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.