by Bianca Garilli, ND In 2015, the prevalence of diabetes in the United States was 30.3 million Americans or 9.4% of the population.1  In the same year, over 12 million emergency department (ED) visits or 25% of total ED visits were made by patients with diabetes aged 45 and older.  This number is 6 times higher than ED visits made by patients with diabetes aged 45 and older.2  Overall the number of ED visits by patients with diabetes, as diagnosed in…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Obesity is not age-discriminate, affecting both adults and children quite dramatically over the past few decades. In the United States, nearly one in five children ages 6-19 years old are currently obese, resulting in both long-term health consequences and a financial burden to the individual, family and nation.1 One of the most detrimental effects of the rise in obesity prevalence is the corresponding elevation in cardiometabolic risk factors in the growing child. Commonly, the recommendations for children…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Based on the theory that each blood type (i.e., O, A, B, and AB type) represents distinct genetic traits and ancestral dietary habits, the popular “blood-type diet” advocates eating according to one’s blood type to achieve optimal health. For example, individuals who are type O (“the hunter”) would benefit most from a high-animal protein diet with avoidance of grains, legumes and dairy products; type A (“the agrarian”) are best with a vegetarian diet; type B (“the…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the US: 30 million US adults have diabetes (90-95% type 2 diabetes [T2D]), with another 84 million living with prediabetes.1 The most influential, modifiable risk factors for diabetes include overweight/obesity, lack of physical activity, and smoking.1 With diabetes-related medical costs and lost work/wages totaling $245 billion/year,1 the US cannot afford to let this epidemic remain unchecked. Clinicians who are equipped to implement successful, evidence-based lifestyle interventions for their…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Within the first few hours of birth, bacteria are introduced to the infant gut through multiple vectors including maternal skin and vaginal exposure, breast milk, and the external environment. These initial exposures leave a life-long bacterial footprint that can be detected into adulthood.  The importance of early gut imprinting on long term health is substantial and has been well documented.  It includes protection against respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections, a reduction of atopic disease incidence, and…

The health and lifestyle choices a mother makes during pregnancy has immense impact on the unborn child during in-utero development and beyond.  It is well known that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome; taking certain medications such as isotretinoin, a common acne drug, can lead to birth defects; and consuming inadequate quantities of folate while pregnant can increase risk of spina bifida and other mid-line defects in the child. Ingesting inappropriate types and quantities of medications,…

by Bianca Garilli, ND A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is typically made through the following measurements and is most commonly screened for and diagnosed by primary care providers during annual exams: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% or Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) or 2-h plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or In a patient with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis, a random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dl (11.1…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Increased gestational weight gain (GWG) is of major concern due to its potentially negative impact on a mother’s long term health as well as the health of her newborn. Maternally, raised GWG is associated with postpartum weight retention and obesity later in her life; it may also lead to complications of pregnancy including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and an increased risk of cesarean birth. Children born to increased GWG mothers may have higher birthweights potentially leading to…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Guidelines for reduction of diabetes risk consist of recommendations such as: Losing 5-7% of your starting body weight if overweight Following a healthful diet by lowering caloric intake, choosing water in place of sweetened beverages, and reducing fat in the diet, particularly trans fat Engaging in 30 minutes of exercise 5 times weekly1 More specific recommendations are discussed on the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease website including resources for following the Choose…

Findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study—which consisted of more than 135,000 individuals from 18 low-, middle- and high-income countries from five continents—showed that: (1) high carbohydrate intake was linked to worse total mortality, whereas high fat intake was linked to lower risk; (2) reducing saturated fat intake and replacing it with carbohydrate was linked to the most adverse effects on blood lipids; and (3) combined fruit, vegetable, and legume consumption at 3-4 servings per day were associated with a…