Dr.Dreams A Health,Medical & Wellness Blog » Diabetes

A.M. Vitals: Social Media Helped Fuel Protests Against Komen

Martin Neumann — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:08:32 +0000

Social Media and Funding Brouhaha: Social media helped galvanize supporters of Planned Parenthood last week after Susan G. Komen for the Cure said it would cut off funding for the women’s health nonprofit — and then reversed its stance, the WSJ reports . According to social-media monitor NetBase Solutions, Komen-related chatter rose 80% from last Monday to Tuesday, when the story broke, with 66% of online conversations against the breast-cancer advocacy group. The Toll of Child Abuse: Research published in Pediatrics finds that more children under one year of age are admitted to hospitals for child abuse than for reasons related to sudden infant death syndrome, Time’s Healthland blog reports . Researchers found the death rate from child abuse was 6% in 2006, with 300 deaths of 4,569 hospitalizations. Under Observation: Medicare beneficiaries not officially admitted to the hospital but who spend time there under “observation care” may be surprised that they owe for hospital co-pays and any subsequent nursing-home care , the WSJ reports . The number of observation hours — considered outpatient care by Medicare — rose to 36 million in 2009 from 23 million in 2006, including a rising number of visits lasting longer than 48 hours, the paper says. Public-Health Debate: What’s a better way to convey public-health messages about diet, smoking and other lifestyle choices — stark, if harrowing, ads about the consequences of obesity, diabetes and lung cancer, or more positive, empowering messages? As the New York Times reports , there’s a debate about whether some of New York City’s ad campaigns will make an impact, with critics saying the harsher messages won’t resonate with the people who need to hear them most. NYC’s health department says the campaigns reflect the true consequences of diseases. Image: iStockphoto

Continued here:
A.M. Vitals: Social Media Helped Fuel Protests Against Komen

A Spoonful of Bad Health? UCSF Researchers Slam Sugar

Dr Dreams — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:48:50 +0000

Tobacco, alcohol … and sugar? A new commentary published in Nature argues that just as the first two substances are regulated in various ways by government authorities, so should be sugar. While acknowledging that food, unlike alcohol and tobacco, is required for survival, the authors say taxes, zoning ordinances and even age limits for purchasing certain sugar-laden products are all appropriate remedies for what they see as a not-so-sweet problem. The authors of the piece, Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis, are all from the University of California, San Francisco. Lustig has been a particularly harsh (and longtime) critic of the impact of added sugars on health — here’s his widely viewed 2009 lecture on that topic. (Lustig was also a central character in a New York Times magazine piece on this subject last year.) Note that they are talking about sugar added to foods. No one is arguing that we should spurn fruit, for example, because of the naturally occurring fructose. “We believe attention should be turned to ‘added sugar,’ defined as any sweetener containing the molecule fructose that is added to food in processing,” the authors write. (And they argue the current dietary “bogeymen” — saturated fat and salt — deserve less scrutiny than the sweet white stuff.) They’re talking about foods sweetened with sucrose — about half fructose and half glucose — and high-fructose corn syrup, which despite its name is mostly used in formulations that are 55% and 42% fructose. The authors write that sugar is more than just empty calories — that growing evidence links fructose overconsumption with health problems including hypertension and diabetes. “Early studies” link it to cancer and cognitive decline, they write. They also argue that like tobacco and alcohol, “it acts on the brain to encourage subsequent intake.” So, what’s a country to do? The authors propose taxing processed foods containing any kind of added sugars, including drinks and cereal. In addition, they suggest tightening licensing requirements on vending machines and snack bars selling sugary drinks in schools and at work, instituting zoning ordinances to restrict the number of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores in low-income neighborhoods and near schools, and even instituting an age limit for purchasing sugary drinks such as soda. And they want the FDA to consider removing fructose from the list of ingredients deemed Generally Recognized as Safe . (Douglas Karas, an FDA spokesman, says that step is not currently being considered.) The Sugar Association, not surprisingly, found a lot to dislike in the commentary. In a response published on its website , the industry group says that USDA stats show people are consuming about 425 more calories per day now than 40 years ago, with caloric sweeteners accounting for about 38 of those calories. Meantime, the group contends that consumption of cane and beet sugar has been falling even as obesity rates have been rising. “We consider it irresponsible when health professionals use their platforms to instill fear by using words like ‘diabetes,’ ‘cancer,’ and even ‘death,’ without so much as one disclaimer about the fact that the incomplete science being referenced is inconclusive at best,” the association says. The obesity problem “originates from the combination of overconsumption of all foods and lack of exercise. To label a single food as the one and only problem misinforms, misleads and confuses consumers, and simply adds to the problem,” the association says. The National Confectioners Association, meantime, said that the group “supports realistic advice to Americans that accommodate all foods including occasional treats in moderation. There is a place for little pleasures, such as candy, in an overall lifestyle that supports health, wellness and happiness. In fact, helping the public understand how to incorporate little pleasures in their diet may well play the most important role in achieving and sustaining recommended dietary behaviors.” If you do want to keep an eye on your sugar intake, the nutrition facts panel that appears on food packages now does not break out added and naturally-occurring sugars. But you can certainly see how many total grams of sugar you’re consuming. Image: iStockphoto Update: This post has been updated with comment from the NCA.

Original post:
A Spoonful of Bad Health? UCSF Researchers Slam Sugar

Researchers Call For a Tax on Sugar

Sean Duffy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:37:19 +0000

According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, sugar is as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco. And just like other legal vices, they think regulators should put restrictions on its sale and availability by taxing any processed foods that have added sugar , including soda, some juices, chocolate milk, and sugared cereal, as well as proposing age limits when it comes to buying sugary foods. In an article published today in the journal Nature , UCSF doctors feel the rise in obesity, diabetes, and other diseases has gone too far, and it’s time for the government to get involved. The research team also feels sugar should be removed from the FDA’s Generally Regarded as Safe list. The idea of restricting sugar isn’t a new thing. The debate on issuing a soda tax has been discussed for years , as well as limiting sugary foods when it comes to food stamp programs and availability of chocolate milk and sodas in schools. But a tax on sugar in general? Not everyone is in agreement. Since there’s no evidence that such health issues as obesity and diabetes are caused by a single food or nutrient, some nutritionists don’t believe taxing sugar will even be effective. Instead of focusing solely on sugar, cofounder of the Yale Prevention Center says, “The focus should be on the overall nutritional quality of foods, not just one nutrient.” What do you think? Would a tax on sugar deter you from eating sweets? Definitely. I’d think twice if I had to spend more. A little extra dough wouldn’t keep me from my cookie dough.

Original post:
Researchers Call For a Tax on Sugar

Diabetes Linked To Body Receptors, Says Recent Genetic Study

Dr Dreams — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:38:31 +0000

A study which got published in the Journal Nature Genetics discovered a novel confirmation for association between the type 2 diabetes and the body clock hormone melatonin. The study shows that the individuals, who hold exceptional hereditary mutations in the receptor for body clock hormone melatonin, have elevated danger of type 2 diabetes. These conclusions Related posts: Poor Diabetes Control in Kids, Linked To Asthma Diabetes among kids have been long linked to a higher… Lifestyle Factors, Linked To Diabetes A group of researchers from the National Heart, Lung and… A brief note on Diabetes Mellitus The most common form of diabetes is known as Diabetes…

View original post here:
Diabetes Linked To Body Receptors, Says Recent Genetic Study

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Sean Duffy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:05:16 +0000

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips By the editors of Prevention Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today. Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive – it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent. Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix. Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

View original post here:
4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

FDA (Finally) Gives Amylin’s Bydureon a Thumbs-Up

Dr Dreams — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:19:11 +0000

Bydureon, the once-weekly injection for treating patients with type 2 diabetes, has finally won the FDA’s okay. As Dow Jones Newswires reports , it’s been a long, bumpy road to approval for the drug’s developer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. (Alkermes is behind the extended-release technology used to deliver the drug, a longer-acting version of Amylin’s twice-daily Byetta.) Amylin started working on the drug in 1999 and first applied for FDA approval — with its then-partner Lilly — a decade later. But the agency in 2010 said it needed more information “about the drug’s prescribing label and the companies’ risk-management plan to ensure the drug’s benefits outweigh its risks,” DJN reports. Later that year, the FDA said the info the companies provided wasn’t enough to approve it, asking for a new study looking at what high doses of the drug might do to heart rhythms. That study showed no problems. As the FDA was weighing the drug, Amylin and Lilly terminated their partnership . The prescribing label for Bydureon will carry a warning about certain thyroid tumors seen in rats who were exposed to the drug, DJN says.

Read the original:
FDA (Finally) Gives Amylin’s Bydureon a Thumbs-Up

Religion and Self Control: How One Helps the Other

Martin Neumann — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:27:45 +0000

A study conducted by Queen University proved that thinking about one’s religion helped them gain self control on later. After the unscrambled sentences which contained religiously oriented words, individuals engaged in this study experienced more self control, says lead researcher and psychology graduate student Kevin Rounding who worked on the study. The individuals were given Related posts: Birth Control Acne, Effects of Birth Control – BIRTH CONTROL QUESTIONS Birth control acne There are several brands that help clear… How The Brain Perceives Images and Relate Words Many of us believe that whatever things we perceive in… Green leafy vegetables helps in reducing risk of diabetes Recently British Medical Journal had published that eating very large…

View post:
Religion and Self Control: How One Helps the Other

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Sean Duffy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:59:49 +0000

Heavy metal exposure has become an increasingly relevant topic in the modern age. The air we breathe, the food we eat and even the homes we live in are potential contributors to unsafe levels of toxic minerals including cadmium, lead and mercury. Although this is undeniably true, there’s no sense worrying ourselves sick about it. Related posts: Garlic Breath Remedies

Continued here:
Heavy Metal Toxicity

Vitamin C and Diabetes

Sean Duffy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:19:44 +0000

The pressing issue of type 2 diabetes recently took on an unexpected spokesman: Paula Deen. Ever since the highly publicized announcement of her illness and related drug endorsement, a hailstorm of negative and positive reactions has made its way to all forms of media. Instead of adding yet another voice to the chorus, I’ve decided Related posts: Arthritis, Diabetes and Vitamin D Tomatoes and Diabetes Minerals for Diabetes Yoga for Diabetes Diabetes Protection

Originally posted here:
Vitamin C and Diabetes

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Sean Duffy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:06:39 +0000

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! By Molly Raisch, Prevention Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn , but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention -approved healthier, make-at-home options. Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin Muffins are calorie sinkholes – they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat. Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness. Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams. Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks . The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love. Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

View original here:
5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts