Type 1 Diabetes Trial Patient Insulin-free After Treatment

Type 1 diabetes trial patient insulin-free after treatment

A new type 1 diabetes trial has left one participant completely insulin-free.
The trial, conducted by the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami, involved the implantation of islet cells within a biological scaffold.
Wendy Peacock, 43, underwent the procedure on August 18, 2015. For the first time since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 17, Wendy can now naturally produce her own insulin.
How does the islet cell trial work?
Building on previous islet cell transplant research, the trial is working towards the development of a "mini-organ" that mimic the function of a healthy pancreas. This organ, known as the DRI BioHub, allows people with type 1 diabetes to produce their own insulin.
"The first subject in our Phase I/II pilot BioHub trial is now completely off insulin with an excellent glucose profile," said Camillo Ricordi, MD, director of the DRI.
"These are the best post-transplant results we've seen in an islet recipient."
"This was the first tissue engineered islet transplant using a 'biodegradable scaffold' implanted on the surface of the omentum. The technique has been designed to minimise the inflammatory reaction that is normally observed when islets are implanted in the liver or in other sites with immediate contact to the blood."
Islet cell transplants and immunosuppressant therapy
Currently, people with type 1 diabetes who benefit from islet cell transplantation need to take immunosuppressant drugs to stop the immune system attacking the new, functional islet cells too. Immunosuppressant drugs, while useful in this respect, also preve Continue reading

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Top foods for diabetes

Diabetes , is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. If you are diabetic, it means that there is an excessive amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA): “25.8 million children and adults in the United States 8.3% of the population have diabetes.” If you have diabetes you should make sure to avoid foods that are high in sugar.
Including certain foods in your diet can help reduce the risk of complications with diabetes.
Here are some foods tips to help you create a healthier diet:
As a general rule:
Watch your serving sizes to keep the complications of diabetes in check. A dietitian or health practitioner should advise you on how many servings from each food group you should eat per day. For the most health benefits buy fresh produce in season.
Moderation is key.
According to the American Diabetes Association: Eat 3 to 5 servings of fresh vegetables which are packed with antioxidants.
Fruits have also the same advantages as vegetables. They are high in fiber and loaded with antioxidants.
They contain natural sugar and less calories than most vegetables. Eat 2 to 4 servings a day.
Avocados:
Avocados are a powerful super fruit for diabetes. They are high in fiber, water, and monounsaturated fats. These ingredients are all helpful in lowering blood sugar and removing acids from the body. Avocados are known to help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, which are a Continue reading

The Truth About Blood Sugars And Diabetes

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or are simply concerned about developing diabetes (maybe due to your family history), you might have some questions about blood sugar.
Blood sugar is one of the most important elements of diabetes. And once you understand it, the better you will be at managing your condition, or avoiding a type 2 diagnosis altogether.
But what is it?
What does it feel like?
What is actually happening in your body when you’re experiencing either a low blood sugar or high blood sugar episode? And how exactly do hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia figure into the conversation?
In the video below, all of these questions are answered. Dr. Eric Berg explains, in an easy-to-understand way, what diabetes is and how and when your blood sugar experiences fluctuations. This is such an excellent explanation of how our bodies function. Even if you already have a pretty great understanding of diabetes, you might be surprised by some of what he has to say!
Take a look, and don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below! Continue reading

The Miraculous Health Benefits and Uses of Cumin

Cumin is a popular spice in many Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes and it’s one of the most popular household spices around. We often forget the significance of something that we use on a regular basis and cumin happens to be one of them.
Research shows that cumin has antioxidant properties, helps in digestion, insomnia, diabetes and protects against memory loss among many other things.
According to Ayurveda, cumin is one of best overall wellness tonic and is used to treat a large variety of ailments, as it is nutrient-rich, is thought to boost the metabolism and the function of the digestive system, and has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Please note that this article is about the health benefits of cumin (Cuminum cyminum). Make sure not to confuse cumin with black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) which also known as the remedy for everything but death.
The Health Benefits of Cumin
1. Weight Loss Remedy
Cumin not only makes your metabolism work more quickly, but it also cuts down on your cravings.
In a study done by Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Iran, women who incorporated cumin into their diet while leading a healthy lifestyle decreased their body fat percentage by 14.64% while those who just led a healthier lifestyle only decreased theirs by 4.91%.
You can get more information about this exciting research and how to use cumin for weight loss in my post on how daily teaspoon of cumin help you lose 3 times as much body fat.
2. Helps Fighting Insomnia
Cumin seeds are a highly effective treatment for insomnia.
To use cumin to help and f Continue reading

'Lending hand' model shows 5 necessary interventions for diabetes treatment

In a new editorial published in American Family Physician, a team of researchers outline why glycemic control should no longer be considered the primary intervention when it comes to diabetes management.
The "lending a hand" model outlined in the paper suggests there are five major forms of diabetes treatment, descending in importance from the thumb to the pinky: smoking cessation, blood pressure control, metformin therapy, lipid reduction and glucose control.
The illustration offers a simple way for physicians to communicate with patients about a treatment plan, and it also proposes that blood sugar control isn't the main thing to be worried about.
"Glycemic control is stuck in people's minds as the primary goal of treatment, but evidence has existed since the 1970s that other interventions are of greater benefit," said senior author Allen Shaughnessy, Pharm.D., M.Med.Ed., professor of family medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and fellowship director of the Tufts University Family Medicine Residency Program at Cambridge Health Alliance.
Length and quality of life most important
The authors stress that there is a paradigm shift happening in diabetes treatment priorities. Interventions must focus on improving the length and quality of life, according to new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
Adopting a new mindset about diabetes treatment may require shedding old ideas, the authors said, but there will be a better "return on investment" if doctors can learn to encourage other strategies along Continue reading