Women Should Not
Restrict Insulin
Women with type 1 diabetes who want to prevent weight
gain should not cut back on insulin, according to a study
reported in Diabetes Care (March 2008). The study involved
234 women and teens with the disease.
At the study onset, the researchers found that 30% of the
women were limiting the amount of insulin they took at
least part of the time. The women were followed for 11
years, and any deaths or complications from their disease
were noted. The findings indicated that women who
restricted their insulin were more prone to higher rates of
complications (eg, kidney disease). The researchers also
noted that women who limited their insulin were more likely
to die young. Women who skipped insulin shots and then
died during the study also exhibited more symptoms of eating
disorders.
Diabetics on Dialysis:
A1C Test Unreliable
New research indicates that the hemoglobin A1C test is
not reliable for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Health
care experts believe that a more accurate measure is the
amount of glycated albumin in the bloodstream, because it
does not depend on the survival of red blood cells. The glycated
albumin test, however, is not currently available in the
United States.
The current study, reported in Kidney International
(February 20, 2008), compared A1C and glycated albumin
testing on blood samples from 307 patients with diabetes. Of
the participants, 258 were on hemodialysis. The result "supports
the glycated albumin test as a more accurate measure
of long-term blood sugar control among diabetic patients
who are on hemodialysis," said Barry I. Freedman, MD, senior
author of the study.
Eat Your Veggies
A study of 64,191 middle-aged
Chinese women found that greater
consumption of vegetables may lower
the odds of developing type 2 diabetes
by almost 30%. A greater intake of fruit
was not associated with any benefits,
reported researchers in the March
2008 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.
Using a food-frequency questionnaire,
the researchers reported that
the women had average fruit and vegetable
intakes of 239.4 g and 236 g per
day, respectively. The investigators
assessed dietary intakes at the start of
the study and again after 4.6 years.
During the study, 1608 cases of type
2 diabetes were documented. Consumption
of the most vegetables, averaging
428 g per day, was linked with a
28% lower risk of developing type 2
diabetes, compared with the consumption
of the lowest average amount
(121.5 g per day). One study limitation
was that the research focused only on
Chinese women, which limits the ability
to generalize the results to other
populations.
Despite study limitations, the researchers
said that the findings add to
the body of evidence associating vegetable
intake with a lower risk of diabetes.
The study, however, does not
prove causality.
Disabilities Greater for
Senior Diabetics
Seniors with diabetes face greater physical limitations that
could hinder their independence.A study of >800 adults aged 65
or older found that those with diabetes had difficulty walking and
performing routine tasks.
Overall, 46% of those with diabetes needed some mobility
aid (eg, cane or walker), compared with 31% of individuals without
the disease. In addition, 4% of patients with diabetes were
"highly dependent" on another individual to care for them,
compared with 1% of those without diabetes. Reporting in
Diabetes Care (February 2008), the researchers noted that the
patients with diabetes also had more coexisting health problems,
including high blood pressure, that could have added to
their physical limitations.
Pollution May Raise
Diabetes Risk
University of Cambridge researchers may have found a link
between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and insulin
resistance.
The study, reported in the January 26, 2008, issue of the
Lancet, said peer-reviewed research showed that individuals
with high levels of POPs in their blood were at greater risk for
adult-onset diabetes (type 2 diabetes). The investigators further
explained that current research into type 2 diabetes
focuses on obesity and genetics, with little consideration for
the possible effect of environmental factors.
"Of course correlation does not automatically imply causation,"
said researcher Oliver Jones, PhD. "But if there is indeed
a link, the health implications could be tremendous."
F A S T F A C T : Of the US population, 7% have diabetes.
