Women who developed gestational diabetes while pregnant are at a higher risk for pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, that's the word from a new study. According to this report from Canada's CTV News, past studies have linked type 2 diabetes with increased pancreatic cancer. And, of course, having gestational diabetes puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes. However, this is the first time a link has been made between GD and pancreatic cancer.

The study involved an analysis of health records for a whopping 40,000 women, all of whom gave birth in Jerusalem between 1964 and 1976. Phew, that's a lotta diapers... Of 410 women diagnosed with GD, five developed pancreatic cancer in later years. None of the 137 women with type 1 diabetes went on to develop pancreatic cancer. Want the full story? Results have been published in BMC Medicine.

Now, don't panic if you have had GD. Says lead researcher, Mary Perrin of NYU's School of Medicine, the absolute risk for pancreatic cancer is still very low. Nevertheless, she points out that even a small statistical difference is significant since obesity is on the rise. The implication? If trends continue, we can expect to see more and more moms-to-be with GD in the future.

Dumb headline spotted in today's USA Weekend magazine: "Popcorn can help save your life." Oh, wow. I mean, we all enjoy a clever eye-catching headline, but this is ridiculous! Despite that misleading title, no, the salty snack preferred by movie-goers does not have super-human, life-saving powers. In fact, it's about the nutritional benefits of whole grains. And popcorn is actually a good source of whole grains: three cups popped equals one serving of whole grains.

The article mentions an Iowa Women's Health Study finding that women fifty-five and over who eat lots of whole grains are less likely to die from inflammatory diseases like asthma or infections. Whole grain consumption is also linked to a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Unfortunately, there's a catch. It's safe to assume that smothering your popcorn with salt and that weirdo fake butter probably counteracts the health benefits of eating whole grains in the first place. And I'm willing to bet ninety-nine percent of us popcorn-munchers prefer it flavored, not dry. Which is precisely why "Popcorn can help save your life" is a really dumb headline!

British-based website Scientist Live reports on a possible link between cancer and the use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of medications used to treat diabetes. The link comes from the Vermont Diabetes Information System, which enrolled just over one thousand participants in a study that relied on self-reported patient information and lab-verified data. The authors of the study assert that the link between TZD use and increased incidence of cancer is significant even after correcting data to allow for the influence of other factors such as smoking, body mass index, and other drugs being taken by the patients.

A little background: TZDs are prescribed because they lower blood sugar levels. They work by lowering insulin resistance, making the body better able to respond to insulin without actually causing an increase in insulin production. Brand name examples of TZDs include Actos, Avandia and Metformin. A type of TZD medication was banned in Europe after it was found to cause severe liver damage. According to the Wikipedia entry on TZDs, these substances are being investigated as potential treatments for a handful of other medical problems, but are currently used just for diabetes.

If there is indeed a link between TZD usage and increased cancer risk, we really need to find out ASAP. These drugs are prescribed to treat a chronic condition, so once you're on one you're likely to stay on it long-term. Who wants to be exposed to that on top of all the other possible side-effect risks? Stay tuned.

Have you heard about this online dating site specifically created for people with a health condition? Ricky Durham was inspired to create a site for his brother to meet people who battled with an illness that few people in the dating scene understood. Once Ricky saw how helpful it was for his brother - he opened it up for other people dealing with chronic conditions that would otherwise get in the way of breaking the ice.

These days, many people are seeking others online and consequently, specialized alternative dating services have emerged. Dating with a specific health condition can be awkward, especially when it comes time to divulge your situation, so an online service such as Prescription 4 Love could be just the outlet for you. Finding others with similar circumstances is a natural desire for everyone. Honesty is important, but finding an opportune situation to broach the subject can be difficult. By using Prescription 4 Love, you can be honest in advance and progress to the next stages of friendships and relationships.

Although the site was pioneered to meet the needs of Ricky's brother - he has since expanded the site to include many more conditions, including but not limited to: cancer, diabetes, obesity, IBS, allergies - and of course the more discreet conditions like HPV, herpes, and little people. As a commenter pointed out, little people is also the condition of dwarfism, a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4'10" or shorter, among both men and women. Wow. Thanks to the insight of a reader, I learned something new today!

It is well known that people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of pancreatic cancer, and now it seems that the risk extends to those with type 1 diabetes.

The risk was assed as small, but nonetheless - increased compared to those without diabetes. The research found that the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer was twice as high in subjects with type 1 or young-onset diabetes as in people without diabetes. This increased risk is similar in magnitude to that seen with type 2 diabetes. There are many theories about the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. A cancer-inducing role of the insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas, is ruled-out because in type 1 diabetes these cells have largely or entirely been destroyed. The researchers want to stress that people with type 1 diabetes should not be overly concerned. The leading scientist issued a statement, "pancreatic cancer is an extremely rare disease, and twice a tiny risk is still a tiny risk."

In light of the study results, the researchers encourage diabetics to stay the course and focus on preventing the common complications of diabetes such as heart disease, eye disease and kidney disease. Good plan, good doctor. Thank you for the reassuring news – phew!

If you're avoiding refined carbs, you probably already know that you should be. Whether it's because their effect on blood sugar is the reason, and/or if is more for the purpose of merely trying to eat healthier, avoiding starches such as white bread, rice, pasta and simple sugars such as sweets and juices is a smart move.

New evidence has surfaced connecting excessive refined carb consumption with an increased risk of kidney cancer. According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, when the diets of 767 kidney cancer patients and 1,534 healthy people were compared, it was discovered that patients who ate the most white bread (7 ounces or more daily) were almost twice as likely to have kidney cancer than those who ate 3.5 ounces or less.

Moreover, people who ate 2 or more cups of regular pasta were one-third more likely to have kidney cancer than those who ate half that much.

Foods such as white bread, regular pasta and other refined carbs cause glucose levels in the blood to spike, as most people with diabetes know. Being that insulin plays a significant role in the development of kidney cancer, the researchers knew where to look in making this connection.

First, a plug for the film Thank You For Smoking. It was a smart, if whimsical, way of fundamentally explaining the corporate strategy of the tobacco industry and how their media spin on an undeniably dangerous habit still wins out over better judgment. Or does it? Based on the Surgeon General's report for this year, Americans are living in a more smoke-free nation these days, especially when it comes to breathing in other people's smoke. This is good news for everyone, especially since smoking has been linked on more than one occasion to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Since the 1980s, secondhand smoke exposure has decreased by 70 percent, a figure that can easily rearranged to mean that we are now 70 percent healthier. The cause of this decrease is really no secret; people has become less socially acceptable, bars and restaurants have banned smoking altogether, and smokers seem to have adopted a more courteous approach to lighting up -- making their habit theirs and not yours by going into other rooms, staying outdoors, etc.

As mentioned, secondhand smoke has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes (it has been estimated that actual smokers raise their risk of type 2 by anywhere from 50-90 percent!). And by this point it is common knowledge than smoke inhalation can often times lead to cancer and heart disease.

The bottom line? It's time we put them out for good. It's not cool, it's not hip (I mean, think about it -- how cool is it to do something that your grandparents did? Should we start doing the waltz at night clubs next?), and it's obviously not healthy.

Does this sound familiar? Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? The Sugar Solution is an easy-to-follow, drug-free program that can bring blood sugar into balance in just one month. Weight gain, fatigue, depression, and poor concentration are symptoms that could potentially lead to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

The book points out that high blood sugar and depression often go hand in hand. In fact, depression may lead to increased sugar consumption and ultimately depression. The Sugar Solution helps readers determine whether they're at risk for blood sugar problems and shows them how to keep their blood sugar levels in range without drugs or injections. The exclusive 30-day lifestyle makeover guides them every step of the way, with complete daily menus, exercise strategies, and stress-reduction techniques. Pounds will melt away, energy will soar, and mental sharpness will return as blood sugar stabilizes.

The book will be helpful for people looking for an exercise and eating plan to help stabilize blood sugar levels and lose weight. Kick-off the New Year with a new approach to a better lifestyle!

Globalsurance has developed an online calculator to illustrate the effects lifestyle behaviors have on an individual's future health. By encouraging people to make changes now, it will have a dramatic effect on their changes of developing certain disease.

It is no secret the lifestyle choices you make now will affect your health in the future. People know and understand this but often push these thoughts to the back of their minds. The calculator includes results for different diseases like: cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Some of the factors used to determine your risk include: eating habits, drinking habits and smoking. But did you know that your attitude can affect your risk of developing certain diseases? When considering your future health it is hoped that people will look to help themselves now while the diseases are still preventable. Making simple changes now can dramatically reduce the chances of life-altering diseases later. The tool is so impressive, it even factors in medical advances to its calculations so those born in the late 80s will tend to live a lot longer than people born in the 50s or before.

The goal of this tool is to help show people how their current lifestyle will affect their health in old age. Making important lifestyle changes today will greatly enhance the quality of life in your future. We have the information necessary to change the future of our health. If someone was willing to offer you a helping-hand for a healthy future - what is stopping you from taking it?

A little something for the men - according to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, men with long-term diabetes may have a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

In the current study, researchers found the association between diabetes and a biological marker (prostate specific antigens or PSA) for prostate cancer. Higher levels of this marker indicate an increased risk of cancer. For subjects without diabetes, the researchers used fasting blood sugar measurements to determine the presence of undiagnosed diabetes. The average PSA levels were 21.6 percent lower among men with a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes compared with men without diabetes.

Scientists were unclear whether the lowered PSA level in diabetic men accurately reflects a decreased risk of prostate cancer in the diabetic population or whether their lower PSA levels result in a reduced likelihood of receiving a diagnostic workup for detection of prostate cancers. Ironical isn't it? If you have diabetes - you are more likely to catch something in time than if you were supposedly healthy. Hmm, strange way of looking at diabetes as a health advantage but if it helps -- more power to you.

Cancer researchers are exploring possible links between diabetes and breast cancer. In an article just published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, researchers describe how they identified such a link: diabetic women are more likely than non-diabetics to have had breast cancer. That is, at least according to the results of their study, which found that of 82,000 diabetic women and 400,000 non-diabetic women, the diabetics were thirteen percent more likely to have had breast cancer.

The mystery is why this might be. Possible factors that need to be examined include diet and lifestyle, body weight, and reproductive factors. The role of hormones is also considered important. In particular, it has been thought that estrogen levels may play a role. With the identification of diabetes as a factor, however, attention is now shifting to the possible role that insulin plays in all this.

Allie Beatty (pictured) is a young woman with a mission. Combining her entrepreneurial spirit with a strong desire to help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes, the New York state resident founded the website Shop4Cures. The notion is delightfully simple: stores advertise on the site and provide coupons, discounts and product info. Shop4Cures then donates eighty percent of its advertising revenues to a range of nonprofit organizations that help fund research to cure diseases. In addition to helping fund diabetes research, profits from Shop4Cures will also go to organizations battling diseases such as cancer, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.

A Type 1 diabetic herself for over twenty years now, Beatty says she was inspired to start the site after hearing about a potential cure for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases that is currently under research. The problem was a lack of funding ($1.5 million, to be precise). That's when the Shop4Cures concept was born. Worth a look!

It has been known for a while that people with cystic fibrosis are at greater risk for developing cancer and diabetes. Researchers from Dundee University in the UK have announced a breakthrough in their understanding of cystic fibrosis and, with it, a better understanding of the disease's link to diabetes.

Cystic fibrosis sufferers have difficulty maintaining a normal body weight. It turns out that a protein which regulates fat levels in humans does not function normally in people with cystic fibrosis, so they are often very thin and can lose weight very quickly if they become ill. The researchers say this protein is the previously unidentified link between cystic fibrosis, cancer and diabetes. That is, it is the common factor that would explain why diabetes is a common problem for people with cystic fibrosis. According to Dr. Anil Mehta, of the Cystic Fibrosis Database at Dundee University, almost half of all cystic fibrosis patients develop diabetes.

A big stumbling block in fighting the spread of Type 2 diabetes in the US is that many of the afflicted or those likely to be afflicted are from low-income communities where unhealthy diets are common. When you are born and raised in a low-income community it's not just that you are likely to be surrounded by others making unhealthy food choices. No, in addition to this obvious disadvantage, it can mean limited access to stores selling fresh, healthy foods.

Certain very low-income black neighborhoods in Chicago have been found to be particularly at risk for this phenomenon. In these areas, many people do not have cars and rely on local businesses for much of their food supply. Trouble is, most of the local food businesses in those areas are fast food restaurants. As a result, although people in these areas are more likely to be obese, they are starving for good nutrition - making them more likely to die from cancer, heart disease and diabetes. As a result, researchers are calling such areas "food deserts."

Omega-3 fatty acids and phytonutrients are good for you. Really, really good for you and it's a proven fact! Well, at least according to researchers Keith Block from the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment (IL) and David Katz from the Yale Prevention Research Centers (CT). Block and Katz say that a diet rich in these nutrients reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Their reasoning works like this: many of the foods Americans consume include a lot of fats, refined flours and sugars. High in calories, yes, but also not very nutritious. Katz and Block say such foods increase inflammation in the body and contribute to debilitating weight loss, unintentionally help along the progress of diseases you're trying to fight. In a nutshell, they're saying conventional American ways of eating essentially starve the patient's body of the nutrients it needs to fight disease.