Tag Archives: Diabetes

Apples Beware!

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Annals of Internal Medicine reports that people who have a normal body mass index (weight to height ratio) but abdominal fat are at high risk for heart related deaths.

Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, researchers studied more than 15,000 adults with BMIs greater than 18.5. Normal being 18-24.

After a mean follow-up of 14 years, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), but not BMI, was associated with higher overall mortality risk. Among men with normal BMI, those with central obesity had an 87% higher total mortality risk than men without central obesity. Similarly, women with normal-weight central obesity had a 48% higher mortality risk than women with similar BMI but no central obesity.

The recommended waist circumference for men is less than 102 cm, and for women is less than 88 cm.

 

What does “being healthy” mean in Women?

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An interesting article about young women and their habits– according to a study done by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, young women with healthy habits are less likely to develop coronary heart disease or cardiovascular risk factors as they age,

They looked at six criteria in women aged 27-44 years of age

nonsmoker

normal body mass index

physical activity of at least 2.5 hours weekly

television viewing of 7 hours or less weekly

moderate alcohol consumption

and a healthy diet —

These women had almost no heart disease and low rates of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol after 20 years’ follow-up.

Compared with women who met none of the criteria, those meeting all six had a 92% reduction in risk for coronary heart disease and a 66% reduction in CV risk factors. Of note, only about 5% of study participants met all six criteria.

 

Can regular use of Metformin prevent certain types of cancers?

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In a retrospective analysis, using metformin for >3 years reduced
stomach cancer risk by 43% in patients with type 2 diabetes who did
not use insulin.
However, the risk of stomach cancer risk was doubled in insulin users
versus nonusers, regardless of metformin use.

The oral antidiabetic drug metformin has demonstrated anticancer
activity in other studies as well.

Metformin slows prostate cancer growth in adjuvant setting (AACR,
103rd Annual Meeting2012),
boosts survival in ovarian cancer(Mayo Clinic,2012),
exhibits antineoplastic effect in patients with thyroid cancer
(J.Clin.Endoerinol Metab.2013).

Kim Y-I et al. Long-term metformin use reduces gastric cancer risk in
type 2 diabetics without insulin treatment: A nationwide cohort study.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2014 Apr; 39:854. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apt.12660
)PubMed abstract.

Which Blood Pressure Medication Is Best For Diabetic Patients?

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Angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are associated with 
reduced mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes, 
while angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) have little effect, 
according to a meta-analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Researchers assessed the results of 35 randomized, controlled studies 
comprising some 56,000 patients. Participants had been randomized to 
either the active group (ACE inhibitors or ARBs) or a comparator group 
(placebo, no treatment, or other antihypertensive drugs).

Use of ACE inhibitors was associated with a 13% to 17% risk reduction 
in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and major 
cardiovascular events. ARB users did not see a similar benefit. 
However, ARBs were associated with a 30% risk reduction in heart 
failure.

The authors conclude that ACE inhibitors “should be considered as 
first-line therapy to limit the excess mortality and morbidity in this 
population.”

JAMA Internal Medicine article