Archive for February, 2012

FDA Issues Warning for Statins

February 29, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes - Did You Know?, Diabetes Research and News 

Statin Risks Article

The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a new warning for statins this week. Statins, a group of drugs designed to lower cholesterol, include such popular medications as Lipitor, Zocor, and Crestor. These warnings also apply to combination statins, such as Advicor and Simcor.

After the results of multiple studies, the FDA has warned statins users about the risk of raised blood sugar levels, which may lead to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. The FDA also warned about reports of statins causing memory loss and confusion. However, they also remind doctors and patients about statins’ proven ability to reduce the risk of heart attack. Although the risks associated with taking statins disappeared after the medications were no longer taken, it may cause more harm than good in regards to a patient’s cardiac health.

The FDA’s warning will now be added to the medication information on new shipments. For more information, see the original release here.

New Diabetes Drug Being Tested

February 27, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Filed under: Diabetes Medication, Diabetes Research and News 

Need or necessity...

A new drug is currently being tested as a novel new way to control insulin production. The drug, which is currently in phase 2 clinical trials, is currently called TAK-875. The research, which was completed on 426 patients with type 2 diabetes, is being run by scientists out of the University of Michigan Health System. They published their results in this week’s The Lancet.

TAK-875 is a free fatty acid receptor activator. The reason this drug is different from others, such as Amaryl or Duetact, is that it works in a glucose-dependant manner. That means that it only begins functioning when there is a significant amount of extra glucose in the system, such as after a meal. TAK-785 will then help the body with insulin production. Previous medications that are reputed to help produce insulin in this way are working in the body all the time, which significantly raises the risk of hypoglycemia, a dangerous lowering of blood glucose levels.

TAK-785, when used over 12 weeks, resulted in significantly lower blood glucose levels than a placebo. It was also generally well tolerated, with very few negative side effects being reported. To conclude, the researchers stated “TAK-875 significantly improved glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes with minimum risk of hypoglycemia. The results show that activation of FFAR1 is a viable therapeutic target for treatment of type 2 diabetes.”

In order to be brought to market, TAK-785 will have to complete more rigorous FDA testing as it goes through phase 3 clinical trials, which involves a significantly more populated randomized trial.

Tea for Diabetes Prevention

February 21, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Buy Lantus, Diabetes Control, Diabetes Prevention, Long Acting Insulin 

Tea is Liquid Wisdom...

A new study has been released detailing the benefits of black tea consumption. According to the study, which was published in the British journal Nutritional Bulletin, drinking 3 or more cups of black tea a day reduced the risk of both diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers believe this is due to black teas high levels of flavonoids. Flavonoids are a type of antioxidant, which is believed to contribute to the reduction of inflammation and promote good functioning of blood vessels. Flavonoids are most commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Drinking two cups of tea is equal to five servings of vegetables, or 300-400 milligrams of antioxidants.

Diabetes affects over 25 millions Americans each year. All of these patients are required to buy anti-diabetes medications for blood sugar regulation. It is also a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. So be sure to drink your tea!

New Study Says Diabetes Starts in the Intestines

February 17, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes - Did You Know? 

Gastro intestinal Bodkins

A study recently published by the Washington University School of Medicine states that diabetes may start in the intestines, instead of the pancreas as was previously thought. Diabetes is the body’s inability to control blood sugar, a process which is regulated by the pancreas. However, researchers at Washington University have discovered that the pancreas may not be the only factor in the disease’s formation. The researchers chose to study mice that were unable to make Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) in the intestine.

Diabetics are often deficient in FAS, an enzyme that is important to the production of lipids. The production of the enzyme is also regulated by insulin. The researchers discovered that mice that were lacking the enzyme in their intestines tended to develop chronic intestinal inflammation- an indicator of diabetes.

The FAS-deficient mice were often seen to be extremely sick, with gastrointestinal symptoms being often seen. Researchers looked closer at the mice, discovering the chronic inflammation. This inflammation significantly reduced the defensive mucus lining of the intestines, allowing bacteria to more easily access the bloodstream through the intestinal linings.

Overweight people often become resistant to insulin, which in turn prevents the FAS from working properly. This leads to the intestinal inflammation, which often leads to diabetes. Recurring gastrointestinal sicknesses are one of the first warning signs of diabetes. This study has “connected the dots” as to how a pancreatic disease so often affects the gastrointestinal tract, leading to diabetes. Once diabetes has been diagnosed, you will need to start a medication regimen. We recommend that you buy Janumet and your other diabetes medications at a licensed Canadian online pharmacy to save.

For more information, see the original release here.

Diabetes Superfoods

February 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet 

Ultra Bikes Full of Superfoods

The American Diabetes Association has just released a list of their top ten superfoods for diabetics. If you don’t already have these in your diet, try making a meal that incorporates more than one!

Beans- A half cup of these fulfills about 30% of your daily protein!

Dark green leafy veggies- Kale and spinach belong to this family. Try a spinach salad with walnuts and mandarin slices.

Citrus Fruits- Oranges, grapefruits and lemons are great examples of useful citrus fruits. Lemon water is also great for the gastrointestinal system.

Sweet potatoes- A particular favorite of the author, sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A and fiber. Try roasting them for a delicious alternative to potatoes.

Berries- Blueberries, strawberries, and other berries are recommended by diabetic experts as they have been shown to affect blood sugar less than some other fruits. Blueberries in particular are a great source of antioxidants, one of the ingredients for beautiful skin!

Tomatoes- Tomatoes have recently been named as a superfruit, along with the famous acai. But why? Tomatoes are exceptionally high in Vitamins C and E, and also contain iron. Vegetarians are often encouraged to eat lots of tomatoes.

Some types of fish- fish such as salmon are high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but just remember to have them baked, not fried!

Whole grains- Whole grains are better for everyone, as they have usually not come into contact with chemical bleaching agents used in white breads. However, there is a disparity between what is considered whole grain and what is actually whole grain. The germ and bran are the parts of the grain that contain the most nutrients.

Nuts- Nuts are a great snack, as they have protein to help you feel full. They also contain important healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. Try a handful of raw almonds or walnuts for a mid-afternoon pick me up.

Fat-free milk and yogurt- As many people know, dairy products are an excellent source of calcium. Try to find “fortified” products, which often contain vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” which has been linked with overall good health.

Lower Your Risk of Diabetes; Drink Water

February 6, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes - Did You Know?, Diabetes and Weight Management 

Drinks'

Everyone knows that drinking a good amount of water each day is not just essential to human life, but that it also provides us with a multitude of benefits for our health. Now researchers find another reason to keep guzzling the clear stuff; Drinking water can help lower the risk of diabetes.

Diabetes has become one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States, effecting people of all ages, races and sexes; developing diabetes will drastically alter ones way of life. So if there is anything that we can ever do to enhance our chances of never getting the disease, we need to take heed and follow suite.

As if there are not enough reasons that we should all stay well hydrated, now new research shows that drinking water can help to lower the risk of diabetes. Scientists have discovered that the hormone in our bodies, Vasopressin, which helps to regulate water retention, plays a role in how our bodies regulate blood sugar.

When the body is dehydrated, vasopressin levels rise, prompting the kidneys to hold onto water. At the same time, the hormone pushes the liver to produce blood sugar. So if a person is constantly dehydrated, this may strain the ability to produce or respond to insulin.

French scientists tested this hypothesis and tracked more than 3000 healthy men and women ages 30-65 for almost 10 years. At the beginning of the research all of the participants had normal blood sugar levels.

After nine years, 800 of the subjects had developed Type 2 diabetes or high blood sugar. For those subjects that consumed 17-34 ounces of water a day had a risk around 30 percent lower of developing diabetes than those people who drank less. The researchers did control the amount of other liquids that the subjects could consume (mainly just sugary beverages and alcohol), as well as the amount of exercise one could do. The researchers did not take into consideration eating habits, something that future studies may take into account.

The findings of this research were published last year in Diabetes Care, a publication of the American Diabetes Association.

Water is essentially the key to our preservation; all of us should make it a priority to ensure that our bodies do not become dehydrated. Though there is some evidence to show that proper hydration can help protect against high blood sugar, preventing dehydration will deter a whole slew of other health problems.

New Study: ‘Spam’ Meats May Cause Diabetes

February 3, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes - Did You Know?, Diabetes Research and News, New Diabetes Drug 

from Boots in the Oven

Processed meats have long been considered inferior to “real” cuts of meat, such as t-bone steaks, pork loins and chicken breasts. But how bad are they?

According to new study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, these processed meats may lead to diabetes. Diabetes, a disease in which the body can not properly regulate insulin, affects over ….Americans each year. Many of them have to buy Lantus or other long-acting insulin injections such as the newly released Bydureon.

In a study of 2000 Native American people from four different states, researchers discovered a correlation between high processed meat intake and the development of diabetes. Almost half of Native Americans will have developed diabetes by age 55. Researchers aimed to find a basis for these staggering statistics.

Processed meats are a hypothesized common denominator. With many Native Americans living in rural reserves, far from grocery stores, consumers often choose to buy foods with a longer shelf life. This leads to consumption of processed meats such as Spam, and other canned goods. Spam in particular is often seen on Native American lands as it is a government-subsidized food.

At the start of the study, none of the 2000 participants had diabetes. Five years later, with the average participants’ age being 40 years, 243 of those surveyed had developed diabetes. Five hundred of the original participants had reported consuming a significant amount of processed meats.

Though there is no clear link as to why processed meats are more likely to cause diabetes than unprocessed meats, scientists hypothesize this may be caused by the significantly higher sodium levels in “spam” meats.