Diabetes

Leyla Weighs In: Hemoglobin A1c vs. Glycomark: A tale of two tests

By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN

You’ve heard me touting the benefits of the gold standard glucose tolerance test (GTT). Another test we’ve relied on to determine blood sugar values is the Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c). The HgbA1c is a marker of average blood glucose over a…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): A Review

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

By now we’re all well aware of the importance of good blood sugar control. Even when it’s not a matter of lowering out-of-range glucose in outright diabetes—or avoiding inadvertent hypoglycemic episodes resulting from overzealous insulin dosing—evidence is amassing that optimizing…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Maintaining healthy blood glucose levels with dietary supplements*

By Celine Torres-Moon

Readers, here’s an excellent review of the science behind some of the best researched-backed supplements for blood sugar optimization, from one of our sponsors, Protocol for Life Balance. While of specific interest to diabetics, keeping hemoglobin A1c under control for…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Ask Leyla: A Healthier Nation

By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN

Q: If there was just one change you could make to the typical American diet to make us a healthier nation, what would it be? A: What a great question! With the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes – Diabesity, it’s…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Stem Cells: Panacea or snake oil?

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

They are billed as the new keys to longevity, an endless inventory of “spare parts” that can regenerate sick or tired organs, a veritable Fountain of Youth. But are stem cells the medical cure-all of the future, or are they…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Ask Leyla: Are steel-cut oats better for my blood sugar?

By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN

Q: My brother-in-law was just diagnosed with prediabetes, with a hemoglobin A1C of 6.4. His trainer suggested he eat steel-cut oats as opposed to regular oatmeal because it does not affect your sugar like regular oatmeal. Is that true? A:…read more

Categories: Diabetes
How to diabetes-proof your child

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

Rates of diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, are on the rise among America’s young people. The Search for Diabetes in Youth Study shows that from 2002 to 2012 the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 1) has increased by 1.8 per…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Ask Leyla: How concerned should I be about Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs)

By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN

Q: Recently I have been reading about the amount of AGEs in various foods. Meats are among the highest, especially when roasted, grilled or otherwise cooked at high temperatures. How concerned should a person be about the amount of AGEs in…read more

Categories: Diabetes
Hemoglobin A1c: What is it, and why does it matter?

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

“Most commonly people are told that having an A1c of 5.6 – 5.8% should be considered normal, but these levels already put you in the second highest category for brain shrinkage! I believe that, based on this information, we should…read more

Categories: Diabetes