Author: Chris

Predicting Type 2 Diabetes May Have Gotten Easier: It is widely known that type 2 diabetes is typically developed as a byproduct of lifestyle and diet choice. It is also prone to development due to certain health conditions. However, there may be a predictor of the development of type 2 diabetes that may open new strategies in diabetic health care.

Globes Online reported that drug developer Compugen, “Found and experimentally confirmed a genetic biomarker, CGEN-40001, for predisposition to type 2 diabetes.”

According to Wikipedia a biomarker (biological marker), “Is in general a substance used as an indicator of a biological state. It is a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. It is used in many scientific fields.”

What this means is the CGEN-4001 biomarker has the potential to be used as a preemptive test for the development of type 2 diabetes.

Globes Online reported, “Following diagnosis, high-risk patients may benefit from more aggressive management either through lifestyle modification or drug treatment. There are an estimated 24 million people in the US with diabetes, 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes.”

The CGEN-4001 biomarker is essentially an enzyme that naturally occurs in your body. Globes Online said, “From the approximately 350,000 multiple nucleotide genetic variations… a very small set of 135 variations was selected as being potentially related to type 2 diabetes in Caucasians. Compugen studied this set and found a specific enzyme CGEN-4001 which demonstrated the predicted correlation with type 2 diabetes in Caucasians. Lab studies showed that adding the enzyme increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50-80%.”

While the presence of CGEN-4001 can be a predictor of the development of type 2 diabetes it may also lead some medical scientists to wonder if therapies may be developed that could remove CGEN-4001 from the body as a means of reducing the incidence of diabetes.

However, this can be little more than conjecture as studies and research continue into this novel and still potential method of diabetes prediction.

The CGEN-4001 is an enzyme variation of what is known as Phosphofructokinase platelet (PFKP), which is used to effectively deal with glucose. The variation may have something to do with the alterations within the bodies of those who are developing type 2 diabetes.

Compugen, and Israeli based pharmaceutical company gained as much as $2.00 per share on the stock exchange in response to these new findings. According to their website, “Compugen’s mission is to be the world leader in the discovery and licensing of product candidates to the drug and diagnostic industries under milestone and revenue sharing agreements. The Company’s increasing inventory of powerful and proprietary discovery platforms is enabling the predictive discovery – field after field – of numerous therapeutic and diagnostic product candidates. These discovery platforms are based on the Company’s decade-long focus on the predictive understanding of important biological phenomena at the molecular level. Compugen’s current collaborations include Biosite, Medarex, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (a Johnson & Johnson company), Roche, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.”

This current research is in line with their stated mission; “Compugen’s research and discovery efforts are focused on developing unique predictive biology capabilities, which utilize computational technologies and experimental processes, to obtain deeper understandings of life at the molecular level and to incorporate these understandings in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic discovery engines.”

He is a 21st century cattle rustler, a baby-faced cowboy and owes a few years behind bars. Oh, did we mention he has brittle diabetes?

Roddy Dean Pippin is a mere 25 years of age and already a convicted criminal. He sports a bright smile and a cowboy hat. According to the American-Statesman, “Despite cries that to send him back behind bars might be a death sentence, Pippin was headed back to a state jail… to serve the remaining four years of his sentence. Pippin had been freed from state lockups and placed on house arrest about two years ago after questions were raised about whether he could receive proper medical care in prison because of the volatility of his diabetes.”

Pippen surrendered to officials in North Texas recently on horseback. Pippen was quoted last week as saying, “I wasn’t this nervous going in the first time. I’m scared. But now I know what I’m facing. I hope I survive this. I don’t know. I’m just praying. That’s all I know to do.”

Pippen was convicted when he was just 21 years old. He was eventually released on house arrest (wearing an ankle monitor) because of his diabetic condition.

There have been those who have lobbied to get Pippen released from jail so his health conditions can be monitored more easily, but District Attorney John Staley Heatly told the American-Statesman, “It was a plea-bargained sentence (Pippin) agreed to. If he in fact cannot receive proper care (in prison), the law allows him to apply for a medical release. … Instead, he’s trying to get his sentence changed. He owes four years.”

Texas has done an admirable job in seeking to assure critics that Pippen will be monitored in relation to his brittle diabetes.

In a 2005 article Pippen told reporters, “I deserve a lot worse. One hundred years ago, I would have gotten the rope.” Four years later Pippen uses social media to keep in touch with supporters, has a publicity firm managing publicity and he has a video out. District Attorney John Staley Heatly responded to that last bit of news by saying, “”The conditions of his probation required him to be confined to his mother’s home and the immediate vicinity — not out riding along the highways and through the woods. Too bad I didn’t see that two weeks ago. I could’ve filed to revoke him.”

Heatly was responding to the fact that the video was made in a location that was in direct violation of the conditions of his house arrest.

Still, there remains concern for the health of convicted felon Pippen. Robert McCausland, a Dallas-area tech official was quoted by the American-Statesman as saying, “The last time he was in prison, he had to become deathly ill to get help. There is a real possibility he could die. Roddy should not have to pay with his life.”

Pippen has had type 1 diabetes since the age of six and seizures have been common since that time. He agrees that not being able to hold a job due to his condition caused him to make some bad choices, and families who had cattle stolen from them agree. However, Pippen has become something of a darling among a growing fan base because as the American-Stateman said, “He is polite and engaging, speaks often about his religious faith, about riding the plains on his horse Baby Face, about his love of the Texas cowboy legends.”

This perhaps only adds to the debate surrounding diabetes care among prison inmates where the issues are real and easy answers are hard to come by.

A Diabetic’s Birthday Gift: In a slight twist on an old story one young man is providing an example to others that giving means more than getting. The beneficiaries of his idea are diabetics and his ability to give rests on the celebration of his birthday.

There is an old story that tells of a young boy who had never experienced the idea of receiving gifts on his birthday. The idea was foreign to him. During wartime his family took in boarders and when one guest learned that it was the boys birthday he offered him a handful of coins. The boy had no idea why the man would give him money. The man simply said, “These are for gifts.”

The boy smiled and ran from the house in the direction of the General Store. That afternoon he asked all the boarders in the home to come to the kitchen. There the little boy presented each with a ‘gift’. He had understood that the money for gifts was to embrace the joy of purchasing a small gift for those who had made an impact on his life.

We may smile at the naïve nature of the boy, yet there is another young man – this time a flesh and bone counterpart that has placed his own spin on this story. Tanner Fincher is only 8 years old and yet he understands giving in a way most of us do not.

According to El Paso’s KVIS-TV, “For two years now, Tanner has asked people to donate money to a camp scholarship fund instead of giving him a birthday present.”

Tanner’s selfless gesture has brought out the generosity in others. So far the young boy has been able to donate more than $1,000 to the scholarship program. Tanner told KVIS, “I got to see different people who have the same thing as me. Some kids can’t afford to go to diabetes camp so I donated some money for them.”

The generosity of young people like Tanner can work to encourage hardened cynics as to the benefits of generosity for a cause.

Meanwhile, Twilight star Kristen Stewart participated in a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes event recently. The even kicked off at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Stewart was quoted as saying, “It’s amazing to be around such inspiring people.”

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and actor Dorian Gregory who were also using their star power to provide a platform for diabetes awareness joined Stewart.

The JDRF indicates, “As many as 3 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, a disease most often diagnosed in childhood that strikes suddenly, lasts a lifetime, and carries the constant threat of deadly complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. JDRF’s mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Thanks to dramatic research progress, a cure is now within our reach.

”The Walk draws people together in a healthy activity for a worthy cause, raising money to help find a cure for diabetes. It’s fun for families and builds camaraderie among company employees. Above all, it’s an event you will feel good about being a part of.”

And in the end whether it is raising awareness or using birthday money to support diabetic causes we are finding many young people willing to rise to the occasion and answer the call.

Thank you.

Lessons from the Diabetic Capital of the World: Central Chronicle has said India is the, “diabetic capital of the world with 50.8 million (7.1%) of its people suffering from diabetes.” Why is diabetes so prevalent in this country and what can the rest of the world learn from this pandemic?

The U.S. government has been quoted as saying that roughly 8% of the U.S. population has developed diabetes. The most current figure for total diabetes cases in the U.S. is around 24 million. This should put into perspective the total number of people who live in India.

If you think that a simple intellectual diet of information would be enough to combat the disease in India you may not understand some of the forces at work there. Central Chronicle suggests, “A rapid shift in… dietary habits and lifestyles is resulting in a rapid rise in obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Hence a proper and healthy diet remains the cornerstone of prevention and management of these diseases.”

The article describes the profound growth in consumption of fast food compounded with convenience food snacks. This is believed to have contributed substantially to the rise in cases of diabetes within India.

As a guideline the article indicates, “The daily carbohydrate intake, derived from whole wheat, unpolished rice, barley, buckwheat, oats, millet, whole pulses, legumes, and whole fruits like guava/apple etc, should be around 50-60% of total calorie intake.”

It seems clear from the article that the prevailing belief among many in India is that a change in diet has been the leading cause of the rise in diabetes among the people in this Asian country. The Central Chronicle article suggests several guidelines that could help the people of India.

• Visible fat (oil, butter, ghee) and invisible fat (from cereals and pulses), together should be less than 30% of total energy. This can be got by consuming 4 to 5 teaspoonfuls of a combination of two or more vegetable oils. Correct cooking methods like boiling, steaming, roasting, grilling etc, instead of frying can minimize the visible fat intake.
• Trans fatty acids should be less than 1% of the total energy. These are found abundantly in bakery products, ready to use soups and gravies and foods prepared in margarine and vanaspati ghee. Hence it is best to avoid these products.
• Ideal protein intake is 1gm/day for every one kilo of body weight. Thus for the average Indian male, this could be obtained from two bowls of cooked pulses, or 2 pieces of lean chicken/fish meat, or 500ml of double toned milk, or 9 servings of wheat flour. This much of protein will provide 10-15% of the total calories.
• Salt intake should be less than 5gm per day. So, we Indians need to drastically curtail the ever so popular consumption of salted potato chips (a big favourite of children), pickles, and salty fried snacks.
• Sugar in very small amounts and water in excess (about 8-10 glasses) every day, should cap it all.
• Apart from this, it is important to take small frequent meals at intervals of 3-4 hours. While eating out (which has become increasingly popular, even in small towns in India), one should choose small portion sizes of healthy snacks. Beverages like buttermilk, coconut water, fresh lime with water are excellent substitutes for aerated and high calorie drinks. (Source: Central Chronicle)

Having information still remains useless unless that information is used to facilitate change. No one changes without the desire to make the change. The trend toward diabetes will be altered only when people choose for themselves a lifestyle that welcomes positive lifestyle changes and pay attention to what is consumed.

Diabetes and the Words We Say: What if the words you say and the disposition you choose had a direct bearing on your health? A new report suggests it does.

ABC.com recently reported that when we allow ourselves to become angry and utter words that cause additional anger we may be flooding our bodies with hormones and proteins that are damaging to our health.

This report states, “Pennsylvania State University researchers have found a “physiological marker” showing that words can have a significant impact on a person’s health. Scientists have known for at least a decade that stress can cause a rise in proteins that have been linked to cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, arthritis and some cancers.

“But psychologist Jennifer Graham at Penn State reports that choosing words that reflect thoughtfulness, or rationality, or perhaps just caring, can reduce the increase in proteins, called cytokines, such as Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. During stress, those proteins normally go up, thus impairing the immune system.”

It seems that people who actually do care for others, who express both empathy and sympathy may have better overall health than those who are either apathetic or worse yet, angry.

There is an old proverb that says a careful word turns away wrath. The words we choose to say impact the health of the person we talk to – and it impacts our own health.

If you are in a position where you must constantly confront others you may find an overall impact on your health.

Let’s look at this from the perspective of someone who spends time online. It is possible to become involved in a forum or respond to a blog in which you allow your emotions to gain control of your response. You may feel good about your response initially, but may end up regretting – then fretting – over the posted response. If ugly words are traded back and forth you may find elevated stress and all the hormones related to that stress are pouring into your blood stream. Now consider this concept in your relationships with a loved one. If we can learn to control our words and develop a lifestyle that is genuinely concerned with the well being of others we may see a difference in how we ultimately feel.

We exist in a time when stress seems to be the norm, but we are also paying for that stress in terms of bodily damage. We may not be able to escape every stress, but we can learn to manage our response in a way that promotes both physical and psychological health.

The ABC.com report provides ample evidence of how the body responds to stress and arguments between married partners.

One of the proteins released in the heat of stressful arguments is cytokines. MedicineNet.com describes this element as, “A small protein released by cells that has a specific effect on the interactions between cells, on communications between cells or on the behavior of cells. The cytokines includes the interleukins, lymphokines and cell signal molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor and the interferons, which trigger inflammation and respond to infections.”

So in a very real sense your argument could impact inflammations, make infections worse, create conditions for the growth of tumors and ultimately create an environment where diabetes and cardiovascular disease can take over.

We were once told to keep quiet, then later to say whatever was on our minds. Perhaps the new rule is to speak the truth, but do so kindly. Your health is impacted when you chose not to.

The Role of Morbid Obesity in Diabetes: It’s no secret – the American population is growing. This growth is not just in numbers, but also in total size. New reports indicate that 1/5th of all Type 2 diabetics are morbidly obese. What’s the cause for this growth and how can we make changes?

DiabetesInControl suggests, “Among the reasons for the increase in obesity among diabetics and the overall population are inexpensive food, larger portion sizes and consumption of sugary soda.”

That seems pretty straightforward and you have to admit there are restaurants that seem to provide a portion large enough to feed a small country, but the choice as to what we eat and how much we consume is ultimately ours to make.

As to the numbers DiabetesInControl reports, “62.4 percent of U.S. adults with Type 2 diabetes are obese, and 20.7 percent are morbidly obese. Among African American adults with Type 2 diabetes, 1 in 3 is morbidly obese.”

Dr. Holly Kramer is a kidney specialist and lead author of the report cited in DiabetesInControl. Kramer believes there are, “substantial public health implications,” in these findings. Kramer said, “Between the survey periods 1976-1980 and 2005-2006, there was a 141 percent increase in the rate of morbid obesity among adults with Type 2 diabetes.”

Mosby’s Medical Dictionary describes morbid obesity as, “an excess of body fat, or weight of 100 pounds over ideal body weight, that increases the risk of developing cardiac and endocrine disturbances, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, as well as some kinds of cancer.”

This condition tends to propel a diabetic forward into advanced medical need and at the same time projects an inability to manage health and wellness without intervention.

DiabetesInControl suggests, “Diabetics already are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, and obesity further increases this risk, especially among women. Obesity also increases other diabetes complications, including end-stage kidney disease. Other obesity complications include sleep-disordered breathing, arthritis and fatty liver disease.” This can add to the stress of attempting to manage your diabetes on your own.

TopNews.co.uk suggests a secondary indicator of diabetes potential. “Recent research has revealed that people who snore heavily and frequently are at least 50% more at risk of developing diabetes than those who sleep quietly. As per the study, which was undertaken at the Yale University in US to study a ‘snoring-related condition called sleep apnea’, people who snore regularly are more prone to experiencing changes in the body’s metabolism and this can lead to diabetes,” it reported.

The common points of reversal for those moving towards diabetes are to reduce portion size (remember the stomach was designed to hold food the equivalent size of your fist) and to exercise. These two seem easy enough, yet the stress of 21st century living can make self-control and body discipline a difficult prospect for most. Sometimes the change you need to make would be beneficial for your entire family. By making health objectives a family mission you could end up with a scenario where family members work to keep each other accountable for wise choices and may spur each other into improved levels of physical activity. One alternative for those who are morbidly obese is gastric bypass surgery, but many physicians view this alternative as a last resort.

Diabetes: Universal Health Dilemma: Because Diabetic Live is based in the United States we will generally provide coverage that comes from the United States. However for this report we take a look at information from a few other countries that also struggle with a growing number of citizens who live with diabetes.

According to DiabetesAustralia there are a number of facts their organization considers important in their response to diabetes. Consider the following.

• An estimated 275 Australians develop diabetes every day. The 2005 Australian AusDiab Follow-up Study (Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study) showed that 1.7 million Australians have diabetes but that up to half of the cases of type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed. By 2031 it is estimated that 3.3 million Australians will have type 2 diabetes (Vos et al., 2004).
• The total financial cost of type 2 diabetes is estimated at $10.3 billion. Of this, carer costs were estimated as $4.4 billion, productivity losses were $4.1 billion, health system costs were $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion was due to obesity.
• A reduction in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes will not only result in cost savings in the health budget, but increased participation and productivity in the workforce and, most importantly, better health outcomes and quality of life for Australians.
• There is no doubt diabetes is a serious health crisis but it’s not all bad news. Up to 60% of cases of type 2 can be prevented and we know that good blood glucose control and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve the complications associated with diabetes.
• 275 Australians develop diabetes every day.
• Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease.
• About 890,000 Australians are currently diagnosed with diabetes. For every person diagnosed, it is estimated that there is another who is not yet diagnosed; a total of about 1.7 million people.
• The total number of Australians with diabetes and pre-diabetes is estimated at 3.2 million.
• As the sixth leading cause of death in Australia, it is critical we take action.
• Up to 60% of cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented. (Source: Diabetes Australia)

Ironically this information is not significantly unique when compared to many other locations in the world – including the United States.

On our border to the north in Canada the citizens there are part of a nationalized health plan, but some are concerned about the care diabetic residents are receiving. Consider the following.

According to The Gazette a Canadian Institute for Health Information report, “Found care for those with diabetes varied across regions and income levels. The study found that only 32 per cent of diabetes patients across the country received four key medically recommended regular tests for the ailment.”

In some locations diabetic testing on these four key medical areas was as low as 21%. For your reference the four areas viewed as important in the study included, “Blood glucose levels, urine protein, dilated eyes and to check their feet for sores or irritations.” While most practitioners conducted one or more tests it was rare that a practitioner would conduct all four on a diabetic patient in Canada.

This information is causing many Canadians to demand national standards that focus on the diabetic patient in order to improve the level of care provided to their patients.

A Sensible Approach to Christmas: For some reason when Christmas rolls around it can be easy to begin naming all the things you love. Your emotions are tied to tastes, scents and sights of the holiday. When you have diabetes you may find your emotional wants in conflict with what your body needs.

If you’re like me you might hear the tune “Favorite Things” rolling through your mind as you consider what you like best about the holiday.

Fudge squares on nice plates and brownies with caramel
Mom’s homemade stuffing and warm ‘taters drizzled
With butter or cream – and maybe some cheese
These are a few of my favorite things

When the bird’s done
When the pie’s won
When I’m feeling full
I simply remember my favorite things
So why do I feel so bad.

It can be easy to think that at Christmas we can allow ourselves to fully enjoy ourselves – especially if we have done an exceptional job at managing our diabetes. However, the things that cause your body problems the other 364 days of the year WILL cause problems December 25th. Our stomachs will still only need total mealtime food roughly the size of a balled fist.

If you have minimized carbohydrates as part of your diabetes management (most type 2 diabetics will) you will find your body won’t do well if you infuse lots of carbs in one meal.

This brings up the topic of carb management. It will be helpful if you can get a handle on the approximate carbs you will find in traditional Christmas foods. For instance bread that is light and high in fiber will be a better choice than bread that is heavy. Squash will have less negative impact on your blood sugar than potatoes.

It will not be especially helpful to set aside physical activity during the holidays. It may seem to be an inconvenience, but the truth is it will be important to your enjoyment of the holiday. If you have swings in your blood sugar levels you will not be able to engage in holiday festivities the way you may like. It is likely you can find another family member that would welcome the opportunity to walk with you or if your climate allows it, ride a bike.

You can use certain proteins to help offset a potential blood sugar spike caused by carbs. For instance eating almonds after a meal with abundant carbs can help reduce a spike in blood sugar. On the other hand if you suffer from low blood sugar you should have juice or other active food product that can help raise your blood sugar to acceptable levels if required.

In most cases your host or hostess may not know enough about diabetes to be sensitive to what you may need. You will need to kindly assume the role of personal protector by graciously declining certain foods and enjoying those that can help you maintain positive health. The end result will be a better overall holiday experience with family and friends.

One way to add a positive spin to your holiday experience is to bring one or two of your own diabetic friendly recipes that will allow you an increased comfort level and offer you an opportunity to dialogue with your host or hostess about diabetes.

Here’s to a great Christmas and a New Year in which diabetes advances may lead to a cure.

Prostate Cancer Therapy: Diabetes Risk: Common treatments for prostate cancer in men may create an environment in which Type 2 diabetes can develop more easily. More than 37,000 men were involved in the four-year study led by a researcher from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

According to TheGlobeAndMail.com, “More than one in five men who undergo androgen deprivation therapy – a form of castration common after prostate cancer treatment – subsequently develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes they otherwise would not have.”

The core finding of the report discovered in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, “shows that the risk of heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac death and diabetes in men who underwent ADT was 20 to 30 per cent higher than the risk in men who did not undergo the therapy.”

What Increased the Diabetic Risk?
TheGlobeAndMail.com reported, “The risks were highest in men taking a class of medications called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which induce chemical castration. These drugs, which are injected by a physician or implanted under the skin every few months, include leuprolide (brand name Lupron) and goserelin (Zoladex).”

A second procedure features a similar risk; “Men who opted for orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testicles) also had elevated rates of heart disease and diabetes.”

Are There Other Options?
The role of therapy for prostate cancer can’t be minimized, but if the therapy increases, other and equally problematic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes often develop. The statistics from this new report suggests that, “men who took oral androgen agonists after prostate surgery did not have higher rates of disease. The drugs, taken in daily pill form, include flutamide (Euflex) and bicalutamide (Casodex).”

Because prostate cancer is generally a slow growth disease it can be easy for doctors to view testosterone deprivation as a positive answer to slow or eliminate this hormonal based cancer. Ironically there appears to be evidence that suggests it has been known for a long time that most approaches to prostate cancer treatment elevates multiple risks. Yet these treatments are being conducted on men at younger ages. TheGlobeAndMail.com report states, “Almost one-quarter of the men under 55 and more than half the men over 75 received ADT, even though there is no firm evidence that treatment reduces mortality.”

The reintroduction of this evidence with new statistics in a fresh study may cause patients and physicians to work together to identify a treatment that takes all aspects of individual health into consideration. There is some evidence to suggest that chemical or medical castration has not proven to directly impact human mortality in connection with prostate cancer. On the other hand there is mounting evidence to suggest that this procedure can ultimately lead to more pronounced health risks.

TheGlobeAndMail.com report states, “An estimated 500,000 men in North America have undergone androgen (testosterone) deprivation therapy, and their ranks are increasing by 40,000 a year.”

While prostate cancer is a troubling condition its effects may be minimized because of its slow growth. Physicians may wonder if it is in the patients best interests to potentially minimize one risk at the expense of multiple new risks. If the physician truly believes in the Hippocratic oath of, “First do no harm” then there must be consideration given to other troubling conditions such as diabetes in men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and elect to undergo testosterone reduction therapies.