An 11-Year-Old Has 3D-Printed A Device That Safely Stores Diabetes Test Strips

An 11-Year-Old Has 3D-Printed a Device That Safely Stores Diabetes Test Strips

It's well established that diabetes wreaks havoc on people's blood sugar levels, but one thing we don't usually think about is the amount of waste produced by all those blood tests that need to be taken daily when you have the disease.
Now 11-year-old William Grame from Canberra in Australia has 3D printed a device that hygienically stores all those old blood test strips, and it's small enough to fit inside a diabetic's portable test kit. His invention has won the years 5 to 6 category of the Origin Energy littleBIGidea competition, and he'll be heading off to the US to visit NASA as part of his prize.
When diabetics test their blood sugar levels throughout the day, they prick a finger and place a dot of blood on a special test strip. This is then inserted into a blood glucose meter, which tells them if they need to inject themselves with insulin to help manage their blood sugar levels.
Grame, who has type 1 diabetes, was inspired to create the device after constantly getting in trouble for leaving his test strips on the floor at home. "There are around 380 million diabetics in the world, each testing their blood at least a few times a day," said Grame at a presentation of his device this morning in Sydney.
He's tested his device over the past few months and showed that it can securely store around 50 test strips, which means he only has to empty the device into the bin once a week. In the meantime, it keeps his blood-stained strips off the floor, and makes his life, and his family's, a little easier.
He created the blueprint for the blood disposal test strip disposal unit Continue reading

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Stem Cell Breakthrough Puts Type 1 Diabetes Cure In Reach

Harvard scientists have announced a breakthrough that could eventually allow millions of diabetics to shed the yoke of daily insulin injections.
It took over 15 years of trial and error, but researcher Douglas Melton and his team have discovered a method to transform human embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells which can then be injected into the pancreas. The discovery has generated a new wave of momentum in the field, with research labs across the country already working to replicate and build upon Melton’s results.
“I think we’ve shown the problem can be solved,” Melton told National Geographic Thursday.
Building the Recipe
The researchers developed a 30-day, six-step process that transforms embryonic stem cells into pancreatic beta cells, the same sugar-regulating cells that are destroyed by the immune system of people with type 1 diabetes. The new cells can read the levels of sugars that enter the body after, say, a meal, and secrete the perfect dose of insulin to balance sugar levels.
Other researchers have had some success harvesting beta cells from cadavers and transplanting them into people with diabetes, but this method can’t round up enough of those cells to have a lasting effect.
Melton’s method produces millions of the insulin-secreting cells, which were then fed through a catheter to the kidney capsules of 37 diabetic mice.
“We can cure their diabetes right away — in less than 10 days,” Melton told NPR.
When the mice were later given glucose injections, 73 percent showed increased levels of human insulin in their bloodstream, indic Continue reading

10 Warning Signs of Diabetes You Shouldn’t Ignore

In the latest report by the CDC. experts have explained that by 2050, about one-third of the adult Americans will be diagnosed with diabetes. According to The Nutrition Source, the online magazine of the Harvard School of Public Health, 24 million people in the US struggle with this serious condition. What’s more devastating, about 6 million of these people are not even aware that they have it.
Diabetes is a health condition in which the body cannot produce enough insulin or it is not able to process it. Being diagnosed with diabetes means that the body is unable to process the sugar properly, and the blood glucose levels are higher than normal.
There are three main types of diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes -- It is an autoimmune disease, and health experts used to call it juvenile diabetes. It occurs when the immune system turns against the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
2. Type 2 Diabetes -- It is the most common type. In this case, the body does not produce insulin to regulate the blood sugar or the cells have become resistant to insulin, meaning they are unable to use it properly.
3. Gestational Diabetes -- This disease affects 5-10 percent of the women during or after their pregnancy
People are often not aware they have diabetes, because early diabetes symptoms sometimes seem harmless. By recognizing the early symptoms you can control the disease on time and prevent any further damage.
Here are some of the most common signs of diabetes:
-- Frequent urination. The kidneys work harder to get rid of the extra glucose in the blood, as the glucose is eliminat Continue reading

Diabetes Diet: Why Limiting Processed Foods Is A Healthy Choice

One way to help prevent or manage diabetes is limiting our intake of processed foods.
The phrase “processed foods” generally refers to products that are chemically processed, created with heavily refined ingredients, and contain a plethora of artificial additives.
Three Reasons To Limit Processed Foods
Limiting the intake of processed foods aids those with or at risk for diabetes three ways. It helps lower blood sugar levels and body fat, reduces the ingestion of weight-promoting empty calories, and cuts consumption of heart-unhealthy fats.
1. Sugars and Refined Carbs
Processed foods are generally high in sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup, and we know that eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Refined fructose, usually some form of corn syrup, is found in nearly every processed food product. This is a problem since fructose is primarily metabolized by the liver. Consuming too much fructose can overwork and damage our liver—just as imbibing a lot of alcohol can. Further, the liver metabolizes fructose directly into fat that goes immediately into our fat cells, increasing the likelihood of weight gain and obesity.
The simple carbohydrates found in processed foods (e.g., refined grains) can significantly elevate blood glucose. Refined carbs digest quickly and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream as sugar. This causes glucose spikes, increased insulin levels, and may trigger insulin resistance.
2. Pleasurable Empty Calories
Many processed foods are full of taste bud tickling flavors that strongly stimulate our brain’s reward ce Continue reading

Research Shows: Powerful Plant that Kills Cancer Cells and Fights Diabetes

According to many scientists, when discussing one of the most dangerous and common diseases of 21th century – cancer, the remedy against this disease lies in natural substances that simply kill cancer cells and destroy their reverse metabolism.
It is very well known fact that cancer cells lack oxygen and simply multiply in uncontrolled manner. Some of the substances that are good and used for cancer cells elimination are green and black tea, backing soda without aluminium, grape seed juice rich with resveratrol, shiitake mushrooms and many other. Recently, scientists discovered a fruit called “ Bitter Melon”, popular in Japan, Okinawa region.
The juice produced by this fruit is mixed in 5% in water and proved to kill pancreatic cancer cells. It is conformed that this bitter melon juice eliminates cancer cell lines by 90%. This juice is also applied on animals that is mice and is confirmed that the tumor size is drastically decreased. This would also be applied on humans. It is sure that there no side effects.
The dosage is six grams of this miraculous powder for a human with average high and weight. This bitter melon juice is also helpful for diabetes removal. It is proven that this juice helps to diminish metabolic problems.
Talking about those illnesses it is better that several methods along with this one to be applied, since the synergy of several medicines is the best therapy along with the best results.
Resource: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed Continue reading