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Type 2 diabetes: more than one type of diet can help people achieve remission

Until recently, type 2 diabetes has mainly been managed by controlling risk factors – such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar (glucose) levels – usually by prescribing drugs. But this approach doesn’t address the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes – such as problems with the hormone insulin no longer effectively controlling blood sugar. While taking drugs can help to manage blood sugar levels, it won’t help unpick the biological causes behind type 2 diabetes. A growing body of research shows that losing weight, either through surgery or dieting, can help address some of the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes. It does this by helping the body control blood sugar levels. This is significant as controlling blood sugar by improving how insulin is made and works is key to bringing type 2 diabetes into remission. Most of this body of research so far has looked at using meal-replacement shakes to help people with type 2 diabetes, which is why this approach may be prescribed by a doctor. But, more recently, researchers have begun investigating other diets – such as low-carbohydrate diets – in achieving remission. Although research in this area is still emerging, study results have so far shown a low-carbohydrate diet to be promising. To better understand which diets are best at helping people achieve type 2 diabetes remission, our recent review looked at over 90 papers describing the effects of various diets on type 2 diabetes. We found that although the better quality research tended to focus on meal-replacement shakes used in clinical trials, other approaches (such as low-carbohydrate diets) were also shown to work well. Join our readers who subscribe to free evidence-based news Our review found that meal-replacement diets helped around one in three people successfully achieve remission, while low carbohydrate diets were able to help around one in five people achieve remission. People who lost weight using both of these diets were able to stay in remission for up to two years if they maintained their weight loss. Low calorie and Mediterranean diets were also able to help people achieve remission – but at much lower rates. Only around 5% of people on low-calorie diets stayed in remission after one year, while only 15% of people on a Mediterranean diet stayed in remission after a year. Defining remission One of the big challenges we faced when writing our review was defining what “remission” is. Knowing how to define it was important so we could understand which diets worked best in helping people achieve remission. The reason this was difficult is because the definition varies between different expert groups and research studies. Most define remission as a reduction of blood sugar levels below the range to diagnose diabetes – but some definitions state that this needs to be done without the use of drugs, while others do not. Other definitions say weight (especially fat around the midsection) must be lost to achieve remission. Another challenge we faced when defining remission was that some reports suggest low-carbohydrate diets can normalise blood sugar levels even without weight loss. This happens because when we eat carbohydrates, they’re broken down into sugars which cause our blood sugar levels to rise. A low-carbohydrate diet means less blood sugar appears in the bloodstream, leading to improved blood sugar control. For that reason, we initially defined remission using the definition each study used. Then, we compared the numbers of people whose blood sugar levels normalised without drugs for at least six months – which most consider to be true remission. Mitigation v remission While low-carbohydrate diets help people achieve remission, there’s concern that blood sugar levels could potentially rise again as soon as more carbohydrates are eaten. This is why we suggest in our review that rather than call this remission, it should perhaps be called “mitigation of diabetes”, as type 2 diabetes is still present – but the negative effects are being well managed. We think that remission can only be achieved if fat is lost from around the organs. This allows insulin to be made and used effectively again. But because carbohydrates are also a major energy source in our diet, eating less of these often results in consuming fewer calories – which typically results in weight loss. So if someone is able to maintain a low-carbohydrate diet long term, they will not only reduce blood sugar levels and risk of complications for their diabetes, but may also achieve remission. Regardless, the evidence that we looked at in our review made clear that there are many ways a person can significantly improve their blood sugar levels through diet – and that this can lead to remission in many cases. The key thing we found with each type of diet is that at least 10-15kg of body weight needed to be lost to achieve remission. However, although weight loss seems to be the best predictor of success, it assumes fat loss from the pancreas and liver. It will be important for future studies to compare how these diets work for different ethnic groups, as type 2 diabetes can happen at lower body weights in different ethnic groups, who may have less weight to lose. Not everyone may be able to achieve remission, but people who are younger (less than 50), male, have had type 2 diabetes for less than six years and lose more weight are more likely to be successful. This could be because these people are able to reverse the causes of their diabetes, recovering more of the pancreas’s ability to make insulin and the liver’s ability to use it. But this doesn’t mean others won’t be successful if they improve their diet and lifestyle, and lose weight. Whether or not a person achieves remission, reducing blood sugar levels is important in managing the negative effects of type 2 diabetes and reducing risk of complications. But when it comes to choosing a diet, the most important thing is to pick one that suits you – one that you’re likely to stick to long term.

Clinical trials to combat short sightedness in children underway at Aston University

Clinical trials to treat myopia - or short sightedness - in children are now underway. They are being conducted by researchers from Aston University in partnership with industry and in collaboration with the Universities of Queens, Ulster, Glasgow Caledonian, Anglia Ruskin, Waterloo and TU Dublin, with one of the trials funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The myopia research team in the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University is recruiting children between the ages of six to 15 years old, to take part in the clinical studies, which involve a range of different interventions that aim to slow the progression of myopia in children. The interventions under trial include low dose atropine eye drops, contact lenses and spectacle lenses. Myopia is an eye condition where distant objects appear blurry. It typically occurs in childhood and progresses through the teenage years. It can lead to eye disease in later life, as the eye grows longer with myopia, it causes stretching in parts of the eye. Myopia is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the world and it has been predicted to affect approximately 50 per cent of the world's population by 2050, based on trending myopia prevalence figures. Myopia is an overlooked but leading cause of blindness, particularly among the working age population. At present, different designs of soft contact lenses, orthokeratology contact lenses (lenses worn overnight to correct the myopia), novel spectacle lenses and eye drops are all being used to slow eye growth and myopia progression in children. The aim in this trial is to manage myopia with an intervention at a young age in order to maximise the impact on slowing down the progression of myopia. Lead researcher professor, Nicola Logan, said: “Myopia is often considered benign because the blurred vision is easily corrected with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. Higher levels of myopia are associated with increased risk of pathological complications, but it is important to note that there is no safe level of myopia. Even low levels of myopia increase the risk of sight-threatening eye conditions. “We are at an exciting time whereby we now have interventions based on research evidence that can be used in clinical practice that will help to slow down the rate of progression of myopia. “In these trials we want to find out the impact of different interventions on myopia progression in UK children, as well as look at why myopia develops and how it progresses in children, to see if we can enhance the current interventions. New information may be used to make the myopia control interventions more effective.” The researchers are aiming to recruit around 200 children aged between six and 15 years old across the three trials by 2021. If you are a parent or guardian of children who have myopia and feel this may be suitable for your children, then you can contact the research team at myopia@aston.ac.uk or (+44)121 204 4100 for further information.

UCI experts can discuss unfolding crisis in Afghanistan

UCI faculty members Dr. Heidi Hardt, associate professor of political science, and Dr. Mark LeVine, professor of modern middle eastern history, are available to speak about the crisis in Afghanistan. Dr. Heidi Hardt Dr. Hardt can talk about NATO's contribution to Afghanistan, implications for NATO's legitimacy, security concerns for Afghan women and provide broader context on military interventions and operations. She can address more specific questions related to the two decades long allied operation. About Dr. Hardt: Dr. Hardt has expertise in transatlantic security, national security and European security and defense, including NATO, the EU and OSCE. Issue areas include transatlantic security cooperation, collective defense, crisis management, military operations (e.g. Afghanistan), coalition warfare, strategy, learning, adaptation, organizational change, gender and diplomacy. She's the author of two books: NATO's Lessons in Crisis: Institutional Memory in International Organizations (Oxford UP, 2018) and Time to React: The Efficiency of International Organizations in Crisis Response (Oxford UP, 2014). She's the recipient of a 2021-2022 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship and will soon be working as a foreign policy fellow for the Office of Congresswoman Katie Porter. Contact: hhardt@uci.edu Dr. Mark LeVine Dr. Levine was in Kabul in 2019. His point of view on Afghanistan includes: • “Why did the US abandon the embassy when the agreement with the Taliban specifically allowed to diplomatic staff to remain in Afghanistan and there was no imminent threat by the Taliban to the embassy and in fact the US was coordinating with them. They could have certainly kept the lights on and not looked like cowards running, which set the tone for everything else.” • “It seems pretty clear that there was an internal military coup. The Taliban did not just waltz into Kabul without coordination with senior military people who are already handing over parts of the country to them in the days before. Some kind of deal had been worked out behind the scenes and without the knowledge of the president, which is why he felt he had no choice but to flee.” About Dr. LeVine: Dr. LeVine completed his Ph.D at NYU’s Dept. of Middle Eastern Studies in 1999, after which he held postdoctoral positions at Cornell University's Society for the Humanities and the European University Institute's Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, in Florence, Italy before coming to UCI. His research and teaching focus on the following issues: histories, theologies and political and cultural economies of the Middle East and Islam in the modern and contemporary periods; Palestine/Israel; cultural production, revolution and resistance in the Middle East and Africa; modern and contemporary Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco; art and conflict in West Africa (especially Ghana and Nigeria, but also Senegal, Mali and Kenya); comparative studies of imperialism and colonialism, urban planning and architecture (history and theory); critical theory and globalization studies with a comparative focus on popular cultures and religion in Europe and the Muslim world; peace and conflict studies; and comparative nationalisms. Contact: mlevine@uci.edu

Georgia is the top spot to do business in America – let our expert explain why the Peach State’s economy is ripe for the picking

There’s billions of dollars flowing into Georgia – and with that economic development, comes good paying jobs. It’s getting a lot of attention and that means news coverage on local, state and national levels. Recently, media have been looking for expert perspective and opinion on the economic boom – and to help with their questions, Georgia Southern University’s Michael Toma is the go-to expert for reporters looking to break down the investments, the opportunities and the jobs that are coming with them. The SK Battery America plant is, appropriately, located in the city of Commerce, Georgia. The $1.6 billion project – expected to employ 2,000 – was finalized in early January 2019, but without investment from the state and local government, it might not have been built in Georgia. "They were looking at several other states, especially in the southeastern U.S.," said John Scott, director of economic development for Jackson County. "When we were working with them the final two sites were between here and somewhere in Tennessee." … According to Michael Toma, Ph.D., Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics at Georgia Southern University, a new project creating 1,000 jobs can have a huge impact, while 500 jobs is a significant project for medium-sized cities. How good the jobs are is a matter of debate, although state and local officials emphasize that they look for jobs that pay well. July 27 – USA Today/Savannah Morning News If you’re a reporter looking to know more about why business is booming in Georgia – then let us help. Michael Toma, Ph.D., is Georgia Southern University's Fuller E. Callaway professor of economics and is available to speak with media about this topic – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

Next biochar webinars announced to reach global market

• Next series of biochar online events scheduled for August and September • Benefits of using sustainable form of charcoal to be highlighted • Original event attracted people from around the globe Two more virtual events have been planned to highlight the benefits of using biochar, which is a sustainable form of charcoal made from organic waste. The free events will be taking place on 24 August and 29 September and follow the popular presentation held last month by the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University. Organisers of the event, Biochar Webinar: Challenges, Benefits and Applications, were inundated with hundreds of businesses from across the globe, including in New Zealand and South Africa, signing up to find out more about how they could benefit from using the fuel source. Tim Miller, director of engagement at EBRI said they had received positive feedback from the first event, and so wanted to make sure a wider audience could find out more about it. “In the build-up to COP26 which will be happening in November, the world is going to be talking more and more about energy, sustainability and the path to net zero. This is why it’s so important for us to be able to showcase what we do within EBRI, along with the research, but also be the thought leaders in such an important subject which will be affecting us all. “This is why we have decided to release two more dates for the talk, and have also been mindful to host one later in the day so our counterparts in countries such as America will also be able to log in and find out more about biochar,” he said. Biochar has a wide variety of uses, including carbon capture, water treatment, soil improvement, odour control and industrial applications. The expert-led virtual session will help anyone with an interest in biochar to be able to find out more about how the multi-purpose material can help decarbonise rural and urban environments. The talks will be held on 24 August between 10am – 11am, and 29 September between 3 - 4pm. To sign up for the event, visit www.bioenergy-for-business.org/ebri-out-and-about/ For more details about the world-leading research taking place at EBRI, visit: https://www.aston.ac.uk/research/eps/ebri

#Experts in the media - Political science professor discusses 2020 Census data

The 2020 Census is out - and media are coming to Georgia Southern University to help breakdown the numbers and explain the details about how it all impacts Georgia. America is becoming more diverse, according to new data from the 2020 Census. Analysts say the biggest jump came, in the multiracial category. It went from nine million in 2010 to 33.8 million in 2020. That’s a 276 % increase. The Latino and Asian communities also saw big jumps. A political science professor at Georgia Southern says this data has a big impact on local communities. “Another thing is the redistricting process in general. The results of the Census are going to have a big impact on the redistricting process this year in state legislatures. For instance, some states are losing representatives, and some states are gaining representatives,” Kimberly Martin, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and international studies, said. While Georgia and South Carolina are keeping the same number of representatives, Martin says the Census affects funding, and also gives lawmakers an idea of how demographics in their districts have changed over the past decade.  August 13 - WTOC If you are a reporter covering this topic - then let our experts help. Contact Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu for an interview with Professor Martin today.

Stepping back in time — Georgia Southern expert helps uncover day-to-day life of the woolly mammoth

It’s been an exciting time for those studying the now extinct animals that used to roam the continent. And recently, Katy Smith, associate professor of geology and curator of paleontology at Georgia Southern University, was asked to lend her expertise to a team of scientists who are piecing together the life and times of the massive wholly mammoth that once roamed the earth. We might not be able to study a walking, breathing woolly mammoth in real life, but what if we could track its movements and get a sense of where it traveled, from its birth to its death? For the first time ever, scientists have done just that. An international team of researchers published a paper this week in the journal Science that reveals the 28-year movement history of a male woolly mammoth. With exciting detail about where it roamed throughout northern Alaska, its seemingly favorite locations—as it returned time and time again—and where it eventually died, this paper offers unparalleled insight into an animal that lived approximately 17,000 years ago.  August 12 - GIZMODO A full article is attached and is a captivating read. If you are a reporter looking to learn more or cover this interesting subject – then let our experts help. Contact Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu for an interview with Katy Smith today.

The Taliban returns - what's next for Afghanistan?

As the era of occupation ends in Afghanistan, it was with record speed and precision that the once defeated Taliban have returned to cease near total control of Afghanistan. The Taliban has begun the process of forming a government in Afghanistan, after taking control of the capital Kabul and declaring that the war is over as Afghan forces surrendered and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Despite two decades of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, and a war that cost more than $1 trillion, Taliban insurgents arrived at the gates of Kabul on Sunday and took the capital, including the presidential palace, with little resistance. “Today is a great day for the Afghan people and the mujahideen [Taliban],” said Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem. “They have witnessed the fruits of their efforts and their sacrifices for 20 years. Thanks to God, the war is over in the country.” August 16 - The Guardian For many, there is much speculation about what the country faces in its short and long term future. Is it possible for a peaceful transition? What will happen to all of the advances for women that occurred over the last two decades? Will the punitive measures taken against those who worked for or assisted of coalition forces? And how will these recent events alter how foreign policy and how America engages in the rebuilding of countries? This is news and events that are unrolling in real time and if you are a journalist covering this topic - then let us help. Robert Rabil, Ph.D., is an expert in political Islam, terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S.-Arab relations. He is available to speak with media about the current situation in Afghanistan, simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

As Afghanistan falls – what comes next?

After 20 years of war, trillions spent and thousands of casualties, the Taliban claimed control over most of Afghanistan this weekend with little resistance, just a few weeks after withdrawal of American and allied forces. And questions are already being raised: How could this have happened so quickly? Did no one see this coming? What revenge and havoc will the ruling Taliban seek on those who assisted coalition forces? What will happen to the Afghan refugees who are attempting to flee the country? And sadly, was this all for nothing? There will be a lot of coverage as the future unfolds for the people of Afghanistan and how the Taliban’s control will reshape the country and the region. And if you are a reporter covering this ongoing topic – then let us help. University of Mary Washington Political Science and International Affairs Professor Jason Davidson is an expert in American foreign and security policy, and international security. He is also the author of the Brown and Boston universities commissioned study, "The Costs of War to United States Allies Since 9/11," which focuses extensively on the contribution of America's allies in Afghanistan. If you’re looking to arrange an interview with Dr. Davidson, simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Three Aston University STEM pioneers shortlisted for Women in Tech Awards

• Three finalists from Aston University shortlisted for prestigious Women in Tech Awards • Two academics are up for the award which will be announced in October • A degree apprentice has also been nominated in the category Three STEM pioneers from Aston University are celebrating after being shortlisted for the prestigious Midlands Women In Tech Awards. Aston University’s Reham Badawy and Lucy Bastin have picked up nominations for the academic category while Jessica Morgan has been put forward for the apprentice category for the awards. The Midlands Women in Tech Awards are an opportunity to highlight and recognise the ongoing contribution of women in the tech sector. The aim of the awards is to raise the visibility of women in the tech space and enable the next generation to ‘see it and therefore aspire to it’. Jessica Morgan is studying a Digital Technology Solutions apprenticeship with Cap Gemini and Aston University, with experience working on projects within the public sector. She is in the final year of her degree apprenticeship and has been balancing work, studying and volunteering, while being on track for a first class honours. Reham Badawy is part of the Undergraduate Teaching Team at Aston University. Her research work has used smart tech to detect and monitor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. She is a strong advocate for women in STEM and is a UK Ambassador for Women are Boring. Lucy Bastin has a Masters in GIS and a PhD in Urban Ecology. She is a senior lecturer in Computer Science and was recently on secondment to the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. She developed web-based biodiversity information systems that support accessible and user-friendly reporting by the international community against policy and conservation targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Professor Kate Sugden, deputy dean for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University said: “We are delighted to see so many Aston University shortlisted candidates for the Women in Tech Awards. “In our eyes they are all winners and are great examples of our ongoing commitment to making significant contributions to the region and wider society.” Voting closes on August 20 and more details about the finalists can be found here: www.womenintechawards.co.uk The ceremony takes place on 7 October where the winners will be announced.