Jul
01
2008

High-protein, Low-refined carb diet useful in controlling diabetes

By | Diabetes, Nutrition, Obesity, Weight loss

Diabetes type 2 is often associated with obesity (body mass index higher than 30.0 kg per meter squared). At the 16th European Congress on Obesity in Geneva Dr. Neil Mann presented a study of 99 patients. Half were put on a high protein diet, the other half on a high carbohydrate low glycemic index diet and followed for one year with periodic blood tests and examinations by their family doctors. The study population’s age ranged from 30 to 75 years and their body mass index varied from 27 to 40. The hemoglobin A1C level that is a measure of severity of the diabetic condition ranged from 6.5% to 10%.

The high-protein diet was structured so that 30% of calories came from protein, 40% came from carbohydrates and 30% came from fat. With the high-carbohydrate low glycemic index diet 15% of the calories came from protein, 55% from low glycemic index carbs and 30% from fat. In both groups the total calorie intake per day was restricted to 1500 calories and the carbohydrates were given as low glycemic index carbohydrates (less processed). In both groups the diabetes was better controlled with hemoglobin A1C, triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels normalizing. Both groups also showed an equal amount of weight loss that stayed down as long the patients adhered to the diet. However, the high-protein group was able to reduce diabetes pills (metformin) and insulin achieving the same results as the high-carbohydrate low glycemic index group that could not reduce their medications. The conventional approach is to use a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet along with medication. However, this diet tends to lead to higher triglyceride levels, higher blood sugar levels and a reduction in the good cholesterol (HDL).

High-protein, Low-refined carb diet useful in controlling diabetes

High-protein, Low-refined carb diet useful in controlling diabetes

Dr. Mann who is a professor and head of the department of nutrition and food science at RMIT University, Melbourne, explained the people get confused when they hear the term high-protein diet as they think of the Atkins diet where the protein component was much higher. The diet that was investigated here is a more natural diet consisting of slightly higher protein and less processed carbohydrates. By containing more fat than in the conventional diabetic diet the patient is not getting hungry and finds it easy to stick to the diet, which leads to weight loss and improvement of the metabolism. Many patients can normalize their blood values and often even get off their diabetic medication (under careful supervision by their treating physician). The physician will address the three components of diabetic control (energy balance, glycemic control, and vascular complications) by recommending to the patient this high-protein/low-carb diet. This likely will replace the conventional approach of using a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.

More information about a Mediterranean type diet in firefighter’s, which is very similar to this study: http://nethealthbook.com/news/mediterranean-diet-benefits-us-workers/

Reference: 16th European Congress on Obesity, Geneva June 23, 2008

Last edited November 4, 2014

Sep
01
2006

Prostate Cancer Recurrence Linked To Obesity

By | Cancer, Obesity

Prostate cancer affects a significant percentage of male patients in the higher age groups. Early diagnosis and treatment has shown good success rates. Early surgery in the form of a radical prostatectomy has given patients virtually a new lease on life. Radiotherapy as an alternative form of treatment has been an option for those who could not undergo surgery. Once the treatment is completed there is reason for optimism, if the tumor could be removed in total.

Dr. Sara Strom, PhD and research colleagues from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas analyzed findings of 873 patients over the course of 14 years with localized prostate cancer who had received external beam radiotherapy as their sole treatment. The objective was to determine, whether all patients were doing well, or whether some could be more at risk. It turned out that those with normal body weight fared best. 27% of them experienced a recurrence of the disease. Those who were overweight had recurrence rates that jumped to 55%. Those who were obese were most severely affected with recurrence rates of 99%. The researchers believe that there is a difference of tumor behavior between patients with normal body weight and those who are overweight or obese.

Prostate Cancer Recurrence Linked To Obesity

Prostate Cancer Recurrence Linked To Obesity

Future studies will be needed to evaluate the relationship of obesity with dietary factors, genetic modifiers of steroid androgen metabolism, insulin and insulin like growth factors. This will clarify the underlying mechanism of action in the development of prostate cancer.

More information about prostate cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/prostate-cancer/

Reference: The Medical Post, August 22, 2006, page 41

Last edited November 1, 2014

Apr
01
2005

One Shot For Better Blood Sugar Control

By | Diabetes

People with permanent health conditions face the need for lifelong medications, and patients with type 2 diabetes see insulin shots as part of an everyday routine. There are different types of insulin, which helps in tailoring the medication to the needs of the patient.
It is old news that a new type of insulin under the name insulin glargin can be used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The news of a study just published in February is, that also patients with type 2 diabetes benefit from insulin glargin. Often the standard treatment with diabetes drugs does not provide optimal control of blood sugar levels.
371 type 2 diabetes patients with inadequate diabetes control who were not supplemented with insulin were part of a 24-week clinical trial in Bremen, Germany, headed by Dr. Hans U. Janka.

The patients received an antidiabetic combo consisting of sulfonylurea and metformin. These patients were randomly picked, and they received a morning dose of glargine insulin injection along with the antidiabetic medication. Others did not receive the oral medication, but were administered twice-daily injections of NPH insulin. Patients were monitored for the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (= HbA1c), which is the best indicator for diabetes control. The improvements in laboratory tests were more pronounced in the group that received the combination between an oral antidiabetic and glargine injection. In addition 46% reached HbA1c levels of 7% or less, which is excellent long-term blood sugar control, as compared to only 29% of the NPH insulin group. Fasting blood sugar levels also showed improvement. There is a risk of patients becoming hypoglycemic. Again, the risk was significantly lower in those who were on the glargin combination, than those who were on the NPH insulin.

One Shot For Better Blood Sugar Control

One Shot For Better Blood Sugar Control

These results show that one single injection, which is added to the oral medication, can help type 2 diabetes patients, whose condition has been poorly controlled. Glargine insulin has been approved in Canada already in 2002, but due to supply problems it is only now expected to be on the pharmacy shelves soon.

More information on treatment of diabetes with insulin: http://nethealthbook.com/hormones/diabetes/treatment-diabetes-insulin/

Reference: National Review Of Medicine, March 15,2005,page22

Last edited October 28, 2014

Jun
01
2004

Take A Deep Breath For Insulin

By | Diabetes

Patients with diabetes sometimes find it difficult to face the daily insulin injections.
Studies by Dr. Robert A. Gerber from Pfizer Global Research and Development in Groton, Mass. are showing that improvements in the lab tests for the diabetes marker hemoglobin A1C were similar for patients who received insulin inhalations to those patients who received the conventional injections.

The ease of use, comfort, as well as the overall satisfaction of inhalation as opposed to injection rated high. Long-term improvement in the control of blood sugar is maintained up to the 1 year follow-up.
In the future the patients may very well have the choice between inhalation and injection of insulin. Even though the 1 year follow-up results are in, longer follow-up studies are needed, before insulin shots become a thing of the past.

More info on diabetes: http://nethealthbook.com/hormones/diabetes/type-2-diabetes/

Based on Diabetes Care 2004; 27:1318-1323

Take A Deep Breath For Insulin

Take A Deep Breath For Insulin

Comment on Nov. 5, 2012: Pfizer marketed the inhalable insulin under the brand name “Exubera”. It was available in the US from Sept. 2006 onward after FDA approval. The inhalable insulin was proven to be as effective as the injectable insulin, but the cost of Exubera was prohibitive and Pfizer had to discontinue the production after October of 2007 as it was unlikely to be cost-effective, just 1 year and 1month after its initial release.

Last edited October 26, 2014