Monday, September 21, 2009

Diabetes research: Drink tea regularly

The drinking of tea has always been associated with having developed a taste for it. There are regions in the world where tea drinking is more common, and there are regions in the world where coffee is more popular. As regards the health benefits of tea, opinion in the past has been mixed, with a lot of research pointing out benefits of green tea, but not specifically that of the normal everyday black tea. Now, research based on statistical methods (not scientific evidence of ingredients, but an analyis based on numbers - although such methods are a good starting point for doing research) reveals that people drinking upto 3 cups of tea a day reduce their risk of developing diabetes by half (link to article):


After analyses, boffins discovered that chemicals found in all types of tea cut the dangers of developing type 2­diabetes by 42 per cent. Drinking more than three cups did not reduce the risk any further, reports The Daily Express. The team concluded: "Consumption of at least three cups of tea and/or coffee was associated with a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes. Blood pressure and intake of magnesium, potassium and caffeine did not explain these associations."
Instead, the beneficial effects in tea were probably explained by "flavonoid antioxidants" which are found in every cup.


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Saturday, September 12, 2009

What is Diabetes Insipidus ?

Diabetes Insipidus is a rare disorder, resulting in excessive thirst and excessive passage of very dilute urine, due to a hormone deficiency in the pituitary gland, which is situated at the base of the brain.
Diabetes Insipidus results from a decreased production of antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin), the hormone that normally prevents the kidney from producing too much urine. Children with DI may be irritable or listless and may have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Milder forms of DI can be managed by drinking enough water, usually between 2 and 2.5 liters a day. DI severe enough to endanger a person’s health is rare.

Signs & Symptoms :
- Excessive thirst that is difficult to satisfy.
- Passage of large amounts (up to 15 quarts a day) of diluted, colorless urine.
- Dehydration, leading to rapid heart rate, low blood pressure and shock.
- Constipation.
- Mild cases may present with unremitting enuresis (bed-wetting).

Risk Factors :
- Brain tumor or pituitary gland tumor.
- Head Injury
- Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, tuberculosis.
- Sarcoidosis
- Family history of diabetes insipidus.
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).


Diabetes Insipidus is not the same as diabetes mellitus ("sugar" diabetes). Diabetes Insipidus resembles diabetes mellitus because the symptoms of both diseases are increased urination and thirst. However, in every other respect, including the causes and treatment of the disorders, the diseases are completely unrelated.

There are four (4) fundamentally different types of Diabetes Insipidus(DI). Each has a different cause and must be treated in a different way. These four forms are:
- Neurogenic, also known as central, hypothalamic, pituitary or neurohypophyseal, is caused by a deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin.
- Nephrogenic, also known as vasopressin-resistant is caused by insensitivity of the kidneys to the effect of the antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin.
- Gestagenic, also known as gestational is also caused by a deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin, that occurs only during pregnancy.
- Dipsogenic, a form of primary polydipsia is caused by abnormal thirst and the excessive intake of water or other liquids.

How do you test for diabetes insipidus?
Usually your doctor will check your urine to see how much water is in it. He or she may also check your blood. Your doctor may give you a "water deprivation" test. During this test, you aren't allowed to drink any liquids. The staff will weigh you, check your urine and blood every hour for several hours. If the results of the test show that you have diabetes insipidus, you will probably also have pictures taken of your brain with a CT (computed tomographic) scan or an MRI (magnetic resonance image).

Medications:
- Vasopressin or desmopressin acetate, modified synthetic forms of antidiuretic hormone, may be taken as a nasal spray several times a day, to maintain a normal urine output. However, taking too much of this medication can cause fluid retention and swelling and other problems.
- Sometimes diabetes insipidus can be controlled with drugs that stimulate production of antidiuretic hormone such as chlorpropamide, carbamazepine, clofibrate.

Diet: No special diet. Drink as much water as you feel you need.

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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Diabetes research: Researchers Find Gene That Causes Resistance To Insulin

One of the major areas of focus for Diabetes research is to identify the precise reasons (including genetic reasons) for the multiple factors that go towards making a person afflited with Type 2 diabetes. These could be geared towards identifying why the body stops making insulin (or makes it in reduced quantities), or to identify as to why the body develops insulin resistance, which means the body is unable to pick up glucose from the blood stream. This particular research is geared towards identifying the genetic reasons that make the body stop responding to insulin present in the bloodstream. The gene reduces the effect of insulin already present in the muscles, liver and fat of the affected person (link to article):

Unlike most of the genes that have been shown to cause diabetes, the new gene, called Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1), doesn't affect how insulin is created in the pancreas, but rather, how the body responds to insulin already in the bloodstream. IRS1 has to do with the function of the other tissues in the body. Rather than reduce production of insulin, this gene reduces the effect of insulin in muscles, liver and fat, a process called insulin resistance.
Sladek hopes this discovery may lead to new therapeutic lines of attack in the future. "It's possible that in diabetic patients, the signal to turn this gene on and off might be impaired. But we might be able to use one of the other pathways to turn it on," he said.


All this research is geared towards ensuring that medical science develops a much deeper understanding of why the body goes towards insulin resistance, and whether there is a genetic reason that can be repaired.

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Saturday, September 5, 2009

Mediterranean diet helps in the fight against diabetes

What is a Mediterranean diet ? It is a diet in which olive oil is used for cooking, where there is a lot of focus on fruits, fish, nuts, and used by people who live around the Mediterranean sea. For quite some time now, such a diet has been stated to be very good for health, it is low in carbohydrate, and has been shown to help against cancer in the past.
Now, recent research shows that such a diet helps in the fight against diabetes, ensuring that people with diabetes lose weight more easily than even those people on a low fat diet, and were also able to avoid taking medicines for blood sugar for longer (link to article):

Compared to people on a low-fat diet, those with type 2 diabetes who ate a Mediterranean diet lost more weight and went longer without blood-sugar-lowering medication, according to a study published this week in Annals of Internal Medicine. "A Mediterranean diet isn't a magic diet, but it has a lot of features that we know are generally healthful," said Dr. Richard Hellman, an endocrinologist and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Missouri -- Kansas City School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.
A Mediterranean diet includes vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, and healthy fats, such as olive oil. In the study, women on the diet were allowed 1,500 calories per day, and men were allowed 1,800 calories per day; no more than 50 percent of calories could come from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in fruit, pasta, and other healthy (and unhealthy) foods, and are largely responsible for the rise in blood sugar after eating. People with type 2 diabetes can sometimes keep their blood sugar in a healthy range by watching their carbohydrate intake.


Being able to keep your diabetes under check through diet and exercise is something that every diabtes afflicted person would really desire, so if it means diet control, that should be an option that people should be willing to consider.

Diabetes research: Blueberry shows promise in fight against obesity and diabetes

In today's world, both obesity and diabetes are affecting an increasing number of people, and those numbers don't look likely to decrease anytime soon. With more automation, less manual work, and less time for meaningful exercise, it is far more likely for people to develop these lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and other related problems. What is the solution once you contract diabetes ? You need to get into sugar control, more exercise, and having to constantly watch what you are eating.
At the same time, there is a constant search to find chemicals (both natural and artifical) that work to reduce this high sugar levels in the blood, and one promising food items that works in this manner is blueberries (link to article):


Montreal researchers have found a way to use fermented blueberry juice for weight loss. The scientists used bacteria from the skin of the blueberry to transform it biologically into what they call a “promising anti-obesity and anti-diabetic” juice. "Biotransformed blueberry juice may represent a novel therapeutic agent, since it decreases hyperglycemia in diabetic mice and can protect young pre-diabetic mice from developing obesity and diabetes. The fermented blueberry juice could be beneficial for weight loss and for diabetes treatment. The juice was found to lower glycemic levels in mice in just three days.
The researchers used the bacteria Serratia vaccinii to transform the blueberry juice, finding that increasing the antioxidant powers with the bacteria provided strong anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. The blueberry juice used in the study was compared to regular blueberry juice to find the potential for treating obesity and diabetes.


In the absence of a more structured program in society to reduce obesity, increase the amount of exercise and be more informed about how to avoid diabetes, it is necessary to find items that are useful in bringing blood suagr levels under control and keep the affliction under control.

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Article: Whole grains can give health benefits, countering diabetes and cancer

As part of a healthy diet, it has always been recommended to have whole grain as part of the dite. Remember when you pop off to get some bread, and the whole grain bread is advertised as the more healthy one, the type that is more beneficial to your health. You already know that, but here is some advice in the form of a study that recommends having more of whole grain, since it helps against both diabetes and cancer (link to article):
“Research shows that whole grains are good for your heart, lower risk of diabetes and stroke, and may help prevent certain cancers. They also help in managing weight,” she said. Sandon said that whole grains are chock full of good-for-you nutrients including fiber, folate and niacin, vital B vitamins, and magnesium.
She advised that people should by rule look for the words “Made with whole grain” and “100 percent whole grain” on packages. She gave other going-with-the-grain tips, which include swapping whole wheat breadstuffs for white rolls and breads, using whole wheat bread crumbs for stuffing.


This scientific advice will not be unknown to a number of people, but because whole grain stuff does not taste the same as the more processed stuff (food articles), people do not readily adopt whole grain; another byproduct of this attitude is that whole grain made items are not so readily available.

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Sunday, August 30, 2009

Diabetes and exercise: Very beneficial

Remember, if you are a diabetic, before any change in lifestyle, you should consult your doctor. This includes going in for an exercise regime that you may not be doing earlier.
However, as a broad level summary, exercise has normally been recommended for diabetics. Type of exercise you should do ? It is recommended that you do aerobic exercises such as jogging, fast walking, dancing, or cycling. If you are not in the habit of such exercises, then start slowly. However, diabetes is many times accompanied by nerve damage, including in the feet. In that case, go in for exercise that impacts the feet less, such as swimming, cycling, or rowing.
Exercise has benefits of helping controlling your weight, as well as reducing your blood sugar levels. The exercise makes you feel better, and increase your fitness levels. Exercise can help you improve your circulation, which can counteract some of the problems caused by diabetes. As you would do with normal exercise, you should warm up before your exercise, and slowly cool down after you have completed the exercises. These can be simple exercises such as walking, or stretching.
How does exercise help diabetics ? Exercise is supposed to help the body's insulin sensitivity, and on a prolonged basis, will help the person's fight against diabetes. However, after prolonged exercise, you need to be careful, since the blood sugar levels in the body may get too low, invoking a serious condition condition called hypoglycemia. You should read more about hypoglycemia, what are the symptoms, and how to make sure that exercise does not leave you with dangerous blood sugar levels. Keep some kind of quick energy snack such as a energy bar handy if you feel that your blood sugar levels have dropped.
While doing exercise, you should ensure that you should get enough fluids, and not get dehydrated. Drink fluids (either water, or your favorite energy drinks (but not useless fizzy drinks)); remember that dehydration can affect your blood sugar level.
Since those people with high blood sugar levels face greater problems in terms of blisters or sores on the leg, you should ensure that you check your legs frequently for these; further, wear adequate protection such as shoes or sneakers.
Remember, in all cases, even if you are not able to do more stress exercises such as jogging, cycling, you should still go in for walking. Walking for 30 minutes every day can do great wonders to your diabetes control. Also, walking in the morning (or other exercises) keeps your energy levels high for the rest of the day. Once you can get into the habit of walking regularly, see whether you can move onto walking on a hilly surface. It can be a gradual slope, and works great for your diabetes.

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