Diabetic Digest - Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Readers:

I have two and a half months to prepare for my complete physical. It's been quite a while since my last one. My doctor suggested it to me during my last visit.

I'm a bit conflicted though. I'm not sure if I should start eating super healthy and exercising like crazy to help better the findings of the physical or should I just keep doing what I'm doing so the findings will be more accurate.

Maybe I'll find a happy medium. I hope.

Regards,
Steve

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Questions? Comments? Email Steve

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*-- Diabetic News --*
Type 2 diabetes ups risk of developing blood cancer by 20pc
By: ANI

Washington - Patients with type 2 diabetes have a 20 percent increased risk of developing blood cancers, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma, according to a new meta-analysis.

The findings add to the growing evidence base linking diabetes and certain types of cancer.

"I think when most people think about diabetes-related illnesses, they think of heart disease or kidney failure, but not necessarily cancer," said lead author Jorge Castillo, M.D., a hematologist/oncologist with The Miriam Hospital.

"But when you consider that more than 19 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes - not to mention the millions more who are either undiagnosed or will be diagnosed in the future - a 20 percent increased risk of blood cancer is quite significant," Castillo stated.

While diabetes has been previously associated with other types of cancer, such as liver and pancreatic cancer, there have been few connections to blood cancers. Researchers are still unclear what causes the vast majority of these malignancies, which include cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes and affect more than 100,000 Americans each year.

Castillo and colleagues analyzed 26 previously published research articles on the association between type 2 diabetes - the most common form of the disease - and the incidence of lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma. The meta-analysis included more than 17,000 cases of type 2 diabetes and blood cancer worldwide.

They concluded patients with type 2 diabetes have increased odds of developing leukemia, myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma known as peripheral T-cell lymphoma. They did not find any associations with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Interestingly, researchers also said the odds of lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma appear to differ depending on the geographic region of the original report. For example, the odds of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were higher in Asia and Europe, while there was an increased leukemia risk in the United States and Asia.

Although the study did not identify a cause for any of these associations, the findings suggest type 2 diabetes could be associated with approximately five percent of all incidents of leukemia, myeloma non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

"It's important to remember that type 2 diabetes can, to some degree, be prevented and controlled through lifestyle modification, such as diet and exercise. So by preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes, we could also prevent blood cancer," Castillo said.

The researchers say additional studies are needed to explain the potential relationship between type 2 diabetes and blood cancers.

In particular, Castillo believes future research should focus on the role of behavioral factors like obesity, physical activity and smoking, which have been linked to both diabetes and cancer.

The findings were published online in the journal Blood.

Original Article: Type 2 diabetes ups risk of developing blood cancer by 20pc

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*-- Diabetic Recipe --*
Frozen Bananas on a Stick
Servings: 6
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients
3 medium ripe bananas
1 4-ounce carton fat-free vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup Grape Nuts cereal

Directions
1. Peel bananas and cut in half crosswise.
2. Insert a wooden stick into the flat end of each banana half.
3. Using a small spatula, spread some of the yogurt onto the sides of each banana half and immediately roll in the Grape Nuts.
4. Place on a waxed-paper lined baking sheet and freeze firm (should take about an hour).
5. Once frozen, wrap each banana in plastic wrap or insert into a self-sealing plastic bag. Eat frozen.

Nutrition Information
Per Serving: 106 calories (3% calories from fat), 3 g protein, trace total fat (0.1 g saturated fat), 25 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 1 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 carbohydrate (1/2 bread/starch, 1 fruit)

Original Article: Frozen Bananas on a Stick

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