Smart contact lenses may diagnose diabetes and deliver drugs in retinopathy

Researchers have developed smart contact lenses for both continuous glucose monitoring and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The contact lenses used to correct poor vision, may in coming times could also monitor diabetes and deliver medications in a new study.The first study to show a combination of blood sugar sensing and drug delivery technology in a contact lens has been published in the journal Science Advances.

The smart contact lens contains ultrathin, flexible electrical circuits and a microcontroller chip. It's currently about 0.2 millimeters (mm) thick, and Hahn said the researchers hope to reduce that to 0.15 mm.The smart contact lens may be used as an excellent interface between the human body and an electronic device for wearable healthcare applications. 

In patients with diabetes, monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels are extremely important because having high blood glucose levels for extended periods of time can lead to a host of diabetes complications. An enzyme based finger-pricking method is the most commonly used technology in diabetic assessment. However, such approach has been said to reduce compliance among diabetic patients.

The new lenses have been designed to check blood sugar levels and to deliver drugs to the eye in diabetic retinopathy. 

In the last several decades, many attempts have been made to monitor glucose levels in tears with smart contact lenses, but they are often not used due to poor wearability. 

Dr Sei Kwang Hahn, professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea said
 "Among various wearable devices, a smart contact lens is especially promising for health care applications because it can be used as an excellent interface between the human body and an electronic device"

Chemicals on the contact lens bind with glucose and trigger an electrical current change that is proportional to the amount of glucose. The electric current is also used to dissolve gold membranes that seal drug reservoirs, triggering the release of a dose of the drug, Hahn explained.

The researchers have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of smart contact lenses for noninvasive and continuous diabetic diagnosis and diabetic retinopathy therapy.They are hoping to begin human clinical trials in 2021 and have a commercial product as soon as 2023.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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The compelling reason why diabetics should care for their heart

We all know people who have either had some cardiovascular issue or worse, have succumbed to one. A man who was a diabetic trying to manage his blood sugar level, but one test found out that his heart health is compromised too, because of diabetes. 

A February 2019 report in a leading media website quoted a Stanford based cardiologist: “Every South Asian has a very common experience unfortunately, and it’s that we all have someone in our first-degree circle that has either died suddenly or had premature cardiovascular disease.” She believed that despite leading a healthy life, South Asians have a higher risk of developing heart issues because of their ancestry.

According to a senior cardiologist, "The reason why diabetics suffer from heart disease seem to be multifactorial. The high glucose levels in diabetes impair the ability of the blood vessels to expand, leading to abnormal narrowing of the arteries as well as swelling in the vessel wall. Also, there is an increased tendency for plaques (deposits along the vessel wall) to rupture. It can also lead to abnormal changes in the structure and function of platelets (tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding) leading to formation of blood clots and eventually resulting in a heart attack. Further, diabetes increases triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol which aggravates the process of atherosclerosis leading to coronary heart disease."

Now coming to people suffering from diabetes, there is growing evidence that suggests some of the blood sugar lowering drugs increases the chances of heart issues. While there are some medicines that have no effect on heart health, still others have drawbacks and put hearts at risk. In fact many international researchers stress on the importance of carrying out studies to understand the impact of all (old and new) blood sugar medicines on heart health.
Dr. further added, “Diabetes is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. So, a patient with diabetes should always try to maintain his blood sugar in the recommended level. Natural ways to decrease blood sugar is regular aerobic and mild strength exercise, reduce weight, have a healthy diet pattern especially having diet with low glycemic index. Stop smoking completely as smoking associated with increased incidence of diabetes. Persons who smoke have 30 to 40% higher risk of new onset diabetes mellitus. As such, smoking is another major risk factor for diabetes and smoking and diabetes together can be a deadly combination for coronary heart disease and stroke. 

 

Dyslipidemia is common in diabetic patient and is another major risk factor for coronary heart disease. If regular exercise and healthy diet pattern is not able to correct dyslipidemia, the treatment with statins is needed to control it.”
Among other risk factors, diabetes can lead to heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy.

All these possibilities need to be screened on a regular basis (at least once a year) in all patients with diabetes. Diabetes patients should be well trained on how to maintain a recommended blood sugar level. Too high or too low blood sugar can cause serious problems.
The silver lining is that an increasing number of people are becoming aware about the risk of diabetes. According to doctors, there has been an 81 per cent increase in the number of people searching for an endocrinologist. The search for diabetologists grew by 51 per cent since last year. Moreover, online consultation witnessed a 95 per cent increase in queries related to diabetes.
For a type 2 diabetic, the first step to managing the disease is imbibing healthier food habits. The next step is to snack right! A lot of us tend to binge on fried or unhealthy snacks without worrying about the repercussions. A simple and gradual way to change this is to revise your snacking routine. 

 

Replace your usual choices with food items like almonds, makhanas or yoghurt that are healthy and filling and will also help in building your overall health. Stressing on the importance of eating right, leading Bollywood Actress said, “We Indians really love our snacks in all forms - sweet or savory. Many of us tend to overindulge in them, and this can have a larger negative impact over a course of time. A good way to change this is to opt for healthier snacking alternatives. In my case, I make it a point to keep food like a handful of roasted or flavoured almonds, fresh fruit or oats stored away in a small box nearby, to ensure I don’t snack on unhealthy food that gives me empty calories.”

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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Men Getting less than six hours of sleep can up risk of heart disease

Men who sleep less than 6 hours a night may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who sleep between 7-8 hours, a new study suggests.

The study showed that poor quality sleep of less than 6 hours increases the risk of atherosclerosis by 27 % compared  to 7-8 hours of sleep.

Atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls throughout the body.

On the other hand, women who slept more than 8 hours a night had an increased risk of atherosclerosis. 

Cardiovascular disease is a major global problem and doctors are trying to prevent and treat it using several approaches, including pharmaceuticals, physical activity and diet, said  a researcher.

But the study emphasizes we've to include sleep as one of the weapons we use to fight hear disease- a factor we're compromising every day, the researcher added.

For the study, the team included 3,974 bank employees among which all were without known heart disease and 2/3rds were men.

In addition, alcohol and caffeine consumption were found to cause short and disrupted sleep.

Many people think alcohol is a good inducer of sleep, but there's a rebound effect. If you drink alcohol, you may wake up after a short period of sleep and have a hard time getting back to sleep. And if you do get back to sleep, it's often a poor quality sleep, he said.

Lack of sleep has been known to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing heart disease risk factors such as glucose levels, blood pressure, inflammation and obesity.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                
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Men who sleep less than six hours a night may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who sleep between seven and eight hours, a new study suggests.

The study showed that poor quality sleep of less than six hours increases the risk of atherosclerosis by 27 per cent compared to seven to eight hours of sleep.

Atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls throughout the body.

Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67555503.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Men who sleep less than six hours a night may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who sleep between seven and eight hours, a new study suggests.

The study showed that poor quality sleep of less than six hours increases the risk of atherosclerosis by 27 per cent compared to seven to eight hours of sleep.

Atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls throughout the body.

Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67555503.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Men who sleep less than six hours a night may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who sleep between seven and eight hours, a new study suggests.

The study showed that poor quality sleep of less than six hours increases the risk of atherosclerosis by 27 per cent compared to seven to eight hours of sleep.

Atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls throughout the body.

Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67555503.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Type 2 diabetes: Here’s how much tea you should drink everyday to prevent high blood sugar

India, which is home to more than 72 million diabetic patients, figures among the few countries with the highest number of people suffering from diabetes. Yet, one study showed that by 2030, the country will have nearly 98 million people living with the condition. The research also highlighted some alarming facts that the amount of insulin required to effectively manage type 2 diabetes will surge by more than 20 per cent worldwide over the next 12 years.

Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes mellitus, accounts for 90-95 per cent of all diabetes cases. This type of diabetes causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. While there's no cure for type 2 diabetes, you can manage the condition by making healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. It’s claimed that people could prevent high blood sugar symptoms by drinking tea. 

But, how much tea should you drink per day to keep blood sugar from going too high?

Tea, green tea, in particular, is a great beverage option for diabetics because it promotes the metabolic system function better. Green tea contains large amounts of polyphenols, compounds naturally found in plants. Polyphenols act as antioxidants that are known for their ability to combat cell damage. Research suggests that polyphenols can help regulate sugar in the body, subsequently lowering the risk of developing the condition.

Scientists say consuming more than two cups of tea a day may help prevent diabetes type 2, says a report. According to a cardiologist, tea, especially green tea, helps sensitise cells through a complex biochemical reaction, so that they are better able to metabolise sugar. “Green tea is good for people with diabetes because it helps the metabolic system function better,” she was quoted.

So, whether you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have a family history of the disease, consuming green tea may help treat or reduce the risk of developing the condition. But, make sure that you speak to a doctor if you notice any symptoms related to type 2 diabetes.

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Night owls at high risk of heart disease, diabetes

Night owls — people who prefer staying up late — may have a higher risk of suffering from heart disease and type 2 diabetes than early risers, a study has found.

The first-ever international review of studies analysing whether being an early riser or a night owl can influence your health, researchers have uncovered a growing body of evidence indicating an increased risk of ill health in people with an evening preference as they have more erratic eating patterns and consume more unhealthy foods.

The human body runs on a 24-hour cycle which is regulated by our internal clock, which is known as a circadian rhythm, or chronotype.

This internal clock regulates many physical functions, such as telling you when to eat, sleep and wake. An individual’s chronotype leads to people having a natural preference towards waking early or going to bed late.

The researchers found increasing evidence emerging from studies linking conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes to people with the evening chronotype — a natural preference for evenings.

People who go to bed later tend to have unhealthier diets, consuming more alcohol, sugars, caffeinated drinks and fast food than early risers.

They consistently report more erratic eating patterns as they miss breakfast and eat later in the day. Their diet contains less grains, rye and vegetables and they eat fewer, but larger, meals.

They also report higher levels of consumption of caffeinated beverages, sugar and snacks, than those with a morning preference, who eat slightly more fruit and vegetables per day.

This potentially explains why night owls have a higher risk of suffering from chronic disease.

Eating late in the day was also found to be linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes because the circadian rhythm influences the way glucose is metabolised in in the body.

Glucose levels should naturally decline throughout the day and reach their lowest point at night. However, as night owls often eat shortly before bed, their glucose levels are increased when they are about to sleep.

This could negatively affect metabolism as their body isn’t following its normal biological process.

Every additional hour spent outdoors was associated with 30 minutes of ‘advance sleep’ and that the noise, ambient lighting and crowding of urban environments can make people in some areas more likely to have a morning or evening preference.

The researchers also found evidence that night owls would accumulate ‘sleep debt’ during the working week and would sleep longer at weekends to compensate for this, whereas early birds had smaller differences in their sleeping patterns across the week.

“We have found that your genes, ethnicity and gender determine the likelihood of you being a morning or evening type,” said a researcher.

“In adulthood, being an evening chronotype is associated with greater risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and this may be potentially due to the poorer eating behaviour and diet of people with evening chronotype, “Our review also found that people who have a poorer control of their diabetes are more likely to be evening types,” she said.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com