That’s because each additional hour of sleep children get at night is associated with a lower body weight, more lean muscle mass and less accumulation of sugars in the blood, researchers report in Pediatrics. Obesity and elevated blood sugar are risk factors for type 2 diabetes, which happens when the body can’t properly use or make enough of the hormone insulin to convert blood sugar into energy.
The bolus-basal insulin injection regime for those living with diabetes works like your body should, but may not be a suitable fit for everyone.
If you have insulin dependent diabetes, you’re very familiar with bolus insulin, the type of insulin that is short-acting, typically taken with meals. However, not as many people with diabetes are as familiar with the other kind, basal insulin or, for that matter, the bolus-basal insulin regime. Read on to learn the difference between bolus and basal injections and why a bolus-basal routine might be right for you.
Recent research shows that women who eat a diet high in potatoes might have an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Potatoes seem to be on every menu and for good reason: The starchy tubers are cheap, nutritious and delicious. Although once only widely eaten in Europe, North America and eastern Europe, recent years have seen increases in consumption in the rest of the world, with China currently the largest producer, accounting for one-third of potatoes grown globally. So what’s the downside to the spud’s spread?
There are Diabetes apps to help you manage your diet, set up doctor’s appointment reminders and track your health.
There really is an app for everything, including apps to help you manage your diabetes. From reminders about appointments to weight management tips and tracking your glucose levels, diabetes care has never been easier for those of us with smartphones.
Here are some of the best apps to help you manage your diabetes:
It’s important to know what medications are safe to take when you have a cold or allergy symptoms if you’re a diabetes sufferer. Here are some tips.
Cold and allergy season is here again! As someone with diabetes, careful consideration should be made before taking any over-the-counter medications for your cold or allergy. When you’re sick, your glucose levels are already affected, so it’s best to avoid certain medications that may make it worse.
Living with diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite holiday foods. There are plenty of diabetes friendly recipes if you want to enjoy a LATE or a VERY EARLY St. Patrick’s Day this year!
Better late than never………Holiday’s celebrated with friends, family and special foods don’t have to be a problem if you suffer from diabetes. St. Patrick’s Day is a perfect example of when eating some holiday-inspired dishes can make for a special occasion. Here are some diabetes friendly recipes for celebrating “the wearing of the green!”
Learn which commonly prescribed and over-the-counter drugs can cause dangerous interactions if you have diabetes.
If you have diabetes and take other prescription and non-prescription drugs, it’s time to evaluate your medications. It’s very common for those with the condition to take other drugs in addition to their diabetes medications. When certain meds are mixed together, however, the result is not always a positive one. In fact, certain drug interactions can produce harmful reactions that end with a trip to the hospital. Though not inclusive, take a look at the following list of commonly-used drugs. If you are taking any of these medications, make sure you discuss their use with your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
A group of researchers at Cornell University have recently discovered a probiotic that may be considered a new treatment for diabetes.
What would your life be like if taking a simple pill could help you manage your diabetes? With the development of new research, this futuristic dream might be close to becoming a reality. Researchers at Cornell University have engineered a common strain of human gut bacteria called Lactobacillus to produce a hormone that releases insulin in response to food. This bacterium could either supplement or take over the work of insulin production from the pancreas.
Exciting Research Results
The new study, led by Cornell professor John March, claims that the engineered probiotic essentially rewires the body and reduces blood glucose levels. Professor March and his colleagues conducted tests of the bacterium on a group of diabetic rats with successful results.
Over a ninety-day period, the researchers discovered that the group of diabetic rats that received the probiotic, in the form of a pill, had blood glucose levels up to 30 percent lower than those that did not receive it.
The team also discovered that the pill appeared to convert the rats’ intestinal cells, making them to behave in a similar way to pancreatic cells. This is important because in healthy people, pancreatic cells release insulin and regulate blood glucose levels. Professor March explains that the treatment is basically moving the job of glucose control from the pancreas to the upper intestine.
What It Means
This discovery is instrumental because probiotics are generally considered safe. Plus, they are already available on the market and the people who take them generally report no adverse side effects.
The next step for the team is to test higher doses of the probiotic in diabetic rats to determine if it can completely reverse the diabetic condition. If it’s successful, there is potential for the probiotic to be converted into a pill for human use, which can be used to treat both type one and type two diabetes. Ultimately the goal would be for individuals to take the pill to help them manage their condition without the need for insulin injections. While this research is still in its infancy, it’s initial success provides much hope that better, less invasive treatment of diabetes is on the way.
If you have questions regarding diabetes medications, insulin pumps, or glucose testing supplies , the experts at Focus Express Mail Pharmacy are here to help! Call us today at 1-866-403-6287 or visit us online at www.FocusPharmacy.com.
Candy gifts on Valentine’s Day may not be best choice for a loved one with diabetes. Here are some ideas on what to give instead.
Stores have been stocked for weeks in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. With this holiday right around the corner, you may be struggling to find the perfect gift if your loved one suffers from diabetes. The majority of store shelves are probably stocked with gifts of sugary sweets – a nightmare for those trying to control their blood sugar! So what’s a person to do? Try some of these suggestions instead!
First of all, put one myth aside. In many cases, a small amount of sugar isn’t going to be deadly to your beloved diabetes sufferer. This means you don’t have to completely avoid it. Of course, it’s best to look for sugar-free version of sweets as an alternative. But there are other options. Dark chocolates have less sugar than milk chocolate, for one. And remember, chocolate isn’t the only food that has sugar. Carbohydrates also can be an issue, so pay attention to them as well.
Give with Goodwill
If you want to give someone a gift, do so with good intentions and not with a lecture. If your loved one struggles with diabetes, he or she knows what works for their body. They may decide not to eat a sugary gift but that’s their decision to make. They don’t need you to give them advice. You also don’t need to make excuses if you choose a gift that isn’t food related. For example, saying something like, “I was going to get you a chocolate heart but I know that’s not good for you.” Don’t lecture or play parent.
Gifts that Can Be Problematic
If you want to avoid giving a gift that may cause problems, avoid;
- Sugary treats
- Fruit – both fresh and dry
Better Gift Ideas
Instead of going with the obvious Valentine’s Day gifts why not consider something completely different? Gifts like;
- Non-edible, non-food gifts
- Artificially sweetened treats
- Experiences – gifts that are something to do instead of just a “thing”.
You can still show with sweetness how much you care this Valentine’s Day without making it awkward for loved ones who struggle with diabetes.
Focus Express Mail Pharmacy has been helping people manage their diabetes for years. We can answer your questions about diabetes, insulin pumps, glucose testing supplies, and more. Call us today at 1-866-403-6287.
A new year brings new developments in diabetes care, and tech improvements in insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems.
The New Year means we can expect new developments in diabetes care and treatment. And this year promises some exciting and innovative diabetes products, including new, more technologically advanced insulin pumps and improvements in continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Here is what is on the horizon for diabetes care in 2016:
Advances in insulin pumps in the coming year will include making the pumps thinner and easier to use, and having them function more like smartphones. Insulet is developing a next generation controller for their patch insulin pump, the Phoenix EDM, which will be thinner and have a touchscreen interface. A new version of the Medtronic Minimed Insulin Pump is also expected that will add predictive LGS capabilities as well as a new user interface and buttons.
Blood Glucose Monitors
Exciting changes are also being made to diabetes monitors. The Abbot Freestyle Libra, expected to be released this year, will employ a first-of-its-kind factory-calibrated flash system to allow users to scan a sensor and display a reading at any time.
Dexcom is also expected to release a new version of their monitor in 2016. It’s still not known all the new features the G6 version will have, but one expected improvement is that it will not require calibration.
Novo is on track to release a faster version of their Novolog for type 1 and 2 diabetes. The new version is expected to improve post-meal glucose levels by combining a short-acting insulin and two well-known excipients, a vitamin and an amino acid. Lilly also has a new basal insulin, Basaglar, which was just approved by the FDA and should be available before the end of the year.
Other New Diabetes Treatments
Combination drugs will continue to be the focus for the drug companies in 2016. Sanofi filed a new drug application last fall for its GLP-1 agonist Lyxumia (lixisenatide) and once that is approved, experts expect approval for combination drug Lixilan (Lyxumia+Lantus) to follow. Novo Nordisk also has a combination drug, Xultophy, a blend of GLP-1 agonist Victoza and their new basal insulin Tresiba, expected to hit the market later this year.
In addition to these new combo drugs, a new nasal glucagon is coming soon. Eli Lilly and Company acquired the rights to Locemia’s novel nasal glucagon that is reported to be easier to carry and use. Lilly is expected to file for approval for this device early this year.