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A new study at Mount Sinai Hospital in Canada has resulted in some findings that should bring hope to individuals with diabetes.  The study dealt with the idea that it could be possible for individuals with diabetes to take fewer injections to control blood sugar and insulin levels, therefore, controlling their diabetes more effectively and more easily.

The study tested individuals with type 2 diabetes who had been taking one or more daily injections to control their diabetes.  During the study, 265 individuals who were taking Byetta, a diabetes medication taken by injection, with the generic name of exenatide, was administered in long-acting form on a weekly basis to individuals who had been using the medication by injection on a daily basis.

The results were extremely positive.  At a 30 week follow-up, patients who were using the long lasting, weekly injection showed a significant blood sugar control over the patients who had been using the daily injections.  More than 77% of the patients using the long acting injection were able to achieve their blood sugar goals without increasing the risk of low blood sugar levels or affecting their efforts at weight loss.

It is also important to note that exenatide is a medication which is used in addition to other diabetes treatment and not by itself.  It is usually prescribed for individuals whose diabetes medication and treatment is not as effective as it should be.  The addition of exenatide (Byetta) to their regimen helps regulate their diabetes and control symptoms and side effects.

The study, led by Dr. Daniel Drucker, was successful and points to a better way to control diabetes in the future.  More research is still necessary to determine long-term effects, long-term safety and other possible side effects, however it is great news that progress is being made in this area of research. 

Controlling blood sugar is an essential piece of the diabetes puzzle.  If a person has diabetes and their blood sugar is out of control there are a host of problems that could result including diabetic coma, organ damage, cardiovascular issues and blindness.

Normally our blood sugar amounts go up and down whether we have diabetes or not.  After we eat, the body processes food and we could easily see a spike in our blood sugar.  Studies have shown that it is best to keep our blood sugar within a safe range.

If a person has diabetes, they usually use a glucose meter to check blood sugar levels.  They use what is called a lancet to prick their finger or arm for a droplet of blood that the meter analyzes and tells them what level their blood sugar is at.  Safe blood sugar levels are usually between 80 and 150 and will vary depending on the time of day, how long ago a person has eaten, and what they had to eat.

There is a new monitor becoming available that is receiving praise.  The difference between this monitor and the many monitors that are on the market today is that, unlike the monitors and meters that have to be used several times per day to check and keep track of glucose/blood sugar levels, this new way of monitoring works constantly, and it works without finger pricking.  The device is inserted under the skin and checks blood sugar levels about every five minutes.

The European Association for the Study of Diabetes had its annual meeting recently and revealed that there are three such monitoring systems being manufactured.  In tests of adults and children with type 1 diabetes, it was determined that by using the new monitoring systems, individuals with diabetes were able to keep their blood glucose levels lower and more stable.  This is the case because instead of checking the levels every few hours and looking for increases or decreases, the devices monitored the levels constantly, allowing for adjustments in medication or other factors to keep the blood glucose levels balanced. 

Tight sugar control reduces the incidence of complications from diabetes.  For instance, for every 10% you lower your blood sugar level, you decrease your chances of retinopathy or eye damage that can lead to blindness by 40%.  Researchers have determined that constant monitoring can help with this decrease. 

There is more awareness of diabetes today than ever before.  Researchers and health care professionals have made a concerted effort to gather information and to help disseminate it in a wide variety of ways.  Just “Google” the word diabetes and there is information that goes on indefinitely.

With all of this awareness and information it would seem that people would take care of themselves well.  Many people do take care of their diabetes and control their symptoms, making life as healthy and enjoyable as possible.  However, recent studies have shown that there are individuals with diabetes who are having great difficulty managing the disease.

An online survey of over 1,000 men with diabetes and their spouses revealed that most of them were not doing some of the things that would help improve their diabetes and diminish side effects.

For instance, three main things that individuals can do to control their diabetes include reducing stress, exercising and maintaining a positive attitude.  In the survey results nearly 80% of the spouses felt that their husbands were not doing these things and it was having a negative effect on their diabetes.  When it came to exercise, the spouses noted that their husbands were not even taking regular walks, which can be helpful for controlling diabetes symptoms and helping to reduce stress and stay positive.

In addition, the men surveyed stated that they were not enjoying life as much and their performance at work was not as high as it had been before they developed diabetes.  In most cases, it is a situation of not having enough information, not knowing where to look and not knowing what to ask.

It is important to research the issues that you are experiencing if you have diabetes.  Discuss them with your doctor.  They are normal symptoms of the disease and there is help for them.  With awareness and information, you can experience a long and happy life – even with diabetes.

Find out what you can do to take care of your diabetes symptoms and start feeling better.  With a little research and the right information, you can control the diabetes in your life instead of your diabetes controlling you.

Diabetes affects millions of men and women around the world and has become an epidemic according to some medical professionals.  Not only does diabetes quietly take its toll on various systems in the body before it becomes full-blown, it takes an enormous toll on the cardiovascular system, and often leads to stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, blindness and more.

The American Diabetes Association has just issued a report stating the importance of men getting to know how their diabetes can – and does – affect their bodies.  It is not only a situation where taking insulin and watching diet are involved.  Surveys have revealed that there are many more issues that men need to be aware of to help them deal with diabetes effectively

The survey revealed that over 60% of men do not feel that they know enough about their diabetes – and diabetes in general.  They also felt that they didn’t actually know enough to be able to ask the appropriate questions of their doctors.  About 25 to 30% did understand how to take their medicine and how to stay on a healthy diet, however, most did not feel they knew enough about side effects from the disease.

In response to this information, the American Diabetes Association is beginning a program designed to provide information to men and their spouses regarding diabetes and its affects.  The information, including a handbook entitled “The Modern Man’s Guide to Living Well With Diabetes” will help men take charge of their health.  It will discuss issues such as blood glucose control, diet and exercise, complications, physical, emotional and sexual side effects.

If you are one of the 12 million men who are living with diabetes there is information and help available for you through the American Diabetes Association.  Their website offers extensive information and answers to many of the questions about diabetes.

Information can be found at www.diabetes.org/menshealth.

Diabetes has been linked to many health issues that are well documented including high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and blindness.  There are also some lesser known links between diabetes and other health conditions such as gum disease.

Gum disease is an inflammatory condition and so is diabetes.  Results were recently released from a study that tracked over 9,000 people without diabetes during a 20 year period to see if there was a connection between their dental health and the development of diabetes.  The conclusion, according to researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Health in New York City, was that individuals with gum disease have twice the chance of developing diabetes than individuals without gum disease.

It has been noted by physicians and dentists that individuals with diabetes usually have gum disease, however, there have been few formal studies regarding the connection, and certainly none as far-reaching as this particular study.  What is not known at this point is whether gum disease is a result of diabetes or a precursor to it.

Aside from the connection between gum disease and diabetes, there is a strong link between gum disease and infection.  Chronic inflammation anywhere in the body can trigger insulin resistance.  Infection of the gums can increase the possibility of excessive insulin resistance, as well. 

Obesity is another factor linked to both gum disease and diabetes.  Since obesity enhances the negative symptoms of diabetes such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, neuropathy and possible kidney disease, the fact that it is also linked to gum disease is yet another problem for individuals with diabetes.

If you are concerned about gum disease and/or diabetes, there are things that you can do to avoid serious problems.  Brush your teeth regularly, especially every time you eat.  Use toothpaste with fluoride and use a fluoride rinse before bed.  Avoid diet drinks and citrus juices.  Drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth out between meals.  Use mouthwash or mouth rinses that do not contain alcohol.  Avoid liquids and foods with high sugar or salt content.  See your dentist for a checkup and further individualized advice.

Since gum disease can be a precursor to diabetes, keeping gums healthy and taking note of any changes in gum health can help you keep track of your health so that you might be able to avoid diabetes altogether. 

Doctors at The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden have released results of studies that show the relationship between low birth weight and the incidence of adult diabetes.

Studies were performed involving over 18,000 identical and fraternal twins born between 1926 and 1958 to determine the relationship between birth weight and diabetes.  The twins were initially studied individually, then as twins, to look at genetic factors in the development of diabetes as an adult.  The results showed that fraternal twins who do not have identical genes had a continued link between low birth weight and diabetes, but identical twins did not have such a link, even though they share all their genes.

Study results revealed that genetic factors that caused low birth weight also resulted in diabetes in later life.  In addition, there could be other factors including fetal malnutrition that contribute to, but do not cause, diabetes in adulthood. 

With fraternal twins, the twin who had weighed less at birth had the higher incidence of diabetes as an adult, whereas, with identical twins, both twins had the same chance of developing diabetes as anyone else, even when one twin was much lighter weight than the other. 

Twins usually share the same early environment, but identical twins also share the same genetic makeup.  The study determined that genetics – not environmental factors – had more of a bearing on the development of adult onset diabetes than the twins’ environment had.  Therefore, poor fetal nutrition would have less of an impact than the genetic makeup when it comes to predicting diabetes in later life.

Studies such as this one are important because in shedding light on genetic factors, researchers may eventually isolate particular genes that are responsible for creating a diabetic disposition, therefore enhancing the ability to predict who might develop the disease and finding ways to prevent it in advance.

I had an aunt who struggled with the fact that she had diabetes.  She took her blood sugar measurements and gave herself insulin shots several times a day.  She always seemed to be on a diet, and when she “cheated” by eating cake or ice cream or other sugary desserts, she paid for it dearly the next day or so.

Times have changed since those days in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  There are better meters, smaller needles and more awareness.  There are also more choices when it comes to fine dining – especially when it comes to dining out and even having a little dessert that actually tastes like the real thing.

Dining out does not have to be a problem if you have diabetes.  Most menus are much more health conscious these days because people are not only aware of diabetes, but also high blood pressure, heart issues and just plain trying to stay slim and healthy without sacrificing taste.

In addition, for those of us who have a sweet tooth and love desserts, there are a great many sugar-free delectables on the menu including ice cream, cakes and pies and other desserts that are made with sugar substitutes that taste great.

I can remember my aunt eating sugar-free ice cream in the 70’s.  It was vanilla flavored, came in pints, sweetened with saccharin and tasted terrible.  She just wanted something sweet from time to time.  The best she could do was to put fruit on it or dump it with bananas or strawberries into the blender and make a milkshake.

When I see all the choices of frozen treats these days that are sugar free and tasty I am amazed, and I know my aunt would be astounded – and probably jealous that she didn’t have all these choices – or, actually, any choices.

The key to fine dining if you have diabetes is to remember that there are healthy and delicious choices and that if you eat a balanced meal you should be fine.  Eat portions that you would eat at home.  Order foods that are low in fat – especially saturated fat – broiled, not fried, and order sauces on the side.  Limit your intake of sugar, alcohol, soft drinks and caffeine.

Other than that, the sky’s the limit.  Enjoy your meal.  My aunt would be having the time of her life!

Diabetes has been linked to many serious health issues including high blood pressure, kidney problems, cardiovascular problems, stroke and more. 

Recent studies have found a link to yet another health issue which affects the brain.  This new research from Rhode Island Hospital reveals that obesity and type 2 diabetes combined can cause neurodegeneration which results in symptoms that are very similar to Alzheimer’s Disease. 

This is the first study to have discovered this connection.  The study was originally performed on animals and found that they could use consistent high fat diets to double the animal’s mean body weight.  This resulted in a reduced brain to body weight ratio and the animals showed signs of mild global brain atrophy due to the obesity factor.

Basically, what happens in this situation is that the brain actually shrinks and there are certain biological reactions as a result.  Some of the reactions include brain insulin resistance.  The symptoms are not as strong as those of Alzheimer’s Disease; they are much milder.  However, there are huge implications to the results of this study.

If obesity coupled with diabetes creates this neurodegeneration in the brain, does the condition and do the symptoms worsen if the obesity and the diabetes increase?  There are no answers yet, but the question is valid. 

What the study found is that obesity and diabetes can definitely contribute to or aggravate Alzheimer’s Disease.  In addition, the study suggests that the opposite could be true.  Control of diabetes and obesity could very possibly reduce the cognitive issues that result from this combination.

Researchers don’t know if symptoms could be reversed with weight loss, but it is still a significant possibility that they could be avoided with weight and diabetes control.

There is ongoing research regarding ways to treat diabetes, prevent diabetes and diminish the side effects of diabetes for those who have the disease.  There are many ideas regarding what works and what doesn’t, and, in addition, different things and different ideas work in various ways for different individuals.

A new study from doctors and scientists in Finland has provided further information regarding the positive results of good diet and exercise for individuals with diabetes.  The Finnish Diabetes Association recently released the encouraging results of the study.

It is well known that weight reduction, good diet and exercise help control diabetes symptoms and complications, as well as preventing diabetes if these measures are initiated in time.  What is not so well known is that even small changes in these areas can make a huge difference.

The recent study by the Finnish Diabetes Association has shown that this cluster of diabetes risk factors – known as metabolic syndrome – include excess waist size, blood pressure, triglyceride cholesterol, blood sugar and low levels of “good” cholesterol.  Together they are known as metabolic syndrome.

The Finnish study followed over 500 middle aged men and women for nearly 5 years and determined that the individuals that followed a healthy diet that included fresh vegetables, whole grains, fruit, low-fat dairy and lean meat, and engaged in moderate exercise – about 30 minutes per day – decreased their metabolic syndrome.  In fact, both weight and body mss decreased 15% for those in the control group who followed the healthy diet and exercise plan.

One important factor that the Finnish researchers feel is important was that the group that adhered well to the diet and exercise plan and had the best overall results had personal and individual counseling to guide them.  That is a factor that the Finnish researchers – and other researchers and studies – determined is that individual counseling and attention is a great encouragement to those who would otherwise possibly slip into old habits or become overwhelmed and give up trying to make the changes that could prevent or control diabetes and keep them healthy.

If you have pre-diabetes or diabetes and think that even small changes can’t help, this study proves that they can.  If you don’ have diabetes and you want to prevent it, this study shows that you can do this with a healthy diet and a little exercise. 

Stay healthy and enjoy life.  Eat well.  Exercise often.  Keep diabetes at bay.