Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring and A Smartphone APP

Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It affects about one in three adults in the US, and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. However, prediabetes can be reversed or slowed with lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy, exercising, and losing weight, thereby, delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes. And continuous glucose monitoring might prove to be helpful in the prevention of type 2 diabetes for some with prediabetes.

The CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program was established to enable individuals with prediabetes or a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes to prevent or delay the disease. The program uses intensive lifestyle intervention. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) might help people maintain their intensive lifestyle.
 
CGM is a system that uses a small sensor inserted under the skin to measure blood sugar levels every few minutes, and sends the data to a receiver or a smartphone app. The app can display the current blood sugar level, as well as the trends, patterns, and alerts. CGM can provide more information and feedback than finger prick testing, and can help people with prediabetes understand how their food, activity, and sleep affect their blood sugar.

A recent study found that CGM can also diagnose prediabetes earlier than a blood sugar test, and might motivate people to make lifestyle changes sooner. Another study showed that using CGM and a mobile app that integrates food logging and physical activity can improve blood sugar regulation in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

More research is needed to determine if CGM and a smartphone app, for example, can be a useful tool for treating prediabetes, and thus preventing type 2 diabetes, for the long term. And do so cost effectively. However, CGM may have a future in diabetes prevention.

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A Plant-Based Diet Can Improve Insulin Resistance and Lipids for Obese Individuals

Plant-based diets are frequently in the news today, because the diets appear to be beneficial in combating many chronic diseases, including obesity, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease(CVD) and diabetes." And a recent study has shown that a vegan diet, which is plant-based, can improve insulin resistance as well as CVD parameters, such as blood lipids, in obese individuals. 

First of all, a plant-based diet may be anything from a semi-vegetarian diet, consisting of small portions of animal products, to a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products. And compared to diets that include animal products, plant-based diets can be significantly helpful in the treatment of CVD.

In the study mentioned above, a vegan diet was also helpful, not only in imparoving CVD parameters, but also in lowering insulin resistance. The study was a meta-analysis where the researchers selected six studies in seven datasets. And it was found that the vegan diet improved insulin resistance, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL in persons with obesity. It should be noted that in this study, a plant-based diet appeared to have no effect on triglycerides.

The benefits of a plant-based diet are also evident in persons who have an increased genetic CVD risk profile. In one study consisting of 156,148 adult subjects, who did not have CVD, investigators found that adherence to a plant-based diet slowly decreased the risk of CVD even for persons who have a high genetic risk for CVD. Indeed, investigators concluded that “adherence to healthy plant-based diets may be associated with a decreased incidence of CVD in the entire population, suggesting that plant-based diet patterns may modify the risk of CVD, regardless of genetic susceptibility.”

Since the use of a plant-based diet can improve CVD risk factors and insulin resistance in persons with obesity, this is an opportunity for healthcare providers to help their patients. Healthcare providers should counsel patients on the benefits of a plant-based diet. 

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Tags: environmental scanning, balanced scorecard, business planning, strategic management, bariatric medicine, obesity medicine, medical practice start up, bariatric industry analysis, weight loss industry analysis, prediabetes, diabetes prevention, weight management industry analysis

 

Prediabetes and Retinopathy

Retinopathy is a disease of the retina. There are various forms of the disease. For example, there is hypertensive retinopathy and there is diabetic retinopathy. Treatment and prevention of these diseases involves controlling  high blood pressure and blood glucose levels. And of course, a yearly eye exam is critically important for those persons with retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common form of the disease. And this type of retinopathy is one of the principal causes of vision loss worldwide. At least two studies have linked prediabetes to a high level of retinopathy.

Prediabetes is where there is a higher than normal level of glucose in the blood, but the elevated level is not high enough to be deemed diabetes. For some time, it was known that prediabetes was often followed by diabetes. So, a study was designed to look into the progression from prediabetes to diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program trial was done between 1996 and 2001. The researchers looked at how prediabetes could lead to diabetes. It was found that prediabetes raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, and treating prediabetes could delay or prevent type 2 diabetes is many cases.

Further investigation into the incidence of retinopathy among persons with prediabetes was done after the original Diabetes Prevention Program study. The researchers looked at a subset of the participants in the original study. There were 3224 participants in the original Diabetes Prevention Program study. The subset consisted of 302 participants. The researchers "found detectable retinopathy in 7.6% of patients," who had prediabetes. So, retinopathy can be associated with prediabetes.

In another study, to determine a relationship between retinopathy and prediabetes, researchers examined articles in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Google Scholar and the Cochrane databases. After examining 5994 abstracts and 98 full-text articles, the researchers chose twenty-four studies for their analysis. The twenty-four studies consisted of 8759 participants with prediabetes. The researchers concluded that there was a 6.6% rate of retinopathy among persons with prediabetes compared with 3.2% for populations with normal levels of blood glucose.

The above studies indicate that healthcare providers may want to examine the eyes of patients with prediabetes. The providers may detect early signs of retinopathy. And this would be beneficial to the patient and the provider.

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You Can Derive Health Benefits from Less Than 150 Minutes of Physical Activity Per Week

 Physical activity is essential for maintaining both physical and mental health. Regular physical activity can assist people in living a healthy and fulfilling existence. The benefits of exercise range from reducing the risk of chronic diseases to enhancing mental health. Typically, individuals are advised to engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week to maintain health. However, a recent study indicates that less than half of the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week can have beneficial effects.

The study was done in Norway over a period of 36 years. The aim of the study was to determine how different amounts of physical activity were associated with mortality. There were approximately 123,000 participants in the study. For the study, the participants were divided into three groups. One group engaged in frequent activity, one group was completely inactive, and one group consisted of mixed participants: some participants were very active, and some were inactive. The researchers used two cut off points for measuring physical activity: One was 60 minutes per week and the other was 150 minutes per week.

The researchers concluded that as little as 60 minutes per week of physical activity provides health benefits to an individual. Indeed, there was a significant reduction in mortality for those individuals who did participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity over the 36-month period. So, if an individual can get at least 60 minutes during the week, that activity may add years to the person’s life.

Exercise is essential for a person's health, as it can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Exercise also helps to control blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels. Physical activity can help to reduce anxiety, tension, and depression and improve a person's quality of sleep. Physical activity improves energy levels, strengthens muscles and bones, and enhances brain function by increasing blood flow to the brain. Physical activity can improve life's overall quality by improving cognitive function, memory, and focus.

If 60 minutes of physical activity per week can provide some of the benefits mentioned above, healthcare providers should let patients know that although 150 minutes of physical activity per week is recommended, a smaller amount of physical activity can increase longevity.

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A Plant-Based Diet Can Improve Insulin Resistance and Lipids for Obese Individuals

Plant-based diets are frequently in the news today, because the diets appear to be beneficial in combating many chronic diseases, including obesity, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease(CVD) and diabetes." And a recent study has shown that a vegan diet, which is plant-based, can improve insulin resistance as well as CVD parameters, such as blood lipids, in obese individuals. 

First of all, a plant-based diet may be anything from a semi-vegetarian diet, consisting of small portions of animal products, to a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products. And compared to diets that include animal products, plant-based diets can be significantly helpful in the treatment of CVD.

In the study mentioned above, a vegan diet was also helpful, not only in imparoving CVD parameters, but also in lowering insulin resistance. The study was a meta-analysis where the researchers selected six studies in seven datasets. And it was found that the vegan diet improved insulin resistance, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL in persons with obesity. It should be noted that in this study, a plant-based diet appeared to have no effect on triglycerides.

The benefits of a plant-based diet are also evident in persons who have an increased genetic CVD risk profile. In one study consisting of 156,148 adult subjects, who did not have CVD, investigators found that adherence to a plant-based diet slowly decreased the risk of CVD even for persons who have a high genetic risk for CVD. Indeed, investigators concluded that “adherence to healthy plant-based diets may be associated with a decreased incidence of CVD in the entire population, suggesting that plant-based diet patterns may modify the risk of CVD, regardless of genetic susceptibility.”

Since the use of a plant-based diet can improve CVD risk factors and insulin resistance in persons with obesity, this is an opportunity for healthcare providers to help their patients. Healthcare providers should counsel patients on the benefits of a plant-based diet.

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Tags: environmental scanning, balanced scorecard, business planning, strategic management, bariatric medicine, obesity medicine, medical practice start up, bariatric industry analysis, weight loss industry analysis, prediabetes, diabetes prevention, weight management industry analysis

Physical Activity Sedentary Breaks Can Lower High Blood Pressure

 Sedentary lifestyle is a term frequently used to describe a way of living in which a person participates in relatively little physical activity. And people are becoming less active everywhere in the world. People who participate in leisure activities, like using computers, watching television, or playing video games, often lead sedentary lives. Additionally, many of the duties that people perform at work are done while they are seated at a desk. One study has shown that taking activity breaks, when sedentary, is important in controlling blood pressure.

Three-hundred and thirty-one middle-aged and older adults were chosen at random and evaluated at the start and end of the 2-year study. For the study, high blood pressure, or HBP, was defined as a systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg. A questionnaire was used to measure physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sedentary breaks. Observed variables included age, gender, socioeconomic status, and body mass index. The researchers found that engaging in "continuously high sedentary breaks" can lower the risk of HBP.

Not only is HBP a problem in a sedentary lifestyle, one study concluded that a sedentary lifestyle can raise the risk of low back pain (LBP). For instance, LBP can develop if you use a computer at work for more than four hours each day. Spending more than seven hours a day sitting down may cause LBP. And playing video games for at least twelve hours each week may cause LBP.  

Some researchers discovered that older people who restrict their sedentary time and engage in more daily physical activity — of any intensity — have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Reduced inactivity and light exercise are associated with lower all-cause mortality. 

Since a sedentary lifestyle can lead to HBP and LBP, healthcare providers should encourage their patients to engage in activity breaks in sedentary situations. These breaks can improve health.

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Treating Depression as a Preventative Measure for Diabetes

Depression and diabetes are two prevalent health issues that often coexist, creating interconnected challenges for individuals. Recent research has discovered a connection between the two conditions, suggesting that treating depression could play a role in preventing diabetes.

Studies have consistently shown a bidirectional relationship between depression and diabetes. Individuals with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing depression, and those with depression have an increased susceptibility to diabetes. This link is not merely coincidental; shared biological mechanisms and lifestyle factors contribute to the intricate association between the two conditions.

Chronic inflammation is a common denominator in both depression and diabetes. Depressive symptoms can trigger inflammatory responses in the body, leading to an imbalance in immune function. This chronic inflammation, in turn, contributes to insulin resistance and impairs the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetes.

Persistent stress is a well-known contributor to both depression and diabetes. The body's response to stress involves the release of cortisol, a hormone that, when elevated for prolonged periods, can lead to insulin resistance. By addressing and treating depression, individuals may effectively manage stress levels, reducing the impact on cortisol secretion and, consequently, mitigating the risk of developing diabetes.

Depression often leads to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, and irregular sleep patterns – all of which are risk factors for diabetes. Treating depression involves not only addressing the emotional aspects but also promoting healthier habits. Encouraging individuals to adopt a balanced diet, engage in regular physical activity, and establish a consistent sleep routine can significantly contribute to preventing diabetes.

Mental health treatment, including therapy and medications, can provide individuals with the tools to cope with depression effectively. As the emotional burden lessens, the associated physiological changes, such as reduced inflammation and cortisol levels, may contribute to a decreased risk of developing diabetes.

The link between depression and diabetes emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to healthcare. Treating depression is not only essential for improving mental well-being but may also serve as a preventative measure against the development of diabetes. By addressing the connection between these conditions, healthcare professionals can empower individuals to lead healthier lives.

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