Yamot Articles Directory

They are joining the lowly ranks of candy and sugary sweets. Some researchers even warn against diet soda, claiming it could lead to a loss of calcium. And of course, ‘regular’ soda is being blamed for contributing to weight gain and diabetes.

Then, with regards to association with heart disease, it doesn’t matter which one you chose, both are linked to increased risk of heart disease and developing metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good” cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels — three or more of which, increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also increases the risk of heart disease by two to four times that than the normal population and increases the risk of type-2 diabetes by nine to 30 times, not to mention its detrimental effects to the kidneys, liver, ovaries, a person’s ability to sleep and even dementia.

According to statistics, metabolic syndrome affects up to 30 percent of the industrialized world’s population, and is expected to affect 50 to 75 million Americans by the year 2010.

As reported by the Framingham researchers in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, drinking one or more soft drink daily (whether regular or diet) may increase the risk factors for heart disease, among others:
- 31 percent greater risk of developing new-onset obesity (defined as a body mass index [BMI] of 30 kilograms/meter2 or more);
- 30 percent increased risk of developing increased waist circumference;
- 25 percent increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides or high fasting blood glucose;
- 32 percent higher risk of having low HDL levels.

A trend towards an increased risk of developing high blood pressure that was not statistically significant. According to Ravi Dhingra, M.D., lead author of the study and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School: “Moderation in anything is the key. If you are drinking one or more soft drinks a day, you may be increasing your risk of developing metabolic risk factors for heart disease.”

For those who already have diabetes, soft drinks are double trouble anyway. What with all that sugar content!

Also, According to Ramachandran Vasan, M.D., senior author of the Framingham Heart Study and professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine: One explanation is that the fructose corn syrup in regular soft drinks causes weight gain, and can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. But then you would expect to see an association with regular soft drinks, but not diet soft drinks.

Our findings suggest that this is not the case. Another possible explanation is that consuming more liquids is associated with a lesser degree of dietary compensation. However, the researchers admit that these results need to be replicated in further studies before recommendations can be made.

The author writes about Snacks for Diabetics and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

VeraLight Inc. is the developer of the non-invasive diabetes-screening device code-named “Scout” and its researchers conducted the study on 322 subjects ranging from 21 to 88 years old with a broad range of skin color. Manufactured in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Scout DS is a simple-to-use device that weighs about 10 pounds and does not require the patient to fast or provide a blood sample but instead uses light directed onto a small area of an individual’s forearm to be able to detect abnormal concentrations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

AGEs has been found to correlate well with diabetes and pre-diabetes and are associated with the disease’s serious complications. AGEs are a sensitive metric for the cumulative damage the body endures due to the effects of abnormally high blood sugar and oxidative stress. AGEs harm the proteins that make up the blood vessels, connective tissue, and are thought to be major factors in aging and age-related chronic diseases.
Previous studies have shown that a Scout DS prototype is better than both the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and the A1C test as a rapid and non-invasive screen for pre-diabetes and type2 diabetes. IGT is a condition that often progresses to type 2 diabetes, therefore its detection is very crucial.
“…results showed a prototype of the device was able to identify 78% more individuals with the IGT form of pre-diabetes than the FPG test, and 47% more than the A1C test.”

This medical device is slated for U.S. market introduction in the second half of 2008 and was previewed for the first time last week at the 67th annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association held at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is able to detect abnormal concentrations of the skin biomarkers known to be associated with diabetes in less than one minute using fluorescent light from an individual’s forearm.

According to Timothy J. Lyons, M.D., a clinical investigator for VeraLight who heads the endocrinology section at the Oklahoma University Health Science Center:
“Considering its excellent speed, convenience and sensitivity, the Scout DS may be ideally suited to detect the more than 70 million individuals worldwide who have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

VeraLight’s diabetes screening technology represents a critical response to the worldwide diabetes epidemic, making screening more accurate and accessible to everyone at risk for this devastating disease.”

Take note: WITHOUT drawing blood and no overnight fasting prior to testing, unlike the FPG and AIC test.

Wow, non-blood pre-diabetes screening?! I am all for that kind.

The author writes about Snacks for Diabetes and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

As a young child I’ve been taught that milk is a complete food because it contains most of the nutrients necessary for good health. Most especially, milk is the best natural source of Vitamin D and Calcium - the key nutrients for bone health.

Now, the combination of Vitamin D and Calcium has been found to reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, giving us (even adults) additional reason to drink milk.

According to this article: the recommended three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk provides 900 mg of calcium, 300 IU of vitamin D and 80 mg of magnesium daily.

Magnesium in there caught my eye - because increased magnesium in the diet has recently been linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes as well.

Well, I guess we should all start drinking milk - especially if like me, you’ve lost the habit somewhere in time - though we should remember to keep it fat-free.

A German study suggests that increased intake of fiber and magnesium-rich grains can significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The said research, led by Matthias Schulze, from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke revealed the following:

- Consumption of fiber through cereal, bread and other grain products (cereal fiber) was associated with a reduced risk of diabetes; highest fiber intake (an average of 29 grams per day) resulted to 27% lower risk than those with the lowest intake (an average of 15.1 grams per day).
- No difference observed in the reduction of risks between soluble or insoluble fiber
- Highest consumption of cereal fiber was associated with a 33 % reduction in the risk of diabetes
- Consumption of the most magnesium had a 23 per cent lower risk, compared to those who consumed the least

In both cases (fiber or magnesium), no association was found between fruit or vegetable fiber and diabetes risk. The study’s findings, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, strongly support the importance of whole grain foods in diabetes prevention.

But of course, it cannot be just fiber and magnesium but an entirely nutritionally balanced diet that will lower our risks of developing diabetes.

Other sources of magnesium are green leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and eating more of these may be able to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes, according to meta-analysis of observational studies by Karolinska Institutet researchers.
“Findings from this meta-analysis of cohort studies indicate that increased intake of magnesium may reduce the incidence of type-2 diabetes. This observational evidence should be treated as compelling but not definitive.

The potential protective role of magnesium intake against type-2 diabetes may be due to improvement of insulin sensitivity. Studies in animals have demonstrated an adverse effect of magnesium deficiency on glucose-induced insulin secretion and insulin-mediated glucose uptake.

In contrast, magnesium supplementation was shown to prevent fructose-induced insulin resistance and reduce the development of diabetes in a rat model of spontaneous type-2 diabetes.”

The author writes about Berberine and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

An article which looks at the increasing statistics of diagnosed diabetes cases in children, including a huge increase in Type 2 diagnoses, and asks, ‘why?’ Are our habits hurting our children?

Children will be children, of course, and they can make poor health choices by eating the wrong foods. But isn’t it really up to families to encourage and incorporate a healthy lifestyle at home? And when they don’t, children are more likely to fall prey to health problems and are more prone to diabetes.

At the end of the day, everyone in the family needs to pull together as one team on the same side — the side that keeps illnesses like diabetes and other unhealthy issues at bay.

Most people groan and moan at the thought of healthy living. But it doesn’t have to be such a grind. Physical exercise can be fun when done together as a group. Family members can take turns in coming up with new and interesting, but healthy recipes to cook every day. Slowly but surely, the benefits of healthy living will rub off on everyone.

This is an important issue to discuss with the entire family.

Having diabetes as a child is difficult, along with often painful treatment, there is often a sense of deprivation and “not being like the other kids.” A new study has found that children may lose up to an hour a day because of their diabetes.

Diabetic children spend up to an hour a day managing their condition, adversely affecting their attitudes towards treatment, new Australian research shows. A study by University of Adelaide researchers tracked 160 children with chronic illnesses over two years to find out how much time it takes to do their daily treatment tasks.

The results, published in the latest Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health, show children with cystic fibrosis, an incurable genetic disease, spend 57-74 minutes a day on treatments like physiotherapy.

Therapies for type 1 diabetes - including daily glucose testing, insulin injections and dietary changes - took 28-58 minutes out of each child’s day.

Also, even to kids without diabetes, spending more time in front of the TV makes them sedentary, increasing their risk of becoming obese.

How much more if your child has type1 diabetes? More TV time will do no good in controlling their blood sugar levels.

As confirmed by a Norwegian study:
…diabetic children who spend a great deal of time watching television had a tougher time controlling their blood sugar.

… encouraging children with Type-1 diabetes to watch less television may play an crucial role for improving blood sugar control and better health overall.

Kids should really have more active time and even adults too for that matter. But I understand how difficult this is to accomplish sometimes, especially when TV time is the easiest “baby-sitter’ to young kids in this day and age of computers and playstations.

However, as parents we should encourage our kids to have a more active lifestyle, with or without diabetes.

The author writes about Berberine and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

Type 2 diabetes is becoming more and more common every year in Western societies. There are many factors for this ranging from diet, lack of exercise and genetics. With the help of your doctor and nutritionists, it can be a manageable disease.

In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the cells become resistant to insulin. Insulin takes sugar in the form of glucose, which is the main source of cellular energy, into the cells. If diabetes is untreated blood sugar levels get too high. This both starves the cells of energy, as well as damage eyes, kidneys, nerves and cardiovascular system.

While some who have type 2 diabetes experience no noticeable symptoms, others suffer from some of the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes which are increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, increased appetite, blurry vision, slow healing wounds and erectile dysfunction in men.

If you have diabetes, your first goal should be to control these symptoms and to help stabilize your blood sugar levels.

It is very important that you regularly test your blood sugars to monitor your daily levels. Watching your diet for fast releasing carbs and losing weight are two things you have immediate control over to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Exercise is also very important for bringing down elevated blood glucose levels. Both cardiovascular and weight training have been shown to help bring down high blood sugar. Before starting an exercise program, be sure to see your doctor first to find the right program.

If this does not help, medication may be necessary. Some drugs help the pancreas produce more insulin, some help the liver to produce less sugar, some decrease the stomachs absorption of carbohydrates, and some work on the cellular level to help the cells take in the glucose.

There are also dietary supplements that can be taken to help manage type 2 diabetes. One of the most common and most researches is the essential trace element chromium picolinate. Chromium plays a critical role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.

We do get some chromium in our food. It can be found in meats, animal fats, fish, coffee, tea, whole wheat and rye breads and brewer’s yeast. However, it can be difficult to consume enough chromium on a regular basis to be of benefit.

Chromium picolinate has been shown to both improve glucose tolerance and decrease glucose levels after fasting. It has also been shown to help with lowering total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while at the same time, raising the good or HDL cholesterol levels.

One key piece of research done on chromium supplements demonstrated improved glucose tolerance in people with both type 1 and 2 diabetes. This is done by helping to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin. This is also beneficial for those diagnosed with prediabetes.

Most of the studies done on chromium picolinate have been done on doses of 200 mcg a day. However, many doctors and naturopaths recommend up to 1 mg or 1,000 mcg daily for those with diabetes.

When considering the safety and low cost of supplementing chromium picolinate, there seems to be no obvious reason for anyone with diabetes or blood sugar issues to supplement this essential trace mineral.

Supplementing chromium or any other nutrients to help treat diabetes should be done under the watchful eye of your health care provider.

The author recommends visiting the natural health site Jeffs Healthy Living for more information and the health and wellness blog at Jeffs Healthy Living Blog

The nutritional recommendations for juveniles with diabetes are much the same as the general population in this country. Children with diabetes need to eat a well balanced and healthy diet in order to keep their blood sugar levels in the normal range. Because of this need to control blood sugar they must eat foods in specified amounts depending on how they affect blood sugar levels.

Finding out that their child has diabetes can be quite shocking for many parents. One of the most challenging parts of any diabetics lifestyle change is learning how to prepare meals and snacks. This can be doubly hard for the parents of a diabetic child because following the dietary advice of the doctor and dietician can affect the entire household.

Attempting to learn what foods to feed a juvenile with diabetes can be confusing at first. There is a wealth of information in books and on websites but for most parents in can be overwhelming trying to figure it all out. The important thing for parents with newly diagnosed diabetic children to do is learn to spot the good information from the bad.

The best place to start is the American Diabetes Association where they will find the Diabetes Food Pyramid. This pyramid is much like the USDA food pyramid that everyone is familiar with with one difference. The USDA pyramid classifies food by the group they are in whereas the diabetic food pyramid groups foods based on their carbohydrate, protein, and fat content and breaks them down into the amount of servings for each. There are six groups that make up the diabetic pyramid and they include starches, proteins, fats, meats, fruits and vegetables.

If we take a look at each category we can get a better understanding of each and how they fit into a well balanced diabetic diet plan.

Starches and Grains: These are the primary sources of carbohydrates for everyone. These include foods like whole grains, rye, oats and the starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn. This group also includes the dry beans such as pinto beans and black eyed peas. The suggested number of serving per day is between six to eleven. This is a range and must be personalized to the individual’s needs and goals with the help of a registered dietician.

Vegetables: Vegetables should always be a part of every dietary plan. They are full of many vital nutrients, are low in fat, and high in fiber all of which contribute to good health. Diabetics should have three to five servings per day. It is important to note that the starchy vegetables are not included in this category and should not be substituted into this group of the pyramid.

Fruits: Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as carbohydrates. Serving sizes are determined by the individual fruit and suggested serving are two to four per day.

Milk: Milk and dairy products are essential in that they contain protein, calcium and many of the vitamins we need each day. Because they can contain a substantial amount of fat it is best to choose low fat or non fat versions of these products. The pyramid recommends two to three servings per day.

Meat and Meat Products: Meat and meat products are a primary supply of protein for all people. They also provide essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids the body needs to function in a healthy fashion. Choose only lean cuts and trim any visible fat to help keep the amount of saturated fat ingested to a minimum.

Fats, Sweets and Alcohol: While diabetics can partake of these it is recommended to keep their use in meal preparation and snack to a minimum. For the juvenile with diabetes this is important in that it teaches them food habits that will stay with them for the rest of their life.

The American Diabetes Association is a good place to start when it comes to learning about feeding a juvenile with diabetes. They have everything needed for healthy meal planning, exchange lists, weight control and recommended exercise programs.

To learn more about the nutritional needs of juvenile diabetes please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.

The increasing obesity epidemic among children today is thought to be a leading cause in the increase in juvenile diabetes in this country today. While not everyone agrees on the causes and affects it is hard to argue with the continuing increase of children with Type 2 diabetes who are also overweight. In fact as the percentages of obese children raises so does the percentage of those affected with juvenile diabetes at nearly the same rate.

There appear to be two main reasons for this increase in Type 2 diabetes among children. Most children these days have a sedentary lifestyle that revolves around watching TV, playing video games, or using their computer to chat with and email their friends. The second issue for many kids is their poor eating habits and nutrition. Living the fast food life style or eating a bag a chips while playing video games is one of the major reasons for the preponderance of overweight kids we see today.

For many years Type 2 diabetes was something that overweight adults had to contend with, mainly because children weren’t having the weight issues they have today. Type 2 diabetes in an adult is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The primary treatment for this type of this disease is lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise for both children and adults.

One of the main concerns with type 2 juvenile diabetes is the affects it can have later on in a child’s life. Children with type 2 diabetes have been found to have more life threatening complications than type 1 diabetics. Some of the major problems juveniles with this type of diabetes face include heart disease, damage to the nervous system, renal failure, blindness, and limb amputations, particularly of the feet and lower legs.

The first line of defense against juvenile type 2 diabetes is probably the most obvious. Maintain a healthy body weight through proper diet and exercise thus preventing the onset of the disease. For children already diagnosed this same treatment applies if they are to avoid the complications to their health later in life.

For the juvenile diabetic a healthy diet is the cornerstone of their treatment. A well balanced diet low in sugar, saturated fats, and salt is the way to go. High fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, along with complex carbohydrates are best for the diabetic. Even then foods high in carbs should be eaten throughout the day to help prevent large rises in blood glucose levels. Regular physical activity or exercise is also recommended to help insulin move glucose out of the blood and into the cells.

Childhood obesity is an epidemic all parents should take seriously. The long term health affects of all children are at stake, particularly with an increased risk of juvenile diabetes, a disease that will affect any child for their life time. By making easy lifestyle changes centered on a healthy diet and physical activity the onset of type 2 diabetes can be prevented, or even delayed in children at high risk.

To learn more about Obesity and Juvenile Diabetes please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.