Nutrition and Health News

Exubera, a rapid-acting inhalable form of insulin, has been approved for use this week by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes often require doses of insulin throughout the day to regulate their blood sugar level. This normally requires the use of injectable insulin or in some cases an insulin pump.

The US population of diabetic patients is growing rapidly, mostly due to the increasing occurence of Type 2 diabetes, which is associated with obesity. Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes of which 95% are Type 2. In some cases, Type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed without requiring insulin doses through diet, exercise, and weight management.

An article published recently in the journal Nature Genetics reports that a team from deCODE genetics in Iceland has identified a specific marker (TCF7L2) which corresponds to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. In Iceland, where the study was conducted, 33 percent of diabetics had a “risky” form of the gene, while it occured in only 26 percent of non-diabetics. A sample of mostly white Americans turned up 39 percent of diabetics with the “risky” form of the gene, and 25 percent of non-diabetics.

A recently published study in the Journal of Applied Physiology indicates that a relatively short period of diet and exercise changes can result in substantial reduction in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Participants in this study used a Pritikin diet, which features low fat and high fiber intake, and completed 45 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity at 75% to 85% of maximum heart rate each day using a treadmill. The participants, ranging in age from 46 to 76 years old, did not attempt to restrict their calorie intake, and began and ended the trial overweight or obese.

This weekend’s Doonesbury comic strip comments on restaurant portion sizes, in which “all of today’s specials are guaranteed bigger than your head!”

Elsewhere, For Better Or Worse takes a look at using a treadmill with headphones.

Links:

• Doonesbury, January 15, 2006
• For Better Or Worse, January 15, 2006
• Portion Distortion - How big is that bagel, anyway?, Nutrition and Health News, November 30, 2005
• Renewed Push for Nutrition Labeling at Restaurants, Nutrition and Health News, November 29, 2005
• Big Portions May Prompt Overeating, Nutrition and Health News, November 28, 2005

Tags: obesity, nutrition, health, diet, weight loss, weight+management

Many people are starting or resuming regular exercise activities as part of their New Year’s resolutions. Some activities, such as running or cycling, are outdoor activities, but many people prefer to workout indoors at a gym, especially in the middle of winter.

If you’re not familiar with working out with other people around in a gym environment, it can be intimidating, distracting, or confusing. Here are some tips for getting started at the gym, from the American Council on Exercise: