Diabetes News
Week of June 4, 2000 |
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Smoking And Gum Disease
Smoking has long been
linked to numerous health problems. Just recently, research
reported in this newsletter described a
connection between smoking and heart disease. Now, doctors have found
that smoking can contribute to gum disease, which can lead to
numerous other problems as well.
The research on smoking and gum disease was conducted by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia,
and was published in the Journal of Periodontology. The
researchers reviewed health data of 12,000 US adults from
1988-1994. They found that there was a direct correlation
between the duration and intensity of smoking and the risk for
gum disease.
According to the American
Academy of Periodontology, people who smoke less than
half a pack a day are three times more likely to have gum
disease than those who don't smoke. Even more dramatic is the
statistic that those who smoke more than a pack and a half a day
are six times as likely to develop gum problems than those who
do not smoke.
Smoking is linked to gum disease because it reduces the
amount of oxygen and nutrients that can be delivered to gum
tissue. Also, when people smoke, their natural defenses against
infections are impaired, so they are more likely to develop
health problems like gum disease. Gum disease itself can lead to
more serious health problems, such as heart disease, respiratory
problems, and diabetes.
On a more positive note, it seems that the risk for gum
disease decreases when a person quits smoking. Former smokers
who haven't smoked in eleven years have no greater a risk for
gum disease than people who have never smoked. That's another
incentive to put out that cigarette for good!
Controversial New Diet Guidelines
Does the US Department of Agriculture really know what
constitutes a healthy diet and do they act on it?
Every five years, the US Department of Agriculture releases
the US Dietary Guidelines, which comprise the government's
official recommendations for what Americans should eat. Although
some changes were made from the last guidelines, critics of the
new guidelines believe
that this year's report was influenced more by economics than sound
medical advice.
A group called the Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine is petitioning the USDA, saying
that the government's guidelines are much too weak, and do not
actually support an entirely healthy diet. The committee charges
that the USDA gave in to pressures from the meat and dairy
industries when they included these foods as staples instead of
reserving them as optional in a healthy person's diet.
The committee has based their petition on the National
Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act, which says that
the guidelines have to be based on available scientific
knowledge. The committee says that there is no scientific reason
for the omission of information on the connection between
vegetarian diets and the reduction in risk of heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, stroke, and other diseases. Information about
vegetarian diets was included in the 1995 version of the
guidelines, but omitted in the 2000 version.
In response to the USDA's guidelines, the Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine has created their own dietary
guidelines which emphasize grains, vegetables, fruits, and
legumes. They recommend avoiding animal fat and vegetable
shortenings, and a minimal intake of sugar, salt, and alcohol.
President Clinton
expressed his support for the new dietary guidelines, especially for the inclusion
of exercise. The guidelines recommend that adults and children
exercise for 30 minutes every day, and state that this can
reduce the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes.
This was the first time that the guidelines included information
about the importance of exercise.
What motivates people to start and stick to a healthy plan of
diet and exercise? New research shows that many people
with Type 2 diabetes who need to adopt healthier lifestyles, don't even try, and those
that do try dieting and exercise often give up quickly.
Doctors from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research
in Indianapolis have published results of their study in a
recent issue of Preventative Medicine. The study included 733
people with Type 2 who were between the ages of 50 and 62.
Approximately 86% of these people were overweight or obese. When
the study began, 80% of the group stated that they were dieting
in the hopes of controlling their blood sugar as well as losing
weight. Likewise, 66% said they were exercising, and 75% said
they did not smoke.
At the end of the study 44% of those who were trying to lose
weight at the beginning of the study had stopped trying. Also,
of those who had said they were exercising at the beginning of
the study, far more had quit their exercising than those who
continued to exercise.
The doctors hope that more research will be conducted in
order to understand the reasons why people decide to begin
and continue healthy lifestyles.
New Diet-- Got Milk?
When many people diet, the first foods they
decrease or eliminate are dairy products. However, new research
suggests that this may be the wrong approach.
According to research in The Federation of American Societies
for Experimental Biology journal, it may actually be helpful to
consume 3-4 servings of low fat milk or other lowfat dairy foods
per day to help the body
decrease fat production and break down fat, as well as obtain
calcium.
Although the information sounds promising, it is
important to note that the research was provided by the National
Dairy Council, which has more than a passing interest in
Americans' consumption of dairy products.
Birth Weight And Kidney Disease
When babies are born with low weights, doctors and parents
are concerned about immediate health risks. However, new
research indicates that a low birth weight may lead to health
problems later on, and may increase the risk for end-stage renal
disease. This is a form of kidney failure so advanced that
transplants are often needed.
Researchers studied 1,230 people with end-stage
renal disease who were younger than 50. The results showed that
those who were born weighing less than 5.5 pounds were 40% more
likely to develop the disease than those with heavier birth
weights.
Doctors believe the link is due to the kidney's filtering
system, comprised of nephrons. Previous studies have shown that premature
babies have fewer nephrons, which may lead to kidney problems
later on.
This research was conducted by doctors from the Medical University of South Carolina in
Charleston and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Similar research has indicated that low birth weight may be
linked to asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, and
diabetes. The reason for this may be poor nutrition during
pregnancy and after birth. When low birth weight babies are
given a calorie overload to increase their weight, they may be
put at risk for later problems with weight, and diseases
associated with obesity.
Babies In Sweden Tested For
Diabetes
A new study to be conducted in Sweden is designed to help
identify those people who are at risk for developing Type 1
diabetes. Researchers hope that these individuals will then
receive the medical care they need.
The study will involve 10,000 babies, and will be conducted
by Diamyd Medical. Diamyd hopes to develop a diabetes vaccine to
use on the babies who are found to be high risk.
For now, mothers will not be informed if they have babies who
are at high risk for diabetes, since no cure is available.
The likelihood of finding a vaccine is somewhat remote since
the mechanisms that create Type 1 are as yet unclear and
suspected to be widespread.
Financial Report From Telemetrix
The company CME Telemetrix Inc. has recently released their
financial report of the first quarter of the fiscal year 2000.
This company is currently developing a non-invasive blood
glucose monitoring device.
The company is adopting a more aggressive growth
strategy, in which the glucose monitor plays a major role. CME
has also formed an alliance with Motorola, which purchased a 5%
share in exchange for worldwide marketing rights. When the
glucose monitor comes on the market, Motorola will pay a royalty
to CME based on the product's net selling price.
Larry King Joins JDF
The Juvenile Diabetes
Foundation (JDF) has recently elected six new members to
its International Board of Directors, one of whom is CNN talk
show host Larry King. King has long been a supporter of JDF, and
has Type 2 diabetes himself.
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