Healthy eating for diabetes Archive

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Many Americans may be living with the precursor condition to type 2 diabetes without even knowing it, according to a report released July 18, 2017, by the CDC. The National Diabetes Statistics Report found that more than 84 million people in the United States likely have prediabetes — higher-than-normal blood sugar levels.

Prediabetes can turn into full-blown type 2 diabetes — meaning the body doesn't respond to insulin, a hormone that helps cells absorb blood sugar for energy. Type 2 diabetes increases the risk for vision loss; heart disease; stroke; kidney failure; amputation of toes, feet, or legs; and even early death. The report found that almost one in four people with diabetes is undiagnosed.

News briefs

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As we reported in May 2016, regularly drinking coffee is associated with lower blood pressure, less weight gain with aging, and less chance of developing type 2 diabetes or dying from cardiovascular or neurological diseases. Now a pair of 16-year studies published July 10, 2017, in Annals of Internal Medicine link coffee drinking with longevity. One study analyzed the coffee consumption of more than 520,000 men and women. People who drank three or more cups of coffee per day — either caffeinated or decaffeinated — were up to 12% less likely to die during the study, compared with people who didn't drink coffee. The other study involved more than 185,000 middle-age or older coffee drinkers who were African American, Native Hawaiian, Japanese American, Latino, or white. Those who drank four or more cups per day were 18% less likely to die for any reason during the study period compared with nondrinkers. This was the first large study of coffee drinking and longevity that included a racially and ethnically diverse group of people. The findings from these studies suggest, but don't prove, that regular coffee drinking helps you live longer. The beneficial effect of coffee seemed to plateau at more than four cups per day.

Research we're watching

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Want to help improve your cholesterol profile? Swap your midmorning muffin for a handful of almonds, suggests a study in the Aug. 1, 2017, Journal of Nutrition.

Nutritionists have long known that eating almonds and other nuts tends to lower harmful LDL cholesterol and raise desirable HDL cholesterol. But recent evidence suggests that the heart-protecting effects of HDL depend on a person's particular complement of the various forms of HDL, some of which are more beneficial than others.

On call

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Q. I keep hearing about how great coffee is for your health. Is this just hype, or are there real benefits?

A. Multiple studies have associated drinking coffee with reduced rates of diseases, such as diabetes, kidney stones, and dementia. However, just because people who drink coffee appear to get certain health benefits, these types of studies don't prove that the coffee itself is the reason.

Ask the doctors

Q. I recently decided to give up soda and switched to flavored seltzer water. Is this a better choice for my health?

A. First, congratulations on giving up soda. Sugary drinks like soda have been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and other chronic health conditions, so that is definitely a win for your health. Switching to seltzer is a much better choice, provided you choose a brand that is sugar- and calorie-free.

Let's cover the original misinformation first: The earliest missives warned that microwaved plastic releases cancer-causing chemicals called dioxins into food. The problem with that warning is that plastics don't contain dioxins. They are created when garbage, plastics, metals, wood, and other materials are burned. As long as you don't burn your food in a microwave, you aren't exposing yourself to dioxins.

Migrating chemicals

There's no single substance called "plastic." That term covers many materials made from an array of organic and inorganic compounds. Substances are often added to plastic to help shape or stabilize it. Two of these plasticizers are

Ask the doctors

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Q. I've been trying to avoid high-fructose corn syrup. Is table sugar a healthier alternative?

A. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a healthy sugar that you could eat guilt-free? Unfortunately, when it comes to high-fructose corn syrup and table sugar, there really isn't a "good" option. High-fructose corn syrup and table sugar are actually pretty similar from a chemical standpoint.