New blood test to detect stroke within minutes

Scientists have developed a simple blood test that could diagnose within minutes whether or not a patient has suffered a stroke.
A stroke occurs when the brain is not getting enough oxygen, either form a clot or a burst blood vessel. In each type, if the wrong treatment is given it can be fatal to the patient.
In order to determine if the patient has suffered a stroke, doctors rely on brain scans but many have to wait for vital hours before they can get access to a scanner and fewer than a quarter receive a scan on the day they suffer their strokes.

DIABETIC CAKE

Ingredients:

1 c. raisins
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1 c. oatmeal
1 tbsp. artificial sweetener
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon


Directions:

Boil raisins and water. Add other ingredients. Bake in loaf pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until done.

Makes 20 slices.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (Diabetic)

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar substitute
1 egg or egg substitute
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. skim milk
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and brown sugar substitute. Add egg and vanilla, cream until light. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk, stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until brown and crispy.

Makes 36 cookies.

DIABETIC DESSERT

Ingredients:

1/3 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. brown sugar substitute
2 tsp. liquid sweetener or 1/3 c. Sprinkle Sweet
1 egg
1 1/3 c. flour
3 tbsp. cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. skim milk

Directions:

Combine butter, brown sugar substitute, diabetic sweetener, and egg. Beat 2 minutes at high speed. Add remaining ingredients and blend 2 minutes at low speed. Pour into 8 inch square pan and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Frost with diabetic whip, if desired.

CABBAGE ROLL (DIABETIC)

Ingredients:

1 large cabbage leaf
3 oz. browned ground beef, drained
2 onion slices, minced
1 tablespoon green pepper, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tsp. diabetic ketchup or tomato sauce

Directions:

Brown beef, onion and green pepper. Stir in seasonings, mixing well. Place mixture in cabbage leaf. Roll until mixture is completely covered and pin with a toothpick. Place in dish and bake at 350°F until cabbage is well cooked.

DIABETIC APPLESAUCE DATE NUT LOAF

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. diabetic sweetener
1 egg
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped nuts
1 1/2 cup diabetic applesauce
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. soda
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Cream the butter, egg, diabetic-approved sweetener and vanilla. Add applesauce and remaining ingredients. Stir well to combine.

Bake in a buttered loaf pan at 350°F for 1 hour.

Spotlight On Diabetes

Diabetes, the fifth leading killer in developed countries, is a disease in which the body's failure to regulate glucose, or blood sugar, can lead to serious and even fatal complications.
Until very recently, the regulation of glucose - how much sugar is present in a person's blood , how much is taken up by cells for fuel, and how much is released from energy stores - was regarded as a conversation between a few key players: the pancreas, the liver, muscle and fat.
Now, however the party is proving to be much louder and more complex than anyone had shown before. Focusing on the cross-talk between more different organs,cells and molecules represents a "very important change in our paradigm" for understanding how the body handles glucose, said Dr C Ronald Kahn,a diabetes researcher and professor at Harvard Medical School.
The defining feature of diabetes is elevated blood sugar, But the reasons for abnormal sugar seem to "differ tremendously from person to person" said Dr Robert A Rizza, a professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Understanding exactly what signals are evolved, he said, raises the hope of "providing the right care for each person each day, rather than giving everyone the same drug."

Margarine vs Butter: New Facts

The debate whether margarine is healthier than butter has been around for long. The confusion persists for good reason Butter is made from animal products, making it high in cholesterol and saturated fats, which has been linked to heart disease. Margarine is made from polyunsaturated vegetable oils like corn oil, which don’t contain saturated fats. Most people assume that makes it heart healthy. Not exactly. The process of turning polyunsaturated oils in semisolid table spreads creates trans fats, which are just as bad as saturated fats, if not worse. But more studies and health experts suggest that margarine, selected carefully, can be a safer choice. Because higher level of trans fat make margarines more solid, it is best to choose those that are liquid or sold in tubs. Many varieties now contain water or liquid vegetable oil instead of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which can make them virtually free of trans fats.

Cholesterol test must for all age groups

Is it ever too early to check cholesterol levels? Not according to a new study that suggests testing patients who are still in diapers. The idea is not that the children who show signs of high cholesterol would b treated for the problem right away. Because the disorder is often inherited. Writing online in the Journal BMJ, British researchers say if children test positive for high cholesterol, doctors would know to screen the parents. Drug treatment could bgin right away for the adults and years later for the children when they have grown up. The study suggested that children could be screened at about 15months of age, along with regular checkups. A blood sample could be taken when vaccinations are given.

Cut Sugar to add to your life span

Giving up sweets and avoiding vitamins could help you live longer, German researchers said in a recent study. They found that restricting glucose set off a process that extended the life span of some worms by upto 25 percent. The key was boosting the level of "free radicals"-unstable molecules that can damage the body and which people often try to get rid of by consuming food or drinks rich in anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, they said in a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism. They body needs glucose, but taking in too much was unhealthy, said the study. Scientists have long known that restricting calorie intake in worms and monkeys increases longevity, and the study narrowed hat idea further, to glucose.

Vitamin B6 : Cure For Type 1 Diabetes

Vitamins B6 leads to normal functioning of endothelial in juvenile diabetes. The Mid-July issue of ‘Pediatrics’ has released the detailed report of the recent study.

The thorough study consisted administration of folate and vitamin B6 alone and in association for eight weeks in 124 children with type 1 diabetes.

The study come to an end with a conclusion that high-dose folate and vitamin B6 might be helpful to minimize endothelial dysfunction in the children.

Glaucoma Connected With diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has been linked with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). According to the renowned names of Harvard Medical School, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, POGA is a general form of all glaucoma.

According to their recent study, they concluded that type 2 diabetes is linked with an increased risk of glaucoma. The journal Ophthalmology has published the news

Obesity may lead to type 2 diabetes epidemic but at the same time, it seems that factors associated with obesity such as age, race, hypertension and family history of glaucoma may also result to the association between type 2 diabetes and glaucoma.

Major progress in diabetes study, scientists heal mice ‘overnight’

Chances are relatively very high that in the coming time it would be quite possible to eradicate type 1 diabetes totally. Actually, a recent study targeting at the causes of type 1 diabetes has prompted researchers to think so. As we all know that in a person with type 1 diabetes pancreas stop generating insulin, which compel such people to have insulin injection on regular basis in order to survive. However, through this recent study, researchers have tried to manufacture out what exactly results pancreas to stem the production of insulin and the interesting thing is that researchers have found the reason behind this.

According to the researchers, all this happens due to breakdown of our nervous system. Before bringing up this fact, researchers conducted few thorough tests on lab mice and in this series, they finished faulty sensory nerves of the diabetic mice, which freed the mice from the clutches of diabetes.

In the studies conducted previously, researchers had also tried to manifest that sensory nerves of the pancreas release a neuropeptide called “substance P”, which assures that islet cells release sufficient amount of insulin. For proving the potency of “substance P”, researchers carried out two types of test. In the first test, researchers destroyed the nerves of some mice that let out “substance P” and these mice developed diabetes. In the 2nd study, researchers injected “substance P” in the pancreas of the mice with diabetes and studied that such diabetic mice overcame their diabetes problem overnight and interestingly, these mice didn’t develop diabetes. This study clearly defines that how effective “substance P” is in checking diabetes.

This study is first of its nature that has tried to have a glance into the whole wide concept of diabetes in a completely different and innovative way and gives hope to millions of people.

Air pollutants : Another Diabetes Factor

If you reside in the area, where toxic waste is widespread, then you are more feared to turn out be as a diabetic. A recent observational study, which witnessed hospitalization rates for patients in New York between 1992 and 2001, has given an outlet to this view. Researchers concludes that people are mainly exposed to these toxic wastes by eating animal fats and air which they inhale in.

However, the main factor of toxic waste that turn people more prone to diabetes is still obscured but it is being supposed that, as the liver, which might change the gene that manages insulin sensitivity, cannot break down these complex compounds. At the same time, this assumption is also in the air that PCBs can lead to fat retention in the body, which may enhance the chances of diabetes.

Once should certainly have a glance of these articles for more insight:

1. Air Pollution enhances Risk of Heart Disease in Diabetics

2. Air Pollution enhances Death Risk in People with Diabetes, Heart Failure, COPD or Rheumatoid Arthritis

3. Air Pollution Could lead to Problems for Diabetics

Diabetes more hazardous than obesity!

Diabetes can result to be more critical as compared to obesity. So, diabetics need to take care of their health in a proper way as their problem can lead to death due to acute failure of major organs of the body.

Recent study suggested that people with diabetes are at high risk of extreme ailment that can lead to death rather to those with obesity. Diabetics, even with low BMI are found to culitvate acute organ failure three times more as compared to overweight without diabetes, thereby resulting in death.

I believe that diabetes can devastate insulin-producing or related organs of the body like pancreas paving way to death. Whereas is obesity also accountable for causing various problems like fat accumulation, blood pressure and high cholesterol and likewise, but may not risk in failure until and unless one get attacked from diabetes.

In my opinion, diabetics as well as obese should keep a watch on their health by getting early treatment as soon as possible. In addition, obese need to go for regular check-up to check-out the development of diabetes, if there is any.

Improved hygiene : A risk factor for type-I diabetes in kids

There are no doubts that a surplus amount of sugar intake, inadequacy of physical exercise in combination with hereditary factors make the situation ripe for development of diabetes...but off lately another fresh factor has been added into this list. According to a recent study, good hygiene and clean environmental living conditions have added into the risk of diabetes particularly the type 1 diabetes in kids.

Trends display that cases of type-1 diabetes have become five-fold in children over the last 15 years.

“It could be a consequence of people being exposed to fewer infections. Some scientists believe this is why rates of asthma are also increasing at peak. The immune system is presumed to fight infection but in asthma and type 1 diabetes it gets misdirected,” opines a researcher Polly.

The rise is too sharp and fast to be blamed upon genetic factors, so changes in environment can be another major issue, details of which are still to be recognized and discussed in detail.

White Kids More Prone To Diabetes

When the subject of diabetes is referred, white kids are said to be more prone to the dealty disease; claiming this, a new population-based study shows that type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in white kids than those of other races.

According to this study:-

• White kids were more susceptible to type 1 diabetes.

• Among Hispanic and Asian kids, its prevalence was lower but just slightly.

• Kids between 10 to 14 were comparatively more susceptible to type 1 diabetes.

• From gender point of view, girls were found more prone to diabetes than boys.

• Constantly, prevalence of type 2 diabetes among kids was found increasing.

• Prevalence of type 2 diabetes was more in American Indian between the group

After reading these facts, severity of the situation can easily be estimated. Well, it is nice to know that there has not been seen much rise in diabetes among kids but to take the fact, which states that around 15,000 kids are engulfed with type 1 diabetes every year, taking it as granted won’t be right.

Actually, diabetes is turning out to be quite a serious problem, which is fast raising its hood round the mammoth world, taking kids under its clutches. Well, a high percentage of experts, believes that quick rise in obesity among kids is one the of the basic causes behind increase in type 1 diabetes among children. More brood is the fact that type 2 diabetes, which is normally associated with adults has fast started foraying into kids too all over the world.

On this base, it won’t be wrong to say that relevant and strong measures are required to be taken; otherwise days are not far away when diabetes would appear as a common health problem among white kids, turning their lives into a hell.

Scientists : Identification of new genes linked to diabetes

Scientists claim that they had identified various new genes linked to the most common form of diabetes in a major synergetic effort.

The findings were presented in three reports by university scientists and one by a private company, provide great insight into the role played by genes in the disease that intangles 170 million people worldwide into its web.

They identified at least eight genes that are clear diabetes risk factors - including three previously obscure ones - and several other contingent risk assumptions that merit further attention. All are commonly seen in the general population.

They hope the findings can help guide development of new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, previously known as adult-onset diabetes, and genetic tests to determine a person’s predisposition for developing it.

The findings are based on a new research technique called genome-wide association studies, in which scientists compare genetic samples from thousands of individuals with a specific illness to those without it. Differences between the two are examined as possible genetic causes of the disease.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. It is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations.

The variant genes found so far account for only 2 percent to 20 percent of the overall risk of diabetes, implying there are many more to be found. The present genes are not sufficient to distinguish reliably between people at low or high risk for diabetes.

The findings by four international teams of researchers, published on Thursday in the journals Science and Nature Genetics.


Source