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Dr. Marie Gabrielle Laguna

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Medical doctor-internist

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Stand and Exercise More to Lose Weight

Dec 2, 2015

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Standing for longer periods of time can prevent obesity.

In a study conducted by the American Cancer Society in collaboration with The Cooper Institute, The University of Texas and the University of Georgia, results show that standing for at least 6 hours in one day lowers the odds of being obese.

In the past, researches have shown that sedentary behavior such as watching TV or commuting has negative health effects. However, the lone effect of standing has not yet been studied as to whether it is beneficial or not to health. Dr. Kerem Shuval, Director of Physical Activity & Nutrition Research at the American Cancer Society, and team conducted a study that investigated whether standing habits had an effect on obesity and metabolic risk from around 7000 adult patients in the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas from 2010 to 2015. Standing time was compared with obesity measures such as body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and waist circumference. The association between these factors was assessed using the metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors that are known to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.

Standing Lowers Obesity Risk

Results of the study showed that for men, standing a quarter of the time resulted in a 32% reduced likelihood of obesity, and standing half of the time increased this reduction to 59%. However, standing three quarters of the time did not have any significant effect on the risk of obesity.

On the other hand, for women, standing a quarter of the time resulted in a 35% reduction, standing half of the time resulted in 47% reduction, and standing a three quarters of the time had a 57% reduction in obesity risk. There was also no relationship between standing and metabolic syndrome among men and women.

In the study, it was also investigated whether the performance of physical activity in combination with standing had an additive effect on the reduction in obesity risk. The team was able to find out that those who were meeting physical activity guidelines, specifically performing 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity every day, the addition of standing time further decreased the likelihood for obesity, as well as metabolic syndrome both in men and women. Men who were meeting physical activity guidelines and who stood for a quarter to half of the time had a 57% reduction, while those who were exercising and standing for three quarters of the time had a 64% reduction for abdominal obesity.

It should be noted, though, that even though standing has a high potential of reducing the risk for obesity, the study's limitations should also be considered in handling this information. For one, it is actually unclear whether less standing leads to more obesity, or the other way around in which obese individuals just actually stand less. In order to answer this question, further studies have to be conducted.

Another issue is that even though obesity parameters were objectively measured, standing and physical activity data was provided subjectively by the subjects, which means there could be over- or underestimation. Also, it is quite unclear whether standing meant really just standing, or standing while moving. Standing and moving requires more energy while just standing still has the same energy expenditure as simply sitting.

Finally, some studies actually correlate prolonged standing to adverse health effects, such as a higher risk for varicose veins. Because of the contradicting findings that have emerged, further research needs to be conducted in order to determine if standing is really beneficial or not.

To know more on how to lose weight, feel free to read our other articles on this site.

Written by: Yevgeny Aster Dulla, Msc

Predicting Cancer Progression

Dec 1, 2015

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Can mathematical models predict cancer progression?

Mathematicians from Duke University are looking for ways to aid doctors in predicting the way different types of cancers complicate even if the measurements of tumor growth are very difficult to acquire.

In the United States, around one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point. In order to properly treat these patients, accurate predictions of tumor growth are needed in order to assess the type of treatment needed, treatment frequency and dose, and whether a treatment is effective.

According to Duke University Mathematics professor Richard Durrett, who is the lead author of the study, Mathematical models can help inform a whole host of cancer treatment decisions, but you need an accurate model�.
There have already been multiple mathematical models that were proposed for tumor growth. However, which model is appropriate for which type of cancer is the main concern at present.

Co-author Anne Talkington says that there are some tumors that start to slow down their growth or even stop growing when they reach a certain size, but there are others that still continue to increase in size.

One of the issues of most of these tumor prediction models is that the majority of them are calibrated from tumors growing in mice or in the lab, where conditions such as oxygen supply and nutrients are not the same as compared to that in the human body. Unfortunately, most cancer patients have to undergo treatment or surgery soon after diagnosis, and similar data from humans are hard to acquire.

Models of Tumor Growth

In Durrett and Talkington's paper published in Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, they discussed on how you can compare common mathematical models of tumor growth with the use of only two time-point measurements of tumor size, which is just usually the data that can be acquired from patients before they begin their treatment.

Because of the fact that they had to work with data from actual patients, they had no choice but to work on the two data points. Although the usual impression is that just two points are not enough, examining trends in growth rates in when the models are fit to tumors of differing sizes allows successful supposition of the best model.

In order to confirm if their method was indeed correct, they searched previous literature for data from cancer patients whose tumors sizes were measured at two points before the start of their treatment, and the measurements came either from mammograms, MRIs or CT scans.

According to their results, breast and liver tumors grow at a very fast rate while the tumors are still small in size. Durrett compares this to money in a savings account that earns a fixed interest rate�.

In contrast, two types of brain tumors were found to grow the two-thirds power law. This was consistent with the fact that actually only cells on the surface of the tumor are able to proliferate.

Talkington also states that Some bias has been introduced by the way the data were obtained, but our
results indicate that the method is useful for determining which tumor growth models work best for
different types of cancer�.

To know more about ways on how to predict cancer progression, feel free to browse more articles on this site.

Written by: Yevgeny Aster Dulla, MSc

World’s First Portable Lab Now Ready

Nov 30, 2015

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The first�lab-in-a-briefcase has been developed to boost cancer detection rates in developing countries.

Loughborough University is trying to develop a portable lab-in-a-briefcase that is able to operate at high temperatures, that serves to boost early detection rates of cancer especially in developing countries, where there is usually not enough technology to support a full laboratory.

The lab-in-a-briefcase seems to be the first of its kind when talking about the portable measurement of cancer biomarkers, and this idea was conceptualized by Dr. Nuno Reis who is a lecturer of Chemical Engineering in Loughborough University. The whole concept has been published in the journal Lab on a Chip.

A Convenient Idea

In developing countries, the number of patients afflicted with cancer has been steadily on the rise, partially due to the ageing populations, but also because there is a lack of proper diagnostic equipment. According to the WHO World Cancer Report for the year 2014, cancer is known to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming over 8 million lives per year, and around 70% of these deaths occur in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. These cases are expected to rise by 70% in the next 20 years.

Dr. Reis has been working with his research associate Ana Isabel Barbosa in creating the lab-in-a-briefcase. It consists of four components: a manually driven multi-syringe device capable of doing up to 80 tests from whole blood samples, at the same time; microwell plates already loaded with reagents for the assays; a portable USB-powered film scanner to take images of the strips; and a portable computer for real-time analysis of the data.

The whole thing can just be packed inside a briefcase, handbag or laptop case, and also just requires one person to operate it. This operator only needs minimal training, and the test is done in around 15 minutes, and does not need other equipment.

The most important characteristic of this tool is that it uses only whole blood, and the sample does not need any special preparation. This was the most important factor when it comes to testing outside the laboratory.

This kit employs the use of a new, affordable and disposable microfluidic test strip, and is equipped to measure the levels of different kinds of cancer biomarkers in a whole blood sample. This technology actually operates similarly to pregnancy tests, which was also taken advantage of Dr. Reis in another study where he used a smartphone camera to detect prostate cancer.

Dr. Reis says that Our lab-in-a-briefcase is both inexpensive and simple to use; it means that high precision diagnostic kits, complete with clinical laboratory equipment, can be made accessible to remote populations, and this is what makes it a truly-life changing concept for the screening and monitoring of different types of cancer�.

Dr. Reis also believes that this kit will also make a big difference, improving the quality and detection of cancer especially in developing countries where there is limited access to early detection techniques. He also believes that the lab-in-a-briefcase could be further improved to not just detect cancer, but also infectious disease and allergens.

The study was supported by Capillary Film Technology Ltd, which is a UK SME that develops affordable microfluidic fluoropolymer film for use in the life sciences and clinical diagnostics.

To know more about scientific discoveries, please feel free to browse for more articles on this site.

Written by : Yevgeny Aster Dulla, MSc

Key Test for Pancreatic Cancer Underused, Study Shows

Nov 29, 2015

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A vital �test for pancreatic cancer is becoming underused.

According to a study conducted by Mayo Clinic, an inexpensive and readily available test for pancreatic cancer that is very helpful in predicting progression and is a good tool for guidance in treatment is only being used by 1 out of 5 patients in the US. Patients who turn out positive for this particular biomarker usually tend to have worse tumor progression. However, if they are supposed to undergo surgery and will receive chemotherapeutic treatment before getting their operation, this treatment sequence eliminates the elevated tumor marker's negative effects.

Mark Truty, M.D., gastrointestinal surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says that This is another argument for giving chemotherapy before surgery in all pancreatic cancer patients and ending the old practice of surgery followed by chemo�. He also says that the results of their study is very helpful in clinical practice and is quite applicable to all pancreatic cancer patients that are being considered for surgery.

The study was based on data from the National Cancer Data Base. It is the first of its kind in that the researchers used national data, and is also the largest of its kind.

CA 19-9, An Important Biomarker

Subjects that were involved in the study amounted to around 97,000 patients. They followed the tumor progressions of these patients in related to a tumor biomarker, named CA 19-9. This biomarker is connected to many types of cancers, which of course includes pancreatic cancer, and its presence can be detected through the analysis of a blood sample. However, there are around 10% who do not produce this particular biomarker. In the study, the researchers took this into consideration and also followed the outcomes of pancreatic cancer patients who did not produce CA 19-9.

Patients with elevated levels of CA 19-9 had a tendency to have worse outcomes than those who had normal levels at the same stage of cancer. Unexpectedly, the biomarker's negative effect on survival was observed to be highest if the patient was diagnosed at an early stage.

Dr. Truty says that after taking note of how these patients fared after surgical removal of their tumors, the best treatment sequence that was able to eliminate the risk posed by the high level of CA 19-9 was chemotherapy followed by surgery.

Another important piece of information found by the study is that only around 19 percent of the total number of pancreatic cancer patients have their CA 19-9 levels checked during diagnosis, and this is quite fewer than they expected.

If patients are not checked for their CA 19-9 levels during diagnosis, patients with high levels of the tumor biomarker may undergo immediate surgeries that may as well be not beneficial in the long run.

In the US, around 50,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and only around 7 percent are able to survive after 5 years from diagnosis. Thankfully, advances in diagnosis and treatment such as the CA 19-9 test, improved chemotherapy, radiation and surgical techniques are raising the survival odds for patients.

Dr. Truty says that all pancreatic cancer patients should be tested for CA 19-9, especially since it is a cheap and widely available test that will become an invaluable tool for effectively treating a patient. Of course, patients with a high level of CA 19-9 should opt to be subjected to preoperative chemotherapy to lessen the negative effects posed by elevated CA 19-9 levels.

To know more about pancreatic diseases, feel free to browse more articles on this site.

Written by: Yevgeny Aster Dulla, MSc.

Gut Bacteria Could Cause Obesity and Diabetes

Nov 28, 2015

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According to health researchers, an excessive amount of bacteria in the gut could cause the liver to�change the way it processes fat, which could further complicate to become metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is basically a group of conditions that include obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, high blood sugar, and an excessive amount of fat around the waist. Having 3 or more of these
conditions categorize you into having metabolic syndrome, and this also means you have a higher risk for
liver and heart diseases. According to the American Heart Association, in the United States, around 20 to
25 percent of adult Americans have metabolic syndrome.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Americans should add more fiber to their diets as this has
been found to have many beneficial effects on health. However, for a certain part of the population, this
advice could possibly be more harmful than helpful.

Matam Vijay-Kumar, an assistant professor of nutritional sciences and medicine at Penn State, says that
It is a common misconception that plant-derived dietary fiber contains zero calories�.

Gut Bacteria and Fat

Humans and mice cannot naturally digest these fibers, but their gut bacteria can actually convert these
fibers into energy-rich short-chain fatty acids such as acetic acid. After being absorbed and brought to the
liver, these fatty acids are unfortunately also converted to lipids and would add to the existing fat deposits,
which in turn may also cause the development of metabolic syndrome, most especially in people who lack
the toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5).

TLR5 is a receptor for bacterial flagellin and is a component of the innate immune system that is
responsible for maintaining gut-bacteria homeostasis. Around 10% of the human population has a TLR5
mutation, thus, people with this mutation have a weakened immune system that may cause them as well
to have metabolic syndrome.

Vijay-Kumar says that according to their study, the bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber and production
of short-chain fatty acids contribute to the deposition of fat in the liver�. Now, for individuals with TLR5
deficiency for example, there would be possibly more gut bacteria, which would mean more production
of fatty acids that could be harmful to the liver.

In their study, published in Cell Metabolism, it was shown that there was a link between unchecked
bacterial fermentation, short-chain fatty acids and increased liver lipids. This causes non-alcoholic liver
disease which consequently causes liver damage. Results also showed that mice with TLR5 dysfunction
(and therefore gut bacterial overgrowth) and a high consumption of dietary fiber are at risk of adverse
consequences.

Most of the observations describing the beneficial effects of short-chain fatty acids in metabolic disorders
are from short-term studies and primarily from healthy subjects and experimental animals,� according to
Vishal Singh, a postdoctoral fellow of nutritional sciences in Penn State. The next goal of the team is to be
able to see the long-term effects of these short-chained fatty acids, and to try them in animal models of
type 2 diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome. The main goal of these researches is to be able to provide a�more personalized dietary intake especially regarding dietary fiber intake in immunocompromised patients.

To know more about gut bacteria, feel free to browse our other articles on this site.

Written by: Yevgeny Aster Dulla, MSc

New Factor Controls Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine

Nov 27, 2015

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A new paper published in Cell Stem Cell by researchers from Mount Sinai reports that one specific protein controls the functions of stem cells that make them more useful in terms of usage in regenerative medicine.

Most living organisms, including humans, start from an unspecialized single cell, later on multiplying and differentiating to multiple cells types which have specific functions. In humans, these undifferentiated cells are called stem cells, and they multiply and differentiate in the womb of the pregnant mother to become all types of cells in the body. In order for stem cells to be safely used in medical treatment, many factors have to be controlled. These include cell pluripotency, cell differentiation ability, and self-renewal or immortality (which is the ability to multiply ideally indefinitely).

The Wonders of Stem Cells

Stem cells must be able to exhibit self-renewal because they usually have to be kept until they are used as replacements for specific cell types, which is basically the core of regenerative medicine. On the other hand, the ability of self-renewal should not also go out of hand, as uncontrolled proliferation of these cells could also possibly cause abnormal tissue growth as seen in tumors and cancers.

According to the study published by the Mount Sinai researchers, with the use of mouse embryonic stem cells, a protein called ZFP217 (zinc finger protein 217), was found to have the ability to regulate the functionality of genes that are involved in the balance between stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.

Lead author Dr. Martin Walsh says that they are hoping that ZFP217 could be used to maintain supplies of therapeutic stem cells�. ZFP217 is also associated with poor survival in a variety of cancer types, and further studying how this protein functions would possibly make way to discover methods in predicting cancer risk, earlier diagnosis, and providing novel therapeutic methods.

In the study, ZFP217 was found to regulate N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), which is the most commonly occurring RNA modification in human cells that consequently affects stability and genetic function. ZFP217 regulates m6A deposition on mRNAs produced by stem cell pluripotency genes by attaching it to another enzyme called m6A methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), causing it to become inactive. This process causes the cells to differentiate, and ending their self-renewal ability.

Results of the study also show that ZFP217 is involved in cancer proliferation. Overexpression of this gene allows tumor cells to proliferate indefinitely and also blocking pathways that cause cells to mature into functional types.
Other results revealed that ZFP217 also activates genes such as Nanog and Sox2, which are involved in the cells' stemness. Factors such as these may also in turn influence ZFP217, akin to the feedback loop mostly seen in genetic regulation.

Ever since 2006, many researchers around the world have been able to take many kinds of differentiated cells, such as skin cells, and by using genetic techniques, transform them into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. As the original mature cells came from one patient, the transformed iPSCs will also be specific to that patient. This offers a good option for personalized treatment in the form of stem cells. Nanog and Sox2 are actually two of the factors being used in transforming mature cells into iPSCs, and�the close ties of these two enzymes to ZFP217 could possibly mean that ZFP217 is a new tool that can be�used to make more effective production of iPSCs.

To know more about stem cell, feel free to browse our other articles on this site.

Written by: Yevgeny Aster Dulla, MSc

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Side Of Brushing- New Insights On How To Take Care Of Our Teeth

Nov 24, 2015

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A smile is always the best way to create a good first impression.

Therefore it is deemed necessary to take care of our choppers not only because of the reason stated above but more importantly because it is the most essential part of digestion since the larger the food particle being ingested the longer it will take our body to digest and convert the food necessary to fuel our daily activities.

Why Should We Brush?

Brushing our teeth gives it shine and a clean feel but most importantly it rids the mouth of unwanted odors from the previously eaten food. Oftentimes, when cleaning our teeth we tend to do other things making our brushing ineffective, defeating the entire purpose why we brush in the first place. Brushing our teeth after intake of acidic beverages such as the cucumber lemon water for weight loss strips the teeth of their enamel, an outer protective covering which makes the teeth resistant to extremes of temperature brought about by the food that we eat. It is recommended to either wait for several minutes prior to brushing. Cleaning our brushes are also necessary after use to ensure proper hygiene, do so with a clean tap water and store it in an upright position to allow excess water to drip off. Keeping the brushes moist for a long period of time allows the bacteria to grown within the bristles and they are invisible to the naked eye making us susceptible to infection.

Most of the data that we need to enhance our daily living can be found in the web and tooth care is not an exception. Examples of which are the use of apple cider vinegar for whitening of the teeth, however experts say that using such a strong ingredient can damage the enamel of our teeth making them more brittle and prone to damage. In the past year, fitting of ready to use braces have become a fad which caused some people to have misaligned teeth and mouth infections brought about by mishandling of such dental aides.

At some point of our lives as a teenager we feel in one way or the other the need to belong, so when a close friend gets a piercing, it is seemingly understandable to get one yourself too. However, we may have to think more than twice if I may say, some studies found that a piercing located anywhere in our oral cavity can both be a no-no to our dentist and doubles the risk of us getting dental caries, serious oral infections and also brings about damage to our choppers.

No pain, no gain, we have to accept the fact that some people are born with those teeth perfectly aligned while some though have to bear with the pain that comes with straightening those unruly teeth. Retainers were created for a purpose and that is to support the teeth after the braces have been taken off until they will be able to hold themselves tight in their desired placement. It indeed is a relief when those braces are removed but don't let the feeling of comfort shortchange the 6 month long journey to beautiful and perfectly aligned teeth.

To know more about how you can keep your teeth healthy, feel free to browse our website.

Written by: Dr. Christine Ena Carado

Do Away With Abdominal Discomfort- Remedies Found From Natural Herbs

Nov 23, 2015

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Once in our entire lifetime, we get to experience abdominal discomfort and the feeling of fullness even without food intake.

Its cause varies from simple food indigestion, menstrual related conditions to the most severe of cases including gastric, colonic and gynecologic malignancies. Whatever the cause maybe, it is best to identify the possible etiology of the discomfort in order to provide the necessary relief needed either by pharmacologic medications or by the aid of herbal concoctions.

Use of herbal medicine dates back to the ancient Chinese era, where every symptom or disease has an equivalent treatment. These herbal concoctions were given not only to alleviate the symptom presented but also as a cleansing agent to rid the body of unwanted toxins that can worsen one's overall health.

Herbs To Try

Different types of herbs have different indications based on their healing properties and are as follows:

Mint leaves have been used as an additive to some of our post meal beverages to enhance digestion and wash away unpleasant food aftertaste. Recent studies also showed that mint leaves whether in its pure form or incorporated into another beverage dispels the feeling of fullness making you enjoy the feeling of lightness around your belly.

Ginger is popularly known as a spice giving our food a tangy, spicy taste but several experiments proved that placing a strip of ginger under your tongue prior to travelling can prevent nausea and other gastrointestinal upset. Ginger also helps in calming the hyperactive bowels.

Fennel gives a distinct aroma and flavor to the dishes when used as a spice but a Chinese herbal medicine expert found that both the seeds and bulb can be used to relieve indigestion and can give prompt relief for abdominal cramps by stimulating release of flatus.

Apart from its claim to aide in weight loss by promoting overall cleansing of the colon, apple cider vinegar and artichoke served in salad form, strengthens the upper esophageal sphincter of the stomach to firmly close thereby holding back previously eaten food and gastric acid preventing occurrence of burning sensation in the epigastric area.

In ancient times, radicchio was known to purify the blood from harmful toxins and also helps a person suffering from insomnia. Apart from the known benefits, radicchio also induces the digestive enzymes of the stomach to ensure assimilation of the consumed food.

St. Mary's thistle or milk thistle utilizes all of its parts from roots to leaves.� It rids the liver of any accumulated toxic substances and also boosts the immune system to prevent diseases. Though a little bit acrid for the taste, it allows the person regularly taking the seeds to have good bowel motility and therefore zapping off defecation problem. Slippery elm also offers the same effects as laxatives bought over the counter but doing away with the dependence.

Always having problems with a sensitive stomach, maybe it's time for you to try several slices of burdock or gobo for Japanese along with miso. Gobo and miso contains prebiotics that feeds the good intestinal bacteria and strengthening gut health and prevents abdominal gas and bloating.

To know more on abdominal conditions, feel free to read our other articles on this site.

Written by: Dr. Christine Ena Carado

New Drug Delivery Technique Can Bypass the Blood Brain Barrier

Nov 22, 2015

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The brain is one of the most important parts of the body. It serves as the control centre of the body; hence it should be protected against diseases that may damage its neurons.

However age and a weak immune system can give rise to susceptibility towards illnesses affecting the central nervous system.�Once infection or neurodegeneration in the brain sets in, the condition will be harder to treat, because the blood brain barrier will keeps drugs from passing and acting on the brain tissues. For a drug to be effective against brain illnesses it has to pass through the blood brain barrier and, sadly, only a few medicines can do this.

The Drug Study

Now, there is good news. Recently, researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School and Boston University have discovered a new method by which drugs can pass through the blood brain barrier so that they can offer neuroprotection in a mouse model for Parkinson's disease. This is considered a breakthrough since naturally, the blood brain barrier is considered impenetrable. Their findings are published in the recent issue of Neurosurgery journal.

The researchers are glad with their findings because with it they are able to give hope to numerous patients around the world who have neurological illnesses which are hard to treat because only a few drugs can enter the blood brain barrier. This blood brain barrier is said to prevent about 98% of medicines from reaching the brain tissue and parts of the central nervous system. The researchers are still currently developing newer platforms that may be used to deliver substances to the brain and which may be useful in the treatment of not only neurodegenerative diseases but also psychiatric conditions, seizure disorders, long term pain, infections and other illnesses that may affect the brain and the spinal cord.

The new technique involved delivering glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a protein with therapeutic properties towards Parkinson's disease, with the use of nasal mucosal grafting to the brains of mice. Nasal mucosal grafting is a technique which is being used in ENT to reconstruct the blood brain barrier after surgery at the base of the brain. The safety and efficacy of this procedure has been tested and proven for many years in the medical field. The nasal lining protects the brain from infection and other diseases just like what the blood brain barrier does to the brain.

The results show that this delivery method was comparable to direct injection of glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to the brain, by examining behavioral and histological data captured. Injection of glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to the brain is currently the gold standard in delivering drugs in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease. However, this gold standard of delivering drugs to Parkinson's disease is risky because it's traumatic nature and high complication rates. However this delivery method has been tested and proven to delay and reverse disease progression in patients with Parkinson's disease in clinical trials.

This study was funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). For more information on the brain and its functions feel free to browse this site.

A New Perspective on Exercise for Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Nov 20, 2015

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Diabetes is a condition that affects approximately 17 billion people worldwide.

Diabetes arises from an interplay of genetics, physical inactivity, dietary choices, environmental factors and deviation from the normal hormonal balance of the body. Once diagnosed presents a high burden not only to the patient but also to their respective families.

Appropriate control of the blood sugar levels either by conventional and pharmacologic method prevents unwanted complications of diabetes. Conventional treatment involves dietary restrictions and increasing one's physical activity such as taking 10 minute leisurely or brisk walking which unfortunately is considered as the most difficult barrier among diabetics especially women.

Females who are Type 2 diabetics were selected as subjects in several studies due to the fact that they have much worse outcomes with regards to exercise and function of the cardiovascular system. It is also with this consideration in mind that females are the ones who are doing most of the household chores and are most likely to miss out on the things that they should be doing once diagnosed by the disease making them fall into a vicious cycle of poor metabolism after eating a large meal and adapting to physical inactivity.

The Diabetes Study

A recent study on women with Type 2 diabetes were subjected to less than an hour physical activity showed an increase on the level of effort and a higher score on the rating of perceived exertion as compared to their non-diabetic counterparts. The perceived effort is owed to the inability of one's body to channel the nutrition derived from the food intake to fuel and redirect blood flow to the exercising muscles. As a result, women with diabetes find it more apt to continue the usual daily routine without exercise.

Lactic acid is normally produced in the muscle cells and its increase is proportional to the level of exertion seen during intense exercise. Female Type 2 diabetic patients and control non diabetic subjects were made to exercise in a progressing level of difficulty and blood was withdrawn and analyzed for lactate levels. Diabetic females have a higher lactate levels in the circulation which causes them to feel fatigued faster than the non-diabetic group.

Factors in the faster feeling of exhaustion among female diabetic patients during exercise needs further studies in order to discover more ways to help these patients overcome the feeling of tiredness thereby discouraging them from engaging into exercise routines to help them get fit the healthier way.

In summary, clinicians and educators should encourage and educate patients to find a suitable exercise routine they are comfortable with in order to bring their blood sugar levels to normal or near normal levels for them to avoid the adverse complications of diabetes.

To know more about diabetes, feel free to read our other articles on this site.

Written by: Dr. Christine Ena Carado

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