People with Type 2 diabetes who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more at risk of losing their sight due to severe retinopathy, as well as foot problems and possible amputation because of neuropathy....
Researchers from the University of Birmingham looked at 231 people with Type 2 diabetes of whom 149 had OSA, a sleep disorder caused by disturbed breathing. They found there were twice as many people with severe retinopathy (48 percent) in the group with OSA compared to the group without OSA (20 percent).
In a separate study, the researchers found that OSA was also linked to neuropathy. They looked at 230 people with Type 2 diabetes of whom 148 had OSA. They found that 60 percent of the group with OSA had neuropathy compared to 22 percent in the group without OSA.
According to Dr. Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said, "We already know that there is a high prevalence of OSA in people with Type 2 diabetes. However, this is the first time that the link between OSA and retinopathy, and neuropathy in people with Type 2 diabetes has been examined. This research suggests that if someone with Type 2 diabetes also has this sleeping disorder they are more at risk of developing these serious complications compared to someone with the condition who does not have OSA."
"As being overweight is a risk factor for both OSA and Type 2 diabetes, this is yet another reason to highlight the importance of good weight management through a healthy diet and regular physical activity. In people with Type 2 diabetes, the increasing severity of OSA is associated with poorer blood glucose control and the treatment of sleep disorders (in this case by losing weight) has the potential to improve diabetes control and energy levels."
In both studies, the association between OSA and the two diabetes complications in people with Type 2 diabetes was independent of age, gender, ethnicity, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, smoking and cholesterol.
"Our work highlights several important issues," stated Dr. Abd Tahrani, who led the research. "Our results emphasized what is already known -- that OSA is very common in patients with Type 2 diabetes, much higher than OSA prevalence in the general population. Furthermore, our results suggest that OSA is not an innocent bystander in patients with Type 2 diabetes and might contribute to morbidities associated with this condition. Whether OSA treatment has any impact on these complications will need to be determined."
Showing posts with label avoid diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label avoid diabetes. Show all posts
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Easy Steps to Reduce Diabetes Risk
From walking more to getting your blood sugar checked, you can reduce your chances of getting diabetes by following just a few easy steps.
Being overweight, not getting enough physical activity, and constantly being stressed out are all strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. These are problems that many people face, but the good news is that you can make a few simple changes to your life to create a diabetes prevention program and reduce your diabetes risk.
Think diabetes prevention at the start of every day. “Eat a breakfast of protein and complex carbohydrates,” says Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, a cardiologist and director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Eating a meal like this prevents the sugar highs and lows that often come with a breakfast of simple carbohydrates and sugars, like a bagel or a donut, which can cause those feelings of fatigue and lethargy that make you crave sugar again to increase your energy.”
Fred Pescatore, MD, an author and physician who practices nutritional medicine in New York City, says one of your best overall strategies for diabetes prevention is to steer clear of most foods that are white — white bread, white rice, and white pasta top the list. “These simple carbohydrates can cause blood sugar to spike even more than regular sugar,” he says. “This may lead to a blood sugar dip, resulting in additional sugar cravings. Avoiding white foods will help to stop this vicious cycle.”
One of the biggest causes of diabetes in this country is overeating that leads to obesity. A basic strategy for avoiding overeating is to reduce your portions by using smaller dishes than you usually would for all your meals, according to Dr. Steinbaum. “Rather than worrying about servings, pay attention to cups and tablespoons,” she says. “To help with this, instead of using a large dinner plate, use a salad plate for dinner.”
Most people think it’s okay to drink soda as long as they stick to diet soda instead of the regular sugary kind. But Steinbaum cautions that water might be the better choice for diabetes prevention. “Studies have shown that even diet soda can increase the incidence of metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition associated with insulin resistance,” she says.
A basic lifestyle strategy to assist with diabetes prevention is to keep a detailed food journal. You can use paper or a Web site or mobile phone application like My Calorie Counter, but whatever you choose, don’t spare any details. “If you write down everything you eat, you are less apt to overeat or to unconsciously pick at food or ‘graze,’” says Steinbaum. “It also lets you look back at what you’ve eaten, so you can more easily modify your behavior.”
Some people get frustrated by constantly monitoring a scale while trying to lose weight. Steven Joyal, MD, author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Diabetes, says that measuring your waistline might be a better way to foster diabetes prevention. “Greater than 40 inches for men or greater than 35 inches for women means you’re at an increased risk,” he says.
Remember that inactivity is a diabetes cause and activity is a key to diabetes prevention. When it comes to exercise, some people use time constraints or other commitments as excuses not to work out. If you think that not doing a long workout means you shouldn’t bother at all, Dr. Joyal respectfully begs to differ. “A power-packed, yet short-duration exercise program of 12 minutes every other day can have a tremendous impact on your body,” he says.
Another simple way to fit more diabetes prevention strategies into your everyday, daily routine is to find ways to add more activity to everything you do. For example, when you pull into a parking lot, Dr. Pescatore suggests parking as far away from your destination as possible and walking the rest of the way. “Walking burns calories, builds muscle, and utilizes blood sugar,” he says. Other steps include taking the stairs instead of the elevator and doing sit-ups, push-ups, or even stretches while watching TV.
Stress is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. So while focusing on eating less and exercising more, it’s important not to overlook stress reduction. “Take a yoga class, try meditation, and set boundaries around family and friends,” says Robyn Webb, MS, food editor of Diabetes Forecast magazine and author of 13 cookbooks published by the American Diabetes Association. “Seek professional therapy for issues in your life that you feel you need help with.”
Finally, if you have a family history of diabetes or are at risk, you should get your blood checked once a year to truly know your status. Pescatore says the two most important tests your doctor should perform are checking your hemoglobin A1C levels and your fasting insulin levels. If you commit to making all the previous suggestions, your efforts should show in your lab results.
Being overweight, not getting enough physical activity, and constantly being stressed out are all strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. These are problems that many people face, but the good news is that you can make a few simple changes to your life to create a diabetes prevention program and reduce your diabetes risk.
Think diabetes prevention at the start of every day. “Eat a breakfast of protein and complex carbohydrates,” says Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, a cardiologist and director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Eating a meal like this prevents the sugar highs and lows that often come with a breakfast of simple carbohydrates and sugars, like a bagel or a donut, which can cause those feelings of fatigue and lethargy that make you crave sugar again to increase your energy.”
Fred Pescatore, MD, an author and physician who practices nutritional medicine in New York City, says one of your best overall strategies for diabetes prevention is to steer clear of most foods that are white — white bread, white rice, and white pasta top the list. “These simple carbohydrates can cause blood sugar to spike even more than regular sugar,” he says. “This may lead to a blood sugar dip, resulting in additional sugar cravings. Avoiding white foods will help to stop this vicious cycle.”
One of the biggest causes of diabetes in this country is overeating that leads to obesity. A basic strategy for avoiding overeating is to reduce your portions by using smaller dishes than you usually would for all your meals, according to Dr. Steinbaum. “Rather than worrying about servings, pay attention to cups and tablespoons,” she says. “To help with this, instead of using a large dinner plate, use a salad plate for dinner.”
Most people think it’s okay to drink soda as long as they stick to diet soda instead of the regular sugary kind. But Steinbaum cautions that water might be the better choice for diabetes prevention. “Studies have shown that even diet soda can increase the incidence of metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition associated with insulin resistance,” she says.
A basic lifestyle strategy to assist with diabetes prevention is to keep a detailed food journal. You can use paper or a Web site or mobile phone application like My Calorie Counter, but whatever you choose, don’t spare any details. “If you write down everything you eat, you are less apt to overeat or to unconsciously pick at food or ‘graze,’” says Steinbaum. “It also lets you look back at what you’ve eaten, so you can more easily modify your behavior.”
Some people get frustrated by constantly monitoring a scale while trying to lose weight. Steven Joyal, MD, author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Diabetes, says that measuring your waistline might be a better way to foster diabetes prevention. “Greater than 40 inches for men or greater than 35 inches for women means you’re at an increased risk,” he says.
Remember that inactivity is a diabetes cause and activity is a key to diabetes prevention. When it comes to exercise, some people use time constraints or other commitments as excuses not to work out. If you think that not doing a long workout means you shouldn’t bother at all, Dr. Joyal respectfully begs to differ. “A power-packed, yet short-duration exercise program of 12 minutes every other day can have a tremendous impact on your body,” he says.
Another simple way to fit more diabetes prevention strategies into your everyday, daily routine is to find ways to add more activity to everything you do. For example, when you pull into a parking lot, Dr. Pescatore suggests parking as far away from your destination as possible and walking the rest of the way. “Walking burns calories, builds muscle, and utilizes blood sugar,” he says. Other steps include taking the stairs instead of the elevator and doing sit-ups, push-ups, or even stretches while watching TV.
Stress is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. So while focusing on eating less and exercising more, it’s important not to overlook stress reduction. “Take a yoga class, try meditation, and set boundaries around family and friends,” says Robyn Webb, MS, food editor of Diabetes Forecast magazine and author of 13 cookbooks published by the American Diabetes Association. “Seek professional therapy for issues in your life that you feel you need help with.”
Finally, if you have a family history of diabetes or are at risk, you should get your blood checked once a year to truly know your status. Pescatore says the two most important tests your doctor should perform are checking your hemoglobin A1C levels and your fasting insulin levels. If you commit to making all the previous suggestions, your efforts should show in your lab results.
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