Food For Thought – Glycemic Index
Introduction One of the most important concepts to understand when you are a diabetic is the concept of glycemic index (GI), the measure of how quickly carbohydrate foods affect blood glucose levels. Since the condition of diabetes impairs the body’s ability to effectively maintain proper levels of glucose in the blood it is important to […]
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Ovulatory Menstrual Cycles are Not a Problem
Go With the Flow! As a reproductive endocrinologist and feminist scientist studying women’s health, I am not surprised at the current hype that women needn’t suffer periods. Instead, take a birth control pill every day. Women of my, and subsequent, generations have been in love with the potential to control fertility. As Alice Rossi wrote, […]
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Young Women and Osteoporosis
Building Our Knowledge and Resources If you are under 50 years old and recently learned that your bone density is lower than it should be, you may be feeling confused, worried or frightened. You are not alone. Osteo Juniors is a group of younger women throughout BC who have osteoporosis or osteopenia. The problem with […]
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Diabetes in the Elderly
Diabetes in the elderly will be the epidemic in this Century. Current data suggests that about 20% of patients over the age of 65 will develop diabetes at some point in their life. At least half the patients are unaware that they have the disease yet these patients are still susceptible to the complications of […]
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The Breast Health Program at Children’s and Women’s Health Center of B.C.
The Breast Health Program , which opened in January 1997, provides a range of information and diagnostic services to women with the aim of promoting breast health. The Program, located in the Women’s Health Centre at C&W consists of 3 components. 1. A Breast Assessment and Diagnostic Service (operated in partnership with the BC Cancer […]
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Consider Raloxifene
Menopausal women with risks for osteoporosis or fracture now have several new therapies. These new options include nasal spray calcitonin (called Miacalcin) approved to treat osteoporosis in the U.S.A. and Canada, risedronate (called Actonel) which will soon be available for osteoporosis prevention, and raloxifene (brand name Evista) which is approved in Canada for prevention of […]
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An Introduction to Thyroid Disease
Hypderthyroidism Overactivity of the thyroid gland is called hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis. Individuals with this condition may experience a number of symptoms including fatigue, weight loss, tremor, palpitation, sweating, heat intolerance, itch, frequent bowel movements, disturbance of menstrual function, weakness, skin rash or eye symptoms such as pressure, or double vision. There are two common blood […]
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The Puzzle of Perimenopause – an Educational Video
A video and personal monitoring system has been launched by Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior, Professor of Endocrinology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. She published a major review, “Perimenopause: the complex endocrinology of the menopausal transition” in Endocrine Reviews (1998;19:397-428). This “meta-analysis” of the published data on estrogen shows that estradiol levels in […]
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Introduction to Type 1 Diabetes
Introduction Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is caused by the destruction of the beta cells, the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. As insulin levels fall, blood sugar (glucose) rises. The destruction of the beta cells is mediated by the immune system. The trigger for this process is unknown but is felt […]
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Gestational Diabetes
The Value of Treatment There is controversy in some circles about the value of treating women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a condition that occurs in about 5% of pregnancies. This article will describe evidence clearly demonstrating that treatment has been effective and that the current standard of regular screening and treatment aimed at normalizing […]
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