Sweet news for diabetics: Researchers foresee end to daily insulin shots

By: Agence France-Presse

SYDNEY - Breakthrough Australian research mapping how insulin works at a molecular level could open the door to novel new diabetes treatments, ending daily needle jabs for millions, scientists said Thursday.

A Melbourne team have been able to lay out for the first time how the insulin hormone binds to the surface of cells, triggering the passage of glucose from the bloodstream to be stored as energy.

Lead researcher Mike Lawrence said the discovery, more than 20 years in the making, would make new and more effective kinds of diabetes medication possible.

"Until now we have not been able to see how these molecules interact with cells," said Lawrence, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

"We can now exploit this knowledge to design new insulin medications with improved properties, which is very exciting."

Lawrence said the team's study, published in the latest edition of Nature, had revealed a "molecular handshake" between the insulin and its receptor on the surface of cells.

"Both insulin and its receptor undergo rearrangement as they interact - a piece of insulin folds out and key pieces within the receptor move to engage the insulin hormone," he said of the "unusual" binding method.

Understanding how insulin attaches to cells was key to developing "novel" treatments of diabetes, a chronic condition in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use it properly.

"The generation of new types of insulin have been limited by our inability to see how insulin docks into its receptor in the body," said Lawrence.

"This discovery could conceivably lead to new types of insulin that could be given in ways other than injection, or an insulin that has improved properties or longer activity so that it doesn't need to be taken as often."

Importantly, he said it could also have ramifications for the treatment of diabetes in developing nations, allowing for the creation of more stable insulins that do not need refrigeration.

There are an estimated 347 million diabetes sufferers worldwide and diagnoses are increasing, particularly in developing countries, due to growing levels of obesity and physical inactivity.

It is expected to be the seventh leading cause of death in the world by 2030, with the World Health Organization projecting total deaths from diabetes will rise by more than 50 percent in the next 10 years.

Complications of diabetes include blindness, limb amputation and kidney failure.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

SWEET BUT UGLY TRUTH | Diabetes numbers swelling, 6.16M Filipinos could have it in 2030

By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines - The number of Filipinos with diabetes--a metabolic disorder with serious complications like stroke, nerve damage and kidney failure—could nearly double in the next 17 years, an alarming trend that mirrors the global situation, health experts said Tuesday
As of 2010, the number of diabetics was listed at 3.4 million, and at the rate cases are increasing, that figure could be 6.16 million in 2030, said the experts.

Dr. Joey Miranda, secretary of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology-Philippines, said the 3.4 million diabetes cases in 2010 meant a prevalence rate of 7.7 percent, which is seen to rise to 8.9 percent or 6.16 million cases in year 2030.

Miranda said in a press conference there’s just no underestimating the problem, considering the myriad health problems associated with diabetes. “This will be a big problem that we will encounter in 2030. We already have a big problem at present what more about 17 years from now? Our hands will be full in tackling this problem.”

He echoed earlier characterizations of diabetes being a “growing global epidemic.” Some 360 million diabetics worldwide were counted in 2011, and, Miranda said, this was projected to increase to 550 million by year 2030.

Dr. Elizabeth Paz-Pacheco, former president of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, underscored the need to mitigate the effects of diabetes by focusing on prevention and proper management of cases.

One way, she said, is to get the blood sugar to normalize as quickly as possible “for the majority of patients who are newly diagnosed, younger and they have a longer life ahead of them.”
For those who cannot do so, a lifestyle change and obedience to the drug regimen prescribed by doctors is necessary to prevent diabetes complications.

Diabetes is described in a fact sheet given out by the health experts as “a serious, lifelong disease and is a disorder of metabolism – the way our body uses the food we eat for growth and energy.”

The long-term complications of diabetes include blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, kidney failure, amputation of limbs, nerve damage and stroke.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by a genetic predisposition and Type 2, which accounts for over 90 percent of Philippine cases, is associated with lifestyle. The last type is gestational diabetes, a condition of pregnant women during pregnancy.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Diabetes News | Diabetes may be linked to hearing loss: study

By: Andrew Seaman, Reuters

NEW YORK - Diabetes has already been tied to an increased risk of kidney and cardiovascular troubles, nerve damage and vision loss, and now a Japanese study finds diabetics to be more than twice as likely as those without the disease to have hearing impairment.

In a review of past research on the issue, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, scientists found that younger diabetics were at even higher risk than older adults, though they could not explain why.

"Current meta-analysis suggests that the higher prevalence of hearing impairment in diabetic patients compared with nondiabetic patients was consistent regardless of age," wrote lead researcher Chika Horikawa, at Niigata University Faculty of Medicine, and colleagues.

It's not the first time researchers have found a link between diabetes and hearing loss. In 2008, researchers from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) saw similar patterns in a sample of more than 11,000 people, with people with diabetes twice as likely to have hearing loss as those without.

It's thought that high blood sugar levels brought on by diabetes may lead to hearing loss by damaging blood vessels in the ears, said Horikawa.

Horikawa and colleagues collected information from 13 previous studies examining the link between diabetes and hearing loss and published between 1977 and 2011. Together, the data covered 7,377 diabetes and 12,817 people without the condition.

Overall, Horikawa's team found that diabetics were 2.15 times as likely as people without the disease to have hearing loss. But when the results were broken down by age, people under 60 had 2.61 times the risk while people over 60 had 1.58 times higher risk.

Some experts caution that this kind of study does not prove that diabetes is directly responsible for the greater hearing loss rates.

"It doesn't definitively answer the question, but it continues to raise an important point that patients might ask about," said Steven Smith, a diabetes specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

The researchers note that future studies that take more factors into account, such as age and noisy environment, are needed to clarify the link between diabetes and hearing loss.
Still, Horikawa told Reuters Health in an email, people should recognize that diabetics may be at risk for hearing loss based on their results.

"Furthermore, these results propose that diabetic patients are screened for hearing impairment from (an) earlier age compared with non-diabetics," said Horikawa, adding that hearing loss has also been linked to an increased risk of depression and dementia. 

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Important Diabetes Update : Diabetic Retinopathy

How can diabetes affect the eye?

Your eye has a lens and an aperture (opening) at the front, which
brings objects into focus on the retina at the back of the eye. The
retina is made up of a delicate tissue that is sensitive to light,
like film in the old cameras before the digital age.

At the center of the retina is the macula which is a small area
about the size of a pinhead. This is the most highly specialized
part of the retina and it is vital because it enables us to see
fine detail to read small print. The other parts of the retina give
us side vision (peripheral vision). The rest of the eye in front of
the retina is a clear jelly-like substance called the vitreous
humour.

Diabetes can affect the eye in a number of ways. These usually
involve the fine network of blood vessels in the retina - the most
sever condition that can occur is diabetic retinopathy.

Affect - Temporary blurring

Your vision may become blurred for a few days or weeks while your
diabetes is first being controlled. This is due to the swelling of
the lens of the eye.

Affect - Cataract

This can occur in two forms:
Young people with diabetes can develop a special type of cataract.
Although their vision gets worse, it can be restored by surgery;
older people with diabetes can be especially prone to developing
cataracts. Cataracts can be successfully removed by surgery and
usually it is possible to insert a lens implant. This procedure is
not for everyone.


Affect - Diabetic retinopathy

The most serious diabetic eye condition involves the retina and is
called diabetic retinopathy.  This condition is very common in
people who have had diabetes for a long time. Your doctor may be
able to see abnormalities in your eyes, but there is no threat to
your sight.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy which can damage your
sight. Both involve the fine network of blood vessels in the
retina. They are described below.

Type 1 - Maculopathy

This happens when the blood vessels in the retina start to leak. If
the macula is affected, you will find that your central vision
gradually gets worse. You may find it difficult to recognize
people's faces in the distance or to see details like small print.
The amount of central vision that is lost varies from person to
person. However everyday sight for getting around the house and
outside (navigation vision) will be preserved. It is quite rare for
someone with maculopathy to lose all their sight.

Type 2 - Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Sometimes diabetes can cause the blood vessels in the retina to
become blocked. If this happens then new blood vessels form in the
eye. This is nature's way of trying to repair the damage so that
the retina has a new blood supply.

Unfortunately these new blood vessels are weak. They are also in
the wrong place - growing on the surface of the retina and into the
vitreous jelly. As a result these blood vessels can bleed very
easily and cause scar tissue to form in the eye. The scarring pulls
and distorts the retina. When the retina is pulled out of position
this is called retinal detachment. This condition is more rare than
background retinopathy and is more often found in people who have
been insulin dependent for many years.

The new blood vessels will rarely affect your vision, but their

consequences, such as bleeding or retinal detachment can cause

your vision to get worse suddenly. Your eyesight may become

blurred and patchy as the bleeding obscures part of your vision.

Without treatment, total loss of vision can happen in proliferative retinopathy.

*** With treatment most sight-threatening diabetic problems can be
prevented if caught early enough.***

To learn more about how Melabic can lower blood sugar and help you
prevent and treat diabetic retinopathy visit me at Melabic.com

Although your vision may be good, changes can be taking place to
your retina that needs treatment. Most sight loss in diabetes is
preventable: early diagnosis is vital have an eye examination
every year do not wait until your vision has deteriorated to have
an eye test.

Visit Melabic.com to find out how you ca Prevent, Treat and

Reverse your diabetes.

Your family doctor or optometrist can examine for diabetic
retinopathy.

Remember, however, that if your vision is getting worse, this does
not necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy. It may simply
be a problem that can be corrected by glasses.

I hope this gave you a bit of insight on how important regular eye
exams are.  I book Tim & I in a year in advance so there is no
excuses for us!

To Your Health

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Eat to Beat Diabetes

You are what you eat - for a diabetic nothing could be truer. When
it comes to maintaining good blood sugar levels, a healthy diet is
vital.

People with diabetes have to take extra care to ensure their diet
is properly balanced with their insulin and oral medications.
The right meal plan will help any diabetic improve blood glucose
levels, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. It will also keep
their weight on track.

All diabetics must control their refined carbohydrate intake. These
types of carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels. While some
promote health, others when eaten often and in large quantities,
may increase the risk for diabetes.

Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods including fruit,
vegetables, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti and
corn. The most common and abundant ones refined in are sugars,
fibers and starches. It is advised diabetics avoid white bread,
rice and pasta, along with foods containing unnaturally added sugars.
The body will convert all types of refined carbohydrates into
glucose. Eating extra servings of rice, pasta and bread will make
blood sugar rise. Just because an item does not contain added
sugar, does not guarantee it is a safe food.

Diabetics should consume carbohydrate-rich foods close to their
natural form. These items have greater vital nutrient density.

Whenever possible, replace highly processed grains, cereals and
sugars with natural whole-grain products.

Eating complex carbohydrates rich in fiber significantly lower
blood sugar levels. It is suspected that soluble fiber may play an
important role in glucose control. It is capable of slowing down
the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and increasing the
sensitivity of tissues to insulin, thereby preventing rises in
blood sugar.

It is recommended diabetics eat 13 fiber-rich servings of fruits,
veggies, beans and grains daily. Soluble-fiber rich foods include
orange and grapefruit segments, prunes, cantaloupes, papayas,
raisins, lima beans, zucchini, oatmeal, oat bran and granola. Other
foods high in soluble fiber include barley, peas and strawberries.
The glycemic index system, or GI, is a good guideline for diabetics
to follow.

Invented in the early 1980s by University of Toronto researchers,
the glycemic index ranks carbohydrate foods by their effects on
blood sugar levels.

The GI assigns carbohydrate-containing foods a number based on how
they affect blood sugars. The number indicates how quickly the food
breaks down during digestion. The longer the body has to break an
item down into glucose, the slower the rise in blood-sugar levels,
and the lower the GI. Products with a GI less than 55 are preferred.

Natural supplementation is a good ingredient to implement in the
fight against diabetes. Adding a half a teaspoon of cinnamon to any
meal can stabilize blood sugar swings.

Many diabetics also supplement with vitamins, herbs and medicinal
teas. Incorporating natural ginseng into a diet can produce
positive affects. This herb, which is recognized throughout China
to have healing properties, has been known to help improve fasting
blood glucose levels and increase insulin secretion.

The easiest method to control diabetes is through proper diet. An
eating plan high in fiber and low in refined carbohydrates will
ensure the best strategy to beat the disease.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Diabetes story - must read

Its Julia here, I want to share with you the following email that 
I received, it is emails like this that make everything worth while 

The following is an email from Mandy, she has been with us since 
the beginning of my madness to share what we know about the epidemic
of diabetes. 

Here is Mandy's story;

Hi Julia, well I feel now it is time for me to write and give
others in this group an update on how things are going for me.I
am from the Oregon coast and I have type 2 diabetes for the last 10 
years. I have struggled with high blood sugar longer than I would 
like to remember, unfortunately I also battle severe depression.  

Months ago my eye sight was getting progressively worse and my feet
were starting to tingle.  After a doctors check up it was confirmed
that the disease that invaded my body was starting to break it
down.  Looking for answers I can across Melabic.  I purchased it
when it was released and I have been taking it faithfully for 4
months.  I can happily report that has made a big difference in my
life. My blood sugar has come way down and the painful sensation 
in my feet is nothing that it was and my eye sight not 100% perfect
has improved so much that I have no hesitation to drive anymore 
compared to months ago.  

I am a middle aged woman from Oregon who is quite active but
because of  my genetic pool I have been predisposed to high blood
sugar. I can say I have changed nothing in my diet as I have
always followed a good one and I walk alot, the only thing I have
changed is taking my daily dose of Melabic.  There is no other
explanation as to why my feet no longer keep me up night after
night and why now I can read the newspaper without a large
magnifying glass. 

I do not want to say that I am glad you almost lost your husband to
diabetes but if he had not you would not be fighting for
individuals like us.  Thank you for all your hard work and time you
put into what you do, I appreciate it more than you know.

Mandy

It is stories like this that make my daily routine worth every minute. 
If you have not read about Melabic you can visiting Melabic.com
Some of you may have already read the following report regarding your
eyesight, but for those who haven't I encourage you to take a couple 
minutes to read it.

How can diabetes affect the eye?

Your eye has a lens and an aperture (opening) at the front, which
brings objects into focus on the retina at the back of the eye. The
retina is made up of a delicate tissue that is sensitive to light,
like film in the old cameras before the digital age.


At the center of the retina is the macula which is a small area
about the size of a pinhead. This is the most highly specialized
part of the retina and it is vital because it enables us to see
fine detail to read small print. The other parts of the retina give
us side vision (peripheral vision). The rest of the eye in front of
the retina is a clear jelly-like substance called the vitreous
humour.

Diabetes can affect the eye in a number of ways. These usually
involve the fine network of blood vessels in the retina - the most
sever condition that can occur is diabetic retinopathy.

Affect - Temporary blurring

Your vision may become blurred for a few days or weeks while your
diabetes is first being controlled. This is due to the swelling of
the lens of the eye.

Affect - Cataract

This can occur in two forms:
young people with diabetes can develop a special type of cataract.
Although their vision gets worse, it can be restored by surgery;
older people with diabetes can be especially prone to developing
cataracts. Cataracts can be successfully removed by surgery and
usually it is possible to insert a lens implant. This procedure is
not for everyone.

Affect - Diabetic retinopathy

The most serious diabetic eye condition involves the retina and is
called diabetic retinopathy.  This condition is very common in
people who have had diabetes for a long time. Your doctor may be
able to see abnormalities in your eyes, but there is no threat to
your sight.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy which can damage your
sight. Both involve the fine network of blood vessels in the
retina. They are described below.

Type 1 - Maculopathy

This happens when the blood vessels in the retina start to leak. If
the macula is affected, you will find that your central vision
gradually gets worse. You may find it difficult to recognize
people's faces in the distance or to see details like small print.
The amount of central vision that is lost varies from person to
person. However everyday sight for getting around the house and
outside (navigation vision) will be preserved. It is quite rare for
someone with maculopathy to lose all their sight.

Type 2 - Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Sometimes diabetes can cause the blood vessels in the retina to
become blocked. If this happens then new blood vessels form in the
eye. This is nature's way of trying to repair the damage so that
the retina has a new blood supply.

***** Melabic has the ingredients to help these blood vessels stay
healthy, you can read more by visiting Melabic.com  *****

Unfortunately these new blood vessels are weak. They are also in
the wrong place - growing on the surface of the retina and into the
vitreous jelly. As a result these blood vessels can bleed very
easily and cause scar tissue to form in the eye. The scarring pulls
and distorts the retina. When the retina is pulled out of position
this is called retinal detachment. This condition is more rare than
background retinopathy and is more often found in people who have
been insulin dependent for many years. The new blood vessels will
rarely affect your vision, but their consequences, such as bleeding
or retinal detachment can cause your vision to get worse suddenly.
Your eyesight may become blurred and patchy as the bleeding
obscures part of your vision. Without treatment, total loss of
vision can happen in proliferative retinopathy.

*** With treatment most sight-threatening diabetic problems can be
prevented if caught early enough.***

The importance of early treatment and keeping blood sugar levels 
balanced !!!! To find out how you can normalize your blood sugars
visit  Melabic.com 

Although your vision may be good, changes can be taking place to
your retina that needs treatment. Most sight loss in diabetes is
preventable: early diagnosis is vital
have an eye examination every year do not wait until your vision
has deteriorated to have an eye test.

Your family doctor or optometrist can examine for diabetic
retinopathy. 

Remember, however, that if your vision is getting worse, this does
not necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy. It may simply
be a problem that can be corrected by glasses.  

I hope this gave you a bit of insight on how important regular eye
exams are.  I book Tim & I in a year in advance so there is no
excuses for us.  

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Best Low-Carb Foods for a Diabetes Diet

Carb counting can help keep blood sugar levels in check in people with diabetes. Choose these low-carb foods for better diabetes control without sacrificing taste.

By Diana Rodriguez

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Your body needs carbohydrates for energy, and many healthy foods — such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — contain carbohydrates. But too many carbs, even those from healthy sources, can be unsafe if you have diabetes.

Many people think of sugar as the number one culprit behindblood sugar (glucose) spikes. But overindulging in any kind of carbs can be dangerous when you have diabetes, since all carbs are broken down by the body and turned into glucose, explains Jennifer Garland, RD, a registered dietitian with the Vanderbilt Diabetes Program in Nashville, Tenn.

"If you eat too many carbs at one time and your body isn’t able to make enough insulin to break down those carbs, your blood sugar can become too high after that meal or snack," Garland says. And frequent or sustained high blood sugar can result in long-term diabetes complications such as heart disease, poor circulation, and nerve damage.

Although a diabetes diet should include a variety of nutritious foods, it must involve careful carb counting to manage diabetes properly.

Carb Counting: Getting Into the Habit

It’s important to make carb counting part of meal planning for your diabetes diet. Choose the foods you want to eat, determine the correct portion sizes, and then add up the grams of carbohydrates in each food. Try to limit carbs to between 45 grams and 60 grams per meal, and then adjust as needed based on the effect those carbs have on your blood sugar levels and how your body responds to them.

Try these tips to control your carb intake:

• Be consistent with carbs. Garland recommends working with a dietitian to determine how many carbs you should be deriving from each of your meals and snacks. She emphasizes that it's more important to eat a consistent amount of carbs at each meal than to focus on exactly how many carbs to consume in a given day.
• Use technology to stay on track. If you have a smartphone, Garland suggests downloading one of the many free apps, such as GoMeals, that make carb-counting on the go easier. You can also go online to find out the carb counts for fruits, vegetables, and other foods that don’t tend to be labeled with a nutrition facts panel.
• Log your carbs. Simply tallying up your carb intake can help you make healthier food choices. "Whenever we try to learn more about what we’re eating, a written record can provide a lot of information about our portions, eating patterns, and the areas where we can strive for improvement," Garland says.
• Divide your plate. Draw imaginary lines on your plate, breaking it up into properly-portioned sections. Fill half of your plate with non-starchy veggies (great low-carb foods), a quarter of your plate with lean meat, and the remaining quarter with a complex carbohydrate, such as sweet potato or brown rice.

Substituting With Low-Carb Foods

To help maximize your carbohydrate allowance, try replacing high-carb foods with these low-carb counterparts:

• Instead of strawberry ice cream, try sliced strawberries served with low-fat or nonfat whipped topping.
• Instead of mashed potatoes, try mashed cauliflower, turnips, or rutabaga.
• Instead of white rice, try brown or wild rice.
• Instead of tortilla chips, try slicing a low-carb tortilla into chip-size pieces, baking them on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 350 degrees, and serving with a chunky salsa.
• Instead of spaghetti, try steamed spaghetti squash or zucchini strips topped with pasta sauce.
• Instead of bread, try making a sandwich wrap using romaine lettuce leaves.

Carb counting for a healthy diabetes diet doesn't mean giving up your favorite foods. It just means you must stay aware of your carb intake, stay consistent, and make strategic low-carb substitutions to make your favorite foods diabetes-friendly.

Source: 

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com