Risk of Common Infections Elevated in Diabetics

People with type 1 and 2 diabetes are at increased risk of common infections including urinary and lower respiratory tract infections

Dr. Leonie M. Muller stated that "previous studies were mostly hospital-based and did not account for differences in type of diabetes. We studied a unique cohort of unselected diabetes populations with and without insulin use in primary care."

Dr. Muller from University Medical Center Utrecht and colleagues determined the relative risks of common infections in 705 adults with type 1 diabetes, 6,712 with type 2 diabetes, and 18,911 nondiabetic controls.

The investigators report that while upper respiratory tract infections were equally common among diabetics and nondiabetic controls, type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients were at greater risk of lower respiratory tract infection. In type 1 diabetics, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.42.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients were also at greater risk of urinary tract infection (OR 1.96 and 1.24), bacterial skin and mucous membrane infection (OR 1.59 and 1.33) and mycotic skin and mucous membrane infection (OR 1.34 and 1.44).
Dr. Muller pointed out that physicians "need to be aware of the fact that indeed diabetes patients have an increased risk of common infections. They should educate their diabetes patients about the increased risk, how to reduce that risk and when to consult their GP."

"Further research," she added, "should focus on the prognosis of common infections in patients with diabetes, thereby giving physicians tailored information on which patients are at high risk for a complicated course."
Reported in the August 1st issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2005;41

================================

FACT:

Phytosterols Reduce Risk of Heart Disease by 25%: More than 20 clinical studies on the effects of phytosterols on cholesterol have been conducted. One study published in Food Technology indicated that consuming two grams of phytosterols daily could slash the risk of heart disease by 25% (Hicks 2001). Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that phytosterols interfered with cholesterol absorption by 33% to 42% (Mattson 1982). The FDA has approved the following claim for phytosterols: "Foods containing at least 0.4 gram per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 gram, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."*