Category: Diabetes

Two-Hour After-meal high blood sugar predicts Atherosclerosis better than Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article presents a study that showed the best blood test to predict the development of atherosclerosis. One thousand eight hundred fifty-two patients scheduled for coronary angiography were classified into Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT), Impaired Glucose Regulation (IGR), and diabetes based on Fasting blood sugar, Post-prandial blood glucose (PBG), and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).[1] Blood Sugar…

Testing Post Prandial Glucose Level after a Feast

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article is about the result of a technique to lower post-prandial blood sugar. After-meal glucose spikes or post-prandial hyperglycemia leads to atherosclerosis formation. Atherosclerosis can happen to anyone, even if they do not have diabetes. Post-prandial hyperglycemia predicts atherosclerosis formation better than fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c. Read about it at After meal…

High blood sugar causes Metabolic Memory

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article presents a study that showed that high blood sugar could change macrophages and cause atherosclerosis. The study was published in the journal Circulation in Sept 2021. The authors are from Oxford, UK; the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the Radboud University in the Netherlands; and the Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) at the…

A Healthy Lifestyle is as effective as Voglibose and Nateglinide in Lowering 10-year Cardiac Mortality

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article presents two studies that show the superiority of a healthy lifestyle in lowering cardiac-related deaths compared to diabetes medications. And second, the importance of managing early diabetes to prevent cardiovascular deaths. The first study, Effects of voglibose and nateglinide on glycemic status and coronary atherosclerosis in early-stage diabetic patients, or the DIANA (DIAbetes…

Veggies Meat Carbohydrate Sequence Prevents After Meal Sugar Spike

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article presents a study that shows how to prevent the rapid rise of blood sugar after a meal or Post-Prandial Glycemia (PPG) PPG and atherosclerosis High blood sugar after meals is a risk factor for developing diabetes and atherosclerosis. It injures the inner lining of the arteries and starts or continues atherosclerosis.[1] PPG is…

Blood Glucose Spike and its Prevention

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article is based on an NHK Japan YouTube video about glucose spikes. A glucose spike or post-prandial hyperglycemia (PPG) is the rise of blood sugar to more than 140 mg/dL after a meal. It can happen after every meal. Many may unknowingly have glucose spikes, including those with normal fasting blood sugar and slender. In…

Gallbladder Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

First published on April 9, 2019. This page is updated with new information. Metabolic Syndrome is a common condition that increases the risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is present if three of the five conditions are present: Fasting blood sugar of more than 100 mg/dl Obesity High triglycerides…

Triglyceride-Glucose Index tests for insulin resistance and much more

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

Insulin resistance is not a good thing.  Insulin resistance is when the liver and skeletal muscles do not respond to insulin, forcing the pancreas to produce more insulin to lower blood sugar.  The problem with high insulin or hyperinsulinemia is that other organs like the fat tissue, liver, muscle, brain, bone, kidneys, and vasculature also…

Intermittent Fasting: Now more than ever

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

I have talked about the benefits of intermittent fasting and the resulting reversal of cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridemia. The past several months have shown unrelenting food price increases. This resulted from the war in Ukraine, the hyperinflationary policies of the US Federal Reserve, the culling of millions of poultry due to…

The Triglyceride/HDL ratio detects insulin resistance and predicts diseases

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

Anyone who had a blood test called a lipid profile has probably heard of triglycerides and HDL. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, commonly called the “good cholesterol.” HDL is a lipoprotein carrier and cleans up the arteries of atherosclerosis. Metabolic Syndrome Triglycerides are also good, but they are bad for the body in excess. A…

Intermittent Fasting while on Diabetes Medications

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This post was initially released on October 25, 2020. It has been updated. Intermittent fasting in diabetics has many benefits. It reduces blood sugar, lowers weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and decreases the need for medications. However, people with Type 2 diabetes or adult-onset diabetes who would like to do intermittent fasting should avoid complications. Possible…

Triglyceride/LDL Cholesterol ratio predicts small dense LDL, the best predictor of atherosclerosis

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

New developments in cardiovascular risk factors concerning cholesterol show that small dense low-density lipoprotein (sd-LDL) is a most potent inductor of atherogenesis and is a better predictor than LDL.[1][2]. LDL consists of several subclasses of particles with different sizes and densities like the large buoyant “fluffy” LDL, mid-band LDL, and small dense LDL. In contrast…

CDC reports an increase in Childhood Obesity during the Pandemic

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

The CDC reported an increase in childhood obesity in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2–19 Years — United States, 2018–2020. Among a cohort of 432,302 persons aged 2–19 years, the rate of body mass index (BMI) increase approximately doubled…

Sugar Increases Blood Pressure, Weight, Worsens Diabetes and COVID-19 Outcomes

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

According to the CDC, among U.S. adults, 29% have hypertension, 42.4% are obese, and 10.5% have diabetes. Prediabetes, the condition where the blood sugar is above normal but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes, is present in 88 million Americans or 1 in 3. Hypertension, obesity, and diabetes increase the risk of death…

Skin Tags and Metabolic Syndrome

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article marks the start of a series of articles about skin conditions related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Many people don’t see a physician. Some of them may be walking around with undiagnosed diabetes.  Usually, the first time they get diagnosed is when they are in an emergency room with a critical condition like a…

Hyperinsulinemia

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

Hyperinsulinemia means high insulin levels. Persistent high insulin leads to conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. The good news is there is something you can do about it. What is Insulin? Insulin is the primary hormone for fuel storage in the body. After eating,  macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into easily…

Diabetic Complications, Pancreatitis, and COVID-19

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

The pancreas is an organ inside the abdomen that is located right behind the stomach. It is essential for life as it produces digestive enzymes and hormones. Without the pancreas, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates will be hard to digest. Insulin and glucagon come from the pancreas. In the absence of these hormones, blood sugar control…

A Common Type of Anemia can Affect your Diabetes Test

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

There are different kinds of anemia, but for this article, the word anemia will refer specifically to iron deficiency anemia. And yes, iron deficiency anemia can make your diabetes test inaccurate. How is diabetes monitored? The monitoring of diabetes treatment is done with the blood test called Glycated Hemoglobin or Hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c for…

Are You Ready for Doctor Shortages?

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

A report from the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) predicts a shortage of 122,000 physicians by 2032. This shortage will be across the board and affect Primary Care Physicians and ALL specialties. But 2032 is 13 years from now. Why should I care? Diabetes complications and coronary artery disease do not pop out of…