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Diabetics who take metformin are at high risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency, according to recent studies on the correlation between metformin and low vitamin B12 levels in patients with diabetes.

What is metformin?

insulin levels in type 2 diabetics. Metformin is also commonly known as glucophage, glumetza, and fortamet. Metformin lowers glucose levels in the blood by controlling the liver’s glucose production, sensitizing the liver to insulin and inhibiting carbohydrate absorption.

Metformin lowers vitamin B12 levels, say scientists

Recent studies show that long-term usage of metformin reduces vitamin B12 levels, causing vitamin B12 deficiency.

• Researchers discovered that 40% of type 2 diabetics who were prescribed metformin had dangerously low levels of vitamin B12 and suffered from B12 deficiency.
• Of the metformin-using diabetics who had low B12, approximately 77% also suffered peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage which occurs often with type 2 diabetes.
• Doctors strongly urge any diabetics currently taking metformin to get tested for B12 deficiency, and to supplement vitamin B12 immediately.
• One of the most dangerous symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency is neurological damage, such as peripheral neuropathy.

Type 2 Diabetes Often Undetected- Do You Have These Symptoms?

What are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is defined as nerve damage in the arms and legs. Peripheral neuropathy is one of four forms of diabetic neuropathy, the others being autonomic, proximal, and focal neuropathies. Some symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are:

• Pain, tingling or numbness in the hands and/or feet
• Loss of sensation is often likened to the wearing of thin gloves or socks
• Pain associated with peripheral neuropathy is described by patients as a burning sensation in both hands or feet
• Lowered sensitivity to temperature
• Muscle cramps
• Loss of balance and coordination

Diabetes is the most common cause for peripheral neuropathy, accounting for 30% of all cases; it can also be caused by infections, autoimmune disorder, toxins or traumatic injuries.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is found in protein-rich food sources such as lean beef, fish, poultry, eggs and cheese. Vitamin B12 is essential for proper functioning of the nervous system, in addition to producing red blood cells and DNA production.

Selectively excluding vitamin B12 from your diet can lead to B12 deficiency. Also, individuals who lack intrinsic factor, such as patients of pernicious anemia, cannot digest vitamin B12 naturally from food sources. People who are advised to supplement with vitamin B12 are vegans, weight loss surgery patients, individuals with gastrointestinal disease and diabetics who take metformin.

The symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, as caused by nerve damage
• Short-term memory loss
• Aggression
• Altered taste perception
• Imbalance and decreased coordination
• Sleep disturbances

Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency could culminate into severe, irreversible nerve damage and, in rare cases, death.

How can diabetics who take metformin avoid vitamin B12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy?

Only a blood test can determine if somebody has vitamin B12 deficiency. Doctors advise all diabetics who take metformin to get a screening for B12 deficiency, and to follow up with regular blood tests. If diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, physicians may prescribe a course of B12 injections to be inserted in the thick muscular tissue below the buttocks.

Some individuals have difficulty withstanding painful injections on a regular basis; fibromyalgia patients, children with autism, and others are often advised by physicians to take weekly supplementation of vitamin B12.

For more information on vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes and metformin, please read:

Diabetics, Put On Your Walking Shoes

Diabetics, Take Heed

B12 Deficiency can really Get on your Nerves

Sources:

Natural News, PCOS Nutrition Center,MedicineNet, Web MD, Mayo Clinic, Neuropathy Association, National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

Malissa Jones, once nicknamed “Britain’s fattest teen” is now quite possibly Britain’s skinniest…and unhappiest teen, following gastric bypass surgery.

Lose weight now, she was told, or your life is at stake

At the age of 16, Ms. Jones was warned by her doctor that she would have only months to live, unless she lost weight. Morbidly obese, Malissa weighed in at 34 stone. (In American-speak, that’s 476 pounds.)  Having already had a mild heart attack a year earlier, Malissa was told to lose 280 pounds, lest the next heart attack be her last.

Her diet consisted of mainly junk food like chocolate and potato chips. At 5’8, Malissa consumed about 15,000 calories a day, more than 7 times the amount recommended for a girl of her age with her build. Malissa had all the symptoms of obesity; she suffered from angina, a cardiovascular disease normally associated with old age, at the tender age of 15. At nighttime she was forced to wear an oxygen mask, because doctors warned that her heart and lungs couldn’t withstand the force of her weight while she was lying down.

For more information about the risks involved with teen weight loss surgery, please read Teens and Weight Loss Surgery: Worth the Risk?

Doctors recommended gastric bypass surgery

In 2008, at the age of 17, Malissa Jones made headlines when she became the youngest person ever in the UK to receive gastric bypass surgery, of which the cut-off age is generally 18.  The $20,000 NHS funded operation entailed stapling her stomach to a significantly smaller size and “bypassing” her digestive system so as to limit food absorption. For this reason, gastric bypass patients are unable to digest vitamins such as B12 from food sources, and must submit to a lifetime of vitamin supplements in order to prevent severe vitamin B12 deficiency.

The surgery was a success, at least at first. Two years post surgery, Malissa had lost half her body weight, although she still carried about 28 pounds of loose, excess flabby skin, a side effect which causes quite a bit of dismay among bariatric surgery patients.

“I’m too thin. My body shocks me. But swallowing is painful.

Eating a tiny amount gives me stomach cramps or makes me sick,” admits Malissa.

At the age of 20 she became pregnant. Doctors were concerned that her newly stapled stomach might rupture from the weight of the baby’s womb; at six months Malissa suffered liver failure, so she was forced to have a Cesarean birth. Her baby boy, named Harry, died only one hour after surgery of malnutrition. During her pregnancy, and likely as a result of her weight loss surgery, she was not physically able to eat enough food to support herself and the baby. Malissa was devastated.

For more information about avoiding vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy, please read Pregnant Moms and Low B-12 Levels: Let ‘em Eat Steak!

Today, Malissa once again battles for her life, only now her enemy is anorexia nervosa

Now, Malissa is 21-years-old and weighs a mere 112 pounds. Diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, she admits that she has food phobia, and that eating makes her feel physically ill. Sometimes, she says, she would rather die than make herself eat. “I’m too thin. My body shocks me. But swallowing is painful. Eating a tiny amount gives me stomach cramps or makes me sick,” admits Malissa.

Her regular daily diet consists of 3 cooked carrots, some turnips, and a roast potato, amounting to 300 calories, although she was advised to consume between 500 and 1,000 calories per day. Once again, Malissa is told that because of her weight she will likely die of a heart attack within months, only now the challenge is to eat enough to keep her alive.

Too late for regrets

In an interview from 2009, Malissa admits that she wishes she had never had the gastric bypass surgery, and that she liked her body better before when she was fat. The cost for excessive skin removal is $33,000, more than this 21-year-old, who had to quit her job because of disability caused by anorexia, can afford to save up. While the NHS agreed to pay for her $20,00 weight loss surgery, they have not agreed to fund the plastic surgery required to remove the scarred, wrinkled, overhanging skin which typically results from rapid weight loss.

“At least it was firm and curvy, not droopy and saggy,” she says. “I had nice firm arms – now the skin just hangs and I have to cover them up because they look so awful.”

In addition to suffering anorexia, Malissa has chronic depression, for which she takes antidepressants; she also suffers gastrointestinal diseases, chronic fatigue and low immunity. Because she is not able to follow a healthy nutritious diet, her immune system has been severely compromised, leaving her at risk for infections.

On a final note, Malissa has this to say to any obese individuals considering gastric bypass surgery:

“I wish I’d lost the weight through exercise and healthy eating. I know this operation was life-saving, but the complications I’m suffering now might still kill me. The truth is I feel I’m no better off than I was before.”

For more information on some of the risks involved with gastric bypass surgery, please read:

10 Mistakes Gastric Bypass Patients Often Make

Should Kelly Osbourne Consider Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Sources:

Daily Mail

MSN.NZ

Closer

News of the World

Herald Sun

NHS

A new study proves that gastric bypass weight loss surgery reduces the symptoms of diabetes.

• Scientists from Columbia University and Duke University studies two control groups of obese diabetic patients at a New York hospital.
• One group of 10 individuals agreed to gastric bypass surgery; another group of 11 people who suffered morbid obesity were put on a strict diet regimen.
• On average, each of the obese diabetics in both groups lost between 22-26 pounds.
• Next, scientists compared the levels of circulating amino acids and acylcarnitines in blood tests collected from both groups. Previous studies, such as reported by Web MD, have proven a strong link between “branched-chain” amino acids and resistance to insulin.
• Within 1 month of receiving weight loss surgery, the gastric bypass patients had significantly lower levels of the branched-chain amino acids; obese diabetics who lost weight by dieting showed little or no change in their branched-chain amino acid count, and no significant improvement in their response to insulin.

Decreased branched-chain amino acid levels

directly decreased that patient’s resistance

to insulin.

How vitamin B12 can help individuals with HIV AIDS

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV infection; its symptoms can vary according to the severity and stage of the condition.  The AIDS virus works by slowly multiplying and destroying the immune system, leaving the patient at risk for developing chronic illnesses and infections, including several gastrointestinal diseases which can lead to symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Some common symptoms of AIDS are swollen lymph glands, diarrhea, rapid weight loss, mouth sores, fever and respiratory illness.  After a few years, AIDS patients are at high risk of developing tuberculosis and many other life-threatening illnesses.

What does vitamin B12 do?

Vitamin B12 is used by the body to produce red blood cells and maintain a healthy nervous system; it is also essential for synthesizing DNA and managing your metabolism. Certain conditions can inhibit the body’s ability to properly digest and utilize vitamin B12 naturally from food sources; these symptoms include chronic diarrhea, excessive vomiting, Crohn’s disease, inflammation of the esophagus and other gastrointestinal diseases. AIDS patients are at high risk for developing any of these conditions, putting them at high risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Also read: Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not Be

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

The most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Short-term memory loss
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Depression
• Altered taste perception
• Aggression
• Difficulty maintaining balance while walking
• Sleep disturbances

Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to severe neurological damage.

For more information on avoiding B12 deficiency, read Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

Why do AIDS patients need vitamin B12 supplements?

Vitamin B12 is necessary for blood cells distribution, neurological functioning, and cognitive health.  AIDS patients are not able to absorb vitamin B12 naturally from food, so they must replenish their supply of  B12 constantly through supplements, since the body is unable to store vitamin B12, a water-soluble vitamin, for very long.

Vitamin B12 supplements are available over the counter or online. Some vitamin B12 deficiency patients are prescribed with rounds of injections which must be inserted in the thick, muscular area below the buttocks. Often, sublingual  tablets are prescribed as follow-up treatments, but new studies indicate that vitamin B12 pills are not the most effective source of B12, as the body does not digest them well.

Also read:

B-Gone, Heart Disease

Happy Ten Billionth, iTunes: Apple’s 10 Best Health and Medical Apps

Source: Livestrong, Mayo Clinic

Can a simple questionnaire pick up signs of autism in your baby?

A 5-minute screening test could warn you if your baby has any of the signs of autism or autism spectrum disorder, from as early as 12 months of age, which, on the heels of Autism Awareness Month, is good news for parents everywhere.

Scientific study buys parents and children more time to get treatment

Recently, researchers tested a questionnaire designed to diagnose autism on 10,500 children in San Diego, California.

• The study was led by Dr. Karen Pierce, neuroscientist at the University of San Diego School of Medicine, and involved 137 pediatricians in the San Diego area.
• Parents who brought their children in for their 12-month checkups were asked to fill out a 24-part survey which inquired about their children’s emotional health, communicational abilities and eye contact.
• Out of the 10,500 toddlers tested, 32 were diagnosed with autism or autism spectrum disorder.
• Also, 100 children were diagnosed with language-related disorders or delays.
• Children whose parents participated in this study were able to begin treatment as early as 19 months of age.
• According to the Journal of Pediatrics, most children don’t begin to show noticeable signs of autism such as eye contact avoidance until the age of 2 or 3. Another study suggests that autistic children don’t usually get diagnosed before the age of 5 or 6.  This simple checklist means that autistic children will be able to be diagnosed and start receiving therapy for autism as many as 1 to 5 years earlier.

Also read: Support for Parents of Autistic Children

What kinds of questions were used to detect autism?

In this study, parents of toddlers were asked to answer questions such as:

• Do you know when your child is happy and when your child is upset?
• Does your child do things just to get you to laugh?
• Does your child wave to greet people?
• When you call your child’s name, does he/she respond by looking or turning toward you?
• Does your child smile or laugh while looking at you?

What symptoms of autism were included in this test?

The checklist given to parents of 1-year-olds was designed to detect autism, autism spectrum disorder, delays in communication and other developmental issues. Symptoms of autism include:

• difficulty communicating, both verbally and nonverbally
• low attention span
• obsessive compulsive behavior, such as fixations on certain objects, repeating words or phrases, body rocking and hand flapping
• difficulty being in a group or social gathering
• avoidance of eye contact
• difficulty bathing, grooming, feeding and dressing oneself

How effective was the survey at diagnosing autism?

According to Dr. Pierce, the survey was wrong only 1 out of 4 times- meaning it was 75% accurate at diagnosing children with autism, autism spectrum disorder or other language problems. Currently, approximately 1 out of every 110 children exhibit some of the symptoms of autism or autism spectrum disorder.

Treatments for autism

Many researchers and physicians confirm that vitamin B12 supplementation is an effective treatment for some of the symptoms of autism, including anxiety, depression and digestive disorders.  Numerous studies have indicated a high correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency and autistic behaviors.

For more information about the benefits of vitamin B12 for treating autism, read: Autism, B12 and Your Child

Also read:

10 Great iPad Apps for Autistic Children

Top 10 Children’s Books Which Raise Autism Awareness

Equine Therapy and Autism: They’re Not Just Horsing Around

Sources:

US News, WebMD, Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Livestrong

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin which is essential for a healthy nervous system. B12 strengthens the communication between the brain and the body’s many nerve sensors, such as fingers, toes and tongue, assuring quick brain-body response time and effective sensory reactions.

What if I don’t get enough vitamin B12?

Because the body is unable to store vitamin B12 in the system for very long, people who don’t frequently eat food sources which contain vitamin B12 or take B12 supplements are at risk of getting B12 deficiency. Low B12 levels can corrupt neurological functions, leading to a variety of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms, including  numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, altered taste perception, slow reflexes and mouth soreness.

Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

Muscle coordination

Your body needs adequate amounts of vitamin B12 in order to control muscular movements. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, B12 deficiency causes severe nerve damage that could hinder one’s ability to walk straight or control muscle behavior efficiently. Also, muscle strength and balance can be severely compromised.

Mental clarity

Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in maintaining emotional stability and clarity. Insufficient vitamin B12 levels can cause mental disturbances such as depression, restlessness, aggressiveness, hallucinations and paranoia. Studies have also proven that vitamin B12 prevents dementia by delaying age-related brain shrinkage, a result of Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. Some other serious consequences of B12 deficiency include pernicious anemia, chronic fatigue and increased risk for heart attack.

Got PMS? Let B Vitamins Ease your Pain

Sources of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in foods such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. Vegans are therefore at risk for developing B12 deficiency, as their diet specifically excludes all rich sources of vitamin B12.

On Becoming Vegan: Avoiding Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Others

Some individuals are unable to digest B12 from food sources, due to lack of intrinsic factor, a protein which is essential for drawing B12 from food supplies and delivering it to the body. For patients of gastric bypass surgery or Crohn’s disease, diabetics who take metformin, or individuals who take heartburn medication, doctors frequently advise a strict regimen of vitamin B12 supplements.

Also read:

B12: Celebs Say it’s the New C

Pregnant Moms and Low B-12 Levels: Let ‘em Eat Steak!

Sources:

Livestrong, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

New research encourages fibromyalgia sufferers to practice tai chi for pain relief

The origin of fibromyalgia is unknown, but the painful symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are all too real. Millions of Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder which causes sufferers to feel heightened pain responses. Fibromyalgia patients often experience severe joint and muscular pain, depression and insomnia. Pain killers and muscle relaxants offer little relief for chronic pain patients.

Read: How to Tell if Chronic Pain is Fibromyalgia: 18 Pressure Points

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, fibromyalgia patients can find relief in the ancient Chinese practice of tai chi.

• In this small study conducted by Tufts Medical Center, 33 voluntary fibromyalgia patients were given tai chi classes twice per week, while 33 other chronic pain sufferers were given simple stretching classes, also two times per week.
• After 12 weeks, the participants who practiced tai chi reported feeling less muscular pain, were well rested, and scored better on physical fitness tests.
• Out of the control group who took the tai chi classes, 1 out of 3 patients were able to stop taking pain medications. Only 1 out of 6 patients who took the stretching classes were able to wean off their meds.
• Chronic pain sufferers who have difficulty participating in an aerobics or strength training class have no qualms keeping up with the slow, gentle movements characteristic of tai chi martial arts.
• Tai chi incorporates focused breathing throughout the course which many fibromyalgia sufferers find relaxing, allowing them moments of tranquility- a luxury they seldom have an opportunity to indulge in.
• Scientists explain that attaining a state of relaxation “raises the pain thresholds and helps break the pain cycle.”
• The Mayo Clinic touts the benefits of tai chi for cardiovascular health and stress relief, calling it a “meditation in motion.”

Also read:

Chronic Depression, Chronic Pain- It’s All the Same, say Experts

Sources:

LA Times, U.S.News & World Report, Web MD, NY Times, New England Journal of Medicine

More teens today suffer chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) than ever before, according to Dutch survey of 900 teens who were diagnosed with chronic fatigue symptoms.

Does your teen often complain that she’s too tired to finish her homework, clean her room or clear off the dinner table? She might not be faking it.

A survey conducted by Dutch doctors concluded that 1 out of 900 teenagers suffer from chronic fatigue symptoms, which include fatigue to the point of exhaustion, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, joint soreness, insomnia and muscular pain.

The report, which was published in the Pediatrics journal, states that 90 percent of the teenagers surveyed who suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome confessed to missing large time slots of school time; some admitted that they stopped going to school altogether when fatigue symptoms were high.

Also read: Teen Mental Illness: Unnoticed, Undiagnosed in America

Compared to adults, teens are less likely to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

• 354 general practitioners in the Netherlands participated in this national survey on chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Dutch doctors estimated that roughly .012 percent of teens are diagnosed with CFS every year, while for adults the rate is 1 percent.
• The actual percentage of chronic fatigue sufferers is probably much higher. In previous scientific studies on chronic fatigue syndrome, 80 percent of adults who participated suffered from CFS, but were never diagnosed.

Also read: Sluggish? Confused? Maybe it’s the Cheeseburger.

• The average age for teen chronic fatigue is 15 years.
• Half of the teenage survey participants suffered chronic fatigue syndrome for approximately 1 1/2 years before receiving diagnosis or treatment.
• Girls are 5 times more likely to suffer chronic fatigue than boys.
• Because of the rarity of chronic fatigue syndrome in the teenage years, sufferers are often misdiagnosed.
• According to Livestrong, chronic fatigue syndrome is caused by depression, anemia, hypothyroidism, sleep deprivation and mononucleosis (“mono”).

Says Dr. S.L. Nijhof, co-author of the Dutch survey, “Fatigue is a common complaint among adolescents, with a good prognosis. Chronic fatigue syndrome is much less common, but with serious consequences.”

Chronic fatigue is one of many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. If you or your teen is suffering any of the symptoms described for chronic fatigue, see a doctor immediately and request blood screenings for low B12.

Also read:

Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not Be

Sources:

Reuters, Livestrong, US News, Mayo Clinic, Healthland, MedicineNet, iVillage,

*PaysImaginaire*

Numerous studies have shown that B complex vitamins have been used successfully as natural PMS remedies. Ladies, the next time PMS mood swings strike, try heading for the multivitamins shelf at your local pharmacy for some homeopathic PMS relief.

What scientists have to say about vitamin B and PMS

The study in mention, published by the National Institutes of Health, focused on the impact of dietary B vitamins and vitamin B supplements on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms; they found that women who consumes 2 essential B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, reduced their premenstrual symptoms by 35 percent.

• The study, conducted by the University of Massachusetts, included over 3,000 female participants in the U.S. Nurses Health Study II; all volunteers were not suffering PMS at the time of the study, which included completing several dietary questionnaires.
• Women who consumed the highest amounts of riboflavin fared best when it came to risk for developing PMS symptoms; they were 35 percent less likely to suffer physical and emotional symptoms associated with PMS than women who ate the least vitamin B in their diet.
• Scientists believe that thiamine and riboflavin control neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, both of which are linked with premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
• B vitamins are water soluble, so you need to consistently take B supplements; your body will not store vitamin B.
• PMS affects approximately 15 percent of women in the childbearing age.
• Symptoms of PMS can include headaches, anxiety, breast tenderness, acne, aching joints and depression.

How to include more vitamins to help PMS

Good sources of riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin B12 include:

• Lean red meat, such as lean chuck
• Legumes, such as kidney beans, garbanzos and lentils
• Milk, cheese and yogurt
• Vitamin enriched breads, rice and cereals
• Oranges (thiamine)
• Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, romaine lettuce and kale

Chronic Depression, Chronic Pain- It’s All the Same, say Experts

Vitamin B12 for PMS

Vitamin B12 deficiency can only be cured with consistent vitamin B12 supplementation.

Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

For maximum health benefits, combine vitamins and supplements as part of your natural cure for PMS.

Sources:

National Institutes of Health, FYI Living, Bloomberg Businessweek, BBC

Also read:

Got PMS? Let B Vitamins Ease your Pain

Natalie Portman Chooses B12 over Veganism

B12: Celebs Say it’s the New C

Ben Husmann

,

April is National Autism Awareness Month; numerous charity foundations have been in full force this month raising funds for autism research in the hope of finding some cures for the many symptoms of autism. On the flip side, it’s also important direct some focus on some of the non-autistic children in the world, including the  siblings and classmates of children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or Asperger’s syndrome.

Support for Parents of Autistic Children

Here is a list of books which may be read to non-autistic children to help them better understand the struggles autistic kids go through, and the many ways they are just like you and me. Also included are some excellent guides for parents or educators of autistic children.

• 
  Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, by Ellen Notbohm: winner of several distinguished awards, this book uses humor and compassion to describe personal interactions with children on the autism spectrum.
• 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger’s, also by Ellen Notbohm: a bestseller among parents, educators and therapists who deal with autistic children, and winner of Teacher’s Choice Award, this book is chock full of helpful advice related to teaching children with autism spectrum disorder.
• 
  All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, by Kathy Hoopmann: this picture book used playful and colorful photos of kittens to illustrate some of the attributes of children with Asperger’s, drawing on research which proves that autistic children who have difficulty interacting with peers often find comfort with animals. Also by the same author: All Dogs Have ADHD.

Equine Therapy and Autism: They’re Not Just Horsing Around

• The Butterfly’s Flight: A Story About Autism And Hope, by Heather Porazzo: Baby butterfly was reluctant to come out of his safe cocoon, but with some help from his loving parents, friends and neighbors he slowly emerges into the big and sometimes overstimulating world.
• Freaks, Geeks & Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence, by Luke Jackson: It’s hard enough being a teenager; add Asperger’s Syndrome and four teenage siblings to the hormonal mixture, and you have a sometimes witty and always enlightening story of a teenager who comes to terms with Asperger’s Syndrome and being “different.”
• What’s Wrong with Timmy? By news anchor Maria Shriver, a sensitive picture book about 8-year-old Kate, who meets a boy with autism and finds that he is not so much different from her in the ways that really matter.
• Rules, by Cynthia Lord: for grade school children, Catherine tries to teach her younger autistic brother David some “rules” of behavior so he won’t embarrass her in front of her friends, but she ends up learning a few rules for herself.
• Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism, by Jenny McCarthy: author of many bestselling books about children with autism, McCarthy gives us a window into the world of a mother raising her autistic child with love, hope and faith.

10 Great iPad Apps for Autistic Children

• The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook, Updated and Revised: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet, by Pamela Compart: this 10-step nutrition plan for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome features kid-friendly recipes which are gluten-free and dairy-free.
• The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s, by Temple Grandin: Recently the subject of a feature film in which she was portrayed by Claire Danes, Grandin gets to the root of the matter in this honest, no-nonsense inside look at what autism is…and what it isn’t. Includes helpful strategies, tips and research.

All books listed are available at Amazon.com.

Also read:

Celebrities for Autism Awareness Month

This Autism Awareness Month, Embrace a Special Person

Autism, B12 and Your Child