Life with Diabetes: November 2009

Friday, November 27, 2009

Victoza: New Diabetes Drug, Better Than Byetta?

Novo Nordisk has a new diabetes drug under clinical trials - Victoza (liraglutide) - that is proving much better than Byetta (exenatide).

From WebMD:

Byetta is the first of the class of type 2 diabetes drugs called GLP-1 analogs. The drug takes advantage of the body's own signaling system to increase insulin output in response to meals.

Byetta is a popular drug, and it's helped many patients. But liraglutide - soon to be called Victoza if approved by the FDA - works better, says Lawrence Blonde, MD, director of the diabetes clinical research unit at Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans.

"Our direct comparison study shows patients who took liraglutide once a day had a greater reduction in [average blood sugar levels] at the end of the 26-week study than did [Byetta] twice a day," Blonde tells WebMD. "Obviously, once-a-day injections would be preferred by many patients because of the convenience - and it is not tied to meals. Liraglutide can be taken any time as long as you take it the same time each day."

Remember that Byetta has been implicated in pancreatitis and death. And we thought it was the best thing that ever happened to diabetes treatment...

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http://www.daily-diabetic.com

Diabetes Cases Expected to Double in 25 Years

The number of people with diabetes in the United States is expected to double over the next 25 years, a new study predicts.

That would bring the total by 2034 to about 44.1 million people with the disease, up from 23.7 million today. At the same time, the cost of treating people with diabetes will triple, the study also warns, rising from an estimated $113 billion in 2009 to $336 billion in 2034.

One factor driving the soaring costs: the number of people living with diabetes for lengthy periods, the researchers said. Over time, the cost of caring for someone with diabetes tends to rise along with their risk for developing complications, such as end-stage renal disease, which requires dialysis.

The story continues @ ABCnews>>

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Holiday Eating Tips for Diabetics

If you’ve been reading Blisstree this month, then you already know it’s American Diabetes Month. It’s probably even more fitting that November is the chosen month for diabetes awareness, since holiday eating can make some people stray from their health goals.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 24 million children and adults in the US have diabetes. Unfortunately, the morbidity rate of people with diabetes has continued to climb since 1987, even while death rates from cancer have fallen. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure.
apples

Despite the bleak facts, managing diabetes properly can have a big impact. To help with holiday temptation, I’ve included an article detailing ways to stay on course during the holidays from Frederic J. Vagnini, M.D., FACS, and Lawrence D. Chilnick — authors of The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes.

Seven Ways To Manage Your Diabetic Waistline During the Holidays
By Frederic J. Vagnini, M.D., FACS, and Lawrence D. Chilnick,
Authors of The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes: The 5-Step Program That Removes Metabolic Roadblocks, Sheds Pounds Safely, and Reverses Prediabetes and Diabetes

During the holiday season many dedicated dieters or those who follow special diets for diabetes, heart disease or other conditions not only “fall off the wagon” but also leap into the deep end of the pool. Don’t feel guilty. This is a normal reaction to attending large family dinners where everyone makes food loaded with seductive carbohydrates. We also go to multiple parties — sometimes on the same day — where the hosts have hired caterers who specialize in delicious appetizers and desserts that are so good you just stand at the buffet and eat more and more.

Worse, in some cases you are at the home of a sensitive relative who has taken gourmet cooking courses and will be insulted if you don’t have at least seconds of every dish. Your diabetes is not an excuse where they are concerned.

Can you have “your cake and eat it” during this holiday season that now seems to stretch from before Thanksgiving well into the coming year? If you adopt a simple strategy, you can survive the holidays without too much damage.

The first thing you have to admit is that you are not powerless over the mounds of mashed potatoes, hams, turkeys, stuffing, butter coated green beans and apple and pumpkin pies. Next, adopt these few logical steps below and with any luck and preparation you will come out of the holidays as healthy as you went into them — your blood sugars and weight at the same levels three months before.

One: Put Yourself Into Pre-Holiday Training: Think of the holidays as sort of an Olympics (for Eating). The first thing any athlete does is begin training. As a diabetic you are already exercising, eating properly and taking medication and supplements. Adopt a strategy that helps you increase your exercise and lowers your blood sugars even more. Begin this a month ahead of Thanksgiving. When you are shopping, park farther away and walk everywhere you can. The more “workouts” you get with proper food and exercise the better shape you will be in.

Two: Holidays are not a license to eat. We all tend to have “slips” when following a weight loss plan — especially as a diabetic whose health depends on keeping nutrition balanced. Do not rationalize as you line up to shovel food on your plate that this is only “for today”. It won’t turn out that way. There will be more parties and unless you adopt the attitude that “today is just like any other day” you will be on the downhill slide.

Three: Use Visualization. Think of how you felt in the past when you did overeat. Remember over eating and the bloated, nauseous feeling that may have led to you getting sick and ending up vomiting and passed out on the couch. Just bring that sensation back and you will already start backing away from the table.

Four: Think Of The Damages: Keep in mind that over eating during the holidays can destroy an entire year of work and you end up possibly gaining 10-15 pound in a few weeks. It is OK to go off your diet a bit but keep the consequences in focus.

Five: Stay Home When You Can: This one is tough but if you can keep the “exposure” down your odds of staying on track increase.

Six: Don’t Go To Parties Hungry: In effect pre-medicate. Have a small salad or something healthy when you go to a party or dinner so you will not be as tempted.

Seven: Avoid the “liquids”. Parties seem to attract bottles of beer and glasses of wine. Remember how many calories these contain and stick to water if you can.
The holiday season is about seeing old friends, family and having a good time. While all the food and entertaining is hard to avoid, if you keep these ideas in mind you can still enjoy yourself and not suffer from it. The most important lesson is that if you keep exercising — staying in training — you will have a much easier time continuing your weight loss program
after the holidays are passed.

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Source: Blisstree

Rise in Diabetes' Obesity Rates Alarming and Rapid - US Study

A recent American study has discovered that every 1 person in 5 suffering from type-2 diabetes is nearly 100 pounds overweight, sending doctors and scientists into added worry about a disease which is spreading across the county at an alarming rate, and the study has also asserted that the number is rapidly growing.

Carried out at the Loyola University Health System, the study revealed that early 62.4% of American adults with type-2 diabetes are definitely obese, while a shockingly high 20.7% are morbidly obese, i. e., over 100 pounds overweight than their required body weight, or have a BMI of 40 or above. Among the African-American group, however, every 1 in 3 diabetics is morbidly obese.

"The rate of morbid obesity among people with diabetes is increasing at a very alarming rate and this has substantial public health implications", lead author Dr. Holly Kramer said.

For the sake of research, data collected via the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys during 1976-1980 and 2005-2006 was analyzed. This included interview and physical examination of representative samples collected from all over the US. After detailed analysis, the researchers concluded that some 141% increase in the rate of morbid obesity in type 2diabetes patients was noted for the years studied.

Details of the study have been published online in the Journal of Diabetes and its Complications.

Friday, November 20, 2009

8 common diabetes questions answered

Health.com -- Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes; another 57 million have prediabetes, a precursor to the disease. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that if the diabetes epidemic continues, one in three Americans will develop it in his or her lifetime.

That's especially bad news for women, because the disease can affect both mother and child during pregnancy, and women with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack (and at a younger age) than women without diabetes. Along with the worries about diabetes, there's a lot of misinformation (like skinny girls can't get the disease, or eating too much candy causes it), which is why we've gathered expert answers to the most common questions.
What's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It's most often diagnosed in patients under 18, but it can strike at any age. Type 1 diabetics need insulin to manage the disease.
In type 2 diabetes, the body loses its sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that helps muscles absorb and use blood sugar. Traditionally, type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in older people. But with the rise in obesity, it's now being diagnosed at younger ages, sometimes even in children. Some traditionally thin populations are also being diagnosed with the disease as well. Type 2 is generally treated with changes to diet and exercise habits, as well as oral medication or insulin.
How will I know if I have diabetes?
Diabetes may cause no symptoms at all, but some signs include frequent thirst and hunger, having to urinate more than usual, losing weight without trying to, fatigue, and crankiness. If you're concerned, get your blood-glucose level checked, says Deborah Fillman, a registered dietitian and the incoming president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators. A fasting blood-sugar test measures the amount of sugar in your blood after not eating for at least eight hours. Normal is 99 mg/dL or below. Prediabetes is 100 to 125, and diabetes is 126 and above.
My father has diabetes. Does that raise my risk?
Yes. Having a family member with diabetes raises your risk of developing type 1 by about 5 percent and type 2 diabetes by more than 30 percent.
Health.com: How your family may sabotage your efforts to manage diabetes
I've read that belly fat is a diabetes risk factor. Should I worry about my muffin top?
Yes. Excess fat around your midsection is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. (Type 1 diabetes has nothing to do with obesity). In particular, the visceral fat wrapped around your internal organs can pose a problem, and it increases insulin resistance (the problem in type 2 diabetes) more so than fat in other parts of your body.
Health.com: Why it pays to lose weight if you have type 2 diabetes
Being obese or overweight in general can hike your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 90 times. Why? Overweight bodies may just be too big for their pancreases to keep up, says researcher Dr. John Buse, director of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Diabetes Care Center.
Can diet or exercise really prevent diabetes?
Yes, exercising and eating a healthy diet helps you keep off excess weight, which can prevent or at least delay diabetes. If you already have diabetes, doing aerobic exercise and resistance training helps by encouraging the muscles to take up more blood sugar.
Health.com: Can I drink alcohol with diabetes?
Over the short term, it may even reduce the amount of blood-sugar-lowering medication you need to take. Long term, exercise helps lower the risk of complications like blindness and nerve and kidney damage by helping you better manage blood-sugar levels. On the diet front, a recent study found that type 2 diabetics who ate a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fish, fruits, nuts, and olive oil, lost more weight and went longer without blood-sugar-lowering medication than those on a low-fat diet.
Health.com: 5 healthy snacks for people With diabetes
Could my sweet tooth lead to diabetes?
One of the oldest myths about diabetes is that sugar -- or a sweet tooth -- causes the disease. Says Riva Greenberg, a patient advocate and the author of 50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life, "A lot of people still think you get diabetes from eating too much candy."
Not true. Nor is it necessary for diabetics to avoid all sugar. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in whole grains, protein, veggies, and fruit -- and low in fat, cholesterol, and simple sugars (which cause blood sugar to spike) -- is a healthy plan for everybody.
I'm skinny, so I can't get diabetes, right?
Being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but 20 percent of people who get it are slim. "The number of type 2 diabetics is growing, especially in thin Asian populations," Greenberg says. Asian populations have higher concentrations of visceral fat, which may be a contributing factor, Buse explains.
If I had gestational diabetes that went away, should I worry?

Unfortunately, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes increases substantially -- between 20 percent and 50 percent. (Gestational diabetes occurs when hormones that help a baby's placenta develop interfere with the mother's insulin, resulting in higher blood sugars. It occurs in about 4 percent of U.S. pregnancies each year.) Your personal odds depend upon other factors like ethnicity, genetics, and weight. Losing weight after you've had a baby can help limit your risk.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Diabetes Prevention Is the Best Remedy, TOPS Medical Expert Says

Tomorrow may be too late when it comes to preventing or improving a diabetes condition, according to TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization.

Preventive care, like weight loss, a healthy diet, and physical activity, is the easiest way to avoid diabetes and its complications.

(Vocus/PRWEB ) November 10, 2009 -- Tomorrow may be too late when it comes to preventing or improving a diabetes condition, according to TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life. Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for developing the most prevalent form of diabetes, Type 2 (adult-onset). Typically affecting individuals age 40 and older, the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion notes that Type 2 diabetes has been reported among children and adolescents with increasing frequency. According to the American Diabetes Association, one out of every three children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue. If not treated properly, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, foot ulcers, and the need for limb amputations.
In acknowledgment of November being National Diabetes Month, Nicholas “Dr. Nick” Yphantides, M.D., M.P.H., medical spokesperson for TOPS, says, “Preventive care, like weight loss, a healthy diet, and physical activity, is the easiest way to avoid diabetes and its complications.”
A formerly obese person who once weighed 467 pounds, Dr. Nick was a borderline diabetic and has treated diabetic individuals for years. He now focuses on preventive health, emphasizing, “There are currently 24 million people in the United States who are diabetics. There are 57 million more who are pre-diabetic, having blood glucose levels that are higher than normal and raising the potential for cardiovascular disease. Every single one of those people can either eliminate or reduce their risk for developing diabetes by improving their health through organizations such as TOPS.”
Employ the following tips from TOPS to prevent the development of diabetes:
- Eat smart. Choose low-fat, fiber-rich, and whole grain foods, which have all been associated with improved blood sugar control. Increase servings of fruits, vegetables, and nuts to help you feel full and even promote weight loss.
- Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. Exercise helps keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels within a normal range. If you can’t find a solid block of time to be active, even ten minutes of exercise spread out over the course of the day, like brisk walking, can help.
- Quit smoking. According to the American Diabetes Association, smoking increases blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels (also raising your risk of a heart attack). The Rhode Island Department of Health notes that smoking even one cigarette can reduce the body’s inability to use insulin by 15%.
- Reduce chronic stress, a prolonged state of stress that can continue for days or weeks. The American Diabetes Association has found that, when under stress, the body responds by raising blood sugar levels; a study by the BMJ (British Medical Journal) found that chronic stress has been linked to the development of heart disease and other conditions, as well. Try relaxation or stress management techniques, such as beginning the day with a few minutes of yoga or meditation. Breathing exercises, listening to soothing music, or watching a funny television show can help alleviate anxiety. If possible, aim for at least seven hours of sleep every night, which also can be helpful in controlling stress levels.
“Everybody has the opportunity to take control and prevent diabetes. TOPS is about giving people the sense of ‘yes, we can.’ Lifestyle transformation is a solution, and the information and support that TOPS provides can be those tools. We can all generate an epiphany and say, ‘Wait a second, I can ignite a change towards a healthier me’,” Dr. Nick points out.
For additional information on diabetes, please consult your physician.
TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss education and support organization, was established more than 61 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success. Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., TOPS promotes successful weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness education, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has about 170,000 members in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, and several chapters in Europe.

Exercises to Control Diabetes

Exercise is a very important part of the control of diabetes. All diabetic patients should aim to make exercise as a part of their each day schedule. Exercise can help to get better the quality of life for diabetic patients. But there are some safeguards to think previous to people begin an exercise regime. It is wise to consult their health professional previous to they start. This would be correct for anyone, but it is particularly so for someone who is suffering from acute diabetes.
There are 2 types of diabetes; Type-1 diabetes which typically manifests itself at an early age. This type is from time to time referred to as adolescent diabetes. In Type-1 diabetes, the body cannot produce sufficient of its own insulin. Type-2 diabetes manifests itself in afterward period of life. In Type-2 diabetes the body fails to produce enough amount of insulin or it becomes resistant to its own insulin. In both types of diabetes the body is unable to metabolize sugar correctly. Blood sugar levels rise because the body cannot transport sugar to the cells where it is required. It becomes essential to decrease blood sugar levels. This can be done by medication, through diet and by consistent exercise.
Exercise can, therefore, be a precious part in diabetes management and this is factual for both types of diabetes. Whether a person has Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes they can advantage from regular physical exercise. Type-1 diabetics can advantage from exercise because it can help in the protection of insulin sensitivity and increases the use of glucose by the muscle tissues. Exercise can as well help to stay away from too much weight gain. Type-1 diabetes cannot be cured, but some of the health problems connected with this type of diabetes can be reduced by means of exercise.
Type-2 diabetics can as well be benefited from exercise. Type-2 diabetes is avoidable and exercise can help in its helpful prevention. Even such a easy work out as a 30 minute walk every day can decrease the threat of developing Type-2 diabetes. To sum up, exercise can decrease blood sugar levels and help to organize insulin sensitivity. This is vital for diabetic patients because they are known to have circulatory problems. Diabetic patients frequently suffer from poor circulation in the legs and feet. Exercise helps to encourage correct blood circulation. Regular exercise will as well help to lower blood pressure and so decrease the threat of stroke or heart attack.
There are, however, certain risks connected with exercise for diabetic patients. Since exercise lowers blood sugar the patients must measure their blood sugar levels earlier than and later than exercise. The body will use greater amount of sugar throughout exercise and become more sensitive to insulin. Work out can potentially result in hypoglycemia. Checking blood sugar levels will help to keep away from this danger. With this precaution the benefits of exercise will outweigh the possible threats.
A diabetic patient should as well take care to carry candy or fruit juice with them throughout exercise in case their blood sugar falls too low. They should confirm to inform the guides at the gym or their exercise partners that they are diabetic. An exercise buddy is a good thought for anyone but doubly so for a diabetic patient. Exercising with a friend can help uphold the motivation and for a diabetic it can help keep away from the dangers of the blood sugar falling too low.

Top Warning Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Many of the signs of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar. In both, there is too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of your body. High glucose levels in Type I are due to a lack of insulin because the insulin producing cells have been destroyed. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to insulin that is being produced. Either way, your cells aren’t getting the glucose that they need, and your body lets you know by giving you these signs and symptoms.

Frequent trips to the bathroom:

Are you visiting the bathroom much more lately? Does it seem like you urinate all day long? Urination becomes more frequent when there is too much glucose in the blood. If insulin is nonexistent or ineffective, the kidneys can’t filter glucose back to the blood. They become overwhelmed and try to draw extra water out of the blood to dilute the glucose. This keeps your bladder full and it keeps you running to the bathroom.

Unquenchable Thirst:

If it feels like you can’t get enough water and you’re drinking much more than usual, it could be a sign of diabetes, especially if it seems to go hand in hand with frequent urination. If your body is pulling extra water out of your blood and you’re running to the bathroom more, you will become dehydrated and feel the need to drink more to replace the water that you are losing.

Losing Weight Without Trying:

This symptom is more noticeable with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1, the pancreas stops making insulin, possibly due to a viral attack on pancreas cells or because an autoimmune response makes the body attack the insulin producing cells. The body desperately looks for an energy source because the cells aren’t getting glucose. It starts to break down muscle tissue and fat for energy. Type 2 happens gradually with increasing insulin resistance so weight loss is not as noticeable.

Weakness and Fatigue:

It’s that bad boy glucose again. Glucose from the food we eat travels into the bloodstream where insulin is supposed to help it transition into the cells of our body. The cells use it to produce the energy we need to live. When the insulin isn’t there or if the cells don’t react to it anymore, then the glucose stays outside the cells in the bloodstream. The cells become energy starved and you feel tired and run down.

Tingling or Numbness in Your Hands, Legs or Feet:

This symptom is called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as consistently high glucose in the blood damages the nervous system, particularly in the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is a gradual onset, and people are often not aware that they have it. Therefore, blood sugar might have been high for more than a few years before a diagnosis is made. Nerve damage can creep up without our knowledge. Neuropathy can very often improve when tighter blood glucose control is achieved.

Other Signs and Symptoms That Can Occur:

Blurred vision, skin that is dry or itchy, frequent infections or cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal are also signs that something is amiss. Again, when these signs are associated with diabetes, they are the result of high glucose levels in the body. If you notice any of the above signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be able to tell you if you have reason to be concerned about a diagnosis of diabetes.

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diabetes.about.com

Monday, November 9, 2009

Recently Diagnosed

It's not easy to hear you have diabetes. But for millions of Americans, learning about their diabetes is the first step toward feeling better and living a longer, healthier life. Here's what you need to get started on the path toward improved health and wellbeing.