Diabetes has been in the news lately a lot, especially with the controversial news that deep-fried donut burger hawker Paula Deen kept her diagnosis quiet until she was tapped to promote a diabetes drug.

Talk show host Bill Maher has gotten some flak in the past for saying that Americans are busy vaccinating over common illnesses while we “dig our graves with knives and forks,” but the statement seems to have some degree of truth when you look at statistics surrounding the growing epidemic of diabetes in America. 8.3% of Americans struggle with one form of Diabetes- either type 1 or type 2- and more than 95% of diabetics in America suffer from type 2 diabetes. (Which is more linked to lifestyle and habits.)

Complicating the handling of diabetes is that there is no one specific approach to combat it. According to Stephanie Dunbar, director of nutrition and medical affairs for the American Diabetes Association, patients vary in their responses to diabetes treatment. Dunbar begins:

“People need to do what works for them. There are people who do well on a lower-fat diet and others who do well on a lower-carb diet.”

As for whether a low in carbs approach works for everyone, Dunbar explains:

“Some people may need more or less [carbohydrates.] About 45 grams allows someone to follow the diabetes plate method; we call it create your plate. It calls for half the plate to be non-starchy veggies, a fourth plate whole grains and a fourth plate protein.”

Experts say that even insulin dependent diabetics can enjoy the occasional sweet with proper planning. Are you concerned about the growing prevalence of diabetes in America?

Diabetes a Growing Threat With No Single Dietary Answer is a post from: The Inquisitr

Several years ago Los Angeles resident Cleo Berry was living in New York when he was paid $500 to participate in a photo shoot and now a photograph from that shoot has been altered to play off the mans weight in a set of New York City billboards focused on the dangers of obesity.

The 27-year-old man was photographed by Morten Smidt who turned around and sold the world to stock photo company ImageSource. The stock photo company then sold the photograph to New York City’s Department of Health, who in turn altered the photo by removing Berry’s right leg for an anti-diabetes campaign.

Speaking to Yahoo News  Berry said of the first time he discovered the ad:

“I cried at my computer screen for, like, a minute.” and “I said: ‘Oh my gosh, they even gave me crutches. Come on, people.’ ”

In the meantime the New York City health department do anything illegal in altering the photograph since Berry signed a waiver at the time of the photo shoot, however they essentially lied to anyone examining the advertisement by providing a “fake” diabetes patients with a leg that was digitally amputated.

In defending their actions John Kelly, a spokesman for the health department said in a statement:

“This issue isn’t about one actor but rather the 700,000 New Yorkers who struggle with diabetes, which kills 1,700 people a year and causes amputations in another 3,000,” and “Advertising to warn the public about health concerns saves lives, and we will continue our efforts to warn New Yorkers about diabetes.”

Berry, an actor by trade is worried that it could affect his career, noting, “I’ve always wanted my photo in an ad all over the city, but I was hoping it would be for a TV show or something, not — this,” Berry said.

In an attempt to drum up some positive advertising, Berry has offered to lower his usual acting rate to any soda company willing to use  his unaltered image for one of their campaigns.

Joking about the image he says of his soda campaign offer:

“I’ll sing and dance for them and I won’t charge an arm and a leg.”

Do you think the New York Department of Health should have found a real diabetes amputee to feature in their ad or was their point still valid based on the digitally altered photo?

Overweight Man “Shocked” By Altered Photo Of Himself In New York City Health Ad is a post from: The Inquisitr

Last week in what was surely a surprise to very few people celebrity chef Paula Deen announced that her own cooking has given her type 2 diabetes. Deen is known for her dishes that are typically high in sugars, fat and other “diabetes inducing” ingredients.

Following that announcement Paula Deen announced that she would be countering the fat culture epidemic she helped endorse by promoting a $500-a-month diabetes drug with the slogan “Live a life that’s delicious.”

Under her new campaign Deen claims “”I-eat-what-I-like-but-in-moderation” while touting the effectiveness of the Novo Nordisk diabetes drug.

The truth is diabetes is not cured by a drug, over my life I have seen the effects of diabetes on friends and family members. Even with newer and more effective drugs on the market you can’t “live a life that’s delicious” in terms of Deen’s food without potentially causing serious side effects. That fact was recently highlighted by Karen Stabiner in the Los Angeles Times when she wrote of her father’s own fight with type 2 diabetes in which even the smallest misstep such as skipping a meal or forgetting to bring a snack to work would “derail” him. She goes on to note and I agree that ”Paula Deen is small potatoes,”  but at the same time shouldn’t be attempting to market “immortality to a culture that’s particularly in love with misbehaving, followed by an easy fix.”

The problem with Paula Deen is that she has lied to her supporters not once but twice, first by promoting her “down home cooking” as if those words give some magic credence to the health factors of her food and then by attempting to fix her lifestyle choice with a magical pill which she stupidly assumes will fix all of her problems and the problems of people who live her “down home cooking” lifestyle.

As Twitter user @JohnFuelsang rightfully wrote:

‘Paula Deen loves y`all so much for buying all that sickening food she’s peddled that now she’ss going to sell you the cure.’

The problem isn’t just about a few million people who have cooked a Paula Deen recipe on occasion but rather the 1 in 3 Americans that are expected to have Diabetes by 2050. In the meantime Americans are often footing the bill for Juvenile and Type 2 diabetes that can cost $174 billion annually.

Where the real issue comes into play on Paula Deen’s part is the simple fact that she is offering a band-aid and calling it a “delicious” fix. Studies have shown repeatedly that beating type 2 diabetes is often a simple case of exercise and proper nutrition, both options that cost far less than $500 a month if handled responsibly. Rather then turning her attention to a potentially more lucrative “healthy cooking” lifestyle Paula Deen has chosen to tell her supports to “take a pill” while pocketing millions for her suggestion. All the while her “moderation” suggestion will likely keep many of her fans on the pill she’s promoting for years to come when healthy eating and exercise could very well save their lives.

Case in point on her new webiste Diabetes In A New Light she highlights a seven cheese lasagna with plenty of eggs and beef and then below that option is a nice little advertisement for her diabetes drug Victoza.

The only “new light” being shed on Diabetes on behalf of Paula Deen is the fact that she obviously doesn’t understand the seriousness of the diagnosis, perhaps if she loses the lower portion of her legs to diabetes like my personal hero Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santos or has a heart attack she’ll eventually realize that a drug isn’t the solution for the long term.

In the meantime Paula Deen is continuing to push her Deep Fried Lasagna and Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf to unsuspecting readers. And her bacon burger that’s placed between two glazed donuts instead of a traditional bread bun? You guessed right if you said it’s still on her restaurants menu.

Apparently under her new plan for the future you can just grind up some Victoza after cooking her recipes, sprinkle the medicine over top of your food and enjoy a heaping serving of Lasagna.

Do you find Paula Deen’s complete lack of respect for type 2 Diabetes to be a bit unnerving and even self serving?

[Op-Ed] Paula Deen Needs To Shut Her Mouth About What She Doesn’t Understand is a post from: The Inquisitr

Diabetes is a good guess, but we also would have accepted “a lot of cavities.”

What Does John Have? is a post from: The Inquisitr

One of the downsides of diabetes- aside from the serious complications, of course- is the introduction of dietary restrictions for people who may not have ever had to monitor their food intake officially- alcohol, sugar and carbohydrates can affect the condition, but what about coffee?

Americans in particular have a strange, nearly masochistic relationship with coffee- the comedian Jerry Seinfeld once pointed out that we so revere the beverage that we call the machine that makes it “Mister.” And indeed, coffee is one of the first things to come under fire when we tend to review our waistlines, our budgets, our heart health- it seems that being such a pleasure, it has to be suspect.

It turns out, we’ve known for a while that a certain level of coffee consumption reduces your risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 50% when coffee consumption is four or more cups a day. For each additional cup of coffee consumed, risk drops another 7%. But a recent study by Chinese researchers published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry examines why coffee drinkers can cut their diabetes risk so sharply, and the study found certain compounds in coffee inhibit hIAPP (human islet amyloid polypeptide), which is tied to an increase in diabetes risk.

Researchers concluded that if you enjoy coffee, you should drink up- although it’s probably not a great idea to drink frappuccinos all day if you’re worried about diabeted. The study says:

“These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of coffee consumption on type 2 diabetes may be partly due to the ability of major coffee components to inhibit the toxic aggression of hIAPP. A beneficial effect may thus be expected in regular coffee drinkers.”

Coffee and Diabetes: The Surprising Good News For Diabetics is a post from: The Inquisitr

The results of a large, long-term study show that post-menopausal women who take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have a higher risk of developing diabetes than women who do not take any cholesterol medication.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that the risk for developing diabetes rose by 71 percent for those who take statins. Even after adjusting for variables such as age, body mass index, and race/ethnicity, statins still increased the risk by 48 percent.

“Women who are taking statins should be aware of the need to check their blood sugars, along with their liver function tests,” said Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, NY Daily News reports. Steinbaum was not part of the study.

“Due to the extensive use of statins in the aging female population, it is critical that more studies are done to help understand the association with statins and the development of diabetes,” Steinbaum added.

The researchers noted that despite the findings, there is no need to revise the guidelines for statin use for women, even for those who do not have diabetes, as statins have been found to address the cardiovascular consequences of diabetes.

via NY Daily News

Study: Cholesterol medications raise diabetes risk in women is a post from: The Inquisitr

Juveniles with Type 1 Diabetes often have a bit to contend with as far as managing and living with the effects of the condition, but it appears many of them also struggle with disordered sleep, a new study seems to suggest.

The study was published in the medical publication Sleep, and it contrasted a group of 50 ten-year-old to sixteen-year-old Type 1 Diabetics with a same-sized group of kids unaffected by the illness. What the study discovered was that even if kids adhered to recommendations about keeping their blood sugar in check, some still suffered from sleep disruptions. Principal investigator Michelle Perfect, PhD, explained:

“Despite adhering to recommendations for good diabetic health, many youth with Type 1 diabetes have difficulty maintaining control of their blood sugars… We found that it could be due to abnormalities in sleep, such as daytime sleepiness, lighter sleep and sleep apnea. All of these make it more difficult to have good blood sugar control.”

“More time (%) spent in stage N2 related to higher glucose levels/hyperglycemia, behavioral difficulties, reduced quality of life, lower grades, depression, sleep-wake behavior problems, poor sleep quality, sleepiness, and lower state standardized math scores.”

Diabetes Spurs Sleep Difficulties in Some Young Sufferers, Study Suggests is a post from: The Inquisitr

A recent study found in Chicago’s Radiological Society of North America has revealed that a low-calorie diet is capable of beating diabetes in as little as four months time.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers located in the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands and examined the ardiac function and pericardial fat (the fat around the heart) in 15 patients with Type 2 diabetes.

By providing the studies seven men and eight women with a reduced diet of just 500-calories per day for four months researchers were able to closely monitor each participants body mass index (BMI) while determining when diabetes left the body.

Researchers found that the low-calorie diet reduced the amount of dangerous fats around the heart better than any available prescription medication.

According to lead researcher Sebastian Hammer:

“It is striking to see how a relatively simple intervention of a very low-calorie diet effectively cures Type 2 diabetes … Moreover, these effects are long term, illustrating the potential of this method. Lifestyle interventions may have more powerful beneficial cardiac effects than medication in these patients.”

While researcher into low-calorie dieting has yielded positive results researchers are quick to point out that such a strategy will not work for everyone and could in fact be dangerous if a doctor office consultation is not undertaken first.

Given the prevalence of type-2 diabetes in the United States this research and other similar studies could lead to a new fade in diabetes dieting.

Would you be willing to consume just 500-calories per day for four months in a row if you could eliminate your type-2 diabetes once and for all?

[Image via ShutterStock.com]

Beat Diabetes In Four Months With Reduced Calorie Diet [Research] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released guidelines outlining development and testing procedures for a new “artificial pancreas” device that could improve the lives of many Americans living with Type 1 Diabetes.

The device won’t actually replace a patients’ pancreas, but it will use a sensor under the skin to employ a constant glucose monitor as well as an insulin pump to override pancreatic function in individuals using the artificial pancreas. WebMD (somewhat worryingly) describes the FDA’s new guidelines as “designed to give researchers and industry a great deal of flexibility in order to get a safe and effective device to patients as quickly as possible,” and quoted the FDA’s Artificial Pancreas Working Groups and Critical Path Initiative’s head Charles “Chip” L. Zimliki, PhD, who was keen on getting a version of the device to market:

“Flexibility is one of the most important hallmarks of this guidance… Hopefully [approval for a version of the device] will happen sooner rather than later. As a person with type 1 diabetes, I hope it happens tomorrow.”

Zimliki continued:

“We have recommendations that we would encourage industry to follow in this process… but because this is an innovative device, we realize we don’t have all the answers and need to be open to new ideas. … We want these devices on the market as quickly as possible.”

He added that if an organization would “like to find a way to do it differently,” that the FDA’s Artificial Pancreas Working Groups and Critical Path Initiative would like to “encourage them to approach the agency.”

Diabetes Breakthrough: Artificial Pancreas Guidelines Detailed by FDA is a post from: The Inquisitr

Diabetes in children is a growing problem in today’s society as we see an ever increasing number of children becoming obese and the Centers for Disease Control estimating that approximately 2.5 million children in the US qualify for diabetes screening.

The problem is that a new study is showing that the long accepted test, Hemoglobin A1c, that measures longer-term blood sugar levels, without requiring that patients fast overnight, is not an accurate way to test for diabetes in children.

In fact the lead author of the study, Joyce M. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., and pediatric endocrinologist at U-M’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital says that the current test fails to identify two out of three children who participated in the study.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics hasn’t endorsed the the use of the Hemoglobin A1c test there is  the concern that if they do more providers will use these testing methods and thereby potentially missing a large number of children who could have diabetes.

Researchers intend to use their data to drive future recommendations about screening for diabetes.

“We are currently studying whether the promising nonfasting tests, including the 1-hour glucose challenge test or the random glucose, could be used in combination with clinical characteristics to better identify which children have prediabetes or diabetes,” says Lee.

via Science Daily

Preferred testing method by American Diabetes Association fails detecting diabetes in kids is a post from: The Inquisitr

The International Diabetes Federation has a grim prediction for diabetes over the next several decades: The organization says that by 2030, one in ten adults could have the disease.

According to a report by the IDF released on Monday, upwards of 552 million adults could be hit by the diabetes epidemic by 2030, a dramatic increase from the roughly 366 million adults with diabetes reported in 2011.

“In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease” said Jean Claude Mbanya, President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). “We want World Diabetes Day 2011 to bring these alarming diabetes facts into the global spotlight. We demand that public and world leaders act on diabetes now.”

The figure includes both types of diabetes, as well as undiagnosed cases – of which there are as many as 183 million right now, according to the IDF.

The IDF hopes that adults will take these numbers to heart and make changes to their lifestyle – a healthier diet, regular exercise, and so on – to prevent the most common form of the disease, Type 2 diabetes. But the IDF says that the responsibility for preventing the spread of the disease falls on the world’s governments as well.

“World leaders have recognised the magnitude and impact of these diseases and the urgent need for action. In some key areas we wanted stronger commitments and targets but the Declaration will accelerate international progress on diabetes and NCDs, saving millions of people from preventable death and disability” said Ann Keeling, CEO, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Chair of the NCD Alliance.

Source: IDF

[Image credit: Shutterstock]

Diabetes epidemic could hit 1 in 10 adults by 2030, IDF says is a post from: The Inquisitr

The FDA has approved a new combination drug, the first of its kind, designed to treat both Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. The drug will offer a convenience and savings to those who have to take multiple sets of pills.

Juvisync, made by Merck & Co. Inc., is expected to be made available within the next few weeks. The pill combines Januvia, Merck’s Type 2 diabetes drug, with Zocor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, also known as simvastatin.

“This is the first product to combine a type 2 diabetes drug with a cholesterol lowering drug in one tablet,” said Dr. Mary H. Parks, director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“However, to ensure safe and effective use of this product, tablets containing different doses of sitagliptin and simvastatin in fixed-dose combination have been developed to meet the different needs of individual patients. Dose selection should factor in what other drugs the patient is taking.”

Three dosage strengths will be made available for sitagliptin/simvastatin (100 mg/10 mg, 100 mg/20 mg and 100 mg/40 mg) when Juvisync is made available in the coming weeks, Merck said. Merck will also be offering fixed-dose pill with 50 mg dose of sitagliptin.

Credit: CNN

Diabetes-cholesterol combo pill approved by FDA is a post from: The Inquisitr

A recent study published in the journal of Pediatrics had found a correlation between children with diabetes and a higher risk of asthma. The study also found that children who have both diabetes and asthma are more likely to have poor control over their diabetes.

While the study didn’t examine how the two conditions are linked it did work to determine if shared factors were included in both conditions including obesity, inflammation and other issues.

The study examined 1,683 children with type 1 diabetes and 311 children with type 2 diabetes from 2002 to 2005. In their study 11% had asthma, exceeding the national average of 8.7%.

The study also found that type 2 diabetes often associated with obese children led to a higher asthma rate of 16.1% compared to 10% for type 1 diabetes children.

Researchers also discovered that when asthma and diabetes were combined children experienced higher levels of homoglobin A1c (HbA1c) while poor blood sugar control was linked to many complications associated with diabetes.

The study also acknowledges that certain asthma medications such as  leukotrieneinhibitors may improve blood sugar control among children who have both diabetes and asthma.

Researchers do warn about some medications:

“We worry that some asthma medications cause problems with diabetes control. And while this study was not designed to test that, it seems that not taking your asthma medications was more of a problem than controlling your asthma.”

Do you have a child with both diabetes and asthma? What steps have you taken to ensure their blood sugar is under control.

Diabetes In Children Can Lead To Higher Asthma Risk, Poor Blood Sugar Control [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Obese teenagers who don’t get the proper amount of sleep may have disruptions in insulin secretion and blood sugar (glucose) levels, according to pediatric researchers. The study suggests that getting a good night’s sleep may stave off the development of type 2 diabetes in overweight adolescents.

Dorit Koren, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and study investigator said:

“We already know that three out of four high school students report getting insufficient sleep. Our study found to keep glucose levels stable, the optimal amount of sleep for teenagers is 7.5 to 8.5 hours per night. Reduced insulin secretion may lead to the higher glucose levels that we found in subjects who had insufficient sleep. We will seek to confirm these findings with home-based studies of sleep patterns in obese teenagers. In the meantime, our study reinforces the idea that getting adequate sleep in adolescence may help protect against type 2 diabetes.”

She added that this is consistent with research in adults showing an association between sleep deprivation and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers studied 62 obese adolescents with a mean age of 14 years at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Over one and a half days, the children, who were  white, African American and Hispanic teenagers, underwent glucose testing and an overnight sleep study. In addition to measuring total sleep time, the researchers studied “sleep architecture,” analyzing stages of sleep such as slow-wave “deep” sleep and rapid eye movement sleep.

The study appears online in the journal Diabetes Care.

Good Night’s Sleep May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes in Obese Teens is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new study conducted in Japan has found an alarming link between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s. The study found that a person with diabetes is more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia than a person without diabetes.

More than 1000 men and women above the age of 60 participated in the new study. Researchers found that older people with diabetes were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. They were also 1.75 times more likely to develop dementia of any kind.

David Geldmacher, M.D., a professor of neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said:

“Having high glucose is a stressor to the nervous system and to the blood vessels. The emerging information on Alzheimer’s disease and glucose shows us that we do need to remain vigilant on blood sugar levels as we get older.”

CNN reports that scientists aren’t exactly sure why diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s, but they have a few ideas. High blood sugar and high cholesterol can harden and narrow the arteries in the brain. This can kill brain tissue, cause strokes, and bring about vascular dementia. Insulin resistance may also hinder the body from breaking down a protein (amyloid) which forms brain plaques that cause Alzheimer’s.

All participants in the study were dementia free at the start. 15% of participants had full fledged diabetes at the beginning, while 23% had pre-diabetes. After 15-years, the study found that 23% of participants had been diagnosed with some form of dementia.

The study was published today in the journal Neurology. 

Alarming Link Found Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s is a post from: The Inquisitr

Diabetes Epidemic Worsens, Increases To 366 Million People is a post from: The Inquisitr

People with type 2 diabetes could benefit from simple yoga classes says a new study. Research has shown that yoga, even in small doses can help slightly lower body weight while controlling blood sugar levels.

Studying 123 middle-aged and older adults the research found that a handful of pounds can be lost over a three month period and that participants witness better blood sugar levels than non-participating individuals.

The article published in the Journal Diabetes Care also suggested that type 2 diabetes sufferers should not consider replacing other forms of exercise with yoga, but instead add a light yoga routine into the mix so they can control blood sugar levels while shedding extra pounds.

The study found that among 60 yoga participants their BMI fell from 25.9 to 25.4 (25 to 30 is considered overweight).

Dr. Shreelaxmi V. Hegde of the Srinivas Institute of Medical Science and Research Center told Reuters:

“In our study the effect of yoga on BMI (body mass index) and blood sugar control was marginal.”

Hegde went on to add:

“But, it should be noted that yoga controlled the blood sugar levels which otherwise rose in the control group.”

The study also revealed that oxidative stress declined in the yoga group, while not a lot of information has been proven about Oxidative effects, it is believed to contribute to various chronic diseases.

When all is said and done researchers warn diabetes sufferers that certain forms of Yoga should be avoided in older patients, specifically where complicated poses could actually put additional stress on the body. The study used a simple form of Yoga to help with type 2 diabetes and researchers suggest that type of simple routine for older or previously injured patients.

Have you noticed the positive effects of Yoga on your type 2 diabetes? Feel free to share your success stories with us.

Type 2 Diabetes Being Helped With Yoga Classes [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Another study has drawn a link between high levels of pesticides in blood tests and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals that are already overweight.

Published in the medical journal Diabetes Care, the new study is one of several of the sort finding evidence that being exposed to “older pesticides” known as “persistant organic pollutants” -organochlorines, PCBs and other chemicals- might up diabetes risk. Diet is the main source of exposure in the US, despite bans or restrictions on the substances in the States and other developed countries back in the 70′s.

Aside from diabetes, organochlorines also are linked to increased risk of cancer and other serious health concerns. Before the bans three decades ago, organochlorines could be found in many products, including appliances and fluorescent bulbs. The “persistent” moniker is apt- the chemical pollutants hang around in the environment, remaining for years in both human and animal fat stores. As such, fish and dairy are among the places the chemicals could still pose a risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC.)

David R. Jacobs, epidemiology professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis was not involved in the new study, but has in the past participated in similar research. He commented on the most recent data:

“I fear that the association of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants with diabetes is causal… There is a large scientific background of cell-based and animal research that shows that these compounds disrupt endocrine (hormonal) function.”

Researchers noted that the chemicals and body fat “may have a synergistic effect on the risk of type 2 diabetes.”

Diabetes, Pesticide Link Intensifies in New Study is a post from: The Inquisitr

Takeda Pharmaceuticals CO. LTD  halted sales in June of their popular diabetes drug Actos as the company faces hundreds of lawsuits due to growing suspicion  that the pill raises the risk of developing bladder cancer.

Actos is a top selling diabetes drug in Germany and France but has recently come under pressure from regulators who want more research to be performed on the drug, those pressures and consumer outrage have caused the drugs sales to slip.

While the European Medicines Agency and the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued warnings of their own about the drug, it has not yet been pulled from the market, likely due to the number of diabetes sufferers who rely on the drug. Doctors have been warned not to prescribe the drug to any patients who currently have or who have had bladder cancer.

Mounting lawsuits are bringing the type 2 diabetes drugs future into question, while just a decade ago it was considered a promising once-a-day pill that could help control blood sugar with few side effects, while boosting the effects of some other diabetes drugs. The drug also helps improved the body’s sensitivity to insulin so patients can receive fewer injections.

Actos took the No. 1 diabetes pill sales spot from Avandia when that drug in 2007 was found to sharply increase the risk of heart attacks, leading the drug to be banned in the European Union.

With hundreds of lawsuits filed and thousands more expected around the world, there’s a chance that the drug which sells nearly $5 billion worth of pills per year may go the way of Avandia.

Diabetes Drugs Manufacturer Facing Hundreds Of Lawsuits Over Cancer Claims is a post from: The Inquisitr

Replacing 2 ounces of your daily carbohydrates intake with 2 ounces of nuts could help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes by lowering your LDL cholesterol levels and improving blood sugar control according to a new study.

The research, conducted by a team at St. Michael’s Hospital was completed over a three-month period in which 117 people with type 2 diabetes were placed into three random groups; The first group received 2 ounces of mixed nuts (consisting of unsalted almonds, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, and macadamias), while a second group were given one healthy muffin each day and a third group was placed on a half nuts and half a muffin per day diet.

According to the study’s results, patients in the full-nut dose group had a “significant mean 0.21% decrease in absolute hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) units from baseline.” The study found that LDL cholesterol decreased significantly in the full-nut group compared to the muffin group.

According to the groups researchers:

“We conclude that mixed, unsalted, raw or dry-roasted nuts have benefits for both blood glucose control and blood lipids and may be used to increase vegetable oil and protein intake in the diets of type 2 diabetic patients as part of a strategy to improve diabetes control without weight gain.”

So there you have it, an Apple a day may help keep the doctor away, but so apparently can 2 ounces of mixed nuts.

[LDL Cholesterol Study] Nuts Benefit Type 2 Diabetes is a post from: The Inquisitr