Air pollution could increase diabetes risk in women

Does air pollution lead to the risk of type 2 diabetes in women? If a new study has to be believed, then yes air pollution would lead to a risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women.

A group of German researchers have pointed out that low grade inflammation could contribute to higher incidence of type 2 diabetes in women who are exposed to air pollution.

The findings are published in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). In the study, women living in highly polluted industrial areas were compared to women living in rural regions with less pollution. After analysing the result of 1,775 women who were 54 or 55 years old, it has been found out that 187 participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

They have found that Nitrogen Dioxide and soot in ambient fine particulate matter was closely associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. They also say that living within 100 meters of busy roadways more than doubled the diabetes risk.

Diabetes and Eyes

Diabetes is known as killer disease that can have adverse impact on several organs. This killer disease can play havoc with eyes, heart, kidney, liver and the neuro system.

Some of the problems related to eyes with an impact of diabetes include cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Cataract is often a major problem that is seen in diabetic persons. It is clouding of the lens, which can be treated by surgery. Glaucoma is a condition when the eyes get filled up with fluid and when the pressure of the fluid builds up in the eyes. This condition may lead to damage of the optic nerves.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition when the small blood vessels in the eyes get damaged.

A diabetic person should always take care of the eyes. He or she should go for periodic eye check ups.

Diagnose diabetes early to minimise impact

There is an increase of diabetic patients the world over. Earlier, there was a belief that only old people are liable to diabetes. But the situation has changed and young people are having diabetes. The impact of diabetes is wide ranging as it could affect the eyes, nervous system and kidney.

There is nothing to fear of diabetes. If diabetes is diagnosed earlier, then the impact can be lessened. Most of the time, people fail to diagnose diabetes as they do not frequently do not go for check ups. A person who has crossed 30 should have to go for regular check ups, at least once in six months.

The only thing is that you should have to maintain a healthy life style once you known that you are diabetic. There should not be any compromise in your life style.

Wireless glucose monitor

Researchers have developed a sensor that measures blood sugar continuously and transmits the information wirelessly.
The small device has a pair of sensors and could be implanted in a person's torso. One of the sensors detect oxygen while the other one studies the reaction of oxygen and glucose. This information is then transmitted through an integrated antenna.

The blood glucose monitor, which measures about 1.5inches across, could be available under prescription within a few years. scientists reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

The device has been tested in one pig for more than a year and in another for nearly 10 months with no problems, they said.

Lead author Professor David Gough, from the UC San Diego, said that they were now focused on getting the human clinical trials going. He said they hoped to begin the first human trial within in a few months.

Pig cells a new hope for diabetes patients

Pig cells for diabetes patients. A research is underway to find a cure to type one diabetes patients by using pig cells.

A news report says that a procedure developed by Kiwis is being tested on eight patients. The procedure called xenotransplantation, which had been banned by the New Zealand government for over a decade has now once again been given the green light.

Xenotransplantation is a process by which a small incision is made in the abdomen and over one million pig islet cells, each the size of a pinhead, are inserted into the cavity surrounding the liver. Those cells will take several weeks to form a blood supply and hopefully start producing insulin for the patient, the medical experts feel.

His is not the first time that such a trial was being conducted in New Zealand as some patients were injected with pig cells about 14 years ago. However, those trials were halted over concerns that a pig retro-virus may one day emerge.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Foot ulcers are common among diabetic persons. Foot ulcers are dangerous in the sense that it could lead to amputation of the leg, a toe or a foot.

It has been seen that foot ulcers are most common in diabetics who have neuropathy. Neuropathy is most common in diabetics who have high blood sugars after meals and who have normal blood sugar in the morning. The nerves in the legs and feet are damaged because of diabetes and as such diabetic persons will not feel ay sensation.

A diabetic person having foot ulcer will not feel any sensation in the feet. A diabetic will not feel a broken bone or notice an infection after a cut. This is dangerous as the sores can worsen and even become infected if undetected right away.

The symptoms of foot ulcers include sores on the feet or lower legs, blisters on the feet or legs, skin redness, swelling and fever.

Once a diabetic person has foot ulcers, he or she should have to ensure proper care. One can prevent foot ulcers if one takes proper care of the feet and legs. Foot ulcers can be prevented by using proper shoes and socks, cleansing the feet daily, caring the wounds properly, moisturizing the feet and not wearing garters and tight stockings around legs.

Artificial pancreas to help diabetic patients

More and more people the world over are becoming diabetic. Diabetes is a condition where the body produces less insulin or it does not use the insulin properly.

Diabetes is often termed as a killer disease. If diabetes is not treated, it can lead to many complications like blindness, neuropathy, kidney failure, heart failure and amputations.

Well, diabetes patients have to undergo regular sugar tests and also have to be under medication a whole life. However, patients can now relive because of the new technologies. There are glucose monitors, which help in monitoring the blood sugar levels and insulin pumps that dispense insulin without the need for injections.

Well, now researchers have successfully tested artificial pancreas that helps in regulating the glucose levels. The artificial pancreas is composed of an insulin pump and a blood glucose monitor.

Reports have said that the artificial pancreas tested was a great success. The primary results showed that the system helped in five-fold reduction of low blood glucoses and increased overall glucose control.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and diabetes

A new study has revealed that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) will make it hard for type 2 diabetes patients to control their blood sugar levels.

The University of Chicago claims that the study demonstrated for the first time the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea severity and blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.

Sixty type 2 patients in the age group of 41 and 70 were selected for knowing the relation between obstructive sleep apnea severity and blood sugar levels. These patients were monitored for their sleep-wake cycles with the help of wrist actigraphy and self reported sleep logs. They were assessed for their glucose levels by measuring the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), which is a clinical marker for glycemic control in diabetics.

About 38 percent of the patients exhibited mild sleep apnea, 25 percent had moderate apnea while 13 percent had severe sleep apnea. The study found that the patients suffering from mild, moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea had their HbA1C levels increased by 49, 93 and 269 percent respectively, as opposed to those without OSA.

The findings were published in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.