Know diabetes. Fight diabetes – by Chris Askew

From diabetes.org.uk

This week is Diabetes Week, our annual awareness-raising campaign and our theme is ‘Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes’ which many of you will recognise as our new strapline.
This year we’re raising awareness of the essential work Diabetes UK does in helping people to know their diabetes, and in fighting the challenges that diabetes presents. And we’re asking our supporters what ‘Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes’ means to them.
We don’t think there’s anything more important than knowledge when it comes to living with diabetes. Knowledge – when given to the right person, in the right way, at the right time – can transform someone’s life. We know the more knowledge people have about their diabetes, the more they can control it. And that means people can live a life where diabetes doesn’t control them.
If ‘know’ is the head of the organisation, ‘fight’ is the heart.
We know some supporters may have difficulty with the word fight, but for us, it’s an important part of who we are.
Fight Diabetes isn’t about someone fighting their diabetes, although we know for some people it can be a battle. Fighting diabetes is about us all working together to fight the challenges that diabetes brings. It’s a condition that affects millions and can cause terrible complications and is often underestimated, misunderstood and not prioritised.
Together we fight to make sure everyone with diabetes gets the care they need, wherever or whoever they are. We fight to stop people with diabetes being discriminated against. We fight to increase understanding and awareness of the condition.
We fight for a world where diabetes can do no harm.
And we want more people to join our fight and find out how we can help them to know more about their diabetes.
That’s why Diabetes Week is so important.
Our supporters and volunteers work tirelessly all year round to engage with their local communities and to promote the work that we do for and with people with diabetes. Diabetes Week gives us the chance to celebrate our supporters and, together, make sure more people than ever know how we can help them and how serious diabetes is.
We work with healthcare professionals throughout the year and Diabetes Week is our chance to champion their tireless work. This week, along with sharing their top tips for better diabetes care, we demonstrate how we work together to improve care for people with diabetes.
All week we’ll have some great stories about how our supporters are fighting diabetes and knowing diabetes. And we want to hear from you. Join the conversation and tell us what you’re doing. You can also download our posters and put them up at your local surgery, community club or school.
By the end of this Diabetes Week we hope you and your friends know a little more about the condition and what we do.
And we hope you’ll be part of the fight.

https://blogs.diabetes.org.uk/?p=8458&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Read+Chris's+blog&utm_content=Read+Chris's+blog&utm_campaign=Enewsletter+June+2017

Lifestyle tips for managing diabetes

From inquirer.net

Walking for 10 minutes straight after meals could be more effective in controlling blood sugar levels than taking a walk at other times of day. (Image: s4svisuals/Shutterstock.com via AFP Relaxnews)

Lifestyle is a decisive factor in preventing or stabilizing diabetes. From diet and exercise to stress management, here are a few lifestyle changes to consider.

Pick the right dessert Diabetics don’t need to have to skip dessert, but they should definitely make wise food choices. Pick products that have a naturally low glycemic index to prevent spikes in blood sugar. Top fruits on that front are red berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries), apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, peaches and nectarines. Note that cinnamon can help lower blood sugar levels. It can be used to sweeten coffee or tea or sprinkled on yogurt or fromage frais.

Certain bakeries make cakes and cookies specifically for diabetics. These sweet treats typically contain half the amount of sugar, notably by using natural sugar substitutes. Still, they should only be eaten occasionally and always as part of a meal in order to limit the hyperglycemic effect.

Get cooking
Most diabetics know that they should avoid pre-prepared supermarket dishes and ready meals, which are often too high in fat and salt, and can be lacking in vitamins and minerals. Cooking from scratch with quality produce remains the best option. When it comes to grains, oats and barley are allowed. These cereals’ fibres are interesting for diabetics as they slow down the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine and therefore help control blood sugar levels and insulin requirements.

Walk for 10 minutes after meals
Walking for 10 minutes right after eating could be more effective for controlling blood sugar than walking at another time of day, particularly after an evening meal, when blood sugar can drop by 22 percent, according to research from New Zealand. Current recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend at least the equivalent of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day, five times a week.

Take time to relax
Unfortunately, it is possible to develop type 2 diabetes due to chronic stress from work or personal lives. Permanent stress can contribute to increasing insulin resistance. That’s why it is recommended to take regular exercise, learn relaxation techniques and organize break times on downtime in your day. Keep an eye on shut-eye too (minimum seven hours’ sleep per night), as, according to several studies, this can help curb cravings for fatty or sugary foods, among other things. JB

http://m.inquirer.net/lifestyle/265158

Diabetes Week 2017

From diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes Week kicks off on 11 June, and this year the theme is: Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes.
While a lot of people have a good understanding of diabetes and how to manage it, many others aren’t getting the right help and support to look after their diabetes.
Today, 65 people will die early from the condition and hundreds more will face life-changing complications that could have been avoided or delayed if they'd had the right knowledge and support to manage their diabetes. Some of you have that, and are already doing everything you can to manage your diabetes well. But this isn't true for everyone and it's our job to change that. Our vision is a world where diabetes can do no harm. Together, we can make that a reality.

Know Diabetes 

We are encouraging the diabetes community to share their experiences and knowledge. We’d love to hear your stories of how you know more about diabetes because this shared knowledge could help someone else with the condition.
We know that the right knowledge has the power to transform lives. Knowledge gained from the experience of people living with diabetes, knowledge gained from research discoveries, knowledge from the people working with diabetes every day. 
This Diabetes Week, we want to hear how you learned more about your condition, to inspire others to do the same, using our hashtag #knowdiabetes

Fight Diabetes

We are fighting every day for people with diabetes. Together, we all need to fight the challenges that diabetes presents – challenges of funding over research, perceptions around Type 1 and Type 2, of better care, rights for people at work and children at school living with diabetes.
Together we can fight diabetes. We can fight against the postcode lottery in care, we can fight for a cure and we can fight on behalf of those who can’t.
This Diabetes Week, tell us what fight diabetes means to you, using our hashtag #fightdiabetes

Get involved

There are lots of ways to support Diabetes Week.
• Join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #diabetesweek #knowdiabetes #fightdiabetes
• Hear from our supporters on social media – they’ll be sharing their stories of how they ‘know diabetes’ and ‘fight diabetes’ during the week.
• Download our posters to put up in your local community and help us raise awareness. We’ve created a variety of posters to help our supporters understand ‘Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes’. It’s a great way of showing the work that we do, not only as an organisation, but with our supporters.
• We’ve got two ‘Know Diabetes’ posters, themed on prevention (Know your Risk) and our Type 1 events.
• We’ve got two ‘Fight Diabetes’ posters, themed on research (fighting for a cure) and fundraising (Your Way).
• If you’re a healthcare professional, we’ve also got some posters about what people can do to get more support with their diabetes and how they can manage their diabetes better. We’re also putting a call out for other healthcare professionals to join our professional network.
• We have also developed a blank poster, which you can personalise with your own information.
If you have any questions about Diabetes Week, contact us at diabetesweek@diabetes.org.uk

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Diabetes-Week/

Eating red onions 'can prevent cancer' and could protect against diabetes and heart disease

From mirror.co.uk

Eating plenty of red onions could prevent cancer, according to new research.
The vegetable, popular in salads and salsas, is rich in chemicals that destroy tumour cells, say scientists.

And the discovery may soon lead to an anti-cancer pill based on the food’s magical properties.
It is known people with the highest consumption of onions have a lower risk of many types of the disease - including ovarian, bowel and breast cancer.
They contain several anti-cancer compounds including quercetin and anthocyanins - which, crucially, give the red variety their colour.

Abdulmonem Murayyan, a PhD student at the University of Guelph in Canada, said: “Anthocyanin is instrumental in providing colour to fruits and vegetables.
“So it makes sense the red onions, which are darkest in colour, would have the most cancer fighting power.”
In the first study of its kind Mr Murayyan and engineering Professor Suresh Neethirajan found red onions have the strongest cancer fighting power.
The vegetable has been used in Mediterranean cooking for thousands of years, which could help explain lower rates of the disease in southern Europe.
Diced in a side salad, sprinkled as a garnish or chopped through a pasta dish, they may just be one of the best raw ingredients you can eat.

Red onions have also been linked with protecting against diabetes and heart disease. The researchers said onions as a superfood are still not well known, despite containing one of the highest concentrations of quercetin, a type of flavonoid.
But not all are created equal because the red onion not only has high levels of this but also large amounts of anthocyanin, which boosts the scavenging properties of quercetin, explained Mr Murayyan.
Along with Prof Neethirajan, he tested five onion types grown in Ontario and discovered the Ruby Ring red came out on top.

In lab experiments reported in Food Research International, colon cancer cells were placed in direct contact with quercetin extracted from the five different onion varieties.
Mr Murayyan said: “We found onions are excellent at killing cancer cells. Onions activate pathways that encourage cancer cells to undergo cell death.
“They promote an unfavourable environment for cancer cells and they disrupt communication between cancer cells, which inhibits growth.”
The researchers have also recently found onions are effective at killing breast cancer cells.
Mr Murayyan said: “The next step will be to test the vegetable’s cancer-fighting powers in human trials.”
The findings follow a previous study by the researchers on a new extraction technique that eliminates the use of chemicals, making the quercetin found in onions more suitable for consumption.
Other extraction methods use solvents that can leave a toxic residue which is then ingested in food.
Prof Neethirajan said: “This new method that we tested to be effective only uses super heated water in a pressurised container.
“Developing a chemical free extraction method is important because it means we can use onion’s cancer-fighting properties in nutraceuticals and in pill form.”
The researchers said we can currently include the superfood in salads and on burgers as a preventative measure.

                                          Red onions have to be eaten raw to feel the benefits

But they expect onion extract will eventually be added to food products such as juice or baked goods - and be sold in pill form as a type of natural cancer treatment.
Experts say it is best, where possible, to eat red onions in their raw state as cooking them in any manner can kill off the goodness.
If you are diabetic, you should eat raw red onions as these help increase insulin levels.
In Europe and Asia, red onions and raw garlic are often encouraged amongst diabetics.
Red onions are a fibrous vegetable, which helps your digestive track move things along. One onion contains roughly 1.5 grams of fibre.
Flavonoid compounds - the same compounds that give the onions their striking pigmentation - reduce the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or ‘bad’ cholesterol in obese people at risk of heart disease.
Flavonoids also have anti-inflammatory abilities and can be useful in the treatment of arthritis and other such conditions.
Not only do red onions lower cholesterol, they can also fend off heart disease and discourage clot formation. They can also help to maintain blood flow and reduce inflammation to the blood vessels.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/eating-red-onions-can-prevent-10586723

Can turmeric help manage diabetes? What the evidence says

From askdrnandi.com

(WXYZ) – Turmeric is the bright yellow-orange spice often used in Asian dishes and curries.
I am a huge fan of turmeric and use it often in our family meals. But it’s medicinal uses date back 4,000 years, so it’s not surprising it may help with managing diabetes.
Research focuses on the main component of turmeric called curcumin.
A review of 13 years of research suggest curcumin may help in different ways. Adding it to your diet may reduce your chance of developing diabetes as curcumin appears to improve the cells that create insulin in the pancreas.
Taking curcumin orally may reduce blood sugar levels, however more research is needed in humans.
Other studies have shown those with pre-diabetes may not develop full diabetes when taking curcumin in capsule form.
Diabetes can affect your liver and research showed those who took curcumin over a long period of time had fewer symptoms of liver disorders.
Taking curcumin may also help to prevent diabetic-related nerve damage, prevent diabetic cataracts and kidney disease.
Turmeric is a great to add to your regular regimen, but there are other ways to manage or prevent diabetes:

1. Eat a healthy diet. Focus on natural unprocessed meals that include vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
2. Choose high fibre foods like beans and nuts. They slow the rate of sugar absorption and improve blood sugar control.
3. Exercise regularly. It lowers your blood sugar and helps to keep it within a normal range.
4. If you use turmeric or curcumin as a supplement, start with a low dose and build from there.

Turmeric and curcumin are considered safe but can have side effects if taken in large doses.
You might experience indigestion, diarrhea or nausea.
Please avoid if you have anemia, gallbladder disease, or kidney stones.
If you’re on blood sugar medications, discuss this spice with your doctor as it could increase the effects and lead to low blood sugar.

https://askdrnandi.com/can-turmeric-help-manage-diabetes-evidence-says/

Type 2 diabetes could 'overwhelm' NHS unless changes are made, Leicester experts warn

From le.ac.uk

Melanie Davies CBE (pictured), a Professor of Diabetes Medicine at our University and the Leicester Diabetes Centre, has commented on the rise in people suffering from type 2 diabetes.

In an article for the Express, Professor Davies discusses how obesity-related conditions are threatening to 'overwhelm' the NHS due to the sheer cost of treatment, with large amounts of money spent every year by the health service on drugs to combat type 2 diabetes, weight loss and indigestion.

Professor Davies said: “Unless we change our thinking on type 2 diabetes, the condition is going to overwhelm the NHS. There is a wealth of evidence supporting the benefits of the role of exercise in preventing and successfully managing type 2 diabetes.
"We are part of the National Diabetes Prevention Programme, which is aiming to steer 100,000 people a year away from the condition by 2020 through tailored, personalised help.”
The Leicester Diabetes Centre is an international centre of excellence in diabetes research, education and innovation led by Professor Melanie Davies and Professor Kamlesh Khunti.
Hosted at Leicester General Hospital, the centre is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester.

http://www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2017-archive/june/type-2-diabetes-could-overwhelm-nhs-unless-changes-are-made-leicester-experts-warn

Diabetic retinopathy eye drop treatment to be developed

From diabetestimes.co.uk

Researchers are hoping to develop eye drops for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
A team from the University of Nottingham has received a £60,000 grant and if successful, the eye drops could be available to people with diabetes on clinical trials within the next three to five years.
They will be investigating whether work aimed at developing eye drops for the condition age-related macular degeneration (AMD) could also work to prevent sight loss in people with diabetes.
Professor David Bates from the university’s School of Medicine said: “We are extremely grateful for the grant we have received from the Freemasons and National Eye Research Centre. Without their support, this project would not have been possible and we would not be able to find out whether drugs that are already being developed for other eye diseases could be also be used in diabetic retinopathy.
“Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable sight loss in the working population in the UK. The impact of this research means that in the future diabetic patients could be offered a better, more effective way of preventing them from losing their sight.
“The current treatment for diabetic retinopathy is very unpleasant for the patient but also costly and time-consuming because the injection can only be performed at eye clinics by specialist doctors and nurses.”
In the human body, a protein called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is responsible for the normal formation and growth of blood vessels. However, in people with diabetes a type of VEGF is produced which causes the faulty blood vessels to grow and leak fluid into the eye. Current treatments target all forms of VEGF which prevent the growth of the faulty blood vessels but also stops the re-growth of normal blood vessels to help the eye recover from the effects of the high blood sugar levels.

Studies have shown that in models of AMD, drugs can be used to target the protein SRPK1 which can switch off the detrimental form of VEGF and enable the good form of VEGF to promote normal blood vessel growth and protect the endothelial cells which line the interior surface of the blood vessels.
The current drug, which is used to switch off VEGF completely, is a large molecule, meaning it can only be administered by injection. However, the drugs which target SRPK1 are much smaller meaning that they could be given in the form of eye drops.
professor Bates said: “Eye drops that patients could administer themselves would reduce both their discomfort and the financial burden which the current treatment places on the NHS.”
Around 1.2 million people are believed to suffer from diabetic retinopathy in the UK, with around 750,000 of those currently experiencing some form of visual impairment.
The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) estimates that the total economic cost of sight loss including healthcare, social care and loss of employment, could be as high as £28bn per year. Globally, the condition affects in the region of 93 million people.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels. Over time it can weaken and damage the small blood vessels within the retina which can cause haemorrhages, leaky blood vessels and swelling on the retina. This starves the retina of oxygen, causing abnormal blood vessels to grow. If left untreated over time it can affect vision and lead to blindness.
In more serious cases, the leaking blood vessels behind the eye can lead to the condition diabetic macular oedema in which fluid builds up in the macula, the part of the eye which provides us with our central vision. The condition of patients with diabetic macular oedema can decline very quickly and can lead to rapid visual impairment and blindness.

http://diabetestimes.co.uk/diabetic-retinopathy-eye-drop-treatment-to-be-developed/