type 2 diabetes and nutrition

Spouse's diabetes impacts the entire family

Diagnosed last fall with Type 2 diabetes, he had none of the usual risk factors and no symptoms. At 43, he was a trim 170, former athlete, nonsmoker with no family history of diabetes. That he had the disease was odd, but not impossible.

His doctor prescribed Actos, a commonly used first-line treatment, and suggested he meet with a nutritionist, who recommended Erik limit carbohydrates to 60 per meal -- and that was that. I assumed Erik could do this on his own, and paid little attention to what he ate. He is not one to be fussed over, so I continued with my usual routines of mothering six children. Less than a year later, Erik's blood sugar had gone up and his doctor added another pill to the routine.

Healthy food and exercise can fuel better learning

Among the many responsibilities of our public schools is teaching children how to lead a healthy lifestyle. And where our students' health is concerned, schools should lead by example. After all, healthier students are better learners.

In 2004, the Legislature enacted a measure requiring school districts to create nutrition and physical-activity policies. This measure also directed state officials to develop a model policy to promote good nutrition and physical activity among our students.

Low-fat, vegan diet hailed for Type 2 diabetes

Dr. David Jenkins, who holds the Canada research chair in nutrition and metabolism at the University of Toronto, helped plan the study. He said the findings could pave the way for new ways of treating the disease.

"We're some way from the universal application of this, but I think it may provide some very interesting leads for the more imaginative patients and the more imaginative doctors," said Jenkins.

More than two million Canadians have Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to blindness and kidney failure and can lead to fatal heart disease.

Traditionally, patients are given an oral medication to help the body produce more insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check.

Study: Low-fat, vegan diet might be best for type-2 diabetes

The study, conducted by the vegan organization Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and George Washington University, followed 99 people with type-2 diabetes for 22 weeks - half ate a vegan diet and half followed dietary guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.

Members of both groups lowered their weight, and improved blood glucose control and cholesterol levels.

But those who avoided meat and dairy had greater success, said Neal Barnard, president of PCRM, a nonprofit organization that focuses on preventive medicine and nutrition, and promotes vegetarian diets and alternatives to animal research.

GlaxoSmithKline Gets Added Avandamet OK

The company said the agency approved Avandamet as an initial treatment of Type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise. In 2002, the FDA approved the drug as a second line treatment for patients who could not control their diabetes alone with metformin, a common diabetes treatment.