Latest news with #Metformin
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Will Barbie and Ken ever have offspring? Wyn Drabble
Apparently there is also a Wheelchair Barbie. I'm assuming here that access ramps are included. There might even be a Divorced Barbie who comes with half of Ken's stuff. Barbie's waist is, of course, anatomically impossible so in 2016 Mattel introduced a new range of body shapes for Barbie: tall, petite or curvy. Curvy Barbie even made the cover of Time Magazine, something a lot of toys don't manage. And so to Ken, who first appeared in 1961? His many iterations have included barista, businessman, golfer, lifeguard and pizza chef. I'm guessing that, if you touch Businessman Ken's mouth, his pre-recorded voice says: 'Changes in resource allocation will be mission-critical going forward.' Whether Ken and Barbie are an item is open to debate. It's hard to keep track of the off-on relationship. For example, Mattel released a press statement in 2004 saying Barbie and Ken had decided to split up but that was followed in 2006 by a statement that they were hoping to rekindle their relationship. The couple officially reunited on Valentine's Day 2011 but there could currently be struggles alongside Barbie's onerous task of managing her diabetes. According to some scholarly studies, Ken is also anatomically impossible. The main finding of the researchers (who probably need to get out more) was that his chest is about 27.5% too large for a human male. There has also been controversy about Ken's seeming lack of genitalia though I can't possibly probe that issue in a family newspaper. As you can probably imagine, my active mind has started to think up other manifestations of Ken and Barbie, ideas which I am willing to sell to Mattel for vast amounts of cash. These may exist already but, if they do, please don't write in. My first thought was Investment Portfolio Ken with an optional bitcoin app, then I realised how sexist that was so the investment portfolio will now be going to Barbie. And how about Shoe Fetish Barbie? That could become a great little earner if, say, 3000 pairs of shoes were made available. Each pair would be an extra individual purchase (Paywave fee applies). But, whoa! Again, that's sexist too so the shoe fetish might need to go to Ken. Or what about Anaphylactic Ken with a handsome EpiPen clipped to his belt. Diabetic Ken? But his affliction would be the far more common Type 2 so he would come just with a packet of Metformin tablets. Maybe, further down the line and if the on-off relationship settles, Mattel could produce Barbie and Ken's offspring. This, of course, would require some, shall we say, developments in Ken.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
42-year-old had severe vitamin B12, Vitamin D deficiency despite diabetes medication: What caused it?
A 42-year-old man, with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, came to us complaining of persistent fatigue, tingling in his hands and feet and trouble walking. This meant that his blood sugar had begun to damage his nerves. Predictably his HbA1c count (average blood sugar of three months) was 9.2 per cent (poorly controlled diabetes). But what surprised me was his vitamin counts: Vitamin B12: 123 pg/mL (severely deficient), Vitamin D3: 8 ng/mL (deficient) and magnesium: 1.5 mg/dL (low). So what was he doing wrong? The man had been taking Metformin for years without B12 supplementation. His diet lacked dairy and fruits due to misconceptions about managing blood sugar. After starting vitamin B12 injections and vitamin D supplementation, along with improved diets and diabetes control, his symptoms of neuropathy significantly improved over four months. This case underlines the importance of looking beyond just blood sugar numbers as vitamin deficiencies can mimic or aggravate diabetic complications. Beyond its direct effects on glucose metabolism, diabetes can also interfere with nutrient absorption, leading to several micronutrient deficiencies. Over time, these deficiencies can worsen diabetic complications such as neuropathy, poor wound healing and cardiovascular issues. Why do people with diabetes develop vitamin deficiencies? This is because of increased urinary losses. High blood sugar levels lead to a condition called osmotic diuresis, where the kidneys excrete more water and, along with it, water-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B12, and Vitamin C. This effect is more pronounced in poorly controlled diabetes. Diabetes can cause gastroparesis, or delayed stomach emptying, which affects digestion and absorption of nutrients. Long-term use of Metformin, a common diabetes medication, is also known to interfere with Vitamin B12 absorption in the intestines. Chronic low-grade inflammation in diabetic patients increases the body's need for antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E and selenium. However, these nutrients are often depleted faster than they can be replenished. Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with obesity and fatty liver, both of which impair fat metabolism. This affects the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Dietary restrictions or poor diet People with diabetes often limit their food choices, sometimes avoiding fruits or certain carbohydrates due to fear of sugar spikes. This can unintentionally lead to insufficient intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Most common deficiencies Vitamin D deficiency is common as it is linked with insulin resistance and immune dysfunction. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, especially those on Metformin, and can cause fatigue, memory loss, and worsening neuropathy. Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency can lead to worsening diabetic neuropathy and cardiac issues. Magnesium is an important co-factor for insulin signalling. But this is often lost through urine in diabetics. What can patients and caregivers do? Do not miss your routine screening, especially for B12 and Vitamin D in long-term diabetes patients or those on Metformin. Include nutrient-rich foods like green leafy vegetables, low-sugar fruits, dairy, nuts, and seeds. Under the supervision of a healthcare provider, appropriate supplementation can prevent long-term complications. Also, periodic assessment of the side effects of diabetic medications is essential. Diabetes management is not just about sugar — it's about complete nutritional care. (Dr Chaturvedi is senior endocrinologist, Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
This drug can extend lifespan? Scientists find a pill that may boost longevity
For decades, scientists have explored ways to slow aging and extend human lifespan. From strict calorie restriction diets to gene editing experiments, many strategies have shown promise in lab animals but proved challenging for humans. Now, new research suggests that a combination of existing drugs may offer a more practical alternative. A study by the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences found that two FDA-approved medications — Rapamycin and Metformin, already used for other purposes — could mimic the effects of dietary restriction and potentially increase lifespan. While results are largely based on animal studies, the findings are generating excitement among biologists and longevity researchers, with human trials currently underway to determine whether the same benefits might apply to people. How the drug mimics calorie restriction to extend lifespan One of the most consistent findings in aging research is that eating less, without malnutrition, can extend lifespan in many species. However, maintaining long-term dietary restriction is difficult for most people. The new study focused on Rapamycin and Metformin, drugs that replicate the cellular response to fasting. These medications act on nutrient-sensing pathways in the body, essentially 'tricking' cells into behaving as if they are in a low-calorie environment. In mice, this has led to increased longevity and improved metabolic health. Scientists examined over 160 studies involving vertebrates like fish, rodents, and monkeys to assess how these drugs affect lifespan. They discovered that while calorie restriction consistently produced longevity benefits across sexes and species, Rapamycin, when used individually, also showed a notable increase in lifespan — in some cases by as much as 30 percent. However, results weren't always uniform. In rare cases, the same drugs or diets led to shortened lifespan, highlighting the need for more targeted research. Early signs from human trials Although most of the existing evidence is from animal models, early human trials of Rapamycin have already begun. Researchers are testing low doses of the drug to reduce side effects while preserving its longevity-enhancing effects. Preliminary results are not yet published, but early data suggest potential improvements in immune response and cellular repair. Scientists remain cautiously optimistic, emphasizing that it will take several years before conclusive evidence in humans is available. Risks and limitations Despite the excitement, experts urge caution. Rapamycin, in particular, is known to suppress the immune system at higher doses — a serious concern for long-term use. Metformin, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has shown fewer risks but also weaker effects on longevity. Additionally, what is effective in rodents doesn't always translate to human biology. Until large-scale, peer-reviewed clinical trials confirm safety and effectiveness, these pills remain a possibility rather than a prescription for longer life.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Weight loss drugs could improve polycystic ovary syndrome: All you need to know
Image credits: Getty Images According to the Endocrine Society, an estimated 5-6 million women of reproductive age in the U.S. are affected by PCOS, which is frequently underdiagnosed. Caused by high levels of testosterone and androgens, polycystic ovary syndrome leads to symptoms such as irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, insulin resistance and more. It is one of the leading causes of infertility and is strongly linked to metabolic issues, leading to weight gain and hormonal imbalance. One would think a condition affecting such a huge number of women would have a treatment and medicine ready by now. However, when it comes to PCOS, a condition which also leads to other damaging conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes, there's no standard treatment. Mostly, women opt for birth control, lifestyle changes and a diabetes drug, Metformin, which helps with some symptoms. However, now, a ray of light has come around in the form of popular weight loss drugs that are shockingly helping with improving PCOS. One of the many women who have experienced a positive result is Grace Hamilton, 27, who earlier had to battle problems like hair loss, heavy periods, inconsistent menstrual cycles, mental health problems and sudden weight loss. After getting diagnosed with PCOS, she tried birth control and lifestyle changes, only to see limited improvements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo It was in 2024 when Hamilton joined a trial examining the effects of GLP-1 drugs in PCOS patients. In October, she received her first dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic. The results, as she said to CNBC were almost immediate with resumed periods, hair regrowth and improvement in depression and anxiety. 'I'm so glad that I stuck with it because it was just clear as day that it was the missing link for me,' said Hamilton, adding that she also maintained a diet and exercise regimen. Are weight loss drugs really the answer? Image credits: Getty Images Some health experts see huge potential in GLP-1, particularly in their effect on improving weight loss and insulin sensitivity. 'The unmet need is massive,' said Dr. Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, to CNBC. 'Primary therapies used for PCOS symptoms haven't changed in nearly 50 years.' Cree has been studying the effects of GLP-1 in adolescents with PCOS for more than 10 years. She previously studied the oral form of semaglutide and now has an ongoing clinical trial with the injectable version, which worked well for patients like Hamilton. Her trial began in 2023 with girls and women between the ages of 12-35 with obesity and PCOS who are on or off Metformin. Semaglutide was administered to the patients for 10 months to analyse their weight loss, metabolic changes and reproductive functions. The initial data included 11 women who completed the 10-month trial and were not on Metformin. 8 of these lost more than 10% of their body weight and saw a reduction in their hormone levels. Six of the 8 women even reported more regular periods. However, her study group is much smaller compared to the studies done on the popular weight loss drugs, and the results did not show similar effects on everyone. Here, the importance of conducting larger and longer trials on the same is important. This is because the potential for GLP-1 to cause relief in various PCOS symptoms remains. In previous studies, it has been found that in adults with PCOS, losing even 5% of body weight can improve insulin sensitivity. Thus, the body can respond better to insulin, and the pancreas doesn't need to pump out more insulin to keep the blood sugar in check. This will lower insulin levels, in turn lowering the production of testosterone and reducing symptoms of irregular period, acne and excess hair growth. Semaglutide not only improves insulin sensitivity but also reduces appetite by slowing how quickly the food leaves the stomach, prompting the pancreas to release insulin when the blood sugar is high and suppressing the release of a hormone that elevates blood sugar. Not only trials, a recent survey of 1700 people by the birth control app Natural Cycles, revealed that 64% of women with PCOS who took GLP-1 reported more predictable periods, and 20% reported that their bleeding days were shorter. Now, what is needed is a much larger research study on the subject to analyse its effects and see if it can be administered to all women with PCOS.
Mint
7 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Deep research with AI is days' worth of work in minutes
Next Story Mala Bhargava In-depth information and knowledge is yours for the asking and it can help with countless scenarios in everyday life. Paid versions give much better results—more extensive information with less 'hallucination' and errors. Gift this article Many users haven't realized it, but they've never had it so good with in-depth information so readily available. Practically all the AI assistants that are rapidly gaining popularity with regular users today offer deep research, even with the free tiers of their apps. Many users haven't realized it, but they've never had it so good with in-depth information so readily available. Practically all the AI assistants that are rapidly gaining popularity with regular users today offer deep research, even with the free tiers of their apps. Paid versions give much better results—more extensive information with less 'hallucination' and errors—but even the free deep dives can be quite worthwhile. My favourite for this purpose is Google's Gemini, with ChatGPT a close second, and Grok 3 a close third. The first time I prompt-requested deep research and received the results, I couldn't quite believe all I had to do was ask to get such a comprehensive well-structured report. Ever since I discovered it, I seem to be addicted to deep research and use it almost every day for something or the other. Just recently, a friend in the US shocked me by telling me she was taking 2 grammes of the diabetes medicine, Metformin, per day, despite being pre-diabetic. The medication has such side effects that I couldn't understand how it could be prescribed at such a high dose for someone who was not yet diabetic. I decided to get some information on the use of Metformin for pre-diabetics and asked for an in-depth report. I specified in my prompt that it should be simple and not filled with medical jargon or terms. I got one in a matter of minutes, and it was perfectly understandable. I was surprised to learn that the drug is actually given to overweight people who are potentially diabetic. All the same, considering my friend had intense gastric side effects, I passed on the report to her and suggested she use it to ask her doctor if there were better alternatives. Also Read | How will AI impact India's white-collar job market? I requested reports for my medications, as it's a good idea to be well informed about what one is taking regularly. I gave the reports to my doctor, who said she would love them in simple Hindi. That was easy enough. She now uses them with her patients. A hacks for everyday life scenarios Deep research is so useful that it's an immediately visible feature in all the AI assistants. While it sounds like something meant for academics, I find it's been useful for so many everyday life scenarios. It's easy enough to see how it could be useful at work. I gave someone a full fleshed-out plan on how to hire an Instagram account manager. The report was truly comprehensive, with information on everything from what qualities to look for to what one can expect to pay. You can get a deep research report on the latest news in your field of work, or an industry snapshot or market status for an area of interest. From best practices to price comparisons, from strategies to future potential, the information is packaged in a shockingly short time. If you were to manually look for the information, it would take hours or even days. Amazingly, you can even research a person if that individual is prominent enough online. This could come in useful if you're, say, trying to hire and want to verify claims made in a CV. In your personal life, too, deep research can make life easier. A comparison of fridge models when you want to buy one. A detailed description of a place you are planning to visit, including cultural notes and how to prepare for a stay there. With Google's Gemini, there's the additional benefit of being able to get the report in a neat package that can be immediately shared, sent to Google Docs, or converted to an audio overview so you can listen to a shorter version of the report while doing other things, if you like. Some of the more odd things I've got reports on include how to stop myself from singing nasally, how to perform soleus push-ups, and the making of the aircraft HA300, which my father test-flew in Egypt. The best part of deep research is how you can query and customize results. You can ask for a summary, a set of bullet points, content for slides, simpler language, another language, a different tone… Also Read | How to build AI literacy and become a power user Of course, AI is notorious for making errors and dreaming up content. Just this morning, Grok referred to US President Donald Trump as the 'former US president'. But the good news is that this tendency is much less in research reports. There's no user interaction to encourage the AI assistant to be sycophantic and make up data. All the same, the more critical the information, the more important it is to cross-check whatever looks wrong. The sources are given, and in some cases, citations are given with each chunk of information. Checking is a little tedious, but it beats doing the whole thing yourself over days. The New Normal: The world is at an inflexion point. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be as massive a revolution as the Internet has been. The option to just stay away from AI will not be available to most people, as all the tech we use takes the AI route. This column series introduces AI to the non-techie in an easy and relatable way, aiming to demystify and help a user to actually put the technology to good use in everyday life. Mala Bhargava is most often described as a 'veteran' writer who has contributed to several publications in India since 1995. Her domain is personal tech, and she writes to simplify and demystify technology for a non-techie audience. Topics You May Be Interested In Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
