Gene flaws may increase kids' risk for type 1 diabetes
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research, Daily News
A new study, a report of which has been published in Nature, has identified gene flaws that increase the risk for type 1 diabetes in children. By examining the genetic codes of thousands of children, some with and some without diabetes, as well as those of parents of diabetics, the researchers identified three changes on one specific gene present in those with diabetes. They then looked at 1600 additional diabetes patients' genetic codes and again found the very same marks, sometimes called "flavors" or "flaws." Two of these variations increase a person's odds of developing diabetes by fifty percent, say the researchers. However, the third seems to decrease risk for the disease.Type 1, says lead author Hakon Hakonarson, is a complex genetic disorder "involving mutations in several genes acting in concert to predispose someone to the condition." Important? Very. Best case scenario: understanding how these genes operate is the kind of knowledge that could lead to a cure. At the very least, such knowledge could help medical caregivers identify at-risk children - a step that could eventually precede the standard diagnosis procedure as we know it today.
Click here for more details about this study.
Does Diabetes Boost Parkinson's Risk?
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Research
Acording to a Finnish study, diabetes may increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have found that people with type 2 diabetes were more than 80% more likely to be later diagnosed with Parkinson's disease than people without diabetes. This is the first study to suggest that diabetes may be a risk factor of Parkinson's disease, a progressive disease that causes muscle rigidity and tremors.
The study followed a group of more than 50,000 men and women over a period of 18 years. During that time, 324 men and 309 women developed Parkinson's disease. People who had type 2 diabetes at the start of the study were far more likely to be later diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Overall, after adjusting for other possible risk factors for Parkinson's disease, men and women with type 2 diabetes were 83% more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those without it.
Although the exact nature of the relationship between diabetes and Parkinson's disease is unclear, researchers say several lifestyle factors may be associated with both disorders. Among these factors are: obesity, cigarette smoking, and lack of physical activity.
Perhaps further research between the association of diabetes and Parkinson's disease could help researchers better understand an avenue to a cure. . Pioglitazone is a drug used to treat diabetes. It may also help fight the onset of Parkinson's. Thanks to funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation we may be closer to clinical trials and an answer.
[RESEARCH] Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of developing diabetes: prospective cohort study
Objective To assess the relation between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the incidence of diabetes among initially healthy participants.
Design Prospective cohort study with estimates of relative risk adjusted for sex, age, years of university education, total energy intake, body mass index, physical activity, sedentary habits, smoking, family history of diabetes, and personal history of hypertension.
Setting Spanish university department.
Participants 13 380 Spanish university graduates without diabetes at baseline followed up for a median of 4.4 years.
Main outcome measures Dietary habits assessed at baseline with a validated 136 item food frequency questionnaire and scored on a nine point index. New cases of diabetes confirmed through medical reports and an additional detailed questionnaire posted to those who self reported a new diagnosis of diabetes by a doctor during follow-up. Confirmed cases of type 2 diabetes.
Results Participants who adhered closely to a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of diabetes. The incidence rate ratios adjusted for sex and age were 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.19 to 0.87) for those with moderate adherence (score 3-6) and 0.17 (0.04 to 0.75) for those with the highest adherence (score 7-9) compared with those with low adherence (score <3). In the fully adjusted analyses the results were similar. A two point increase in the score was associated with a 35% relative reduction in the risk of diabetes (incidence rate ratio 0.65, 0.44 to 0.95), with a significant inverse linear trend (P=0.04) in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusion Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.
Signs of kidney disease may also signal pre-diabetes risk
Researchers at the University of Buffalo recently found that a blood component once used to test for early-stage kidney problems may also help detect risk for the development of pre-diabetes.
Reporting in the July 2007 issue of Diabetic Care, the University of Buffalo researchers reported that elevated levels of cystatin C were linked to a much greater risk of progression to pre-diabetes. Currently, there are over 54 million Americans who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, which, if not addressed through proper diet and exercise, oftentimes results in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Lead researcher on the study, Richard P. Donahue, Ph.d., stated that "If further studied support our finding, testing for cystain C could become an important part of a standard physical examination. Preventative measures could be in place before glucose intolerance has a chance to develop and take its toll."
Mapping Diabetes
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Research, Daily News
Scientists have mapped the genes responsible for causing type 2 diabetes. This new research is giving hope to new tests that can predict an individuals risk for developing the disease and future treatments.
The study compared the genetic make-up of 700 people with type 2 diabetes and a family history of the condition, with 700 diabetes-free people. Four points on the gene map linked to a person's diabetes risk and were confirmed with another group of 5,000 type 2 diabetics. The findings of this research could explain up to 70% of the genetics related to developing diabetes. A particular zinc transporter, known as SLC30A8, which regulates insulin secretion, was shown to have a mutation. Researchers feel they may be able to treat some cases of diabetes by correcting this mutation.
These findings will allow for the creation of a genetic test to predict people's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as better treatments for the presiding cause of their diabetes. Nary a day passes that I am not motivated for the future of all diabetics. This is the type of research that strengthens my faith in the coming of a cure. Identify the nature of the problem and nip it in the bud.
The controversy surrounding Selenium
Filed under: Type 2, Diet, Research
I'm guessing that someone already blogged about this, but since it is no longer on this main page, I felt that it would be worth mentioning again.
Selenium. It's a naturally occurring trace mineral found in soil and food. It supposedly helps to metabolize food. So far, so good, right? Well, researchers have also discovered that selenium may also increase a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That's where things become not so good.
Ironically, the study that led to this discovery was created to find out whether selenium would help PREVENT the onset of diabetes. Instead, researchers found just the opposite -- that subjects who regularly consumed selenium demonstrated an increased risk of developing diabetes.
But, the results of this study were far from conclusive. It's important to keep that in mind. Of 600 participants who took selenium, 58 developed diabetes. Of the 600 participants who took a placebo, 39 developed diabetes. Clearly, the difference of a mere 21 people does not conclusively show that selenium can increase a person's risk of diabetes. However, it certainly is enough of a disparity to raise a few eyebrows.
Prevention zeroes in on families of heart disease sufferers
Filed under: Family history, Prevention
Earlier this year, my great-aunt passed away suddenly from an unknown heart condition. Her doctor recommended that all of her siblings, children, and nieces and nephews be screened for heart problems as well, flagging them at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Thankfully, no problems were uncovered, but they are now aware of the higher risk associated with having heart disease in our family.Scottish researchers believe that if family members of those with known heart disease were singled out as high-risk and their risk factors gotten under control, up to 40% of early deaths from cardiac events could be prevented. Even so, this type of flagging system is rarely used, even though it is common procedure among families with genetic cancers.
So if someone in your family has had some form of heart disease or heart attack, be sure that you know your risks. Talk to your doctor and tackle any problems that increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and protect your heart for the long haul.
Humming bees and soy nuts to the rescue
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Products, Support
A Medco Health Solutions report found that spending on diabetes drugs could rise 70% by 2009, and was second only to cholesterol medications in 2006. Yet, myths about this condition abound. Life@work tells you what causes diabetes, and offers tips to help reduce the complications of the disease.
The following risk factors increase your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes: age, obesity, physical inactivity, and a high fat diet. Rarer causes of diabetes (including type 1 diabetes), include: certain medicines, as well as any illness that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin. Eating sweets does not cause diabetes. However, it may cause obesity and this is associated with people developing Type 2 diabetes. Stress does not cause diabetes, although it may be a trigger for the body turning on itself as in the case of Type 1 diabetes. It does, however, make the symptoms worse for those who already have diabetes.
Diabetics can reduce heart disease by consuming ½ c. soy nuts. Half a cup of soy nuts (dry-roasted soybeans) every day, may work as well as anti-hypertension medication to lower blood pressure, a new study conducted on women at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found. A technique used in yoga to reduce stress and lower blood pressure is the Bhramari or Humming Bee. To perform this pose: Sit comfortably, eyes shut. Inhale and exhale deeply a few times. Inhale. While exhaling, hum gently, making an "mmm" sound. Lips must remain shut. You can also insert index fingers into each ear to feel the sound vibrating at your facial sinuses. This is one round. Do up to nine rounds. This exercise is used to create a meditative mind-set, for healing or controlling various ailments, from diabetes to digestive disorders. Pause for a moment today and enjoy some soy nuts and a humming bee pose.
Accidental Diabetes Drug
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Drugs, Research
Much like a roadblock, but with a fortuitous outcome -- an experimental heart drug didn't achieve the primary goal of a late-stage trial but it did dramatically reduce the risk patients would develop diabetes.
The anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory drug, the first of its kind, reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 64% and demonstrated a small but statistically significant reduction in blood sugar after 12 months. The study included data from 6,144-patients. The company believes this finding to be a serendipitous outcome, despite the initial shortcomings of the trial objective. They need to confirm it in a large clinical trial. The impressive diabetes results may come as a surprise to investors who have abandoned AtheroGenics or who have been betting the drug will fail.
Heart patients in the study received either 300 milligrams of the drug or a placebo on top of a host of standard-of-care medicines they were already taking, such as aspirin, cholesterol-lowering statins, blood thinners and/or diabetes medicines.
The drug had an undesirable impact on blood fats, raising bad LDL cholesterol by about 12% and lowering good HDL cholesterol by roughly the same amount. There were also some potentially troubling safety signals with a trend toward more heart failure in those taking the drug. In spite of the undesirable affects on blood lipids, the drug has a profound effect on diabetes. Further research will be conducted on the efficacy of this drug in reducing the risk of developing diabetes.
At-home test kit screens for diabetes risk
Filed under: Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Research
No vials of blood. No visit to a doctor's office. Check out your risk for diabetes and heart disease from the comfort of your own home. Sorry phlebotomists!
Home Access Health Corporation already markets at-home testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and Instant Cholesterol. They now offer at-home kits that can screen for diabetes and heart disease. Home Access devised a laboratory algorithm (patent pending) that can accurately test a tiny sample of dried blood. A solution within the collection device separates red blood cells from blood serum, allowing the lab techs to apply the algorithm to provide results which correlate to traditional testing performed by commercial labs. Cool.
Just order the kit, provide a few drops of blood and pop the sample in snail mail. For the Cardiometabolic Risk Panel, results are provided on a full lipid panel and hemoglobin A1c. The Diabetes Risk Test offers results on hemoglobin A1c. Home Access also has a toll-free call center with counselors available to educate people about their test results. Considering the lack of one-on-one time spent with doctors these days, this is an important piece of the process.
These products sound like the real deal. Home Access has partnered with the American Diabetes Association to co-brand the test kits to reach a wider audience at risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The kits will be sold in stores in 2008 and available for direct internet purchase later this year. Right now, the products are offered through employer-sponsored programs, health fairs or with a physician's order by calling 800-448-8378 or visiting Home Access Health Corporation's website. Photo by Psycho Crow at Flickr.