Surgery may reverse type 2 diabetes in morbidly obese peopleNovember 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Bariatric surgery has been found to effectively reverse type 2 diabetes in morbidly obese people, say researchers. The experts present at the Diabetes Surgery Summit (DSS) suggested that surgery should be considered for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients with a BMI of 35 or more who are inadequately controlled by lifestyle and medical therapy.
Researchers working on fun way to combat childhood obesityNovember 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers are working to find effective, fun filled methods to prevent childhood obesity, which could bring on an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Researchers at Geisinger Health System's Henry Hood Centre for Health Research and University of Pennsylvania are trying to find ways to prevent obesity in children aged four to eight years.
Now, smartphone games to help diabetic older adults manage healthOctober 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from Saint Louis University and Old Dominion University in Virginia have developed smartphone games that would help elderly diabetics manage their health and learn more about their condition. The novel smartphone technology includes interactive games and easy-to-use logging features, especially for elderly Chinese diabetics.
Diabetics with Alzheimer's have 'slower memory loss rate'October 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - People who have both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and diabetes have a slower rate of memory loss than people who suffer only from AD, says a new study. Earlier research has shown that diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease and the risk of memory loss in people who don't have Alzheimer's disease.
Guidelines to improve treatment of diabetes worldwideOctober 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Task Force on Clinical Guidelines has come out with new recommendations to improve the treatment of diabetes across the world. The IDF Global Guideline on Pregnancy and Diabetes is aimed at setting a universal standard for the treatment and care of those with gestational diabetes and diabetic pregnant woman.
Mangosteen juice may help prevent heart disease, diabetes in the obeseOctober 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - XanGo Juice- a market-leading, premium mangosteen beverage-has anti-inflammatory properties, which could help prevent the development of heart disease and diabetes in obese patients, according to a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial. The study found that the exotic "superfruit" mangosteen has lowered levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in overweight and obese people.
New decision aid tool may benefit diabeticsOctober 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have developed and tested a tool to involve patients more in their diabetes treatment and medication choices. Victor Montori, M.D., a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist in Rochester, co-author of the study, said that the tool, a set of decision aid cards, could help diabetics make decisions involving their disease and perhaps lead to better outcomes.
Tai Chi can help diabetics lower glucose levelsOctober 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A regular tai chi exercise program can help people better control their diabetes, says a new study. In the University of Florida study of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, those who participated in a supervised tai chi exercise program two days a week with three days of home practice for six months significantly lowered their fasting blood glucose levels, improved their management of the disease, and enhanced their overall quality of life, including mental health, vitality and energy.
Treating mild gestational diabetes beneficial for both infants and mothersOctober 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - The risk of common birth complications among infants can be reduced by treating even the mildest form of gestational diabetes among expectant mothers, according to a National Institutes of Health network study. While treatment of severe gestational diabetes is known to benefit mothers and infants, this study has provided the first conclusive evidence that treating the mild form of the condition is also beneficial.
Eating fish 'doesn't save you from heart failure'September 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Fish plays no role in the prevention of heart failure, but it can be partly beneficial for people with diabetes, according to a large prospective population study. The study, which was started in 1990 and involved all men and women over the age of 55 living in a suburb of Rotterdam, found no difference in the risk of developing heart failure between those who did eat fish and those who didn't.
Diabetes can delay bone fracture healingSeptember 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An inflammatory molecule called TNF-a may contribute to delayed bone fracture healing in diabetics, according to a study. A research article on the study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, describes diabetes as a condition where the body either does not produce enough, or respond to, insulin.
Exercise counselling, fitness centre training improve muscular strength in type 2 diabeticsSeptember 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A combination of exercise counselling by physical therapists and fitness centre training can prove very helpful in improving muscular strength and exercise capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, suggest the findings of a randomised clinical trial. Published in the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a report on the findings highlights the fact that type 2 diabetes often leads to numerous health complications, including a decline in muscular strength and exercise capacity.
Pancreatic fat levels could help predict diabetesSeptember 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Pancreatic fat levels may help predict diabetes, say scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center who are the first in the U.S. to use an imaging technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure the amount of pancreatic fat in humans.
Genes controlling insulin 'alter' body clockSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists at University of California, San Diego have identified certain insulin-regulating genes that can also alter the timing of the body clock. They said that the findings can lead to new approaches to treating disorders such as metabolic syndrome that can result, at least in part, from chronic disruption of the sleep-wake cycle.
Exercise can improve insulin sensitivity in obese sedentary adolescentsSeptember 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A moderate aerobic exercise program alone-without weight loss-has been found to improve insulin sensitivity in both lean and obese sedentary adolescents, as part of a new study. Accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), a report on the study highlights the fact that insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that permits glucose to enter cells to be used for energy or stored for future use by the body.
