Category: blog

Smoking is bad for everyone, but it may be especially harmful for diabetics. A new study finds that the nicotine found in cigarette smoke is responsible for raising blood sugar and increasing the risk of dangerous diabetes complications. Although it was known that smokers with diabetes are at higher risk for complications than non-smokers with the disease, this is the first report showing that nicotine is to blame. Xiao-Chuan Liu, PhD, who presented the results at the 241st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, says that while there may also be concern about smoking cessation methods that also contain nicotine (like gum or patches), they are most often used for only brief periods. “If you’re a smoker and have diabetes, you should be concerned and make every effort to quit smoking,” says Dr. Liu.

A new study has found that people who do not sleep well, and have disturbed nights at least three times each week, are at a greater risk of developing conditions such as obesity, Diabetes and coronary artery disease.

The research, by scientists and lead author on the study, Michael Grandner, at the Perelman school of Medicine at the university of Pennsylvania, examined data from more than 1,30,000 people to find that general sleep disturbance, including having difficulty falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much, could also be partly responsible for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders developing in the first place.

Those with disturbed sleep on at least three nights per week on average were three nights per week on average were shown to be at a 54 per cent risk of Diabetes, 35per cent more likely to be obese, 98 per cent more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease, 80 per cent likely to have a heart attack, while 102 per cent more likely to have suffered a stroke.

High Levels Of Sitting Time Ups Diabetes Risk For Women 

Thu, 23 Feb 2012

  

A new study suggests that women who sit for up to seven hours a day may be at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

Researchers from the University of Leicester found that women who spend the most time sitting down during the week are more likely to show early signs of the disease than those who are more active. However, no such link was found in men. 

For their study, the scientists questioned 505 men and women aged 59 or over on their sedentary behaviour and conducted tests to measure levels of certain chemicals in their blood known to be linked with the onset of diabetes. 

The results showed that women sat between an average of four and seven hours each day and men between four and eight hours. 

Women who sat the longest had higher levels of insulin, which suggested their bodies were becoming resistant to the hormone, thus increasing their chances of developing diabetes . 

They also had higher readings of C-reactive protein, leptin, adinopectin and interleukin-6, all chemicals released by fatty tissue in the abdomen and which point to dangerous inflammation . 

In a report, the researchers said: “This study provides new evidence that higher levels of sitting time, independent of physical activity, have a deleterious impact on insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation in women but not men.”

“It suggests enabling women to spend less time sitting is an important factor in preventing chronic disease .” 

Commenting on why the same results were not found in the male participants, they explained that this may be because women tend to snack more than men during sedentary behaviour, and men engage in more robust activity once they do get moving.

Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of specific cancers in both men and women, according to results from a large, long-term study. The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, which followed more than 500,000 patients ages 50 to 71, found that having diabetes increased the risk of colon, rectal, and liver cancers in both men and women. The risk of pancreatic and bladder cancer was higher in men with diabetes, and the risk of stomach, anal, and endometrial cancers was higher in women with diabetes. However, diabetes is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in men, which experts believe is due to lower levels of testosterone found with the disease.

AsianScientist (Mar. 19, 2012) – The risk of type 2 diabetes is significantly increased if white rice is eaten regularly, says a study published last Friday in the journal BMJ.

Led by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, the goal of the study was to determine whether this diabetes risk is dependent on the amount of rice consumed and if the association is stronger for the Asian population, who tend to eat more white rice than the Western world.

On average, Chinese populations eat an average of four portions a day while those in the Western world eat less than five portions a week.

The authors analyzed the results of four studies: two in Asian countries (China and Japan) and two in Western countries (USA and Australia). All participants were diabetes free at study baseline.

A significant trend was found in both Asian and Western countries with a stronger association found amongst women than men. The more white rice eaten, the higher the risk of type 2 diabetes: with each increased serving of white rice (assuming 158 g per serving) contributing to a 10 percent increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes.

“In summary, this meta-analysis suggests that higher white rice intake is associated with a significantly elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, especially among Asian populations,” the authors write. “The recent transition in nutrition characterised by dramatically decreased physical activity levels and much improved security and variety of food has led to increased prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance in Asian countries.”

White rice is the predominant type of rice eaten worldwide and has high glycemic index (GI) values. High GI diets have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Compared to brown rice, it has a lower content of nutrients including fiber, magnesium, and vitamins, which may contribute to the increased risk, the authors report.

The authors caution that an increased intake of other sources of refined carbohydrates such as pastries, white bread, and sugar sweetened beverages may also contribute to type 2 diabetes, not simply just white rice. They recommend eating whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, which they hope will help slow down the global diabetes epidemic.

Both Asian and Western cultures are susceptible to this diabetes risk, the authors say, although it is thought that Asian countries are at a higher risk due to a generally higher rice consumption.

The article can be found at: Hu EA et al. (2012) White rice consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: meta-analysis and systematic review.

When you’re on the exam table, fibbing to your doctor about a few of your health habits might not seem like such a big deal — and if you do lie, you’re certainly not alone. Plenty of patients want to skirt a scolding about smoking, drinking, or a fried-food-filled diet. 

But before you fudge the truth, consider this: One little lie to your doc can keep him from doing his job well and, as a result, can have a serious impact on your overall health and longevity. To help you make the right decision, here are the top 10 lies that doctors hear — and the negative health impact that each one carries.

Lie No. 1: I quit smoking months ago.

This is one of the most common lies doctors hear. Not only is this one bad for your health, it also prevents your doctor from being able to treat you properly. “If a physician advises a patient to stop smoking, but he does not, this may cause the physician to believe that a disease or the symptoms of a disease are progressing,” says Bernie Ranchero, MD, a physician with Doctors Express in Creve Coeur, Mo., instead of being due to continued smoking.

Lie No. 2: I rarely drink.

Most doctors have no qualms with a drink a day for women and two for men, but many people still lie to their physicians about drinking altogether. This is bad news when it comes to your overall longevity. “Too much alcohol causes weight gain and will cause abnormal liver tests,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the NYU Women’s Heart Program. “The doctor always finds out the truth sooner or later, so why waste time lying about it?”

Lie No. 3: I’m a fitness nut!

Lying to your doctor about exercise really hurts you the most. “Just saying you exercise doesn’t improve your health,” says Dr. Goldberg. “You need to actually do the exercise. It’s not hurting the doctor’s feelings if you don’t take her advice, but it can hurt your health.”

Lie No. 4: I only take the medications I’m prescribed.

More and more people these days are becoming addicted to prescription medications, particularly painkillers. This can lead them into the very dangerous practice of going from doctor to doctor in an attempt to solicit more painkiller prescriptions. It’s a dangerous game, both for you and the doctor. “The patients I am treating for chronic pain syndromes are requested to sign a ‘pain contract’ and submit to periodic urine drug screens, and I frequently find that people are lying about taking pain medications from other doctors,” says Jeffrey Moy, MD, of Doctors Express Urgent Care in Sacramento, Calif.

Lie No. 5: I don’t skip any of my medications.

The flip side? Lying to your doctor about taking all the medications he actually did prescribe to you. If you stopped your meds for any reason, it’s important to be honest with your physician. “Tell your doctor if you have concerns about the medication you take. He needs to know about any side effects you have been having or if you stopped taking it because it is too expensive — he may be able to prescribe a generic,” says Goldberg. “Good doctor-patient relationships are partnerships. If there is something holding you back from doing what’s best for your health, you’ll have the help you need to get through it.”

Lie No. 6: I’m a healthy eater.

When you don’t eat right, you only harm yourself. But you also make it harder for the doctor to determine what’s actually wrong with you if he thinks you’re practicing a healthy habit that you’re really not. Plus, most doctors won’t be fooled by this fib. “The scale in my office — it always tells the truth,” says Goldberg.

Lie No. 7: Sexual problems? No way.

Whether you have multiple partners or a problem with sexual function, disclosing sexual information to your doctor can be embarrassing. But it is also critical for your health. “This intensely personal issue is commonly hidden from providers,” says Donald Darst, MD, an internal medicine specialist at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. “This includes topics of sexual function, homosexuality or bisexuality, and promiscuity. All of these have important health consequences and need to be divulged. You might feel very vulnerable, but take a deep breath and tell your doctor.”

Lie No. 8: Ouch, I feel awful!

In some cases, patients will invent symptoms or exaggerate existing symptoms in an attempt to get medications from their doctor that they don’t really need, says Dr. Ranchero. This puts both the patient and doctor at risk. When it comes to your own health and longevity, it’s important to be as specific and accurate about your symptoms as possible.

Lie No. 9: I’m not sure when my symptoms started.

Another dangerous example of lying to your doctor is leaving out pertinent details about your symptoms or condition because you are embarrassed about it. “The specifics of when, where, and how your symptoms started is crucial in developing the diagnosis,” says Ranchero. “For instance, if a patient is not completely honest or does not share that these symptoms occurred after a specific act (such as taking illicit drugs or ingesting a toxin), or if the patient does not want to share out of embarrassment, then this may lead the clinician to a different conclusion or treatment.”

Lie No. 10: I have no family history of that disease.

Lying to your doctor about your family history of a disease is a surefire way to sabotage your overall health and longevity down the road. “It is critical that you tell your physician your compete medical, family, and social history,” says Ranchero. “It is important to know if there is a genetic history for certain cancers. This will help develop the physician’s diagnosis.” Telling the truth about your family mental health history is important, too.