Diabetes

Contrary to some advice to limit the omega-6 fats found in vegetable oil, a new Finnish study finds that high blood levels are associated with a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, at least in men. The study looked primarily at linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fat not formed by the body, which must be obtained from the diet. It's the primary fatty acid found in oils high in polyunsaturated fats as well as nuts and seeds.

Two recent studies suggest egg lovers aren't at higher risk of type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease. In a new meta-analysis, egg consumption was largely unrelated to risk of type 2 diabetes. And in a population study, egg consumption was not associated with increased incidence of coronary artery disease among men, even those with a genetic risk factor.

You already know to avoid added sugars, but now the evidence is mounting that another type of carbohydrate may also be implicated in weight gain and diabetes risk - starch. That's tricky, because identifying high-starch foods requires doing a little arithmetic on the Nutrition Facts label. But the health rewards may be worth breaking out the calculator.

The number of Americans newly diagnosed with diabetes fell for the fifth straight year in 2014, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Home cooking may not only stir warm and cozy memories of familiar foods coming from the kitchen - it could also be healthier for you than the modern trend of takeout, fast food and restaurant meals.

Q. Are sugar alcohols OK for people with prediabetes or type-2 diabetes to consume?

Although US diabetes rates continue to climb, the rate of increase has slowed since 2008, according to a new study in JAMA.

Q. My husbands grandson, who is six years old, has type 1 diabetes. His parents were told by their medical team that carbs are carbs-they should count the carbohydrates the same whether he was eating white bread or whole-grain bread. This would seem to run counter to what Ive read in a number of sources for years. Can you explain, please?

Products containing coconut, coconut oil and coconut milk are popping up everywhere, with marketers touting coconut as the latest superfood. But a recent warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration cautions coconut boosters not to overreach. The FDA warned that coconut products cant be labeled as healthy if they contain more than 1 gram of saturated fat or more than 15% of calories come from saturated fat. Some have claimed that the saturated fat in coconut is different because its mostly lauric acid, which a few small studies suggest is metabolized differently than other saturated fats. But the FDA isnt buying that argument, noting that coconut products might contain as much as 16 grams of saturated fat per serving.

A new clinical trial and a review of the evidence both suggest eating tree nuts may help fight diabetes. Tree nuts include walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pine nuts, macadamias and pistachios. One study reported that pistachios improved markers of blood sugar and inflammation in people at risk for diabetes, while the second concluded that tree nuts of various types contribute to better glycemic control in patients already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.