High-fat diet triggers diabetes, metabolic syndrome - Zee News

Washington: Scientists have found new clues about the health-damaging molecular changes set in motion by eating high-fat foods.

A better understanding of the body’s response to indulgent eating could lead to new approaches for treating diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

High fat foods can contribute to obesity, which increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have learned that a key protein called Bcl10 is needed for the free fatty acids, which are found in high-fat food and stored in body fat, to impair insulin action and lead to abnormally high blood sugar.

In the laboratory study, mice deficient in Bcl10 were protected from developing insulin resistance when fed a high-fat diet.

Insulin helps control blood sugar, but insulin resistance can lead to the abnormally high blood sugar levels that are the hallmark of diabetes. Insulin resistance can occur as part of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

“The study also underscores how very short-term changes in diet such as high-fat eating for only a few days, perhaps even less, can induce a state of insulin resistance,” said senior study author Peter C. Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at the University of Michigan.

Researchers began by investigating how free fatty acids induce inflammation and impair insulin action in the liver. It’s thought the liver is a major target for the harmful effects of free fatty acids.

In the liver, free fatty acids undergo metabolism to produce diacylglycerols prior to inducing the inflammatory response.

Diacylglycerols also activate NF-kB signalling which has been linked with cancer, metabolic and vascular diseases.

The team of researchers concluded that Bcl10 is required for fatty acids to induce inflammation in the liver and insulin resistance. In the study, Bcl10 deficient mice showed significant improvement in regulation of blood sugar.

“We were surprised to learn that Bcl10, a protein previously known for its critical role in immune cell response to infection, also plays a critical role in the liver’s response to fatty acid,” said Lucas.

“This is an example of nature co-opting a mechanism fundamental to the immune system and using it in a metabolic organ, in this case, the liver,” he stated.

Co-senior author Linda M. McAllister-Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Michigan, added “These findings reveal a new and important role for Bcl10 and could lead to novel ideas for treating patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.”

The findings will be published May 31 in Cell Reports.

ANI

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Soaring obesity levels mean NHS is now spending 8% of its entire medicines bill treating diabetes - Daily Mail

Britain’s obesity crisis has led to a massive increase in the amount of money spent on drugs to treat diabetes, figures show.

Diabetes drugs now account for 8.4 per cent of the NHS medicines bill, costing taxpayers ?725 million a year.

The amount spent in 2010/11 was up an enormous 41 per cent on the ?513 million spent in 2005/06. This compares to an 11 per cent rise in the overall cost of the NHS drugs bill between the two periods.

Obesity has been linked to the spiralling number of people developing type 2 diabetes, a condition which the NHS spends 8.4% of its budget treating

One in every 25 prescription items now dispensed is for diabetes - accounting for 38.3 million items, according to the England data from the NHS Information Centre. This is up 41 per cent on the number in 2005/06 (27.1 million).

Most of the rise is down to the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

Around a quarter of adults of now obese – so fat their health is in danger, but experts believe that by 2050 this could exceed 50 per cent.

There are 2.5 million people in the UK with Type 2 diabetes while a further 850,000 people are estimated to be undiagnosed.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin output because of auto-immune damage to the pancreas gland.

The most common cause in Type 1 diabetes is the body’s own immune system.

Insulin-producing cells in the pancreas of people with Type 1 diabetes are destroyed by cells that normally defend us from invading organisms.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by insufficient production of insulin in the pancreas and a resistance to the action of insulin in the body's cells - especially in muscle, fat and liver cells.

This form is strongly associated with being overweight, but it's less clear what causes it.

In the first few years after diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes high levels of insulin circulate in the blood because the pancreas can still produce the hormone.

Eventually insulin production dwindles.
It follows warnings that the NHS could be bankrupt by the middle of the decade unless Britain gets to grips with what has been called the ‘obesity timebomb’.

Many people are on a combination of drugs to try to keep their blood sugar levels under control, and two out of three items now dispensed manage the body’s own production of insulin.

The next most commonly issued drugs are injectable insulins, which are vital when the pancreas cannot produce enough of the hormone itself.

Insulin works by keeping the level of sugar in the bloodstream within a normal range.

NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: ‘Today’s report paints a picture of an ever increasing drugs bill to cope with the demands of society triggered by diabetes.

‘This information will help people and health professionals see the impact that caring for diabetes has on NHS prescribing; and support the NHS in planning for how to best address the condition moving forward.’

Bridget Turner, head of policy and care improvement at Diabetes UK, said: ‘This report reinforces that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges this country faces.

‘Increasing diabetes prevalence has largely caused this rise in cost and numbers of prescriptions. Diabetes UK believes that people should have access to the most appropriate treatment to manage their diabetes and reduce the risk of devastating complications.

‘The long-term costs of poor diabetes management, such as caring for someone who’s had a heart attack or stroke, lost their sight or lower limb, far outweigh those of the drugs that help prevent such complications.

‘Investment in education, support and improving access to reduce variations of care will empower people to effectively self-manage their condition. This will tackle the spiralling rates and costs of diabetes and help those diagnosed with the condition stay healthy.’

Obesity also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and certain types of cancer.

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Apofore Founder Publishes Studies Identifying Apolipoprotein A-IV as New Potential Target for Type 2 Diabetes Therapeutics - Business Wire

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apofore Corporation today announced that its scientific founder at the University of Cincinnati, Patrick Tso, PhD, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, has published new data demonstrating that the naturally occurring protein, Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), reduces blood sugar and increases insulin secretion in mouse models of diabetes. The research published in the current online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests apoA-IV is a promising new target for developing treatments for Type 2 diabetes. Apofore, which has licensed the technology from the university, is building on this work to develop novel Type 2 diabetes therapeutics, beginning with a recombinant form of apoA-IV.

“Our studies have identified a novel function of apoA-IV as a potent regulator of insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis”

ApoA-IV is secreted from the small intestine in response to lipid absorption. The protein has previously been shown to play a potential role in the regulation of food intake, lipid metabolism and mediation of the inflammatory process. Studies have also shown that apoA-IV is significantly increased in humans following gastric bypass, and this was coincident with the amelioration of diabetes.

“Our studies have identified a novel function of apoA-IV as a potent regulator of insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis,” stated Dr. Tso, who is also the company’s scientific founder. “Along with Apofore, the next phase of research will further characterize apoA-IV’s role in diabetes and lay the groundwork for clinical studies to evaluate its potential benefits in patients.”

“Although great strides have been made with Type 2 diabetes treatments in recent years, there is still a substantial need for new therapeutic approaches that normalize glucose and reduce cardiovascular inflammation,” noted Christopher K. Mirabelli, PhD, President of Apofore and a Managing Director at HealthCare Ventures. “Dr. Tso and his team have succeeded in identifying a very interesting and novel target for diabetes therapeutic development. Apofore was established to advance this promising research, beginning with a recombinant form of apoA-IV, into clinical trials to determine its potential role in the diabetes treatment paradigm.” HealthCare Ventures is funding Apofore.

Dr. Tso and his team studied mice that were deficient in apoA-IV (known as apoA-IV-/- knockout mice) and found that these knockout mice had reduced insulin secretion and impaired glucose tolerance. These same knockout mice, when fed a diet high in fat developed impaired glucose tolerance to a greater degree than wild type mice on the same diet. However, knockout mice on the same high fat diet that received apoA-IV injections showed improved insulin response to glucose.

Additionally, the Tso group evaluated whether the beneficial effects of apoA-IV administration could be extended to other models of diabetes. The team evaluated a diabetic mouse model known as KKAy, characterized by obesity, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. In this model, injection of apoA-IV resulted in a significant decrease in glucose levels and a corresponding increase in insulin secretion during the period when glucose levels decreased most rapidly.

The paper is entitled, Apolipoprotein A-IV improves glucose homeostasis by enhancing insulin secretion. The study’s co-authors include Sean Davidson, PhD, Tammy Kindel, Alison Kohan, Silvana Obici, PhD, Fei Wang and Stephen Woods, PhD, all from the University of Cincinnati; and Kathryn Corbin and Craig Nunemaker of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

About Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond adequately to insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are approximately 26 million Americans who have Type 2 diabetes, 8.3% of the US population.

About Apofore Corporation

Apofore Corporation is a focused company founded by Patrick Tso, PhD and funded by HealthCare Ventures. ApoA-IV, the first therapeutic being prepared for clinical trials, has promising pre-clinical data supporting potential use in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. For more information, please visit www.apofore.com.

About HealthCare Ventures

HealthCare Ventures is a leading life science venture capital firm investing in preclinical and early clinical stage “Focused Companies” with the potential to transform patient care. Since its founding in 1985, HealthCare Ventures has raised $1.6 billion across nine funds and has invested in 105 companies, 67 as startup ventures. For more information, please visit www.hcven.com.

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Diabetes Walk to be in memory of local teen - Williamson Daily News

WILLIAMSON - For one set of parents whose daughter passed away in 2009 from injuries she sustained in a vehicle accident, the mission to raise funding for research to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes and to send children who suffer from the disease to “Camp Kno-Koma” has not ended, but in fact, has done the exact opposite.

Fundraising efforts have become a passion for Ginger and Tony Dentro of Lenore, the parents of Brittany Dentro, a Logan High School senior who was killed on April 20, 2009 on U.S. 119 near the Nolan Street exit in a car crash.

Brittany had suffered from Type I Diabetes since she was 7-years-old.

Friday, May 25, the Dentros are joining forces with Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Vicki Hatfield of the Comprehensive Health Solutions in Williamson, who also serves as a diabetes counselor, to hold the First Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes at the Lefty Hamilton Park in West Williamson.

“Juvenile Diabetes affects many children in our area, and unless one experiences the circumstance themselves it’s hard to even fathom what these kids go through,” said Ginger. “Having a child diagnosed with Type I Diabetes is a life changing event for the entire family.”

Ginger spoke with the Daily News about the health complications her daughter experienced during her fight with diabetes; of the many hospital stays, the sleepless nights and the countless doctors’ visits.

What sticks out in her mind the most, however; was how helpless she felt at times and of how tired Brittany had grown of the continuous daily battle of fluctuating blood sugars and her wish that it would just go away.

“I told her that diabetes was something she was going to have to live with for her entire life,” remarked Ginger. “It was a fact of life that would not change or go away, no matter how much we all wanted it to.”

For one week during the summers of Brittany’s life following her eighth birthday, she did not feel different from those around her because the other children from across the state of West Virginia that attended the diabetes “Camp Kno-Koma” clearly understood her feelings about diabetes because they too, were diagnosed with the same disease.

For seven days, all the children in attendance were on an even playing field. During this one week, no one looked at them peculiarly when they performed a finger stick test to check their blood sugar. No one cringed when a camper pulled out an insulin filled syringe to give themselves a shot. No one thought anything about it, because for all of them it was a common practice and a way of life.

“I can’t even begin to express what spending the week at camp did for Brittany’s well being,” said Ginger. “They all fit in, they were all in the same boat. No one was treated differently because of the disease.”

“Brittany became close friends with several of the campers, and these friendships lasted throughout our daughter’s life. She attended Camp Kno-Koma for a total of 11 years; eight as a camper, two as a LIT (Leadership In Training) and the last one as a counselor.”

Two of the friend’s that Ginger was speaking of were Chelsea Farley and Kenny Porter. Both individuals shared some memories of Brittany with the Daily News, and additional information on the camp itself.

“Brittany and I met when we were only 9 years old,” said Chelsea. “We both started attending Camp Kno-Koma at the same time and became inseparable after the very first day.

“She was my best friend.

“We talked on a regular basis throughout each year before camp. We lived almost 4 hours apart so it was difficult to visit much through the months leading up to the next year. Nevertheless, our friendship became stronger and stronger.

“Then - tragedy struck, and I lost someone I loved very much. The camp continues to keep Brittany’s name alive. I speak on her behalf at a campfire, and then when that’s over the other campers and counselors that knew Brittany stay and we exchange our favorite memories of her.

“Brittany had the best personality and we all miss her dearly. She will always be my best friend; no one will ever take her place.”

Chelsea stated that she keeps in contact with Brittany’s family and said that the annual diabetes walk scheduled in her friend’s memory has helped her find peace in knowing that her name will long be remembered by generations to come.

Kenny Porter, who has been associated with Camp Kno-Koma for over 17 years, told the Daily News the camp was founded in 1950 under the direction of Dr. George P. Heffner. Although it has changed locations and leadership many times during its last 60 years of existence, it is still reaching its original goal and purpose of providing a one week summer camp for children with diabetes.

Since 2010, the camp has been held at the Greenbrier Youth Camp, located in the Monongahela National Forest near Anthony.

“It broke our hearts hearing about the tragic accident that took Brittany’s life,” said Kenny. “All that knew her loved her. She was a constant help to others. She told me that her goal in life was to be a nurse and help others in need.

“I’m quite sure she would have made a fantastic nurse.”

Registration for the benefit walk that will raise money to provide the fee to send area children with diabetes to Camp Kno-Koma who cannot afford the fee of $275 is scheduled to take place between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. this Friday. Registration is slated for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., but those who are late arriving will be accommodated. The entry fee per person will be $10.

“We’re also going to have several games for the kid’s to play, along with a dunking booth and an inflatable bouncer with a slide,” said Ginger.

“Come on out and join us, help us raise some money and treat yourself to some popcorn or a snow cone.”

All money raised during the event will go to the camp sponsorship program. Donations are always welcome, and Ginger remarked that if there’s anyone in the Tug valley area interested in personally sponsoring a child for the camp, the cost if paid before May 31 is $275 and $325 if paid at a later date.

This year’s camp dates are July 15 through the July 21. Registration forms will be available at the walk.

For more information regarding this Friday’s fundraiser or the camp itself, you may give Ginger a call at 304-236-5089 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and after 6 you may call 304-688-9316.

“My daughter Heather was also diagnosed with Type I diabetes about a month and a half ago,” stated Ginger. “My youngest daughter Alisha will be tested to see if she carries the genes and traits for diabetes in approximately one week.

“I don’t think I have to give further explanation as to why I’m so passionate about this cause.

“My heart goes out to all parents who have children that suffer from any disease, and I can truthfully say I have, and am, walking in your shoes.

“I feel your pain, and I ask you to join us on Friday to help raise funding to send diabetic children to a summer camp where they can relax among others just like them,” concluded Ginger.

“Losing Brittany is something I will never get over, but being involved in this gives me a feeling of contentment knowing that I will be a part of seeing another diabetic child besides my own have the time of their life at camp.”

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Death rate drops among Americans with diabetes — CDC - Daily Press

A diabetic patient injects himself with insulin in downtown Los Angeles July 30, 2007. (Lucy Nicholson, Reuters / July 31, 2007)

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A 40 percent decline in the death rate of diabetic American adults from heart disease and strokes is a sign that patients are taking better care of themselves and receiving improved treatment, according to a government study released on Tuesday.

While the drop in death rates from cardiovascular disease was the most dramatic, overall death rates among diabetic adults dropped 23 percent from 1997 to 2006, according to the study by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

"Diabetes leads to many complications and shorter life spans," Edward Gregg, the study's lead author and chief of epidemiology and statistics in CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, told Reuters on Tuesday.

"The fact that we found substantially lower death rates in both men and women was very encouraging," he said.

Diabetics are less likely to smoke than in the past and more likely to be physically active, the CDC said, although it noted that obesity levels among diabetics continues to rise. Better control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol may also have contributed to the decline in death rates among diabetics, it said.

"When you see an effect on mortality like this, it's not due to one factor, it's really all those factors," said Gregg.

The study examined data from 250,000 patients.

Despite the significant decline in diabetic deaths from cardiovascular disease, the rate is still twice as high as those without the disease, the CDC said.

On average, diabetes diagnosed in middle age reduces a patient's life expectancy by 10 years, although the gap likely will narrow as diabetics live longer, said Gregg.

An estimated 25.8 million people in the United States have diabetes, which is marked by high levels of glucose in the blood, the CDC said. The number of people with diabetes continues to increase, said Gregg.

Obesity is a major cause of the increase in Type 2 diabetes, which is most common in adults, he said.

"There's still a long way to go," said Gregg. "The fact that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with lifestyle intervention means that we really need to do more."

(Editing by Tom Brown)

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Diabetes patients at risk from medication mistakes - The Guardian

Nearly one in three hospital patients with diabetes are affected by medication mistakes that can lead to dangerously high or low blood glucose levels, checks have revealed. Hospitals in England and Wales made at least one error in the treatment of 3,700 people with diabetes during just one week, according to an audit covering nearly 13,000 patients at 230 hospitals. This represented a small improvement on previous figures for England alone, but Diabetes UK, the main charity in the field, said the overall picture was an "indictment" on NHS care for those with the condition.

Its chief executive, Barbara Young, said: "The fact that there are so many mistakes, and that for some people a stay in hospital means they get worse, should simply not be happening.

"Poor blood glucose management, caused by errors in hospital treatment, is leading to severe and dangerous consequences for too many people. For example, there are a number of recorded episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, the result of extremely high blood glucose levels caused by a lack of insulin."

The audit was managed by the NHS's Health and Social Care Information Centre and Diabetes UK and commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, a body led by medical and nursing royal colleges and National Voices, formerly the Long-term Conditions Alliance.

Patients with medication errors suffered more than double the number of severe hypoglycaemic – "hypo" – episodes than patients without errors. These happen when blood glucose levels drop dangerously low and, if left untreated, can lead to seizures, coma or death.

In addition, 68 patients developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during their stay in hospital. DKA occurs when blood glucose levels are consistently high, which suggests that insulin treatment was not administered for a significant period. DKA can be fatal if not treated.

During the week of the checks, 68 patients had developed DKA, a potentially life-threatening condition, after admission to hospital. The audit also revealed that hospitals did not have enough staff expert in diabetes, especially those who understood the importance of foot care. About 100 people with diabetes undergo leg, foot or toe amputations each week in England, many of which could be prevented, according to Diabetes UK. Foot ulcers are also common.

Two-thirds of the patients included in the audit were admitted to hospital for reasons other than their diabetes. They tended to be older than other inpatients.

Gerry Rayman, a consultant physician and head of service at Ipswich Hospital Trust's diabetes and endocrine centre, who was clinical lead for the audit, said there was a long way to go for diabetes care. Most hospital doctors and ward nurses still did not have basic training in insulin management and glucose control, he said.

"Training needs to be mandatory to improve diabetes control and reduce the frequency of severe hypoglycaemia. It is also needed to prevent diabetic ketosis occurring in hospital, for which there can be no excuse; its occurrence is negligent and should never happen."

Rayman said controlling diabetes could be difficult in some patients, more so if they were ill and unable to eat and drink. "This is why the knowledge, experience and skills of diabetes specialist staff are so important. There is no doubt that big improvements in care and patient safety can happen by ensuring hospitals are adequately staffed with inpatient diabetes specialist teams, who can provide leadership, governance and training to other hospital staff."

The audit took place last autumn. The first was conducted in 2010 in England only.

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Diabetes care has been failing for decade - BBC News

People with diabetes need to check their blood sugar levels on a regular basis Standards for diabetes care are still not being met in England - 11 years after they were set, a report suggests.

The Department of Health recommended in 2001 that patients should receive nine basic services, including cholesterol and blood pressure monitoring, eye screening and foot examinations.

But the National Audit Office analysis said despite improvements, just half of patients were getting the checks.

The government said the NAO had taken only a "snapshot" of care.

The watchdog also criticised ministers for not having a grip on costs.

It said the NHS was spending at least £3.9bn a year on diabetes - three times more than ministers had estimated.

'Failed to deliver'

But the watchdog said better management of patients could save £170m a year through fewer hospital admissions and less complex treatment. About 24,000 unnecessary deaths could be prevented too.

More than 2.3m people are diagnosed as having diabetes.

Without effective care, patients can develop a range of complications, including blindness, amputation and kidney disease.

NAO head Amyas Morse said the Department of Health had "failed to deliver".

And he said without action, the expected rise in diabetes - by 2020 numbers are forecast to jump by a quarter - would have a "major impact on NHS resources".

The report also points out the NHS reorganisation has led to many diabetes specialists in the community leaving their posts.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said the findings were a "damning indictment of the current approach to the condition".

Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said plans were already in place to improve services.

But he added: "There is no excuse for delivering anything but the best diabetes care."

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Diabetes Deaths Falling In US - MyFox Philadelphia

(NewsCore) - Death rates for people with diabetes dropped dramatically from 1997 to 2006, according to US health officials.

Among diabetic Americans, deaths from all causes declined by 23 percent during that decade.

Meanwhile, deaths linked to heart disease and stroke plummeted by 40 percent for people with diabetes, said researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Scientists pointed to improved medical treatment for heart disease, lifestyle changes, and better management of diabetes as contributing factors in the death rate decline.

But the report noted that diabetic adults are still more likely to die younger than those who do not have the disease.

"Taking care of your heart through healthy lifestyle choices is making a difference, but Americans continue to die from a disease that can be prevented," said Ann Albright, director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation.

"Although the cardiovascular disease death rate for people with diabetes has dropped, it is still twice as high as for adults without diabetes."

The CDC -- which estimates that 25.8 million Americans have diabetes -- also warned the number of people with the disease will continue to climb, as the rate of new cases increases.

The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes more than tripled in the past three decades, the CDC said, primarily blaming type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to a surge in obesity and inactivity.

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Vitals - 23 percent of American teens have diabetes or at risk

Between 1999 and 2008, the percentage of those ages 12 to 19 with diabetes or prediabetes increased from 9 percent to 23 percent, according to a new study from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. NBC's Erika Edwards reports.

MyHealthNewsDaily staff

The percent of U.S. teens with diabetes is on the rise, a new study suggests.

Between 1999 and 2008, the percentage of adolescents ages 12 to 19 with diabetes or prediabetes increased from 9 percent to 23 percent, the study found.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

Both diabetes and prediabetes are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the researchers said.

The study also found 50 that percent of overweight teens, and 60 percent of obese teens had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, borderline-high or high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure (hypertension).

The findings indicate "U.S. adolescents carry a substantial burden of [cardiovascular disease] risk factors, especially those youth who are overweight or obese," said the researchers from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Studies suggests such risk factors in children can persist into adulthood, the researchers said.

The researchers analyzed information from 3,383 adolescents who participated in a government survey between 1999 and 2008. Participants were interviewed and underwent a physical exam. About one-third were overweight or obese.

Overall, 22 percent of participants had borderline-high or high cholesterol levels, and 15 percent had diabetes or prediabetes during the study period. About 6 percent had low levels of "good" cholesterol, and 14 percent had pre-hypertension or hypertension.

While the percentage of participants who were overweight or obese did not change significantly over the study period, the percentage of those with prediabetes or diabetes increased 14 percent.

The findings indicate that "a large proportion of teens, regardless of their weight, would benefit from interventions that promote healthy lifestyles, including physical activity and eating a healthy diet," the researchers said.

However, the researchers cautioned that prediabetes and diabetes were diagnosed on the basis of a single blood test, which may not be reliable measure in children.

The study is published in the May 21 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

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Teen diabetes on the rise, new study says - postnoon.com

Nearly a quarter of all American teenagers have diabetes or prediabetes, a new study has found.

The study authors were trying to figure out why American teens have been more susceptible to heart disease in recent years, the Washington Post reported.

Heart disease is the number one killer of US adults, and people with diabetes are twice as likely to suffer from the condition.

The study also found that diabetes rates in teens are on the rise. Between 1999 and 2008, the study found that teens with diabetes or prediabetes increased from 9 per cent to 23 per cent, HealthDay reported.

The study, which looks at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, confirmed that teenage obesity levels have actually leveled off, the New York Times reported. But at the same time, teenagers with diabetes or prediabetes nearly tripled.

“Nationwide, this is the best sampling of youth to inform us about cardiovascular risk factors,” Dr Lori Laffel, a doctor not involved with the study, told the Times. Researchers could not explain why diabetes and prediabetes rates have risen. One guess is that the increasing use of computers has made kids sedentary.

“What this is saying, unfortunately, is that we’re losing the battle early with kids,” Dr Stephen Daniels, an expert not involved with the study said.

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