Odom Diabetes Educator Of The Year, Low-Carb Docs Vernon, Bernstein Follow

The winner of Diabetes Educator Of The Year 2007 has been named

It's been several months in the making and now a winner has been chosen in the first annual American Diabetes Wholesale-sponsored Diabetes Educator of the Year for 2007 award--Barbara Odom, RN, PHN, M.ED.

CONGRATULATIONS to Ms. Odom for winning with 43.1% of the 1991 votes that were cast. She is a U.S. Navy Veteran, a Registered Nurse of 36 years and a Certified Diabetes Educator since 1985. After retiring in 2001, Ms. Odom has since been a regular volunteer and monthly support group leader in the San Diego area by providing workshops and education fairs about the subject of diabetes.

The field of nominees began in the hundreds and was whittled down to five earlier this year, including highly-respected low-carb diabetes doctors Richard K. Bernstein and Mary C. Vernon, as well as Marcia D. Draheim, RN, CDE and Fran Kiger, RN, CDE. You will recall back in October 2007 I officially nominated Dr. Vernon for this award and named her in my Top 10 Low-Carb Movers & Shakers of 2007 list soon thereafter. Because of your enthusiasm for her, Dr. Vernon was included among the five finalists named in late January 2008 until the voting ended on February 22, 2008. The winner was announced on Monday.

Dr. Vernon garnered 26.2% of the votes to come in second place and win a $250 American Express gift certificate as well as a well-deserved plaque for her runner-up achievement. Dr. Bernstein, another low-carb pioneer in the field of diabetes, was a close third with 23.5% of the total votes cast.

It seems that despite our best efforts to try to bring the low-carb community together voting for either Dr. Vernon or Dr. Bernstein were unsuccessful and the vote was indeed split between the two candidates as many feared would happen with two qualified candidates. The combined vote totals for just these two nominees were half of the total votes cast--more than enough to give either Dr. Vernon or Dr. Bernstein a plurality of votes to win.

According to my site statistics for the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, well over 500 people clicked on the link to vote in this contest. THANK YOU to everyone who voted and helped Dr. Vernon become the second place winner and giving her the recognition she has earned for the amazing work she is doing on behalf of the healthy low-carb lifestyle for diabetics. We appreciate the opportunity to tell the diabetic community about the great work she and Dr. Bernstein are doing.

I personally spoke with a representative from American Diabetes Wholesale today to confirm these results since the final vote tallies were not available to the general public. They made the decision to withhold the actual vote tally from the public so as not to embarrass the finalists who did not garner as many votes. Let me assure you the votes were accurate and I've seen them with my own eyes.

Special THANKS again to everyone who voted and CONGRATULATIONS to Barbara Odom for winning Diabetes Educator of the Year for 2007.

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 109: When Someone Says You Can't, Prove To Them You Can!

Meet the lady that created the Jimmy Moore you know today

When looking back at the span of your life in hindsight, isn't it funny how you can point to some very clear, defining moments that shaped you into the person you have become? For good or bad, there are most certainly events and occurrences that happen in our lives that have forever molded us into the people we are today--especially from our childhood. Today I am going to share one such story with you from my own life to illustrate a point as it relates to your quest for weight loss and getting healthy.

In Episode 109 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" I bare my soul to you about an unforgettable encounter I had with my 8th grade advanced English teacher (no, that's not really her at the top of this post, but it's pretty darn close!) that forever changed my outlook on life and created this self-motivated monster of a man you know today. The challenge of proving to her that I was worthy of more than she was saying about me very likely gave me the drive to go on to be the success in weight loss and life that I enjoy in 2008. It was THE turning point in my life that quite literally made me into the man I was meant to be.

Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast:

"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 109 [17:09m]: LISTEN NOW | Download

When that old hag 8th grade English teacher outright told me that I'd "never be that good at English," it lit a fire within me to prove to her just how wrong she was. But not everyone responds that way to adversity. Unfortunately, some people react to criticism by crawling into a shell and accepting it as fact. NOT ME! Maybe I just needed the right circumstance to pull that out of me and boy did it ever!

Remain encouraged and inspired about your low-carb life by:

1. Listening at the official web site
2. Calling (818) 688-2763 to listen via Podlinez
3. Subscribing to the RSS feed
4. Going to iTunes--Click here to subscribe!

Have you ever been told you're not good enough to do something, including weight loss? How did you respond to your critics who say you CAN'T when you honestly believe you CAN? Do you let people like that get under your skin or do you suck it up and move forward with what you know is right for you anyway? Provide you feedback in the show notes section of Episode 109 and tell us YOUR opinion about all this. Are you an overcomer or do you let what other people say overcome you? I'm anxious to hear your thoughts!

One final thought: Don't forget to go vote for Dr. Mary C. Vernon to become "Diabetes Educator of the Year." As an ardent supporter of the healthy low-carb lifestyle (listen to my podcast interview with her in Episode 50), we need to put Dr. Vernon over the top for this prestigious distinction to provide mainstream recognition within the diabetes community for the cause of livin' la vida low-carb. You only have until next Friday, February 15, 2008 to cast your ballot, so DON'T DELAY and do this TODAY! Let's make sure that's Dr. Vernon they're applauding for her fabulous work with diabetes patients. THANK YOU for rallying behind this nomination and awarding Dr. Mary C. Vernon the "Diabetes Educator of the Year."

Low-Carb Champions Vernon, Bernstein Finalists For Diabetes Educator Of The Year

Two of the five finalists support livin' la vida low-carb

Well, you did it and in a BIG way!

In October 2007, I shared with you an opportunity to nominate a strong advocate of the low-carb lifestyle to be named "Diabetes Educator of the Year" for 2007. Her name is Dr. Mary C. Vernon from Lawrence, Kansas and anyone who has met her will tell you just how incredibly passionate about this way of eating she is for both her overweight as well as her diabetic patients. Livin' la vida low-carb is well-represented by the work Dr. Vernon is doing and I am pleased to tell you that she has been named among the five finalists for this prestigious award.

At the same time, another powerhouse low-carb proponent was also nominated for this award: Dr. Richard Bernstein. You gotta admire Dr. Bernstein for hanging tough in the midst of some rather vocal voices of dissent over the years, but now the tide seems to be turning in his direction. I'm proud of him for being named among the finalists for this award and congratulate him on being rightfully recognized as one of America's best and brightest diabetes doctors.

Isn't it amazing that 40 percent of the finalists for "Diabetes Educator of the Year" sponsored by American Diabetes Wholesale are unabashed supporters of the low-carbohydrate nutritional approach? Who would have ever guessed that would happen in a million years? But that's EXACTLY what has happened and it should give us all hope that perhaps the message is finally breaking through and people are getting it now. It is interesting this is happening at the same time the American Diabetes Association (ADA) finally gives credence to low-carb diets for diabetics. Progress is happening, albeit ever-so-slowly, but it IS happening!

So, with two low-carbers among the top five finalists for "Diabetes Educator of the Year," what is the low-carb community to do? If we are not unified behind one candidate, then the low-carb vote will be split and one of the other three finalists will win. Since we'd like to see a low-carb champion crowned with the title of "Diabetes Educator of the Year," I would encourage everyone to rally behind Dr. Mary C. Vernon to win this award.

Taking nothing away from Dr. Bernstein, I think Dr. Vernon has established herself among the medical mainstream while still holding true to the low-carb philosophy when she was named the President of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) last year following her win as Bariatric Physician of the Year in 2005. She co-wrote a fantastic book explaining how the Atkins diet can help control Type 2 diabetes in Atkins Diabetes Revolution and her continued published research into this subject area reveals her genuineness about presenting factual data for informing her patients.

If you have never heard or been exposed to the work of Dr. Mary C. Vernon, then please read my blog interview with her and then listen to my my podcast interview to see for yourself why she is such a worthy candidate for this title. Also, be sure to check out her "Ask Dr. Vernon" blog where she directly addresses how low-carb living is positively changing lives for the better in the diabetics willing to give it a chance.

Let's not forget that Dr. Vernon was featured in Men's Health magazine in November 2006 for the work she is doing on behalf of thousands of diabetic patients. That media attention gave Dr. Vernon quite a platform for speaking out on television and in various other news mediums talking about livin' la vida low-carb all year long. She is certainly a worthy recipient of the title "Diabetes Educator of the Year" for 2007.

To vote for Dr. Vernon, go to the finalists web site and click on "Cast Your Vote Here" at the bottom of the page. Then mark "Dr. Mary C. Vernon" and vote. The panel of judges includes a representative from the South Florida division of the American Diabetes Association, Dr. Kimberly Mistiszyn of the Rand Eye Institute, and Chris Maguire from the sponsor of this award American Diabetes Wholesale.

You only have until February 15, 2008 to cast your ballot, so DON'T DELAY and do this TODAY! The winner will be announced on March 1, 2008 and recognized in a special ceremony in Boca Raton, Florida. Let's make sure that's Dr. Vernon they're applauding for her fabulous work with diabetes patients. THANK YOU for rallying behind her nomination and putting her over the top for this award.

We'll let you know what happens! Please leave a comment below after you vote for Dr. Vernon so we can keep track of her support. It's high time low-carb is given credence within the diabetic community and catapulting an ardent advocate like Dr. Mary C. Vernon to the heap for "Diabetes Educator of the Year" will certainly help.

2-14-08 UPDATE: They have decided to extend the voting for "Diabetes Educator of the Year" one additional week through February 22, 2008, so be sure to VOTE NOW if you haven't done so yet!

I Hereby Nominate Dr. Mary C. Vernon For 'Diabetes Educator Of The Year'

Dr. Mary C. Vernon is worthy of the title "Diabetes Educator Of 2007"

Of all the health issues we currently face in the world today, there is one that rises to the top of the list to rival even obesity as an out-of-control epidemic. That would be the mostly preventable but now all-too-common occurrence of Type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that there are currently 73 million Americans who are either diabetic or pre-diabetic with healthcare costs associated with this disease adding up to $132 BILLION in 2002 alone.

The prognosis is grim, but the good news is there are people who are standing up to be counted and they're not giving up without a fight. While organizations like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are giving diabetics a free license to consume foods that will knowingly impact their blood sugar levels negatively as long as they obediently "take their medicine," it's good to know there are REAL leaders who understand the need for some sanity in a world that's looking more and more insane each and every day.

One such leader in the diabetic world exists--DR. MARY C. VERNON.

Dr. Vernon is an unsung hero in my book. She is a board certified bariatric physician with a private practice located in Lawrence, Kansas. In 2004, she collaborated with Jacqueline Eberstein on the bestselling Atkins Diabetes Revolution book from Harper-Collins. Her current leadership position as the President of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers, including a nod as Bariatric Physician of the Year in 2005.

Her research into diabetes has been published and appeared in some of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, including the American Journal of Medicine as well as Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Her zeal and enthusiasm for livin' la vida low-carb as a means for weight and health management make her a true pioneer for alternative methods for treating patients.

I have been truly honored to have had the opportunity to interview and meet Dr. Vernon not just once, but twice--first at my blog and most recently on my podcast show. Her "Ask Dr. Vernon" blog provides unprecedented public access to one of the nation's most foremost diabetes experts as she answers reader-submitted questions about a controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach for managing diabetes.

Dr. Vernon has appeared on television supporting low-carb as a treatment option for diabetes and was instrumental is the release of some especially eye-opening research out of Duke University that showed the Atkins low-carb diet can lower A1C numbers and stabilize blood sugars sometimes without the use of drugs or insulin in Type 2 diabetics. And in November 2006, Dr. Vernon was propelled into the national spotlight when she was featured in an article about diabetes control in Men's Health magazine.

In other words, Dr. Vernon is the real deal. She doesn't just talk a good game (although she is quite articulate about how low-carb living can help improve obesity and diabetes), but she sees results in the thousands of patients who come through her Kansas clinic. If anyone deserves recognition and the honorable distinction of "Diabetes Educator Of The Year," then I can think of no one better suited for that title than Dr. Mary C. Vernon.

That's why I hereby nominate her for that prestigious distinction among her peers and I want to encourage the faithful readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog to join me in voting for Dr. Vernon for this honor. The winner will be featured in an upcoming feature story for Diabetes Health magazine which is read by many of the ADA-indoctrinated. Let's show them there is a better way by highlighting the success that Dr. Vernon is having with low-carb.

To submit your nomination for Dr. Mary C. Vernon, go to the "Diabetes Educator Of The Year" nomination form and fill out the form. Keep in mind you only need to fill in the blanks with a yellow star next to them, so don't worry about filling in any of the other blanks. Feel free to share up to 250 words in the box provided explaining your nomination. But just share from your heart why she deserves this distinction.

Wanna see what Jimmy Moore wrote about Dr. Vernon? :)

In the sometimes contentious field of diabetes care, there is one person who has risen to the top of giving diabetics an extremely effective alternative from the usual methods for treating this terrible disease. Her name is Dr. Mary C. Vernon from Lawrence, Kansas.

Although the typical advice recommended by the ADA and most diabetes health providers is a high-carb, low-fat diet, Dr. Vernon is among a minority of voices who believes this advice is absolutely absurd. And she knows firsthand the positive impact that a controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach is having on the A1C levels of her patients.

Many of those patients are able to either greatly reduce or eliminate their need for blood sugar-controlling medications and even insulin for Type 2 sufferers. This is indeed a miracle for many diabetics who have tried to find a natural way to control their disease. The low-carb lifestyle is changing people's lives for the better!

Dr. Vernon was featured in a major "Men's Health" magazine column in November 2006 for the work she is doing on behalf of diabetics and is a worthy nominee for Diabetes Educator Of The Year.

Short, sweet, and to the point--that's all you need to do. It's so super easy and I finished my nomination for Dr. Vernon in only three minutes. Please take just a moment RIGHT NOW to do this because it WILL make a real difference for the cause of livin' la vida low-carb in the realm of diabetes care to have someone like Dr. Mary C. Vernon recognized for the tireless work she has invested into spreading the positive message with her patients.

Be sure to cut and paste your nomination text in the comments section of this post so we can see the impact we are making on this nomination. With literally thousands of visitors each and every day, we can stand together in unity behind Dr. Vernon and give her the big push into the spotlight she deserves to be a beacon of truth for diabetes sufferers the world over.

THANK YOU in advance for helping with this effort and I'll let you know if she ends up winning this award or not (cross your fingers). You have until November 30, 2007 to submit your entry, but don't delay. Let's flood them with praise and admiration for Dr. Vernon so they will have no other choice but to give her the title of "Diabetes Educator Of The Year." Wouldn't that be AWESOME? It could happen with YOUR help. So do your part TODAY and don't forget to share your entry with everyone in the comments section.