Study Finds Flavonoids Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Consuming a diet rich in flavonoids might reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. This is according to a new study, published in the peer-reviewed medical journal the Journal of Nutrition, which found that women who consumed more flavonoids –found in tea, berries and, yes, red wine and chocolate – appeared to have less biological signs they were heading for type 2 diabetes. These women had lower insulin resistance and lower insulin levels than those consuming lower levels of flavonoids – but does this mean you can consume as much chocolate and red wine as you want? Probably not.

 

The study researchers, who came from the University of East Anglia and King’s College London, commented that information from laboratory experiments suggests that several flavonoid subclasses are involved in glucose metabolism – a key part of diabetes. However, according to the NHS website, ‘This study does not give the green light to drink red wine above the recommended levels or to consume chocolate often – any potential benefits of diabetes prevention are likely to be overshadowed by the already known risks of excessive sugar, fat and alcohol consumption, including liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer… A proven method of reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight, and contrary to media reports, a diet rich in wine and chocolate is not going to help you with that.’

 

The researchers used food questionnaires filled in by a group of 1,997 women aged 18 to 76 who were taking part in the Twins UK registry. From these results, they calculated the women’s intake of flavonoids and a range of flavonoid sub-classes from food and drink, and compared them to a number of markers of type 2 diabetes that were measured during a clinical assessment between 1996 and 2000. These markers included fasting blood glucose, insulin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor and adiponectin. Tea was the main source of total flavonoid (81%), flavan-3-ol (91%), flavonol (63%), and polymer (83%) intake. Grapes, pears, wine and berries contributed >10% of anthocyanin intake, and oranges, wine and peppers to >10% of flavone intake.

 

The researchers found that those who had a high intake of anthocyanins were significantly more likely to have lower insulin resistance and lower fasting insulin levels. Therefore, the investigators came to the conclusion that ‘the findings of the current study provide an insight into the potential mechanisms by which anthocyanins may act to reduce type 2 diabetes risk and are consistent with previous studies investigating intake of specific flavonoid subclasses and type 2 diabetes risk.’ They added, ‘It is plausible that increasing intakes of anthocyanin-rich foods, such as grapes, berries, and wine, would lead to greater improvements in insulin resistance because in vitro [in the laboratory] studies have shown previously that this is dose-dependent relation.’

 

However, the NHS website warns, ‘The bottom line is that this study only highlights a possible link and cannot prove cause and effect. A clinical trial is needed before these results can be believed. We would have no problem promoting a diet rich in fresh fruits such as berries and oranges. However, care should be taken with tea; excessive amounts of caffeine may trigger symptoms of irritability and insomnia in some people. As with chocolate and wine, it could be the case that any potential benefit is outweighed by the risk, such as liver disease and obesity.’ Again, however, this is not an excuse to overdo it on more than the recommended levels of chocolate and red wine – or at least, not until a larger study comes to the same conclusions.

Categories: Diabetes risk, diet rich, flavonoid subclasses, flavonoids, insulin levels, insulin resistance, nhs website, recommended levels, Red Wine, reduce type, Research, Type 2 Diabetes

Could a Cheese and Wine Evening Save You from Diabetes?

The Mediterranean diet now has another feather in its wellness cap, thanks to a new large observational study. European research, published in the journal Diabetologia, has shown that if you follow a Mediterranean diet (which means chomping on fish, fruit and vegetables and healthy fats from olive oil), you’re potentially protecting your wellbeing against type 2 diabetes, especially compared to people who don’t go Mediterranean.

 

The study also discovered that a diet which a low-glycaemic load – meaning that it regulates your intake of carbs based on how they impact your blood sugar levels – can also lower your diabetes risk, while combining the best of both worlds and having a low-glycaemic Mediterranean diet means you’ll have the greatest benefit. These results are based on data from 22,295 people who were followed for more than 11 years. The researchers recorded dietary and diabetes information during this time, throughout which 2,330 people developed the type 2 variety of the disease.

 

In their study, the researchers wrote, ‘The influence of the Mediterranean diet against diabetes risk was independent of GL [glycaemic load] levels, and individuals with a high MDS [Mediterranean diet score] and a low GL tended to have the lowest diabetes risk. It is not difficult to envisage a low-GL Mediterranean diet, since olive oil and vegetables dominate this diet and do not contribute, or contribute only marginally, to the GL.’

 

The results of the study revealed that participants who were the most gung-ho for the Mediterranean diet were 12% less likely to develop diabetes than those who abided by it the least faithfully. At the other end of the scale, people who ate more carbs were 21% more likely to develop diabetes than the participants who consumed the fewest carbs. The researchers added, ‘the combined protection imparted by a diet with a high MDS and a low GI was about 20%.’

 

 

Still, this isn’t the only study to show how different diets can impact your diabetes risk:

 

1. Cheese. According to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, cheese (despite it’s less-than-healthy reputation) can lower your risk of diabetes by 12%, and the more you eat, the more you protect yourself against the disease.

 

2. Tree nuts. Researchers from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Centre, who published their results in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that regularly eating tree nuts reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, almonds and cashews lower your levels of an inflammation marker called C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart disease and other chronic conditions. Plus, they raise your levels of the “good” HDL cholesterol, and lower your BMI.

 

3. British fruits. Another American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that people who eat apples, pears and blueberries are at a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat these British beauties. The researchers looked at the diets of 200,000 people, and determined that it was the anthocyanins in the fruits that reduced diabetes risk; flavanoids, however, did not.

 

4. Alcohol. Yes, in moderation, drinking alcohol is linked with a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes for women with refined carb-heavy diets, according to an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study. Study researcher Frank Hu commented, ‘If you eat a high carb diet without drinking alcohol, your risk of developing diabetes is increased by 30%. However, if you eat a high carb diet, but (drink) a moderate amount of alcohol, the increased risk is reduced.’

 

I say it’s time for a cheese and wine evening, with a few fruity and nutty nibbles, don’t you?

Categories: american journal, cheese, clinical nutrition, develop diabetes, Diabetes, Diabetes risk, drinking alcohol, heart disease, high mds, Mediterranean diet, wine evening

What’s the Latest on Diabetes Prevention and Treatment?

While the statistics show that diabetes is more of a health concern than ever, there is plenty of breakthrough research into preventive and treatment methods, so you can protect your wellbeing against the disease. We’ve rounded up the latest diabetes advice that wellness experts and researchers have to offer:

 

1. Let’s Get Together: In a recent study carried out by the University of Pittsburgh, diabetics managed better success with their control of the disease by gathering a great support team. Teaming up with family members, the doctor, and the doctor’s staff helped people with diabetes improved their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure by a whopping 40% or more.

 

2. Do Dairy: According to research of 2,000 women, which appeared in the Journal of Nutrition, eating low-fat dairy products lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers surmised that certain proteins in milk support beneficial insulin secretion, while dairy’s content of vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium may also lower the risk of diabetes. Alternately, dairy might be good for diabetes prevention because it stops you eating unhealthy foods like sweetened beverages or snacks, which can raise diabetes risk. Either way, pass the cheese, please.

 

3. Pack your diet with plenty of produce: Among the many benefits that come with eating lots of fruit and veg, a produce-rich diet can be a powerful way to reduce your diabetes risk. This is according to a new study from the Institute of Metabolic Science in Cambridge, who investigated the eating habits of over 3,700 adults between the ages of 40 and 79. After an 11-year follow-up, the researchers found that those who at the most fruits and vegetables (about six servings every day) were 21% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who had the lowest produce intake (about two servings a day).

 

4. Your Individuality Matters: If you already have diabetes, it’s vital that you stay current on the latest recommendations, as the American Diabetes Association have recently release new guidelines on blood sugar levels. The Association recommend basing your blood sugar goals on individual risk factors, such as your age, health status, complications etc. If you’re older than 65 and have certain issues, you may have less rigid numbers to hit. This is partly because of concerns about the side effects of too many medications, as well as low blood sugar levels.

 

5. Rice, Rice, Baby: Harvard researchers recently discovered a correlation between your white rice intake and your diabetes risk; the greater your intake, the higher your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This finding was based ondata from more than 350,000 participants over the course of four to 22 years. It’s not hard to see why white rice isn’t good for your diabetes risk, as it is a high glycaemic food, meaning you digest it quickly and it spikes your blood sugar. Plus, compared to its brown rice counterpart, white rice has fewer vitamins and lower levels of fibre and magnesium.

 

6. Plastic ain’t fantastic: Phthalates, found in such wide-ranging products as building materials, clothing, cosmetics and personal-care products, food packaging, toys, perfumes, and vinyl products, could double your risk of diabetes if found in high levels in your blood. Swedish researchers, who published their findings in the journal Diabetes Care, studied over 1,000 older men and women to come to this conclusion, and suspect that the common chemicals may disrupt your insulin production.

 

7. Change Your Self-Image:  A study from the Technical University of Lisbon in Portugal gave overweight women classes about body image and emotional eating, whilst others received typical diet advice. The women in the self-image group lose 3.5 times more weight in a year than those in the other group, as well as shedding their worries about body shape and size.

Categories: Blood Sugar, Diabetes Prevention, Diabetes risk, Diabetes Treatment, Research, sugar levels, white rice

Shocking Stats: 89% of the Unaware US are Near-Diabetic

Federal health officials have reported that of the estimated 79 million Americans whose wellbeing is at risk of diabetes, only 11% know about it. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these people have a condition known as pre-diabetes, which means that their blood sugar levels are higher than normal, which puts them in danger of developing diabetes.

Report author Ann Albright, director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation, explained, ‘We have a huge issue with the small number of people who know they have it. It’s up a bit from when we measured it last, but it’s still abysmally low. We need people to understand their risk and take action if they are at risk for diabetes. We know how to prevent type 2 diabetes, or at least delay it, so there are things people can do, but the first step is knowing what your risk is – to know if you have pre-diabetes.’

Albright said that there are many wellness risk factors for having pre-diabetes, including being overweight or obese, being physically inactive and not eating a healthy diet. She noted that whether or not you fall into one of these categories, it’s always a good idea to see your doctor and have your blood sugar levels checked. The disease also has a genetic component, according to Albright, which is why having a family history of diabetes is another risk factor. ‘Your genetics loads the gun, then your lifestyle pulls the trigger,’ she said.

The report was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and showed that the lack of pre-diabetes awareness was the same across the board, irrespective of income, education, health insurance or access to health care. Dr Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that the numbers are, at the very least, troubling. ‘People don’t know about pre-diabetes, they don’t exercise, they don’t eat appropriate foods and we are going to have many more diabetics in the near future than we have now,’ Mezitis said.

Pre-diabetes is such a concern because it can lead to diabetes, as well as problems with your heart, kidneys, circulation and vision. Albright noted that 30% or more of those with pre-diabetes will develop diabetes over the next ten years, but she also pointed out, ‘the good news is we know there are things you can do to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. You can prevent or delay diabetes if you lose 5% to 7% of your body weight and get 150 minutes of physical activity a week.’

Dr Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Centre at Montefiore Medical Centre in New York City, added that exercise and diet can reduce your risk of diabetes by about 58%, and ‘giving the drug metformin can reduce the risk by 31%. Lifestyle changes, together with metformin, which the American Diabetes Association recommends for pre-diabetes, will be very effective.’

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Shocking Stats: 89% of the Unaware US are Near-Diabetic

Categories: Diabetes risk, Prediabetes, Unknown