Study results show that patients with Type 2 diabetes who are treated with insulin or a thiazolidinedione (TZ) have fewer highly stenotic coronary artery lesions than those not treated with these drugs regardless of duration of diabetes, glycemic control, or other risk factors.

“Patients with diabetes continue to die of coronary artery disease (CAD) at rates two to four times higher than patients without diabetes, despite advances in treatment of cardiovascular disease,” say Teresa Jones (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) and co-investigators.

They explain that “the role of glycemic control therapies, independent of their glucose-lowering effects, on cardiovascular disease is a recurring question.”

To investigate this further, the team assessed the association of different glycemic control therapies (insulin and TZs) with the extent of CAD found on angiography in 1803 participants of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial.

All participants had Type 2 diabetes, documented CAD, no previous revascularizations, and were aged 62.1 years on average.

As reported in the American Journal of Cardiology, the researchers found that individuals who were using insulin at baseline had 23% less highly stenotic lesions and a significantly lower myocardial jeopardy index than those not using insulin. This was despite having a worse overall cardiac risk factor profile, increased inflammatory markers, and a higher prevalence of unstable angina than non-users.

Type 2 diabetics who had been taking a TZ for 6 months or more at baseline had 17% fewer highly stenotic lesions and significantly lower levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 than those not taking TZs.

Of note, participants who were taking insulin and a TZ had 43% fewer highly stenotic lesions than patients taking neither treatment.

As this is significantly less than for individuals taking either treatment alone the researchers suggest that “different mechanisms or factors relating to CAD… might be affected by these two therapeutic classes.”

The authors caution that their results need to be confirmed by further research.

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

Sometimes it seems that popular diabetes research may have forgotten it’s objective, but there are certainly things diabetics can do to treat themselves. In fact, even the ADA agrees with this notion. This idea is suggested in one of their publications called, Diabetes A to Z: What you Need to know About Diabetes; Simply Put. It is now in it’s 5th edition.

When reporting the results of diabetes research, it is quite acceptable to say something like the following statement in a news release or report: “new drug shows promise for treatment.” You have to be careful, however, in saying something like, “ancient practice of using certain natural dietary supplements limits incidence of type 2 diabetes among Mayan descendants”. No claims of treatment or cure can be made regarding any naturally available product used as food or food supplement without approval. This FDA technicality shows the tilt of the play field - it’s not towards the sufferers of this degenerative disease, but towards the drug manufacturing industry.

However, before we examine the pitiful state of metabolic disease research any further, I want to share some interesting bit of information on type 2 diabetes; in particular some new research study on a natural food supplement. I actually “tore” out a piece of the page of the report and posted it on the web.

Let us consider one commendable effort by a research organization as seen in a January 2009 article. We read that that US Olympic swimmer, Gary Hall, Jr. was “tapped as spokesman for new study that explores benefits of exercise on autoimmune diseases.” Mr. Hall, who competed in the Olympics from 1996 through 2004 and won 5 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals in 3 Olympics was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999.

Scientists conducting diabetes research to investigate the effect of physical exercise on autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes believe that regular aerobic activity increases insulin sensitivity. But this has been known and practiced for some time now. One exercise physiologist to whom I have listened several times even told of clients who simply exercise and then eat in order to control their blood sugars. I am not sure I would advocate anyone working so hard for every meal, but it shows the effectiveness and importance of physical activity in regulating blood sugar.

Diabetes research has been chasing the money

With all the knowledge and experience gained from various diabetic research studies that prove the effectiveness of proper diet and exercise very little is being done to promote healthy lifestyle intervention especially among the high risk groups. Diet and lifestyle regulation can help in not only controlling, but preventing, the onset of type 2 diabetes. Instead, science continues to chase the “so-called” genetic factors and the development of more drugs to tackle the epidemic. Why?

Well, since it is difficult to “patent” a freely growing plant that can be used in dietary supplementation, then expensive research has to follow the money. However, even the researchers agree that there are things we can do to treat ourselves, and we should. After all, our health is the result of choices we make daily.

Recent double-blind clinical studies have shown very satisfactory results for controlling blood glucose level using common, easily available, traditionally used, and natural dietary supplements. Having tried some of the ingredients individually, it is particularly thrilling to see new combinations and special blends of these traditionally safe products. One question still hangs unanswered, however. Will the established arm of the pharmaceutical and medical industries still keep this information under their clipboard, or will they help spread the news to diabetics?

Monitoring your blood glucose levels is an important part of managing your diabetes. If your blood glucose levels are under control, you can live a healthy, happy, active life. If your levels are not under control, you’re much more likely to suffer from diabetes related complications.

A diabetes test strip is a small strip used to test the blood glucose levels in diabetics. You put a small drop of blood on the strip, and then your glucose monitor gives you a read out with the information about your glucose levels. However, not all diabetes testing strips are the same. Different test strips go with different glucose meters, and it’s important to make sure the test strips you are using are the ones that go with your glucose monitor.

Another difference between different diabetes testing strips is that different strips require different amounts of blood to read your blood glucose levels. One strip may require less than one unit, while another may require two. Some test strips may also indicate that they support “alternate site testing.” This means that you don’t have to only use your finger tip for the blood. If this is something that is important to you, it’s something to consider when looking for your diabetes test strips.

Diabetes test strips are important for managing your illness and monitoring your blood glucose levels. Making sure you have the right test strip, and that you’re using it properly, will help you keep your blood glucose levels under control so you can stay healthy.

If you need to order more test strips, make sure you order the right kind for your glucose monitor. And when you test, make sure you’re using the test strips properly. Follow the directions to your glucose monitor carefully to get as accurate a reading as possible.

Diabetes testing strips are an important part of monitoring and managing your blood glucose levels and keeping you healthy. They are a key part of your glucose monitor, and using them correctly means getting accurate results. The more accurate the results, the more likely you are to stay healthy and not be controlled by your diabetes.