Defeat Diabetes: November 2004 Articles

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	Too Much Vitamin C Not Good for Diabetics' Hearts (Nov. 30, 2004) The study, which followed nearly 2,000 postmenopausal women with diabetes for 15 years, found that those who took heavy doses of vitamin C supplements -- 300 milligrams (mg) a day or more -- were roughly twice as likely to die of heart disease or stroke compared with women who took no supplemental C.
	All Drug Shipments From Canada to US May Be Halted (Nov. 30, 2004) As more and more Americans buy their drugs from Canadian pharmacies, authorities in Canada are becoming so concerned about domestic supplies that a top official said the Canadian government may halt shipments to the US if the trade continues to grow.
	People And Pets Succeed In Fighting Obesity And Diabetes (Nov. 30, 2004) Over 60 percent of adult Americans are now overweight or obese, and an estimated 30 million cats and dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese, that's 25 percent of the pet population! The P-Pet Study demonstrates that people and their pets are both more successful in staying with a weight loss program when they exercise together.
	Daily Placebo Works Better Than Taking An Active Drug Irregularly (Nov. 30, 2004) Patients who took their pills every day halved their risk of dying by the end of the study, compared with those who skipped pills, Granger's team found, regardless of whether they took the drug or a placebo. Those who stuck to their pills were also less likely to spend time in hospital.
	Walking Downhill Lowers Blood Sugar, Uphill Lowers Cholesterol Levels (Nov. 30, 2004) If you are too weak, unfit or heavy to embark on an exercise program, you should try walking downhill. Walking downhill is good for lowering your blood glucose levels. Walking uphill reduces triglycerides - these are important components of cholesterol.
	Blood Pressure Control Curbs Diabetic Eye Problem (Nov. 30, 2004) 1148 Patients with Type 2 diabetes were followed for more than 9 years and keeping BP at or below 150/85, showed a significant reduction in retinal damage or retinopathy.
	Exenatide Effective for Type 2 Diabetes (Nov. 30, 2004) Exenatide significantly reduced HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes failing maximally effective doses of a sulfonylurea.
	Inadequate Footwear Triples Risk For Diabetes Amputation Risk (Nov. 30, 2004) Amputation risk was tripled by going barefoot, doubled by wearing sneakers regularly to work, increased fourfold by wearing sneakers to town, and doubled by wearing rubber thong sandals.
	Water-Rich Diet More Effective Than Low-Fat Regimen for Weight Loss (Nov. 30, 2004) Obese women encouraged to eat water-rich foods lost significantly more weight than counterparts who were told to eat less fat. Incorporating low-energy-dense foods into a diet was more effective for weight loss than reducing fat alone.
	New Drug May Be Better Than Aspirin for Diabetics (Nov. 30, 2004) A new drug called picotamide appears to be a more effective blood-thinner than aspirin for people with diabetes. Previous research has suggested that aspirin may not work as well for diabetics in preventing vascular events, such as heart attacks or stroke, as it does for other people.
	Atherosclerosis Present in Most All Young Adults With Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome (Nov. 30, 2004) 88% of young adults with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome have signs of carotid atherosclerosis. Initial treatment in this younger age group is very simple, with adoption of a healthy lifestyle.
	Wonder Pill, Rimonabant, Makes You Lose Weight And Keep It Off (Nov. 30, 2004) Trials have shown that 33% of people on Rimonabant lost 10% of body weight and kept their weight down for two years - this is a record, no other diet drug has managed to keep a person's weight down for so long.
	400 IU/Daily of Vitamin E May Increase Risk of Dying (Nov. 30, 2004) People taking vitamin E supplements of 400 IU or more per day had an increased risk of death. Because most of the patients in all of the trials were over 60, and a majority had pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease, the study’s application to younger, healthy adults may be limited, the Hopkins researchers point out.
	Diabetes Rates Are Higher Along Our Borders (Nov. 30, 2004) The survey found the rate of diabetes was 15.7 percent among adults, which is more than 3 percent higher than previous studies. This is higher than the comparable 13.9-percent rate of diabetes in the United States and 14.9-percent rate in Mexico, the report said.
	Psyllium as Effective as a Double Dose of Simvastatin in Lowering LDL Cholesterol (Nov. 30, 2004) "Patients are concerned with the side effects of statins," Dr. Moreyra noted, and they are likely reluctant to take a double dose of the drug. Psyllium is safe, readily available and the treatment is effective and practical, he added.
	High- and Low-Carb Diets Produce Similar Results (Nov. 30, 2004) A rare head-to-head comparison of a high glycemic index (GI)/high-carbohydrate diet with a low-GI/low-carbohydrate diet resulted in comparable weight loss and increase in insulin sensitivity. "If people consume a healthy diet that is calorie restricted, they are going to lose weight, and the quality of the carbohydrates doesn't really matter."
	Pioglitazone Shown to Reverse Thickening of Carotid Artery Wall (Nov. 30, 2004) New studies have shown that the drug pioglitazone (ACTOS®, Takeda) significantly reduced the thickness of the carotid (neck) artery in patients with type 2 diabetes. By contrast, no change in carotid thickness was seen in a group of patients who received glimepiride, an older drug for type 2 diabetes.
	Increased Chromium Absorption Linked with Reduction in Cardiovascular Risk Factor (Nov. 30, 2004) A new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found a significant correlation between increased urinary chromium levels -- a measure of chromium absorption -- and reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and lipid ratios in people with type 2 diabetes.
	Preemies Prone to 'Pre-Diabetes' (Nov. 30, 2004) Children who are born prematurely, regardless of their actual birth weight, will have a 30% reduction in insulin sensitivity -- a pre-diabetic condition that can lead to full-blown diabetes.
	Newer Beta-blocker Coreg Safer for Diabetics (Nov. 30, 2004) The beta-blocker blood pressure medicine Coreg proved significantly better in keeping blood sugar levels from rising in diabetics than metaprolol, another widely used member of the beta-blocker family.
	Surgery Effective in Diabetics with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Nov. 30, 2004) Diabetics with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), an acquired entrapment neuropathy causing pain and weakness of the hands, can benefit from surgery. Some in the medical community have questioned whether diabetics who undergo surgery for CTS release actually improve.
	Normal Blood Pressure May Not Be Optimal - How Low Should It Go? (Nov. 30, 2004) By reducing BP still more, patients were protected from heart attacks, cardiac arrest, angioplasty, hospitalization for chest pain, and death. Every 16 heart disease patients with normal blood pressure who received drugs to lower it, one adverse event was prevented over a two-year period.
	Albuminuria Present In 10% Of Those With PreDiabetes (Nov. 30, 2004) "The presence of a recognized cardiovascular disease risk factor (albuminuria) prior to the development of diabetes calls for screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes."
	Diabetes Among Older Americans Cost $133.5 Billion in 1990s (Nov. 30, 2004) The average person with diabetes lost $2,800 in wages due to early retirement, $630 due to sick days, and $22,100 due to disability.
	More Than Half of Adult Diabetics in US Are Obese (Nov. 30, 2004) The CDC found that between 1999 and 2002, 54.8% of diabetics over the age of 19 were obese. An increasing number of American adults diagnosed with diabetes are obese, making it more likely they will develop cardiovascular disease, retinopathy and other health problems, U.S. officials said.
	Western' Diet Linked to Type 2 Diabetes in Women (Nov. 30, 2004) The "Western" diet--one especially high in red and processed meats and refined grain--linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, colon cancer, and heart disease in women.
	New Theory Explains Diabetic Damage To Eyes, Heart, Nerves, and Kidneys (Nov. 15, 2004) The primary cause of such tissue damage is a key compound in energy production, which other scientists long ago rejected as a contributor to diabetic side effects.
	New Diabetes-Related Hormone Found – Possible New Treatment for Type 2 (Nov. 15, 2004) Canadian researcher believes he may have found the next best thing to a cure for for the most common type of diabetes. "The theory is right now we can stop the progression of the disease."
	Super-Sizing Asian Americans (Nov. 15, 2004) Percentage of low-income Asian and Pacific Islander children in California who are overweight more than doubled between 1994 and 2003, from 7 percent to 15 percent. Low-income Asian and Pacific Islander children in California are becoming overweight at an alarming rate -- and will soon catch up to low-income white, black and Latino children in the proportion who are overweight or obese.
	First Human Trial of Bioartificial Kidney Shows Promise (Nov. 15, 2004) The first test in humans offers hope of the device’s potential to save the lives of people with acute renal failure. While the phase I/II study was designed primarily to look at the safety of using this device on humans, the results also suggest improvement in kidney function.
	White Bread Increases Diabetes Risk (Nov. 15, 2004) Eating white bread with each meal increased the risk for diabetes more than 30 percent. Fans of white bread, hear this: it increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the illness, new research shows.
	Diabetes Increases Risk For Liver, Pancreatic Cancers (Nov. 15, 2004) People with type 2 diabetes have three to four times the risk of developing liver cancer, and more than twice the risk of developing pancreatic cancer than non-diabetic individuals.
	Checking Foot Temperature Curbs Diabetic Sores (Nov. 15, 2004) Type 2 patients who monitor their foot temperatures at home may be able to ward off developing leg and foot ulcers -- and the infections and amputations that can result.
	Glycemic Control Fosters Delivery of Normal Weight Infants (Nov. 15, 2004) Women with diabetes who maintain strict glycemic control during pregnancy are able to deliver infants that do not differ in weight or body composition from those of nondiabetic women.
	Gene Linked To Greater Risk Of Heart Disease In Type 2 Diabetes (Nov. 15, 2004) Joslin Diabetes scientists have found variations in a gene that help explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death for this group.
	Lipitor Little Help to Diabetics on Dialysis (Nov. 15, 2004) People with type 2 diabetes who have progressed to kidney failure don't gain much benefit from treatment with a statin drug like Lipitor. Lipitor did not appear to lower the risk of heart attack or stroke much in such patients. The good news of the trial was that, Lipitor was very safe and it did lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol an average of 41 percent.
	Physical Activity Slows And Prevents The Onset of Type 2 Diabetes (Nov. 15, 2004) A landmark study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that those at risk for type-II diabetes could reduce the likelihood of developing the disease by 58 percent through 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise.
	Making It Through the Holidays (Nov. 08, 2004) While controlling diabetes (or reducing one’s risk) is a yearlong effort, perhaps no other season poses as many temptations as the holidays. So how do you make it through? Here are suggestions, several from the Defeat Diabetes Foundation, to help you keep focus.
	New Possible Neuropathy Drug (Nov. 08, 2004) An experimental drug has been shown to combat the underlying cause of nerve damage that occurs in people with diabetes. Compared with the placebo treatment, AS-3201 reduced average nerve sorbitol concentrations by 65 percent to 84 percent depending on the dosage given, the researchers report.
	New Gene For Diabetes Found (Nov. 08, 2004) A gene involved in the action of insulin is associated with type 2 diabetes and the body’s response to insulin has been found and reported on. "The protein that this gene makes represses the insulin response, so if you are making a lot of this protein, your ability to respond to insulin would be blunted, which would lead to higher glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. If it is too high, that’s diabetes."
	Traffic - Risk of a Heart Attack? (Nov. 08, 2004) The longer you spend sitting in traffic, the higher your risk of a heart attack. This does not just mean sitting in a traffic jam - it includes cycling in traffic or being a bus passenger, within an hour of your being out there among the cars and other vehicles.
	Elevated Iron Levels Associated With Metabolic Syndrome (Nov. 08, 2004) Men and women with elevated levels of ferritin are about twice as likely as their peers with lower levels to have metabolic syndrome.
	Nearly 60% of American Adults Have Elevated Blood Pressure (Nov. 08, 2004) One-third are not aware of their condition, and among those who were aware, only 31 percent had their blood pressure controlled at target levels.
	Atherosclerosis Begins Early in Type 1 Diabetes Patients Nov. 08, 2004) New study findings provide more evidence that atherosclerosis begins early in young persons with type 1 diabetes and underscore the need to monitor BP and lipid levels in adolescents with the disease. Study shows that atherosclerosis, begins early and that it relates to abnormalities of lipids and to diabetes complications.
	Extra Pounds In Middle Age Doubles Incidence of Stroke (Nov. 08, 2004) Obesity nearly doubles the risk that an otherwise healthy middle-aged man will eventually have a stroke, a long-running Swedish study finds. Insulin resistance the culprit.
	Diabetes Increases Risk of Dementia (Nov. 08, 2004) Diabetes increases the risk of dementia, especially vascular dementia, in the elderly. The hazard ratios for dementia and vascular dementia were even higher in patients taking oral antidiabetic agents.
	Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Associated With Improved Glucose Control (Nov. 08, 2004) In the 8 studies, SMBG was most effective when done 8 times a week. Interestingly, the increased benefit associated with SMBG was much less when monitoring was conducted 6 days a week.
	Obesity and Diabetes Independently Increase Cesarean Delivery Risk (Nov. 08, 2004) The prevalence of maternal obesity is rising, the authors explain, and pregestational obesity is a recognized risk factor for diabetes, preeclampsia and hypertension, macrosomia, and cesarean delivery. Important implications for preconceptional counseling of overweight and obese women.
	Lifestyle Intervention Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 58% (Nov. 08, 2004) Why are we looking for the cure for Type 2 diabetes when we already have it? The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) showed that intensive lifestyle intervention reduced the risk of diabetes by 58%.
	Average American is 1 Inch Taller, 25 Pounds Heavier Than 40 Years Ago (Nov. 08, 2004) Adults are roughly an inch taller than they were in the early 1960s, on average, and nearly 25 pounds heavier, the government reported. The country's expanding waistline has been well documented, though the report is the first to quantify it based on how many pounds the average person is carrying.
	Maternal Body Mass Linked to Rising Rate of Large for Gestational Age Births (Nov. 08, 2004) Increases in maternal body mass index and decreases in maternal smoking are behind the increasing trend in large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births.
	More Than One Cup of Coffee A Day Raises Heart Disease Risk 30% (Nov. 08, 2004) Men consuming more than 200ml of coffee daily had 30% higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), their white blood cell counts were 3% higher.
	FDA Approves Labeling That Xenical (Orlistat) Resulted in 42% Reduction in Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes (Nov. 08, 2004) The first weight loss medication to show a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The label change is based on results from the XENDOS (Xenical in the Prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects) study, the largest and longest study to date of a weight loss medication.
	Microscopic Sensor Monitors Glucose Levels (Nov. 07, 2004) Scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio have developed a fully functional, minimally invasive microscopic sensor that can be placed just under the skin and be seen with the naked eye for accurate, continuous examination of glucose and other body-fluid levels with the help of simple color changes.
	How Do High Carb Diets Lead To Obesity And Diabetes? (Nov. 07, 2004) Dr. Kosaku Uyeda, professor of biochemistry, has shown that a single protein called carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), discovered by his research group, activates several genes that cause cells in the liver to turn sugar into fat.
	Inhaled Insulin as Effective as Injection (Nov. 07, 2004) Improved glucose control with no weight gain, less hypoglycemia and no pulmonary changes.