The Facts. Despite its name, the sweet potato, a member of the morning glory family of plants, is not related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum). There are about 400 varieties in different skin and flesh colors (white, purple, yellow, orange), some round or oblong, like a potato, others long and slender with tapered ends. Common varieties like Garnet or Japanese Purple have different textures (firm and dry or soft and moist) and degrees of sweetness. One medium sweet potato has just 103 calories, yet packs 438% DV (DV=Daily Value, based on 2,000 calories/day) of vision-protecting vitamin A, 37% DV of antioxidant vitamin C, and the powerful, health-promoting plant compounds, beta carotene and anthocyanins, that give the yellow/orange and purple varieties respectively, their color.

The Findings. Antioxidant capacity of sweet potatoes is mainly due to anthocyanin and carotenoid content, consumption of which is associated with lower risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive performance (Antioxidants, 2022). Orange-fleshed sweet potato ranked number one among all vegetables from a dietary point of view and nutritional perspective, according to a review of studies in different countries (Food Science & Nutrition, 2019), due in part to its significant vitamin A content, especially needed in countries with vitamin A deficiencies.

The Finer Points. Peak season for sweet potatoes is October through December, but they are available all year. Select small and medium sweet potatoes for a sweeter, moister flesh. Choose those with smooth, firm, and blemish-free skin.  Store in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place, but never refrigerate them. Sweet or savory, these taters will not disappoint. Bake them whole and top with yogurt, nuts, and maple syrup, mash with regular potatoes, or cut into fries and roast.

The post Savor the Sweet Potato appeared first on University Health News.

Studies show that type 2 diabetes increases your risk for Alzheimer’s disease by about 60 percent. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. About 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and that number is increasing as people live longer. One in eight people will have Alzheimer’s disease after age 65. By age 85, 50 percent of people have Alzheimer’s disease.

What Are the Warning Signs of Type 3 Diabetes?

Even without developing Alzheimer’s disease, people with type 2 diabetes may have more memory problems as they get older than people without diabetes. They may also have problems with executive brain functions. These are high-level brain functions like organizing, planning, and decision making.

Having Type 2 diabetes doubles your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Signs of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias include memory loss, loss of ability to learn, loss of executive functions, changes in personality, loss of ability to communicate, and a gradual loss of the ability to do every day activities of life.

How Does Type 2 Diabetes Become Type 3 Diabetes?

Men and women with type 2 diabetes have double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than people without diabetes. Women with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk than men of developing another type of dementia called vascular dementia. This dementia is caused by decreased blood supply to the brain. If you have type 2 diabetes, your risk of type 3 diabetes increases even more if you have high blood pressure, a family history of dementia in a close relative (parent or sibling), obesity, or sleep apnea.

Although the exact way type 2 diabetes causes type 3 diabetes is not known. These are some possible ways:

• High blood sugar may cause inflammation in the brain that increases the risk of proteins called amyloid plaques and tao tangles. These proteins cause nerve cell damage and Alzheimer’s disease.
• High blood sugar damages blood vessels and decreases blood flow to the brain. This may cause the death of brain cells and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Insulin resistance decreases the ability of brain cells to use insulin for energy. This may lead to nerve cell damage and Alzheimer’s disease.

Can You Reduce Your Risk of Type 3 Diabetes?

Yes, you can. About half your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is preventable with lifestyle changes. These are the lifestyle changes:

• Get regular exercise. That means about 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day or at least on 5 days out of the week, along with some type of muscle-strengthening exercise twice per week.
• Eat a healthy diet. That includes avoiding fats and red meats, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, avoiding added sugar and processed foods, and increasing whole grains.
• Get to a healthy weight and stay there. Having a lot of weight around your belly is a risk for both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Work with your diabetes care provider to get your blood sugar under control.
• Exercise your mind as well as your body. Mental exercises that challenge your brain help to reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Work with your health care providers to manage high blood pressure and your cholesterol.

The best way to prevent type 3 diabetes is to avoid type 2 diabetes. The good news is that lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease also reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes. Ask your health care provider about your risk for type 2 and type 3 diabetes and what you can do to lower your risk.

The post Type 3 Diabetes: Does Diabetes Cause Memory Loss? appeared first on University Health News.

Along with giving basic information like your name and address and showing identification, you will be asked a lot of questions about your health and travel. You will also have your blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin checked. Hemoglobin is a finger stick test that tells how healthy your red blood cells are. In most states, you need to be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Other Blood Donation Requirements

If you have low hemoglobin, a fever, very high or low blood pressure, very low or high pulse, you will not be able to donate, although you may be able to donate in the future if these conditions are corrected. If you have any symptoms of an active infection, cold, or flu, you will have to reschedule your appointment when you are well.

You will be asked about your medication history. Over-the-counter medicines and most prescription medicines are acceptable. If you are taking a blood thinner, you will not be able to donate. You will be asked about any travel outside the United States. If you may have been exposed to malaria, Zika virus, or Ebola, you will not be able to donate. Other blood donation requirements may include:

• Not having donated blood less than 56 days before this donation
• Noy having hepatitis B or C, or sexual contact with anyone with hepatitis B or C
• Not getting a tattoo in the past 3 months
• Not been diagnosed with AIDS
• No history of sex with a man in the past 3 months if you are a man
• Noy being pregnant or giving birth in the last 6 weeks

The Difference Between Blood and Plasma Donation

Whole blood has red blood cells and blood-clotting cells called platelets. These cells float in blood fluid called plasma. Plasma has proteins that help stop bleeding. During a plasma donation, blood is removed the same way as for whole blood. The donated blood is run through an automated blood separating device. This device takes the plasma but returns the cells to you.

Plasma is used to replace whole blood in an emergency situation where there is rapid blood loss. Plasma donation requirements are the same as whole blood requirements. The main difference between plasma donation requirements and whole blood donation are:

• Blood types AB positive or negative are preferred because this plasma can be given to anyone in an emergency situation.
• Plasma donation takes longer, about 1 hour and 15 minutes (whole blood donation only takes about 15 minutes).
• You can donate plasma more frequently than whole blood because you do not need your body to make new red cells. You can donate every 28 days up to 13 times in a year.

What Medications & Medical Conditions Disqualify You from Donating Blood?

Some medical conditions may be disqualifications for donating blood or plasma. They include:

• People with diabetes who do not have controlled blood sugar from insulin or other medications
• Asthma, if it limits your activities or breathing
• Any condition that increases your risk of bleeding
• Any blood cancer or other cancer that is active or was treated in within the last year
• Certain treatments for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
• Heart disease that is untreated or has caused symptoms in the last 6 months
• Hemochromatosis
• Symptoms of hepatitis like jaundice
• Sickle cell disease (not sickle cell trait)
• Active tuberculous

If you can give blood based on these requirements, then you should consider it. Healthy adults can give blood twice a year, and each donation can help up to three people!

The post Review These Blood Donation Requirements Before Giving Blood appeared first on University Health News.

What Causes Reactive Hypoglycemia?

Diabetics often get low blood sugar when they take insulin or another antidiabetic medication that drops their blood sugar too low. Insulin, which is produced by you pancreas, is secreted when you eat. It helps sugar (glucose) get into your cells where you need it for energy. Too much insulin causes blood sugar to drop too quickly. Once that energy source is used up, there is not enough blood sugar to replace it, and you get symptoms of hypoglycemia. [1-2]

Reactive hypoglycemia is also caused by too much insulin. It occurs a few hours after eating. The cause is not completely known. It may be a developing failure to regulate insulin secretion that is a warning sign for type 2 diabetes. It can also occur after weight loss surgery, if food passes through your stomach too quickly. [1,2]

Other Types of Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia

Mild symptoms of hypoglycemia are common. They can happen if you exercise and you have not eaten enough, or if you go a long time without eating. You can feel hungry, jittery, weak, or even nauseous. That’s your body telling you that you need sugar for energy. Eating a carbohydrate food that breaks down into sugar will make these symptoms go away. [3]

Postprandial syndrome is symptoms of hypoglycemia that occur about four hours after eating a high carbohydrate meal. This condition does not cause your blood sugar to drop down to below 70. It stays in the low normal range. You may have mild hypoglycemia symptoms. Eating some carbs makes them go away. [1]

Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia

In other causes of non-diabetic hypoglycemia, blood sugar usually does not drop below 70. If you have reactive hypoglycemia, as your blood sugar drops lower, symptoms can start out as mild but they can increase to moderate and serious if you don’t get some sugar into you system. Mild hypoglycemia causes:

• Hunger
• Nausea
• Shakiness
• Nervousness
• Palpitations
• Cold and clammy sweating [3]

Moderate hypoglycemia causes:

• Mood swings
• Unsteady weakness
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Blurred vision [3]

Severe hypoglycemia can be life threatening. It can cause you to pass out and have seizures. [3]

Diet Changes for Non-Diabetic Hypoglycemia

Fruit is less likely to wreak havoc on your blood sugar than, say, a bag of gummy worms.

Fortunately, all the causes of nondiabetic hypoglycemia respond to eating some carbs. This will raise you blood sugar and relieve symptoms. You need about 15 grams of carbohydrates, which will break down to sugar for energy. Examples include fruit juice, milk, raisins, hard candy, or a glucose tablet. [3]

For long-term management, it will be important to eat smaller and more frequent meals. Spread your consumption of carbohydrates from foods like fruits, vegetables, and starches out evenly during the day. You should limit high-sugar foods. When you eat a meal, always include a lean protein, some healthy fat, and whole grain foods. These foods slow down your digestion and help you avoid spikes in sugar and insulin. [2]

The key to long-term management is keeping your blood sugar between 70 and 100. To do that you should avoid foods that are high in sugar and cause a rapid increase in insulin. These include:

• Baked good like cakes, cookies, pies
• Puddings, custards, ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt
• Jellies and jams
• Syrups, honey, and nectars
• Sweetened drinks and fruit juice over 4 ounces
• Candy
• White or brown sugar [1]

Mild symptoms of hypoglycemia that occur occasionally are normal, but if you have symptoms that occur frequently or you have more severe symptoms, let your doctor know. Your doctor may diagnose reactive hypoglycemia from your symptoms and blood testing. [1,3]

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

• “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment: Hope Lies Ahead“
• “Chronic Fatigue Treatment: How to Get Your Energy Level Back on Track“
• “High-Energy Diet: 5 Ways to Fuel Your Body“

SOURCES

1. UWHealth: Nutrition Management of Low Blood Sugar Without Diabetes (Postprandial Syndrome and Reactive Hypoglycemia). https://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/nutrition/396.pdf
2. The Endocrine Society: Non Diabetic Hypoglycemia. https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/diabetes/non-diabetic-hypoglycemia
3. University of Michigan Medicine: Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in People Without Diabetes. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/rt1054

The post Symptoms of Hypoglycemia Without Diabetes Could Be Reactive Hypoglycemia appeared first on University Health News.

What Is Prediabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high. Blood sugar (glucose) goes up when you eat. The chemical messenger insulin is released by your pancreas to help get that glucose from your blood into your cells where it is used for energy. [1,2]

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your cells become resistant to insulin or when your pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep up with demand. If you have prediabetes, your blood sugar is higher than normal but not at diabetes level. You probably already have some insulin resistance or your pancreas is starting to struggle with insulin production. [1]

Early Symptoms of Prediabetes

There are usually no signs or symptoms of prediabetes that serve as an early warning. Rarely, people with prediabetes may develop darkened skin in the armpits or the back of the neck, sometimes with tiny skin tags. Other than this, your warning signs are your risk factors. If you have these risk factors you should get your blood sugar checked: [1,2]

• You are overweight.
• Your waist size is over 40 inches if you are a man, or over 35 inches if you are a woman. A large waist means you have a type of fat inside your belly that increases insulin resistance.
• You have a family history of type 2 diabetes in a parent, brother, or sister.
• Your diet includes lots of red meat and sugar-sweetened drinks.
• You don’t get much exercise or physical activity.
• You are Black, Hispanic, Asian, or American Indian.
• You are a woman who has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary disease or gestational diabetes.
• You have sleep apnea.
• You are a smoker.

If you have a large waist size along with high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, you have a condition called metabolic syndrome, which often leads to type 2 diabetes. If you have any of these risk factor warnings, you should get your blood sugar tested. Even if you don’t have any risk factors, the American Diabetes Association says you should get tested by age 45. [1,2]

Prediabetes is diagnosed with several blood tests. Two important tests are a fasting blood sugar and the A1C test, which give you your average blood sugar over the past three months. [1,2]

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Prediabetes

Treatment and prevention of prediabetes are the same, healthy lifestyle changes. The two most important things you need to control are your weight and your physical activity. If you are overweight, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can help prevent prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. [1,2]

• Physical activity should include getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week. An example would be taking a brisk, 30-minute walk on most days of the week.
• To help you lose weight, stick to healthy diet that avoids added sugar in drinks and foods, and features lean protein, whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Limit calories and fats.
• Work with your doctor to control high blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Don’t smoke.

If you are at high risk for type 2 diabetes, especially if you had gestational diabetes, are a young adult, or are obese, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication called metformin. Metformin is a medication usually given to people with type 2 diabetes but studies show it may also help prevent type 2 diabetes. [1,2]

Many supplements or herbal medications claim to prevent diabetes, but there is no strong evidence that any alternative treatments are effective. [2] Getting physically active and losing weight are the key. There are no shortcuts. If you have risk factors for prediabetes the time to start prevention is now. [1,2]

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

• Symptoms of Hypoglycemia Without Diabetes Could Be Reactive Hypoglycemia
• Diabetes Treatment Considerations for Older Adults
• Easy Steps to a Healthy New Year

SOURCES

1. NIH, Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes
2. Mayo Clinic, Prediabetes

The post Prediabetes Warning Signs: These Risk Factors Can Lead to Diabetes appeared first on University Health News.

Why Is Glucose Important?

Glucose is the sugar that your body uses for energy. You get glucose from foods called carbohydrates. These include fruits, vegetables, and grains as well as sugar added to foods. Your body stores some glucose to release when you need energy. [1]

In order for your cells to use glucose, it has to move from your blood into your cells. For that you need the hormone called insulin. Insulin comes from your pancreas. If your pancreas does not make enough insulin or if the insulin does not work properly, your blood sugar goes up. [1]

High blood sugar, called hyperglycemia, may be the first sign of type 2 diabetes. Even before type 2 diabetes, you may have an elevated blood sugar called prediabetes. Diagnosing diabetes or prediabetes is important because the sooner you start treatment, the more likely you can prevent the long-term damage to your eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels, and prevent complications of diabetes like heart attacks and strokes. [3]

When Should You Have Your Blood Sugar Checked?

You can have prediabetes or diabetes for many years without having any symptoms. During this time hyperglycemia can be causing damage that could be prevented with treatment. For this reason, the American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone should have their blood sugar level check at age 45. [3]

If you have risk factors for diabetes or prediabetes, you should have your blood sugar checked before age 45. Risk factors include:

• Being overweight
• Not getting enough exercise
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Having high blood pressure [1-4]

For women, having a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome or having had diabetes during pregnancy are also risk factors. Your race may be a risk factor along with your blood lipid profile. Talk to your doctor about your risk for diabetes and prediabetes. [1-4]

When doctors check you for a problem before you have any symptoms it is called a screening test. The best screening test for high sugar levels is the fasting blood sugar test. This blood test, also called fasting plasma glucose, is done after you have been fasting for 8 hours. Glucose is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). This is the normal range:

• 70 to 90 mg/dL is normal. If your fasting blood glucose is normal, your doctor may repeat the test in one to three years.
• 100 to 125 mg/dL is called prediabetes or impaired fasting glucose.
• 126 mg/dL may be diabetes. [1,2]

If your blood sugar is outside the normal range, your doctor may repeat your fasting blood sugar or do other tests to find out if you have diabetes or prediabetes. [1-4] Although it is much less common than hyperglycemia, your blood sugar may also be below the normal range, less than 70 mg/dL, called hypoglycemia. Causes of hypoglycemia include too much insulin, hormone disorders, and liver disease. [1]

The Importance of Screening for Blood Sugar

It is estimated that by 2025 almost 10 percent of Americans will have type 2 diabetes. [3] But right now, about one out of three people have prediabetes. Having prediabetes means you are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease and stroke. Over 80 percent of people living with prediabetes do not know they have it, which is why knowing your blood sugar range is so important. [4]

The good news is that if you have the test and your doctor tells you that you have prediabetes, there is still time to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In fact, people with prediabetes that start a lifestyle change program may cut their risk of diabetes by about 60 percent. [4]

The two most important lifestyle changes are weight loss and exercise, and they are not that hard do. If you are overweight, you should lose about 5 to 7 percent of your body weight, about 10 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds. Exercising for 150 minutes per week is the other key. You can get there with a brisk walk for 30 minutes on five days out of your week. [4]

If you have reached age 45 or you have risk factors for prediabetes and diabetes, it is time to find out your blood sugar number. If your number is too high, now is the time to work with your doctor to get it back in the normal range. Lifestyle changes and sometimes medications may be needed. [1-4] There are also natural therapies and dietary approaches for lowering blood sugar.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

• Suffering from High Blood Sugar Symptoms? Use This Glycemic Index Food List
• The Best Metabolic Syndrome Diet
• Could This Diet for High Blood Sugar Be the Single Healthiest Diet for Everyone?

SOURCES

1. Cleveland Clinic, Blood Glucose Test
2. American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Glucose Tests
3. American Diabetes Association, Screening for Diabetes
4. CDC, Prediabetes

The post Is Your Blood Sugar in the Normal Range? appeared first on University Health News.

The most dangerous time for hypoglycemia is when you are sleeping, a condition called nocturnal hypoglycemia. Up to 50 percent of diabetics may have episodes of nocturnal hypoglycemia. [1] In fact, almost 50 percent of hypoglycemic episodes occur at night and more than half of dangerous episodes occur at night. [2]

Risk of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia

Nocturnal hypoglycemia is most dangerous for people who take insulin, but it can also happen to people with type 2 diabetes who take oral diabetes medications. [1] You could be at risk if you: [1-3]

• Skip dinner or have too little to eat before bedtime
• Exercise before bedtime
• Drink alcohol at night
• Have a past history of nocturnal hypoglycemia
• Are sick
• Take NPH insulin, which has its peak affect in about 6 to 8 hours
• Have recently changed your insulin medication

Early morning wake-up calls often are simply one of many low blood sugar symptoms.

Symptoms of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia

It is important for both you and your sleeping partner to know the warning signs. Sleeping through the warning signs is especially dangerous because your blood sugar may go lower before you can correct it. [1-3] If you sleep alone, you may be at higher risk. [1]

Warning signs occur when your blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dl. When this happens, your body releases hormones like glucagon and epinephrine to increase your blood sugar. This causes warning signs like a racing heart, sweats, and tremors. These warnings are your body’s way of telling you to get more sugar into your system quickly. [1] Hopefully they will wake you from sleep, but some people sleep through. [1-3]

If hypoglycemia wakes you up, these are the symptoms: [1-3]

• Being cold and clammy or hot and sweaty
• Feeling shaky and trembling
• Waking from a nightmare
• Increased or slowed breathing
• A pounding or racing heart
• Waking up with a headache

Your sleeping partner should wake you if he or she notices any of the warning signs or if you are more restless, noisy, or breathing irregularly in your sleep. [2]

Treatment

Untreated hypoglycemia can lead to a seizure and be life-threatening. [1] Both you and your sleep partner should be prepared to treat this condition. If you wake up with signs of hypoglycemia, or if your sleep partner wakes you and you are aware enough to manage low blood sugar, check your blood sugar with your glucose monitor. [1-3]

If your blood sugar is low, eat some hard candy, drink 4 to 5 ounces of fruit juice, or take 3 to 4 glucose tablets. Retest your blood sugar. If you are still low, have a snack with a carbohydrate and a protein, like whole wheat with peanut butter. Call your doctor to report your hypoglycemic episode in the morning. [1-3]

You should also ask your doctor if you should get an emergency glucagon kit. If you are at risk for hypoglycemia, your sleeping partner could use this kit to treat a hypoglycemic episode if your partner can’t wake you. The kit is a syringe with glucagon that your partner can learn to use for an emergency  glucagon injection. If you don’t have a glucagon kit and your partner is unable to wake you from a suspected episode of hypoglycemia, your partner should call 911. [2]

How to Prevent Nocturnal Hypoglycemia

Start by talking to your doctor about a bedtime blood sugar target. Ask about your risk for hypoglycemia and if you should get a glucagon kit. Don’t miss dinner, exercise before bedtime, or drink alcohol at night. Have a sugar and protein snack before bedtime, like a wheat cracker with cheese. [1-3]

If you have had symptoms of nocturnal hypoglycemia, work with your doctor on a prevention plan. This may include switching to a longer acting insulin that does not peak during sleep, or changing your insulin dose. You might be asked to set an alarm and check your blood sugar in the early morning for a while.  For people at high risk for nocturnal hypoglycemia, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) may be the best solution. A CGM can check your blood sugar every 5 minutes and can set off an alarm if your sugar gets too high or too low. [1-3]

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

• Is Your Blood Sugar in the Normal Range
• What Keeps You Up at Night? 6 Ways to Beat Insomnia
• Alcohol and Blood Pressure: How Alcohol Can Affect Hypertension

SOURCES

1. Type2Diabetes.com, Nocturnal Hypoglycemia
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine, Nocturnal Hypoglycemia
3. North Shore University Health System, Nocturnal Hypoglycemia

The post Low Blood Sugar at Night: Nocturnal Hypoglycemia appeared first on University Health News.

High blood sugar is caused by a diet high in sweets, soda, and starches (breads, pasta, rice, corn, potatoes, etc.) This diet consistently raises blood sugar levels, which in turn requires the body to secrete high levels of insulin to lower blood sugar. Eventually these insulin surges exhaust the body’s cells and they refuse entry to insulin. This is called “insulin resistance” and it triggers enzymes that cause men to overproduce estrogen, a female hormone, and women to overproduce testosterone, a male hormone, both of which are high blood sugar symptoms.

As a result, the body and brain of men and women take on characteristics of the opposite sex. Women experience hair loss, more facial hair, a deepening voice, and may develop PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Men grow “breasts” (Gynecomastia) and find themselves crying more easily.

These hormonal trends can be reversed through nutritional therapy, exercise, and other factors. A handy tip: If you feel sleepy or crave sugar after a meal, you ate too many starchy foods. If you feel sleepy after a low-carb meal, you may need specific support for insulin resistance to address hormonal imbalances.

High Blood Sugar Symptoms

How do you know if you have high blood sugar symptoms? See if any of the high blood sugar symptoms below describe you:

• Fasting blood sugar over 100 mg/dl
• Fatigue after meals
• Crave sugar after meals
• Constant hunger
• Excess belly fat, or a waist girth that is equal to or larger than hip girth
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Difficulty losing weight
• Prone to insomnia
• Don’t feel rested after eight hours of sleep5
• Women grow facial hair; experience thinning hair
• Men grow “breasts”
• PCOS in women
• Hormonal imbalances in both sexes

Risks of High Blood Sugar Symptoms

High blood sugar symptoms aren’t just annoying. They carry with them significant risks. Many people with insulin resistance go on to develop type 2 diabetes, due to a breakdown in the body’s blood-sugar regulating system. Studies have established clear links between insulin resistance and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment.[1,2] Deteriorating brain function is one of many high blood sugar symptoms.

Insulin resistance is also a risk factor for heart disease, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, kidney disease [3], and other health disorders. Insulin resistance creates chronic inflammation, which researchers are increasingly finding underlies many chronic diseases so common today.

What Can You Do to Balance Blood Sugar Levels?

The first and most important step for decreasing your blood sugar levels is to begin a healthy eating plan. Specifically, try to limit your consumption of foods that cause high blood sugar symptoms: Sweets, soda, and starches (breads, pasta, rice, corn, potatoes, etc.)

Along with healthful eating, begin exercising a few days a week and start taking high quality antioxidants to help reverse nutrient deficiencies and decrease your blood sugar levels.

[1] Watson GS, Craft S. Insulin resistance, inflammation, and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease: lessons for multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci. 2006 Jun 15;245(1-2):21-33

[2] Cheng G, Huang C, Deng H, Wang H. Diabetes as a risk factor for dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Intern Med J. 2012 Feb. 28

[3] Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance as risk factors for development of chronic kidney disease and rapid decline in renal function in elderly. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Apr;97(4):1268-76. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

This article was originally published in 2012. It has since been updated. high

The post Surprising High Blood Sugar Symptoms appeared first on University Health News.

Arthritis

One of the most well studied rosehip benefits is its ability to treat osteoarthritis._[1,2] Rosehip has anti-inflammatory effects and can protect cartilage from damage, which may explain its ability to relieve osteoarthritis pain._[3] In one study on patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis, supplementation with 5 g per day of rosehip powder resulted in less pain and a lower need for rescue medication after only three weeks._[4] Rosehip may be as effective, if not more effective, than glucosamine, which is a well established natural treatment for osteoarthritis._[1]

Rosehip may also help to treat rheumatoid arthritis . People who received 5 g rose hip daily showed improvement in symptoms, while those who received placebo got worse._[5]

Heart Disease

Studies show that rosehip reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease, too, including systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. It improves LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio as well, according to a study of 31 obese people who drank a rose-hip drink daily for six weeks. The authors of the study estimated that the reductions in these risk factors decreased the risk for cardiovascular disease by 17%._[6]

Diabetes

Rosehip is a traditional diabetes treatment, and recent laboratory work has shown that it lowers blood sugar in animal models._[1]

Dysmenorrhea

Just as rosehip benefits pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, it may also benefit pain associated with dysmenorrhea (a condition of painful menstruation). Rose hip was shown to be as effective as mefanamic acid (a common prescription drug used to treat dysmenorrhea) in decreasing menstrual pain and symptoms of dysmenorrhea in one study._[7]

Breast Cancer

Rosehip may also have anticancer effects. In a recent laboratory study, rosehip extract was found to prevent proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells, suggesting that it may be a potential complimentary medicine to use in treating this type of cancer._[8]

Dosage

As always, check with your doctor before using any new supplements. For osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, try 5 g daily. For other uses, consult your doctor for dosing information.

Share Your Experience with Rosehips

Do you have experience with any of these or other rosehip benefits? Share your thoughts on using rosehip to treat a variety of conditions in the comments section below.

This article was originally published in 2015 and is regularly updated.

[1] Aust Fam Physician. 2012 Jul;41(7):495-8.

[2] Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Sep;16(9):965-72.

[3] Mediators Inflamm. 2014;2014:105710.

[4] Scand J Rheumatol. 2005 Jul-Aug;34(4):302-8.

[5] Phytomedicine. 2010 Feb;17(2):87-93.

[6] Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 May;66(5):585-90.

[7] Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2014 Jan;16(1):e14643.

[8] Cancer Res October 1, 2014 74; 3213.

The post 5 Possible Rosehip Benefits: Treatment for Osteoarthritis, Diabetes and More appeared first on University Health News.

As if that weren’t enough, yet another reason to love zinc is that it can be helpful for diabetes care. Zinc is highly concentrated in the islet cells of the pancreas, where insulin is produced._[1] Zinc benefits include promoting healthy insulin function, providing natural blood sugar control, and might even help to prevent diabetes in the first place.

Zinc Benefits and Insulin

Laboratory studies have shown that zinc acts like insulin when administered to insulin-sensitive tissue and that it seems to stimulate insulin action._[1] It binds to insulin receptors, activates insulin signaling pathways, and more, all of which result in glucose uptake by cells and clearance of glucose from the blood._[2] Zinc is also necessary for the correct processing, storage, and secretion of insulin,_[1] and it can protect against β-cell loss, a hallmark of diabetes._[3] Because zinc is so closely tied to insulin functioning, zinc deficiency is associated with poor β-cell function and higher incidences of insulin resistance._[3]

Reduced Zinc Levels Seen in Diabetic Patients

It is not surprising then, to learn that low zinc levels are often associated with diabetes. One study found that prediabetic individuals are more likely to be zinc deficient, and that at any given body mass index (BMI), people with lower zinc levels are more insulin resistant than those with higher zinc levels._[3] Multiple studies have found high rates of zinc deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes._[2]

Zinc for the Prevention of Diabetes

Because zinc deficiency is associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, researchers want to know, can zinc help prevent the onset of diabetes? Although more studies are needed to know for sure, preliminary research suggests that it can (at least in women). In one study following 82,297 women across 24 years, those who had higher zinc intakes had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.[4] Another study in 2013 found the same; higher zinc intake was associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women._[2]

Zinc Supplementation Can Improve Blood Sugar Control

So zinc may be helpful in protecting against diabetes, but can it also help treat it once you are already diabetic? Numerous animal and laboratory studies show that zinc supplementation can reduce fasting glucose and improve insulin functioning in animal models of diabetes._[1] While studies in humans are more limited, the evidence is growing that humans can benefit from taking zinc, as well, with zinc supplementation resulting in improved insulin function and blood sugar control._[2,5,6]

Other Benefits of Taking Zinc for Diabetes

Zinc offers more than just a natural blood sugar control strategy; zinc also has antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress is common in diabetes, and zinc supplementation can help to reduce oxidative damage in people with diabetes._[1,3,7] Zinc can also help to control lipid metabolism in diabetics, helping to improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels._[6,8]

Taking a Zinc Supplement

The daily recommended dose of zinc is 12 mg for women and 15 mg for men._[5] In some cases, your doctor may recommend for you to take more than this daily. Speak with your doctor about adding a zinc supplement to your diabetes care plan. Zinc lozenges, particularly in the form of zinc gluconate, are a good source of zinc because they are readily absorbable.

[1] Food Nutr Bull. 2013 Jun;34(2):215-21.

[2] BMC Endocr Disord. 2013 Oct 4;13:40.

[3] PLoS One. 2013 Apr 17;8(4):e61776.

[4] Diabetes Care. 2009 Apr;32(4):629-34.

[5] Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD005525.

[6] Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2012 Apr 19;4(1):13.

[7] J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Jun;20(3):212-8. 

[8] Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2011 Jan 26;4:53-60.

The post Zinc Benefits for Diabetes: May Offer Natural Blood Sugar Control and More appeared first on University Health News.