Higher adiponectin levels are consistently associated with a lower risk for Type 2 diabetes in prospective studies of diverse populations, show results of a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Adiponectin secretion is decreased in obesity and low levels of this anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing cytokine are frequently implicated in the development of Type 2 diabetes.

To determine the strength and consistency of the relation between plasma adiponectin and risk for Type 2 diabetes, Rob van Dam (Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies that evaluated adiponectin levels and incidence of Type 2 diabetes.

The authors searched the medical literature up to April 2009 for prospective studies in which adiponectin levels were measured in blood collected before the onset of Type 2 diabetes and which had a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

They identified 13 studies with a total of 14,598 participants and 2623 incident cases of Type 2 diabetes for inclusion in the meta-analysis.

A substantial inverse association between plasma adiponectin level and incidence of Type 2 diabetes was found, with a relative risk for Type 2 diabetes of 0.72 per 1 “log µg/ml increment in adiponectin levels.

This association was seen across diverse ethnic groups, including White, East “Asian, Asian “Indian, African “American, and Native “American populations.

The authors also found that the results did not differ substantially by adiponectin assay, method of diabetes ascertainment, study size, follow-up duration, body mass index, or proportions of men and women.

The research is important as adiponectin levels may be useful for identifying people most likely to benefit from interventions to treat dysfunctional adipose tissue and its metabolic complications, and may in the future be useful for prediction of Type 2 diabetes in addition to established risk factors.

“Although these epidemiologic studies cannot establish causality, the consistency of the association across diverse populations, the dose-response relationship, and the supportive findings in mechanistic studies indicate that adiponectin is a promising target for the reduction of risk for Type 2 diabetes,” conclude the authors.

MedWire (www.medwire-news.md) is an independent clinical news service provided by Current Medicine Group, a part of Springer Science+Business Media. © Current Medicine Group Ltd; 2009

Free abstract

Type 1 diabetes may not be as common as type 2 diabetes, but it does not mean that this should not be given the same amount of attention.

Type 1 diabetes happens because the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, or even if it is able to do that at all, the amount of insulin is not enough. Insulin, as you must know is a hormone that is responsible in converting glucose into energy. Normally, the insulin breaks down glucose in the blood and the essential nutrients are then distributed in the blood stream. Unfortunately, what happens with diabetes is that instead of getting the essential nutrients, the cells become starved because excess glucose is excreted out of the body through the urinary system.

Such being the case, people with type 1 diabetes may present the following signs and symptoms:

excessive urination

excessive thirst

dehydration

dry mouth

weight loss

fatigue

There may also be:

nausea and vomiting

abdominal pain

blurred vision

breathing problems

frequent skin infections, UTI, vaginal infections

It is not really clear what causes type 1 diabetes, but genetics and environmental factors seem to be linked to this diabetes type. According to some studies, there is a virus that seem to attack the pancreas, rendering it unable to produce insulin.

It is also said that type 1 diabetes occurs usually before the age of 20, the reason why it is called juvenile diabetes.

People with type 1 diabetes often need insulin injections to control the problem. The type of insulin you need depends on your body’s response to insulin, your lifestyle, your willingness to do the injections and monitor your blood sugar level, and your age. Insulin may be fast acting, intermediate acting, short acting or long acting.

Close monitoring is very important if you are taking insulin injections for type 1 diabetes; that is why it is often recommended of diabetics to use a blood sugar monitoring device. This way they get to check their blood sugar levels at random times.

Controlling Diabetes

Controlling type 1 diabetes is very important because uncontrolled diabetes can lead to more serious diseases, such as retinopathy, kidney damage, and diabetic ketoacidosis which can be fatal. Controlling diabetes can be achieved through insulin injections, but diabetics are nonetheless advised to embark on a healthy lifestyle, that means eating the right foods and engaging in regular exercises.

Life with Diabetes

People who are recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are concerned about the kind of life they will have to live now that they are confirmed diabetics. One major issue is the need for insulin injections for life. Then there’s also the matter of avoiding sweets. For chocoholics and sweet lovers, having diabetes is tantamount to the end of the world, but of course, that should not be the case at all.

Yes, you may need some changes in your food choices, but keep in mind that fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are not only healthy - they are truly delicious, too!

The fact that you have diabetes should not dampen your mood at all. Strong family support is very important, and thankfully there are now many diabetes support groups that you can join to help you cope with diabetes better.

Diabetics can still live a long, normal and healthy life, even in the midst of type 1 diabetes.

I know you are sitting here in a society of despair. You are researching, reading and dreaming that you may spend the rest of your life without diabetes. You must be hoping that only for few seconds the answer to your long hold wish and prayers could be found in any one sentence or any one article. You want the answer of “is there a cure for diabetes.“

Here I would like to share a legend with you.

Once upon a time there lived a man. He was diagnosed with a chronic and incurable disease termed “diabetes”. It was even before his 30th birthday when he got imprisoned by his body. He had to sit to check his blood glucose, blood pressure. He also had to daily inject insulin and above all sacrifice the yummiest foods around him.

He was convinced by doctors who had told him that he had left with no choice as there is no cure for diabetes. He searched all over the country in search of his query “is there a cure for diabetes” but the answer was “NO”. His hope was becoming a distant memory in the back of his head. He kept on researching day and night. His mind was that of a young and ambitious student and his passion was of a hungry lion.

Finally the lion found his meal!

It was so simple and so divine that he could cure his diabetes without the help of any foreign substances. After many years of diabetes research he discovered something that could rock the world. He asked the doctors to re-diagnose him.

Surprisingly even the doctors were speechless. Doctors took hours to consult other specialists of this field to conclude something that had went against this notion of medical research. The lab results showed that insulin and glucose levels were normal. And there was no existence of Diabetes.

The treatment he opted was not only natural but also painless, inexpensive and acted like a miracle. He was thrilled to share his experience with other including doctors. Finally he was able to reverse his diabetes. Many women and men who want to reverse their diabetic condition can opt this treatment that has the capacity of curing his disease.

The doctors then rejected to belief that he was properly diagnosed; as they think there is not any cure of diabetes.

Unluckily the doctors are taught and trained during their studies and practice to do only two things

Treat Symptoms of diabetes by writing prescriptions

Perform surgeries.