Walking and Diabetes

From bethpagenewsgram.com

Most of us wish for an easy fix for our health issues — a magic pill to lose weight or a magic way to cook vegetables that we love.

And then along comes a study, published in the February 2022 issue of the journal Diabetes Care, that finds we can walk to prevent diabetes. The study found that the more steps you take, and the more intensely you walk, the lower your odds of getting Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University studied more than 4,800 participants who were women aged 65 and older. None had diabetes. All lived independently.

Participants wore a device on their hip that recorded the number of steps they took 24 hours a day for a week. Participants’ health was monitored for up to seven years. Of the 4,800 women, 8% developed diabetes during that time.

On average, participants took 3,729 steps per day, of which 1,875 were light-intensity steps and 1,854 were vigorous-intensity steps (steps that cause you to breathe a little heavier). Researchers said that for every 1,000 steps participants took per day, results showed a 6% lower diabetes risk. If older adults were to take 2,000 more steps every day (in addition to what they were already doing), they might expect a 12% reduction in diabetes risk, according to study co-author Alexis Garduno in a UCSD news release.

Here’s the bottom line: If 500,000 older individuals who are newly diagnosed with diabetes every year would increase their steps by 2,000 per day and the 12% figure is correct, Garduno said 60,000 people each year would not suffer from diabetes. 

This study goes along with a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week; once you’ve started walking, keep it up daily.

https://www.bethpagenewsgram.com/articles/walking-and-diabetes/ 

Type 2 diabetes diet: Best breakfast foods to lower blood sugar

From getsurrey.co.uk

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that requires keeping a close eye on blood sugar levels; to help, here are the best breakfast foods to help manage the health condition

Nutritionist Rob Hobson shared some crucial dietary advice for those living with type 2 diabetes – a life-long condition that can be put into remission.

In type 2 diabetics, the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, which can lead to dangerous spikes.

Without proper insulin control, blood sugar levels can rise unchecked, leading to an increased risk of serious complications like heart disease over time.

What you eat and drink plays a major role in blood sugar levels to counteract harmful spikes; Mr Hobson, based at Healthspan, revealed the best breakfasts for diabetics.

To maintain healthy blood sugar levels, breakfasts that are rich in fibre, protein, or healthy fats are recommended. Examples include pumpernickel bread topped with nut butter and sliced banana, plain Greek yoghurt topped with blueberries, and soaked oats made with milk, yoghurt, grated apples, sultanas, and cinnamon.

Mr Hobson said: "These foods take time to be digested and have little impact on blood sugar levels."

Elaborating on the benefit of pumpernickel bread topped with nut butter and sliced banana, Mr Hobson explained: "The addition of nut butter adds healthy fats and protein which will slow down the release of sugar from the banana."

                                                  Bananas paired with nut butter can slow down the release of sugar in the body

Most whole fruits, except melon and pineapple, have a low glycaemic index (GI), which means that sugar is released more slowly in the bloodstream.

This is why blueberries added to Greek yoghurt or another type of fruit are a great breakfast for people with type 2 diabetes.

"Yoghurt is high in protein and fat (depending on what type you choose), and if you choose natural varieties, is low in sugar," Mr Hobson added.

As for oats, Mr Hobson explained, "Oats have a low GI score and are widely understood to help manage blood glucose levels as they are high in fibre and broken down slowly in the gut."

He adds that oats also contain beta-glucans which may improve insulin sensitivity, particularly beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes.

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/type-2-diabetes-diet-breakfast-30474092 

Reversing prediabetes could be easier than you think

From eu.lohud.com

Prediabetes is characterized by blood sugar that’s higher than normal but not yet high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. This progressive condition is a silent threat because it has no symptoms. In fact, more than 80% of Americans diagnosed with prediabetes don’t notice any signs of it.

Left unchecked, prediabetes can lead to Type 2 diabetes, which can damage your kidneys, heart, and eyes and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. The good news is that you can halt its progression with some lifestyle changes. Even better, these changes have been proven not just to stop but also to reverse prediabetes. Here’s how.

3 proven ways to reverse prediabetes

The sooner a person adopts these three lifestyle changes, the less likely they are to develop Type 2 diabetes.

1. Losing some weight: If you’re overweight, even a small amount of weight loss can lower your risk of developing diabetes. Losing 5% to 7% of your body weight (10 to 15 pounds for a 200-pound person) can go a long way.

2. Regular physical activity: Regular physical activity means getting at least 150 minutes of brisk walking or a similar activity every week. That’s just 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

3. A healthy diet: There’s no one-size-fits-all food plan for preventing diabetes, but a diet centred on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein is recommended. The fibre in whole fruits and vegetables can help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. It’s also important to avoid added sugars by limiting soft drinks, sweets, and refined carbs like white bread, white rice, and white pasta. Whole fruits are a better option than fruit juices or smoothies because smoothies pulverize the fibre naturally present in whole fruit. As a result, blended fruit isn’t nutritionally equivalent to the same fruit left whole, according to some experts.

Simple blood tests can detect prediabetes

Screening for prediabetes typically includes tests performed during your annual primary care physical exams that measure blood sugar or glucose levels. Even slightly high blood sugar needs to be taken seriously. Without intervention, as many as 30% of those with prediabetes will develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes within three to five years. Even if the condition progresses more slowly, excess sugar in the blood can begin to damage vital organs.

Early detection is key

More than 80% of Americans diagnosed with prediabetes don’t notice any symptoms. Signs of persistent high blood sugar, like increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision, don’t usually appear until prediabetes has progressed to Type 2 diabetes, which is more serious and much harder to control.

The risk of prediabetes increases with age, so the American Diabetes Association recommends screenings for everyone beginning at age 35. That said, it’s on the rise in teens. One in three adolescents is now believed to be living with prediabetes.

Screening is recommended for people of any age with the following risk factors:

• Being obese or overweight
• Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Smoking tobacco
• Having had gestational (pregnancy-related) diabetes
• Having certain health conditions like HIV and polycystic ovary syndrome
• Having a parent or sibling with Type 2 diabetes
• Being of African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Indigenous American descent
• Living a sedentary lifestyle (which may include being physically active fewer than three times a week or having a job that requires sitting for long hours each day)

Consider enrolling in a designated Diabetes Prevention Program

It’s possible to make changes on your own, but a lot of people find greater success by enrolling in a personalized, CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program. Developed in collaboration with health-care providers throughout the U.S., these programs provide individualized lifestyle modification plans and support teams of nutritionists, exercise therapists, and other experts. In a key research study, people who successfully completed a Diabetes Prevention Program saw a 58% reduction in their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over the next three years. Participants over 60 reduced their risk by 71%. Speak with your doctor about the right program for you.

https://eu.lohud.com/story/sponsor-story/montefiore-health-system/2024/11/27/reversing-prediabetes-could-be-easier-than-you-think/76622364007/ 

No 'one size fits all' treatment for type 1 diabetes, study finds

From medicalxpress.com 

Factors beyond carbohydrates have a substantial influence on blood glucose levels meaning current automated insulin delivery systems miss vital information required for glucose regulation, a new study has found.

A team of researchers from the University of Bristol analysing automated insulin delivery data from people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has discovered that unexpected patterns in insulin needs are just as common as well-established ones.

The study, published as a preprint on JMIRx Med, aimed to identify patterns in changes in insulin needs and to analyse how frequently these occur in people with T1D who use OpenAPS, a state-of-the-art, automated insulin delivery system (AID).

Lead author Isabella Degen from Bristol's Faculty of Science and Engineering explained, "The results support our hypothesis that factors beyond carbohydrates play a substantial role in euglycaemia—the state when blood glucose levels are within the standard range.

"However, without measurable information about these factors, AID systems are left to adjust insulin cautiously with the effect of blood glucose levels becoming too low or high."

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body produces too little insulin, a hormone needed to regulate blood glucose.

                                                               Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The principal treatment for T1D is insulin that is injected or pumped. The amount and timing of insulin must be skilfully matched to carbohydrate intake to avoid increased blood glucose levels. Beyond carbohydrates, various other factors such as exercise, hormones, and stress impact insulin needs.

However, how often these factors cause significant unexpected effects on blood glucose levels has been little explored, meaning that despite all advances, insulin dosing remains a complex task that can go wrong and result in blood glucose levels outside the range that protects people with T1D from adverse health effects.

The findings highlight the complexity of glucose regulation in T1D and demonstrate the heterogeneity in insulin needs among people with T1D, underlining the need for personalized treatment approaches.

For factors beyond carbohydrates to become more systematically included in clinical practice, scientists need to find a way to measure and quantify their impact and utilize this information in insulin-dosing. This could also aid more accurate blood glucose forecasting, which the study showed is not consistently possible from information about insulin and carbohydrates alone.

Degen added, "Our study highlights that managing type 1 diabetes is far more complex than counting carbs. The richness of insights that can be gained from studying automated insulin delivery data is worth the effort it takes to work with this type of real-life data.

"What surprised us most was the sheer variety of patterns we observed, even within our relatively small and homogenous group of participants. It's clear that when it comes to diabetes management, one size doesn't fit all.

"We hope our results inspire further research into lesser-explored factors that influence insulin needs to improve insulin dosing."

The team are now working on advancing time series pattern-finding methods that can handle the diverse and complex nature of real-life medical data, including irregular sampling and missing data. Their current focus is on developing innovative segmentation and clustering techniques for multivariate time series data tailored to uncover more granular patterns and handle the challenges posed by AID data.

To support this future research, the team seeks long-term, open-access AID datasets that include a wide range of sensor measurements of possible factors and a diverse cohort of people with T1D.

Additionally, they aim to collaborate with time series and machine learning experts to address technical challenges such as handling irregularly sampled data with varying intervals between variates, and uncovering causalities behind observed patterns to ultimately drive innovations in personalised care.

More information: Isabella Degen et al, Beyond Expected Patterns in Insulin Needs of People With Type 1 Diabetes: Temporal Analysis of Automated Insulin Delivery Data, JMIRx Med (2024)

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-size-treatment-diabetes.html

Researchers Suggest Stress Hormones Explain How Obesity Causes Diabetes

From rutgers.edu

A study from Rutgers Health and other institutions indicates that stress hormones – not impaired cellular insulin signalling – may be the primary driver of obesity-related diabetes.

The paper in Cell Metabolism may transform our understanding of how obesity-induced insulin resistance develops and how to treat it.

"We have been interested in the basic mechanisms of how obesity induces diabetes. Given that the cost of the diabetes epidemic in the U.S. alone exceeds $300 billion per year, this is a critically important question,” said Christoph Buettner, chief of endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the study's senior author.

Scientists have long thought obesity causes diabetes by impairing the way insulin signals within liver and fat cells. However, the new research shows that overeating and obesity increase the body's sympathetic nervous system – the "fight or flight" response – and that the increased level of the stress hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine counteract insulin's effects even though cellular insulin signalling still works.

The authors observed that overeating in normal mice increases the stress hormone norepinephrine within days, indicating how quickly surplus food stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.

                                                                                                                                                               Shutterstock

To see what effect this excess hormone production has in spurring disease development, the authors then deployed a new type of genetically engineered mice that are normal in every way but one: They cannot produce stress hormones catecholamines outside of their brains and central nervous systems.

The researchers fed these mice the obesity-inducing high-fat and high-sugar diet, but although they ate as many calories and got just as obese as normal mice, they did not develop metabolic disease.

“We were delighted to see that our mice ate as much because it indicates that the differences in insulin sensitivity and their lack of metabolic disease are not due to reduced food intake or reduced obesity but due to the greatly reduced stress hormones. These mice cannot increase stress hormones that counteract insulin; hence, insulin resistance does not develop during obesity development.”

The new findings may help explain why some obese individuals develop diabetes while others don't and why stress can worsen diabetes even with little weight gain.

“Many types of stress – financial stress, marital stress, the stress associated with living in dangerous areas or suffering discrimination or even the physical stress that comes from excessive alcohol consumption — all increase diabetes and synergize with the metabolic stress of obesity,” Buettner said.

"Our finding that even obesity principally induces metabolic disease via increased stress hormones provides new insight into the common basis for all these factors that increase the risk of diabetes. Stress and obesity, in essence, work through the same basic mechanism in causing diabetes, through the actions of stress hormones.”

While it is well known that catecholamines can impair insulin action, the new study suggests that this may be the fundamental mechanism underlying insulin resistance in obesity. The dynamic interplay between stress hormones, which work in opposition to insulin, has long been known. Stress hormones increase glucose and lipids in the bloodstream, while insulin lowers these. However, an unexpected finding of the new study is that insulin signalling can remain intact even in insulin-resistant states like obesity. It’s just that the heightened activity of stress hormones effectively “push the gas pedal harder,” resulting in increased blood sugar and fat levels. Even though the level of insulin’s "braking" effect remains the same, the accelerated gas pedal effect of catecholamines overwhelms the brake effect of insulin and results in relatively diminished insulin action.

“Some colleagues are at first surprised that insulin resistance can exist even though cellular insulin signalling is intact. But let’s not forget that the gas pedal effects of stress hormones are exerted through very different signalling pathways than insulin signalling. That explains why the ability of insulin to ‘brake’ and reduce the release of sugar and fat into the bloodstream is impaired even though insulin signalling is intact because stress signalling is predominant.”

The findings suggest that medications that reduce catecholamines, a term for all the stress-related hormones and neurotransmitters produced by the SNS and the adrenal gland, might help prevent or treat diabetes. However, medicines that block catecholamines, as they are currently used to treat high blood pressure, haven't shown major benefits for diabetes. This may be because current drugs don't block the relevant receptors or because they affect the brain and body in complex ways, Buettner said.

Buettner and the study’s first author, Kenichi Sakamoto, an assistant professor of endocrinology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, are planning human studies to confirm their findings. They're also examining the role of the sympathetic nervous system and other forms of diabetes, including Type 1 diabetes.

“We would like to study if short-term overfeeding, as some of us experience during the holidays by gaining five to 10 pounds, increases insulin resistance with heightened sympathetic nervous system activation,” Buettner said.

The findings may ultimately lead to new therapeutic approaches to tackle insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic disease, focused on reducing stress hormones rather than targeting insulin signalling.

“We hope this paper provides a different take on insulin resistance,” Buettner said. “It may also explain why none of the drugs currently used to treat insulin resistance, except insulin itself, directly increases cellular insulin signalling.”

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/researchers-suggest-stress-hormones-explain-how-obesity-causes-diabetes 

Lance Bass chalked up being exhausted to aging. It was Type 1.5 diabetes

From today.com

Doctors first diagnosed Lance Bass with Type 2 diabetes, but lifestyle changes and medication didn't work 

Several years ago, NSYNC’s Lance Bass noticed he felt run down. At the time, he thought it was simply part of aging.

“I was giving so many excuses of why I was feeling certain ways — so tired, so thirsty. Some days I would wake up and my legs wouldn’t really work,” Bass, 45, tells TODAY.com. “I was just (thinking), ‘Oh I’m tired. I’m older. I’m lethargic.’”

Then in 2019, his doctor told him that he had pre-diabetes, when the blood sugar levels are elevated but not quite as high as Type 2 diabetes. At the time, he balked at the diagnosis.

“Me being stubborn as I am I was like, ‘Yeah, sure right, whatever,’” he says. “I didn’t really take it seriously.”

During COVID-19 pandemic, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. At the time, his A1C, a measure of blood sugar levels over three months, was 10%. A normal A1C is less than 5.7%, an A1C for prediabetes ranges from 5.7% to 6.4% and A1C indicating diabetes is from 6.5% and above, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We needed to really take it seriously,” Bass says. “I always thought I had a great diet, and I do exercise, but I bumped all that up.”

While Bass reduced his carbohydrate intake and took various drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes, his body did not respond to the prescriptions and his blood sugar remained high.  

“I tried a few medications and just nothing was really touching it,” he says.

He started using a Dexcom, a continuous glucose monitor, and that gave Bass and his doctors a better understanding of how his blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout his day.

“I was watching how my sugar levels would spike dramatically, and they would just stay (high),” he says. “With all the medication I was on, I was like, ‘There’s something wrong.’”

After visiting several doctors and looking at several months of his blood glucose trends, Bass learned he had Type 1.5 diabetes, also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), earlier this year. Insulin is used to manage this Type of diabetes, and it cannot be reversed.

“It was a whole different ball game,” he says. “I really needed to take this seriously and realized … that I will be a Type 1.5 diabetic the rest of my life.”

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults

Latent autoimmune diabetes adults (LADA) or Type 1.5 diabetes is Type 1 diabetes that begins in adulthood instead of childhood. In Type 1 diabetes and LADA the pancreas cannot make enough insulin because the body’s immune system destroys the beta cells responsible for creating insulin, explains Dr. Caroline Messer.

“Type 1 diabetes is very different. There’s no resistance to insulin so it can’t be treated with weight loss, diet and exercise,” Messer, an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, who does not treat Bass, tells TODAY.com. “You have to treat it with insulin.”

Doctors are unsure why people develop Type 1 or 1.5 diabetes but think it’s a combination of a family history of Type 1 diabetes and a viral infection that sparks the autoimmune condition.

“We wonder if it’s a two-hit hit kind of thing like you have some sort of genetic predisposition and then you get sick and it comes out,” Messer says. “But it’s not fully understood.”

People with Type 1 or 1.5 diabetes rely on both short acting and long acting insulin. Short acting insulin manages their blood sugar after eating and long acting insulin prevents the liver from “dumping that sugar into the bloodstream,” Messer says. While diet and exercise cannot treat type 1.5 diabetes alone, she notes that it is important for patients with LADA to move their bodies and be mindful of their carbohydrate intake.

“(It) is associated with higher cardiovascular risk so regular aerobic exercise is super important,” she says. “There’s basically no way around it — you have to minimize starchy carbohydrates. Because no matter how good the patient with (Type 1.5) is at carb counting, there’s always going to be a pretty significant spike in blood sugar after eating a really high carb meal.”

Symptoms of Type 1.5 diabetes remain the same as for Type 1 and 2 diabetes, Messer says. They include:

• Fatigue
• ‘Insatiable thirst’
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision

“The symptoms of high blood sugar are identical whether it’s insulin resistance or insulin deficiency,” Messer says. “Everybody should be getting screened annually at a certain age for blood sugars. So even if you don’t recognize your own symptoms, if you’re going to a primary care physician regularly it should be picked up.”

She says that sometimes adults are mistakenly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes instead of LADA because Type 2 diabetes is much more common. But if medications aren’t helping, doctors should consider LADA as a possible diagnosis.

“If you’re listening to them and they’re doing everything (right) and their sugars are still spiking … chances are you’re missing something,” she says.  

Managing Type 1.5 diabetes

Since being diagnosed with LADA this year, Bass has been trying to better understand how his body responds to certain foods and how to take his insulin appropriately.

“I’m keeping a list of things I can really put into my body and I’m starting to figure out when I take the insulin,” he says. “I try to be really militant about it.”

Bass focuses on “moderation” when it comes to eating. Always one to reach for a piece of bread at meals, he now tries whole grain breads instead to manage the blood sugar “spikes,” if he has a craving.

“The silver lining about all this is I feel I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been ironically because you have to really just listen to your body and know exactly what you’re putting into your body,” Bass says.

He no longer feels overly exhausted or thirsty and has better energy.

“I don’t really have many episodes,” he says.

Bass is sharing his story to raise awareness of LADA and also help others feel less alone if they have a Type 1 or 1.5 diabetes diagnosis.

“I hope kids out there that are watching me on social media or in interviews can relate and be a little less scared,” he says.

https://www.today.com/health/lance-bass-diabetes-rcna181618

Recognizing Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide for Early Diagnosis and Intervention

From diabetesincontrol.com

Introduction

Recognizing the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes is like spotting warning signs on a busy highway—it requires vigilance and quick action. For healthcare providers, identifying these symptoms early can be life-saving. In this guide, we’ll explore the hallmark signs, subtle indicators, and practical strategies for diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes before complications arise.

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Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas fails to produce insulin. Without insulin, blood sugar levels spike, leading to severe health issues. It primarily affects children and young adults, though it can develop at any age. Unlike Type 2 Diabetes, Type 1 has no lifestyle component, making early recognition even more critical.

Why Early Recognition Matters

Early diagnosis prevents life-threatening complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Timely intervention reduces hospitalizations and improves long-term outcomes. Missing the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes can result in delayed care, increasing morbidity and mortality rates.

                                                       Key symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes for early diagnosis in healthcare settings

Classic Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

The hallmark symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes can often be summarized by the “3 Ps”:

• Polyuria: Excessive urination due to the body flushing out high glucose levels.
• Polydipsia: Intense thirst caused by dehydration from frequent urination.
• Polyphagia: Increased hunger as the body struggles to use glucose effectively.

Weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision often accompany these symptoms. When identified together, they paint a clear diagnostic picture.

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Subtle Signs Often Missed

Not all symptoms are glaring. Subtle signs like irritability, recurrent infections, or bedwetting in children previously dry at night may indicate early diabetes. These “whispers” of the disease are easy to miss without a trained eye.

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Symptoms in Children vs. Adults

In children, the progression of Type 1 Diabetes is often rapid, leading to dramatic symptoms like sudden weight loss or severe fatigue. In adults, onset can be slower, sometimes mimicking Type 2 Diabetes. Recognizing these differences is essential for accurate diagnosis.

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Differentiating Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes often presents with sudden symptoms, while Type 2 Diabetes develops gradually. C-peptide levels and autoimmune antibody tests (e.g., GAD antibodies) are critical for distinguishing between the two.

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Diagnostic Tools and Tests

Laboratory tests confirm the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. These include:

• Random Blood Sugar: Elevated levels over 200 mg/dL suggest diabetes.
• HbA1c Test: Measures average blood sugar over three months.
• Autoantibody Testing: Identifies markers of autoimmune destruction in Type 1 Diabetes.

Utilizing these tools ensures accurate and timely diagnosis.

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The Role of Patient Education

Patient education begins at diagnosis. Teaching patients and families to recognize symptoms, manage blood sugar levels, and use insulin effectively can dramatically improve outcomes. Websites like Diabetes in Control provide valuable resources.

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Managing Acute Presentations

Acute presentations like DKA require immediate care. Recognizing symptoms like fruity breath odour, rapid breathing, and severe dehydration can save lives. Clinicians must act swiftly to stabilize patients and initiate insulin therapy.

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Advances in Early Diagnosis

Emerging technologies, such as predictive genetic screening and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), allow for earlier detection and proactive management. These tools empower clinicians to intervene before symptoms escalate.

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Conclusion

Recognizing the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes is a cornerstone of effective diabetic care. By understanding the warning signs, utilizing diagnostic tools, and educating patients, clinicians can make a profound difference in their patients’ lives. Early diagnosis isn’t just good practice—it’s lifesaving.

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FAQs

1. What are the early symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes?
The classic symptoms include excessive thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination (polyuria), extreme hunger (polyphagia), and unexplained weight loss.

2. How does Type 1 Diabetes differ from Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 1 is an autoimmune condition with sudden onset, while Type 2 often develops slowly and is linked to lifestyle factors like obesity.

3. Can Type 1 Diabetes develop in adults?
Yes, while it’s more common in children, adults can also develop Type 1 Diabetes, often with a slower progression.

4. What tests confirm Type 1 Diabetes?
Tests like random blood sugar, HbA1c, and autoantibody testing (e.g., GAD antibodies) help confirm the diagnosis.

5. How can clinicians improve patient outcomes in Type 1 Diabetes?
Early diagnosis, patient education, and the use of advanced technologies like CGMs are key to better outcomes.

https://www.diabetesincontrol.com/recognizing-symptoms-of-type-1-diabetes-a-guide-for-early-diagnosis-and-intervention/ 

Eating after 5pm can disrupt blood sugar control

From diabetes.co.uk/news 

• Late-evening meals can hinder blood sugar regulation
• Eating after 5 PM may increase the risk of diabetes complications
• Meal timing is as important as meal content

Managing diabetes is a complex task that involves more than just monitoring carbohydrate intake or choosing healthier foods.

It also involves paying attention to when you eat.

Recent research by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and Columbia University highlights the impact of meal timing on blood sugar regulation, revealing that consuming a significant portion of daily calories after 5pm (17:00) can hinder glucose metabolism and increase the risk of developing or worsening diabetes.

Meal timing

The study sheds light on how the body’s natural circadian rhythm which governs processes like insulin secretion and sensitivity can influence blood sugar levels.

Insulin production naturally declines in the evening and the body’s cells become less sensitive to it which makes it harder to process glucose from late meals.

This poses a unique challenge for people with diabetes as they already face difficulties in maintaining stable blood sugar levels.

Late eating linked to elevated blood sugar

Researchers studied 26 individuals aged 50 to 75 who were overweight or living with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

The participants were divided into two groups: early eaters and late eaters.

Despite consuming the same foods and calories, those who ate after 5pm displayed poorer glucose tolerance measured by elevated blood sugar levels following meals.

Findings suggest that eating later in the day can disrupt the body’s ability to manage glucose effectively, potentially contributing to long-term complications of diabetes.

Late eating is often associated with calorie-dense, processed foods which can exacerbate issues like weight gain and increased fat storage.

Additionally, late eaters tend to burn calories more slowly while hormonal changes caused by eating later can increase hunger and reduce the body’s ability to break down fat.

These factors not only complicate blood sugar management but also increase the likelihood of obesity.

Intermittent fasting could be beneficial

Intermittent fasting which typically involves eating within a specific time window (e.g., 11am to 5pm) has gained attention for its potential to improve blood sugar control.

By encouraging earlier eating, intermittent fasting aligns meal timing with the body’s natural glucose metabolism giving the pancreas and insulin-sensitive tissues a break from constant activity.

Considering the timing of your meals could be a simple but effective way to improve your blood sugar control.  To reduce the risks associated with late eating:

• Aim to consume most of your daily calories earlier in the day, ideally before 5pm
• Plan meals to be balanced and nutrient-dense, focusing on whole foods like vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
• Avoid calorie-dense, processed snacks late at night, which can further strain glucose regulation

Dr. Diana Díaz Rizzolo, a co-author of the study, explains, “Until now, nutrition advice has focused primarily on what and how much we eat. This study highlights the growing importance of when we eat in supporting cardiometabolic health.”

For people managing diabetes, adopting an earlier eating schedule could offer a valuable tool for enhancing glucose control and reducing the risk of complications.

While the focus often remains on dietary choices, meal timing is emerging as a critical factor in effective diabetes management.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2024/nov/eating-after-5pm-can-disrupt-blood-sugar-control.html

Warning sign of type 2 diabetes: 7 ways to reverse prediabetes

From foxnews.com

Taking action immediately could prolong your life, experts say

Approximately 38.4 million Americans had been diagnosed with diabetes as of 2021 — but about three times that many are in danger of developing the disease, even if they don’t know it.

Nearly 98 million U.S. adults had prediabetes as of 2021, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Prediabetes is almost always a precursor to type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type — but that outcome isn't inevitable, experts say. If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, there are steps you can take to get back on a healthy track.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels are above normal but not quite yet a diagnosable disease, according to Marjorie Nolan Cohn, a registered dietitian and clinical director of Berry Street, a nutrition therapy provider in New York City.

"Think of prediabetes as your major warning sign that a formal diabetes diagnosis is down the pike," she told Fox News Digital.

"Taking action immediately is necessary for prevention and can literally prolong your life."

What causes prediabetes?

There are several factors that can nudge someone more toward the prediabetes range, according to Dr. Akhil Shenoy, a Texas endocrinologist and medical advisor at Aeroflow Diabetes, a provider of diabetes management supplies.

Some of those include a family history of type 2 diabetes and a personal history of gestational diabetes, Shenoy told Fox News Digital.

People with excess body weight, sedentary lifestyles, a smoking habit and poor sleep are also at a higher risk.

Eating a diet high in red or processed meats, low vegetables and high sugars also contributes to prediabetes and diabetes, Shenoy said.

Nearly 98 million U.S. adults had prediabetes as of 2021, according to the American Diabetes Association.

"Even skipping a meal contributes to the development of prediabetes, especially in those with multiple risk factors, because of imbalanced blood sugar and insulin levels," Cohn added.

Certain ethnicities tend to be more susceptible, with Asian, Hispanic and Black American adults more likely to have prediabetes compared to White Americans, the experts noted.

How is prediabetes diagnosed?

Prediabetes is diagnosed by a blood test that measures blood sugar levels over time, according to Cohn.

"Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a marker that assesses average blood sugar levels for the past two to three months," she told Fox News Digital. "This gives a broad view into your blood sugar."

Approximately 38.4 million Americans had been diagnosed with diabetes as of 2021, and nearly 98 million had prediabetes. (iStock)

Additional lab testing includes a fasting blood sugar test, Cohn noted, which provides a snapshot of your blood sugar at a certain date and time. 

"In this fasting test, you have not eaten or drank since the night before," she said. 

"With both a haemoglobin A1c and fasting blood sugar test, your doctor can diagnose you with prediabetes."

7 ways to reverse prediabetes

While a diagnosis of prediabetes can be scary, Cohn emphasized that it doesn’t always have to lead to type 2 diabetes.

"By taking action now, you can prevent diabetes from developing," she said.

                                                                   Some people may require medications to keep blood sugar at a healthy level. (iStock)

Cohn and Chenoy recommended several ways to reverse prediabetes.

1. Take walks after meals and snacks

2. Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week

3. Drink water instead of soda

4. Eat healthy meals that contain a balance of lean proteins, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates, limiting saturated fats

5. If overweight or obese, produce a calorie deficit to lose at least 5% of body weight

6. If you smoke, quit

7. See a doctor or specialist as needed

"If, despite these measures, blood sugar levels remain elevated, medications may be prescribed to further reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes," Chenoy advised.

Cohn also recommends seeing a registered dietitian who can help with establishing habits to support healthy blood sugar levels.

"At this stage, lifestyle and dietary changes are shown to be most effective for the majority of individuals with prediabetes," she added.

https://www.foxnews.com/health/warning-sign-type-2-diabetes-ways-reverse-prediabetes