Diabetes
New evidence suggests that sodas
sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup may increase the risk of diabetes, particularly in
children.
Researchers have found new evidence that
soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may contribute to the
development of diabetes, particularly in children. In a laboratory study of commonly
consumed carbonated beverages, the scientists found that drinks containing the syrup had
high levels of reactive compounds that have been shown by others to have the potential to
trigger cell and tissue damage that could cause the disease, which is at epidemic levels.
They reported here today at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
HFCS is a sweetener found in many foods and
beverages, including non-diet soda pop, baked goods, and condiments. It is has become the
sweetener of choice for many food manufacturers because it is considered more economical,
sweeter and more easy to blend into beverages than table sugar. Some researchers have
suggested that high-fructose corn syrup may contribute to an increased risk of diabetes as
well as obesity, a claim which the food industry disputes. Until now, little laboratory
evidence has been available on the topic.
In the current study, Chi-Tang Ho, Ph.D.,
conducted chemical tests among 11 different carbonated soft drinks containing HFCS. He
found ‘astonishingly high’ levels of reactive carbonyls in those beverages.
These undesirable and highly-reactive compounds associated with “unbound”
fructose and glucose molecules are believed to cause tissue damage, says Ho, a professor
of food science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. By contrast, reactive
carbonyls are not present in table sugar, whose fructose and glucose components are
“bound” and chemically stable, the researcher notes.
Reactive carbonyls also are elevated in the
blood of individuals with diabetes and linked to the complications of that disease. Based
on the study data, Ho estimates that a single can of soda contains about five times the
concentration of reactive carbonyls than the concentration found in the blood of an adult
person with diabetes. Ho and his associates also found that adding tea components to
drinks containing HFCS may help lower the levels of reactive carbonyls. The scientists
found that adding epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a compound in tea, significantly
reduced the levels of reactive carbonyl species in a dose-dependent manner when added to
the carbonated soft drinks studied. In some cases, the levels of reactive carbonyls were
reduced by half, the researchers say.
“People consume too much high-fructose
corn syrup in this country,” says Ho. “It’s in way too many food and drink
products and there’s growing evidence that it’s bad for you.” The
tea-derived supplement provides a promising way to counter its potentially toxic effects,
especially in children who consume a lot of carbonated beverages, he says. But eliminating
or reducing consumption of HFCS is preferable, the researchers note. They are currently
exploring the chemical mechanisms by which tea appears to neutralize the reactivity of the
syrup.
Ho’s group is also probing the
mechanisms by which carbonation increases the amount of reactive carbonyls formed in sodas
containing HFCS. They note that non-carbonated fruit juices containing HFCS have one-third
the amount of reactive carbonyl species found in carbonated sodas with HFCS, while
non-carbonated tea beverages containing high-fructose corn syrup, which already contain
EGCG, have only about one-sixth the levels of carbonyls found in regular soda.
In the future, food and drink manufacturers
could reduce concerns about HFCS by adding more EGCG, using less HFCS, or replacing the
syrup with alternatives such as regular table sugar, Ho and his associates say. Funding
for this study was provided by the Center for Advanced Food Technology of Rutgers
University. Other researchers involved in the study include Chih-Yu Lo, Ph.D.; Shiming Li,
Ph.D.; Di Tan, Ph.D.; and Yu Wang, a doctoral student.
Iron intake and the risk of type 2
diabetes in women:a prospective cohort study
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of
Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Diabetes Care. 2006 Jun;29(6):1370-6
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&
cmd=pubmed_docsum
Dietary iron intake and Type 2
diabetes incidence in postmenopausal women
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public
Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454, USA
Diabetologia. 2004 Feb;47(2):185-94. Epub 2004 Jan 8
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?list_uids=14712349
www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Coffee_may_
reduce_risk_of_type_2_diabetes.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=
abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=
Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=16801515
Protein's links to sugar metabolism may
help treat diabetes
Scientists have linked a protein to regulation of the body's use of the sugar glucose. In
the process, they illustrated the protein's potential as a target for new drugs to treat
diabetes and obesity.
http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/9337.html
Fat screen delivers plant-derived
chemical with antidiabetic effects
After screening hundreds of compounds for their effects on fat development, researchers
have discovered that an ingredient found in some plants fights diabetes in mice without
some of the side effects attributed to other antidiabetes drugs. The chemical they
pinpointed, known as harmine, was first isolated more than 150 years ago from plants
traditionally included in ritual and medicinal preparations around the world.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/cp-fsd050207.php
Diabetes drug 'protects arteries'
A drug given to help people with diabetes may also slow thickening of the artery walls
that can lead to heart disease, research suggests. Pioglitazone helps improve the body's
sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which is lacking in diabetes. Tests on patients given
pioglitazone showed their arteries were less thick than those given another diabetes drug.
The University of Chicago study was published online by the Journal of the American
Medical Association. [Ben Licher]
ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6502099.stm
Older people with diabetes more apt
to suffer depression, UF study shows
Growing old can be disheartening. But for people with diabetes, the aging process can be
downright depressing. A University of Florida study published this week in the Archives of
Internal Medicine reveals that older adults diagnosed with the type 2 form of the disease
are twice as likely as their peers to suffer from depression.
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/06/14/diabetic-depression/
Grapes Shown to Protect Against
Diabetes
A new study appearing in the current issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Nutrition shows
that consuming grapes protected against the destruction of insulin-producing cells (known
as beta cells) in the pancreas, significantly reducing the incidence of diabetes in lab
rodents. Naturally occurring antioxidants in grapes known as polyphenols are believed to
be responsible for this beneficial impact.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&
STORY=/www/story/05-15-2007/0004589063&EDATE=
Fiber Might Fight Diabetes
A new study shows that people who had the most fiber from whole-grain cereals in their
diet had a 27 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who ate the
least.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/15/health/webmd/main2806010.shtml
Fiber and type 2 diabetes
Foods that have a high glycemic index include potatoes, refined foods such as white bread,
white rice, refined cereals (corn flakes, Cheerios), white spaghetti, and sugar. Foods
with a low glycemic index do not raise blood sugar levels as quickly and, therefore, are
associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Low glycemic index foods include legumes,
whole fruits, oats, bran, and whole-grain cereals.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fiber.html
Research says sugar coated proteins
seal in a memory of diabetes
Researchers at the University of Warwick's Warwick Medical School have uncovered a process
that locks the body's metabolism in a diabetic state after only relatively limited
exposure to high glucose levels.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/research_says_sugar/
How insulin-producing cells develop
-- new finding could help fight against diabetes
A key aspect of how embryos create the cells which secrete insulin is revealed in a new
study published tomorrow in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The researchers hope that
their findings will enable the development of new therapies for diabetes, a condition
caused by insufficient levels of insulin. The research reveals that glucose plays a key
role in enabling healthy beta cells, which secrete insulin, to develop in the pancreas of
an embryo.
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/portal/page?_pageid=69,35238005&_dad=
portallive&_schema=PORTALLIVE&newsid=11534
Glucosamine-like supplement inhibits
multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes
A glucosamine-like dietary supplement has been found to suppress the damaging autoimmune
response seen in multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes mellitus, according to University
of California, Irvine health sciences researchers.
http://today.uci.edu/news/release_detail.asp?key=1612
Finally Science Confirms the Secret
Key to Weight Loss
The reason 200 million Americans are overweight is not because of flawed genetics that
cause them to make excessive insulin. Hypersecretion of insulin is an effect -- NOT the
cause. The reason 200 million are overweight is because they have impaired insulin
receptor sensitivity.
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Finally-Science-Confirms-the-
Secret-Key-to-Weight-Loss-19046.aspx
Molecular Mechanisms of the
Diabetogenic Effects of Arsenic - Inhibition of Insulin Signaling by Arsenite and
Methylarsonous Acid
Increased prevalences of diabetes mellitus have been reported among individuals
chronically exposed to inorganic arsenic (iAs) . However, the mechanisms underlying the
diabetogenic effects of iAs have not been characterized. We have previously shown that
trivalent metabolites of iAs, arsenite (iAsIII) and methylarsonous acid (MAsIII) inhibit
insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (ISGU) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by suppressing the
insulin-dependent phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) .
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2007/9867/abstract.html
Reverse Diabetes get your health
back
Many patients with diabetes die from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) every year. DKA is caused
by reduced insulin levels, decreased glucose use, and increased gluconeogenesis from
elevated counter regulatory hormones, including catecholamines, glucagon, and cortisol.
DKA primarily affects patients with type 1 diabetes, but also may occur in patients with
type 2 diabetes, and is most often caused by omission of treatment, infection, or alcohol
abuse.
http://to-reverse-diabetes.blogspot.com/
Potatoes during pregnancy linked to
juvenile diabetes
Australian researchers believe they have found a trigger of type 1 diabetes in children -
their mothers eating potatoes and other tuberous vegetables during pregnancy.
http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?182268
Original Human 'Stone Age' Diet Is
Good For People With Diabetes, Study Finds
Foods of the kind that were consumed during human evolution may be the best choice to
control diabetes type 2. A study from Lund University, Sweden, found markedly improved
capacity to handle carbohydrate after eating such foods for three months.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070627225459.htm
Landmark Israeli-led study to
improve diagnosis of diabetes
Gestational diabetes can cause serious complications in infants. The researchers, who
studied 25,000 pregnant women, found that the level of glucose currently defined as
indicating gestational diabetes has been set too high.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1183053070958&
pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Diabetes may be associated with
increased risk of mild cognitive impairment
Individuals with diabetes may have a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment,
a condition that involves difficulties with thinking and learning and may be an
intermediate step toward Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/jaaj-dmb040507.php
Effect of Aloe vera leaves on blood
glucose level in type I and type II diabetic
It may therefore be concluded that the pulps of Aloe vera leaves devoid of the gel could
be useful in the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/78002959/
ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Aloe vera and gibberellin.
Anti-inflammatory activity in diabetes.
Aloe vera inhibits inflammation and adjuvant-induced arthritis. The authors' laboratory
has shown that A. vera improves wound healing, which suggests that it does not act like an
adrenal steroid. Diabetic animals were used in this study because of their poor wound
healing and anti-inflammatory capabilities.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
PubMed&list_uids=2724102&dopt=Citation
Black soya beans in diet could help
prevent diabetes
A DIET rich in black soya beans could help control weight and even prevent diabetes,
according to research. The beans could also lower cholesterol levels, a laboratory study
on rats found.
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=301922007
Job burn-out 'ups diabetes risk'
People who suffer from job burn-out may be prone to developing type 2 diabetes, research
suggests. An Israeli study of 677 mostly male, middle-aged workers found those affected by
burn-out were nearly twice as likely to develop the condition. When the possible effect of
blood pressure levels was eliminated, the risk was more than four-fold higher. The study,
in Psychosomatic Medicine, suggests stress can be added to other factors known to increase
risk. [Ben Licher]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6390389.stm
Cinnamon does not aid type 1
diabetes control
Despite earlier promising findings, it seems unlikely that cinnamon can improve blood
sugar levels in people with type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes, researchers report.
[Ben Licher]
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=
2007-04-06T151608Z_01_SIB654630_RTRUKOC_0_US-CINNAMON-DIABETES.xml
New Study Links Pesticide With Type
2 Diabetes
A new study finds a correlation between high levels of pesticide in the blood and insulin
resistance, a condition which often leads to type 2 diabetes, BBC Health News reports.
This study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, also posits that exposure to
persistent organic pesticides -- POPs, for short -- may "interact with obesity to
increase the risk of type 2 diabetes."
http://www.sugarshockblog.com/2007/04/a_new_study_fin.html
Elucidation of the genome of
diabetics with DNA chips
The genome of patients with type 2 diabetes (DT2) has been elucidated, for the first time,
thanks to the use of new DNA chip technologies allowing 400,000 DNA mutations to be
studied simultaneously. New genes conferring a predisposition to DT2 have been identified.
They include the zinc transporter of pancreatic insulin-secreting cells (ZnT8), which is a
potential target for treatment. This study of the French population was carried out as a
French-British-Canadian collaboration between the teams directed by Philippe Froguel
(CNRS, University of Lille 2, Pasteur Institute, Imperial College London) and Rob Sladek
(McGill University, Montreal, Canada). About 70% of the genetic risk of DT2 is accounted
for by these new discoveries, published online in Nature.
http://www2.cnrs.fr/en/806.htm
New Joslin Study Reveals How a
Specific Fat Type Can Protect Against Weight Gain and Diabetes
A new study from Joslin Diabetes Center may shed light on why some people can eat
excessive amounts of food and not gain weight or develop type 2 diabetes, while others are
more likely to develop obesity and this most common form of diabetes on any diet. The
study, which used two strains of mice with differing tendencies to gain weight and develop
diabetes on a high-fat diet, identified genetic and cellular mechanisms that may prevent
certain mice on a calorie-dense diet from gaining weight and developing metabolic
syndrome.
“Although this study was done with mice, it points out new mechanisms that may
underlie the ability of genetically different mice -- and perhaps genetically different
people -- to not gain much weight on high caloric diets,” said lead investigator C.
Ronald Kahn, M.D., an internationally recognized researcher who is Head of Joslin’s
Section on Obesity and Hormone Action and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at
Harvard Medical School.
It has long been known that people significantly differ in their tendency to gain weight
and develop metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions including hypertension, abdominal
obesity, high triglycerides and glucose intolerance that can lead to type 2 diabetes. More
than 60 million Americans either are obese or have metabolic syndrome, putting them at
risk for type 2 diabetes and its frequent complications, including cardiovascular disease
and other serious conditions. Currently 21 million Americans have diabetes and
approximately one-third of them do not even know they have the disease. Formerly known as
adult-onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes is occurring more frequently in young adults and
even children.
http://www.joslin.org/1083_3919.asp
New Joslin-led Study Uncovers Role
of Appetite-Related Melanin Concentrating Hormone (MCH) in the Brain to Beta Cell Growth
and Insulin Secretion
A new Joslin Diabetes Center-led study shows conclusively that a neuropeptide, melanin
concentrating hormone (MCH), found in the brain and known for its role in increasing
appetite in people, plays a role in the growth of insulin-producing beta cells and the
secretion of insulin. This finding has the potential to spur the development of new
treatments for diabetes that stimulate the production of insulin-producing beta cells in
the pancreas. This latest research, conducted with researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center in Boston and other institutions, will appear in the February 2007 issue of
Diabetes. An earlier Joslin-led study examined the connection between obesity and MCH,
which plays a critical role in energy balance and appetite, observing an increase in the
number of beta cells when MCH levels are high. This was a new finding that had not been
observed before. Although MCH’s role in appetite control is well known, its effects
on the secretion of endocrine hormones has not been fully understood.
http://www.joslin.org/1083_3872.asp
Study sees major depression
connection to diabetes
lderly people who are depressed are more likely to become diabetic than those who are not,
according to a study that suggests depression mayplay a role in causing the most common
form of diabetes. [Ben Licher]
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=2007-04
-23T225912Z_01_N23318481_RTRUKOC_0_US-DIABETES-DEPRESSION.xml
Low Carb, High Protein Diet Has a
Great Defensive Team
Yet even today, many physicians ignore the need for normal blood sugars and focus on
dietary fat. The 2006 Clinical Practice Recommendations (1) of the ADA advocate large
amounts of dietary carbohydrate (45 - 65% of total calories) and small amounts of protein
and fat. This recommendation is preceded by the statement that "dietary carbohydrate
is the major contributor to postprandial (after meal) glucose concentration."
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/04/24/5141.html
Big News in Diabetes!
Nerve damage, kidney failure, vision loss and amputations. These are a few of the many
complications people with diabetes face. Kelly Pearce was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
14 years ago. "At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about diabetes," he says.
But he quickly learned about the devastating complications that can come with the disease
if his blood sugars don't remain in control. "The complications sort of drove me to
find different things that would help me control it and control the diabetes better."
Six months ago, Pearce became one of the first people in the country to have the new
Medtronic Guardian RT Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. "It monitors the blood
sugar continuously so that one knows at any point in time during the day or night what
your blood sugar is," John Daniels, M.D., an endocrinologist at Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis, tells Ivanhoe.
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=15610
Type 1 diabetes linked to pancreatic
cancer risk
It is well known that people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of pancreatic
cancer, and now it seems that the risk extends to those with type 1 diabetes, researchers
report. However, they point out that the risk is still very small.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=
2007-03-01T172407Z_01_COL162582_RTRUKOC_0_US-TYPE-1.xml
New Book Links Nerve Disease,
Alzheimer's and Fibromyalgia with Diabetes
Millions of people suffer from the chronic pain and complications of autonomic neuropathy,
a degenerative nerve disease. A new book suggests that this suffering can be effectively
treated by raising blood sugar levels at key points. In doing so, Type 4 Diabetes raises
the prospect that neuropathy, fibromyalgia and Alzheimer's may be all linked to diabetes
as symptoms of the same problem with glucose metabolism.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070131/phw007.html?.v=83
Insulin -- in need of some
restraint?
Knocking out the gene for a peptide associated with insulin secretion protects mice
against the harmful effects of a high-fat diet, report researchers at the Salk Institute
for Biological Studies. Their findings, detailed in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, suggest that urocortin 3, a new peptide recently discovered in the
insulin secreting cells of the pancreas, plays a role in the increased production of
insulin in response to high caloric intake in animals.
http://www.salk.edu/news/releases/details_20070307b.php
Diabetes and hypertension in mice
halted
Research at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that
interrupting nerve signals to the liver can prevent diabetes and hypertension in mice.
Removing the vagus nerve in mice resulted in preventing or reversing the development of
insulin resistance and high blood pressure.
http://www.animallab.com/News_Articles.asp?pid=111
Mom`s Infections Tied to Lower
Diabetes Risk in Child
Among girls at increased risk of type1 diabetes, those whose mothers had colds or certain
other infections during pregnancy might be less likely to develop diabetes, new study
findings suggest.
http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=169365
Maternal diabetes linked to infant
memory problems
Pregnant women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to have a child with memory
problems, according to a new study. The researchers believe the children’s poor
memories are the result of inadequate levels of iron and oxygen reaching the brain’s
memory centre during its crucial developmental phase.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11209-maternal-diabetes-
linked-to-infant-memory-problems.html
Erectile dysfunction in diabetes is
due to selective defect in the brain
A new study sheds additional light on how erectile dysfunction (ED) interacts with
diabetes. The study is another step in uncovering the link between the two disorders, and
may lead to improved efficacy in treatments. The study, "Lack of Central Nitric Oxide
Triggers Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes," was conducted by Hong Zheng, William G.
Mayhan, and Kaushik P. Patel, Departments of Cellular and Integrative Physiology; and
Keshore R. Bidasee, Department of Pharmacology, University of Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE. The results appear in the March 2007 edition of the American Journal of
Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, one of 11
peer-reviewed scientific publications issued monthly by The American Physiological Society
(APS) (www.The-APS.org).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-03/aps-edi031507.php
Periodontal diseases may aggravate
pre-diabetic characteristics
Periodontal diseases may contribute to the progression to pre-diabetes, according to a new
study that appears in the March issue of the Journal of Periodontology. Pre-diabetes is a
condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be
diagnosed as diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates 54 million people in
the United States have pre-diabetes, and a significant portion of those people will
develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Researchers from Denmark investigated if having
periodontal diseases can influence pre-diabetes and contribute to the progression of
diabetes. They found that having periodontal disease can cause someone to develop
pre-diabetic characteristics, and probably disturb the glucose regulation of a
non-diabetic who has pre-diabetic characteristics, contributing to the progression of Type
2 diabetes. The study, conducted with rat models known to exhibit pre-diabetes
characteristics, is believed to be the first to evaluate the relationship between
periodontitis and pre-diabetes. "This study found that having periodontal diseases
can alter the metabolic conditions which would probably lead to the progression to
pre-diabetic characteristics and Type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Carla Pontes Andersen,
Department of Periodontology at the University of Copenhagen. "We have known that
people with diabetes are more susceptible to periodontal diseases and have more severe
disease," said Dr. Preston D. Miller, Jr., President of the American Academy of
Periodontology. "This breakthrough research shows having periodontal disease may
aggravate pre-diabetes which is a precursor for diabetes. These findings underscore the
importance of taking good care of your teeth and gums: it may be a simple way to prevent
diabetes, or to prevent the progression of diabetes."
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-03/aaop-pdm031307.php
Pycnogenol delays glucose absorption
190 times more potently than prescription medication
New study discovers how Pycnogenol lowers blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. A new
study to be published in an upcoming edition of the journal of Diabetes Research and
Clinical Practice reveals that French maritime pine tree extract known as Pycnogenol
(pic-noj-en-all) delays the uptake of glucose from a meal 190 times more than prescription
medications, preventing the typical high-glucose peak in the blood stream after a meal.
The study revealed the pine bark is more potent for suppressing carbohydrate absorption in
diabetes than synthetic prescription alpha-glucosidase inhibitors such as Precose.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/mg-pdg020707.php
Sharp increase in type 1 diabetes
among children mystifies researchers
The number of young children with early-onset diabetes has soared dramatically in the past
20 years, according to figures released by researchers today.A study found that cases of
type 1 diabetes among under-fives increased fivefold between 1985 and 2004, with one in
1,000 now affected by the disease.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2035382,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=18
Diabetes in pregnancy can hamper
baby memory
Babies whose mothers had diabetes during pregnancy may be less able to form early memories
than children whose mothers had normal pregnancies, a US researcher said on Friday.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=qw1171803240509B255
Depression with Diabetes Increases
Heart Risk
Scientists have discovered that having both depression and type 2 diabetes can increase
the risk of death for heart patients. Although the mechanism by which the disease
combinations act together has not been identified, the sinister relationship was clear as
the risk of dying was increased by 20 to 30 percent.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2007/03/12/depression-with-diabetes-increases-heart-risk/
Diabetes and Oral Health
Diabetes affects millions of Americans each year. If you have been diagnosed with
diabetes, you may know that the disease can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys
and heart, as well as other parts of your body. Diabetes can lower your resistance to
infection and can slow the healing process.
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/diabetes-oral-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC
How To Solve the Diabetes Epidemic
A man whose grandfather died at age 30 came into our study at 31 when he was diagnosed
with diabetes. We didn't tell him to count calories; we didn't tell him to say no to extra
portions. He just did vegan, low fat, low sugar. He lost 60 pounds in a year, and in the
course of the study his blood sugar values returned absolutely to normal. His doctors
stopped all of his diabetes medications. His erectile dysfunction went away. He said,
"Why didn't I do this diet 20 years ago?" He never would have had diabetes in
all likelihood, had he been on this diet as a child.
http://www.alternet.org/story/48998/
Cholesterol drug hits diabetes with
one-two punch, Tulane study says
Patients with type 2 diabetes may soon be able to control their glucose and their
cholesterol levels with a single drug, according to a study led by Vivian A. Fonseca,
professor of medicine and pharmacology at Tulane University School of Medicine and chief
of the Tulane University Health Sciences Center Diabetes Program.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/tu-cdh070607.php
'Clean' Children At Greater Risk Of
Diabetes
Better hygiene and clean environmental living conditions lead to a greater risk of
diabetes in children, according to a new study. Researchers at Bristol University blame
better hygiene conditions for the soaring rates of type 1 diabetes in children.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006774651
Dramatic increase of Type 1 diabetes
in under fives
Researchers are calling for more work in to the reasons behind a big increase of young
children with Type 1 diabetes. A new study, led by Bristol University, has discovered that
the number of children under five-years-old with Type 1 diabetes has increased five-fold
over 20 years. Whilst the largest rise of the condition was seen in children under five,
Type 1 diabetes in under 15s almost doubled during the study. There was a 2.3 per cent
increase in the number of children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes each year.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2007/5349.html
Alternative medicines need to be
considered in diabetes management
People with diabetes are risking their health by not discussing their use of complementary
and alternative therapies with the health professionals managing their conventional
treatment.
http://www.researchaustralia.com.au/files/griffithuni_diabetes_management_040707.pdf
Early indicator of kidney disease
may also predict risk of pre-diabetes
A blood component called cystatin C, used to test for early-stage kidney impairment, also
may be a very early marker for those at risk of developing a condition known as
pre-diabetes, a study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/8735
Black soy beans found to reduce
diabetes risk
Black soy beans, attributed to being a possible way to fight obesity and lowering
cholesterol, also reduces the risk of diabetes, a new South Korean study says. The study,
conducted by researchers at Hanyang University of Seoul, had groups of rats on a high-fat
diet -- using both a control group and a group with black soy beans added to their diet.
Over 28 days, the rats that had soy in their diets gained less weight and were healthier
overall.
http://www.newstarget.com/021727.html
Pesticides can cause diabetes during
first trimester of pregnancy
farmers beware! Your pregnant wife could have diabetes, due to the pesticides she was
exposed to during the first trimester of pregnancy.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/04072007/hlt1.html
Kidney disease test may also mark
diabetes
U.S. medical scientists have found a blood marker used to predict early kidney impairment
might also mark a condition known as pre-diabetes.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=
UPI-1-20070703-14172400-bc-us-diabetes.xml
Pesticides may up risk of diabetes
in pregnancy
Exposure to agricultural pesticides in the first-trimester increases a woman's risk of
developing diabetes during pregnancy, research shows.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=
2007-03-19T193331Z_01_COL969568_RTRUKOC_0_US-PESTICIDES-DIABETES.xml
Anti-malarial drug may reduce risk
of diabetes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Preliminary research suggests that use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine may
help reduce the risk of the development of diabetes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,
according to a study in the July 11 issue of JAMA.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/jaaj-adm070507.php
Doctor has a vegan plan for diabetes
Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has
shown that switching to a vegan diet can significantly control type 2 diabetes, and, as an
added bonus, people lose weight while eating as much fruits, vegetables, beans and whole
grains as they want.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/lifestyle/sfl-rxdiabetesmar18,0,
5966573.story?coll=sfla-features-headlines
Pumpkin - A fairytale end to insulin
injections?
Compounds found in pumpkin could potentially replace or at least drastically reduce the
daily insulin injections that so many diabetics currently have to endure. Recent research
reveals that pumpkin extract promotes regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic
rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and insulin in the blood. Chinese
scientists found that diabetic rats fed the extract had only 5 percent less plasma insulin
and 8 percent fewer insulin-positive cells compared to normal healthy rats.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/soci-paf070407.php
Dietary patterns linked to type 2
diabetes risk
Avoiding meats and fatty foods and eating lots of salads and cooked vegetables appears to
reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to study findings published in
the American Journal of Epidemiology.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKWRI17347320070321
Pumpkin could help diabetics avoid
insulin shots
Pumpkin extract has insulin-like effects that could help people with diabetes keep their
blood sugar under control, results of an animal study hint.
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/news-44206-66.html
Trans Fat Diet Induces Abdominal
Obesity and Changes in Insulin Sensitivity in Monkeys
Under controlled feeding conditions, long-term TFA consumption was an independent factor
in weight gain. TFAs enhanced intra-abdominal deposition of fat, even in the absence of
caloric excess, and were associated with insulin resistance, with evidence that there is
impaired post-insulin receptor binding signal transduction.
http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/7/1675?etoc
Study Finds a Relationship between
Periodontal (Gum) Treatment and the Overall Cost of Care for Several Diseases, Including
Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, and Cerebrovascular Disease
FL…Chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD),
and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) have been associated with periodontal disease. The
association between periodontal infection and systemic health has important implications
for the treatment and management of patients. Systemic health is often association with
the condition of the oral cavity, in that many systemic diseases manifest in the mouth;
however, less is known about the connection between a diseased periodontium and the impact
it may have on systemic health.
http://www.dentalresearch.org/media/releases/orlando/REL02_NEW.pdf
A decisive step toward a cure for
insulin dependent diabetes
Today, a diagnosis of type I diabetes means a life sentence of medical follow-up. The
latest study published in the journal Nature by Dr. Constantin Polychronakos, director of
the Pediatric Endocrinology Department at the McGill University Health Center, in
collaboration with Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, director of the Center for Applied Genomics of
the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, provides hope that this situation will evolve in
the long term toward a cure for this disease.
http://www.muhc.ca/media/news/?ItemID=25967
Association Between Serum
Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Insulin Resistance Among Nondiabetic
Adults
These findings, coupled with those concerning diabetes prevalence, suggest that OC
pesticides and nondioxin-like PCBs may be associated with type 2 diabetes risk by
increasing insulin resistance, and POPs may interact with obesity to increase the risk of
type 2 diabetes.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/30/3/622
Diabetes drugs increase risk of
heart failure, research shows
A class of drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes may double the risk of heart
failure, according to a new analysis by researchers at Wake Forest University School of
Medicine and colleagues.
http://www1.wfubmc.edu/news/NewsArticle.htm?Articleid=2129
Not Sweet - Couch Potatoes Spike
Glucose?
Sitting around on the couch all day watching TV will likely make your blood sugar spike,
even though you may not have diabetes. However, you'reone step closer to getting it.
Australian diabetes experts said the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on blood
glucose/sugar levels are particularly true for women. [Ben Licher]
http://www.nubella.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3444&Itemid=48
Sedentary behavior linked to high
blood sugar
People who tend to be sedentary -- as indicated by the amount of time they spend watching
television -- are likely to have high levels of glucose in their blood, even though they
may not be diabetic. [Ben Licher]
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=
2007-03-28T183214Z_01_COL866501_RTRUKOC_0_US-SEDENTARY-BEHAVIOR.xml
Connecting Diabetes And Inflammation
It has long been known that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The body attacks the
islet cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. In recent years, the immune system has
also been implicated in type 2 diabetes — in particular imbalances in cytokines, an
immune system component that causes inflammation.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722105802.htm
Long-Term and High-Dose Metformin
Use Can Compromise B12 Levels
Metformin, a glucose-lowering drug, is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for type-2
(adult-onset) diabetes. But the longer a person takes the drug, especially at high
dosages, the more likely he will develop a deficiency of vitamin B12. Researchers have
known since the early 1970s that almost one-third of patients taking metformin have
problems absorbing vitamin B12. Studies have found that metformin reduces blood levels of
the vitamin by 14 to 30 percent.
http://www.newstarget.com/021948.html
Diabetes Linked to Higher
Parkinson's Risk
People who have type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease as they
age, though researchers are uncertain what accounts for the link between the two diseases,
according to a new study being published in the April issue of Diabetes Care.
http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=427336&categoryid=40
Pigs may hold clue about diabetes
Cells from a pig transplanted into a diabetic man from New Zealand are still producing
insulin nearly 10 years later, prompting a biotechnology company to plan research to see
if others could benefit. The case, profiled in a scientific journal issued on Friday, may
pave the way for a cure for diabetes, said Bob Elliot, medical director of Australia's
Living Cell Technologies (LCT).
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/healthfitness/article_1637205.php
Researchers Identify New Genetic
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
In the most comprehensive look at genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes to date, a
U.S.-Finnish team, working in close collaboration with two other groups, has identified at
least four new genetic variants associated with increased risk of diabetes and confirmed
existence of another six. The findings of the three groups, published simultaneously today
in the online edition of the journal Science, boost to at least 10 the number of genetic
variants confidently associated with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes - a
disease that affects more than 200 million people worldwide. "This achievement
represents a major milestone in our battle against diabetes. It will accelerate efforts to
understand the genetic risk factors for this disease, as well as explore how these genetic
factors interact with each other and with lifestyle factors," said National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "Such research is opening
the door to the era of personalized medicine. Our current one-size-fits-all approach will
soon give way to more individualized strategies based on each person’s unique genetic
make-up."
http://www.genome.gov/25521010
UW study tests topical honey as a
treatment for diabetic ulcers
The sore on Catrina Hurlburt's leg simply wouldn't heal. Complications from a 2002 car
accident left Hurlburt, a borderline diabetic, with recurring cellulitis and staph
infections. One of those infections developed into a troublesome open sore that, despite
the use of oral antibiotics, continued to fester for nearly eight months.
http://www.news.wisc.edu/13739
Study shows Diachrome improves blood
sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes
Nutrition 21 Inc. today announced new published results from a 447 subject, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study that showed Diachrome, a patented
combination of chromium picolinate and biotin, significantly improved glycemic control in
patients with poorly controlled blood sugar levels who were being treated with oral
anti-diabetic medication (OADs).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/n2-ssd060407.php
Diabetes portal
Browse and download educational materials and tools designed specifically to help patients
and their families manage diabetes.
http://diabetes.acponline.org/?hp
A Sweet Healing Treatment for
Diabetic Ulcers
Dr. Jennifer Eddy of the University of Wisconsin is currently conducting the first
randomized, double-blind controlled trial of honey as a treatment for diabetic ulcers -
not to eat, but as a salve. According to Dr. Eddy, honey's acidic nature, low water
content, and the hydrogen peroxide secreted by its naturally-occurring enzymes make it
perfect for combating organisms that have developed resistance to standard antibiotics.
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/06/08/5255.html
New Antimicrobial Solution Called
Microcyn May Help Cure Diabetic Ulcers
Allie's institution comprises a dozen clinics that treat 200,000 patients every year, many
of them with diabetic ulcers. To avert amputations stemming from those ulcers, he has
become an early adopter of a new technology that he considers "as important as
anything that's come along." Called Microcyn, it consists of a souped-up water
molecule with special properties that knock out single-cell organisms, including the
antibiotic-resistant bacteria now proving lethal to many hospital patients. It also
flattens viruses, spores and fungi. Causing no harm to multi-cellular organisms - all
critters large and small - it is the first nontoxic anti-infective.
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/06/04/5227.html
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, the human version of mad cow
disease and other degenerative diseases are more closely related at the molecular level
than many scientists realized, an international team of chemists and molecular biologists
reported April 29 in the online version of the journal Nature.
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=7899
Light activity can help avoid
chronic disease
Reducing time spent sitting and increasing light physical activity has important health
benefits that may reduce the risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.
http://www.researchaustralia.com.au/files/Lightactivity_12_6_07.pdf
Mechanisms of glucose homeostasis
and early diabetes
Studying the mechanisms of glucose homeostasis and early diabetes, Vamsi Mootha
(Massachusetts General Hospital and Broad Institute), Leif Groop (University of Malmo) and
colleagues have identified a key regulator of glucose homeostasis in humans.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=24485
Diabetes after 50 cuts life by 8 yrs
You lose about eight years from your expected lifespan if you are diagnosed with diabetes
after 50.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Diabetes_after_50_cuts_
life_by_8_yrs/articleshow/2121214.cms
Pesticides may up risk of diabetes
in pregnancy
Exposure to agricultural pesticides in the first-trimester increases a woman's risk of
developing diabetes during pregnancy, research shows.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKCOL96956820070319
Anti-malarial drug may reduce risk
of diabetes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Preliminary research suggests that use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine may
help reduce the risk of the development of diabetes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,
according to a study in the July 11 issue of JAMA.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/jaaj-adm070507.php
Doctor has a vegan plan for diabetes
Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has
shown that switching to a vegan diet can significantly control type 2 diabetes, and, as an
added bonus, people lose weight while eating as much fruits, vegetables, beans and whole
grains as they want.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/lifestyle/sfl-rxdiabetesmar18,0,
5966573.story?coll=sfla-features-headlines
Pumpkin - A fairytale end to insulin
injections?
Compounds found in pumpkin could potentially replace or at least drastically reduce the
daily insulin injections that so many diabetics currently have to endure. Recent research
reveals that pumpkin extract promotes regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic
rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and insulin in the blood. Chinese
scientists found that diabetic rats fed the extract had only 5 percent less plasma insulin
and 8 percent fewer insulin-positive cells compared to normal healthy rats.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/soci-paf070407.php
Dietary patterns linked to type 2
diabetes risk
Avoiding meats and fatty foods and eating lots of salads and cooked vegetables appears to
reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to study findings published in
the American Journal of Epidemiology.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKWRI17347320070321
Pumpkin could help diabetics avoid
insulin shots
Pumpkin extract has insulin-like effects that could help people with diabetes keep their
blood sugar under control, results of an animal study hint.
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/news-44206-66.html
Trans Fat Diet Induces Abdominal
Obesity and Changes in Insulin Sensitivity in Monkeys
Under controlled feeding conditions, long-term TFA consumption was an independent factor
in weight gain. TFAs enhanced intra-abdominal deposition of fat, even in the absence of
caloric excess, and were associated with insulin resistance, with evidence that there is
impaired post-insulin receptor binding signal transduction.
http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/7/1675?etoc
Study Finds a Relationship between
Periodontal (Gum) Treatment and the Overall Cost of Care for Several Diseases, Including
Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, and Cerebrovascular Disease
FL…Chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD),
and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) have been associated with periodontal disease. The
association between periodontal infection and systemic health has important implications
for the treatment and management of patients. Systemic health is often association with
the condition of the oral cavity, in that many systemic diseases manifest in the mouth;
however, less is known about the connection between a diseased periodontium and the impact
it may have on systemic health.
http://www.dentalresearch.org/media/releases/orlando/REL02_NEW.pdf
A decisive step toward a cure for
insulin dependent diabetes
Today, a diagnosis of type I diabetes means a life sentence of medical follow-up. The
latest study published in the journal Nature by Dr. Constantin Polychronakos, director of
the Pediatric Endocrinology Department at the McGill University Health Center, in
collaboration with Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, director of the Center for Applied Genomics of
the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, provides hope that this situation will evolve in
the long term toward a cure for this disease.
http://www.muhc.ca/media/news/?ItemID=25967
Association Between Serum
Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Insulin Resistance Among Nondiabetic
Adults
These findings, coupled with those concerning diabetes prevalence, suggest that OC
pesticides and nondioxin-like PCBs may be associated with type 2 diabetes risk by
increasing insulin resistance, and POPs may interact with obesity to increase the risk of
type 2 diabetes.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/30/3/622
Diabetes drugs increase risk of
heart failure, research shows
A class of drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes may double the risk of heart
failure, according to a new analysis by researchers at Wake Forest University School of
Medicine and colleagues.
http://www1.wfubmc.edu/news/NewsArticle.htm?Articleid=2129
Not Sweet - Couch Potatoes Spike
Glucose?
Sitting around on the couch all day watching TV will likely make your blood sugar spike,
even though you may not have diabetes. However, you'reone step closer to getting it.
Australian diabetes experts said the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on blood
glucose/sugar levels are particularly true for women. [Ben Licher]
http://www.nubella.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=
view&id=3444&Itemid=48
Sedentary behavior linked to high
blood sugar
People who tend to be sedentary -- as indicated by the amount of time they spend watching
television -- are likely to have high levels of glucose in their blood, even though they
may not be diabetic. [Ben Licher]
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=
2007-03-28T183214Z_01_COL866501_RTRUKOC_0_US-SEDENTARY-BEHAVIOR.xml
Connecting Diabetes And Inflammation
It has long been known that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The body attacks the
islet cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. In recent years, the immune system has
also been implicated in type 2 diabetes — in particular imbalances in cytokines, an
immune system component that causes inflammation.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722105802.htm
Long-Term and High-Dose Metformin
Use Can Compromise B12 Levels
Metformin, a glucose-lowering drug, is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for type-2
(adult-onset) diabetes. But the longer a person takes the drug, especially at high
dosages, the more likely he will develop a deficiency of vitamin B12. Researchers have
known since the early 1970s that almost one-third of patients taking metformin have
problems absorbing vitamin B12. Studies have found that metformin reduces blood levels of
the vitamin by 14 to 30 percent.
http://www.newstarget.com/021948.html
Diabetes Linked to Higher
Parkinson's Risk
People who have type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease as they
age, though researchers are uncertain what accounts for the link between the two diseases,
according to a new study being published in the April issue of Diabetes Care.
http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=427336&categoryid=40
Pigs may hold clue about diabetes
Cells from a pig transplanted into a diabetic man from New Zealand are still producing
insulin nearly 10 years later, prompting a biotechnology company to plan research to see
if others could benefit. The case, profiled in a scientific journal issued on Friday, may
pave the way for a cure for diabetes, said Bob Elliot, medical director of Australia's
Living Cell Technologies (LCT).
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/healthfitness/article_1637205.php
Researchers Identify New Genetic
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
In the most comprehensive look at genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes to date, a
U.S.-Finnish team, working in close collaboration with two other groups, has identified at
least four new genetic variants associated with increased risk of diabetes and confirmed
existence of another six. The findings of the three groups, published simultaneously today
in the online edition of the journal Science, boost to at least 10 the number of genetic
variants confidently associated with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes - a
disease that affects more than 200 million people worldwide. "This achievement
represents a major milestone in our battle against diabetes. It will accelerate efforts to
understand the genetic risk factors for this disease, as well as explore how these genetic
factors interact with each other and with lifestyle factors," said National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "Such research is opening
the door to the era of personalized medicine. Our current one-size-fits-all approach will
soon give way to more individualized strategies based on each person’s unique genetic
make-up."
http://www.genome.gov/25521010
UW study tests topical honey as a
treatment for diabetic ulcers
The sore on Catrina Hurlburt's leg simply wouldn't heal. Complications from a 2002 car
accident left Hurlburt, a borderline diabetic, with recurring cellulitis and staph
infections. One of those infections developed into a troublesome open sore that, despite
the use of oral antibiotics, continued to fester for nearly eight months.
http://www.news.wisc.edu/13739
Study shows Diachrome improves blood
sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes
Nutrition 21 Inc. today announced new published results from a 447 subject, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study that showed Diachrome, a patented
combination of chromium picolinate and biotin, significantly improved glycemic control in
patients with poorly controlled blood sugar levels who were being treated with oral
anti-diabetic medication (OADs).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/n2-ssd060407.php
Diabetes portal
Browse and download educational materials and tools designed specifically to help patients
and their families manage diabetes.
http://diabetes.acponline.org/?hp
A Sweet Healing Treatment for
Diabetic Ulcers
Dr. Jennifer Eddy of the University of Wisconsin is currently conducting the first
randomized, double-blind controlled trial of honey as a treatment for diabetic ulcers -
not to eat, but as a salve. According to Dr. Eddy, honey's acidic nature, low water
content, and the hydrogen peroxide secreted by its naturally-occurring enzymes make it
perfect for combating organisms that have developed resistance to standard antibiotics.
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/06/08/5255.html
New Antimicrobial Solution Called
Microcyn May Help Cure Diabetic Ulcers
Allie's institution comprises a dozen clinics that treat 200,000 patients every year, many
of them with diabetic ulcers. To avert amputations stemming from those ulcers, he has
become an early adopter of a new technology that he considers "as important as
anything that's come along." Called Microcyn, it consists of a souped-up water
molecule with special properties that knock out single-cell organisms, including the
antibiotic-resistant bacteria now proving lethal to many hospital patients. It also
flattens viruses, spores and fungi. Causing no harm to multi-cellular organisms - all
critters large and small - it is the first nontoxic anti-infective.
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/06/04/5227.html
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, the human version of mad cow
disease and other degenerative diseases are more closely related at the molecular level
than many scientists realized, an international team of chemists and molecular biologists
reported April 29 in the online version of the journal Nature.
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=7899
Light activity can help avoid
chronic disease
Reducing time spent sitting and increasing light physical activity has important health
benefits that may reduce the risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.
http://www.researchaustralia.com.au/files/Lightactivity_12_6_07.pdf
Mechanisms of glucose homeostasis
and early diabetes
Studying the mechanisms of glucose homeostasis and early diabetes, Vamsi Mootha
(Massachusetts General Hospital and Broad Institute), Leif Groop (University of Malmo) and
colleagues have identified a key regulator of glucose homeostasis in humans.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=24485
Diabetes after 50 cuts life by 8 yrs
You lose about eight years from your expected lifespan if you are diagnosed with diabetes
after 50.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Diabetes_after_50_cuts_
life_by_8_yrs/articleshow/2121214.cms
Pesticides may up risk of diabetes
in pregnancy
Exposure to agricultural pesticides in the first-trimester increases a woman's risk of
developing diabetes during pregnancy, research shows.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKCOL96956820070319
Traditional Chinese medicine for
diabetes has scientific backing
Reports of a traditional Chinese medicine
having beneficial effects for people suffering from type 2 diabetes now has some
scientific evidence to back up the claims. A collaboration between Chinese, Korean, and
Australian scientists at Sydney's Garvan Institute, has revealed that the natural plant
product berberine could be a valuable new treatment.
Berberine is found in the roots and bark of a number of plants used for medicinal purposes
including wound healing and treatment of diarrhoea. It has also been documented in Chinese
literature as having a glucose lowering effect when administered to people with diabetes;
yet, until now, its mode of action was unknown.
Garvan scientist Dr Jiming Ye says:
"Our studies in animal models of diabetes show that berberine acts in part by
activating an enzyme in the muscle and liver that is involved in improving sensitivity of
the tissue to insulin – this in turn helps lower blood sugar levels. In addition, it
seems berberine can help reduce body weight".
Current medicines for treating type 2
diabetes include metformin and the TZD group of drugs. However, a large number of patients
cannot tolerate metformin and the TZDs can cause undesirable weight gain. Therefore, it is
critical to develop new therapies to treat type 2 diabetes, which is a growing health
problem.
"Berberine has been used for decades,
if not centuries, with few reported side effects. Given the limitations of existing
medicines we are excited to have evidence that berberine may be a helpful new treatment
for type 2 diabetes; however, despite its widespread use in traditional medicine
practices, it will still have to be evaluated properly following the defined clinical
trials process", said Professor James, head of the Garvan's Diabetes & Obesity
Research Program and co-author of the Diabetes paper.
The next step is to investigate how
berberine activates the enzyme that mediates these 'insulin-sensitising' effects.
Coenzyme Q10 improves blood
pressure and glycaemic control: a controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Hodgson JM, Watts GF, Playford DA, Burke V,
Croft KD.
University of Western Australia Department
of Medicine and HeartSearch, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess
effects of dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) on blood pressure and glycaemic
control in subjects with type 2 diabetes, and to consider oxidative stress as a potential
mechanism for any effects.
CONCLUSIONS: These results show that CoQ
supplementation may improve blood pressure and long-term glycaemic control in subjects
with type 2 diabetes, but these improvements were not associated with reduced oxidative
stress, as assessed by F2-isoprostanes. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by a grant
from the NH&MRC, Australia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve
&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12428181
Magnesium Deficiency Is Associated
With Insulin Resistance in Obese Children
The association between magnesium
deficiency and IR is present during childhood. Serum magnesium deficiency in obese
children may be secondary to decreased dietary magnesium intake. Magnesium supplementation
or increased intake of magnesium-rich foods may be an important tool in the prevention of
type 2 diabetes in obese children.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/5/1175
Coenzyme Q10 and diabetic
endotheliopathy: oxidative stress and the 'recoupling hypothesis'.
Chew GT, Watts GF. School of Medicine and
Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital Unit, GPO Box X2213,
Perth, Western Australia, Australia 6847.
Increased oxidative stress in diabetes
mellitus may underlie the development of endothelial cell dysfunction by decreasing the
availability of nitric oxide (NO) as well as by activating pro-inflammatory pathways. In
the arterial wall, redox imbalance and oxidation of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) uncouples
endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This results in decreased production and
increased consumption of NO, and generation of free radicals, such as superoxide and
peroxynitrite. In the mitochondria, increased redox potential uncouples oxidative
phosphorylation, resulting in inhibition of electron transport and increased transfer of
electrons to molecular oxygen to form superoxide and other oxidant radicals. Coenzyme Q10
(CoQ), a potent antioxidant and a critical intermediate of the electron transport chain,
may improve endothelial dysfunction by 'recoupling' eNOS and mitochondrial oxidative
phosphorylation. CoQ supplementation may also act synergistically with anti-atherogenic
agents, such as fibrates and statins, to improve endotheliopathy in diabetes.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=
Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15256611
A potential link between magnesium
intake and diabetes in Indigenous Australians
Diabetes in Indigenous Australians occurs
at a younger age and at almost four times the rate in non-Indigenous Australians. The
age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous people is 16% in remote areas and 9%
in non-remote areas, with the actual prevalence estimated to be between 20% and 25%, and
possibly higher than 30% in some remote areas.1 The cause for this disparity in diabetes
incidence is multifactorial, and recent evidence suggests that nutrition —
particularly magnesium intake — may play a role.
MJA 2005; 183 (4): 219-220. Diane A
Longstreet,* Deanne L Heath,† Robert Vink‡ * Dietitian, † Research
Scientist, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Services, 57–59 Gorden Street,
Garbutt, QLD 4814; ‡ Head, Department of Pathology, University of Adelaide, SA. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/
Diabetes hope as protein structure
is laid bare
Scientists at Oxford and Manchester
Universities have got first sight of the structure of a protein that is important for
type-2 (adult onset) diabetes.
The research, published in the European
Molecular Biology Organization Journal, will not only give a greater understanding of the
disease but may lead to better treatments.
Professor Frances Ashcroft, who led the
Oxford team that isolated the protein said: ‘Diabetes is a big problem in Western
societies. It affects 1.5 million people in the UK and is set to become even worse because
the population is getting more obese.
‘We have managed to produce the first
three-dimensional picture of this protein,’ said Professor Robert Ford, the
structural biologist leading the research in Manchester.
‘It’s a very complicated beast:
it actually comprises eight different proteins cooperating together in a large, complex
structure.
‘Until now, scientists have had to
work largely in the dark; our research at last shines a light on the functionally
significant parts of the structure.’
Prof Mark Sansom, part of the Oxford team,
said: ‘We used computer modeling to help interpret the structure. This shows the
power of this type of approach for increasing the information that can be obtained from
experimental biological data.’
The protein, called the K-ATP channel, is
essential for the beta-cells of the pancreas to release the hormone insulin. Diabetes
results when not enough insulin is released to meet the body's demands.
The K-ATP channel protein is the target for
anti-diabetic drugs that are taken by millions of type-2 diabetics every day. They work by
blocking the protein's function, which leads to insulin release.
Mutations in the genes that code for the
K-ATP channel result in changes in the protein's structure and cause babies to be born
with diabetes.
Professor Frances Ashcroft said:
‘Forty per cent of the population have a variant in the KATP channel gene that
increases their risk of type 2 diabetes. Knowing how this protein is put together will
help us understand its role in diabetes and why some people are at higher risk. It will
also show how drugs used to control the condition actually work and perhaps lead to new
and better drugs.’
New high-tech Oxford centre leads
fight against diabetes: cure possible for children within a decade
Joint news release from the Oxford
Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Oxford, and the Diabetes Research and
Wellness Foundation
Patients with diabetes are receiving a cutting edge treatment in Oxford which could end
their dependence on insulin injections, thanks in part to research at Oxford University,
backed up by a new state-of-the-art facility opening today at the Churchill Hospital, part
of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals. The new facility, based in the Oxford Centre for
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, has been built with a £1.2 million grant from the
Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF). The award was made to the Nuffield
Department of Surgery, whose researchers are spearheading the cure for insulin-dependent
diabetes.
The technique, many aspects of which were
originally pioneered by researchers from Oxford University and more recently optimised by
the team in Edmonton in Canada, allows surgeons to transplant islets, the clusters of
cells in the pancreas which produce insulin, into patients with type I diabetes.
Currently, patients can have regular injections of insulin which keep symptoms of diabetes
at bay but do not necessarily prevent serious complications in later life such as
blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease. Alternatively, patients can undergo a whole
pancreas transplant, which is very successful in adults, but involves a major operation
not suitable for children.
Mr Paul Johnson, Director of the Oxford
Islet Transplant Programme and Reader in Paediatric Surgery at the University of Oxford,
said: ‘This new facility is a major step forward in enabling us to develop this
treatment for diabetes and to understand what causes diabetes in the first place.
Researchers from around the world will be attending the opening to learn more about our
work.’
The new technique, currently in adult human
trials, involves extracting pancreatic islets from the pancreases of organ donors and
injecting them directly into a patient’s liver using X-ray to guide the needle. After
a successful transplant, patients produce their own insulin in exactly the same way as
people without diabetes, and are freed from dependence on daily insulin injections. The
aim is to be able to offer this treatment to children within the next five to ten years.
While the transplantation of the islets is
relatively straightforward, extracting the islets from the donor pancreas has been the
real challenge – a challenge being met by the new facility, the leading centre in the
UK and one of the very best in Europe. One of the distinguishing features of the new
facility is its ultra-cleanliness. Mr Johnson says: ‘The new facility offers a new
level of cleanliness that we have previously not encountered. The staff isolating the
islets have to progress through a series of rooms with ever increasing levels of hygiene.
Each has higher air pressure than the last so that no contaminants can pass into it,
making it much cleaner than the cleanest parts of a normal operating theatre or
laboratory. Not even water is allowed inside the rooms as this might be a source of
infection.’
Lab technicians must wash and change into
scrubs just as a surgeon would before entering the first room, but to enter the last room
in the chain, they have to don a full body suit which allows no part of their body to come
into contact with the surroundings. An incoming pancreas would progress through the rooms,
being passed from one to the other through airlocks, progressing through the various
stages of preparation necessary for islet extraction.
The extraction itself takes between four
and six hours. First an enzyme is injected into the donated pancreas, which separates the
surrounding pancreatic tissue from the islets and breaks it down to make a pancreas digest
(a sort of ‘pancreas soup’). This is then put through a process called
‘density separation’ until a sufficient number of pure islets can be recovered.
This extraction process isn’t simple,
however. ‘Knowing when you’ve reached the required level of islet separation
within the solution takes considerable expertise, gained over many years,’ says Mr
Johnson. ‘The experience of the islet isolation team is really important, but even
with the expertise we have at this centre, the process is still quite inefficient. We are,
therefore, researching ways of improving the number of islets we can extract from each
pancreas.’
Another crucial aspect of the research
within Oxford is investigating ways to prevent recipients rejecting the donated islets.
Adults can be given drugs that suppress their immune system, but the long-term use of
these drugs in children would have significant complications. There are various ways that
could be used to get round this problem, such as manipulating the recipients’ T-cells
(cells that play a crucial role in the immune response), using artificially created
capsules in which the islets sit, or modifying the islets themselves. The goal is to be
able to perform islet transplants without the need for any anti-rejection drugs. The team
is also investigating the possibility of creating islets from adult stem cells or
genetically modified animal cells.
The extensive research programme takes
place at the same time as continuing to treat patients. ‘Our overall aim is to be
able to treat children soon after their diagnosis,’ says Mr Johnson. ‘By taking
the results of our clinical trials in adults back into the laboratory and using them to
expand our knowledge, we drive forward our research, which will, in turn, improve our
clinical practice. The work in this facility keeps Oxford at the forefront of this
research and will take us much closer to finding a cure for diabetes in the future.’
Sarah Bone, Executive Director of the
Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, adds: ‘This facility is a huge
advancement and will allow Oxford to remain at the forefront of islet cell technology. We
are proud to be associated with such a highly regarded team and are confident that the
facility will become regarded as a centre of excellence, providing much hope and benefit
to people with diabetes. DRWF would like to acknowledge the generosity of their
supporters, without whom funding of this project would not have been possible.’
Diuretics and beta-blockers, used
to treat hypertension, are associated with an increased risk of developing type 2
diabetes, new findings indicate.
The risk of developing diabetes in subjects
taking thiazide-type diuretics compared with those not taking a thiazide was increased by
20 percent in older women, 45 percent in younger women, and 36 percent in men, after
taking account of age, weight, physical activity, and other risk factors. Compared to
patients not taking a beta-blocker, older women taking beta-blockers had a 32 percent
higher risk of diabetes, while for men the risk was 20 percent higher.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=117&
art_id=qw1148060521152B243
We found that thiazide diuretic use was
independently associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in three
distinct cohorts. The use of ß-blockers also was independently associated
with increased risk in older women and men. Although we did not ascertain the
use of ß-blockers in the cohort of younger women, the use of other
antihypertensives, a category presumably including ß-blockers, was associated
with increased risk. The use of calcium channel blockers and ACE
inhibitors was not associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/29/5/1065
