Category Archives: Diabetes

We arent looking for you to solve our issues or do medical research. We just want your friendship, love, and compassion.

When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I carefully chose how to share this news. In a world where type 2 is looked at strictly as a lifestyle disease, sharing my diagnosis was not something I was looking forward to.

Once it became common knowledge, well-intentioned family and friends started offering unsolicited advice and sharing anecdotes that werent warmly received. What was supposed to come across as caring and interested came across as condescending and rude.

Now, in the age of social media, well-meaning strangers have joined the discussion.

Type 2 diabetes is a very individual and complicated chronic condition. The world tends to minimize diabetes management by focusing only on weight loss, diet, and exercise.

The reality is, so much more affects our numbers: stress, weather, medications, mental health, illness, sleep, and what color socks were wearing. (OK, that last one is a joke. But in all seriousness, it seems everything can impact our blood sugar levels.)

No matter the intentions behind your advice, please think twice before saying any of the following to a person living with type 2 diabetes.

If someone close to you confides in you about their diagnosis or medication side effects, listen with compassion without thinking about what youre going to say next and without trying to solve anything.

While weight loss can certainly help lower blood glucose in people with diabetes, it is not a cure.

Any sentence that starts with just trivializes the complex nature of glucose control. Just watch what you eat, just count carbs, and just exercise are other statements that fall into this category.

If it were just that easy, the millions of people living with type 2 diabetes would have done it already.

There are so many shakes, supplements, and magic potions specifically targeted to people with diabetes.

Someone once told me if I drank okra water daily, it would cure me. First, yuck, and second, if there was a miracle cure out there, the whole world would be talking about it.

We know that real progress is based on sustainable lifestyle changes. Please dont try to sell us on a quick fix you read about on social media.

First, every persons diabetes is different. So, your grandmothers diabetes is not my diabetes.

Most patients with a type 2 diagnosis are well aware of the complications that may arise as a result of the condition. Some may even use this knowledge as a motivator to eat well, take their medications as advised, and exercise more.

Hearing secondhand stories like this can take that motivation and turn it into fear, causing us to live in a constant state of anxiety. We know the realities that come with this disease and are trying our best to stay positive and control the things we can, like how we eat, how we move, how we think, and how we react to others.

This statement is harmful for so many reasons, and Im not even sure I understand the intent. Is it to make us feel better by comparing our chronic condition to someones cancer battle?

Its never OK to minimize a persons feelings by saying it can always be worse. This goes for pretty much any scenario in life, but medical conditions especially.

Theres a misconception that type 2 diabetes can be cured or reversed using a specific diet or by losing a significant amount of weight. Diabetes remission can be achieved by some, but not everyone is able to completely get off medication, even if they are doing everything right.

Implying that a loved one (or stranger) must not be trying hard enough because they need medication only serves a healthy helping of shame and guilt, emotions they may already feel due to the pressure they put on themselves.

I saved the best and most frustrating for last. Every person I know who is living with diabetes has had this sentence said to them.

Living with type 2 diabetes is a 24/7 job. We are always thinking about food and the way our bodies are going to react to our choices. But that doesnt mean we need policing.

Being a grown woman with type 2 diabetes does not mean I should never enjoy a tasty treat. Its likely if Im eating something indulgent, Ive planned for it, and am excited about it.

The food police comments may be made with genuine concern, but to the person living with type 2, they only serve as a vehicle to shame us for our choices under the guise of being worried about our health.

A type 2 diabetes diagnosis can be difficult to navigate. We want support from our friends and family without unsolicited advice.

When were sharing our frustrations and emotions, we need two things from you: a safe place and open ears.

We arent looking for you to solve our issues or do medical research. We just want your friendship, love, and compassion.

Remember, were given two ears and just one mouth for a reason so we can listen twice as much as we talk.

Mary Van Doorn lives in Georgia with her husband, their two kids, three dogs, and three cats. Shes a type 2 diabetes advocate and the founder of Sugar Mama Strong and Sugar Mama Strong Diabetes Support. When shes not taking care of the kids, the house, or the zoo, you can find her binge-watching her favorite shows: Greys Anatomy, This Is Us, and A Million Little Things.

Originally posted here:
6 Things That Aren't Helpful to Say to Someone with Type 2 Diabetes - Healthline

People with diabetes may experience dizziness, either as a symptom of the condition or as a result of dehydration or certain medications. A doctor can help determine the cause and how to manage or treat it.

Diabetes can cause low or high blood sugar, which can make people feel dizzy or lightheaded. High blood sugar can also lead to dehydration, as the body removes excess glucose from the blood through the urine, taking extra water with it.

Certain medications, including those that lower blood sugar, can also cause dizziness.

In this article, we look at the possible causes of dizziness in type 2 diabetes, other symptoms to be aware of, treatment options, and when to see a doctor.

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur in a person with diabetes. Low blood sugar levels, or low glucose levels, are those that fall below the healthy range.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), low blood sugar levels are usually below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), although this may be different for each individual.

Research suggests that 1144% of people with diabetes experience dizziness as a symptom of low blood sugar.

Other signs of low blood sugar can include:

Learn more about the symptoms of low blood sugar here.

High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can also cause dizziness. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body may not be able to use insulin effectively enough to control blood sugar, leading to hyperglycemia.

According to research from the United Kingdom, in people using insulin to treat diabetes, about 27% and 22% reported feeling lightheaded or dizzy, respectively, as a result of high blood sugar.

Other symptoms of high blood sugar include:

Learn more about the symptoms of high blood sugar here.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of dehydration due to high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar causes the kidneys to remove excess glucose from the blood through urine.

As the kidneys filter glucose out of the blood, they also remove water. This increased urination means that people with high blood sugar can become dehydrated more easily.

Dehydration can cause dizziness. Other symptoms of dehydration include:

Learn more about the symptoms of dehydration here.

It is important that people seek treatment for dizziness resulting from type 2 diabetes. Severe dizziness may affect everyday tasks and quality of life, and it can lead to falls.

Without treatment, some causes of dizziness may progress to serious complications. In severe cases, uncontrolled blood sugar levels may lead to a loss of consciousness or ketoacidosis, which requires emergency medical care.

Severe dehydration can also lead to life threatening complications without treatment.

By following a treatment plan, people can learn how to control the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and prevent dehydration and dizziness.

Anyone experiencing regular dizziness should contact a doctor. They may wish to consider keeping track of when they feel dizzy to help a doctor identify any patterns.

The doctor may carry out a physical examination and assess any other symptoms. They may check blood sugar levels and review the persons medications to determine the cause of the dizziness.

Treating or managing the underlying causes of dizziness in type 2 diabetes may help resolve dizziness.

Monitoring blood sugar can help people maintain levels within a healthy range. People can use a device called a blood glucose monitor, which measures blood glucose levels in a pinprick of blood from the fingertip.

Learn about glucose blood tests and healthy glucose levels here.

Doctors may recommend that people with low blood sugar follow the 15:15 rule. The ADA explains that a person can take 15 grams (g) of carbohydrates and then check their blood sugar levels 15 minutes afterward. If blood sugar is still low, they should take another 15 g.

People can repeat this until their levels are within a normal range. Examples of carbohydrates that can raise low blood sugar efficiently include:

It is important to avoid using complex carbohydrates to treat low blood sugar in an emergency, as these can slow down the time it takes for the body to absorb glucose. The same applies to carbohydrates with fat, such as chocolate.

Once blood sugar levels have returned to a healthy level, a person can eat a healthy snack to prevent their levels from dropping again.

Carbohydrate levels may vary for each individual, and children will need less than 15 g to treat low blood sugar. People can discuss a specific treatment strategy for low blood sugar with a doctor.

In severe cases of low blood sugar, when the 15:15 approach is insufficient, people may need glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that the pancreas produces to release stored glucose. A person can speak with their doctor to check whether they require prescription glucagon.

Learn more about how insulin and glucagon regulate blood sugar levels here.

People with high blood sugar may be able to lower their levels through exercise and eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet with smaller portions.

If a persons blood sugar level is higher than 240 mg/dl, it may not be safe for them to exercise because ketones may be present in the urine. Ketones are waste products that the body creates when it uses fats as fuel instead of glucose.

Exercising with ketones in the urine may cause blood sugar levels to increase even further. A buildup of ketones can also lead to a life threatening condition called ketoacidosis.

A doctor can offer advice on a safe treatment plan for lowering blood sugar.

Learn some healthy meal plans for people with diabetes here.

Managing high blood sugar may also help treat dehydration. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help the body stay well-hydrated. For more severe cases of dehydration, people may need to replenish their electrolytes.

It is best to avoid sugary drinks or fruit juices, as these could increase blood sugar levels.

Learn about the 20 most hydrating foods here.

If medications are causing dizziness, a doctor may be able to alter the dosage or suggest an alternative. It is important that people do not stop taking any medication without speaking with a doctor.

Type 2 diabetes can cause low or high blood sugar and dehydration, all of which can cause people to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Certain medications, including those for diabetes, may also cause dizziness.

Anyone with type 2 diabetes who experiences frequent or severe dizziness should discuss this symptom with a doctor. Dizziness could be a sign of uncontrolled blood sugar or dehydration, both of which can cause severe complications without treatment.

Depending on the underlying cause, a doctor may suggest changing to an alternative medication or taking steps to manage blood sugar or avoid dehydration.

See the article here:
Type 2 diabetes and dizziness: Causes and treatment - Medical News Today

People with diabetes may be twice as likely to develop cataracts as those without diabetes. Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the cornea that blur vision.

Diabetes affects around 9.4% of the population of the United States.

A person with diabetes who develops cataracts may not notice their symptoms at first.

People can try several treatment options to reduce the severity of cataracts. The only treatment that can remove them completely is surgery.

This article explores the link between cataracts and diabetes and how cataract surgery can help improve vision.

Diabetes can cause cataracts for several reasons.

People with diabetes can experience damage to blood vessels in the eyes from high blood sugar and swelling in the liquid between the eyeball and cornea lens.

In people with diabetes, the body produces less insulin than it needs or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin moves sugar, or glucose, from the blood into the cells, where the body uses it as energy.

Without sufficient insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells. It then builds up in the bloodstream, resulting in high blood sugar.

When a person has high blood sugar over a long period, it can damage their blood vessels, including those in the eye. This can increase the likelihood of getting a cataract.

Another factor involved in cataracts involves the aqueous humor, which is the liquid that fills the space between the eyeball and the cornea lens.

When glucose levels are high in the aqueous humor, the lens can swell, contributing to blurred vision. A 2021 study on 37 people with diabetes and cataracts found high glucose levels in the aqueous humor. People who had the most difficulty controlling blood sugar had the highest glucose levels in the aqueous humor.

When blood sugar is high for long periods, enzymes in the lens of the cornea convert glucose to sorbitol, which can swell the lens and contribute to blurred vision.

Learn more about the link between diabetes and blurry vision here.

Cataracts form very slowly. A person can have an early-stage cataract without showing any symptoms.

The main signs and symptoms of a cataract include:

Most people with diabetes should see a doctor for a dilated eye exam once a year. A person might need more regular checkups depending on the type of diabetes in question and how long they have had it.

During an eye exam, a doctor will place drops in the persons eyes to widen their pupils. Using a magnifying lens, the doctor will examine the large area at the back of the eye. They will also test the persons vision and the pressure in their eyes. People usually have blurry vision for a few hours after a dilated exam.

If a person notices sudden vision changes, including flashes of light, floaters, or obscured vision, they should call a doctor right away.

There is no way to prevent cataracts from forming, but people with diabetes may lower their risk of developing cataracts by controlling their blood sugar.

Preventative steps include:

Surgery is the only treatment for cataracts. However, for less severe cataracts, it might help a person to:

People with less severe cataracts should monitor changes in their vision and follow a regular eye exam schedule.

When cataracts get in the way of doing daily tasks, a doctor will usually recommend surgery.

Cataract surgery is a relatively safe procedure done under local anesthetic. It can take around 1 hour, although some operations may take less time. People can usually go home the same day.

During surgery, a doctor removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a clear, artificial one. The artificial lens, or intraocular lens, requires no care and can significantly restore the eyes ability to focus. Once a doctor has removed the cataract, it will not grow back.

A doctor can perform two types of surgery to remove a cataract.

The doctor makes a small incision in the side of the cornea and inserts a tiny probe, the same thickness as a human hair. This probe emits ultrasound waves that break up the lens so the doctor can suction it out.

The doctor makes a slightly larger incision in the cornea to remove the lens core in one piece. They then put the artificial lens in place.

Learn more about what to expect during cataract surgery here.

Following cataract surgery, it can take a few days for a persons vision to return fully. They will probably have to wear an eye patch for a day or two after surgery. They may also have to use eye drops to reduce inflammation and the chance of infection.

The presence of other eye diseases such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy might affect a persons chances of recovering full vision following surgery.

After surgery, a person may experience temporary, typical symptoms, such as:

After 46 weeks, these side effects should have disappeared.

According to the National Eye Institute, 90% of people can see better after having cataract surgery.

High blood sugar in people with diabetes makes cataracts more likely to form. Older people, those who have difficulty with glycemic control, and people who have had diabetes for a long time are more likely to develop cataracts.

Surgery to replace a cloudy cataract lens with an artificial lens is simple, has a great success rate, and dramatically improves vision for most people.

More here:
Cataracts and diabetes: Relationship, symptoms, treatment - Medical News Today

A new report from a team of investigators based in Spain is providing evidence that suggests presence of diabetes does not increase risk of long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms.

An analysis of 1800 hospitalized patients from the first wave of the pandemic, results of the study indicate the number of post-COVID symptoms was similar between those with diabetes and those without. Results also indicate there were no between-groups differences observed for any specific post-COVID symptoms.

Current and previous evidence suggest that diabetes seems to play a more relevant role during the acute phase of COVID-19 rather than for the development of post-COVID symptomatology in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors, wrote investigators.

Few patient groups have received the amount of attention patients with diabetes have throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A common comorbidity among patients with obesity, diabetes quickly became recognized as a risk factor for increased disease severity in patients with COVID-19. As the pandemic has raged on, concern over the long-term effects of COVID-19 has begun to grow. Sometimes referred to as long COVID, ability to predict those at greatest risk of long-term COVID-19 symptoms could have a substantial impact moving forward.

With this in mind, investigators from Spain sought to fill the apparent knowledge gap related to risk of long-term COVID-19 symptoms based on a diagnosis of diabetes by conducting a multicenter case-control study of patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 1-May 31, 2020, at a trio of public hospitals in Madrid.

From a sample cohort of 1800 patients hospitalized during the aforementioned time period, investigators identified 145 patients with a diagnosis of diabetes. Using these patients, investigators identified 290 age- and sex-matched controls without diabetes for inclusion. Investigators noted there were no differences in symptoms at hospital admission except for an increased prevalence of myalgia and a greater proportion of patients with diabetes reported comorbid hypertension, obesity, and migraine compared to their counterparts without diabetes.

Patients with diabetes were assessed for symptoms a mean of 7.6 months following hospital discharge. In total, just 19% were completely free of any post-COVID symptom during the follow-up period. Results of the investigators' analyses indicated the number of post-COVID symptoms were similar among patients with diabetes and those without diabetes (IRR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.92-1.24]; P=.372).

Investigators also noted no differences were observed for presence of fatigue OR, 1.45 [95% ACI, 0.93-2.25]; P=.101), dyspnea on exertion (OR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.64-1.47]; P=.886), and musculoskeletal pain (OR, 0.951 [95% CI, 0.76-1.18]; P=.367). Investigators also pointed out there were no between-groups differences observed among patients (OR, 1.07[95% CI, 0.71-1.62]; P=.728).

Our study showed that diabetes was not a risk factor for post-COVID symptoms when assessed an average of 7 months post discharge. Further, diabetes was not associated with differences in limitations of daily living activities after hospital discharge, wrote investigators.

This study, Diabetes and the Risk of Long-Term Post-COVID Symptoms, was published in Diabetes.

View post:
Diabetes Not Associated with Increased Risk of Long-Term COVID-19 Symptoms - Endocrinology Network

The CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program is one of the first lifestyle- and behavior-based interventions to be proven, in a large clinical study, to be more effective than a comparable drug (in this case metformin). Digital implementations can make the DPP more accessible and more scalable, and a number of digital health companies have been tackling this for the last few years.

Fruit Street Health is one of those companies, and its CEO, Laurence Girard, joins host Jonah Comstock on today's HIMSSCast to discuss the challenges, opportunitiesand successes his company has had in this space.

Like what you hear? Subscribe to the podcast onApple Podcasts,SpotifyorGoogle Play!

Talking points:

More about this episode:

Fruit Street to deliver CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program through live video classes

Fruit Street Health raises $3 million in doctors-only round

UK passes on Apple, Google's Bluetooth contact tracing tool, Fruit Street Health launches COVID-19 telemedicine platform and more digital health news briefs

AHIP, CDC to partner on diabetes prevention

Medicare to reimburse for Diabetes Prevention Program, including Omada's digital version

Diabetes Prevention Program under the Affordable Care Act is working, HHS Secretary Burwell says

American Medical Association pushes public, private health plans to cover National Diabetes Prevention Program

CMS calls for extending Diabetes Prevention Program into Medicare, proposes new doc fees to boost chronic care

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HIMSSCast: Taking the CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program digital - Mobihealth News

Why "Runsweet"? This came from advice from a person with type 1 diabetes who tried to "run sweet" toavoid hypos. We know we can do better!

Thank you all for the great feedback about the site. We now boast the widest sports content for people with diabetes on the web.we are now getting more than 30000 visits per month and are top in searches on Google. You continue to test the limits of what is possible, and have submitted great new content. Keep visiting. If youwant to post any content, mail it to us.Our forum is also very popular. We now alsohave a Facebookpage.

He has done it again! Rod Riddell's Marathon des Sables adventure with T1 DM

Major new focus on pump treatmentandhow to use your pump with exercise. New focus on guidelines forsafe exercise.

Can you help with research? We are recruiting for a study (ExTOD) on the effect of structured education on Exercise and Diabetes. See Reseach page if you can help

Read the original here:
: Home [www.runsweet.com]

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that prevents your body from being able to properly use insulin. Its the result of increased insulin resistance and your pancreas not making enough insulin to manage your blood sugar (glucose) levels.

About 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, and type 2 diabetes represents 90 to 95 percent of those cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are many symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Its important to know what they are because diabetes because the condition can be prevented or delayed if caught early.

Read on for the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes vary from person to person. They can develop slowly over many years and might be so mild that you dont notice them.

Polyuria, or excessive urination, is one of the 3 Ps of diabetes.

Your kidneys eventually cant keep up with the extra glucose in your bloodstream. Some of the glucose ends up in your urine and draws in more water. This leads to more frequent urination.

Adults naturally produce 1 to 2 liters of urine per day (a liter is about a quart). Polyuria is defined as more than 3 liters per day.

Excessive thirst, or polydipsia, is often a result of frequent urination. Your body urges you to replace lost fluids by making you feel thirsty.

Of course, everyone gets thirsty sometimes. Extreme thirst is uncharacteristic and persistent, no matter how often you replenish.

Excessive hunger is called polyphagia.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body has a hard time turning glucose into energy. This makes you feel hungry. Eating introduces even more sugar that cant be processed, and it doesnt alleviate the hunger.

Diabetes increases your risk of several eye conditions, including:

The increased blood sugar from diabetes can damage blood vessels, including those in the eye, leading to blurry vision.

Fatigue can be a mental or physical tiredness that doesnt improve with rest. There are many causes of fatigue.

Its a difficult symptom to research, but a 2016 study concluded that people with type 2 diabetes may experience fatigue as a result of fluctuations between high and low glucose levels.

If you have type 2 diabetes, regular cuts and scratches can take longer to heal. Wounds on your feet are common and easy to overlook. Slow healing foot ulcers occur due to poor blood supply as well as damage to the nerves responsible for blood flow to the feet.

A 2020 study showed that diabetic foot ulcers dont mobilize the immune cells needed for proper inflammation and healing.

High glucose can damage the blood vessels that supply nutrients to your nerves. When your nerves dont receive enough oxygen and nutrients, they cannot function properly.

This is called diabetic neuropathy and is most common in your extremities.

Insulin resistance causes glucose to build up in the bloodstream instead of being turned into energy. This can cause your body to consume other energy sources, like muscle or fat tissue.

Your weight might naturally fluctuate a little. An unexplained loss of at least 5 percent of your body weight is generally agreed as a need to talk with your healthcare professional.

In addition to nerve damage and a weakened immune system, poor blood circulation also increases the chance of developing an infection in people with diabetes. Having more sugar in your blood and tissues allows infections to spread faster.

People with diabetes commonly develop infections of the:

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that can be a symptom of diabetes. It appears as dark bands of skin that may have a velvety texture.

This is most common in body folds such as your armpits, neck, and groin, but can also occur elsewhere.

Link:
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms in Women and Men: What to Know - Healthline

Even if you're one of the more than 34 million people with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there's so much confusing information out there that what's fact and what's gotten oversimplified or distorted isn't quite clear. But knowing how to prevent and treat this condition, the rate of which has doubled in the last 20 years, is key to keeping it under control. And because diabetes dramatically increases your risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and stroke, taking it seriously could save your life.

Check out these diabetes myths and set yourself straight.

Emilija ManevskaGetty Images

Sugar does not cause diabetes. Being overweight, however, is one of the major risk factors, and foods that are high in added sugar tend to be high in calories. But keep in mind that fat has twice as many calories as sugar, says Matt Petersen, managing director of medical information at the American Diabetes Association. Another potential culprit: eating red meat. If youre at risk, your best bet is to lower your total calorie intake and get those calories from nutrient-rich foods like non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat protein and dairy, says Christine Lee, M.D., of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. And when you have a hankering for a sweet, focus on foods with naturally occurring sugar.

Theres a reason type 1 diabetes isnt called juvenile diabetes anymoreyou can get it at any age, says Petersen. Five percent of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with type 1, but sometimes grown-ups are misdiagnosed with the more common type 2, says Sara Pinney, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. The two types of diabetes have different causes: In type 1 diabetes, the body attacks the pancreatic beta cells by mistake, causing them to stop making insulin, the hormone that lowers glucose in the blood, says Dr. Pinney. With type 2, the pancreas makes insulin, but the body doesnt respond well to it. Patients with type 1 need to take insulin to normalize their blood sugar, or they will become very ill. To tell the difference, your doctor may test for certain antibodies in your blood.

Most people dontmany are able to control their diabetes through diet and exercise, oral medication, or a combination of both. Of those with type 2 diabetes, only 40% use insulin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your need for insulin may change with age, though. Eventually, to keep your blood glucose levels in a healthy range, you might need to use it, Petersen says. And thats OK. Its just that your disease has progressed and now youre taking the best step to manage it. (And if you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin right from the start.)

It can take monthsor even yearsfor symptoms to get extreme enough for people to figure out on their own that they have type 2 diabetes, says Dr. Pinney. Thats because the most common signs, increased urination and thirst, are easy to overlook or to write off as part of getting older. By the time more noticeable symptoms like blurry vision or tingling hands and feet prompt someone to make a doctors appointment, he or she may have had elevated blood sugars for a long time. An estimated 24% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed, which is why doctors recommend that those with major risk factorssuch as being 45 or older, being overweight, or having a family history of diabeteshave their A1C tested periodically. This simple blood draw will give your doc a snapshot of your blood glucose levels over the past three months and is one way to diagnose diabetes.

Nope! While it may help people lose weight, exercise (even if you dont drop pounds) also increases your insulin sensitivity, which naturally lowers your blood glucose. Studies have shown that a single bout of exercise can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 50% for as long as 72 hours after the sweat session. And even if your weight stays exactly the same, exercise can lower your A1C (long-term glucose levels) and your odds of developing diabetes. Thats because when muscle cells are active, theyre able to take up glucose and use it for energy without needing any insulin, says Petersen. Exercise is kind of a miracle treatment in its own way.

This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Prevention.

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Diabetes Myths - Blood Sugar and Testing Explained - Prevention.com

Male patients with young-onset type 2 diabetes were found to be at 72% greater risk of retinopathy compared with those who received a diagnosis at 50 years or older.

Risk of retinopathy may increase with diabetes duration, particularly in male patients with young-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to abstract findings presented recently at the virtual Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and to be published in Diabetologia.

Amid an increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes and T2D in younger generations, researchers noted that patients with young-onset T2D incur a high lifetime risk of complications and reduced life expectancy.

Notably, incidence of retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness among working-age adults worldwide, has been indicated to affect up to 80% of patients within 15 years after diabetes diagnosis, which may pose a substantial financial burden for these populations if left untreated.

Seeking to further investigate the prevalence of retinopathy and coronary heart disease (CHD), another common complication, in patients with young-onset T2D, the investigators conducted a cross-sectional study of data collected from Norwegian general practice electronic medical records (EMRs).

In the study, EMRs of 10,242 adults with T2D from 2014 were collected. Additionally, to explore relationships between age at diagnosis and complications, they compared patients with young-onset T2D (diagnosis by age 40 years) and those diagnosed at 50 years or older (n = 6627) on clinical outcomes, retinopathy, and CHD via multivariate logistic regression, with multilevel multiple imputation performed to reduce potential bias due to missing data, noted researchers.

Within the cohort, prevalence of young-onset T2D was 10.2% (n = 980; 55.6% were male), in which mean age was 33.3 years at diagnosis and 44.7 years in 2014. Comparably, the mean age for the cohort aged 50 and older was 62.7 years at diagnosis and 70.4 years in 2014.

Compared with the 50 and older cohort, mean glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels were indicated to be higher in patients with young-onset T2D (60 mmol/mol vs 52 mmol/mol), with incidence of high A1C levels found more frequently at diagnosis in these populations as well (7.6% vs 6.9%). Higher A1C levels were observed in men with young-onset T2D, but levels were similar in women of both age groups.

In those with young-onset T2D, A1C levels were higher already from the point of diabetes diagnosis but also increased more rapidly with time, noted the accompanying press release. In other words, if 2 people had T2D for the same length of time, A1C levels would likely be higher in the one diagnosed at a younger age.

In assessing disease-related complications, retinopathy was shown to develop at an earlier age, with prevalence found to be nearly 3 times higher in patients with young-onset diabetes compared with those who received a diagnosis at 50 years or older (15.5 vs 5.9%).

After accounting for potential confounders, risk of retinopathy was significantly higher in both male and female patients with young-onset T2D. However, after further adjusting for potential mediators (diabetes duration, A1C, and systolic blood pressure), risk was reported to remain significantly high in men with young-onset T2D compared with those diagnosed at 50 or older (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.29-2.29), but not in women (odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.95-1.89).

Risk of CHD was shown to be more related to current age than to diabetes duration. Of note, study authors said that diagnosis of T2D may be more likely to be delayed in men, who tend to visit their general practitioner less often than women.

It is important that young-onset T2D is detected early enough and treated adequately to reduce the likelihood of retinopathy and other complications, said study author Katrina Tibballs, PhD student at the University of Oslo, Norway, in a statement. The current guidelines on diabetes prevention and treatment should be updated to reflect the higher risk of complications in those with young-onset diabetes, particularly the elevated risk of retinopathy in men.

Reference

Tibballs KL, Jenum AK, Sandberg S, et al. Young-onset type 2 diabetes: clinical outcomes in Norwegian general practice. Presented at: EASD Annual Meeting 2021; September 27-October 1, 2021; Stockholm, Sweden. Abstract 139.

More:
Young-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Linked With Higher Risk of Retinopathy in Men - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network

In a small, preliminary study, researchers have found that people with type 2 diabetes who also have a BMI that falls within a moderate range can reverse their diabetes by losing weight.

The researchers reported their findings at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for around 91.2% of diabetes cases in the United States.

The condition occurs when a persons body does not produce enough insulin or if the insulin no longer works effectively. Insulin normally helps glucose enter the cells of the body. In the absence of insulin, glucose stays in the blood, where it can damage organs and tissues.

This means that a person with type 2 diabetes has an increased risk of several health issues, including stroke, heart disease, issues with their feet, kidney disease, dental issues, and bladder problems.

According to researchers writing in the journal Nutrients, scientists for a long time believed that type 2 diabetes was incurable, so they primarily focused on how people should manage symptoms of the condition.

However, evidence now suggests that if individuals who are overweight or have obesity achieve and maintain weight loss, they can reverse type 2 diabetes.

In the present small, preliminary study, researchers have gone one step further and examined whether weight loss might reverse type 2 diabetes even in those whose weight falls within the moderate BMI range.

Medical News Today spoke with the studys first author, Dr. Ahmad Al-Mrabeh, a Transitional Research Fellow at the Centre for Cardiovascular Science at Queens Medical Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.

He explained that they decided to explore whether weight loss could be effective at reversing type 2 diabetes for people with moderate BMI after looking at the results of their previous research.

We observed that the metabolic profile changed markedly after following a low calorie diet even when the change in body weight was [] minor. We, therefore, wanted to test whether inducing modest weight loss could achieve remission in those who are non-obese, said Dr. Al-Mrabeh.

According to the principal investigator of the study, Prof. Roy Taylor, Director of the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre at Newcastle University, U.K., [o]ur previous research has shown that weight loss of 1015% can achieve remission in people with type 2 diabetes who are overweight or obese.

Doctors tend to assume, however, that type 2 diabetes has a different cause in those who arent overweight. This means that, unlike those who are overweight, those who are of [moderate] weight arent usually advised to lose weight before being given diabetes drugs and insulin.

Instead, theres a tendency to start them on insulin and other medication at a much earlier stage.

What weve shown is that if those of [moderate] weight lose 10-15% of their weight, they have a very good chance of getting rid of their diabetes.

This should be a wake-up call to doctors, and, with 1 in 10 of the 4.5 million people with type 2 diabetes in the U.K. of [moderate] weight at diagnosis, there is no time to be lost in getting the message across.

Prof. Taylor

The study involved just 23 people. Of these, 12 individuals had a type 2 diabetes diagnosis with an average age of 58.3 years and an average BMI of 24.5. The remaining 11 did not have diabetes and were of similar age and BMI. This group acted as the control.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify BMI scores of 18.524.9 as healthy.

All participants followed a low calorie diet for 2 weeks, consuming no more than 800 calories each day. The researchers then supported them to maintain their new weight for 46 weeks.

They completed this cycle two or three times until all participants had reduced their body weight by 1015%.

The researchers measured each participants visceral fat and insulin sensitivity before, during, and after the study.

At the end of the study, the researchers matched the people with diabetes with control participants of the same age, sex, and BMI. The scientists found that the individuals with diabetes lost more than twice as much fat in their liver compared with the controls.

In the diabetes group, fat in the pancreas reduced from 5.1% to 4.5%. Also, their average triglyceride levels fell from 1.6 millimoles per liter to 1.0 millimoles per liter a significant reduction similar to the control group.

Most significantly, two-thirds of the participants found that their type 2 diabetes went into remission and could stop taking their medication.

Prof. Taylor says that [t]hese results, while preliminary, demonstrate very clearly that diabetes is not caused by obesity but by [carrying too much weight] for your own body. Its due to having too much fat in your liver and pancreas, whatever your BMI.

In the liver, this excess fat prevents insulin from working normally. In the pancreas, it causes the beta cells to stop producing insulin.

Dr. Al-Mrabeh said to MNT that the results may be reproducible in larger studies, however, it is important to understand the mechanisms of excess fat buildup within these vital metabolic organs (liver and pancreas) in non-obese people.

Speaking with MNT, Prof. Pl R. Njlstad, Leader of the Center for Diabetes Research at the University of Bergen, Norway, said that [t]he findings are interesting and indicate that weight loss is also important in non-obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Prof. Njlstad added that [m]ore studies are needed with an increased number of study participants and increased time of follow up, in addition to investigating the effect of other factors, such as age, sex, and ethnicity.

Dr. Al-Mrabeh said to MNT that he will continue developing the initial findings.

I have recently moved to the University of Edinburgh to establish an independent research program looking into the mechanisms of how excess fat causes damage to the pancreas in type 2 diabetes. My aim is to dissect these mechanisms using both human and animal studies.

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Diabetes: Losing visceral fat more important than overall weight - Medical News Today