Researchers in the U.K. suggest that a hemoglobin A1c of 7.5% may be optimal in terms of longevity for type 2 diabetics treated with drugs, according to a study published recently in The Lancet. Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) is a blood test widely used as a gauge of blood sugar control, reflecting average blood sugars over [...]
Entries from January 2010
January 28, 2010
Quote of the Day
This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in [...]
January 27, 2010
New Drug for Type 2 Diabetes: Victoza (liraglutide)
Reuters reported on January 25, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of liraglutide (brand name: Victoza). It joins Byetta (exenatide) as the second GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analog available in the U.S. Both are injections and work by stimulating the release of insulin by pancreas beta cells when blood sugar is too high. The FDA indicated liraglutide [...]
January 18, 2010
Grains and Legumes: Any Effect on Heart Disease and Stroke?
Several scientific studies published in the first five years of this century suggest that whole grain consumption protects agains coronary heart disease and possibly other types of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke. Note that researchers in this field, especially outside the U.S., use the term “cereal” to mean “a grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the [...]
January 16, 2010
Eat the Right Carbs to Alleviate Diabetes and Heart Disease
Harvard’s Dr. Frank Hu in 2007 called for a paradigm shift in dietary prevention of heart disease, de-emphasizing the original diet-heart hypothesis and noting instead that “. . . reducing dietary GL [glycemic load] should be made a top public health priority.” Jim Mann at the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand) authored a 2007 [...]
January 14, 2010
Low-Glycemic Index Eating Improves Control of Diabetes
Lowering glycemic index (GI) led to improved contol of blood sugar, better insulin sensitivity, and weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes given group education sessions, according to researchers at Pennsylvania State University. As background, the scientists note that: GI may play a role in preventing or treating type 2 diabetes by decreasing the risk [...]
January 12, 2010
Does Diet Influence Risk of Stroke?
Harvard researchers suggest that our food consumption does indeed influence our risk of suffering a stroke. This matters since stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Scientists looked carefully at 121 different studies—published between 1979 and 2004—on the relationship between dietary factors and stroke. High blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor [...]
January 10, 2010
Diabetes + Overweight and Obesity = Diabesity
Mark Hyman, M.D., blogged about diabesity at the Huffington Post December 24, 2009. He defines diabesity as a problem with glucose regulation associated with overweight and obesity. The glucose physiology problem ranges from metabolic syndrome to prediabetes to full-blown type 2 diabetes. “Diabesity” has been in circulation for a few years, but hasn’t caught on [...]
January 9, 2010
Recipe: Low-Carb Chili
I made this chili last night for the family. It’s spicy, but not hot spicy. Sliced and peeled cold cucumbers are a nice side dish. The kids are not eating low-carb; they enjoyed the chili mixed 50:50 with cheese macaroni, and buttered cornbread on the side. Ingredients 20 oz Ground beef, 80% lean meat/20% [...]
