Diabetics likely to develop severe Covid-19; urged to take precautions

From nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: People with diabetes are more likely to develop a severe form of Covid-19 infection, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

He said uncontrolled diabetes compromises the body's immune system, but otherwise, the risk of contracting a severe Covid-19 infection could be minimised.

"The best strategy against Covid-19 is prevention. Modern medicine has come a long way, as our understanding of the disease advances.

"Besides its negative impact on the quality of life and healthcare cost, diabetes also increases the economic burden of individuals, families and communities and affects national productivity.

"Therefore, good controlled diabetes and limiting its complications must be achieved with a holistic approach and active patients' participation.

"This can be achieved with the support of appropriate diabetes education and lifestyle modification by the healthcare professional as well as pharmacological treatment," he said at the 6th Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus virtual launch ceremony today.

Dr Noor Hisham said there had been rapid advances in the management of diabetic complications with the use of new technology and findings have changed clinical pathways in the way Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is managed. This, he said, is reflected in the sixth edition of the CPC of the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

People with diabetes are more likely to develop a severe form of Covid-19 infection, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

"These guidelines also focus on preventing and reducing diabetes-related complications, thereby improving clinical outcomes.

"This CPG will form a valuable resource for healthcare professionals by addressing management issues from primary up to tertiary care levels.

"It is aimed to deliver the best possible care for patients from disease prevention to treatment of complications. In this network age, we should no longer be working in silos and I would like to reaffirm the importance and recognition of a multidisciplinary approach in managing Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

"The integration of care services to emphasise the patient at the very centre of care in the chronic care model will improve patient's motivation and journey living with diabetes," he said.

Also present at the virtual launch was Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS) president Prof Dr Chan Siew Pheng.

On a related matter, Dr Chan said the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey found 50 per cent of Malaysians aged between 18 and 29 were diabetic.

"Prevalence of diabetes in the country continues to rise unabated and has reached epidemic proportions. It is worrying to see this trend.

"The frequent co-existence with other well-known comorbidities, for instance, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, being overweight or obese further complicates the situation.

"People with diabetes tend to experience more severe Covid-19 infection and have a higher risk of death than non-diabetics.

"The best course of action is to closely manage glucose intake, blood pressure, and cholesterol while taking every precaution to avoid catching the virus," she said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/661740/diabetics-likely-develop-severe-covid-19-urged-take-precautions

'Weak' and 'strong' cells bonding boosts body's diabetes fight

From birmingham.ac.uk

Scientists have broadened our understanding of how ‘weak’ cells bond with their more mature cellular counterparts to boost the body’s production of insulin – improving our knowledge of the processes leading to type 2 diabetes – a significant global health problem.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs when β-cells cannot release enough insulin – a tightly controlled process requiring hundreds of such cells clustered together to co-ordinate their response to signals from food, such as sugar, fat and gut hormones.

An international research team – led by scientists at the University of Birmingham – have discovered that immature β-cells (PDX1LOW/MAFALOW) are able to overcome their relative deficiencies by partnering with ‘stronger’ counterparts to drive insulin release.

Publishing their findings today in Nature Communications, the researchers reveal that subtle differences in the levels of PDX1 and MAFA proteins (found only in β-cells) , and more broadly, differences in β-cell maturity, contribute to how clusters of insulin-producing cells, known as islets, function.

The corresponding author David Hodson, Professor of Cellular Metabolism, at the University of Birmingham, commented: “Our research shows that differences in β-cell maturity, defined using PDX1 and MAFA levels, are needed across the islet for proper insulin release. Unexpectedly, increases in the proportion of mature β-cells, is associated with islet failure. It seems that, rather like society, the islet needs cells with all ages to be properly functional.

“Redressing the balance between immature and mature β-cells restores islet function under conditions of metabolic stress – an excess of sugar and fat in the diet – providing evidence that both ’weak’ and ‘strong’ β-cells could contribute to proper islet function and insulin release.”

“This is the first glimpse that immature cells might contribute to the regulation of insulin release across the islet. Our study indicates a promising line of investigation that could be leveraged to make islets more resilient during type 2 diabetes or when generating new islets in a ‘dish’ for the purpose of transplantation.”

Normally, mature and immature β-cells co-exist within the adult islet and can be grouped into subpopulations according to differences in their levels of specific genes and proteins. Immature β-cells are generally considered to be poorly functional when viewed alone, as single cells.

Researchers found that islets containing proportionally more PDX1HIGH and MAFAHIGH β-cells showed defects in cell function (metabolism, ionic fluxes and insulin secretion). The team believes maintaining a mix of ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ β-cells is important for effective insulin production.

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/01/cells-bonding-boosts-diabetes-fight.aspx

Around the Diabetes Online Community: January 2021

From healthline.com

We’ve now welcomed in a new year and our Diabetes Online Community (DOC) has had plenty to say during this first month of 2021. Here are some of the excellent posts that caught our eye in January.

It was very cool seeing Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first-ever Latina to serve on the nation’s highest court, swearing in the new Vice President Kamala Harris… and knowing that Sotomayor is also one of our own in the Diabetes Community, as she’s lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since childhood.

OK, so we have a new White House administration, but life with diabetes still requires diligence. Thanks for Shaw Strothers over on Instagram for reminding us of that.

Sea shanties have gone viral on TikTok recently, and that brings us back to a classic diabetes-related sea shanty post from the years before it was even cool. Be sure to check out “Banting’s Imparted Years” on YouTube.

2021 marks the 100-year anniversary of insulin’s discovery, and January 11, 1922, was the day the first person received an insulin dose. We appreciate this Juicebox Podcast blog post highlighting those historic moments and what this has meant for people with diabetes ever since.

A new podcast series called More Than a Diabetic has now launched, immediately delving into important topics such as diversity and inclusion, healthcare inequities and racism, diabetes stereotypes and so much more. Make sure you listen in to the candid talk of the first few episodes, at least.

https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/around-the-diabetes-online-community-january-2021#2

Diabetes Control: Strength Training, Protein Consumption And 3 More Tips That Can Help You Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

From ndtv.com

Diabetes control: Simple changes in diet and lifestyle promote healthy blood sugar levels. Here are some expert-recommended tips you should follow

Diabetes control: Regular exercise promotes healthy blood sugar levels

Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body uses insulin. It is a chronic condition that requires constant management of healthy blood sugar levels. Diet and lifestyle play a significant role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. According to WHO, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. The majority of people with diabetes have type-2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. Are diabetics aware about the necessary precautions they should be taking to control blood sugar levels? If you are wondering what to do and avoid, here are top 5 steps you should be following.

Diabetes control: Here's what you should do

Nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal shared some tips to control diabetes as a part of her QuickFivewithMG series. Here's all you need to know-

1) Change your lifestyle

"Let's get this straight first: diabetes is not caused by eating sweets or consuming sugar. It is really a lifestyle disease i.e. the consequence of following an unhealthy lifestyle," Ganeriwal writes in her post. It is advised to follow an active lifestyle that emphasis on eating healthy, regular exercise and a healthy sleep cycle.

An active lifestyle is beneficial for diabetes and helps maintain a healthy weight
Photo Credit: iStock

2) Follow a diabetes-friendly diet

You should eat when you are hungry. Make sure that you do not starve and eat at the right time. It will help in keeping your blood sugar levels steady. The nutritionist further suggests that carbohydrates are essential for diabetics but you need to stay from the processed or refined variety like those in biscuits, cookies, muffins etc.

Also, make sure that you add low-glycaemic foods to your diet. Do not miss healthy fats such as ghee, nuts and seeds.

Protein is also essential for diabetics as it helps increase insulin sensitivity. Diabetics should enjoy wholesome meals like khichdi kadhi, rice dal, rice dahi, egg and roti.

3) The 'magic' of exercise

The American Diabetes Association advises to perform 150 mins of exercise in a week. If not outside, you can exercise at home. Start with a simple routine. Do not perform heavy workouts initially to avoid a sudden drop of blood sugars. Seek advice from an expert to understand suitable exercises as per your condition.

4) The benefits of strength training

"Incorporating strength training into the workout regimen is crucial to increase insulin sensitivity. Structured and progressive strength training improves how the body uses insulin and allows glucose to get around the body better," Ganeriwal tells.

5) The importance of good sleep

Sleep is important for your overall health including both mental and physical. Insufficient sleep or sleeping at irregular hours affects the natural, biological processes such as secretion of insulin. Ensure restful sleep daily. It will also provide enough rest to your body. Ganeriwal also suggests to go to bed and get up at the same time so that the body is fully in sync with the body clock.

(Munmun Ganeriwal is a Celebrity Nutritionist, Fitness Expert, Yoga Teacher and Founder at Yuktahaar)

Disclaimer: 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://www.ndtv.com/health/diabetes-control-strength-training-protein-consumption-and-3-more-tips-that-can-help-you-maintain-healthy-blood-sugar-levels-2359286

Plant-Based Diet Adherence Tied to Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk

From consumer.healthday.com

Large study revealed inverse association, too, with lower adherence tied to higher risk

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Adherence to plant-based diets is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Diabetes Care.

Zhangling Chen, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues used data from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS [1986 to 2012]; 76,530 women) and NHS II (1991 to 2017; 81,569 women) as well as the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986 to 2016; 34,468 men) to evaluate the association between plant-based diets and the subsequent risk for type 2 diabetes.

The researchers found 12,627 cases of type 2 diabetes during 2,955,350 person-years of follow-up. Participants with the largest decrease (>10 percent) in the plant-based diet index (PDI) and healthful PDI (hPDI) over four years had a higher diabetes risk in the subsequent four years (PDI: pooled hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; hPDI: HR, 1.23) compared with participants with stable PDI or hPDI, when adjusting for initial body mass index and initial and four-year changes in alcohol intake, smoking, physical activity, and other factors. The risk for diabetes was lower for each 10 percent increment in the PDI and hPDI over four years (PDI: HR, 0.93; hPDI: HR, 0.91). There was no association noted between changes in unhealthful PDI and diabetes risk. Between 6 and 35.6 percent of the associations between changes in the PDI and hPDI and diabetes risk was accounted for by weight changes.

"The findings of the current study not only confirm previous reports but also demonstrate that both four-year and longer-term (eight-year) improvements in adherence to overall and healthful plant-based diets are associated with lower diabetes risk," the authors write.

https://consumer.healthday.com/plant-based-diet-adherence-tied-to-lower-diabetes-risk-2649962357.html

Ask the Doctors: What Type 2 diabetes is, understanding insulin’s role in treatment

From chicago.suntimes.com

Once seen mostly among middle-aged adults, it’s increasingly seen in young adults, adolescents and even children.

Dear Doctors: We keep hearing about Type 2 diabetes, and I’m embarrassed to say, I don’t actually know what it is. What does it do, and how do I know if I have it?

A. To understand diabetes, we should first talk about glucose.

That’s the sugar our bodies make from the foods that we eat that our cells use as their main source of fuel. Glucose travels the body via the blood, which is why it’s also often referred to as blood sugar.

But it’s not immediately available to cells. That’s where insulin, a hormone the pancreas makes, comes into play. Insulin helps transport glucose from the blood into cells.

When someone has diabetes, it means the insulin part of that energy equation isn’t working properly. The body isn’t manufacturing enough — or any — insulin, or it isn’t responding properly to the insulin that’s present.

That leads to high blood-glucose levels, which, over time, are dangerous and can cause damage to the circulatory system, vision problems, nerve damage, stomach and intestinal problems, slow healing, kidney disease and a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Extremely high levels can lead to coma and death.

With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. It often develops early in life but can occur at any age. This type of diabetes is managed with diet and exercise, plus medications and insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset diabetes, often develops later in life, when the body doesn’t make or use insulin well. It often begins as insulin resistance, a condition in which the body stops responding properly to the insulin in the blood.

Some people can manage Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone. Others might need medication or insulin. Medication needs often change over time, so it’s important for everyone with diabetes to have medical care.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes often develop gradually. They include persistent fatigue, increased thirst and urination, blurry vision, frequent infections, slow healing and unintended weight loss.

Risk factors include being overweight, storing excess fat mainly in the abdomen, a family history of diabetes, inactivity and being over 45.

Once seen mostly among middle-aged adults, Type 2 diabetes increasingly has been seen in young adults, adolescents and even children.

If you suspect you have it, see your doctor. Diagnosis is usually via a blood test.

Dr. Eve Glazier is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Dr. Elizabeth Ko is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/well/2021/1/28/22216002/type-2-diabetes-insulin-health-wellness

How Close Are We to a Cure for Type 2 Diabetes?

From webmd.com

By Andrew Stewart, MD, as told to Hallie Levine

Type 2 diabetes is one of the world’s greatest health problems. It affects about 400 million people globally. If it’s uncontrolled, it can lead to dangerous complications like kidney failure, blindness, heart attack, and stroke. But while there are over 30 different drugs on the market to help manage this disease and prevent these problems, none provide an actual cure.

One reason is that until recently, we didn’t quite understand the full scope of the problem. Two decades ago, if you asked a diabetes specialist to explain the cause of type 2 diabetes, they would say insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps the glucose in your blood enter cells in your muscle, fat, and liver, where it’s used for energy. But when you have insulin resistance, these muscle, fat, and liver cells don’t respond well to it. As a result, your pancreas has to make more and more insulin to compensate. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes.

New Information

Now, we know that part of the problem also lies with your beta cells. These are the cells in your pancreas that actually produce the insulin. Our bodies make most of our beta cells within the first few years of our life. But some people make more than others. As a result, if they start to develop insulin resistance later in life, their bodies still have enough beta cells to keep up insulin production. But if they don’t, the beta cells they do have work too hard and eventually die. These are the people who end up with type 2 diabetes.

Here at Mount Sinai, our goal is to find drugs that can regenerate these insulin-producing beta cells. If you do that, then it would be possible to actually cure type 2 diabetes. Back in 2015, we identified a drug that may do just that, called harmine. This drug, which occurs naturally in a number of plants around the world, blocks an enzyme in the beta cells called DYRK1A. When you do this, it causes beta cells to multiply. Our study found that harmine treatment actually tripled the number of beta cells in diabetic mice. This in turn restored their blood sugar levels to normal.

A Working Combination

While that’s huge news, we still knew that this approach wouldn’t be enough to see similar results in humans. We decided to try to combine harmine with another class of type 2 diabetes drugs, known as GLP1R agonists (some examples are exenatide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide). These medicines actually target a specific protein found on beta cells that encourages them to produce insulin.  

We took beta cells from normal people and people with type 2 diabetes. We put some in tissue culture dishes, and we transplanted the rest into mice. When we combined harmine with any of the GLP1R agonist drugs currently on the market for diabetes, we saw big improvements.

Harmine alone causes beta cells to grow by about 2% in a 24-hour period. But when you add in a GLP1R agonist, that jumps to about 8%. In some cases, we saw the number of beta cells increase by up to 40% in just 4 days. This makes us feel very optimistic that we’ll see similar results when we conduct studies in humans.

Potential Gamechanger

Right now, our goal is to find ways to make sure that these drugs get delivered right to the beta cells. We joke that it’s like having a package for delivery to make beta cells better, but we don’t yet know the address to send it to. We think that we can attach them to monoclonal antibodies, molecules that can “deliver” our package -- in this case, the drugs -- straight to beta cells.

Why would this be such a game changer? The current type 2 diabetes medications available all work to reduce glucose absorption, or kick-start insulin production in the pancreas. But once you stop taking them, the disease comes back.

The only promising permanent solution available is bariatric surgery, since that leads to significant weight loss and thus oftentimes can cause diabetes to go into remission. But it’s not a great strategy to treat 400 million people. It reverses the high blood sugar but not the complications that have happened because of the diabetes. It’s expensive, and, since it’s surgery, carries significant recovery time and some risk.  But if we can perfect this drug cocktail, then we potentially have a new medication that can “cure” millions of people around the world.

https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-perspectives-21/type-2-possible-cure

What is gestational diabetes, and why does it develop?

From medicalnewstoday.com

Gestational diabetes is when blood glucose levels are abnormally high during pregnancy due to the body developing a resistance to insulin.

Without treatment, the condition may harm the person and the baby. After the baby is born, symptoms of gestational diabetes usually disappear.

This article discusses what gestational diabetes is, its causes, and how to treat it.

What is gestational diabetes?

Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images

Gestational diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are too high during pregnancy. The signs of gestational diabetes usually begin around the 20–24th week of pregnancy in the second trimester. A doctor usually tests for the condition between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.

Excessive levels of glucose in the bloodstream could cause complications for the pregnant person and their unborn baby. This is why it is important that a doctor diagnoses gestational diabetes promptly to ensure blood glucose levels are kept stable.

Around 3%–8% of pregnant people in the United States will develop gestational diabetes.

Blood sugar levels usually return to normal levels after the baby is born, though 50% of people who experience gestational diabetes may develop type 2 diabetes in the future.

What causes gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition that makes a person resistant to insulin. They still produce insulin, but that insulin is no longer effective at reducing blood sugar levels.

Hormones released from the placenta interfere with how well insulin is able to store glucose in fat and muscle cells, so the level of glucose rises in the blood.

All pregnant people will experience some insulin resistance during pregnancy. They are usually able to produce additional insulin to compensate for insulin resistance.

However, people with gestational diabetes do not produce enough insulin to overcome the state of insulin resistance.

Gestational diabetes symptoms

Gestational diabetes does not typically cause symptoms. But the condition may cause increased feelings of thirst and a person may notice they are needing to urinate more than usual.

If anyone notices symptoms during pregnancy that are causing them concern, no matter how subtle, they should contact their doctor. People’s experiences of pregnancy vary, and the changes could be a normal part of the pregnancy’s progression, but if a person is worried, contacting a doctor should put their mind at ease.

Treatment for gestational diabetes

The goal of treatment is to manage blood glucose levels, usually through changes in lifestyle.

Dietary recommendations

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend a healthful diet for managing blood glucose levels.

Pregnant people in general should aim for:

• 175 g of carbohydrate
• 71 g of protein (minimum amount)
• 28 g of fibre

After receiving a gestational diabetes diagnosis, a person should limit saturated fats and avoid trans fats altogether.

A healthful diet for diabetes includes:

• foods high in fibre, such as whole-grain pasta or brown bread
• fish or poultry instead of fatty and processed meats
• plenty of vegetables and whole fruits
• unsalted nuts, seeds, and legumes
• avoiding sweets or foods high in added sugar

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest a person can keep track of what they are eating by keeping track of how many carbohydrates they are eating and implementing the “plate method,” which includes filling half the dinner plate with non-starchy vegetables.

If someone feels overwhelmed about making food choices after receiving a gestational diabetes diagnosis, they may find talking to a relevant healthcare professional helpful.

Physical activity

Regular physical activity is another important component of managing blood glucose levels. It is important a person speaks with their doctor before increasing physical activity, especially when they are pregnant.

Medication

When lifestyle changes are not working, doctors may prescribe medication to keep a person’s blood glucose levels under control. These medications may include insulin.

According to the American Diabetes Association, a doctor will recommend a pregnant person monitor their blood glucose throughout their pregnancy. If the person is prescribed insulin they may need to measure their blood glucose more frequently to ensure the dose is correct and remains effective.

Healthy glucose levels for women with gestational diabetes are:

• less than 95 milligrams per deciliter (mm/dL) before meals
• under 140 mm/dL an hour after eating
• under 120 mm/dL two hours after eating

Diagnosis

Doctors will check for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. They will use blood tests to measure blood glucose levels.

The tests may involve a one- or two-step glucose tolerance test.

The one-step glucose tolerance test requires fasting overnight. A doctor draws blood the next day to get a baseline reading. The person then consumes a drink containing 75 grams (g) of glucose. A doctor draws blood 1 hour later, then waits another hour for a second draw.

The two-step glucose challenge test does not require fasting. Instead, a person consumes a 50 g-glucose drink, with a doctor drawing blood 1 hour later.

If the reading is abnormal, a person may need to do a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test. This test requires fasting. The person consumes a 100-gram glucose dose and a doctor draws their blood at 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after the dose.

Gestational diabetes risk factors

Having overweight or obesity is a risk factor for gestational diabetes. A person is also at risk if they gain too much weight during pregnancy.

Some other risk factors for gestational diabetes include:

• a family history of diabetes
• previously giving birth to an infant greater than 9 pounds
• having a baby at or after age 25
• having pre-diabetes

Complications

Gestational diabetes does not typically cause birth defects, as this condition occurs starting in the second trimester. Most of the possible complications are manageable.

Examples of possible complications of gestational diabetes for a baby include:

• early birth
• high birth weight
• low blood glucose after birth
• breathing problems
• miscarriage or stillbirth

Gestational diabetes may also increase the risk of preeclampsia. This is a condition that causes high blood pressure. It can be life-threatening for the pregnant person and the unborn baby.

People who develop preeclampsia may require an early delivery, which could involve a doctor performing a caesarean delivery.

A person may also be at risk of type 2 diabetes in later life after developing gestational diabetes, so it is important they are mindful of what the symptoms of diabetes are.

Preventing gestational diabetes

Living with overweight or obesity increases the risk of gestational diabetes. Eating a healthful diet and making time for regular physical activity are important for maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy.

However, a person should discuss any potential changes to their diet or physical activity level with a doctor, especially while pregnant.

Summary

Gestational diabetes refers to high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. The condition is usually symptomless, but some people could feel thirsty or notice they urinate more often.

People who live with overweight or obesity are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes and should be mindful of symptoms while pregnant.

With appropriate treatment, gestational diabetes is a manageable condition. But if left untreated it could lead to serious complications, such as preeclampsia.

In most people, blood sugar levels return to normal after the baby is born. Nevertheless, a person should be mindful of diabetes symptoms as 50% of people who experience gestational diabetes may go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/gestational-diabetes

Suffering from type 2 diabetes? Try the garlic tea as a remedy to manage blood sugar

From timesnownews.com

Garlic is high in nutrients. If you are diabetic and still love tea, then garlic tea is your answer. Garlic tea is extremely good for health

Key Highlights

• Garlic tea is an herbal tea made of lemon, garlic and honey

• It is a very popular home remedy for several infections and diseases

• Let’s get to know the benefits of garlic tea for people suffering from diabetes

Suffering from type 2 diabetes? Try the garlic tea as a remedy to manage blood sugar

Photo Credit: iStock Images 

New Delhi: Garlic is a plant which originates in Central Asia. It is used worldwide for several kinds of health treatments. Garlic is available in various forms like powder, oil, raw garlic and supplements. You can choose to consume garlic according to your preference and taste. It can be consumed with warm water as well. If you love tea but are facing some restrictions because of certain health conditions like diabetes or blood pressure, you should definitely give garlic tea a try. There are many different ways of making garlic tea but the main ingredients remain honey, garlic and lemon.

Garlic tea does not contain any amount of caffeine, which is good for people recommended to avoid caffeinated beverages. It can easily be made at home. To add some extra benefit and flavour to the tea, you can also add ginger and cinnamon. Garlic has anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities. People mostly prefer drinking garlic tea during the winters.  It is beneficial for your health and boosts your immune system. It increases your energy levels and improves your metabolism. Garlic tea is highly recommended for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Benefits of garlic tea for diabetics

1. It lowers the amino acid homocysteine which is a huge factor of risk for diabetics.
2. Garlic is a powerful antibiotic and improves your overall health and immunity.
3. It helps in fighting any sort of inflammation caused due to diabetes in the body.
4. It lowers blood sugar levels in people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
5. It reduces the level of cholesterol and lowers any risk of damage caused due to diabetes.
6. Vitamin C present in garlic keeps the organs healthy and functioning.
7. It improves cardiovascular health.
8. It is a great and healthy substitute for normal tea that could otherwise harm your body if you are suffering from diabetes.
9. It keeps the blood pressure in control. 
10. Garlic helps in regulating blood glucose and lowers the risk of any complications caused due to diabetes. 

https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/suffering-from-type-2-diabetes-try-the-garlic-tea-as-a-remedy-to-manage-blood-sugar/711112

After a Decade of Trying, She’s Managing Her Type 2 Diabetes Like a Boss

From healthline.com

Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for people with type 2 diabetes.

Know Diabetes by Heart is an initiative to educate people about the connection between diabetes and heart health.

There are ways to manage type 2 diabetes and improve heart health.

In the beginning of 2016, Lupe Barraza, woke up every day with tingling in her hands and feet.

“I couldn’t make a fist it was so painful,” Barraza told Healthline.

She was also losing hair, and gained 70 pounds within a few years. During this time, she was living under stress with her abusive second husband in Houston, Texas.

“My environment got dangerous being away from my family in Dallas. … My stress levels were [through] the roof,” Barraza said.

By spring, she summoned the courage to see a doctor. Barraza learned her glucose levels were in the upper 300s, and that she had type 2 diabetes.

“After being diagnosed, I tried to change my diet and to walk. I did lose about 20 pounds, but it seemed threatening to my husband — feeling good about myself and health — and I reverted back to old habits. My self-esteem wasn’t good,” Barraza said.

The up-and-down battle with her health was familiar to Barraza. In 2009, she learned she was prediabetic.

“I knew it was imminent because my father is the youngest of 13 and about 80 percent of them struggled with type 2 diabetes, and the majority of them passed away from type 2 and heart disease. [My dad] was diagnosed when he was in his 40s,” Barraza said.

The American Diabetes Association states that people who have an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes have a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes themselves due to genetic factors, as well as lifestyle choices, such as exercise, eating habits, and stress.

Knowing this, Barraza worked hard to break from her family history. In 2009, she began running and changing her diet. Between 2010 and 2012, she built up stamina to run 10 marathons and two ultramarathons.

“I was in [the] best shape of my life. I had gone back to school and finished my bachelor’s, master’s, and CPA,” Barraza said. “But unfortunately the strains of my [first] marriage didn’t survive. In the spring of 2012, I was divorced and lost myself.”

Finding strength and a path to health

From 2012 to 2019, Barraza said she was in survival mode physically and emotionally.

“My mother had a stroke in March 2019 that woke [me] up to the reality of my health. I wasn’t feeling well and was so heavy. I knew [I was] smart and had a great career, but [I was] living in hell and dying,” she said.

Barraza decided to take control of her health for the sake of her six children.

“I used my mom’s health to move back home and get away from my husband. The day I was moving things into storage, I got a call that my dad had a heart attack and we were told he had a 10 percent chance of survival,” Barraza said.

While her dad made it out of the hospital, long-term damage from type 2 diabetes caused him to endure a series of amputations, including his toes, parts of his feet, and left leg.

“Seeing him and having to make decisions with my brothers is not something I want for my kids, so I got angry at myself because I knew better. I started to position myself first mentally [for change],” she said.

Lupe Barraza tried for years to make healthier choices managing her diabetes. Now she’s sharing how she took control of her health and happiness and started living her best life. Photography courtesy of Lupe Barraza

In June 2019, she bought a house close to her mom and left her second husband. Once she settled, she found a doctor she trusted and started reconnecting with friends.

“They are my tribe of very strong, intelligent, successful women. … Being a mom and working professional and having a support system from my doctor to people around me, gave me the confidence I needed,” Barraza said.

As she gained confidence, she also built self-worth. In September 2019, she started walking again during her lunch breaks.

“I couldn’t run a mile, and 9 years prior I was running 6 miles every morning. … I slowly changed my diet. I knew how to eat and how to be well I just didn’t have the courage and energy to do it [until then],” she said.

By February 2020, Barraza was able to handle walk/run intervals and eventually increased her pace to jogging and running. Today, at 45 years old, she runs 100 miles a month and is signed up for a “comeback marathon” in May 2021.

“I just ran my 18-mile training run this past Saturday and that’s my marker,” Barraza said.

She also dropped her A1C from 11.5 to 5.4, cut her medication dose by half, lowered her blood pressure, and lost 65 pounds.

“Once I started getting that serotonin high [from exercising], it helped my mentality and made me happy again. My skin is better. My smile is better. My whole person is completely different,” Barraza said.

Inspiring others to make change

To encourage other women to take control of their health, Barraza is taking part in Know Diabetes by Heart, a joint effort from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, to reduce cardiovascular disease and death in people living with type 2 diabetes.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/after-a-decade-of-trying-now-shes-managing-her-diabetes-like-a-boss#Finding-strength-and-a-path-to-health

Diabetes: Expert Explains How To Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels In Elderly

From ndtv.com

Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires healthy management of blood sugar levels. In elderly, it can be hard to manage blood sugar levels. Read here to know from expert how to handle this condition

Diabetes management is a lifetime process. It involves a combination of healthy diet, lifestyle and medication to prevent the side effects linked with this chronic condition. In elderly, it becomes extremely crucial to manage long-standing diabetes effectively. Also, the amount of physical activity reduces at this age, which makes it tough to control blood sugar levels. Elders also eat a restricted diet according to the existing health conditions. Doctors also need to very careful about the usage of insulin and other medications, keeping in mind the current situation of the patient and pre-existing health conditions. Here are some insights straight from the expert that can help you understand management of diabetes in elderly.

Diabetes management in elderly: Everything you need to know

There is a need to need to individualize the treatment targets for diabetic patients. For someone who has had a heart attack, or bypass surgery or has got an underlined kidney problem, the treatment process changes. There is a study called ACCORD that tells that people who have been diabetic for a long time, have an underlined heart disease, kidney problem or a diabetic complication should not be treated aggressively. It actually backfires on them.

Dr. Manoj Chadha who is a Consultant Endocrinologist at P.D Hinduja Hospital and MRC explains, "In the last two-three years there is so much of interesting information that is been researched about the class of drugs that not only does control diabetes very well but it actually protects the heart, and kidney from further damage."

Recommended lifestyle modifications to control blood sugars

In most cases, the amount of physical activity reduces significantly. Depending upon the status of the patient they can do like simple activities like walking for 30-40 minutes, freehand exercises, aerobics, swimming, whatever the patient is capable of doing they should be encouraged to do.

It is also advised to encourage patients to have 6.5-7.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep as it's an important part of diabetes management.

Time management with regard to mealtime also plays a role. One must see that the meal timings should be fairly well regulated. It has been observed that because of the work from home culture the timings seem to have gone haywire.

How frequently should one check blood sugar?

Dr. Chadha tells, "The frequency depends on how is the control. If the patient has a fair control on doing a couple of (3-4) blood test in a week is good enough. But if the control is not good and sugars tend to go from 250-400 I would suggest the individual should monitor glucose almost 2-3 times a day. Although, this has to be individualised. As the control improves the frequency of testing goes down. But till we get some decent control it is required to do tests on a regular basis. Whether it is every day, alternate or twice a week. It gives the patient confidence in how things are improving."

It is important to stay in touch with your doctor to manage diabetes
Photo Credit: iStock

How important is it for a patient to regularly stay updated with the doctor?

Dr. Chadha explains that the idea of doing frequent blood testing is to get the feel of what is happening. Trying to identify where you're going wrong? What is the right thing you are doing? What does the body like? And then someone needs to act on it. If an individual knows what to do, it is fantastic, else a doctor will need to intervene.

"As experts, we try to empower our patients so that they do not need to visit the doctor every week. But it depends on how they use that information. Always take the experts advice, if you are in control and you're at minimum medication, you can see a doctor once in six months too. However, this is again individualised between the doctor and patient on how often should the follow up be," he sums up.

https://www.ndtv.com/health/diabetes-expert-explains-how-to-maintain-healthy-blood-sugar-levels-in-elderly-2356722

Oily Fish Consumption Tied to Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk

From consumer.healthday.com

Use of fish oil supplements over time also tied to lower diabetes risk

FRIDAY, Jan. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of oily fish, but not non-oily fish, is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study published online Jan. 11 in Diabetes Care.

Guo-Chong Chen, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues used data from 392,287 middle-aged and older participants (55 percent women) in the U.K. Biobank to evaluate associations of oily and non-oily fish consumption and fish oil supplements with incident T2D.

The researchers found that during a median 10.1 years of follow-up, there were 7,262 incident cases of T2D. For those who reported less than one serving/week, one serving/week, and two or more servings/week of oily fish consumption, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of T2D were 0.84, 0.78, and 0.78, respectively, compared with participants who reported never consuming oily fish. There was no association between consumption of non-oily fish and the risk for T2D. There was a 9 percent lower risk for T2D among participants who reported regular fish oil use at baseline versus non-users and an 18 percent lower risk among baseline regular users of fish oil who also reported fish oil use during at least one of the 24-hour dietary recalls versus constant non-users.

"At present, it is prudent to recommend fresh oily fish as a part of a healthy dietary pattern instead of fish oil supplements for diabetes prevention," the authors write.

https://consumer.healthday.com/oily-fish-consumption-tied-to-lower-diabetes-risk-2649920285.html

What Is Type 1 Diabetes?

From cdc.gov/diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps blood sugar enter the cells in your body where it can be used for energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can’t get into cells and builds up in the bloodstream. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and causes many of the symptoms and complications of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can develop at any age.

Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2—approximately 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed by following your doctor’s recommendations for living a healthy lifestyle, managing your blood sugar, getting regular health check-ups, and getting diabetes self-management education and support.

For Parents

If your child has type 1 diabetes—especially a young child—you’ll be involved in diabetes care on a day-to-day basis, from serving healthy foods to giving insulin injections to watching for and treating hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). You’ll also need to stay in close contact with your child’s health care team; they will help you understand the treatment plan and how to help your child stay healthy.

Much of the information that follows applies to children as well as adults, and you can also visit JDRF’s T1D Resources pageexternal icon for comprehensive information about managing your child’s type 1 diabetes.

What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, called beta cells. This process can go on for months or years before any symptoms appear.

Some people have certain genes (traits passed on from parent to child) that make them more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, though many won’t go on to have type 1 diabetes even if they have the genes. Being exposed to a trigger in the environment, such as a virus, is also thought to play a part in developing type 1 diabetes. Diet and lifestyle habits don’t cause type 1 diabetes.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

It can take months or years for enough beta cells to be destroyed before symptoms of type 1 diabetes are noticed. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop in just a few weeks or months. Once symptoms appear, they can be severe.

Some type 1 diabetes symptoms are similar to symptoms of other health conditions. Don’t guess—if you think you could have type 1 diabetes, see your doctor right away to get your blood sugar tested. Untreated diabetes can lead to very serious—even fatal—health problems.

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, though family history is known to play a part.

Testing for Type 1 Diabetes

A simple blood test will let you know if you have diabetes. If you’ve gotten your blood sugar tested at a health fair or pharmacy, follow up at a clinic or doctor’s office to make sure the results are accurate.

If your doctor thinks you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may also be tested for autoantibodies (substances that indicate your body is attacking itself) that are often present with type 1 diabetes but not with type 2. You may have your urine tested for ketones (produced when your body burns fat for energy), which also indicate type 1 diabetes instead of type 2.

Managing Diabetes

Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly by you, with support from your health care team (including your primary care doctor, foot doctor, dentist, eye doctor, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator, and pharmacist), family, teachers, and other important people in your life. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but everything you do to improve your health is worth it!

If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin shots (or wear an insulin pump) every day to manage your blood sugar levels and get the energy your body needs. Insulin can’t be taken as a pill because the acid in your stomach would destroy it before it could get into your bloodstream. Your doctor will work with you to figure out the most effective type and dosage of insulin for you.

You’ll also need to check your blood sugar regularly. Ask your doctor how often you should check it and what your target blood sugar levels should be. Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to target as possible will help you prevent or delay diabetes-related complications.

Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder, including managing your blood sugar levels and dealing with daily diabetes care. Regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and relaxation exercises can help. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about these and other ways you can manage stress.

Healthy lifestyle habits are really important too:

• Making healthy food choices
• Being physically active
• Controlling your blood pressure
• Controlling your cholesterol

Make regular appointments with your health care team to be sure you’re on track with your treatment plan and to get help with new ideas and strategies if needed.

Hypoglycemia and Diabetic Ketoacidosis

These 2 conditions are common complications of diabetes, and you’ll need to know how to handle them. Meet with your doctor for step-by-step instructions. You may want to bring a family member with you to the appointment so they learn the steps too.

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can happen quickly and needs to be treated quickly. It’s most often caused by too much insulin, waiting too long for a meal or snack, not eating enough, or getting extra physical activity.

If you have low blood sugar several times a week, talk to your doctor to see if your treatment needs to be changed.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening. DKA develops when your body doesn’t have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for use as energy. Very high blood sugar and low insulin levels lead to DKA. The two most common causes are illness and missing insulin shots. Talk with your doctor and make sure you understand how you can prevent DKA and how to treat it if needed.

Get Diabetes Education

Whether you just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or have had it for some time, meeting with a diabetes educator is a great way to get support and guidance, including how to:

• Develop and stick to a healthy eating and activity plan
• Test your blood sugar and keep a record of the results
• Recognize the signs of high or low blood sugar and what to do about it
• Give yourself insulin by syringe, pen, or pump
• Monitor your feet, skin, and eyes to catch problems early
• Buy diabetes supplies and store them properly
• Manage stress and deal with daily diabetes care

Ask your doctor about diabetes self-management education and support services and to recommend a diabetes educator. You can also search the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists’ (ADCES) nationwide directoryexternal icon for a list of programs in your community (USA).

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html

Why is the Language We Use Around Diabetes So Important?

From curatio.me

Language can have a strong impact on behaviour and perceptions. The language we use to describe various health conditions is important since words can positively or negatively frame how we think and feel about things. There are a few simple ways we can shift our language around diabetes to ensure that it is neutral, respectful, free from stigma, inclusive, and strengths-based.

 

Person with Diabetes instead of Diabetic Person

As with any health condition, it is important to use person-centred or person-first language. This means focusing on the person first, and not using their health condition or illness to label them. An example of this would be to avoid saying “diabetic person” and instead say, “person living with diabetes.” 

 

Diabetes Management instead of Diabetes Control

Perfectly controlling anything is usually impossible. By speaking about managing diabetes versus trying to control it, we can shift the focus to self care and away from perfectionism. Avoiding language such as “uncontrolled,” “noncompliant,” and “nonadherent” can also reduce some of the negative stigma associated with diabetes.

 

High, Low & In Range Blood Sugar instead of Good & Bad Blood Sugar

Having good or bad blood sugar levels does not mean you are good or bad. This may seem obvious, but we often talk about diabetes in this way and tie words such as good or bad to measurements and results. If you are feeling constantly negative about yourself when you get a “bad” reading, it may be time to shift your language to high, low or in range. This language shift is especially important for younger individuals who are living with diabetes as they may be less able to distinguish between “your blood sugar levels are bad” and “you are bad.”

Check Blood Sugar instead of Test Blood Sugar 

This may seem trivial, however the word “test” can be pretty loaded. This implies you are dealing with a pass or fail situation, or there is a right or wrong outcome. Doing multiple blood sugar tests per day can create some pressure when the outcome is not what you are expecting. Simply changing the word to “check” offers a more neutral word, and may alleviate some of that pressure.

 

While some of these language shifts may not seem like a big deal to you, they could be really important to others who are living with diabetes. So, whether you have diabetes, care for someone with diabetes, or neither, don’t forget about the power of language and consider making these small shifts!

 

Learn more about “Speaking the Language of Diabetes” here.

https://curatio.me/why-is-the-language-we-use-around-diabetes-so-important/

Analysis: Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for people with Type 1 diabetes?

From wbrz.com/news

As states across the US begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations to citizens, many of the 1.6 million Americans who've been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes are questioning whether or not the vaccine is safe for them.

While each patient's situation is different, and individuals are encouraged to consult with their physician before making a final decision in this regard, one of the leading organizations on issues related to Type 1 diabetes has announced that the two vaccines being administered across the U.S. are safe for adults with this form of diabetes. 

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) says on its website, "All data shows the vaccines (the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines) are safe and effective for people with T1D."

However, when it comes to children with Type 1 Diabetes, the organization says, "The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in people 16 years of age and older, and the Moderna vaccine in people 18 years and older. Both vaccines are now being tested in clinical trials enrolling people age 12 and older. We will continue to monitor progress and enhance our efforts as there is more evidence and as vaccines are authorized for use in broader populations, such as younger individuals."

So, according to one of the foremost diabetes research organizations in the country, most individuals with Type 1 diabetes should be able to receive the two currently approved COVID vaccinations without complications.  

That said, some may still have questions related to how we know the vaccinations are safe Type 1 diabetics as well as what effect the inoculations may have on someone whose pancreas produces very little to no insulin. 

Were patients with diabetes included in the vaccine trials?

Dr. Eric Frusha, an internal medicine physician at Baton Rouge General – Ascension addresses these questions and others by first of all, explaining that people with diabetes were included in the vaccine trials.

According to Dr. Frusha, the COVID-19 vaccine is the fastest vaccine developed in the history of vaccines. But, that doesn’t mean researchers bypassed safety protocols or performed inadequate testing. Clinical trials tested their safety in adults of all ages, races and ethnicities, as well as chronic health conditions.

The Pfizer-BioNtech trial included 3,150 people with diabetes (8.4% of trial participants).
And, the Moderna trial included 2,858 people with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (9.4% of trial participants).

Do diabetes medications affect the vaccine?

When it comes to whether or not diabetes medications affect the vaccine, Dr. Frusha says, "At this time there is no information available on drug interactions between either authorized COVID vaccine and other medications, but it’s not anticipated that the vaccine itself would interact with insulin or other standard diabetes medications."

She added that it may be useful for a patient to avoid injecting insulin into their vaccine injection site for several days after vaccination.

Does the vaccine affect blood sugar levels?

There may also be concerns related to how the vaccine impacts blood sugar levels, and Dr. Frusha acknowledged that this may be an issue for some patients.

She said, "Because the vaccine can cause symptoms of illness that can lead to high glucose levels, be sure to carefully monitor your blood sugar levels for 48 hours after you receive your vaccination. It’s also important to stay hydrated. So far, people with diabetes seem to be experiencing few side effects and minimal effect on blood sugar levels.

https://www.wbrz.com/news/analysis-is-the-covid-19-vaccine-safe-for-people-with-type-1-diabetes-/

12 minutes of exercise might lower risks for heart disease and diabetes

From health.harvard.edu

Ever wonder how much exercise time it takes to start reducing your risk for heart disease and diabetes? It could be as little as 12 minutes, according to a Harvard study published Nov. 17, 2020, in Circulation. Scientists analysed blood from more than 400 middle-aged men and women before and just after they'd pedalled for 12 minutes on cycling machines, reaching a vigorous rate. In particular, scientists measured levels of almost 600 natural body chemicals (metabolites). Exercise produced significant changes in most metabolites. For example, the level of one metabolite linked to heart disease and diabetes fell by 29%. Another metabolite tied to diabetes risk and liver disease fell by 18%. That suggests, but doesn't prove, that 12 minutes of daily exercise (that includes vigorous activity) might reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

What if you're more of a moderate-intensity exerciser? "We don't know yet if moderate-intensity exercise would have a similar effect on metabolites. But study participants started off with very light exercise, and each minute the intensity increased," says Dr. Gregory Lewis, the study's senior author and a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/12-minutes-of-exercise-might-lower-risks-for-heart-disease-and-diabetes

Low-carb diet drives type 2 diabetes remission

From hospitalhealth.com.au

International researchers — including those from CSIRO — have found that consuming fewer carbs can potentially put type 2 diabetes into remission.

Published in the BMJ, scientists found that after six months, patients who followed a low-carb diet containing less than 26% of daily calories from carbohydrates achieved greater rates of type 2 diabetes remission than those who followed other diets traditionally recommended for managing the disease.

Contributing author and CSIRO Research Scientist Professor Grant Brinkworth said the study found that those who better adhered to the low-carb dietary approach had the greatest health improvements.

“Building on existing research, this study underscores that a low-carb diet can achieve greater weight loss and is more effective in reducing diabetes medication and improving blood glucose control,” Professor Brinkworth said.

“However, this study has gone one step further in showing the low-carb dietary approach to be effective in driving type 2 diabetes into remission.

“We know that lifestyle factors such as what we eat play a major part in determining our risk to type 2 diabetes. The good news is these lifestyle choices are within our control to change.”

Worldwide, it is estimated that one in 11 adults has diabetes, with the disease being responsible for approximately 11% of deaths annually. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, accounting for 90–95% of all cases.

Study co-lead Dr Joshua Goldenberg, from the National University of Natural Medicine at the Helfgott Research Institute in Oregon, said the study was the first systematic review to examine the safety and efficacy of low-carb diets in adults and to assess remission rates of type 2 diabetes.

“We used the most robust scientific methods to examine the combined effects of 23 published clinical trials from across the world, involving 1357 participants, including additional data from five of those clinical trials on markers of blood sugar status,” Dr Goldenberg said.

“By examining the totality of evidence on the effects of low-carb diets against clinical targets, this study will help clinicians and patients to better understand how this dietary approach can be used to treat type 2 diabetes, which remains a significant and worsening problem worldwide despite numerous pharmaceutical developments.

“The results of this study suggest low-carb diets could be considered an effective alternative, while monitoring and adjusting diabetes medication as needed.”

Professor Brinkworth said the findings underlined the need for diet support tools.

“These results show low-carb diets can be a really effective dietary approach for type 2 diabetes management; however, the challenge is to provide patients with easy-to-use support tools and convenient product solutions to help them adhere to it long term to gain these greater health improvements,” Professor Brinkworth said.

“In the future, having clearer a definition of type 2 diabetes remission and more rigorous studies examining the long-term safety and satisfaction of low-carb diets will also help to confirm the strength of this therapeutic approach.”

https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/aged-allied-health/news/low-carb-diet-drives-type-2-diabetes-remission-1503643354#axzz6ju35YvNz

Artificial sweetener saccharin doesn't increase diabetes risk, researchers say

From phillyvoice.com

Health experts emphasize that moderation is key when adding sugar substitutes to your diet

                          Eiliv-Sonas Aceron/Unsplash

Artificial sweeteners like those used in diet sodas, teas and fruit drinks, should only be consumed in moderation. They are not a magic bullet for weight loss, the Mayo Clinic says.

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners to reduce their sugar consumption and cut calories, reducing their risk for obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Yet, some research has suggested too much reliance on sugar substitutes actually can increase the risk of these conditions.

The conflicting research on the safety of sugar substitutes often raises more questions than provides answers. It is well-documented that a diet high in sugar can contribute to the development of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, but it is less clear whether artificial sweeteners are associated with similar risks.

Saccharin and diabetes

A new study led by researchers at Ohio State University offers some clarity, at least on the issue of the risk for type 2 diabetes.

They focused solely on saccharin, one of the six types of artificial sweeteners approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They found it doesn't lead to the development of diabetes in healthy adults, contrary to what some previous studies found.

"It's not that the findings of previous studies are wrong, they just didn't adequately control for things like underlying health conditions, diet choices and lifestyle habits," said George Kyriazis, assistant professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology at Ohio State.

"By studying the artificial sweetener saccharin in healthy adults, we've isolated its effects and found no change in participants' gut microbiome or their metabolic profiles, as it was previously suggested."

Previous studies have suggested the consumption of artificial sweeteners is associated with metabolic syndrome, weight gain, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 

"These findings have raised concerns that consuming them may lead to adverse public health outcomes, and a lack of well-controlled interventional studies contributed to the confusion," said Joan Serrano, a researcher in the department of biological chemistry and pharmacology at Ohio State.

The randomized, double-blind clinical trial included 46 healthy adults ages 18 to 45 with a body mass index of 25 or less. The participants were assigned to either take a capsule containing the maximum acceptable daily amount of saccharin, lactisole — a sweet taste receptor inhibitor, saccharin with lactisole, or a placebo every day for two weeks.

The maximum acceptable daily amount of saccharin is 400 milligrams per day, an amount far higher than what the average person consumes, the researchers said.

The study excluded people with acute or chronic medical conditions and those taking medications that could potentially affect metabolic function. This included people with diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or a history of malabsorption. It also included people who had bariatric surgery and pregnant or nursing women.

For 10 weeks, the researchers also tested the effects of an even higher dose of saccharin in mice that genetically lack sweet taste receptors, finding the same results. The artificial sweetener didn't affect glucose tolerance, or cause any significant gut microbiota changes or apparent adverse health effects.

They next will study the other FDA-approved sweeteners individually to see if there are any differences in how they're metabolized or whether there are any potential long-term adverse events. The study's findings were published in the journal Microbiome.

Do your research

The use of artificial sweeteners has risen sharply over the last decade as more attention has been focused on the dangers of eating too much sugar. Other FDA-approved sugar substitutes include sucrose, aspartame, sucralose, advantame and acesulfame-K.

Both the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association cautiously recommend the use of artificial sweeteners in place of sugar to combat obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes — all risk factors for heart disease. However, there is still much unknown about the long-term effects of using these sugar substitutes.

Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity and weight loss specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, warns that people sometimes consume more calories than they planned because they thought, for instance, that drinking diet soda meant they could indulge in other ways — like eating an extra slice of cake.

He also said that artificial sweeteners can change taste buds over time so that people crave sweet food and drink even more, making healthy choices like fruits and vegetable less appealing.

The Mayo Clinic emphasizes that sugar substitutes aren't a magic bullet for weight loss and should be used in moderation. Each type comes with its own benefits and risks, so do your research before choosing one.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/artificial-sweeteners-side-effects-saccharin-diabetes-risk-/

5 warning signs, early symptoms of type 2 diabetes to watch out for

From timesnownews.com

Did you know that if you feel a constant need to urinate, it might be a sign of type 2 diabetes? Read here to know about more signs that might be an indicator of the chronic disease.

New Delhi: Apart from the widespread pandemic, the world has been plagued by diabetes for a very long time now. This World Health Organization recognised chronic disease has affected millions of people. According to growth, it is expected to affect many more in the years to come. Every disease, fatal or not, has its own way of announcing its entrance into the body. The human body, being the complex yet brilliant machine it is, can exhibit symptoms of any anomaly that may befall or fester and ruin its smooth functioning. We just have to be vigilant enough to look out for it. 

5 warning signs, early symptoms of type 2 diabetes to watch out for | Photo Credit: Pixabay 

   

Type 2 diabetes 

There are broadly two kinds of diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Insulin is responsible for the transportation of glucose within the body through cells. In type 2 diabetes, due to a decreased cell response to insulin, this function is impaired, which leads to unmanaged blood sugar levels in the body. Some common causes of type 2 diabetes include genes, being obese or overweight, insulin resistance and physical inactivity.

Warnings signs to look out for

1. Thirst: Due to low sugar levels in the body, it might end up losing an unhealthy amount of water due to frequent urination. This results in an increased thirst and if left untreated, it might result in the body getting severely dehydrated
2. Fatigue: Due to the insufficient levels of sugar in the body, one might end up experiencing an unhealthy amount of tiredness and fatigue which can affect their lifestyle to great extents. 
3. Hunger: Due to inadequate glucose in the bloodstream, the body makes up for it from the glucose absorption from food. This uses up energy which makes hunger pangs among type 2 diabetes patients more frequent.
4. Compromised eyesight: This is a common sign of type 2 diabetes among patients. The blood vessels in the eyes might end up getting damaged due to an increased level of blood sugar. Blurred vision is a common symptom. If not treated on time, a complete vision loss is also possible.
5. Impaired wound healing: The circulation system of the body can be damaged due to high sugar levels in the body.  This can result in impaired wound healing which can increase the risk of developing infections.

Bottom line

Different bodies react to diseases differently. There are other signs that you may want to look out for such as weight loss, frequent urination, hand and foot pain. Make sure you consult a professional if you experience any issues. Furthermore, stay hydrated, consume a balanced diet and do not forget to keep your body physically active.

https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/5-warning-signs-early-symptoms-of-type-2-diabetes-to-watch-out-for/708120

Metformin may reduce death risk in COVID patients with diabetes

From nationalheraldindia.com

Use of the diabetes drug metformin -- before a diagnosis of COVID-19 -- is associated with a threefold decrease in mortality in COVID-19 patients with Type-2 diabetes, a new study suggests

"Since similar results have now been obtained in different populations from around the world -- including China, France and a UnitedHealthcare analysis -- this suggests that the observed reduction in mortality risk associated with metformin use in subjects with Type-2 diabetes and COVID-19 might be generalizable," said researcher Anath Shalev from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

According to the researchers, how metformin improves prognosis in the context of COVID-19 is not known.

The findings suggest that the mechanisms may go beyond any expected improvement in glycaemic control or obesity, since neither body mass index, blood glucose nor haemoglobin A1C were lower in the metformin users who survived as compared to those who died.

For the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, the team included 25,326 patients tested for COVID-19.

The primary outcome in the study was mortality in COVID-19-positive subjects, and the potential association with subject characteristics or comorbidities was analysed.

Overall mortality for COVID-19-positive patients was 11 per cent.

The study found that 93 per cent of deaths occurred in subjects over the age of 50, and being male or having high blood pressure was associated with a significantly elevated risk of death.

Diabetes was associated with a dramatic increase in mortality, with an odds ratio of 3.62. Overall, 67 per cent of deaths in the study occurred in subjects with diabetes.

The researchers looked at the effects of diabetes treatment on adverse COVID-19 outcomes, focusing on insulin and metformin as the two most common medications for Type-2 diabetes. They found that prior insulin use did not affect mortality risk.

However, prior metformin use was a different matter. Metformin use significantly reduced the odds of dying, and the 11 per cent mortality for metformin users was not only comparable to that of the general COVID-19-positive population, it was dramatically lower than the 23 per cent mortality for diabetes patients not on metformin.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/health/metformin-may-reduce-death-risk-in-covid-patients-with-diabetes

Type 2 diabetes management: Best and worst breakfast choices for diabetics

From timesnownews.com

Breakfast is considered one of the most important meals of the day. Especially for diabetics, breakfast is very essential since it is the first meal eaten after a fasting period of at least 8-9 hours

Key Highlights

• Diabetes is a common, but serious condition that affects millions of people around the world

• Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, especially for people with diabetes

• Know the best and worst breakfast foods for diabetics, and how they affect blood sugar control

New Delhi: Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common lifestyle conditions that has affected, and continues to affect millions of people around the world. A condition that is directly linked with obesity as a leading risk factor, and the one that can harm the kidneys as well as the heart, type 2 diabetes is a difficult, but important to manage the condition. Untreated, or mismanaged blood sugar levels can lead to excessively high blood sugar that can harm the rest of your vital organs. At the same time, extremely low blood sugar levels can cause fatigue to the point of unconsciousness, which can also be very dangerous.

Breakfast is considered one of the most important meals of the day. Especially for diabetics, breakfast is very essential since it is the first meal eaten after a fasting period of at least 8-9 hours when a person is asleep. Therefore, you must eat a healthy breakfast that helps you keep your sugar levels in check.

                                                     Photo Credit: iStock Images

Best foods to add to your breakfast meal to manage blood sugar levels

• High-fibre, low-sugar cereal – Cereal continues to be the most loved breakfast of people of all times. However, diabetics must ensure they include a high-fibre, low-sugar cereal in their diet to keep their blood sugar managed.
• Porridge – Porridge, also known as Daliya in Hindi, is a great breakfast dish. It can be made both sweet and salty. A porridge dish with lots of nuts, no salt, and fresh fruits for natural sugar is recommended. If you go for the savoury type, keep the salt low, and add lots of veggies for the crunch and nutrition. 
• Wholegrain bread – Wholegrain bread is a great way to begin your day. It contains just enough carbs but is not too refined, or sugary. It also contains fibre which is very important for people with blood sugar problems. 
• Avocado – Avocado is a healthy fruit, with lots of healthy fats in it. You can add the fruit on your slice of bread for a breakfast option on-the-go.

Other healthy breakfast options for diabetics can include -

• Fresh fruits
• Eggs
• Oats

Foods diabetics must avoid for breakfast to keep their blood sugar in check

Some popular breakfast foods that are not the best choice for diabetics include -

• Sugar in tea, coffee
• Fresh or packed juices
• Smoothies
• Refined flour bread
• Sugary cereal
• Sugary spreads such as chocolate spread, hazelnut spread and others
• Jam
• Pastries, and croissants 
• Packaged, processed foods.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/type-2-diabetes-management-best-and-worst-breakfast-choices-for-diabetics/707267

Low Carb Diet May Help People with Type 2 Diabetes Go Into Remission

From healthline.com

• A new study, published Wednesday in The BMJ, found that adhering to a low carb diet for six months was associated with higher rates of remission among people with type 2 diabetes.
• However, the benefits flattened after about a year likely due to the restrictive diet.
• Lowering carb intake can help improve blood glucose levels along with other markers of carbohydrate intolerance or insulin resistance.

New research has found that a low carbohydrate diet may help some people with type 2 diabetes achieve remission.

The study, published Wednesday in The BMJ, found that strictly adhering to a low carb diet for six months was associated with higher rates of remission among people with type 2 diabetes.

Low carb eating can be difficult to stick with long term, and the benefits flattened off after a year.

While the findings highlight the significant benefits of following a low carb diet in the short term, more research is needed to better understand the long-term effects on weight loss, blood sugar levels, and quality of life.

A new study looked at how a low carb diet may help people with type 2 diabetes in the short term. People Images/Getty Images

Low carb diets linked to higher rates of remission

People with type 2 diabetes are intolerant to carbohydrates, and eating them in excess can increase their blood sugar levels and require them to take higher doses of insulin or diabetes medication.

To better understand the impact of a low carb diet, researchers analyzed data from 23 clinical trials that tracked 1,357 patients with type 2 diabetes.

The participants adhered to a low carb diet or very low carb diet for at least 12 weeks.

With low carb diets, 26 percent of daily calories came from carbohydrates, and with a very low carb diet, 10 percent of daily calories were from carbohydrates.

The patients’ health and well-being — blood sugar levels, weight loss, quality of life, and adverse health events — were evaluated at six months and 12 months.

Researchers found that patients who stuck with a low carb diet experienced greater rates of remission at six months compared with those who did not strictly adhere to a low carb diet.

Compared to other diets, low carb diets were associated with a 32 percent increase in diabetes remission.

Those who followed a low carb diet also experienced weight loss, healthier body fat concentrations, and reduced medication use.

Breaking down the benefits of a low carb diet 

Dr. Minisha Sood, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, says she routinely recommends low carb diets to her patients with type 2 diabetes.

“I find that over time, in those who are non-adherent, the benefits may diminish over time. However, in those patients who can persevere and continue this nutritional approach, they usually continue to reap the benefits,” Sood said.

People with type 2 diabetes are intolerant to carbohydrates.

When “carbohydrate intake is lowered, the burden on their bodies to overproduce insulin to deal with those carbohydrates is also lowered,” Sood explained.

Lowering carb intake can help improve blood glucose levels along with other markers of carbohydrate intolerance or insulin resistance.

“A low or lower carb diet can cause less of a rise in blood sugar after eating,” says Audrey Koltun, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Cohen Children’s Medical Centre of New York.

What to know about switching to a low carb diet

There is no one diet that will work for everyone, and severe restrictions often lead to people giving up on a diet.

Sood said she advises her patients to start with one meal at a time.

For example, she suggests they tackle dinner first and aim to lower their carb intake by about 50 percent by swapping out unhealthy, starch-packed carbohydrates for healthier sources such as healthy grains or lentils.

From there, Sood advises her patients to gradually reduce their carb intake with breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

She recommends non-starchy vegetables and low glycaemic index fruits like berries. Healthy grains — such as quinoa, sweet potatoes, and brown rice — and lentils are beneficial sources of carbohydrates, too, Sood added.

Sweets and processed foods, which Sood said are often carb-based, are swapped out for healthier options.

Koltun recommends healthy fats, such as nuts, avocado, guacamole, hummus, and olives. Unsweetened dairy products and protein-packed foods like eggs, cheese, poultry, and fish are also among the foods Koltun includes in low carb diet plans.

“After about two weeks, patients start to notice that they have more energy, they may have some weight loss, they may have more stable mood, and an overall better sense of well-being,” Sood said.

A food diary can help people who are new to a low carbohydrate diet stay on track.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/low-carb-diet-may-help-people-with-type-2-diabetes-go-into-remission