For Immediate Release: May 13, 2022

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as an addition to diet and exercise. Mounjaro was effective at improving blood sugar and was more effective than the other diabetes therapies with which it was compared in clinical studies.

Given the challenges many patients experience in achieving their target blood sugar goals, todays approval of Mounjaro is an important advance in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, said Patrick Archdeacon, M.D., associate director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity in the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is a chronic and progressive condition in which the body does not make or use insulin normally, leading to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. More than 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Despite the availability of many medications to treat diabetes, many patients do not achieve the recommended blood sugar goals.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are hormones involved in blood sugar control. Mounjaro is a first-in-class medicine that activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which leads to improved blood sugar control. Mounjaro is administered by injection under the skin once weekly, with the dose adjusted as tolerated to meet blood sugar goals.

Three different doses of Mounjaro (5 milligrams, 10 milligrams and 15 milligrams) were evaluated in five clinical trials as either a stand-alone therapy or as an add-on to other diabetes medicines. The efficacy of Mounjaro was compared to placebo, a GLP-1 receptor agonist (semaglutide) and two long-acting insulin analogs.

On average, patients randomized to receive the maximum recommended dose of Mounjaro (15 milligrams) had lowering of their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level (a measure of blood sugar control) by 1.6% more than placebo when used as stand-alone therapy, and 1.5% more than placebo when used in combination with a long-acting insulin. In trials comparing Mounjaro to other diabetes medications, patients who received the maximum recommended dose of Mounjaro had lowering of their HbA1c by 0.5% more than semaglutide, 0.9% more than insulin degludec and 1.0% more than insulin glargine.

Obesity was common among study participants, with an average body mass index of 32 to 34 kilograms/height in meters squared reported at the time of enrollment. Among patients randomized to the maximum recommended dose, the average weight loss with Mounjaro was 15 pounds more than placebo when neither were used with insulin and 23 pounds more than placebo when both were used with insulin. The average weight loss with the maximum recommended dose of Mounjaro was 12 pounds more than semaglutide, 29 pounds more than insulin degludec and 27 pounds more than insulin glargine. Those patients receiving insulin without Mounjaro tended to gain weight during the study.

Mounjaro can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, upper abdominal discomfort and abdominal pain.

Mounjaro causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats. It is unknown whether Mounjaro causes such tumors, including medullary thyroid cancer, in humans. Mounjaro should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.

Mounjaro has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis), and it is not indicated for use in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Mounjaro received priority review designation for this indication. A priority review designation directs overall attention and resources to the evaluation of applications for drugs that, if approved, would be significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of serious conditions.

The FDA granted the approval of Mounjaro to Eli Lilly and Co.

###

Boilerplate

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nations food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

See the original post:
FDA Approves Novel, Dual-Targeted Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes | FDA - FDA.gov

Chances are you know someone with diabetes. "37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the population, had diabetes" in 2019, according to the American Diabetes Association and "Nearly 1.9 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, including about 244,000 children and adolescents." In addition, "Of the 37.3 million adults with diabetes, 28.7 million were diagnosed, and 8.5 million were undiagnosed." Often signs of diabetes are missed, but Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health, and Saint Mary's Hospital tells Eat This, Not That! Health, symptoms to watch out for and how to help prevent diabetes. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Dr. Curry-Winchell explains, "Diabetes is associated with a variety of symptoms such as an increase in thirst, changes in vision, and fatigue which can make it difficult to consider you might have diabetes. My patients often report seeing the eye doctor or thinking they need to get their vision checked or often associate the fatigue with an inadequate amount of sleep."

"Because diabetes affects so many organs in the body, if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as permanent vision loss, heart disease, and long-term kidney disease," Dr. Curry-Winchell says.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Possible complications include:

Dr. Curry-Winchell states, "All ages are at risk for diabetes. The disease can affect anyone and if left untreated or not controlled, can lead to serious complications that can affect your quality of life."

Dr. Curry-Winchell explains, "There are two types of diabetes and it's important to highlight that you can't prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes. Although scientists have discovered possible connections that may be the cause, research is ongoing to find the exact cause at this time. For type 2 diabetes, mild to moderate exercise such as taking a walk and lifting weights like traditional dumbbells a couple of days a week and eating a diet that is balanced but also sustainable can help prevent diabetes."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The Mayo Clinic states, "Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. However, the same healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:

"If you notice you are drinking more fluids and it's not associated with increased activity or exercise this could be a sign of diabetes," says Dr. Curry-Winchell.

Your body is responding to an increase in blood sugar (glucose) circulating in your bloodstream. To decrease the amount of glucose, your kidneys increase the amount of time you need to urinate which means more trips to the restroom and increased water intake as your body attempts to replenish itself."

According to Dr. Curry-Winchell, "Vision changes like blurry vision due to high levels of glucose causes blood vessels in your eye to increase in size (swell) and become friable causing leakage."

Dr. Curry-Winchell explains, "Although you would think the increase in glucose should lead to more energy, it's the exact opposite. The increased sugar is not being used, instead it's circulating in the blood therefore your organs like your brain are not able to use it."

Heather Newgen

See the article here:
Signs You Have Diabetes and Don't Know It Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use the insulin it makes as well as it should. Over time this can cause serious health problems such as heart, vascular, Alzheimer's disease, or cancer, vision loss, neuropathy and kidney disease. To-date, there are three traditional types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

According to the CDC, diabetes is one of the nation's leading causes of death and disability. In 2019, diabetes was the seventh-leading cause of death in America and claimed more than 87,000 lives. Diabetes-related deaths surged by 17% in 2020 and 15% in 2021 compared to the pre-pandemic level in 2019. And many more who are living with diabetes suffer from disease-related cardiovascular damage, and other chronic diseases of aging, vision loss, and lower-limb amputation.

There isn't a cure for diabetes, so self-management and a healthy lifestyle regimen are necessary to reduce the impacts of diabetes on the human body. As a medical practitioner, specializing in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, I help my patients understand and manage their diabetes. Read on to find out moreand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

It's believed that Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction that attacks the body by mistake. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas is unable to make the hormone insulin, which normally regulates the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood stream. Without insulin to clear out the excess glucose, levels rise, wreaking havoc on the blood vessels. This is what causes all the vascular damage throughout the body.

Type 1 diabetes can be autoimmune-related or non-autoimmune-related. The autoimmune forms of diabetes may manifest in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Adult-onset autoimmune diabetes accounts for about 20% of adult-onset cases (which means that 80% of cases are not autoimmune-related).

The presence of certain antibodies in the blood are considered markers of diabetes. These include glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and pancreatic insulin-producing islet cell antibodies (ICA). When GAD-positive antibodies are seen in adult-onset diabetes, it's a form of disease called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults ("LADA," or "type 1.5 diabetes"). This type of diabetes is often misdiagnosed as Type 2 diabetes, because it's adult-onset. This misdiagnosis unfortunately leads to poor therapeutic choices, worsening of glycemic (blood sugar) control, and may speed up progression to fulminant insulin-deficient Type 1 disease (a condition where the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are swiftly and completely destroyed). Most early childhood onset Type 1 diabetes involves autoimmune dysfunction, where antibodies attack and destroy the insulin-producing cells

Some in the medical community now suspect that non-autoimmune forms of insulin-deficient (Type 1) diabetes are, in fact, autoimmune in nature, but they involve antibodies that have not yet been identified.

The main cause of Type 2 diabetes is obesity. Type 2 diabetes is also called "insulin resistance," because it's not a lack of insulin that causes blood sugar to rise, but an inability of the body's cells particular muscle and fat cells to utilize it. The pancreas still makes insulin as it should, but the insulin is rendered nonfunctional because the cells "resist" it. This has the same negative effect as having no insulin. Sugar levels rise, leading to vascular damage throughout the body. Moreover, the compensatory hyperinsulinemia itself plays an important pathogenic role in the chronic diseases of aging, including heart, vascular, Alzheimer's disease and cancers.

Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can begin during childhood and adulthood. Type 2 is more common in older adults, but the increase in the number of children with obesity has led to more cases of Type 2 diabetes in younger people.

On the other hand, 20% of adult-onset diabetes is an autoimmune form (positive GAD antibody) of type 1 diabetes, so called latent onset diabetes of the adult, or LADA.

A variant of type 2 diabetes is ketosis-prone diabetes type 2. These individuals are typically older than adolescents, or childhood-onset type 1 diabetics, and are typically obese. This group is commonly racially identified as black, Hispanic, Asian, or Indian. Ketosis or ketoacidosis is characteristically an initial onset disease presentation, requiring insulin treatment that subsequently is manageable with oral agents. The pathogenic cause of ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes is not clear.

Another factor contributing to the development of Type 2 diabetes is the consumption of "non-food" dietary additives (for example, artificial sweeteners). These substances cause oxidative stress in the liver and subsequently the pancreas, resulting in excessive secretion of insulin and resistance to that insulin in the muscle, liver and fat cells. As mentioned above, insulin-antibody-mediated diabetes in childhood is often considered Type 1 disease, although the presence or absence of insulin deficiency independent of autoimmunity, also differentiates Type 1 versus Type 2 diabetes.

Long-standing Type 2 diabetes eventually leads to exhaustion destruction of the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells with declining insulin levels. When this happens, the disease evolves into a non-autoimmune form of Type 1 (insulin-deficient) diabetes, sometimes referred to as diabetes type 1 1/2. When this happens, the person will need to start taking insulin shots, because their body no longer produces its own insulin.

Another insulin-resistant or Type 2 form of diabetes is known as steroid-induced diabetesan unexpected increase in blood sugar that's related to the use of steroids.

This can occur with prolonged steroid use and is one reason prescribed courses of steroid medications are generally short and taper off quickly. Such marked rises in blood glucose levels may occur in people with or without a history of diabetes. The most characteristic feature is skeletal-muscle insulin resistance with blood-sugar spikes that occur after meals. The muscles do not take up the sugar as they should. Steroid-induced diabetes is more similar to Type 2 diabetes than Type 1. In both steroid-induced diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, your cells do not respond appropriately to insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not create insulin.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy in women who don't already have diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to the actions of insulin during your pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that lets blood sugar into the cells in your body for use as energy.

Both hormones produced by the placenta (progesterone and human placental lactogen) promote resistance to the actions of insulin. The placenta also produces a hormone called corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) which increases cortisol production during pregnancy. This also antagonizes the actions of insulin. In addition, excessive weight gain and poor dietary choices during pregnancy promote insulin resistance.

Having gestational diabetes can also increase your risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy, due to insulin resistance induced compensatory hyperinsulinemia, promoting arterial vasoconstriction and kidney mediated salt retention.

The term Type 3 diabetes has recently been coined in reference to the insulin-resistance component of the pathogenesis (course of development) of Alzheimer's disease. Type 3 diabetes occurs when neurons in the brain become unable to respond to insulin, which is essential for basic tasks, including memory and learning. Some researchers believe insulin deficiency is central to the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's disease.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) are a group of inherited diabetes subtypes that are passed from parent to child through the genes. Symptoms typically begin in older childhood or young adulthood, before age 30. This group is characterized by having abnormally high blood sugar levelsblood sugar arises from reduced production of insulin. Severity depends on the particular genetic variety, and can range from symptomless to severe. MODY in contrast to types 1 and 2 diabetes, only accounts for 1-2 % of the prevalence of diabetes.

Anyone experiencing ongoing dry mouth, excessive thirst, frequent excessive urination, lightheadedness, unintended weight loss, or blurred vision should have their blood glucose level checked immediately. A doctor should do bloodwork that includes an endogenous insulin level (the best test is a C-peptide level). If this level is low or mid-range, a GAD antibody test should be done.

If pre-diabetes or insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the best course of action is to lose weight, develop an exercise plan that includes at least 30 minutes of walking or other movements most days of the week, quit smoking (if applicable), limit alcohol, follow a Mediterranean diet (there are many forms of it that can be adapted to any ethnic preference) and find ways to reduce stress. Learning what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet (that included not only the Mediterranean but a low glycemic ndex-based diet and limiting the processed and "nonfood" additives to the diet) is a great first step to better health, and may help prevent the onset or progression of type 2 diabetes. And to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Dr. Brian Fertig, M.D., F.A.C.E., is the Founder and President of the Diabetes & Osteoporosis Center in Piscataway, NJ, serves as an Associate Professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and as the Chair of the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Hackensack Meridian Health, JFK University Medical Center. He is also the author of "Metabolism & Medicine," a two-volume series detailing a scientific approach for predicting and preventing disease.

See the article here:
This is the #1 Cause of Diabetes, Says Physician Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Participate virtually or join in-person to try to cross the University Street Bridge before it raises at 8:50 a.m.

SEATTLE It's back! The 40th Annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes benefiting JDRF returns this year with in-person and virtual participation opportunities.

On Saturday, May 14, lace up your sneakers and head to Husky Stadium for the 8K run and wheelchair race, 3-mile walk, 1-mile fun run, or the Diaper Derby for toddlers. KING 5's Steve Bunin will emcee the festivities. All funds raised support Type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Since the first Beat the Bridge race in 1983, Nordstrom has partnered with JDRF to raise funds to cure, prevent and better treat T1D.

The event is called Beat the Bridge because the course travels over Seattles University Bridge, which is raised during the race. Participants try to cross the bridge before it is raised. Those who don't beat the bridge have to wait, with a live band and entertainment (it's a lively wait!), for the bridge to come back down. After a few minutes, the bridge lowers and everyone can finish the race.

When you support Beat the Bridge, you join more than 900,000 people including 2022 ambassadors Eli and Sophie who come together to raise funds to change the future for the millions of people with type 1 diabetes. KING 5 is proud to support Beat the Bridge.

Register today at beatthebridge.org or sign up onsite starting at 6:45 a.m. Check out the list of FAQs on their website to answer all of your questions before hitting the road.

Event Schedule for May 14, 2022:

6:45 a.m. - registration opens in the west concourse of Husky Stadium.

7:30 a.m. - Montlake Boulevard closes to ALL vehicle traffic

7:45 a.m. - 3-Mile Walk

8:15 a.m. - 1-Mile Fun Run

8:28 a.m. - Start of Wheelchair Race

8:30 a.m. - Start of 8K Race

8:50 a.m. - University Bridge goes up (approximate timethe bridge will go up 20 minutes after the last runner crosses start line)

9:00 a.m. - Fun on the field of the Husky Stadium

9:30 a.m. - Awards Ceremony

9:50 a.m. - Diaper Derby

Read the original post:
Join the 40th Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes - KING5.com

A diabetic woman quit her job after her manager allegedly not only sifted through her personal belongings without permission, but also accused her of doing drugs.

The woman, Abby Gebo, posted a video on TikTok in mid-April describing the encounter with management at her former unspecified workplace. The video has been seen about 83,000 times.

She said the manager allegedly "almost called the cops" on her, even announcing to another employee to prepare to make a call. Gebo, who according to the post may be a waitress, said the manager found her insulin in a backpack but did not originally know to who it belonged.

The manager reportedly said he "expected better" from her, inquiring whether she was holding on to the syringe for someone else. He also said he didn't know she was doing "drugs," again mentioning the syringe.

Perplexed, she told him she had diabetes and that he already knew that.

"My niece is a diabetic and she does not use syringes," the manager reportedly said. "I know that they use pumps."

She explained "that some people can't afford pumps" so they use vials and syringes, at which point he allegedly told her to "prove it." So, she showed him the vial.

"You're lucky," he said. "I'm watching you. ... I'm just making sure none of my staff does drugs."

That was the point when Gebo told him she quit. In other videos she talks about being a diabetic and being an advocate for others, so they "have access to specialized treatment and to know they are not alone."

Users were furious that her manager looked through her personal property in the first place. One user with type I diabetes said she would be "livid" if this situation happened to her.

"I would've gotten HR involved," one user said. "It's illegal to search your personal stuff."

"Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) they can't legally ask you so they are breaking the law when they ask you that," another said.

The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, of which diabetes is considered under the law. In 2013, when the United States had about 18 million citizens with diabetes, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stated that employers "may not ask questions about an applicant's medical condition or require an applicant to have a medical examination before it makes a conditional job offer."

That includes asking employees about being diagnosed with diabetes, or whether they use insulin, at a job interview. And even if an employee makes it known to an employer that he or she has diabetes, an employer "generally may not ask an applicant who has voluntarily disclosed that she has diabetes any questions about her diabetes, its treatment or its prognosis."

Questions could only be asked in that instance if an employee required a specific accommodation. Also, while employers can ask employees with diabetes if they have "a reasonable belief" that a job cannot be performed safely, that didn't seem to be the case as presented in the TikTok video.

Today, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 37.3 million Americansor about 1 in 10have diabetes, including about one in five who have diabetes but have never been diagnosed.

Last year was the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.

Gebo's profile also says she is "diabulimia recovery." The nonprofit National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) calls it a "media-coined term" for an eating disorder in people with diabetes, usually type I diabetes. Such individuals purposefully restrict insulin so they can lose weight.

Some in the medical profession refer to it as ED-DMT1, Eating Disorder-Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, which refers more broadly to any eating disorder in those who have diabetes. ED-DMT1 is perceived as a result of focusing on food, labels, metabolic disruptions, and numbers like weight and blood glucose levels.

"A person may develop diabulimia or ED-DMT1 at any age and at any point after their diabetes diagnosis," the NEDA says. "Sometimes it begins with body image issues or a desire to lose weight, and sometimes it begins as diabetes burnout. Regardless of how it begins, treatment can be challenging as individuals with type 1 diabetes tend to show higher dropout rates and poorer treatment outcomes than other patients. Treatment regimens must address both the diabetes and eating disorder aspects of the disorder."

In March the U.S. House passed the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap insulin at $35 and reduce out-of-pocket costs. Earlier this year, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he wanted the state to produce its own insulin.

Newsweek reached out to Gebo for comment.

Read the original post:
Woman Alleges Boss Threatened to Call Cops Over Her Diabetes Supplies - Newsweek

Fasting is popular around the world; many faiths practise it occasionally. Lately, a form of fasting, known as intermittent fasting (IF), has received much attention as an effective way to lose weight. IF is constantly promoted by celebrities, fitness enthusiasts, and influencers who claim it to be a quick way to lose weight.

Scientific evidence supports the use of IF for weight loss. Based on a review of literature conducted in 2021 on intermittent fasting and obesity, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, IF appeared to have beneficial effects on the lipid profile, while also being associated with weight loss in obese and type 2 diabetes patients.

In addition, the authors noted that glycemic levels were better controlled. According to this research, IF can help with weight loss, thereby reducing the risk of complications related to diabetes. The question, however, remains of whether people with diabetes can practise IF safely. Based on the evidence released so far, it appears IF can be done safely, but people with diabetes face the risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia caused by fluctuations in blood sugar during and after periods of not eating. Lets explore this further.

What is intermittent fasting?

IF diet entails limiting your meals to a fixed window of time followed by a fixed period of eating little or nothing. Fasting can last from a few hours to several days. The pattern involves alternating cycles of eating and fasting. Perhaps it is popular because it does not fundamentally change what you eat, but when you eat. You can also choose from six different types of fasting. Fasting for 16 hours followed by eating for eight hours is the most popular intermittent fasting.

Two or three equally-proportionate meals or two large meals and three small snacks can be consumed during this window. The other popular method is the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet, which involves eating normally for five days of the week and eating 500600 calories on the other two days. The eat-stop-eat method involves a complete 24-hour fast once a week. Fasting allows the consumption of water, black coffee, and zero-calorie drinks. Another popular method of intermittent fasting is Alternate Day Fasting (ADF), which promotes one day of fasting and one day of eating. A modified version of ADF allows you to consume about 500 calories on fast days.

Intermittent fasting and diabetes benefits

Type 2 diabetes is the outcome of prolonged insulin resistance, characterised by high blood glucose levels and several complications. ADF and intermittent fasting are proven to be effective in reducing insulin resistance and reducing blood glucose levels.

A 2019 study observed beneficial outcomes from administering 6 hours of eating followed by 18 hours of fasting, including decreased inflammation, reduced insulin levels, improved markers of illnesses such as asthma and arthritis, as well as reduced damaged cells, which could increase the risk of cancer.

The lipid profile and blood pressure levels were also improved. A small study from 2021 found that IF lowered insulin resistance in 13 adults with type 2 diabetes. This study also reported diabetes remission within five months, with a high-efficiency rate of 85 per cent. Another review reported that most of the available research demonstrates intermittent fasting is effective at reducing body weight, decreasing fasting glucose, reducing fasting insulin, reducing insulin resistance, decreasing levels of leptin, and increasing levels of adiponectin. Some studies found patients were able to reverse their need for insulin therapy during therapeutic intermittent fasting protocols with supervision by their physician. A 2018 case report involving 3 patients living with diabetes demonstrated the effectiveness of therapeutic fasting to reverse their insulin resistance, resulting in cessation of insulin therapy while maintaining control of their blood sugars. In addition, these patients were also able to lose significant amounts of body weight, reduce their waist circumference and glycated haemoglobin level.

According to these studies, IF can decrease insulin resistance and improve diabetes markers. There is, however, a lack of research thus far to determine if it is an effective measure to control diabetes or not. There are risks, too.

Intermittent fasting and diabetes potential risks

Diabetes patients may be at risk from intermittent fasting. If you use insulin or medications and suddenly reduce your portion size, your blood glucose may drop drastically, resulting in hypoglycemia. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), hypoglycemia can cause shakiness, confusion, irritability, sweating, chills, dizziness, etc. People who skip meals may also make poor diet choices, which can negatively affect their waistline and blood sugar.

A carb-heavy pastry or plate of pasta may seem more appealing if you have not eaten for hours. Bolus eating may lead to hyperglycemia and multiple complications. Animal studies indicate IF may impact insulin sensitivity and pancreas function. An experimental study published in 2020 found that alternate-day fasting for 12 weeks resulted in a rise in belly fat, damage to insulin-producing pancreatic cells, and signs of insulin resistance in rats.

To conclude Intermittent fasting can result in weight loss. It, however, is not proven to help people with diabetes stop using insulin or control blood glucose levels. More research is warranted. It is important to note that IF can cause hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetics due to fluctuations in blood sugar during and after fasting periods. Consult your physician and diabetes care team before beginning fasting. You can lose weight safely and sustainably.

For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and dont miss out on the latest updates!

Here is the original post:
Guide to eat right: Is intermittent fasting safe for people living with diabetes? - The Indian Express

"Friendships are so necessary. Good quality friendships," Tiffani Martin said. "I really hope people see it and just really gives them hope."

DALLAS Tiffani Martin is already a social media influencer of sorts, imploring the Black community to pay better attention to the prevalence of diabetes that has brought her so many health challenges.

Now, one very good friend has stepped up to help her keep that message, and herself, alive.

I met Tiffani and her friend, Lisa Rachelle Winkley, at the Ervay Apartments, the historic converted space that once served as the U.S. Courthouse in Dallas.

"OK Tiffani we're smiling, look at me," Lisa said to her friend.

"Are we doing a selfie," Tiffani asked. "You're not supposed to take pictures of blind people without their consent," she joked.

"I just told you," Lisa laughed.

"No means no," Tiffani said as Lisa laughed. "No means no."

Diabetic retinopathy robbed Tiffani of her sight. Diabetes also led to a pancreas transplant and a kidney transplant. But the kidney, from a deceased donor, is failing now too.

"I did not know her story until we'd been friends for quite a while," Lisa said of their friendship going on about six years now.

They were just girlfriends, part of a four-woman book club, when Lisa secretly decided to get tested.

"I didn't think that hard about it. I really didn't," she admitted.

And, like the ending to a good novel, she was a perfect match.

"If I was in the same position I would want someone to help me," Lisa said. "There's no way I could continue to walk along in life, hang out with my friend, chat with her every day, knowing that I have something that she could use."

"And my kidneys are almost identical," she said doctors told her. "Which is really amazing. That just makes it more reassuring to give one away. Because I'm not gonna give my friend no junk," she said as they both laughed.

The transplant happens next week at Baylor Scott and White Health, where the experts know the average wait time for a donor kidney can take five years or more.

An estimated 5,000 people die each year in the U.S. without ever getting that chance.

Which makes Lisa's gift all that more amazing to Tiffani.

"It's mind-blowing," she said. "You just don't meet people like this at all."

Or often meet people ready to name the donor kidney.

"We thought about Kidney Spears," Tiffani said. "That was one!"

"We are going to name them after famous movie characters. Dionne and Cher from 'Clueless,'" Lisa said. "The one that I am giving her is going to be Cher since I am now "sharing" my kidney. And then I will keep Dionne," she laughed.

"Tell him about your playlist," Tiffani said.

Yes, they even have a kidney playlist for their hospital stay featuring artists like Selena Gomez, Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner who have also had kidney transplants.

"Maybe we also need to have like a kidney handshake that we make up," Lisa said about their post surgery routine, with rooms they plan to decorate in a "Hello Kidney" theme.

Lisa, by the way, is a professional event planner.

So really, this isn't a story about kidney transplants. It's about something else.

"Friendships are so necessary. Good quality friendships," Tiffani said. "Just to have that anchor. I really hope people see it and just really gives them hope."

Hope from someone who also knows the art of a good selfie.

"Now do your pucker lips because I just did that and it looked good," Lisa laughed as she got Tiffani to pose for one more selfie. "Now we have some decent pictures Tiffani!"

Decent pictures... and one very decent friend.

The transplant is scheduled for next Tuesday at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas.

Excerpt from:
The perfect match: North Texas woman donating kidney to help save best friends life - WFAA.com

Could the Nessie diet offer hope to managing Type 2 diabetes? Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner.

Excerpt from:
Could the Nessie diet offer hope to managing Type 2 diabetes? - The Press & Journal