The Diabetes Gene

Researchers at St.Louis University came to the conclusion that 50% of Americans may have a hereditary gene that can cause diabetes. The gene FABP2 determines how your body absorbs fat from food and has been the subject of research in determining whether heredity and genetics may play a role in your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. There are two versions of this gene known as Thr54 and Ala54. According to research, those with Thr54 had a higher rate of fat absorption than those with Ala54. Those with Thr54 also had a lower tolerance for glucose and a higher fasting glucose concentration.

According to the study, neither variation is more common than the other. What this means is that 50% of Americans have the Ala54 variation and run a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. Having the variant version of the gene does not guarantee that you will develop Type 2 diabetes as it is only one of many risk factors, however, compounding that with other risk factors can greatly increse your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. By avoiding risk factors such as bad eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity, even those with the variant gene can prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Exercise Tips

If you’re feeling tired and stagnant in the morning, simple exercise may be what you need. Simple stretches and exercises can strengthen bones, improve your mood, and help your body flush out accumulated toxins. Any movement at all will have healthful benefits. If you haven’t exercised in awhile, try something like a 30-minute walk every day to start.

Another good idea is to stretch for a couple minutes at the beginning of each day. Stretching will help your muscles and improve flexibility. Below are ten simple exercises you can do every morning. They can be performed at any time during the day but make for an especially great wake-up routine.

1) An Eye-Opener
Focus on things at various distances to relax your eyes. Alternate between near and far objects or simply follow your finger. Do a few sets and then take a couple long blinks.

2) Neck, Side-to-Side
Relax your shoulders and lean your head to one side, hold it for about 5 seconds, and comfortably lean your head to the other shoulder. Repeat this a few times on each side.

3) Neck, Front-to-Back
Lower your chin to your chest and then tilt your head comfortably back. Repeat this several times.

4) Touch Your Toes
Gently lower your arms and reach towards your toes by bending at the waist.

5) Back Stretch
Sit up straight, place your hands on your waist, and lean back slightly. Stretch from your waist. Take a deep breath and relax between each rep.

6) Trunk Twist
Extend your arm across your chest and twist at the hips in that direction. Use the back of your chair for leverage.

7) Upper-Torso Stretch
Lift your arms to shoulder height and move them like you were rowing a boat. Spread your fingers as you row forward and tighten them into a fist as you pull back. Don’t let your arms drop. Repeat this a couple times.

8) Shoulder Stretch
Extend one arm across your chest and use your other arm to extend the stretch by pulling your forearm closer to your body. Hold it for 5 seconds and switch sides.

9) Arm Stretch
Put your hands together in front of you and flex your wrists at a 90-degree angle with your fingers pointing upward. Raise your arms while pushing your palms together until your elbows are near your ears. Exhale as you lower your arms back down. Repeat a few times.

10) Ankle Stretch
This is similar to riding a bike. Bend your knee and raise your foot, flexing so that your toes are pointing down. Flex your ankle in the opposite direction and push your leg forward as if you were pedaling. Repeat this a few times then switch legs.

FDA Updates Nationwide Class 1 Recall Alert on Counterfeit One Touch Blood Glucose Test Strips

December 2006: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) has updated it’s notifications on October 13, and October 23, 2006, which alerted the public to counterfeit blood glucose test strips, for use with various LifeScan, Inc., One Touch Brand Blood Glucose Monitors, being sold in the U.S.

The recall is being classified as a Class 1 by the FDA because the counterfeit test strips have a significantly dangerous alteration in performance. These counterfeit test strips can potentially give a false reading of blood glucose levels which may result in a patient taking an incorrect dosage of insulin leading to serious injury or death.

The concerned products are counterfeit and as such are not being marketed or distributed by LifeScan. LifeScan is not responsible for the recall, however, companies or firms that are distributing these counterfeit products are responsible for the recall and corrective measures developed by LifeScan, with input from the FDA. The FDA is continuing it’s on-going efforts with LifeScan and the distributors of these counterfeit products to ensure that they are all removed from the market.

The counterfeit test strips are as follows:

· One Touch® Basic®/Profile® (lot #272894A, 2619932, 2606340, 2615211 (added October 23, 2006) and 227078A (new lot)) test strips, and

· One Touch® Ultra® (lot #2691191 and 2691261 (added October 23, 2006) test strips.

LifeScan, Inc. made the FDA aware of the new lot of counterfeit products. The FDA has been investigating this issue and whether or not there have been any adverse events that have transpired due to the counterfeit products.

Any consumer who has received these counterfeit test strips should immediately discontinue use, contact their physician, and replace the strips as soon as possible. If you have received one of the counterfeit products and have any questions, you can contact LifeScan, Inc. at 1-866-621-4855.

For a comprehensive guide on how to identify if your product is counterfeit, visit LifeScan’s web site at: www.lifescan.com/company/about/press/counterfeit/

These characteristics may help you identify the counterfeit strips:

Counterfeit One Touch Basic/Profile Test Strips, lot numbers 272894A, 2619932, and 2606340

• Lot Numbers 272894A, 2619932, or 2606340 appears on the outer carton and on the inside container (vial).
• The outer carton is written in Multiple Languages including English, Greek and Portuguese.
• The outer carton is labeled as 50-Count One Touch (Basic/Profile)Test Strip packages
• The bottom of the outer carton does not include an NDC number.

Counterfeit One Touch Basic/Profile Test Strips, lot numbers 2615211 and (227078A (new lot))

• Lot Numbers 2615211 or 227078A appear on the outer carton and on the inside container (vial).
• The outer carton is written in English.
• The outer carton is labeled as 50-Count One Touch (Basic/Profile) Test Strip packages.
• A picture of a hand appears on the test strip displayed on the outer carton.
• The inside container (vial) is labeled as "plasma calibrated"
• The bottom of the outer carton does not include an NDC number.

Counterfeit One Touch Ultra Test Strips, lot numbers 2691191 and 2691261

• The lot numbers 2691191 or 2691261 appears on the outer carton and on the inside container (vial).
• The outer carton and inside container (vial) is written in both English and French.
• The outer carton is labeled as 50-Count One Touch Ultra Test Strip packages.
• The bottom of the outer carton does not include an NDC number.

Any problems experienced with the use of this product, and/or quality problems should also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by Fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Top 6 Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes

There are numerous risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Factors such as hamily history and genetics are going to be with us always, however, there are many other risk factors that can be prevented and put you at a lower risk. We will go over these risks and what we can do to prevent them.

1) Obesity

This is the number one risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Higher weight puts you at higher risk of insulin resistance because fat will impair the body's ability to use the insulin it is creating. The National Center for Health Statistics has stated that 30 percent of adults are obese and the number of overweight kids has tripled since 1980. This means that over 60 million adults and children are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

2) Sedentary Lifestyle

The Surgeons General's Report on Physical Actiity and Health, published in 1996, stated "a sedentary lifestyle is damaging to health and bears responsibility for the growing obesity problems". Obesity and inactivity greatly increse your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Muscle cells have many more insulin receptors than fat cells, meaning that you can decrease insulin resistance by exercising regularly. Being active and exercising also lowers your blood sugar levels by making insulin more efficient.

3) Unhealthy Eating habits

90% of people who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The number one cause of obesity is unhealthy eating habits. Eating too much fat and simple carbohydrates without enough fiber can contribute greatly to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. A more healthy diet can help you prevent Type 2 diabetes.

4) Increased Age

As our age increases, so does our risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Even if an elderly person is in good shape, their risk for Type 2 will still be greater. Scientists believe that this is due to an aging pancreas that is not as efficient as when we were younger. Our cells age as well and become more resistant to insulin.

5) High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol

These two factors are large risk factors for many diseases and conditions, including Type 2 diabetes. They are two key factors of Metabolic syndrome which is a group of symptoms including obesity, a high fat diet, and lack of exercise. Metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

6) History of Gestational Diabetes

This condition affects about 4% of pregnant women. It occurs when the placenta hormones make the mother's cells more resisntant to insulin. Many of these women will be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes later on in life. Also, their babies will have an elevated risk of developing diabetes.

Diabetes Medication May Slow Thickening of Artery Walls

A medication that is being prescribed to patients with diabetes appears to not only increase their body’s sensitivity to insulin, but also slow the thickening of their artery walls. A study posted online by JAMA confirms these results and will be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session.

It has already been proven that people with diabetes suffer from an increased risk of heart attack Controlling cholesterol (LDL) and blood pressure has been shown to lower some of this excess risk. “However, even with optimal control of these potent cardiovascular risk factors, incremental risk for cardiovascular events remains high compared with individuals without diabetes,” the authors say. “New approaches are, therefore, needed to further reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes.”

Theodore Mazzone, M.D., of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, and his colleagues studied a drug called pioglitazone to see if it may help to reduce the excess risk of heart attack in patients with diabetes. The studied included 462 adults with type 2 diabetes in the Chicago area from 2003 to 2006. The average age of the group was 60 years and included 289 men and 173 women. These participants were randomly assigned to take either 15 to 45 milligrams of pioglitazone or 1 to 4 milligrams of glimepiride, another medication with the same effects but through different mechanisms. At the beginning of the study, an ultrasound was used to measure the thickness of the carotid arteries. A measure of glucose control, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels were also monitored throughout the study.

In total, 158 patients using pioglitazone and 165 patients using glimepiride completed the entire 72 week trial. At the beginning of the study, the two groups had comparable artery wall thickness. At the end of the study, the glimeperide groups average artery wall thickness increased by .012 millimeters while the pioglitazone groups average dropped by .001. “A pre-specified subgroup analysis based on age, sex, systoloc blood pressure, duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus, body mass index, hbA1c value and statin use showed a uniform beneficial effect of the pioglitazone treatment,” the authors write.

Over the course of the study, blood pressure remained very similar between both groups. By week 48, however, the pioglitazone group was significantly lower than the glimeperide group. HDL, or “good” cholesterol increased in the pioglitazone group and remained higher throughout the remainder of the study. These measurements represent that pioglitazone can reduce artery wall thickness.

"Additional data will be needed to determine the clinical significance of these findings; specifically, whether a strategy of routine use of pioglitazone instead of glimepiride substantially reduces major cardiovascular events," they concluded.

Job Burnout May Increase Risk of Developing Diabetes

A recent Israeli study suggests that job burnout may increase your risk of developing a form of diabetes.

This study, which is the first of its kind, does not confirm that there is a link between work related stress and diabetes. However, the research suggests that job burnout could increase your risk of illness by a “magnitude similar to other risk factors, such as high body mass index, smoking, and lack of physical exercise,” according to the studies lead author Samuel Melamed, an associate professor at the Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Researchers followed 677 Israeli workers from 1998 to 2003. Close to 77 percent of the workers were men with an average age of 43 years.

Of the 677 workers, 17 of them developed type 2 diabetes during the research period. The researchers concluded that people experiencing job burnout were 1.84 times more likely to develop diabetes, even when factors such as obesity, age and sex were taken into account.

The researchers also looked at a smaller sample of 507 workers and tried to eliminate the possibility of blood pressure levels having an effect. They concluded that workers were more than 4.32 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Melamed states that job burnout may only be a part of the picture. “It is possible that these people are prone to diabetes because they can’t handle stress very well,” says Melamed. “Their coping resources may have been depleted not only due to job stress but also life stresses, such as stressful life events and daily hassles.”

Stress can, indeed, disrupt the bodies ability to process glucose especially in those who are genetically prone to a diabetes vulnerability, according to Richard Surwit, chief of the Division of Medical Psychology at Duke University medical Center.

Surwit suggests that the researchers use a much larger sample to get a better result. He states that the research author “needs to look at hundreds of thousands of people to see if he gets the same thing.”

Fighting the Flu

Every year, up to twenty percent of Americans will get the flu virus and 200,000 or more are hospitalized because of it. The flu vaccines are in short supply again this year so you should look at some additional ways to help protect yourself form the flu.

Protein is very important in the body’s immune system. The antibodies and other elements of the immune system are all composed of protein. Therefore, when your body lacks protein, you are more susceptible to getting sick. Most Americans receive enough protein in their diets but elderly and poor people may not be getting enough protein because of the cost of meat, chewing difficulties, or the hassle of preparing it. Fortunately, these people can get enough protein through alternative foods such as dried beans, tofu, nuts and eggs.

Folate, zinc, iron and vitamins C, E, B6 and B12 also work with protein to keep your immune system working well. It has been proven that an iron deficiency or excessive levels of iron will make your immune system less functional than that of someone who receives the recommended Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) levels.

Zinc has been receiving quite a bit of attention as a possible way to boost your immune systems functionality. The Institute of Medicine recommends that you receive 8 to 11 milligrams per day of zinc, and most U.S. adults meet this recommendation, however, there are many that are mildly deficient. Also, excessive levels of zinc can actually suppress the immune systems functionality as well. Research has found that up to 40 milligrams of zinc per day from foods and supplements is safe. You can find zinc in seafood, meats, dairy products, eggs, whole grains and multivitamins.

Diet and lifestyle seem to be the key factors of maintaining a healthy immune system. A diet that has a lot of fat in it will decrease your immune function, while a very low-fat diet will also lower a persons immune system functionality. Also, a lack of carbohydrates can disrupt your immune system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, recommends that you regularly exercise to keep your immune system healthy. However, excessive amounts of exercise can actually increase your risk of infection. Drinking enough fluids and getting enough sleep will help your body fight off infections.

Many herbal products and remedies made from echinacea have been said to raise the effectiveness of your body’s immune system. However, studies have concluded that these products are effective as a short-term treatment but do not show any long-term benefit from regular use of the products. While echinacea herbal products may increase your immune systems activity for a time, it does not seem to prevent you from infection later on. People with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis should avoid these products since they increase your immune systems activity.

Products containing live bacteria, known as probiotics, are being studied to see if they might help improve the immune systems function. Probiotics are foods like yogurt or cultured milk that have live bacteria in them. In most cases, immune function tends to decline as a person gets older, however, in one study, seniors age 60 to 83 saw greater levels of immunity after six weeks of daily probiotic intake.

The last bit of advice would be to maintain good hygiene as well. Washing your hands thoroughly and regularly will help keep you from infection. It is also recommended that you avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth even if you wash your hands regularly because bacteria can enter the body from any of these places. Exercising, getting enough sleep and maintaining a balanced diet will help keep you healthy during this flu season.

Inflammation Linked to Disease

A big topic in the medical world right now is how certain types of inflammation might affect your risk of stroke, diabetes, heart attack and cancer. In most cases, inflammation is a sign of your immune system working properly, but not every kind of inflammation is good and it’s the invisible kind that happens in our cells that is causing the problem.

There is an enzyme in our body called COX-2 that boosts the production of inflammatory substances. Most of the time, these proteins and other hormone-like substances are produced without a problem. However, in certain cases, they might help cancer cells multiply and spread throughout the body. This is why testing is underway for types of anti-inflammatory drugs, labeled COX-2 inhibitors, that may play a role in preventing or treating certain types of cancer, including: cancer of the colon, uterus, breast, prostate and other tissues.

Also, scientists are studying whether or not the way we eat could affect chronic inflammation that could cause cancer risk or other health problems. Researchers around the globe are examining different aspects of the issue to see if they can come up with an answer to the problem.

Some researchers are examining how two families of polyunsaturated fats may be able to work together to play a protective role. Omega-3 fats are found in fatty fish, flaxseeds or flaxseed oil, walnuts and canola oil. Omega-6 fats are found in vegetable oils. All of these are considered to be healthy for your heart because they do not raise your blood cholesterol. The problem right now is that when you have more omega-6 fats than omega-3 fats, your body increases your COX-2 levels and produces more of the hormones that cause inflammation. However, when omega-3 and omega-6 fats are more balanced in your diet, your body produces less of the hormones that promote inflammation.

It is because of this that scientists believe that boosting omega-3 fats with regular consumption of the foods containing omega-6 fats (such as fish or flax), an reduce our over consumption of vegetable oils, the COX-2 in our bodies will become less active and decrease the production of inflammatory hormones.

Another group of scientists are trying to determine whether or not inflammation is a main reason why obesity has been linked with a higher risk of cancer. Research has suggested tat fat cells produce cytokines, which promote low-grade inflammation, and that distribution of our body fat could play a role. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that inflammation increased by more than 50 percent in obese women who had fat stored mainly in their hips and thighs, and by over 400 percent in women with more waistline fat.

Studies have also shown that regular exercise may lower the levels of inflammatory proteins by strengthening the immune system. This could explain why regular exercise has been linked to lower cancer risk.

Other scientists are investigating how a plant-based diet may keep inflammation levels down. Antioxidants and phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables can protect cell DNA from damage that can lead to cancer. Also, these antioxidants and phytochemicals may also lower the production of the inflammation causing hormones. Currently, a large variety of fruits and vegetables are being examined to see if they may be able to lower the effects of COX-2.

All of the evidence that is currently linking diet to inflammation and cancer risk is still very preliminary, and it would be a little early to adjust our diets accordingly, but this is not the only reason that making these adjustments would be beneficial. It has been proven that eating more fruits and vegetables along with regular exercise can lower your cancer risk by up to 40 percent. It is already proven that these methods work – this new information will just give us a batter understanding of how and why.

Healthy Eating May Save Your Eyes

Recent studies have suggested that healthy eating habits that are recommended to lower your risk of cancer may also lower your risk of irreversible blindness. Currently, age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is not understood but experts are saying it may stem from oxidation reactions causing the damage. A study has shown that high doses of antioxidant supplements may slow the progression of AMD. However, this research does not suggest that high-dose supplements for AMD prevention are safe.

The study that tested the antioxidants and their ability to fight the progression of AMD was the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS. Supplements of five to 13 times the recommended dosage of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and Zinc, were given to patients who had Early or Late-stage AMD.

Supplement usage was directly linked to a 25 percent decrease in the progression from early to late-stage AMD after five years or regular use. These studies do not show any benefit of early supplementation in preventing AMD, so researchers suggest lifestyle changes to lower your risk of developing AMD. A balanced diet containing a variety of vegetables, hats and UV protective sunglasses to reduce damage to the eyes from sunlight are some of the best ways to prevent AMD.

A new large study supports that a diet containing many foods with antioxidant nutrients used in AREDS can lower your risk of developing AMD. The study sampled men and women ages 55 and older who had no AMD at the beginning of the study. After eight years time, the people whose diets ranked in the top half for Vitamins C and E, zinc beta-carotene were 35 percent less likely to develop AMD. When people who used dietary supplements were eliminated from the study, the results were unchanged.

In recent studies, 400 IU (International Units) of vitamin E was associated with health risks, however, the levels of vitamin E linked to AMD protection was only at 20 to 30 IU. The research in this study also concluded that having a diet rich in several antioxidants is better at lowering your risk of AMD than having a high amount of one type of antioxidant.

To lower your risk of AMD by receiving the correct levels of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and zinc, it is recommended that you eat these foods as part of a balanced diet: at least 6 servings of fruit and vegetables; at least 3 servings of whole grains; 4 to 6 ounces of poultry, seafood or meat (or an equivalent of beans); 5 to 7 teaspoons of olive, canola, or other similar oils; and an ounce of nuts.

Other large studies have suggested that eating fish two or more times a week may significantly lower your risk of AMD. However, polyunsaturated fat, which is found in fish, can increase your risk of AMD because of the fat’s chemical structure which is vulnerable to oxidation reactions.

In a recent study, women who chose to eat foods with a higher glycemic index had more than double the rate of early AMD. The diets these women chose tended to be higher in refined grains and sweets than in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

According to these studies, there is a definite correlation between their diets and AMD, even though the researchers took into account the amount of fat and little amount of antioxidant nutrients in the diets. It is very possible that refined carbohydrates can actually cause inflammation and tissue damage leading to AMD. Also, the lack of nutrients and phytochemicals could explain the added AMD risk.