Key Amino Acid Could Fight Diabetes Better Than Drugs

Key amino acid could fight diabetes better than drugs

The amino acid arginine, found in foods like salmon, eggs and nuts, can help the body metabolize glucose just as well as established diabetes drugs, a new study reveals.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that arginine improved glucose metabolism in both lean (insulin-sensitive) and obese (insulin-resistant) mice.
Insulin secretion
For many years, scientists have known that arginine is an important part of insulin secretion, but the latest findings show that the process is indirect: Arginine's ability to secrete the intestinal hormone GLP-1 subsequently affects insulin secretion.
After subjecting mice to a glucose tolerance test, researchers found that the amino acid was just as effective at improving glucose metabolism as popular drugs on the market.
"We have demonstrated that both lean and fat laboratory mice benefit considerably from arginine supplements," study author Christoffer Clemmensen said in a statement. "In fact, we improved glucose metabolism by as much as 40 percent in both groups."
The role of GLP-1
GLP-1 plays an important role in appetite regulation and glucose metabolism, the researchers noted, which is why it's used in many drugs that treat type 2 diabetes.
So will a diet rich in arginine treat the disease? Not quite, the authors said.
"You cannot, of course, cure diabetes by eating unlimited quantities of arginine-rich almonds and hazelnuts," Clemmensen wrote. "However, our findings indicate that diet-based interventions with arginine-containing foods can have a positive effect on how the body processes the food we eat."
The findings rai Continue reading

Rate this article

Total 1 ratings

Khloe Kardashian Discusses Rob Kardashian's Diabetes Diagnosis: "Let's Tackle It Head On"

2016 will truly be a new year for Rob Kardashian.
Khloe Kardashian appeared on Good Morning America Wednesday and opened up about Lamar Odom and her brother Rob. It was recently revealed that Rob, who has become a bit of a recluse over the past year, was diagnosed with diabetes. Khloe previously told E! News that his health scare served as a "wake up call," and now she says that he is leaving it all behind to start anew.
"He got out before the New Year, so I was like, 'OK let's leave all that stuff then,'" she explained. "Listen, you found out what the stuff is. Let's tackle it head on."
Khloe maintained that she believes "everything happens for a reason" and took this as a sign for her brother to "jumpstart his health journey." She also admitted that she doesn't know which type of diabetes he has.
"He's taking it seriously," she added. "We're only 13 days into the New Year, but that's good enough for me." Continue reading

7 Times TV And Movies Got Diabetes Wrong

WRITTEN BY: K. Thor Jensen
One of the most frustrating things about living with diabetes is the massive amount of misinformation that’s floating around. It seems like almost every person you meet has some crazy idea about what causes it or how you treat it.
Where does that misinformation come from? In many cases, the media. TV shows and movies have used diabetes either as a cheap way to ramp up drama or as a lousy, lazy punchline in comedies for years. Come with us as we spotlight seven of the absolute worst offenders.
1 – Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
This absurd action flick shows what happens when you try to apply logic to the fairy tale world. Hansel, played by Jeremy Renner, has grown into an adult “witch hunter” with a “sugar sickness” caused by eating too much candy as a child. In between fights, he needs to inject insulin to bring his blood sugar down.
Instead of monitoring his blood glucose with a finger prick or a diabetic alert dog, Hansel instead takes regular insulin injections when his watch alerts him, no matter his carb count or level of physical activity. We’re not saying that we needed him to explain his IC ratio on camera, but they could have handled it a little better.
2 – Do No Harm
This short-lived NBC drama told the tale of a high-powered neurosurgeon afflicted with an evil split personality that took over from 8:25 PM to 8:25 AM. While T1Ds who go low can often seem like completely different people, that’s not what put Do No Harm into the hall of shame. The protagonist explained his inability to be on call in the evenings by sayi Continue reading

Top 14 Alkaline Foods That Fight Cancer, Pain, Diabetes And Even Heart Disease

We are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases if our body is in an alkaline state. It is one of the things that can help us fight those diseases that may be attacking our body. If we take in foods that are rich with alkalinity our body has the proper foods to help keep our body in tip top shape. Learn the top foods that are most alkaline and help fight cancer, pain, gout, and even heart disease all on the Next Page.
Discover the best alkaline foods that balance your body. Check out the article we found over at Bembu.
If you were thinking of going alkaline, this article is a ‘must’ for you. It will help you learn which foods will help you achieve and maintain an alkaline state.
You can eat each of the foods we have listed without any fear of creating an acidic environment in your body, even though some have a greater alkaline effect than others.
Keeping your body alkaline does not mean that you have to eat alkaline foods only, and a certain percentage of the food you eat can be acidic, but experts recommend eating natural, whole foods like fruits, for instance.
1. Almonds and Almond Milk
Almonds take a special place on the list of healthiest foods out there, so it should not surprise you that they are on the alkaline list as well. Almonds increase muscle mass, reduce cholesterol levels and aid in weight loss. You do not have to stuff yourself with almonds to enjoy their amazing benefits, but they are a tasty snack and you can eat them between your meals or pretty much anytime you wish.
Top stats (100g)
Calcium – 27%
Iron – 25%
Protein – 44%
2. Amaranth
Not man Continue reading

Controlling hunger with diabetes

Managing nutritional decisions when you have diabetes involves properly learning how to control hunger, as the quality of your hunger management can affect your weight, your blood sugar and your overall health as a diabetic.
Learning how to recognize what your body really needs – and whether or not you're experiencing true physical hunger (as opposed to emotional-based food cravings, for example) – takes time, but the following tips may help:
Prevention
According to Dr. Sooji Rugh, obesity expert and founder of GreenLite Medicine, controlling hunger is all about preventing it in the first place. Rugh explains that hunger – whether minor or extreme – will usually trigger overeating, while eating before you become hungry will almost always prevent overconsumption.
For diabetics, then, regular eating is important for two reasons: It prevents hunger, and it keeps blood sugar levels stable.
Eat every three to four hours, Rugh recommends, or as often as you need to in order to prevent hunger and maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
Healthy fats – like those found in avocados, nuts and organic oils – paired with some protein can help with satiety. Too many carbohydrates, on the other hand, will tend to trigger hunger, so monitor your carb intake appropriately.
Blood Sugar Monitoring
Controlling hunger might also become easier if you can learn to monitor your blood sugar levels well.
Tracking highs and lows will help you estimate how often and how much you need to eat in order to control hunger and avoid the ravenous feeling that often comes with low blood sugar. The Continue reading