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New research published in the journal BMJ finds that people who adhered closely to a traditional Mediterranean diet, which includes fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, fish, olive oil and wine and small amounts of meat and dairy products, had "substantial protection" against Type 2 diabetes.

In an article by Sally Squires of WashingtonPost.com, studies show that eating foods from the Mediterranean menu not only helps lead to a healthier body weight, but there's strong evidence that it can lower the risk of heart disease, reduce some types of cancer and perhaps even cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It seems to produce these benefits by reducing inflammation  and thereby limiting the production of substances that are known to accelerate aging and contribute to chronic conditions, including arthritis and heart disease.

Previous research had suggested that the Mediterranean diet could help reduce diabetes risk only in those who already have health problems, such as heart disease. But a new study found that healthy adults who most closely adhered to the traditional Mediterranean diet had the lowest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This held true even for those who were older, heavier and had a family history of Type 2 diabetes -- all factors that placed them at increased risk for the disorder.

As with everything, though, moderation is a key ingredient. It does not mean liberally pouring olive oil on foods and drinking a lot of wine -- common misconceptions. Olive oil adds 120 calories per tablespoon and should only be used for cooking and flavoring rather than butter or oils with unhealthy trans fatty acids. Wine is beneficial only in moderation, which means one drink a day for women, two for men.

The traditional Mediterranean diet contains :

• high consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
• olive oil as an important monounsaturated fat source
• dairy products, fish and poultry  consumed in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten
• eggs consumed zero to four times a week
• wine consumed in low to moderate amounts  

Eating well has never been so healthy!

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Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Does a diagnosis of diabetes lead to depression or does depression lead to diabetes? Probably both according to new research reported on Newsday.com.

People with diabetes are more likely to become depressed as they face a lifetime of keeping their disease in check, researchers said. About 21 million Americans have diabetes, which requires patients to adhere to a strict diet and exercise routine and to monitor their blood sugar levels regularly. People being treated for Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, were 52 percent more likely to develop depression than those without the disease, according to a paper published in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association. John Buse, the American Diabetes Association's president of medicine and science, said. "It's a very tough business to take care of diabetes."

On the flip side, depression may cause patients to develop behaviors that cause diabetes or make it worse. For example, research has shown that many people who are depressed don't exercise, smoke, and/or overeat. "It's important that doctors be attuned to look for both conditions in patients at risk for either diabetes or depression," lead author Sherita Hill Golden, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a statement. "We may want to develop interventions for both treatments, instead of just one or the other."

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Researchers at the University of Virginia were able to reverse Type 1 diabetes in 70% of the diabetic mice tested  by using a combination of 2 drugs, Lisofylline and INGAP,  according to reporter Mark Tenia.

This may be the only type of medication for people with existing Type 1 Diabetes," said Dr. Jerry Nadler, director of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Virginia. "We're very excited about the findings and these mice simulate what happens in people with type 1 diabetes," he added.

 Lisofylline, stops the body from destroying insulin producing cells while  INGAP, helps the body regenerate new cells that create insulin. 
"The most exciting part to us is that this combination therapy approach could actually go to the clinic in a reasonably short period of time," said Nadler. 

Both drugs have already been tested in humans in clinical trials separately. Safety testing that usually takes years and years, has already been passed."Even if it works partially well and helps the body regenerate some insulin producing cells that stay functional, that's a major advance. There's no other therapy like that out there," said Nadler. If all goes well, Dr. Nadler says that the drugs could be available to the public within three to five years.

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My dad (Big Irv or Itzi),who will be a healthy 84 this summer, has always said that " a brisk walk is the best exercise for everyone and anyone." After a "heart scare" in his late 30's, he began to walk every night, usually with my brother and me, and it was amazing how much weight we lost and how much better we all felt. We walked in the heat and in the cold. We talked about our beloved Phillies and listened to their games on a transistor radio in the Summer and we threw snowballs at STOP signs and fire hydrants in the Winter. And we walked the same route almost every night-once or twice around the cemetery up the street- which was 1 to 2 miles. And we always felt GREAT when we arrived home.

Now researchers at Stanford University have discovered why. They say that walking, probably the safest form of exercise, has a positive impact on weight, blood pressure, risk of stroke, muscle mass, and flexibility. Additionally. the study’s lead author, Dena Bravata, M.D., stated that participants who wore pedometers-a small device that clips on to your waistband or a pocket and measures how far you walk in steps or miles- increased their overall physical activity by 27 percent!  When used properly, pedometers can have significant health benefits," states Michael See, Exercise Physiologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center, clinical partner of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Exercise has been shown to lower blood glucose in people with diabetes, but make sure that you consume fifteen grams of carbohydrate  for every 35 minutes of activity to avoid low blood glucose episodes. This means that it’s crucial to carry at least one snack with the appropriate carbohydrate content.

My dad, who still likes to walk when his knee isn't bothering him, also says that all diets are about one thing: "Burn up more calories than you take in." We'll discuss that at another time.

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Summer is almost here and vacation time and outdoor activities will be expanding. A "healthy" suntan looks good but if you take certain prescription and OTC medications, you may be at risk for a sunBURN instead.

Almost 60,000 people will get a diagnosis of melanoma this year. It's the most serious form of skin cancer and it can lead to death. Serious sunburn is the key risk for developing melanoma.

For starters, you need to use an ample amount of sunscreen -- enough to fill a shot glass. It needs to be applied 20 minutes before heading out of doors.

Even if you do all that, you may still get burned. The trouble could be that certain drugs can make your skin much more sun sensitive. Check this list from from Carol & Richard Eustice to see if YOU may have a problem this summer. 

These drugs are associated with photosensitivity reactions:
Antibiotics
Doxycycline (Vibramycin and others)
Floxin
Minocycline
Tetracycline
Trimethoprim

Disease-Modifying Agents (to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus)
Dapsone
Gold
Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil)
Methotrexate
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)

NSAIDs
Piroxicam (Feldene)
Ibuprofen (less likely)
Naproxen and others

Antihypertensives
Captopril
Diltiazem
Methyldopa
Nifedipine

Hypoglycemics
Glipizide
Glyburide
Tolbutamide

Antidepressants
Amitriptyline
Desipramine
Doxepin
Imipramine
Nortriptyline
Trazodone

Antihistamines
Benadryl and others

Diuretics
Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Furosemide (Lasix)
Hydrochlorothiazide

Others
Oral contraceptives
Xanax

Remember, the sun is NOT your friend when it comes to your skin. Take the proper precautions and you'll have a wonderful summer!

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What would you find if you went through your medicine cabinet today? How old are those prescription cold capsules that you put away after you had the flu? And , how about those over-the-counter cough syrups that you've had "forever"? It's high time to go through your medicine cabinet and dispose of old medications. In an article by Kaitlyn Syring in the University of Kansas Daily Kansan, the following important questions are answered:  1. Where is the best place to store medications? 2. Does expired medicine still work?  3. Is expired medicine harmful? 4. How do I dispose of expired medications?

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 A compound found in the peels of citrus fruits may be able to help diabetes patients and even prevent the disease, researchers say. Emulin was discovered while researching the weight-loss properties of grapefruit.                      

 According to researchers Emulin mimics the activity of insulin.Emulin works by reducing the amount of carbohydrates absorbed after meals and the amount of glucose manufactured by the liver. It also speeds the removal of excess sugar from the bloodstream.

Double-blinded human trials with controls and placebos are under way and the results should be out very soon. Scientists said if the product is approved by the FDA, it could be on the market within two years

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In a study by Chinese scientists, treating Type 2 diabetes early and aggressively with insulin therapy was able to push the disease into remission.The premise behind the therapy is that by giving the failing beta cells of the pancreas a chance to rest, one might interrupt a cycle of decline and allow for some recovery. The beta cells produce the insulin the body needs to keep blood sugar levels in check; it is the inability of those cells to meet the body's insulin needs that triggers Type 2 diabetes

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During a CBS 60 Minutes® report entitled The Science of Sleep, research endocrinologist Dr. Eve Van Cauter of the University of Chicago Medical Center said, "Sleep deprivation is a new risk factor for diabetes. We have an epidemic of diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is now occurring in children and in adolescents. And you know, adolescents and children are sleep deprived. High schoolers are among the most sleep-deprived individuals in our society, because they have enormous sleep need - nine to ten hours. Yet they sleep less than seven hours per night."

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