Part 2 - Do Statins Raise the Risk for Diabetes? by Gregory A. Nichols, PhD

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST...

Viewpoint

Although most statin trials to date had not found a relationship between statin use and diabetes incidence, the recent JUPITER (Crestor 20mg Versus Placebo in Prevention of Cardiovascular (CV) Events) trial that reported an increased risk for diabetes in patients assigned to the rosuvastatin arm seconded concerns raised several years ago when the PROSPER (PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk) trial reported similar findings with pravastatin. However, most trials had not looked at diabetes as a secondary outcome. The investigators of the current study are to be commended for obtaining access to previously unpublished results, thus eliminating a common flaw in meta-analyses.

With these data, they were able to identify a small but significantly increased risk for incident diabetes associated with statin use. Like observational studies, however, a meta-analysis cannot establish causation; therefore, it is possible that unmeasured factors explain the results. For example, the analysis did not account for baseline glycemic level. This is unlikely to be different between groups in randomized trials, but it is possible or even likely that patients who developed diabetes were more dysglycemic, and that a small "nudge" from statins was enough for them to convert to diabetes. If so, these patients were already at increased cardiovascular risk, in which case treatment with statins would be far more important than the few milligrams per deciliter of fasting glucose that took these patients over the diagnostic threshold for diabetes. It is also important to note that these results do not address whether statins raise blood sugar in people already diagnosed with diabetes, most of whom should already be taking statins.

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness. Dr Renee Young can treat cholesterol without using statins, especially if you are at risk of Diabetes.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

Watch our video to learn more about Diabetes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueaLn8vrZ_g

Part 1 – Do Statins Raise the Risk for Diabetes? by Gregory A. Nichols, PhD

Statins and Risk of Incident Diabetes: A Collaborative Meta-analysis of Randomised Statin Trials

Sattar N, Preiss D, Murray HM, et al

Lancet. 2010;375:735-742. Epub 2010 Feb 16.

Study Summary

Using data from 13 clinical trials with 91,140 participants, the investigators conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether a relationship exists between statin use and the development of diabetes. Six of the trials had previously published data for incident diabetes. The other 7 studies had not analyzed or published data on incident diabetes.

For each trial in the meta-analysis, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated on the basis of the number of patients who did not have diabetes at baseline and the number who developed incident diabetes. An overall odds ratio was then calculated with a random-effects model meta-analysis. Meta-regression analysis was also used to investigate potential differences (heterogeneity) between trials. Specifically, baseline age, body mass index (BMI), and percentage of change in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were tested.

Of the 91,140 participants without diabetes, 4278 developed incident diabetes over a mean study follow-up of about 4 years. The rate of diabetes in individual trials varied substantially. Of the 13 trials, 2 independently showed positive associations between statin therapy and incident diabetes. In the combined data, 174 more cases of incident diabetes occurred in the groups assigned to statin treatment than in the placebo or standard-care groups, representing a 9% increase in the likelihood of development of diabetes during follow-up. The investigators estimated that this amounted to 1 additional case of diabetes per 255 patients treated with statins over 4 years. The results were nearly identical when the analyses were restricted to placebo-controlled trials. Heterogeneity between trials was low. Although the association between statin therapy and risk for incident diabetes was stronger in trials with older participants, baseline BMI and percent change in LDL cholesterol did not seem to be important factors.

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness. Dr Renee Young can treat cholesterol without using statins, especially if you are at risk of Diabetes.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

Watch our video to learn more about Diabetes, statins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueaLn8vrZ_g

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Low-Glycemic Recipe of the Month

Agave Glazed Pork Chops

Ingredients

1/4c. Agave
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp. Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg
4 Boneless Pork Chops (about 1/2" thick)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl. Salt and pepper the pork chops to your liking. Then heat the skillet to a med-high heat. Cook the pork chops for 2 min. on each side (or until browned). Lower the fire to a med-low heat and pour the ingredients from the bowl into the skillet (with the pork chops). Cook for 10 min.

Number of Servings: 4

Watch our video to learn more about Stress and Diabetes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TprGp7nmkws

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

Testing for and Blood Sugar Regulation Issues

There are several tests for blood sugar regulation:

Fasting blood sugar is the most common with a blood sample taken first thing in the morning after approximately 9-12 hours of abstaining from any food or drink. A normal level of blood sugar should read between 65 and 99 mg of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). Any reading below indicates the possibility of hypoglycemia while any reading above 99 mg/dl is considered pre-diabetic. A reading above 125 mg/dl is indicative of diabetes.

A urine test will indicate the level of blood sugar in the urine. This is a preliminary test. If sugar levels are found out of range the result merits further investigation.

The oral glucose tolerance test determines how your body responds to sugar. The patient drinks a sugary solution then blood sugar measurements are taken after one hour and again after two hours. A normal result should read below 140 mg/dl. A reading between 140 and 199 mg/dl is considered pre-diabetic, while any reading over is diabetic.

Other hormone tests can be useful in managing blood sugar problems. In our office we often measure the levels of Fructosamine, Cortisol, Epiniphrine, Somatostatin, Sex Hormones, IGF (insulin like growth factor), Growth Hormone and Glucagon to give us a better idea of your full hormone status.

If you suspect you have blood sugar regulating issues, please don’t wait to correct them. Often Diabetes leads to other conditions such as changes in vision, loss of sight, infection and even amputation as well as Heart Disease. This is not a condition to take lightly. Natural therapies can help reduce and even reverse these effects. If you have Type I Diabetes, you will NEVER stop taking medication, but natural therapies can help you to maintain the lowest amount of medication possible. Please see a medical professional or contact our office if you need testing or assistance managing your blood sugar levels.

May Promotion

Blood Sugar Support is Buy 2 get one free from May 15th – 30th

Watch our video to learn more about Stress and Diabetes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TprGp7nmkws

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

What are the Symptoms of Blood Sugar Regulating Problems?

As with any condition, symptoms vary from individual to individual. Some of the common symptoms of blood sugar issues include the following:

a) Hypoglycemia: Typical symptoms are:

• Fatigue, most intense after eating
• Extreme irritability on missing a meal
• Mood swings with nervousness and anxiety
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Memory Problems and Confusion
• Inability to Concentrate
• Hunger between and after meals
• Waking in the middle of the night to eat.
• Craving sugar & carbohydrate rich foods
• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Sleepiness
• Weakness

b) Hyperglycemia: Some of the symptoms are:

• Brain fog or inability to concentrate.
• Weakness
• Weight Gain for Type II and Weight Loss for Type I
• Increased Thirst
• Increased Urination
• High susceptibility to infections
• Increased hunger, which in turn can lead to an over-weight situation.
• Fatigue
• Sugar and carbohydrate cravings.

c) Insulin Resistance: Signs of this syndrome are:

• Abdominal fat, weight gain, inability to lose weight.
• Intense fatigue and sleepiness especially after eating.
• Brain fog, poor memory, loss of creativity, poor grades in school and learning disabilities.
• Unstable blood sugar, meaning highs and lows
• Anxiety, jittery feelings, dizziness, aggravation.
• Sugar and carbohydrate cravings
• Intestinal bloating from high carbohydrates.
• Depression

Watch our video to learn more about Snack Alternatives and Diabetes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRoV14aSWAA

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

The three most common types of blood sugar problems

There are 3 most common types of blood sugar problems. They are

1) Hypoglycemia: Commonly known as low blood sugar meaning a lower than acceptable blood glucose level. The effect is insufficient glucose to fuel the brain resulting in impairment of brain function. Often it occurs after eating a sugary meal. Your sugar will spike and then insulin works over efficiently by putting all of the sugar it can into your cells, leaving your blood sugar too low. This effect is called reactive hypoglycemia.

2) Hyperglycemia or Diabetes: High blood sugar is clinically known as the disease Diabetes. It implies a glucose level of above 125 with most lab standards. If a person suffers from Diabetes the bloodstream is contains an excessive amount of glucose. When this situation is chronic, even in fasting conditions, it is known as Diabetes Mellitus which strikes in two forms.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by low insulin levels because of inadequate production by the body. It is usually found in children and young adults. About 5 to 10% of total diabetics suffer from this type of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the more common form which affects millions of Americans. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells refuse to absorb the insulin. As a result the level of glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This condition can be managed and in some cases completely reversed with exercise, diet and maintaining a healthy weight. Additional therapies are also helpful such as herbs, nutrients, homeopathy and only when necessary medication.

3) Insulin Resistance: In this condition the body cells become less responsive to the glucose-reducing effect of the hormone insulin. In most insulin resistance conditions, blood glucose cannot be maintained within acceptable range with normal levels of blood insulin. Insulin is not required by all cells for absorption of glucose, but fat and muscle cells which comprise the major groups do require insulin. This particular condition is often if not guaranteed to have other hormonal deregulations as well. One example is PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). In PCOS a person is insulin resistant, has high testosterone and menstrual irregularities. Balancing all of your hormones is critical to effectively treat insulin resistance.

Watch our video to learn more about Snack Alternatives and Diabetes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRoV14aSWAA

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

Stress Negatively Effects Blood Sugar

Blood sugar levels are influenced by stress hormones such as cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. In times of stress the body needs more sugar to run, literally. When we are stressed our body goes into fight or flight mode; it is ready to run from a lion. If you are going to run from a lion, you need sugar for energy. The more stressed you are, the higher your blood sugar will spike. If you never run from the lion, you body has to store that extra sugar that your liver so kindly made for you; that storage is better known as fat. The more weight you carry, the more likely you are to develop type II Diabetes. So, stress directly effects how your body regulates blood sugar.

Watch our video to learn more about Blood Sugar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHthorghthY

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com

The Effects of Blood Sugar Regulation on Your Long Term Health

Blood sugar has a significant impact on health. If blood sugar drops too low it is known as hypoglycemia. When blood sugar elevates it is known as hyperglycemia or diabetes, a condition that could potentially be fatal. Cells in the pancreas secrete hormones that are the principal regulators of glucose levels in the blood. Other hormones produced from the liver and adrenal glands assist insulin in the regulation of blood sugar.

In a low blood sugar condition the pancreas releases a hormone called glucagon, which acts on the liver cells to release more glucose (sugar) into the bloodstream in order to raise blood sugar levels. If blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin which assists the utilization of sugar. Insulin also sends signals that control other body systems, which makes it one of the main regulatory metabolic controls.

Watch our video to learn more about Blood Sugar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHthorghthY

Young Naturopathic Wellness Center

The Young Naturopathic Wellness Center was founded to provide patients with appropriate diagnoses and effective, individualized treatment and education to help them achieve wellness.

To achieve your own wellness, call 408.761.6781 today to schedule your appointment. For more information about the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, visit http://www.drreneeyoung.com/ and http://www.youngwellnesscenter.com