HEALTH NOTES: Sniffer dogs that spot diabetes danger signs

By MAIL ON SUNDAY REPORTER

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Dogs can be trained to sniff out health problems in the sweat of patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a new study.

And their noses are startlingly accurate. After training, animals were able to spot hypoglycemia episodes – or hypos – with an accuracy of nearly 90 per cent, according to new research published in the journal Diabetes Therapy.

Hypos, which occur when the level of glucose in the blood falls below a safe point, are the most common side effect of insulin therapy in people with type 1 diabetes. These events can range from mild to severe, and in rare cases can lead to coma and death. A mild case can be treated by eating or drinking a fast-acting carbohydrate such as glucose tablets.

Dogs can be trained to sniff out health problems in the sweat of patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a new study

Dogs can be trained to sniff out health problems in the sweat of patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a new study

One of the challenges is that over time, patients can become unaware of the signs and symptoms of hypos, which can lead to complications.

The researchers tested six dogs – two labradors, a retriever, a Siberian husky, a spaniel and an alsatian – all of which had been trained to spot the smell of hypos.

Perspiration samples were taken from patients during a hypo and when blood sugar levels were normal. Samples were placed in glass vials which were then placed into steel cans. The dogs raised the alarm by sitting in front of, or pushing, the can containing the hypo sample. Results show that the dogs were able to spot the hypo with an accuracy of up to 87.5 per cent.

‘Our results suggest that properly trained dogs can successfully recognise and raise the alert about a hypo using smell alone,’ say the American researchers.

 

Exercising first thing in the morning may lower a woman’s risk of becoming overweight. 

In a study at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, more than 7,000 women wore sensors to calculate morning and afternoon levels of physical activity. 

Exercising first thing in the morning may lower a woman¿s risk of becoming overweight (stock image)

Exercising first thing in the morning may lower a woman’s risk of becoming overweight (stock image)

The results, published in the Journal Of Physical Activity & Health, showed that those whose morning activity levels were below 39 per cent of their daily total were 26 per cent more likely to be obese than those who put in at least 54 per cent before noon. 

Of 1,322 overweight women who took part, all were found to have lower exercise levels in the morning.

 

Rachel: I'm counting wheat out of my diet  

Countdown presenter Rachel Riley has revealed that managing the food intolerances she’s had since childhood is ‘an ongoing saga’. The 29-year-old says she tries to avoid wheat, dairy and eggs.

‘I feel a lot better if I avoid those. I wouldn’t encourage people to avoid those things if they don’t have a problem, but it made me ill and I feel better without it. I have similar symptoms to IBS.

Countdown presenter Rachel Riley, pictured in September at the National Lottery Awards, has revealed that managing the food intolerances she¿s had since childhood is ¿an ongoing saga¿

Countdown presenter Rachel Riley, pictured in September at the National Lottery Awards, has revealed that managing the food intolerances she’s had since childhood is ‘an ongoing saga’

‘I can feel sick or tired or my brain doesn’t function properly and it generally happens after I’ve eaten those foods,’ adds Rachel, who has been cheering on her boyfriend, dancer Pasha Kovalev, and his partner Carol Kirkwood in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing. They met on the show in 2013.

 

Embracing the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ could help beat the winter blues. Pronounced ‘hoo-ga’, it roughly means ‘cosiness’ or ‘wellbeing’. 

Now, lecturer Susanne Nilsson is teaching students about hygge as part of the Danish language course at Central London’s Morley College. ‘Hygge could be families and friends getting together for a meal, with the lighting dimmed, or it could be time spent on your own reading a good book,’ she explains.

 

Energy drinks 'have no effect'

That energy drink you swear by for a boost after exercise may not be as effective as you think. 

Scientists at New York State University measured the impact of a drink containing caffeine and Vitamin B on participants in computer-based tests designed to measure mental function. The following week similar tests were carried out after a placebo drink. 

Results reported in the journal Physiology And Behavior showed no evidence to support any effect on reaction times, memory, or attention capacity.

THREE WAYS TO BEAT FATIGUE 

At any given time, one person in five feels unusually tired, and one in ten has prolonged fatigue, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (stock image)

At any given time, one person in five feels unusually tired, and one in ten has prolonged fatigue, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (stock image)

PREVENT: At any given time, one person in five feels unusually tired, and one in ten has prolonged fatigue, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Lifestyle is usually the cause, whether it’s drinking too much alcohol that causes disturbed sleep patterns, working shifts or consuming too much caffeine. Researchers at the University of Surrey found that having just two weeks of poor sleep – six hours or less a night – affected the way in which more than 600 genes behave in your body. Ensure you get a restful night by keeping regular bedtimes and cutting down on coffee and alcohol. Turn off phones, tablets and computers at least an hour before bedtime.

PREVENT: There is some evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help to tackle poor sleeping habits. Sometimes fatigue may be caused by a medical problem. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing and disrupting sleep patterns. This can be treated by lifestyle changes including weight loss, cutting down on alcohol and sleeping on your side, or by using an airway pressure device to prevent the airway closing while you sleep. Tiredness can also be a symptom of coeliac disease, anaemia, depression, glandular fever and diabetes, so you should visit your GP who will advise on appropriate treatment if this persists.

DON’T BOTHER: Detox diets are widely claimed to help boost energy and concentration levels, but there is no medical evidence for this. Many people turn to energy drinks for a quick boost but these are laden with sugar and caffeine so give only a temporary effect. The caffeine can also make you feel irritable and restless and will help to prevent good rest at night.


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