The role zinc might have on the body is being investigated as researchers believe it could help form the basis of future diabetes treatments.
A team from the University of St Andrews have been looking at what causes blood clots and why they are commonly associated with those who have diabetes.
Through their work, they have turned their attentions to zinc, which helps the blood clot once someone has become injured. However, clotting can sometimes occur in people who have health problems such as type 2 diabetes or obesity. When this happens, it can damage the blood vessels leading to stroke or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The research team have discovered that the way zinc is transportation in the blood comes down to increased levels of fatty acids. If there is too much then the zinc cannot perform the way it should and it begins to interact with clot-activating proteins.
Dr Alan Stewart, Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator at University of St Andrews, said: “Our research suggests that by altering how zinc is handled, elevated levels of fatty acids in the circulation can contribute to the formation of unwanted and potentially dangerous blood clots.
”Ultimately, we hope that these findings will aid the development of new therapeutic strategies to reduce vascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as other diseases associated with high levels of circulatory fatty acids”.
The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation. James Jopling, from the organisation, said: “Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes – conditions which can severely affect quality of life.
“As such, it is vital we understand more about it and how to treat it. Research projects like this one in St Andrews help inform how we treat patients, identify those at particular risk and ultimately find new ways to save and improve lives.”
The findings have been published in the scientific journal, Chemical Science.
Managing diabetes can require nutritional therapy. One way people with diabetes can control blood sugar is to monitor the number of carbohydrates they consume. They can choose carbohydrates rich in nutrients, such as quinoa.
A person’s diet can play a major role in both preventing and managing diabetes. Eating a healthy diet can also prevent many other conditions and complications, including heart attack and stroke.
For people living with diabetes, self-managing their blood sugar is an important part of their lives.
Quinoa contains many healthy nutrients and is low in sugar and carbohydrates, which is important for someone looking to prevent diabetes or manage it.
This article will explore whether quinoa is a good dietary option for people with diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) note that a person should opt for grains with high nutritional values when choosing carbohydrates.
Whole grains, such as quinoa, are rich in vitamins and minerals, including:
magnesium
B vitamins
chromium
iron
folate
Other types of quinoa, such as red and black quinoa, have very similar nutritional profiles. However, uncooked black quinoa has a slightly higher fibre content than uncooked white quinoa.
The following table lists the nutritional values for cooked quinoa. Units are in grams (g), milligrams (mg), and calories (kcal).
There are numerous factors that could help a person manage their blood sugar. Here is how quinoa fits in.
Glycaemic index
Many people with diabetes use the glycaemic index (GI) to understand by how much a certain food will make their blood sugar rise.
The GI rates food from 1 to 100 in terms of how fast blood sugar rises after a person has eaten that food, with 100 being pure sugar.
The following table shows different ranges of the GI:
Low
Medium
High
0–55
56–69
70–100
Quinoa has a GI rating of 53, which puts it in the low category.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an important nutrient for bodily functions. They are an important source of energy for body cells, but they also influence blood sugar.
There is no evidence to suggest people living with diabetes should eat more or fewer carbohydrates than people living without it. However, they should monitor their carbohydrate intake and adjust it based on their personal needs.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that people with diabetes should get around half of their daily calories from carbohydrates. This can work out at between 225 and 325 g of carbohydrate per day.
Quinoa, with 22.86 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, is lower in carbohydrates than white rice, which contains 33.1 g per 100 g. Therefore, a person looking to reduce their overall carbohydrate intake could swap white rice for quinoa.
Fibre
The ADA emphasize that people should prioritize nutrient-dense carbohydrates that are high in fibre and minimally processed.
Dietary fibres help adjust a person’s blood sugar, because they ferment in the colon rather than undergo digestion in the small intestine.
Quinoa contains 2.1 g of fibre per 100 g, whereas white rice contains 0 g. Therefore, quinoa is a better option for people with diabetes looking to improve their fibre intake.
Compared with 100 g of cooked white rice, 100 g of cooked quinoa contains:
fewer calories
more protein
fewer carbohydrates
more fibre
more calcium
more iron
more potassium
However, when comparing the nutritional value of quinoa and rice, a person should consider the wide variety of rice.
Each type of rice has particular nutritional qualities, and some are healthier options than others. Researchers suggest that substituting white rice with brown rice may lower the risk of diabetes.
Quinoa can be a substitute for oatmeal made with oats.
Oats are high in a specific type of dietary fibre called beta-glucan. Beta-glucan plays an active role in reducing blood sugar after eating and insulin responses. This increases insulin sensitivity and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
However, quick, old-fashioned, and steel-cut oats also have different nutritional profiles.
Steel-cut oats are a less processed form of oats and take longer to digest. This means that they have a lower glycaemic index than more processed oats, which are easier to digest. That is why eating steel-cut oats will raise a person’s blood sugar slower than quick oats.
Steel-cut oats and quinoa have a similar nutritional value. Steel-cut oats are slightly higher in fat, carbohydrate, and dietary fibre.
People can prepare quinoa in a sweet or savoury way.
Washing
The first step when cooking quinoa is to thoroughly wash the seeds under running water in a strainer and dry them on a dish towel.
Quinoa contains a coating called saponin. Saponin has a bitter taste and is also mildly toxic. In some people, it can cause stomach problems.
A person can wash off saponin by rinsing the quinoa thoroughly during preparation.
People can also purchase prewashed quinoa, whose texture does not differ from that of traditional quinoa.
Cooking
Toasting quinoa in a pan on the stove makes the seeds fragrant, but this step is optional.
To cook quinoa, add the amount of liquid to a pot with the quinoa according to the package instructions. People can use water, coconut water, stock, or any other liquid.
After 15–20 minutes, the seeds will be tender and will have absorbed the liquid. Let the quinoa sit off the stove in a covered pan and then fluff with a fork.
People can use different add-ins to make quinoa savoury or sweet. Quinoa is a good alternative to oatmeal in the morning or rice for lunch or supper.
Some granola recipes may also include quinoa for a healthy option instead of oat-based granola.
Delicious, hearty and ready in just 30 minutes, this chowder is great for using up leftovers
Serves 4
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 tsp sunflower oil
400g potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm cubes
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 stick celery, chopped
1 large carrot, finely diced
1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
1 tbsp wholemeal flour
300ml skimmed milk
300ml low-salt vegetable stock
300g skinless, cooked, diced turkey
198g can salt-free sweetcorn, drained
1 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
Method
Heat the oil in a large pan and add the potatoes with the onion, celery and carrot and stir-fry for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle the flour over and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and stir in the milk and stock. Return to the heat and slowly bring to the boil, stirring continuously. Add the turkey, sweetcorn and red pepper and simmer for 5-6 minutes until the potatoes are cooked through. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Chef's tips
If you're cooking for one, this meal can be portioned and frozen.
Are you worried that you, your child or someone you know may have diabetes? Having some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes doesn’t mean you definitely have the condition, but you should always contact your GP, just to make sure.
Getting diagnosed and the right treatment are vital, and can reduce the chances of developing serious complications.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it's still really important to see a healthcare professional if you notice any of these signs. They will be able to do a blood test to find out if you have diabetes.
Common symptoms of diabetes
Going to the toilet a lot, especially at night.
Being really thirsty.
Feeling more tired than usual.
Losing weight without trying to.
Genital itching or thrush.
Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
Blurred eyesight.
These symptoms can affect anyone - adult or child.
What causes these symptoms?
These symptoms occur because some or all of the glucose stays in the blood, and isn’t being used as fuel for energy. The body tries to reduce blood glucose levels by flushing the excess glucose out of the body in the urine. High levels of glucose being passed in the urine are a perfect breeding ground for the fungal infection which causes thrush. But not everyone gets symptoms. In fact, 6 out of 10 people have no symptoms when they’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
If you ignore the signs of diabetes
It’s hard to ignore the signs of type 1 diabetes because symptoms can often appear quite quickly. But leaving it untreated can lead to serious health problems, including diabetic ketoacidosis, which can result in a potentially fatal coma.
Although the majority of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood, the symptoms are the same at any age. Adults with type 1 diabetes may not recognise their symptoms as quickly as children, which could mean their diagnosis and treatment may be delayed.
Type 2 diabetes can be easier to miss as it develops more slowly, especially in the early stages when it can be harder to spot the symptoms. But untreated diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Being diagnosed early and managing your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications. Use our Know Your Risk tool to check your risk of type 2 diabetes.
There are a few dietary restrictions when it comes to consuming certain foods for individuals who have diabetes. This is due to the carbohydrates, additives, and glycaemic levels in certain foods.
While white rice is known to have a high glycaemic index and is low in fibre, micronutrients, and polyphenols, there are diabetic-friendly rice options you can consider. When choosing a healthy diet plan, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional regarding the best options for your lifestyle.
Rani Sr Prasiththi / EyeEm / Getty Images
Rice in a Diabetes Diet
When people with diabetes consume rice, it is important to understand how the body reacts.
A cup of white rice has 53.4 grams of carbohydrates. When an individual with diabetes consumes drinks and foods with carbohydrates, it breaks down into glucose and the body’s blood sugar rises.
How Carbohydrates Affect People With Diabetes
When rice is consumed, this can lead to elevated glucose levels after a meal:
In an individual without diabetes, their insulin will help the blood sugar levels from increasing too much.
If an individual has diabetes, depending on the type, the body either doesn’t make insulin or the body is resistant to it.
Therefore, if you have diabetes, it is important to watch the carbohydrates intake:
For people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, so it is important to count the carbs in your meal.
For people with type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to insulin and may not produce enough to properly offset the blood sugar increase, so it is advised they eat carbohydrates throughout the day versus at a lot at one time.
Rice is known to have a considerate amount of carbohydrates, a high glycaemic index, and glycaemic load. Studies have shown that consuming high amounts of white rice increases the risk of diabetes by 11%. Another study concluded that individuals who opted for brown rice and whole grains instead of white rice may have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Healthy Rice Options
When consuming rice, it is important to be mindful. If possible, opt for brown rice, which is known to reduce the risk of type two diabetes due to its high content of:
Fibre
Vitamins
Minerals
Multiple nutrients
Other options for rice include:
Wild rice: 35 grams of carbs
Jasmine rice: 39 grams of carbs
Basmati rice: 37 grams of carbs
Alternatives to Rice
There are other foods that you can try as an alternative option. These include:
Cauliflower rice
Millet
Quinoa
Buckwheat
Barley
It is important to speak with a healthcare professional before you add any foods to your diet. They can give you the right information as it relates to your specific condition.
A Word From Verywell
When an individual has diabetes, diet is a big factor when it comes to staying healthy and controlling sugar levels. It's all about balance. Speak with a healthcare professional so you can properly plan a menu that will keep you healthy.
It is also important to educate yourself about proper options for diet, lifestyle, and exercise habits so you can have a wonderful quality of life. If you have any questions or concerns, check with your doctor and they can lead you in the right direction.
MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Just two weeks of treatment with an experimental drug can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes by several years, researchers report.
The drug, called teplizumab, is already under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on earlier evidence of its effectiveness.
If it gets the green light, it would become the first drug approved for delaying type 1 diabetes in high-risk people.
In the earlier study, researchers found that two weeks of teplizumab infusions typically held the disease at bay for two years, versus a placebo.
In this latest follow-up, the investigators found that half of patients given teplizumab were still diabetes-free five years later, versus only 22% of the placebo group.
At the outset, patients in the study, most of whom were younger than 18, were almost certain to develop type 1 diabetes: They had a relative with the disease and were already harbouring "auto-antibodies" in their blood, which is a sign the immune system was beginning to attack the body's own cells.
Continued
Type 1 diabetes arises when the immune system mistakenly goes after cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin. Insulin has the critical job of moving sugars from food into the body's cells to be used as fuel.
To survive, people with type 1 diabetes need to take synthetic insulin, either via daily injections or a pump attached to the body.
How does the new drug work? Teplizumab is a lab-engineered antibody that targets specific immune cells, interfering with their ability to disable and destroy insulin-producing cells.
It's not clear yet whether the drug might fully prevent type 1 diabetes in some people.
But it can forestall the disease, which is critical, according to Sanjoy Dutta, vice president of research at the JDRF, a non-profit that funds type 1 diabetes research.
The disease often strikes in childhood, and after many years people commonly develop complications such as heart, kidney and eye disease, as well as serious nerve damage.
Delaying diabetes, especially in kids, "is like money in the bank," Dutta said.
The longer people can live with their own functioning beta cells (the cells that produce insulin), the better, Dutta explained. They will have better long-term control of their blood sugar, and down the road that could cut their risk of complications.
The teplizumab trial was sponsored by the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Study Group, a network funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and JDRF.
The drug, being developed by the biotech company Provention, was awarded "breakthrough" status by the FDA, which means it will get an expedited review. An approval could come as early as this summer, according to Dr. Kevan Herold, a professor at Yale University who led the trial.
These latest findings, published online March 3 in the journal Science Translational Medicine,are based on 76 patients who were randomly assigned to either two weeks of teplizumab (given by IV) or a placebo.
Among patients given the real drug, the median time until diabetes diagnosis was five years (meaning half were still disease-free at that point). In the placebo group, that figure was just over two years, for a nearly three-year difference.
Beyond that, teplizumab patients' beta cell function improved.
According to Stephan Kissler, a researcher at the Joslin Diabetes Centre in Boston who was not involved in the trial, "These results show not only that the drug can delay diabetes, but that it can also improve pancreas function before diabetes is diagnosed. This is a convincing sign that the drug can halt disease progression -- at least for a significant period of time."
There are still key questions to answer.
Dutta said the trial, involving mostly kids, went conservative with the teplizumab dose. So now researchers are wondering whether a bigger dose -- perhaps giving a "booster," similar to a vaccination -- would be even more effective, he noted.
Kissler said the current study is "far from over," since many participants remained diabetes-free.
"Whether teplizumab will be sufficient to completely prevent diabetes in some individuals is uncertain," he said. "But these remarkable results give us hope that a complete prevention may one day be achievable."
That, Kissler said, might come via teplizumab or other immune-system therapies. He noted that researchers are developing drugs to shield beta cells from the immune assault, and it's possible such therapies could enhance the protective effect of teplizumab.
If teplizumab is approved, that will amplify the importance of identifying people with type 1 diabetes auto-antibodies. Screening tests are available, but not yet widely done.
Relatives of people with type 1 diabetes can get free auto-antibody screening through the TrialNet study, according to JDRF.
Being high in fibre and sugar content, dates or khajur often leave people speculating about whether they should be consumed after soaking over night or raw or on empty stomach or before going to bed. Read on to know when is the best and worst time to eat dates
As an energy-rich snack that can be consumed daily, dates are high in calories and easy to overeat in one sitting. Apart from having an excellent nutrition profile, dates are high in fibre which is important for our overall health, benefits digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements, provide various antioxidants that help reduce the risk of several diseases and also help in improving the brain function.
However, being high in sugar content and fibre, dates or khajur often leave people speculating about whether they should be consumed after soaking over night or raw or on empty stomach or before going to bed. Hence, it is important to know when is the best and worst time to eat dates.
(Photos by Saj Shafique and Mona Mok on Unsplash)
Best time:
Dates don’t spike blood sugar quickly even though they are naturally high in sugar. Hence, 2-4 dates can be eaten 30-60 minutes before a workout as they allow a steady stream of energy or fuel the body courtesy their slow-releasing carb.
Their fibre content ensures that one remains full for a long time and keep hunger pangs at back. So khajurs serve as the best health snack and can even be eaten before bedtime.
From helping in killing intestinal worms, to cleansing the vital organs and improving heart and liver health, dates should best be eaten early in the morning to benefit from their much needed boost of energy. While some studies have highlighted their health benefits in improving potency and working as an aphrodisiac, others have credited the antioxidants in dates for giving skin and hair a natural lustre.
Since they promote weight loss, treat constipation, works wonders for bone health, strengthen immunity, improve brain and heart health and even prevent diseases like Alzheimer or different types of cancer or other chronic diseases, experts advise on eating dates daily as a snack to help one feel energized without crashing soon afterward.
They even benefit those with diabetes and prediabetes as dates contain potent antioxidants which can reduce inflammation in the body as they are high in polyphenols along with several other nutrients and compounds which aid insulin resistance. However, it is advisable to confirm with your doctor before consuming them if you are diabetic.
Worst time:
Avoid eating dates after meals if you have digestion issues since their high fiber content makes it difficult to digest small chain carbs and eventually leads to bloating. A sugar alcohol in dates called sorbitol leads to excessive bowel movements and increases discomfort hence, dates should not be eaten if one is suffering from diarrhoea or loose stools until the bowel movements have normalised.
Those having a food allergy from dates or have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or sensitivities should also skip eating dates due to their high fructose content. Apart from these conditions, anytime is a good time to eat dates and enjoy its health benefits.
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