Vagus nerve inerference may prevent diabetes and hypertension
Who knew that all it took was removing the vagus nerve to prevent or reverse the development of insulin resistance. Wait -- what the hell is the vagus nerve? Turns out that it is a rather important nerve communicates with with just about everything in your body. It's truly no wonder that the terms 'vagus' itself is derived from the Latin word meaning "wanderer." And, thanks to researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, it has been found to play a very important role in preventing both diabetes and hypertension.
The scientists published their findings in the February issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, first pointing to a nuclear receptor they had previously highlighted called PPAR-Alpha (Ppara). This receptor had been shown to be necessary for the induction of both hypertension and diabetes when lab mice were treated with steroids. Considering that steroids are commonly prescribed for people who ave asthma, arthritis, and organ transplants, it has been suggested that this treatment has lead to insulin resistance and, in some cases, result in diabetes.
However, in the research team's most recent study, they found that both the Ppara and the vagus nerve play a significant role in the development of diabetes and hypertension. It appears as though by removing the vagus nerve, the risk of developing these disorders in response to steroid treatment, even if they have Ppara.
While the research on the interruption of nerve signals to the liver has only been performed on mice thus far, scientists are hopeful that their results will also hold true for humans.
What does the Vagas Nerve have to do with Diabetes?
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Research, Daily News
According to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, interrupting nerve signals to the liver can prevent diabetes and hypertension in mice.
Mice were treated to become diabetic with glucocorticoids, a class of steroid hormones characterized by an ability to bind with the cortisol receptor. Once diabetes was established, the researchers surgically removed the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem and extends all the way down to the abdomen. More impressive is the fact that once the nerve was removed from the diabetic mice, insulin resistance and high blood pressure was prevented or reversed. This is an interesting discovery because people with asthma, arthritis, and organ transplants often rely on steroid treatments. It just so happens that many of them go on to develop insulin resistance.
Don't go ripping your vagus nerve out just yet. A fun fact about the vagus nerve is that it's name is taken from the Latin word meaning "wanderer". The vagal nerve pathway can influence seizures, depression and other disorders. Although the research is thoroughly enlightening, it is still very green. Hang on to your vagus nerve while the research continues.
Great taste has its benefits
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Products
Did you know there are 6 different ways to enjoy Diet Coke with added nutritional benefits? Diet Coke is building up its brand to include essential vitamins and minerals for the health-conscious Diet Coke lovers. Allow me to introduce you to Diet Coke Plus!
Diet Coke Plus offers automatic health benefits with the great taste Diet Coke drinkers have come to expect. Each serving provides 15% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12 and 10% of the RDI for zinc and magnesium. After a little investigating - the vitamins and minerals in Diet Coke Plus might truly payoff. Low magnesium is tied to increased diabetes risk and zinc plays a key role in glucose metabolism. Vitamins B6 and B12 assist in protecting the body from nerve damage from diabetes. In fact, vitamins B6 and B12 showed a positive influence on vibration perception and nerve conduction speed (NCV) in people with diabetic neuropathy.
Coca Cola realized that Diet Coke drinkers are increasingly looking for more beverage options. Coke decided to remove the guilt from the pleasure. With benefits including: increased glucose metabolism, reduction of diabetes risk, and enhanced nerve perception -- move over Verizon. Diet Coke Plus is asking - can you feel me now??
Diabetes and Pot
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Drugs, Opinion, Support
A new study found smoked marijuana to be safe and effective at treating peripheral neuropathy, which causes great suffering among diabetics. Diabetic nerve disease, or "peripheral neuropathy," is the most common complication of diabetes, affecting up to 62% of Americans with diabetes.
This type of pain is caused by damage to the nerves and can make patients feel like their feet and hands are on fire, or being stabbed with a knife. This type of pain responds poorly to conventional pain medications -- even addictive, dangerous narcotics. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, a majority of patients had a greater than 30% reduction in pain after smoking marijuana. For many, that level of relief means having a significantly improved quality of life and for some it actually permits return to careers cut short by debilitating symptoms of neuropathy.
Our government spends a lot of money campaigning the "War on Drugs" to convince us that marijuana is an addictive and dangerous drug. When the US Government assumes the responsibility to make my mind up for me - sometimes I fear the decision is made from a capitalist perspective and not entirely with my best interest in mind. There is nothing fair about taking away someone's ability to decide for himself. Everything about federal medical policy should be reconsidered, based on science, common sense, and simple human decency.
C-Peptide - Missing in Action
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research
When treating diabetes, today's doctors focus on establishing blood glucose control, but often overlook the need to protect against common diabetic complications such as blindness, kidney damage, and nerve damage. The DCCT, even with a comprehensive treatment program, had a complication rate of approximately 40% of participants.
People who do not have diabetes make insulin with C-peptide. Those of us diabetics who inject synthetic insulin do not get the C-peptide. When scientists began developing insulin - they weeded out the pieces of the amino acid chain they felt were insignificant in lowering blood glucose. Synthetic insulin was designed to reduce the dangerous buildup of excess sugar in the bloodstream. Uh oh - hindsight is surprisingly clear! The long-term complications were initially thought to be caused by lack of insulin - not lack of something that should've been in it. It would make sense if insulin came equipped with this critically important element, wouldn't it?
Tada! C-peptide is the connecting peptide found on the amino acid chain of naturally produced insulin, but left on the cutting room floor in the lab. Studies have shown that C-peptide prevents the development and progression of many diabetic complications and was shown to improve glucose metabolism up to 66%.
Regardless of the potential profit decay C-peptide might cause the production of insulin - the bottom line is the salvation it will provide every man, woman, and child injecting insulin. If you're taking insulin injections, chances are you won't stop taking insulin because you're adding C-peptide to your daily lineup. Chances are - you'll be around a lot longer, and a lot healthier because you do not have the complications most often associated with long-term diabetes.
Wouldn't that be reason enough for you to celebrate the company that brings C-peptide to the drugstore nearest you? Consumer loyalty goes a long way. For those companies who knew a long time ago how beneficial C-peptide would be but didn't do a thing about it - is it really the 33% loss in insulin sales you didn't want to encounter? C'mon. We can handle the truth.
The New and Improved Insulin
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Drugs, Research, Opinion, Products
Remember the A-Game suggestions I dangled for Eli Lilly to tap for performance enhancement? Well here it comes. I called Eli Lilly headquarters to speak with the Chairman and CEO, Mr. Sidney Taurel but I was directed to their idea submission form (which consequently didn't work). Oh boy, Sid. I'm a little disappointed. So here goes - my idea is going free for all when you could've had it, first. Let's call this new and improved product Beta Juice. It delivers the essential functions of a fully operational beta cell. It produces: insulin, amylin and c-peptide. Here's why insulin should always come equipped with the other two...
Insulin brings sugar to the cells to keep our energy levels sufficient for life, homeostasis and (if we're lucky) some energy for the gym. Amylin is a controlling agent for appetite, gastric emptying and tells the liver to dispatch glucose. It is also shown to have an impact on lipolysis --- the metabolism of stored fat. Until recently C-peptide was nothing more than a number used to decipher if you were a type 1 or a type 2 diabetic. However, recent scientific studies have shown C-peptide protects small vessels from the complications associated with diabetes. The Reuters Health article is titled C-Peptide Replacement Improves Early Diabetic Neuropathy.
The American Diabetes Association promotes the ABC's of Diabetes Care in an effort to educate diabetics on controlling their disease. The ABC's of diabetes care refer to a patient's Hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol. A diabetic must maintain a hemoglobin A1c less than 7%, their blood pressure must remain below 130/80 and their good and bad cholesterol must be kept in range. The ABCs of Diabetes Care were established in order to reduces the chances of developing diabetic complications like neuropathy (nerve damage), nephropathy (kidney damage) and retinopathy (eye damage).
Here comes the perfect Insulin (code name Beta Juice) -a laboratory engineered balance of insulin, amylin, and C-peptide. Insulin to balance the blood sugar level, amylin to regulate fat and cholesterol levels and C-peptide to control the damage inflicted upon the micro vessels throughout the body. This is a GREAT IDEA!! Not just because it is MY idea, but because this is a huge opportunity to mitigate the complications that insulin by itself can impose, without the checks and balances of the other beta cell hormones. What do you say, Eli Lilly? You're halfway there!! You've already partnered with Amylin Pharmaceuticals. They have one third of this patent pie. Now hop on the horn and join forces with the C-peptide patent holder and ride your stock price to the moon. The diabetic girl has spoken. I know you care, Eli Lilly. Now put your money where your mouth is and make this new and improved insulin a light at the end of the diabetes tunnel.
Benfotiamine's Shield from High Blood Sugar Toxins
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Research, Products, Support
Benfotiamine can help diabetics protect delicate microvessels. Much of the damage of diabetes is caused when glucose-derived compounds, called triosephosphates, accumulate in small vessels. Transketolase, turns these toxic compounds into harmless chemicals that can be removed from the body. benfotiamine increases transketolase activity, thus reducing or eliminating the complications associated with diabetes.
Administration of benfotiamine helped to prevent retinopathy in test subjects with diabetes. Study subjects who received benfotiamine for 36 weeks demonstrated completely normalized levels of damaging toxins in the retina, preventing or delaying the onset of diabetic retinopathy.
In a 24-week study, benfotiamine was shown to improve kidney function. This was shown by a 50% reduction of toxin levels in the kidneys, and a reduction in oxidative stress associated with diabetes. Subjects exhibited a 70-80% inhibition in the development of microalbuminuria, protein in the urine that serves as an early sign of kidney dysfunction.
Benfotiamine mitigates oxidative stress in the eyes, the kidneys, the heart, and even the brain that typically occur with diabetes. Researchers conclude that benfotiamine may offer critical protection for the delicate nerves of the eyes, the kidneys, the peripheral limbs, the heart and the brain by shielding them from damage caused by diabetes.
The specials tonight are fulminant and non- fulminant
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Research, Allie Beatty, Support, Complications, Personalities, Form and Function
A type 1 diabetic mystery is why do some Type 1s get complications and others seem to never get them? A massive Japanese study of Type 1 diabetics found that those with fulminant diabetes developed complications much faster and more severely than those with non-fulminant diabetes.
The difference between fulminant and non-fulminant is the speed and intensity at which the disease develops. Fulminant Type 1 diabetes typically develops suddenly with near total loss of beta cell function. This type of diabetes is confirmed with testing c-peptide levels. Non-fulminant type 1 diabetes has residual c-peptide levels that eventually taper to undetectable. Sometimes this is seen through many years of the Honeymoon Period.
This study may be the antithesis of conventional wisdom for preventing complications. Staking all hopes on blood sugar control is heavily optimistic. Yes controlling blood sugar does lessen the workload for existing beta cells, and thus extends the lifespan of each beta cell. Research suggests that c-peptide offers protection to beta cells, both from apoptosis (cell death) and encourages new cell growth. This new cell growth applies to beta cells and other cells of the body that endure long-term Type 1 diabetes complications.
Diabetics are instructed that maintaining normal blood sugars is the Holy Grail of preventing long-term complications. Yes and no. The truth is controlling your blood sugar will not allow complications of Type 1 diabetes to develop as quickly, presuming you still had some level of beta cell function upon diagnosis (i.e., c-peptide). That doesn't sound like a reward as much as it does a delayed punishment. I'd like c-peptide with my insulin, please. It's off the ?a carte menu? That's fine - serve it up! I want to thank Klausen for bringing this study to my attention.
Diabetes Health TV introduces Neuragen
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Events, Products, Magazines, Allie Beatty, Complications, Personalities
Creator of Diabetes Health Magazine, Scott King, has been a type 1 diabetic for over 34 years. Needless to say, he knows diabetes, and he is doing a remarkable job of introducing cutting-edge treatments for diabetics. In the first Diabetes Health TV broadcast, he shared interviews from the recent AADE Conference. A really exciting product he featured is called Neuragen - a topical treatment for diabetes neuropathy.
With diabetes neuropathy, people experience pain due to damage to the peripheral nerves. Neuropathic pain is often characterized by burning sensations or shooting pain, or may occur as numbness or chronic itching. Clinical trials have shown Neuragen to be effective in 70% of patients for the pain associated with diabetes. The ingredients are pretty kosher, too. Neuragen is made of a proprietary blend of essential oils from special species of geranium, lavender, bergamot, eucalyptus, and tea tree.
The Neuragen rep was blunt when he described the effective nature of this all natural product - using more does not make it any more effective! You have to admire his refreshing honesty. But like I said upfront - if Scott King is willing to spend the time getting the scoop on this product - it's probably worth your time using it. For more interviews, checkot the full coverage of the AADE Conference on Diabetes Health TV!
Surgeon Urges Diabetics to Take GABA
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Products, Support
Dr. Daniel Johnson has been working to prevent lower limb amputation in diabetics and strongly urges all diabetics to start taking a nutritional supplement, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) twice a day. The supplement has clinically proven to prevent and improve diabetic vision loss as well as peripheral neuropathy that can lead to amputation.
Researchers discovered that the cells in the pancreas that make insulin also make GABA. When the body produces less GABA, the GABA C receptors in the retina of the eye and in a part of the pituitary gland are impaired from maintaining cell health. With GABA supplementation, the improvements were seen in the vision of patients with diabetic retinopathy and in restoration of feeling in the feet of those with diabetic neuropathy. Awaiting clinical trials by the FDA to provide reversal of complications from a naturally occurring enzyme is simply unnecessary.
The problem in taking GABA by mouth, Dr. Johnson advised, is limited absorption from the digestive tract. He has found that people who take 375 to 500 mg. of plain GABA twice-a-day with an acid-containing beverage (like grapefruit juice) get the best results. If the diabetic patient cannot drink orange or grapefruit juice because of the sugar content, he recommends that they take the GABA with a dose of ascorbic acid -- Vitamin C.
While he would not give an endorsement, Johnson did say that his colleagues had found that Source Naturals 750 mg. tablet form of GABA (half a tablet twice a day) or Solgar's 500 mg. capsule form, also twice-a-day seemed to work best. Please note that the results from Dr. Johnson's use of GABA in the treatment of peropheral neuropathy and diabetic vision loss were clinically recognized but not FDA verified.