One in four may be unaware they have a blood sugar disorder

As a follow-up to last week’s post, I read recently that a hospital in Israel offered a free health screening (see here). Over 1,400 people volunteered for screenings, the vast majority of whom had no known blood sugar problems. The screenings were performed by trained volunteers, and the results were astonishing.

Of the 1,401 volunteers, 228 knew they had diabetes; 21% of the remaining (1,173 individuals) had Dysglycemia. An additional 4.3% had Type 2 Diabetes. That means nearly one in four people had a blood sugar disorder or were pre-diabetic, and they didn’t even know it.

This is of the upmost importance that each of us is aware of our health. Regular physicals and periodic lab tests will help ensure that’s the case. Even if we feel relatively well, we can’t just assume we’re healthy. There may be blood level issues we’re not aware of or are not yet feeling the effects of. And while most of those tested who did discover a disorder tended to be a bit older, had higher blood glucose, a higher body mass index, and a higher systolic blood pressure, many of us who don’t fit into all of those categories could still be at risk.

The second issue, which is perhaps even more pressing, is how widespread this diagnosis is. While this wasn’t a simple random sample of volunteers, it’s reasonable to think 20% to 30% of people are facing the same issue. This grows from a systemic problem where many people don’t care about their health, don’t maintain healthy eating and exercise habits, and aren’t tracking important health indicators.

It’s important for all of us to be aware of what diseases we may be at risk for. And while some people may be aware they’re diabetic or have dysglycemia, there are potentially millions of others who have no idea. The solution, of course, is to not wait; take the steps to improve your health and take them now.

What to do about feeling blue?

One of the things that we strive for, here at Unicity Science, is to be a good member of the scientific community. We are very fortunate to have the backing of of CEO, Stewart Hughes, who is passionate about the products we develop but also recognizes the value of working with quality scientists in the community. We have been working with Columbia University, supplying Dr. Elizabeth Sublette, with OmegaLife-3 supplements. We received the following release and pass this along for your information. Please be sure to check the link to her research (see here).

New Study Reveals Certain Formulations of Fish Oil Supplements Effective for Major Depression

NEW YORK, NY – In the latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a team of Columbia University psychiatric researchers shows that only certain formulations of fish oil supplements provide sufferers relief from depression. This finding could be significant to the over 20 million people in the United States who suffer from major depression.

“If you are taking a formulation with equal amounts of the fatty acids DHA and EPA, you may not be doing anything for your depression,” said Elizabeth Sublette, MD, PhD, Director of the MIND Research Clinic at Columbia Psychiatry and the New York State Psychiatric Institute and lead author on the research study.

She added, “Although fish oil is not currently an FDA-approved treatment for depression, our examination of clinical trials from the last nine years of published studies showed that EPA-rich formulations of fish oil were effective in treating depression. EPA had to be present in at least a 60/40 proportion with the amount of DHA in order to see results—studies using lower proportions of EPA were ineffective.”

Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and anchovies are rich dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important compounds the human body needs for optimum health. These fatty acids are essential, which means people must consume them because the body will not make these nutrient compounds itself.

Today, fish oil is prescribed as a triglyceride-lowering treatment. This research study shows that fish oil is a promising treatment for depression as well.

There are several types of omega-3 fatty acids, but two of them, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), are the most recognized for their role in human health.

According to Dr. Sublette, consumers can perform a simple calculation to determine if the brand they are considering has the optimal ratio of EPAs to other omega-3 compounds: “Look on the nutrition information label and find the milligrams of EPA and DHA per serving. Divide the amount of EPA by the sum of EPA+DHA. If you get 0.60 or greater, our research suggests that this brand will be a helpful adjunct to depression treatment.”

Details regarding fish oil supplements and information about Dr. Sublette’s ongoing research can be obtained at http://www.moodstudies.org.

Knowing what you should know but don't...

In the November 2011 issue of Today's Dietician, there is an article by Lindsay Getz (see here), entitled, "Stop Diabetes in its Tracks", that caught my attention. What grabbed my attention was the statistic cited in the article that nearly 80 million people are prediabetic, meaning they have manifested some form of insulin resistance but aren't quite into full blown diabetes. If you combine that with the 24 million adults diagnosed with diabetes that means that a full 1/3 of the US population has problems managing the blood sugar levels in their bodies. This is a staggering number and potentially a huge problem because people with pre-diabetes are at risk for developing full blown diabetes within 10 years.

What is especially tragic is that type 2 diabetes is a disease that can be avoided or prevented. But how can you avoid something if you don't know you have it? Well, first - go to your doctor and get a check-up. Ask specifically for blood work testing for diabetes. They aren't expensive and typically will be covered by most health insurance. Use the posted image (from a great education piece on medscape, see here) as a reference as to where you are with respect to blood sugar management.

Second, if you arediagnosed with diabetes, ACT NOW! Do not delay. There are very simple things that you can do that make a big difference. One - eat better. Eat more vegetables, more lean protein and cut out the refined carbohydrates (think sugars). Consume more dietary fiber (think Bios Life Slim). Slim is a great way to moderate your blood sugar levels. Two - get moving. Exercise improves your body's ability to utilize insulin.

Lastly, get educated. Learn, read, and listen to people who can tell you what is going on with your body. Talk to certified diabetes educators. Talk to your physician. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's your life that is on the line. A simple program that gives you all of that is the Make Life Better Transformation Experience (see here). Remember, don't delay. Get started today!

National Diabetes Month in the US...

November is American Diabetes Month in the United States. It couldn't come at a better time since most kids consumed an extra 7,000 calories this past Halloween (that is not a misprint). There are many activities that you can do to help promote diabetes education and if you have the means, please donate (you can do so here).