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Night owls have a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, says study. How can night-shifters control blood sugar? | Health and Wellness News

Diabetes News


If you are at a desk job, move around or take a small walk every two hours during the shift. Don’t go near the vending machine and slot an exercise schedule in your functional cycle, says Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences

diabetes night owlsNight owls may need to pay more attention to their lifestyle because their chronotype may increase the risk for Type-2 diabetes (Source: Getty Images)

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Are you a night owl? Then you are likely to have a higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. A recently published study from the US shows that people with “evening chronotype” or those who prefer to be active in the evening, sleep and wake up late are 19 per cent more likely to develop diabetes, even after the researchers accounted for lifestyle factors. This means that unhealthy habits may explain away a large proportion of the risk but not all of it.

“Night owls may need to pay more attention to their lifestyle because their chronotype may increase the risk for Type-2 diabetes,” say the study’s corresponding author and associate epidemiologist from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Tianyi Huang. Chronotype refers to a person’s preferred timing of sleeping and waking up, which is partly determined by genetics, and cannot be changed easily. The study, based on data from over 63,000 women nurses, found that those who prefer to stay up and work at night are more likely to consume alcohol in higher quantities, have low-quality diet, smoke and have less physical activity.

Why does the evening chronotype increase the risk of diabetes?

First, the evening chronotype is likely to develop more unhealthy lifestyle habits. “Those who go to bed late at night are much more likely to snack after dinner. When they wake up, they are unlikely to have time for exercise before heading out for work or through afternoons and evenings when they are at work,” says Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences. Those with evening chronotype are also much more likely to have an irregular sleep pattern that leads to increased glucose intolerance.

The chronotype can also impact hormones. As Dr Misra explains, “The secretion of melatonin depends on the light. Exposure to a lot of light during the night is likely to reduce melatonin secretion, which is known to regulate insulin secretion. The sleep-wake cycle also affects the cortisol levels in the body, which in turn leads to insulin resistance and obesity.”

How can I protect myself?

Dr Misra says even those with evening chronotype can reduce their risk of diabetes by following a good routine and remaining disciplined. “If a person makes time for a workout in the evening, if they do not snack at night and follow a proper routine within their functional cycle, they can have a reduced risk of diabetes.” Those with evening chronotype may also try to retrain themselves by waking up and going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier each day, experts say.

The US researchers found the increased risk associated with evening chronotype in nurses who worked day shifts, not those who worked overnight shifts. “When chronotype was not matched with work hours, we saw an increase in Type 2 diabetes risk. That was another very interesting finding, suggesting that more personalised work scheduling could be beneficial,” say researchers.

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What can I do if I work on a night shift?

If you cannot avoid a night shift, Dr Misra suggests some practical ways you can remain healthy. If you are at a desk job, you should move around or take a small walk every two hours during the shift. He advises that people consume healthy snacks at night and avoid going to vending machines. People must avoid colas that may be more readily available at night than healthier beverages. Most importantly, those working night shifts should also make time for regular exercise in their routine.

“The good thing about the current study is that it has a big sample size. However, the study is based on a single questionnaire. Multiple questionnaires over a period of time would have given more details on whether the participants stuck to a particular lifestyle,” says Dr Misra.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

First published on: 14-09-2023 at 12:42 IST



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Continuous Glucose Monitoring vs. Capillary Blood Glucose in Hospitalized Type 2 Diabetes Patients

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Oral Manifestations of Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Comparison of Blood and Salivary Glucose Levels

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Jeera or cumin helps reduce blood sugar. So have it roasted, whole or powdered

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Cumin seeds, also known as jeera, are widely used to temper food and enhance its flavour in a variety of preparations. These dried seeds are of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family. They have numerous health benefits and are commonly used in Asian households to fight off stomach woes, soothe the digestive tract, relieve nausea, bloating and constipation. In fact, they are routinely used for digestive efficiency and health but cumin seeds are also used as an adjuvant therapy along with oral medication in people with Type 2 diabetes.

Some studies have found that cumin seeds can help regulate fasting blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. This may be due to the presence of certain compounds in cumin seeds, such as cumin aldehyde, which have been shown to have anti-diabetic effects. The blood glucose lowering potential of cumin is also attributed to the presence of thymoquinone, an active chemical component that protects the B-cells of the pancreas from oxidative stress. It helps stimulate the insulin production in the body, which can help to keep the blood sugar levels in check.

Consuming cumin either as whole seeds or in the form of ground powder may help in managing blood sugars in diabetics. It not only lowers blood glucose levels but also helps maintain a healthy body weight. It may help lower levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) and triglyceride levels. Cumin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be beneficial for reducing the risk of complications associated with diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease. These are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect against cell damage and may be particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, who are at increased risk of oxidative stress.

While there may be some potential benefits of cumin seeds for people with diabetes, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between cumin seeds and diabetes. However, a string of studies over decades has established a definite correlation. Way back in 1998, an eight week dietary regimen containing cumin powder in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was found to be remarkably beneficial, as indicated by reduction in hyperglycemia. This was also accompanied by improvement in body weights of diabetic animals. Dietary cumin countered other metabolic alterations as revealed by lowered blood urea level and reduced excretions of urea and creatinine by diabetic animals.

Seeds of Nigella sativa (black cumin/kalonji) were found to have anti-diabetic properties in a study conducted in 2011. Thymoquinone (TQ), a volatile oil, is one of its active constituents but antidiabetic activity has also been shown by its aqueous extract and defatted extract. The study said, “N. sativa may be beneficial in diabetic individuals and those with glucose intolerance as it reduces appetite, glucose absorption in intestine, hepatic gluconeogenesis, blood glucose level, cholesterol, triglycerides, body weight and simulates glucose induced secretion of insulin from beta-cells in pancreas; improves glucose tolerance….yet it has not shown significant adverse effects and has very low toxicity. In streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats it causes gradual partial regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells, increases the lowered serum insulin concentrations and decreases the elevated serum glucose.”

According to a study to evaluate the effect of 50 and 100 mg doses of green cumin essential oil on glycaemic and inflammatory indices in patients with Type 2 diabetes, it was established how administering cuminum cyminum supplement (or cumin) in such patients could decrease the serum levels of insulin, fasting blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin. In addition, it was found to control the complications of Type 2 diabetes in these patients.

In another study, which was published in ‘Nutrition and Metabolism,’ cumin not only lowered blood glucose levels but helped people maintain a healthy body weight, which is one of the potential causes of diabetes in the first place.

In a 2018 study, crude ethanol extract of cumin seeds was found to be very helpful in the improvement of plasma lipid profile as one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and heart failure in diabetic patients.

That being said, there are several ways to incorporate cumin seeds into your diet. Here are a few ideas:

1. Sprinkle cumin seeds on roasted vegetables or grilled meats for added flavour and nutrition.
2. Use cumin seeds in home-made spice blends for soups, stews, and other dishes.
3. Brew cumin seed tea by boiling a teaspoon of cumin seeds in a cup of water for 5-10 minutes.
4. Mix ground cumin seeds into salad dressings, dips, or sauces.
5. Add cumin seeds to lentil or bean dishes to enhance the flavour and nutrition.
6. You can add roasted jeera seeds to your food or grind it into a powder and sprinkle it over salads, yogurt, buttermilk and cut fruits.
7. One can simply chew on 1 tsp of roasted jeera after meals every day.

A word of caution, consult your diabetologist and dietitian about the amount of supplement to be taken should you already be on medication to control blood sugar.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

First published on: 09-05-2023 at 10:00 IST



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Study suggests COVID-19 can cause diabetes

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Study: New-Onset Diabetes and COVID-19: Evidence from a Global Clinical Registry. Image Credit: ADragan / Shutterstock


The authors of a new study under review at Nature Portfolio and currently posted to the Research Square preprint* server showed the clinical possibility that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) heightens the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM), supporting diabetes screening in those infected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 

Study: New-Onset Diabetes and COVID-19: Evidence from a Global Clinical Registry. Image Credit: ADragan / ShutterstockStudy: New-Onset Diabetes and COVID-19: Evidence from a Global Clinical Registry. Image Credit: ADragan / Shutterstock

Background

An increasing body of evidence suggests that COVID-19 is associated with new diabetes diagnoses. However, it is unclear whether COVID-19 detects pre-existing diabetes or induces new-onset diabetes.

Although previous research reported high blood-sugar levels and metabolic consequences resulting from pre-existing diabetes following COVID-19 hospitalization, studies correlating the disease to new-onset DM are scarce.

COVID-19 has been shown to exacerbate pre-existing diabetes. This likely occurs because COVID-19 is associated with low-grade inflammation, which may initiate or worsen insulin resistance. In addition, numerous studies have also demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can infest and multiply within insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells, thus impairing insulin synthesis and secretion. 

However, whether SARS-CoV-2 can cause clinically meaningful changes in glucose metabolism remains unclear. Nevertheless, it may be possible to find an answer by characterizing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19-related diabetes and by determining the period between the onset of hyperglycemia and that of the infection.

It is imperative to establish a causal relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes since both diseases are prevalent throughout the world. Furthermore, establishing a causal relationship will have significant implications for diagnosis, management, public health, and scientific research. Despite this, it remains unclear whether the association between COVID-19 and diabetes results from indirect health consequences of the former, such as – a higher rate of detection of pre-existing diseases, or whether the causative virus (SARS-CoV-2) directly precipitates hyperglycemia. 

Owing to the higher rate of pre-existing disease detection in the COVID era, newly diagnosed diabetes may be explained both during and after an episode of infectious exposure.

The study

This study investigated the possibility that COVID-19 may trigger new-onset diabetes and its associated symptoms by examining average blood-glucose levels at the time of diabetes presentation against a global clinical registry.

A global COVID-19-related diabetes (CoviDIAB) registry was established to determine whether COVID-19 can acutely induce diabetes and its clinical symptoms. The CoviDIAB registry collects information regarding “newly diagnosed diabetes” and “severe metabolic complications associated with pre-existing diabetes” resulting from COVID-19. 

Individuals with a fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or above or non-fasting blood glucose of 200 mg/dL or above, with no prior diabetes history, and those who had never been on glucose-lowering medications, and with their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels below the diabetic range (< 6.5%) at presentation were categorized as new-onset diabetes. Here, the researchers examined cases of newly diagnosed diabetes that occurred within four weeks of COVID-19 confirmation. In addition, the HbA1c data were evaluated at the time of diabetes detection to rule out pre-existing hyperglycemia and to confirm the association with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The findings

Data on 537 eligible newly diagnosed diabetes cases was entered from 61 hospitals in 25 countries between 2020-2022. COVID-19 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes at presentation had HbA1c levels above the diagnostic range, suggesting pre-existing hyperglycemia.

In cases with new-onset hyperglycemia after the SARS-CoV-2 infection, individuals displayed glycemic levels above the diagnostic thresholds, although their HbA1c levels remained within the non-diabetic range. The results showed that 22% of newly diagnosed patients with documented HbA1c levels had recently acquired diabetes.

The most common diabetes subtype among adults was type 2 DM (59%), and the “not yet known” subtype (41%). Two newly diagnosed cases of type 1 DM were recorded among children. After COVID-19 resolution, hyperglycemia persisted in 39 of 89 patients (45%) with newly diagnosed diabetes.

For 28 of these individuals, follow-up data beyond three months was collected, demonstrating that five of them were in remission from diabetes, while 23 (82%) remained diabetic. 

The findings suggested that COVID-19 causes clinically significant changes in glucose metabolism. Although this study does not prove that SARS-CoV-2 causes diabetes, it strongly suggests that the virus may impose a diabetogenic aftermath. 

Further, type 2 DM was the predominant subtype among COVID-19 participants with newly diagnosed diabetes. Thus, type 2 DM likely accounts for most newly diagnosed diabetes cases associated with the post-acute phase of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This study confirms this phenomenon across diverse geographical locations and ethnicities by incorporating clinical observations from 25 countries. 

Numerous areas for improvement have been identified in this study, including inherent heterogeneity in clinical practice and the judgment of contributing physicians. 

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that COVID-19 likely has a diabetogenic effect. Thus, individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection must be screened for diabetes. Further research is necessary to confirm the mechanisms through which the virus interferes with glucose metabolism.

*Important notice

Research Square publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.



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Diabetes Diet: How To Make Oats Khichdi To Manage Blood Sugar Levels

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Khichdi is the ultimate comfort food for all Indians. Whether we are exhausted after a long day at work, have an upset stomach, or simply crave something light and wholesome, khichdi has been a saviour for us on many such days. This one-pot dish is not only super easy to make but it is brimming with various health benefits too. The combination of rice, lentils and ghee provides you with carbohydrates and protein that help you keep full for a longer period of time. Not only this but khichdi is also considered to be suitable for people who are suffering from diabetes as it has a low glycaemic index. Considering this, here we bring you a delicious oats khichdi recipe that is ideal for a wholesome lunch meal. 

Also read: Diabetes Diet Tips: 5 Herbs And Spices That May Help Manage Blood Sugar

Oats, the main ingredient in this recipe, has high water and fibre content and may help in managing blood sugar levels. This oats khichdi makes for a nutritious meal and will keep you full for a longer period of time. To make this khichdi, all you need to do is cook oats, moong dal, tomatoes and onions in a pressure cooker along with flavourful masalas. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with yogurt. Take a look at the recipe below:

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Oats Khichdi Recipe: How To Make Oats Khichdi

To begin with the recipe, first, heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds and allow them to crackle. Add chopped onion, and cook till translucent. Now, add ginger and green chillies, and cook for a few more seconds. Add turmeric powder and red chilli powder, followed by tomatoes. Let them cook until tender.

Next, add all the vegetables and rinsed moong dal along with oats. Saut&#233; for a few seconds. Add water and adjust the salt. Pressure cook for around 8-10 minutes. Once the pressure settles down, open the lid, serve hot and enjoy! 

For the complete recipe of oats khichdi, click here.

For more khichdi recipes, click here.

Try this simple recipe to manage blood sugar levels at home and share your experience in the comments section below.

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