Diabetes: Look after your teeth to look after your blood glucose

From medicalnewstoday.com

A new study highlights the importance of oral hygiene for people with type 2 diabetes, after finding that those with the condition may have better blood glucose levels if they look after their teeth.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body's cells stop responding to the hormone insulin. This is a process known as insulin resistance.  Blood glucose levels become too high as a result.

Without effective management of blood glucose levels, a number of serious complications may arise, including nerve damage, or neuropathy, eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts, and skin conditions.

Previous research has also shown that there is a two-way link between type 2 diabetes and gum disease, or periodontitis; individuals with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of developing gum disease, and gum disease may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The new study — recently published in The Journal of Clinical Periodontology — suggests that for people who already have type 2 diabetes, good dental hygiene could be key for managing blood glucose levels.

Led by Miquel Viñas — a professor of microbiology at the University of Barcelona in Spain — the study included 90 adults who had an average hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 7.7 percent, constituting a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
The adults were randomized to one of two groups for 6 months. One of these groups received oral health instructions, as well as scaling and root planing, a non-surgical form of "deep cleaning" that removes tartar and plaque from the surface of the teeth and below the gums.
The other group — the controls — received oral health instructions plus supragingival removal of plaque and tartar, meaning that plaque and tartar are removed from above the gum line only.

Both groups had their HbA1c levels, fasting plasma glucose, and oral bacteria levels measured at 3 and 6 months after the start of the study.
The results revealed that the group that received the deep cleaning experienced significant improvements in HbA1c levels and fasting plasma glucose, while the control group saw no improvements.
The team notes that, in most cases, these improvements corresponded with oral bacteria levels. Previous research has shown that oral bacteria may play an important role in diabetes.
So, it seems that good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups may aid good blood glucose management for people with type 2 diabetes.

"The main conclusion of the study is that the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis improves the glycemic status and levels of glycated hemoglobin, and therefore proves the great importance of oral health in these patients."

Study co-author José López-López, University of Barcelona

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320806.php

5 Diet Habits You Never Knew Could Raise Your Diabetes Risk

From prevention.com

Today, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes. It’s the underlying cause of over 79,000 deaths per year—and contributes to hundreds of thousands more, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, which occurs when the body cannot properly use insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. There are a number of things that can cause insulin-producing cells to become exhausted and fail. Top offenders include: inactivity, obesity, smoking, consuming too much alcohol, and regularly eating high-glycemic foods that spike blood sugar, say Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health experts. But there are other, less talked about behaviors that can increase your risk of the condition.
Take these five dietary habits, for example. They may seem harmless, but nixing them could lower your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

1 Eating only “starchy” vegetables

It’s great that you fit vegetables into your diet—they provide a healthy blend of nutrients, and a new study found that antioxidants found in produce could help reduce type 2 diabetes risk.
However, it’s best not to pair starchy vegetables with other carbohydrate-rich foods. (Think: rice with sweet potatoes). While too much starch doesn’t directly raise your risk of diabetes, it can contribute to weight gain and blood sugar spikes, both of which could up your risk. As with any food, moderation is key.
“Many people don’t consider vegetables like sweet potatoes, corn, and peas to be sources of starch,” says Jenifer Bowman, RD, a dietitian at UCHealth in Fort Collins, Colorado. “But if you’re trying to regulate your blood sugar, you need to be aware of overall carbohydrate content.”
To make sure every meal is a balanced one, fill half your plate with non-starchy produce like leafy greens, then fill the rest with equal parts protein and grains or starchy vegetables. (So, quinoa or corn—not both.)

2 Regularly snacking on dried fruit

It may seem like a healthy snack, but dried fruits can cause blood sugar spikes, and don’t ward off hunger like their fresh counterparts.
“If you eat a whole apricot, you’ll probably feel somewhat full from just one fruit,” says Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, an obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center. “However, if you’re eating dried apricot, you probably have to eat quite a few of them for the same effect.” This means you’re consuming a ton more sugar—without the fibre that will blunt its effects on your blood sugar.

“When we dry food, we take away a lot of the fibrous content that promotes satiety and helps to regulate blood sugar,” Stanford explains.
The occasional dried fruit snack won’t hurt you, but Stanford recommends eating this snack sparingly. Instead, opt for the real deal—a fresh apple or juicy grapes, for instance. (The water content in these fruits may also help to keep you fuller, longer).

3 Not eating enough nuts

The healthy polyunsaturated fats found in nuts and seeds have been found to help prevent type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, according to a Swedish study. What’s more, walnuts, in particular, may activate a part of the brain that’s involved in appetite control. Snack on them in the afternoon to help you resist sugary snacks or drinks that contribute to diabetes risk.

4 Consuming too much red meat

Although red meat is typically associated with heart disease risk, there’s evidence that eating it even in small amounts can increase the risk of diabetes. One meta-analysis from the Harvard School of Public Health found that a daily serving of red meat was associated with a 19% increased risk of type 2 diabetes. (These are 5 other health concerns linked to type 2 diabetes.)
Although researchers aren’t certain how red meat causes an increased risk, its high iron content could play a role by damaging insulin-producing cells. Swapping a daily serving of red meat for a healthier source of protein, like nuts, low-fat dairy, or whole grains was associated with up to a 35% lower risk of type 2 diabetes in the meta-analysis.

5 Buying processed foods instead of fresh ones

The Harvard School of Public Health meta-analysis also found that eating a small amount of processed meat every day (think two slices of bacon or one hotdog) increases diabetes risk by 51%. The high levels of preservatives and sodium in processed meat may play a role, according to the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

6 So what should you eat instead?

“Look for lean cuts of protein, whether they’re from animal sources or another source, and avoid meat that’s been processed significantly beyond its native form, like fried chicken tenders,” says Stanford.
But it’s not just processed meat: If you want to lower your risk of developing diabetes, it’s best to choose whole foods whenever possible, including whole grains. Research shows that diets rich in whole grains reduce diabetes risk, while those rich in refined carbohydrates increase risk.
“Many cereal companies have promoted themselves as being a go-to healthy option, but if you really look at their nutritional information, the fibre content is quite insignificant,” says Stanford. Meanwhile, whole grains like rolled oats have fibre that slows down digestion and wards off blood sugar spikes. They’re also rich in nutrients and phytochemicals that may help ward off diabetes.

https://www.prevention.com/health/foods-that-cause-diabetes

Diabetes diet: This is what you should eat every week to lower blood sugar

From express.co.uk

DIABETES symptoms include feeling very thirsty, passing more urine than usual, and feeling fatigued. But, these are the foods you should eat every week to reduce signs of the condition.

Diabetes symptoms include fatigue, feeling very thirsty, and urinating more often than normal

Eating the right foods could make diabetes management easier

Eat at least one portion of starchy food and protein everyday

Try to limit fatty and sugary foods

Diabetes management could be improved by eating the right foods, according to charity Diabetes UK.

The amount you should eat depends on your age, gender, and how much you exercise.
No single food contains all of the nutrients you need, so finding the right balance between different types of food is crucial, the charity said.
This is what you should eat every week to get all of your essential nutrients, and to lower your blood sugar.

Starchy foods

You should eat some starchy foods every day, the charity said.
Starchy foods are used to provide cells with energy, while also regulating the digestive system.
“Better options of starchy foods – such as wholegrain bread, wholewheat pasta and basmati, brown or wild rice – contain more fibre, which helps to keep your digestive system working well,” said Diabetes UK.
“They are generally more slowly absorbed (that is, they have a lower glycaemic index), keeping you feeling fuller for longer.”

Protein

Protein helps to build and replace muscles, while also protecting the heart.
Diabetes patients should aim to have some protein everyday, with at least one to two portions of oily fish a week.
A small handful of raw nuts and seeds is an ideal snack, while using beans and pulses in a casserole could be used to replace some of the meat.

Dairy

“Milk, cheese and yogurt contain calcium, which is vital for growing children as it keeps their bones and teeth strong,” said Diabetes UK.
“Some dairy foods are high in fat, particularly saturated fat, so choose lower-fat alternatives (check for added sugar, though).”
Aim to have some dairy everyday, but you shouldn’t have too much.
Patients could try drinking milk straight from the glass, or added to porridge.
Cottage cheese scooped on carrot sticks also provides the perfect snack for diabetics.

Fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are naturally low in fat, and are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre.
The perfect array of fresh produce should include a rainbow of colours.
Adding just one extra handful of vegetables to your dinner could help to protect against heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes.

Fatty and sugary foods

“You can enjoy food from this group as an occasional treat in a balanced diet, but remember that sugary foods and drinks will add extra calories – and sugary drinks will raise blood glucose – so opt for diet/light or low-calorie alternatives,” said Diabetes UK.
“Fat is high in calories, so try to reduce the amount of oil or butter you use in cooking.
“Remember to use unsaturated oils, such as sunflower, rapeseed or olive oil, as these types are better for your heart.”
Patients should eat as little fatty and sugary foods as possible, the charity said.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/911426/diabetes-type-2-symptoms-diet-plan-food-blood-sugar

PSA From A Diabetes Mom: If You’re Sick, Stay Home

From asweetlife.org

It was “Parents Watch Day” at my daughter’s dance school, the week before the holiday break, and as a treat the teachers let the parents in to see just what the kids had learned. My daughter was excited. So were all the other kids.
As we settled into our seats and the kids lined up to perform, the mom next to me got a bit, well, restless. I heard her mutter “uh-oh,” under her breath. And then she said out loud, “she’s gonna blow.” She yelled, “Suzy (or whatever her name was), run for the trash can!” A heartbeat later, Suzy had vomited all over the dance room floor.
The mom was embarrassed, and cleaned up the mess herself. She looked around the room at the other parents and said “I’m so sorry. She was throwing up all morning. But I couldn’t have her miss Parents Watch Day!”
That woman knew her child was sick. Probably contagious sick. And she still sent her to dance class.
 I was livid because for my daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes, vomiting can be an emergency situation. And not surprisingly, a few days later, she was in the ER and then held overnight at the hospital as we struggled to stabilize her blood sugar.
I am reminded of this now because the flu season is at its peak, and it’s especially severe this year. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, and people are dying from the flu. Time reports, “Flu activity has increased throughout the United States as of the second week of January, the CDC said Friday. Ten influenza-related deaths in children were reported through the week ending on Jan. 13, bringing the total flu-related pediatric deaths to 30.”
For those of us living with diabetes or caring for someone with diabetes, this is terrifying. What might be a hard flu, or messy stomach bug for most people, can be an expensive, frightening, challenging vigil that usually involves hourly blood glucose checks and ketone checks, constant calls to the doctor, a scary rush to the emergency room, an overnight (or more) in the hospital, an expensive co-pay, exhaustion, and the deep fear of losing control. Or worse.
 This is why it absolutely infuriates me when parents allow their children to go to school, or the store, or anywhere at all (other than the doctor’s office) when they are sick. And if there is one thing I ask – make that beg – the rest of the world during this extra sick time, it’s this: make a sacrifice for the sake of others and keep your children (or yourselves) home if you (or they) are sick in any way that might be contagious.
I understand this is a terrible hardship. Parents work full-time (and adults run low on sick days or have huge projects due at work that must get attention). Juggling a sudden sick day can be stressful and even somewhat costly. But when you take that sickness out into the world and send it to school or to the store or to work or even just for a quick ride to the dry cleaner, you may be putting lives in danger.
You might think I’m exaggerating or overprotective, but I’m not. It’s enough to make your head spin. And for a parent – or an adult with diabetes – who might not be a pro with all this or might not have the kind of medical support my family is blessed enough to have, sickness can quite literally put the life of a person with diabetes in danger.
I had to recently had to make the sacrifice myself. My family and I were on a holiday trip to Mexico. It had been a life-long dream of mine to be able to jet my kids and husband off to some exotic spot and wake up on Christmas Day, toss on a bathing suit and lounge at the beach or pool with a tropical drink in my hand. The year we’d finally been able to do it, I started to cough three days into the trip. And then I spiked a fever. So Christmas Day, much as I wanted to live my dream, I stayed in my room, alone, waiting for the antibiotics to kick in while the rest of my family lived the dream for me. I was sad, but later, my daughter with diabetes said to me, “Thanks, Mom.”
I did the right thing.  I missed out, but my daughter with diabetes — and the rest of the world — was safe from my germs.
So consider this a public service announcement. If you or your children are sick or even close to sick, step back and keep yourself sequestered. If you need a medication, ask a friend to pick it up for you. Get a note from your doctor for work or school. Stay home. I know this might mean hardship. You might get docked a day’s pay. Your child might miss the class musical performance. Your boss might get mad. But on the flip side, you might save a person from a true crisis. You might even save a life.

https://asweetlife.org/psa-from-a-diabetes-mom-if-youre-sick-stay-home/?utm_source=ASweetLife.org+List&utm_campaign=04f2a95c4e-ASweetLife+Weekly+Update++-+Nov.+14%2C+2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5125b14cf8-04f2a95c4e-413392997

Study Shows Long-Term Effects Of Diabetes And Prediabetes On The Brain

From forbes.com

One of the largest studies on the connection between blood sugar and brain function has found that people with prediabetes and diabetes experience worse long-term cognitive decline than people with normal blood sugar levels. The results underscore just how dangerous impaired blood sugar is for overall health, from heart to brain – but the study also suggests that there’s a possible good news side to this story.
Previous studies have linked diabetes with decreased brain function, but this is the largest to find a direct relationship between A1c blood levels and risk of long-term cognitive decline. The A1c test (referred to as the HbA1c test in this study) reflects average blood sugar for the previous two to three months. Diabetes is generally defined by an A1c level of 6.5% or above, the equivalent of 126 mg of blood sugar per deciliter. A result of between 5.7 and 6.4% is considered prediabetic, which indicates high risk for developing diabetes.
The study involved about 5,000 people in the UK, average age 66 (participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing), including people with normal blood sugar levels and those with levels falling in the prediabetic to diabetic range. Cognitive function was evaluated at the beginning of the study and reassessed every two years over an eight year span to track changes in memory, executive brain function (such as decision-making speed), and overall cognitive function.

The results showed that those with prediabetes or diabetes had significantly decreased cognitive scores over the study period, including memory and processing speed – all signs of more rapid cognitive decline. The results held true even after accounting for factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, cholesterol levels, depression, high blood pressure, and demographics like age, sex and marital status.
The researchers noted that all of the participants experienced some level of cognitive decline (natural result of getting older), but prediabetes and diabetes made the onset of decline come faster and the effects steeper than for people with normal blood sugar.

The really chilling part of these results is less about the effects of diabetes (which are already well evidenced), and more about the effects of being even in the vicinity of diabetes. The study suggests that someone doesn’t have to be diagnosed as officially diabetic to experience worse cognitive decline – falling in the prediabetic range is close enough.
"Our study provides evidence to support the association of diabetes with subsequent cognitive decline. Moreover, our findings show a linear correlation between circulating HbA1c levels and cognitive decline, regardless of diabetic status,” the research team said in the study’s conclusion.
The good news is that getting ahead of blood sugar irregularities earlier could potentially slow the rate of cognitive decline.
“Our findings suggest that interventions that delay diabetes onset, as well as management strategies for blood sugar control, might help alleviate the progression of subsequent cognitive decline over the long-term,” added the researchers.
These results strengthen the argument that we’d do well to take blood sugar seriously and implement changes to manage it, ideally before getting close to the diabetic range -- but even with a diagnosis of diabetes, lifestyle changes can go a long way toward managing it.  Dietary changes, exercise, and losing weight have all been shown to influence blood sugar levels. It's doable, and it's one of the few serious risk factors affecting brain function that we can do something about.
The study was published in the journal Diabetologia.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2018/01/28/study-shows-how-diabetes-and-prediabetes-impact-your-brain-over-time/#6be8a44a1c43

Diabetes Health Type 2: Agree to Disagree on Your Diabetes

From diabeteshealth.com

We all like to think that doctors know best when it comes to diabetes. However, I’ve learned that doctors don’t always agree when it comes to self management. For instance, when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, the doctor told me that an acceptable fasting glucose reading is between 90 and 110. Later, another doctor told me that an acceptable reading was between 90 and 120. This is only a ten point difference but it was interesting to hear that they disagreed on what was acceptable.
More than once, the possibility of me having to go on insulin has been held over my head whenever my A1C would rise above the 7.0 threshold. After one doctor saw that my A1C had crept up to 8.5 he hinted that I might have to go on insulin to control my diabetes. A few months later, another doctor brushed off the idea that I would need insulin and stated that I was a long way from needing insulin. It is interesting that opinions can vary from doctor to doctor.
I guess it really comes down to experience and personal beliefs surrounding diabetes. One thing that all doctors will agree on though is that if left unchecked, diabetes will kill you.

https://www.diabeteshealth.com/type-2-diabetes-agree-disagree-diabetes/

New wheat variety can help fight diabetes

From thehindu.com

A new variety of fibre-rich wheat that has the potential to help fight Type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer has been developed by a team led by an Indian scientist working for the Australian national research agency. The discovery is considerably significant for India, which is often labelled the ‘diabetic capital of the world’, with over 50 million people suffering from the disease.
Regina Ahmed, principal research scientist, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), told The Hindu in an email interview that the new wheat variety was rich in amylose. The amount of resistant starch, a type of dietary fibre, in products made from high-amylose wheat was 10 times more than those made from regular wheat. Resistant starch is known to improve digestive health, protect against the genetic damage that precedes bowel cancer, and help combat Type 2 diabetes. Normally, food is digested in the small intestine. This starch reaches the large intestine and disintegrates there, which reduces the speed with which glucose reaches the blood, said Dr. Ahmed, a native of Changanassery in Kerala's Kottayam district.

Type 2 diabetes rife

“There is a rapid spread of lifestyle diseases across the world. Type 2 diabetes is now a global health challenge with mounting incidence in most nations, including developing countries like India,” she said. Increased prevalence of the disease takes a toll on life and healthcare costs, too. Imparting nutritional benefits to staple foods like wheat would have a meaningful impact on public health, without the need for making major dietary changes, Dr. Regina said.
She added, “India is one of the leading producers of wheat and almost all the wheat that India produces is consumed domestically. This means that wheat with enhanced nutritional quality can serve as an excellent vehicle for delivery of health benefits to consumers.”

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/new-wheat-variety-can-help-fight-diabetes/article22537444.ece