More Kids Than Ever Have Type 2 Diabetes

Doctors seek to establish a gold standard for their care of Kids with Type 2 Diabetes

 

By Erika Gebel, PhD

 

Fifteen years ago type 2 diabetes  in children was almost unheard of. Since then, as the number of cases has crept up, scientists have sought to figure out how best to treat this type of diabetes in young people.

 

A 2007 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that there are about 3,700 new cases of type 2 diabetes a year among youth in the United States. The evidence suggests that type 2 behaves differently in children than in adults, an insight that may help doctors give kids with type 2 the best possible care.

 

Kids With Diabetes in the U.S., 2009 (Under age 20)

More than 19,000 have type 2

More than 168,000 have type 1

Source: SEARCH trial

 

Rising Numbers
In June, researchers from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study released data showing that type 2 diabetes in 10- to 19-year-olds had increased 21 percent between 2001 and 2009. “Twenty-one percent is substantial,” says Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, MSPH, PhD, RD, of the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, who is a SEARCH researcher. “That was really driven by the Hispanic and non-Hispanic white youth.” Type 2 diagnosis rates didn’t increase in Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, or African Americans during these years. This may be good news, says Mayer-Davis, suggesting that rates may be leveling off, but only time will tell. The researchers also noted that the number of cases of type 2 rose faster among girls than in boys.

SEARCH researchers excluded children under 10 years old from their calculations. “Really, type 2 diabetes is exceedingly rare under the age of 10,” says Mayer-Davis, a former American Diabetes Association president of health care and education. The great majority of people with diabetes under 21 years old have type 1, she adds. In 2009, only 1 in 3,000 people between ages 10 and 19 had type 2 diabetes. With type 1, there were 6 cases per 3,000 people between newborn and 19. However, the ratio of type 1 to type 2 diabetes varies among ethnic groups. In new cases of diabetes among African American adolescents over 10 years old, “about 40 percent have type 1 and 55 percent or so have type 2,” says Mayer-Davis. With non-Hispanic white kids, 80 percent are being diagnosed with type 1.

The main culprit for the rise in type 2 among children, experts agree, is weight. “We don’t even entertain the possibility of type 2 when a child isn’t overweight,” says Silva Arslanian, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Obesity isn’t the only factor, though. Many kids are overweight and don’t develop diabetes, says Mayer-Davis, so something must lead the beta cells of the pancreas to stop producing enough insulin to control blood glucose in children who develop type 2. That part, she says, remains a mystery.

A complicating factor is that obesity is rising among type 1s as well, just as in the general population. “It becomes hard to make the distinction,” says Arslanian, between type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children. To confirm that a child has type 2, doctors can check the blood for autoantibodies, the hallmark of type 1.

Prevention and Treatment
Because type 2 in kids is such a recent phenomenon, doctors still don’t have a gold-standard treatment. To address this knowledge gap, scientists conducted the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study, which included 700 children between 10 and 17 with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. All participants started on metformin to achieve an A1C (average blood glucose over the previous two to three months) of 8 percent or less. Then a third of kids continued metformin, another third took metformin and rosiglitazone (Avandia), and the rest added a weight-loss program to their metformin. Over an average of four years, researchers tracked how many of the children failed to maintain an A1C of 8 percent or less. None of the regimens worked particularly well: By the study’s end, about half the kids in all the groups had experienced a decline in blood glucose control that required treatment with insulin.

The researchers learned that the need for insulin in type 2 comes “three times faster in children than in adults,” says Arslanian. “As of now, it looks like the deterioration in beta cell function in teenagers occurs sooner than in adults.” This suggests that type 2 in kids progresses rapidly. However, at least part of the reason so many kids with type 2 are on insulin is because they have limited options. There is an abundant selection of medications for type 2 in adults. But in children, the only approved diabetes meds are metformin and insulin.

Diabetes complications are a concern in children with uncontrolled type 2. “A higher percentage of kids with type 2 than type 1 have complications,” such as kidney disease, says Mayer-Davis. Children with type 2 often have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Kids with these conditions are at increased risk for heart attacks and strokes as adults, so Arslanian says it’s important to treat these risk factors with medications that improve cholesterol and blood pressure. The American Diabetes Association also recommends that children with type 2 get annual screenings for diabetic eye and kidney disease.

The future for adolescents with type 2 diabetes is still uncertain. The condition is so new that scientists don’t know what will happen when these kids grow up. But that’s changing, as researchers continue to learn more about the disease in youth. The goal is to establish a gold standard for treatment so that kids with type 2 get the care they need to become healthy adults.

 

Source: http://forecast.diabetes.org/print/3868

Photo credit: Photo: Erik Isakson/Getty Images

 

Dr. Andrew Weil’s 5 Health Essentials

 

Dr. Andrew Weil practices integrative medicine, a field that emphasizes the body’s natural healing power and focuses on correcting the underlying causes of disease rather than just managing symptoms. As a result, Dr. Weil’s recommendations often focus on illness prevention through simple lifestyle choices. He maintains that there are easy things you can do every day at home to improve your health. Here, Dr. Weil shares his five essentials to provide an immediate boost to your well-being! Learn about the tools that could change your life forever.

Essential #1: Iodine
Dr. Weil considers this multi-purpose mineral essential for good health. Iodine regulates all key metabolic functions including blood cell production, muscle function, body heat, and hormones. An iodine deficiency causes weight gain, fatigue, intolerance to cold, and can result in gastrointestinal problems, skin abnormalities and even neurological issues. With so many symptoms, it’s shocking to learn that millions of women are deficient in iodine. The problem is the American diet; so many processed foods don’t contain iodine and our bodies don’t naturally produce it.

One of the major signs of iodine deficiency is an enlarged thyroid gland. Without iodine, the thyroid cannot produce the proper amount of hormones and it reacts by enlarging itself. A person with an iodine deficiency might experience signs of hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones. These symptoms include puffy eyes, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, and exhaustion.

If these symptoms sound familiar, try this self-test to see if you’re iodine deficient. Tip your head back while looking at the reflection of your neck and thyroid area. Swallow several times. Feel for swelling, lumps or bumps on both sides of throat; these may indicate that you have an enlarged thyroid and you should consult your doctor.

Take preventative steps by ensuring you’re getting enough iodine. The National Institutes of Health recommends adults get 150 mcg daily. Chances are that you’re getting enough iodine already if you have a well-rounded diet. Good sources include dairy products and seafood like tuna, shellfish, lobsters and sardines. For an extra-rich source of iodine, try kelp. With 2500 mcg of iodine per gram, this superfood is considered the best natural source in the world.


Bonus Tip: Asian Mushrooms
For another way to enhance your health, try Asian mushrooms. Prominent in Chinese medicine, these superfoods are believed to increase resistance to stress and boost longevity. Dr. Oz’s personal favorites are Shiitake and maitake oyster mushrooms. Eat them today to unwind and extend your life!


Essential #2: Pistachios and DGL
Problems with digestion, heartburn, stomach pains, and IBS are the classic side effects of the standard American diet and stress. Dr. Weil has a solution – a combination of pistachios and an herbal product made from licorice called DGL.

Low-calorie and full of nutrients and fiber, pistachios are great for digestion. New research indicates that these ultra-healthy nuts have prebiotic characteristics – meaning they can help support higher levels of beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. Just one serving of pistachios can make a big difference for your aching stomach. And there’s more good news – one serving is 47 nuts, a larger serving size than any other type of nut, which clocks in at only 158 calories and contains more fiber than half a cup of spinach. That fiber, along with pistachios’ unsaturated fat keeps your digestive system running smoothly. The healthy fats also help to lower cholesterol levels.

The next digestive aid is called deglycyrrhizinated licorice. Don’t confuse DGL with the candy; this licorice is an herbal extract that can be used to treat indigestion and heartburn. It acts by increasing the mucous coating in your stomach, lower esophagus and intestinal tract, protecting those tissues from irritation by stomach acid. This soothing effect helps to treat symptoms of GERD and can protect against the damaging effects of NSAIDs like ibuprofen.

You can find DGL at most health food stores. Try slowly chewing a dose of 2 (75 mg) tablets before or between meals. DGL also comes in a powder form – try half of a teaspoon in between meals. While DGL is perfect for anyone who suffers from heartburn, it is not recommended for anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure or a history of heart disease.

Bonus Tip: Know Your Probiotics
Another way to guard your gut is with probiotics. These live microorganisms help restore the friendly bacteria you need in your gastrointestinal tract to keep digestion running smoothly. Look for an effective strain like bifidobacterium to treat an array of conditions. Need a Probiotic - try Unicity http://pamelataylor.myunicity.net/shopping/index.html


Essential #3: Palm Reflexology
Stress is toxic for both your body and mind; managing your stress level is essential to good health. Dr. Weil recommends a reflexology technique based on Chinese medicine. This 5,000-year-old theory applies pressure to specific points on your body, activating channels or “meridians” which help to release tension and promote the free flow of blood and energy. This type of therapy has been used for centuries to provide pain relief, improve circulation, and alleviate muscle tension.

For relaxation, Dr. Weil recommends palm reflexology. The next time you feel stressed, try the following simple technique: Using the thumb and index finger of your right hand, rub the fleshy areas between the thumb and index finger on your left hand. Then, starting at the base of each finger, squeeze and roll upwards towards the fingertip, gently pulling outwards as you go. Next, take your thumb and firmly massage small circles all over the palm of your hand. Repeat the process on your other hand. When you’re finished, clench your fists and hold them for 10 seconds, then extend your hand and spread your fingers for 10 seconds. Shake out your hands gently and finish by taking four deep, slow breaths.

Bonus Tip: 4-7-8 Breathing Technique
Another way to tame your tension is to employ the 4-7-8 breathing technique. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose for a mental count of four seconds. Hold your breath for a count of seven, and then exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. This simple breathing exercise is a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system!


Essential #4: The Rules of Raw
Dr. Weil believes that food is medicine, so the raw food movement is something he’s carefully examined. His verdict? He doesn’t recommend eating only raw foods – for two major reasons.

First, you lose much of the best flavor, texture and appearance of your foods if you’re only eating them raw. Secondly, some of the vitamins and minerals are less available to the body in raw vegetables than when they’re cooked.


For example, your body can only obtain lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that protects against cancer, from tomatoes when they’re cooked. Similarly, the carotenoids in carrots are more available from cooked carrots than their raw counterparts. Yet this rule isn’t true of all foods. Leafy greens like watercress and arugula are at their healthiest when left raw; heating them breaks down nutrients and destroys their benefits. If you want to eat some of the healthiest raw foods, try either garlic or asparagus.
 
Garlic is a superfood that promotes immunity and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. The active component in garlic is the sulfur compound called allicin, a powerful chemical that is produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised. Allicin acts as an antibiotic and helps the body to inhibit the ability of germs to grow and reproduce. The amount of allicin in one clove of garlic, around 1 milligram, is said to have the potency of 15 standard units of penicillin.

Cooking garlic diminishes allicin, so eat it raw to maximize your benefits. For best results, crush the cloves to release the healthy enzyme. The production of allicin is greater if the garlic is exposed to air, so let the crushed garlic stand for 10 minutes before combining it with other foods. Add it to a salad dressing or tomato sauce. You can also try spreading 1/2 teaspoon on some toast with a bit of cheese to make a raw garlic bread. Sweeten it up by adding a spoonful of honey and a dash of lemon.

For another immunity booster, try asparagus. This spear-shaped vegetable is truly a weapon for your health! Packed with antioxidants, asparagus ranks among the top fruits and vegetables for its ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Asparagus is also rich in folate, which works with vitamin B12 to help keep your brain healthy. Cooking asparagus minimizes its folate, so enjoy it raw. Simply wash the asparagus and snap off the tough part, leaving the easily digestible, tender portion of the stem. For a one-two immunity punch, dip your asparagus in your garlic salad dressing!

Supercharge your vegetables by learning if you should eat them raw or cooked.


Bonus Tip: Power of Flowers
For a colorful way to avoid getting sick, add flowers to your home! Their beauty and scent will raise your spirits instantly!

Essential #5: CoQ10
Dr. Weil’s final essential sounds almost too good to be true – a super-pill to slow aging. The supplement is CoQ10, a substance that protects your heart and brain from oxidative stress, meaning it blocks the free radicals that break down cells and cause aging. Coenzyme Q10 is made by every cell in the human body. It’s particularly concentrated in tissues having high-energy requirements, such as the muscles of the heart and the brain, which requires huge amounts of uninterrupted energy to regulate, integrate, and coordinate ongoing nervous system transmissions.

Researchers have discovered CoQ10 levels diminish with age, while dietary inadequacies, certain diseases and medications can also significantly reduce CoQ10 levels in the body. CoQ10 is found in foods like sardines, beef and peanuts, yet you’d need to consume huge portions to obtain your daily dose through diet. Dr. Weil recommends taking a pill. He suggests the average adult try a supplement of 120 mg daily. To facilitate your body’s best absorption, take a 60 mg soft-gel capsule twice a day with a meal containing fat.

Bonus Tip: Spill Your Oil
Another way to slow your aging is to purge your pantry of all of your toxic fats. Do a smell test on your oil – if it smells like paint, pour it out and get rid of it!


Bonus Tip: Natural Fatigue Fighters
The next time you’re extra exhausted, turn to Mother Nature. These healing remedies from Dr. Weil’s trusted colleague, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, can fight fatigue and restore your zest for life.

Golden Root
Also known as rhodiola or arctic root, this plant has been used since ancient times to treat fatigue. Studies have really shown that golden root improves mental concentration, physical endurance and helps with general chronic fatigue.
Get a standardized extract and start with a dose of 100 to 200 mg a day for 1 to 2 weeks. Each following week, you can gradually increase by 1 mg as needed. Most people end up taking golden root for 3-4 months and do well with around 400 mg.

Prickly Pear
The fruit of the prickly pear cactus is rich in magnesium, an energizing essential mineral that promotes healthy heart and kidney function. Prickly pear also contains vitamin C, which boosts immunity and provides antioxidant protection against chronic disease including diabetes. Studies show that prickly pear is effective at helping to increase insulin sensitivity. It also fights fatigue by stabilizing blood sugar in people who experience spikes and crashes as a result of their diet.You can find prickly pear at your local health food store. It’s easy to make your own prickly pear juice. First, remove the skin carefully so you don’t get pricked. Strain the seeds and pulp through a cheesecloth; you’ll get about a quarter-cup of juice left from each fruit. You can also buy prepackaged prickly pear juice.

Siberian Ginseng
This herb has a long history of use by athletes and the military. Most products containing Siberian ginseng vary in concentration and potency, so pay extra attention to the instructions on the label or talk to your doctor to determine your best dosage.

Source: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/andrew-weil-5-health-essentials?page=3#copy

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - Symptoms & Natural Solution

 

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a condition in which a woman’s ovaries and, in some cases the adrenal glands, produce more androgens (a type of hormone) than normal. High levels of these hormones interfere with the development and release of eggs as part of ovulation. As a result, fluid-filled sacs or cysts can develop on the ovaries. Because women with PCOS do not release eggs during ovulation, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.

How does PCOS affect fertility?

A woman's ovaries have follicles, which are tiny, fluid-filled sacs that hold the eggs. When an egg is mature, the follicle breaks open to release the egg so it can travel to the uterus for fertilization. In women with PCOS, immature follicles bunch together to form large cysts or lumps. The eggs mature within the bunched follicles, but the follicles don't break open to release them.
As a result, women with PCOS often have menstrual irregularities, such as amenorrhea (they don’t get menstrual periods) or oligomenorrhea (they only have periods now and then). Because the eggs are not released, most women with PCOS have trouble getting pregnant.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

In addition to infertility, women with PCOS may also have:

• Pelvic pain
• Hirsutism, or excess hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, thumbs, or toes
• Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
• Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
• Patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin

Also, women who are obese are more likely to have PCOS.
Although it is hard for women with PCOS to get pregnant, some do get pregnant, naturally or using assistive reproductive technology. Women with PCOS are at higher risk for miscarriage if they do become pregnant.
Women with PCOS are also at higher risk for associated conditions, such as:

• Diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome—sometimes called a precursor to diabetes, this syndrome indicates that the body has trouble regulating its insulin
• Cardiovascular disease—including heart disease and high blood pressure

What is the treatment for PCOS?

There is no cure for PCOS, but many of the symptoms can often be managed. It is important to have PCOS diagnosed and treated early to help prevent associated problems. There are medications that can help control the symptoms, such as birth control pills to regulate menstruation, reduce androgen levels, and clear acne. Other medications can reduce cosmetic problems, such as hair growth, and control blood pressure and cholesterol.
Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise can aid weight loss and help reduce blood sugar levels and regulate insulin levels more effectively. Weight loss can help lessen many of the health conditions associated with PCOS and can make symptoms be less severe or even disappear.
Surgical treatment may also be an option, but it is not recommended as the first course of treatment.
NICHD-funded research has also examined the effects of the anti-diabetes drug metformin on fertility in women with PCOS. To learn more about this research, check out the news releases about PCOS.

How is PCOS diagnosed?

Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a pelvic exam to feel for cysts on your ovaries. He or she may also do a vaginal ultrasound and recommend blood tests to measure hormone levels. Other tests may include measuring levels of insulin, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

The NATURAL SOLUTION
If you are dealing with the symptoms of PCOS, then try the natural solution to address high cholesterol, triglycerides, high blood sugar and obesity - BIOS LIFE SLIM. It's the only natural solution that is listed in the Physicians Desk Reference to address these major health matters. For more information on how you can TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH - contact me:

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Phone:312-324-4914
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Follow me on Twitter & Facebook: 4healthylifenow

Source: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Polycystic_Ovary_Syndrome.cfm


 

Top 10 Myths about Cardiovascular Disease

In light of Rosie O'Donnell's recent Heart Attack and the death of a co-worker and Michael Clark Duncan from Heart Disease, I decided to find a resource article to help everyone understand the gravity of heart disease and to help you learn what YOU CAN DO to prevent this illness. My prayers go out to everyone affected by Heart Disease and I cherish loving memories of those individuals that have fought the good fight and are now in their Heavenly Home. Namaste.


Article from American Heart Association - Heart.org

How much do you really know about your heart’s health? It’s easy to be fooled by misconceptions. After all, heart disease only happens to your elderly neighbor or to your fried food-loving uncle, right? Or do you know the real truth – that heart disease can affect people of any age, even those who eat right?
Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to your heart. Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease. But you can boost your heart smarts by separating fact from fiction. Let’s set the record straight on some common myths.

1.“I’m too young to worry about heart disease.” How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. Even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems – especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age.

2.“I’d know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs.” High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it. You may never experience symptoms, so don’t wait for your body to alert you that there’s a problem. The way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers with a simple blood pressure test. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems. Learn how high blood pressure is diagnosed.

3. “I’ll know when I’m having a heart attack because I’ll have chest pain.” Not necessarily. Although it’s common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling lightheaded, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn you risk of heart attack today!

4.“Diabetes won’t threaten my heart as long as I take my medication.” Treating diabetes can help reduce your risk for or delay the development of cardiovascular diseases. But even when blood sugar levels are under control, you’re still at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s because the risk factors that contribute to diabetes onset also make you more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. These overlapping risk factors include high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.

5.“Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.” Although people with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, you can take steps to dramatically reduce your risk. Create an action plan to keep your heart healthy by tackling these to-dos: get active; control cholesterol; eat better; manage blood pressure; maintain a healthy weight; control blood sugar; and stop smoking.


6.“I don’t need to have my cholesterol checked until I’m middle-aged.” The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20. It’s a good idea to start having a cholesterol test even earlier if your family has a history of heart disease. Children in these families can have high cholesterol levels, putting them at increased risk for developing heart disease as adults. You can help yourself and your family by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

7.“Heart failure means the heart stops beating.” The heart suddenly stops beating during cardiac arrest, not heart failure. With heart failure, the heart keeps working, but it doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. It can cause shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles or persistent coughing and wheezing. During cardiac arrest, a person loses consciousness and stops normal breathing.

8.“This pain in my legs must be a sign of aging. I’m sure it has nothing to do with my heart.” Leg pain felt in the muscles could be a sign of a condition called peripheral artery disease. PAD results from blocked arteries in the legs caused by plaque buildup. The risk for heart attack or stroke increases five-fold for people with PAD.

9.“My heart is beating really fast. I must be having a heart attack.” Some variation in your heart rate is normal. Your heart rate speeds up during exercise or when you get excited, and slows down when you’re sleeping. Most of the time, a change in your heartbeat is nothing to worry about. But sometimes, it can be a sign of arrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can last long enough to impact how well the heart works and require treatment.

10.“I should avoid exercise after having a heart attack.” No! As soon as possible, get moving with a plan approved for you! Research shows that heart attack survivors who are regularly physically active and make other heart-healthy changes live longer than those who don’t. People with chronic conditions typically find that moderate-intensity activity is safe and beneficial. The American Heart Association recommends at least two and a half hours of moderate intensity physical activity each week. Find the help you need by joining a cardiac rehabilitation program, or consult your healthcare provider for advice on developing a physical activity plan tailored to your needs.

Source: American Heart Association

Keep Your Kid's Cholesterol in Check

By BELINDA WALKER - July 12, 2010

Should all children be screened for high cholesterol?

That's the suggestion of a study out of West Virginia that found that a family history alone isn't sufficient to catch high cholesterol among children.

In analyzing results from family histories and fasting lipid tests of more than 20,000 West Virginia youngsters, researchers found that 71 percent of them met guidelines for cholesterol screening based on family history.

But it said that a third of children whose cholesterol levels were high enough to merit treatment were being missed by guidelines so dependent upon family history. The study concludes that many youngsters could benefit from universal cholesterol screening that would allow for early diagnosis.

However Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News' senior health and medical editor for ABC News, is cautious of the study. He said the study did not take into account obesity levels and that we should be careful putting young children on medication they may have to use for the rest of their lives.

Besser suggests the emphasis should be on obesity prevention and the promotion of healthy eating habits and exercise for the whole family since weight loss and exercise is one way to reduce cholesterol without medication.


Tips to Keep Your Kids' Cholesterol Down

"Good Morning America" gathered some good cholesterol wrangling tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and WebMD:

-Make sure you know your family history.

-Exercise regularly. According to the CDC, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day.

-Make sure your children eat foods low in total fat, saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.

-Select a variety of foods so your child can get all the nutrients he or she needs.


Some Healthy Meal Options:

Breakfast: Fruit, cereal, oatmeal and low-fat yogurt are among the good choices for breakfast foods. Use skim or 1 percent milk rather than whole or 2 percent milk (after age 2, or as recommended by your doctor).

Lunch and Dinner: Increase vegetable consumption and cut back on meats. In fact, you can join the Meatless Monday movement! Cutting meats out of your diet at least one day each week can cut down on your fat intake and will make room for more nutrient-rich vegetables.

Bake or grill foods instead of frying them. Use whole-grain breads and rolls to make a healthier sandwich. Also, give your child whole-grain crackers with soups, chili, and stew. Prepare pasta, beans, rice, fish, skinless poultry or other dishes. Always serve fresh fruit (with the skin) with meals.

Snacks: Fruits, vegetables, breads and cereals make great snacks for children. Children should avoid soda and fruit drinks.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/dr-richard-besser-kids-cholesterol-check/story?id=11139963

Diabetes Drugs and Elevated Cancer Risk: More Evidence

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Stone Hearth News


A popular class of diabetes drugs increases patients’ risk of bladder cancer, according to a new study published online this month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that patients taking thiazolidinedione (TZDs) drugs – which account for up to 20 percent of the drugs prescribed to diabetics in the United States — are two to three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than those who took a sulfonylurea drug, another common class of medications for diabetes.

The authors say the findings are especially important since diabetic patients are known to already be at a slightly increased risk of this type of cancer as compared to the generation population, in which about 30 in 100,000 people develop bladder cancer. Among diabetes patients overall, the incidence of this cancer is typically about 40 out of 100,000.

The authors of the new study analyzed 60,000 Type 2 diabetes patients from the Health Improvement Network (THIN) database in the United Kingdom. They found that patients treated with the TZD drugs pioglitazone (Actos) or rosiglitzaone (Avandia) for five or more years had a two-to-three-fold increase in risk of developing bladder cancer when compared to those who took sulfonylurea drugs. Among patients taking TZDs for that length of time, the team’s analysis indicates that 170 patients per 100,000 would be expected to develop the disease. About 60 in 100,000 of those who take sulfonylurea drugs – such as glipizide (Glucotrol) — would be expected to develop bladder cancer.

“Diabetes is one the most common chronic diseases worldwide, affecting 285 million people. There are many factors clinicians must weigh in deciding which drug to use to control a patient’s diabetes, and these new data provide important information to include in that decision-making process,” said the study’s lead author, Ronac Mamtani, MD, an instructor in the division of Hematology-Oncology in Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. “Our study shows that doctors who care for patients with diabetes should be very aware of any bladder-related symptoms patients might be having, like blood in the urine, and take steps to further evaluate those issues.”


Though most patients in the United States no longer take Avandia since it was linked to severe cardiovascular problems, Actos is the ninth most commonly prescribed drug in the nation, accounting for some 15 million prescriptions each year. The drug is a common choice when Type 2 diabetes patients’ illnesses can no longer be controlled with the first-line diabetes drug Metformin.

Based on previous data examining safety risks among patients taking Actos, the FDA has already warned that it may be associated with a risk of bladder cancer, and France and Germany have removed the drug from their markets. The new findings add to mounting evidence against the entire class of TZDs, as one of the first studies examining this type of risk among people taking both types of TZDs and among those taking sulfonylurea drugs.

“The risk does seem to be common among both drugs in the TZD class, and the fact that we have compared bladder cancer risk among patients taking each of those drugs provides essential information, because a safety warning on a drug is only useful to a doctor when they have knowledge of the same risks for an alternative drug,” Mamtani says. “We believe our study will help doctors and their patients weigh the potential benefits and risks when selecting between different diabetes medication.”

http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/diabetes-drugs-and-elevated-cancer-risk-more-evidence/diabetes/

Diabetes Hits Women Hard at Menopause: Beat It Back

Article from The North American Menopause Society


Diabetes hits women hard, especially at midlife. In the United States, it’s the number 6 killer of women ages 45 to 54 and the number 4 killer of women ages 55 to 64. What’s more, diabetes increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and many other serious conditions, including blindness, kidney disease, and nerve disease.

Diabetes is on the rise in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 10 US adults has diabetes now, and if current trends continue, that figure could rise to 1 in 3 by 2050. The increase is nearly all because of the rise of type 2 diabetes, which is most common in obese people age 40 and older. (Type 1 diabetes is much less common and usually starts in childhood or adolescence.) A huge proportion of US adults—more than a third of all of them and half over age 65—have prediabetes, and thus are poised to develop the full-blown disease.

Does menopause increase diabetes risk? That hasn’t been an easy question for researchers to answer. It’s hard to separate the effects of menopause from the effects of age and weight. But it does look like hormones do have something to do with it. If you are a woman over age 50, you’re especially vulnerable, and women pay a heavy price for the disease. They lose more years of life than men with diabetes do. In addition, the death rate for women with diabetes has risen dramatically since the 1970s, while it has not for men with the disease.

Age and overweight (or obesity) are the most common traits that make someone likely to develop type 2 diabetes. A family history of diabetes, prediabetes, minority ethnicity (Hispanic, African American, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander), high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or abnormal cholesterol levels, and inactivity also put people at higher risk of developing diabetes. For women, having high blood pressure develop during pregnancy (called preeclampsia), diabetes during pregnancy (called gestational diabetes), or polycystic ovary syndrome raise the risk even more.

What do the experts say?

•Get tested. The CDC estimates that more than a quarter of people who have diabetes haven’t been diagnosed. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you get tested every 3 years starting at age 45, especially if you are overweight. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults with blood pressure above 135/80 be screened every 3 years. If you have some additional risks, such as a family history of diabetes, then you should get tested more frequently.

•Diet and exercise. The best way to prevent diabetes is with a healthy lifestyle. The National Institutes of Health sponsored a Diabetes Prevention Program trial, that used “intensive” lifestyle training. The participants in this large clinical trial were overweight and had prediabetes. More than two thirds of them were women, and nearly half were from an ethnic minority group. Some got intense training to change their diet, physical activity, and habits with the goal of losing just 7% of their body weight. Another group took the diabetes drug metformin and got standard advice about diet and exercise. A third group got the standard advice only. The modest but focused lifestyle change did more than anything else to prevent diabetes. It reduced the number of new diabetes cases 58% more than standard advice alone. In contrast, metformin plus standard advice didn’t do nearly as well, reducing the number of diabetes cases 31% compared with standard advice. The message is that many people can benefit from adopting such.

•Take hormone therapy (HT) to prevent diabetes? The NAMS Advisory Panel of experts who helped to develop our NAMS 2012 Hormone Therapy Position Statement say no. Although it is clear that HT can reduce the risk of developing diabetes, that shouldn’t be the reason you start taking it. If you take HT for your menopausal symptoms, it can offer benefits for diabetes prevention and for some of the complications of diabetes but it can also increase risk of stroke. Some of the large clinical trials of HT suggest that starting early—as you go through the menopause transition or shortly after that—may be less risky.

Take some healthy steps

•There are many ways to reduce your risk of diabetes and the risk of diabetes complications:
•Do weight-bearing exercise
•Exercise more in general
•Eat a healthy diet that limits sugar and fat
•Control your weight
•Limit your alcohol intake
•Increase sources of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet with fatty fish (such as mackerel, salmon, sardines) or plant-based sources (such as soy, canola oil, flax seeds, and walnuts)
•For women with osteoporosis, use of bisphosphonate medication may cut the need for insulin

source: http://www.menopause.org/for-women/-i-menopause-flashes-i-/diabetes-hits-women-hard-at-menopause-beat-it-back

The Benefits of Walking

Heart Disease Diet: Do You Have a "Wheat Belly"?

By Dr. William Davis, Health Pro

Low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, small LDL particles: the most common triad of abnormalities today behind heart disease.

Along with this pattern comes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, diabetes and pre-diabetes, increased inflammation, increasingly blood clot-prone blood. This common collection that now afflicts over 50 million Americans goes by a number of names, including metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance syndrome, and syndrome X.

But I call it “wheat belly.” Let me explain.

You've heard of "beer bellies," the protuberant, sagging abdomen of someone who drinks excessive quantities of beer.

Wheat belly is the same protuberant, sagging abdomen that develops when you overindulge in processed carbohydrates. It represents visceral fat that laces the intestines.

While nearly everyone knows that candy bars and soft drinks aren’t good for health, most Americans have allowed processed carbohydrates, but especially wheat products like pretzels, crackers, breads, waffles, pancakes, breakfast cereals and pasta, to dominate diet. I blame the extreme over-reliance on these foods for the obesity and related abnormalities: wheat belly.

How did this all come about?

Back in the 1960s, we had sandwiches on white bread, hamburgers on white flour buns, spaghetti made with bleached, enriched flour. Data from the 1970s and 1980s, however, demonstrated conclusively that using whole grains, with the bran and B-vitamins left in, was better: better for bowel health, blood pressure, cholesterol values.

Fast-forward to the 1990s and the new century, and the mantra has evolved to “eat more whole grains, eat more whole grains,” repeated by “official” organizations and propagated by countless media conversations. And Americans have complied.

But while video games, unhealthy snacks, and vending machines have been roundly blamed for the nationwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes, it’s curious that increased weight has befallen even active people who eat “healthy”: yes, plenty of whole grains.

In my view, it is the grains that are largely behind the obesity and diabetes epidemic, at least among the frustrated health-conscious.

But not all grains. Oats and flaxseed, for instance, seem to not contribute to weight and the associated patterns like small LDL.

The wife of a patient of mine who was in the hospital (one of my rare hospitalizations) balked in disbelief when I told her that her husband's 18 lb weight gain over the past 6 months was due to the whole wheat cereal for breakfast, turkey sandwiches for lunch, and whole wheat pasta for dinner.

"But that's what they told us to eat after Dan left the hospital after his last stent!"

Dan, at 260 lbs with a typical wheat belly, had small LDL, low HDL, high triglycerides, etc.

Many people, on hearing this peculiar perspective, are incredulous. “You’re nuts!” Whole grains are full of fiber and B vitamins. Everybody ‘knows’ they’re healthy!”


I thought so, too, 12 years ago when I followed a strict vegetarian, low-fat diet, rich with “healthy” whole grains. I gained 30 lbs, my HDL dropped to 27 mg/dl, triglycerides skyrocketed to 350 mg/dl, small LDL went crazy, my blood pressure was 150/90, and I developed diabetic blood sugars─while running 5 miles a day. It’s the wheat. I eliminated the wheat and promptly reversed the entire picture.

If you don't believe it, try this experiment: Eliminate all forms of wheat for a 4 week period--no breakfast cereals, no breads of any sort, no pasta, no crackers, no pretzels, etc. Instead, increase your vegetables; healthy oils; lean proteins (lean red meats, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, Egg Beaters, yogurt and cottage cheese); raw nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans; and fruit. Of course, avoid fruit drinks, candy, and other garbage foods, even if they're wheat-free. (And don’t confuse this conversation with celiac disease or gluten enteropathy, an allergy to wheat gluten, an entirely different issue.)

Most people will report that a cloud has been lifted from their brain. Thinking is clearer, you have more energy, you don't lose in the afternoon, you sleep more deeply. You will notice that hunger ratchets down substantially. Most people lose the insatiable hunger pangs that occur 2-3 hours after a wheat-containing meal. Instead, hunger is a soft signal that gently prods you that it's time to consider eating again. You may even find that you miss meals, just because you forgot to eat. Very curious.

It’s unconventional, I know. The last 500 patients I’ve done this with also thought so─until they lost 15, 20 . . .70 lbs along with all the undesirable metabolic “baggage.”

Source: http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/1435/33213/heart-disease/2?ic=2601

Insulin Resistance - Why you can't lose weight

A problem with insulin could be preventing your from losing weight. Insulin resistance is a common problem and causes obesity, heart disease, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and rapid ageing. It also increases the risk for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis. How could one little hormone do all that?

What is Insulin?

Insulin is an ancient, anabolic hormone, which is found in all forms of animal life. Insulin's main function is to stimulate the cell to store nutrients. This was important in the days when starvation was a real possibility for our ancestors. In our modern era of abundant food, "nutrient storage" is not something that we want to promote in our bodies.

Hormone of Ageing

Insulin does more than store nutrition. It has been shown to limit the lifespan of cells. In other words, it is the chemical signal that determines when a cell has lived long enough and it's time to die. In this way, insulin can be thought of as the hormone that promotes ageing. Certainly in humans, excess insulin accelerates the rate of ageing. Insulin sounds bad, and yes, in excess it is harmful, but do not forget that it is essential for life. Without insulin, our cells cannot use food for energy. Before the invention of injectable insulin, diabetes was a life-threatening disease.

What is Insulin Resistance?

Under normal circumstances, insulin is tightly controlled by a natural homoeostatic feedback mechanism. With every meal, insulin is released as carbohydrates enter the blood stream. In a healthy body, the insulin receptors in the cell membranes respond to the hormone, and take up carbohydrates and other nutrients. This, in turn, reduces the production of insulin. The problem starts when the tissue fails to respond to insulin. When this happens, the sugar in the blood remains high despite the presence of insulin, and the body has no choice but to release more insulin. It becomes a vicious cycle because it is actually the presence of insulin that makes the tissue more and more resistant to it. This is how insulin exposure determines the rate of ageing: with every insulin release, cell membranes become a little bit more insulin resistant. A gradual increase in insulin concentration over time is normal, but the current epidemic of severe insulin resistance is a modern phenomenon.

It may be the cause of many of your health problems

When your body becomes resistant to insulin, it cannot metabolize carbohydrates properly. Untreated, this leads to Type 2 diabetes.  Decades before it becomes diabetes, however, Insulin Resistance can cause real problems. As the master hormone, it's presence in excess can lead to many different conditions such as:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Alzheimer's Disease
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Under-active thyroid
Premature ageing
Acne

A problem with insulin worsens menopausal symptoms

-Low libido. Women with insulin resistance are more likely to experience a drop in libido with menopause. 

-Osteoporosis. Women who are overweight and/or diabetic are more at risk for osteoporotic fractures. This overturns the conventional belief that body weight protects against osteoporosis. Overweight women often have normal bone density scores, but they go on to suffer fractures anyway. Excess insulin causes bone-remodeling cells to degrade into fat cells. In this regard, osteoporosis can be viewed as "obesity of the bone".

-Hot Flashes. A new study from the University of California has found that women who are overweight are more likely to suffer hot flashes.Weight loss causes a significant improvement in symptoms. (10) Perhaps you take different medications for your cholesterol, blood pressure, and thyroid but those are only band-aids. They do not address the insulin resistance that may be the single problem that is causing the other conditions.

Are you sure that you do not have Insulin Resistance?

Insulin Resistance is such an important health condition, and yet it may be completely off your doctor's radar. Forget your cholesterol and your female hormone readings on blood test, and look deeper. Ask yourself this very important question: "Are you a pre-diabetic?" Here are some warning signs: fasting glucose greater than 5.0 mmol/L (the official reference range is 3.5-6.0) elevated triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) elevated ALT on liver function test waist measure greater than 80cm for women and 90cm for men high blood pressure The definitive pathology test for insulin resistance is the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) with insulin. One hour after the glucose load, normal insulin should be less than 60mU/L. Other useful tests include fasting insulin, fasting glucose, liver function test, lipid profile, C-RP, thyroid function and serum vitamin D.

How did you get in it in the first place?

-Leptin resistance: New research suggests that leptin resistance may be the driving force behind insulin resistance.

-Pollution: A study published in Diabetes Care has found that people who have the highest level of stored toxins were 38 times more likely to have diabetes than people with a lower level of stored toxins. Even if they were overweight, people with low level of toxins did not develop diabetes. An editorial about the study published in the Lancet made the following statement: 'This finding might imply that virtually all the risk of diabetes conferred by obesity is attributable to persistent organic pollutants, and that obesity is only a vehicle for such chemicals. This possibility is shocking'.  (In other words, obesity causes diabetes simply because it a vehicle for toxins.)

-Herbicides: Rats exposed to low doses of the common herbicide Atrazine gained 10% more abdominal weight over 5 months than non-exposed animals. The cells of the exposed rats were found to contain damaged mitochondria, which prevents normal cell response to insulin. Blood tests showed significantly higher blood sugar and insulin levels.

-Smoking: Toxins in cigarette smoke damage the insulin receptor, and cause distinctive weight gain around the waist.  No more smoking to stay thin!

-Inflammation: New research from the University of Maryland has correlated inflammatory products in the blood with insulin resistance. This means that inflammation caused by infection, stress and pollution may be a direct contributor to insulin resistance and its outcomes: obesity, diabetes and heart disease.  Too much sugar and flour in the diet: Carbohydrate intake compared to protein has increased dramatically in the last century. Since the onset of large-scale flour refinement in the 1890's, the average person consumes more fibre-free carbohydrate in a week than a nineteenth century person did in a year!

-Fructose: Studies have shown that fructose is a particularly harmful type of carbohydrate. It inactivates the insulin receptor, and it interferes with the way the brain responds to leptin (the anti-hunger hormone).  The result is constant hunger, and a progression towards insulin resistance and fatty liver. Fructose is in modern sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose (table sugar). It is in prepared foods like fizzy drinks and baked goods, and even so-called healthy foods like yoghurt and muesli bars. Whole pieces of fruit do contain fructose, but it is balanced by healthy fiber, so fruit is ok to eat in moderation. Care should be taken with dried fruit and fruit juice.

-Trans Fat: Trans fats are damaged polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in processed vegetable oil such as margarine, deep-fried food, or commercially prepared oil. Conventionally touted as the healthy oils, these Frankenstein molecules have become a large part of the modern diet. They are damaged, distorted molecules, and when they are incorporated into the cell membrane, then interfere with the functioning of the insulin and other receptors.

-Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with Insulin Resistance. Birth control Pill worsens insulin resistance.

-Lack of exercise

-Problems with digestion. (unhealthy intestinal bacteria)

Natural Treatment for Insulin Resistance

The good news is that insulin resistance is reversible with diet and lifestyle. Detoxify. Help your body to remove stored residues of pollutants, cigarette smoke and herbicides. Intermittent fasting. Research from the Institute on Aging has shown that intermittent fasting improves insulin sensitivity. When participants skipped the evening meal, their fasting insulin improved, and they had fewer inflammatory markers on blood tests. 

How to do it: Always have a large breakfast and lunch. (As you become healthier, you will find that you regain an appetite for breakfast.) Then 1 to 3 nights per week, you must skip dinner, or replace dinner with a protein smoothie. They should not be consecutive nights. Reduce carbohydrates, especially fructose sweeteners.

During the first couple of months of treatment, carbohydrate intake should be less than 50 grams per day. With a diet of meat and salad vegetables, this is not difficult. An average serving of broccoli, for example, contains only 13 grams of carbohydrate. Compare this to a serving of pasta, which contains over 40 grams of carbohydrate, or to refined sugar, the worst carbohydrate. A small can of soft drink contains at least 40 grams of carbohydrate. If you are addicted to a sweet taste, you can try the herbal sweetener Stevia, which has the added benefit of improving insulin sensitivity. Eliminate refined sugar from your diet. Sugar is the worst kind of carbohydrate.

-Eat protein regularly. Protein curbs the release of insulin and stimulates the production of the hormone glucagon, which opposes insulin. (Do not increase protein if you have kidney problems, and do not exceed 90-100 grams of protein per day.) Good sources include: 2 eggs (12 grams protein), 1 chicken breast (25 grams protein), 2 lamb chops (29 grams protein), 25 grams whey protein (23 grams protein). Avoid Trans fat.

-Eliminate soy oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil or any generic "vegetable oil". Particularly bad are margarine, vegetable oil spreads and deep-fried food. Eat only naturally occurring fats such as butter, avocado, olive oil, coconut milk, meat, fish, and nuts and seeds. It can take up to 6 months to give your cell membranes an "oil change".

- Exercise. Strength training dramatically improves insulin sensitivity. When the muscles increase their energy expenditure, they re-learn how to use carbohydrates rather than store them. Weight loss occurs not simply because of the calories burned, but because of a shift in metabolism. Exercise is also effective to relieve stress, a common cause of inflammation and insulin resistance.

-Avoid Wheat. Gluten generates inflammation and disrupts the insulin receptor, thereby worsening insulin resistance.  Avoid flour-containing bread, pasta, cereal, and biscuits. If you do have flour, choose flour made from rice, oats, barley, spelt, and rye. Ordinary "flour" is wheat.

-Mediterranean diet. Newly diagnosed diabetics can reduce their need for medication by following the Mediterranean diet. Only 44% of patients on a Mediterranean diet required sugar lowering medication compared to 70% of patients who followed a standard low fat diet.

-Nutritional supplements and herbs. Chromium, magnesium, selenium and omega 3 fatty acids will improve insulin's effectiveness at the cell membrane. B-vitamins and amino acids assist the liver to remove pollutants. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E will act as natural anti-inflammatories. Gymnema and Bitter Melon have been documented to improve insulin sensitivity. Vitamin D should be supplemented once a deficiency has been determined on blood test.

-Correct Gut flora. Friendly bacteria in the intestine assist with weight loss. Changing the gut flora may improve insulin sensitivity and promote weight loss. (20) Intestinal flora is negatively affected by junk-food diet, antibiotics and Pill use. Lactobacillus supplements may be of benefit.

Source: http://www.sensible-alternative.com.au/metabolic-hormones/insulin-resistance