The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Diabetes
Are Hair Loss or Colitis Side Effects of Wegovy and Ozempic?
Do people taking Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) lose hair? Why Wegovy but not Ozempic? What about the diarrhea discrepancy? And colitis?
Helping Your Heart Means Boosting Your Brain
A study of French senior citizens shows that if you do a good job of helping your heart with diet and exercise, you also dramatically lower your likelihood of dementia.
How to Stay Healthy with a Mediterranean Diet
Following a Mediterranean diet with lots of veggies, fruit and fish can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and many cancers.
Chelation Therapy: Breakthrough or Bust for Heart Attack Prevention?
EDTA chelation therapy has been controversial for decades. The original TACT study revealed cardiovascular benefit. A new TACT2 study did not.
When Should You Drink Coffee for Maximum Health Benefits?
Are you a coffee drinker? Do you drink coffee in the morning or all day long? It turns out that timing matters quite a lot. Find out why.
What Is the Difference Between Healthspan and Lifespan?
The US has a large gap between healthspan (years free of disease and disability) and lifespan (total years lived). Exercise could improve it.
What Is Blackseed Oil Good For?
Blackseed oil, derived from Nigella sativa, has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Studies are promising but inconclusive.
Cooking Oil Confusion: What’s Best, Olive or Canola?
Health professionals have been at war because of cooking oil confusion. Some say omega-6 PUFAs are great. Others insist they cause great harm
Will a Mediterranean Diet Benefit Your Brain?
To get the Mediterranean diet benefit for cognitive and cardiovascular health, eat mostly plants, use olive oil and avoid processed food.
The Perils of Cold Weather Shipping of Medicines!
Is your medicines delivered? Many insurance companies require people to get their drugs through the mail. What about cold weather shipping?
If You Need Surgery While on Ozempic or Wegovy BE VERY CAREFUL!
Surgery while on Ozempic or Wegovy or other GLP-1 agonists such as Victoza, Saxenda, or Mounjaro requires special caution. Beware aspiration!
Is There a Dark Side to the Diabetes Drug Jardiance?
Jardiance is being advertised on television. Watch the smiles, singing and dancing! Is this drug appropriate for people with prediabetes?
Show 1368: Why Overcoming Loneliness Is Crucial for Your Health (Archive)
Social isolation is a serious risk factor for chronic diseases. As a result, overcoming loneliness is an essential step toward better health.
What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee and Chocolate?
Learn about the health benefits of coffee and chocolate as well as tea. You don't have to feel guilty about your beverage!
People Are Having Too Much Fun on Drug Commercials!
We find drug commercials incredibly misleading? So do many readers. They're hard to avoid! Will the FDA finally clamp down on distorted ads?
Will Diabetes Drug Metformin Also Help Your Lungs? Anti Cancer?
The diabetes drug metformin is showing promise against other difficult conditions: asthma, fibrotic diseases and cancers, to name just a few.
How Can You Overcome the Harms of Sitting Too Much?
How much time do you spend sitting on average? Chances are it's way too much and it's surprisingly bad for your health. How can you counteract the harm?
Master Your Metabolism by Using a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor)
Can a CGM empower smarter choices in diet and fitness? Would tracking your glucose continuously help you avoid snacks and improver health?
Make Sure Your Vegetarian Diet Is High Quality
Research suggests that people who follow a high-quality vegetarian diet live longer with fewer complications.
Will Ozempic Lead to Hair Loss?
Ozempic (semaglutide) seems less likely than some other medications to trigger cardiovascular problems, but diabetic retinopathy may worsen.
What Are Pros and Cons of Cinnamon for Blood Sugar?
Cinnamon can help control blood sugar, but some brands have been contaminated with lead! Learn about the pros and cons of cinnamon.
Psyllium Fiber Is Versatile Remedy
Psyllium fiber is inexpensive and amazingly versatile. Not only can it control both constipation and diarrhea, it can help heartburn, too.
Post-Covid Symptoms Are Debilitating
Post-COVID symptoms affect millions! After the infection, children are more vulnerable to diabetes and adults to heart attacks and strokes.
Some Diabetes Drugs Can Trigger Perineal Gangrene
Which diabetes drugs can lead to perineal gangrene? The infection can become life threatening. The perineum is between the anus and genitals.
Can You Manage Your Blood Sugar Naturally?
If you have type 2 diabetes, paying attention to exercise, diet and supplements could help you manage your blood sugar more naturally.
COVID and Diabetes: Another Aftereffect of the Pandemic?
You know all about key long COVID symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog. Beware COVID and diabetes! Watch out for symptoms.
Is Metformin a Miracle or a Menace?
Is the diabetes drug metformin a miracle because of anticancer, anti-COVID and anti-aging activity or a menace due to serious side effects?
Brewing Heart Health: Caffeine from Coffee and Tea Reduces Risks
Can you sip your way to a healthier heart? Can caffeine from coffee and tea reduce your risk for heart attacks, strokes and type 2 diabetes?
Do Early Foods Raise Diabetes Risk?
A Finnish study found that youngsters given grains and fruit as early foods are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes.
How Are Home Tests and Devices Revolutionizing Healthcare?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is now available over the counter! Home tests and devices empower patients to take charge of their health.
What Is the Outcome of Prediabetes?
Prediabetes does not lead inevitably to diabetes. Despite the name, many people with this metabolic disorder are able to reverse their condition.
Prices Slashed on 10 Blockbuster Drugs For Medicare Patients!
Blockbuster drugs like Januvia and Jardiance have been busting Medicare's budget. Now the government has negotiated big price reductions!
Do You Need a Continuous Glucose Monitor Without Diabetes?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can reveal how foods affect your blood sugar. Devise a diet for optimal response. An OTC CGM is coming.
Show 1391: Key Steps for Healthy Feet
Find out about the best steps for healthy feet. Listen and call in your questions and Dr. Jane Andersen, podiatrist, will answer.
Fasting to Reduce the Risk of Diabetes
Research suggests intermittent fasting to reduce the risk of diabetes could help lower cholesterol and help with weight loss.
Prednisone and Diabetes: A Life-Threatening Glucose Spike
Prednisone saves lives! It restored my hearing when I went deaf. But prednisone has lots of side effects. Prednisone and diabetes is real.
How to Improve Your Health with Chocolate
A study in Luxembourg shows that the more chocolate people eat, the less likely they are to have diabetes. Could you improve your health with chocolate?
Show 1387: The Patient-Led Revolution in Health Care
In this episode, Susannah Fox, author of Rebel Health, describes the patient-led revolution in health care.
Daily Exercise Boosts Lifespan
Daily exercise including muscle strengthening and aerobic activity reduces the risk of premature death from a wide range of conditions.
Kidney Stones and Rybelsus (Semaglutide) aka Ozempic and Wegovy
Almost everyone has heard of Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs contain semaglutide, just like Rybelsus? Are kidney stones and Rybelsus a thing?
Are You Taking “Good” Drugs or “Bad” Drugs?
We have become a polarized nation in both politics and medicine. Are there good drugs and bad drugs? How would you know which you are taking?
Do Statins Cause Diabetes? Many MDs Wish It Weren’t So!
Most people know that statins can cause muscle pain. Not many realize that there is now enough data to suggest statins can cause diabetes.
Is New Weight Loss Drug Zepbound Better than Wegovy?
The FDA approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 5/13/22 for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight management on 11/8/23. Does it also lower BP?
Metformin Led to Vitamin B12 Loss and Excruciating Pain
A first-line diabetes drug can lead to vitamin B12 loss, with peripheral neuropathy as an extremely painful symptom; ask your doctor to monitor your levels.
Can You Save Money by Importing Drugs from Canada?
The FDA says it will now allow Florida to import drugs from Canada. Is it now legal for the rest of us? Learn about the latest FDA flip flop.
What Is the Best Time to Eat?
A very small study suggests that morning to midday is the best time to eat for better metabolism and lower blood pressure. Other studies support this approach.
Should Doctors Prescribe Ozempic for Weight Loss?
This reader eats to live & no longer lives to eat thanks to semaglutide. She also has diabetes. Should MDs prescribe Ozempic for weight loss?
What Do You Eat to Reduce Your Risk for Diabetes?
A long-term study of health professionals suggests that eating fewer processed foods and more whole grains and vegetables can lower the risk for diabetes.
Is Cooked Oatmeal Better for You Than Instant Oatmeal?
Instant oatmeal raises blood sugar more quickly than cooked oatmeal. As a result, people eating it may get hungry sooner.
Can Restricting Eating Time Help Control Blood Sugar?
Restricting eating time to early in the day may improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood sugar response to meals and help with weight control.
Can You Lower Blood Sugar with Cinnamon?
Both Ceylon and cassia cinnamon can help lower blood sugar, but Ceylon cinnamon is safer because it does not have coumarin.
Show 1362: Lowdown on New Medicines for Treating Obesity –Part 2
In this episode, we consider the benefits and considerable risks of drugs like Wegovy for treating obesity. Our guest says eat real food!
Does Time-Restricted Eating Help With Weight Loss?
Time-restricted eating that limits meals to the same 8 to 10 hour period every day improves metabolic markers and promotes weight loss.
The Miracle of Metformin Against Diabetes, Cancer, COVID-19 and Dementia
Metformin helps manage blood sugar. It is the miracle of metformin. It also helps prevent long COVID, dementia and some common cancers.
Do Statins Increase the Risk for Diabetes or Not?
There has been resistance to the idea that statins increase the risk of diabetes. Doctors don't like dealing with this statin side effect.
Show 1359: Is the Food on Your Plate Real or Fake?
Listen to this interview with two leading nutrition scientists to determine whether you are choosing real or fake foods. (Real is better.)
How to Eat for Better Blood Glucose Control
Following a relatively high-fat low-carb dietary regimen may help you achieve better blood glucose control. Numerous studies support a reader's experience.
Shocking Conflicts of Interest in Nonprofit Patient Charities
Americans trust nonprofit patient organizations educating about cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer disease. Beware Conflicts of Interest!
Show 1352: Home Tests, Tech and Tools to Improve Your Health
Dr. Alan Greene discusses home tests, tech and tools for health that he likes. Joe and Terry invite listeners to share their own.
Diet and Exercise Can Help You Manage Diabetes
Many people can manage diabetes that appears later in life through careful attention to what they eat and their physical activity.
Metformin (Glucophage) Side Effects & Complications
Metformin (Glucophage) is the most popular drug for type 2 diabetes, but it can be hard on the GI tract and kidneys. Metformin vs. cancer?
Aloe Vera Gel Lowered Fasting Blood Sugar
Aloe vera gel capsules and other natural products can help control blood sugar and may help people with type 2 diabetes.
Should Your Doctor Prescribe Produce Instead of Drugs?
Should doctors prescribe produce? Can produce prescription programs really save $40 billion in medical bills? What about the health benefits?
Diabetes
Scientists predict that more than 1.3 billion people worldwide will have diabetes by 2050. But we can prevent type 2 diabetes; learn how.
Will Viagra Enhance Health and Prolong Life?
When people see the word Viagra they think sex. Could Viagra enhance health by relaxing blood vessels? Read the latest research on longevity!
What Is the Best Exercise to Prevent Diabetes?
What is the best exercise to protect your heart, your bones or your brain? The best exercise is the one you like and will do. Strength counts!
Sweet Beverages Boost Your Risk of Diabetes
People who consume a lot of sweet beverages, including fruit juice, apparently increase their risk of type 2 diabetes and possibly cancer.
Best Diet for People with Diabetes Is Low in Carbs
Randomized controlled trials show that people following a meal plan low in carbs were better able to lose weight and control blood sugar.
Do Nutrition Scientists Have a Bias Against Ice Cream?
In studies, people who eat ice cream are less prone to type 2 diabetes, but you haven't heard this. Is there a bias against ice cream?
High Cost of Insulin May Be Deadly
The cost of insulin has been rising dramatically since before 2012. Drug manufacturers are beginning to moderate their prices.
Is It Safe to Take Alli for a Long Time?
Alli is an over-the-counter weight loss pill that lowers cholesterol too. Can you safely take Alli for a long time?
Can You Overcome Depression with Exercise?
Multiple studies show that people with chronic conditions can overcome depression with regular physical exercise–swimming, tai qi, running or hiking.
Celebrate National Nutrition Month
Celebrate National Nutrition Month in March with a 15% discount on CocoaVia cocoa supplements, an easy way to get more flavanols.
How Dangerous Are High Vitamin B12 Levels?
Many people are low in vitamin B12. Symptoms can include fatigue and forgetfulness. What could be behind high vitamin B12 levels?
Are You Fed Up with Prescription Drug Ads?
Fed up with prescription drug ads? You're not alone! Doctors also despise the ads. Why not complain to the FDA? You can contact the top cop!
Show 1325: Recognizing the Ravages of Silent Inflammation
Silent inflammation lies at the root of many chronic conditions. In the interview, learn how to identify and avoid it.
Caffeine Consumption Cuts Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Caffeine consumption reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We see this benefit in numerous studies of coffee drinkers.
People with Diabetes Do Better on Low-Carb Diets
Studies from Denmark show better blood sugar control when people with diabetes follow low-carb diets. They also have less fatty livers.
What the Heck Is a Well-Balanced Diet Anyway?
Are you sick and tired of being told to eat a well-balanced diet? Health professionals rarely get specific. We do! Here's a list of veggies!
Drug Boomerang: When Meds Cause What They Should Cure
Medicines should NOT cause the problem they are supposed to treat! Surprisingly, though, the drug boomerang effect is far too common.
Show 1321: Rebalancing Our Microbiome Through Personalized Nutrition and Viruses
In this episode, learn how rebalancing our microbiome might ease inflammatory bowel disease. How could viruses help?
Musk’s Wegovy Weight Loss Drug Upsets Readers
The best way to lose weight remains an ongoing dispute. We have been denounced and praised for discussing a Wegovy weight loss strategy.
Supplements to Help Ease Diabetic Neuropathy
Certain supplements such as benfotiamine and alpha lipoic acid may help ease diabetic neuropathy. Topical capsaicin could also relieve pain.
Angry Doctor Insists HCTZ Is Safe!
Over 10 million people take hydrochlorothiazide for blood pressure. A doctor says HCTZ is safe! He's mad at us for describing side effects.
Farxiga and Chronic Kidney Disease: FDA Confusion
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. That might be confusing. The drug can cause kidney injury.
Could Step Counters Help Us Ward Off Dementia?
In studies that coupled step counters with coaching by health professionals, volunteers increased their physical activity.
Are American Children Becoming Obese?
Data indicate that American youngsters are becoming obese at an alarming rate. How can we prevent this problem?
Show 1257: The Metabolical Results of the American Diet (Archive)
Dr. Robert Lustig describes how processed food is driving inflammation and subcellular pathologies that underlie chronic disease.
Will Nopal Cactus Control Blood Sugar?
Nopal cactus has a long-standing reputation for lowering blood sugar. Scientific studies confirm that it can be helpful.
Show 1302: Managing the Microbiome for Better Health
Scientists report that intestinal microbes affect our overall health. In this interview airing 5/28/22, learn about managing the microbiome.
People Are Dying Because of the High Cost of Medicines
The high cost of medicines is having a scary impact on the health of the nation. If people cannot afford cancer drugs it can lead to death.
Cinnamon May Offer a Surprising Way to Reverse Prediabetes
A small placebo-controlled trial found that some people taking cinnamon capsules were able to reverse prediabetes.
Does Your Medicine Pose a Cancer Risk?
Establishing a drug-induced cancer risk may take 5 to 10 years or longer. The FDA rarely requires such long-term research. What can you do?
Show 1275: The Vicious Cycle of COVID and Diabetes
Research now reveals a link between COVID and Diabetes. Millions of people could now be at risk for type 2 diabetes because of long COVID.
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About the Statin and Diabetes Connection
Many cardiologists were reluctant to acknowledge the statin and diabetes connection. Now each patient deserves to weigh the risks.
Kids Are Coming Down with Diabetes After Getting Over COVID
Insurance data show that youngsters under 18 have been coming down with diabetes after they recover from COVID-19 infections.
Vitamin B12 Helps Ease Nerve Pain of Diabetes
A year-long study indicates that taking 1 mg methylcobalamin supplements daily can reduce the nerve pain of diabetes.
Does Red Yeast Rice Raise Blood Sugar Levels Like Statins?
Red yeast rice contains some statin-like compounds. Does that mean it can cause statin-like side effects? Will red yeast rice raise blood sugar levels?
If Statins Cause Diabetes, Why Should ALL Diabetics Take a Statin?
Evidence from many studies indicates that statins cause diabetes. People who are at risk for this metabolic disorder should be wary.
Statins and Diabetes! A LONG Delayed Warning
Statins have been prescribed since 1987. A new study reveals an association between statins and diabetes management. It's harder with statins!
Unexpected Complications with Sucralose
A fascinating study shows that neither sugar alone nor sucralose alone disrupted insulin response. But sucralose with maltodextrin did.
Show 1272: How Your Eyes Reveal Your Health
Dr. Sharon Fekrat is a retinal specialist whose research shows what your eyes reveal about your brain and overall health.
Will Cinnamon Help You Control Your Blood Sugar?
Some scientific evidence suggests cinnamon could help you manage your blood sugar. Pay attention to the type of cinnamon and monitor your results.
You Are What You Eat: Is Your Diet Killing You?
To sidestep a diet killing you, eat your vegetables and fruits, choose fish instead of processed meats and shun sugar-sweetened beverages.
Is Inexpensive Food Undermining Public Health?
Agricultural subsidies of crops like wheat and corn make processed foods affordable, but they may be undermining public health.
How Does Metformin Affect Vitamin D Status?
A randomized controlled trial determined that metformin does NOT affect vitamin D status, but it can lower vitamin B12 levels.
Diet and Exercise Prevent Diabetes as Well as Medication Does
People at risk of diabetes were assigned to change their diet and increase their exercise; over 15 years, they were able to prevent diabetes.
How to Choose Whole Grains for a Longer Life
Analyses of many long-term studies shows that eating whole grains for a longer life works best when people get at least three servings a day.
Tai Chi Can Help Control Waist Size
Practicing tai chi can help reduce the waistline, control body weight and raise good HDL cholesterol. It also helps improve balance and sleep.
When Do You Get the Most Benefit from a Workout?
Exercise at any time can be helpful, but an evening workout offers special advantages for blood sugar control.
Is Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Dementia Risk?
A study of 10,000 British civil servants shows that earlier diagnosis of type 2 diabetes increases the chance of developing dementia.
Can You Delay Alzheimer Disease with Drugs for Diabetes?
New research on brain tissue hints that drugs for diabetes may prevent genes relating to dementia from turning on. This could delay its development.
Will Natural Sugar Substitute Xylitol Raise Blood Sugar?
The natural sugar substitute xylitol doesn't raise blood sugar or insulin, but it may cause diarrhea and is toxic to dogs.
Type 2 Diabetes, Largely Preventable, Accounts for Many Pharma Ads
Do you pay attention to the side effects listed in pharma ads? Perhaps the companies should tell us how to prevent type 2 diabetes on TV.
Show 1242: How the Dental Diet Can Lead to Better Health
The dental diet based on whole foods can improve health not only in the mouth but throughout the entire body. What does it include?
More Metformin Recalls Distress Diabetes Patients
Have you lost count of metformin recalls? We have! Contaminated drugs continue to be pulled from the market during the pandemic. It's a lot!
How Your Home Address Affects Your Health
Studying people who moved shows scientists that your home address really does influence depression, blood pressure and diabetes.
Are Popular Drugs Responsible for the Diabetes Epidemic?
A number of prescription drugs and some OTC medicines may be partly responsible for the diabetes epidemic worldwide.
Can You Reduce Your Chance of Getting Diabetes?
You may be able to lower your chance of getting diabetes if you concentrate on eating lots of vegetables and fruits rather than processed foods.
Is a Late Dinner a Problem?
People who eat a late dinner have higher blood sugar levels overnight and burn less fat than those who eat earlier in the evening.
Can You Believe FDA’s Drug Safety Claims?
The Food and Drug Administraiton states unequivocally that it only approves drugs that are proved "safe." We think the FDA's drug safety claims are bogus.
Show 1216: How Sugar Interferes With Healthy Decisions
When we need to make healthy decisions about what we eat and drink, we need to find ways to deflect the allure of sugar for our brains.
Can You Change Your Microbiota With Diet?
A gold-standard randomized controlled trial of diet found it is very difficult to change your microbiota long-term.
Drug Labels Inadequate for Metformin Drug Recalls
No one wants to consume carcinogens in food or water and certainly not in medicine. The FDA just announced metformin drug recalls due to contamination.
Which Metformin is OK and Which is on the FDA’s Problem List?
The FDA admits that several metformin diabetes formulations are contaminated with a probable carcinogen. Which metformin is OK? How would you know?
ALERT | Metformin Carcinogen Contamination Confirmed!
Metformin is a key medication in the treatment of diabetes. Tens of millions of people take it daily. How could there be metformin carcinogen contamination?
How Could Bacteria Boost Diabetes Risk?
People with diabetes have distinctive patterns of microbes even in tissues beyond the intestines. Maybe leaky gut explains how bacteria boost diabetes risk.
Are There Benefits from Taking Ginseng?
Scientific studies suggest that there are benefits from taking ginseng, but it may interact with medications to prevent blood clots.
FDA Embraces Generic Drugs from India Despite Quality Problems
The nitrosamine controversy continues. Now add the diabetes drug metformin to a list of potential problem pills. How reliable are generic drugs from India?
Show 1154: How to Take Good Care of Your Eyesight (Archive)
Find out how you can take good care of your eyesight. What are the best ways to manage dry eyes and protect yourself from macular degeneration?
Show 1189: What the Heck Should We Be Eating?
If you've ever wondered, "What should we be eating?" you'll want to listen to Dr. Mark Hyman tell why cooking tasty food doesn't have to take lots of time.
If Atorvastatin Triggers Diabetes What’s the Best Diabetes Diet?
Atorvastatin is one of the most prescribed statins. It clearly lowers LDL cholesterol. But if atorvastatin triggers diabetes what should people do?
Is Depression Linked to Metformin for Diabetes?
A possible vitamin B12 deficiency could explain depression linked to metformin for blood sugar control. An additional supplement might help.
Can Cutting Out Sweets Help Control Blood Sugar?
Cutting out sweets and foods with high-fructose corn syrup helped two people take control of their diabetes, lose weight and feel healthy.
Are People with Diabetes Being Overtreated?
Are you worried about diabetes being overtreated? Driving blood glucose too low can result in serious complications. About 20% of patients are at risk.
Are Statin Side Effects Fake Medical News?
Some doctors get angry when there are reports about statins and adverse drug reactions. Are statin side effects fake or all in peoples' heads? What say you?
Show 1173: How Is Diabetes Diagnosed and Treated?
Get an update on the ways diabetes is diagnosed and the new considerations for treatment. These are especially important for older patients.
Think Zinc for Better Blood Sugar Control
Did you know that zinc is a really important mineral? It is especially crucial for blood sugar management. Many vegetarians could well be low in zinc.
How to Grill Safely This Summer
Grill safely this summer by paying attention to how you clean the grill as well as marinating, pre-cooking and flipping your meat frequently.
Statins, Low LDL Cholesterol and Nerve Damage in People with Diabetes
Could there be a relationship between statins and low LDL cholesterol and nerve damage? A new study from Germany has produced evidence that there is a link.
Will Canela Cinnamon Help Control Blood Sugar?
Canela cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) can help control blood sugar, perhaps by reversing insulin resistance.
Diabetes Risk No Lower with Vitamin D Supplements
Taking vitamin D3 supplements daily did not reduce volunteers' diabetes risk over two and a half years. Perhaps diet and exercise work better.
Metformin Side Effects | Diarrhea and Other Serious Adverse Reactions
Metformin is the most prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes. It may help against cancers. But metformin side effects are daunting. Some are life threatening.
What to Make of Contradictory Results from Diabetes Tests?
Do you know how your body reacts to sugar? Diabetes tests can be confusing. There is the HbA1c test and the oral glucose tolerance test OGTT. What's best?
Will Statins Protect the Brain and Lower Blood Sugar?
Researchers have been trying to prove that statins protect the brain for years. An anti-Alzheimer's effect would be great news. How good are the data?
What Is the Best Test to Diagnose Diabetes | HbA1c or OGTT?
Diabetes is widespread all over the world. Have YOU had your blood sugar tested? What is the best test to diagnose diabetes? Is the HbA1c test adequate? No!
Statins Cause Diabetes: The Link Just Got Stronger!
Tens of millions of people take drugs like atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin. Do statins cause diabetes? A new study suggests yes.
Nuts Have Heart-Healthy Benefits for Type 2 Diabetes
Eating an ounce of heart-healthy tree nuts such as walnuts or almonds five days a week lowers the risk of heart disease and cardiac death.
Which Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar Safely?
Cassia cinnamon lowers blood sugar, but it contains coumarin. Too much coumarin can hurt the liver. Is there a way to get the benefits with minimal risk?
Does Fructose Raise Your Risk for Diabetes?
Fructose in fruit appears healthful, but sugary drinks and snacks can undermine blood sugar control and lead to trouble over time.
Low-Carb Diet Research Arouses Reader Outrage
Many readers are upset about the new low-carb diet study published in the BMJ. Find out what the fuss is all about and read their comments in this post.
The Low-Carb Diet Wins Diet Wars…Again!
An interesting new study pits low-carb against higher-carb diets. When it comes to maintaining weight, the low-carb diet wins handily.
Show 1143: Can You Control Your Blood Sugar by Fasting?
Intermittent fasting together with a diet low in refined carbohydrates can help many people with type 2 diabetes control their condition.
Cinnamon Can Help Control Blood Sugar
Once upon a time spices were prized. The spice trade changed the world after all. Now, we take spices for granted but cinnamon can help control blood sugar.
Januvia Joint Pain | A Disabling Side Effect
Do your fingers ever hurt? What about your knees and hips? People often blame arthritis on age. But drugs can do trigger it too. Januvia joint pain is real.
Do People Who Eat Fish Grow Old More Healthfully?
A long-running study suggests that people who eat fish and shellfish regularly are less prone to chronic disease as they age.
Can Curcumin Control Your Blood Sugar?
Researchers asked will curcumin control blood sugar and insulin. The answer appears to be yes. Fish oil struck out in this effort.
What Are the Health Benefits of Cinnamon in Coffee?
Adding cinnamon and cocoa to coffee may enhance its benefits for blood sugar and heart health as well as its flavor. Our reader tells how to do this.
Rosuvastatin Linked to High Blood Sugar
A reader wonders whether rosuvastatin contributed to his new diabetes diagnosis. Statin drugs do lower cholesterol, but they can also raise blood sugar and make it more difficult to control.
Better Diet for Poor Americans Is Not a SNAP
The last fifteen years have seen some increases in diet quality for most Americans, but not for poor people on SNAP assistance. Disparities in diet quality are increasing.
Statins and Diabetes | What Happens When Blood Sugar Rises?
What happens when a prescribed medication raises blood sugar levels? Are statins and diabetes connected? What if glucose levels return to normal when statins are stopped?
Can You Improve Blood Sugar Control by Cutting Carbs?
Research shows that cutting carbs can reduce fluctuations in blood glucose and lower the amount of medication people with diabetes need.
Diabetes Diet Smackdown | Richard Bernstein, MD vs the ADA
The diabetes diet smackdown pits a diabetes diet ultra low in carbohydrates against one that is low in fat and higher in carbs.
Can People with Diabetes Really Eat Eggs?
People with type 2 diabetes have been told not to eat eggs–or at least not very many–because that will raise cholesterol and increase their cardiovascular risk. A new study shows that just isn't so.
How to Control Your Blood Sugar Without Drugs
You may be able to lower both your cholesterol and your blood sugar without drugs. You'll need to focus on exercise, diet and stress reduction.
Can You Manage the Side Effects of Metformin?
Many people adapt to the digestive side effects of metformin within several weeks. Others find it difficult to tolerate and need to find another way to control blood sugar.
How to Time Your Meals to Control Blood Sugar
Research shows you should time your meals to get more calories early in the day. That eating pattern improved blood sugar control and reduced insulin requirements. It also led to weight loss.
Will Prediabetes Put Your Heart and Kidneys at Risk?
People with elevated blood sugar that doesn't reach the level of diabetes are nonetheless more likely to develop heart and kidneys complications.
How Should You Treat Type 2 Diabetes? Doctors Disagree!
It often comes as a surprise to patients to learn that doctors disagree about how to treat type 2 diabetes. The internists are challenging the endocrinologists. It's intense!
Avoiding Low Blood Sugar Episodes with Technology
New technology that permits continuous blood glucose monitoring can help people with diabetes avoid dangerous low blood sugar episodes.
Will Natural Approaches Control Your Blood Sugar?
If you have type 2 diabetes, can you use exercise, diet and supplements to control your blood sugar? The evidence suggests that many people can.
Is Wine Bad or Good for People with Diabetes?
An Israeli study suggests that a daily glass of wine might shrink plaque in the arteries of people with diabetes, answering the question is wine bad or good.
Natural Blood Sugar Control to Benefit Sex Life
Finding natural methods to keep blood sugar from rising can help prevent erectile dysfunction and benefit sex life.
What’s the Story on Metformin for Diabetes?
Have you checked your blood sugar lately? Millions don't know they have elevated blood glucose levels. What about metformin for diabetes?
Will Pomegranate Juice Help Lower Blood Sugar?
British scientists report that drinking pomegranate juice along with bread reduces the spike in blood sugar normally seen after eating bread.
Can You Avert Diabetes with Cinnamon?
Reducing the amount of refined carbohydrates in the diet, along with consuming vinegar and cinnamon extract, may help avert diabetes.
Can You Lower Blood Sugar Safely with Cinnamon?
A water-based extract of cinnamon can help lower blood sugar safely.
Will You Experience Drug Shortages Because of Hurricane Maria?
Will you or someone you love experience drug shortages because of Hurricane Maria? Meds made in Puerto Rico could be affected. Find out if you're at risk.
Which Drugs Mess with Vitamin B12?
Some common medications can mess with vitamin B12 and deplete body stores of this crucial nutrient. A supplement can be helpful.
If Metformin Causes Diarrhea, Will Kefir Help?
Metformin may cause digestive upset as a side effect; drinking the fermented beverage kefir may help alleviate the problem.
Doctor Disputes that HCTZ Can Raise Blood Sugar
Diabetes should be avoided. Patients wonder whether blood pressure meds like HCTZ can raise blood sugar and trigger diabetes. Some docs say NO and get mad!
Supplements Are No Substitute for Good Diabetes Care
People with elevated blood sugar need regular diabetes care to help them avoid complications of this metabolic disorder. Monitoring is essential!
The Pros and Cons of Metformin for Diabetes
Millions of people pop metformin for diabetes every day. It's the world's most popular diabetes drug. Did you know this amazing med came from mother nature?
Risk of High-Carb Bedtime Snacks
Teens who often indulged in high-carb bedtime snacks had lower insulin sensitivity as young adults. This could increase their risk for type 2 diabetes.
Does Metformin Save Lives?
Diabetes drugs are supposed to lower blood sugar levels AND other complications. Do modern meds do that? An ancient drug, metformin saves lives affordably!
The Unexpected Risks of French Fries
In an eight-year-long study of older Americans, those who ate French fries more than once a week were twice as likely to die than those who rarely ate them.
Will Grilled Meat Raise Your Risk for Diabetes?
The Nurses' Health Study found that women who indulge in grilled meat twice a week or more often have a higher rate of type 2 diabetes.
What Bread Is Best for Your Microbiome?
What bread is best, white bread or sourdough? The balance of microbes in your digestive tract determines which bread raises blood sugar more quickly.
Can You Control Your Blood Sugar with Turmeric?
Adding turmeric, cinnamon and fenugreek to your food every day could help you control your blood sugar; keep a record so you'll know how it is working.
Generic Drugs Can Be Pricier in Canada
A shopper was disappointed to discover that prices for generic drugs may be higher through Canadian online pharmacies than at big-box US stores.
Do Simvastatin Side Effects Include Diabetes and Joint Pain?
There is a raging debate about statin pros and cons. Many believe these are breakthroughs that save lives. Others say statins cause diabetes and arthritis.
Is Ceylon Cinnamon Better Than Cassia Cinnamon?
Ceylon cinnamon has a slightly different flavor from cassia cinnamon; it does not contain the potentially harmful compound coumarin.
Why Is a Magnesium-Rich Diet So Good for You?
Eating magnesium-rich foods like nuts and dark green leafy vegetables can cut your chance of heart failure, diabetes or stroke.
Could a Gluten-Free Diet Help Blood Sugar?
One reader found that avoiding high-carb foods rich in gluten, like bread or cookies, was able to help blood sugar return to a normal range.
How Do Drug Companies Spit in the Face of Capitalism?
Have drug companies circumvented capitalism? Prices for some supposedly competing products have gone up in tandem in recent years. What's going on?
How Will Your Body Respond to Cutting Carbohydrates?
Women who ate three low-carb meals lowered their insulin resistance by the end of the day; cutting carbohydrates consistently may have benefits.
How Can Orphan Drugs Be So Outrageously Expensive?
Congress and the FDA have seemingly forgotten the reason behind orphan drugs! People with rare diseases were supposed to get new meds at affordable prices.
Can Curry Spice Overcome Diabetic Nerve Pain?
Taking curcumin, derived from the yellow curry spice turmeric, helped one reader get rid of his diabetic nerve pain in less than a month.
Are Your Vitamin D Levels Bad Because of BPA and Phthalates?
Do you know what your vitamin D levels are? Could your shampoo, conditioner, deodorant or insect repellent be lowering your levels of this crucial nutrient?
Did Low Levels of Vitamin B12 Ruin A Life?
When was the last time you were tested for low levels of vitamin B12? If you are a vegetarian or someone taking drugs for diabetes or heartburn be vigilant!
How to Control Blood Sugar by Sipping Vinegar
Could apple cider vinegar help control blood sugar? Some research and one reader's experience suggests that it might help.
How to Prevent Retinopathy with a Mediterranean Diet
People getting more omega-3 fats from a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fish reduce their risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Staying Active Can Help Prevent Chronic Health Problems
People who engage regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activity are less prone to chronic health problems such as heart disease or diabetes.
Can You Trust Your Multivitamin?
Can you trust the vitamins in pharmacies and health food stores? One analysis suggests that a third of the tested products did not live up to expectations.
Which Cinnamon Is Better for Blood Sugar?
Some studies indicate that cinnamon may help reduce the rise of blood sugar after a meal, but which cinnamon should you try? Cassia or Ceylon?
How to Lower Your Chance of Diabetes
A meta-analysis of 100 studies shows that eating more fat instead of refined starches and sugars can help you reduce your chance of diabetes.
Should Everyone Be Taking Metformin to Fight Cancer?
Metformin is one of those widely prescribed but under appreciated drugs for diabetes. It may gain new converts because of anti-cancer activity. Is it safe?
Is Butter Better? Why Butter is Back with a Bullet!
Butter has been vilified for many years but a new study says butter is not bad for your heart and may actually be beneficial against diabetes. How come?
How to Improve Blood Flow by Drinking Tea
A cup of black tea with a meal might help insulin work better and improve blood flow by reducing resistance in the blood vessels.
How to Get Blood Sugar Control Without Sore Joints
Certain drugs for blood sugar control, including sitagliptin (Januvia), linagliptin (Tradjenta) and saxagliptin (Ongyza) can cause excruciating joint pain.
Will Diet Soda Protect You from Diabetes?
It makes sense to ask Could diet soda protect you from blood sugar problems, since you're not consuming sugar. But a recent study has disappointing news.
Is Cinnamon Dangerous for Your Mouth?
People think that cinnamon is completely safe since it can be found in almost every spice rack. But some people are super sensitive and break out in a rash.
Could Your Diabetes Drug Prevent Death from Cancer?
Metformin, a mainstay of treatment for type 2 diabetes, resulted in a lower risk of death from cancer of the colon, pancreas, endometrium or liver.
How to Protect Your Heart If You Have Diabetes
People with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart disease, but treatment with metformin may help you protect your heart.
Can Cinnamon Capsules Help Fight Diabetes?
One reader discovered that taking cinnamon capsules daily and removing white bread from her diet allowed her to lower her dose of diabetes medicine.
What Do You Need to Know About Actos and Bladder Cancer?
Despite a lot of controversy and billions spent on lawsuits, Actos remain a popular diabetes drug. What is the latest news on Actos and bladder cancer?
What Are the Best Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes in Older Adults?
Older people with type 2 diabetes may need less aggressive treatment than has been previously recommended.
Will Potatoes Every Day Lead to Diabetes?
Huge Harvard studies show that people who often eat potatoes raise their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Insulin Sensitivity Restored by Catching Up on Lost Sleep
Sleep-deprived people develop abnormalities in the way their insulin responds to blood sugar, but these can be reversed by catching up on lost sleep.
Atorvastatin Lowers Cholesterol but Raises Blood Sugar
Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic in the U.S. and around the world. It is a deadly health problem. Why is the statin-diabetes connection not worrisome?
Patients Want Doctors to Look at Them, Not the Computer Screen
To communicate well with patients, doctors need to be wary of spending much of an office visit looking at a computer screen instead of at the patient.
Should You Fire Your Doctor?
If a doctor is cavalier about evaluating your health or lackadaisical about your treatment, it might be time to fire your doctor.
People with Diabetes Who Skip Breakfast Have Blood Sugar Problems Later
When people with diabetes skip breakfast, their blood sugar spikes higher after lunch and dinner and they are less responsive to insulin.
HIIT Undid Heart Damage from Diabetes
Three months of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) was able to improve heart function in men with type 2 diabetes.
Are You Afraid of Saturated Fat? Studies Say Not to Worry
What will it take for nutrition experts to give up their fear and loathing of saturated fat? Science suggests the sat-fat prohibition was a colossal mistake
Metformin Reduces Vitamin B12 Absorption
The diabetes drug metformin can lead to low levels of vitamin B12. People taking this medicine may require a supplement of this crucial vitamin.
Diabetes Drugs Trigger Severe Joint Pain
FDA warns that diabetes drugs such as Januvia or Onglyza may cause severe joint pain that could be disabling; stopping the drug resolves the pain.
New FDA Warning About Januvia Joint Pain Side Effect
The FDA warns that Januvia and similar diabetes drugs (gliptins) can cause crippling joint pain. It took the FDA years to discover this serious complication
Low-Carb Diet Helps People with Diabetes
Following a low-carb diet is one way people with diabetes can improve blood sugar control and reduce their medication costs.
Are Your Drugs Secretly Causing Your Diabetes?
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Skipping Breakfast Destabilizes Blood Sugar
Skipping breakfast appears to make it more difficult for people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar after other meals.
For Better Blood Sugar Control, Eat Carbs Last
People with type 2 diabetes are advised to eat carbs last so that blood sugar and insulin do not rise as much after a meal.
Cataracts and Diabetes Could Be Complications of Crestor
Elevated blood sugar or even frank diabetes can be complications of Crestor, along with cataracts and persistent rash.
Cinnamon Plus Statins Could Be Extremely Harmful to Liver
Cinnamon is perceived as a tasty spice when put on cookies or cereal. But a contaminant called coumarin is toxic to the liver, especially with statins.
Diabetes Drug Actos and Billion-Dollar Settlement
Pioglitazone (Actos) can help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, but the maker has just settled lawsuits claiming it led to bladder cancer.
Bitter Melon Lowers Blood Sugar
Certain foods such as bitter melon or nopal cactus can help with blood sugar control.
With Diabetes, Slightly Overweight People Do Better Than Underweight Folks
Overweight individuals are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes than those of normal weight, but less likely to die of complications than the underweight.
Drug That Could Prevent Diabetes May Be Underprescribed
Although metformin has a good record in preventing diabetes in susceptible individuals, it is rarely prescribed.
Egg Lovers Have Lower Likelihood of Diabetes
Finnish men who ate eggs lowered rather than raised their risk of developing type 2 diabetes during a two-decade study.
Statins Raise the Risk of Developing Diabetes
People taking a cholesterol-lowering statin drug have a greater likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes as a reaction to the medication.
Do Diabetes Drugs Help or Hurt the Heart?
New studies show that sitagliptin, saxagliptin and alogliptin neither reduce nor increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes for people with diabetes.
New Statin Study Confirms Scary Link to Diabetes
Do statins raise blood sugar and increase the risk of diabetes? A new study says the risk of diabetes is substantially greater than previously reported.
Diabetes Drug Dust-Up Reveals FDA Deficiencies
Onglyza, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, raises the risk of heart failure as well as the likelihood of premature death from any cause.
Beer and Licorice Diet Bad for Health
Too many carbs will bring on pre-diabetes, especially if they are not balanced with protein and fat. A beer and licorice diet is a disaster!
Do Januvia Side Effects Include Cancer of the Pancreas?
Does Januvia or similar diabetes drugs increase the risk for pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. The FDA says no. What's the rest of the story?
Vitamin D Level Matters for Diabetes Outcomes
People with diabetes are at higher risk for heart attacks, strokes and other serious complications if their vitamin D is low.
Drugs May Be Driving the Diabetes Epidemic
Common prescription drugs can boost a person's chance of a diabetes diagnosis.
Are Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Salt Really Dietary Demons?
The new 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans flip-flop on cholesterol but keep saturated fat as a dietary villain. Where's the evidence sat-fat is bad?
If You Need Just One Diet Rule, Here It Is
Eat more high-fiber foods--vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
Fenugreek Helped Burning Feet
Taking fenugreek as a supplement eased the pain of burning feet associated with diabetes.
What Diet Is Best for Diabetes?
Doctors have been debating for decades about which diet is best for diabetes control.
A Mediterranean Diet Lowers the Likelihood of Blood Sugar Problems
Eating a Mediterranean diet has been proven to reduce the likelihood that someone will develop type II diabetes.
Cinnamon Proved Powerful for Lowering Blood Sugar
Cinnamon can be useful for lowering blood sugar and make diabetes easier to manage, but needs to been done carefully to avoid harming the liver.
Cinnamon Can Help Control Cholesterol and Blood Sugar
Cinnamon and other spices may help lower cholesterol and blood sugar, while making food taste delicious.
Daily Cinnamon Sprinkle Keeps Blood Sugar Down and Benefits HbA1c
The great thing about measuring blood glucose is that you can tell how your diet and exercise program is working. Can a dose of daily cinnamon make a difference?
Lyrica Side Effects & Withdrawal are Worrisome
Lyrica is prescribed for pain and fibromyalgia, but stopping the drug can result in a troublesome withdrawal syndrome.
Will Vinegar Help Control Blood Sugar?
Scientific research suggests that including vinegar in a meal can help keep blood sugar from soaring afterwards. This may help explain the French paradox.
Low Vitamin D Raises Diabetes Risk
People with higher levels of vitamin D are less likely to develop full diabetes if they are pre-diabetic than those with low vitamin D levels.
Do Common Medicines Trigger Diabetes?
Many medications (including common BP meds) have the potential to raise blood sugar and in some susceptible individuals may even trigger diabetes.
Furosemide (Lasix) Side Effects & Generic Troubles
Furosemide (Lasix) side effects are not always fully described. Be aware of side effects such as incontinence, dizziness, diabetes and kidney damage.
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