Sickle Cell Trait In Blacks Can Skew Diabetes Test Results

Sickle Cell Trait in Blacks Can Skew Diabetes Test Results

TUESDAY, Feb. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A blood test commonly used to diagnose and treat diabetes may be less accurate in black people who have the sickle cell anemia trait, a new study says.
The test is called hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). An A1C reading of 5.7 or more indicates prediabetes or diabetes; below 5.7 is normal, says the American Diabetes Association.
But, the current study found that for blacks with a trait for sickle cell anemia, the A1C test may come back lower than it should. This discrepancy could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, and it might also affect the management of known diabetes.
When the researchers compared the results of A1C tests to other measures that check blood sugar levels, they showed that when A1C readings were expected to be 6 percent, they only registered 5.7 percent for blacks with sickle cell trait.
"We want to make clinicians aware that things like race and hemoglobin traits can have an effect on A1C. If the A1C numbers don't jibe with blood glucose monitor numbers, this could potentially be a part of that," said Tamara Darsow.
Darsow, who wasn't involved in the study, is senior vice president of research and community programs with the American Diabetes Association.
The test measures the percentage of red blood cells that have become "glycated" over a two- to three-month period. Glycated essentially means the red blood cells have sugar attached to them. That can happen when blood sugar levels are too high (hyperglycemia).
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder that affects the hemoglobin in red blood Continue reading

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Amylin for Diabetes Management

By Elisabeth Almekinder RN, BA, CDE Leave a Comment
We know that the beta cells, in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce, store, and secrete insulin. In addition to insulin, these multi-tasking super cells in our body also manage to produce two other peptide hormones called amylin and C-peptide. In Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, the busy beta cells are deficient or absent.
Amylin is not insulin. It is another peptide hormone produced by the beta cells in the pancreas. It acts as a gate keeper. It keeps sugar from entering the blood stream by halting glucagon secretion. It also slows gastric emptying, and curbs appetite.
Before we continue with this article, I wanted to let you know we have researched and compiled science-backed ways to stick to your diet and reverse your diabetes. Want to check out our insights? Download our free PDF Guide Power Foods to Eat here.
While most people with diabetes may know about the beta cells, and their role in producing insulin, they may not be aware of insulins BFF, amylin. Amylin works alongside insulin to bring down blood sugars, curb appetite, and stop glucagon. Glucagon is basically more sugar that the liver releases.
When you have Type 1 Diabetes, your beta cells have all been attacked by your immune system, and you dont make any amylin. You can benefit from injections of synthetic amylin. When you have Type 2 Diabetes, you may also benefit from synthetic amylin, since your body has a deficiency of amylin.
What is the role, or purpose of amylin in your body?
The purpose of amylin in blood sugar regulation is to preve Continue reading

Natural Herbs For Diabetes: 5 Natural Remedies For Diabetes That Work!

Natural herbs for diabetes have been a hot topic for as long as I can remember. It only makes sense when you consider that some of the most used drugs come from natural substances like herbs or a tree bark or something like that.
While natural remedies for diabetes can help, it is important to know that all of the herbs in the world wont help if you dont make an adjustment in your lifestyle. This is one of the big reasons for type 2 diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease. ..
When your pancreas slows down and there are a number of other defects that start to affect your body, your ability to regulate sugar effectively decreases.
It all starts with what you eat and your level of activity. Sedentary lifestyles with a poor diet tend to cause diabetes and make diabetes worse over time.
In this article, Im going to share with you 5 little-known natural herbs for diabetes. All of these are based on science from real clinical trials with references below.
I will also share with you studies to back them up, and some recommended products.
Also, stay with me because Ill share with you at the end what I believe is the best resource in this area for type 2 diabetes. So sit tight here we go
But before I get to it, Im not a doctor and dont know your medical situation, so prior to using any of this information consult with your physician. And Im not associated with any of these products that I may provide here, I just thought it would be easier for you to take action if I provided some product.
Nigella sativa also called black seed or black cumi Continue reading

Q&A: Understanding the link between diabetes, mental health disorders

Q&A: Understanding the link between diabetes, mental health disorders
Adolescents with common health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and obesity, are at a higher risk for depression and major depressive episodes, compared to their peers without these conditions, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Among all adolescents, there has been a significant rise in the overall rates of major depressive episodes from 8.8% in 2005 to 12.5% in 2015, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The survey also revealed that between 2005 and 2014, one in seven adolescents with diabetes experienced a major depressive episode within the past year, compared with one in 11 adolescents without diabetes.
National Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day is observed this year on May 4 to highlight the importance of integrating behavioral health and primary care for children, adolescents and young adults with mental and/or substance disorders, according to a press release.
What is the connection between physical and mental health in youth?
We strive to promote comprehensive well-being for youth, including both physical health and mental health. When youth are sick or physically dont feel well, this can influence their mood and mental health. However, when youth are struggling with mood or mental health symptoms, this can also affect their physical health and their behavior related to caring for their health. For this years National Childrens Continue reading

Olive oil in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies and intervention trials

Olive oil in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies and intervention trials
2Nutrition and Obesity Group, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and Lucio Lascaray Research Center, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
3CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
3CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
4Health Research Institute of Palma (IdISPa), University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
1Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Nuthetal, Germany
2Nutrition and Obesity Group, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and Lucio Lascaray Research Center, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
3CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
4Health Research Institute of Palma (IdISPa), University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
5Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna,, Vienna, Austria
*Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]
Received 2016 Oct 26; Revised 2017 Jan 25; Accepted 2017 Feb 2.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included Continue reading