Robot With Diabetes Developed In Hertfordshire

Robot with diabetes developed in Hertfordshire

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Robin is programmed to act like a child with diabetes to help youngsters with the condition
A robot is being developed to mimic a diabetic toddler to help children recognise symptoms of the condition.
Robin, short for "Robot Infant", is being developed at the University of Hertfordshire and can speak words including "hungry" and "hug me".
Developers said it was aimed at children aged seven to 12 to help youngsters learning to manage diabetes.
Diabetes UK said it had "been watching the development of Robin with great interest".
"It's really exciting to see this type of technology being used to help children accept and become more confident about their diabetes," said spokesman Simon O'Neill.
'Sense of responsibility'
Dr Lola Canamero and Dr Matthew Lewis designed and wrote the £5,800 robot's character.
"We try to give [children] a sense of responsibility and let them bond with the robot to understand that their actions can help with his diabetes and reinforce the sort of behaviours we'd like to see in them," said Dr Lewis.
"We would like to try multiple interactions; so far children have only spent half an hour with Robin in just one session.
"We'd like to have them interact with him several times and feel that they've improved.
"There are a limited number of behaviours Robin has at the moment which are sufficient for a half hour interaction but, for example, Robin only has a small number of words that he speaks. He also doesn't respond to noises."
What does Robin do?
Robin behaves Continue reading

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Tried & Tested- Juices That Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally

Diabetes is a disease that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
When you have type 2 diabetes, your fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond correctly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. As a result, blood sugar does not get into these cells to be stored for energy.
Diabetes has grown very fast and latest statistics revealed by the US Centers for Disease Control state that 25.8 million Americans have diabetes. Also, research from the ADA shows that 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which is 25% of the US population!
The cost of diabetes to our nation is a staggering $245 billion dollars a year as of 2012. That’s $176 billion in direct medical costs and another $69 billion loss in productivity.
Is type 2 diabetes curable?
In people with type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood. But with good management, your blood glucose levels may go down to normal again. But this does not mean you are cured. Instead, a blood glucose level in your target range shows that your treatment plan is working and that you are taking care of your diabetes.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
Bladder, kidney, skin
Fatigue
Hunger
Increased thirst
Increased urination
Blurred vision
Erectile dysfunction
Pain
These Following recipes will help to reverse your Type 2 diabetes
Brussel Sprouts and String Bean Juice
Ingredients:
10-12 Brussels sprouts
2 cup string beans
1 cucumber (optional)
1 peeled lemon
Directions:
Juice the Brussels sprouts, then, the string beans, then Continue reading

Studies show that chia seeds can treat diabetes, boost energy and more

(NaturalNews) Chia is a species of flowering plant that bears oval-shaped, multicolored seeds. These seeds, which have a neutral taste and crunchy texture, have been cultivated for centuries as a survival food in their native Mexico and Guatemala. Chia seeds had only just begun to enjoy recognition in the United States, however, when the eccentric Californian gadget company, Joseph Enterprises, began to market them in the 1980s as "Chia Pets," which are terracotta figurines that sprouted chia.
Aztec warriors treasured chia seeds for their medicinal properties, and many of these alleged properties are now being confirmed by contemporary studies. Below is a list of the health benefits attributed to chia seeds and the research that reinforces them.
Rich in essential fatty acids
One serving (2 ounces) of chia seeds contains approximately 11 grams of fat. Of these, 1 gram is saturated fat, while the remainder is comprised of essential polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In fact, according to a 2005 study published in the Nutrition Research journal, chia seeds are the greatest plant-based sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that has been known to prevent cancer, lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, reduce cortisol levels and much more. Moreover, chia seeds and other foods that contain optimum omega-3/omega-6 balances are known to improve brain function, since our brains are built from the same fats.
Excellent source of protein and energy
According to chia expert Dr. Wayne Coates, chia Continue reading

Health myth busted! Low-fat dairy promotes weight gain, heart disease and diabetes

(NaturalNews) There's a reason why many of the people you see regularly guzzling down diet sodas and opting for low- or fat-free dairy when they order their morning lattes are some of the most overweight, unhealthy people in society. Dairy products that have been stripped of their natural fats and fatty acid profiles not only promote unhealthy weight gain but also increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other related ailments.
Believe it or not, the ridiculous "fat makes you fat" myth is still surprisingly prevalent in many segments of society. Many old-school doctors and dietitians, for example, still actively encourage their patients to eat plenty of whole grains and avoid saturated fats, two grossly ill-advised recommendations that will continue to make people fat and ill until this flawed ideology is completely and forever tossed into the dustbin of bad science.
But this will only happen through continued education on the latest science, which is abundantly clear on the matter. As highlighted by Dr. Chris Kresser on his blog, a series of recent studies conclusively shows that consumption of low- and non-fat dairy products encourages the formation of metabolic disease and everything that it entails, including obesity, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease.
A meta-analysis of 16 studies, in fact, co-authored by Dr. Stephen Guyenet, one of Dr. Kresser's colleagues, found that all of these risk factors are directly associated with low- and non-fat dairy consumption. Conversely, full-fat dairy consumption was found to be Continue reading

Diabetes in the Digital Age

Illustration: Jordon Cheung
A day in the life of a diabetes patient is an exercise in micromanagement. Blood sugar metering. Insulin injections. Meal plans. Exercise diaries. Logs filled with heart rate, blood pressure, and even pain measurements. It’s a lot to keep up with, for doctors as well as patients, but it’s also absolutely crucial. Proper diabetes management is key to a patient’s quality of life and to keeping blood sugar levels in line.
For the 387 million people in the world living with diabetes, this is reality. But in many ways, their experience is not so different from that of the rest of us, who struggle to stay on top of our health and to effectively communicate to our health providers what’s going on with our bodies. In America, about half of all adults suffer from chronic illnesses, and according to a 2013 Pew Research Center study, among those who do track their health, about half of them keep up with progress “in their heads.”
Mobile app development, fueled by cloud technology, is going to change these habits dramatically. Already, wearable technologies, such as Fitbit, and food trackers, are helping us log our meals, movement, and weight. These seemingly simple devices have transformative powers. They have been proved to keep people motivated to exercise and lose weight. According to the Pew study, tracking also leads 40 percent of trackers to ask a doctor new questions or to get a second opinion.
But digital tools are pushing healthcare to the cusp of a much larger transformation than that. Apps designed to improve our health are going far Continue reading