The biggest risk is hypoglycemia.
A decade ago some early studies convinced us that tight blood sugar control (e.g., glucose under 120 mg/dl or 6.7 mmol/l) lead to better outcomes in ICU patients, particularly in coronary bypass surgical cases. The American College of Physicians says 140 to 200 mg/dl is good enough (7.8 to 11.1 mmol/l). The article at MedPageToday didn’t mention open heart surgery specifically, however.
Science marches forward!
Filed under Uncategorized
Nurse Jean Jeffers writes about one person’s cure for prediabetes. Much of it makes sense to me and is consistent with the scientific literature. Ms. Jeffers is a bit too alarmist about prediabetes complications, so don’t let that scare you. But this is scary: half of Americans over 65 have prediabetes. An edited quote:
Some of Dot’s very doable ways to help with prediabetes include:
1. Experiment with a variety of new fruits in your diet.
2. Experiment with new vegetables. Try one new one every week or so.
6. Make the five-percent resolution: Resolve to lose five percent of your body weight. You’ll be surprised at the benefits. Then lose another five percent.
8. Walk for fun, with friends, or in solitude. Some individuals meditate while walking.
10. Go light on carbohydrates in your meals. Eat dessert maybe only one time per week.
The bit about losing 5% of you body weight usually only applies if you have excess fat to begin with.
Comments Off on Can Prediabetes Be Cured?
Filed under Prediabetes, Uncategorized
Clay Wirestone writes about some of the new diabetes drugs over at DiabetesHealth. Check it out if interested in Symlin, Byetta, or Invokana. A snippet:
A lot of potential patients means that scientists are working on a lot of potential breakthroughs. But it’s hard to know, sometimes, which drugs are the real breakthroughs and which ones are simply hyped-up versions of already available treatments. Your team of medical professionals will help you. It pays to stay informed, as well, so you’re not surprised if a new treatment is suggested.
His writing isn’t as dry as my Drugs for Diabetes. But I cover all 12 available drug classes.
Comments Off on Are the New Diabetes Drugs For You?
Filed under Uncategorized
E-book cover
Almost two years ago, a few patients asked me if the up-and-coming paleo diet might help with diabetes management. I had no idea. I’ve been studying the issue since then and have concluded that it may be healthful. Perhaps you’ve been following my intellectual journey at the Paleo Diabetic blog.
At this point there are many versions of the paleo diet out there. They vary widely in terms of carbohydrate content, which could be a major problem if you have diabetes. On the plus side, most paleo diets favor low-glycemic-index carbohydrates instead of high-GI. That would tend to smooth out blood sugar spikes. As far as I know, none of the published programs are designed specifically for people with diabetes. Until now.
I’m prepared when my next patient asks me about a paleo diabetic diet. I’ll refer him to the Paleobetic Diet.
Comments Off on Paleo Diet + Diabetes = Paleobetic Diet
Filed under Uncategorized
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Filed under Uncategorized
Larry Husten writing at Forbes has the details. For example:
Battle lines are being drawn two weeks before a highly unusual two-day FDA advisory committee meeting to discuss the contentious diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline). This will be the second time an FDA panel has wrestled with the fate of the drug and expectations have been that the discussion will once again be heated.
But at least one source of fierce criticism won’t be participating in the panel. Steve Nissen, who originally raised concerns about the drug and who has remained the most consistent critic of the drug, will not participate in the deliberations or present to the committee. Early on Thursday Nissen contributed a blog post on Forbes accusing the FDA of stacking the committee in favor of rosiglitazone. The FDA leadership, he says, is trying to use the meeting to “whitewash” its reputation…
Are they considering lifting the heavy restrictions on the drug? I see very few rosiglitazone users these days.
Comments Off on FDA Advisory Panel to Look at Rosiglitazone Once Again
Filed under Uncategorized
MedPageToday reports that women cutting carbs from 55 to 41% of total calories see improved insulin sensitivity, lower testosterone levels, lower blood sugar levels, and improved lipid numbers.
Learn more about PCOS at UpToDate.com. It affects 5 to 10% of U.S. women.
From MedPageToday:
“A moderate reduction in dietary carbohydrate reduced both insulin and testosterone,” Gower told MedPage Today. “There is no reason not to recommend reduction in dietary carbohydrate, particularly processed carbohydrate, for women with PCOS. It may have tremendous benefit, and there is certainly no downside.”
Filed under Uncategorized
Filed under Uncategorized
…and struggling with weight gain and other hormonal issues. Visit Franziska Spritzler’s blog for details. A quote:
While the aging process is inevitable and to some extent dependent on your genes, there are ways to make the transition easier in terms of weight management, loss of muscle mass, and blood sugar control. My advice is to cut back on carbs to a level that allows you to achieve a healthy weight and optimal glycemic levels, keeping in mind that this is highly individualized and may change over time. Some women at this stage may be able to continue the same moderate-to-high-carb diet they’ve always consumed without any issues, but after looking into the research and hearing many anecdotal accounts, I know that many are simply not. It saddens me to hear about ladies in their mid-40s to mid-50s eating low-fat diets and continuing to struggle with food cravings and weight. I feel many would benefit from the hunger-reducing, hormone-altering, blood-sugar-stabilizing effects of carb restriction.
Franziska recommends women consult their doctors before starting a low-carb diet or exercise program.
Comments Off on Excellent Advice For Women Approaching Menopause
Filed under Uncategorized
Click for details at DiabetesHealth. He starts like this:
I spent a month in a major insulin pump center and saw several things. Many of the female patients seemed to have wings on their sides where the pump tubing was inserted and they got lipohypertrophy from localized injections, but that was the least of it. None of them actually had remotely normal blood sugars.
Comments Off on Dr. Richard Bernstein on Insulin Pumps
Filed under Uncategorized
Click the pic to purchase at Amazon.com. E-book versions also available at Smashwords.com.
Bible Verse of the Day
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 