Did You Know

A new study suggests that inflammation may be the key, and that genetics also plays a role. People who had more disadvantaged lives overall had chronically higher levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood. While obesity, lack of exercise, smoking and poor diet contribute to chronic inflammation, the study points …

Obese women who skipped breakfast showed greater glucose total AUC and had higher levels of pre-lunch free fatty acids compared with those who ate breakfast, according to a study. Insulin resistance from skipping breakfast could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the lead researcher said. Presented at The …

A study found low-income, food-insecure diabetes patients showed higher mean A1c values and had lower fruit and vegetable intake and self-efficacy than their food-secure counterparts. However, researchers noted greater A1c and self-efficacy improvements in food-insecure patients following educational intervention compared with the other group. Diabetes Care, June 2013 

Is fructose worse than other sugars? Are artificial sweeteners safe? And what really happens if people with diabetes eat too much sugar? Can it also affect the liver? This symposium conducted at the ADA’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago will look at the metabolic effects of different dietary sugars/sweeteners (both artificial …

Previous research found that intensive lowering of blood glucose levels did not reduce the risk for cardiovascular problems in people with diabetes, despite the widely held belief that it would, and might in fact contribute to cardiovascular and total mortality. In a large epidemiologic trial, researchers found the opposite: patients …

Using low-calorie sweeteners in place of sugar may help reduce increases in blood glucose levels and help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Researchers said artificial sweeteners may also aid in weight control, as they do not have the same negative effects on insulin and hormone levels as regular sugar. …

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a breath test using a combination of titanium dioxide and carbon nanotubes that could serve as a noninvasive means of monitoring blood glucose levels. "Such a device could completely change the paradigm of self-monitoring diabetes," said principal investigator Alexander Star. 

Sticking to a Nordic diet plan — rich in berries, fish, and canola oil — lowered cholesterol and inflammation in people with metabolic syndrome, much like the better-known Mediterranean diet. Researchers from Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland said the next step is to see whether the diet can be used …

A report by the United Health Foundation revealed Michigan had the highest number of obese seniors at 29.5%, while Hawaii had the lowest rate at 16.9% among those ages 65 and older. Researchers also found seniors in Minnesota were the healthiest in the nation. Detroit Free Press 

Doctor-patient communication that leads to medical decision-making needs improvement, according to four studies and a commentary published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Patient surveys found physicians did not always discuss risks and benefits of treatments or screenings, patient prognosis, or eligibility for transplants. Data showed some patients wanted information and control …