Latest news with #DiabetesUK
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Breakfast juice that's safe for type 2 diabetics, study says
A clinical trial has found that people with type 2 diabetes can enjoy a glass of this without it affecting their blood sugar levels A groundbreaking clinical trial has found that people with type 2 diabetes can safely enjoy a glass of 100% orange juice at breakfast without serious consequences when it comes to blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is an escalating global health concern, currently affecting close to 4.6 million people in the UK, with Diabetes UK suggesting there could be an additional 1.3 million undiagnosed cases. Lifestyle choices, particularly dietary habits, are important in controlling and preventing this disease. This new research, featured in the international journal Nutrition and Diabetes, looked at the impact of consuming whole oranges versus fruit juice on blood glucose and insulin reactions, bringing some unexpected findings. The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Hasselt in Belgium, involved normal-to-overweight adults who have well-managed type 2 diabetes. The participants had a standard high-carbohydrate breakfast on three different occasions, each time accompanied by either pieces of whole orange, a 250ml serving of 100% orange juice, or an orange-flavoured beverage with extra sugars. Blood sugar and insulin levels were monitored for four hours after each meal, reports Surrey Live. The principal investigator, Dr Kenneth Verboven, said: "We believed that the lowest blood glucose levels would be seen when someone ate fruit with breakfast, while orange juice and a sugary drink would cause higher glucose levels. In fact, there were no differences. "We think this was because most of the rise in blood glucose and insulin came from the bread eaten at our standard carbohydrate-rich breakfast. The small amounts of sugars from the fruit or drinks were inconsequential. "This doesn't mean we recommend that people with diabetes should have drinks with added sugars at breakfast, as these typically have no nutritional benefit. However, 100% orange juice is different as the sugars come directly from the fruit and it contains similar vitamins, minerals and bioactives to whole oranges. "While fruit remains the healthiest addition to breakfast as it contains some fibre, a small daily glass of 100% fruit juice is a convenient alternative when fruit isn't an option." A glass of juice can 'bridge the gap' Recent research from Ipsos commissioned by Swedish food tech firm Picadeli revealed 86% of Britain's Gen Z adults fall short of WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption. Incorporating a daily glass of 100% fruit juice can help 'bridge this gap', the scientists explained. Under EU and UK legislation, pure orange juice and other 100% fruit juices are minimally processed and contain no added sugars, flavourings, or preservatives. A single glass of orange juice delivers more than 80% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C, a vital nutrient that boosts immunity and skin health. Dr Carrie Ruxton, a renowned nutritionist, said: "With fruit intake alarmingly low across Europe, adding a small daily glass of fruit juice into your diet can be an easy way to make sure you consume important nutrients and vitamins. This study shows that you don't need to avoid fruit juice if you have well-controlled diabetes and can instead benefit from the vitamins and minerals. Choosing a high fibre breakfast, such as oats or bran flakes, is a good way to help limit those blood sugar spikes."
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Kardashian diet that could aid your weight loss journey
The low-carb diet has been a go-to for some of the world's biggest celebrities, including Kim Kardashian. Here's everything you need to know about the diet, and whether it could work for you A diet favoured by celebrities like Kim Kardashian could aid in weight loss and decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, though it does have some downsides. The low-carb diet doesn't concentrate on specific foods like many other diets do, but rather limits the amount of carbohydrates one consumes daily. This is often balanced with an increase in protein and fat intake. It is crucial to understand that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to the low-carb diet, and it can be tailored to your needs while still allowing you to enjoy many of your favourite foods. Losing weight on low-carb diet In certain cases, a low-carb diet could assist in weight loss. The main argument for a low-carb diet is that it helps reduce insulin levels, which promotes fat storage while also boosting metabolism. Some research suggests that a low-carb diet can trigger rapid weight loss over six or 12 months. Some argue that this aids in weight loss because the increased consumption of proteins and fats to compensate for the lack of carbohydrates can enhance feelings of fullness, thereby reducing hunger. However, it is important to remember that there are numerous variations of the low-carb diet, each with potentially different outcomes. For instance, Kim Kardashian has previously mentioned following the Atkins Diet, which adapts a low-carb diet specifically for weight loss. The Atkins Diet primarily centres on limiting carbohydrate intake whilst significantly boosting protein and fat consumption (including saturated fats for some adherents). Typically, an Atkins diet follower will begin by consuming less than 20g of carbs daily for a fortnight before gradually introducing more nuts, and low-carb vegetables. As the follower approaches their target weight, they can incorporate more carbs until their weight loss decelerates. Once they reach their desired weight, they are generally permitted to consume as many unprocessed carbs as their body can handle without regaining weight. If you are considering adopting the low-carb or Atkins diet for weight loss, it is recommended that you first consult with a healthcare professional or GP. Bear in mind that limiting your intake of vegetables and fruits could potentially result in a deficiency of essential vitamins and nutrients each day. Reduce risk of and treat type 2 diabetes Diabetes UK emphasises that a low-carb diet could assist individuals with type 2 diabetes in managing their weight and blood glucose levels. However, it points out that there isn't much evidence to suggest it's effective for those living with type 1 diabetes and it could potentially hinder growth in children. For people with diabetes, it notes that people will generally eat less than 130g of carbohydrates a day to ensure they are still getting essential vitamins, mineral, and fibre. Further details on a low-carb meal plan for people with diabetes can be found through the Diabetes UK website.
Times
10-07-2025
- Health
- Times
How do I live with his loss of libido?
Q. My husband and I met when we were both in other relationships and had a glorious affair fuelled by the most glorious sex. We caused our exes great heartache, which we're not proud of, but 20 years on we're still very much in love. In the past five years, however, he has developed type 2 diabetes and lost his sex drive completely. He says he wouldn't mind never having sex again but I'm devastated. We're only in our fifties — how do I live with this? A. I understand that you find this situation difficult, but I would urge you to take a step back and think about what your husband has been dealing with. He has had to adjust to the shock of a diagnosis that can be managed but not cured. He has also experienced complications that any man would find challenging; one in three people with diabetes experience sexual difficulties, according to Diabetes UK. Low libido can affect both men and women, and diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage, can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. In fact, according to 2021 research at the University of California, men with diabetes are 3.5 times more likely to develop such difficulties, and that's even how some cases are diagnosed. Metformin, the drug that is most commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, can sometimes help, but from your longer letter it sounds as if your husband has tried everything. On top of all of this, he is dealing with the impact that his diagnosis has had on his devastated wife, who feels the absence of sex so much more acutely than he does. It's a lot. It sounds like your husband feels impotent in every sense of the word. He feels that he has failed you and he can't see a way through, so he has withdrawn. You say if you try to talk to him he shuts down the conversation and he pulls away if you attempt intimacy. You feel frustrated, understandably, and wonder what the future holds for you both. But rather than focusing on what you have lost, I'd urge you to appreciate what you still have. • Read more expert advice on sex, relationships, dating and love Your relationship had a turbulent start but you've been together for 20 years and you say you have two fabulous children. Your husband is still the same person, but his confidence has taken a hit. Rather than making him feel bad about what he can't do, you need to help him think in terms of what he can do. If you can get back to a place of shared respect and trust you will discover that sexual pleasure and intimacy is still very much available to you both. You, plural, should be kissing, cuddling, hand holding and sleeping skin to skin to maintain your physical and emotional connection. You, singular, can continue having orgasms till you die, irrespective of whether your husband can get an erection, so make him part of that process, as bringing you to orgasm in other ways will confirm to him that he is not sexually redundant. Ultimately your husband needs to know that this is not a deal-breaker and that you really are there for him 'in sickness and in health'.Send your queries to weekendsex@
Rhyl Journal
08-07-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
‘Groundbreaking' drug could slow down progression of type 1 diabetes
Teplizumab, which is already approved in the US, trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells, delaying the need for insulin by an average of three years. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, meaning blood sugar levels are no longer regulated by the body. If blood sugar is too high or low, it can cause serious health problems and even death. People with type 1 therefore need daily insulin. Dentist and mother-of-two, Hannah Robinson, from Devon, is the first adult in the UK to try the drug in the hope it can delay the condition. She is having treatment at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust after discovering during pregnancy she was in the early stages of developing type 1. A handful of people are being given the medicine on a case-by-case basis while it is reviewed for wider use on the NHS. The 36-year-old said: 'For me, this new drug offers more freedom and the chance to focus on my health before I have to start thinking differently and managing life as somebody needing daily insulin. 'This isn't just about what I eat or monitoring my glucose, it is also about having more control and not feeling defined by my condition. 'This treatment could potentially pave the way for a future cure for type 1 diabetes, which is incredible. I feel very lucky to be part of this.' The new drug teplizumab must be given at the earliest stage of the disease to be effective. Dr Nick Thomas, diabetes consultant and academic clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, said: 'This new treatment represents a really exciting shift in how we manage type 1 diabetes. 'For the first time ever, we will be able to provide targeted treatment early enough in the process to alter the underlying immune process, aiming to slow down how quickly people need insulin. 'Approximately half of all type 1 diabetes cases develop in adulthood, and Hannah will be the first adult in the UK to receive this treatment. 'My hope is that in the future, we may be able to stop people with early type 1 diabetes from needing insulin at all.' Experts at the Royal Devon and the University of Exeter are using genetics and other testing to spot people at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The hope is more people could be offered the drug to delay type 1. Dr Lucy Chambers, head of research impact and communications at Diabetes UK, said: 'For people in the early stages of type 1 diabetes, teplizumab offers a groundbreaking opportunity to buy them precious extra years insulin-free. 'Right now, it's only available in research settings – and while the excitement is real, urgent work is still needed to ensure it reaches everyone who could benefit. 'That means securing a UK licence for teplizumab, establishing national screening programmes to identify people with early-stage type 1 diabetes before symptoms appear, and preparing the NHS to deliver this treatment at scale. 'Diabetes UK is proud to be at the forefront of these efforts – funding pioneering research and working closely with the NHS towards a future where immunotherapies become the first-line treatment for tackling the autoimmune attack at the root of type 1 diabetes.' Professor Richard Oram, consultant physician at the Royal Devon and professor at the University of Exeter, said: 'Excitingly, teplizumab is the first drug with the potential to delay type 1 diabetes, but needs to be given before clinical diagnosis due to high blood glucose. 'It is really important to find new and improved approaches for identifying individuals at elevated risk.'
South Wales Guardian
08-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
‘Groundbreaking' drug could slow down progression of type 1 diabetes
Teplizumab, which is already approved in the US, trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells, delaying the need for insulin by an average of three years. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, meaning blood sugar levels are no longer regulated by the body. If blood sugar is too high or low, it can cause serious health problems and even death. People with type 1 therefore need daily insulin. Dentist and mother-of-two, Hannah Robinson, from Devon, is the first adult in the UK to try the drug in the hope it can delay the condition. She is having treatment at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust after discovering during pregnancy she was in the early stages of developing type 1. A handful of people are being given the medicine on a case-by-case basis while it is reviewed for wider use on the NHS. The 36-year-old said: 'For me, this new drug offers more freedom and the chance to focus on my health before I have to start thinking differently and managing life as somebody needing daily insulin. 'This isn't just about what I eat or monitoring my glucose, it is also about having more control and not feeling defined by my condition. 'This treatment could potentially pave the way for a future cure for type 1 diabetes, which is incredible. I feel very lucky to be part of this.' The new drug teplizumab must be given at the earliest stage of the disease to be effective. Dr Nick Thomas, diabetes consultant and academic clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, said: 'This new treatment represents a really exciting shift in how we manage type 1 diabetes. 'For the first time ever, we will be able to provide targeted treatment early enough in the process to alter the underlying immune process, aiming to slow down how quickly people need insulin. 'Approximately half of all type 1 diabetes cases develop in adulthood, and Hannah will be the first adult in the UK to receive this treatment. 'My hope is that in the future, we may be able to stop people with early type 1 diabetes from needing insulin at all.' Experts at the Royal Devon and the University of Exeter are using genetics and other testing to spot people at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The hope is more people could be offered the drug to delay type 1. Dr Lucy Chambers, head of research impact and communications at Diabetes UK, said: 'For people in the early stages of type 1 diabetes, teplizumab offers a groundbreaking opportunity to buy them precious extra years insulin-free. 'Right now, it's only available in research settings – and while the excitement is real, urgent work is still needed to ensure it reaches everyone who could benefit. 'That means securing a UK licence for teplizumab, establishing national screening programmes to identify people with early-stage type 1 diabetes before symptoms appear, and preparing the NHS to deliver this treatment at scale. 'Diabetes UK is proud to be at the forefront of these efforts – funding pioneering research and working closely with the NHS towards a future where immunotherapies become the first-line treatment for tackling the autoimmune attack at the root of type 1 diabetes.' Professor Richard Oram, consultant physician at the Royal Devon and professor at the University of Exeter, said: 'Excitingly, teplizumab is the first drug with the potential to delay type 1 diabetes, but needs to be given before clinical diagnosis due to high blood glucose. 'It is really important to find new and improved approaches for identifying individuals at elevated risk.'
