February 2004 Articles

February 2004 News Article Index

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Diabetes During Pregnancy Skyrockets (02/27/04) Researchers at Kaiser Permanente have uncovered still more evidence that the nation is gaining weight: a staggering 35 percent increase in the number of women who develop diabetes while pregnant. The condition, known as gestational diabetes, usually goes away after the baby is born.
Walking Exercise Improves Mental Sharpness (02/27/04) A simple cardiac fitness regime of walking 45 minutes three times a week could be rewarded with a higher degree of mental sharpness.
Seven Good Reasons Why You Should Visit Your Dentist (02/27/04) Adults with diabetes should visit their dentist at least twice a year for a complete mouth examination and cleaning, and once a year if they have dentures. The risk for developing periodontal disease increases with age, duration of the diabetes, and if you are a smoker.
States Take on Fighting Childhood Obesity (02/27/04) The school vending machine - a source of money for schools and unhealthy calories for kids - is under heavy attack by state lawmakers across the country. About two dozen states are considering total bans or limits on vending machine products. About 20 states already restrict students' access to junk food until after lunch.
Tots With Slim Risk of Diabetes (02/27/04) A THIN toddler has more chance of getting diabetes than a fat one. Children who are born thin but then rapidly gain weight are more likely to develop the condition than those born heavier, the British Heart Foundation funded study found.
Diabetes Doubles Risk of Liver Disease and Liver Cancer (02/27/04) In the largest study of its kind, researchers have shown that diabetes can cause chronic liver disease and cancer of the liver. "Because of the significantly increased risk of developing liver disease, we recommend regular testing of liver enzymes for patients with diabetes," said study author Hashem El-Serag, MD, MPH.
Possible Mechanism For Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease Discovered (02/27/04) For some time, researchers have known that people with diabetes have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia than those without diabetes, but the exact cause of this link has not been known. A new study suggests that insulin resistance in brain cells can affect how they function, causing some of the biochemical changes typically seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Hormone That Regulates Blood Glucose Levels, Links Obesity to Diabetes (02/27/04) Study raises the question, is resistin a marker for the inflammatory/metabolic condition, much like C-reactive protein, or is it even causing it?"
Diabetes Leads to Early Aging of the Auditory System (02/27/04) Preliminary findings of a new study have determined that diabetes, approaching epidemic proportions, may lead to premature aging of the body’s auditory or hearing system. Significant findings to date include: increased hearing loss in diabetic veterans aged 60 and younger compared to those of the same age without diabetes, a lack of effect on the cochlear amplifier system as shown by otoacoustic emissions testing, and delays in central auditory processing revealed in the auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests.
Kidney Transplant Patients Who Develop Diabetes Show Poor Short-Term Outcomes (02/27/04) "Because patients with diabetes often pose many medical challenges due to the complications of the disease, it was surprising to see that these patients who'd been dealing with diabetes for years, ended up better off than the patients who only developed diabetes after their transplants," said Robert Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D. "Overall, patients who developed post-transplant diabetes were most vulnerable to kidney rejection, infection and additional hospitalization."
Diabetic Patients Who Smoke Are Different (02/27/04) Diabetic patients who smoke are more likely to report often feeling depressed and are less likely to be active in self-care or to comply with diabetes care recommendations.
New Drug Helps to Quit Smoking and Lose Weight (02/27/04) Double your odds of quitting smoking and lose 17 pounds in the process. The drug rimonabant (Acomplia) is effective for weight loss and smoking cessation, according to new study.
Very-Low-Calorie Diet Controls Teens' Diabetes (02/27/04) A high-protein, low-carb, very-low-calorie diet is effective short-term treatment for obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Storing Too Much Iron May Put Healthy Women at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes (02/27/04) Higher amounts of iron stores in the blood are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in healthy women who have no known diabetes risk factors. Excessive iron stores can cause type 2 diabetes among patients with hemochromatosis, a genetic defect in the regulation of iron absorption.
Diabetes Patients Not Reducing Risk Factors for Vascular Disease (02/27/04) Only 7.3% of those at risk for vascular disease are reducing their risk by controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) calls for greater awareness of healthy target standards.
Lots of Low-Fat Food is Better Than Small Portions of High-Fat Food (02/27/04) Dutch research has shown that a diet of low-fat products is better than smaller portions of normal high-fat food for preventing diabetes in obese people. Mice put on a low-fat diet were more sensitive to insulin than mice that received the same amount of energy in the form of high-fat food.
The Numbers Are In: 55% Carbohydrate with 50Gms of Fiber (02/27/04) Journal of the American College of Nutrition recommends that the diabetic individual should be encouraged to achieve and maintain a desirable body weight and that the diet should provide these percentages of nutrients: carbohydrate, >/==" BORDER="0">55%; protein, 12-16%; fat, <30%; and monounsaturated fat, 12-15%. The diet should provide 25-50 g/day of dietary fiber (15-25 g/1000 kcal). Glycemic index information should be incorporated into exchanges and teaching material.
Insulin-Producing Cells Found In Fat, Liver & Bone Marrow (02/27/04) U.S. researchers at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine have found insulin-producing cells in the fat, liver and bone marrow of diabetic mice. The source of the insulin-producing cells to be bone marrow, which has been identified as the origin of many different kinds of tissues in recent years. Only a brief three-day period of high blood glucose was sufficient to nudge the cells outside the pancreas to produce insulin.
Atkins Medical Experts Present Food Pyramid Recommendations to Congress (02/19/04) Based on Dr. Atkins' work, the pyramid emphasizes a wide range of protein sources and nutrient-dense carbohydrates, such as most vegetables, certain fruits, nuts, dairy products and whole grains, that have a low impact on blood sugar.
Two Studies Show That One in Five Diabetes Patients Skip Medications To Save Money (02/19/04) Nearly one in five older adults with diabetes in the survey reported cutting back on prescription medication in the prior year because of costs, and 15 percent used less of their medication at least once per month because of the cost. By not taking their medications as prescribed, patients had poorer diabetes control, more symptoms and worse physical and mental functioning, researchers found.
Obesity Experts To Docs: Start 'Prescribing' Exercise (02/19/04) Doctors trying to get patients to lose weight should write a "prescription" for physical activity, obesity experts proposed. Studies have found patients are more likely to follow a doctor's order to exercise if it's written in a prescription.
Exercise Need Not Be Painful: Study (02/19/04) "No pain, no gain" may be the mantra of coaches everywhere, but it's bad advice for most exercisers, research suggests. Ekkekakis explained that there is a specific level of exercise intensity that seems to be appropriate for a wide variety of people. This intensity corresponds to the level of the transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism--when the body switches over from burning fuel from aerobic (with oxygen) to anaerobic (without oxygen) sources.
New Study To Test Drug For Preventing Diabetes (02/19/04) Preventing diabetes rather than treating diabetes a new concept in medicine. Dr. Ralph DeFronzo is a researcher at the Texas Diabetes Institute in San Antonio and he is directing a national study on a new diabetes drug researchers hope can prevent onset of the disease. The San Antonio study will test the drug pioglitazone, which is one of several drugs that can make diabetics more sensitive to the insulin that their bodies naturally produce.
Diabetes Doubles Risk of Liver Disease and Liver Cancer (02/19/04) In the largest study of its kind, researchers have shown that diabetes can cause chronic liver disease and cancer of the liver.
Depressive Symptoms Predict Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes (02/19/04) "Depressed individuals are less likely to be compliant with dietary and weight loss recommendations and are more likely to be physically inactive and nonadherent with medications." The researchers observed a positive association at baseline between depressive symptoms and body mass index, fasting insulin, systolic blood pressure, caloric intake, physical inactivity, and current smoking.
Leptin, The Answer to America's Obese Problem?? (02/19/04) A new study found that leptin gene therapy caused a 26% loss of body weight. Increasing leptin, a protein involved in regulating body weight, in laboratory animals transforms fat-storing cells into unique fat-burning cells, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas report. They speculate that these findings could provide "a quick and safe solution" to the obesity problem in humans.
New Lower Guidelines for Salt Consumption (02/19/04) New recommendations lowered from 2400mg to 1500mg/day, and less as we get older. Americans eat more than twice the salt they should but don't get enough potassium, an imbalance that fuels high blood pressure.
Iron Storage Raises Diabetes Risk and Gives Rise to New Diagnostic Test (02/19/04) A simple blood test which measures ferritin levels can be used to predict the development of type 2 diabetes in otherwise healthy people. The results provide the strongest evidence to date that increased iron stores in the body are an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Body Language, Attitude and Being A Good Listener In Your Patient Sessions (02/19/04) With the U.S. population as a whole aging, there's going to be a giant need for training in doctors and educators to learn about being a good listener.
Antiretroviral Therapy Raises Risk of Diabetes (02/19/04) Exposure to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) appears to raise the risk of diabetes among HIV-infected men, a new study shows.
Whole-Grain Foods May Lower Diabetes Risk (02/16/04)  People who consume plenty of whole-grain foods, particularly fiber-rich cereals, may be less likely to develop health conditions that put them at increased risk of diabetes, new research suggests. "Consumers need to carefully examine the food labels in order to identify whole grain products," McKeown said. Whole grain products should list a whole grain ingredient, such as "whole wheat," "whole rye," "whole-oats" or "graham flour," as the first ingredient on the label, she said.
Live Longer If You Eat These 14 Foods? (02/16/04) They're ordinary items that are probably in your refrigerator or kitchen pantry right now: beans, blueberries, broccoli, oats, oranges, pumpkin, soy, spinach, green or black tea, tomatoes, turkey, walnuts, wild salmon, and yogurt. But these may not be ordinary foods at all. They may be so special, they've earned the title "superfoods."
Hypoglycemia -- What Every Person on Insulin Should Know (02/16/04) All people with diabetes, regardless of type or their method of treatment, suffer from high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) when left untreated. The treatment of diabetes, whether pills or insulin, can lead to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is the term used to describe a low blood glucose level (BG). This would be a blood glucose level of less than 65 mg/dl.
Doctors Urge Action On 'Terrifying' Obesity Epidemic (02/13/04) A joint report by three leading medical groups warned that if nothing was done, a third of all British adults would be clinically obese by 2020, as well as a similar proportion of girls and a fifth of all boys.
High Blood Sugars and Insulin Levels, Increase Risk For Colon Cancer (02/13/04) "The growing recognition that colorectal cancer may be promoted by hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance suggests that a diet inducing high blood glucose levels and an elevated insulin response may contribute to a metabolic environment conducive to tumor growth," write Susan Higginbotham and colleagues from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Pharmacists: The Missing Link In Diabetes Management? (02/13/04) As of June, 43 states grant pharmacists some degree of prescribing authority in programs that focus on managing chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, hypertension and coronary heart disease. Each state is different, but laws generally limit the authority to specific drugs or to drugs for the specific condition in which the pharmacist has specialized knowledge.
Simple Test Points to Diabetics' Heart Risks (02/13/04) A "cold pressor" test, which involves immersing hands in ice water for 2 minutes, can tell doctors if a person with type 2 diabetes is likely to experience heart problems, even when there are no other risk factors presents.
Pedometers: Number of Studies Show They Can Make A Difference (02/13/04) The advantage of a pedometer is that it can catch small increases in activity, like walking up stairs instead of taking elevators. Many people who increase activity while wearing pedometers seem to do so through these small bits of walking that would probably escape anyone’s attention. But a pedometer records them.
Patient-Physician Collaboration Key To Controlling Chronic Medical Conditions (02/13/04) "The more patients see that their contribution to care is important and what they believe has value, the better the outcome of diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, headache."
Moderate-Fat Diet Better Than Low-Fat Diet at Improving Cardiovascular Risk Factors (02/13/04) A moderate-fat diet is better than a low-fat diet at improving cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to the results of a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "We support the recommendation of a weight-loss diet that has a moderate total fat content and conforms with current guidelines for saturated fat, to achieve the most desirable [cardiovascular disease] risk profile."
Familial History of Diabetes, Hypertension Are Potential Predictors of Gestational Diabetes (02/13/04) Pregnant women with a first-degree family history of type 2 diabetes have a 2 to 8-fold greater risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) than do women without such a family history, especially those who have at least one sibling with diabetes, according to an American case-control study. Furthermore, women who have a sibling with chronic hypertension also have a 2 to 3-fold increased risk of GDM.
Resistance Training May Reduce Insulin Use in Gestational Diabetes (02/13/04) Resistance training during pregnancy appears to improve glycemic control in overweight women with gestational diabetes, investigators in Canada report.
DASH Diet Improves Insulin Sensitivity as Well as Hypertension (02/13/04) Including the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) dietary pattern as a basic part of a hypocaloric dietary plan can lead to significant improvements of up to 50% in insulin sensitivity.
Ten Good Reasons for Checking Your Blood Glucose (02/09/04) Helps You Make the Right Decisions. This reason is the most important, says Barbara Bradley, RN, MS, CDE. "Checking your blood glucose helps you make the right decisions about your self-management."
New 'Food Pyramid' to Include Physical Activity To Address Obesity Epidemic (02/09/04) The US government is moving to revamp its famous "food pyramid" dietary guidelines amid concerns that the increasingly obese American population is not getting the message about proper nutrition and exercise.
Stomach-bypass Surgery Cures Diabetes (02/09/04) By 3 weeks, fasting plasma glucose levels dropped from 159 to 96.3 mg/dL. In a weight loss operation, called gastrojejunal bypass, diabetes associated with obesity can often be cured. In fact, bypass surgery was more effective than certain drugs or food restriction at controlling sugar levels.
The Dirty Little Secret of Fruit Drinks (02/09/04) Drink too many "healthy" fruit drinks, and you'll get fat. They are no more nutritious than carbonated soft drinks. While most of the fruit drinks are packed with good vitamins, they are so full of sugar they could do more harm than good, especially for children.
Problems Paying Out-of-Pocket Medication Costs Among Older Adults With Diabetes (02/09/04) Decreased treatment adherence many times is due to medication costs which, pose a significant burden to many adults with diabetes. Clinicians should actively identify patients with diabetes who are facing medication cost pressures and assist them by modifying their medication regimens, helping them understand the importance of each prescribed medication, providing information on sources of low-cost drugs, and linking patients with coverage programs.
Average 3-Year-Olds Lead Sedentary Life (02/09/04) New research suggests even 3-year-olds aren’t getting enough exercise, raising concerns over their weight, future disease risk, psychological well-being, behavior and learning ability. In the study, the children were spending between nine and 10 hours of their waking day hardly moving at all.
Could Obesity Be All In The Mind? (02/09/04) Scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Newcastle-upon-Tyne are about to embark on one of the biggest studies of its kind into the role the brain plays in making people fat. The theory behind it is that many people fail to lose weight, not because they cannot stop eating, but because the brain will not let them do so.
A View of the Glycemic Index from the Trenches (02/09/04) The Glycemic Index: Does it really work? As an “in the trenches” dietitian, I have consistently seen for more than a decade how easily my patients learn to incorporate low GI foods into their meal plans and how consistently happy (and relieved) they are with their results.
Guidelines Issued for Treating Diabetes in Hospitals (02/09/04) A committee convened by ADA has issued new guidelines for how hospital physicians and staff should treat patients who have diabetes and hyperglycemia, even when those conditions are not the primary reason for admission to the hospital. The committee has developed a detailed list of recommendations calling for such measures as intensive insulin therapy, follow-up testing, diabetes education and medical nutrition therapy for people whose blood sugar levels become elevated while hospitalized.
Team Approach Delivers Motivational Diabetes Management (02/09/04) The new diabetes management program, is designed to place patients at the center of their own care through a group-support concept and the healthcare team.
Fetus Size, Not Mother's Blood Sugar, Is The Most Important in Treating Gestational Diabetes (02/09/04) Measuring the size of an unborn baby's mid-section provides a better indication than maternal blood glucose testing of whether the mother should receive treatment for gestational diabetes. If this method were widely accepted, it could reduce the number of women who require treatment for this disease, which is a form of diabetes that appears during pregnancy and can lead to large birth weight babies.
'Eating Clubs' Help Overweight Stick To A Diet (02/09/04) 51-year-old Micki Conti of Denver is guiding others on their journey toward weight loss. Her compass is her ability to lose 220 pounds herself. Last summer, Conti formed a series of "eating clubs" - groups that met over eight weeks to dine together and learn healthier ways to choose and prepare food.
Insulin Resistance And Inflammation Are Related To All-Cause Of Death With Type 2 Diabetes (02/09/04) Low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance are independently related to all-cause of death and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Cholesterol Reduction May Help Dialysis Patients (02/09/04) New findings suggest that this may be due to the cholesterol-lowering effects of systemic inflammation and malnutrition, two common complications of dialysis. In contrast to the situation in the general population, higher cholesterol levels have consistently been associated with a reduced mortality rate in kidney dialysis patients.
Study Finds Way To Burn Fat Without Exercise – The Magic Pill  (02/05/04) Japanese researchers claim to have found a way to get rid of excess fat without exercising, in a breakthrough which could lead to better treatment for obesity and diabetes.
U.S. Spent $75 Billion to Treat Obesity in 2003 (02/05/04) Taxpayers picked up half the cost of treating health problems caused by the U.S. obesity epidemic which reached an estimated $75 billion last year. That conclusion, which is described by the study's lead author as "conservative," would mean that Americans spend almost as much on obesity-related health care services as they do to treat the illnesses caused by cigarette smoking.
New Additional Test Recommended For Those With Diabetes: ABC’s + P (02/05/04) This year, specialists for the first time are urging every diabetic over age 50 to get tested for the leg disease, called peripheral arterial disease or PAD. One in three diabetics over the age of 50 may already have PAD, Diabetics may have to ask for the PAD test, called an ankle brachial index. It's unlikely that primary care physicians yet have heard to add it to the list of tests for diabetics.
Less Than 12% of Those With Diabetes Meeting Recommended Goals (02/05/04) Less than 12 percent of people with diagnosed diabetes meet the recommended goals for blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol despite a great deal of research showing that controlling these conditions dramatically delays or prevents diabetes complications. Moreover, the percentage of people who achieve these targets has changed little in the last decade.
Promise Held In Treatment Of Diabetes (02/05/04) Studies increasingly indicate that a compound of antioxidant rich foods may help prevent insulin-dependent diabetes or extend the period of remissions that are common in the early stages of the disease, according to scientists from Oregon State University.
Doctors Get Rated On Their Diabetes Care (02/05/04) Nearly 500 Kansas City area primary-care doctors soon will find out how conscientious they have been in providing this kind of medical attention to their adult diabetes patients — and in many cases, the news will not be good. Thousands of patients have not been getting all the tests and screenings they need, new data show. This news will come in diabetes care "report cards" that doctors are getting in the mail.
Diabetes May Have a Benefit? (02/05/04) Diabetes does not worsen the prognosis of a serious blood infection, in fact, diabetic patients may be at lower risk of dying during the three months following such an episode than their nondiabetic counterparts.
Young Girls More Insulin Resistant Than Young Boys (02/05/04) At age 5, girls are intrinsically more insulin resistant than boys are. Type 2 diabetes in young populations predominantly affects girls rather than boys, and girls are more insulin resistant than boys during puberty and adolescence. According to the results, insulin resistance, based on fasting glucose and insulin concentration, was about 35% greater in the girls than in the boys, even after adjustment for a number of recognized risk factors.
Lifestyle Modification Shown to Be Effective, But Physicians Approach Lacking (02/05/04) Individuals with impaired glucose tolerance can reduce their chance of developing the disease by 58% through lifestyle modification.

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