Big Advances Made Against Diabetes in 2019

From drugs.com/news

MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 -- A new artificial pancreas system, drugs that help control blood sugar and protect the heart and the kidneys, a new medication that delays type 1 diabetes, and a new way to track blood sugar throughout the day -- 2019 was a pretty big year in diabetes care. 

"This has been a good year for patients who have diabetes. There have been a lot of changes and there are more options. These changes will have far-reaching benefits," explained Dr. Akankasha Goyal, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

In case you missed some of the latest diabetes developments, here's a look at some of what happened in 2019:

Delaying type 1 diabetes
An immunotherapy treatment called teplizumab delayed the onset of type 1 diabetes in people who were at high risk of developing the disease. The drug is also now being tested in a phase 3 trial in people who were recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Another drug -- anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) -- was given to people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Two-year study results were released this year. The drug helped preserve the function of insulin-producing beta cells and lowered blood sugar levels.

"These were amazing results in a new-onset type 1 diabetes population," said Sanjoy Dutta, vice president of research at JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). In addition to teplizumab and ATG, there have been a number of other promising drug studies this year, Dutta said.

The buzz on diabetes technology
In mid-December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Tandem Control-IQ, an algorithm that can be used with the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump and the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring system. The algorithm itself could potentially be used with other devices as well.

The algorithm isn't yet designed to be free of user input. People have to enter the amount of carbohydrates they eat into the machine so it can calculate the proper insulin dose.

Another system -- the iLet by Beta Bionics -- was given "Breakthrough Device" status by the FDA in December. That means the device can move through the approval process faster. This artificial pancreas system is designed to be fully automatic. The only input users need to provide is their weight.

A different type of advancement in technology came for people using continuous glucose monitors (CGM). In June, the FDA approved the Eversense CGM by Senseonics. Instead of a sensor worn outside of the body with a thin wire inserted under the skin, the Eversense sensor is implanted under the skin and is worn for 90 days. Other CGM sensors are typically worn for a week or two. Information from the sensor is sent to an app on the user's phone via a transmitter worn on the body.

"We have patients who have an implantable sensor and they absolutely love it," said Goyal. She said it's been a challenge getting some insurance companies to pay for it, but she's hoping that will improve in 2020 when Medicare starts paying for the implantable sensors.

Managing heart and kidney complications
Several new classes of medications have been introduced during the last decade, including drugs known as SGLT2s (Farxiga, Jardiance, Invokana) and GLP1s (Trulicity, Victoza, Ozempic, Bydureon, Byetta, Adlyxin). Researchers are learning the drugs not only help lower blood sugar levels, they also help protect the heart and kidneys.

A study published earlier in the year found that both SGLT2s and GLP1s reduced the risk of heart and blood vessel disease in people with a history of those problems. The research also found that SGLT2s could significantly lower the risk of heart failure for people with type 2 diabetes. Both classes of drugs also showed positive effects on kidney health, but SGLT2s appeared to offer more kidney protection.

"These new classes of drugs lower blood glucose levels and help reduce the risk of complications. We don't see that with other medications," Goyal said.

A GLP1 medication -- liraglutide (Victoza) -- was approved by the FDA in June 2019 to treat type 2 diabetes in children aged 10 and older. It's the first drug besides metformin and insulin that's been approved for treating paediatric type 2 diabetes.

Treating severe low blood sugar
Dutta also noted that two new versions of glucagon -- a hormone used to treat severe low blood sugar episodes -- were approved by the FDA. One is called Baqsimi, administered through the nose via a special device. It's the first non-injectable type of glucagon. The second version approved is an auto-injector called GVOKE, designed to be easier for caregivers to use. Until this year, glucagon was only available in a kit that required users to mix a dry powder with sterile water, and then draw it up into a syringe before injecting.

https://www.drugs.com/news/big-advances-made-against-diabetes-2019-87364.html

Survey Reveals How to Get a Great A1C

From asweetlife.org

It’s not easy having a pancreas that just can’t get the job done by itself. Studies have consistently shown that a distressingly low percentage of people with diabetes meet the official glycaemic targets set by the American Diabetes Association and other similar organizations. This is the unfortunate truth among people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Every person with diabetes is in daily battle with chronic hyperglycaemia, and some do it better than others. What techniques, habits, philosophies and circumstances ultimately make the difference?

While we all have our own theories on glycaemic management, the team at Diabetes Daily wondered if they could inject some objectivity and data into a conversation that so frequently revolves around anecdotes. And so the website, harnessing a huge data set of over 17,000 survey respondents, examined the habits of those who meet and surpass glycaemic targets and compared them with those who fall short.

Over the fall, Diabetes Daily released regular updates on the study, examining which strategies were most often used by those who had achieved healthy blood sugars. Now the website has compiled all of its results and conclusions into a single mammoth report: the Habits of a Great A1C Survey Data Report. It’s essential reading for anyone with an interest in superior glycaemic management. 
We spoke with staff writer Maria Muccioli, a biology professor (with Type 1 diabetes) who acted as the principal investigator on the report.

                                                                       Maria Muccioli

What was the impetus behind the survey? 
We are so excited to utilize our Thrivable Insights panel of about 20,000 people to begin conducting data-driven journalism. Many interesting ideas were discussed, and for our first research project we chose to try to identify differences in the way people with lower A1c levels may choose to manage their diabetes. Our mission is to help people with diabetes thrive, so uncovering strategies that may help people be more successful is of utmost importance to us.

The word “habit” seems important. Can you expand on why you used that word instead of “strategy” or “technique” or something similar? 
I think when it comes to diabetes management, consistency is key. As many will likely agree, it’s really a marathon and not a sprint, when it comes to successfully managing a chronic health condition like diabetes. Strategies that work well (in diabetes management and life in general) often become incorporated as habits, I think.

What was the most surprising result for you? 
I have to say, overall, I think the results were consistent with what I suspected we would find. It makes sense logically that habits like regular exercise and making smart and consistent food choices are effective strategies to help with diabetes management.

One surprising finding was that among people with type 1 diabetes, varying the timing of bolus insulin was significantly more common among those with higher A1c levels. I would have thought that adjusting the dose timing based on the meal (and other factors) is a good strategy. In retrospect, it is also possible that variable bolus timing indicates haphazard bolusing patterns (e.g., forgetting to bolus). Also, among those with type 1 diabetes, although more people in the lower A1c group reported regularly pre-bolusing for meals (30% vs. 18%), this difference did not quite reach statistical significance. I was expecting to see more of a difference there, I think, as I have heard so often from many in the online community what an effective strategy pre-bolusing is!

Also, I was surprised that we did not see any significant difference in the proportion of people using half-unit insulin syringes or pens among those on multiple daily injections between the A1c groups. Another recent study indicated a benefit of using half-unit delivery devices, and it makes sense that more precise dosing would be useful, but we did not see this at all among our study population.
Finally, I was a little surprised by just how many people reported eating low-carb as well as using technology, like CGM and/or insulin pump, across all the groups! Of course, this is not a random population. The very fact that these individuals seek out online resources for diabetes management and join research efforts suggests that they may be particularly motivated about diabetes management relative to what we might find in a random sample.

What was the most striking divergence between the T1 and T2 communities? 
Actually, so many differences between the two A1c groups among the type 1 and type 2 population showed the same trend. One difference is what was mentioned above, about variable bolus timing. Among those with type 2 diabetes, varying bolus timing depending on the specific circumstances was slightly more common among those with lower A1c levels. Also, and this is probably not a surprise, but the percentage of people who use insulin pump and/or CGM technology was a lot lower than for those with type 2, and although insulin pump use was more common among those with lower A1cs, no such difference was observed for CGM use (in contrast with the type 1 population).

Any plans to follow this study up with more data-driven journalism? 
Yes, absolutely! We have many ideas in the works, including one that focuses on the insulin affordability issue. The cost of insulin has been skyrocketing in recent years, and it has been estimated that as many as 25% of patients with diabetes regularly ration their insulin. To design more effective solutions to this problem, we first need to better understand the issue, so we would like to focus on elucidating the characteristics common to those affected by high insulin prices.
Also, there is even more that could be uncovered from this initial survey effort about management habits! We collected so much data for this study, and I look forward to digging even deeper.

Did the results inform your own management strategy? Any personal takeaways? 
I’ve had type 1 for over 13 years now, and over time, I learned what works best for me personally. Using a CGM regularly and following a consistent, lower-carbohydrate diet approach that focuses on whole foods, along with carefully calculated insulin dosing strategies (like bolusing for protein) has been extremely effective for me to maintain minimal glycaemic variability and clinically normal A1c levels. I knew I was not alone in finding these strategies effective, and the main outcomes of this work support that as well.

https://asweetlife.org/survey-reveals-how-to-get-a-great-a1c/?utm_source=ASweetLife.org+List&utm_campaign=5d4a883753-ASweetLife+Weekly+Update++-+Nov.+14%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5125b14cf8-5d4a883753-413392997

Recipe: Low Carb Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

From asweetlife.org

Happy chocolate peppermint season! If you love this holiday combination like I do, you will adore these tender low carb chocolate peppermint cookies dipped in chocolate. I added some of the new sugar-free white chocolate chips to mine, but if you can’t find any, dark chocolate chips will do just as well.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• Sweetener equivalent to 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sugar-free white chocolate chips
• 3 ounces sugar-free dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
Garnish:
• Granulated sweetener and a little red food colouring paste, if desired

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325F and line two large baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add the egg, melted butter, and extracts and stir until the dough comes together. Stir in 3 tbsp of the white chips.
3. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place a few inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. You should get about 18. Press down with the heal of you hand to about 1/2 inch thick. Press the remaining white chocolate chips into the tops of the cookies.
4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until the cookies are puffed and are just firm around the edges. The centres will still be quite soft. Remove and let cool completely on the pan. They will firm up as they cool.
5. Once the cookies are cool, place the chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Whisk until melted and smooth, then whisk in the peppermint extract.
6. Dip each cookie about 1/3 way into the melted chocolate. Set on a waxed paper lined cookie tray to set.
7. For the garnish, whisk about 1 tbsp of granular sweetener with just a tiny bit of red food colouring. Sprinkle over the chocolate before it sets completely.

Yield: 18 (one per serving)

Food energy: 143 kcal

Total fat: 13.42g

Carbohydrate: 5.59g

Protein per serving: 2.95g

Total dietary fibre: 3.20g

https://asweetlife.org/low-carb-chocolate-peppermint-cookies/?utm_source=ASweetLife.org+List&utm_campaign=5d4a883753-ASweetLife+Weekly+Update++-+Nov.+14%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5125b14cf8-5d4a883753-413392997

The war on diabetes goes digital

From businesstimes.com.sg

In Singapore, over S$1 billion is spent yearly on managing diabetes, a cost digital healthcare technology aims to reduce.

Singapore
DIABETES is one of the fastest growing health challenges of the 21st century. In Singapore, the prevalence of diabetes in adults aged 18 and above has nearly doubled in just 15 years - from 7 per cent in 2004 to 13.7 per cent today (about 606,000 people).

What is perhaps of most concern about the diabetes trend is how unaware people remain of it.
"Diabetes is a silent disease," explained Pedro Goncalves, head of Roche Diabetes Care Region International (APAC, Middle-East, Africa, Russia & LATAM). "You can have it and not know it until it's quite late."

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that half of adults with diabetes - about 232 million people worldwide - are undiagnosed, which puts them at high risk of developing serious diabetes-related complications such as blindness, nerve damage, heart disease and limb amputation. Singapore, for example, has the world's highest rate of diabetic kidney failure, despite its proclaimed war on diabetes.

Therefore, companies such as Roche Diabetes Care have begun investing in digital alternatives to help people track their health information.

"It's very important to have information on glucose levels and other markers immediately accessible by doctors and healthcare professionals," said Mr Goncalves. Digital technology that can facilitate quicker, easier consolidation of such information will help diabetes patients get better at staying within healthy ranges, he added.

The advent of digital technology is timely as the cost of diabetes treatment is increasing at double-digit rates throughout Asia. In Singapore alone, over S$1 billion is spent each year on managing diabetes.

Rising trends skew disproportionately towards Type 2 diabetes, driven by growing urbanisation and changing lifestyle habits (higher calorie intake, increasing consumption of processed foods, sedentary lifestyles), said Mr Goncalves. This makes diabetes difficult to detect and manage without regular visits to the doctor.

"It's not about providing only clinical decisions like prescribing, it's really about helping them understand what they do, what they eat, how to balance their lifestyle so they can control the disease better," he said.

Compared to traditional methods, digital technology is able to facilitate not only reactive treatment but also proactive prevention, which many healthcare professionals agree is both more effective and less costly for disease management.
"It's about preventive action and the need to work on the early stage of diabetes, so we avoid this epidemic that is taking place in Asia more than anywhere else in the world," said Mr Goncalves.

mySugr is a free mobile app for managing diabetes. Since its June launch in Singapore, the app has garnered nearly 9,000 users.  PHOTO: ROCHE

One such digital solution is mySugr, a free mobile app for managing diabetes that collects and consolidates relevant therapy data in one place through external devices, integrations, and manual entry. Since its June launch in Singapore, the app has garnered nearly 9,000 users.

"The data allows us to zero in on the areas we can improve on, be it adjusting medicine dosage or food intake, so that I can live as normally as I can," said mySugr user Shane Sim, 31. "It is definitely better than the old school way of using a pen and paper logbook, which is very inconvenient to carry around."

Making diabetes "suck less", as the app's tagline claims, is a helpful motivator for diabetes patients who struggle daily with having to keep track of meals, medications, blood sugar levels and other important data. Said Heng Pei Yan, 33: "I appreciate the constant improvements and modifications made to the app to make blood sugar monitoring fun for users."

"Patients only see a doctor once per year or twice. It's impossible to manage a disease that is influenced by behaviour if you don't have permanent support," he explained. "We need to find other ways of providing support to people, and that's exactly where digital solutions come in."

For S$210, mySugr also offers a three-month subscription plan for mySugr Coaching, an in-app add-on bundle of special features that includes access to direct communication with diabetes educators for personalised advice between clinic visits.

The growing capabilities of healthcare technology aside, the responsibility to take action remains key to health and disease management.
"Technology is just the bridge to help you do things right," said Mr Goncalves. "But it takes a while for humans to change their behaviour ... and that's always a challenge."

"It's a very user-friendly interface," said Eileen Lee, head of communications at Roche Diabetes Care. "It's very gamified, it's very easy to enter your data, so it's not complicated, even for older users."

With the burden of disease management lightened and streamlined by digital solutions, better outcomes can be expected, said Mr Goncalves.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/life-culture/the-war-on-diabetes-goes-digital

Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes with Diet and Weight Loss?

From discovermagazine.com

Recent research says it’s possible for some.

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes. The vast majority suffer from Type 2 diabetes, which arises when the body doesn’t process insulin properly. This causes blood sugar levels to rise and potentially triggers a host of other health problems, like heart disease, kidney disease and loss of vision. The disease has long been characterized as a chronic condition, requiring people to receive regular insulin injections, test their blood sugar levels and take medications.

However, a growing body of evidence suggests that reversing the condition — essentially, bringing blood sugar back to a non-diabetic level without meds — may be possible through diet and weight loss. In a 2016 study in Barbados, more than half of participants given a low-calorie, low-carb diet, in addition to fibrous fruits and vegetables, were able to reduce their blood sugar to non-diabetic levels. Weight-loss surgery has also been used as a technique to keep diabetes at bay.

But not everybody can control their blood sugar levels without medication, particularly in the disease’s later stages. And experts caution that major lifestyle changes involving diet can be difficult for many people to maintain.
“Often times, people will go on these very restrictive, low-calorie diets,” says Ann Albright, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. “The evidence is clear that, for a majority of people, those are not sustainable.”

When Dieting, Should We Be Fasting Or Grazing?

Perhaps nothing unites people — especially Americans — quite like the shared desire to lose a couple of pounds. I’m in this camp as well. I’ve tried and succeeded in losing weight exactly twice in my life. The first time involved a few months of angst-induced calorie-counting, followed by a nasty bout of the stomach flu. Not easily repeatable.

The second time was through a fairly intensive fitness and nutrition program. We were instructed to focus on controlling portion sizes and eat six small meals spaced evenly throughout the day. The program lasted 21 days, and so did my lost weight.

This grazing-style diet — never eating too much at one time but eating often — is fairly common. But recent evidence seems to neatly contradict this line of thinking. Studies point instead to the benefits of intermittent fasting, a strategy that involves restricting the times you eat rather than what or how much you’re eating. You eat only during certain hours, or sometimes, only on certain days. No calorie counting, no anything-counting, no measuring, just obeying the clock. In other words, it’s the exact opposite of the always-nibbling plan.

Which begs the question: Which is it? Should we be grazing or fasting for weight loss? These diametrically opposed diets can’t be equally healthy, can they?

Calories Count

As it turns out, the grazing-style diet should work, but only when you’re also meticulously watching what and how much you’re eating. The result: You consume fewer calories. Decades of research supports cutting calories as an effective weight-loss strategy. Grazing is just one way to pull that off, though it’s not the grazing, per se, that’s doing the job.
But cutting calories is hard. Research has verified what we already suspected: The more calories you try to cut, the more likely you are to not stick to your diet. And the worse you are at sticking to your diet, the more likely you are to regain the weight.

Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was compelled by this paradox when she was starting her own research career. “I was studying calorie restriction in humans during my Ph.D. and post-doc,” she says, “and I noticed that people really got sick of it and having to be so vigilant and write everything down.
“I thought, well, do people really have to diet every day to lose weight, or could they maybe diet every other day, and lose the same amount of weight?”

The result was the first ever clinical trial comparing an alternate-day fasting diet to a regular, calorie-restricted diet, which Varady and colleagues published in JAMA in July 2017. For the alternate-day diet, participants ate 25 percent of their energy needs on fast days (around 500 calories) followed by 125 percent of their energy needs the next day (over 2,000 calories.) The calorie-restricted group was prescribed a consistent 1,500 calories per day, on average.
“I thought alternate-day fasting would be easier to stick to, because you basically get a day off of dieting every other day,” Varady says.

The researchers found that the two diets led to the same amount of weight loss. And, the same number of people stuck with the diets in the two groups. It suggests they’re equally easy … or equally hard, depending on whether you’re a glass-half-full type of person.
Another study found a similar result when participants had only two of these fast days per week — a strategy often called a 5:2 fasting diet.
“Basically, we found that fasting is just another way of fooling the body into eating less,” says Varady. “There’s nothing magical about it.”

The 16:8 Fasting Plan

One of the most popular versions of intermittent fasting is called the 16:8 plan. You eat during an eight-hour window, say, from noon to 8 p.m., and then fast for the other 16. This type of fasting plan is what researchers call "time-restricted eating."

Emily Manoogian is a researcher at the Salk Institute, where she specializes in circadian rhythms. In her own work, she’s studied a 14:10 plan — eating within a 10-hour window instead of the internet-popular eight. “I don’t think anyone knows for sure what the benefits are between eight or nine versus 10 versus 11 versus 12,” she explains. “More important than picking the one that might have the most robust benefits, we wanted one that was feasible.”

And feasible it was. With no other changes to their diets besides sticking to the 10-hour eating window, participants in her study lost weight and slimmed their waistlines. They lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol. They slept better. What’s more, after the study was over, nearly 70 percent of the participants reported that they were sticking with the diet on their own. Their work was published in Cell Metabolism in December.

Manoogian says that one of the things that sets time-restricted eating, like the 16:8 or 14:10 fasting plans, apart from other strategies like alternate-day fasting is that the consistency taps into your body’s circadian system. For that reason, your eating window shouldn’t be random — you should start it at the same time every day.
“The circadian system is anticipatory, so it needs to know when things are going to happen,” says Manoogian. “When you eat, you’re sending a timing cue to your body, so if you’re sending cues around the clock, you’re confusing all of these clocks, they can’t anticipate, and so it breaks down the ability for you to properly metabolize food.”
“It’s really making you a weaker version of yourself,” says Manoogian.
Ouch. Suddenly, my grazing diet sounds … horrendous.

How to Go on a Diet

So, dear reader, if you’ve read this article looking for diet advice, here it comes.

There’s evidence that 16:8 and 14:10 fasting works. There’s evidence that alternate-day fasting works. There’s evidence that calorie restriction works. “Whatever people can incorporate into their lifestyle is most important,” says Varady. “Whatever you can stick to.”

Varady also points out that although alternate-day fasting is more challenging, it can result in twice as much weight loss as a 16:8 fasting schedule. If you decide to give any type of intermittent fasting a try, know that some people get headaches during that initial adjustment period because they’re not drinking enough water. Intermittent fasting is not recommended for anyone with a history of eating disorders and hasn’t been tested in children or pregnant women.

Manoogian’s time-restricted eating advice is to put your eating window in the middle of your active day and be sure it ends a minimum of two hours before you would normally go to bed.
“The only other thing I’ll say is, it’s completely free; it’s non-invasive,” Manoogian says. “Try a 12-hour eating window if you can’t do shorter. It’s not going to hurt you to eat within 12 hours.
“Because it’s so accessible, it’s really kind of a neat thing for people to be able to try and see for themselves.”

https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/when-dieting-should-we-be-fasting-or-grazing

Diabetes tips 2020 for a fit and healthy life

From thehealthsite.com

Diabetes has assumed epidemic proportions globally and you need to take care of it prudently for a healthy life. Follow our tips to control diabetes for a life free of medical complications.

Diabetes is a condition where your body either does not produce enough insulin or it is unable to use the insulin that it produces effectively. Insulin is a hormone that regulate your blood sugar levels.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to many chronic health problems that can, at times, be fatal. The World Health Organisation says that diabetes can be treated, and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.

Here, we reveal the best diabetes tips to follow in 2020. With our tips, you can save your self from a lot of adverse complications and live a long and healthy life.

Lose weight

If you are overweight, try to come down to your ideal body weight. Maintaining your body weight will help you to keep your blood sugar levels under control. If you think it will help, consult a nutritionist or your doctor. Hey will be able to guide you on the right path.

Eat right

Add a lot of fruits and vegetables to your diet. Have fibre rich foods and avoid processed and sugary foods. Eat whole grains and legumes. Keep away from alcohol and stop smoking. All this will boost your overall health and also help you to keep your diabetes in check.

Don’t ignore your A1c tests

This test will help you know your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. This will go a long way in helping you to formulate a plan to check your sugar levels. Seek an appointment with your doctor and get this test done. You should ideally do this twice a year. It will help you know if you are on the right track.

Keep your blood pressure under control

Heart diseases is a common complication of diabetes. And, blood pressure has a direct impact on heart diseases. So, it is essential to keep blood pressure levels under control. Go for regular check -ups and take prescribed medications for blood pressure.

Exercise regularly

This will improve overall fitness and health. It will help you lose weight and control cholesterol and blood pressure. Try to squeeze in at least 30 minutes of exercise e very day. Anything that increases heart rate will help.

https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/best-diabetes-tips-to-follow-in-the-new-year-2020-719056/

Scientists Watch Type 2 Diabetes Unfold for First Time

From newsweek.com

Type 2 diabetes appears to be the body's reaction to an overspill of excess fat from the liver into the pancreas, researchers say after observing the process for the first time.
"This means we can now see Type 2 diabetes as a simple condition where the individual has accumulated more fat than they can cope with," said co-author of the research Roy Taylor, a professor of medicine and metabolism who led a team of researchers at Newcastle University in the U.K.

According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one in ten Americans (more than 30 million people) have diabetes. The vast majority (90-95 percent) have Type 2 diabetes, a condition that inhibits the body's ability to respond to insulin.

This research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, appears to confirm a hypothesis first suggested more than a decade ago: the Twin Cycle Hypothesis. It proposes that the disease is the result of excess fat in the liver and pancreas.

"We saw that when a person accumulates too much fat, which should be stored under the skin, then it has to go elsewhere in the body," Taylor said in a statement. "The amount that can be stored under the skin varies from person to person, indicating a 'personal fat threshold' above which fat can cause mischief."

"When fat cannot be safely stored under the skin, it is then stored inside the liver, and over-spills to the rest of the body including the pancreas," he added. "This 'clogs up' the pancreas, switching off the genes which direct how insulin should effectively be produced, and this causes Type 2 diabetes."
But it can be reversed. A healthy and restricted diet plan can lead to weight loss and, ultimately, to remission, the researchers found. According to Taylor, this treatment is more effective the sooner the plan is implemented after diagnosis.

The researchers came to these conclusions after a study tracking the weight loss of (mostly Caucasian) adults who had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The group was put on a restricted calorie (825-853 calories a day) liquid diet for three to five months. This was followed up with a short food reintroduction phase of two to six weeks and support for a period of up to 24 months. Their progress was measured with a series of metabolic tests: the first at baseline, the second at five months, a third at 12 months and the final test at 24 months.

Over the two years, the majority—almost 90 percent—saw their condition reverse. But there was a small group of people who regained the weight and developed Type 2 diabetes for a second time.
According to the researchers, both groups achieved initial weight loss but there were "more modest" changes in VLDL1-TG production rate among those who went on to put the weight back on, as well as smaller changes in plasma concentrations of VLDL1-TG and intra-pancreatic fat.
VLDL1-TG is a "bad" type of cholesterol (or blood fat) that can clog up the arteries and cause heart attacks.

There were limitations to the research, including a lack of diversity in the study population—the group was made up of white people recruited from the local community. As the study's authors point out, the results show a close association and correlation rather than cause and effect relationships—"although the coherent temporal patterns we report in both remission and reversal of type 2 diabetes suggest causality," they add.

Next year, the researchers plan to use the weight loss program described in the study to help up to 5,000 people in England (plus more in Scotland) lose weight and manage Type 2 diabetes in a pilot scheme to be rolled out by the U.K.'s National Health Service.

Worldwide, the incidence of diabetes is on the up and the condition was listed as a top 10 killer in 2016, causing 1.6 million deaths. That compares to fewer than a million in 2000. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the number of people with diabetes has more than tripled since 1980, rising from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.

   Excess fat from foods like donuts can trigger Type 2 diabetes, the study found. krblokhin/iStock

https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-watch-type-2-diabetes-unfold-first-time-1478814

Ultra-processed foods linked to diabetes risk

From jpost.com

Among people in the study who ate the most ultra-processed foods, 166 in every 100,000 developed diabetes, compared with 116 out of every 100,000 people who ate the smallest amounts of these foods.

               HEAVILY PROCESSED foods are often high in sugar, fat and empty calories.

                                           (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

People who eat lots of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop diabetes than those whose diets contain more foods found in nature, a new study suggests. Heavily processed foods are often high in sugar, fat and empty calories.

Consuming lots of these foods has long been linked to an increased risk of a wide variety of health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity and certain cancers.

The current study offers fresh evidence linking these foods to type 2 diabetes, the more common form of the disease, which is often associated with excess weight.

Among people in the study who ate the most ultra-processed foods, 166 in every 100,000 developed diabetes, compared with 116 out of every 100,000 people who ate the smallest amounts of these foods.

“We advise people to limit their consumption of ultra-processed foods and privilege unprocessed or minimally processed foods – of course in addition to a nutritionally healthy diet low in salt, sugar, fat and energy density; an optimal BMI; and healthy lifestyle behaviours,” said lead study author Bernard Srour and senior author Mathilde Touvier of Universite Paris 13 in France.

In particular, people looking to lower their risk of diabetes should limit their intake of red and processed meats and sodas and other sugary drinks, Srour and Touvier said by email. People should also eat lots of yogurt, vegetables, whole grains and nuts to help decrease their diabetes risk, they advised.

For the study, the researchers examined data on more than 104,000 adults without diabetes. Participants were 43 years old, on average, at the start of the study; researchers followed most of them for at least six years. Overall, about 17% of participants’ diets consisted of ultra-processed foods. People who consumed more of these foods tended to eat more calories overall, to have lower quality diets, and to be more likely to be obese and inactive. During the study period, 821 people were diagnosed with diabetes.

Each 10-percentage point increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods in participants’ diets was associated with a 15% higher risk of developing diabetes, researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The connection between ultra-processed foods and diabetes persisted even after researchers accounted for the nutritional quality of people’s diets, any weight gain and other metabolic disorders.

The study wasn’t designed to determine whether or how ultra-processed foods might directly cause diabetes. It’s possible, however, that chemical additives and industrial processing that alters the cellular structure of foods both play a role, Srour said. One limitation of the study is the possibility that some participants with diabetes went undiagnosed, leading to an undercount of the number of diabetes cases.

Even so, the results add to evidence that ultra-processed foods can lead to health problems, said Priscila Machado, a researcher at Deakin University in Australia who wasn’t involved in the study. “Ultra-processed foods have characteristics that stimulate overconsumption and the displacement of healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, including their convenience, accessibility, affordability, big portion sizes, and the aggressive marketing and promotion of these foods,” Machado said by email.

People who have the time and resources to avoid ultra-processed foods can spot them pretty easily, however. “To identify an ultra-processed product, check the list of ingredients,” Machado advised. “If you see a very long ingredients list with lots of chemical-sounding names, that’s probably a good indication that is an ultra-processed food.”

https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-diabetes-risk-611701

Recipe: Low Carb Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Pecans and Pomegranates

From asweetlife.org

This low carb Brussels sprout slaw is a real antidote for a holiday table otherwise overstuffed with starchy, mushy, and sweet side dishes.

Have you experienced the revelation of raw Brussels sprouts yet? Slice them thin and they turn into a kind of miniature gourmet cabbage, with wonderful savoury vegetal flavour and a subtle horseradish note, a terrific base for salads and slaws of every kind. This slaw adds in rich pecans, lemon and a calculated blast of sweet acidity from pomegranate, an exotic fruit that’s in season during early winter. The tang and crunch of this dish are sure to be huge winners.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces raw Brussels sprouts
• ¼ red onion
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup pecans
• ¼ cup pomegranate
• 2 tablespoons lemon vinaigrette (store bought, or recipe below)
Vinaigrette:
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon mustard (whole grain or Dijon)
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the vinaigrette, if necessary.
2. Trim and clean the Brussels sprouts. Slice off the base and then remove any outside leaves that are discoloured.
3. Slice the Brussels sprouts as thin as possible.
4. Julienne red onion.
5. Combine all ingredients and serve immediately.
Vinaigrette: Combine all in a bowl and whisk to emulsify before use.

Food energy: 120 kcal

Total fat: 9.1g

Carbohydrate: 8.2g

Protein per serving: 8.2g

Total dietary fibre: 3.0g

https://asweetlife.org/low-carb-brussels-sprouts-slaw-with-pecans-and-pomegranates/?utm_source=ASweetLife.org+List&utm_campaign=160fc4fe5e-ASweetLife+Weekly+Update++-+Nov.+14%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5125b14cf8-160fc4fe5e-413392997

What Every Person With Type 2 Diabetes Should Know About Insulin Resistance

From yahoo.com/lifestyle

By Nalani Haviland, PA-C

I’ve been on a real insulin-resistance kick lately. It’s imperative that all people with diabetes understand the causes of insulin resistance and thus the importance of reducing it with a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Causes of insulin resistance are multi-factorial. First: obesity, specifically abdominal obesity. This is primarily due to a high circulation of free fatty acids and unwanted fat deposits in the muscles and liver (enlarged adipose tissues at max capacity). This process causes chronic inflammation, resulting in a decrease in protective metabolic regulators and an increase in inflammatory mediators. These mediators have been directly associated with increased insulin levels (or insulin requirements). This inflammatory process can also occur high fat diets.

Lipoatrophy, the partial or complete loss of adipose tissue, and lipodystrophy, unwanted fat deposits in the muscles or liver (fatty liver), have also been associated with insulin resistance. The reason for this is unclear, but it is hypothesized that this condition results in a decrease in insulin receptor expression and insulin signalling. People with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are also prone to higher levels of insulin resistance as a result of their associated generalized lipodystrophy. Acanthosis nigricans (Google it) is a common skin condition observed with lipodystrophy and is often seen in insulin resistant PWD.

                                                   Nalani Haviland eating an orange

Research also shows a correlation between chronic stress and insulin resistance thanks to the hormone cortisol. In acute stress, cortisol stimulates production of glucose by the liver, designed to be immediately utilized in a fight-or-flight response. Chronic stress, however, is directly correlated with increased insulin requirements (endogenous or exogenous), a disruption of insulin signalling, and impaired overall insulin-mediated glucose uptake.

Menstruation tends to have a negative effect on insulin resistance, particularly just after ovulation. There is little research, but this phenomenon is thought to be due to the progesterone spike that happens during the luteal phase. Hopefully, there will be more research on this topic in the near future (insert empowering feminist comment here).

These are a few of the many contributors to insulin resistance. I haven’t even scratched the surface so I will likely do another post shortly. I just wanted to get some food for thought out to you all. Those of you who have been following me closely know that I have been attempting to decrease my insulin resistance with a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet. I have been on the diet for about a week thus far and have really been enjoying it! I have seen a reduction in my prandial insulin requirements, yet I have been eating more than I was when on my previous standard diet. Also, I’ve really been enjoying fruits, something I used to stay away from!

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/every-person-diabetes-know-insulin-212414059.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAD3fTa84uN5WCf0qZ2KnfASsMlcb5PM3i-W8XdRUdyDjuYwNX-E6hADrUeQ-wMXdcjwl5FSdlLpAApfoa5XOIp3NrvdiSQS9pXFzjWRtllssQLc0XtNWnRLQRwRULP_J4x2JNc73e_4rhtEwFhbDDLPhmNmu4z6ZU9-3gp7i5mnq

Can People with Diabetes Eat Brown Rice?

From healthline.com

Brown rice is a whole grain that’s often considered a health food.
Unlike white rice, which only contains the starchy endosperm, brown rice retains the nutrient-rich germ and bran layers of the grain. The only part removed is the hard outer hull.

Yet, while it’s higher in several nutrients than white rice, brown rice remains rich in carbs. As a result, you may wonder whether it’s safe for people with diabetes.

This article tells you whether you can eat brown rice if you have diabetes.

How brown rice affects diabetes

Brown rice is a healthy addition to a balanced diet, even if you have diabetes.
Still, it’s important to monitor portion sizes and be aware of how this food affects blood sugar levels.

General health benefits

Brown rice has an impressive nutritional profile. It’s a good source of fibre, antioxidants, and several vitamins and minerals.

Specifically, this whole grain is high in flavonoids — plant compounds with potent antioxidant effects. Eating flavonoid-rich foods is associated with a reduced risk of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Growing evidence suggests that high fibre foods like brown rice are beneficial for digestive health and may reduce your risk of chronic disease. They may also boost fullness and aid weight loss.

Nutritional benefits

One cup (202 grams) of cooked long grain brown rice provides:

• Calories: 248
• Fat: 2 grams
• Carbs: 52 grams
• Fibre: 3 grams
• Protein: 6 grams
• Manganese: 86% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Thiamine (B1): 30% of the DV
• Niacin (B3): 32% of the DV
• Pantothenic acid (B5): 15% of the DV
• Pyridoxine (B6): 15% of the DV
• Copper: 23% of the DV
• Selenium: 21% of the DV
• Magnesium: 19% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 17% of the DV
• Zinc: 13% of the DV

As you can see, brown rice is an excellent source of magnesium. Just 1 cup (202 grams) provides nearly all your daily needs of this mineral, which aids bone development, muscle contractions, nerve functioning, wound healing, and even blood sugar regulation.
Furthermore, brown rice is a good source of riboflavin, iron, potassium, and folate.

Benefits for people with diabetes

Thanks to its high fibre content, brown rice has been shown to significantly reduce post-meal blood sugar levels in people with excess weight, as well as those with type 2 diabetes.

Overall blood sugar control is important for preventing or delaying the progression of diabetes.

In a study in 16 adults with type 2 diabetes, eating 2 servings of brown rice resulted in a significant reduction in post-meal blood sugar and haemoglobin A1c (a marker of blood sugar control), compared with eating white rice.

Meanwhile, an 8-week study in 28 adults with type 2 diabetes found that those eating brown rice at least 10 times per week had significant improvements in blood sugar levels and endothelial function — an important measurement of heart health.

Brown rice may also help improve blood sugar control by aiding weight loss.
In a 6-week study in 40 women with excess weight or obesity, eating 3/4 cup (150 grams) of brown rice per day resulted in significant reductions in weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI), compared with white rice.

Weight loss is important, as an observational study in 867 adults noted that those who lost 10% or more of their body weight within 5 years of receiving a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were twice as likely to achieve remission within that period.

May protect against type 2 diabetes

In addition to its potential benefits for individuals with diabetes, brown rice may even reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the first place.

A study in 197,228 adults linked eating at least 2 servings of brown rice per week to a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, swapping just 1/4 cup (50 grams) of white rice with brown was associated with a 16% lower risk of this condition.

While the mechanism isn’t entirely understood, it’s thought that the higher fibre content of brown rice is at least partially responsible for this protective effect.

Additionally, brown rice is higher in magnesium, which has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Summary
Due to its fibre content, brown rice may improve blood sugar control, which is critical for people with diabetes. It may also lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes to begin with.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/brown-rice-for-diabetes#basics

Overspill of fat shown to cause Type 2 Diabetes

From eurekalert.org

For the first time, scientists have been able to observe people developing Type 2 diabetes - and confirmed that fat over-spills from the liver into the pancreas, triggering the chronic condition.

The research, led by Professor Roy Taylor at Newcastle University, UK, is published in the academic journal, Cell Metabolism.

The study involved a group of people from Tyneside who previously had Type 2 diabetes but had lost weight and successfully reversed the condition as part of the DiRECT trial, which was funded by Diabetes UK and led by Professors Roy Taylor and Mike Lean (Glasgow University).

The majority remained non-diabetic for the rest of the two year study, however, a small group went on to re-gain the weight and re-developed Type 2 diabetes.

Professor Roy Taylor, from the Newcastle University Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, explained what the advanced scanning techniques and blood monitoring revealed.

He said: "We saw that when a person accumulates too much fat, which should be stored under the skin, then it has to go elsewhere in the body. The amount that can be stored under the skin varies from person to person, indicating a 'personal fat threshold' above which fat can cause mischief.

"When fat cannot be safely stored under the skin, it is then stored inside the liver, and over-spills to the rest of the body including the pancreas. This 'clogs up' the pancreas, switching off the genes which direct how insulin should effectively be produced, and this causes Type 2 diabetes."
This research by Professor Taylor confirms his Twin Cycle Hypothesis - that Type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat actually within both the liver and pancreas, and especially that this process is reversible.

Body of research

This latest paper builds on previous Newcastle studies supported by Diabetes UK showing exactly why Type 2 diabetes can be reversed back to normal glucose control. Those studies led to the large DiRECT trial which showed that Primary Care staff can achieve remission of Type 2 diabetes by using a low calorie diet with support to maintain the weight loss.

A quarter of participants achieved a staggering 15 kg or more weight loss, and of these, almost nine out of 10 people put their Type 2 diabetes into remission. After two years, more than one third of the group had been free of diabetes and off all diabetes medication for at least two years.

In 2020, this approach to management of short duration Type 2 diabetes is to be piloted in the NHS in up to 5,000 people across England, and a similar programme is being rolled out in Scotland.
Professor Taylor adds: "This means we can now see Type 2 diabetes as a simple condition where the individual has accumulated more fat than they can cope with.

"Importantly this means that through diet and persistence, patients are able to lose the fat and potentially reverse their diabetes. The sooner this is done after diagnosis, the more likely it is that remission can be achieved."

The team are continuing work to establish what may affect an individual's personal threshold and are supporting the roll out of the NHS Initiatives in both England and Scotland. 'Life Without Diabetes - The definitive guide to understanding and reversing your Type 2 diabetes' by Professor Roy Taylor will be published by Short Books on 26th December 2019.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/nu-oof122019.php

UK Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle reveals diabetes diagnosis

From bbc.co.uk

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has revealed he was diagnosed with diabetes shortly before the general election.

The 62-year-old MP learned he had the condition, most likely Type 1 diabetes, after losing three stone.

Sir Lindsay was urged by his family to visit doctors after becoming ill.
He said the symptoms had been so severe that he was advised to stay in hospital, but he refused to miss the election campaign.

Sir Lindsay was elected as Speaker shortly before Parliament was dissolved for the general election, succeeding John Bercow.

                                                                             UK Parliament

He said he was still in shock over his diabetes diagnosis, but added: "I'm on tablets, as well as having to inject insulin, but it doesn't stop me carrying on and nothing is going to be a barrier to me.
"I'm going to cope with it. I'm going to manage it. I'm going to get through this."

Sir Lindsay also said: "The fact is I feel really well. We know what it is - that's the good news - and of course, I have got to get over it and get on with my job.
"The House of Commons elected me to be the Speaker and there's nothing that's going to stop me from doing that."

Sir Lindsay cited former Prime Minister Theresa May as inspiration for dealing with the condition. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2013, when she was home secretary.

Type 1 diabetes is a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin, which causes deregulated blood sugar levels.
Symptoms can include feeling thirsty, losing weight, blurred vision, tiredness and urinating more often than usual.

Sir Lindsay spoke out about his condition during an interview with filmmaker Rob McLoughlin for the forthcoming documentary series Mr Speaker.

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "Living with type 1 diabetes can be hard, but as Sir Lindsay's experiences have shown, with the right support from your healthcare team - and careful management - people can live full and healthy lives following their diagnosis."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50865877

Ultra-processed foods linked to diabetes risk

From channelnewsasia.com

WASHINGTON: People who eat lots of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop diabetes than those whose diets contain more foods found in nature, a new study suggests.
Heavily processed foods are often high in sugar, fat and empty calories. Consuming lots of these foods has long been linked to an increased risk of a wide variety of health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity and certain cancers.

The current study offers fresh evidence linking these foods to type 2 diabetes, the more common form of the disease, which is often associated with excess weight. Among people in the study who ate the most ultra-processed foods, 166 in every 100,000 developed diabetes, compared with 116 out of every 100,000 people who ate the smallest amounts of these foods.

"We advise people to limit their consumption of ultra-processed foods and privilege unprocessed or minimally processed foods - of course in addition to a nutritionally healthy diet low in salt, sugar, fat and energy density; an optimal BMI; and healthy lifestyle behaviours," said lead study author Bernard Srour and senior author Mathilde Touvier of Universite Paris 13 in France.

In particular, people looking to lower their risk of diabetes should limit their intake of red and processed meats and sodas and other sugary drinks, Srour and Touvier said by email. People should also eat lots of yogurt, vegetables, whole grains and nuts to help decrease their diabetes risk, they advised.

For the study, the researchers examined data on more than 104,000 adults without diabetes. Participants were 43 years old, on average, at the start of the study; researchers followed most of them for at least six years.

Overall, about 17 per cent of participants' diets consisted of ultra-processed foods. People who consumed more of these foods tended to eat more calories overall, to have lower quality diets, and to be more likely to be obese and inactive.
During the study period, 821 people were diagnosed with diabetes.

Each 10-percentage point increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods in participants' diets was associated with a 15 per cent higher risk of developing diabetes, researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The connection between ultra-processed foods and diabetes persisted even after researchers accounted for the nutritional quality of people's diets, any weight gain and other metabolic disorders.

The study wasn't designed to determine whether or how ultra-processed foods might directly cause diabetes.
It's possible, however, that chemical additives and industrial processing that alters the cellular structure of foods both play a role, Srour said.

One limitation of the study is the possibility that some participants with diabetes went undiagnosed, leading to an undercount of the number of diabetes cases.
Even so, the results add to evidence that ultra-processed foods can lead to health problems, said Priscila Machado, a researcher at Deakin University in Australia who wasn't involved in the study.

"Ultra-processed foods have characteristics that stimulate overconsumption and the displacement of healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, including their convenience, accessibility, affordability, big portion sizes, and the aggressive marketing and promotion of these foods," Machado said by email.

People who have the time and resources to avoid ultra-processed foods can spot them pretty easily, however.

"To identify an ultra-processed product, check the list of ingredients," Machado advised. "If you see a very long ingredients list with lots of chemical-sounding names, that's probably a good indication that is an ultra-processed food."

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-diabetes-risk-12189112

Filtered Coffee Can Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk, Research Shows

From dailycoffeenews.com

Researchers in Sweden have affirmed conclusions drawn from previous studies showing that coffee consumption can help reduce the risk of people developing type 2 diabetes. The new study, however, makes a fine distinction for your grinds: drink filtered coffee.

For the purposes of their study, the research team at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden identify filtered coffee as being filtered with some sort of absorbent material — such as paper filters commonly used in drip coffee machines or pourover baskets — as opposed to non-absorbent metal filters, boiled coffee or instant coffee, or espresso.

“We have identified specific molecules — ‘biomarkers’ – in the blood of those taking part in the study, which indicate the intake of different sorts of coffee,” Chalmers food science professor Rikard Landberg wrote in a summary of the recent study. “These biomarkers are then used for analysis when calculating type 2 diabetes risk. Our results now clearly show that filtered coffee has a positive effect in terms of reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But boiled coffee does not have this effect.”

Researchers in Sweden found that coffee drinkers using absorbent filters such as paper were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. File photo.

The study showed that people who drank two to three cups of filtered coffee per day had a 60% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who drank less than one cup of filtered coffee a day. Consumption of boiled coffee showed no effect on the incidence of type 2 diabetes among study participants.

The researchers believe the difference in results may be explained by diterpenes, a type of molecule found in boiled coffee that is removed through filter applications.

“Filtered coffee refers to methods in which finely ground coffee beans are placed in a filter, and then water passes through, either in a machine or manually,” the university explained in an announcement of the published research. “Boiled coffee is made with coarsely ground coffee beans which are then added directly to the water. This method also includes Turkish and Greek coffee. In the USA, filtered coffee is the most common variety, while instant coffee dominates in the UK. Espresso-based drinks are most common in Southern Europe. Turkish coffee is popular in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.”

Landberg guessed that espresso from traditional espresso machines or from pod brewers, French press, percolators or other brewing methods may also not carry the preventive properties of filter coffee, “but the researchers are careful to note that no conclusions can be drawn yet regarding these other preparation methods,” the university stated.

https://dailycoffeenews.com/2019/12/17/filtered-coffee-can-reduce-type-2-diabetes-risk-research-shows/

Type 2 diabetes: Including this food in your Christmas dinner could lower blood sugar

From express.co.uk

TYPE 2 diabetes is considered a serious condition which affects a person’s blood sugar levels, and left untreated, serious health complications can occur. One way to keep blood sugar levels in check or to lower them is to be vigilant with the foods you eat. During Christmas time, it’s easy to throw caution to the wind, however, certain foods could play havoc with one’s blood sugar. Thankfully, there is a food item that could help lower blood sugar.

Type 2 diabetes causes a person’s body to lose control of the amount of blood sugar (glucose) in the blood. The body doesn’t respond to insulin properly, and may not produce enough, causing blood sugar levels to become too high. If the condition is left untreated, complications which may occur include kidney failure, nerve damage, heart disease and stroke. So what can you do to lower blood sugar levels or keep them under control during the festive season?

Potatoes are considered a starchy vegetable and a healthy carb. They’re high in fibre, low in calories, and include vitamins and minerals.

Most potato varieties have a higher glycaemic index (GI).
The GI rates different foods as high (GI above 70), medium (GI of 56 to 69), and low (GI of 55 or less).
The GI ratings are based on how the food affects blood sugar levels.

Even though it’s a complex carbohydrate, some potatoes increase blood sugar levels faster than other types of complex carbs.
This is because the body processes high GI complex carbs faster than those with a low or medium GI.

To avoid higher glucose levels, a person should control their portion sizes.

           Type 2 diabetes: Potatoes are relatively low in GI and in moderation could lower blood sugar                                                                     (Image: Getty Images)

Are carbohydrates good for you
Diabetes UK said on their website: “Many of us rely on carbohydrates as our main source of energy.
"Carbohydrate-containing foods also provide important nutrients for good health.
"Everyone needs some carbohydrate-containing foods in their diet.
"The actual amount that you need to eat will depend on your age, activity levels and the goals you are trying to achieve.”

What's the healthiest way to have potatoes
Rather than bake, boil, or fry regular potatoes, prepare yams or sweet potatoes.
Both are low-fat, low-calorie, and help stabilise blood sugar.
Unlike potatoes that have a high GI, sweet potatoes and yams have a low to medium GI based on how they’re prepared. Keeping the skin on the sweet potato lowers the GI more due to the fibre content.

When it comes to tucking in to your favourite treats during Christmas, it’s important to always be mindful of portion size.

Making sensible food choices, filling up on vegetables and monitoring the amount of alcohol consumed are all ways to ensure blood sugar levels remain healthy.
Diabetes UK recommends that men should have a maximum of three to four units of alcohol and women a maximum of two to three units.

If a person takes insulin or some types of tablets, alcohol can lower blood glucose levels and therefore increase the risk of having a hypo, which is where a person's blood glucose level falls dangerously low.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1217426/type-2-diabetes-diet-food-potatoes-christmas-lower-blood-sugar

Diabetes Diet: 5 Delicious Winter Snacks For Diabetes Management

From food.ndtv.com

Here are some healthy winter snacks diabetics could include in their diet to make sure their blood sugars are stable

Winter's upon us and as we wrap ourselves underneath layers of wool to keep warm, it is advisable to make necessary tweaks to one's diet too.  Why you ask? Because eating seasonal has been linked to a number of health benefits. There are a number fruits, vegetables, that you find only in this season. Some of these seasonal treats are so nutritious that they could help manage a number of health conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes is one of the biggest challenges in the world of health and nutrition. According to a study carried by the Lancet Journal, about 98 million Indians are at risk of developing diabetes by the year 2030. Diabetes is characterised by elevated blood sugar levels. While there is no way to reverse the condition, but you can manage it effectively by adopting a healthy and balanced diet rich with fibre and low glycaemic index foods. 

Diabetics should ideally split their meals in multiple small meals, and make sure they are replete with nutrients and contain no added sugar, refined goods and processed junk.  They should also be low in simple carbohydrates. These carbohydrates digest too soon and cause a surge in blood sugar levels. Here are some healthy winter snacks diabetics could include in their diet to make sure their blood sugars are stable.

1. Shakarkandi chaat

Potato's pink tuber cousin, shakarkandi or sweet potato may actually do wonders for blood sugar management. According to the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, "they contain slow-release carbohydrate and the hormone adiponectin, a combination that helps keep blood sugar levels steady." Just boil them, cut them, add a bit of lemon juice, sprinkle some chaat masala on top-and your shakarkandi chaat is ready.

^{Diabetes: Sweet potatoes have low glycaemic index}

2. Carrot sticks and hummus

Carrots are packed with good quality fibres. They are low in carbs and calories too. Wash the winter veggie well. Peel and cut them in long strips, dip them in hummus and munch away!


3. Beetroot salad

Beetroot is another winter delight, we can never get enough of. The ruby red vegetable is also a treasure of fibre, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B9. This beetroot salad made with a delightful mix of beetroot, broccoli, walnuts, apple, celery and roasted papad makes for a healthy evening snack. Make sure you avoid adding sugar in the mix.

4. Nutty trail mix
Nuts are an intrinsic part of desi winter preparations. They are used to make ladoos, they are used in halwas too. Now use a chunk if these healthy nuts for your own trail mix. Take a bit of almonds slivers, flax, chia, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, prunes and put them in a mason jar. Tuck into them when cravings kick. Practice moderation.

5. Roasted chana

Chanas, or chickpeas, are packed with fibres. Did you know? Fibres also induce a sense of satiety. If you feel full, you would refrain from binging on other unhealthy snacks.

Try these snacks, but make sure you do not lose sight of portion control. Excess of anything may prove detrimental to your health.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/diabetes-diet-5-delicious-winter-snacks-for-diabetes-management-2148782