9 Of The Biggest Diabetes Myths Debunked By An Expert

9 of the biggest diabetes myths debunked by an expert

9 of the biggest diabetes myths debunked by an expert
We got an expert to give us the facts during World Diabetes Week.
More than 4 million people in the UK have diabetes, but do we actually know what the condition is or why it developed?
We asked Pav Kalsi, a senior clinical adviser at Diabetes UK , to clear up a few of the most common myths about the disease.
1. Diabetes is caused by an unhealthy diet
Were often told that binging on burgers and chips will cause diabetes, but this statement completely ignores the difference between Type 1 and Type 2. This is probably because 90% of diabetes sufferers have Type 2, which is linked to being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle and eating an unhealthy diet.
[Read more:Craving junk food? Obese people may be mentally wired to find unhealthy food irresistible]
However, Type 1 has nothing to do with these factors. Type 1 diabetes isnt linked to diet, explains Pav. No one knows what exactly causes it but its not to do with being overweight. It usually affects children or young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse very quickly.
She adds: Too often Type1 diabetes, which is not linked to lifestyle, is mistaken for Type2, which can be caused by being overweight, but it is important that the distinctions between the two types are clearly understood.
2. All overweight people will develop diabetes
Not all overweight people are going to get diabetes although the majority of people with Type 2 diabetes do have an unhealthily high BMI. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reports that worldwide 80% of people w Continue reading

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National Diabetes Month: My path to a sweeter, sugar-free lifestyle

In all my years on this planet, I had never fainted. Sure, there were a few stressful moments that caused my head to feel like it was soaked in club soda, but I never once succumbed to the lightheadedness.
On January 12, 2017, I fainted. And I have two scars to prove it. One on my head, the other on the remnants of my former sedentary, careless, "regular guy" lifestyle.
That morning -- just a day removed from an otherwise normal checkup -- I was working from home, while simultaneously planning a righteous birthday celebration, replete with friends, beer, televised sports, and piles of indistinguishable fried brown foods.
In other words, a normal celebration for a man approaching middle age with a decided lack of grace, and a bad case of arrested development.
Then the phone rang. It was my doctor -- undoubtedly to tell me all was well, and that I was just a few pounds shy of perfect fitness. Right? Right?
Wrong. Instead of joyous celebration, she asked me to sit down. Then, with all the subtlety of a trombone, she bluntly stated that my blood tests confirmed what I already knew deep down. I was a confirmed diabetic.
The next 10 minutes were a blur. After years of being coddled by a well-intentioned, doting family that always implied bad things happen to "other people," a wash of emotion made me come to grips with the reality of my situation. My life was about to change entirely.
Oh, I would continue to exist for years with the proper treatment. But I truly believed my days of living were suddenly -- and sadly -- over. Gone were the large meals, mindless snacking, care-free m Continue reading

Metformin in Gestational Diabetes

Home / Conditions / Gestational Diabetes / Metformin in Gestational Diabetes
Should metformin or glyburide, or a combination of both drugs, be the first-line treatment for gestational diabetes?
Uncontrolled hyperglycemia during pregnancy is known to affect fetal development and increase the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) that complicates 5-7% of pregnancies. Studies show that routine care including healthy diet, physical activity, and glucose monitoring may not be adequate to achieve glucose control in those pregnant women. Although, previously US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved insulin as the only treatment for GDM, ongoing studies have shown promising results with oral hypoglycemic drugs: Glyburide and Metformin are cost effective, therapeutically efficacious, easy to administer, and safe pharmacological treatment options for GDM.
In a prospective, open-labeled, randomized, parallel study, women at 1333 weeks of gestation diagnosed with GDM, between the ages of 1845 years were recruited to compare the efficacy and safety of glyburide versus metformin in the treatment of GDM. Also, the improvement in glycemic control after their replacement due to adverse effects or after adding the second drug due to failure of the first were also evaluated. Pharmacotherapy was initiated in subjects with either fasting blood glucose (BG) >95 mg/dL, a 1.5-h postprandial of >130 mg/dL, or a daily average >100 mg/dL after at least a week of dietary treatment. Subjects underwent a sonographic dating of the pregnancy earlier than 24 weeks and signed a co Continue reading

Blood sugar alert – Why prediabetes can be just as deadly as diabetes

(NaturalHealth365) Prediabetes – elevated blood sugar that has not yet reached the threshold for clinical diabetes – is widespread in the United States. Now, several recent studies have revealed the dangers of being prediabetic – including a heightened risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and stroke.
Read on to learn more about prediabetes, and what you can do to reverse it.
Prediabetes is a warning sign of danger ahead
Prediabetes, characterized by a fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL, is becoming more common across America. A 2016 UCLA study revealed that a shocking 46 percent of all adults in California either have prediabetes or suffer from undiagnosed type 2 diabetes – meaning that almost half of the adult population of the state has blood sugar that is too high.
And, elevated blood sugar could very well be even more widespread in other states across the nation, as California residents usually score near the top of the scale for longevity and healthy lifestyles.
For many, the term “prediabetes” seems to imply that no damage has occurred – yet. All too often, the condition is viewed as a yellow traffic signal, signaling “caution” – and possibly triggering a resolution to adopt healthier habits.
But in reality, a diagnosis of prediabetes should function as a red light, signaling a serious health threat.
It’s official: “High normal” blood sugar raises risk of degenerative diseases
The truth is: even with fasting glucose levels at the medically-accepted threshold, it is entirely possible that major microvascular damage has already Continue reading

Are Eggs Safe for People With Diabetes to Eat?

Are Eggs Safe for People With Diabetes to Eat?
Eggs can be a great diabetes breakfast idea and, when eaten in moderation, can be a staple in the diabetes diet. Learn how they may affect your blood sugar before you dig in.
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Eggs are rich in healthy fat and protein, meaning they can aid weight loss a potential benefit for people with diabetes who are overweight.
In the past, whole eggs got a bad rap for their cholesterol and fat content. But thanks to new studies and a fresh perspective in the medical community, this budget-friendly protein source has reemerged as a dietitian favorite even for people with diabetes .
Were getting away from limiting eggs in the diet of people with diabetes, as their benefits are quite extensive, says Elizabeth Ebner, a registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator with Hackensack Meridian Health in Fair Haven, New Jersey. Theyre considered a high biological value protein, which means they provide all the amino acids required in the body. When a protein source contains the essential amino acids in the right proportion required by humans, it is considered to have a high biological value.
But before an egg could be seen as a protein-and-healthy-fat powerhouse, it had to shed its negative reputation.
The cholesterol found in egg yolks was once cause for alarm among people with diabetes . The disease puts you at an increased risk of heart issues , and cholesterol Continue reading