Diabetes News, Articles & Information

According to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003, cinnamon may be quite effective at reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, reducing the need for diabetes medication.

The study, conducted by Pakistani researchers, involved 30 diabetic men and 30 diabetic women who were divided into six groups. The first three groups consumed 1, 3 or 6 grams of cinnamon per day in the form of a cinnamon supplement while the final three groups received placebos.

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Salsalate, an NSAID closely related to Aspirin, has been found to reduce fasting glucose levels and improve glucose tolerance in obese individuals according to a small pilot study published in the journal Diabetes Care in February this year. The study raises the possibility of using salsalate as an alternative treatment for type-2 diabetes and for the prevention of diabetes in high risk individuals.

The study involved 20 individuals aged under 30 who were classified as obese (BMI greater than 30).

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A 12-year study on the effects of alcohol on diabetes has found that consumption of alcohol may reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. The reduction in diabetes risk was apparent even at relatively high levels of alcohol consumption (more than 28 standard drinks a week).

The researchers used data from 46,892 male health professionals who were sent questionnaires every two years for the 12 year study period.

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A new study, presented in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, has found that elderly people with either diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (a precursor to diabetes) , dramatically improved their sensitivity to insulin after just one week of light aerobic exercise.

The research, conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, involved 12 elderly people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) performing an hour of supervised aerobic exercise for a period of 7 days.

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Scientists at a biotechnology company called Novocell have reported a break through in the treatment of diabetes by using stem cell therapy to create insulin producing cells that were injected into mice.

The study, which were published online by the journal Nature Biotechnology, reported that researchers had  produced insulin secreting cells through a complicated process that involved first turning the stem cells into endoderm cells in the lab.

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There are numerous dietary supplements that can aid in the treatment and management of diabetes. It is recommended you consult a doctor before beginning a supplement regime that includes one or more of the supplements below.

#1 Magnesium

Diabetics tend to have much lower magnesium levels in the body. Magnesium deficiency is thought to be a potential risk factors for diabetes and supplementation of around 400mg a day has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in people who have already developed diabetes. Magnesium may also help reduce cardiovascular risk factors and high blood pressure.

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Diabetics often ask whether it is safe for them to eat large quantities of fruit. Many people suffering from diabetes avoid eating fruit because they are worried about the high sugar content found in most fruits. Fortunately, there are many fruits a diabetic can enjoy which do not significantly affect blood glucose levels.

Good Fruits For Diabetics

Fiber rich foods are general safe for diabetics to eat because they tend to have a lower glycemic index (GI) and therefore do not spike blood sugar levels to the same extent as high GI foods. This is because fiber slows down the absorption of sugar into the blood stream. Fiber rich fruits tend to be fruits with edible skins and seeds as it is these parts of the fruit that are highest in fiber.

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Those who eat breakfast cereal each day are far less likely to develop type-2 diabetes than those who do not according to a recent study published in the journal Obesity in December, 2007.

Researchers at the Harvard medical school in Boston, using data from over 20,000 individuals from the Physicians’ Health Study, found a correlation between breakfast cereal consumption and a reduction in the risk of type-2 diabetes. The relationship was stronger amongst those eating whole-grain cereals rather than processed cereal products.

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As a general rule, diabetics are able to drink alcohol in light to moderate amounts without any negative health effects.

Alcohol actually lowers blood-sugar levels for up to 8-12 hours after alcohol is consumed. This is because alcohol promotes blood glucose uptake into the liver in the form of glycogen (a form of short term energy storage).

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The majority of diabetes symptoms are caused by an excess of glucose in the blood. Symptoms are similar for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Often these symptoms creep up gradually and may go unnoticed for a long period of time so it is important to be aware of the symptoms.

The most common symptom experienced by diabetes sufferers is frequent urination. If you are making trips to the bathroom every few hours then this may be a warning sign of a potential diabetes problem.

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There are many misconceptions about diabetes, here are nine of the more common ones.

• Diabetes is an inherited disease - although having first-degree relatives with diabetes is considered a risk factor, a person can develop diabetes even if they have no relatives with the disease.

• Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar - sugar does not play a significant role in a person developing diabetes because it only moderately raises blood sugar levels. Diabetes risk factors are both genetic and lifestyle related. The main lifestyle risk factor is being overweight.

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