Author: foxl

despite having elevate BG’s (I had an upward trend, before using them, so not even sure this recent stuff is from them). For those curious about lipid control and atherosclerosis:

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 Nov 3;54(19):1787-94.
Effects of high-dose modified-release nicotinic acid on atherosclerosis and vascular function: a randomized, placebo-controlled, magnetic resonance imaging study.

Lee JM, Robson MD, Yu LM, Shirodaria CC, Cunnington C, Kylintireas I, Digby JE, Bannister T, Handa A, Wiesmann F, Durrington PN, Channon KM, Neubauer S, Choudhury RP.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford and Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research (OCMR), Oxford, United Kingdom.

Comment on:

* J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 Nov 3;54(19):1795-6.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine the effects of high-dose (2 g) nicotinic acid (NA) on progression of atherosclerosis and measures of vascular function. BACKGROUND: NA raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and is widely used as an adjunct to statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. Although changes in plasma lipoproteins suggest potential benefit, there is limited evidence of the effects of NA on disease progression when added to contemporary statin treatment. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 2 g daily modified-release NA added to statin therapy in 71 patients with low HDL-C (<40 mg/dl) and either: 1) type 2 diabetes with coronary heart disease; or 2) carotid/peripheral atherosclerosis. The primary end point was the change in carotid artery wall area, quantified by magnetic resonance imaging, after 1 year. RESULTS: NA increased HDL-C by 23% and decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 19%. At 12 months, NA significantly reduced carotid wall area compared with placebo (adjusted treatment difference: -1.64 mm(2) [95% confidence interval: -3.12 to -0.16]; p = 0.03). Mean change in carotid wall area was -1.1 +/- 2.6 mm(2) for NA versus +1.2 +/- 3.0 mm(2) for placebo. In both the treatment and placebo groups, larger plaques were more prone to changes in size (r = 0.4, p = 0.04 for placebo, and r = -0.5, p = 0.02 for NA). CONCLUSIONS: In statin-treated patients with low HDL-C, high-dose modified-release NA, compared with placebo, significantly reduces carotid atherosclerosis within 12 months. (Oxford Niaspan Study: Effects of Niaspan on Atherosclerosis and Endothelial Function; NCT00232531).

Okay … I know to read labels, as a vegetarian I habitually read all the way down … but then I assume my husband of 20 yrs married to a vegetarian, will do the same.

Guacamole from our grocery: First ingredient … Haas avocado 😀 . SECOND ingredient, though: FOOD STARCH, MODIFIED! 😡 😡 😡

Cheap starch filler!!!! I am sure it is stabilizing and texturizing … WHAT EVER. 😡

I told him, next time buy me avos, onions, tomatoes and cilantro and I WILL MAKE MY OWN. More hygenic, anyways. 😡

I have no gifts wrapped, the pantry is thin, there are 5 – 10" of snow forecast with ICE preceding it … and I have a SORE THROAT coming on … (kids have had a mild cold). And we are not gonna talk about my other health parameters … for now.

Ho HO HO! Merry Christmas, ANYHOW, all my diabetic friends!

I am so grateful for you all and for this forum. Truly. I could never have done this without you all, your support, your information, your protracted and sometimes even irritating debates … and your various senses of humor! Love you all!

were you instructed to take them at night?

I was not … but then I read in a couple places, the body only produces cholesterol at night … is this true?

List of ICD-9 codes 240-279: endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, and immunity disorders – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I thought this was interesting … NIDDM or IDDM are the choices. Explains some physician categorization, including mine.

Obesity: Genes, brain, gut, and environment. [Nutrition. 2009] – PubMed result

Looked interesting to me!

Well I made my mujadarra with caulirice tonight … I have missed it sooooo much! I used to make a huge batch with Basmati rice, and then eat it for lunch all week!

Cauliflower rice, from 1/2 a head — about 3 cups "rice"

Lentils to taste and tolerance (I used about 120 g)

large onion sliced into 1/2 rings
olive oil
whole cumin (1/2 tsp or to taste)
hot red pepper
allspice (1/4 tsp), or garam masala, or cinnamon

Boil lentils in large vol of water for 20 min and drain

slice onion and fry with spices until brown.

Saute caulirice in butter or olive oil, and add lentils.

Top with browned seasoned onions to serve.

Do calculate your carbs and eat cautious portions — the onions and lentils make it carby. But, it is SO good!

I served mine with meatballs in a spicy sauce, and fresh spinach.

An obvious question? Perhaps … yet if it means your BGs are elevated for what? 2 hr of 24, how much does it affect A1c, and whether it does or not, how much does it matter?

Does increasing DP indicate diminishing control?

ETA: will search books and PubMed this week, but want to get YOUR opinions, first. Will summarize findings if possible!

Additional contribution of emerging risk factors t… [Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008] – PubMed result

Interesting … any comments?

This does not seem to be a traditional way of treating artichokes (never saw it in an "authentic" cookbook), but the flavors are Greek-to-Middle Eastern … and wonderful! Found it in Dana Carpender’s 500 Low Carb recipes … and then I added the mushrooms.

1/2 med onion (more or less)
2 stalks celery
1 clove garlic
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
2 – 4 TBS butter

1 can artichoke hearts
1 qt broth (chicken or veg, something mild)
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 c 1/2 and 1/2 or 1/2 c cream

salt, pepper, cayenne, possibly dill?

Chop and saute the vegetables in the butter in stockpot.

Run artichoke hearts and 1/2 – 1 cup broth in blender till pureed. Add puree and remainder of broth to stockpot.

Add cream. Add lemon juice. Mine curdled but with pureed hearts the texture was still okay (I used half and half).

Can be served hot (with mushrooms), or cold. The dill would be a nice addition to a cold version.

Dana’s recipe points out that much of the carb in artichokes is inulin, which is not digested.

Fat in diet won't affect weight gain over time – Yahoo! News

D’OH! :T

From:

Low-Fat versus Low-Carbohydrate Weight Reduction Diets: Effects on Weight Loss, Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular Risk A Randomised Control Trial ? Diabetes

ie, "The difference in augmentation index may imply a negative effect of low-carbohydrate diets on vascular risk."

TO:
High-fat Low-carb Diets Could Mean Significant Heart Risk

"High-fat Low-carb Diets Could Mean Significant Heart Risk"

and Low carb diet “increases heart disease risk“

"Low carb diet ”increases heart disease risk”

Thanks to the internet, in LESS than 24 hours!

Interesting they used CRP vs. germ exposure … thought it relevant to US, b/c of increased CV risk in Type 2’s, especially.

Keep the livestock circulating through your house! 😀

Germs May Be Good For You – Yahoo! News