Commentary: Diet is critical in managing diabetes

By Bonnie Brost

What we eat affects our bodies and our health.

For people with diabetes, what we eat can help us manage the condition or put us at risk for serious health issues. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects almost 30 million adults in the United States. Another 86 million adults have pre-diabetes, which means they are at high risk for developing the disease.
Diabetes means your body either doesn't make enough insulin or cannot use its own insulin as well as it should. In reality, diabetes is much more complicated. The federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention define it well: "Diabetes is the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy."

A classic symptom of diabetes is high blood sugar, which rises in all of us after we eat but can reach dangerous levels in people with the disease. Blood sugar levels are how the disease is diagnosed and monitored using blood tests.
High blood sugar can increase your risk of blindness, kidney damage, heart attack or stroke. It can cause loss of feeling in your feet and legs, which can lead to amputation. The damage does not happen quickly, and by the time you have a hint that there is damage, it may be too late to avoid it.
Living with too high blood sugar is like having a car with a little oil leak. You may not even notice it for a long time until your car engine overheats and becomes too damaged to run. That's why we need to pay attention to our blood sugar patterns, understand what is happening and develop lifestyle habits that delay or avoid destroying our body.

Diet is critical to managing diabetes. We can divide foods into three categories: protein, fat and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates have the biggest effect on blood sugar.
Many people believe that eating very little carbohydrates is what is needed. However, there is no conclusive evidence of an ideal amount of carbohydrate intake for people with diabetes. Recommendations need to be based on an individualized assessment of each person's current eating patterns, food preferences and metabolic goals.
Too few carbohydrates can actually cause blood sugar to run high for some people with diabetes. Their liver can become overactive and dump sugar if they don't eat enough carbohydrates. Limiting all carbohydrates may also decrease important vitamins and minerals that our bodies need, such as magnesium and potassium. This also can affect blood sugar control, blood pressure and heart beat.

Still, carbohydrates do need to be limited for people with diabetes. It is best to spread carbs out throughout the day so the pancreas only has to handle a little carbohydrate at a time, not a big load. Skipping breakfast or lunch sets you up to overdose for the evening meal and your pancreas will protest for all the extra work late in the day.
Most adults with diabetes should aim for 30-60 grams of carbohydrates per meal and 15-30 grams for a snack. Choose carbohydrates that are higher in fibre, such as whole fruits or vegetables or whole grains instead of those high in sugar or highly processed such as regular soda, cookies, sweet rolls, candy, baked goods, juices and many cereals. Instead, try high-fibre tortilla wraps, fresh apples, fresh berries, beans, Triscuits or Beanito chips.
Protein may help stabilize blood sugars. Protein doesn't spike blood sugars and when eaten with some carbohydrates can slow the digestion of carbohydrates. Choose protein low in saturated fat, such eggs, poultry, fish, tuna, reduced-fat cheese, very lean pork and very lean beef. Make a breakfast wrap with a high-fibre tortilla, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes. Try a chicken chili with chicken breast, black beans, tomatoes, corn and peppers. Pair a grilled pork tenderloin with sweet potato and roasted cauliflower and broccoli.
Saturated fat may block insulin from working and cause blood sugars to stay high. Saturated fat is very high in butter, cheese, marbled cuts of beef, most sausages, chocolate candy, ice cream and many desserts. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in nuts and olive oil, have little effect on blood sugar.
Exercise is amazing for diabetes. The more you move the less medication you need to manage your blood sugar. Exercise helps muscle cells take in blood sugar more efficiently. It also helps to quiet the liver from dumping too much sugar. Exercised muscles store more sugar so they don't have to call to the liver for extra fuel.
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, be sure to do your part with eating well throughout the day, limiting simple carbohydrates, exercising, taking your medications and getting good sleep. This will help your body stay well and avoid complications.

http://www.brainerddispatch.com/lifestyles/health/4148346-commentary-diet-critical-managing-diabetes

Can your diet defeat diabetes? What Britain's four million sufferers eat may cause illness - but doctors say it can be beaten

From mirror.co.uk

Dealing with Type 2 diabetes is costing the health service a staggering £10 billion a year as nearly four million Brits now suffer from the illness.
The NHS is sitting on a diabetes time-bomb.
Dealing with Type 2 diabetes is costing the health service a staggering £10 billion a year as nearly four million Brits now suffer from the illness.

There are nearly 2,000 early deaths a month attributed to diabetes and everyday 20 people have limbs amputated as a result of diabetes-related complications.
And it is estimated that a staggering 11 million of us have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Dr Naresh Kanumilli said: “If you look at the incidents of diabetes that is going to happen in 2030, it far outnumbers the numbers of cancers put together.”
Ninety per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese – so it appears that what we eat may be a big part of the problem.
And now doctors have proven that diet can be a cure for some people with diabetes.
Professor Roy Taylor and his team at Newcastle University have been doing ground-breaking research on the condition.
Using an MRI scan they can reveal the hidden carnage inside people's bodies – the amount of fat inside their liver and pancreas which can indicate their risk of developing diabetes.
People with an excessively high percentage of fat in their livers are at an increased risk.
But the doctors have have been able to show that just two months of dietary changes can make dramatic improvements.
And it is thought that carefully combining certain foods can be key on controlling blood sugar levels and therefore Type 2 diabetes.
Professor Taylor tells ITV's Tonight Programme: “We've been able to show that with eight weeks of very low calorie diet we could not only get the liver back to normal, but also wake up the pancreas and diabetes had gone.
"So a very striking finding because no-one had ever watched the pancreas waking up and going back to normal before.
“Some individuals hearing about this have put their own interpretations on it and have done exactly the same, cutting back to seven/eight hundred calories just with ordinary food stuffs and that is fine.”
Peter Maher had been diabetic for the last three decades and was injecting insulin daily. But when he read Professor Taylor's research he decide to have a go himself.
He cut back on carbohydrates, reduced his portion sizes and focused on eating combinations of foods that kept his blood sugar low.
He says: “Over time I developed a whole new menu of things that not only I could eat but I really enjoyed eating. And as long as you keep your carbohydrate under control you can have some really delicious meals.
"One of my favourites is to go out to a restaurant and have a steak and a salad – zero carbohydrate. And once you understand that you know dieting is a dream.”
After four months Peter dropped two and a half stone, his blood sugar levels came down and he was able to come off insulin altogether.
He says: “So I had gone from a position at the start of March pumping loads of stuff into my body and by mid-August, simply by changing what I ate all of my diabetic symptoms were improving and medication was down to zero.”
Medicinal chef Dale Pinnock says people should look for carbohydrates with low GI levels – the Glycemic Index being what measures how quickly carbs are turned into sugar in our bodies.
He says people should be looking to ditch the chips in favour of good quality carbs like brown rice and combine them with a good quality protein like a chicken breast.
Dale says this creates a meal which takes longer to digest and in turn releases its energy much more slowly.
Claire Poole was quite cynical about Dale's methods - until she tried them for herself. She is overweight, using medication to control her type 2 diabetes symptoms and admits one of her favourite meals is homemade sausage pie and chips.
Before eating her regular meal she tested her blood glucose level which was 7.7. Official recommendations say it should only rise to a maximum of 8.5 two hours after eating. But instead it shot up to 15.9
But under Dale's guidance she has managed to keep her blood sugar levels much more controlled after a meal.
She cooked one of his recipes, chicken breast, bacon and puy lentils - and her blood glucose level only rose to eight.
Last year school welfare worker Val Cornall had a routine test which revealed she had a very high blood sugar level putting her at risk of type 2 diabetes.
She weighed over 16 stone at the time and the diagnosis was the incentive she needed to lose weight.
She followed an eight week diet, specifically aimed at reducing foods that cause a spike in blood-sugar levels.
Full fat dairy, meat, nuts, salads, porridge and veg were in, and high sugar foods – including high sugar fruits - and her favourite fish and chips were out.
In just eight weeks she lost two stone. She says: “I kept losing weight. I have lost weight every week since then and I have lost six stone and 11 pounds so far.
"I feel much fitter and much healthier and my blood glucose is now back to normal...and I am really thankful and relieved about that.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/can-your-diet-defeat-diabetes-9137229

5 Tips for Dealing With Diabetes and a New Job

By Lindsey Wahowiak

Congratulations! You have a new job, new responsibilities, new co-workers and boss, and maybe even a new commute or lunch routine. When you have diabetes, you have something more to think about than your first-day paperwork. Here’s how to make your transition a smooth one.

1. Consider Who You’ll Tell

You don’t have to inform an employer that you have diabetes—and company personnel are not permitted by law to ask. But you may want people to know, says Joanne Rinker, MS, RD, CDE, LDN, a dietitian and diabetes educator who sits on the board of directors for the American Association of Diabetes Educators. If you have a job with a rigid schedule, you may want to tell your employer about your diabetes so you can have the breaks you need for self-care tasks. If you have a more relaxed structure and privacy in your new job—a place to check blood glucose, take injections or medications, and have meals and snacks as needed—you may choose not to tell.
Your conversations can be subtle and confidential, or you may share with everyone. Brianna Wolin, 21, of Chicago shares a quick speech about diabetes with co-workers: “I am entirely self-managed and have never needed others’ assistance due to a diabetic emergency. However, in the event that I do need help, please find the glucagon in my bag and call 911, unless I am conscious, in which case please direct me to drink a sugary drink. I may need to suddenly go to the bathroom, leave my desk, or leave work for the day, which I will never abuse. If you have any questions, always feel free to ask—I’m an open book!”

2. Know Your Rights

It’s your employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy workplace, according to federal regulations. That includes offering reasonable accommodations for where to check blood glucose, dose insulin, and treat lows.
To that end, attorney Benjamin Eisenberg, director of the American Diabetes Association’s Legal Advocate Program, and his team help hundreds of people with workplace issues every year. “We are willing to help you educate an employer, help you negotiate problems, or even walk you through the steps to file formal legal complaints—whatever we can do to help fight for fairness for people with diabetes at work,” Eisenberg says.

3. Communicate & Educate

People who lack information about diabetes may make incorrect assumptions about it. Some people with diabetes, in an effort to not make their new co-workers uncomfortable, may hide their management and treatment. But this can be dangerous. Anthony Ware, MPM, MFP, APM, 48, a retired Navy veteran and airport manager from Lake Charles, Louisiana, hid his type 2 diabetes for six months. “I … found myself having a hypoglycemic episode once a day before I came forward,” Ware says. The good news: “There was an immediate positive reception with genuine concern for me.”
Ware says communication, cooperation, and information encourage a healthier, safer, and more productive workplace environment. Not sure where to start? Learn more about workplace discrimination at diabetes.org/workrights. The National Diabetes Education Program’s Diabetes at Work offers fact sheets, lesson plans, and tool kits for workplace education. Find out more at diabetesatwork.org.

4. Build a Buddy System

If your workplace has a wellness program that promotes healthy worker behaviours, consider joining. If it doesn’t, ask your boss or human resources department about creating one. These programs can be beneficial to people with and without diabetes.
It behoves both workers and employers to use a workplace wellness program, says Joan Bardsley, MBA, RN, CDE, FAADE, assistant vice president of Medstar Health Research Institute and Medstar Health Nursing. “Employers are … doing this so people are healthier,” she says. “A healthier workforce is a more productive workforce.” The ADA’s Wellness Lives Here program (diabetes.org/wellnessliveshere) helps employers promote healthy living and reduce illness.

5. Account for (In)Activity & Stress

Whether you’ve got a job that requires you to be on your feet all day or one that keeps you at a desk, your blood glucose levels can be affected, says Pamela Allweiss, MD, MPH, a medical officer with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Diabetes Translation. And different days might involve different tasks, so it’s important to check your blood glucose as directed, especially on days that heighten your stress levels. You should also make your mental health a priority, Allweiss says. “We know people with diabetes have a higher chance of depression,” she says. “Depression is probably the most prevalent cause of absenteeism at work.”

Safety First

Simple things, like keeping emergency glucose nearby and maintaining a sharps container for discarded lancets or needles, can make your workplace safer for you and your co-workers. Pamela Allweiss, MD, MPH, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Diabetes Translation, suggests that folks who operate machinery, work shifts, or work at high heights—all of which can affect blood glucose—check levels early and often. “Be safety aware,” she says.

http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2016/nov-dec/5-tips-for-dealing-with.html

Diabetes: Don’t Sugar-Coat It

from ghs.org

A diabetes diagnosis can be scary. If your doctor tells you you’re at risk for developing diabetes, you should take it very seriously. But there are ways you can start living healthier right away. If you already have diabetes, you can control it and be a healthy person living with diabetes. Learn more about the types of diabetes, the warning signs and how you can reduce your chance of developing it (or manage your diabetes better) below.

What is Diabetes?

When you have diabetes, your body has trouble using sugar (glucose) in the blood. This leads to too much sugar in your blood.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1
The body does not make enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the cells in your body to use the sugar in your blood. Many people with type 1 diabetes need an insulin shot every day.
Type 2
The body makes insulin, but the insulin does not work the way it is should. Type 2 diabetes often is linked to obesity.
Gestational Diabetes
High blood sugar in a pregnant woman who has never had diabetes.

How Do I Know if I Have Diabetes?

Diabetes Warning Signs

If you are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, tell your doctor:

• Needing to use the bathroom (pass urine) more often
• Feeling very hungry and thirsty
• Feeling very tired
• Blurry vision
• Cuts and bruises take longer to heal

Are You at Risk?

Type 1
In this type of diabetes, which usually starts in childhood, the body does not produce insulin. The main things that lead to it are …

• Family history. If you have relatives with diabetes, chances are greater you’ll get it, too. Anyone who has a mother, father, sister or brother with type 1 diabetes should get checked. A simple blood test can diagnose it.
• Diseases of the pancreas. These conditions, such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, can slow the ability of the pancreas to make insulin.
• Infection or illness. Some infections and illnesses, mostly rare ones, can damage your pancreas.

Type 2
If you have this kind, your body can’t use the insulin it makes. This is called insulin resistance. Type 2 usually affects adults, but it can begin at any time in your life. The main things that lead to it are …

• Obesity or being overweight. Research shows this is a top reason for type 2 diabetes. Because of the rise in obesity among U.S. children, this type is affecting more teenagers.
• Impaired glucose tolerance. Prediabetes is a milder form of this condition. It can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. If you have it, there’s a strong chance you’ll get type 2 diabetes.
• Insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes often starts with cells that are resistant to insulin. That means your pancreas has to work extra-hard to make enough insulin to meet your body’s needs.
• Ethnic background. Diabetes happens more often in Hispanic/Latino Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Alaska natives.
• High blood pressure. Blood pressure over 140/90 is associated with a higher risk of diabetes.
• Low levels of HDL. HDL is known as (“good”) cholesterol. Low HDL levels and high levels of triglycerides are associated with increased risk of diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes. If you had diabetes while you were pregnant, you had gestational diabetes. This raises your chances of getting type 2 diabetes later in life.
• Sedentary lifestyle. If you exercise less than three times a week, you may be putting yourself at risk for diabetes.
• Family history. Those with a parent or sibling who has diabetes are at increased risk of developing diabetes, too.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk.
• Age. If you’re over 45 and overweight or if you have symptoms of diabetes, talk to your doctor about a simple screening test.

First Line of Defence: Weight, Diet and Exercise

Losing extra pounds, eating better and becoming more active are some of the most important steps you can take. There are people who aren’t overweight who have type 2 diabetes, but added pounds do put you at risk. In one study, being overweight or obese was the single most important thing that predicted who would get diabetes. The study results showed that over 16 years, regular exercise—at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week—and a low-fat, high-fibre diet helped prevent diabetes. So, let’s get started …

Shed Some Pounds

Healthy weight loss isn’t just about a “diet” or “program.” It’s about an ongoing lifestyle that includes long-term changes in daily eating and exercise habits. Eating healthy food is important, but you also need to pay attention to how much food you eat. Try these small changes that can make a big difference.

• Start the day with a healthy breakfast.
• Eat small, healthy snacks during the day. This will keep you from overeating at mealtimes.
• Read the label to find out how many servings are in a package. There may be more than one!
• Put a serving of food in a bowl instead of eating out of the package or container.
• Serve food on plates and leave the main dish on the stove. You will be less tempted to go back for seconds.
• If you are eating out, only eat half of your meal. Take the other half home.
• Eat slowly—this will give you time to feel when you are full.
• Don’t eat in front of the TV. It’s harder to keep track of how much you are eating.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating healthy means getting enough vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients—and limiting unhealthy foods and drinks. Eating healthy also means getting the number of calories that’s right for you (not eating too much or too little).
To eat healthy, be sure to get plenty of …

• Vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
• Seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, beans, peas, seeds and nuts

It’s also important to limit …

• Sodium (salt)
• Added sugars like refined (regular) sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and honey
• Saturated fats, which come from animal products like cheese, fatty meats, whole milk and butter, and plant products like palm and coconut oils
• Trans fats, which may be in foods including stick margarines, coffee creamers and some desserts
• Refined grains which are in foods like cookies, white bread and some snack foods

Get Active!

Lots of people struggle to fit physical activity into their busy lives. If you or someone you care about is having a hard time getting active, here are some tips to get you started.

Do these activities alone or with a friend:

• Start small. Try taking a walk after dinner twice a week, or do crunches (sit-ups) while you watch TV.
• Mix it up. Learn new stretches and warm-up exercises.

Make exercise part of your regular routine:

• Meet a friend at the local gym or recreation centre on your way home from work.
• Wake up a bit earlier so you can go for a brisk walk before breakfast.
• Pick a certain time for physical activity, like right after your favourite TV show.
• Ride your bike or walk to the store or coffee shop.

https://www.ghs.org/healthcareservices/medicine/endocrinology-diabetes/diabetes-dont-sugar-coat/

How diabetes can be prevented

From financialwatchngr.com

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome of multiple aetiology (which can be inherited or acquired) characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia(increased blood sugar level) with disturbance of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion/or insulin utilization.

However, this disease can be prevented in high risk individuals by following these preventive measures.

In prevention of diabetes mellitus, Changing your lifestyle could be a big step  toward diabetes prevention — and it’s never  too late to start.

Diabetes prevention is as basic as eating more  healthy diet, becoming more physically active and losing a few extra weight.

Making a few simple changes in your lifestyle  now may help you avoid the complications of diabetes, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage.

Get more physical activity:

There are many benefits to regular physical activity. Exercise can help you:

– Lose weight.

– Lower your blood sugar.

– Boosts your sensitivity to insulin which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range.

Research shows that both aerobic exercise and resistance training can help control diabetes, but the greatest benefit comes from a fitness program that includes both.

Studies show that people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 per cent of their weight, if they are overweight.

 

Two keys to success:

1. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week.
2. Eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and reduce the number of calories you eat per day.

 

The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards.

One Small Step: Know your risk. Work with your health care team to find out if you have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Big Reward: Knowing you can prevent or delay diabetes can give you peace of mind. Ask yourself these questions and write down your answers.

1. Why do you want to prevent diabetes?_________
2. Who do you want to do it for?_____________

Review your answers every week to help you stay with your PLAN.

Set a weight loss goal: The key to preventing diabetes is to lose weight by eating healthy foods that are lower in fat and calories and being physically active. Set a goal that you can achieve.

A good goal is to lose at least 5 to 10 per cent of your current weight.

Weigh yourself at least once a week and write down your progress. Research shows that people who keep track of their weight reach their goals more often than those who don’t.

Move more: Try brisk walking, dancing, swimming, biking, jogging, or any physical activity that helps get your heart rate up. You don’t have to get all your physical activity at one time. Try getting some physical activity throughout the day in 10 minute sessions.

Big Reward: Losing weight by eating healthy and getting more physical activity not only can help you prevent diabetes, but it also lowers your risk for heart disease, certain types of cancer, arthritis, and many other health problems. Also, you will feel better, and have more energy to do the things you enjoy.

There are lots of things you can do at home and at work to get more physical activity throughout the day. You don’t have to play a sport or go to a gym to be more active, unless that’s what you like to do.

You can walk or try swimming, water aerobics, biking, dancing, or any activity that keeps you moving toward the goal of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week.

Before you start a physical activity program, be sure to talk with your health care provider.

Build physical activity into your day.

Start or end your day by taking your dog—or a friend’s dog, for a brisk walk. When shopping, park a little further away from the store’s entrance.

If it’s safe, get off the bus a stop or two before your work place and walk the rest of the way. While watching TV, walk or dance around the room, march in place, or do some sit-ups and leg lifts.

Double bonus: cut out a TV show and get moving instead!

Eat a Variety of Healthy Foods From Each Food Group.

Focus on fruits. Eat a variety of fruits—whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange)

Vary your veggies. Eat more dark green veggies, beans and peas.

Get your calcium-rich foods. Get 3 cups of low fat or fat-free milk—or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese every day.

Make half your grains whole. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day. One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice or pasta.

At home:

• Choose foods that are not fried. Instead of fried chicken, try it grilled or baked. Instead of potato chips, slice potatoes, mix them with a little bit of oil and pepper, and bake them in the oven.
• Use herbs and seasonings to add flavour to low-fat dishes. Instead of salt, give foods a little kick by adding hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
• Wrap up and refrigerate leftover foods right after cooking so you’re less tempted to go back for seconds.
• For dessert, eat a piece of fruit.

In-between meals:

• Replace snacks high in fat with crunchy fruits, vegetables, or a tablespoon or two of unsalted nuts.
• Drink lots of water. Choose water or sugar-free soda. By doing this, you can cut about 250 calories.

Go lean with protein. Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. And vary your protein choices— with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little salt (sodium) and/or sweeteners.

IN CONCLUSION
Maintain a healthy weight. To find out if you are overweight, you can use the body mass index (BMI) chart for adults.
Exercise regularly. Do activities that raise your heart rate. Try to do moderate activity at least 2½ hours a week.
Eat a balanced diet, including whole grains, lean meat, and vegetables.
Limit saturated fats, Limit calories in order to avoid gaining weight, or to help you lose weight. Reduce your intake of junk food.
Eat smaller meals more often in order to keep blood sugar levels within your target range.
Eating more vegetables, whole grains, and nuts can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2016/10/23/diabetes-can-prevented/

Managing diabetes takes four steps

From elpasotimes.com

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses blood sugar.
Having too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems and kidney disease.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
With type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce the hormone insulin, which helps your body use the sugars and starches you eat. With type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels rise higher than normal and the body is not able to make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at normal levels.
The CDC estimates that 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year.
November is National Diabetes Month with the intent to bring awareness about the impact of diabetes on millions of Americans to individuals, health care professionals, organizations and communities across the country. The National Diabetes Education Program’s theme this year is "Managing Diabetes."
There are four steps to Manage Your Diabetes.
Step 1: Learn about diabetes.  Know the difference between the different types of diabetes.
Step 2: Know your diabetes ABCs (A-1-C test, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol). The A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. B is for blood pressure. If your blood pressure gets too high, it makes your heart work too hard and can lead to a heart attack or stroke. C is for cholesterol. Find out what your cholesterol numbers are and what they should be.
Step 3: Learn how to live with diabetes. Stress can raise your blood sugar. Learn about different ways to lower your stress, like deep breathing or talking a walk. Eat a balanced diet. Choose foods that are lower in calories and have more fibre. Be physically active. Set goals to be active every day. Start off slow by taking 10-minute walks and gradually increase the amount of time you spend being physically active each week.
Step 4: Get routine checkups to stay healthy.
Maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important for someone who has diabetes. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of complications and other health problems.
According to the American Diabetes Association, obesity affects more than one in three adults and nearly 17 percent of children in the United States. Losing a few pounds through a healthy meal plan and exercise will help control diabetes.
Learn about different ways to lose weight in a healthy way. Find a weight loss plan that works best for you. Eating well-balanced meals and participating in regular physical activity are the keys to managing diabetes.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/life/2016/10/23/managing-diabetes-takes-four-steps/92371380/

Two fizzy drinks a day 'doubles risk of diabetes'

By Francesca Gillett

Two glasses of Diet Coke a day doubles the risk of diabetes, scientists have found.
In surprising new study researchers found the diet drink can be almost as bad as other fizzy drinks – and despite being sugar-free it does not stop the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
More than 2,800 adults took part in the Swedish study and kept a year-long diary about what they drank every day.
Scientists suspect the artificial sweetener in the drinks can actually make people feel hungrier and reach for sugary food.
People who drank two or more sweetened drinks a day - whether sugary or artificially sweetened - were 2.4 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
The researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found for every 200ml of sugary fizzy drink drunk each day, the diabetes risk increased by 21 per cent. The same amount of diet drink consumed every day increased the risk by 18 per cent.
Drinking five or more sugar-free drinks a day increased the risk of developing the disease by 4.5 times.
The findings were published in the European Journal of Endocrinology, have led researchers to believe artificial sweeteners may be causing chemical reactions within the gut bacteria.
These reactions could lead the body to become less tolerant of glucose, triggering diabetes.
There are 3.3 million British people living with diabetes, most of whom have type 2. The NHS spend £1 billion a year on drugs to treat the illness
The head researcher, Josefin Löfvenborg, said: ‘One hypothesis is that consumption of diet soft drinks may stimulate appetite making us increase our food intake, especially sweet or sugary foods, possibly leading us to become overweight which is a risk factor for diabetes.
‘It has also been proposed that artificial sweeteners may negatively affect the balance of “good” and “bad” species of microbes in the gut, leading to glucose intolerance.’

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/two-fizzy-drinks-a-day-doubles-risk-of-diabetes/ar-AAjdoTN

New Studies Suggest Benefits of Exercise for People With Type 2 Diabetes

By ABC News

New studies that took a deeper look at the role of exercise in treating people with Type 2 diabetes determined that both the timing and quantity of exercise can have an impact on people with the disease.

Nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population has Type 2 diabetes and more than one in three people are pre-diabetic, putting them at high risk for developing the metabolic disease, according to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC).

A small study conducted by researchers in New Zealand found that walking 10 minutes after meals, and dinner in particular, proved to be more effective in controlling blood sugar levels for Type 2 diabetics than doing 30 minutes of exercise all at once during the day. The study, published Monday in Diabetologia, found that walking post-dinner brought post-meal blood sugar levels down by 22 percent.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes sugar to collect in the blood, according to the National Institutes of Health. Type 2 diabetes can be treated with diet, exercise and medication, including insulin. Type 1 diabetes, which more commonly occurs in childhood and young adulthood, is a result of a damaged pancreas that produces little to no insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes must self-administer insulin for the rest of their lives.

In a separate study, researchers from the U.K. combined results from 28 smaller studies and found that the more exercise people did, the lower their risk of Type 2 diabetes. The studies found that exercise helps insulin work better on cells and helps muscles use sugar more effectively.

The research, also published in Diabetologia, found that people who doubled their amount of exercise to about 300 minutes per week, instead of the recommended 150 minutes per week, reduced their risk of Type 2 diabetes by 36 percent.

Only 49 percent of Americans regularly exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week, at a moderate level, according to 2015 CDC data.

ABC News' Chief Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser said that each diabetic responds differently to exercise so people should work with their doctors to make sure they are getting the benefits of exercise but not dropping their blood sugar levels too much.

"Every bit helps," Besser said of exercise. "You shouldn't be put off by the fact that, 'I don't have time.'"

Aside from exercise, the chief recommendation for helping lower people's risk for developing diabetes is weight loss.

According to Besser, even a five percent drop in weight for an overweight person can considerably reduce risk for diabetes. Doctors commonly recommend a regimen of both diet and exercise for Type 2 diabetics because losing weight helps lower the risk of diabetes and exercise itself seems to help with diabetes treatment.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/studies-suggest-benefits-exercise-people-type-diabetes/story?id=42874203

Taking a stroll after meals can tackle diabetes

By Ben Spencer

Taking a ten-minute stroll after each meal could help people with type two diabetes control their condition, experts have found.

Patients who exercised three times a day, after breakfast, lunch and dinner, had lower blood sugar levels than those who went for a single 30-minute walk each day.

People with type two diabetes are currently encouraged to carry out regular physical activity - but are not given advice about when to do this exercise.

The scientists, whose results were published in the Diabetologia medical journal, called for a change in guidelines.

They found that people who took regular exercise within five minutes of finishing their meals, saw their blood sugar drop 22 per cent immediately after their walk, and 12 per cent lower overall than people who went for a single walk a day.

The researchers, from the University of Otago in New Zealand, wrote: ‘Although the prescriptions were matched in total walking time, the advice to walk after each main meal resulted in significantly greater overall activity.

‘The improvement in overall postprandial glycaemia was largely accounted for by lower blood glucose levels after the evening meal, when carbohydrate consumption was high and participants tended to be more sedentary.’

The scientists, who carried out their research on 41 volunteers, think people will also be more likely to be consistently go for short walks, several times a day, than a single longer walk.

They did not explore exactly why exercising after meals was more effective, but previous research suggests muscular contractions shortly after eating helps transport the newly digested glucose into the muscle cells, without the need for insulin.

A second study, also published in the Diabetologia journal, suggests that regular exercise by healthy people significantly reduces they chance they will develop diabetes in the first place.

That research, by the University of Cambridge and University College London, suggests that people who walk for 30 minutes a day, five times a week, have a 26 per cent lower chance of developing type two diabetes

And the more exercise they do, the greater the benefit.

People who carry out an hour of exercise every day reduce their risk of by 40 per cent, independent of other factors such as diet.

The study gathered data from previous studies involving more than a million people.

Nearly 4million people in the UK have type two diabetes, and 12million more are at risk of developing the disease.

The NHS advises that everyone does moderate exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming at least 150 minutes a week, or 30 minutes five times a week.

But surveys have revealed that 44 per cent do no regular exercise at all.

Researcher Dr Soren Brage, of Cambridge University, said: ‘This research shows that some physical activity is good, but more is better.’

Study leader Andrea Smith, of UCL and Cambridge, added: ‘Our results suggest a major potential for physical activity to slow down or reverse the global increase in type two diabetes.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3846044/Taking-stroll-meals-tackle-diabetes.html

Type 2 Diabetes - Use Optimism to Help Lower Your Blood Sugar and Body Weight

By Beverleigh H Piepers

If a "magic pill" cure for Type 2 diabetes existed, we would love to discuss it in-depth. But unfortunately, it doesn't. The closest we can get to a cure is an intervention that would most likely involve drastic changes in the lifestyle of a person with Type 2 diabetes. But some people don't want to hear about lifestyle changes and do not want to know about its existence. But good nutrition and moderate exercise are even more efficient in people age sixty and older than in younger people.
The last thing you need, however, is a pessimistic approach. Whether you are seeking to treat your condition or not, it is wise not to allow a sense of gloom take over. High and unstable blood sugar levels can be surprisingly deadly, especially for the unprepared. But even knowing this, you should not get down on yourself. Even if the days of being lean and completely healthy are behind you, motivated people who start making lifestyle changes can reap tremendous health benefits almost immediately.

Long-term change can be difficult: this is why it is smart to seek help when you need it. It is hard work to reverse obesity and bring your blood sugar down to a healthy range and keep them there, but if it took ten years to become overweight, it will take some time to recover the slim body you had ten years ago. And even when you lower your blood sugar levels through healthy eating, you may not regain the complete health profile you had as a young adult. But that's okay. You have to focus on what you can control. And it is entirely in your hands to do what is necessary to be a healthy 45 or 55-year-old, or whatever your age may be.

You see, what is most important is to be optimistic. If you are not the type of person who sees a glass of water as being half full, you must work at changing that. You need to see the positives and avoid dwelling on the negatives. You can certainly acknowledge the latter, but only as a means of helping you address your issues.

What we mean by this is despite your current circumstances, there is a way out. Type 2 diabetes can be managed and treated successfully. Weight loss is doable for everyone. If you commit to making changes to your food choices and add physical activity to your day, you will overcome the issues with both your blood sugar and weight. But only if you persevere.
Being optimistic can help you through your struggles. Don't get down on yourself. View shortcomings as learning experiences. And stay with your goal because your goal is worth achieving.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---Use-Optimism-to-Help-Lower-Your-Blood-Sugar-and-Body-Weight&id=9546664

Weight conscious diabetics warned of danger in skipping their insulin shots

By Melanie Swan

Diabetics are endangering their health by not taking insulin shots or using low doses in a bid to avoid gaining weight, experts warn.
With about one million new cases of the condition reported last year, according to the International Diabetes Federation, the UAE has one of the world’s highest concentrations.
Clinicians have reported cases of diabetes bulimia in some younger patients who risk their health in order to prevent putting on the extra pounds that can accompany insulin use.

GP Dr Shereen Habib said "dia-bulimia" tended to happen more often with teenagers.
"I think it is important to make doctors, and more importantly parents of teenage diabetics, aware of this. It is probably more prevalent than we realise."

Noor Ramahi "battled for years" with dia-bulimia.

"Living with diabetes is a struggle and insulin makes you gain weight as it stores fat. Sometimes even when eating restricted calories you can still gain weight, especially if you are insulin resistant.

"I was diagnosed at the age of five and very early on was aware of carb counts, calories, fat in food, and the effects of insulin on the body. My maturity beyond my years was also my enemy because I was also smart at hiding my dia-bulimia and lying about it. I knew how to manipulate the system," said Ms Ramahi.
"Thankfully, I have reached a point where I have finally came to appreciate my body and everything it does to keep me alive, although I still deal with self esteem issues and do struggle with weight issues," said the Emirati who is now a mother of twins.
The 28-year old said that her family saw what was happening to her but did not know how to intervene.
"In the UAE, we do a good job at dealing with the technicality of diabetes but unfortunately don’t have a strong support system, groups, meet-ups or mental health clinics to deal with issues that arise from having this chronic disease," she said.
"Having a chronic disease is a 24/7 job. There are no breaks, no time outs, no vacations. It’s always there lurking in the shadows and that takes a toll on you," said Ms Ramahi.

Dr Thoraiya Khalfani, clinical director at Human Relations Institute, said awareness of the condition must be raised among health professionals.
"Those suffering with dia-bulimia withdraw from medication not to harm themselves, but to refrain from gaining weight and increase weight loss," she said, adding that this was often an attempt at gaining a sense of control.
"Eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia are very complicated and cannot be minimised."

When it came to seeking help, Ms Al Ramahi said she felt a lack of support and understanding.
"Dealing with an eating disorder is a mental disorder, it is a sickness in itself and it’s the healthcare team’s job to see the signs and intervene."
One of the key characteristics of an eating disorder is a drive for thinness, fat phobia, and disproportionate amount of concern attached to body weight and shape, said psychologist Dr Justin Thomas.

"These factors can become strong and all-consuming enough to make a person even forsake their diabetes medication," he said.
"In addition to restricting food, vital medication is skipped. In addition to compensating for overeating through exercise, laxative abuse or vomiting, not taking diabetes medication has become another, particularly dangerous weight or shape control technique."

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/weight-conscious-diabetics-warned-of-danger-in-skipping-their-insulin-shots

How Matty Adler went from diabetic to stable blood sugar in 90 days

By Chris Antonio

In early June, Matty Adler received bad news from his doctor. His blood sugar test confirmed he had developed Type II diabetes and he would need immediate medication to treat his condition. As he sat there listening to the diagnosis, he knew his life was about to change forever, and he needed to start living a healthy lifestyle. But what happened over the next 90 days was nothing short of amazing, and it proves exercise and healthy living play an important role in the prevention and treatment of serious diseases like diabetes. 

Matty had previously tested as pre-diabetic, but in June his blood sugar levels skyrocketed well into the Type II diabetic category, and when his doctor explained he now had diabetes, the first question he asked was if the condition was reversible. “He told me yes, it was absolutely reversible. With a healthy diet and exercise program, I could see healthy blood sugar levels again, but I expected it to be a long, difficult journey that I was not looking forward to.” So before he left the doctor’s office, Matty agreed he would take the medication, try to lose 30 pounds and come back in three months to see if any progress had been made.

Directly after Matty left the office, he called me and signed up for my 12-week body transformation. We set him up with a trainer and a detailed program that included weight training, cardiovascular training and healthy diet guidelines. He began at the beginning of the summer and made quick progress. He worked out three times a week with weights and started with only eight minutes of cardio, but each week the program was strategically changed to slowly challenge him while building stronger, leaner muscles and burning unwanted  body fat. By the time the program was over, Matty had lost an amazing 53 pounds in 12 weeks and was way beyond the original goal he had set for himself.

As promised, Matty returned to his doctor to get his blood sugar levels retested, and while he was there several interesting things happened. “As I was waiting for the doctor to come in, I could hear him asking his nurse if a mistake had been made on my chart because there was no way I lost 53 pounds in just 90 days. As he opened the door, I was like ‘here I am’ and he could immediately see that it was true and was very pleased at the progress I had made.” However the best news was yet to come. When the doctor read the blood test results, he was shocked. Not only did Matty’s blood sugar levels drop from the Type II diabetic range, but they also skipped the pre-diabetic and went back to normal blood sugar, showing no signs of the disease at all. “My doctor said that in all his years of practicing medicine he had never seen this happen before. He also explained that in the medical community that once you test in the diabetic range it follows you for the rest of your life, but he said that if I come back for my next check-up and test with normal blood sugar again he would argue the case that I should be considered diabetes-free. “

In addition to losing 53 pounds and stabilizing his blood sugar, Matty’s blood pressure also dropped quite a bit too, none of his clothes fit him anymore. “I had to buy an entirely new wardrobe from my shirts, pants, underwear and T-shirts. I was even swimming in my flip flops and had to get a new pair, which I hated because I had to throw away several pair.” 

On a personal note, I have to say this is one of the most rewarding transformations I have ever been involved with. Everybody loves a great before and after picture, but to see someone completely change the course of their life with hard work and dedication is truly inspirational. There is no doubt that genetics is a major cause of disease and medical issues, but I think this story is a great example of how a healthy lifestyle can manage or reverse many of the dangerous conditions that people in America face today.

http://www.capegazette.com/article/how-matty-adler-went-diabetic-stable-blood-sugar-90-days/117938

Can cinnamon have benefits for diabetics and dieters?

From scmp.com

Can eating cinnamon help the diabetic control their blood sugar levels or the obese lose weight?

The straight answer: one study suggests eating cinnamon can reduce blood sugar levels but there is no evidence it can help with weight loss.

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The facts: advocates make some powerful claims for the healing powers of the spice cinnamon. It is said to increase sensitivity to insulin and decrease blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is supposed to take more energy to process than other foods, thus boosting the metabolism, and is full of fibre, which helps give a feeling of satiety, signalling to the body that one has eaten enough.

The claims seem counter-intuitive – the spice is a component of five-spice powder, which is a common ingredient in Chinese cooking. The International Diabetes Federation says 10 per cent of Hong Kong adults have the condition. According to government statistics, 20.8 per cent of the population are obese.

Cinnamon is grown in large quantities across south India and used liberally by chefs in that region, earning it the label of “diabetes capital of the world”. One survey suggests that more than 40 per cent of urban south Indians are obese.

Cinnamon is no magic bullet then against diabetes and obesity.

Accredited dietitian Samson Lee Kit-yue says a recent systematic review collected from clinical trials has found that eating one to six grams of cinnamon a day can have a beneficial effect in controlling blood sugar for type 2 diabetics. “Research suggests cinnamon increases the uptake of glucose from adipose tissues and skeletal muscles,” she says.

Though the clinical trials suggest that cinnamon can decrease mean average blood sugar levels (HbA1c), they do not suggest that eating the spice can help prevent spikes or dips in blood sugar levels over the course of a day. For that Lee says diabetics need to maintain their intake of starchy foods ranging from 55 to 60 per cent of their dietary intake, depending on their weight and energy expenditure. High-fibre types of carbohydrates such as red rice or brown rice over white and jacket potatoes over mashed are the better choices.

As to why regions of the world that consume cinnamon on a daily basis also have populations with difficulties controlling their blood sugar levels, Lee says that there are a great deal of other health-related behavioural, dietary and lifestyle factors that contribute to the prevalence of diabetes in these populations.

Lee says she can find no studies indicating any positive link between eating cinnamon and losing weight. Although cinnamon is plant matter and therefore fibrous, it is not necessarily substantial by the time it is eaten. As any home cook knows, cinnamon sticks are used whole and not eaten or used in a powdered form.

The idea that the spice might help with feelings of fullness probably come about because it is commonly used in vegetarian dishes – eating a diet containing large quantities of vegetables can be very filling.

In the various Western cuisines, cinnamon is most commonly associated with desserts and pastries, items with a sugar content that should rule them out for anyone trying to regulate their blood sugar or lose weight. “The relation to weight loss is not established,” says Lee.

If you are aiming to up your cinnamon intake there are a few things to be aware of. Some cinnamon on the market is the closely related cassia bark rather than true cinnamon, originally from Sri Lanka and now mostly grown on the Malabar coast of Kerala.

From a culinary point of view, bear in mind that cinnamon should be harvested every two years, when it comes off the tree in small, ugly shards. Modern demand means that it is often harvested every year, when it comes off the tree in the beautiful curls consumers are used to. This has less flavour than the less attractive, older cinnamon.

“There is no single style of food that benefits a diabetes patient. Look for holistic treatment,” says Lee. That means planning meals carefully, having plenty of exercise and being careful when eating at restaurants. Rather than eating cinnamon, many diabetics are tempted to skip carbohydrates, says Lee. “Don’t skip carbs – you need to avoid low sugar levels as well as high ones.”

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2027808/can-cinnamon-have-benefits-diabetics-and-dieters

Exercise, exercise, exercise: This is how you fight type 1 diabetes

From hindustantimes.com

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients on insulin pumps stand to benefit by engaging in aerobic exercise, showed a recent 3-month observational study on two groups of diabetics. The patients in the study group who engaged in aerobic exercise benefited by improving their metabolic control and reducing their insulin requirement as compared to those who did not exercise.
They also witnessed a reduction in the number of hyperglycemic events which they experienced. The clinical study, which focused on middle-aged T1D patients on insulin pump therapy, aimed at gathering data on metabolic activity and inflammatory and autoimmune parameters.

Researchers also hypothesised that aerobic activity could positively regulate autoimmunity and help prevent diabetes-related complications. (Shutterstock)

Having conducted similar studies previously with animals modelled with T1D, the researchers hypothesised that aerobic, physical activity might also positively regulate autoimmunity and help prevent diabetes-related complications in humans.

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Co-author Livio Luzi said, “We found that being physically active can improve glycemic control for patients with type 1 diabetes. Our results suggest that an educational program addressed to T1D patients, and focused on insulin injecting monitoring, diet, and exercise, is highly advantageous for management of T1D.”
According to the researchers, the six patients in the exercise arm of the study (ACT) seemed to have more responsible behaviour in monitoring their glucose levels when compared to the seven study patients who did not exercise and were sedentary (SED). They concluded that further studies with larger groups of participants should be carried out, but t their results on a small number of patients should be considered primary predictors of exercise-induced metabolic improvements in T1D patients.
“The current study provides physiological data that demonstrate exercise is an important factor in improving and managing type 1 diabetes,” said Rodolfo Alejandro, another researcher. “With the increasing rate of diabetes, including an exercise program as part of treatment is highly recommended and, when coupled with insulin therapy, may yield better results for patients. Future studies should explore mechanisms of action related to exercise-mediated immunomodulation with a larger sample of the population,” she added. The study was published in Cell Transplantation.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/exercise-exercise-exercise-this-is-how-you-fight-type-1-diabetes/story-JuRb6yWOweUFR2rDyxd0FI.html

Scientists hail new artificial pancreas to treat diabetes

By Lucy Johnston

SCIENTISTS have developed an artificial pancreas set to revolutionise the treatment of diabetes.

The ground-breaking device, hailed in the US as a “game changer” in controlling the disease, checks blood sugar levels and delivers life-saving insulin as required.
Sarah Johnson, a director at JDRF, the Type 1 diabetes charity, said: “We have been funding research for this breakthrough for over a decade.
"We are incredibly excited about it. Our next effort will be to get UK regulatory approval and get it to people through the NHS.

Professor Bruce Buckingham, a specialist in diabetes at Stanford University, California, who helped run trials of the system, said: “This is a real game changer in controlling blood glucose levels and a revolution in diabetes treatment.
“It has been shown to work in Type 1 diabetes patients, but it could also be used on people with Type 2.”
The MiniMed 670G can be implanted anywhere on the body.
It features a sensor the size of a large coin that monitors glucose levels and a separate insulin pump, the size of a wafer-thin matchbox, that responds to the monitor and automatically infuses insulin into the body as needed via a catheter.
"This frees patients of the need constantly to check blood glucose levels and deliver their own insulin injections to avoid serious complications, including sudden death if blood sugar plunges too low.
All people with Type 1 diabetes and many with insulin-dependent Type 2 must constantly check their blood sugar throughout the day, injecting insulin according to what they eat and how much they exercise. Dr Emily Burns, research manager at Diabetes UK, said: “This device will make a huge difference to people’s lives.”
The news comes as figures released to this paper from NHS Digital reveal the number of people with Type 2 diabetes – associated with obesity and poor diet – has risen threefold to almost 1.5 million in the last decade.
Last week the new artificial pancreas was approved by the American drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, for Type 1 diabetes – when the body mistakenly destroys pancreatic cells that control blood sugar leading to complications such as blindness, stroke, kidney failure and even death.
The FDA decision came after the results of trials on 100 adults and 40 children, published in leading Journal of The American Medical Association, showed it was effective.
Now UK researchers are pushing for UK regulatory approval and NHS provision.
Laura Carver, 28, who lives in Wymondham, Norfolk, with husband Gordon and baby Sonny, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was two years old and used one of the devices as part of a trial with pregnant women being run in the east of England.
The former fundraiser for a hospice, who had to inject up to six times a day and check her glucose levels 10 times a day, said it completely transformed her life.
She said: “It was brilliant. Aside from a cure it was the next best thing and I hardly had to think about my condition.
“If the technology was available for use here on a permanent basis I would jump at the chance.”

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/719103/Scientists-new-artificial-pancreas-treat-diabetes-insulin-glucose-laura-carver-blood-level

5 Common Food Myths For People with Diabetes

From The Joslin Diabetes Centre

Five Common Food Myths For People With Diabetes Debunked There are many misconceptions that people with diabetes must follow a strict diet, when in reality they can eat anything a person without diabetes eats. Amy Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, nutritionist at Joslin Diabetes Center and co-author of 16 Myths of a "Diabetic Diet," debunks some common food myths for people with diabetes.
1. People with diabetes have to eat different foods from the rest of the family.
People with diabetes can eat the same foods as the rest of their family. Current nutrition guidelines for diabetes are very flexible and offer many choices, allowing people with diabetes to fit in favourite or special-occasion foods. Everyone, whether they have diabetes or not, should eat a healthful diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein foods, and heart-healthy fats. So, if you have diabetes, there's no need to cook separately from your family.
2. People with diabetes should never give in to food cravings.
Almost everyone has food cravings at some point, and people with diabetes are no exception. It's not uncommon for people with diabetes to cut out all sweets or even cut way back on food portions in order to lose weight. In turn, your body often responds to these drastic changes by creating cravings. Nine times out of ten, your food choices in these situations tend to be high in fat and/or sugar, too.
The best way to deal with food cravings is to try to prevent them by following a healthy eating plan that lets you occasionally fit sweets into your diabetes meal plan. If a craving does occur, let yourself have a small taste of whatever it is you want. By doing so, you can enjoy the flavour and avoid overeating later on.
3. People with diabetes shouldn't eat too many starchy foods, even if they contain fibre, because starch raises your blood glucose and makes you gain weight.
Starchy foods, such as bread, pasta, rice and cereal, provide carbohydrate, the body's energy source. Fruit, milk, yogurt and desserts contain carbohydrate as well. Everyone needs some carbohydrate in their diet, even people with diabetes. Weight gain occurs when you take in more calories than you burn off. So, if you eat too much of any food, you'll end up gaining weight. The key is knowing how much of all the good food groups to eat to help keep blood glucose levels in a safe range and keep you at a healthy weight. Choose starchy foods that are whole grain and high in fibre for overall good nutrition.
4. People with diabetes do not have to worry about eating fat because it doesn't have much of an effect on blood glucose.
Fat, found in margarine, oils and salad dressings, has little immediate effect on blood glucose levels. However, eating a fatty meal can slow down digestion and make it harder for your insulin to work, causing a possible high blood glucose level hours after your meal. Some fats can raise blood cholesterol, increasing your risk for heart attack or stroke. These fats are called saturated fat and trans fat and should be limited as much as possible. Sources of saturated fat include: butter, shortening, red meat, cheese and whole milk. Trans fat is found in some margarines, snack foods and fast foods. Also, fat is very high in calories and should be limited if you're trying to lose weight. Click here to find healthy alternatives to your favourite foods.
5. People with diabetes should always follow a low-sodium diet.
Having diabetes doesn't mean you have to cut salt and sodium from your diet. However, people with diabetes should cut back on their sodium intake since they are more likely to have high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease, than people without diabetes. Some examples of high sodium foods include:

• canned soup
• canned vegetables
• cold cuts
• salad dressings
• some cereals

Even if you don't have high blood pressure, it's not a bad idea to watch your sodium intake, since some people are "salt sensitive" and may experience an increase in blood pressure after eating salty foods.

http://community.diabetes.org/discuss/viewtopic/3/8072?post_id=110041

Job insecurity tied to increased risk of diabetes

From foxnews.com

People who are worried about losing their jobs may be more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, according to a new analysis.
Compared to people who felt secure in their jobs, people who were experiencing so-called job insecurity had a 19 percent higher rate of new cases of diabetes, which researchers called a "modest increased risk."
The study can't prove that job insecurity causes diabetes. Still, said lead author Jane Ferrie, "In an ideal world, the sort of thing I'd like to see come out of this study is a reduction in job insecurity and an increase in secure job contracts and reasonable wages."

About one in 10 adults have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization. Most have type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body can't make or process enough of the hormone insulin.
For the new analysis, Ferrie, of the University of Bristol and University College London in the U.K., and colleagues compiled data from 19 studies involving a total of 140,825 adults in the U.S., Australia and Europe who were employed and diabetes free when they enrolled in the studies.
At the outset, participants were asked if they were afraid of losing their jobs in the near future. Depending on the study, from 6 percent to 40 percent of respondents said yes, they did fear for their jobs.
Over the next 10 years, on average, the annual rate of new diabetes cases in the studies ranged from about 9 for every 10,000 participants to about 85 for every 10,000.
People who reported job insecurity at the beginning of the study were 19 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes during the follow-up period, after taking age and sex into account, according to the report in CMAJ.
When the researchers restricted their analysis to the 15 studies with data on factors other than age and sex that might influence a person's risk, job insecurity was still tied to a 12 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with diabetes.
The new analysis fills a gap, Ferrie and colleagues suggest. Job insecurity has already been linked with higher body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight in relation to height. Past studies also found that people experiencing job insecurity had an increased risk of heart attacks and deaths related to heart problems.
A high BMI is one risk factor for diabetes, which in turn is a risk factor for heart disease.
Job-related stress can cause people to overeat and overindulge in other unhealthy behaviours, and stress hormones can directly promote weight gain as well, all of which could contribute to increased risk for diabetes.
Individuals shouldn't be too concerned about the findings, however, since the study looked at diabetes risk across a large group of people, Ferrie told Reuters Health. "This is not going to tell any individual about their risk."
"We need a population health approach and to reduce people's exposure to job insecurity," she said.
But the new study is something to keep in mind for people facing job insecurity - especially people who are already at high risk for diabetes, such as men and women who are overweight and women who temporarily developed diabetes while pregnant, said Edwin Torres, of Montefiore Health System in New York City.
"This is a phenomenon I've seen as a provider and in the literature," said Torres, who was not involved with the new study, but is a nurse practitioner completing his PhD on the subject at Binghamton University in New York.
"If you lose your job or have job insecurity, make sure you're exercising," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/10/05/job-insecurity-tied-to-increased-risk-diabetes.html

Worry About Job Loss May be Linked to Diabetes Risk: Study

From healthday.com

MONDAY, Oct. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Workers who feel as if they might lose their job also seem to have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.
Researchers reviewed data from nearly 141,000 workers in the United States, Europe and Australia. The workers' average age was 42.
The investigators found that diabetes rates were 19 percent higher among those who felt their employment was at risk (job insecurity) compared to people who felt secure in their jobs.
The study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, however.

The study findings were published Oct. 3 in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
"These results are consistent with other studies, showing that job insecurity is associated with weight gain, a risk factor for diabetes," said lead author Jane Ferrie. She is from University College London in England.
People with job insecurity also had a higher risk of coronary heart disease, a complication of diabetes, Ferrie noted in a journal news release.
The researchers said their findings have significance for public health. "Small long-term effects on common disease outcomes can have high relevance," the researchers wrote.
The study authors suggested that there should be policies to reduce exposure to job insecurity. In addition, they said, it's important for doctors and other health care providers to know that if someone is worried about losing their job, they may have a modestly greater risk of developing diabetes.

https://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/type-ii-diabetes-news-183/workers-worried-about-job-loss-more-at-risk-of-diabetes-study-715361.html

What is type 2 diabetes, what are the signs to watch out for and how is it treated?

By Lizzie Parry

It is a life-long health condition affecting around 3.5 million people in the UK.

On top of that, experts estimate there are 549,000 people living with diabetes, but who do not know it yet.
It is a condition caused by high levels of glucose – or sugar – in the blood.
Glucose levels are so high because the body is unable to properly use it.
In people diagnosed with diabetes, their pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin, or not enough insulin.
Insulin is a hormone typically produced by the pancreas and allows glucose to enter the cells in the body, where it’s used for energy.

People diagnosed with diabetes are unable to make proper use of glucose, so it builds up in the blood and can’t be used as energy.
There are two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2.
The distinction lies in what is causing the lack of insulin – often described as the key, that allows glucose to unlock the door to the cells.

WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?

Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the disease – accounting for between 85 and 95 per cent of all cases, according to Diabetes UK.
It develops when the insulin-producing cells in the body are unable to produce enough insulin.
It can also be triggered when the insulin that is produced doesn’t work properly.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Typically, people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes from the age of 40.
However, there are some exceptions.
In people from southern Asia the disease can appear as early as 25.
And the condition is becoming more prevalent in children, teenagers of all ethnicities.
Experts suggest the rising rates of type 2 diabetes is due to the obesity epidemic – a key cause of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be treated with drugs, and many people can reverse their condition by adopting a healthy lifestyle – a healthy diet and exercise.

WHAT IS TYPE 1 DIABETES?

Type 1 diabetes is where the cells in the body that typically produce insulin have been destroyed, leaving the body unable to produce the key hormone.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Type 1 diabetes is far less common, affecting around 10 per cent of adults with the disease.
It is treated with daily insulin injections or an insulin pump.
This form of the disease typically occurs in childhood, or before the age of 40 and is not linked to obesity.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?

The common signs you may have diabetes include:

• going to the toilet a lot, especially at night
• being really thirsty
• feeling more tired than usual
• losing weight, without trying to
• genital itching or thrush
• cuts and wounds that take longer to heal
• blurred vision

The symptoms are caused by high levels of glucose remaining in the blood, where it cannot be used as energy.
These signs are common in children and adults alike. But, adults suffering type 1 diabetes can find it harder to recognise their symptoms.
Diabetes UK’s four T’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the key signs.
What are the four Ts?

• Toilet – going to the toilet a lot, bed wetting in children
• Thirsty – being really thirsty is a sign of the disease, as is not being able to quench your thirst
• Tired – feeling more tired than usual is a sign
• Thinner – losing weight without trying can indicate diabetes.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?

As well as being advised to eat a healthy diet and take more exercise, both forms of diabetes can be treated using different drugs.
However, whereas a healthier lifestyle can often reverse the symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes, it does not have the same dramatic effect on type 1 diabetes.
Every person diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will have to take insulin via injection or a pump.
Some type 2 diabetics will also need insulin, though it is less common.
Those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will sometimes need to take drugs, alongside living a healthier lifestyle.
This medication is designed to lower blood sugar levels, but cannot cure the disease.
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, so worsens over time, meaning some people will need more medication to control it as it progresses.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/1904258/what-is-type-2-diabetes-what-are-the-signs-to-watch-out-for-and-how-is-it-treated/

Healthy Foods for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

By Jasi Lyne

The following article describes information on healthy foods for patients with type 2 diabetes. It is easy to control or even cure type 2 diabetes with balanced diet, exercise and medication, on the off chance that it is diagnosed in its initial stages.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the main types of diabetes. Unbalanced blood glucose levels is the main symptom of diabetes. At the point when cells don't react to insulin, the condition is called as type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. Possibilities of developing type 2 diabetes increase with age. It develops stage by stage and can be asymptomatic in its earlier stage. Healthy diet and regular exercise help prevent or even cure diabetes.
Healthy Diet for People Affected by Type 2 Diabetes
Men who have a family history, those above age of 45, the individuals who are overweight, those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are likely to develop diabetes type 2. Also, overweight women or women with polycystic ovarian syndrome or women with family history are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Increased hunger and thirst, urge to urinate, particularly at night, slow healing wounds are a part of the main symptoms of diabetes. Those diagnosed with diabetes ought to follow a healthy and balanced diet. Healthy diet and exercise are an important part of diabetes treatment.
Healthy Natural Foods
Meat is rich in saturated fat which increases the risk of high cholesterol levels and high blood pressures. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, egg whites, lean meat, tofu, skinless chicken, shellfish, low-fat fish are all natural healthy foods. Stay away from processed and junk foods is vital in the event that you need to control diabetes with proper diet.
Avoid canned food and canned sweetened juices. Rather than having organic product juices, diabetics ought to have whole fruits. Dietary fibre helps digestion as well as controls your hunger by keeping you satisfied for a long time. Rather than having potato chips, cakes, cookies, candies, donuts, and processed cheese, the patients with type 2 diabetes ought to have fruits, skim milk, buttermilk, high fibre cereals, nuts, non-fat varieties of yogurt and salads with low-fat serving of mixed greens dressings as snacks.
Healthy recipes for diabetics ought to contain unsweetened dry fruits and nuts like almonds and walnuts, seeds like pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds. These natural foods help control metabolism and energy level. Spices like cinnamon, black pepper and turmeric increase the taste of the dish as well as help enhance insulin function. Diabetics ought to consume more fruits and vegetables with orange, red, yellow and dark green colours as they are packed with antioxidants that eliminate the impacts of free radicals on the body and reinforce the immune system.

Those diagnosed with diabetes ought to avoid table sugar, ice-creams, honey, pastries and every other form of sweets. Alcoholic beverages likewise give sugar. So they ought to check the labels before consumption.
Regular exercise increases proper functioning of all organs and helps maintain hormonal balance. Utilization of prescribed medicines and supplements, utilization of healthy foods in diet and regular exercise, help control type 2 diabetes.

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