Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Gingerbread

Serves: 8
Serving Size: 1/8 of gingerbread
Ingredients

1/2 cup Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup egg substitutes or egg whites, beaten
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. ginger, ground
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup boiling water
Preparation
1. Mix together all ingredients except the water; then add water. Mix thoroughly. Bake in a loaf pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast online.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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New Genes Found That Contribute To Diabetes

Researchers have discovered 10 new genes that contribute to type 2 diabetes and say these genes show a
clearer picture about the genetic and biological underpinnings of the disease. This new finding is important because it helps with developing new drugs.
Lead researcher Professor Mark McCarthy of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford said in a press release, "It is hard to come up with new drugs for diabetes without first having an understanding of which biological processes in the body to target."
Researchers analyzed DNA from more than 35,000 people with type 2 diabetes and 115,000 people without diabetes. Scientists from the University of Oxford, the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, participated in the study and used a new DNA chip that allows them to explore known gene variations more deeply than they could in the past.
Two of the new genes had different effects in men and women, with one raising the risk for women and the other raising the risk for men.
"By looking at all 60 or so gene regions together we can look for signatures of the type of genes that influence the risk of type 2 diabetes. We see genes involved in controlling the process of cell growth, division, and aging, particularly those that are active in the pancreas where insulin is produced," says McCarthy. "We see genes involved in pathways through which the body's fat cells can influence biological processes elsewhere in the body. And we see a set of transcription factor genes- genes that help control what other genes are active."
Researchers now have the ability to capture every gene variation association with type 2 diabetes, including why beta cells in the pancreas can't produce insulin when type 2 diabetes develops if there are fewer cells available. They can also understand better how obesity contributes to type 2 diabetes and how fat tissue communicates with the liver and muscles where insulin resistance occurs.
McCarthy adds, "We now have strong evidence that there is a long trail of further common gene variations beyond those we have identified so far. The 60 or so we know about will be the gene variants with the strongest effects on the risk of type 2 diabetes. But there are likely to be tens, hundreds, possibly even thousands more genes having smaller and smaller influences on development of the condition."
This research is exciting because of the potential for greater understanding of the disease, which can lead to better drug treatments and treatments.
Reference: EMaxHealth
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Mexican Skillet

Makes: 5 servings
Serving Size: 1 cup
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients

2 tsp. olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves
1 medium onion, diced
6 oz. lean ground beef, (93% lean)
2 cups diced zucchini
3 medium tomatoes, chopped, about 1 1/2 cups
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 can (15 oz.) no-salt-added red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 ripe avocado
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
5 lime wedges
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tsp. of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ground beef and saute for 4 to 5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon.
2. With a slotted spoon, remove the beef from the skillet and set aside. Add the remaining oil to the pan. Add the zucchini and tomatoes, and saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper, and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans, cover, and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Return the ground beef to the pan and heat through for 1 minute.
3. Serve with avocado, sour cream, lime wedges, and if desired, cilantro.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast online.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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Pesticide Use Linked To Type 2 Diabetes

It's that time of year when people are outside, working on getting their lawns green and weed free. They're

planting seeds so they can enjoy their bounty in the late summer. Many will use natural remedies to rid their lawns and gardens of pests, but most will use toxic treatments.
A ground (no pun intended) breaking study by environmental-health scientists from the University of Granada  in Spain have found a direct link between pesticide chemicals and diabetes, which helps to explain the rise in the condition over the last decade.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Research, says that people with higher concentrations of DDE- derived from the pesticide DDT- are four times as likely to to develop type 2 diabetes than others. Exposure to a chemical in the common pesticide Lindano also increases your risk.
"The mechanism of action by which (chemicals) increase the risk of diabetes is still unknown," says lead researcher Juan Pedro Arrebola. "However, some researchers have suggested that (pesticides) might cause an immunological response when they penetrate estrogen receptors in tissues associated with the metabolism of sugars."
Arrebola and colleagues analyzed concentrations of certain chemicals in the fat tissue of 386 adult patients of San Cecilo hospital, Granada, Santa Ana hospital, Motril, Spain. Human fat tissues "can store potentially harmful substances, such as persistent organic pollutants" like chemical pesticides or industrial waste when ingested through food, or absorbed through the air, water, or skin.
What the doctors found was a direct correlation between chemicals in the body and type 2 diabetes, regardless of age, weight, or gender. Since these chemicals love to concentrate in body fat, it explains why more obese people are developing diabetes.
Reference: News Health Max
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Cinnamon Rolls With Raisins

Makes: 30 servings
Serving Size: 1 roll
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Rising Time: 3 hours
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients

1 cup fat-free milk
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 packages dry yeast
2 eggs
1 egg white
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar blend
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup raisins
1/2 cup frozen apple juice concentrate
Preparation
1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter to just simmering. Add the oil, sugar, and salt. Remove the milk mixture from the heat and cool to lukewarm.
2. In a small bowl, combine the yeast and 1/2 cup warm water, and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and egg white with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add the milk mixture and yeast mixture. Add the flours, a small amount at a time, mixing well with a wooden spoon.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for 10 to 15 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
5. Lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with a towel, and set the bowl in a warm place to rise, about 1 1/2 hours, until the dough is doubled in size. Divide the dough in half and form into two balls.
6. Combine the Splenda Brown Sugar Blend, cinnamon, and raisins. Spray an 11- X 14-inch baking sheet with cooking spray.
7. Roll each piece of dough into a large rectangle. Sprinkle each rectangle with half the cinnamon-raisin mixture. Starting at the long side, roll each rectangle into a log. Slice each log into 15 pieces. Place each roll onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover the rolls with a towel and let them rise for 1 1/2 hours.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, melt the apple juice concentrate over medium-low heat. Brush each roll with the concentrate. Bake the rolls for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast online.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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Low Melatonin Increases Diabetes Risk

New research suggests that melatonin, a hormone known most for helping people sleep, may have an impact in someone's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The research says that people with low melatonin levels while they are sleeping are at a greater risk for developing the disease.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain during sleep and released into the bloodstream. It peaks three to five hours after people go to sleep and helps regulate their sleep-wake cycles. The nightly release of melatonin into the blood keeps bodily rhythms synchronized. Some research suggests that it affects glucose metabolism.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston studied the relationship between melatonin and Type 2 diabetes by examining the blood and urine samples of 370 women who developed Type 2 diabetes between 2000 and 2012 and matched them with 370 women of the same race and age who did not have diabetes. The 740 women were all participants of the Nurses' Health Study. They filled out questionnaires about their physical activity levels, diets, sleep habits, smoking habits, and family history.
The findings, published in Journal of the American Medical Association, found that women with low levels of melatonin at night were twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes as those with high levels. That rang true even after researchers factored in all other risk factors, including diet, smoking, family history, and being overweight/obese.
"It's possible that melatonin impacts the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin, and the body's sensitivity to insulin, which could lead to Type 2 diabetes," says lead author Ciaran McMullan, a research fellow at Brigham and Women's.
Studies using rats have shown that feeding them melatonin helps protect against the onset of Type 2 diabetes, but that doesn't mean it will work the same for humans. "We don't know yet that raising someone's melatonin levels would lower their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. We cannot make any treatment recommendations on taking melatonin supplements based on this study. This is an observational study, and randomized trials are needed to confirm our findings," McMullan says.
Sleep researcher Eve Van Cauter, director of the Sleep, Metabolism, and Health Center at the University of Chicago agrees with the findings. "Insufficient sleep, poor sleep quality, including sleep apnea, and irregular sleep-wake cycles such as those that occur in shift work have all been linked to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. Good regular sleep habits and avoiding light exposure in the wee hours will help produce melatonin and may reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes," Van Cauter says.
Reference: USA Today
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Party Shrimp With Cilantro Dip

Makes: 16 servings
Serving Size: About 4 shrimp, 1 Tbsp. dip
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Cilantro dip
6 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup minced cilantro
1/2 small green bell pepper, seeded, cored, and diced (about 1/2 cup)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil

2 lbs. peeled and deveined fresh large shrimp, tails on
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. sweet paprika
1 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. hot or mild chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Preparation
1. In a small food processor, mix the garlic, cilantro, green pepper, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes, pausing to scrape the sides. Add the vinegar and oil, and puree until smooth. Spoon the dip into a small serving bowl; set aside (chill in the refrigerator if not serving right away).
2. In a large bowl combine the shrimp, cumin, paprika, coriander, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
3. In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and saute for 5 to 8 minutes, until the shrimp turn pink and are no longer translucent. If you need to cook the shrimp in two batches, cook them 3 to 5 minutes per batch, until the shrimp are pink. Add the shrimp to a serving bowl.
4. To serve: Spoon 1 Tbsp. dip into each of 16 shot glasses and place three to four shrimp around the lip of the glass.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast online.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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New Supplement To Reduce Diabetes Risk During Pregnancy

A new small pilot study says that myo-insitol supplements may help protect women at risk for gestational diabetes.
Previous studies have shown that myo-insitol may restore fertility in polycystic ovary syndrome, but this is the  first evidence it may reduce the number of gestational diabetes cases, says lead author Dr. Rosario D'Anna.
Women who are overweight or obese or have a family history of diabetes are at risk for gestational diabetes, which affects 10 percent of pregnancies. Those with the condition have trouble controlling their carbohydrates, which therefore leads to high blood sugar.
"Undiagnosed and untreated gestational diabetes can cause large for gestational diabetes babies, which may lead to delivery complications," says Dr. D'Anna, who is at the Department of Obstetrics at University Hospital in Messina, Italy.
220 pregnant women with a family history of Type 2 diabetes were part of the study. Half of the women were given two grams of myo-insitol supplements twice a day along with the recommended amount of folic acid. The other women were given just the folic acid from the end of the first trimester.
Myo-insitol is available in the United States without a prescription and costs $10 for 60 650 millograms. It is also found in fruits, nuts, grains, and meats, but not in high concentrations.
Of those who took the myo-insitol, just six percent developed gestational diabetes, compared to 15 percent who took just the folic acid. None of the babies in the myo-insitol group met criteria for being overweight, but seven babies in the folic acid group did, weighing more than eight pounds, 13 ounces.
Even though these results are positive, it doesn't mean the supplement works or is safe. "The results are promising, but we would need a larger trial and a broader group of women before we could recommend this supplement," says Dr. Wanda Nicholson, who studies gestational diabetes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Even though their blood sugar levels usually return to normal after pregnancy, women need to continue to diet and exercise. "Up to 50 percent of women in general who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes can develop Type 2 diabetes in the next five to 10 years," says Nicholson.
Dr. Donald Coustan of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island in Providence says, "There's really nothing currently recommended to prevent gestational diabetes" other than maintaining a healthy weight before getting pregnant.
The number of women getting the condition has been rising for the last 10 years. "There's great concern that we're going to be inundated with patients with gestational diabetes," says Coustan.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

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