Sugar Turned On Me

High Fructose Corn Syrup, one of my favorite punching bags, has shown up again in a new study that connects the consumption of fructose, a gene called PGC-1 and insulin resistance.

As I’ve ranted before, HFCS is in everything and hard to avoid. It is a liquid sweetener that is easier to transport and use than granulated sugar and is used for its cost effectiveness. It’s also been linked with liver disease and the obesity epidemic, though not conclusively.

This recent study done by Dr. Gerald Schuman of the Yale College of Medicine dealt with the function of a gene called PGC-1 which in conjunction with another gene can trigger fat production by the liver.  Rats in the test were given a hight fructose diet with PGC-1 inhibited. These rats failed to develop insulin resistance, a condition that one would expect in rats consuming tons of fructose and also one of the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.

The ramfications of this study are too far over the horizon to say with certainty, but if the results continue to prove true, then a missing link into HFCS and the rash of Type 2 Diabetes we’re seeing these days may no longer be missing.

Of a side note, Pepsi is getting ready to release sodas with real sugar again. Appears business is starting to listen to the demand for non HFCS sweetend products.

From time to time, I need to give credit where credit is due and to let people know where I misspoke. This is one of those times.

Error the First:

In discussing Disney pulling the Hannah Montana diabetes episode , I speculated that they pulled it over not wanting to offend their sponsors as I found it more likely than they were being responsible. Turns out I should have given them more credit. One of the people who read the post (thanks, AC) advised me that the episode was pulled because:

1. Saying that Type 1 diabetics could not have sugar at all, when they can with appropriate care and doses of meds.
2.  Misrepresented Type 1 Diabetes as being caused by too much sugar, when it’s a condition that develops at birth.
3. Called the diabetic character “sugar boy” which is kinda a jerk move.
4. Also, never showing the kid take his blood sugar or take insulin or referencing that he might, which kind of cut down on the educational value of the storyline.

So my apologies to the House of the Mouse for doubting them. You can call of the assassins dressed like Goofy now.

Error the second:

When describing the effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup, I said that sucrose was processed by every cell in the body. I got my sugars wrong: glucose is processed by every cell in the body .

Fructose, however, is still only processed by the liver. So while I got my facts wrong, it wasn’t about the part I was giving as a warning.

Though of a note, there’s apparently some concern of mercury levels in high fructose corn syrup due to a recent study. So if you needed another reason to shun the stuff, congratulations, you got one.

Thanks again for reading. New information to follow soon.

As I’ve said before in this blog, the good news about diabetes is that new treatments are being found every day, it seems. Old ones and new ones. Recently, the following three news stories caught my attention:

• Weekly Injections for Type 2 paitents: The prescription drug exenatide, sold under the brand name Byetta, requires twice daily injections. Currently, a once weekly dose of the medication, which boosts insulin production, is being tested and shows promise.
• Open Wide and Say “Ah”: Recent research revealed that diabetics have certain protiens in their saliva more commonly than people without. While still in the earliest stages of investigation, the reasearchers are hoping that this could be used to diagnose diabetes and maybe even replace blood tests, saving people from that delightful morning poke.
• Everything Old is New Again: In 1876, a drug called salsalate was being investigated as a treatment for diabeties. An anti-inflammatory, it’s used to treat arthritis today. A researcher believes that the people considering using it to help diabetics control blood sugar may have been on to something. Studies are being done and soon to be published that may give diabetics an additional and inexpensive (available as a generic, no less) medication.

Here’s hoping the above stories are not mere pipe-dreams, but something for us to look forward too.

Today is World Diabetes day. Celebrities such as the Jonas Brothers (one of whom has diabetes) and Danny Devito are showing their support. The International Diabetes Foundation(IDF) is asking for people to light a virtual candle in acknowledgment. In some places they are having sporting events, in others symbolic walks. Today, the world is paying special attention to a disease that is rising to “epidemic” proportions in India, on the rise in the Phillipines and affects millions in the good, ol’ US of A.

I’d like you to observe it too.

I don’t want you to give money or jog a marathon or anything, though if you want to I won’t stop you. What I’d like you to do to observe this day and what it means is do something to prevent you from getting type 2 diabetes:

1. Take a walk. 30 min of walking with a purpose three times a week will help you lose weight and keep you from hanging on to sugar you’re not using at your desk.
2.  Eat Something Small. One of the easiest ways to help control Type 2 diabetes is by limiting your portion sizes to something reasonable. It’s also not a bad way to not get it in the first place.
3. Drink Water. Some popular sodas were introduced as a medication. Then they became a treat. Now, they’re just what you get with lunch. Replace one sugary drink you would have today with water.
4. Read Something. Check out the IDF’s website . Go to the American Diabetes Association’s website, Wikipedia or Diabetes.org and look up the symptoms . Make yourself a little more aware of what diabetes is and what diabetics deal with on a daily basis.
5. Listen. If you know someone with diabetes, ask them what it’s like. You don’t have to pry, but be interested for a moment. Get some first hand info about what it’s like to have sugar turn on you.

World Diabetes Day started being observed in 1991 by a group that wants to raise global awareness on a treatable and often preventable chronic disease. Be one of the people that they make aware. And if any of the things I recommend don’t seem so bad… try doing them again tomorrow, especially 1-3.

If you want, you can be an observer of World Diabetes Day. If you really want, you can be a result.

Article the first:
In Texas, a doctor claims to have developed a diet that reverses heart disease and may even cure Type 2 diabetes. The core of the diet is eating “minimally processed, whole food, vegan” and cutting out “animal flesh” and dairy.

Personally, I’m skeptical. The food would be low fat, low calorie and would certainly help help lose weight, but I’m curious if it has benefits over and above other diabetes friendly diet. The article also doesn’t give specifics about the patient’s blood glucose levels, only that one was on insulin and now no longer requires it.

I give the three blood test strips out of four, though I’m looking forward to seeing if there is any clinical evidence disclosed to back up the doctor’s claims.
Link: Cardiologist Creates Diet to Reverse Diabetes, Heart Disease

Article the Second:
I’m glad I don’t have to take insulin, but for those who do, I’m told it’s pretty much life or death, especially if you don’t produce insulin due to Type 1 diabetes. This makes it nigh unbelievable that some diabetics in Australia are reportedly reluctant to take the medication because it comes with weight gain.

Gaining weight can raise your risks for heart disease and other unplesantries that can be further complicated by diabetes, granted, but not taking the insulin complicates things like functioning on a daily basis. The article doesn’t have any information as to specifically why people were concerned about their weight, only that they were.
Link: Fat fear cuts diabetes shot.

In part two of the fact finding mission begun yesterday, I went looking for studies about vinegar and diabetes. To recap, I found someone saying they’d lowered their blood sugar with vinegary pickles and garlic before bed. While the garlic may have had no real effect on his glucose levels, information I found suggests that the vinegar might.

Vinegar is acidic and the acetic acid in vinegar may be able to effectively lower the glycemic index of foods. This means that the spikes after meals will be lower. People who use vinegar before meals also report they feel more full afterward, helping with overeating.

At least one study was done where subjects, none of whom were diabetic, were given bread soaked with apple cider vinegar before meals. The ones who were given the bread had lower numbers than those who didn’t.

The recommended dosage comes out to around two tablespoons. This can be taken straight or mixed with a little water and/or honey. If you’re going to try this, please tell your doctor first. Some people have had averse reactions to drinking vinegar and there is some connection between using vinegar and damaging the enamel of your teeth over time.

I don’t know that I’ll be jumping into the vinegar pool anytime soon, but it’s good to know that there is some basis to the rumor. Diabetics need all the help they can get and knowing you might already have said help in your pantry is good, good thing. So for those who are willing to try it, good luck, pinch your nose and hopefully you’ll see those numbers drop.

I was reading a guy’s blog about trying garlic as a natural method for helping control his blood sugar. He was also including vinegar in his regimen (which I’ll check into in another entry) but he credited some significant results to his use of garlic. Wanting to see if one of my favorite foodstuffs might be helping me already, I decided to see what Uncle Google had to say about garlic, blood glucose and diabetes.

The bad news is that according to the Mayo clinic and a number of credible studies , garlic has no significant effect on blood sugar. The same studies show that garlic does have an effect on cholesterol, but not the sort of “aggressive” reduction that diabetics are told to try to make happen. Some people in the studies also showed drops in blood pressure, but not consistently.

Now this doesn’t mean I’ll be taking the stinking rose off of my menu. Aside from the fact that it tastes good, garlic is a source of vitamins B6 and C. It has been shown (according to information on Whole Foods’ website ) to help against plaque forming in the arteries, is an anti-inflammatory and may even help prevent cancer. There’s a reason it’s been in the diets of so many cultures for so long.

With any home remedy, it’s best to do some homework to find out if there’s been any clinical confirmation before betting your health on it. Now if you find it works for you, I’m not going to tell you to stop but at least let your doctor in on what you’re doing. And while garlic may not lower blood sugar, it sure does spice up oven roasted chicken and add a great note to red sauces.

So diabetics, consume garlic if you wish but don’t expect it to be the solution to high blood sugar numbers… just boring food.

A while back, I suggested using a spreadsheet to keep track of your diet and diabetes. As much access as the average American has to computers, keeping your blood sugar diary in an electronic format is convenient and makes it easier to search for individual dates, food items or blood sugar numbers.  I didn’t elaborate on what one might use to make a spreadsheet, so I thought I might offer a few places and mention other electronic options.

Excel, a Microsoft product, is an excellent spreadsheet application. Learning to use it, if you’re not already familiar, does take a little time. One you do get used to it,  it’s a very flexible, powerful tool.

If you’re not looking to pay for anything, then check out OpenOffice . It’s a free set of applications similar to Microsoft Office and has it’s own spreadsheet application. I’ve not used it, but it has gotten some thumbs up from the community at large.

If you’re not intrested in using an application at all, take a look at Google Documents . Google offers a number of online applications. The advantage of them is that they are always accessible online. The downside is that, well, they’re online. Don’t have internet access? Too bad.

So say you don’t want to pay for anything, don’t want to install anything and don’t want to use the internet. If you have a computer running Windows, you can use an application that comes as part of the operating system, Notepad. This is a text editor, not a spreadsheet, but it does have a cool function that will let you use it as a diary:

1. Open the application. It’s usually under the start menu> all programs > accessories.
2. On the first line, with nothing else typed out, put in .LOG and save the document. Typing it in upper case matters.
3. Open the saved document again. You’ll notice that it adds the date and time you opened it up.
4. Type what you want to type, save and close the document.
5. Each time you open it, it should add the time and date.

Now admittedly, you could take the extra ten seconds to type the time and date out by hand, but it’s still convenient.

If you’re using  a desktop application like Excel or Notepad and you want to carry your information with you, you can pick up a portable USB drive for as little as $5 at Target. These plug into your computer’s USB ports and act as a detachable hard drive. Even the smallest available capacity is enough to carry a lot of text.

I was using an Excel spreadsheet at first. I’m thinking about either using the Notepad version or perhaps going back and seeing what else I can make the Excel spreasheet do for me. Either way, it’s good to be able to make additional use of the tools available to keep watch on my diabetes.

Recently, I pointed out my folly in having eaten high carb food and not following through on the plan to burn it off by being horizontal and moaning. This prompted a question in my head about how much energy you burn by having sex. Looking about the all knowing internet, I came across a couple of articles that suggested there may be additional reasons for diabetics to look to nookie for their cardio.

When you get diagnosed, they tell you to exercise. Walking is usually the first suggestion. 30 minutes of walking can burn as much as 130 calories(1)  and that’s if you’re just ambling. By comparison, sex can burn as much as four to five calories per minute, which means if you’re having sex 30 minutes instead of walking, you are burning as much if not more than if you were walking casually for the same amount of time. Also like walking, it’s something you’re most likely already doing regularly(2).

Being diagnosed can be depressing. So can sticking yourself with needles daily. Sex, as it turns out, helps fight depression. In one study, women who participated in heterosexual coupling minus a condom were found to have less depression than women who didn’t(3). Also, having someone that you like be attracted to you, male or female, hetero or not, is almost always a mood elevator.

Diabetics have trouble fighting infections. Sex boots the immune system. Diabetics have issues with frequent urination. Sex works out the muscles that help with bladder control. Diabetics have problems with circulation. Sex improves circulation.

This list goes on.

The best reason to have sex, in my opinion, is because you and someone you love want to feel close to one another, want to help each other feel good, and enjoy the feelings that come with healthy intimacy. It’s one of the finest and most beautiful things you can do with your body. The fact that it also comes with a long list of health benefits is really just a bonus.

So go put on some Luther Vandross. Turn the lights down. Pour a couple of glasses of wine. Make love. Doctor’s orders(4).

(1)Individual results will vary depending on weight, pace and terrain.
(2)If this isn’t something you’re already doing, stop surfing the internet after this article. Go find a group of people. Mingle. Find someone you like of similar worldview. Achieve a level of commitment and intmacy in which sex is a natural expression. Come back and resume surfing.
(3)This is not a reason to have unsafe sex. Condoms help prevent pregnancy and disease and finding out you have an STD might just counteract the mood elevating effects of sex in the long run.
(4)I am so very not a doctor.

Links to where I got my info:
Let’s All Have Sex… and Not for the Reasons You’re Thinking of
Six Reasons to Have Sex Every Week
What are the scientific reasons for having sex?
Is Sex Necessary?
A list of various physical activities and how many calories they burn in PDF format.

I never liked reading labels on food. At the store, I would just grab something that looked tasty or at least non-offensive and go with it. Due to diabetes, reading labels is now something I have to do to remain healthy.

For most foods it’s easy: I pick up the item, check the carbs and fiber, check the fats, make sure it has no high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils and go. The problem comes when I get food that isn’t labeled so well, like say apples or sweet potatoes. And then what about food I prepare at home?

Fortunately, the web knows everything.

I checked out a site suggested by my doctor:NutritionData.com. It’s has the nutrition info for a large number of foods and displays it in a format similar to the nutrition labels on food packaging. It includes common dishes, individual food items like apples and chicken as well as the items at a lot of restaurants. It also displays their gylcemic index numbers, their relative fat to carbs to proteins ratio and a lot of other information that is beyond my needs but is still worth having.

When you log on, if you set up an account, you can add foods to your “pantry”. You can then go back and make recipes from your pantry and get the nutrition data from that. The only thing that irks me is that you can’t just cut and paste a whole recipe.

There are also some foods that are missing from the list. I went looking for curry paste and could only find curry powder, for instance. In comparison to what the site offers, this is a forgivable gap.

One thing that’s good about being diabetic in the 21st century is that we have access to a lot of information. By making use of the tools available to me, I have felt a lot more informed and in control of my diabetes. And more in control is better than less.

Check out the site whether you have diabetes or not. It’s worth the look.