Diabetes
Do You Need a Continuous Glucose Monitor Without…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 84 million American adults have prediabetes. That means one-third of us have blood sugar that is somewhat higher than it should be–above …
How Are Home Tests and Devices Revolutionizing H…
The FDA announced on March 5, 2024 that it has approved "...the first over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitor (CGM)." Many people with type 2 diabetes already use such devices, but they requ…
Psyllium Fiber Is Versatile Remedy
Psyllium fiber has become a household name, especially in the brand name formulations where it is found: Konsyl, Metamucil, Nature's Way Psyllium, and dozens more. From the 1930s to the 1960s a produc…
Daily Exercise Boosts Lifespan
Everyone agrees that exercise is beneficial for your health, though not everyone actually participates in daily exercise. Muscle-strengthening exercise, in particular, can reduce the risk of premature…
What Are Pros and Cons of Cinnamon for Blood Sug…
Millions of American adults have prediabetes. The CDC defines this as having fasting blood sugar over 100 but less than 126 mg/dL, the cut-off for a diagnosis of diabetes. Learning that you have predi…
Kidney Stones and Rybelsus (Semaglutide) aka Oze…
Occasionally a reader experiences a very serious medical problem and attributes it to a medication. Such is the case with the reader below. She wants to know if there is a connection between kidney st…
Are You Taking “Good” Drugs or “Bad” Dru…
You have doubtless heard that we live in a “polarized” world where the middle ground has been lost. Pundits usually apply this concept to politics: Republicans vs. Democrats or liberals vs. conser…
Do Statins Cause Diabetes? Many MDs Wish It Were…
If you search the medical literature for statins and diabetes, you might be surprised at what you find. Many health professionals would prefer that no one ask: do statins cause diabetes? There is trem…
Is New Weight Loss Drug Zepbound Better than Weg…
As you no doubt know, the buzz machine has been working overtime promoting weight loss drugs like Wegovy (semaglutide) and now Zepbound (tirzepatide). Zepbound is a twin of the diabetes drug Mounjaro,…
Metformin Led to Vitamin B12 Loss and Excruciati…
Metformin is a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, along with regular activity and a healthful diet low in processed foods. While metformin can be extremely helpful in controlling blood sugar an…
Can You Save Money by Importing Drugs from Canad…
The Trump administration made headlines when it announced a plan to allow the importation of drugs from Canada. The stated goal was to save patients money. Alex Azar, then head of Health and Human Ser…
What Is the Best Time to Eat?
A small study shows that the timing of meals can have a profound impact on blood sugar, insulin secretion and blood pressure. But what is the best time to eat? A reader is concerned that her late-nigh…
Show 1368: Why Overcoming Loneliness Is Crucial …
In this week’s interview, Dr. Robert Waldinger of Harvard University explains why overcoming loneliness is essential for our health. His research, summarized in The Good Life, shows that close relat…
Should Doctors Prescribe Ozempic for Weight Loss…
If you have been reading our newsletter, you know that semaglutide is one of the hottest medications in the pharmacy. As I write this, the Food and Drug Administration is reporting that this self-inje…
What Do You Eat to Reduce Your Risk for Diabetes…
Type 2 diabetes is among the most common chronic diseases in the US. Researchers believe that three fourths of the cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented with lifestyle modifications. An analysis…
Is Cooked Oatmeal Better for You Than Instant Oa…
Oats have been a dietary staple for many centuries, and they have a reputation as a healthy whole grain. Eating cooked oatmeal on a regular basis (daily or several times a week) can help control chole…
Why You Should Eat the Mediterranean Way
The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a number of health benefits. We have written previously about studies showing that a Mediterranean-style eating plan can protect the brain, reduce arthr…
If You Need Surgery While on Ozempic or Wegovy B…
Semaglutide is one of the hottest drugs in the pharmacy. You may recognize the brand names Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. Anesthesiologists in Canada and the US are raising the alarm…
Can Restricting Eating Time Help Control Blood S…
People at risk of developing type 2 diabetes may be able to reverse this process by restricting eating time to a nine-hour period every day. One reader embraced this approach and was thrilled with the…
Can You Lower Blood Sugar with Cinnamon?
You've no doubt heard that type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic levels in this country and many others. That means that millions more people have pre-diabetes. That means their blood sugar is headed i…
Show 1362: Lowdown on New Medicines for Treating…
This week’s radio show is the second of a two-part series on new medicines for treating obesity. This episode features Dr. Robert Lustig, neuroendocrinologist and anti-obesity crusader. He discusses…
Does Time-Restricted Eating Help With Weight Los…
Intermittent fasting has become a popular approach for weight control. Some people see this as fasting for a few days a week and eating on the others. Another approach, however, is to practice time-re…
The Miracle of Metformin Against Diabetes, Cance…
One of the cheapest and most effective medicines for controlling blood sugar has been around for decades. In truth, though, herbalists were using goat's rue (French lilac) for hundreds of years before…
Do Statins Increase the Risk for Diabetes or Not…
For years, the guidelines have been crystal clear. According to the American Heart Association, everyone with type 2 diabetes should be taking moderate-intensity statins. As far as we can tell, ther…
Show 1359: Is the Food on Your Plate Real or Fak…
This week’s radio show features two of the country’s leading nutritional epidemiologists, Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard and Dr. Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina. They discuss some …
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners a Healthy Choice?
When people hear that sugar-sweetened beverages pose health hazards, some respond by switching to diet soft drinks. That certainly seems reasonable, but evidence now suggests it might not be the best…
How to Eat for Better Blood Glucose Control
When public health experts point out that nearly one-third of American adults have prediabetes, we figure that we could all benefit from an appropriate diet for better blood glucose control. One reade…
Shocking Conflicts of Interest in Nonprofit Pati…
Americans are big boosters of patient advocacy organizations (PAOs). They contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to nonprofits like the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and …
Is There a Dark Side to the Diabetes Drug Jardia…
If you watch television, there is a decent chance you have seen a Jardiance commercial. The manufacturer is promoting “Big News” about this diabetes drug. Towards the end of the TV spot, the inter…
Show 1352: Home Tests, Tech and Tools to Improve…
Only a few decades ago, most households had very limited ways of measuring their members’ health. There were thermometers to tell if someone had a fever. A bathroom scale could tell if you were losi…
Diet and Exercise Can Help You Manage Diabetes
Being told you have a chronic health problem like type 2 diabetes can be frightening. It often triggers a cascade of prescriptions intended to manage diabetes and keep blood sugar under control. Using…
Metformin (Glucophage) Side Effects & Compl…
The fascinating compound called metformin was discovered nearly a century ago. Scientists realized that it could lower blood sugar in an animal model (rabbits) as early as 1929, but it wasn't until th…
How to Stay Healthy with a Mediterranean Diet
Would you like to be able to improve your health by what you put on your plate? Health professionals and patients alike may doubt that diet can be as powerful as pills. When it comes to important bene…
Is Metformin a Miracle or a Menace?
The diabetes drug metformin has a lot of friends and foes. It never fails to amaze us when people try to either put a medicine on a pedestal or have the FDA ban it. Most drugs have both benefits and r…
What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee and Choco…
Americans have a puritanical streak. This way of thinking suggests that if something hurts or tastes bad, it must be good for you. Conversely, if it tastes good, you might conclude it's bad for you. T…
Aloe Vera Gel Lowered Fasting Blood Sugar
Many people want to control their blood sugar with natural products. Fortunately, they have quite a few to choose from. However, herbs and spices that can lower blood sugar might interact with prescri…
Should Your Doctor Prescribe Produce Instead of …
OK, I apologize for the headline. Medications do save lives. They should not be discontinued! But I wish physicians would pay as much attention to nutrition as they do to pharmaceuticals. If doctors p…
Diabetes
Diabetes is an epidemic in countries around the world as well as one of the major health problems affecting Americans. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes this metabolic disorder as a monume…
Will Viagra Enhance Health and Prolong Life?
Viagra (sildenafil) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in March of 1998. That means it has been on the market more than 25 years. Scientists are still …
What Is the Best Exercise to Prevent Diabetes?
Many people want to know the best exercise to…fill in the blank. They would like to know the best exercise program to lose weight or prevent type 2 diabetes. Others want to keep their brains functio…