2009 DESA North American Conference Boston June 25-28 Conference Details Daily Schedule updated, Registration Fees Updated, Contact Hours for Nurses Updated Sponsor & Exhibitor Info "Bridging the Gap – bringing the Sports Medicine and Diabetes communities together!"
********************* City of Firsts                                   -Judith Jones Ambrosini "So, here's to dear old Boston Home of the bean and the cod Where Lowells speak only to Cabots And Cabots speak only to God." A toast given at a Holy Cross alumni dinner circa 1909 Boston is an historic town settled by English Protestants. The Cabot and Lowell families were from the Mayflower era. In 1900 a family of immigrants named Kabotinski shortened their name to Cabot. The Mayflower Cabot's took them to court. The judge threw the case out inspiring a local Boston newspaper of the day to rewrite the 1909 toast. "Here's to dear old Boston Home of the bean and the cod Where Lowells speak only to Cabots And the Cabots speak Yiddish, by God" As you know DESA will be holding its 2009 North American Conference at Harvard Medical Center in Boston June 25-28. It promises to be a very interesting, engaging and active meeting. It will be another "first" for this birthplace of freedom and city of "firsts". Since Boston is such a vibrant alluring town, why not arrive a few days early or tag a few onto the end of the conference to see some of the many sites. Visit the harbor, go on a duck tour, stroll around Cambridge, hike or swim at Walden Pond, visit the Gardner Museum or the Fogg Museum, grab a bowl of New England chowder at the No Name over on the Fish Pier on the waterfront or sit at the semi-circular oyster bar in the oldest restaurant in America, the Union Oyster House, stir your sense of history in Beacon Hill and the Back Bay, take a peak at Fenway Park even if you are not a Red Sox fan, shop the stalls at Faneuil Hall and Quincy market, climb the 294 steps up Bunker Hill, stop for the best cannolis at Mike's Pastry shop in the North End near Paul Revere's house and the famed North Church (one if by land, two if by sea fame), take time to visit America's oldest public park and botanical garden at Boston Common where the swan boats have taken passengers around the lagoon since 1877, or enjoy a breezy row on the Charles. These are but small hints of the many reasons to explore dear old Boston this June. If you are wondering how to get there from NYC, Philadelphia or Washington DC, you might want to consider the Boltbus. From NYC it's a 4-hour direct ride with a 15-minute pit stop along the way. The buses are clean, comfortable and have wireless hookups in most rows. Drivers are polite, helpful and all seem to have a ready sense of humor. And the price? $16 each way. Best to get tickets on-line to insure a seat. Many students use Boltbus. Go to www.boltbus.com. Here are a few valuable websites to take a look at to help plan things to do on your trip to Boston: BEANTOWN TROLLEY, www.brushhilltours.com DUCK TOURS: www.bostonducktours.com BOSTON CITY PASS: www.gobostoncard.com WALKING: www.bostonbyfoot.org GENERAL INFO: www.boston.com and www.hiddenboston.com CYCLING: www.zerve.com CULINARY WALKS: www.micheletopor.com As they say in Boston, "see ya the-aah!" PDF version of "City of Firsts" ********************* 2009 DESA Athletic Achievement Award & Lew Harper Memorial Youth Award Purpose: To recognize individuals with diabetes who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in pursuit of their athletic goals, and who can serve as inspirational role models for all persons with diabetes. The program honors one adult and one youth with distinguished academic and athletic achievement in high school. Prizes: Winners are invited as honored guests at the annual Awards Banquet, receiving a $1000 cash award and travel expense reimbursement. How to Enter: Entry criteria and forms are available here. Only complete applications will be considered. Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009 The winners will be announced and presented at the DESA 2009 North American Conference June 25-28 Boston Sponsored by *********************
Chapter Meeting Announcements Philadelphia – May 16th Dallas/Ft. Worth - May 30

Protecting the quarterback

Trainer's attention to detail, Jay Cutler's 'ownership' combine to keep his type 1 diabetes under control

By DENNY DRESSMAN
© 2008 ComServ, LLC

Jay Cutler is among the NFL's leading passers in 2008 - by every measurement used.

On the Denver Broncos' first offensive play against New Orleans in the third game of the 2008 season, quarterback Jay Cutler threw deep. His pass, intended for Brandon Marshall, was incomplete. Cutler would spend six minutes of actual time on the field, calling plays in the huddle under the pressure of a 25-second play clock and dodging onrushing would-be tacklers, absorbing punishment when he didn't elude them. He would complete three of four other passes and direct Denver to an opening score, finishing matters with a one-yard touchdown pass to Nate Jackson on a rollout to the right.

As more than 75,000 fans stomped, whooped and thrust their fists into the air to the rhythmic beat of Rock 'N' Roll, Part 2 - the theme song for every Denver score - Cutler took his place at the end of the bench occupied by backs and receivers. Unnoticed by nearly everyone in the jubilant crowd, Broncos head trainer Steve Antonopulos casually made his way through the sideline milieu toward the spot where Cutler sat. The quarterback stuck out his pinkie, and with one little prick of that finger the trainer had taken the smallest of blood samples. In a matter of seconds, Antonopulos had the information he was seeking: Despite the exertion and adrenaline rush of a 10-play touchdown drive, Jay Cutler's blood sugar reading was satisfactory.

"You doing okay?" Antonopulos asks Cutler after every offensive series.' He checks Jay's blood glucose level "3-4 times" a game.

Monitoring the quarterback's blood sugar is not something National Football League trainers typically do. It became one of Antonopulos's most important responsibilities, though, after Cutler was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in March, 2008, as the Broncos were beginning off-season workouts. The sideline interaction between Cutler and Antonopulos is now routine, as common as Cutler conferring with offensive coaches or discussing plays with his teammates.

"Normally," says Antonopulos, "Jay monitors his blood sugar coming to the game. We check it before he goes out, and then we check it at the end of the first series. And then I check with him after every series. I always come to him and say, 'You doing okay?'' And he says let's check it, or not. We generally check it . . . probably 3-4 times during a game, depending on circumstances."

As the 2008 season approached the halfway point, Cutler ranked among the top quarterbacks....read full article

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International Conference Recap and Cycling with Diabetes – check out the Summer 2008 DESA Challenge now online.

-2008 Lifescan Athletic Achievement Award Winners Announced

Diabetic Athlete's Handbook Your Guide to Peak Performance Human Kinetics, November 2008 A completely revised, updated, and expanded version of The Diabetic Athlete has been released as Diabetic Athlete's Handbook, available in November 2008!

Diabetic Athlete's Handbook contains entirely new athlete examples from over 350 diabetic exercisers, an additional 15 sports and activities (bringing the new total to over 100), examples from type 1, 1.5, and 2 diabetic athletes using the newest medications and regimens, brand new chapters on thinking like an athlete and sports injury treatment and prevention, 10 athlete profiles (including a pro surfer, a pro snowboarder, a dog musher, an ultra-distance runner, a soccer-playing kid, a 95-year old Senior Olympian, a mountaineer, an elite cyclist, and more), along with the latest research on diabetes and exercise, fitness, nutrition, and more. The foreword is written by Matthew Corcoran, M.D., C.D.E., founder and director of Diabetes Training Camps. For more information about the book, click here. To purchase a copy of this book, click here for links to booksellers.

DESA Elects New Officers

The Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association elected new officers for 2008-09 to take over the volunteer leadership role of Paula Harper, Founder and President. The new officers were elected in April and took office officially during the International Conference held in Toronto this past July. They are:

Chair – Guy Hornsby
Vice Chair – Joe Largay
Treasurer – Gary Scheiner
Secretary – Rick Philbin

Dr. Guy Hornsby is an exercise physiologist from the West Virginia University School of Medicine where he serves as director of the WVU Human Performance Lab. He received his PhD in exercise science from Louisiana State University and did postdoctoral training in diabetes and exercise at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Hornsby has served on the national board of directors of the American Diabetes Association and is currently Chair of the board of directors of DESA. He has served on the editorial boards of Diabetes Forecast and Diabetes Spectrum, is a former program chair of the ADA Council on Exercise, and has written position stands on diabetes and exercise for the American Diabetes Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Athletic Training Association.

Guy has had type 1 diabetes for 42 years. He competed in track and field and football at the University of South Carolina and now competes in the sport of Masters Weightlifting.

Joseph Largay, PA-C, CDE, is Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also serves as Director of the Clinical Trials Program. He has a special interest in exercise and enjoys assisting patients optimize their medical regimen for activities.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree from MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and holds certifications from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, and the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators. He is also a certified insulin pump trainer.

Joe is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants. He has been a member of DESA since its inception in 1993 and now serves on the board of directors of the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association.

Joe has had Type 1 Diabetes for 23 years and enjoys cycling, golf, skiing, and hiking with his dogs. He has been married to his wife C.J. for 15 years and resides in Mebane, NC.

Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, is a Certified Diabetes Educator and Exercise Physiologist who has had Type-1 diabetes for more than 20 years. He owns and operates Integrated Diabetes Services, a private practice located just outside of Philadelphia specializing in intensive blood glucose control for children and adults with Type-1 diabetes.

Gary earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Benedictine University. He received his diabetes training with the Joslin Diabetes Center. He has served as a regional Board member for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Diabetes Association. He also volunteers for Setebaid Diabetes Camps and coordinates the Philadelphia-area chapter of DESA. Gary has authored three books (You Can Control Diabetes, 1997; Think Like A Pancreas, 2004; and The Ultimate Guide to Accurate Carb Counting, 2006) and dozens of articles on diabetes, fitness and motivation.

Gary received the 1997 William Martin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Patient Activities by the American Diabetes Association, the 1998 Allene Van Son Award for the development of effective diabetes teaching tools by the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the 2003 Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Research Grant Award for the study of basal insulin profiles in insulin pump users, and the 2006 Julie Betschart award from AADE for the study of exercise and diabetes.

On a personal note, Gary, his wife and four children live in Bala Cynwyd, PA. An avid Eagles and Sixers fan, Gary enjoys cycling, boxing, and playing basketball.

Rick Philbin, MED, MBA, ATC, is the East Field Director for Animas Corporation, an athletic trainer, and an individual with Type 1 diabetes. Prior to joining Animas, he managed a comprehensive sports medicine center in the Washington, DC area. He is currently on the board of directors of the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association (DESA), a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for people with diabetes through exercise and physical fitness.

Rick has also been working with CWD (Children with Diabetes) for seven years presenting to parents, coordinating the sports programming for kids, and writing articles on the CWD website called the Sports Corner.
Rick's professional experience also includes working as an Athletic Trainer for a Philadelphia-based sports medicine center, where he worked with professional athletes from the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers. He believes education is paramount for good diabetes management. As an avid exercise enthusiast with Type 1 diabetes, he practices tight management of his diabetes while on an insulin pump. Rick lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife, Sharon Papp and two teenage daughters Nicole and Andrea

9th International DESA Conference
Toronto, Canada – July 17 to 19, 2008

The MaRS Centre in Toronto, Canada, the birthplace of insulin, was the site of yet another historic gathering of hundreds of people interested in diabetes, exercise and sports.

Conference Report

LifeScan Athletic Achievement Award Winners

The World v Italy

The World team exacted its revenge for a bitter defeat in 2006 with an 8-0, or was it 9-0, I think they stopped counting at some point, defeat of Italy on the University of Toronto soccer pitch. Everyone had fun though, check out the pictures.

"Diabetic and Determined" by Abby Ellin

See this excellent article by Feature Editor, Abby Ellin, in the July 26,2007 edition of the New York Times.