Is Diabetes Linked To Antipsychotic Use In Children?

A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association Psychiatry last year suggests that children and adolescents prescribed antipsychotic medications may be at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville studied children and youths between the ages of 6 and 24, who were a part of Tennessee's Medicaid program from 1996 through 2007.
In the analysis of the findings, 28,858 children and youths were prescribed antipsychotic drugs while 14,429 control patients were prescribed alternative psychotic medication.
The antipsychotic medications are typically used to treat patients with schizophrenia and dementia, but can also be prescribed for aggression, hallucinations, and agitation, as well as nausea, vomiting, and hiccuping.
The Vanderbilt researchers discovered that the prescribing rate for these drugs for children and youth is increasing, but there has been no research to make a link between the drugs and diabetes.
The findings found that there were 106 cases of type 2 diabetes in the follow-up period, the mean age was 16.7 years, and 37% of patients were male.
Those who had taken antipsychotic drugs had a three times increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the first year of follow-up.
The authors wrote, "In this cohort of children and youth who had recently initiated use of an antipsychotic or a control antipsychotic drug, antipsychotic users had a risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes three-times greater than that for propensity score-matched controls."
They added, "The excess risk occurred within the first year of antipsychotic use, increased with cumulative antipsychotic dose, and was present for children 6 to 17 years of age. The increased risk persisted for up to 1 year following cessation of antipsychotic use."
Researchers found it interesting that the risk of diabetes was present in the first year of antipsychotic use.
"Cases of early-onset antipsychotic-associated diabetes have been reported for adults. In one series, the majority of cases occurred within 6 months of drug initiation," the authors reported.
"Although there are fewer case reports in the literature for children, early-onset cases also have been described. Further study of the pathophysiology of antipsychotic-associated diabetes is needed."
Reference: Medical News Today
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Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Hot Ham and Swiss Sandwich

Makes: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
4 tsp. Dijon mustard
8 slices whole wheat bread
4 (3/4 oz.) wedges light Swiss cheese
8 oz. deli-style ham
1 medium tomato, sliced
8 sliced red onion
Cooking spray
Preparation
1. Prepare an indoor grill or a panini maker.
2. Spread 1 tsp. Dijon mustard on 1 slice of bread. Spread 1 wedge of cheese on bread; top with 2 oz. ham, 1 slice tomato, 2 onion slices, and the other slice of bread.
3. Spray the outside of the sandwiches with cooking spray. Repeat the procedure for remaining three sandwiches.
4. Place sandwiches on heated indoor grill or panini maker, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
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Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Is Red Meat Consumption Tied To Diabetes Risk?

A recent long-term study published last year suggests that an increase of red meat over time will put you at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
So that means thinking twice about that t-bone steak, pork chop, or hot dog this summer.
Previous research has tied the consumption of both unprocessed and processed red meat to diabetes, but this study tracked the risk of developing the disease over time. Often throughout a person's life their eating habits will change, and the risks for certain diseases will change as well.
"This is stronger evidence that red meat consumption contributes to an increased risk of diabetes," said senior author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Researchers gathered their information from three Harvard studies that tracked 149,000 health-care professionals who filled out questionnaires about their diets every four years. The participants, both men and women, were followed for 12 to 16 years. Consumption of red meat was varied, but overall daily intake was 1 1/2 servings.
The findings were published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association and included:

• Those who increased their daily intake by as little as half a serving a day had a 48% increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over a four year period, compared to those who maintained their red meat intake.
• Eating more red meat was associated with weight gain, and weight gain accounted for a large portion of the increased risks for developing diabetes. 
• People who decreased their red meat consumption over four years did not have a reduced risk of developing the disease. Instead, they had a reduced risk of developing diabetes by 14% over ten years.

The findings apply to both processed red meat, like lunch meats and hot dogs, but also unprocessed red meat, like hamburger, steak, or pork chops. The association was higher for processed meats, said lead author An Pan of the National University of Singapore, who worked on the study while he was at Harvard.
The authors state that this study does not prove cause and effect, but is instead observational.
Hu believes that the high amount of nitrates and sodium in processed meats are factors in the risk for diabetes, as well as the heme iron in red meat. Iron typically helps prevent anemia, but a majority of people in the United States have an iron overload. He recommends eating more nuts, low-fat dairy, and whole grains and reducing your daily consumption of red meat.
William Evans, head of the Muscle Metabolism Discovery Performance Unit at GlaxoSmithKline and an adjunct professor of geriatric medicine at Duke University says that, "the interaction of the many genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to the cause of type 2 diabetes is remarkably complex and still not well understood. The major factors associated with the risk are levels of physical activity, body fatness, distribution of body fat, and diet."
Evans doesn't believe that red meat is the sole problem, "but the amount of saturated fat in meat. Saturated fat causes the inflammation in the body which increases the risk of bad things like heart disease and diabetes.
"You can eat lean cuts of beef like sirloin tip steak, top round steak, and beef tips that are extremely low in fat and saturated fat, even lower than a number of cuts of chicken. Cheddar cheese has as much saturated fat as a T-bone steak."
Reference: USA Today
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
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Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Espresso Chocolate Pudding

Makes: 6 servings
Serving Size: 1/3 cup
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups 1% milk, divided
1 1/2 tsp. instant espresso powder
1/2 cup sugar-stevia blend
1 1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped, or chocolate chips
3 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Fat-free whipped topping
Fresh raspberries
Preparation
1. Add 1 3/4 cups of the milk to a 2-quart saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir continuously until bubbles form around the edges of the pan.
2. Remove the milk from the heat just before the milk begins to boil. Stir in the espresso powder, sugar-stevia blend, and chocolate. Let the mixture sit for 1 minute. Stir the mixture until the chocolate melts.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining milk and cornstarch, stirring until smooth. Return the chocolate mixture in the saucepan to medium heat. Gradually whisk the cornstarch into the chocolate mixture. Continue to whisk over the heat until the pudding thickened, about 5 minutes.
4. Transfer the pudding to a serving bowl or individual bowls. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Top with whipped topping and raspberries, if desired.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
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Exercises For Peripheral Neuropathy: Standing Balance

While standing at the kitchen counter, place two fingertips on the counter. Stand on one foot lifting the other off the floor. Slowly lift your hands away from the counter and maintain your balance as long as you can. Minor balance checks are acceptable as long as you continue to maintain your balance with minimal help from your hands.
Hold: 5-10 seconds
Repeat: 2 repetitions on each leg/2 times a day.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
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Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Spiced Chicken Tenders

Makes: 4 servings
Serving Size: 1 cup
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. sweet paprika
1/2 tsp. mild chili powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3/4 lb. chicken tenders
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1/2 cup sliced red onion
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 small red pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced into strips
1 small green pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced into strips
1 small yellow pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced into strips
Dash hot sauce
Preparation
1. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken tenders and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, for 15 minutes.
2. In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken tenders and saute for 5 minutes, until cooked through. Remove the tenders from the pan; set aside. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion to the pan, and saute for 3 to 5 minutes until the onion is soft. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the peppers and saute for 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Return the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan, and heat for 1 minute. Add a dash- or more- of hot sauce to taste.
This recipe is from Diabetes Forecast.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.

Diabetes Puts Women At Risk For Early Menopause

A new study from researchers at the University of Cartagena in Columbia found that women who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before the age of 45 are more likely to go through menopause at an earlier age.
The research was led by Dr. Alvaro Monterrosa-Castro, who interviewed 6,079 women between the ages of 40 and 59 about menopause, depression, and diabetes. The women came from 11 different countries in Latin America. The research team recorded weight, blood pressure, and whether or not the participants had used hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The researchers concluded that menopause was not a contributor to the onset or risk of diabetes. They did find that women who were diagnosed with diabetes before the age of 45 however did get menopause earlier than non-diabetic women. The average age of onset for menopause for women with diabetes was 48.5 and the average age for women without diabetes was 50.1.
When menopause occurs, estrogen levels drop, and previous research has shown that lower levels of hormones are tied to increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and bone disease.
"The associations between diabetes and menopause can be complex, which reinforces the message that women approaching the menopause need to be treated as individuals, and evaluated according to their own general health, background, and risk factors," said Monterrosa-Castro. "Diabetes is also associated with a generally poor quality of life, so we should encourage women to avoid risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight or having high blood pressure."
Reference: Counsel and Heal
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.