Risk Factors
Home Up Med Treatment Risk Factors Neuropathy

 

Risk Factors and Some Causes of Diabetes

My recommendations are: up to one alcohol drink per day for those 45 and older, fish oil 2 capsules per day or at least one meal of oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, or two of tuna) per week, calcium 1000 mg/day for women, avoid beef, pork, and processed meats, take magnesium 250 mg twice a day, vitamin D 1000-2000 IU/day, eat whole grain breads and pastas and avoid white bread and regular pasta, and avoid trans fats and French fries.  All of these have many other health benefits and all are part of my Recommendations for Healthy Living.

Alcohol Intake, But Not Flavovoids Reduce DM Risk: In a study of 35,816 postmenopausal women free of diabetes at the start of the 17-year study, flavonoid-rich foods and beverages consumption (apples, pears, berries, broccoli, bran, citrus, tea, and red wine) was not associated with diabetes risk after multivariable adjustment. Red wine was inversely associated with diabetes. Women who reported drinking red wine >or=1 time/wk had a 16% reduced risk of diabetes than those drinking wine <1 time/wk [HR: 0.84], with parallel findings for white wine, beer, and liquor. Dietary flavonoids and flavonoid-rich foods are not associated with risk of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women. Nettleton JA, et al. University of Minnesota. J Nutr 2006 Dec;136(12):3039-45.

Alcohol Intake at Moderate Level Lowers Risk: Drinking 3-10 drinks per week without binge drinking (greater than 3 drinks on one day) was associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Sofia Carlsson, Karolinska Univ, Stockholm, studied 14,389 dizygotic twins and 6,694 monozygotic twins. Odds ratio 0.5 for developing diabetes in moderate drinkers. Diabetes Care 2003;26:2785-2790. Ed: My rule is never more than one drink a day. This can maximize any health benefits while minimizing the risk of alcohol abuse.  Alcohol is much more addictive than commonly believed. Alcohol abuse (often in non-alcoholics since 85% of drinkers are not alcoholics at any given point in time) causes roughly 50% of all of the murders, suicides, rapes, and family violence in America. I am opposed to any social drinking, since even light social drinking has been repeatedly shown to increase alcohol abuse in children who grew up in such households.  If taking alcohol medicinally, as I recommend, take your medicine in private.

Alcohol: Light-Moderate Drinking Linked to Reduced Diabetes and Obesity in Older Adults: In a cross-sectional study of 8,125 adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, tobacco use, physical activity, and diet, those who consumed 1-19 and greater than 19 drinks of alcohol per month had 35% and 66% lower risk of having metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity and hypertension) (ORs 0.65 and 0.34, respectively, P < 0.05 for all), compared with current nondrinkers. These findings were particularly noteworthy for beer and wine drinkers. The association of greater than 19 alcoholic drinks per month with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was consistent across ethnicities but was most striking in white men and women (ORs 0.35 and 0.22, respectively; P < 0.05). Alcohol consumption was significantly and inversely associated with the prevalence of the following three components of the metabolic syndrome: low serum HDL cholesterol, elevated serum triglycerides, high waist circumference, as well as hyperinsulinemia (P < 0.05 for all). Freiberg, et al. Alcohol consumption and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the U.S.: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diabetes Care 12/04.

Calcium and Vitamin D: In the Nurses' Health Study following 83,779 women for 20 years, there were 4,843 new cases of type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, there was no association between total vitamin D intake and type 2 diabetes. However, there was 13% less diabetes (P = 0.04) comparing the highest with the lowest category of vitamin D intake from supplements. There was a 21% reduced risk of diabetes (P <0.001) comparing the highest with the lowest category of calcium intake from all sources and 18% reduced (P <0.001) comparing the highest with the lowest category of calcium intake from supplements. A combined daily intake of over 1,200 mg calcium and over 800 IU vitamin D was associated with a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with an intake of <600 mg and 400 IU calcium and vitamin D. Vitamin D and calcium intake in relation to type 2 diabetes in women. Pittas AG, et al. Tufts-New England Medical Center. . Diabetes Care 2006 Mar;29(3):650-6. Ed: Magnesium 500 mg/day is also very good. I recommend 2000 IU of vitamin D.

Calcium Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk: Data from 10,066 women over age 44 in the Women's Health Study who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes and who never used postmenopausal hormones compared different dietary intake levels of calcium and vitamin D. In age- and calorie-adjusted analyses, higher intakes of total, dietary, and supplemental calcium were significantly and inversely associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. After further adjusting for smoking status, exercise, alcohol intake, multivitamin use, and parental history of myocardial infarction before age 60 years, the ORs of having the metabolic syndrome for increasing quintiles of total calcium intake were 1.00 (reference), 0.82, 0.84, 0.70, and 0.64 (P<0.0001). This association was not appreciably altered by additional adjustment for other dietary factors or total vitamin D intake. Neither total (P = 0.13) nor supplemental (P = 0.45) vitamin D was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. Strong relations between intakes of dairy products and metabolic syndrome were observed. After adjustment for lifestyle and dietary factors, the multivariable ORs comparing highest with lowest intake categories were 0.66 (P <0.0001) for total dairy products and 0.85 (P = 0.05) for total milk intake. Dietary Calcium, Vitamin D, and the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged and Older U.S. Women. Liu S, et al. Harvard. . Diabetes Care 2005 Dec;28(12):2926-2932. Ed: This much smaller study didn't detect the benefit of vitamin D.

Coffee Lowered Risk of Diabetes: In a study of 17,111 Dutch aged 30-60 years with 8 years of follow-up, those who drank 7 cups of coffee a day had 50% less diabetes after adjusting for confounding factors. The reduction for 3-4 cups per day was 21%. The average Dutch consumption is 5.2 cups a day. Rob M van Dam, Edith J Feskens. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lancet 2002;360:1477-8

Coffee Associated with Lower Risk of Diabetes: In two very large prospective long-term 12-18 year follow-up studies of 42,000 men and 84,000 women in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study and Nurses' Health Study, there were 5418 new cases of type 2 diabetes. In analyses adjusted for age, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and other dietary and lifestyle factors, a statistically significant inverse relationship emerged between drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages and the incidence of diabetes in both men and women. The multivariate relative risks for diabetes was 0.96, 0.71, and 0.59 for drinking 1 to 3, 4 to 5, or 6 or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day. No such association was found for decaffeinated coffee consumption. Coffee has many substances and compounds besides caffeine such as magnesium and antioxidants that may be beneficial for glucose metabolism and diabetes risk. Frank B. Hu, Harvard, Ann Intern Med 1/6/2004;140:1-8.

Coffee Protects Against Diabetes: US, Dutch, and now Finnish research have all found that higher coffee intake in associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes. 6974 men and 7655 women free of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke at baseline with a follow-up period of 12 years found 381 subjects were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Compared with their peers who drank 0 to 2 cups of coffee per day, men and women who drank at least 10 cups daily (the highest quintile of intake) were 55% and 79% less likely, respectively, to develop diabetes. The effect was true even after controlling for other factors. Tuomilehto. JAMA 3/10/2004;291:1213-1219. 

Cow’s Milk a Cause: Many animal and retrospective human studies link cows’ milk consumed by babies with DM. A milk protein resembles a protein on the surface of the human islet cells. Cows’ milk also contains bovine insulin. Finnish researchers have a prospective study from birth showing that babies in DM-prone families who receive infant formula based on cows’ milk are more likely to develop immune reactions assoc with juvenile-onset DM (40% with autoantibodies vs. 4%). Formulas where the cows’ milk proteins have been chopped up into peptide fragments did not increase DM. In Puerto Rico, where 95% of children are raised on infant formula, juvenile onset DM is 10 times as common as in Cuba where breast feeding in nearly universal. Sci News 155:405, 6/26/99. Ed: Breast feed infants for at least the first six months, preferably longer. Avoid cow's milk in at least the first year of life.

Cow's Milk: Diabetes in Children and Heart Disease: Milk Protein Unhealthy: Researchers compared the diets of 20 economically developed countries over 15 years. For ischemic heart disease, cow milk protein consumption had a strong positive correlations with death rates in the country five years later (r = 0.76, p <0.001) and were more important that milk fat consumption. Across the 20 countries, a 1% change in cow milk protein consumption was associated with a 0.57% change in deaths from ischemic heart disease, especially for men. Diabetes in children (DM-1) was strongly correlated with the consumption of cow milk protein in milk and cream (r = 0.92, p <0.00001).  A 1% change in consumption was associated with a 1.3% change in DM-1 in the same direction. Ischaemic heart disease, Type 1 diabetes, and cow milk A1 beta-casein. Laugesen M, Elliott R. Auckland, New Zealand. N Z Med J. 2003 Jan 24;116(1168):U295

Depressed Males Prone to Diabetes: In a study of 1,334 depressed and 66, 670 non-depressed adults, among males below age 50, but in not other groups, there was a 78% increase in the rate of development of DM compared with non-depressed patients (HR 1.78). Is depression related to subsequent diabetes mellitus? van den Akker M, Schuurman Aet al. Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2004 Sep;110(3):178-83. 

Depression Increases Diabetes Risk: In a 3-year follow-up study of 2,662 women, researchers found that depression was linked to higher insulin-resistance values and the onset of diabetes. This association resulted largely from abdominal obesity. Once the calculations were adjusted for "central adiposity," depression no longer predicted insulin resistance and diabetes -- except among African-American women. Diabetes was twice as high in African-American women at follow-up compared to European-American women. Susan A. Everson-Rose, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Diabetes Care, December 2004

Depression Increased Diabetes Risk 63%: In a study of 11,615 adults followed for 6 years, the quarter with the most depressed symptoms were 63% more likely to develop diabetes type 2 than the quarter with the fewest symptoms. Sherita Hill Golden, Johns Hopkins. Diabetes Care 2/2004;27:429-435. Ed: Since magnesium protects against diabetes, the magnesium supplement in my standard recommendations (250mg magnesium once or twice a day) would likely prevent or at least reduce this risk.

Depression Meds, Not Depression Increased Diabetes Risk 250%: Give Metformin: In the 3.2-year Diabetes Prevention Program cohort of 3187 adults with impaired glucose tolerance, elevated fasting glucose, and a body-mass index (BMI) of >24 kg/m2, the placebo arm received standard lifestyle recommendations plus a placebo pill twice daily. The metformin subjects incorporated standard lifestyle recommendations and 850 mg of twice-daily metformin. Subjects in the intensive-lifestyle arm were supported in achieving and maintaining a weight reduction of at least 7% of initial body weight through a calorie-controlled, low-fat diet and had to engage in physical activity of moderate intensity for at least 150 minutes per week. Diabetes status, depression symptoms, physical-activity levels, and insulin secretion and resistance were all assessed at baseline and annually during the study. Antidepressant medication use, primarily SSRIs, was assessed at baseline and then quarterly. At baseline, 10.3% of study participants had elevated BDI scores >11, and baseline antidepressant use was present in 5.3%. While baseline depression did not predict the development of diabetes, antidepressant use did. Having elevated depressive symptoms at any time during the study did not predict the development of diabetes. Antidepressant users in the lifestyle group more than three and a half times the risk of developing diabetes. There was no increased risk of developing diabetes among subjects in the metformin arm who were taking antidepressants. Richard Rubin, et al. Johns Hopkins. American Diabetic Assoc meeting 6/05. Ed: Metformin results in an average weight loss of 15 pounds for those attempting to lose weight and helps diabetics live longer. The same may be true of pre-diabetic anti-depressant patients. http://www.theheart.org/article/712977.do 

ENPP1 Gene Abnormalities Linked to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Faulty versions of the gene ENPP1 disrupt the way the body stores energy and handles sugar by blocking the hormone insulin. Children with faulty versions were obese at as young as five years old. Researchers compared the genes of 1,225 children who were grossly obese or overweight at ages 5-11 with 1,205 normal weight children they found an obvious pattern - many of the obese children possessed culprit versions of ENPP1. When they looked at the adults in the families, they found a similar link between the ENPP1 variants and obesity, as well as between the gene variants and early warning signs of diabetes. ENPP1 was also linked to full-blown type 2 diabetes in the adults. However, genetic testing is of no value at the present time.  Exercising, eliminating sugar and animal fats (beef, pork, and the skin of chickens) from the diet were mentioned as important strategies. Philippe Froguel et al. Institut Pasteur  Nature Genetics 7/17/05. Ed: Many other genetic abnormalities have been linked to diabetes. However, a truly healthy diet, exercise, certain vitamins and minerals, and medication when necessary are still the only means of prevention and treatment. 

Exercise and Diet Reduce DM by 58%: 3,234 overweight with unstable blood sugars had one-third get regular diet and exercise counseling and cooking and gym classes. One-third took metformin. Lifestyle-change group lost 15# over 3 years. Each year 11% control DM, 7.8% metformin, and 4.8% lifestyle. NIH. Robert Ratner, MedStar Research Institute, DC. Sci News 9/8/01

Fatty Muscle Enzyme SCD-1 Plays Role in Obesity: Fat metabolism, fat storage, hunger, and obesity have a very complex system with many players. In a study comparing the severely obese and the lean, researchers found the fat-building enzyme stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) was three times more abundant in the muscle from the obese people.  SCD-1 slows down fat burning and promotes storage of fat droplets in the muscles.  When the researchers used genetic techniques to alter the cells of the lean individuals so they also had higher levels of the enzyme the cells began to store more fat. People may either inherit the SCD-1 genetic predisposition to obesity or develop it at some point in their life, possibly triggered by a poor diet. Exercise helps fight this type of obesity because regular physical activity encourages changes in the body to burn rather than lay down fat. Deborah Muoio et al. Cell Metabolism 10/12/05.

Fish Consumption Dramatically Cuts Diabetes Death Rate; 5+ per Week Best: 5,103 nurses with diabetes followed an average of 9 years. There were 141 CHD deaths, 221 nonfatal myocardial infarctions and 468 deaths from all causes. Compared with women who seldom consumed fish, the relative risks (RRs) of CHD adjusted for established coronary risk factors were 0.70 for fish consumption 1 to 3 times per month, 0.60 for once per week, 0.64 for 2 to 4 times per week, and 0.36 for 5 or more times per week (P=0.002). Higher consumption of fish was also associated with a significantly lower total mortality (multivariate RR=0.48). Higher consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a trend toward lower incidence of CHD (RR=0.69) and total mortality (RR=0.63). Fish and long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease and total mortality in diabetic women. Hu FB, Cho E, Rexrode KM, Albert CM, Manson JE. Circulation. 2003 Apr 15;107(14):1852-7. Harvard

Fish, Low Glycemic Foods and Exercise Lowered Risk Profile: In a 16-week study of 77 first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients, those encouraged to consume a diet including increased intake of fatty fish and low glycemic index foods and reduced total cholesterol (-0.31 mmol/l, P = 0.024), LDL cholesterol (-0.22 mmol/l, P = 0.021) and apolipoprotein B (-9.5 mg/dl, P = 0.009) levels. The similar diet plus exercise group (DE) decreased body weight (-2.1%, P = 0.030) and waist circumference (-3.0 cm, P < 0.001) versus controls. A 13% reduction in fasting insulin was observed in the DE-group. A subgroup, adherent to diet and who increased exercise, significantly improved insulin sensitivity index and lipid profile. Lifestyle modification improves risk factors in type 2 diabetes relatives. Brekke HK, et al. Goteborg University, Sweden. . 

Prudent Diet (Fish, Fruit, Vegetables, Low Mammal Meat, Low White Bread, Low Sugar) Much Lower Insulin Resistance: In a cross sectional study involving a group of 1018 adults, sampled from 17 general practice lists in the South of Ireland, with a response rate of 69%, three dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis (traditional Irish diet, a prudent diet and an alcohol and convenience foods diet). Participants in clusters 1 (traditional Irish diet) and 3 (high alcohol and convenience foods) had a lower intake of more 'healthy' food groups (such as fruit, vegetables, low fat dairy products, poultry, fish and whole grain products) and higher intake of foods richer in total and SFA content (such as high fat dairy products, butter, meat and meat products). Cluster 2 (prudent dietary pattern) was characterized by a higher intake of food groups that are typically recommended in health promotion programs and a lower intake of meat (read meat), meat products, sweets, high fat dairy and white bread (white bread and unrefined cereal). The prudent diet had the lowest insulin resistance scores. The prevalence of insulin resistance in the prudent diet was 47% lower than that in the traditional diet (OR=0.53 in fully adjusted analysis). A prudent diet may be associated with enhanced insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Prudent diet and the risk of insulin resistance. Villegas R, et al. 

Fish Might Decrease Diabetes Risk a Little: In the cross-sectional EPIC-Norfolk population-based cohort study of diet and chronic disease with 10,009 adults, ages 40-78, without self-reported diabetes, the HbA(1c) level was positively associated with eating fried fish and inversely associated with eating oily fish (b=0.036 and b=-0.046). These associations were attenuated by adjustment for family history of diabetes, smoking status and physical activity level, but the association with fried fish remained statistically significant (b=0.033). Adjusting for total energy, alcohol, fruit and vegetable intakes resulted in further attenuation and both associations were no longer statistically significant. In men, there was no evidence that HbA(1c) level was associated with fish consumption. Habitual fish consumption and glycated haemoglobin: the EPIC-Norfolk study. Harding, et al. University of Cambridge, UK. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004 Feb;58(2):277-84.

Fish Might Help Reduce Diabetes Risk: In an ecological study of 41 countries in five continents with different socio-demographic characteristics and sanitary conditions, the study suggested that high fish and seafood intake may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in populations with a high prevalence of obesity. Fish-seafood consumption, obesity, and risk of type 2 diabetes: an ecological study. Nkondjock A, et al. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. . Diab Metab 2003 Dec;29(6):635-42.

Fish Reduced Coronary Heart Disease in Diabetic Nurses: In a prospective study of the intake of fish and omega-3 fatty acids and risk of CHD and total mortality among 5103 female nurses with type 2 diabetes but free of cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline with 9 years of follow-up, there were 362 new cases of CHD (141 CHD deaths and 221 nonfatal heart attacks) and 468 deaths from all causes. Compared with women who seldom consumed fish (<1 serving/mo), the relative risks of CHD adjusted for age, smoking, and other established coronary risk factors were 0.70 for fish consumption 1 to 3 times per month, 0.60 for once per week, 0.64 for 2 to 4 times per week, and 0.36 for 5 or more times per week (P=0.002). Higher consumption of fish was also associated with a significantly lower total mortality (multivariate RR=0.48 for > or =5 times per week [P=0.005]). Higher consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a trend toward lower incidence of CHD (RR=0.69, P=0.10) and total mortality (RR=0.63, P=0.02). Fish and long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease and total mortality in diabetic women. Hu FB, et al. Harvard. . Circulation 2003 Apr 15;107(14):1852-7.

Genes: People with variations of CAPN10 gene on Chromosome 2 face triple risk of AODM. The gene codes for enzyme calpain-10. Calpains are proteases, i.e., cleave other proteins. Nature Genetics 10/00 not 3 specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the DNA sequence doesn’t effect the quality of enzyme but the quantity.

Gene Abnormality Slightly Increases Risk of Diabetes: In a study of 793 Finnish adults with typical type 2 diabetes and 413 people without diabetes, one of the four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene for hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha or HNF4A was found in 16% of the non-diabetics and in 22% of the diabetics, raising the risk of diabetes by about 30% in those people.  The gene helps control the secretion of insulin in response to glucose. Alan Permutt of Washington University in St. Louis studied 100 SNPs in 275 Ashkenazi Jewish adults in Israel with type 2 diabetes and 342 non-diabetics used as controls and found the same four variations. Diabetes 2004;53:1141-1149

Gluten: Diabetes Type 1 Increased by Gluten Consumption Before Age 3 Months: A German study of 1610 newborns through age 8 found life-table islet autoantibody frequency was 5.8% by age 5 years. Reduced total or exclusive breastfeeding duration did not significantly increase the risk of developing islet autoantibodies. Food supplementation with gluten-containing foods before age 3 months, however, was associated with considerably increased islet autoantibody risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.0). Four of 17 children who received gluten foods before age 3 months developed islet autoantibodies (life-table 5-year risk, 24%). All 4 children had the high-risk DRB1*03/04,DQB1*0302 genotype. Early exposure to gluten did not significantly increase the risk of developing celiac disease-associated autoantibodies. Children who first received gluten foods after age 6 months did not have increased risks for islet or celiac disease autoantibodies. Early infant feeding and risk of developing type 1 diabetes-associated autoantibodies. Ziegler AG, Schmid S, Huber D, Hummel M, Bonifacio E. JAMA. 2003 Oct 1;290(13):1721-8

Iron: High Stores Linked to DM: Ferritin levels were used to measure iron stores in 42 men who developed diabetes during a four year follow-up and compared them to 82 controls. Men with high iron stores were found to be 2.5 times as likely to develop diabetes. ADA Conf ‘98

Iron: High Stores Triples Diabetes: Of 32,826 women who were not diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, 698 women developed diabetes during 10 years of follow-up. Women who developed diabetes were heavier, had a family history of diabetes, less exercise, less likely to drink alcohol, had higher baseline C-reactive protein, fasting insulin, and hemoglobin A1c. Baseline dietary intake of heme iron, trans fat, red and processed meats, and total calories also was higher, and intake of cereal fiber and magnesium was lower. Mean baseline ferritin concentration was significantly higher (109 vs. 71.5 ng/mL; P < .001), and the mean ratio of transferrin receptors to ferritin was significantly lower (102 vs. 141; P = .01). Risk ratios for incident cases of type 2 diabetes decreased across increasing quintiles of transferrin receptors to ferritin ratio (P = .01 for trend). Rui Jiang, Harvard. JAMA. 2/11/2004;291:711-717. Avoiding iron supplements and reducing meat would help these women.

Magnesium: Diabetes Lowered by Magnesium in Diet: Long-term Harvard studies of 85,060 women and 42,872 men who had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer at baseline with 18 years of follow-up in women and 12 years in men found 4,085 and 1,333 incident cases of type 2 diabetes, respectively. After adjusting for age, BMI, physical activity, family history of diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, and history of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia at baseline, the relative risk (RR) of type 2 diabetes was 0.66 in both groups when comparing the highest with the lowest quintile (one fifth) of total magnesium intake, i.e., a 34% decrease in the risk of developing diabetes. The RRs remained significant after additional adjustment for dietary variables, including glycemic load, polyunsaturated fat, trans fat, cereal fiber, and processed meat in the multivariate models. The inverse association persisted in subgroup analyses according to BMI, physical activity, and family history of diabetes. Major food sources of magnesium include whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables, each of which has individually been associated with lower death rates. Magnesium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in men and women. Lopez-Ridaura R, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Liu S, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Hu FB. Diabetes Care. 2004 Jan;27(1):134-40. Also, Ruy Lopez-Ridaura, Harvard. Diabetes Care. 2003;27:134-140,59-65,270-271

Magnesium: Diabetes Type 2 Lowered by Magnesium: A 6-year follow-up study of 12,000 men found that the sextile (1/6) with highest blood magnesium had half the level of DM as that with the lowest level although no impact of magnesium in the diet was found. Johns Hopkins. Arch Intern Med 1999 Oct 11;159

Magnesium: Diabetes Type 2 Lower with Whole Grains, Cereal Fibers, Dietary Magnesium: However, refined grains, glycemic index, fruits and vegetables had no impact. Prospective 6 year follow-up Iowa study of 36,000 women. Am J Clin Nutr 2000 Apr;71(4):921-30

Magnesium: Diabetes Type 2 Helped by Supplement in DB: In a DB study of 63 diabetic patients, magnesium supplementation lowered glucose, HbA(1c) (8.0 vs. 10.1), and increased insulin sensitivity. Oral Magnesium Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. Rodriguez-Moran M, Guerrero-Romero F. Diabetes Care. 2003 Apr;26(4):1147-52

Magnesium Helps Insulin Resistance in Pre-Diabetics: In a 3-month DB PC study of non-diabetic insulin resistant subjects with hypomagnesemia (<0/74 mmol/l) using magnesium chloride (MgCl2) 2.5 g daily, magnesium-supplemented subjects significantly increased their serum magnesium levels (0.61 to 0.81 mmol/l, p<0.0001) and reduced insuliin resistance hypoHOMA-IR index (4.6 to 2.6, p<0.0001), whereas control subjects did not. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Guerrero-Romero F, Tamez-Perez H, Gonzalez-Gonzalez G, Salinas-Martinez A, Montes-Villarreal J, Trevino-Ortiz J, Rodriguez-Moran M. Mexico. Diabetes Metab. 2004 Jun;30(3):253-8 

Magnesium Helped Diabetics in Very Small Study: Magnesium 300 mg/day in the form of mineral water was given to nine mild type 2 diabetic patients for 30 days. Fasting serum immunoreactive insulin level decreased significantly ( p < 0.05). There was a marked decrease of the triglyceride levels after supplementation. The patients with hypertension showed significant reduction of systolic (p < 0.01), diastolic (p = 0.0038), and mean (p < 0.01) blood pressure. Clinical efficacy of magnesium supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes. Yokota K, Kato M, et al. Jikei University , Japan. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Oct;23(5):506S-509S

Magnesium: Lower Magnesium Associated with More Kidney Deterioration: In a retrospective study of 550 DM2 patients without known kidney disease with 5-year follow-up, lower [Mg2+] groups had significantly worse deterioration of serum creatinine after controlling for other factors. A trend for worse proteinuria based on routine urinary analysis was observed among patients belonging to the lowest [Mg2+] group. Lower serum magnesium levels are associated with more rapid decline of renal function in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Pham PC, et al. UCLA Medical Center. . Clin Nephrol. 2005 Jun;63(6):429-36.

Magnesium, and Avoiding White Bread, Sugars Reduce Diabetes: In a 4-year follow-up study of 36,787 adults ages 40-69 without diabetes, 365 developed diabetes. The odds ratio (OR) for the highest fourth in consumption of white bread vs. the lowest was 1.37 (P = 0.001), intake of carbohydrate (OR per 200 g/day 0.58), sugars (OR per 100 g/day 0.61), and magnesium (OR per 500 mg/day 0.62) were inversely associated with incidence of diabetes, whereas intake of starch (OR per 100 g/day 1.47) and dietary Glycemic Index (OR per 10 units 1.32) were positively associated with diabetes. These relationships were lessened by adjustment for BMI and waist-to-hip ratio. Glycemic index and dietary fiber and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Hodge AM, English DR, et al. Melbourne, Australia. Diabetes Care. 2004 Nov;27(11):2701-6 

Meat: Beef and Pork Cause Diabetes: 37,309 women over 44 in the Women's Health and free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes were followed for 8.8 years. 1,558 developed type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for age, BMI, total energy intake, exercise, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and family history of diabetes, there were positive associations between intakes of beef and pork and processed meat and risk of type 2 diabetes. Comparing highest vs. lowest quintile, the relative risks (RRs) of type 2 diabetes were 1.28 for red meat (P < 0.001 for trend) and 1.23 for processed meat intake (P = 0.001 for trend). For frequent consumption of total processed meat (RR 1.43, P < 0.001 for trend) including bacon (1.21 for >/=2/week vs. <1/week, P = 0.004 for trend) and hot dogs (1.28 >/=2/week vs. <1/week, P = 0.003 for trend). These results remained significant after further adjustment for intakes of dietary fiber, magnesium, glycemic load, and total fat. Intakes of total cholesterol, animal protein, and heme iron were also significantly associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. A prospective study of red meat consumption and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly women: the women's health study. Song Y, Manson JE, Buring JE, Liu S. Harvard-Brigham Women's. Diabetes Care. 2004 Sep;27(9):2108-15.

Mexican-Americans Twice the Diabetes as Mexicans and 2.5 times US average: Mexicans are leaner, eat less fat and eat more carbohydrates, exercise more, especially as part of work than Mexican-Americans. Fast foods and higher-fat flour tortillas may also be a reason. AP 11/6/00 Mexico City. University of Texas study.

Meat: Processed Meats Bad: Researchers found a 46% increase in adult-onset DM from eating processed meat five or more times per week: bologna, hot dogs, bacon, etc. Health Professionals Follow-up. Frank Hu, Harvard, Diabetes Care 2/02

Meat: Mammal Meat Causes Diabetes: 37,309 women over 44 in the Women's Health and free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes were followed for 8.8 years. 1,558 developed type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for age, BMI, total energy intake, exercise, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and family history of diabetes, there were positive associations between intakes of red meat and processed meat and risk of type 2 diabetes. Comparing highest vs. lowest quintile, the relative risks (RRs) of type 2 diabetes were 1.28 for red meat (P < 0.001 for trend) and 1.23 for processed meat intake (P = 0.001 for trend). For frequent consumption of total processed meat (RR 1.43, P < 0.001 for trend) including bacon (1.21 for >/=2/week vs. <1/week, P = 0.004 for trend) and hot dogs (1.28 >/=2/week vs. <1/week, P = 0.003 for trend). These results remained significant after further adjustment for intakes of dietary fiber, magnesium, glycemic load, and total fat. Intakes of total cholesterol, animal protein, and heme iron were also significantly associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. A prospective study of red meat consumption and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly women: the women's health study. Song Y, Manson JE, Buring JE, Liu S. Harvard-Brigham Women's Diabetes Care. 2004 Sep;27(9):2108-15

Obesity in Childhood #1 Cause of Childhood Type 2 Diabetes: A prospective study of 1,000 children in Taiwan found that children who became obesity were 1780% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than other children. Other factors significantly associated with type 2 DM were hypercholesterolemia (OR, 1.80), blood pressure greater than the 85th percentile (OR, 1.70), and positive family history of diabetes (OR, 3.95). National surveillance for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwanese children. Wei JN, Sung FC, Lin CC, Lin RS, Chiang CC, Chuang LM, JAMA. 2003 Sep 10;290(10):1345-50

Older Moms and Dads: Children Higher DM Risk: Increase twice as fast for moms and gradually after age 24 for both with age 45+ having 3.1 times more likely have a child with DM and male 1.57 more likely. BMJ 8/12/00.

Potatoes: Avoid French Fries: In a long-term study of 85,000 United States women, Harvard University found that women with the highest potato intake were 14% more likely than those with the lowest intake to develop diabetes type-2 over 20 years. And women who ate the most french fries, specifically, had a 21% greater risk of diabetes than those who ate the fewest. The link was strongest among obese women, who are already at increased risk of the disease. The absence of whole grains increased the harmful effect. Thomas L Halton, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2/06.

Psychiatric Medications: Diabetes on Atypical Antipsychotics No Higher Than on Antidepressants or Traditional: In a retrospective study of outpatients on atypical antipsychotics (10,265), traditional antipsychotics (4607), antidepressants (60,856) or antibiotics (59,878) in the database of a large pharmaceutical benefit manager) in a 12-month period, the annual rate of new cases of diabetes as measured using new prescriptions for antidiabetic drugs after a 6-month lead-in period were 7.5/1000/year for atypical antipsychotics, 11.3 for traditional antipsychotics, 7.8 for antidepressants and 5.1 for antibiotics. In multivariable analyses, age, male sex and Chronic Disease Score were associated with greater odds of diabetes onset. There were no statistically significant differences in outcome between the atypical antipsychotic, traditional antipsychotic and antidepressant groups. Multivariable comparisons among specific agents showed increased odds of diabetes for clozapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone and thioridazine (relative to risperidone), but these comparisons did not reach statistical significance. Atypical antipsychotic drugs and diabetes mellitus in a large outpatient population: a retrospective cohort study. Ostbye T, Curtis LH, et al. Duke University. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2004 Sep 16. Ed: The rate of new diabetes is much higher on these medications and is primarily due to specific medications in each family which cause large weight gains.

Resistin Causes DM Obesity: Resistin is a hormone produced by fat cells which causes other cells to resist the effects of insulin. Obesity is big risk factor for Type II diabetes. TZD drugs help body use insulin more effectively. The drugs affect genes for resistin. Nature 1/18/01.

Smoking & Second-Hand Smoke Increase Diabetes: A 15-year US study of 4,572 found that smokers were at higher risk of developing glucose intolerance - a precursor to diabetes, 22% vs. 12% for controls. People subject to second-hand smoke had a slightly higher risk of diabetes: 17%. Houston T, et al. Birmingham, AL, VA. BMJ 4/6/05.

SSRIs Better Than Tricyclics for Diabetes with Depression: In comorbid diabetes mellitus and depression, most evidence supports the use of fluoxetine in control of glucose handling. six studies of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), at a dose of 60 mg/day pursued up to 12 months that have demonstrated that medication's usefulness in diabetic patients, with reductions in weight (to 9.3 kg), in FPG (to 45 mg%), and in HbA1c (to 2.5%). In studies in comorbid diabetes mellitus and depression, nortriptyline, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that produces increased synaptic catechols, has led to worsening of indices of glucose control. Other characteristics in terms dosing, drug interactions, cognition, and sleep make sertraline an attractive alternative agent. In diabetic neuropathy without depression, the best choices among non-TCAs may include sertraline, citalopram, and perhaps, venlafaxine, since the TCAs appear to increase cravings and increase FBG levels. Goodnick, U Miami, Ann Clin Psychiatry 2001 Mar;13(1):31-41

Trans Fats Increased by Deep Frying: Deep frying soybean oil decreases cis double bonds and increases trans fats and aldehyde. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2001 Jan;52(1):31-42

Trans Fats Cause DM: A Harvard study of 84,000 nurses with 14 year follow-up found 2507 new cases of type 2 diabetes. Total fat intake, compared with equivalent energy intake from carbohydrates, was not associated with risk of type 2 diabetes; for a 5% increase in total energy from fat, the relative risk (RR) was 0.98. Intakes of saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids were also not significantly associated with the risk of diabetes. However, for a 5% increase in energy from polyunsaturated fat, the RR was 0.63 (P < 0.0001) and for a 2% increase in energy from trans fatty acids the RR was 1.39 (P = 0.0006). Replacing 2% of energy from trans fatty acids isoenergetically with polyunsaturated fat would lead to a 40% lower risk (RR: 0.60). Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Jun;73(6):1001-2. Population groups with eating habits that include frequent intake of margarines, French fries, micro-oven popcorn, chocolate bars, fast food, etc., may consume trans fatty acids in amounts far exceeding the recommended maximum levels.

Vitamin C Supplement Linked to Heart Death Rate in Diabetics: In a 15-year follow-up study of 2,000 postmenopausal women with diabetes, those who took heavy doses of vitamin C supplements -- 300 milligrams (mg) a day or more -- were roughly twice as likely to die of heart disease or stroke compared with women who took no supplemental C. David R. Jacobs Jr., et al. University of Minnesota. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2004.

Vitamin D: Diabetes in Children Reduced by Vitamin D 2000 IU: A Finnish study following 12,055 babies born in 1966 found those who were given the recommended 2000 IU of vitamin D supplement had an 88% reduced risk of developing diabetes (RR for regular vs no supplementation 0.12, and irregular vs no supplementation 0.16). Children who regularly took the recommended dose of vitamin D (2000 IU daily) had a RR of 0.22 compared with those who regularly received less than the recommended amount. Those who had rickets, a disease linked to vitamin D deficiency, in the first year of life had a three-fold risk of developing diabetes. Finland has the highest reported incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world. In north Finland, there are only two hours of sunlight, a key source of vitamin D, each day in December. BBC News 11/2/01 and Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Hypponen E, Laara E, Reunanen A, Jarvelin MR, Virtanen SM. Institute of Child Health, London, UK. Lancet. 2001 Nov 3;358(9292):1500-3.; Vitamin D status increases the expression of Type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice. Data in the mice, as well as human epidemiological data, point to the importance of preventing vitamin D deficiency in early childhood. Controlling this dietary factor could be an easy and safe way to reduce the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in subjects who are genetically at risk. Belgium. Diabetologia. 2004 Jan 31.

Vitamin D: Cod Liver Oil Reduced Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Cod liver oil is an important source of dietary vitamin D and the long-chain n-3 fatty acids. In a nationwide case-control study in Norway with 545 cases of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes and 1668 population controls.use of cod liver oil in the first year of life was associated with a significantly 26% lower risk of type 1 diabetes. Use of other vitamin D supplements during the first year of life and maternal use of cod liver oil or other vitamin D supplements during pregnancy were not associated with type 1 diabetes. Cod liver oil may reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, perhaps through the antiinflammatory effects of long-chain n-3 fatty acids. Use of cod liver oil during the first year of life is associated with lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes: a large, population-based, case-control study. Stene LC, et al. Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. . Am J Clin Nutr 2003 Dec;78(6):1128-34. Ed: Cod liver oil is a much more common source of vitamin D in Norway than other supplements.

Vitamin D: Diabetes in Children Reduced by Supplement: In a case-control study of 820 type 1 diabetics and 2335 controls from seven European countries, vitamin D supplementation in the early years was associated with a 33% decreased risk of Type I diabetes (OR 0.67). Vitamin D supplement in early childhood and risk for Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. The EURODIAB Substudy 2 Study Group. Diabetologia. 1999 Jan;42(1):51-4.

Vitamin D: Low Vitamin D Strongly Linked to Diabetes: Using nationwide U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data of 6,228 adults, after djusting for sex, age, BMI, leisure activity, and quarter of year, the odds ratios for diabetes varied inversely (OR 0.25 for European-Americans and 0.17 for Mexican Americans) in the highest vitamin D quartile (25OHD > or =81.0 nmol/l) compared with the lowest (< or =43.9 nmol/l). This inverse association was not observed in African-Americans. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, diabetes, and ethnicity in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Scragg R, Sowers M, Bell C. University of Auckland. Diabetes Care. 2004 Dec;27(12):2813-8

Vitamin D: Lower Blood Levels Linked to Higher Blood Glucose: In a retrospective examination of convenience sample of 753 postmenopausal women attending osteoporosis clinics and not on any treatment known to affect glucose metabolism, when fasting serum glucose was regressed simultaneously on age, BMI and 25(OH)D, glucose was still an inverse function of 25(OH)D (P = 0.006). Fasting serum glucose increased as 25(OH)D levels fell throughout the range of serum 25(OH)D measured but the greatest increase was observed in those with 25(OH)D below 40 nmol/l. Relationship between fasting serum glucose, age, body mass index and serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in postmenopausal women. Need AG, et al. University of Adelaide, Australia. . Clin Endocrinol (Oxf.) 2005 Jun;62(6):738-41.

Vitamin D: Low Vitamin D as Risk for Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome: In a study of 126 healthy, glucose-tolerant adults, univariate regression analyses showed that 25(OH)D concentration was positively correlated with the insulin sensitivity index (P < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with first phase insulin response (1stIR) (P = 0.0045) and second phase insulin response (2ndIR) (P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analyses confirmed an independent correlation between 25(OH)D concentration and ISI (P = 0.0007). An independent negative relation of 25(OH)D concentration with plasma glucose concentration was observed at fasting (P = 0.0258), 60 min (P = 0.0011), 90 min (P = 0.0011), and 120 min (P = 0.0007) during the oral-glucose-tolerance test. Subjects with hypovitaminosis D (<20 ng/mL) had a greater prevalence of components of metabolic syndrome than did subjects without hypovitaminosis D (30% compared with 11%; P = 0.0076). Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. Chiu KC, Chu A, et al. University of California-Los Angeles. . Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 May;79(5):820-5.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D Supplement Helps Type 2 Diabetics: In a study of 10 type 2 diabetics on oral hypoglycemics compared to 17 controls, the diabetics were given vitamin D 1332 IU daily for one month. The mean plasma 25(OH)D level was 35.3 nmol/l at baseline, 70% of patients being vitamin D deficient. After one month, vitamin D levels increased by 76% with 70% of patients achieving normal levels. First phase insulin secretion (FPIS) increased significantly by 34%, while second phase increased 20%. There was a correlation between the change in FPIS and the change in 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.018). The results showed a decrease of 21% in insulin resistance after one month. The authors advocate adding vitamin D to the treatment plan of type 2 diabetics. The effect of vitamin D3 on insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Borissova AM, Tankova T, et al. University Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria. Int J Clin Pract. 2003 May;57(4):258-61.

Vitamin D: Low Vitamin D a Risk Factor for Glucose Intolerance: In a study of 142 elderly Dutchmen ages 70-88, 39% were deficient in vitamin D. After adjustment, the 1-hour glucose and area under the glucose curve during a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were inversely associated with the vitamin D levels (r = -0.23, p < 0.01). After excluding newly diagnosed diabetics, total insulin concentrations during the test were also inversely associated with vitamin D levels (r = -0.18 to -0.23, p < 0.05). Hypovitaminosis D was a significant risk factor for glucose intolerance. Vitamin D, glucose tolerance and insulinaemia in elderly men. Baynes KC, Boucher BJ, et al. Royal London School of Medicine, UK. Diabetologia. 1997 Mar;40(3):344-7.

Vitamin D: Low in New Cases of Diabetes Type 1: Supplementation Advocated: An epidemiological retrospective study and a recent prospective study from Finland have both concluded that vitamin D (3) supplementation at birth protects individuals from type 1 diabetes later in life. Moreover, it is thought that vitamin D (3) supplementation, in particular its activated form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (3) [1,25-(OH) (2)D (3)], may act as an immunomodulator, facilitating the shift from a Th1 to a Th2 immune response. In a study of 88 newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes and 57 matched controls, levels of both 25OHD (3) and 1,25-(OH) (2)D (3) were significantly lower in patients compared to controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.03). Vitamin D (3) may be an important pathogenic factor in type 1 diabetes independent of geographical latitude, and that its supplementation should be considered not only at birth, but also at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes with the aim of favouring a Th2 immune response and protecting residual beta cells from further destruction. Low Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes. Pozzilli P, et al. University Campus Bio Medico. Horm Metab Res 2005 Nov;37(11):680-3

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism Involved in Retinopathy: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is extensively expressed in retina. The plasma concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has been inversely correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The Taq I VDR polymorphism has been associated with severe DR. The Fok I VDR polymorphism is a T-to-C substitution in the first codon (f allele) abolishing the first translation initiation site and resulting in a peptide lacking 3 amino acids (F allele), which increases the transcriptional activity of VDR. 254 French adults with longstanding C-peptide-negative type 1 diabetes, 128 patients with absent/mild DR (control group) and 126 patients with preproliferative/proliferative DR (study group), were genotyped. The frequency of F allele was significantly higher in the control (66.4%) than in the study group (56%, OR=0.64, P = 0.016). In subjects with <25 yr of diabetes (median value, n = 134), this association was strongly increased (P = 0.0008).

Vitamin D: Calcium, Not Vitamin D, Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk: Data from 10,066 women over age 44 in the Women's Health Study who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes and who never used postmenopausal hormones compared different dietary intake levels of calcium and vitamin D. In age- and calorie-adjusted analyses, higher intakes of total, dietary, and supplemental calcium were significantly and inversely associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. After further adjusting for smoking status, exercise, alcohol intake, multivitamin use, and parental history of myocardial infarction before age 60 years, the ORs of having the metabolic syndrome for increasing quintiles of total calcium intake were 1.00 (reference), 0.82, 0.84, 0.70, and 0.64 (P<0.0001). This association was not appreciably altered by additional adjustment for other dietary factors or total vitamin D intake. Neither total (P = 0.13) nor supplemental (P = 0.45) vitamin D was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. Strong relations between intakes of dairy products and metabolic syndrome were observed. After adjustment for lifestyle and dietary factors, the multivariable ORs comparing highest with lowest intake categories were 0.66 (P <0.0001) for total dairy products and 0.85 (P = 0.05) for total milk intake. Dietary Calcium, Vitamin D, and the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged and Older U.S. Women. Liu S, et al. Harvard. . Diabetes Care 2005 Dec;28(12):2926-2932. Ed: It is fairly hard to find vitamin D supplements in the U.S.  Thus, it is unlikely that very many nurses were taking at least 1000 IU per day of vitamin D supplements. Thus, the supplements in this study may have been just too low to have any effect.

Vitamin D Improved Diabetes in Diabetic Rats: Calcitriol improves streptozotocin-induced diabetes and recovers bone mineral density in diabetic rats. Del Pino-Montes J, et al. Universidad de Salamanca, Spain. Calcif Tissue Int. 2004 Dec;75(6):526-32.

Vitamin D Prevents Diabetes in Diabetic Prone Mice: Oral administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 completely protects NOD mice from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Zella JB, et al. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2003 Sep 1;417(1):77-80

Wheat/Rye Products Diabetes Risk: Don't Feed to Children in the First 3-6 Months: In the 8-year follow-up BABYDIAB study of 1610 newborn children of parents with type 1 DM, reduced total or exclusive breastfeeding duration did not significantly increase the risk of developing islet autoantibodies. Food supplementation with gluten-containing foods before age 3 months, however, was associated with a 300% increased islet autoantibody risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.0; P =.01 vs children who received only breast milk until age 3 months). Early exposure to gluten did not significantly increase the risk of developing celiac disease-associated autoantibodies. Children who first received gluten foods after age 6 months did not have increased risks for islet or celiac disease autoantibodies. Early infant feeding and risk of developing type 1 diabetes-associated autoantibodies. Ziegler AG, Schmid S, et al. Diabetes Research Institute, Munich, Germany. JAMA. 2003 Oct 1;290(13):1721-8.

White Bread Increases Risk of Diabetes: In a 4-year follow-up study of 36,787 diabetes-free adults ages 40-69 for 4 years, almost 400 people developed diabetes. Those who ate the most white bread -- half of whom said they had it at least 17 times each week -- were more than 30 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. High-GI foods also showed a significantly higher risk of diabetes over the four-year period. People who ate large amounts of carbohydrates, sugars and magnesium appeared to be somewhat protected from type 2 diabetes. Sugars that were linked to a lower diabetes risk included those found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains, which also tend to be high in magnesium. Other relatively low-GI foods include certain breakfast cereals, pasta, and basmati rice, which has a lower GI than brown or white rice. Allison Hodge et al. Cancer Council. Victoria, Australia. Diabetes Care, November 2004.

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

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