LEAD-4 results show liraglutide provides significant improvements in glycemic control as part of triple combination therapy with metformin and rosiglitazone, report researchers in the journal Diabetes Care.

The 26-week LEAD-4 study is part of the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes (LEAD) program and investigated the effect of different doses of the once-daily glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP)-1 analog liraglutide in combination with metformin and rosiglitazone.

“These three glucose-lowering agents are of particular interest as they have complementary modes of action and are not generally associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia,” write Bernard Zinman (Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada) and colleagues on behalf of the LEAD-4 study investigators.

LEAD-4 randomly assigned 533 patients with Type 2 diabetes to receive add-on treatment with once-daily liraglutide (1.2 or 1.8 mg) or placebo in a 1:1:1 ratio after a run-in period of metformin (1 g twice daily) and rosiglitazone (4 mg twice daily). Prior treatment with oral agents other than metformin and rosiglitazone was discontinued.

Patients with a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) between 7 and 11% (prestudy oral agent monotherapy) or between 7 and 10% (prestudy combination oral agent therapy) and a body mass index of no more than 45 kg/m² were included.

Compared with baseline, HbA1c was reduced by 1.5% in the two liraglutide groups versus 0.5% with placebo. This was achieved by significant reductions in both fasting and postprandial glucose with 1.2 and 1.8 mg liraglutide compared with placebo.

At the end of the study, dose-dependent weight loss with 1.2 and 1.8 mg liraglutide (1.0 and 2.0 kg, respectively) was obse

According to a recent study, consuming fish two times a week can lower the risk of kidney disease among people who have diabetes. Although there are still no definitive results of the effects of eating fish on diabetes, studies indicate that diabetics who eat fish may lower the their triglyceride level and increase their HDL (the good cholesterol) level.

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It is significant, though, that eating fish can lower fat and protein in the blood, and blood pressure too. What makes this significant? When the urine contains protein, it is an indication of kidney disease.

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However, diabetics are warned against taking fish oil supplements because no scientific proof exists to show that doing so can help them. In fact, fish oil supplements can cause adverse effects in diabetics who are on other medications.

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On the other hand, diabetics are encouraged to eat baked fish at least two times a week as doing so can help lower their blood pressure and lessen their chances of developing kidney disease.

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Some studies also suggest that fish can positively affect a diabetic’s insulin resistance. Furthermore, the Omega 3 fatty acids present in fish may lower the risk of developing heart disease and arrhythmia among diabetics. Overall, diabetics can benefit from a diet that includes fish and in combination with a regular exercise routine.

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Lastly, the American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetes patients avoid saturated fats and consume monounsaturated fats instead. Monounsaturated fats have been found to lower triglyceride levels. This is why a diet that includes Omega 3 fatty acids is important. The Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils have been found to significantly lower the risk of coronary heart disease among women.

Diabetes, more specifically type II diabetes, is often referred to as a disease of obesity. People who are overweight are at a much greater risk of diabetes but the direct cause is not exactly clear. One theory proposes that when someone is obese, it causes stress in a series of cellular membranes known as endoplasmic reticulum. This stress causes the ER to suppress insulin receptor signals which can then lead to insulin resistance. OK, so, enough of the medical lesson. All you really need to know is that if you are overweight, your risk of diabetes goes through the roof. The good news is, you can cut that risk way down and maybe even eliminate it all together.

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First of all, let’s look at the food you are eating. Your body needs nutrient rich foods in order to maintain healthy weight and function. If you are eating empty calories, i.e. cakes, cookies, pies, etc. then your body is probably getting to much sugar and it will have a problem processing it. This excess sugar will often be stored as fat and will lead to excess blood sugar as well. Both of these scenarios can lead to your body developing diabetes. You have to severely limit the amount of these foods in your diet immediately. Instead, focus on eating healthy grains, fruits, and vegetables which will provide your body with slow burning carbohydrates which will in turn help to regulate your body’s blood glucose levels and help to stave off diabetes. Now, let’s look at adding exercise to help further reduce your risk of diabetes.

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Intense exercise can help you lose weight.?That is number one of course. As we mentioned, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the stress on your endoplasmic reticulum and will prevent insulin receptors from becoming insulin resistant. In addition, because your body uses glucose as the main fuel source for your muscles energy, exercise will help to use any excess glucose that your body does take in so that abnormally high levels do not occur. In fact, this glucose uptake by the muscles can have such a dramatic and profound positive effect that some people’s diabetes can be completely controlled by exercise alone.

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Two things that can help your journey to preventing or controlling your diabetes is a nutrition coach and hiring a fitness trainer. Starting on a new path in life can be difficult especially when you are dealing with subjects as diverse as nutrition and exercise. By adhering to the admonitions of professionals, you can make sure that your plan is both effective and safe as well. A nutrition coach can help you plan meals and make proper food decisions while a fitness trainer can design an easy to understand exercise program that will help to speed up fat loss and use up excess glucose; both can help reduce your risks of getting diabetes.

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Exercise and a healthy diet… your keys to staying healthy and avoiding and/or treating diabetes.