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Living with Diabetes

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:53:57 GMT

Been referred now what?

Primary Care Offices

Primary care providers give you education on diabetes, make the call! You’ll be one step closer to successfully managing your diabetes.

Depending on your specific situation, your insurance and your doctor’s preferences, you may meet with your diabetes educator several times, either individually, in a group or both. Insurance plans typically cover up to 10 hours of diabetes education the first year you have been referred, with varying levels of coverage after that. It of course depends on your specific insurance plan.

What happens during diabetes education?

During initial visits, your diabetes educator will spend time with you developing a plan that helps you overcome the barriers you face in managing your diabetes, develop problem-solving and coping skills and adopt healthy behaviors. Some examples of the many activities you may work on together are:

Helping you understand exactly what diabetes is and how it affects your body
Explaining how diabetes medications work
Figuring out what types of food are best for you and how to plan meals that fit your life and budget
Determining the best type of glucose monitoring device for your specific circumstances
Suggesting charts, apps and other tools to provide reminders and help you track your progress
Offering tips to help you cope with stress and solve problems as they arise

Importance of follow up

Meeting with a diabetes educator is a great first step. But effective diabetes education is a process and takes time. It’s important to attend all of your diabetes education appointments. If you need to miss an appointment, be sure to reschedule. Discuss what you’ve learned with your doctor who referred you to the diabetes educator. He or she wants to be kept informed and may be able to contribute helpful ideas. Managing diabetes is a team effort!

Get Treatment at Primary Care Offices

Primary Care Offices, we have doctors who accept all insurances, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.

Set up a same-day doctor appointment by calling 954-450-9595 or chat with us online on our website www.primarycareoffices.com contact form to get started now.

End Stage Renal Disease - Chronic Kidney Disease

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:33:04 GMT

ESRD - CKD

What Is End Stage Renal Disease? Chronic Kidney Disease?

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last stage (stage five) of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This means kidneys are only functioning at 10 to 15 percent of their normal capacity. Kidneysare important organs that contribute to your overall well-being. When kidney function is this low, they cannot effectively remove waste or excess fluid from your blood. Kidneys are also responsible for other functions that support the body, such as balancing electrolytes and producing certain hormones. When chronic kidney disease develops into ESRD, dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary to stay alive.

Urine production

Fully functioning kidneys clean the blood of wastes and excess fluid. These items are eliminated through urine. Because kidneys with ESRD do a very poor job of removing these items, waste and fluid build up in the body to unhealthy levels. Accumulated waste in the bloodstream can make you feel sick. This is a condition called uremia. When fluid is not removed from the body, tissues will swell and lead to a condition called edema. Excess fluid in the bloodstream can also increase blood pressure.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals and salts such as magnesium, sodium and potassium. They are found in foods you eat and are essential to good health. However, too much or too little of these electrolytes can make you sick. Healthy kidneys make sure these levels are balanced. But kidneys affected with ESRD cannot regulate the levels of electrolytes. When this happens, changes in your body’s functions occur. Sodium can cause tissues to retain water. Excess potassium can cause an abnormal heart rhythm, which may lead to cardiac arrest. Too little magnesium can affect your heartbeat and cause changes in your mental state; too much can leave you feeling weak.

Hormones

Healthy kidneys make certain hormones. One is a parathyroid hormone (PTH) that activates vitamin D into a substance called calcitriol. Calcitriol helps your body absorb calcium. If your body cannot absorb calcium, your bones become weak and may break. Another hormone your kidneys manufacture is erythropoietin. Erythropoietin tells your body to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the cells throughout your body. If your red blood cell count is low, you may develop anemia, which will leave you feeling weak and fatigued.

Enzymes

Renin is an enzyme kidneys produce. Renin helps the body regulate sodium and potassium levels in the blood, as well as help regulate blood pressure. When blood pressure drops, renin is released and starts a chemical reaction in the body that will produce a substance called angiotensin. Angiotensin causes your blood vessels to narrow, or constrict. This helps raise blood pressure. Angiotensin also signals the adrenal glands (found at the top of your kidneys) to release a hormone called aldosterone. Aldosterone tells the kidneys to retain salt (sodium) and excrete potassium. By retaining salt, the body keeps more water in the system. This water raises the blood volume and blood pressure. Kidneys affected by ESRD sometimes make too much renin, which keeps blood pressure levels high. This kind of high blood pressure can be difficult to treat.

Regular dialysis treatment, following your renal diet and taking prescribed medications can go a long way in managing ESRD. If you have been diagnosed with end stage renal disease, it is important to follow your health care team’s advices regarding treatment.

Need Help Getting with ESRD?

Contact Primary Care Offices . They can help you identify the problem and get the help you need.

Also keep in mind that at Primary Care Offices , we have doctors who accept Medicare and Medicaid on staff, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.

Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located. Give us a call at 954-450-9595 , chat online , or visit our patient portal on our home page to get a comprehensive health exam.

Congestive Heart Failure

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:22:04 GMT

CHF

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

You don't have to face HF alone

The term “heart failure” makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there’s nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.

Your body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells. When the cells are nourished properly, the body can function normally. With heart failure, the weakened heart can’t supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath and some people have coughing. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult.

Heart failure

Heart failure is a term used to describe a heart that cannot keep up with its workload. The body may not get the oxygen it needs.

Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there’s no cure. But many people with heart failure lead a full, enjoyable life when the condition is managed with heart failure medications and healthy lifestyle changes. It’s also helpful to have the support of family and friends who understand your condition.

How the normal heart works

The normal healthy heart is a strong, muscular pump a little larger than a fist. It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system.

The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left:

Two upper chambers called atria (one is called an atrium)

Two lower chambers called ventricles

The right atrium takes in oxygen-depleted blood from the rest of the body and sends it back out to the lungs through the right ventricle where the blood becomes oxygenated.

Oxygen-rich blood travels from the lungs to the left atrium, then on to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.

The heart pumps blood to the lungs and to all the body’s tissues through a sequence of highly organized contractions of the four chambers. For the heart to function properly, the four chambers must beat in an organized way.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can’t keep up with its workload.

At first the heart tries to make up for this by:

Enlarging. The heart stretches to contract more strongly and keep up with the demand to pump more blood. Over time this causes the heart to become enlarged.

Developing more muscle mass. The increase in muscle mass occurs because the contracting cells of the heart get bigger. This lets the heart pump more strongly, at least initially.

Pumping faster. This helps increase the heart’s output.

The body also tries to compensate in other ways:

The blood vessels narrow to keep blood pressure up, trying to make up for the heart’s loss of power.

The body diverts blood away from less important tissues and organs (like the kidneys), the heart and brain.

These temporary measures mask the problem of heart failure, but they don’t solve it. Heart failure continues and worsens until these compensating processes no longer work.

Eventually the heart and body just can’t keep up, and the person experiences the fatigue, breathing problems or other symptoms that usually prompt a trip to the doctor.

The body’s compensation mechanisms help explain why some people may not become aware of their condition until years after their heart begins its decline. (It's also a good reason to have a regular checkup with your doctor.)

Heart failure can involve the heart’s left side, right side or both sides. However, it usually affects the left side first.

Need Help with CHF?

If you or a loved one find yourself troubled with CHF, contact Primary Care Offices . They can help you identify the problem and get the help you need.

Also keep in mind that at Primary Care Offices , we have doctors who accept Medicare and Medicaid on staff, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.

Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices. Give us a call at 954-450-9595 , chat online , or visit our patient portal on our home page to get a comprehensive health exam.

COPD

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:55:58 GMT

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema

COPD

Also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Emphysema

What Is it?

Also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; chronic bronchitis; or emphysema.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. Progressive means the disease gets worse over time.

COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of a slimy substance called mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms.

Causes

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. However, up to 25 percent of people with COPD never smoked. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dusts—also may contribute to COPD. A rare genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency can also cause the disease.

Long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs and the airways usually is the cause of COPD.

In the United States, the most common irritant that causes COPD is cigarette smoke. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke also can cause COPD, especially if the smoke is inhaled.

Breathing in secondhand smoke, which is in the air from other people smoking; air pollution; or chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace also can contribute to COPD.

Rarely, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may play a role in causing COPD. People who have this condition have low blood levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT)—a protein made in the liver. Having a low level of the AAT protein can lead to lung damage and COPD if you are exposed to smoke or other lung irritants. If you have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and also smoke, COPD can worsen very quickly.

Some people who have asthma can develop COPD. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Treatment usually can reverse the inflammation and narrowing that occurs in asthma.

Overview

To understand COPD, it helps to understand how the lungs work. The air that you breathe goes down your windpipe into tubes in your lungs called bronchial tubes or airways.

Within the lungs, your bronchial tubes branch many times into thousands of smaller, thinner tubes called bronchioles. These tubes end in bunches of tiny round air sacs called alveoli.

Small blood vessels called capillaries run along the walls of the air sacs. When air reaches the air sacs, oxygen passes through the air sac walls into the blood in the capillaries. At the same time, a waste product, called carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, moves from the capillaries into the air sacs. This process, called gas exchange, brings in oxygen for the body to use for vital functions and removes the CO2.

The airways and air sacs are elastic or stretchy. When you breathe in, each air sac fills up with air, like a small balloon. When you breathe out, the air sacs deflate and the air goes out.

In COPD, less air flows in and out of the airways because of one or more of the following:

The airways and air sacs lose their elastic quality.

The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed.

The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed.

The airways make more mucus than usual and can become clogged.

Figure A shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body. The inset image shows a detailed cross-section of the bronchioles and alveoli. Figure B shows lungs damaged by COPD. The inset image shows a detailed cross-section of the damaged bronchioles and alveolar walls.

In the United States, the term COPD includes two main conditions—emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs are damaged. As a result, the air sacs lose their shape and become floppy. This damage also can destroy the walls of the air sacs, leading to fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones. If this happens, the amount of gas exchange in the lungs is reduced.

In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways stays constantly irritated and inflamed, and this causes the lining to swell. Lots of thick mucus forms in the airways, making it hard to breathe.

Most people who have COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but the severity of each condition varies from person to person. Thus, the general term COPD is more accurate.

Outlook

COPD is a major cause of disability, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, 16 million people are diagnosed with COPD. Many more people may have the disease and not even know it.

COPD develops slowly. Symptoms often worsen over time and can limit your ability to do routine activities. Severe COPD may prevent you from doing even basic activities like walking, cooking, or taking care of yourself.

Most of the time, COPD is diagnosed in middle-aged or older adults. The disease is not contagious, meaning it cannot be passed from person to person.

COPD has no cure yet, and doctors do not know how to reverse the damage to the lungs. However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the disease.

Need Help with COPD or Emphysema?

Keep in mind that at Primary Care Offices , we have doctors who accept Medicare and Medicaid on staff, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.

Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices all over South Florida. Give us a call at 954-450-9595 , chat online , or visit our patient portal on our home page to get a comprehensive health exam.

Best supplements for high blood pressure

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:16:18 GMT

The 2 a day capsules to prevent hypertension

SUPPLEMENTS could be used to prevent high blood pressure symptoms and signs. You could lower your risk of hypertension by regularly adding these cheap capsules to your daily diet. Could you be at risk of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than 25 per cent of all adults in the US. The condition, which is also known as hypertension, could be caused by eating an unhealthy diet, or by not doing enough exercise. Diagnosing the condition early is vital, as it raises the risk of some deadly complications, including heart attacks and strokes. But you could lower your chances of high blood pressure by regularly taking magnesium supplements, it’s been claimed.

Magnesium helps to regulate your blood pressure bye relaxing blood vessels, revealed Harvard Medical School.

Not getting enough magnesium in your diet could lead to constricted blood vessels, and therefore high blood pressure.

For the best anti-hypertensive effects, choose a magnesium l-threonate supplement to top up on magnesium, added Dr Joseph Mercola.

“Along with an active lifestyle and healthy dietary habits, supplements may help reduce your high blood pressure levels safely and naturally,” said the physician.

“Magnesium deficiency due to insulin resistance is one of the causes behind constricted blood vessels, which in turn leads to hypertension.

To help your blood vessels relax and dilate, you should maintain optimum magnesium levels.

“If you're planning to take a magnesium supplement, go for magnesium l-threonate, since it's formulated for maximum absorption and it doesn't have laxative properties.

“Before you take any supplements, make sure that you consult your physician first to determine the proper dosage for your needs, or to check if these supplements are suitable for your condition in the first place.”

But you should be able to top up on magnesium from your diet, without needing a supplement, said Harvard Medical School.

The best sources of magnesium include dark leafy vegetables, unrefined grains, and legumes.

Taking too much magnesium from a supplement could lead to diarrhea, but there aren’t any known side effects of eating too much magnesium.

You could also lower your blood pressure by making sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet, and by doing regular exercise.

Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.

High blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’, because you may not even know you have it.

Hypertension symptoms only tend to reveal themselves if you have extremely high blood pressure.

Common high blood pressure symptoms include severe headaches, having a pounding in the chest, and finding blood in your urine.

Need Advice on Hypertension and High Blood Pressure?

Are you experiencing high blood pressure? You should talk with your doctor about how you can improve you health, and Primary Care Offices have the knowledge to help. Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices all over South Florida. Give us a call at 954-450-9595 , chat online , or visit our patient portal on our homepage to get you feeling better in no time.

7 Toxins to Avoid for Healthier Kidneys

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:33:31 GMT

For Healthier Kidneys

7 Toxins to Avoid for Healthier Kidneys

Our kidneys are two of the most important organs in our body. They filter about 200 liters of blood every day. The more toxins we introduce to our blood, the harder your kidneys work. One way to improve kidney health is to reduce our exposure to these harmful toxins. There are 50 million unique chemicals in the world, the majority of them are harmless, and vital for our health. Our increased awareness makes it easier to avoid toxins in our everyday life. Over time, these toxins build up and concentrate in our kidneys, then damage may occur which can result in decreased kidney function. As we get older, our kidney function decreases, for example, a 90-year-old has ⅓ to ½ of the kidney function of healthy 20-year-old. Here are the common toxins you can avoid to improve your kidney health today.

Healthy kidneys for senior health care Fort Lauderdale, FL

Take Only the Recommended Dose of NSAIDS

NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and Celebrex are good for your health when taken in moderation. But, if you take a higher dose than recommended, it forces the kidneys to filter them out of your system and this is highly toxic to the kidneys.

Reduce Salt Intake

The daily recommended amount of salt is 2,300 mg. This amount is equal to 1 teaspoon and can easily be exceeded if you eat one pre-processed meal that day. Look for ways to reduce your salt intake by selecting lower sodium versions of meals and ingredients. Instead of using table salt to season your food, learn to go without or use a salt substitute such as Mrs. Dash.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is extremely harmful to many other organs in addition to your kidneys, and even though it is difficult to do, you should make a determined effort to do it. If you can’t stop, focus on smoking less and get help from your primary care physician. They can help you break this harmful habit.

Reduce Consumption of Alcohol

An occasional pint of beer or glass of wine with dinner is OK and may even have some health benefits; but consuming too much alcohol is very hard on the kidneys and can contribute to other chronic diseases that will deteriorate your overall health. Check out this other article about some of the health benefits of reducing your alcohol consumption.

Take Vitamins Only in the Amounts Recommended by Your Doctor

Taking vitamin supplements is essential if your diet does not offer these crucial nutrients. Do not take more vitamins than recommended by your primary care physician. Taking more than the recommended doses of certain vitamins can harm your kidneys. Your primary care physician can give you a blood test to help determine which vitamins are good for your health and the proper amounts to take.

Do Not Take Illegal Drugs

As majority of illegal drugs are excreted through the kidneys (toxic waste goes into the urine). People who take illegal drugs are at a much higher risk for kidney disease and failure.

Need Advice on Kidney Health?

Are you experiencing pain in your lower back or have a reduction in urine? You should talk with your doctor about how you can reduce the toxins affecting your kidney health, and Primary Care Offices have the knowledge to help. Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices all over South Florida. Give us a call at 954-450-9595, chat online, or visit our patient portal on our homepage to get you feeling better in no time.

Tips to Improve Senior Health Care

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:25:56 GMT

Tips for Better Sleep to Improve Senior Health Care

Tips for Better Sleep to Improve Senior Health Care

Numerous studies have shown that to be at your optimum health you need 7-9 hours of sleep per-night. In America, 35% of adults sleep less than 7 hours a day. There are many reasons people don’t sleep well and seniors get less quality sleep than most other adults. Most seniors get less sleep because of sleep disorders and other medical problems which wake them up during the night. This can lead to sleep deprivation.

Sleep better for improved senior health care Plantation, Florida

The effects of sleep deprivation cause stress on your body and mind, making any task seem that much harder. When you are tired like this, day after day, you are more likely to lose balance and fall, possibly causing a serious injury. Getting enough sleep improves our immune system, which can improve your overall life. Here are some actions you can take right now for a better night’s sleep.

***

Here are some actions you can take during the day, to improve your sleep at night:

Plan Your Sleep

Plan your sleep ahead of time, like you would plan a meeting. You should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep. If you don’t have a full 7 to 9 hours straight, try to break it into naps instead. Also, try to go to bed at the same time every night, practice will help your body get into a better sleep routine.

Limit Caffeine

Caffeine is a known stimulant, which increases our energy and make it harder to fall asleep quickly. Try limiting your caffeine to the morning for a better night’s sleep, or 6-8 hours before bed.

Stop Alcohol and Nicotine

Both alcohol and nicotine disrupt your sleep cycle. Smokers spend more time lightly sleeping and less time in deep sleep, than non-smokers. Drinking too much alcohol also disrupts the body’s natural sleep pattern, causing you to wake up early, and have trouble falling back to sleep once you are awake. Check out this other article about some of the health benefits of reducing your alcohol consumption.

Purchase a New Bed

If your bed sags, is too firm, or too soft, it can cause pain and stiffness in your joints and muscles. These problems can escalate over time, causing more serious problems. Some beds may make you hot or cold, which may also wake you up at night. Getting a mattress that fits your needs, may make all the difference for a better night’s sleep.

Diet

Your diet affects everything from energy to sleep. If your body is digesting food, you may not be able to go to sleep right away. Try eating no less than 2 to 3 hours before going to bed.

Exercise

Exercising for 30 minutes every day will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. For those who find it difficult to exercise, talk with your doctor and see what options are available for you.

***

The hours leading up to bed-time are the most important for sleep. Here are some actions you can take to start preparing for bed a couple hours before you go to sleep.

Take a Warm Bath

Try taking a warm bath 60 to 90 minutes before bed. The temperature change naturally signals rest and relaxes you. This will insure your temperature has time to drop enough to sleep comfortably.

Drink Less Fluids Before Bed

Getting up every couple of hours to run to the bathroom is aggravating and counterproductive. Reduce your fluid intake before you go to bed to reduce the chances of this happening.

Meditate

Many studies indicate that medication is great for the body and the mind. “Clearing” your head can help you fall asleep faster and help you stay asleep longer. Try to achieve 30 minutes of meditation a day. If it is hard at first to sit for long periods of time, break your meditation sessions into three 10-minute sessions a day. Don’t feel bad if you can’t do it at first, there is no right way to meditate. Keep practicing or get help from an expert.

Limit Screen Time

Bright light makes us alert and inhibits the secretion of melatonin (the hormone that lets your body know it’s time to sleep). Try to read a book–a traditional book created from paper, not one on your tablet, phone or eReader–in the last hour before bed.

Need Help Getting to Sleep at Night?

If you or a loved one find yourself waking up frequently at night or have trouble with falling asleep, contact Primary Care Offices. They can help you identify the problem and get the help you need.

Also keep in mind that at Primary Care Offices, we have doctors who accept Medicare and Medicaid on staff, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.

Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices all over South Florida. Give us a call at 954-450-9595, chat online, or visit our patient portal on our home page to get a comprehensive health exam.

Diabetes and Nut intake

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 16:38:35 GMT

Diabetes: Nuts could reduce cardiovascular risk

Diabetes: Nuts could reduce cardiovascular risk

New evidence supports the current recommendation for people with type 2 diabetes to eat nuts to prevent cardiovascular issues and premature death.

Woman happily eating nuts

People with diabetes may benefit from eating nuts.

Nuts are packed full of essential nutrients that could benefit overall health.

They contain high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamin E, folate, and minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

The latest research has shown that nut consumption may help reduce the risk of chronic disease.

A recent study, which featured in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, identified an association between eating nuts and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Type 2 diabetes and nut consumption

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way in which the body metabolizes glucose, which is its primary source of fuel. Possible complications include kidney damage and cardiovascular disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2015, more than 30 million people in the United States had diabetes.

In the same year, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., with over 250,000 death certificates listing it as an underlying or contributing cause of death.

Every year, doctors diagnose 1.5 million cases of diabetes in the U.S.

Over the years, several studies have linked nut consumption to the prevention of coronary heart disease. In 2010, researchers noted that the results of these studies justified exploring the use of nuts in managing the symptoms and complications of diabetes.

A new study, which the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research has published, found additional evidence that supports the recommendation of incorporating nuts into a balanced diet to reduce the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes.

Boosting nut intake

In this latest study, researchers used self-reported diet questionnaires about nut consumption. Close to 16,000 adults participated, and they filled out the questionnaires before and after they received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers found that all types of nut offered health benefits, especially tree nuts.

As the name suggests, tree nuts, which include almonds and walnuts, grow on trees, while groundnuts, such as peanuts, grow underground. Tree nuts may offer more benefits because they contain higher amounts of nutrients in comparison with groundnuts.

Their analysis showed that people with type 2 diabetes who ate five servings of nuts per week had a 17-percent reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and a 34-percent lower risk of death relating to this condition.

Those who consumed more nuts after their diabetes diagnosis had an 11-percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 25-percent reduced risk of death related to heart disease compared with people who did not increase their intake of nuts.

"Our findings provide new evidence that supports the recommendation of including nuts in [healthful] dietary patterns for the prevention of cardiovascular disease complications and premature deaths among individuals with diabetes," said Dr. Gang Liu, Ph.D., lead study author and nutritional sciences researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA.

Even small increases might help

The team of researchers found that eating even a small number of nuts made a significant difference. Each additional serving per week of nuts led to a 3-percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and a 6-percent lower risk of death due to heart disease.

Although the specific effects of nuts on heart health are not clear, findings suggest that the nutrients in nuts may improve blood pressure, blood sugar control, and inflammation as well as enhancing the metabolism of fats and promoting blood vessel wall function.

"Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and a major cause of heart attacks, strokes, and disability for people living with type 2 diabetes," says Dr. Prakash Deedwania, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine in Fresno and a member of the Know Diabetes by Heart science advisory committee. He continues:

"Efforts to understand the link between the two conditions are important to prevent cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes and help people make informed choices about their health."

Dr. Deedwania added that these findings add to the growing evidence that a healthful lifestyle, regular exercise, and a balanced diet can all have a significant favorable effect on the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes.

Get Treatment at Primary Care Offices

Primary Care Offices, we have doctors who accept all insurances, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.

Set up a same-day doctor appointment by calling 954-450-9595 or chat with us online on our website www.primarycareoffices.com contact form to get started now.