Insulin

Diabetes :: Diabetes in midlife linked to later dementia

Middle-aged people with diabetes are nearly three times more likely to develop dementia in old age – chronic loss of mental capacity due to an organic cause. Dementia may involve progressive deterioration of thinking, memory, behavior, personality and motor function, and may also be associated with psychological symptoms such as depression and apathy.

Diabetes :: Human insulin producing cells of the pancreas

Scientists at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases have induced human insulin-producing cells of the pancreas to revert to islet precursor cells. These precursor cells are capable of expansion and appear to naturally and efficiently differentiate into clusters of islet-like cells. This work may help to clarify the natural lifecycle of the beta cell and may eventually have applications for diabetes treatment. The study appears on-line today in Science Express, the rapid publication web site of the journal Science.

Nutrition :: Sports Diet & Physical Fitness

The keys to physical fitness are exercise, motivation, and good nutrition. Optimal nutrition is a basic training component necessary for the development and maintenance of top physical performance. The principles of sound nutrition apply to everyone, but can give the athlete the competitive edge.

Diabetes :: Islet transplants results in patients with type 1 diabetes

Researchers from 12 medical centers in the United States and Canada, who have performed islet transplants in 86 patients with type 1 diabetes, published their results today in the first annual report of the Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry (CITR). The report (www.citregistry.org) analyzes many factors that can affect the outcome of this experimental procedure for people with severe or complicated type 1 diabetes.

Obesity :: Common facts about obesity & exercise

One misconception many people have about exercise. Most people think that the more you exercise, the hungrier you will become and the more you will eat. Actually, in some ways, exercise is an appetite supressent. Exercise stimulates production of glucagons, which raises the blood sugar level, which reduces symptoms of hunger. Therefore, exercise is helpful in controlling eating if we exercise before a meal.

Diabetes :: Healthy Diabetic Diet for Diabetics

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it does produce. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is released into the blood stream when the blood glucose level rises (after a meal). Insulin allows glucose to move into cells where it can be used for energy production. Glucose is a carbohydrate and is the body’s main fuel.