stuff carry them, or do you need
> >stronger colourings such as beetroot?
>
> Carrots are great for lungs, its mostly the alpha
> carotene. Beetroot has its benefits elsewhere but the post
> is already long.
>
> Adios Amigo.
>
> >Patrick.
>
> By the way I have a gig on Thursday giving a speech to the
> local Rotary Club. Twenty minutes on "Hilarious Nutrition."
> Twenty minutes is a tough slot to say something meaningful
> and be funny.
>
> I'm thinking of nutrition for blokes.
> --
> Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
> blind dog was leading."
>
> http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
So to be very blunt and to the point, yam as many onions,
orange peppers ( capsicums) and spinach / open leaf cabbage as
i can stand with each meal and i'm moving along the right
lines to protecting my eyes from further damage and may well
improve my current situation. Got the bg's under much better
control now.

May i thank you for a well written post and a very good
chuckle at the "galloping onto plate" comment:) I prefer, when
asked how one likes ones steak to say, " just shave its horns
and wipe its arse please", depending on the restaurant type
this is either met with screams of laughter or looks of total
disapproval, since most of my steak is cooked in house that's
not a problem ;)

Rgds,

Patrick.

[Jmmbear]

In article <5Z-dnXsJ-bY5316iRVn-hg@karoo.co.uk>, "Fester"
<fester@nospamtagmx.co.uk> writes:

>http://members.tripod.com/~Howtuz/bioflavonoids.html

thanks for the sites.. As always YMMV and this is JMO Jeanne
Type 2 Diagnosed 05/28/02
189/154/120

[Mano Goven]

I must add that I also hold Quentin's advice in high regard,
since many of his observations have helped me in my own
attempt and experimentation to achieve control over my blood
glucose and cholestrol.

Regards

Mano Govender T2 since March 2002

"Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:bpvc9b$1sfr49$1@ID-194908.news.uni-berlin.de...

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:27:28
-0000, "Fester" <fester@deadspam.com> wrote:

>So to be very blunt and to the point, yam as many onions,
>orange peppers ( capsicums) and spinach / open leaf cabbage
>as i can stand with each meal and i'm moving along the right
>lines to protecting my eyes from further damage and may well
>improve my current situation. Got the bg's under much better
>control now.

G'day G'day Patrick,

One doesn't need them with every meal but think of having
one or two of them each day.

>May i thank you for a well written post and a very good
>chuckle at the "galloping onto plate" comment:) I prefer,
>when asked how one likes ones steak to say, " just shave its
>horns and wipe its arse please", depending on the restaurant
>type this is either met with screams of laughter or looks of
>total disapproval, since most of my steak is cooked in house
>that's not a problem ;)

ROTFL. Hey I needed someone who wasn't taking life too
seriously today. It has been one of those days in the
"real" world.

>Rgds,
>
>Patrick.

--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[Vicki Beau]

Mano Govender wrote:
>
> I must add that I also hold Quentin's advice in high regard,
> since many of his observations have helped me in my own
> attempt and experimentation to achieve control over my blood
> glucose and cholestrol.
>
> Regards
>
> Mano Govender T2 since March 2002
>
> "Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote in message
> news:bpvc9b$1sfr49$1@ID-194908.news.uni-berlin.de...

As do I, Mano. And I suspect most if not all of the long
time posters.

I'll be first in line to buy his book.

Annette, my last visit to the opthalmologist lasted all of 6
minutes. (He speeds through his patients so he can get out for
smoke breaks.) I asked him about retinal photography and he
looked at me like I was nuts. He said it wasn't necessary. I'm
41 years old and he says I have no eye probs - I told him it
would be a valuable resource for future reference. Being a
Canadian, I have to deal with this guy, finding another would
mean I'd have to pay myself.

I'm not impressed with the level of service this one has been
giving me. Thank goodness my endo is an absolute peach. My
endo is also well aware of how I feel about the opthal.

Vicki

[Annette]

"Alan" <loraldeletespam@ozconnect.net> wrote in message
news:oah7svgngp986ncn8hqbtap7ot8l6kdrd5@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 21:51:43 +1100, "Annette"
<acianthus@bigpond.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I saw the opthomologist yesterday for my yearly check up on
> >the condition of my eyes.
> <snip>
>
> Hi Annette.
>
> Terrific news!
>
> Some advice please. I've only ever had my eyes checked by
> the guys attached to specs outlets like OPSM and Budget;
> they have a
surgery in
> the back room and bulk-bill.
>
> I've never worked taken the trouble to work out the
> difference
between
> optometrists and opthomologists etc. Do you need a
> specialist's
referral
> or is it possible they may also operate from the optical
> outlets?
>
> I wear specs for reading and get my eyes checked for
> glaucoma bi-annually (it runs in the family).
>
> The haemo also does a brief eye inspction and tells me
> they appear
OK.
> TIA.
>
> Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002 , no meds, diet and not
> enough exercise.
> --
> Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

Hi there Alan,

I do understand your confusion, it took me some time to work
it all out.

The gradings go like this in Australia.

1. An Optician. They make the lens for your glasses, according
to the prescription provided by the optometrist, put them
into your choice of frames, and make sure the fit is
comfortable. They are found in a shop like OPSM. The frames
are the dearest part of the overall cost.

2. An Optometrist. They are mainly concerned with visual
accuity, so test your eyesight and prescribe glasses or
lens to correct any short or long vision. They *can* spot
obvious abnormatities, do tests for glaucoma, and *may*
refer you to an opthalmologist. A lot of them work in
conjunction with an optician, next to or in a room in the
shop , for convenience. Visits are fully covered by
Medicare in many cases.

3. An Opthalmologist. These are specialists in the medical
field of eye care. You DO need a referral from a doctor to
see one. I pay a consult fee of A$50 (minimum) or more
depending on what is done. It can be expensive if a lot of
procedures are performed, but there are Medicare rebates
that cover some of the cost.

This last one is the person you need to see, at least once a
year, for a full examination re diabetic complications or any
other eye conditions. A lot of conditions are treatable once
detected. The earlier the better. These specialists can
perform eye operations and do laser treatments etc. The things
they check for in my case are; Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy,
degenerative maculata, hypertensive bleeds, and cateracts. Oh,
and they DO check my overall vision, too, as part of the
service! All are possible diabetic complications, and are not
usually detected by an optometrist unless they are well
advanced. They are usually located in clinics, eye hospitals
or general public hospitals.

I hope that helps. My current specialist is the best one I
have ever seen, he is extremely thorough, explains everything,
and is polite to patients. If you would like more details
about him, please email me. Like a lot of medical
practitioners, they are not always equal in skill or care.

Take care,

Annette Fast wine, loose cars, old women. (My DH's favourite
quote) :-D

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG
anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 /
Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 22/11/03

[Annette]

"Quentin Grady" <quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:2p37svcbg02ne4otspk46cd21l2ofdfrnb@4ax.com...
> This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:43:01
> -0000, "Fester" <fester@nospamtagmx.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >Snippered ;)
> >
> >Annette ... don't suppose you could be a love and post
> >some of
the food
> >items you've found that contain these biothingies
> >could you? I
don't see any
> >reason why i can't include these things in my diet as a
> >precursor
to
> >problems that i might have later on, if eating more of
> >the right
stuff will
> >help then i'm happy to give it a go.
>
> G'day G'day Fester, Annette et al,
>
> Avoiding macular degeneration is multifactorial.
> It pays to tackle the issue as many ways as possible.
> Not many team sports are won with a single defender.
>
> 1. Control blood glucose tightly. The eyes don't have
> insulin receptors so don't require insulin to transfer
> glucose into the
eyes
> in the way muscles do. What this means if blood
> glucose is high
then
> glucose rushes into the eye just as the sea rushes
> into inlets
when
> the tide is high.
>
> 2. Glucose in the eye can be converted to sorbitol by an
> enzyme called aldose reductase. Picture sorbitol like
> the bloke with a
black
> hat in a Western. When the bloke on the horse with a
> black hat
rides
> into town something bad is going to happen. The sombre music
tells
> you so. You can't be sure of which plot the Western
> will follow
...
> there are only a few but something real bad is going
> to happen
when
> the black hatted guy rides in to the theme of "Sorbitol,
> Sorbitol, Sorbitol who you gunna bowl?"
>
> Fortunately is Westerns worthy of the name there are
> blokes who
wear
> white hats, aldose reductase inhibitors, Ari for short. All
> good Westerns have a bit of tear jerking but it better be
> brief so we
can
> get on an enjoy the action. In the shoot out between
> Sorbitol and Ari, the tear jerking element is onion. Onion
> is an excellent
source
> of biologically available Quercetin. (Any resemblance
> to my own
name
> is entirely coincidental.) Quercetin is an excellent
> antioxidant great for curing hay fever ... told you this was
> a tear jerker.
It
> doesn't matter if you fry up the onion in a pan on a
> camp fire, Quercetin can take it just don't pour it down
> the drain.
Whatever,
> Quercetin saves the day and stops aldose reductase from
> converting glucose to Sorbitol and your eyes are saved from
> numerous fates
worse
> than death.
>
>
> 3. If you can't stop Sorbitol from riding around
> shooting up
things
> the next best thing is having him corralled in a box canyon.
Enter
> stage left to great applause ... Taurine. Taurine keeps
> sorbitol
boxed
> up with osmotic pressure. Taurine is an amino acid found in
> fish especially shellfish and fish hearts etc, meat that
> hasn't been
over
> cooked. Eat some green lipped mussels or sardines. Steak
> that gallops onto your plate has more taurine than one
> grilled to
death.
>
> 4. OK, Westerns were black and white but the audience
> demanded
more.
> They wanted colour. Now at first the colours weren't very
> good. People got a bit confused with their colours and
> thought beta
carotene
> from carrots were good for eyes. Bugs Bunny got a lot of
> good
press
> when the real hero was Olive Oil who no doubt nagged Popeye
> just a little bit to eat his spinach. Spinach looks green
> but it hides
some
> good yellow stuff called lutein (yellow) that protects the
peripheral
> regions of the eye from the ravages of blue and ultraviolet
> light. Lutein does a wonderful job in providing sunglasses
> INSIDE the
eye.
> Young people need the sunglasses effect of lutein
> because their
eyes
> are clear. Older people need the antioxidant effects
> of lutein
because
> ... they are old. The clock of ages gallops for T2
> diabetics who don't take care. Wait don't send money. There
> is more. Spinach
has
> a special bonus offer ... orange centres. The central foveal
regions
> of the eyes NEED ORANGE ... a very special orange. Nah, not
> beta carotene. Beta carotene is a wannabe. THE orange is
> zeaxanthin.
Now
> it is kind of special. While lutein is in most things
> green or
yellow
> zeaxanthin is less widely distributed. Spinach is
> often a good
source
> though it varies. So is open leaf cabbage ie collards.
>
> Orange capsicums are the ultimate source. Persimmons are
excellent.
> In some countries the likely sources are going to be the
> green culinary herbs eg dill, coriander, parsley. The
> Mexicans have it nailed with marigold petals.
>
> 4. Some general antioxidants help; bilberries, blue
> berries, Vit
E,
> astaxanthin (the pink stuff in salmon and prawns.) Lowering
oxidative
> stress is smart thinking.
>
> BUT remember there are no substitutes for lutein and
> zeaxanthin
for
> the sunscreen effects. Other bioflavanoids will not do.
>
> >Do things like carrots and stuff carry them, or do you need
stronger
> >colourings such as beetroot?
>
> Carrots are great for lungs, its mostly the alpha
> carotene. Beetroot has its benefits elsewhere but the post
> is already long.
>
> Adios Amigo.
>
> >Patrick.
>
> By the way I have a gig on Thursday giving a speech to the
> local Rotary Club. Twenty minutes on "Hilarious Nutrition."
> Twenty minutes is a tough slot to say something meaningful
> and be funny.
>
> I'm thinking of nutrition for blokes.
> --
> Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
> blind dog was leading."
>
> http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

BTW, Fester, I eat just about everything Quentin has listed,
including calendula and/or marigold petals. And it's a rare
day that onions aren't included in a meal.

It always amazes me when people say a diabetic diet is boring
and limited. My only problem is creating recipes that include
as much of the "good stuff" as I can manage.

Thanks Quentin, once again, for listing it all out.
Tomorrow I'm going to look for some chicory/coffee at the
supermarket <g>

Annette

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG
anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 /
Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 21/11/03

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 07:36:33
-0500, Vicki Beausoleil <VBeausoleil@netscape.net> wrote:

>Mano Govender wrote:
>>
>> I must add that I also hold Quentin's advice in high
>> regard, since many of his observations have helped me in my
>> own attempt and experimentation to achieve control over my
>> blood glucose and cholestrol.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Mano Govender T2 since March 2002
>>
>> "Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote in message
>> news:bpvc9b$1sfr49$1@ID-194908.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
>As do I, Mano. And I suspect most if not all of the long
>time posters.

G'day G'day Vicki, Mano et al,

Thanks for positive endorsements, both of you.

Life has been kind of interesting lately with yours truly
getting thoroughly dissed at times in the real world. I am
struggling with the role of being a student after 35 years
teaching. It is a bit like waking up one morning to discover
you have had a sex change and you sure as heck weren't
wanting it. Every day something comes out wrong, utterly
wrong in other people's eyes, not because you have inwardly
personally changed but people's perception of what is
expected of you has. Think humiliation. Think uncertainty
about what to do to be safe. These weren't in my life
expectations.

>I'll be first in line to buy his book.

For a long time I felt like there was no need for "another
diabetes diet book" Now my thoughts have changed. There are
simply too many vital facets of avoiding complications that
aren't even discussed let alone dealt with.

Also I had an epiphany thingy where one realises in a
blinding flash of the obvious that it is not enough to be
self employed, one has ultimately to have one's own business.
My big question at the moment is how to do that.

Has anyone here had experience of publishing a book? More
importantly are there any publishers out there?

Much as I appreciate the appreciation I receive here I do need
to get out and accomplish something tangible and financially
profitable. Hey, you guys know I post because I enjoy puzzling
out puzzles where there is insufficient or conflicting data
and I love helping people recognise their own strengths. I'm
here because I enjoy it. End of confession.

The question is how to make a living from that experience.

>Annette, my last visit to the opthalmologist lasted all of 6
>minutes. (He speeds through his patients so he can get out
>for smoke breaks.) I asked him about retinal photography and
>he looked at me like I was nuts. He said it wasn't necessary.
>I'm 41 years old and he says I have no eye probs - I told him
>it would be a valuable resource for future reference. Being a
>Canadian, I have to deal with this guy, finding another would
>mean I'd have to pay myself.

I really feel for you with that one. Locally diabetes support
is moving out of the hospitals to a support network which
mandates retinal photography to create a reference base,
regular eye examinations, blood pressure checks, peripheral
neuropathy, foot pulses, blood lipid and urine testing.

>I'm not impressed with the level of service this one has been
>giving me. Thank goodness my endo is an absolute peach. My
>endo is also well aware of how I feel about the opthal.
>
>Vicki

Best wishes Vicki, I hope you find a way around the
ophthalmologist quandary. If a solution existed ... what
would it be?

--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[Alan]

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 00:37:52 +1100, "Annette"
<acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:

>Hi there Alan,
>
>I do understand your confusion, it took me some time to work
>it all out.
>
>The gradings go like this in Australia.
>
>1. An Optician. They make the lens for your glasses,
> according to the prescription provided by the optometrist,
> put them into your choice of frames, and make sure the fit
> is comfortable. They are found in a shop like OPSM. The
> frames are the dearest part of the overall cost.
>
>2. An Optometrist. They are mainly concerned with visual
> accuity, so test your eyesight and prescribe glasses or
> lens to correct any short or long vision. They *can* spot
> obvious abnormatities, do tests for glaucoma, and *may*
> refer you to an opthalmologist. A lot of them work in
> conjunction with an optician, next to or in a room in the
> shop , for convenience. Visits are fully covered by
> Medicare in many cases.
>
>3. An Opthalmologist. These are specialists in the medical
> field of eye care. You DO need a referral from a doctor to
> see one. I pay a consult fee of A$50 (minimum) or more
> depending on what is done. It can be expensive if a lot of
> procedures are performed, but there are Medicare rebates
> that cover some of the cost.
>
>This last one is the person you need to see, at least once a
>year, for a full examination re diabetic complications or any
>other eye conditions. A lot of conditions are treatable once
>detected. The earlier the better. These specialists can
>perform eye operations and do laser treatments etc. The
>things they check for in my case are; Glaucoma, diabetic
>retinopathy, degenerative maculata, hypertensive bleeds, and
>cateracts. Oh, and they DO check my overall vision, too, as
>part of the service! All are possible diabetic complications,
>and are not usually detected by an optometrist unless they
>are well advanced. They are usually located in clinics, eye
>hospitals or general public hospitals.
>
>I hope that helps. My current specialist is the best one I
>have ever seen, he is extremely thorough, explains
>everything, and is polite to patients. If you would like more
>details about him, please email me. Like a lot of medical
>practitioners, they are not always equal in skill or care.
>
>Take care,
>
>Annette Fast wine, loose cars, old women. (My DH's favourite
>quote) :-D

Thanks for all the details Annette. I'll have to make an
appointment for February, when I return from my southern
pilgrimage.

There should be at least one on the Gold Coast, considering
the number of retirees up here. Although that's not a
certainty. I was surprised to find my periodontist is the only
one this side of Brisbane and my haematologist visits from
Brisbane. I presume yours is in Sydney? Coobabarabran's a bit
far for a consultation :-)

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002 , no meds, diet and not
enough exercise.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

[Fester]

"Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:bq27ml$1v0h39$1@ID-194908.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Quentin Grady" <quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
> news:2p37svcbg02ne4otspk46cd21l2ofdfrnb@4ax.com...
> > This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:43:01
> > -0000, "Fester" <fester@nospamtagmx.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > >Snippered ;)
> > >
> > >Annette ... don't suppose you could be a love and post
> > >some of
> the food
> > >items you've found that contain these biothingies could
> > >you? I
> don't see any
> > >reason why i can't include these things in my diet as a
> > >precursor
> to
> > >problems that i might have later on, if eating more of
> > >the right
> stuff will
> > >help then i'm happy to give it a go.
> >
> > G'day G'day Fester, Annette et al,
> >
> > Avoiding macular degeneration is multifactorial.
> > It pays to tackle the issue as many ways as possible.
> > Not many team sports are won with a single defender.
> >
> > 1. Control blood glucose tightly. The eyes don't have
> > insulin receptors so don't require insulin to transfer
> > glucose into the
> eyes
> > in the way muscles do. What this means if blood glucose
> > is high
> then
> > glucose rushes into the eye just as the sea rushes into
> > inlets
> when
> > the tide is high.
> >
> > 2. Glucose in the eye can be converted to sorbitol by an
> > enzyme called aldose reductase. Picture sorbitol like
> > the bloke with a
> black
> > hat in a Western. When the bloke on the horse with a
> > black hat
> rides
> > into town something bad is going to happen. The
> > sombre music
> tells
> > you so. You can't be sure of which plot the Western will
> > follow
> ...
> > there are only a few but something real bad is going to
> > happen
> when
> > the black hatted guy rides in to the theme of "Sorbitol,
> > Sorbitol, Sorbitol who you gunna bowl?"
> >
> > Fortunately is Westerns worthy of the name there are
> > blokes who
> wear
> > white hats, aldose reductase inhibitors, Ari for short.
> > All good Westerns have a bit of tear jerking but it better
> > be brief so we
> can
> > get on an enjoy the action. In the shoot out between
> > Sorbitol and Ari, the tear jerking element is onion. Onion
> > is an excellent
> source
> > of biologically available Quercetin. (Any resemblance to
> > my own
> name
> > is entirely coincidental.) Quercetin is an excellent
> > antioxidant great for curing hay fever ... told you this
> > was a tear jerker.
> It
> > doesn't matter if you fry up the onion in a pan on a camp
> > fire, Quercetin can take it just don't pour it down the
> > drain.
> Whatever,
> > Quercetin saves the day and stops aldose reductase from
> > converting glucose to Sorbitol and your eyes are saved
> > from numerous fates
> worse
> > than death.
> >
> >
> > 3. If you can't stop Sorbitol from riding around shooting
> > up
> things
> > the next best thing is having him corralled in a box
> > canyon.
> Enter
> > stage left to great applause ... Taurine. Taurine keeps
> > sorbitol
> boxed
> > up with osmotic pressure. Taurine is an amino acid found
> > in fish especially shellfish and fish hearts etc, meat
> > that hasn't been
> over
> > cooked. Eat some green lipped mussels or sardines. Steak
> > that gallops onto your plate has more taurine than one
> > grilled to
> death.
> >
> > 4. OK, Westerns were black and white but the audience
> > demanded
> more.
> > They wanted colour. Now at first the colours weren't very
> > good. People got a bit confused with their colours and
> > thought beta
> carotene
> > from carrots were good for eyes. Bugs Bunny got a lot
> > of good
> press
> > when the real hero was Olive Oil who no doubt nagged
> > Popeye just a little bit to eat his spinach. Spinach looks
> > green but it hides
> some
> > good yellow stuff called lutein (yellow) that protects the
> peripheral
> > regions of the eye from the ravages of blue and
> > ultraviolet light. Lutein does a wonderful job in
> > providing sunglasses INSIDE the
> eye.
> > Young people need the sunglasses effect of lutein
> > because their
> eyes
> > are clear. Older people need the antioxidant effects of
> > lutein
> because
> > ... they are old. The clock of ages gallops for T2
> > diabetics who don't take care. Wait don't send money.
> > There is more. Spinach
> has
> > a special bonus offer ... orange centres. The central
> > foveal
> regions
> > of the eyes NEED ORANGE ... a very special orange. Nah,
> > not beta carotene. Beta carotene is a wannabe. THE orange
> > is zeaxanthin.
> Now
> > it is kind of special. While lutein is in most things
> > green or
> yellow
> > zeaxanthin is less widely distributed. Spinach is often
> > a good
> source
> > though it varies. So is open leaf cabbage ie collards.
> >
> > Orange capsicums are the ultimate source. Persimmons are
> excellent.
> > In some countries the likely sources are going to be the
> > green culinary herbs eg dill, coriander, parsley. The
> > Mexicans have it nailed with marigold petals.
> >
> > 4. Some general antioxidants help; bilberries, blue
> > berries, Vit
> E,
> > astaxanthin (the pink stuff in salmon and prawns.)
> > Lowering
> oxidative
> > stress is smart thinking.
> >
> > BUT remember there are no substitutes for lutein and
> > zeaxanthin
> for
> > the sunscreen effects. Other bioflavanoids will not do.
> >
> > >Do things like carrots and stuff carry them, or do
> > >you need
> stronger
> > >colourings such as beetroot?
> >
> > Carrots are great for lungs, its mostly the alpha
> > carotene. Beetroot has its benefits elsewhere but the post
> > is already long.
> >
> > Adios Amigo.
> >
> > >Patrick.
> >
> > By the way I have a gig on Thursday giving a speech to the
> > local Rotary Club. Twenty minutes on "Hilarious
> > Nutrition." Twenty minutes is a tough slot to say
> > something meaningful and be funny.
> >
> > I'm thinking of nutrition for blokes.
> > --
> > Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and
> > the blind dog was leading."
> >
> > http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
>
> BTW, Fester, I eat just about everything Quentin has listed,
> including calendula and/or marigold petals. And it's a rare
> day that onions aren't included in a meal.
>
> It always amazes me when people say a diabetic diet is
> boring and limited. My only problem is creating recipes that
> include as much of the "good stuff" as I can manage.
>
> Thanks Quentin, once again, for listing it all out.
> Tomorrow I'm going to look for some chicory/coffee at the
> supermarket <g>
>
> Annette
>
>
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG
> anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543
> / Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 21/11/03
>
>
I guess i'm just not much of a cook, when you live alone it's
hard enough to motivate yourself to even have a hot meal much
less bother about preparing one. However this is not a good
enough excuse not to bother as my eyes are far more important
to me than having to spend a little time thinking about what i
eat. To be honest i'd happily bung some onion, orange pepper
and some spinach in the frying pan with a little garlic olive
oil and see what comes out ..... i still can't get past seeing
food as simply fuel.

Patrick

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 23:51:52
+1100, "Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:

>It always amazes me when people say a diabetic diet is boring
>and limited. My only problem is creating recipes that include
>as much of the "good stuff" as I can manage.

G'day G'day Annette,

IMHO it is only a slight stretch to regard "boring" as one of
the root causes of T2 diabetes. Before agriculture there was
basically only seasonal foods. One had to forage. It was a
risky adventure but one highly unlikely to lead to T2
diabetes. With the advent of grain based foods the new to
explore season foods diminished. Grain could be stored. The
pattern was similar with dairying.

Now something happened with wheat more so than with rice.
Boredom reared its ugly head and people did strange things
with wheat flour, they made cakes, doughnuts. With milk they
made icecream. When people got bored with those they ate more
hoping somehow to find what ever it was they felt they lacked.
Enough ... it is only a story of a history that might never
have happened that way.

My point is part of the answer to this disease of civilization
is to decivilise just a bit and go back to foraging, eating a
varied diet of low calorie underdeveloped foods. Does anyone
stop and think of the thousands of years that went into
getting corn on cobs or heads of wheat or the hundreds of
years that went into high milk producing cattle. Just because
we associate corn as being on cobs doesn't make it the norm
for human evolution. Just because we have gotten used to
orange carrots doesn't mean anything other than that orange
carrots are a very recent aberration. There was a time when we
perforce gained a wide range of bioflavanoids often in foods
with low calorie density or the tendency to flee or fight back
when we tried to deprive of their high calorie density stores.
A compulsory paleolithic boot camp for people with syndrome X
would rapidly reverse whatever trend there is to an increased
rate of T2 diabetes.

And it wouldn't be boring. <grin>

T2 Survivor anyone?

Best wishes,

--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[T2_lurking]

> Has anyone here had experience of publishing a book? More
> importantly are there any publishers out there?

You may want to chat with Rick Mendosa. He's co-authored at
least one book that I've actually SEEN at a bookstore.
--
--

t2_lurking geabbottATabbottandabbottDOTcom Do not mail to
t2_lurking (auto-delete)
============================
Well, i dreamed i saw the silver Space ships flying In the
yellow haze of the sun -- Neil Young --

[Annette]

"Quentin Grady" <quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:g5l8svgeqaneqt45tdk33vn6q2ifp5sbod@4ax.com...
> This post not CC'd by email On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:27:28
> -0000, "Fester"
<fester@deadspam.com>
> wrote:
>
> >So to be very blunt and to the point, yam as many
> >onions, orange
peppers (
> >capsicums) and spinach / open leaf cabbage as i can
> >stand with
each meal and
> >i'm moving along the right lines to protecting my eyes from
further damage
> >and may well improve my current situation. Got the
> >bg's under
much better
> >control now.
>
> G'day G'day Patrick,
>
> One doesn't need them with every meal but think of having
> one or
two
> of them each day.
>
> >May i thank you for a well written post and a very good
> >chuckle
at the
> >"galloping onto plate" comment:) I prefer, when asked
> >how one
likes ones
> >steak to say, " just shave its horns and wipe its arse
> >please",
depending on
> >the restaurant type this is either met with screams of
> >laughter
or looks of
> >total disapproval, since most of my steak is cooked
> >in house
that's not a
> >problem ;)
>
> ROTFL. Hey I needed someone who wasn't taking life too
> seriously today. It has been one of those days in the
> "real" world.
>
> >Rgds,
> >
> >Patrick.
>
> --
> Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
> blind dog was leading."
>
> http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

One of the things about the berries is that they help blood
circulation to the eyes - eg Bilberries have the common name
of "Brighteye". Everything helps.

Annette

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG
anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 /
Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 21/11/03

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 23:55:06
+1100, "Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote:

>One of the things about the berries is that they help blood
>circulation to the eyes - eg Bilberries have the common name
>of "Brighteye". Everything helps.
>
>Annette

G'day G'day Annette,

Good point. Capillary strength and flexibility are vital.
Anthocyanins from bilberries, black currents, mulberries tend
to improve capillary strength reducing the risk of leakage.

The other factor is capillary suppleness or flexibility that
allows the red corpuscles to get through without feeling like
they had a wedgie every time. As I understand it this is where
fish and primrose oil come in.

Best wishes,

--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[Vicki Beau]

Quentin Grady wrote:
>
> This post not CC'd by email On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 07:36:33
> -0500, Vicki Beausoleil <VBeausoleil@netscape.net> wrote:
>
> >Mano Govender wrote:
> >>
> >> I must add that I also hold Quentin's advice in high
> >> regard, since many of his observations have helped me in
> >> my own attempt and experimentation to achieve control
> >> over my blood glucose and cholestrol.
> >>
> >> Regards
> >>
> >> Mano Govender T2 since March 2002
> >>
> >> "Annette" <acianthus@bigpond.com> wrote in message
> >> news:bpvc9b$1sfr49$1@ID-194908.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> >As do I, Mano. And I suspect most if not all of the long
> >time posters.
>
> G'day G'day Vicki, Mano et al,
>
> Thanks for positive endorsements, both of you.
>
> Life has been kind of interesting lately with yours truly
> getting thoroughly dissed at times in the real world. I am
> struggling with the role of being a student after 35 years
> teaching. It is a bit like waking up one morning to
> discover you have had a sex change and you sure as heck
> weren't wanting it. Every day something comes out wrong,
> utterly wrong in other people's eyes, not because you have
> inwardly personally changed but people's perception of what
> is expected of you has. Think humiliation. Think
> uncertainty about what to do to be safe. These weren't in
> my life expectations.
>
> >I'll be first in line to buy his book.
>
> For a long time I felt like there was no need for "another
> diabetes diet book" Now my thoughts have changed. There are
> simply too many vital facets of avoiding complications that
> aren't even discussed let alone dealt with.
>
> Also I had an epiphany thingy where one realises in a
> blinding flash of the obvious that it is not enough to be
> self employed, one has ultimately to have one's own
> business. My big question at the moment is how to do that.
>
> Has anyone here had experience of publishing a book? More
> importantly are there any publishers out there?
>
> Much as I appreciate the appreciation I receive here I do
> need to get out and accomplish something tangible and
> financially profitable. Hey, you guys know I post because I
> enjoy puzzling out puzzles where there is insufficient or
> conflicting data and I love helping people recognise their
> own strengths. I'm here because I enjoy it. End of
> confession.
>
> The question is how to make a living from that experience.
>
> >Annette, my last visit to the opthalmologist lasted all of
> >6 minutes. (He speeds through his patients so he can get
> >out for smoke breaks.) I asked him about retinal
> >photography and he looked at me like I was nuts. He said it
> >wasn't necessary. I'm 41 years old and he says I have no
> >eye probs - I told him it would be a valuable resource for
> >future reference. Being a Canadian, I have to deal with
> >this guy, finding another would mean I'd have to pay
> >myself.
>
> I really feel for you with that one. Locally diabetes
> support is moving out of the hospitals to a support network
> which mandates retinal photography to create a reference
> base, regular eye examinations, blood pressure checks,
> peripheral neuropathy, foot pulses, blood lipid and urine
> testing.
>
> >I'm not impressed with the level of service this one has
> >been giving me. Thank goodness my endo is an absolute
> >peach. My endo is also well aware of how I feel about the
> >opthal.
> >
> >Vicki
>
> Best wishes Vicki, I hope you find a way around the
> ophthalmologist quandary. If a solution existed ... what
> would it be?
>
> --
> Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
> blind dog was leading."
>
> http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

I'm going to talk to my endo about getting a referral to the
eye clinic at the Ottawa Hospital. This would mean I have to
convince her that retinal photography is necessary. It really
isn't up to her, it's up to what the province of Quebec is
willing to pay for. Right now, I feel this is important enough
to pay for out of outright. We have a bit of money in a
'Health Care Expense Account' that has a time limit. That is
to help defray any out-of-pocket health care expenses. Hub's
coworkers get a massage to use up the money. I'll go get
pictures taken.

I wish I could help you in your quest for a book deal. I know
nothing about publishing, desktop or commercial. You'll need
an editor with experience in the medical field, I would think.
But first you need a publisher. t2_lurkings's suggestion to
speak to Rick Mendosa is an excellent one. Another who came to
mind who's closer is Professor Brand-Miller. Maybe she could
also offer some insight.

Best of luck with your quest. I hope it works out the way
you want it to and that you have enough time to continue to
post here.

Vicki

[Quentin Gr]

This post not CC'd by email On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 15:39:13
-0600, "t2_lurking" <t2_lurking@abbottandabbott.com> wrote:

>> Has anyone here had experience of publishing a book? More
>> importantly are there any publishers out there?
>
>You may want to chat with Rick Mendosa. He's co-authored at
>least one book that I've actually SEEN at a bookstore.

Thanks,

One thing I am taking on board from the course I am
attending is the need to create business rather than
creating self employment. So yes, I am looking for the
experiences of those who have published.

I am also looking for a publisher.

--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

[Annette]

"Alan" <loraldeletespam@ozconnect.net> wrote in message > >
>
> Thanks for all the details Annette. I'll have to make an
appointment for
> February, when I return from my southern pilgrimage.
>

Good idea.

> There should be at least one on the Gold Coast,
> considering the
number
> of retirees up here.

Let's hope so. You could try Brisbane - it IS a capital city,
where most of these specialised services are located. You'd
have to be lucky to find one closer, I suspect.

> Although that's not a certainty. I was surprised to find my
> periodontist is the only one this side of Brisbane and my
> haematologist visits from Brisbane. I presume yours is in
> Sydney? Coobabarabran's a bit far for a consultation :-)
>

Noooo, he's in Dubbo. Actually he also has another (his first,
original clinic), in Orange. Both are probably much too far
for you to travel. His services cover just about the entire
western NSW area. Patients travel long distances to see him -
many a lot further than I . He appears to be very involved in
training young interns, and passing on his undoubted skills.
In the last couple of years, his practice has expanded
greatly, and yet they are always flat out fitting in all the
people seeking help. There *are* others in the ACT, but I was
never happy with the level or quality of the service provided
when I lived there.

You may have to look in one of the major cities to find one, I
suspect. Do book well in advance.

Annette "If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't
have anything to laugh at when you are old. "

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