Danger of diabetes: More dogs and cats are getting insulin shots
BY NATHAN BOWE: Nicole Remer of Detroit Lakes wants pet owners not to panic if their dog or cat is diagnosed with diabetes.
“It’s not a death sentence for your pet,” said Remer, a registered nurse at Essentia St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes. “They’re our kids — we need to take care of them.”
Remer and her wife, Michelle, recently found out that their 5-year-old shih tzu mix, Julio, is diabetic. “Our vet said they’ve recently seen an increase in the number of diabetic animals they’re treating,” she said. “Also, after doing some of my own research, I’ve learned that one of the leading causes of death in diabetic pets is euthanasia, because owners don’t think they’ll be able to care for their diabetic pet.” (read more)
Researchers make discovery involving link between type 2 diabetes and dementia
BY JACK WOODFIELD: Australian researchers have investigated the relationship between dementia and type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of good blood sugar control to improve brain health.
Scientists from the University of Western Australia have identified a vulnerable part of the brain that is most at risk of damage among people with diabetes.
They say the brain’s right hippocampus, involved in learning and memory, tended to be smaller in people with type 2 diabetes, which can affect cognitive performance. (read more)
Not Getting Enough Vitamin D May Increase Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Study Finds
BY SHERYL HUGGINS SALOMON: Previous research suggests that having deficient levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, and study results released this month seem to support that association.
The study, which was published in the April edition of PLoS One, followed 903 healthy adults for 12 years and found that those with lower amounts of vitamin D in their blood had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the course of the study. (read more)
Active young adults with Type 1 diabetes have muscle complications
BY SCIENCE DAILY: A new study from McMaster and York universities has found that poor muscle health may be a complication of Type 1 diabetes, even among active twenty-somethings.
The research team analyzed muscle biopsies of young adults with and without Type 1 diabetes who exceed Diabetes Canada’s recommended weekly levels for physical activity.
The researchers found structural and functional changes in the power generation parts of the cell, or mitochondria, of those with diabetes. Not only were the mitochondria less capable of producing energy for the muscle, they were also releasing high amounts of toxic reactive oxygen species, related to cell damage. (read more)
Do Dairy Products Increase the Risk of Diabetes?
BY ANUOLU BANK-ONI: Dairy products are an important food group and supply the body with necessary nutrients required for good health. Studies have shown that whey protein, found in dairy products, can affect how insulin is used in the body and may help in reducing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, the bacteria present in fermented dairy products has been associated with improving the health of the digestive system. Although dairy products have health benefits, research has indicated a possible relationship with pre-diabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. (read more)
