Speaking of kids with T1DM, (click here for previous kid-related post) I was just browsing around Amazon's selections of books for parents of type 1 children. There are, of course, a bunch of books on the market. Maybe not quite as many as I'd expected though. (Perhaps T1 parents turn to the web for support these days?) Anyway, there were some clear favorites amongst readers. But be prepared. To get to the good stuff, you will have to sift through tons of Diabetes Cured-Overnight!-style "self-help" manuals.

A current bestseller seems to be The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Juvenile Diabetes by Moira McCarthy and Jake Kushner. Bonus: it's part of the "Everything Guide" series of books, so it's packed with info, yet reasonably priced. A good buy. Having said that, there are tons of other general guides, like this one by physician Ragnar Hanas and this one by Victoria Peurrung.

I'm intrigued by this one: Growing Up with Diabetes: What Children Want their Parents to Know by Alicia McAuliffe. And here's one that got some very positive customer reviews: Real Life Parenting of Kids With Diabetes by Virginia Nasmyth Loy. I'm noticing a few specialty-topics popping up too. Example? Getting the Most out of Diabetes Camp. This book is all about..., um, diabetes camp. (File this book under "For parents who over-prepare!" LOL) Your kids grown up into teens? Never fear, there are books for parents of big kids too.

Best title, hands down? Janette Kirkham's Don't Put Test Strips in Christmas Stockings: And Other Ideas for Parents of Children with Diabetes. This book was published back in 2002 and it looks a little tougher to get a hold of.

In recognition of Foot Health Awareness Month, LifeMasters encourages diabetics to prevent foot complications by following a few simple steps to maintain healthy feet.

As you know, diabetics are more prone to foot complications. These complications include fungal infections, calluses, ulcers, foot deformities, and gangrene -- which may include infection and may in some cases, lead to amputation.

The underlying diabetic cause for these complications is the nerve damage, also called neuropathy and a decrease of blood flow to the foot. Neuropathy causes loss of feeling in the feet, decreasing feeling, affecting balance and leading to a foot injury. Diabetes also causes damage to blood vessels in all parts of the body, including the legs and feet, and can lead to poor circulation. Courtesy of LifeMasters, they are offering some tips protect your diabetic feet:

Control your blood sugar levels! Maintaining normal or near-normal blood sugar levels can reduce blood vessel and nerve damage that often lead to diabetic foot complications. If a wound or foot ulcer does occur, blood sugar control reduces the risk of an amputation. (For fair and balanced review: see Yesterdays Blog)

Wash your feet daily. This goes without say. Who wants dirty feet around? If you are grossed out by feet - pay somebody to do it for you. Get a pedicure or visit a podiatrist.

Check your feet daily for skin breaks, sores, cuts, bruises, and changes to the toenails (ingrown, coloring, etc.). If you cannot see under your feet, trick a loved one into doing it for you. Promise them you'll be their best friend and I'm sure they'll take you up on it. Who doesn't love a person with Happy Feet?

Have an annual foot check with your doctor or podiatrist. Your doctor will examine your feet, and probably perform a monofilament test (a single strand plastic thread stroked on your feet) to see if you are developing nerve damage.

Wear appropriate shoes: Make sure to wear shoes that fit well, and are not too tight. Tight shoes can cause pressure ulcers to develop. Avoid going barefoot, even in your own home, as it may increase your risk of injury to the foot. Wear clean cotton socks and change them daily. I guess this last step requires you to shop. And is that really such a bad thing?

Scarborough Research, the leading local market research firm for identifying consumer and retail behaviors in the United States, took the liberty of compiling a list of the top local markets selling diabetic medications in the last 12 months. A dubious distinction it may be, these locations burn like a flame for the moths of diabetes product resellers.

Knoxville, TN, Memphis, TN, and Columbus, OH round out the top 3 local markets for diabetes medication purchasers. The Scarborough analysis also finds that Walgreens is the number one national drug store brand among diabetes medication purchasers. More than 3.1 million, or 18%, of these consumers purchased prescription drugs at Walgreens during the past year. CVS (17%), Wal-Mart (16%), Rite Aid (8%), and Eckerd Drug (4%) complete the top national drug store brands among diabetes medication purchasers.

In Charleston, Wal-Mart is the top store among diabetes medication purchasers, as over one-quarter (27%) of these consumers purchased prescription drugs there during the past year. Rite-Aid (20%), CVS (14%), Fruth Pharmacy (8%), and Kroger (5%) are other leading stores among diabetes medication purchasers.