New Advice for Doctors About Low-fat, Low-carb Diets For Short-term Weight Loss

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently issued its annual clinical practice recommendations to help health care providers treat people with diabetes using the most current evidence available. These guidelines address medication, insulin use, nutrition, exercise, and other aspects of managing diabetes.

This year the recommendations recognize the increasing evidence that low-carbohydrate or low-fat weight loss plans are equally effective for reducing weight in the short term (up to one year). Until now, the ADA did not recommend low-carbohydrate diets because of lack of scientific evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.

When cholesterol readings come back less than desirable, there are a few natural ways to lower cholesterol levels. Several foods have been shown to have a healthy impact on cholesterol. Physical activity can also aid in cholesterol management. Finally, lifestyle adjustments, like quitting smoking and monitoring alcohol intake, can also impact cholesterol and overall heart health. These tactics can also help healthy diabetics stay healthy.

The most effective new tool in the battle against diabetes does not come out of a laboratory, hospital, or pharmacy. The latest diabetes treatment advance actually comes from the days of middle school gym classes.

When the physical education teacher paced you through push-ups and sit-ups you were sharpening your glucose circulation system. Insulin was called into action to replenish the energy reserves used in those calisthenics. This frequent cycling of glucose stores in your muscles kept insulin sensitivity high in your teenage body.