One Test May Spot Cancer, Infections, Diabetes And More

One Test May Spot Cancer, Infections, Diabetes and More

One Test May Spot Cancer, Infections, Diabetes and More
Researchers are starting to diagnose more ailments using DNA fragments found in the blood
Along with red blood cells, white blood cells and a panoply of hormones, every drop of your blood contains tiny shards of DNA spewed out of various cells in your body as they die. Recent massive increases in the speed and efficiency of the instruments used to analyze these fragments of genetic information have led to some impressive advances in the development of so-called cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testsparticularly when it comes to prenatal testing of a developing fetus. But the best may yet be to come.
Whenever cells die for one reason for another, theyll release DNA into the blood, says Kun Zhang, professor of bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. If you can recognize where they come from, there are multiple possibilities to detect the damage in different parts of the body. Because cfDNA tests only require a simple blood draw, they may one day greatly improve a physicians ability to diagnose a wide range of illnesses at their earliest stages, when they are often easier to treat. They could also reduce the need for painful biopsies to monitor the health of a new organ after a transplant. In the words of one researcher, cfDNA could become the ultimate molecular stethoscope that opens up a whole new way of practicing medicinein much the same way that the acoustic stethoscope forever changed diagnostic opportunities after its introduction in the 1800s.
The first commercial application of cfDNA sequencing deb Continue reading

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Weight-Loss Surgery Leads to Diabetes Remission

Home / Conditions / Obesity / Weight-Loss Surgery Leads to Diabetes Remission
Weight-Loss Surgery Leads to Diabetes Remission
Gastric bypass surgery may treat type 2 diabetes in selected patients.
Weight loss surgery has shown more effectiveness in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who underwent gastric bypass surgery resulting in better insulin production in 6 months to a year without the need of further medication. This is rationalized due to dramatic weight loss and calorie cutting along after surgery. Thus, comprehending why gastric bypass is the most effective metabolic surgery to treat diabetes, why obese patients are noticeably less hungry post weight-loss surgery, and why improvement in diabetes after surgery may experience worsening within a matter of years are important considerations to account.
Several theories have been proposed to explain the causes of glycemic control post weight loss surgery. Some of the most common bariatric surgeries conducted are sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and gastric banding. The first two reduces the size of the stomach and the latter slows the flow of food into the GI tract. Although all three resolve T2D, gastric bypass has proven to be the most effective one. In the UK, an observational study showed that all participants who underwent gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric banding were in remission at 43, 17, and 7 times higher respectively than no surgery. In comparison, gastric bypass yields more weight loss and effectiveness with nearly 2-fold higher remission rates than banding. Moreover, the N Continue reading

Try These Yoga Asanas To Control Diabetes

Yoga can work wonders for diabetes management, sparing you unwanted spikes and dips in sugar levels. Some asanas can even massage your insides, revving up your metabolism and kickstarting digestion. Make the bow pose, forward bends, seated half spinal and lying-down body twists part of your go-to exercise regimen. Unwind and calm yourself after a hard day or even reenergize yourself with yoga asanas. Also try yogic walking and yogic breathing for more benefits.
Living with diabetes isnt always easy. If balancing your daily routine managing your sugar levels, staying physically active, and watching what you eat is getting to you, yoga may be able to offer you some relief. Certain asanas can relax you and even give you a fresh wave of energy. Others can massage your abdominal region from the inside, helping your digestive system to operate better. This is why yoga has earned a great reputation as a workout that can help with blood sugar control, muscle strengthening, relaxation, and much more.1 Prediabetics stand to gain, too, as yoga can count toward physical activity that could help you lose weight and cut the risk of type 2 diabetes.2 Heres why yoga could be the right way to go.
Improve Your Glucose Tolerance, Insulin Sensitivity, And Risk Profile With Yoga
Yoga has more to offer than just physical exercise for diabetics.
It could reduce your risk of cardiovascular complications and improve your overall risk profile for diabetes.
Practicing yoga is known to help boost insulin sensitivity and has a positive impact on glucose tolerance.
The ancient exercise form ha Continue reading

I have diabetes. The ACA is a BFD for me.

Home | Blog | 2017 | 06 | 29 | I have diabetes. The ACA is a BFD for me.
I have diabetes. The ACA is a BFD for me.
GOP 'replacement' legislation would dismantle nearly every gain that ACA delivered to the diabetes community, and to the sick in general
On March 23, 2010, the day the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, three words were whispered to President Barack Obama, but caught on mic: big f****** deal. Its now one of the most memorable lines from that historic day, not because it was seemingly a gaff from Vice President Biden but because it was, in fact, a sincere expression of just how monumental passage of the ACA was for millions of Americans.
It meant that for the first time in American history, the uninsured and the underinsured would gain access to care they wanted and needed.
As someone with diabetes, I can attest that the ACA is truly a BFD. The law has been a godsend to me, financially, health-wise, and, well, spiritually. Confidently, I assert that the other 29 million Americans suffering with diabetes as well as the tens of millions more with other chronic illnesses would echo that sentiment.
Without access to quality coverage options and consumer protections the ACA makes available today, I would be either dead, financially ruined, or at best stuck in a corporate job just to be able to hold on to employer-sponsored health coverage.
The author with his grandmother, who told him, You can never go without health insurance. Period.
At age 10, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. However, I had been no doubt living Continue reading

Fast food and diabetes: Tips and options for eating out

Fast food and diabetes: Tips and options for eating out
To manage diabetes effectively, people need to follow a healthful diet. Fast food has a bad reputation for being unhealthy and highly processed.
Like junk food, fast food should be avoided most of the time. However, with a bit of know-how, people with diabetes can eat fast food in moderation without putting their health and wellness at risk.
It is important for people with diabetes to approach fast food options with some caution, and when possible, be prepared for what might be on offer.
Before going to a favorite fast food restaurant, people with diabetes should consider some of these tips:
Menus and calorie counts can often be found online, which can help people with diabetes make sure there is a meal option for them.
Do not go when overly hungry. Starting any meal on an empty stomach can cause even those with the best intentions to overeat and make less healthy choices. When possible, people with diabetes should plan to eat a fast food meal after having a healthful snack, such as an apple, to avoid overeating.
Know before going. Due to popular demand, many fast food restaurants have calorie counts on their menus and nutrition information on their websites. In other cases, independent websites might offer reviews and food facts. No matter the source, it is a good idea for people to look at the menu options and have a meal planned out ahead of the trip, whenever possible, to limit impulse orders.
Drink water, not soda. People with diabetes should avoid soda due to the high sugar content and the risk of causi Continue reading