Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Hardly a revelation, but new a study in the Lancet shows blood glucose sensitivity starts to change several years before the onset of type-2 diabetes. Scientists followed 6,538 adults without diabetes for 10 years, during which 505 people were diagnosed with the disease. Among the newly diabetic, data revealed steep increases in fasting glucose three years prior to their diagnosis. Experts blame years of overeating, obesity and inactivity; via Booster Shots.

Listen up! Diabetes isn’t inevitable. Last month, research linked healthy, vegetable-based diets to lower risk of type-2 diabetes. Dr. Fuhrman recommends regular exercise and eating plenty of leafy greens, beans and nuts for diabetes prevention, and reversal.

In related news, breakfast cereals like cornflakes spike blood sugar and interfere with normal functioning of blood vessels, raising the risk for heart disease.

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New research in the journal Diabetes shows young adults who had too much belly fat as teenagers have a higher risk of heart disease later in life. Among the 612 participants, men ages 18 to 20, those whose body mass index increased during adolescence had greater amounts of fat surrounding their abdominal organs. Belly fat, or visceral fat, has been closely linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease; via Reuters.

No pun intended, but this is a BIG deal. A previous report reveals young men who are obese at age 18 are more likely to die prematurely as adults. Too make matters worse, our high rate of childhood obesity is expected to skyrocket heart disease among teenagers.

In related news, teenage Latino children switching to a diet consisting of more fiber and less sugar had significant drops in blood sugar and glucose, slashing diabetes risk.

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In the United Kingdom 1 in 3 people with diabetes are given medication too soon, instead of being encouraged to eat better and exercise. The study, presented at a Diabetes UK conference, revealed 36% of the 650 people studied were put on medication within 1 month of being diagnosed, despite medical guidelines recommending lifestyle changes be tried first. Startling when you consider 400 people a day are diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in the United Kingdom; BBC News investigates.

This is sad, especially in light of all the research linking diet to diabetes, such as the dangers of drinking soda and the benefits of eating vegetables. Consuming a lot of high-fiber, high-nutrient foods, i.e. fruits and veggies, improves pancreatic function and lowers insulin resistance, allowing glucose levels to return to normal range without medications.

The UK’s had a rough go of it. Health officials recently urged people to buy less saturated fat and Prince Charles blasted junk food for children’s disconnect with nature, but luckily they’ve enlisted Wallace and Gromit to help fight obesity and improve health!

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Despite the fads, “carbs” are not the enemy of health. Unrefined carbohydrates, like those in beans and fruit, are essential. According to Dr. Fuhrman, our brains are designed to run on carbohydrates. That’ll explain why new research in Appetite reveals eliminating carbohydrates, which are broken down into brain-fueling glucose, makes people more forgetful. Low-carb dieters actually preformed worse on memory-based tasks than participants on a reduced-calorie balanced diet; WebMD reports.

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Eating eggs may increase type-2 diabetes risk. A new study in Diabetes Care claims men consuming 7 or more eggs per week are 58% more likely to develop type-2 diabetes and women are 77% more likely; from MedPage Today.

“The combination of being overweight and eggs, likely the cholesterol, do something to either impair pancreatic function or impair glucose tolerance,” explains Dr. Fuhrman. And initially this research found eating 7 or more eggs a week increased death-risk in men.

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According to Dr. Fuhrman, eating a vegetable-based diet can help type-1 diabetics reduce their insulin requirements and keep glucose levels under excellent control. Good thing! Because a new study in Diabetes Care reveals strict blood sugar control staves off diabetes-related eye and kidney disease; via Reuters.

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