Can Cough Syrup Treat Diabetes?

Can cough syrup treat diabetes?

An ingredient in many over-the-counter cough syrup remedies may help to improve the body's insulin response, according to a new study.
Dextromethorphan is a compound that acts as a cough suppressant, but researchers found it also produces a byproduct that increases the release of insulin from the pancreas. This is the exact opposite of what researchers thought the drug would do.
Affecting N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors, dextromethorphan stimulated insulin release in both animal and human pancreatic tissue sample cells. A small group of 20 diabetic patients were also given the drug and monitored for insulin changes during a single-dose clinical trial.
A future treatment for type 2 diabetes?
The study authors don't suggest diabetics self-medicate with cough syrup, as the participant pool for the research was small and the results don't provide sufficient evidence of a treatment quite yet.
"My hope is that our study triggers further clinical trials at established diabetes centers," senior study author Eckhard Lammert told Live Science.
Other drugs that act on NMDA-receptors might also be an area of study to explore if dextromethorphan is found to be an ineffective treatment method, the researchers said.
The study is published in the journal Nature Medicine.
Source: Live Science
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes in many ways. As its alternate name of adult-onset diabetes implies, it is usually only found in adults. However, the rate of children acquiring the disease is going up.
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5 Female Celebrities That Have Diabetes

While some celebrities aren't quick to talk about living with diabetes, others are quite transparent and inspiring - acting as advocates for the condition and donating time and money toward finding a cure.
The following five female celebrities are not only known for their creative and professional talents, but also for the fact that they have all struggled with diabetes.
1. Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 33. Now 79, she is an avid spokesperson for the cause and continues to struggle with extremely poor eyesight due to the condition. Moore attends and supports many events for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
2. Halle Berry
Following a scary episode where she was in a week-long coma, actress Halle Berry received a type 1 diabetes diagnosis when she was 22. While Berry has said the condition is inconvenient, many admire her "that's just life" attitude when it comes to living with diabetes.
3. Salma Hayek
Superstar actress and model Selma Hayek developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter.
"It occurs in women who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy," Hayek told Parents.com. "I didn't know whether I was feeling bad because I was pregnant or whether something was seriously wrong. I was nauseated for nine months, which can be one of the symptoms."
4. Patti LaBelle
Refering to herself as the "divabetic," Grammy-award winning Patti LaBelle didn't know she had type 2 diabetes until she fainted during a performance in 1994. Since then, LaBelle has cut back on "fried chicken and pasta" and has re Continue reading

Gene That Makes People Behave Like Idiots When Drunk Could Also Protect Against Diabetes

A genetic mutation that has been found to cause people to act outrageously when they’re drunk also appears to lower the risk of certain metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Peculiarly, the mutation has so far only been found in Finnish people, and is thought to affect around 100,000 people in the Nordic country.
The mutation in question inhibits the production of serotonin 2B receptors. Since serotonin is a key regulator of mood and behavior, the absence of this receptor unsurprisingly leads to an inability to control one’s actions, and has been blamed for some of the violent, reckless, and downright stupid conduct of some people when drunk.
In a new study appearing in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, scientists from the University of Helsinki reveal how carriers of this mutation also have higher insulin sensitivity (IS) and lower insulin resistance (IR) than non-carriers. Insulin is a hormone that facilitates the transportation of glucose from the bloodstream into body cells. As such, when cells become insensitive or resistant to insulin, this process grinds to a halt, leading to a rise in blood sugar levels and potentially type 2 diabetes.
The researchers recruited 98 Finnish men, all of whom had been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Of these, nine were found to carry the mutation – called HTR2B Q20* - while 89 did not. The study authors then measured the serum glucose and insulin levels of all participants in order to calculate IS and IR indices, discovering that the mutant group was much better off on both measures.
Carriers Continue reading

All About That Bass? Well These Girls Are All About Diabetes Awareness!

Sadly 15,000 children are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes every year, and 15% of people with Type 1 are kids. While there are numerous organizations dedicated to the research and support of diabetes, this group of girls took a different approach! Can you guess what it is?
These girls, ages 7-9, decided to take the song “All About That Bass” and rewrite it to help raise awareness. Their video is a brilliant, and adorable, way to help both kids and adults talk about diabetes.
It’s importance to raise awareness about Type 1 because unfortunately there are a lot of uninformed people out there that just do not understand. We could not think of a better way to spread some knowledge then a popular song sung by these girls who know more about it then most.
Take a look at their adorable video and share it with a friend to raise awareness!
If you want more information on the girls and their experience, take a look here! Continue reading

Top 9 Alkaline Foods That Fight Cancer, Pain, Gout, Diabetes And Heart Disease

Are you trying to go alkaline too?
If you are in the midst of the alkaline process, it helps a lot when you know which foods to consume to stay alkaline as long as possible.
A general rule of thumb is that you can eat these 9 foods without worrying about the acidic side effects they might have – although some of them are more alkaline than others.
Let’s make this clear: It is not necessary to eat only alkaline foods in order to get your body’s pH levels at an alkaline level.
On the contrary, a certain percentage of foods consumed can be acidic, but it is best if they are natural, whole foods like fruits for instance.
1. Almonds
It is no wonder that almonds are alkaline nutriment since they consistently rank on the list of healthiest foods to eat.
And did you know that most nuts and seeds are considered acidic unless they are sprouted?
However, there are some nuts that are neutral, or just slightly alkaline, such as almonds.
Top stats (per 100g):
Calcium – 27%
Iron – 25%
Protein – 44%
2. Amaranth
Although the great majority of people are NOT familiar with this grain, it does make a great addition to any alkaline-streamed diet regime.
Today the amaranth is valued worldwide. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization have fostered amaranth’s use since 1967 because wherever it is eaten there is no trace of malnutrition!
The amaranth has more protein compared with wheat and it is higher in the amino acid lysine than other grain sources of protein.
Distinguished botanists note that the amaranth belongs to a remarkable group of photosynthetic super performe Continue reading