Milton Frantz

Milt has been a pharmacist for 40 years and has been involved in all areas of the profession, which have include Hospital practice, Retail practice, Consulting and as a Governmental Consultant. Milt recently retired after working for 26 years as a Senior Pharmaceutical Consultant with the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (Medicaid) and Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Age and Disabled (PAAD). Milt has been certified for the last 20 years in Diabetes management and education and Asthma management and education.

Milt is license in four states and hold degrees in pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now USP) and University of Wyoming at Laramie (PharmD).

Milt now works part-time as a Retail Pharmacist and has his own Consulting Company.

Milt has been an Insulin Dependent Diabetic for 35 years.

Photo Above: Milton Frentz

Listen to this weeks DRI Minute

Listen to the latest show of Diabetes Living Today July 22, 2008 ~ Dr. Richard Dolinar, Endocrinologist

Please help support Diabetes Research by donating to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation click here.

Dr. Richard O. Dolinar

A private practice Clinical Endocrinologist in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Dolinar received his undergraduate degree from Siena College in Albany, New York; his medical degree from The State University of New York at Buffalo and did his Endocrinology Fellowship at Duke University. He is a Senior Fellow in Healthcare Policy at the Heartland Institute.

Because he is an active clinician who treats patients his insights and opinions on healthcare issues are frequently sought. Dr. Dolinar has testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and has also given Congressional briefings on Capitol Hill. He has presented to state legislators as well as various healthcare industry professionals. Dr. Dolinar has also been interviewed by both the local and national media, including CNN, CBS and PBS.

A published author, in both professional and consumer publications, his articles and opinion pieces have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Diabetes Research and the Indiana Health Law Review Journal. His articles have also appeared on various web sites including The Heritage Foundation. He is co-author of the book, Diabetes 101.

Dr. Dolinar is a member of the board of directors of the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons. He is a past board member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and serves on it’s National Legislative and Regulatory Committee. He is also the Chair of its Future of Healthcare Committee. Dr. Dolinar has held leadership positions in other professional organizations as well, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Diabetes Association. He is on the Editorial Advisory Board for Endocrine Today.

Dr. Dolinar served as a Flight Surgeon in the Vietnam War and is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel.

Photo Above: Dr. Richard O. Dolinar

Listen to the latest show of Diabetes Living Today

Dr. Fallon will continue with the show each week with “Special Guest Co-host” filling in for Kitty. We ask you to please be patient and know that the website will be updated as soon as Kitty is feeling better. Kitty plays a major role in this website. Dr. Fallon will  give updates weekly on her recovery. Listener’s are invited to call in with their questions and comments. Tuesday Evening 8:00PM ~ 9:00PM (EST) Cruisin 92.1 FM~WVLT, streaming live on the web at www.wvlt.com. Call In: 856-696-0092

Upcoming Guest:

July 15, 2008 ~ Dr. Arijit Chakravarty, Transplant Nephrologist Our Lady of Lourdes Health System

July 22, 2008 ~ Dr. Richard Dolinar, Endocrinologist from Phoenix, Arizona

As many of you know Kitty had a successful Pancreas Transplant almost four years ago, Her wish is to help diabetics, their friends and family to understand this disease, how to live a healthier today. Her wish that comes from the heart is to see a “Cure” for all who suffer from this disease. Every 20 seconds a person in The United States dies from diabetes and it’s complication. Insulin is not a cure!

Please help support Diabetes Research by donating to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation click here.

A Special Thanks to the Transplant Team at Our Lady of Lourdes Health Care System.

Photo Above: Our Lady of Lourdes’ Hospital, Camden, NJ

Photo Above: (from left to right) Dr. Nasser I. Youssef, Transplant Surgeon, Mrs. Patti Walsh, Post~Transplant Nurse, Kitty Castellini & Former State of NJ Senator Mr. Nicholas Asselta

Dr. Harvey Karpo

Dr. Karpo graduated the University of Pittsburgh in 1971 with a B.S. in Chemistry and the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, now the Temple University College of Podiatric Medicine, in 1975 with the degree of DPM, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. He completed a residency in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township in 1976.

Dr. Karpo is Board Certified in Podiatric Orthopedics and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine and a member of the American Diabetes Association.

He has been an active member of the New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society for many years and served as President of that organization from 2003-2004 and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Currently in private practice in Woodbury at 649 North Broad Street, Dr. Karpo specializes in the non-surgical treatment of foot problems and stresses the importance of all aspects of preventative foot care, especially in the diabetic patient.

He has been on staff, and treating patients at Pitman Manor in Pitman, NJ since January, 1978 and is married to Agnes, his boss and office manager.

Wanted to be a stand-up comic but had flat feet!

Photo Above: Dr. Harvey Karpo

Please help support Diabetes Research by donating to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation click here.

Dr. Stanley Schwartz is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania,, practices at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and is Director of Diabetes Disease Management for the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Schwartz received his MD in 1973 from the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. He then completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Schwartz is an accomplished speaker and actively lectures nationally as well as internationally about diabetes and its treatment. He has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has been a lead or co-investigator for many clinical trials. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Dr. Schwartz is a member of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) Research Group and is a member or fellow of international, national, and local professional societies such as the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Endocrine Society (AES), and the American College of Physicians (ACP).

Photo Above: Dr. Stan Schwartz

Dr. James M. Kauffman

Dr. James M. Kauffman is a board certified Endocrinologist. A Private practice serving the South Jersey Shore in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. He received his medical degree in 1977 from The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and currently gives over one hundred Lectures a year. In addition to his Lectures, Dr. Kauffman also is involved in ongoing Drug Therapy and Patient Treatment studies. He also has participated in several Research Programs including; Humulin Ultra Lente trials in 1987. Dr. Kauffman has several Publications including:

Insulin Resistance in uremia. Characterization of insulin action, binding and processing in isolated hepatocytes from chronic uremic rats.

James M. Kauffman, D.O., and Jose F. Caro, M.D.

J.C.A. Volume 71, pages 698 - 708, March 1983

Mechanism of insulin resistance in rat hepatocytes: A new model of chronic uremia.

James M. Kauffman, D.O., G. Miller, B.S. and Jose F. Caro, M.D.

American Diabetes Association; 42nd. Annual Meeting, 1982

Dr. James M. Kauffman

4030 Ocean Heights Avenue

Suite 102

Egg Harbor Township, N.J. 08234

(609) 653-0505

Kitty and Dr. Thomas I. Margolis will interview Dr. Guri Bronner, Vitreoretinal Specialist with Foxman, Foxman & Margolis Consultants, P.C. Listener’s are invited to call in with your questions and comments on Diabetic Eye Disease.
Tuesday 8:00 PM (EST) Cruisin 92.1 FM~WVLT 1-856-696-0092

Dr. Thomas I. Margolis, Retinal and Ophthalmic Specialist

Dr. Thomas I. Margolis received his medical degree in 1989 from Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. He received honors on his thesis: “New Mid-Infrared Lasers for Vitreous Membrane Cutting and Sclerostomy.” Dr. Margolis is in a Private Group Practice located in Southern New Jersey. Foxman, Foxman & Margolis Associates, is limited to vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. He currently is the Principle Investigator in several clinical trials. To learn more about Dr. Margolis and to contact him please visit www.retina.com

Photo Above: Dr. Thomas I. Margolis

Dr. Guri Bronner, Vitreoretinal Specialist

Drs Foxman, Foxman and Margolis are pleased to announce the addition of Guri Bronner, MD as their fourth vitreoretinal specialist. Dr. Bronner completed his Medical School at Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ and his Residency training at New Jersey Medical School. He then completed his fellowship training at the prestigious Vanderbilt University. He is equipped with knowledge and skills in the most advanced surgical and non-surgical techniques for treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. Dr. Bronner will also participate in the Clinical Trials Center at Retinal and Ophthalmic Consultants, helping to bring emerging new treatments to their patients before they are available elsewhere. Dr. Bronner is available for consultations at the Northfield, Cape May and Vineland offices.

Photo Above: Dr. Guri Bronner

Kitty would like for her listener’s to know that Dr. Thomas I. Margolis is her Retinal Specialist and she’d like to thank him for restoring and saving her Precious Eye Sight. She greatly appreciates the time that he has spent with her after hours educating her in Diabetic Eye Disease so that she can help others to understand. Kitty is very compassionate about the education of diabetic eye disease. Kitty has a little something today on her site to thank Dr. Tom as she refers to him for all his hard work!

Important Notice: Due to illness, Dr. Guri Bronner will not be able to appear at this time. Filling in for Dr. Bronner is his associate Dr. Scott Foxman. We look forward to having Dr. Bronner on in the near future and wish him well.

Dr. Scott Foxman, Retinal and Ophthalmic Specialist

Dr. Scott Foxman received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1979. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Minnesota and a retinal fellowship at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA. He is the Founder and President of Retinal & Ophthalmic Consultants. He is the Director of the Division of Ophthalmology of Atlantic Regional Medical Center. He is a Clinical Associate at the Scheie Eye Institute University of Pennsylvania. He is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. He is the Principle Investigator of multiple research protocols, including the RISE Study sponsored by Genetech for diabetic macular edema. Dr. Scott Foxman is also the Section Editor of The Journal of The American Society of Retinal Surgeons. Dr. Foxman’s practice is limited to retinal diseases and surgery.

Photo Above: Dr. Scott Foxman

Thank You Dr. Tom for everything!!! You did Doctor My Eyes!

Big Hugs, Kitty

Dan Dantinne:

I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 23… so I’ve been officially diabetic for about 6 ½ years, with symptoms first manifesting roughly a year and a half before I was diagnosed. I was actually happy to hear the diagnosis, as I thought it was something MUCH worse (like terminal cancer). Not really knowing much about the disease, I did quite a bit of research on my own. I am currently using an insulin pump (without sensor) manufactured by Deltec called the Cozmo, with a glucose monitor (called the Cozmonitor) attached to the back for information transfer purposes. I have been using the pump for about 11 months now and am very happy with it. Prior to the pump, I was using Lantus for my basal insulin once a day and Novolog for my bolus shots whenever I ate or as necessary to control my blood sugar. With the pump, I am only using Novolog. For a brief period I was using Apidra, but stopped after have an allergic reaction. I use carbohydrate counting to manage my diabetes and have an average A1C level of 7.0 (which I would like to see go down and am working towards). I have no other health issues, maintain a constant weight of 150 lbs., exercise regularly and, with the help of a wonderful family, have managed my diabetes successfully (from what I’ve been told).

On a personal level, I feel that being diagnosed with diabetes was a sort of blessing. Before I started to experience diabetic symptoms, I was eating very poorly, going out to clubs and bars almost every day of the week, and was generally unfocused as to what I would do with the rest of my life. Being diagnosed with diabetes forced me to take personal responsibility for my own life and make decisions for my own well-being; what food I ate, how I spent my leisure time, and what profession I pursued would all be affected, but with those critical examinations of my daily life came active decision-making. I was no longer drifting along. I had to take control of my life in order to continue it in a positive and healthy manner and the result has been nothing short of miraculous. I am easily happier now than I was at 22 and have so much more to be happy about.

I appreciate the opportunity to share my personal experiences with others who may be struggling and looking for some positive outlooks when dealing with a disease that has so much negativity surrounding it.

Photo Above: Dr. Joseph J. Fallon, Jr. & Kitty Castellini

What I learned on my very first trip:  Never wear “High Heels” to NY City, and I mean never!  The train ride to NY was very exciting as I was wondering if it would be like what I had seen on TV?  It was, as we arrived at Penn Station and exited the train there were people everywhere, this is where the fun begins.  As we approached the street level is when the heal on my right shoe decided to break, it was loose.  As my mind started to race around…I thought oh no, this did not just happen!  I thought well Kitty your going to get through this night just fine.

The evening was spectacular as I was so excited for Dr. Fallon to finally get to meet so many wonderful people who flew up from The Diabetes Research Institute in Miami to attend the event.   The event brought in One Million dollars to fund a cure!  For more information on this event and to view photos click here !

I would like to know why is it that a man will not stop and ask for directions???  Women we have all been there!  Yes, as we left the event.  I had no choice except to take off my high heels to keep from breaking my ankle,  there we were me and the Rockin’ Doc’ leaving NY City with me walking bare stocking feet!  As we approached the train station to head back home, it dawned on me that Dr. Fallon was heading towards the wrong train…as I gently asked him if this was right he kept going, so I followed.  Oh this is the wonderful part.  We board the train, I closely watch Dr. Fallon’s expression as he was not saying a word.  We take our seat and as the train starts to pull away….I leaned over and asked…Dr., are we on the right train?  He responded with a look of wonder, as he replied,  Kitty I’m not sure, but I don’t think so!  Yes, we were on the wrong train heading the wrong way!!!!  We had to loop back to Penn Station to get the right train home!

I had such a wonderful time in NY City and am looking forward to going back.  Yes, I  already have one of many trips planned.  I am already making plans with Robert A. Pearlman, to meet in NY City.   Robert A. Pearlman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF).  Click here to read more about Robert A. Pearlman

Photo Above:  Mr. Robert A. Pearlman & Kitty Castellini 

Michelle Laranko

I am a Certified Diabetes Educator, first certified in 2002 and a Certified Pediatric Nurse, first certified in 1995.

I was a presenter of various topics on diabetes in children at conferences sponsored by the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, The National Association of School Nurses, The Six NJ Maternal/Child Consortia and the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, Horizon New Jersey Health, and many local schools and school districts.

I give yearly updates and refresher in-services for the pediatric and PICU staff nurses at Cooper University Hospital on the care of the child with diabetes and the teaching of survival skills to the newly diagnosed child and their family/guardians.

Each year, I speak with school nurses in many school districts across NJ, introducing them to new treatment regimens, carbohydrate counting, insulin pumps, and refreshing their general diabetes knowledge.

I have been a guest speaker twice at the Southern NJ Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Outreach group.

I am a member of GSADE (Garden State Association of Diabetes Educators), newsletter editor for TRI-ade, (Tri-state Association of Diabetes Educators) and AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators).

I have 28 years of nursing experience, 17 years of pediatric nursing experience, 7 years as a Pediatric Diabetes Educator, and care for over 300 pediatric patients with diabetes. I have lived with diabetes myself since my diagnosis at age 12 years and spent 20 years raising my son who was diagnosed with diabetes at 3 years old. I have worked as a staff nurse at Camp NEJEDA, a camp for children with diabetes for7 years, the last two as a charge nurse, supervising the care of 80 children with diabetes and a staff of 8 – 10 nurses.

I am part of the Pediatric Diabetes Team at Cooper University Hospital, working with all of the children with diabetes, their families, guardians, school nurses, and primary physicians. My position is to educate about treatment options, prevention of complications, and making adjustments to improve blood sugar control. I keep the children, their families, and our own doctors, abreast of the ever changing recommendations, equipment, medications, and new items on the diabetes market. I speak to groups, parents, nurses, doctors, teachers, and support groups about all subjects concerning diabetes and children. I hold group classes for specific topics such as “Taking Diabetes to College” or “Diabetes for the Caregiver”. I also hold in-services for the Pediatric and PICU nurses at Cooper to keep them abreast of the ever changing world of diabetes.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, back in the dark ages, November 3, 1972, at the ripe old age of 12 years (yes, I’ll be 48 this year)! Surviving one shot a day and urine tests, I moved into the modern age during the first of 3 pregnancies. Although I thought multiple injections and multiple blood sugar tests was for the birds, and just the means to an end, a healthy pregnancy and baby, I discovered that I truly felt physically and mentally much better. I have 3 beautiful children and have since moved into age of technology with pumping and Continuous Glucose Monitoring. The devastation of diabetes again darkened my door on November 28, 1986, when my oldest child, my beautiful healthy 3 year old son, Frank, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I believe in fate. I believe things happen for a reason. I believe that’s why I’m here and why I do what I do, why my nursing career has moved from adults, to children, to children with diabetes and why my heart is always in my work as well as my brain, and why ALL of my patients are “my kids.”

Michelle Laranko, RN, CDE

Pediatric Diabetes Educator

Cooper Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology

3 Cooper Plaza, Suite 200

Camden, NJ 08103

856-963-3764

For more information please visit www.cooperhealth.org/pedendo

Photo Above: Michelle Laranko