Free Republic

The ‘Modern Family’ alum tells PEOPLE that he was initially "embarrassed" about his type 2 diabetes and kept his diagnosis a secret from friends and family Eric Stonestreet used to think his health was “fairly good.” He struggled to lose weight like many people, but felt fine overall. “I was just trying to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as I could without doing a tremendous amount about it,” he tells PEOPLE. But in 2009, just as he landed his beloved role as Cameron Tucker on Modern Family, Stonestreet was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. “It was like this crazy happy...

Scientists may have identified a way to naturally regulate blood sugar levels and sugar cravings in a similar fashion to drugs like Ozempic. In mice and humans, the key to unlocking this natural process was found to be a gut microbe and its metabolites – the compounds it produces during digestion. By increasing the abundance of this one gut microbe in diabetic mice, researchers led by a team at Jiangnan University in China showed they can "orchestrate the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1". Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body and which helps regulate blood...

In a study, researchers examined the possible links between exposure to mixtures of commonly consumed food additives and the onset of type 2 diabetes. Two out of the five mixtures tested were found to be associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes. To measure the consequences of exposure to these mixtures, a research team analyzed the health data of 108,643 adults over an average follow-up period of 7.7 years. The participants completed at least two days (up to 15 days) of online dietary records of all food and drink consumed and their brands. In order to obtain a...

Researchers conducted a large-scale epidemiological study to explore the potential health benefits of high muscle strength in preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D) across varying levels of genetic risk. The study found that higher muscle strength was associated with over 40% lower risk of T2D, regardless of genetic susceptibility to T2D. The study highlights the importance of maintaining or improving muscle strength for preventing T2D. The research utilized data of 141,848 white British individuals without baseline T2D from the UK Biobank. Muscle strength was assessed in the form of grip strength. Genetic risk of T2D was estimated based on 138 known...

Research has found that inadequate sleep duration and late sleep onset are associated with increased glycemic variability in adults. Blood sugar regulation plays a critical role in metabolic health, with fluctuations in glucose levels linked to diabetes complications. Previous research has identified insufficient sleep as a risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism. In the study, researchers conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the relationship between long-term sleep duration and onset timing with glycemic variability. The study analyzed 1,156 participants, aged 46 to 83, from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study. Participants underwent self-reported sleep assessments across multiple visits and...

A common type of diabetes medication could help cancer patients make a better long-term recovery, according to research. Many cancer patients go on to develop heart failure—because of the cancer itself and also due to chemotherapy. But a study shows that a type of diabetes medication, called an SGLT2 inhibitor, may help protect the heart during and after cancer treatment. This is the first time that any medication has been shown to be beneficial in reducing heart failure or heart failure hospitalization in cancer patients and survivors. The medication appears to lower the risk of heart failure and unplanned hospital...

A study suggests that fish oil can weaken insulin resistance and reduce glucose intolerance by modulating the body's inflammatory response. The findings were based on experiments with rats, which were not obese but exhibited a condition similar to type 2 diabetes, a disease characterized by elevated blood sugar due to reduced action of the hormone insulin. As the authors explain, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids such as those present in fish oil has been prescribed for individuals with cardiovascular problems and type 2 diabetes, but the effects of these nutrients on insulin resistance without obesity are poorly understood. In this...

Millions of people with type 2 diabetes could receive better treatment thanks to a new, simple low-cost tool, according to research. Researchers have developed an innovative way of identifying the most effective glucose-lowering drugs for a person with type 2 diabetes. By predicting which drug will lead to the largest reduction in blood glucose levels, the easy-to-use tool could pave the way for better health for millions, at the push of a button. While metformin is the most common first treatment, five other major types of glucose-lowering drugs are available. However, their effectiveness varies widely from person to person and...

Mitochondrial dysfunction in β-cells can cause their immaturity and impaired insulin production, contributing to diabetes. Researchers identified a stress response triggered by damaged mitochondria that prevents these cells from functioning properly, but blocking the response with a drug restored their ability to control glucose in mice. Mitochondrial stress disrupts insulin production in diabetes, but reversing the damage may restore β-cell function. Mitochondria are essential for generating the energy that fuels cells and enables them to function. However, mitochondrial defects are linked to the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Patients with this disorder either cannot produce enough insulin...

The chemical compound sulforaphane found in broccoli sprouts can be linked to improved blood sugar levels in prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. This has been shown in a study. In this study, Professor Anders Rosengren and colleagues have instead looked at prediabetes. This condition is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, with slowly rising blood sugar levels due to impaired insulin production. The study included 89 people with elevated fasting blood sugar, an indicator of prediabetes. Other criteria included the participants being overweight or obese and 35–75 years old. The participants were randomly assigned sulforaphane or a placebo...

Research shows that most cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented through lifestyle interventions. But if you already have the condition, can it be reversed? The answer is a resounding yes, according to Gerald I. Shulman, MD, Ph.D. Insulin resistance drives type 2 diabetes, Shulman explains. "If you reverse insulin resistance, you reverse type 2 diabetes," he said. In a landmark study, Shulman and Kitt Petersen, MD showed that modest weight reduction—even as little as 10%—does just that. However, Shulman notes, many people who are initially successful at losing weight regain it. The novel anti-obesity GLP-1 medications can play...

Drinking ketones improves heart health, a new small-scale study has found. This is the first time people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been given a drink with ketone esters—a supplement that is meant to plunge your system into ketosis (a metabolic state where your body is forced to burn fats instead of carbohydrates)—to monitor the effect on the heart. Dr. Maria Perissiou said, "We saw an improvement in cardiac efficiency after the participants had the drink with ketones, compared to a placebo drink." The trial involved 13 participants who were given a drink with ketones, and then a placebo...

Micronutrient deficiency, whereby levels of vitamins and minerals essential for healthy bodily function are far too low, is common in people with type 2 diabetes, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence. A lack of vitamin D is the most common "missing" micronutrient. Genetic predisposition, various environmental factors, sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet and obesity are risk factors for the disease, explain the researchers. And previously published research suggests that micronutrients have a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes, by potentially affecting glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathways. Their analysis included 132 studies, involving 52,501...

Turmeric has been a healing remedy in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It comes from the rhizome (root) of the Curcuma longa plant and has a warm, earthy flavor. Turmeric's active compound, curcumin, is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with many health benefits, from soothing joint pain to enhancing digestion and immunity. 1. Arthritis (Joint Pain) Arthritis is a broad term that describes over 100 conditions that cause joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, typically develops due to age-related "wear and tear." Other types, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic...

Snack foods and sweet treats have seen a decline in purchases, as people reach for more nutrient-dense options.Ozempic, Mounjaro, and other glucagon-like peptide-1 medications, otherwise known as GLP-1s, are changing how Americans shop for groceries. In early January, Food & Wine published a story about how food companies are releasing all-new products or reimagining the marketing of old ones to appeal to more GLP-1 users who may be looking for specific nutrition needs like high-protein, high-fiber foods. In that story, we mentioned one tiny but important research paper by Cornell University that showed that households with at least one GLP-1...

Hot tubs can improve insulin effectiveness, heart health and lower blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes, research has found. The small-scale study involved immersing 14 participants with type 2 diabetes in 40°C water for one hour, eight to 10 times within a two-week period. It's the first study of its kind to show that participants experienced improved insulin sensitivity, which means the insulin they produced worked better after repeated immersion. Glucose levels didn't change, but insulin levels were lower. The study took place in a controlled laboratory setting where researchers could monitor the participants' deep body temperature, as...

An investigation finds empagliflozin (sold as Jardiance) may reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression in patients with a history of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) but showed no association with preventing new NPDR onset. DR is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes, affecting 26% of patients in the United States in 2021. It is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among working-age adults. Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) primarily developed for glucose control, has shown benefits for cardiovascular and renal outcomes in past clinical trials. Its association with DR progression has remained unclear....

Scientists at Kumamoto University have unveiled a novel compound, HPH-15, which has dual effects: reducing blood glucose levels and combating fat accumulation. This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in diabetes treatment innovation. Type 2 diabetes, a condition affecting millions worldwide, is often accompanied by complications such as fatty liver and insulin resistance, posing challenges for current treatment methods. The research team, led by Visiting Associate Professor Hiroshi Tateishi and Professor Eiichi Araki, has identified HPH-15 as a promising alternative to existing medications like metformin.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to tackle high rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services. They’re goals that many in the public health world find themselves agreeing with — despite fearing what else the infamous anti-vaccine activist may do in the post. Just don’t suggest that he tackle those goals with medications like Ozempic.

Already the go-to drug of choice for millions with type 2 diabetes, metformin might also fight lung cancer if those patients have it as well, new research shows. Metformin appears to help boost the benefits of immunotherapy drugs used to fight lung tumors, according to a team led by Dr. Sai Yendamuri. There was one big catch to the new finding, however. "Our work shows that the anticancer effect of metformin is active only in the context of obesity," Yendamuri said in a Roswell news release. "We observed longer recurrence-free survival in overweight patients who took metformin and underwent surgery."...