Diabetes App Designed To Predict Blood Sugar Levels After Each Meal

Diabetes App Designed to Predict Blood Sugar Levels After Each Meal

For individuals with type 2 diabetes, managing glucose levels can be a daily challenge.
However, the introduction of a new algorithm-based app may soon take some of this stress away.
A lot of work still needs to be done on the process, but the idea behind the personalized technology is to predict the impact of each meal on a user’s blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes now affects more than 29 million people in the United States. An additional 86 million adults are thought to have prediabetes, which can develop into type 2 diabetes if lifestyle changes are not implemented.
With type 2 diabetes comes a constant need to monitor food intake to ensure the correct blood glucose levels are maintained.
If levels are too high for prolonged periods of time, serious health complications can arise.
Medication is given to help manage sugar level fluctuations, but exercise and diet also play a substantial role.
Although the impact of specific food types on glucose levels can be estimated, it is not an exact science.
Effects can vary substantially between individuals and they can even vary within an individual dependent on a range of factors.
A report, published in PLOS Computational Biology this week, explains how a group of scientists have integrated an algorithm into an app called Glucoracle, which goes some way toward solving this problem.
David Albers, Ph.D., associate research scientist in biomedical informatics at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York and lead author of the study, explains: “Even with expert guidance, it's difficult for people to understand the t Continue reading

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Is it Safe to Take Turmeric with Diabetes Medicines?

Is it Safe to Take Turmeric with Diabetes Medicines?
YES, turmeric in the diet is perfectly safe to consume along with diabetes medications. However, turmeric supplements should be taken with care and at a gap of about 3-4 hours with diabetes medicines.
Curcumin, an active ingredient of turmeric assists in treatment, management and prevention of diabetes.
Studies have shown that curcumin, when taken with diabetes drugs has no adverse interactions. On the contrary, it gives better results and can inhibit the side effects of these medicines.
Care should be taken when taking turmeric with the medicines, as high dosage could lower blood glucose and result in hypoglycemia.
Let us take a look at what scientists have to say about these effects.
Curcumin found in turmeric can lower blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. It can also enhance the functioning of pancreatic cells which produce insulin. [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
The working mechanism of turmeric and anti-diabetic medicines is quite similar.
Curcuminoids and metformin, both target the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway which results in lowered blood glucose levels. [ 3 ] [ 4 ]
Curcumin improves insulin sensitivity and lipid parameters by inhibiting Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-) and reducing plasma free fatty acids. The drug rosiglitazone works in the same manner [ 5 ]
It assists in regulation of lipid levels, blood pressure and body weight, which decreases the risk of developing diabetes. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ]
Turmeric is also beneficial in the prevention and treatment of several other health complications which o Continue reading

Weight Watchers Jumps Eight Spots To #3 Best Diabetes Diet And Retains Top Spot As Best Fast Weight Loss Diet In 2018 Best Diets Report

Weight Watchers Jumps Eight Spots To #3 "Best Diabetes Diet" And Retains Top Spot As "Best Fast Weight Loss Diet" In 2018 Best Diets Report
Annual Rankings Released Today by U.S. News & World Report Indicate Weight Watchers is One of the Best Plans Available
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW ) has been recognized once again by health experts in the 2018 Best Diets rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report, which includes advancing to #3 for "Best Diabetes Diet" (up from #11 in 2017). The "Best Diabetes Diets" ranking evaluates plans based on their ability to both prevent and manage the disease. Recent research has demonstrated the benefits of Weight Watchers programs for both prediabetes and diabetes. Specifically, clinical trial participants showed significant reductions in both weight and blood sugar control1,2,3.
Weight Watchers also received top recognition in six additional categories:
Ranked #1 for "Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet" for the second consecutive year since the category was added in 2016
Ranked #1 for "Best Weight-Loss Diet" for the eighth consecutive year
Ranked #1 for "Best Commercial Diet Plan" for the eighth consecutive year
Ranked #5 for "Best Diet for Healthy Living"
"For nearly 55 years, Weight Watchers has been known for taking the latest science and making it actionable and livable for our members. We are leaders because our science-based, proven program consistently inspires healthy habits for real life," said Gary Foster, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Weight Watchers Internationa Continue reading

Key Points from the Updated Guidelines on Exercise and Diabetes

Key Points from the Updated Guidelines on Exercise and Diabetes
1Human Movement Sciences Department, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
Edited by: Jonathan Peter Little, University of British Columbia, Canada
Reviewed by: Normand Boule, University of Alberta, Canada; Jamie F. Burr, University of Guelph, Canada
*Correspondence: Sheri R. Colberg, ude.udo@greblocs
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Diabetes, a section of the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology
Received 2017 Jan 14; Accepted 2017 Feb 7.
Keywords: physical activity, exercise, diabetes, guidelines, American Diabetes Association
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
No doubt remains that the adoption and maintenance of physical activity is important for overall health and blood glucose management in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes. Recently, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) published updated recommendations and precautions about physical activity and exercise in people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes ( 1 ). Given the importance of these topics, it is worth discussing the key changes and updates included in this ADA position statement (PS).
Pre-Ex Continue reading

Study suggests link between A1 beta-casein and type 1diabetes

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Keith Woodford
[The article below was intended to be published some weeks back at The Conversation. The Conversation is the online portal, funded by Universities in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, where academics are encouraged to communicate and converse with non-academics. However, this particular article was blocked at the last minute by the Senior Editor(s) at The Conversation, having previously been approved within their editorial system. The Senior Editor(s) felt that the interests of associated commercial parties, who might benefit from dissemination of the article, were too great. A fuller story of that publishing saga will be posted shortly.
The content, formatting and supporting links are shown as originally agreed with The Conversation and reflect the prior input of one of their editors. This article can be freely republished, with or withut this foreword, but retaining the title as posted here, and with acknowledgements as to source [https://keithwoodford.wordpress.com].
Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own insulin-producing cells, is on the rise globally.
Early evidence of an association between type 1 diabetes and a protein in cow milk, known as A1 beta-casein, was published in 2003 . However, the notion that the statistically strong association could be causal has remained controversial.
As part of a seven-person team, we have reviewed the overall evidence that links A1 beta-casein to type 1 diabetes. Our research brings forward new ways of looking at that evidence.
Type 1 diabetes i Continue reading