NOTHING To Worry 1&3 Diabetes Complete Curable

Embedded hope! Capsuled cells is new treatment 
There is good news for diabetics. Researchers at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, US, have joined hands to develop a new method in cell therapy in treating certain types of diabetes. This involves inserting a device called theracyte, which plays the role of an artificial pancreas, under the skin.

Theracyte is a capsule of pancreatic islet cells, which help produce insulin, and are transplanted under local anaesthesia. The five cm long and 1.3 cm wide capsule, or theracyte, will have lakhs of insulin producing islet cells that are gathered from the patients themselves or from cadavers. The tiny porous gaps in the capsule would not allow the cells to slip out but allow flow of insulin produced from these cells into the body and oxygen and other nutrients the cells need to survive and energy into the cells.

"The device is poised to be a health booster for diabetics. Placing the theracyte device under the skin is akin to and as simple as inserting a SIM card into a mobile phone," explained AIG chairman Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy. Initially, the procedure will cost about Rs.Two lakhs as doctors have to rely on the device that has been developed by a San Francisco firm.

What doctors at AIG have done is to isolate and culture human pancreatic islets, put the islets in the capsule and place it under the skin. By their work islet transplantation has come of age. Theirs is a less cumbersome than the existing pancreatic islet transplantation process. The AIG technique is also less expensive as patients with the theracyte capsule do not have to take immuno - suppressants, after islet cell transplantation, as a safeguard against its rejection.

Pancreatic islet transplantation is emerging as an attractive option of cell based therapy in the treatment of type 1 diabetes and type 3C diabetes, as the islets are capable of responding to physiological needs of the body. Islet cell transplantation, generally involving injection of islets into portal veins, is advantageous over exogenous insulin therapy, oral hypoglycemic and insulin pumps.

In the established process, islet cells are taken from the pancreas of a deceased or living donor, and are injected into the liver of diabetic patients - and these islets begin to produce and release insulin, which lets Type 1 diabetic patients live without their daily insulin injections. However, when islets are used from a donor, the patient's body may reject it for which immunosuppressant drugs are used. This process of islet transplantation is currently available at a few specialized facilities in Europe and America and not in India. 

In type 3 diabetes, once the pancreas stops working, the patient undergoes severe pain and has to take painkillers. "For them, islet transplantation will definitely work. We remove the pancreas and transplant islets only back. Since there is no pancreas, the patient will just have to take drugs for that which is in no way harmful," explained Dr. Ashok K. Saluja of the University of Minnesota.

With about 285 million people worldwide, including 62.4 million in India, afflicted by diabetes, pancreatic islet transplantation is clearly an important option in the treatment of type - 1 and type - 3 C diabetes. "Pancreatic islets transplantation can let diabetics live without using insulin injections for about three to five years depending on the patient. The main problem with this process was immuno - rejection which can be solved using theracyte implantation," said Reddy. 

The AIG process holds greater promise that what is currently available around the world. However, the issue in islet transplantation is the perennial dearth of donors. Recovering it from cadavers is far from becoming popular. The challenge is in collecting pancreas from donors just as in the harvesting of other organs like the liver and kidneys. Reddy points that it will be needed for islet cells in treatment and in further research.

NOTHING To Worry 1&3 Diabetes Complete Curable

AIG develops new method for treating diabetes

Islet transplantation is emerging as an attractive option of cell based

therapy in the treatment of type 1 diabetes and type 3C diabetes.

Currently islet transplantation is offered at a few highly specialized

centers around the world. Since India is predicted to become global

capital for diabetes by 2030, it is essential to establish such centers in

the country.

US researchers are aggressively pursuing ways to improve upon islet cell

isolation and transplantation technology, having made great progress

on the use of isolated islets, pig-derived islets, and stem cells. Scientists

at the Asian Healthcare Foundation (the research wing of Asian Institute

of Gastroenterology, an OMED certified center of excellence for

treatment of pancreatic disease) have achieved significant progress in

isolating, culturing and transplanting pancreatic islets (in simian models),

with a long term interest in establishing islet transplantation center in

India. The aspirations of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and Schulze

diabetes institute have been recognized by the Indo-US Science and

Technology Forum.

A host of global leaders will participate in the workshop to share their

experiences. Deliberations at the envisaged workshop would aim to

a) Identify key issues in islet transplantation

b) Recognize areas for collaborative research

c) Evolve a road map for establishing islet transplantation centers in india

Results of pancreatic islet transplantation in simians hold out hope for diabetics

Taking the lead:AIG chairman Dr. Nageshwar Reddy, Dr. Alvin C. Power, and Dr. Ashok K. Saluja at an Indo-US bilateral workshop in Hyderabad on Thursday.– Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

In what promises to be a boon for treatment of certain types of diabetes, encouraging results were obtained in pancreatic islet transplantation in simians by researchers from a city hospital, who are all set to try it out in humans on Friday.

Beta cells in pancreas produce insulin to control blood sugar levels. However, due to hereditary, environmental or other causes these cells stop producing insulin in some people forcing them to depend on artificial insulin.

With about 285 million people afflicted with diabetes worldwide, including 62.4 million in India, pancreatic islet transplantation was emerging as an important option in the treatment of type-1 and type-3C diabetes. Islet cell transplantation involving injection of the isolated islet cells into liver was being offered in a few specialised centres in the USA and Europe. However, patients would be required to take immuno-suppressants.

But doctors at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology have developed a method to transplant islet cells through an encapsulated device without using immuno-suppressants.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of a two-day Indo-US Bilateral Workshop on ‘Pancreatic Islets: From isolation to Transplantation’, chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG), K. Nageshwar Reddy said that scientists from AIG’s research wing in collaboration with National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) have isolated, cultured and transplanted pancreatic islets in simian models through an immuno-isolation device, doing away with the need to use immuno-suppressants.

A year after transplantation, it was surprisingly found that the isolated cells were not only active, but proliferated. Called ‘theracyte’, the device, a kind of an “artificial pancreas” containing lakhs of islet cells would be inserted under the skin.

The tiny porous gaps in the capsule would not allow the cells to move but allow transmission of insulin into the body and energy into the cells.

---

Patients have to take immuno-suppressants in current method of Islet cell transplantation

AIG has developed method to transplant islet cells through an encapsulated device

Top 10 Diabetes Food

1. Vegetables. Packed with powerhouse nutrients, vegetables are naturally low in calories, and they're full of fiber, so they're plenty filling. Loading your plate with vegetables will automatically mean you're eating fewer simple carbs (which raise blood sugar) and saturated fats (which increase insulin resistance). 
2. Fruit. Packed with almost all the same advantages as vegetables fruit is brimming with nutrients you need, it's low in fat, it's high in fiber, and it's lower in calories than most other foods. Best of all, fruit is loaded with antioxidants that help protect your nerves, your eyes, and your heart. 

Because fruit has more natural sugar and calories than most vegetables, you can't eat it with utter abandon. Aim to get three or four servings a day. (A serving is one piece of whole fruit, 1/2 cup cooked or canned fruit, or 1 cup raw fruit.) Choose whole produce over juice. Many of the nutrients and a lot of the fiber are found in the skin, flesh, and seeds of fruit, so they’re lost during juicing, and more of the calories and sugar remain.

3. Beans. Beans are just about your best source of dietary fiber, which not only makes you feel full longer, it actually slows digestion and keeps blood sugar from spiking after a meal. This effect is so powerful that it can even lower your overall blood sugar levels. 

Throw canned beans into every salad you make (rinse them first), and add them to pasta and chili. Black bean, split pea, or lentil soup is an excellent lunch, even if it comes from a can.


4. Cereal. The right breakfast cereal is your absolute best opportunity to pack more fiber into your day. There's a bonus: Studies show that people who start the morning with a high-fiber cereal actually eat less later on. So don't forgo breakfast. Better yet, choose a cereal with at least 5 grams fiber per serving. Good choices include Kashi GoLean Crunch! (10 grams), Kellogg's Raisin Bran (8 grams), General Mills Multi-Bran Chex (8 grams), Post Wheat 'N Bran Spoon Size (8 grams), Kellogg's All-Bran Original (10 grams) and General Mills Fiber One (14 grams). Top your cereal with fruit and you've checked off a fruit serving for the day.


5. Fish. Fast and easy to prepare, fish is a good source of protein, and a great substitute for higher-fat meats. Also, fatty fish is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, those remarkable good-for-you fats that help keep the arteries clear. People with diabetes often have high triglycerides and low levels of HDL, the 'good' cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids can improve both numbers. Aim to eat fish at least twice a week. Excellent sources of omega-3s are salmon, mackerel, and tuna.

6. Poultry breast. Versatile, extremely lean, and low in calories, chicken breast is practically a miracle food. Unlike steaks and hamburgers, it's low in saturated fat, which raises 'bad' cholesterol and may increase insulin resistance, making blood sugar control more difficult. A 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast has only 142 calories and 3 grams fat. Turkey breast is even leaner and lower in calories.7. Nuts. Nuts have several things going for them -- and for you. They're loaded with 'good' fats that fight heart disease. These fats have even been shown to help reduce insulin resistance and make blood sugar easier to control. Nuts are also one of the best food sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects cells and may help prevent nerve and eye damage. They are rich in fiber and magnesium, both of which may help regulate your blood sugar. Studies suggest that including them in your diet may even help you lose weight -- if you eat them in moderation. Don’t forget that they’re high in calories.




8. Olive oil. At the center of the famously heart-healthy Mediterranean diet is olive oil is considered a 'good' fat that helps slash the risk of heart attack -- and has been shown to help keep blood sugar steady by reducing insulin resistance. So toss the butter and cook with olive oil instead. At home and in restaurants, dip your bread in a bit of the stuff. Just watch how much you eat, because at 119 calories per tablespoon, even 'good' fat can pack on the pounds.

9. Yogurt. Yogurt is rich in protein and another weight loss powerhouse: calcium. Several studies have shown that people who eat plenty of calcium-rich foods have an easier time losing weight -- and are less likely to become insulin resistant. As a snack or for breakfast, choose nonfat plain yogurt, and add your own fresh fruit or a sprinkling of wheat germ or low-fat granola for a burst of extra nutrients.


10. Cinnamon. Believe it! Amazingly, just by sprinkling cinnamon on your foods, you could lower your blood sugar. Components in cinnamon help the body use insulin more efficiently, so more glucose can enter cells. A recent study found that in people with diabetes, just 1/2 teaspoon a day can significantly lower blood sugar levels. So go ahead and add powdered cinnamon to your whole wheat toast, oatmeal, baked apples, or even chicken dishes. Or soak a cinnamon stick in hot water to make a soothing and curative cup of cinnamon tea.

Diabetes Diet and Food Tips

Diabetes Diet and Food Tips

Eating to Prevent, Control and Reverse Diabetes

Diabetes is on the rise, yet most cases are preventable with healthy lifestyle changes. Some can even be reversed. Taking steps to prevent and control diabetes doesn’t mean living in deprivation. While eating right is important, you don’t have to give up sweets entirely or resign yourself to a lifetime of bland “health food”. With these tips, you can still enjoy your favorite foods and take pleasure from your meals without feeling hungry or deprived.

Taking control of diabetes

Have you recently been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes? Or has your doctor warned you that you’re at risk? It can be scary to hear that your health’s on the line, especially if you feel helpless to do anything about it.

Here’s a scenario that may sound familiar: your doctor’s telling you how important it is to lose weight and transform your eating habits, but you’re already discouraged. After all, you’ve tried dieting in the past without success. And counting calories, measuring portion sizes, and following complicated food charts sounds like way too much work.

Small changes equal big results

Whether you’re trying to prevent or control diabetes, there is some good news. You can make a big difference with healthy lifestyle changes. The most important thing you can do for your health is to lose weight—and you don’t have to lose all your extra pounds to reap the benefits. Experts say that losing just 5% to 10% of your total weight can help you lower your blood sugar considerably, as well as lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It’s not too late to make a positive change, even if you’ve already developed diabetes. The bottom line is that you have more control over your health than you think.

Diabetes and diet tip 1: Choose high-fiber, slow-release carbs

Carbohydrates have a big impact on your blood sugar levels—more so than fats and proteins—but you don’t have to avoid them. You just need to be smart about what types of carbs you eat.

In general, it’s best to limit highly refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and rice, as well as soda, candy, and snack foods. Focus instead on high-fiber complex carbohydrates—also known as slow-release carbs. Slow-release carbs help keep blood sugar levels even because they are digested more slowly, thus preventing your body from producing too much insulin. They also provide lasting energy and help you stay full longer.

Instead of…	Try these high-fiber options…
White rice	Brown rice or wild rice
White potatoes (including fries and mashed potatoes)	Sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash, cauliflower mash
Regular pasta	Whole-wheat pasta
White bread	Whole-wheat or whole-grain bread
Sugary breakfast cereal	High-fiber breakfast cereal (Raisin Bran, etc.)
Instant oatmeal	Steel-cut oats or rolled oats
Croissant or pastry	Bran muffin

• Fire foods have a high GI, and are low in fiber and protein. They include “white foods” (white rice, white pasta, white bread, potatoes, most baked goods), sweets, chips, and many processed foods. They should be limited in your diet.
• Water foods are free foods—meaning you can eat as many as you like. They include all vegetables and most types of fruit (fruit juice, dried fruit, and canned fruit packed in syrup spike blood sugar quickly and are not considered water foods).
• Coal foods have a low GI and are high in fiber and protein. They include nuts and seeds, lean meats, seafood, whole grains, and beans. They also include “white food” replacements such as brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and whole-wheat pasta.

• Diabetes and diet tip 2: Be smart about sweets

  Eating for diabetes doesn’t mean eliminating sugar. If you have diabetes, you can still enjoy a small serving of your favorite dessert now and then. The key is moderation.
  But maybe you have a sweet tooth and the thought of cutting back on sweets sounds almost as bad as cutting them out altogether. The good news is that cravings do go away and preferences change. As your eating habits become healthier, foods that you used to love may seem too rich or too sweet, and you may find yourself craving healthier options.

  How to include sweets in a diabetes-friendly diet

  • Hold the bread (or rice or pasta) if you want dessert. Eating sweets at a meal adds extra carbohydrates. Because of this it is best to cut back on the other carb-containing foods at the same meal.
  • Add some healthy fat to your dessert. It may seem counterintuitive to pass over the low-fat or fat-free desserts in favor of their higher-fat counterparts. But fat slows down the digestive process, meaning blood sugar levels don’t spike as quickly. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should reach for the donuts. Think healthy fats, such as peanut butter, ricotta cheese, yogurt, or some nuts.
  • Eat sweets with a meal, rather than as a stand-alone snack. When eaten on their own, sweets and desserts cause your blood sugar to spike. But if you eat them along with other healthy foods as part of your meal, your blood sugar won’t rise as rapidly.
  • When you eat dessert, truly savor each bite. How many times have you mindlessly eaten your way through a bag of cookies or a huge piece of cake. Can you really say that you enjoyed each bite? Make your indulgence count by eating slowly and paying attention to the flavors and textures. You’ll enjoy it more, plus you’re less likely to overeat.

  Tricks for cutting down on sugar

  • Reduce how much soft drinks, soda and juice you drink. A recint study found that for each 12 oz. serving of a sugar sweetened beverage you drink a day, your risk for diabetes increases by about 15 percent. If you miss your carbonation kick, try sparkling water with a twist of lemon or lime or a splash of fruit juice. Reduce the amount of creamers and sweeteners you add to tea and coffee drinks.
  • Reduce the amount of sugar in recipes by ¼ to ⅓. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, for example, use ⅔ or ¾ cup instead. You can also boost sweetness with cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract.
  • Find healthy ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead of ice cream, blend up frozen bananas for a creamy, frozen treat. Or enjoy a small chunk of dark chocolate, rather than your usual milk chocolate bar.
  • Start with half of the dessert you normally eat, and replace the other half with fruit.

  Proceed with caution when it comes to alcohol

  It’s easy to underestimate the amount of calories and carbs in alcoholic drinks, including beer and wine. And cocktails mixed with soda and juice can be loaded with sugar. If you’re going to drink, do so in moderation (no more than 1 drink per day for women; 2 for men), choose calorie-free drink mixers, and drink only with food. If you’re diabetic, always monitor your blood glucose, as alcohol can interfere with diabetes medication and insulin.

  Diabetes and your diet tip 3: Choose fats wisely

  Fats can be either helpful or harmful in your diet. People with diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease, so it is even more important to be smart about fats. Some fats are unhealthy and others have enormous health benefits. But all fats are high in calories, so you should always watch your portion sizes.
  • Unhealthy fats – The two most damaging fats are saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are found mainly in animal products such as red meat, whole milk dairy products, and eggs. Trans fats, also called partially hydrogenated oils, are created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid and less likely to spoil—which is very good for food manufacturers, and very bad for you.
  • Healthy fats – The best fats are unsaturated fats, which come from plant and fish sources and are liquid at room temperature. Primary sources include olive oil, canola oil, nuts, and avocados. Also focus on omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation and support brain and heart health. Good sources include salmon, tuna, and flaxseeds.

  Ways to reduce unhealthy fats and add healthy fats:

  • Cook with olive oil instead of butter or vegetable oil.
  • Trim any visible fat off of meat before cooking and remove the skin before cooking chicken and turkey.
  • Instead of chips or crackers, try snacking on nuts or seeds. Add them to your morning cereal or have a little handful for a filling snack. Nut butters are also very satisfying and full of healthy fats.
  • Instead of frying, choose to grill, broil, bake, or stir-fry.
  • Serve fish 2 or 3 times week instead of red meat.
  • Add avocado to your sandwiches instead of cheese. This will keep the creamy texture, but improve the health factor.
  • When baking, use canola oil or applesauce instead of shortening or butter.
  • Rather than using heavy cream, make your soups creamy by adding low-fat milk thickened with flour, pureed potatoes, or reduced-fat sour cream.

  Diabetes and diet tip 4: Eat regularly and keep a food diary

  If you’re overweight, you may be encouraged to note that you only have to lose 7% of your body weight to cut your risk of diabetes in half. And you don’t have to obsessively count calories or starve yourself to do it.
  When it comes to successful weight loss, research shows that the two most helpful strategies involve following a regular eating schedule and recording what you eat.

  Eat at regularly set times

  Your body is better able to regulate blood sugar levels—and your weight—when you maintain a regular meal schedule. Aim for moderate and consistent portion sizes for each meal or snack.
  • Don’t skip breakfast. Start your day off with a good breakfast. Eating breakfast every day will help you have energy as well as steady blood sugar levels.
  • Eat regular small meals—up to 6 per day. People tend to eat larger portions when they are overly hungry, so eating regularly will help you keep your portions in check.
  • Keep calorie intake the same. Regulating the amount of calories you eat on a day-to-day basis has an impact on the regularity of your blood sugar levels. Try to eat roughly the same amount of calories every day, rather than overeating one day or at one meal, and then skimping on the next.

  Keep a food diary

  Research shows that people who keep a food diary are more likely to lose weight and keep it off. In fact, a recent study found that people who kept a food diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t.
  Why does writing down what you eat and drink help you drop pounds? For one, it helps you identify problem areas—such as your afternoon snack or your morning latte—where you’re getting a lot more calories than you realized. It also increases your awareness of what, why, and how much you’re eating, which helps you cut back on mindless snacking and emotional eating.