Last week on July 6 jck of the Overnight News Digest had some wonderful diabetes news in his diary. He was gracious enough to let me repost the segments about diabetes for you here.
First a segment about BPA and diabetes.
A 'Safe' Chemical in Plastic Bottles Could Reduce Insulin Responsiveness, Increase Diabetes Risk
A new study "has found direct evidence linking a key chemical ingredient of plastic bottles to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes," reports the Independent:The study, published in the journal Diabetes, found that the chemical BPA used to make food and drink packages, including plastic water bottles, can reduce sensitivity to the hormone insulin which regulates the body's sugar metabolism. The findings, to be presented at the 2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, call for the US Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in bottles and food containers. Previous studies have already shown that the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) used to make plastic and epoxy resins could disrupt hormones in humans. While research has linked BPA to diabetes, no previous study has directly assessed if administration of this chemical to humans increases this risk in adults.
The researchers administered the dosage considered safe by America's FDA to about 20 individuals — and discovered they became less responsive to insulin after 4 days. The article includes this warning from the researchers:
"These results suggest that maybe the U.S. EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients."
I use a stainless steel refillable water bottle and try to avoid plastic water bottles as much as possible. The European Union and Canada have banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. You can find a list of which states have bans here. The more we study this chemical the more we seem to find that it just isn’t a good idea to use it.
Next up is a segment about fats and proteins in your diet and how they affect insulin production.
Proteins and fats can drive insulin production for some, paving way for tailored nutrition
When it comes to managing blood sugar levels, most people think about counting carbs. But new research shows that, for some, it may be just as important to consider the proteins and fats in their diet. The study is the first large-scale comparison of how different people produce insulin in response to each of the three macronutrients: carbohydrates (glucose), proteins (amino acids) and fats (fatty acids). The findings reveal that production of the blood sugar-regulating hormone is much more dynamic and individualized than previously thought, while showing for the first time a subset of the population who are hyper-responsive to fatty foods.
This is very interesting. More research may help us to make better choices based on the interaction of the micronutrients. I wonder if it will lead to testing of individuals so you can find out exactly how your body responds and can tailor your food choices more precisely.
Last is a segment about a new way to diagnose metabolic diseases.
Doctors could soon use facial temperature for early diagnosis of metabolic diseases
A colder nose and warmer cheeks may be a telltale sign of rising blood pressure. Researchers discovered that temperatures in different face regions are associated with various chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. These temperature differences are not easily perceptible by one's own touch but can instead be identified using specific AI-derived spatial temperature patterns that require a thermal camera and a data-trained model. With further research, doctors could one day use this simple and non-invasive approach for early detection of diseases.
Thank you again jck and the Overnight News Digest crew.