April 11, 2013 · 7:53 PM

The Problem With Diabetes Research

…according to an article at Medical News Today:

An analysis of diabetes trials worldwide has found they are not addressing key issues relating to the condition with almost two thirds focusing on drug therapy while only one in ten addresses prevention or behavioural therapies [which would include diet modification]. The research is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and is by Dr Jennifer Green, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA, and colleagues.

Read the rest.

h/t Tom Naughton

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April 11, 2013 · 1:43 AM

Can You Form an Exercise Habit In Just 30 Days? Let’s Find Out!

young man exercising in a parkDietitian Melanie Thomassian at Dietriffic has issued a social media-based challenge to see if you can form an exercise habit over the course of 30 days starting April 15.

Much of the psychology literature I’ve seen suggests that habit formation takes more like eight to 12 weeks.

You’ve got very little to lose, and much to gain if you’re currently a couch potato. Why not join us?

Details here.

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April 11, 2013 · 1:04 AM

Moderate-Carb Diet No Better Than Standard High-Carb Diet In Gestational Diabetes

…according to a report at MedPageToday.

Women with gestational diabetes were randomized to either a 40% carb diet or 55% carb diet. The same numbers in each group ended up needing insulin therapy to control blood sugars.

Both groups ate the same amount of protein. The lower-carb group replaces some carbs with fat.

Pregnancy outcomes were similar in both groups.

Critics wonder if stricter carbohydrate restriction would have been more effective.

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April 9, 2013 · 8:32 PM

One More Study Shows Low-Carb Beats Low-Fat Diet for Weight Loss

low-carb diet, low-carb fruits, Steve Parker MD

Low-carb isn’t meat-only: You can eat these low-carb fruits

A low-carb diet was superior to a traditional low-fat weight loss diet, and without adverse effects on markers of systemic inflammation, according to a report at ScienceDaily. Some medical professionals are still hesitant to accept the validity of low-carb dieting, fearing that relatively high fat and protein content may promote inflammation, leading to atherosclerosis.  The study at hand should be reassuring in that regard.

Some quotes from ScienceDaily:

The researchers measured the participants’ blood levels for three common markers of inflammation — C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha — at the beginning and end of the study. They also measured body weight, body mass index (BMI) and total body and belly fat. At the start, both groups were similar in the various measures, including elevated levels of inflammation markers.

The participants on the low-carb diet lost more weight, on average, than those on the low-fat diet — 28 pounds versus 18 pounds [over the six month trial.

…

“In both groups, there was a significant drop in the levels of all three measures of inflammation,” says [Kerry] Stewart, indicating that a diet higher in fat and protein doesn’t interfere with the ability to lower inflammation, as long as you are losing weight.

Despite reading several online articles on this study, I can’t determine which low-carb diet was used, nor the level of carbohydrate restriction. Both diet groups exercised three times a week. I expect full details to be published in a scientific journal within a couple years. The research was done at Johns Hopkins University and was not funded by Atkins Nutritionals. U.S. taxpayers funded it.

If you’re looking for a low-carb diet, consider the Low-Carb Mediterranean Diet. Carb restriction starts at under 30 grams a day, but allows for increases over time as long as you’re making weight-loss progress. The typical American eats 250 to 300 grams of carbohydrate daily.

Read the rest at ScienceDaily.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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April 6, 2013 · 2:00 AM

Which Diseases Do Vegetables and Fruits Prevent?

Potential answers are in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012).  I quote:

For hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke, there is convincing evidence that increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruit reduces the risk of disease. There is probable evidence that the risk of cancer in general is inversely associated with the consumption of vegetables and fruit. In addition, there is possible evidence that an increased consumption of vegetables and fruit may prevent body weight gain. As overweight is the most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, an increased consumption of vegetables and fruit therefore might indirectly reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Independent of overweight, there is probable evidence that there is no influence of increased consumption on the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is possible evidence that increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruit lowers the risk of certain eye diseases, dementia and the risk of osteoporosis. Likewise, current data on asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and rheumatoid arthritis indicate that an increase in vegetable and fruit consumption may contribute to the prevention of these diseases. For inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, there was insufficient evidence regarding an association with the consumption of vegetables and fruit.

It bothers me that vegetables and fruits are lumped together: they’re not the same.

All of my diets—Advanced Mediterranean, Low-Carb Mediterranean, and Ketogenic Mediterranean—provide plenty of fruits and vegetables.

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April 5, 2013 · 2:28 AM

“Interval Walking” May Be Healthier Than Regular Walking For Diabetics

Not ready for this? Consider interval walking then.

Not ready for this? Consider interval walking then.

Compared to a regular continuous walking program, interval walking is superior for improving physical fitness, blood sugar control, and body composition (body mass and fatness), according to new research reported in Diabetes Care.

Study participants were type 2 diabetics. Training groups were prescribed five sessions per week (60 min/session) and were monitored with an accelerometer and a heart-rate monitor. Continuous walkers performed all training at moderate intensity, whereas interval walkers alternated 3-min repetitions at low and high intensity. Before and after the 4-month intervention, the following variables were measured: body composition, VO2max, and glycemic control (fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1C, oral glucose tolerance test, and continuous glucose monitoring).

I haven’t read the full report yet, but expect that the interval walkers walked as fast as they could for three minutes (4 mph?) then slowed down to a comfortable stroll (1–2 mph?) for three minutes, alternating thusly for 60 minutes.

This should easily do-able for nearly all type 2 diabetics.  The reported results are consistent with other studies of more vigorous and intimidating interval training.  The only caveat is that it was a small pilot study that may or may not be reproducible.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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April 4, 2013 · 1:33 AM

Melanie Thomassian, RD, Debunks Some Myths About Dietary Protein

She thinks the Recommended Daily Allowance (0.8 mg/kg) is too low for most folks.

For details, visit Dietriffic.

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March 31, 2013 · 8:47 PM

A Skeptical View of Invokana (canagliflozin), the New Diabetes Drug

Jenny Ruhl has a valuable post on the newest drug for type 2 diabetes: canagliflozin. A snippet:

If your doctor tries to put you on this drug, say no. Wait ten years, and search the literature then to see what scientists have found out about its real effects on patients before you try it.

Jenny says the pill will cost $8.77 (USD) per pill. Well worth a read.

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March 28, 2013 · 5:33 AM

Moderate Fruit Consumption May Not Sabotage Blood Sugar Control In Type 2 Diabetes

…according to an article in Nutrition Journal. These were newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics. This is interesting research because we’ve often assumed that the sugar in fruits would raise blood sugar too high, leading to recommendations to avoid fruits, or at least limit them to one piece daily.

The Well blog at the New York Times covered the story.  You’ll likely find the comments illuminating. Also see the Diabetes Self-Managment article. I’ll read the original research report when time allows.

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March 26, 2013 · 12:43 PM

Your Lifescan Glucose Meter May Have Been Recalled

…read here for details.  Some models fail to report extremely high readings.  In the U.S., it’s the OneTouch Verio IQ meter. 

From MedPageToday:

“The recall also extends to similar OneTouch devices sold in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including the Verio IQ, Verio Pro, and Verio Pro+.”

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