Increasing physical activity and limiting television may lead to reduction in type 2 diabetes

"Researchers from Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center have found that reducing time spent watching television and increasing time spent walking briskly or engaged in vigorous physical activity may reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in African-American women. These findings appear on-line in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. and affects an estimated 20.6 million people. African-American women make up a significant percentage of that population. Although previous studies support a role for physical activity in preventing type 2 diabetes, there has been little attention focused on the impact of this factor in the high-risk population of African-American women" - EurekAlert

'Body clock gene' diabetes clue

"The workings of our internal body clock appear to be directly connected to our risk of diabetes, researchers claim. International research published in the journal Nature Genetics found faults in a key 'clock gene' were linked to blood sugar levels and type II diabetes. Some scientists already believe that our circadian rhythms (body clock) have a role to play in the condition, which affects millions worldwide. But one expert said more evidence was needed, before a link was proved" - BBC

Holidays pose hazards for diabetics

Thanksgiving marks the start of what a U.S. doctor calls "sugar-centric festivities," a hazard for diabetics. Dr. Nicholas Jospe, chief of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Rochester Medical Center's Golisano Children's Hospital in New York finds this especially true for children. However, he counsels his diabetic patients and their parents that it is possible to navigate a safe course through the season's sweet temptations. "This is the time of year where we're assaulted by sugar, but with careful attention, people with diabetes can uphold good habits," Jospe says in a statement. "Most of this can be summarized in a single rule - that is, to be consistent. Don't take a holiday from the healthy practices you've mastered the rest of the year." This means, Jospe says, religiously monitoring insulin levels. Blood sugar needs to be tested consistently, especially when eating at irregular times. The pancreas is naturally tuned to produce and release the right amount of insulin in rhythm with daily meals. Jospe advises his patients to be careful to match their insulin dosage to their intake of carbohydrates. "Especially," he says, "if you indulge a bit." - UPI

An egg a day raises risk of diabetes

"People who eat eggs every day may substantially increase their risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers said. Men with the highest level of egg consumption - at seven or more per week - were 58% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who did not eat eggs, and women were 77% more likely to become diabetic if they ate at least an egg a day, Luc Djoussé, M.D., D.Sc., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard, and colleagues reported online in Diabetes Care - Medpage Today

Aboriginal LiveWell program celebrates success

"Evelyn Linklater is an Elder in her Saskatoon community, and she has diabetes. 'I am trying to live a healthy lifestyle and teach others to do the same,' says Linklater. 'The LWCC (LiveWell with Chronic Conditions program) is helping me to do this. I want to see my grandchildren grow up healthy and happy.' She is one of Saskatoon's Aboriginal peer leaders who shared their digital stories of living with chronic conditions like diabetes at a luncheon celebrating the group's achievements on October 30. They celebrated with more than 40 family members, friends and Health Region staff involved in the program. Linklater and six other peer leaders recently completed training in the LiveWell program" - Saskatoon Health Region

Garlic chemical tablet treats diabetes 1 and 2

"A drug based on a chemical found in garlic can treat diabetes types I and II when taken as a tablet, a study in the new Royal Society of Chemistry journal Metallomics says. When Hiromu Sakurai and colleagues from the Suzuka University of Medical Science, Japan, gave the drug orally to type I diabetic mice, they found it reduced blood glucose levels. The drug is based on vanadium and allixin, a compound found in garlic, and its action described in an Advance Article from Metallomics available free online. The first issue of the new journal will be published in 2009. In previous work they had discovered the vanadium-allixin compound treated both diabetes types when injected, but this new study shows the drug has promise as an oral treatment for the disease. Type I diabetes (insulin dependent) is currently treated with daily injections of insulin, while type II (non-insulin dependent) is treated with drugs bearing undesirable side-effects - the authors note neither treatment is ideal. The researchers aim to test the drug in humans in future work" - EurekAlert

Diabetes study cuts ulcer deaths

"A ground-breaking system which could halve the number of people dying from a diabetes-related condition has been developed in the Lothians, Scotland. New research shows patients suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer could win their battle if their heart health was also treated at the same time. Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh experts discovered a system of heart monitoring combined with preventative medicine. Dr Matthew Young said the key to their survival was their hearts. A full cardiovascular assessment was carried out on each patient to gauge their blood pressure, cholesterol and heart function before prescribing a range of protective medicines in a unique tailor-made care package" - BBC

Diabetes Motherhood

Studies show eight percent of women develop insulin resistance during pregnancy, leading to gestational diabetes. Watch the video at redOrbit

Screening for Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association recommends people at risk for the disease get screened. Watch the video

Research shows aerobic exercise combined with resistance training improves glucose control in diabetics

Patients with diabetes who participate in a program combining aerobic and high-force eccentric resistance exercise demonstrate improvements in glucose control, physical performance, and body fat composition, according to a study published in the November 2008 issue of Physical Therapy, the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association

News from the November 2008 Journal of the American Dietetic Association

"November is American Diabetes Month and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association takes a closer look at how family income can have an affect on a child's risk for the disease. Other studies in the issue take a closer look at children's health including the effect that counseling and increased physical activity have on children's obesity"

GlaxoSmithKline diabetes drug faces more criticism

"Two prominent consumer groups have warned that diabetes patients should not take GlaxoSmithKline's drug Avandia because of dangerous side effects and the availability of equally effective treatments. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, on Thursday called for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take Avandia off the market, citing several life-threatening risks, including heart and liver damage. That followed updated treatment guidelines issued last week by the American Diabetes Association, a leading patient-advocacy group, which recommended against using Avandia. The group said it was unclear whether Avandia increased heart-attack risks, but it argued that other treatments were available. The association's Web site says it receives funding from pharmaceutical companies, though not currently from GlaxoSmithKline. Another group, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, whose members treat diabetic patients, continues to support using Avandia" - Philly.com

Obesity blamed for doubling rate of diabetes cases

"The rate of new diabetes cases nearly doubled in the United States in the past 10 years, the government said. The highest rates were in the South, according to the first state-by-state review of new diagnoses. The worst was in West Virginia, where about 13 in 1,000 adults were diagnosed with the disease in 2005-07. The lowest was in Minnesota, where the rate was 5 in 1,000. Nationally, the rate of new cases climbed from about 5 per 1,000 in the mid-1990s to 9 per 1,000 in the middle of this decade. Roughly 90 percent of cases are Type 2 diabetes, the form linked to obesity. The findings dovetail with trends seen in obesity and lack of exercise — two health measures where Southern states also rank at the bottom" - CDC

Spending on diabetes drugs soars in 6 years

"Americans with diabetes nearly doubled their spending on drugs for the disease in just six years, with the bill last year climbing to an eye-popping $12.5 billion. Newer, more costly drugs are driving the increase, said researchers, despite a lack of strong evidence for the new drugs' greater benefits and safety. And more people are being treated for diabetes. The new study follows updated treatment advice for Type 2 diabetes, issued last week. In those recommendations, an expert panel told doctors to use older, cheaper drugs first" - SFGate

Diabetes treatment becomes more complex, costly

"A progressively more complex and expensive array of treatments for type 2 diabetes is being prescribed to an increasing number of adults, according to a report in the October 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In 2000, more than 11 million Americans had been diagnosed with diabetes, according to background information in the article. 'By 2050, the number of Americans with diabetes is expected to soar to 29 million, a prevalence of 7 percent,' the authors write. 'The annual economic burden of diabetes is estimated at $132 billion and increasing. In 2002, more than one-tenth of U.S. health care expenditures were attributable to diabetes.' As costs and prevalence increase, managing diabetes also has become increasingly complex, as physicians prescribe more medications to each patient and combine drugs from different therapeutic classes'" - newswise

Americans are afraid of that?

"The things that people really fear aren't all that likely to happen to them - unlike diabetes, which affects nearly 24 million people. According to a new survey by the American Diabetes Association, more people reported fear of being in a plane crash, hit by lightning, attacked by a shark, or bitten by a snake, than a fear of developing diabetes. During American Diabetes Month, which is observed during the month of November, the American Diabetes Association is asking the American public, 'Why Should You Care About Diabetes?' - newswise

Green tea may delay onset of type 1 diabetes

"A powerful antioxidant in green tea may prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, Medical College of Georgia researchers say. Researchers were testing EGCG, green tea's predominant antioxidant, in a laboratory mouse with type 1 diabetes and primary Sjogren's syndrome, which damages moisture-producing glands, causing dry mouth and eyes. 'Our study focused on Sjogren's syndrome, so learning that EGCG also can prevent and delay insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes was a big surprise,' says Dr. Stephen Hsu, molecular/cell biologist in the School of Dentistry. They found it also worked well in their original disease focus. In the mouse, EGCG reduced the severity and delayed onset of salivary gland damage associated with Sjogren's syndrome, which has no known cure" - EurekAlert

High fiber barley linked to diabetes prevention

"Diabetes is one of today's most significant and frightening health issues. Almost 24 million Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and up to 57 million are considered pre-diabetic. The good news is, by practicing a few healthy lifestyle habits, type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even reversed. In observance of American Diabetes Month in November, the National Barley Foods Council and BGLife Barley are teaming up to remind consumers what diabetes health professionals and educators have been saying for a long time: a whole grain, high-fiber diet may help control and even prevent type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes" - redOrbit

Free access to The Diabetes Educators during National Diabetes Awareness Month

The Diabetes Educator, the leading journal for diabetes educators, will have free online access during National Diabetes Awareness Month in November. TDE is published by SAGE on behalf of the American Association of Diabetes Educators

Pig cells transplant for treatment of diabetes

"New Zealand approved the clinical trials that would transplant insulin-producing pig cells into humans in the light of finding a breakthrough treatment for type-1 insulin dependent diabetes. David Cunliffe, the health minister said that the transplantation of pig cells to humans, known as xenotransplantation, would offer a great potential treatment for people suffering from diabetes. He stated, 'This is critical new technology that could well make New Zealand a world leader in both the treatment of diabetes and in the use of xenotransplantation'" - medguru

dLife launches National Diabetes Month, November 2008, at Health 2.0 Conference in San Francisco

Today, dLife, a LifeMed Media company, kicked off the upcoming National Diabetes Month in November by launching several new tools on its website for Americans living with diabetes. dLife provides over 78,000 pages of free information on all aspects of the diabetes lifestyle, offering information and community support for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and caregivers. dLife members also have access to a searchable database of 10,000 diabetic recipes, 25,000 different foods, and in-depth nutritional information