Defeat Diabetes: March 2005 News Articles

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	Fat-Buster Makes Burgers Healthier and May Prevent Diabetes (Mar. 31, 2005) A new form of soluble cellulose that, if added to high-fat food items, appears to slow down fat absorption to a healthier rate and reduce the likelihood of developing insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
	Yogurt Promotes Fat Loss (Mar. 31, 2005) Yogurt eaters lost 22 percent more weight--an average of 14 pounds, 66 percent more body fat and 81 percent more stomach fat during the 12-week study.
	Alcohol, in Moderation, May Reduce Risk of Diabetes By Up To 30% (Mar. 31, 2005) No differences in risk reduction were found between people who had low or high BMIs. But drinking more than four drinks a day was associated with a slightly higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
	A Decline In Life Expectancy in the US (Mar. 31, 2005) The prediction, is based on the dramatic rise in obesity, especially among young people and minorities as reported in the NEJM.
	New Type 3 Diabetes Discovered (Mar. 18, 2005) Discovery that insulin is produced in the brain and it’s decrease raises possibility of Type 3 diabetes linked to Alzheimer’s Disease and changes the way we view the disease.
	Dark Chocolate May Lower Blood Pressure and Reduce Risk of Diabetes (Mar. 18, 2005) Eat a healthy dose of dark chocolate every day to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
	Treatment of Sleep Apnea Lowers Glucose Levels in Diabetics (Mar. 18, 2005) CPAP, the most common treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea, involves wearing a mask that supplies a steady stream of air through the nose during sleep. The airflow keeps the nasal passages open sufficiently to prevent airway collapse. When CPAP treatment was administered for at least four hours each day, there was a significant reduction in the participants' glucose levels.
	Which Hand Washing Cleansers Fight Germs Best? (Mar. 18, 2005) When it comes to hand washing, using soap and water is still one of the best bets for good hygiene. "Our study showed that the antimicrobial hand washing agents were significantly more effective in reducing bacteria than the alcohol-based hand rubs and waterless hand wipes."
	First UK Islet Transplant Successful (Mar. 18, 2005) A multidisciplinary team at King's College Hospital has successfully achieved islet cell¹ transplantation in a Type 1² diabetes patient. The patient, a 61 year old man, now no longer needs insulin injections, following three transplants of islet cells isolated from cadaveric donor pancreases.
	Diabetes Triples Risk of Liver Cancer (Mar. 18, 2005) After taking into account, demographics and other major risk factors, diabetes almost tripled the risk of liver cancer. But the findings also suggest that hepatitis C could also interact with diabetes to further boost the risk of developing liver cancer.
	Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath? (Mar. 18, 2005) Researchers found that eating 6 ounces of yogurt a day reduced levels of odor-causing compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, in the mouth.
	Mangled Insulin Molecules - The Culprit In Diabetes (Mar. 18, 2005) When insulin molecules get produced and are not folded properly they can contribute to it’s death. Like pieces of origami that get mangled during folding, some insulin molecules get produced in bungled forms - as well as the correct form - inside the cells of the pancreas.
	Exubera, The Inhaled Insulin Passes FDA (Mar. 18, 2005) The US Food and Drug Administration has accepted a new drug application by Sanofi-Aventis and Pfizer of the United States for Exubera, a dry powder form of insulin that is inhaled into the lungs prior to eating.
	Eating a Low Glycemic Index Diet (Mar. 18, 2005) After eating low GI carbs, there is no spike in blood glucose and no subsequent precipitous drop. The body receives a consistent flow of energy into the blood, which circulates the energy throughout the entire body. When nourished this way, the body experiences a sense of sustained satiety and well-being.
	Why Low-Carb Diets Produce Fast Results For Obese Diabetics (Mar. 18, 2005) Researchers conclude that excessive overeating is fueled by carbohydrates. When carbohydates were restricted, study subjects spontaneously reduced their caloric intake to a level appropriate for their height, did not compensate by eating more protein or fat, and lost weight.
	Seniors Look to Doctors For Medicare Drug Info (Mar. 18, 2005) Older patients are choosing their physician over the phone or electronic resources to help them understand the complexities of the new prescription drug law. Physicians are not aware of the details regarding what new things Medicare is covering.
	Diabetics Fear Avandamet Shortage After US Seizes Millions of Tablets (Mar. 18, 2005) Patients should not be alarmed and doctors can easily change the prescription from Avandamet, made up of metformin and Avandia, to two separate prescriptions for each of the ingredients.
	US Hepatitis Outbreaks Tied to Use of Blood Glucose Monitors (Mar. 18, 2005) Improper use of blood sugar testing devices likely fueled a string of hepatitis B outbreaks in U.S. nursing homes that killed two people with diabetes and sent a number of others to hospital, federal and state health officials said.
	Blood Pressure, Insulin Sensitivity Linked to Waist Circumference (Mar. 18, 2005) "Results of the present study suggest that the well-documented association between obesity, fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure may largely, if not entirely, be explained by phenomena related to the concomitant variation in the amount of abdominal fat, as estimated by a simple clinical parameter: waist circumference."
	New Downside to Diabetes: Colorectal Cancer (Mar. 11, 2005) A recent study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention suggests that people with diabetes are three times more likely to develop colorectal cancer as people with low blood sugar levels.
	Forearm Test Not Good for Checking Blood Sugar (Mar. 11, 2005) Although testing blood sugar levels using a forearm prick produces readings similar to those obtained from a fingerstick when levels are high or normal, it may overestimate blood sugar levels when they are low, according to two brief reports in the medical journal Diabetes Care.
	New Approach May Keep Diabetes Patients Off Insulin Shots (Mar. 11, 2005) Scientists are learning how to make embryonic stem cells into insulin producing cells. The research could be a major step toward a cure for Type-1 diabetes.
	Increased Risk for Peripheral Arterial Disease Mortality in Patients With Diabetes (Mar. 11, 2005) Persons with both peripheral arterial disease and diabetes had an adjusted risk of death greater than two-fold that for persons with peripheral arterial disease alone.
	New Certification for Doctors in Diabetes Care by NCQA (Mar. 11, 2005) Beginning this summer, internists seeking maintenance of certification in diabetes care can apply for a new feather in their caps: recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
	Preventing Diabetes Hospitalizations Could Save U.S. $2.5 Billion Annually (Mar. 11, 2005) Hospital costs for patients with multiple stays averaged $23,100 and women with diabetes were two to four times as likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular disease as women who did not have diabetes.
	Exercise Necessary for Losing Abdominal Fat (Mar. 11, 2005) When a woman with type 2 diabetes wants to lose her belly, even if she diets perfectly, eating all the right foods in ideal amounts, her waistline may not budge unless she works out.
	Protein Found That Damages Kidneys of Diabetic Patients (Mar. 11, 2005) Kidneys with a high level of glucose produce the protein, CD36 and this combined with substances in blood form a compound that kills kidney cells.
	Beta-Cell Dysfunction Implicated in Low Birth Weight-Related Diabetes (Mar. 11, 2005) Findings from a study suggest that primary beta-cell dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of low birth weight (LBW)-associated type 2 diabetes.
	A Cherry A Day Can Keep Diabetes Away (Mar. 07, 2005) Cherries may one day be part of diabetes treatment. Can increase insulin production by fifty percent.
	Poor Prenatal Nutrition Permanently Damages Function of Insulin-producing Cells (Mar. 07, 2005) The bottom line is that if you don't have delivery of enough nutrients from the mother to the baby, the baby's pancreatic cells will be programmed abnormally and sets the stage for type 2 diabetes later in life.
	Triennial Diabetes Screening Cost Effective (Mar. 07, 2005) Screening people 45 years of age or older every three years with a blood glucose test is appropriate and affordable. Ideally, such screening should occur as a part of ongoing medical care.
	Camera Cell Phones Provide Dermatology Consults on Wound Care (Mar. 07, 2005) According to a feasibility study, Dermatologists can consult on wound care via cell phone, improving the quality of care and reduce costs.
	Omitting Breakfast Impairs Insulin Sensitivity & Leads to Weight Gain (Mar. 07, 2005) Omitting breakfast impairs fasting lipids and postprandial insulin sensitivity and could lead to weight gain if the observed higher energy intake was sustained.
	The Magic Bullet for Quality of Life (Mar. 07, 2005) Exercising is the closest thing to a 'magic bullet,' to ensure longevity and a good quality of life. Fifty-two percent of doctors tell their patients to exercise, but only 14 percent actually prescribe it.
	Specialists vs. Primary Care Physicians - Intensifying Treatment (Mar. 07, 2005) Specialists were more aggressive with insulin initiation than primary care physicians, which may contribute to the lower A1c levels seen with specialist care.