Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Holy Grail of Diabetes Treatment: Preserving Beta Cell Function
A Nobel Prize in Medicine belongs to whoever (whomever?) figures out how to reliably and affordably protect and preserve beta cell function starting early in the course of type 2 diabetes. Or type 1 diabetes, for that matter. Dietary carbohydrates lead to … Continue reading
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History of Diabetes: Elizabeth Hughes, Insulin Pioneer
One of the very first users of insulin injections lived to be 73. That amazes me since most of her life was lived before we could keep close track of blood sugar levels with home glucose monitoring. She died of … Continue reading
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WHY Is the Mediterranean Diet So Healthy?
I’ve found that nearly everbody’s eyes glaze over if I try to explain how, physiologically, the Mediterranean diet promotes health and longevity. Below are some of the boring details, for posterity’s sake, mostly from my 2007 book, The Advanced Mediterranean Diet: … Continue reading
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Quote of the Day
By the 1990s, state action had been responsible for the violent or unnatural deaths of some 125 million people during the [20th] century, more perhaps than it had succeeded in destroying during the whole of human history up to 1900. … Continue reading
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How Common Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease, aka gluten enteropathy, affects one of every 133 Americans, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. That’s much more common than we thought a couple decades ago. Read about celiac disease symptoms and physical signs at About.com … Continue reading
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Book Review: Sugar Nation – The Hidden Truth Behind America’s Deadliest Habit and the Simple Way to Beat It
I recently read Sugar Nation, by Jeff O’Connell, published in 2011. Per Amazon.com’s rating system, I give it five stars (“I love it”). ♦ ♦ ♦ With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control predicting that one of every three citizens … Continue reading
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What About Triglycerides?
Circulation recently published the American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease. I’ve not read the full document, but here are a few tidbits I’ll share: Triglycerides (TGs) are not direclty atherogenic; they are a biomarker for cardiovascular risk … Continue reading
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Egyptian Mummies with Atherosclerosis in the News Again
Remember about a year ago the report that hardening-of-the-arteries was found in Egyptian mummies? The heart arteries were also involved. Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon is officially the first person in history diagnosed with coronary heart disease. This finding is noteworthy in view … Continue reading
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Diabetic Drug Pioglitazone Linked to Bladder Cancer
A recent report in Diabetes Care (doi 10.2337/dc10-2412) suggests a link between pioglitzone and the development of bladder cancer. This is preliminary, not definitive proof. Further study may erase all concern about bladder cancer. The only other diabetic drug in … Continue reading
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