Red Wine Could Help People With Type 2 Diabetes - Research

There is evidence that type 2 diabetes is less prevalent among moderate drinkers, yet the risk-benefit balance is controversial for such patients, due to a lack of long-term randomized studies.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev-Soroka Medical Center and Nuclear Research Center Negev, Israel, wondered if both red and white wine might improve glucose control, depending on alcohol metabolism and genetic profiling.

Previous research has suggested that ethanol (alcohol) is the key, meaning that alcoholic drinks other than red wine could be equally beneficial; others claim that red wine has particularly advantageous properties.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as lower levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. High levels of HDL cholesterol can reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke, as it absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, where it is flushed from the body.

Should patients with type 2 diabetes be recommended to take up moderate alcohol consumption? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) leave the decision to the individual; the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend discussing alcohol with a physician.

The researchers wanted to find out what the cardiometabolic effects would be when patients with type 2 diabetes took up drinking moderate amounts of alcohol; they also wanted to assess whether the type of wine would matter.

They hypothesized that initiating moderate wine consumption would lower cardiometabolic risk, mainly because of the ethanol component. They predicted similar effects of red and white wine. Because of genetic variability in alcohol metabolism, they predicted that the effects of wine would vary according to ADH1B genotype.

The 224 participants were 40-75-year-old alcohol-abstaining men and women with well-controlled type 2 diabetes.

Among those excluded were: people already taking more than one alcoholic drink per week, anyone with a history of addiction and patients using two or more insulin injections a day.

Measurements taken at baseline included genetic markers, blood pressure, liver biomarkers, medication use and symptoms, and quality of life.

From June 2010 to May 2012, participants were randomly assigned to 150 mL of mineral water, white wine or red wine with dinner. Wines and mineral water were provided. All groups followed a Mediterranean diet without caloric restriction. At intervals, blood samples were taken, questionnaires completed and group sessions attended.

Lipid and glycemic control profiles were primarily measured. Secondary outcomes included triglyceride levels, blood pressure, waist circumference, genetic interaction, medication use, liver function tests and quality-of-life indicators.

After 2 years, no material differences were identified across the groups in blood pressure, adiposity, liver function, drug therapy, symptoms or quality of life, except that sleep quality improved in both wine groups compared with the water group.
 
However, patients who drank wine showed decreased cardiometabolic risks compared with those drinking mineral water. The red wine drinkers experienced the most significant changes in lipid variables.

The researchers unexpectedly found that while the alcohol itself appears to aid glycemic control, red wine has a stronger effect on lipid levels and overall variables of the metabolic syndrome, suggesting that its non-alcoholic constituents also play a role.

The red wine had seven times higher levels of total phenols than the white wine. Whether the phenolic compounds increase the cardioprotectiveness is still debated. The team calls for differences between red and white wine to be further studied, with focus on the varied biodeliverability of the compounds.

The team found that genetic differences affected glycemic control and therefore suggest that genetic information could assist in identifying which patients with type 2 diabetes would benefit from moderate wine consumption.

Limitations include the participants not being blinded to treatment allocation, but the long-term nature of the study is a strength.

The authors caution that the benefits of drinking wine should be weighed against potential risks when translated into clinical practice.

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3.9 Million Nigerians Are Suffering From Diabetes - IDF

 

Dr Isiavwe

As the world marked the World Diabetes Day last Saturday, a major issue that was thrown up was the shocking revelation that Nigeria topped the chart in Africa with about 3.9million people suffering from the disease.  The Interna­tional Diabetes Federation (IDF) states that no fewer than 387 million people are currently living with diabetes world­wide, Nigeria has been listed as the coun­try with the highest number of people living with the disease in Africa.

The current IDF atlas which provides details of the disease around the world has revealed that as at 2014, there are 3.9 millions Nigerians living with the dis­ease. Not only that, the Federation also estimates that over 11 million Nigerians are currently undiagnosed.

Diabetes is a serious complex condi­tion which can affect the entire body. It occurs when the amount of glucose in an individual’s blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.

This happens when the pancreas doesn’t produce any or not enough insu­lin, to help glucose enter the body’s cells. It could also be that the insulin that is produced does not work properly, often referred to as insulin resistance.

Medical experts describe insulin as the hormone produced by the pancreas which allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel for energy so that the individual can work, play and be active. It is vital for life. Glucose on the other hand, comes from digesting carbo­hydrate and is also produced by the liver.

Diabetes develops when glucose can’t enter the body’s cells to be used as fuel. This happens when either there is no insulin to unlock the cells (described as Type 1 diabetes ) or there is not enough insulin or the insulin is there but not working properly (described as Type 2 diabetes). Thus the glucose stays in the blood and cannot be used as fuel for energy.

The individual thus begins to feel very thirsty, passing more urine than usual and feeling tired all the time.

There’s also unexplained weight loss, itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush cuts or wounds that heal slow­ly and blurred vision (caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry).

Unfortunately, many people with dia­betes may not even be aware that they have the disease until complications set in. According to IDF, one in two people with diabetes do not know they have the condition. And the number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in ev­ery country. Indeed, the Federation esti­mates that the number of people living with the disease will rise to 592 million by 2035.

Sadly, diabetes is more rampant among people in the productive age. In Africa, IDF says 76% of deaths due to diabetes are in people under the age of 60. This is why the Federation has chosen the theme: Halt the diabetes epidemic for the 2015 World diabetes Day.

This is also being echoed in Nigeria by a leading private endocrinology hospital in Lagos, Rainbow Specialist Hosiptal, Lekki which kicked off its World Diabe­tes Day campaign last week. A statement by Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, the hospital’s Med­ical Director said the hospital is offer­free screening to the general public throughout the month of November. The hospital disclosed that the goal of the screening is to help Nigerians who may have the disease but are not aware they have it to detect it early to prevent com­plications and death.

“The IDF atlas reveals that one person dies from diabetes every 6 seconds around the world. Also, in view of the revelation by the Federation that 11 million Nigeri­ans are currently undiagnosed, we think something must be done urgently to ad­dress the ugly situation. This is why we have decided to provide the opportunity for every Nigerian to come forward for the free screening to help reduce unnec­essary death from diabetes, in the coun­try,” the hospital further said.

The statement also announced that the hospital will, on November 14, the World Diabetes Day, hold a free diabetes boot camp, focusing on foot care and nu­trition in diabetes, at Peninsula Hotel Lekki Epe Express Way between 10am and 12 noon.

Experts have also called for the need for specific measures by individuals to prevent diabetes. For instance, making a few lifestyle changes, according to them, could dramatically lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Excess weight in particular. has been identified as the single most important cause of type 2 diabetes as research has shown that be­ing overweight increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes seven fold. Be­ing obese also makes an individual 20 to 40 times more likely to develop diabetes than someone with a healthy weight.

There is also convincing evidence that diet modification could also help. For instance, studies have shown that whole grains protect against diabetes, whereas diets rich in refined carbohydrates lead to increased risk.

Experts say diets made up of white bread, white rice, mashed po­tatoes, donuts, bagels, and many break­fast cereals should be avoided because they contain a high “glycemic index and glycemic load.” That means they cause sustained increase in blood sugar and insulin levels, which in turn may lead to increased diabetes risk.

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Kidney Cancer: The Fried, Barbecued Red Meat Connection

Lovers of barbecued meat (otherwise known as suya in most African countries) are in for a tough time as pan-fried, grilled or barbecued meat, cooked at high temperatures or over an open flame, may increase the risk of kidney cancer, a new study has claimed.

The study indicates that a meat-rich diet may increase the risk of developing kidney cancer through mechanisms related to particular cooking compounds. These associations may be modified by genetic susceptibility to kidney cancer. The study illustrates how diet and genetics may interact to impact cancer risk. The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form of kidney cancer in adults, has been increasing in the US and other developed nations, researchers said. Researchers suspected that factors related to a western lifestyle – such as a diet high in meats, processed foods, and starches – may play an important role in this trend.

To investigate, a team led by Xifeng Wu, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, studied the dietary intake and genetic risk factors of 659 patients newly diagnosed with RCC and 699 healthy controls. Researchers found that kidney cancer patients consumed more red and white meat compared with cancer-free individuals. Also, cancer patients consumed more cancer-causing chemicals that are produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures or over an open flame (particularly pan-frying or barbecuing). Finally, the investigators discovered that individuals with certain genetic variants were more susceptible to the harmful effects of these cancer-causing chemicals.

While the study was small and limited to non-Hispanic whites, the findings suggest that reducing consumption of meat, especially when cooked at high temperatures or over an open flame, might serve as a public health intervention to reduce the risk of developing RCC. In addition, genetic testing might help to identify individuals at especially high risk.

For effective natural cure for cancer, call Dr E.E Hunphrey on: +2348069223334, +2349092770089.

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Belly Fat Can Lead To Premature Death

Those who have big bellies (which in most African societies, is seen as an evidence of good living) we have to do a rethink of their eating habits after reading this story.  A new research has confirmed that excess weight around the belly increases the risk of premature death even for people that are considered normal weight.

The research was published two days ago in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, which builds up in the spaces between and around the viscera — internal organs like your stomach and intestines is considered to be the most harmful form of fat in the body, medical experts said.

“Belly fat is bad fat,” said Dr. Paul Poirier, from the Institute of Cardiology at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, and the author of an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.

Similarly, Eric Jacobs, PhD, a researcher at the American Cancer Society, said in recent years, scientists have uncovered links between belly fat and cancers of the colon, esophagus, and pancreas. Furthermore, an endocrinology specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, Michael D. Jensen, M.D, said regardless of your overall weight, having a large amount of belly fat increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2
diabetes, colorectal cancer, and sleep apnea.

The resent edition of Harvard Women’s Health Watch examines the connection between abdominal fat and heart health and found extra body fat increases the risk for conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. “The fat around the belly is particularly metabolically active, meaning that it produces a number of factors that increase the risks for heart disease,” explained Dr. Paula Johnson, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

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Eating Homemade Meals May Lower Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Eating homemade meals around twice a day may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, researchers have found. Study coauthor Dr. Geng Zong, a research fellow at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, and colleagues suggest eating more meals prepared at home may reduce weight gain over time, which they say could explain their findings; excess weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

The negative health implications of regularly dining out in restaurants – particularly fast food restaurants – have been well documented.

Earlier this year, for example, Medical News Today reported on a study that found eating out leads to significantly higher calorie and salt intake, which may lead to weight gain and high blood pressure – risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

For their study, Zong and colleagues set out to investigate whether increasing consumption of homemade meals may protect against type 2 diabetes.

The team assessed the homemade meal intake and the type 2 diabetes development of almost 58,000 women who were part of the Nurses, Health Study and more than 41,000 men who were part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

All participants were free of diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease at baseline and were followed for up to 36 years between 1986-2012.

Diabetes entails a number of serious complications, including heart disease. Individuals with obesity are more likely to develop insulin resistance and subsequently, diabetes.

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Why Consuming Soft Drinks Can Lead To Heart Failure - New Research

Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages can seriously damage heart health, a new research has found. The added sugar in sodas, fruit drinks, sweet teas and energy drinks affects the body in ways that increase risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke, said research author Vasanti Malik, a nutrition research scientist at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston in the United States (U.S).

Consuming one or two servings a day of sugarsweetened beverages has been linked to a 35 per cent greater risk of heart attack or fatal heart disease, a 16 per cent increased risk of stroke and as much as a 26 per cent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the report concluded.

In recent time, Nigerians, especially the youths who are largely known to crave for soft drinks and consume them excessively are concerned about the risk they pose to health. Among these groups are some Nigerians who consume two to three bottles of average 35 CL or 50 CL soft drinks daily. For now, the researchers urge consumers to reduce the amount of added sugar in their diet. Limiting or eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages is a solid first step, Malik said, noting many foods also contain added sugar.

Although, the dangers of excess sugar to health especially heart health has been well publicised, while some doubt, others who believe lack the will power to either reduce the consumption or stop consuming them altogether. With this new review however, experts are echoing information that was in the public domain even before the release of the review.

Commenting further on the new development, Malik said, “Reducing the consumption of these drinks, it’s not going to solve the heart disease epidemic, but it’s one step that can have a measurable impact; “It’s not the only thing that needs to be done, but it’s a very important thing.” The report, published September 28 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is part of a new focus on excess sugar as a risk for heart disease, said Marina Chaparro, a clinical dietitian at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.

“Previously, everything focused on low fat, and reducing fat and cholesterol,” said Chaparro, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “The dietary guidelines that are about to come out really focus on added sugars, and not as much on cholesterol and total fat. Those are important, but the impact of sugar has become much more profound.” One can of regular soda contains about 35 grams of sugar, which is equal to nearly nine teaspoons. Manufacturers most often use either table sugar or high-fructose corn syrup to sweeten beverages, researchers said.

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