HEALTH
Deep sleep – Is Calcium the answer !
Washington : If you are having sleepless nights, blame it on calcium deficiency as a key calcium channel has been identified as responsible for deep sleep, says new study.
The study also gives us a clue to understanding both normal and abnormal waking brain functions reported IANS.
“It is the same brain, same neurons and similar requirements for oxygen and so on. So what is the difference between these two states?” asked Rodolfo Llinas, a professor of neuroscience at New York University School of Medicine and a Whitman Center Investigator at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole.
To tackle the broad question of sleep, Llinas and his colleagues focused on one crucial part of the puzzle in mice, Marine Biological Laboratory.
Calcium channels, selective gates in neuron walls, are integral in neuron firing, ensuring that all parts of the brain keep talking to one other. But during sleep, calcium channel activity is increased, keeping a slow rhythm that is different from patterns found during wakefulness.Based on this clue, the scientists removed one type of calcium channel, Cav3.1, and looked at how the absence of that channel’s activity affected mouse brain function.
This calcium channel turns out to be a key player in normal sleep.
Managing fast for diabetic or vice versa
How does health get affected of diabetic patients who fast during Ramzan/Paryushan/Shravan? Dr. Pradeep Gadge queries.
What happens to your body during fasting?
The changes that occur in the body during fasting depend on the length of the continuous fast. Usually your body enters into fasting state eight or so hours after the meal. Your body will initially use stored sources of glucose and then later in the fast it will break down body fat to use as the next source of energy. Using your body’s fat stores as an energy source can in the long run help to reduce your cholesterol levels and blood pressure as well as your weight. Losing weight, particularly if you are overweight can also lead to better control of diabetes. However, fasting should not be used as a way of losing weight in the long term.
Diabetes and fasting: does type matter?
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, fasting needs to be approached with care. Fasting should be rare if you have diabetes because an individual with type 1 or type 2 on oral medication can experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Risks from low blood sugar include seizures, coma, or even death if left untreated.
On the other hand, depending on the individual, fasting without using insulin can result in high blood pressure or in diabetic ketoacidosis. Dehydration is another fear if fluids are avoided during fasting.
Therefore in general type 1 diabetic should never fast. While type 2 diabetic can fast with some restrictions.
Diabetes and fasting: does the reason make a difference?
Religious reasons. Some people with diabetes may want to fast for religious observance such as Hindu, Jain fast or Ramzan. Given the risky nature of fasting with diabetes, this isn’t necessarily a good idea. Both (Hinduism and Islam) have guidelines that exempt those people who will be affected with harmful health consequence by fasting. If you are determined to fast, consult your doctor or diabetes educator to put a plan in place at least a month or two before actual fast. Medication dosage should be discussed, as well as how often to test before the actual fast and what to do if your blood sugar is too low or too high.
Also keep in mind that the fasting itself may not be the only issue to plan for. Medication timing is also important. During religious fasts you may be able to eat a meal at various times (pre dawn or sunset), which can affect when you need to take insulin or oral medication to control your blood sugars.
(The writer is a Consultant Diabetologist)
Washington : If you are having sleepless nights, blame it on calcium deficiency as a key calcium channel has been identified as responsible for deep sleep, says new study.
The study also gives us a clue to understanding both normal and abnormal waking brain functions reported IANS.
“It is the same brain, same neurons and similar requirements for oxygen and so on. So what is the difference between these two states?” asked Rodolfo Llinas, a professor of neuroscience at New York University School of Medicine and a Whitman Center Investigator at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole.
To tackle the broad question of sleep, Llinas and his colleagues focused on one crucial part of the puzzle in mice, Marine Biological Laboratory.
Calcium channels, selective gates in neuron walls, are integral in neuron firing, ensuring that all parts of the brain keep talking to one other. But during sleep, calcium channel activity is increased, keeping a slow rhythm that is different from patterns found during wakefulness.Based on this clue, the scientists removed one type of calcium channel, Cav3.1, and looked at how the absence of that channel’s activity affected mouse brain function.
This calcium channel turns out to be a key player in normal sleep.
Managing fast for diabetic or vice versa
How does health get affected of diabetic patients who fast during Ramzan/Paryushan/Shravan? Dr. Pradeep Gadge queries.
What happens to your body during fasting?
The changes that occur in the body during fasting depend on the length of the continuous fast. Usually your body enters into fasting state eight or so hours after the meal. Your body will initially use stored sources of glucose and then later in the fast it will break down body fat to use as the next source of energy. Using your body’s fat stores as an energy source can in the long run help to reduce your cholesterol levels and blood pressure as well as your weight. Losing weight, particularly if you are overweight can also lead to better control of diabetes. However, fasting should not be used as a way of losing weight in the long term.
Diabetes and fasting: does type matter?
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, fasting needs to be approached with care. Fasting should be rare if you have diabetes because an individual with type 1 or type 2 on oral medication can experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Risks from low blood sugar include seizures, coma, or even death if left untreated.
On the other hand, depending on the individual, fasting without using insulin can result in high blood pressure or in diabetic ketoacidosis. Dehydration is another fear if fluids are avoided during fasting.
Therefore in general type 1 diabetic should never fast. While type 2 diabetic can fast with some restrictions.
Diabetes and fasting: does the reason make a difference?
Religious reasons. Some people with diabetes may want to fast for religious observance such as Hindu, Jain fast or Ramzan. Given the risky nature of fasting with diabetes, this isn’t necessarily a good idea. Both (Hinduism and Islam) have guidelines that exempt those people who will be affected with harmful health consequence by fasting. If you are determined to fast, consult your doctor or diabetes educator to put a plan in place at least a month or two before actual fast. Medication dosage should be discussed, as well as how often to test before the actual fast and what to do if your blood sugar is too low or too high.
Also keep in mind that the fasting itself may not be the only issue to plan for. Medication timing is also important. During religious fasts you may be able to eat a meal at various times (pre dawn or sunset), which can affect when you need to take insulin or oral medication to control your blood sugars.
(The writer is a Consultant Diabetologist)
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