Bad news for those who live in areas with air pollution: exposure to air pollution raises the risk of resistance to insulin in children, according to a new study in Diabetolgia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
A study of about 400 10 year old German children found that insulin resistance increased 17 percent for every 10.6 micrograms per cubic meter increase in ambient nitrogen dioxide and by 19 percent for every 6 micrograms per cubic meter increase in particular matter.
Previous research indicated a link between traffic-related air pollution and the development of diabetes in adults. These studies show that exposure to fine pollution particles that get into the respiratory system, heart, and vessels increases inflammation, which can be linked to insulin resistance, says study author Joachim Heinrich, of the German Research Center for Environmental Health.
"Given the ubiquitous nature of air pollution and the high incidence of insulin resistance in the general population, the associations examined here may have potentially important public health effects," said Heinrich in the paper.
Blood samples were collected from 397 children who were included in two German birth cohort studies. Exposure to air pollutants at their addresses was estimated by analyzing emissions from road traffic, population density, and land use. Measurements of blood insulin levels and air pollutants were taken at various times so the findings "should be regarded with caution," says Jon Ayres, a professor of environmental and respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham in England. Ayres said in the statement that a larger study should be done to confirm the link.
Study participants will be tested again at age 15 to see how the findings evolve during and after puberty and the effect of moving to a different location.
Reference: Business Week.
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Showing posts with label causes of diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label causes of diabetes. Show all posts
Monday, July 29, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Diabetics: Stay Away From Soft Drinks!
Europeans scientists have found that having just one can a day raises your risk by 20 percent, compared to someone who has one can or less a month.
This new research was carried out by scientists in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, and the Netherlands. The findings were published in the journal Diabetologia and mirrors previous US research.
More than 350,000 people participated in the study, which involved questions about their diet and was part of a larger European study on links between diet and cancer.
"The consumption of sugar sweetened soft drinks increases your risk of diabetes- so for every can of soft drinks that you drink per day, the risk is higher," said leader researcher Dora Romaguera from Imperial College London.
Romaguera called for better public health information on the effects of soft drinks. "Given the increase in sweet beverage consumption in Europe, clearer messages on its deleterious effect on health should be given to the population," said Romaguera and colleagues in their paper.
However, fruit juice consumption was not linked to an increased risk for diabetes later in life.
Dr. Matthew Hobbs, head of research at Diabetes UK, said the link between sugary drinks and Type 2 diabetes exists when you add in body mass index. The risk, therefore, is not due to the extra calories.
"Even so, it is not definitive evidence that sugar-sweetened soft drinks increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, other than through their effect on body weight," Dr. Hobbs said.
"We do, though, already recommend limiting consumption of sugary foods and drinks as these are usually high in calories and so can lead to weight gain if you have too many of them. This is important for Type 2 diabetes because we know that maintaining a healthy weight is the single most important thing you can do to prevent it," Hobbs added.
Professor Patrick Wolfe from University College London, a statistic expert, said that just 4 percent of the UK population has Type 1 diabetes. "In and of themselves, sugary soft drinks are only part of the picture- they're just one of the potential risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. But since they are one we can easily eliminate- by switching to diet soft drinks or, even better, cutting them out of our diets altogether- it makes good sense to do so," said Wolfe.
Reference: Codewit World News
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Monday, May 13, 2013
Low Melatonin Increases Diabetes Risk
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
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Monday, February 25, 2013
Body Fat and Diabetes
Where your body stores the majority of its fat could potentially be the key to finding a person's risk of Type 2 diabetes. An observational study published in the American Medical Association's special issue on obesity points to abdominal fat as being the biggest culprit.
The study tracked 6,000 participants in the Dallas Heart Study and is the largest of its kind to assess the diabetes risk of a multiethnic composition of the country as a whole.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center were able, using imaging techniques, to predict diabetes in obese subjects, years before the disease presented itself. Participants were tested for body composition and biomarkers such as insulin resistance and blood-sugar levels and researchers concluded that body mass index, HDL cholesterol, and body-fat percentage did not impact Type 2 diabetes risk, but the level of abdominal fat did.
"Diabetes was linked to fat around the organs, not subcutaneous fat, not total body fat, and not body mass index," said lead researcher James de Lemos, MD, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern. Previous research showed that fat in the lower body can have a protective effect against heart disease and diabetes in some people, especially women, but positive effects of fat storage were not analyzed in this study.
In those who had normal fasting glucose at the beginning of the study, age, ethnicity, and additional weight gain over the course of the eight year study appeared to determine their diabetes risk.
"Additional weight gain in obese people was the most powerful predictor of who would develop diabetes or prediabetes," de Lemos says. "If clinicians can prevent additional weight gain, we can do a lot to prevent diabetes."
de Lemos believes this information can be used in a clinical setting to predict which obese patients will develop diabetes and to help target diabetes-prevention therapies. Lifestyle interventions, prescription weight-loss supplements, and even weight loss surgery are all actions that can be taken if the person is suspected to have a higher diabetes risk. "Some therapies can carry substantial risk and expense and might be best targeted toward those who are high-risk for diabetes," said de Lemos.
However, it is important to remember that not all obese patients are alike and should not be treated that way. "There's no association between markers of general adipositivity and prediabetes. Obesity is a heterogeneous or variable disorder, and we can characterize specific subgroups that have a greater or lesser risk of developing diabetes- with clinical implications," said de Lemos.
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The study tracked 6,000 participants in the Dallas Heart Study and is the largest of its kind to assess the diabetes risk of a multiethnic composition of the country as a whole.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center were able, using imaging techniques, to predict diabetes in obese subjects, years before the disease presented itself. Participants were tested for body composition and biomarkers such as insulin resistance and blood-sugar levels and researchers concluded that body mass index, HDL cholesterol, and body-fat percentage did not impact Type 2 diabetes risk, but the level of abdominal fat did.
"Diabetes was linked to fat around the organs, not subcutaneous fat, not total body fat, and not body mass index," said lead researcher James de Lemos, MD, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern. Previous research showed that fat in the lower body can have a protective effect against heart disease and diabetes in some people, especially women, but positive effects of fat storage were not analyzed in this study.
In those who had normal fasting glucose at the beginning of the study, age, ethnicity, and additional weight gain over the course of the eight year study appeared to determine their diabetes risk.
"Additional weight gain in obese people was the most powerful predictor of who would develop diabetes or prediabetes," de Lemos says. "If clinicians can prevent additional weight gain, we can do a lot to prevent diabetes."
de Lemos believes this information can be used in a clinical setting to predict which obese patients will develop diabetes and to help target diabetes-prevention therapies. Lifestyle interventions, prescription weight-loss supplements, and even weight loss surgery are all actions that can be taken if the person is suspected to have a higher diabetes risk. "Some therapies can carry substantial risk and expense and might be best targeted toward those who are high-risk for diabetes," said de Lemos.
However, it is important to remember that not all obese patients are alike and should not be treated that way. "There's no association between markers of general adipositivity and prediabetes. Obesity is a heterogeneous or variable disorder, and we can characterize specific subgroups that have a greater or lesser risk of developing diabetes- with clinical implications," said de Lemos.
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
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Monday, February 18, 2013
New Research Provides Insight In Diabetes Gene
Diabetes researchers at Lund University in Sweden have been able to reveal more of the genetic complexity behind Type 2 diabetes.
The new research findings were achieved through access to human insulin-producing cells from deceased donors and by not only studying one gene variant, but many genes. New methods were used to see how these genes influence the level of the gene in pancreatic islets and their effect on insulin secretion and glucose supply.
"With this approach, we can explain 25 percent of variations in blood sugar levels. Previously, the best studies have explained less than 3 percent," says Leif Groop from Lund University Diabetes Centre, the principal author of the study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
The results of the study provide greater insights into why, in cases of Type 2 diabetes, beta cells cease to perform their function of producing sufficient insulin to keep blood sugar levels under control.
"We have linked different gene variants to their effects on donated human beta cells and have compared cells from non-diabetic and diabetics," said Professor Groop.
The starting point for researchers was the 47 known gene variants that have a link to diabetes. "We used them as 'bait' to find new signal paths and chain of events where the 47 variants work together with other genes. We have to map patterns because a single gene rarely acts on its own," continued Groop.
To pick out the 20 strongest gene variants, criteria included a difference between beta cells from healthy individuals and diabetics and a link to insulin secretion and blood sugar levels. The goal of the study was to understand the relationship between gene variants and diabetes.
"By taking a new and more holistic approach, we have gone a step further than previous projects and succeeded in linking together gene variants and their signal paths in human beta cells that cause reduced insulin secretion. The next step is to look in more detail at the way in which the strongest genes affect insulin secretion," said Groop.
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The new research findings were achieved through access to human insulin-producing cells from deceased donors and by not only studying one gene variant, but many genes. New methods were used to see how these genes influence the level of the gene in pancreatic islets and their effect on insulin secretion and glucose supply.
"With this approach, we can explain 25 percent of variations in blood sugar levels. Previously, the best studies have explained less than 3 percent," says Leif Groop from Lund University Diabetes Centre, the principal author of the study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
The results of the study provide greater insights into why, in cases of Type 2 diabetes, beta cells cease to perform their function of producing sufficient insulin to keep blood sugar levels under control.
"We have linked different gene variants to their effects on donated human beta cells and have compared cells from non-diabetic and diabetics," said Professor Groop.
The starting point for researchers was the 47 known gene variants that have a link to diabetes. "We used them as 'bait' to find new signal paths and chain of events where the 47 variants work together with other genes. We have to map patterns because a single gene rarely acts on its own," continued Groop.
To pick out the 20 strongest gene variants, criteria included a difference between beta cells from healthy individuals and diabetics and a link to insulin secretion and blood sugar levels. The goal of the study was to understand the relationship between gene variants and diabetes.
"By taking a new and more holistic approach, we have gone a step further than previous projects and succeeded in linking together gene variants and their signal paths in human beta cells that cause reduced insulin secretion. The next step is to look in more detail at the way in which the strongest genes affect insulin secretion," said Groop.
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
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Monday, January 14, 2013
Some Cosmetic Products Linked to Diabetes Risk
Tamara James-Todd, Ph.D. and team explained that although prior studies had detected higher urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in women, very few had looked into what the link between phthalate metabolites and diabetes and diabetes-related risk factors might be.
Dr. James-Todd and team set out to determine whether there is an association between phthalate metabolite concentrations in urine and diabetes in adult females. They gathered data from the CDC and self-reported accounts of diabetes diagnoses in 2,350 women aged between 20 and 80 years old.
The researchers found that:
- Overall, those with higher urine levels of phthalates had a higher risk of developing diabetes, compared to those with the lowest levels.
- Those with the highest levels of mono-benzyl phthalates and mono-isobutyl phthalate in their urine were twice as likely to develop diabetes, compared to women with the lowest levels.
- Those with moderately high levels of di-2-ethlyhexyl phthalate and mono-n-butyl phthalate had a 70% greater risk of developing diabetes, compared to women with the lowest levels.
- Women with a higher than average level of mono (3-carboxypropl) phthalate had a 60% greater risk of developing diabetes compared to those with the lowest levels.
Phthalates are found in: binders, building materials, detergents, dispersants, electronics, emulsifying agents, film formers, glues and adhesives, lubricants, many food products, medical devices, packaging, paints, personal care products, printing inks, stabilizers, suspending agents, textiles, coating on some pills, toys,and viscosity control agents.
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Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247857.php
Monday, January 7, 2013
Does How You Sleep Cause Diabetes?
Sleep apnea, which stops a person from breathing for brief periods while they sleep, can increase a young man's chance of getting Type 2 diabetes, a new study published in Diabetes Care reports.
Previous research has provided links between sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes, but this is the first study that makes a link for healthy men with no other diabetic risk factors.
The study was conducted at McGill university with 12 men aged 18 to 30 with sleep apnea were compared to a control group of 20 men. All of the men in the study group were similar in terms of age, body mass index, ethnicity-based diabetes risk, levels of exercise, and family history of Type 2 diabetes. Both groups had normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. After eating, men who have sleep apnea had a 27% lower insulin sensitivity and a higher total insulin secretion than the control group.
Past research made the connection between sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes because obesity is a risk factor for both conditions. Researchers may have found a link between sleep apnea and insulin resistance because of viseral fat that can contribute to both conditions.
More than 12 million Americans have sleep apnea, and most do not know they have the condition. Symptoms include snoring, daytime sleepiness, and chronic exhaustion. The only way to be diagnosed with sleep apnea is to be studied that records your breathing patterns, eye movements, and brain activity while you sleep.
Men over the age of 65 are typically affected, but a family history of the condition, airway abnormalities, alcohol use, and smoking can increase your risk. Certain ethnicities, like being African-American or Hispanic, also predisposes you to the condition.
Often, lifestyle changes that are associated with Type 2 diabetes are also effective with sleep apnea: losing weight and exercising more. Avoid alcohol before bed as that causes a relaxed tongue during sleep.
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
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Previous research has provided links between sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes, but this is the first study that makes a link for healthy men with no other diabetic risk factors.
The study was conducted at McGill university with 12 men aged 18 to 30 with sleep apnea were compared to a control group of 20 men. All of the men in the study group were similar in terms of age, body mass index, ethnicity-based diabetes risk, levels of exercise, and family history of Type 2 diabetes. Both groups had normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. After eating, men who have sleep apnea had a 27% lower insulin sensitivity and a higher total insulin secretion than the control group.
Past research made the connection between sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes because obesity is a risk factor for both conditions. Researchers may have found a link between sleep apnea and insulin resistance because of viseral fat that can contribute to both conditions.
More than 12 million Americans have sleep apnea, and most do not know they have the condition. Symptoms include snoring, daytime sleepiness, and chronic exhaustion. The only way to be diagnosed with sleep apnea is to be studied that records your breathing patterns, eye movements, and brain activity while you sleep.
Men over the age of 65 are typically affected, but a family history of the condition, airway abnormalities, alcohol use, and smoking can increase your risk. Certain ethnicities, like being African-American or Hispanic, also predisposes you to the condition.
Often, lifestyle changes that are associated with Type 2 diabetes are also effective with sleep apnea: losing weight and exercising more. Avoid alcohol before bed as that causes a relaxed tongue during sleep.
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, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Those With Particular Virus Likely to Get Diabetes
A new study from the Netherlands suggests that those who have been infected with the cytomegalovirus were twice as likely to have Type 2 diabetes. Cytomegalovirus is a type of herpes which is found in 50 to 80% of adults over the age of 40. Most people show no symptoms of the infection.
The findings suggest that cytomegalovirus plays a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes in the elderly. However, it is an association, not a cause-effect link. While the research is interesting, studies following the participants in time to see if the virus causes Type 2 diabetes are needed. The study was also performed with elderly participants and may not apply to other segments of the population.
Previous studies have linked cytomegalovirus to Type 1 diabetes, but previous studies comparing the virus with Type 2 diabetes have had inconsistent results. One previous study looked at adults aged 45 to 84 and found no link. In this study, information was analyzed from 549 elderly adults in the Netherlands, 80% of which were infected with cytomegalovirus, and 15% had Type 2 diabetes. 17% of those with the virus had Type 2 diabetes, compared to 7.9% without the virus.
The researchers speculated that cytomegalovirus may predispose patients to Type 2 diabetes by harming cells of the pancreas. The virus may also increase diabetes risk after years of infection. On the other hand, it's possible that Type 2 diabetes impairs the immune system, allowing the virus to infiltrate. This explanation is not likely however, as most people are infected with cytomegalovirus as children.
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Richard E. Ehle, DPM
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The findings suggest that cytomegalovirus plays a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes in the elderly. However, it is an association, not a cause-effect link. While the research is interesting, studies following the participants in time to see if the virus causes Type 2 diabetes are needed. The study was also performed with elderly participants and may not apply to other segments of the population.
Previous studies have linked cytomegalovirus to Type 1 diabetes, but previous studies comparing the virus with Type 2 diabetes have had inconsistent results. One previous study looked at adults aged 45 to 84 and found no link. In this study, information was analyzed from 549 elderly adults in the Netherlands, 80% of which were infected with cytomegalovirus, and 15% had Type 2 diabetes. 17% of those with the virus had Type 2 diabetes, compared to 7.9% without the virus.
The researchers speculated that cytomegalovirus may predispose patients to Type 2 diabetes by harming cells of the pancreas. The virus may also increase diabetes risk after years of infection. On the other hand, it's possible that Type 2 diabetes impairs the immune system, allowing the virus to infiltrate. This explanation is not likely however, as most people are infected with cytomegalovirus as children.
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
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