Type 2 diabetes risk may be influenced by blood type

According to the research team, including Dr. Guy Fagherazzi of the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health at the Gustave Roussy Institute in France, past studies have investigated the association between blood type and stroke, finding people with blood type AB are at higher risk.

In one study that found such an association, the researchers note there was also a higher number of diabetes cases among individuals with blood type AB. Other studies - although small - have reported similar findings. This led them to investigate the link between blood type and diabetes in a larger cohort.

Dr. Fagherazzi and colleagues analyzed data from 82,104 women who were a part of the French E3N study - a cohort of almost 100,000 female teachers that began in 1990.

From an analysis of health questionnaires the women completed, the team identified 3,553 women who received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes between 1990 and 2008. Blood samples from the women were collected between 1995 and 1997.

Women with blood type B+ at 35% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The results of the analysis revealed that women with blood type A were 10% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women with blood type O, while women with blood type B were 21% more likely to develop the condition.

Women with blood type AB were found to be at 17% higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those with blood group O, but the researchers say this result was "not statistically significant."

The team then assessed the women's risk of diabetes by their Rhesus factor - the presence of Rhesus antigens in the blood. However, they found there was no difference in type 2 diabetes risk between those who were Rhesus positive (R+) and those who were Rhesus negative (R-).

Next, the team assessed the risk of type 2 diabetes by both women's blood type (A, B, AB or O) and Rhesus factor. Each possible combination was compared with blood group O negative (O-), as this is classed as a universal blood group because it has no A, B or Rhesus antigens present.

The researchers found that women who were blood group B positive (B+) were 35% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with blood group O-. Women with blood group AB+ were at 26% higher risk of type 2 diabetes, those with blood group A- were at 22% higher risk and those with blood group A+ were at 17% increased risk.

The team says their findings for blood groups O-, B- and AB- were not statistically significant.

Commenting on their results, Dr. Fagherazzi says:

"Our findings support a strong relationship between blood group and diabetes risk, with participants with the O blood type having a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Therefore, the effects of blood groups should be investigated in future clinical and epidemiological studies on diabetes. Further pathophysiological research is also needed to determine why the individuals with blood type O have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes."

However, the team suggests a number of potential factors that might explain their findings. For example, they point out that blood grouping is linked to specific molecules related to type 2 diabetes. Another study has associated blood type with gut bacteria composition, which may be linked to type 2 diabetes.

Study author Dr. Françoise Clavel-Chapelon - also of the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health at the Gustave Roussy Institute - acknowledges the fact that their study population only included women but notes that no biological mechanisms were identified that suggest their findings were sex-dependent.

"Information on the participants was self-reported, but this is unlikely to substantially affect the results," he adds.

Suggested foods for diabetics

If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your doctor has probably already advised you to limit simple sugars in your diet, avoid highly processed carbs and perhaps even increase your intake of whole grains, leafy greens and vegetables. These are your first steps toward better health. But, what if there were foods that had very targeted effects on blood sugar and type 2 diabetes? Here are 10 foods that lower blood sugar, support pancreatic health and may lessen your need for insulin.

Blueberries - Blueberries are not only yummy; they are packed with flavonoids and antioxidants. Their high fiber content and high levels of vitamin C and E make them the ideal blood-sugar-stabilizing food. You can enjoy blueberries fresh or frozen year round. Use them in fruit smoothies, on top of whole-grain cereal or even just plain. Blueberries are naturally sweet and need no condiments of any kind. You can even enjoy their benefits cooked in whole-grain pancakes or muffins. A study showed that, whether blueberries where baked, steamed or even microwaved, their antioxidant activity was not reduced.

Garbanzo beans - Sometimes called chick peas, garbanzo beans are high in fiber and low in fat. Garbanzo beans are also high in protein and can replace animal proteins in your diet -- such as red meat, milk and cheese -- which are high in saturated fat. You can cook garbanzo beans at home or use them canned; just be sure to choose the low-salt variety. Garbanzo beans are great when chilled and added to a green salad. They can also be used in soups, as a meat substitute in spaghetti and chili, or pureed and mixed with olive oil to make hummus.

Apples are high in fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C. Apples are easy to add to your diet. They can be served up as apple sauce or sliced into a Cobb salad. Apples are easy to add to a brown-bag lunch, as well. Just wash one and drop it in. If you don't like the mild flavor of Red Delicious apples, try some of the newer varieties. Fuji and Gala apples have a wonderful, tangy, straight-from-the-tree flavor.

Broccoli - Broccoli is high in fiber and a good natural source of chromium. Both fiber and chromium have been proven to be beneficial in treating diabetes. Broccoli can be lightly steamed and served with a touch of olive oil and sea salt. It can also be added to salads and sandwiches.

Avocados - Most of us know that avocados are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats which can lower cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of stroke and heart disease. A 2008 study has also shown that unsaturated vegetable fats can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You can add avocados to your diet as guacamole, diced in a salad or sliced onto a sandwich. Buy avocados that are firm and dark green, then let them ripen until they turn nearly black and develop their signature rich, nutty flavor.

Asparagus - One serving of asparagus has only 5 grams of carbohydrates and a mere 20 calories yet is high in fiber, antioxidants and folate. It also has glutathione, which has been shown to lower blood sugar and increase insulin production.

Almonds - Almonds are packed with protein, fiber and polyunsaturated fats. All of these are the ideal components of a healthy diet. Almonds have been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The good fats in theses nuts slow digestion, stave off hunger and delay pancreatic fatigue. You can enjoy roasted almonds as a snack. They can also be added to salads and are good when thinly sliced and sprinkled over many Asian dishes.

Kale - Kale, according to The World's Healthiest Foods, is rich in fiber and in vitamins E, C and A, all of which have been shown to help stabilize blood glucose levels. While some people enjoy kale raw in salads, for the biggest nutritional punch and ideal flavor, steam it lightly for five minutes and then let it rest five minutes before serving. Don't add butter or salt, or you're negating many of kale's health benefits.

Cranberries - Many people think of these as a seasonal dish, but cranberries should be part of your year-round diet. They are high in phytonutrients such as anthocyanin which can help lower blood glucose levels.

Oats - Oats are high in soluble fiber. A diet high in fiber can prevent constipation, lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. Because the fiber in foods is digested differently than other carbohydrates, it does not require insulin and passes through the digestive track intact. This has the benefit of helping you feel full without altering your blood sugar levels.

Diabetics live longer with physical exercise

Exercise reduces your chances of developing type-2 diabetes, but even if you already have diabetes exercise is good for you. Definitely if you exercise for longer than the daily half hour that is advised.

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the biostatistician Paul Williams examined data gathered in the National Walkers’ and Runners’ Health Studies. In that project researchers have been following several hundred thousand runners and walkers since the twentieth century – and among them are 2160 men and women who take medication for diabetes.

Williams knew how often the participants walked and ran, and divided them into three groups on the basis of the amount of calories they burned. The first group did the equivalent of 1.07 MET-hours per day. 1 MET-hour is the equivalent of about 1 km running or 1.5 km walking at a brisk pace.

The second group did between 1.07 and 1.8 MET-hours a day. If you manage the 1.8 MET-hours per day, you do exactly the amount of exercise that health experts advise. That means walking briskly for a good half hour every day.

The third group that Williams separated out were those who did more than the 1.8 MET-hours per day, and thus got more exercise than advised.

When Williams then looked at which diabetics had died, he saw that their mortality risk was lower, the higher their MET-hour figure was. In the figure below the mortality risk of the diabetics category with the least exercise.

Diabetics are more likely to die, and this is mainly because the disease damages the heart and blood vessels. Williams discovered that walking and running reduced the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. In addition, exercise also reduced the chance of dying from an infectious disease or a kidney disease.

“Most people at risk for diabetes are not sufficiently active as defined by the recommendations for the general population, little less the recommendations for diabetic patients”, Williams concludes. “These results identify important additional benefits for diabetic patients to exceed the current general physical activity recommendations for adults.

Reduced Total and Cause-Specific Mortality from Walking and Running in Diabetes

This study aimed to assess the relationships of running and walking to mortality in diabetic subjects.

We studied the mortality surveillance between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 2008, of 2160 participants of the National Walkers’ and Runners’ Health Studies who reported using diabetic medications at baseline. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained from Cox proportional hazard analyses for mortality versus exercise energy expenditure (MET-hours per day, 1 MET·h ?1-km run or a 1.5-km brisk walk).

Three hundred and thirty-one diabetic individuals died during a 9.8-yr average follow-up. Merely meeting the current exercise recommendations was not associated with lower all-cause mortality (P = 0.61), whereas exceeding the recommendations was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.49–0.82, P = 0.0005). Greater MET-hours per day ran or walked was associated with 40% lower risk for all chronic kidney disease-related deaths (HR = 0.60 per MET·h·d?1, 95% CI = 0.35–0.91, P = 0.02), 31% lower risk for all sepsis-related deaths (HR = 0.69, 0.47–0.94, P = 0.01), and 31% lower risk for all pneumonia and influenza-related deaths (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.45–0.97, P = 0.03). Running or walking ?1.8 MET·h·d?1 was associated with 57% reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) as an underlying cause of death and 46% lower risk for all CVD-related deaths versus <1 .07="" d="" h="" met="" nbsp="" p="">
All results remained significant:

1. adjusted for baseline BMI and 
2. excluding all deaths within 3 yr of baseline.

These results suggest that

1.  exercise is associated with significantly lower all-cause, CVD, chronic kidney disease, sepsis, and pneumonia, and influenza mortality in diabetic patients and:
2. higher exercise standards may be warranted for diabetic patients than currently provided to the general population.

Food Addiction – A Serious Problem, Simple Solution

Food addiction is a very serious problem and one of the main reasons some people just can’t control themselves around certain foods, no matter how hard they try.\

Food addiction is, quite simply, being addicted to junk food in the same way as drug addicts are addicted to drugs. It involves the same areas in the brain, the same neurotransmitters and many of the symptoms are identical. Food addiction is a relatively new (and controversial) term and there are no good statistics available on how common it is. This is very similar to several other eating disorders, including binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating and having an “unhealthy” relationship with food.

Processed junk foods have a powerful effect on the “reward” centers in the brain, involving brain neurotransmitters like dopamine. The foods that seem to be the most problematic include typical “junk foods,” as well as foods that contain either sugar or wheat, or both. Food addiction is not about a lack of willpower or anything like that, it is caused by the intense dopamine signal “hijacking” the biochemistry of the brain. There are many studies that support the fact that food addiction is a real problem. The way this works is pretty complicated, but this short video explains it in human terms:
There is no blood test available to diagnose food addiction. Just like with other addictions, it is based on behavioral symptoms.

Here are 8 common symptoms that are typical of food addicts:

1. You frequently get cravings for certain foods, despite feeling full and having just finished a nutritious meal.
2. When you give in and start eating a food you were craving, you often find yourself eating much more than you intended to.
3. When you eat a food you were craving, you sometimes eat to the point of feeling excessively “stuffed.”
4. You often feel guilty after eating particular foods, yet find yourself eating them again soon after.
5. You sometimes make excuses in your head about why you should eat something that you are craving.
6. You have repeatedly tried to quit eating or setting rules (includes cheat meals/days) about certain foods, but been unsuccessful.
7. You often hide your consumption of unhealthy foods from others.
8. You feel unable to control your consumption of unhealthy foods, despite knowing that they are causing you physical harm (includes weight gain).

If you can relate to 4-5 of these, then you probably do have a serious problem with food. If you can relate to 6 or more, then you are most likely a food addict. Although the term “addiction” is often thrown around lightly, having true addiction is serious business.

Food addiction can cause physical harm. It can lead serious diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, arthritis and depression, to name a few. But you have even bigger reasons to quit than some unfamiliar disease in your distant future. Food addiction is also ruining your life… today. It breaks your self-esteem, makes you unhappy with your body and can make your life a living hell (like it did for me). The seriousness of being a food addict can not be overstated. This is a problem that ruins lives and kills people. Literally.

The most important lesson I have ever learned is called the law of addiction: “Administration of a drug to an addict will cause reestablishment of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance.” A former smoker who has a puff of a cigarette will become addicted again… instantly. An alcoholic who has a sip of beer will relapse, with all the horrible consequences that follow There is no way of getting around it. This is simply how addiction works. I am personally convinced that food addiction is no different. One bite of cake, one sip of coke, one “cheat” – that’s all it takes. Of course, we all need to eat something. Otherwise we’ll die of starvation. But no one needs to eat sugar, refined wheat flour or any of the modern junk foods that people tend to lose control over.

Most food addicts will never be able to eat junk food like “regular” people again. That’s the cold, hard truth. But if they manage to avoid the “trigger foods,” then they should be able to eat healthy and lose weight without problems. The truth is… complete abstinence is the only thing that reliably works against addiction. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you will recover. Although the “everything in moderation” message may work for some people, this advice is a complete disaster for food addicts. When it comes to addiction, moderation fails. Every time. This is the simple (but not easy) solution to addiction. Avoiding the addictive substance at all times.

Completely avoiding junk foods may seem impossible. These foods are everywhere and are a major part of our culture. But believe me… once you’ve made the decision to never eat them again, avoiding them actually becomes easier. When you’ve made a firm decision to avoid them completely, then there’s no need for you to justify anything in your head and the cravings may not even show up. Many people who have done this (including myself) don’t even get cravings anymore, not after they’ve made a profound decision to simply avoid this stuff… permanently.
But if you’re still in doubt and are unsure if this is worth the sacrifice, then write down a list of pros and cons.

Pros might include: I’ll lose weight, I’ll live longer, I’ll have more energy and feel better every day, etc.

Cons might include: I won’t be able to eat ice cream with my family, no cookies on Christmas, I might have to explain my food choices… (Most of these social dilemmas can be solved easily). Write everything down, no matter how peculiar or vain. Then put your two lists side by side and ask yourself: Is it worth it?

If the answer is a resounding “yes” – then you can rest assured that you are doing the right thing.

There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and make the transition as easy as possible:

• Trigger Foods: Write down a list of the foods you tend to crave and/or binge on. These are the “trigger foods” you need to avoid completely.
• Fast Food Places: Write down a list of fast food places that serve healthy foods. This is important and can prevent a relapse when you find yourself hungry and not in the mood to cook.

What to Eat: Think about what foods you’re going to eat. Preferably healthy foods that you like and are already eating regularly.

Pros and Cons: Consider making several copies of your “pros and cons” list. Keep a copy in your kitchen, glove compartment and purse/wallet. Sometimes you will need a reminder about why you’re doing this.

It’s important to NOT go on a “diet.” Put weight loss on hold for at least 1-3 months.

Overcoming food addiction is hard enough as it is, by adding hunger and additional restrictions to the mix you will just make things even harder and set yourself up for failure.

Now… set a date, some time in the near future (maybe this weekend or next week).

From this day and onward, you will never touch the addictive foods again. Not a single bite, ever. Period.
When All Else Fails… Seek Help

If you end up relapsing and losing control over your consumption again, then you’re not alone.
Relapses are the rule when it comes to addiction, not the exception. Most people have a history of several failed attempts before they manage to succeed in the long run. That’s how it was for me and most recovering food addicts I know.

But if you relapse often, then there really is no point in trying to do it on your own again. If you’ve failed a hundred times, then the chances of you succeeding when you try it for the 101th time are almost nonexistent. Luckily, help is not far off… There are health professionals and support groups that can help you overcome this serious problem. You can seek professional help… for example from a psychologist or psychiatrist. Try to find someone who has actual experience in dealing with food addiction.

But there are several free options available as well, including 12 step programs like Overeaters Anonymous (OA), GreySheeters Anonymous (GSA) and Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA).  Food addiction is a problem that will rarely resolve on its own. Unless you deal with it, chances are that it will just get worse over time.

If you have this problem, then you have to do something about it now, or it will end up ruining your life.

Vitamin A derivative potentially treats type 2 diabetes, prevents its cardiovascular complications

 At a  time when obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their complications are a veritable epidemic worldwide, researchers at the University of Montreal and CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) recently demonstrated the potential of retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of Vitamin A, in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes and preventing their cardiovascular complications.

"In obese and insulin resistant mice, retinoic acid reduces the risk of cardiac apoptosis, stimulates the expression of cardio-protective genes reduced by the disease, and protects against the accumulation of collagen in the cardiac muscle, thus avoiding the occurrence of fibrosis and possible associated future complications," says the first author of the study, Daniel-Constantin Manolescu.

 Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death. The discovery follows other research conducted by his team on the effects of RA on insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity. "Blood glucose, insulin resistance, body weight, and adipocyte size were significantly decreased in treated animals, including abdominal fat, while dietary intake and physical activity were similar for treated or non-treated animals. This suggests an increase in basal energy expenditure," says Manolescu. White fat is an energy reserve formed by the accumulation of fat in the form of triglycerides to meet unexpected increases in energy costs, but it is also a hormonal tissue with a delicate balance. Overall, if energy intake is greater than expenditures over an extended period, obesity increases, while hormonal balance and energy metabolism are disturbed. In this context, resistance to type 2 diabetes develops over time.

Brown fat also stores triglycerides, but it has the ability to produce heat. Abundant in babies, brown fat does not disappear completely in adulthood. It is irrigated by blood vessels and has many mitochondria, the energy factories of cells. Vitamin A derivatives stimulate a mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP1) that allows uncoupling of the mitochondria pathway (oxidative phosphorylation ), which uses energy from the oxidation of nutrients for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). For a period of time, they generate heat (thermogenesis) instead of ATP, which is traditionally the energy required for active metabolism. Exposure to cold leads to the stimulation of brown fat and white fat, promoting the conversion of triglycerides to free fatty acids and glycerol. However, in brown adipocytes, these fatty acids are rapidly oxidized in the mitochondria and produce heat (under the influence of the UCP1 protein). Brown fat thus helps to increase basal energy metabolism. As a result, hibernating mammals fatten in the fall without developing diabetes and lose weight without moving too much in the winter (while warming their den). They are also the animals that accumulate the most Vitamin A in their livers. Retinoic acid (a Vitamin A derivative) is recognized for its involvement in cell maturation and differentiation and may guide pre-adipocytes to become brown (or beige) instead of white. It is as if "boilers" were installed directly in reserves of white fat to melt it on the spot and prevent it from over-accumulating.

"Vitamine A is a bioactive nutrient. The originality of our project is in addressing obesity and type 2 diabetes through the involvement of retinoids. We have attracted international attention and were named among 12 teams in the world to bring conclusive data in this regard," says Dr. Pangala V. Bhat.

"Our studies on animals show that retinoic acid induces normalization of blood glucose and reduction of obesity. It is an important contribution to understanding RA action on the liver, fat, muscles, and the heart, and on retinoid metabolism, energy metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and insulin resistance. Our research identifies new metabolic effects of retinoids and may lead to anti-obesity and anti-diabetic medicines," says Dr. Jean-Louis Chiasson.