Diabetes Device Scrutinizes Sweat For A Week At A Time

Diabetes device scrutinizes sweat for a week at a time

While there are already biosensors that help people manage type 2 diabetes, they're single-use devices that have to be replaced on a daily basis. That could be about to change, however, thanks to research being conducted by scientists from the University of Texas at Dallas. Led by Prof. Shalini Prasad, they've created a diabetes-monitoring tool that's good for up to a week.
Worn on the wrist like a bracelet, the biosensor utilizes a gel known as room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) to analyze minute amounts of sweat on the skin. In doing so, it measures concentrations of three interconnected compounds – cortisol, glucose and interleukin-6.
"If a person has chronic stress, their cortisol levels increase, and their resulting insulin resistance will gradually drive their glucose levels out of the normal range," says Prasad. "At that point, one could become pre-diabetic, which can progress to type 2 diabetes, and so on. If that happens, your body is under a state of inflammation, and this inflammatory marker, interleukin-6, will indicate that your organs are starting to be affected."
Ultimately, it is envisioned that the device will contain a small transceiver, allowing it to transmit data to a smartphone app at the push of a button.
"If you measure levels every hour on the hour for a full week, that provides 168 hours' worth of data on your health as it changes," states Prasad. "People can take more control and improve their own self-care. A user could learn which unhealthy decisions are more forgiven by their body than others."
Plans call for the device to be inexpensively Continue reading

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7 Herbs that Will Help You Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.
This illness comes along with elevated blood glucose levels when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or when insulin is improperly processed by your body.
This keeps the glucose in your blood instead of burning it for energy.
To prevent this type of diabetes, it is recommended to exercise and eat a healthy diet. However, if you want to go further, you should learn about certain herbs that can help you treat type 2 diabetes.
Just remember that none of these herbs can stand in for medical treatment. It’s about giving your body some extra help, not ignoring medical advice.
1. Turmeric
The first herb we’ll tell you about that can help you treat type 2 diabetes is turmeric. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is appreciated for its numerous health benefits.
Because it is an anti-inflammatory, turmeric is recommended for arthritis and cardiovascular illnesses.
Thanks to its active compound, curcumin, it helps lower blood sugar levels.
All you have to do is consume a bit of turmeric every day to help lower glucose levels and help stop the advance of diabetes.
“Check this out too: Benefits of Turmeric Vs. These 7 Medications”
2. Ginger
Another herb that can help with type 2 diabetes is ginger. It is associated with the ability to relieve everything from a cold to digestive problems.
Over the years there have also been studies done to dig deeper into the properties of this root and several of them have shown that it helps treat type 2 diabetes.
A good way to take advantage of the powers of ginger are to take 1/2 teaspoon (2 g Continue reading

8 Natural Remedies for Type 2 Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, with about 90 to 95% having type 2 diabetes. Sugar, in the form of glucose, is the main source of fuel for body cells. The hormone insulin allows glucose in the blood to enter cells. In type 2 diabetes, either the body doesn't produce enough insulin or cells are resistant to effects of insulin.
As a result, glucose builds up in the blood instead of entering cells, which causes cells to be deprived of energy. If high glucose levels in the blood persist, it may damage the eyes, heart, kidneys, or nerves.
Alternative Treatments for Diabetes
So far, scientific support for the claim that any remedy can treat diabetes is lacking. It's important to note that self-treating with alternative medicine and avoiding or delaying standard care may be harmful to your health.
That said, here are some natural treatments that are being explored:
Ginseng
Although there are several different types of ginseng, most of the promising studies on ginseng and diabetes have used North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Those studies have shown that North American ginseng may improve blood sugar control and glycosylated hemoglobin (a form of hemoglobin in the blood used to monitor blood glucose levels over time) levels.
Chromium
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and helps body cells properly respond to insulin. In fact, studies have found low levels of chromium in people with diabetes.
There are many promising Continue reading

Study Finds Royal Jelly is Natural Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

New research in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine indicates royal jelly has the ability to help maintain blood sugar levels while controlling oxidative stress. In other words, royal jelly may be one of many natural alternatives for preventing and even reversing Type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 8.3 percent of the U.S. population, with an estimated 25.8 million people diagnosed with the preventable disease. Stopping diabetes before it starts is a matter of proper nutrition and dietary control. Once diagnosed, it can still be overcome with lifestyle choices, and a new study says royal jelly could aid in the fight.
The study involved 50 women with type 2 diabetes, half receiving 1,000 mg of royal jelly and half receiving a placebo, for a period of 8 weeks. The researchers concluded:
“After royal jelly supplementation, the mean fasting blood glucose decreased remarkably (163.05±42.51 mg/dL vs. 149.68±42.7 mg/dL). Royal jelly supplementation resulted in significant reduction in the mean serum glycosylated hemoglobin levels (8.67%±2.24% vs. 7.05%±1.45%, P=0.001) and significant elevation in the mean insulin concentration (70.28±29.16 pmol/L vs. 86.46±27.50 pmol/L, P=0.01). Supplementation significantly increased erythrocyte superoxidase dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased malondialdehyde levels (P<0.05). At the end of study, the mean total antioxidant capacity elevated insignificantly in both groups.”
In layman’s terms, the researchers said the effects of royal jelly on blood sugar was “remarkable” and that Continue reading

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: An Essential Weapon in Managing Diabetes

The number of diabetes cases continues to soar, with the latest data showing that an estimated 30.3 million Americans have the disease. More than 7.2 million of those individuals are unaware that they have diabetes, while countless others are at risk for the disease.1
Having a reliable and easy-to-use blood glucose meter is an indispensable and powerful tool that all patients with diabetes can use throughout the day to keep track of blood glucose patterns and daily targets, prevent or detect episodes of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, and monitor their glycemic response to certain foods, medications, physical activity, and therapy changes.2 Results from a plethora of clinical studies have validated the critical nature of maintaining tight glycemic control to effectively manage diabetes, as well as reduce or prevent the various health-related complications associated with poorly controlled diabetes. Results from a recent study show that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may benefit adults with type 2 diabetes who use multiple daily insulin injections, and the patients in the study showed improved glycemic control.3 CGM is approved for use by adults and children via a prescription and is typically used in patients who have type 1 diabetes but can also be used in those who have type 2 diabetes. Patients should discuss this issue with their primary health care provider to determine whether they are suited for CGM.3 Routine self-monitoring of blood glucose remains the most effective tool to monitor and provide critical information to manage diabetes (Table 1).
Selecting a blood Continue reading