All posts by Sumana Rao

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Prediabetes diet and care

Prediabetes diet and care

Prediabetes occurs when the there is too much sugar in the blood. It means, elevated blood glucose (sugar) level that has not yet reached the threshold of Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes must be considered as a warning sign to take care of health more seriously than before. Lifestyle and certain medication help to manage blood sugar level and a person can avoid complications related to diabetes.

Symptoms of prediabetes is not obvious. A health screen with routine blood work will reveal the numbers to say whether a person is prediabetic or not. One of the signs of prediabetes is being overweight. And other reasons that are risks for prediabetes are: Obesity, heredity, diabetes during pregnancy, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglyceride and in woman polycystic ovary syndrome.

Prediabetes occurs when there is an imbalance in metabolism. After certain age the excess intake of carbohydrates and sugar liver will make more glucose. More glucose means more sugar in the blood which is harmful for the body.

Prediabetes diagnosis is done blood work. If the fasting blood sugar is between 100 and 125 mg per dL (normal is 70 and 99 mg per dL, diabetes is higher than 126 mg per dL).  A1C test is common blood test also known as hemoglobin A1C and HbA1c test. A1c test results reflects average blood sugar level of an individual for the past 2 to 3 months. It measures the percentage of hemoglobin coated with sugar (or glycated). The higher the A1C number, the risk of developing diabetes is more. The fasting A1C level for prediabetes is between 5.7 and 6.4 per cent, which means a person as higher chance of developing diabetes in the future. The normal A1C level is below 5.7

Good news is, with well planned diet and exercise one can reverse the prediabetes before it is fully blown to type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet, healthy weight and regular exercise helps to bring back and maintain the blood sugar level.

A person who is diagnosed with prediabetes condition should follow proper diet, sleep and exercise. Everyday walk and exercise for an hour with proper, timely meal will help to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

  1. Eat three meals everyday around same time.
  2. Say no to sugar and sweets
  3. As much as possible try to eat about the same amount at each meal – fill half plate with vegetable.
  4. Include protein – low fat – cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, low fat- milk, peanut butter, lentils
  5. Cut down on carbs -say no to starchy food and reduce amount of whole milk, whole milk yogurt, sweets, certain fruits
  6. Consume high-fiber foods: Get fresh vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes. Include high fiber leafy veggies as part of diet
  7. Eat less fat – cheese, butter, mayonnaise, cream, salad dressings. Use non fat or low fat milk. Instead of deep frying, go with alternate method- baking, broil, steam, grill the foods. Use less seasoning and oil in cooking.
  8. Get good sleep: Sleep is best medicine for many conditions. One of the reason for diabetes is stress and anxiety. Taking rest, going to be on time helps body to recover.

Following herbs will help in reducing blood sugar.

  1. Indian gooseberry – Amla: Consuming either the fresh amla fruit or drinking a glass of warm water with amla powder can help to reduce sugar level. Amla tastes bitter and it has polyphenols that are effective in assisting absorption of insulin.
  2. Turmeric : Turmeric contains antioxidants and curcumin that can bring sugar level and to more manageable level.
  3. Bitter gourd: It contains a lectin compound that acts as insulin and helps to move sugar out of blood and brings to cells for energy
  4. Fenugreek: Leaves or seeds of fenugreek helps to lower blood sugar by slowing the digestion process and absorption of carbohydrates.
  5. Aloe vera: Regular intake of Aloe vera (fresh gel or juice) stimulates secretion of insulin and helps to bring down sugar level.
  6. Cinnamon: Cinnamon increases metabolism. Drinking luke warm water with one or two teaspoon of cinnamon powder dissolved in it in empty stomach is a remedy for diabetes. It imitates effect of insulin and transports glucose into cells from blood.

Contact your doctor before consuming any types of herbal medicine and get doctor advice. If the prediabetes condition does not improve in three months, your doctor may prescribe medicines to bring down sugar level.

References: Image:Image by silviarita from Pixabay (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: February 4, 2020
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Colistin ban by India

Use of Colistin antibiotic is banned in Indian animal food

Unless we grow and prepare our own food, we will not know what goes inside the food. When it comes to animal food, whether it is poultry or aqua or animal feed supplements, there are many unknown drugs that goes inside the animal food. After research studies and investigations, names and impact of such drugs and chemicals will come in front of public. Antibiotic colistin is a drug that has been in use to control infections in humans and as a growth promoter in animal husbandry is in news today because Indian government took a bold step to ban the use of colistin in animal food.

FSSAI – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India bans sale and distribution of antibiotic Colistin. Colistin is a drug used in food producing livestock. Health Ministry and FSSAI banned manufacturing, sale and distribution of the antibiotic usage in poultry, aqua farming, food producing animals and in animal feed supplements.

In the notification released by the government of India, it is mentioned that it was brought to the notice of Central Government that use of colistin drug and its formulations in food producing animals involve health risk to humans.

This ban is implemented after the studies and investigation was carried out by experts. Investigations showed that consumers developing resistance to antibiotic colistin due to irregular usage among food producing animals and other feed sources. The recommendations were given early part of this year by India’s top drug advisory body, the Drugs Technical advisory board and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan committee.

Colistin is a crucial last resort antibiotic for multidrug-resistant infections. It helps to treat drug resistant infections for conditions such as pneumonia and STD and gram-negative bacteria.  Use of colistin in live stocks mans, people who consume such food eventually will develop resistance to drug which means such infections can continue to thrive on a person for longer days and can lead to severe health risk.

Use of colistin in animal farms is to fatten up animals or to promote their growth. This is major cause for world’s growing antibiotic resistance crisis. World Health Organization WHO has been stressing on banning such practice to bring back normalcy in human health.

Few years back the discovery of colistin resistant gene and the resistance to colistin drug in the microbes that were never exposed to colistin was a shock to the medical world. According to scientists the resistant gene in bacteria was originated in Chinese livestock and then later found across five different continents!

According to sources, hundred tons of colistin were shipped to India in 2016 that was sold by International and domestic pharmaceutical companies without requiring a prescription! India’s largest poultry company Venky’s which supplies to fast food supplies like McDonald’s, Pizza hut and KFC and to supermarkets and also owns Blackburn Rovers football club in UK was marketing antibiotic colistin as a growth promoter (to farmers)!!  

In India this ban from Ministry of Health also means “Manufacture, sale and distribution of the drug colistin and its formulation in food processing animals and other animal husbandry sectors is banned” and, the drug cannot be used as a veterinary medicine. According to Dr. Abdul Ghafar an advisor in the committee wording of the ban is strong and is the best gazette notification one can ever get. It indicates that the Indian government convinced that colistin is a last resort antibiotic, colistin resistance is increasing in humans and colistin is extensively used in animal husbandry as a growth promoting agent. Tim Walsh Professor at Cardiff University who first time discovered the mobile colistin resistant gene in bacteria also welcomed ban on colistin from Indian government. Walsh has been instrumental in working with different governments to slow down spread of colistin resistance. According to Walsh, this ban is a welcome step but monitoring and enforcing the ban was crucial.

In its notice Health ministry said “ The Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to prohibit manufacture, sale and distribution of the drug Colistin and its formulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements. Now therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by section 26A of the drugs and cosmetic act, 1940 the government herby prohibits manufacture, sale and distribution of the following drug with immediate effect, colistin and its formulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements.”

References:

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com

https://www.fssai.gov.in/

https://www.globalmeatnews.com/

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Novel coronavirus outbreak

2019-nCoV Novel Coronavirus outbreak

Novel Coronavirus outbreak & how to be safe?

Coronaviruses belong to large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from cold to severe diseases such as SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). These viruses are transmitted between people and animals and are considered as zoonotic. In case of SARS-CoV, viruses transmitted to humans from civet cats. Dromedary camels transmitted viruses to humans in MERS-CoV.

Novel coronavirus or nCoV are new types of coronaviruses that are responsible for current outbreak. nCoV are new coronavirus that has not been previously identified!  It was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China on 31st December 2019. Within a month time the disease has widespread in China and few other countries. World Health Organization in collaboration with their health partners and Governments are trying to track the spread and the virulence of the virus. nCoV cases have been identified in many other countries – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Australia, Philippines, Russia, Vietnam, France, India, USA and others. Many airports are monitoring body temperature of travelers in order to keep an eye on the disease transmission. How to be cautious and prevent the spread of this deadly virus? Learn more about this new virus strain.

Image credits: Covid images credit: www.cdc.gov

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2019-nCoV infection symptoms: Read more

nCoV infection symptoms

2019-nCoV sources and spread: Read more

Novel coronavirus sources

2019-nCoV prevention: Read more

Novel coronavirus prevention

2019-nCoV Travel guidance: Read more

nCoV outbreak Travel guidance

2019-nCoV Myth busters: Read more

Novel coronavirus myth buster

2019-nCoV Risk assessment: Read more

Novel coronavirus risk assessment

 

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/index.html

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

www.healthylife.werindia.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: February 3, 2020
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nCoV infection symptoms

nCoV infection symptoms

Infection caused by 2019-nCoV widely ranges. According to the reports, people with no symptoms to mild symptoms being severely ill and are dying. People who traveled to virus outbreak area or come in contact with nCoV sources may show high fever, cough, respiratory problems in case their body is infected with nCoV.

Following are some of the symptoms one should be watching

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Mild to acute respiratory infection
  • Another clinical sign is, chest radiographs showing bilateral lung infiltrates

Symptoms may appear with in two days to 14 days after exposure. This is like incubation period of MERS viruses.

Image credit: Image by Masum Ali from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Novel coronavirus sources

Sources and spread of 2019-nCoV

Coronaviruses as such belong to large family of viruses. They cause illness in humans as well as circulate among animals including bats, cats and camels. Both in SARS and MERS we know that civet cat and camels respectively are responsible for disease transmission.

Public health officials and their partners are trying to identify the source of 2019-nCoV. The Full genome of 2019-nCoV was sequenced by Chinese scientists. It is a betacoronavirus like SARs and MERS. The origin of the virus is in bats. The sequence from US patients are similar to the one China has published and it suggests that recent emergence of 2019-nCoV is from an animal reservoir.   Like other coronaviruses, nCoV spreads from person to person when there is a close contact. It could be either through respiratory droplets (cough or sneeze). The droplets landed on a person when inhaled into the lungs, symptoms will develop. If an infected person touches objects, viruses can sit on the object. If someone comes in contact with the object, it could result in nCoV symptoms. However, there are reports saying that with 2019-nCoV many patients have not shown symptoms at all and were severely sick.

Image credit: Photo by kian zhang on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Novel coronavirus prevention

Prevention of nCoV

Standard recommendations to prevent nCoV are -hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices:

  • Clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water – Strictly follow hand wash rules. Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag.
  • Wash your hands before taking care of sick person, before eating, after toilet use, before and after you prepare food.

  • Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Use a tissue paper to cover nose and mouth. Dispose the tissue in proper container and wash hands immediately. Do not touch objects and humans with unwashed hands.
  • Seek medical care if you have high fever, cough and breathing problems. Be clear about your symptoms and share your travel history and give clear view of your activities from past two weeks.
  • Avoid contact with live animals and surfaces when you are visiting markets that are experiencing novel coronavirus exposure.
  • Avoid consumption of under cooked and raw animal products. Handle raw meat, milk and any animal organs with most care. Avoid cross contamination of cooked and uncooked foods.
  • Wear protective gowns, gloves and masks while handling animals and animal products.
  • Avoid contact with stray animals, waste and fluids in the market.
  • If you feel sick, separate yourself from rest of the family and friends.
  • Get latest updated information about the nCoV on Government health care websites and news.

Image credit: www.maricopa.gov

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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nCoV outbreak Travel guidance

nCoV travel guidance & safety

One of the most concern is traveling between continents and countries during this new 2019-nCoV outbreak.

  1. If you can avoid travel, then you must consider the option of not traveling. Avoid non- essential travel.
  2. Avoid travel if you have cough and fever.
  3. Seek medical advice if you already have fever, cough and difficulty in breathing.
  4. If you are traveling, then avoid close contact with people who are suffering from fever and cough. Clean hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
  5. Cover mouth and nose using mask. Use tissue to cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing
  6. If you are using mask, immediately discard single use mask after each use. Wash your hands after removing the masks.
  7. Visit travel alert and guidance to understand the situation of the outbreak in Public health websites- CDC, WHO and your govt website,

Image curtesy: https://www.maricopa.gov/ , www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov , China travel guide

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Novel coronavirus myth buster

2019-nCoV myth busters

2019-nCoV myth busters: Like any other disease outbreak there are many rumors and false news are spreading around the world about nCoV. Some of the information forwarded to on social media messages may not be even true. nCoV is a new strain of virus and still there is lot to learn about the disease.

  1. Can herbal medicine work for nCoV?

nCoV is new strain of viruses and there is no evidence to show that herbal medicine could work. Talk to your doctor before proceeding with any herbal medicines

  • Can pets spread the new coronavirus?

There is no evidence so far to say pets can be infected with new coronavirus. Wash your hand with soap and water after contact with home pets.

  • What is the effect on younger or older people? Are they susceptible?

Irrespective of ages, anyone can be infected by new coronavirus. People who have low immune system and with existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable and can get severely sick

  • Are antibiotics work for new coronavirus?

Antibiotics are for preventing bacterial growth and infection. Antibiotics does not work for new viruses. However, if someone diagnosed with new coronavirus then they can take antibiotics to avoid co-infection of bacteria

  • Are there any specific medicines to prevent 2019-nCoV?

As of today, there is no specific medicine recommended to treat the new virus. Prevention care, appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms are necessary. As far Clinical trial -WHO is guiding and helping with research to develop drugs to prevent the disease.

Image credit: Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 NIAID
https://www.flickr.com/photos/niaid/49727653491/in/photostream/ (CC BY 2.0)

Image description: Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 :Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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