You don’t have to be an accomplished athlete to suffer Achilles tendon injuries. They can occur from performing minor household tasks, such as climbing a ladder. Achilles tendon weakness is common in adults and prompt treatment when symptoms occur can prevent more serious injury.
The Achilles tendon is the longest and strongest tendon in the body, but is subjected to considerable wear and tear. When the tendon becomes inflamed from overuse or too much sudden stress, tendonitis can weaken it over time and cause microscopic tears. Going without treatment only increases risk for further deterioration and possible rupture.
Pain, stiffness and tenderness in the area are the main symptoms of Achilles tendonitis. Pain occurs in the morning, improves with motion, but gets worse with increasing stress and activity.
In addition to athletes, Achilles tendonitis is common for anyone whose work routine puts constant stress on the feet and ankles. Achilles tendon injuries happen most often to less conditioned, “weekend warrior” athletes who overdo it.
When pain and other symptoms indicate possible Achilles tendonitis, a thorough diagnosis is necessary to determine the extent of the trauma and evaluate the flexibility and range of motion in the tendon. Treatment options depend on the extent of the injury.
They include:
• Casting to immobilize the Achilles tendon and promote healing
• Ice to reduce swelling
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and inflammation
• Physical therapy to strengthen the tendon
• Surgery, if other approaches fail to restore the tendon to its normal condition
Recreational activities involving jumping and running are the major cause of Achilles tendon injuries. In sports like basketball and tennis, muscles and tendons in the back of the leg are prone to injury from an imbalance that occurs from a lot of forward motion. As a result, the frontal imbalance can weaken the tendon unless stretching exercises are performed regularly.
The best way to prevent Achilles tendon injuries is to warm up gradually by walking and stretching. Further, it’s best to avoid strenuous sprinting or hill running if you are not in shape for it.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Stop the Progress of Prediabetes
You can prevent this precursor to Type II diabetes from developing into full-blown disease.
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
By some estimates, one-third of adults in the United States have a condition called prediabetes; 13 percent have type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes may be more common in men (36 percent) than in women (23 percent).
Prediabetes means that while your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, that level isn’t high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. However, a prediabetes diagnosis means it is time for action to prevent diabetes. "In simple terms, there is a gap between what we call diabetes, which is a fasting blood sugar of 126 and above, and normal, which is less than 100 fasting," explains Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
"In between," he continues, "you have impaired fasting glucose. If you do a glucose tolerance test, and you are in the gap, you have prediabetes. You are at risk for getting diabetes in the future and you are also at risk for heart disease."
Type 2 Diabetes: Prevention
If are told your blood sugar is abnormally high, you’ve just had a red flag waved in front of you. You’re being warned that unless you make some changes in your life today, your future will probably include a diabetes diagnosis.
"Walking 30 minutes a day and reducing weight by 5 percent can decrease the risk [of getting type 2 diabetes] by 60 percent over three years," says Dr. Fonseca. While there are medications that have the same effect, lifestyle change is less expensive and has fewer side effects, Fonseca says.
Cutting your weight is crucial. "One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes," Fonseca explains. Without making any changes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years of first developing prediabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes: Who should be Tested?
Prediabetes is a "silent" condition, says Fonseca. While some people may experience symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue or increased urination, most people’s blood sugar rises without any outward signs at all. This means you might not know you need to be tested for prediabetes — and even if you are screened, your doctor might not give you all the information you need to prevent it.
For these reasons, diabetes experts developed criteria for those who should be tested. The American Diabetic Association recommends that any adult age 45 or older should be tested for diabetes and prediabetes.
The ADA also recommends that any adult under age 45 who is overweight and has at least one of the following risk factors should be tested:
• Family history (especially parent or sibling with diabetes)
• Physically inactive lifestyle
• Native American, African-American, or Hispanic heritage
• Prior gestational diabetes diagnosis
• Birth of a baby over nine pounds in weight
• High blood pressure or treatment for high blood pressure
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis
• Dark, velvety rash around the armpits or neck
• History of heart disease
If your test reveals that you have prediabetes, you should be tested again in one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.
Type 2 Diabetes: Types of Tests
There are two tests used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes:
• Fasting plasma glucose: a test of your blood after you haven’t eaten for eight hours (usually overnight)
• Oral glucose tolerance test: a comparison of your blood taken first after eight hours without food (fasting) and then two hours later after you have consumed a sugary drink given to you by the lab technician.
If you fit the screening criteria listed above, make an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. It could be the first step toward preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
By some estimates, one-third of adults in the United States have a condition called prediabetes; 13 percent have type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes may be more common in men (36 percent) than in women (23 percent).
Prediabetes means that while your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, that level isn’t high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. However, a prediabetes diagnosis means it is time for action to prevent diabetes. "In simple terms, there is a gap between what we call diabetes, which is a fasting blood sugar of 126 and above, and normal, which is less than 100 fasting," explains Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
"In between," he continues, "you have impaired fasting glucose. If you do a glucose tolerance test, and you are in the gap, you have prediabetes. You are at risk for getting diabetes in the future and you are also at risk for heart disease."
Type 2 Diabetes: Prevention
If are told your blood sugar is abnormally high, you’ve just had a red flag waved in front of you. You’re being warned that unless you make some changes in your life today, your future will probably include a diabetes diagnosis.
"Walking 30 minutes a day and reducing weight by 5 percent can decrease the risk [of getting type 2 diabetes] by 60 percent over three years," says Dr. Fonseca. While there are medications that have the same effect, lifestyle change is less expensive and has fewer side effects, Fonseca says.
Cutting your weight is crucial. "One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes," Fonseca explains. Without making any changes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years of first developing prediabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes: Who should be Tested?
Prediabetes is a "silent" condition, says Fonseca. While some people may experience symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue or increased urination, most people’s blood sugar rises without any outward signs at all. This means you might not know you need to be tested for prediabetes — and even if you are screened, your doctor might not give you all the information you need to prevent it.
For these reasons, diabetes experts developed criteria for those who should be tested. The American Diabetic Association recommends that any adult age 45 or older should be tested for diabetes and prediabetes.
The ADA also recommends that any adult under age 45 who is overweight and has at least one of the following risk factors should be tested:
• Family history (especially parent or sibling with diabetes)
• Physically inactive lifestyle
• Native American, African-American, or Hispanic heritage
• Prior gestational diabetes diagnosis
• Birth of a baby over nine pounds in weight
• High blood pressure or treatment for high blood pressure
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis
• Dark, velvety rash around the armpits or neck
• History of heart disease
If your test reveals that you have prediabetes, you should be tested again in one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.
Type 2 Diabetes: Types of Tests
There are two tests used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes:
• Fasting plasma glucose: a test of your blood after you haven’t eaten for eight hours (usually overnight)
• Oral glucose tolerance test: a comparison of your blood taken first after eight hours without food (fasting) and then two hours later after you have consumed a sugary drink given to you by the lab technician.
If you fit the screening criteria listed above, make an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. It could be the first step toward preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Ellen Degeneres Promotes Healthy Skin
If you watch television, you have probably seen celebrities like Oprah, Cindy Crawford, and Ellen DeGeneres "promoting" various skin care products. Ellen is currently promoting Cover Girl cosmetics. Did you know that this is a multi-billion dollar commercial industry with literally hundreds of products that claim to make your skin look younger and healthy?
Healthy skin can also have medical benefits. Amerigel® Care Lotion was recommended by your podiatrist for daily use as the skin is vulnerable to drying out and breaking down as you age. To prevent this from happening, Amerigel® Care Lotion penetrates through the layers of your skin to keep it hydrated and healthy. Out of all the moisturizers and skin care products on the market today, do you know why your podiatrist chose to recommend Amerigel® Care Lotion?
Amerigel® Care Lotion is actually a therapeutic skin conditioner. It promotes a healthier skin by:
Moisturizing - Formulated with Dimethicone, a new generation skin protectant
Exfoliating - Helps remove dried flakes of skin
Preventing infections - Contains Oakin® which kills 51 types of bacteria including MRSA
Reducing redness - Minimizes inflammation from rashes or skin irritations
Relieving itching - Stops the need to scratch the skin
The Care Lotion is like several products blended into one and can be used from head to toe. Many podiatrists also recommend its use to their patients with diabetes. When applied daily, it helps diabetics maintain a healthier skin, especially for the lower legs.
Now you know why Amerigel® Care Lotion makes your skin look noticeably healthier. There is no need for individual facial, body or hand lotions when you use the Care Lotion.
From your friends at Central Kansas Podiatry
Healthy skin can also have medical benefits. Amerigel® Care Lotion was recommended by your podiatrist for daily use as the skin is vulnerable to drying out and breaking down as you age. To prevent this from happening, Amerigel® Care Lotion penetrates through the layers of your skin to keep it hydrated and healthy. Out of all the moisturizers and skin care products on the market today, do you know why your podiatrist chose to recommend Amerigel® Care Lotion?
Amerigel® Care Lotion is actually a therapeutic skin conditioner. It promotes a healthier skin by:
Moisturizing - Formulated with Dimethicone, a new generation skin protectant
Exfoliating - Helps remove dried flakes of skin
Preventing infections - Contains Oakin® which kills 51 types of bacteria including MRSA
Reducing redness - Minimizes inflammation from rashes or skin irritations
Relieving itching - Stops the need to scratch the skin
The Care Lotion is like several products blended into one and can be used from head to toe. Many podiatrists also recommend its use to their patients with diabetes. When applied daily, it helps diabetics maintain a healthier skin, especially for the lower legs.
Now you know why Amerigel® Care Lotion makes your skin look noticeably healthier. There is no need for individual facial, body or hand lotions when you use the Care Lotion.
From your friends at Central Kansas Podiatry
Can DPMs Have An Impact On The Multidisciplinary Team For Patients With Diabetes?
When treating at-risk patients with diabetes, a multidisciplinary team can be invaluable in averting complications such as lower extremity amputation. A recent study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association says early identification and referral to a podiatric limb preservation team can improve the survival rate of at-risk patients with diabetes.
In a retrospective cohort study involving 485 patients with diabetes, researchers collected data on ulcer status and surgical outcomes for five years in patients who received specialty podiatric medical care (311 patients) and those who did not (174 patients).
The study found the proportion of “minor” amputations was significantly higher in the group receiving advanced multidisciplinary podiatric care (67.3 percent) versus the group that did not receive advanced multidisciplinary podiatric care (33.7 percent). Additionally, authors noted that during the study, 19.5 percent of non-specialty care patients died in comparison with 7.7 percent of patients in the podiatric limb preservation group.
The study authors conclude that decreased rates of proximal amputations and increased rates of survival may result in patients with diabetes when there is early identification of those at risk for ulcerations and subsequent referral to advanced multidisciplinary podiatric medical specialty care.
Educating Patients On The Importance Of Foot Screenings
The most effective method of preventing ulcerations and amputations is a careful and frequent inspection of the diabetic foot, according to lead study author Vickie Driver, DPM, MS. She says one should assess and document abnormalities, whether they are age-related, structural or pathological.
Dr. Driver cites the American Diabetes Association’s 2004 recommendation that patients with diabetes undergo a comprehensive annual foot examination, including a patient history. Dr. Driver and Peter Blume, DPM, cite the importance of the Semmes Weinstein 5.07 monofilament to test for diabetic neuropathy and palpating for pedal pulses.
If patients do not have pedal complications of diabetes, annual screenings are sufficient, according to Dr. Blume, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery in the Anesthesia and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Department at the Yale School of Medicine. However, if patients do have disease affecting the foot, Dr. Blume says routine foot care is “extremely important” every two to three months along with offloading, education and strict glucose control.
Dr. Driver supports giving patients specific instruction on foot care as well as insights on selecting proper footwear and breaking in shoes in order to help prevent blisters and ulcers.
“It is imperative that patients understand the importance of daily foot exams, the implication of losing their protective sensation and proper foot care,” notes Dr. Driver, an Associate Professor of Surgery and the Director of Clinical Research, Foot Care at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Emphasizing The Role Of DPMs
In addition, Dr. Driver emphasizes that DPMs should spread the word to primary care physicians about their efficacy in treating high-risk patients with diabetes.
“The data now shows that we are cost effective providers to help treat these patients,” maintains Dr. Driver, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. “We need to present at medical meetings where PCPs attend. This will help them understand how and when to consult us.”
In a retrospective cohort study involving 485 patients with diabetes, researchers collected data on ulcer status and surgical outcomes for five years in patients who received specialty podiatric medical care (311 patients) and those who did not (174 patients).
The study found the proportion of “minor” amputations was significantly higher in the group receiving advanced multidisciplinary podiatric care (67.3 percent) versus the group that did not receive advanced multidisciplinary podiatric care (33.7 percent). Additionally, authors noted that during the study, 19.5 percent of non-specialty care patients died in comparison with 7.7 percent of patients in the podiatric limb preservation group.
The study authors conclude that decreased rates of proximal amputations and increased rates of survival may result in patients with diabetes when there is early identification of those at risk for ulcerations and subsequent referral to advanced multidisciplinary podiatric medical specialty care.
Educating Patients On The Importance Of Foot Screenings
The most effective method of preventing ulcerations and amputations is a careful and frequent inspection of the diabetic foot, according to lead study author Vickie Driver, DPM, MS. She says one should assess and document abnormalities, whether they are age-related, structural or pathological.
Dr. Driver cites the American Diabetes Association’s 2004 recommendation that patients with diabetes undergo a comprehensive annual foot examination, including a patient history. Dr. Driver and Peter Blume, DPM, cite the importance of the Semmes Weinstein 5.07 monofilament to test for diabetic neuropathy and palpating for pedal pulses.
If patients do not have pedal complications of diabetes, annual screenings are sufficient, according to Dr. Blume, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery in the Anesthesia and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Department at the Yale School of Medicine. However, if patients do have disease affecting the foot, Dr. Blume says routine foot care is “extremely important” every two to three months along with offloading, education and strict glucose control.
Dr. Driver supports giving patients specific instruction on foot care as well as insights on selecting proper footwear and breaking in shoes in order to help prevent blisters and ulcers.
“It is imperative that patients understand the importance of daily foot exams, the implication of losing their protective sensation and proper foot care,” notes Dr. Driver, an Associate Professor of Surgery and the Director of Clinical Research, Foot Care at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Emphasizing The Role Of DPMs
In addition, Dr. Driver emphasizes that DPMs should spread the word to primary care physicians about their efficacy in treating high-risk patients with diabetes.
“The data now shows that we are cost effective providers to help treat these patients,” maintains Dr. Driver, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. “We need to present at medical meetings where PCPs attend. This will help them understand how and when to consult us.”
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
How Should a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Be Treated?
The primary goal in the treatment of foot ulcers is to obtain healing as soon as possible. The faster the healing, the less chance for an infection.
There are several key factors in the appropriate treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer:
Prevention of infection.
Taking the pressure off the area, called "off-loading."
Removing dead skin and tissue, called "debridement."
Applying medication or dressings to the ulcer.
Managing blood glucose and other health problems.
Not all ulcers are infected; however if the physician diagnoses an infection, a treatment program of antibiotics, wound care, and possibly hospitalization will be necessary.
There are several important factors to keep an ulcer from becoming infected:
Keep blood glucose levels under tight control.
Keep the ulcer clean and bandaged.
Cleanse the wound daily, using a wound dressing or bandage.
Do not walk barefoot.
For optimum healing, ulcers, especially those on the bottom of the foot, must be "off-loaded." Patients may be asked to wear special footgear, or a brace, specialized castings, or use a wheelchair or crutches. These devices will reduce the pressure and irritation to the ulcer area and help to speed the healing process.
The science of wound care has advanced significantly over the past ten years. The old thought of "let the air get at it" is now known to be harmful to healing. We know that wounds and ulcers heal faster, with a lower risk of infection, if they are kept covered and moist. The use of full strength betadine, peroxide, whirlpools and soaking are not recommended, as this could lead to further complications.
Appropriate wound management includes the use of dressings and topically-applied medications. These range from normal saline to advanced products, such as growth factors, ulcer dressings, and skin substitutes that have been shown to be highly effective in healing foot ulcers.
For a wound to heal there must be adequate circulation to the ulcerated area. The physician can determine circulation levels with noninvasive tests.
There are several key factors in the appropriate treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer:
Prevention of infection.
Taking the pressure off the area, called "off-loading."
Removing dead skin and tissue, called "debridement."
Applying medication or dressings to the ulcer.
Managing blood glucose and other health problems.
Not all ulcers are infected; however if the physician diagnoses an infection, a treatment program of antibiotics, wound care, and possibly hospitalization will be necessary.
There are several important factors to keep an ulcer from becoming infected:
Keep blood glucose levels under tight control.
Keep the ulcer clean and bandaged.
Cleanse the wound daily, using a wound dressing or bandage.
Do not walk barefoot.
For optimum healing, ulcers, especially those on the bottom of the foot, must be "off-loaded." Patients may be asked to wear special footgear, or a brace, specialized castings, or use a wheelchair or crutches. These devices will reduce the pressure and irritation to the ulcer area and help to speed the healing process.
The science of wound care has advanced significantly over the past ten years. The old thought of "let the air get at it" is now known to be harmful to healing. We know that wounds and ulcers heal faster, with a lower risk of infection, if they are kept covered and moist. The use of full strength betadine, peroxide, whirlpools and soaking are not recommended, as this could lead to further complications.
Appropriate wound management includes the use of dressings and topically-applied medications. These range from normal saline to advanced products, such as growth factors, ulcer dressings, and skin substitutes that have been shown to be highly effective in healing foot ulcers.
For a wound to heal there must be adequate circulation to the ulcerated area. The physician can determine circulation levels with noninvasive tests.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Flaxseed and Diabetes
Q: Is flaxseed beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes? Does it help my prostate gland as well?
– Frank, Florida
A: Yes, flaxseed may help lower your sugar levels, and it plays a role in the prevention of prostate cancer as well. However, the strength of the evidence is too weak to permit definitive recommendations. Nonetheless, flaxseed is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid that appears to be beneficial in preventing heart disease and related illnesses. Flaxseed contains the right ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, is high in fiber, and provides a phytoestrogen called lignan, which may have antioxidant properties that protect against certain cancers.
There is some evidence that eating flaxseed reduces blood sugar levels after a meal and increases insulin levels because of its high content of soluble fiber. (It is 28 percent fiber, of which two-thirds is soluble.) Indeed, flaxseed carbohydrate (what remains after the oil is removed) was used in a study that showed a beneficial effect. Although this result was not duplicated in other studies, flaxseed has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. An interesting, yet unproven, potential benefit may be the prevention of type 1 and type 2 diabetes; in animal models, flaxseed has been shown to delay the onset of the disease.
Flaxseed might help your prostatic health as well. In fact, the American National Cancer Institute has singled out flaxseed as one of six foods that deserve extensive research. Why? Because flaxseed contains a large amount of phytonutrients that serve as antioxidants, as well as those omega-3 fatty acids, which seem to play a role in preventing the formation of abnormal cells in the body. In terms of your specific question, flaxseed may reduce the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland that is often used as a marker for cancer. Also, men whose prostatic fluids contain high levels of lignan (the phytoestrogen found in flaxseed) seem to have a low risk of prostate cancer, though study results of this were not conclusive.
One word of warning: Flaxseed is high in calories. Here's an idea of how much you might need to consume to obtain its beneficial effects — 1 tablespoon of flaxseed has 5 grams of fat and weighs 12 grams. You need to take 40 to 50 grams of flaxseed, which is equal to about 4 tablespoons and has a total of 20 grams of fat. Milled flax has 36 calories per tablespoon; flax oil has 124 calories per tablespoon. (Flaxseeds are more nutritious than their oil.) These caloric considerations are important in the control of your glucose level.
Stay tuned, as I am sure there will be more studies that will guide us better in using flaxseed to stay healthy.
– Frank, Florida
A: Yes, flaxseed may help lower your sugar levels, and it plays a role in the prevention of prostate cancer as well. However, the strength of the evidence is too weak to permit definitive recommendations. Nonetheless, flaxseed is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid that appears to be beneficial in preventing heart disease and related illnesses. Flaxseed contains the right ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, is high in fiber, and provides a phytoestrogen called lignan, which may have antioxidant properties that protect against certain cancers.
There is some evidence that eating flaxseed reduces blood sugar levels after a meal and increases insulin levels because of its high content of soluble fiber. (It is 28 percent fiber, of which two-thirds is soluble.) Indeed, flaxseed carbohydrate (what remains after the oil is removed) was used in a study that showed a beneficial effect. Although this result was not duplicated in other studies, flaxseed has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. An interesting, yet unproven, potential benefit may be the prevention of type 1 and type 2 diabetes; in animal models, flaxseed has been shown to delay the onset of the disease.
Flaxseed might help your prostatic health as well. In fact, the American National Cancer Institute has singled out flaxseed as one of six foods that deserve extensive research. Why? Because flaxseed contains a large amount of phytonutrients that serve as antioxidants, as well as those omega-3 fatty acids, which seem to play a role in preventing the formation of abnormal cells in the body. In terms of your specific question, flaxseed may reduce the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland that is often used as a marker for cancer. Also, men whose prostatic fluids contain high levels of lignan (the phytoestrogen found in flaxseed) seem to have a low risk of prostate cancer, though study results of this were not conclusive.
One word of warning: Flaxseed is high in calories. Here's an idea of how much you might need to consume to obtain its beneficial effects — 1 tablespoon of flaxseed has 5 grams of fat and weighs 12 grams. You need to take 40 to 50 grams of flaxseed, which is equal to about 4 tablespoons and has a total of 20 grams of fat. Milled flax has 36 calories per tablespoon; flax oil has 124 calories per tablespoon. (Flaxseeds are more nutritious than their oil.) These caloric considerations are important in the control of your glucose level.
Stay tuned, as I am sure there will be more studies that will guide us better in using flaxseed to stay healthy.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Number of Births Increases Diabetes Risk
Number of births increases the risk of developing gestational diabetes in pregnant women with a history of the condition, a new study has revealed…
Pregnant women with a history of pregnancy-related diabetes, also called gestational diabetes, have a good chance of developing diabetes by up to 57%, suggests a large new study. With Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders having approximately double the risk of gestational diabetes compared with white women.
Researchers found that the risk of having gestational diabetes during a future pregnancy increases with each previously affected one -- from 41 percent after the first to 57 percent after two pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes typically strikes during late pregnancy and is characterized by high blood sugar that results from the body's impaired use of insulin. While it rarely causes birth defects, complications can arise that threaten the health of both mom and baby.
Lead researcher Dr. Darios Getahun of Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, stated that, "Because of the silent nature of gestational diabetes, it is important to identify early those who are at risk and watch them closely during their prenatal care."
In an attempt to distinguish factors that put women at risk, Getahun and his colleagues studied the first two pregnancies of about 65,000 women and the first three pregnancies of about 13,000 women who sought care at their health center between 1991 and 2008. Approximately 4 percent of the women developed gestational diabetes during their first pregnancy, they report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This matches the U.S. rate estimated by the American Diabetes Association.
The team found that these women were about 13 times more likely to develop it again in their second pregnancy, compared to women without previous gestational diabetes. Among third pregnancies, the risk of diabetes for women who had two previous cases rose to 26 times that of women without any history of gestational diabetes.
Looking more closely at the data, it appeared that the most recent case of gestational diabetes was the most influential: about 44 percent of women with a diagnosis in their second but not first pregnancy developed gestational diabetes, compared to 23 percent of those with the condition in their first but not second pregnancy.
Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders had approximately double the risk of gestational diabetes compared with white women, after taking into account factors such as age and education. The researchers guess that the relatively high consumption of rice in the latter two groups may cause elevated sugar and insulin levels, potentially triggering the condition.
The study, which was supported by funds from Kaiser Permanente, did not take into account lifestyle factors such as weight. This, the researchers say, limits the findings' applicability given that overweight and obesity -- now affecting approximately one out of every three women of childbearing age -- is thought to contribute to the recurrence of gestational diabetes.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Diabetes Association both recommend that women at risk of Type 2 diabetes be counseled on the benefits of modifying their diet, exercising and weight loss. This group includes those with a history of gestational diabetes.
Getahun stated that, "Early identification of at-risk populations and the timely initiation of a (post-delivery) lifestyle intervention may help to prevent gestational diabetes and related adverse pregnancy outcomes."
Pregnant women with a history of pregnancy-related diabetes, also called gestational diabetes, have a good chance of developing diabetes by up to 57%, suggests a large new study. With Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders having approximately double the risk of gestational diabetes compared with white women.
Researchers found that the risk of having gestational diabetes during a future pregnancy increases with each previously affected one -- from 41 percent after the first to 57 percent after two pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes typically strikes during late pregnancy and is characterized by high blood sugar that results from the body's impaired use of insulin. While it rarely causes birth defects, complications can arise that threaten the health of both mom and baby.
Lead researcher Dr. Darios Getahun of Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, stated that, "Because of the silent nature of gestational diabetes, it is important to identify early those who are at risk and watch them closely during their prenatal care."
In an attempt to distinguish factors that put women at risk, Getahun and his colleagues studied the first two pregnancies of about 65,000 women and the first three pregnancies of about 13,000 women who sought care at their health center between 1991 and 2008. Approximately 4 percent of the women developed gestational diabetes during their first pregnancy, they report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This matches the U.S. rate estimated by the American Diabetes Association.
The team found that these women were about 13 times more likely to develop it again in their second pregnancy, compared to women without previous gestational diabetes. Among third pregnancies, the risk of diabetes for women who had two previous cases rose to 26 times that of women without any history of gestational diabetes.
Looking more closely at the data, it appeared that the most recent case of gestational diabetes was the most influential: about 44 percent of women with a diagnosis in their second but not first pregnancy developed gestational diabetes, compared to 23 percent of those with the condition in their first but not second pregnancy.
Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders had approximately double the risk of gestational diabetes compared with white women, after taking into account factors such as age and education. The researchers guess that the relatively high consumption of rice in the latter two groups may cause elevated sugar and insulin levels, potentially triggering the condition.
The study, which was supported by funds from Kaiser Permanente, did not take into account lifestyle factors such as weight. This, the researchers say, limits the findings' applicability given that overweight and obesity -- now affecting approximately one out of every three women of childbearing age -- is thought to contribute to the recurrence of gestational diabetes.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Diabetes Association both recommend that women at risk of Type 2 diabetes be counseled on the benefits of modifying their diet, exercising and weight loss. This group includes those with a history of gestational diabetes.
Getahun stated that, "Early identification of at-risk populations and the timely initiation of a (post-delivery) lifestyle intervention may help to prevent gestational diabetes and related adverse pregnancy outcomes."
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