Diabetes Pharmacist : Diabetes Pharmacist Blog : Focus Express Mail Pharmacy : Insulin Pumps, Diabetes Supplies and Information

I try to learn something new everyday. I knew that the sweetener Fructose was not good for most people and especially people with Diabetes. I just didn't know how bad it was. Here are some facts from Dietician Joan Endyke and others who ask if YOU knew the following regarding Fructose:

• As opposed to other sugars, fructose is metabolized in the liver, converted to triglycerides (fat) and sent to the bloodstream, causing triglyceride levels to rise and  increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
• Fructose  diminishes the effects of leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite,  leading to overeating, weight gain and belly fat.
• Excessive fructose can lead to gout. 
• Sucrose, better known as table sugar, contains 50% fructose
• Commonly used sweetners like molasses, honey, apple & grape juice concentrates all contain at least 50% fructose.
• Pepsi, Coke, and Sprite contain "Really High Fructose Corn Syrup" (RHFCS) with 65% fructose. These results were  recently published in the journal Obesity and easily explains why consuming large amounts of soft drinks can also  lead to diabetes and heart disease.
• There is growing evidence that excess fructose consumption may lead to insulin resistance and eventually Type 2 Diabetes.

To everyone, eat healthy, excercise daily , and read the labels on your food. Avoid foods containing high amounts of fructose.

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In a recent Stanford University study,  researchers found that obese men with diabetes had a distinct group of antibodies against cellular proteins that were not present in a group of obese men who did NOT have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes therefore, like Type 1, may also be an autoimmune disease, but the immune system's target cells are different,

"We are in the process of redefining one of the most common diseases in America as an autoimmune disease, rather than a purely metabolic disease," Daniel Winer, endocrine pathologist now at the University of Toronto, said in a statement. "This work will change the way people think about obesity, and will likely impact medicine for years to come as physicians begin to switch their focus to immune-modulating treatments for Type 2 diabetes."

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Wrist circumference size may predict which children are at risk for insulin resistance, which in turn is a risk factor for heart disease.

Results from a recent study show that large wrist sizes in adolescents are associated with high insulin levels which means an individual may go on to develop insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not respond properly to the hormone.

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 A series of new studies has shown that the onset of dementia may occur sooner if a patient is suffering from the combination of  obesity, diabetes, and heart disease .

This is an important finding because it means that people who take control of their life by changing their lifestyle and their diet , while exercising more will not only prevent heart disease but  will also slow the decline of their mental faculties , namely dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

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My patients with type 2 diabetes realize that blood sugar control, a balanced diet, weight management, regular exercise, and checkups are essential to their overall health. However,  many don't realize that regular care of EVERY part of their body is extremely important  to avoid serious complications.

Here are the  5 biggest concerns:

• Foot infections
• Chronic skin infections
• Gum disease and tooth loss
• Vision problems 
• Heart disease and blood circulation problems

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