Chances are that you know someone with diabetes mellitus. It affects almost 10 percent of the population, and odds of having diabetes increase with age, with 1 in 4 people having diabetes after age 65. Diabetes mellitus, often referred to as sugar diabetes because of the inability to regulate blood sugar levels, results from the body not making enough insulin or not being able to use insulin properly.

Insulin is necessary to move sugar from the blood into cells to be used for energy. Without working insulin, blood sugar rises and damages the blood vessels and other body tissues leading to blindness, nerve disease, kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes.

What does this all have to do with vaccines? It turns out vaccines can play a major role in helping keep individuals with diabetes well.

Diabetes impairs the immune system and interferes with the ability of cells in the body to release chemicals that defend against germs. Additionally, the immune cells that gobble up bacteria or kill infected cells dont work as well. Researchers have found that some of these issues result from high sugar levels but others dont. Put another way, even a diabetic with excellent blood sugar control is still at increased risk of infection.

Besides the weakened immune system, diabetics have other problems leading to infection. Nerve damage keeps diabetics from sensing when they may become injured or develop pressure sores. Resulting cuts and ulcers heal slowly due to poor circulation. The open wounds provide easy entry for bacteria and fungi.

Bacteria grow faster in body tissues with elevated sugar levels and this may be the reason diabetics are at risk of infections of the lung (pneumonia), blood (septicemia), spinal cord and brain (meningitis) and urinary tract.

Serious complications are four times more likely to develop in diabetics with these infections compared to otherwise healthy individuals. The stress from fighting an infection can send a diabetics blood sugars spiraling dangerously out of control further complicating the course.

Given the additional difficulties, diabetics are much more likely to die than healthy individuals with similar infections. Vaccines, however, can provided needed protection.

Pneumovax, a pneumonia vaccine, is a must. Diabetics should receive it once younger than the age of 65 and again in the senior years. Due to diabetics increased risk of skin infections and the fact that tetanus bacteria are just about everywhere in the environment, a tetanus shot is essential every 10 years. A flu shot is needed every year as the flu strikes diabetics particularly hard. Diabetics are at increased risk of shingles and should receive Shingrix once they turn 50.

Diabetics have twice the risk of catching hepatitis B compared to healthy individuals. Many adults have never been vaccinated. Luckily, theres a new hepatitis B vaccine, Heplisav-B, which requires two shots instead of three and better stimulates the immune system.

Diabetics, who track their blood sugars, follow diet guidelines, take their prescribed medications and are vaccinated, have the best chance at a long, healthy life.

Vaccine Smarts is written by Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences faculty members Drs. Megan Berman, an associate professor of internal medicine, and Richard Rupp, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch. For questions about vaccines, email vaccine.smarts@utmb.edu.

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For those with diabetes, vaccines are a must - Galveston County Daily News

SAN ANTONIO For many who develop type-2 diabetes, they become reliant on medicationand, in many cases, more than one type. But it is possible to roll back diabetes and get off the medications with diet and exercise.

"It was eight-point-something and now we are down to 5.7, which is borderline diabetic. Anything under six is where I want to stay," said Armida Oliver, a diabetes patient for the past 10 years, while discussing her A1C number. "That was about two or three years ago. I'm down to just one medication and my numbers have been great."

At one point she was taking three medications: Metformin, Januvia, and Invokana. But thanks to diet and exercise, she managed to drop two of them, along with 55 pounds.

"I join my sisters for senior water aerobics every morning. We try Monday through Friday, but we are happy if we go four times a week," Oliver said.

Some of the benefits of exercise for diabetes includes lowered blood sugar levels, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced body fat, a lowered risk of heart disease and an enhanced quality of life.

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"Miss Oliver is really a model patient. She's the perfect example of someone who, through lifestyle modifications, has been able to not only get her diabetes under control, but really throwing the diabetes into what we call remission," said Dr. Alberto Chavez, an endocrinologist with the Texas Diabetes Institute within the University Health System.

He added there has been some debate about what diabetes remission really means.

"The bottom line is that it is a reality that patients can get off of medications or many amounts of medications by making meaningful lifestyle changes," Chavez said.

That is exactly what Oliver did in cutting her medications from three to one.

"I take it faithfully and I know that I can't have two donuts in one sitting," she said. "I'm not depriving myself, but, by the same token, I just limit myself."

For more information about family health, call (210)358-3045. You can also find the rest of Wear The Gown stories, just go to WearTheGown.com.

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Wear The Gown: Rolling back diabetes with diet and exercise - KENS5.com

Brushing your teeth frequently may reduce your risk for diabetes, new research suggests.

Using Korean government health records and self-reports, researchers gathered health and behavioral data on 188,013 men and women, average age 53, who were free from diabetes. More than 17 percent had periodontal disease. Over the course of the 10-year study, 31,545 developed diabetes.

After controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, lipid levels, hypertension and other factors, they found that people with periodontal disease had a 9 percent increased risk for developing diabetes. The study is in Diabetologia.

Compared with people who did not brush or brushed only once a day, those who brushed twice a day had a 3 percent reduced risk for diabetes, and those who brushed three times a day an 8 percent reduced risk. The loss of 15 or more teeth was associated with a 21 percent increased risk for developing diabetes.

Neither the number of visits to the dentist or the frequency of professional tooth cleaning was associated with the incidence of diabetes.

The lead author, Dr. Yoonkyung Chang, a professor of neurology at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said that healthy lifestyle has more powerful effects on diabetes prevention than tooth brushing.

But, she said, Frequent tooth brushing reduces local inflammation and bacteremia, and if good brushing habits persist for a long time, this can affect systemic diseases.

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Frequent Tooth Brushing Tied to Lower Diabetes Risk - The New York Times

By Jessica Hamzelou

Fei Maohua/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

People who have the new coronavirus are most likely to die if they are older or show signs of sepsis or blood clotting problems. Thats according to a study that followed a small group of people infected with the covid-19 virus from diagnosis to hospital discharge or death.

Early on in the outbreak, two hospitals in Wuhan, China, were designated to treat people infected with the coronavirus. Until 1 February, people who were diagnosed with the virus in other hospitals in the city were transferred to one of the two for care.

By 31 January, 191 adults had been treated for the virus and either discharged or died at the two hospitals. Bin Cao at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in Beijing and his colleagues assessed these cases, looking for patterns in the characteristics of those who survived the virus and those who didnt.

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The average age of these individuals was 56, and 62 per cent were men. Around half of those treated had underlying medical conditions, most commonly diabetes and high blood pressure.

Of the 191 individuals, 137 were eventually discharged and 54 died. The average time from the onset of the illness to discharge from hospital was 22 days, the team say. Those who didnt survive the virus died an average of 18.5 days after symptoms began.

Death was more likely in people who already had diabetes or coronary heart disease. Older people were more likely to die, as were those showing signs of sepsis or blood clotting problems. Overall, more than half of those hospitalised with the virus developed sepsis.

Poorer outcomes in older people may be due, in part, to the age-related weakening of the immune system and increased inflammation that could promote viral replication and more prolonged responses to inflammation, causing lasting damage to the heart, brain and other organs, said study co-author Zhibo Liu at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan.

The team also found that people with covid-19 continue to shed the virus, and so might be able to infect others, for around 20 days, or until they die. The extended viral shedding noted in our study has important implications for guiding decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment in patients with confirmed covid-19, said Cao.

Journal reference: The Lancet, DOI: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)30566-3

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Coronavirus: Risk of death rises with age, diabetes and heart disease - New Scientist News

More than 100 million people in the United States have diabetes or prediabetes.

Its also estimated that more than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure.

Those numbers have been rising, but researchers say there is a free and relatively easy way to reduce your risk of developing one of these diseases.

Its the simple act of walking.

The standard recommendation for physical fitness is 10,000 steps a day.

But even a fraction of that can work, according to the authors of a new study.

The researchers state that middle-aged study participants who walked the most steps per day over an average of 9 years had a 43 percent lower risk of diabetes and a 31 percent lower risk of high blood pressure.

The research was presented today at the American Heart Associations Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The benefits of exercise, specifically walking, have been studied extensively the past several years, David DaPrato, DPT, who works in sports rehabilitation and is a professional triathlon coach, told Healthline. There is good reason behind getting your 10,000-plus steps in each day.

The study was based on data from 1,923 participants in the national Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

In addition to their overall conclusions, the researchers also reported that every set of 1,000 steps taken daily over the course of 9 years lowers the risk of obesity by 13 percent in middle-aged women.

In the study, participants wore accelerometer devices to measure physical activity at least 10 hours a day for at least 4 days.

The average age of the participants was 45. Almost 60 percent were women and about 40 percent were black.

The average follow-up time was 9 years.

Those with the highest step count were 61 percent less likely to have obesity, compared to women who walked the least.

The study didnt show any association between a lower risk of obesity and the number of daily steps walked by men.

Many people think that walking is not considered exercise and that walking on a daily basis is not enough to have a positive effect on your physical and mental health, said Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, the co-founder of Mastering Diabetes, an online coaching program helping people with diabetes reverse insulin resistance. For people with diabetes, even a short 30-minute walk before or after a meal has profound impact at lowering your blood glucose levels.

The 10,000 step benchmark goes back to 1965 when a Japanese scientist reportedly responded to the fitness craze surrounding the 1964 Tokyo Olympics by inventing the pedometer.

It was called the Manpo-kei, which translates to 10,000-steps meter.

It sounded like a semi-lofty but achievable goal. And it stuck.

Of course, there can be variations to all those steps.

My recommendation is 4,000 to 8,000 steps, but quality matters. Four thousand steps out in the countryside going up and down hills may give better health benefits compared to 8,000 steps in a mall. But its still better than nothing, said Sarah Sato, a nurse practitioner specializing in diabetes who recommends daily steps to her clients.

We see lovely, whole-person changes when someone starts walking regularly, Sato told Healthline. People often find their sleep improves, their mood can be more stable, and their digestion can become more regular.

Khambatta said the extra benefits can go even further.

Most people think that walking is only for their heart and diabetes but being active can also improve blood flow to your brain, which improves cognition, he told Healthline. Studies show that taking more steps on a daily basis can also reduce depression and anxiety. Given an increasing number of people diagnosed with mental health disorders, walking is a simple way to dramatically improve your mental health for free and can also be a social activity at the same time.

DaPrato says to start slowly and your body will adapt. And you may be grateful later when the cold and flu season comes.

After some time of consistent walking usually 3 or 4 weeks (what was) stress is now not so concerning to the body and is considered normal, he said. The body has adapted. So, since either exercise or a foreign bacterium is considered a stressor, the body more efficiently responds to invading bacteria once the tissues have adapted to exercise. This is why individuals who exercise regularly dont get sick as often.

Beth Auguste, a fitness trainer and registered dietitian, said walking gets blood to where it needs to go.

Imagine a credit card. Now imagine trying to tear it in half. You cant, she said. Now, imagine that you bend that credit card backward and forward multiple times. High blood pressure is often the result of stiff blood vessels. When you take a walk, your body needs to get more blood to your muscles quickly. If you think about your veins as similar to a hose, this means that the pressure will be increased. And, in the short term, this is a great thing. Your blood is pumping faster and harder and that increased pressure will have a similar effect on your veins, as the credit card. The frequent recurring pressure and release against the walls of your blood vessels may help to create a loosening effect, leading to more relaxed blood vessels and a lower resting blood pressure.

Mimi Secor, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a family nurse practitioner and author of Debut a New You: Transforming Your Life at Any Age.

She said the habit of walking is more important than the intensity. Among her recommendations on how to incorporate more walking into ones life:

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Daily Steps Can Reduce Risk of Diabetes and High Blood Pressure - Healthline

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has been continually increasing over the years and is now estimated at over 34 million Americans, which is 10.5% of the population. Of the 34 million with diabetes, over 8 million have not yet been diagnosed.

Diabetes is a group of diseases involving elevated blood sugar, but they are not all the same. Type 1 diabetes is much less common 5 to 10% of the people with diabetes have this form of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesnt produce the hormone insulin, which is needed to move sugar (glucose) from the blood stream to the cells where it can be used for energy. This form of diabetes is considered to be more of an autoimmune situation, where the body attacks itself (the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin) in response to a virus. Insulin injections are required to keep blood glucose levels in target.

Type 2 diabetes is most common and has a stronger link to family history than the other types of diabetes, but risk is also greatly affected by lifestyle (inactivity, obesity, poor eating habits). In type 2 diabetes your body isnt able to properly use the insulin it makes, which is called insulin resistance. Over time this puts extra work on the pancreas and it cant make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at normal levels. Physical activity and weight loss can help improve insulin resistance, but medications (pills or insulin injections) are often needed to help keep blood glucose levels in target.

The following symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.

Common symptoms of diabetes:

Feeling very hungry - even though you are eating

Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal

Weight loss - even though you are eating more (type 1)

Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)

Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing complications (source: http://www.diabetes.org).

Pre-Diabetes is where your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Normal fasting blood glucose is considered to be < 100. Pre Diabetes is a fasting blood glucose between 100-125 and diabetes is diagnosed when fasting blood glucose is > 126.

If your blood test results show that you have diabetes, ask your health care provider for a referral to a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. If you have pre-diabetes or are at risk for diabetes consider joining a lifestyle change program offered through the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program. Rivers Edge Hospital is your local site for the National Diabetes Prevention Program and the next series of classes start August 26th at 6:00 pm. For more information call 934-7694.

Jen Donkin is a registered dietitian at River's Edge Hospital in St. Peter.

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River's Edge Hospital: With diabetes, early detection can reduce risk - Southernminn.com

PUBLISHED: 07:00 12 March 2020

Roy Chacko

A project which has improved diabetes care in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge was shortlisted for a national award. Picture: PA/Peter Byrne

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A project which improved diabetes care across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge has been shortlisted for a national health award.

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The Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCG) were named as a finalist for diabetes care initiative of the year in the annual Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value Awards.

The awards seek to recognise and reward outstanding efficiency and improvements in patient care nationwide and celebrate the teams and people who are making things better in the NHS.

Led by the NHS CCGs for Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR), and involving all 199 GP practices across the area, the work has improved diabetes care and treatment across the three boroughs.

It follows on from award winning work started in Baking and Dagenham which has led to an improvement in type 2 diabetes diagnosis rates and better advice for thousands of people living with the condition.

Dr Jyoti Sood, a GP who works out of Newbury Park, said she was extremely pleased to be nominated for the award and that the hard work of local practices to improve patient care was recognised.

As a result of the project, the estimated number of undiagnosed diabetes cases across the boroughs fell by more than 11,000 last year.

Clinical director for Havering, Dr Ann Baldwin said: 'This project was a great achievement as we worked with GP practices across the three boroughs to use the same quality improvement methodology to improve diabetes care in line with the best national standards.

'This has seen significant and swift improvements across the board, in a short period of time.'

Dr Anju Gupta, GP from Abbey Medical Centre in Barking, added: 'We are delighted our work is identifying and treating more people with diabetes.

'Our priority has always been to tackle inequalities and we want everyone to access the same quality of care, wherever they live.'

The HSJ Value Awards winners will be announced in Manchester on May 21.

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NHS project that improved diabetes care in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge up for Health Service Journal Value Award | Health - Ilford...

A man whose older sister suffered from type one diabetes for almost 20 years is training to run the London Marathon to fundraise in her honour.

Joe Staggs, 25, a property accountant from Epping, was inspired to take on the 26-mile Virgin Money London Marathon after seeing first-hand the effects living with diabetes can take.

He said: After learning a huge amount from the group my parents then became volunteers, helping fund raise, and supporting the group where they could in order to allow new members to gain knowledge.

I became wise to things to look out for to make sure my sister was looking after herself, nagging her to test her blood, guessing what her sugar levels would be and asking if she had taken her injection. I'm sure I became very annoying for her.

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly.

If not managed well, both type one and type two diabetes can lead to devastating complications, including sight loss, amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

With the right treatment and support people living with diabetes can lead a long and healthy life.

The 25-year-old is aiming to complete the marathon in around five hours and has been training by running in all weather conditions, most recently hail and sleet.

He said: Some days you feel like someone has swapped your running trainers for a pair of concrete boots, others you can be running and not even realise how far youve gone.

The marathon hopeful is aiming to raise 2,000 for Diabetes UK and is planning a number of fundraising activities including a quiz night.

Peter Shorrick, Diabetes UK Midlands and East Regional head, said: Our much-needed work wouldnt be possible without the determination and generosity of our incredible fundraisers.

We are extremely grateful to Joe for his hard work running a marathon is no mean feat.

The money raised will help fund ground-breaking research, care services and campaigns that can change the lives of those living with diabetes.

The Virgin London Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 26.

To make a donation to Joe's fundraising page, click here.

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Epping man to honour diabetic sister by running the London Marathon - This is Local London

By Nadia Al-Samarrie

I am traveling in Europe to four cities in the next three weeks. Although I had no plans to go to Italy, a good friend had to cancel her flight to meet me in London. This was before her small town in Italy is identified as one of the cities that has a travel ban.

Similar to the United States, the run on surgical masks to prevent the infectious airborne Coronavirus is creating a shortage in Europe.

The American Surgeon General tweeted:

Seriously, people- STOP BUYING MASKS!

They are NOT effective in preventing general public fromcatching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers cant get them to care for sickpatients, it puts them and our communities at risk!http://bit.ly/37Ay6Cm.

What Are My Options Now?

I am going back to basics by boosting my immune system with vitamins and a diet that will keep me healthy. In addition to carrying an antiseptic spray, I am washing my hands for twenty seconds, avoiding touching my face and drink lots of medicinal herbal teas.

If you have an autoimmune disease like diabetes, your immune system is already compromised. Speak to your healthcare professional about which vitamins, supplements, and foods will not interfere with the medication you are on.

A deficiency in Vitamin C can further compromise your immune system, while Vitamin E can prevent infections.

Instead of panicking, look at what you do have control over as a preventive measure that you can adopt immediately.

Vitamins That Boost Your Immune System

Vitamin C

Research shows Vitamin C keeps the heart, immune system, and eyes healthy.

Foods rich in Vitamin C are bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, chili peppers, guava, kale, kiwis, lemons, spinach, strawberries, sweet yellow potatoes, and oranges.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, guarding your cells against being damaged by free radicals.

But be careful. Research shows taking large daily quantities of vitamin E may increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer.

Foods rich in Vitamin E are kale, spinach, broccoli, leafy greens, nuts, some seeds. Some oils are more abundant in Vitamin E than others.

Exercise

If you are 55 to 84 and have practiced a lifetime of exercise- a new study shows that your immune system can be just as strong as your youthful days. Contrary to the aging theory, your immune system does not have to decline with aging.

Complimentary Essential Oil Infusion Therapy Used to Counter the Flu

Essentials oils are used topically or infused in the air with water. Undiluted can irritate your skin or bother your lungs. Dont run out and buy essential oils without checking in with your healthcare professional. If you have asthma or a blood pressure condition, know which oils are not recommended for your unique profile.A little information does not go a long way. It is best to meet with a credentialed, certified essential oil specialist that has graduated from a reputable school. You need to be well informed about your medications first to be sure if essential oils may do more good than harm.

I use infusion therapy for common colds and the flu. I also keep a warm mist steamer on hand with eucalyptus oil for the nights my stuffy nose makes breathing difficult.

My Antiviral Solution to the Coronavirus 19 When Traveling

In Scotland, I made an appointment with a registered holistic and aromatherapy practitioner who made me a nasal inhaler that fights viruses and infections. Before giving me my personalized aromatherapy bacterial and viral essential oils, she conducted a full intake asking me about my medical and emotional history. After my consultation, I received a nasal inhaler to be used when traveling.

Which aromatherapy oils did she combine? Three ingredients; tree tea oil and eucalyptus to fight a viral and bacterial infections and Rosemary to boost my immune system as an additional anti-bacterial oil.

Dont panic if you cannot get a mask to prevent an airborne virus or get a test to see if you are a carrier of the infection. Do what you can holistically by eating well, taking vitamins and checking in with your physician. Hopefully, by next year, there will be a flu vaccination to keep our minds at ease.

You may also be interested in reading What to Do if You Think You Have the Flu.

Source:

Exercise Slows Aging DownVitamin CVitamin ETree Tea OilEucalyptus OilRosemary Oil

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My Antiviral Solution to the Coronavirus (COVID 19) - Diabetes Health

A new study publishedMonday in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that thetraffic noise could increase ones risk of developing diabetes and high bloodpressure (hypertension).

Canadian researchers foundthat the risk of diabetes and hypertension increased among people who werechronically exposed to high traffic noise.

They looked at over 1million Toronto residents between the ages of 35 and 100 for a period of 15years.

They discovered that for each10-decibel increase in traffic noise, the risk of diabetes increased by 8percent and hypertension by 2 percent. The risk further increased afterexposure to air pollution and poor socioeconomic status.

Research scientist withHealth Canada and senior study author Dr. Hong Chen said, This may havesomething to do with peoples sensitivity to noise exposure. For example,age-related hearing loss may play a role, as typically it is more difficult forrelatively older individuals to detect noise.

Dr. Chen explained that noiseexposure could instigate multiple stress responses, which could increase thelevel of stress hormones. Also, frequent exposure may cause metabolic problemsand insulin resistance, which could result in diabetes.

Previous studies have foundthat road traffic noise has been associated with severe hypertension anddiabetes. A 2017 study reported in Environmental Research found that road,rail, and airplane noise could increase the risk of severe hypertension,causing heart disease. A 2013 study found that each 10-decibel increase intraffic noise increased the risk of diabetes.

Dr. Richard Becker from theUniversity of Cincinnati Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute, who was not partof the study, said the new studys findings are important for a variety ofreasons.

He noted that people acrossthe world are increasingly living in urban areas, exposing them to the road,rail, and airplane noises.

The worlds urbanpopulation increased from 751 million in 1950 to more than 4 billion in 2018,according to the United Nations.

Dr. Becker said, Thisinformation can inform building codes, city planning, road surface reflection,ground absorption and a variety of things that will minimize exposure to roadtraffic noise.

It could be that criticalparts of the sleep cycle are disturbed or that there are subcortical reflexesto something that the brain is interpreting as potentially harmful, he added.

However, Dr. Chen said weneed additional studies to clarify the link between health issues and frequent noiseexposure. Public health efforts toreduce the exposure of noise to residents may foster a quality residentialnoise environment, thereby contributing to better health and well-being and ahealthier city overall, said Dr. Chen.

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Traffic Noise May Increase the Risk of Diabetes and Hypertension - Myhealthyclick