Category Archives: Diabetes

Funding was awarded to Bluedrop Medical, Innerstrength, Cadscan, Jinga Life and Infocare to develop new innovations that address complications caused by diabetes.

Enterprise Ireland and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have awarded 100,000 in funding to five companies tackling health complications that arise as a result of diabetes. The funding was awarded through Enterprise Irelands Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme.

The investment will enable the five SMEs to develop new innovations and technologies to address complications related to diabetes. The specific areas of diabetes that these businesses focus on include reducing the risk of women developing type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes, and screening for diabetic foot disease.

The Enterprise Ireland and HSE SBIR collaboration was announced in December 2018, with the two organisations coming together with the joint goal of delivering improved patient care through the intelligent use of technology.

The successful businesses include Galways Bluedrop Medical, which is a start-up that has developed a home-based, remote monitoring screening device for early identification and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers.

UK company Cadscan will also receive funding for its low-cost foot screening tool that can quickly determine a patients risk of ulceration.

The other recipients include Innerstrength, which has a platform and multi-disciplinary approach to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in women after pregnancy, as well as Infocare, which has developed technology that connects to medical devices to allow point-of-care and at-home testing to be reliably uploaded to a patients medical record.

The final firm is Jinga Life, a Dublin-based business that has created a mobile digital health platform to enable users to manage their familys health information, medical appointments and clinical images.

Julie Sinnamon, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, commented: Enterprise Ireland is delighted to partner with the HSE on SBIRs first health challenge. We see huge potential for the Irish healthcare system to leverage SBIR to deliver more efficient and more fit for purpose technologies.

Congratulations to the phase-one winners and we look forward to the progression of their emerging technologies. These companies now have a valuable opportunity to co-design innovative solutions with Irish clinicians to tackle diabetes, which they can then commercialise and ultimately sell globally.

Fran Thompson, acting CIO at the HSE, said: Huge congratulations to the five shortlisted firms. We were very impressed with the submissions received and are very happy to partner with Enterprise Ireland on this initiative.

The burden of chronic disease is a huge one across ageing western populations, including the Irish population, with diabetes a key area of concern. We see this innovative deployment of technology as a key tool in delivering care closer to home, putting the individual at the centre of the design process, and delivering real benefits for the health service, the firms involved and most importantly, the diabetes patient.

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EI and the HSE award five firms funding to address challenges related to diabetes - Siliconrepublic.com

Im in Im in for fighting for affordable insulin, access, support, education, and our community.

Count Me In! is the@amdiabetesassnNational Diabetes Awareness Month campaign. Ive been part of the ADA Los Angeles volunteer squad for a few years and sit on the Advocacy Board. Its with ADA that I go see my local politicians (Ive also been to D.C. with ADA for Call to Congress) and meet people locally to educate about diabetes and provide resources.

Theres still a lot of work to do locally, nationally, and internationally and this is one of the ways I choose to contribute.

And all voices matter, regardless of how you choose to make your voice heard. Whether its with family and friends or on a larger scale. Thank you!!#NDAM#ADA#countmeinADA......#type1diabetes#DiabetesStrong#diabadass#type1diabetes#diabeticlife#diabetesawareness#T1DLOOKSLIKEME#T1D#t1dstrong#type1strong#t1diabetic##diabetic#type1#typeone#t1diabetesawareness#typeonediabetes#type1diabetic#type1warrior#insulindependent#t1dlife#type1d#diabetestype1#bloodsugar#diabetes#diabetesinthewild

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diabetes.org - Home | ADA

The month of November is dedicated to national diabetes awareness, with the 14th of November being dedicated as World Diabetes Day. The intention is to raise awareness about a disease that afflicts 30.3 million people nationwide, nearly 10% of the United States population.

However, even with the staggering numbers and an entire month being dedicated to the awareness and prevention of such a disease, diabetes specialists and patients alike do not believe the populace gives it the attention it needs.

Tricia Dutra, a medical assistant at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Health Center who works with diabetes patients, said her office sees upwards of 30 diabetic patients daily between three doctors, highlighting the fact that a large amount of the local population struggles with diabetes.

Even with the local and national figures, Dutra said she has not seen any increased awareness due to Diabetes Awareness Month.

Everybody knows about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is extremely important, and Heart Disease Awareness Month, but nobody ever thinks about diabetes, Dutra said. What a monster disease it is; people just dont realize how bad it is.

Of course, diabetics themselves and their immediate family members are well aware of the severity of the disease. Diabetes prompts not only the patients, but their families, to make adjustments in their lives to compensate for their predicament.

Heidi Jackson, a patient at Charles Regional Health Center, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 40 and her daughter, Heather Oliver, has been her caretaker since.

Jackson said she was not aware of the severity of the disease upon diagnosis which in turn led to her needing additional care.

A lot of things happen to you when you dont take care of yourself. It affects all of your organs, Jackson said. Theres a lot of people out there that are walking around with diabetes and they dont know they have it. So the public needs to be more aware of this.

Oliver agrees that the public needs to be more educated on the adverse affects of diabetes, plus preventative actions that citizens can take.

Even with having an immediate family member affected by diabetes, Oliver said the message of the national diabetes month is unclear other than the obvious fact: take care of yourself.

I think it should get as much awareness as breast cancer does, Oliver said. People need to go have their A1C checked and have that part as their yearly physical. I also think they probably could use a bit more funding because insulin is really, really expensive and there are a lot of people out there who have a hard time affording it.

Lack of knowledge and insulin prices have contributed to 23.8% of diabetes cases going undiagnosed, along with it being the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

This is not to say diabetes is a death sentence, as plenty of diabetics lead functioning lives after diagnosis by making the proper adjustments in their daily routines.

Ray Bazil, another patient at Charles Regional, experienced a tremendous amount of impact on his daily life when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2004, but said now things are a bit more regulated.

Bazil said he has completely restructured his diet, eating six small meals a day, in addition to staying away from sugary drinks and processed foods.

You have to monitor and be more careful about what you eat and how you eat, Bazil said. Be aware of it. Dont be fearful of it. Know that you can manage it, and know that you can take care of yourself.

Bazil mentioned that he was not aware of the message a national diabetes month presents, but credits the medical staff for helping him make the adjustments to live a functioning life with diabetes.

A reason people are not fully aware of the adverse affects of diabetes could be not having any direct or indirect contact with the disease. Through no fault of their own, people become ignorant of how important a structured diet and active lifestyle is to long term health.

Diabetes can manifest itself anywhere with anyone, it is a non-discriminatory disease that even experts on it are at risk of developing.

Such is the case with Natasha Adams, a medical assistant at Charles Regional. Adams has been working with diabetes patients for 17 years and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this past February.

Adams used her diagnosis as a motivating factor to prompt changes not only in her life, but in the lives of her patients who may believe the disease is uncontrollable.

You have to be vested in you. Its not just based on the treatment, but you as the patient have to be willing to participate and do whats needed to make the changes, Adams said. I tell patients from my standpoint, look I get it, so I try to be a positive role model to the patients to let them know I am doing it, and you can do it as well.

Adams stated that the lack of awareness, sedentary lifestyles and prices of medication all contribute to the diabetes crisis, having an impact on both a local and national scale.

Many people cant afford medication, so now people are at the point where they debate, Do I buy my food, do I pay my bills, [or] do I get my medication? Adams said. The cost becomes extreme. The government contributing more would definitely help to bring down the numbers.

If you have it, embrace it. If you embrace it, then you try to control it, Adams said. You try to do more, you try to let other people know its not a death sentence, you can actually live with it, you can live a long life with it, too.

Dutra explained that exercise and a controlled diet can prevent the development of diabetes to begin with.

It doesnt have to be strict, you dont have to follow Atkins or Keto or anything like that, but just use basic common sense, Dutra said. Moderation is the key. Realize you have limitations.

Patients and medical staff alike agree that awareness of a preventable disease must be increased, along with the promotion of a structured, controlled diet and active lifestyle.

Twitter: @RyanVollandIndy

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Diabetes Awareness Month reminds of a growing problem - SoMdNews.com

Diagnoses of diabetes, a condition where the body can't properly process glucose, havedoubled in recent years, andnearly 9% of the global populationnow has the condition.

But just because diabetes is common, it doesn't mean it isn't serious: diabetes can leave people blind, needing an amputation, and with a higher risk of heart disease. Treating diabetes accounts for1 in every 10 spent by the NHSin the UK, and $327 billion a year in the US. So could technology give diabetics a better way of managing their condition?

For a long time, to get their glucose reading, diabetics would have to prick their finger with a needle, squeeze out a drop of blood, and then use a handheld device to assess how much sugar was in it. It's a far from ideal process it only gives a snapshot of glucose control, not a long-term view. It has to be repeated several times a day, and it's tricky and painful to boot.

SEE: Exomedicine arrives: How labs in space could pave the way for healthcare breakthroughs on Earth (cover story PDF)

Technology aimed at insulin-using diabetics became mainstream a few years back with the arrival of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. These are small readers that sit on a diabetic's body, taking their blood sugar levels constantly and relatively unobtrusively. This technology is transforming diabetes control for its users. By giving them a better view of what their blood glucose was doing, CGMs enabled insulin-dependent diabetics to take steps to keep readings in the right range.

As well as being more convenient, CGM offers a direct pay-off for diabetics' health too: those with better glucose control are less at risk of developing debilitating and life-threatening complications.

Now the companies that make these readers are looking to take advantage of broader technology trends to enable diabetics to better manage their condition.

The systems from Dexcom, one of the largest makers of CGM devices, are "a mix of medical technology with consumer technology", says its CTO Jake Leach. Whereas once CGMs would send a user's glucose reading to a separate handheld device, now makers are looking to exploit the potential of wearables and smartphones. Users can get their readings sent over Bluetooth Low Energy to hardware including iOS and Android phones and watches.

"The smartphone platform really opened up a lot of functionality that is not typical in medical devices," Leach explains.

One of the new features enabled by smartphone and mobile app use is remote monitoring. Through the Dexcom app, parents now keep an eye on their children's glucose levels even when they're not with them.

"The parent has the safety blanket of knowing how things are going. They can set up alerts and alarms that can communicate if there's an issue that has to be dealt with, so they don't have to worry as much," Leach says.

Remote management isn't only taking place between parents and children glucose readings are getting social, with the app allowing users to share their readings with a handful of friends and family via smartphone. Remote monitoring users who share their readings with others have lower average glucose readings, less time spent with low glucose, and more in the normal range, says Leach: "The folks that utilise that technology have better glucose control than those that don't and we kind of attributed it to the fact that they've got others helping them manage their diabetes."

As well as friends and family, CGM users can share their readings with their medical team. Glucose-monitoring apps can give physicians a long-term overview of how their patient's blood sugar has been doing, and why whether it's spiked or fallen due to a new medication or lifestyle change, for example. This can help guide how they treat the condition. "Diabetes is such an evolutionary thing and it develops over time and changes. You have to always be looking to change the way of managing it," Leach says.

SEE: The NHS wants more data about your health - and your smartphone could be the answer

For those who are keen to share even more, Dexcom's CGM app can feed data into other health apps through both Apple's HealthKit and Google Fit.

Dexcom already has a link with Google beyond its integration with Android: the CGM company inked a deal withVerily, the life-sciences arm of Google's parent company Alphabet, back in 2016 andamended it this year. The first hardware to sprout from the R&D partnership will be Dexcom's next generation of CGM, the G7. Unlike its predecessor, the G7 will be an all-in-one design carrying Verily electronics as well as Dexcom sensor tech onboard, and is expected to launch next year.

Verily and Dexcom have also teamed up on software, with Verily helping out with user engagement how to make sure that the app can keeping gaining functionality without making it too confusing for people that haven't used the app, or continuous glucose sensing, before.

And there is likely to be a lot of new users: the number of diabetics in the world is expected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030. Most of that growth, however, is likely to be in type 2 diabetics, who take other medications other than insulin and so don't use CGM.

However, CGM technology could ultimately be rolled out to people with type 2 diabetes, and those in the pre-diabetic range people whose blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet diabetic. The idea of getting people who aren't on insulin to use CGM is to show the impact of certain foods and behaviours on their glucose levels, and so help them to keep levels in the right range.

"Until you really have direct feedback, it can be hard to really understand why that's important," Leach says. "I think there can be a whole lot more around that coaching or the advice or the analytics that you put around the data to help you get more people with either pre-diabetes, or even with just general health and wellness. I think there's a lot of opportunity and there's quite a few pilots we're entering into any different areas to learn more about what works for those users."

For the traditional CGM user base people who control their diabetes with insulin injections the next few years are likely to bring another sea-change in technology with the advent of closed-loop or 'artificial pancreas' systems, single units that both monitor glucose and deliver insulin accordingly.

SEE: Apple's Research app: What does it want your health data for?

Other developments that could reshape diabetes management are on the horizon: technology that allows glucose readings to be taken non-invasively that is, hardware that can measure blood glucose without the need for, well, blood. Researchers are looking to create systems that can measure glucose through sweat, tears oreven just a user's vital signs.

"It is really challenging to measure glucose non-invasively," Leach says, "and no one has come up with a technology that is capable of measuring glucose to the kind of level of reliability and accuracy that's needed." Lots of companies are working on the field, but there's been no breakthrough yet Google's own experimental efforts to monitor glucose through contact lenses was kicked into the long grass.

That said, the future of CGM is going to be tightly tied to the development of consumer tech like smartwatches or other wearables. "There's a good possibility that you're going to have even tighter integration than we have today with those types of products," Leach says.

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Diabetes monitoring is having a smartwatch and smartphone revolution - ZDNet

The winter holidays can be a time of joy and family togetherness, but they have the potential to be stressful and challenging, especially for people with diabetes. Navigating festive meals while keeping blood sugar in check is a real-life daily struggle for those with diabetes, which is heightened during this season. A plan that incorporates smart food choices and the use of technology can ease the stress while improving blood sugar levels even during the holidays.

Chef Sam Talbot, restaurant owner known for competing on a top television cooking show, has a unique perspective on healthy eating as he has been living with type 1 diabetes since he was a child. As a spokesperson for Medtronics new Live More. Worry Less. campaign, Chef Sam has firsthand experience using a continuous glucose monitoring system along with a smartphone app to better control his blood sugar levels. He uses his skills in the kitchen and love of food to strike a balance when preparing healthy holiday meals that are reminiscent of traditional family favorites.

Chef Sam believes that people with diabetes can make simple diabetes-friendly swaps in their holiday recipes to be able to enjoy what they love without too much compromise. For example, he makes his holiday pie crusts using chickpea flour, which is higher in protein and fiber than all-purpose flour. The chickpea flour is more nutritious and helps keep blood sugar levels stable. In addition, he recommends using natural fruit instead of sugar in certain recipes to help boost sweetness. He recommends using seasonal whole foods that are fresh and flavorful.

Starting with healthy, high-quality ingredients is key to planning a diabetes-friendly holiday menu. Here are some more helpful holidays tips for better blood sugar levels this holiday season:

1.Dont forget the vegetables. Leafy green and other vegetables are low in carbohydrates and calories and can add both volume and flavor to your plate. You can load up on the veggies for a more satisfying and balanced meal.

2.Keep portion control in mind. Its okay to enjoy your favorite holiday foods, but eating reasonable portions will help you avoid overeating while better controlling your blood sugar.

3.Dont skip meals. Counterbalancing hefty holiday meals by skipping other meals can take a toll on your mood, energy and blood sugar. Try to eat on your typical schedule, even during the holidays.

4.Plan in the activity. When gathering with family and friends for a holiday meal, incorporate a non-eating activity like a brisk walk or a game of football in the yard. Getting up and moving around feels good and can be a lot of fun.

5.Stay hydrated with low-carb and low-calorie beverages. Sweet drinks and alcoholic beverages can make glucose control even more challenging. Opt for low-calorie drinks, especially water, to help take in enough fluids.

6.Use technology to your advantage. Talk to your doctor or endocrinologist about technology for better diabetes control. With ongoing research and scientific advances, more tools are being developed to help people with diabetes better incorporate tight blood sugar control into their lifestyle.

LeeAnn Weintraub, a registered dietitian, provides nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and businesses. She can be reached by email atRD@halfacup.com.

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How to navigate holiday meals and stay healthy when you have diabetes - OCRegister

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Weinberg sophomore Hugo Compton studies at Norris University Center. Compton has Type 1 Diabetes, which he said can significantly affect his academic performance.

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

Weinberg sophomore Hugo Compton studies at Norris University Center. Compton has Type 1 Diabetes, which he said can significantly affect his academic performance.

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

Weinberg sophomore Hugo Compton studies at Norris University Center. Compton has Type 1 Diabetes, which he said can significantly affect his academic performance.

Students with Type 1 Diabetes said they often lack the healthy meal options they need on campus, adding to the difficulties of dealing with a chronic illness.

Weinberg sophomore Melanie Wolter said her illness has an impact on every decision she makes in her life.

It affects what I eat, when I eat, if Im going to exercise, if (my blood pressure is) low and I cant get to class on time, if (my pressure is) high and I cant think straight enough to study, Wolter said.

Students with diabetes need to monitor their meals to make sure they dont have too much or too little sugar in their bodies. Oftentimes, this requires calculating the amount of carbohydrates or sugars in the food they eat and dosing insulin accordingly.

Wolter said this was difficult while she was on the Universitys meal plan because she wasnt able to find many low-carb foods in dining halls an essential component to maintaining her blood sugar levels.

Currently, Wolter lives and eats her meals in the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house. She said its much easier to eat healthily now because there are always low-carb options available to her.

However, Georgene Sardis, Compass Groups marketing director, said the University has dining hall options that cater to students with diabetes. Students can view nutrition information online or on the campus dining app, she added. If students have any further trouble, they can talk to the campus dietician Lisa Carlson.

Every day and every meal period we offer an abundant amount of healthy food options for anyone whether the student has diabetes or not to enjoy, Sardis said. We do have to offer the more indulgent items. We offer that choice as part of the inclusive dining experience for everyone to enjoy.

Despite this, Wolter said she mainly ate yogurt and granola while on the meal plan because other protein options, like chicken, werent cooked. Meat was often served with sauce that contained an unknown amount of sugar, she added, making it hard for her to calculate her insulin doses.

Weinberg sophomore Hugo Compton was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at three years old. Therefore, he said hes had a lot of time to learn how to count carbs and adjust his insulin dose, but understands how the lack of sufficient labels in the dining halls might be more difficult to navigate for a newer diabetic.

I dont think (the dining halls) really showed the carbs, or if they did (it) was just for one serving, Compton said. It was just a little off because (labels list) mostly calories and stuff, which isnt helpful for me.

Compton said he wants to start a club for diabetics at NU so students with diabetes would know they werent alone in their experiences and would have support while at the University.

If his blood sugar is not at the right level, Compton said he feels delirious or sleepy and has difficulty focusing. Both Wolter and Compton are registered with AccessibleNU because their blood sugar levels can affect their academic performance so much so that Compton said he cant function when his blood sugar is off.

However, Compton added that even though hes had diabetes for 17 years, there are still times when he cant control his sugar levels. Earlier in the quarter, he was hospitalized after he couldnt bring his blood sugar up. Wolter agreed that constantly fluctuating blood sugar was one of the most frustrating aspects of having diabetes.

Theres certain days where I just know Im doing everything right, Wolter said. And my blood sugars still high, and that makes me feel bad Ill have to deal with that challenge theoretically for the rest of my life.

Email: neyathanikachalam2022@u.northwestern.eduTwitter: @neyachalam

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Students with Type 1 Diabetes say dining halls don't have enough options - The Daily Northwestern

Posted: Nov 27, 2019 / 07:58 PM EST / Updated: Nov 27, 2019 / 07:58 PM EST

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) If you or a family member suffers from diabetes, you will want to hear these tips to stay on track during Thanksgiving dinner.

A local endocrinologist said it is important to monitor the intake of carbohydrates during the holiday. She suggests only eating one carb, like a potato or piece of pie, per meal. There can be many tempting options at the Thanksgiving meal, so it is important to stay on track and to help family members stay healthy.

Dr. Sarada Jaimungal is an endocrinologist at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.

So, its just choosing your carbohydrates intake wisely, not going overboard with the amount and spreading it out throughout the day, said Jaimungal.

Dr. Sarada Jaimungal also said if the person with diabetes can prepare the dish, so they know what goes into it, that would be the best case scenario.

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How to navigate diabetes this Thanksgiving - WVNS-TV

By Amy Taylor

Sponsored by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

The team at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center recognized a big need for diabetes education and support in the community. They are serving our area with a variety of options.

Sandra Gallegos is manager of the Community Health and Outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Management Program for Sentara. She said, According to the Virginia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 8.4 percent of Prince William County residents are living with diabetes. The program meets with both inpatients and outpatients, as well as conducting free A1C screenings.

The outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Management Program at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is dedicated to improving the health of its patients through prevention, wellness and education. The program provides practical information and skills required to take charge of diabetes. Program services offered include group classes, support groups, gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes, insulin pump training, continuous glucose monitoring, and medical nutrition, said Gallegos.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will continue offering outpatient classes for patients with diabetes in the new year.

The Diabetes program offers three types of classes by diabetes disposition (diabetes, gestational diabetes, and diabetes prevention/pre-diabetes) and support groups at different times throughout the month and year to accommodate peoples busy lifestyles, said Gallegos.

The American Association of Diabetes Educators, or AADE, has recognized the program as a quality patient education program.

Improved diabetes control is a direct result of a quality diabetes education programs, Gallegos said.

Here are their 2020 course offerings.

These courses require a physicians referral. The cost is a co-pay and it may vary by insurance and the amount of education you acquire annually. This four-class series includes the following.

This two-hour class covers diabetes and pregnancy, how to monitor and use your meter, physical activity, individualized meal plan and individual follow-up if you need it. You will need a physicians referral to attend.

This two-hour class covers nutrition, exercise and glucose monitoring instruction. The class is offered for a small fee of $80 with a follow-up visit fee of $30. To register, go to sentara.com. You may submit your receipt for the program fee to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Diabetes self-management training is a benefit covered by Medicare and most health plans when provided by a diabetes educator within an accredited/recognized program. To find out what your insurance covers and potential out-of-pocket expenses for individual appointments or group classes, please call your insurance carrier to determine your individual benefits prior to your visit, Gallegos said.

You will need a referral for all diabetes classes and medical nutrition management services. You can get your provider to submit a referral through electronic medical records or fax the referral to 703-670-0345. Once the team at Sentara receives your referral, a member of their diabetes team will reach out to make an appointment for you.

The programs at Sentara have a proven record of accomplishment for improving patient outcomes by empowering them to manage their diabetes. Diabetes education programs coach patients to understand what is happening with their diabetes, how it affects their lives and personal goals. We work collaboratively with the patient to set personal goals to develop healthy behaviors. Personalized goals have led to quality outcomes and improvements measured by glycated hemoglobin (A1C), control, blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and body mass index (BMI), said Gallegos.

For more information about the program visit sentara.com/diabetes or call 703-523-0590.

Amy Taylor ([emailprotected]) is a freelance writer and editor. She earned her BLS in English from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

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Education at Sentara Helps Patients Prevent and Manage Diabetes - Prince William Living

How much we benefit from exercise may be down to our gut microbiome

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Your gut microbes may determine how you respond to exercise. That is according to research showing how people with certain microbiomes have better metabolic outcomes after exercise. The discovery opens the door to diabetes treatments that target the microbes in our gut.

Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem internationally. While there is no cure, it can be prevented by early lifestyle interventions, says Aimin Xu at the University of Hong Kong.

Exercise is the most cost-effective strategy for diabetes prevention, he says. However, some people do not respond favourably to exercise.

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To understand why, Xu and his colleagues studied how exercise affected the microbiome and metabolism of 39 men with prediabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to qualify for a diagnosis of diabetes.

The participants, who had never taken medication for the condition, were randomly assigned either to a sedentary control group, or to a group that undertook a three-month, high-intensity, supervised exercise training course. They were told to maintain their usual diet.

While all participants in the exercise group had similar levels of weight and fat-mass reduction, only 70 per cent had significant improvements in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, Xu found.

An analysis of their gut microbes revealed that the people who saw improvements in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity had significantly different microbiomes that were able to generate more molecules called short-chain fatty acids and break down more branched-chain amino acids. the microbiomes of non-responders were more likely to produce compounds that are harmful to metabolism.

Next, the researchers asked the study participants to provide faecal samples, and transplanted the microbes they contained into obese mice. Rodents receiving microbes from people who responded well to exercise went on to develop better insulin resistance and glucose regulation. The rodents receiving microbes from people who hadnt responded to exercise didnt see any boost to these processes.

[Our study] identifies maladaptation of gut microbiota as a culprit for those individuals who do not respond to exercise intervention, says Xu. This is one of the first interventional randomised control trial studies providing clear evidence of the role of gut microbiota on metabolic health.

The findings raise the possibility that targeting gut microbiota can maximise the benefit of exercise and could help doctors personalise treatments.

The study only included men. Gut microbiomes can differ depending on sex, so the team plans to undertake similar research into women and older people in the future.

Journal reference: Cell Metabolism, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.11.001

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Gut microbes may predict whether exercising will prevent diabetes - New Scientist News

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition and a worldwide epidemic. Having the condition means a persons pancreas doesnt work properly or cant make enough insulin. Poor insulin production causes blood sugar levels to keep rising and left untreated, serious health complications may occur which includes a heart attack or stroke.

Diabetes UK said: From the moment youre diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, youre likely to be faced with what seems like an endless list of new tasks.

"One of your first questions is likely to be what can I eat? With so much to take in at once and all the myths about diabetes and food that youll probably hear, it can be hard to know what to do.

Recent research suggests that eating a certain treat might help reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar control.

READ MORE: Type 2 diabetes: Eating this winter spice could lower blood sugar

Due to its nutritional benefits, nutritionists often recommend that people with type 2 diabetes eat yoghurt as part of a healthy diet.

Yoghurt is an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, potassium and protein.

Yoghurt also offer protection for bones and teeth and helps prevent digestive problems. However, not all yoghurts are created equal.

What are the best yoghurts to eat for type 2 diabetes and which ones should be avoided?

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Type 2 diabetes and yoghurt

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines recommend yoghurt as part of a healthy diet. Yoghurt is a good source of protein, calcium and vitamin D.

Research also suggests that the probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, in yoghurt may help to reduce inflammation.

Those with type 2 diabetes tend to have high levels of inflammation in the body.

Chronic inflammation can increase the risk of certain complications, such as heart disease and stroke. Probiotic yoghurts contain active, live cultures.

What the studies say

A study with the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, looked at probiotic yoghurt consumption and its effect on blood glucose.

Researchers tested each participants blood glucose levels at the start of the study and again at the end.

The study noted that those who consumed probiotic yoghurts daily saw a significant decrease in blood glucose levels.

In another study, the relationship between probiotics and glycemic control was analysed.

The review found that probiotics significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and fasting plasma insulin levels.

The amount and type of healthy bacteria found in yoghurts can differ significantly between the brands.

However, probiotic yoghurt usually contains substantially more beneficial bacteria than conventional yoghurt.

According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines, people with diabetes should choose yoghurt products that are unflavoured and fat free or lower in fat.

Greek yoghurt contains double the protein of conventional yoghurt. Other yoghurts to opt for include organic yoghurt, lactose free yoghurt or vegan yoghurt. Its best to avoid any yoghurts with added ingredients as many of them contain a significant amount of total carbs and added sugars.

Some whole milk yoghurts also contain particularly high levels of saturated and trans fatty acids.

Its always best to check the food label for any added sugars or carbs.

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Type 2 diabetes: Eating this tasty treat could help lower blood sugar - Express