Re: Diary summary week ending 11th May 2025

[Pheno]

I'm not overweight either, but my NHS Doctor was most definite and adamant with me that I could improve my type 2 diabetes situation and ought to try.

If people have a belief they cannot change or improve their health, some might not even try to improve it.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/type-2-reverse

Mark

And have your 4 and possibly 5 previous generations all had type 2 diabetes?

I should have thought that genealogists with a knowledge of dna would know that you cannot reverse genetics (and NHS doctors for that matter).

Pheno

[AlanBoyd]

This exchange piqued my interest. I queried an AI about this, and here I extract a brief summary of one aspect of that discussion: specifically I homed in on a single important example of genetically-determined susceptibility and asked if lifestyle choices could mitigate its impact. [Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, but I am a biochemist.]

Genetics confer substantial baseline risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), but environmental and lifestyle factors critically determine whether this risk translates to disease. Family history remains one of the strongest predictors, though proactive lifestyle changes can mitigate genetic susceptibility

One well-studied example of a gene in which variants increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is TCF7L2.  This is the strongest common genetic risk factor for T2D, identified across diverse populations. Each risk allele increases T2D risk by ~40%.

Multiple studies demonstrate that lifestyle choices significantly modulate the genetic risk of T2D associated with TCF7L2 variants.

Lifestyle modifications—especially high-fiber diets, Mediterranean eating patterns, and structured weight-loss programs—appear particularly beneficial for individuals carrying TCF7L2 risk alleles, offering a practical strategy to offset genetic susceptibility.

I also elicited this statement:

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is influenced by genetic factors, but no common genetic variants make its development inevitable.

The full responses made by the AI were supported by multiple references to the scientific literature, but I think that is beyond the scope of this forum. If anyone wants a full transcript, please send me a PM.

[Viktoria]

Well did a lot yesterday, finished- as far as I could go with removing the old willow fencing ,losing two drill bits for the cross head screws ,the screws are rusty so whether Philip’s or cross heads I can’t see.
I “ fished” around in the debris with a huge magnet, the sort that can berth
ocean liners!
No luck though .
Took out the daffs and tulips and put two Verbena plants in the containers ,they were a present from eldest son for my upcoming 88 th Birthday.
Little seedlings need thinning out now ,and a Delphinium needs planting out but not until next door’s fence us sorted ?
Second son back tomorrow .
A new eye appointment and a heart clinic one plus a Nurse one mean there are no decent stretches if time to get to Suffolk to see the all family there .
Baby Lily will be getting married before I see her at this rate ,

Then I tidied up the pavement along my front garden ,weeds grow in so little
soil ,so deep roots, did mine and my son’s whilst I was at it , it looks so much better now.

Tesco delivery this evening plus yesterday eldest son took me shopping to Aldi ,Tesco and Morrisons’s —- all stocked up- things I prefer to choose myself etc .
I have so many parcels today for people who were out yet a card to say my son has to collect one!

Hope all are alright , enjoy the rest of the weekend .
Cheerio, Viktoria.

[dobfarm]

Dave

Provided you do not have a reaction to Nuts ... have you tried eating some walnuts daily?

https://www.health.harvard.edu/cholesterol/walnuts-can-lower-cholesterol#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20that%20participants,when%20they%20were%20eating%20walnuts.

There is some talk that high cholesterol can be reversed.

Same as Diabetes 2 and its predecessor Prediabetes. I have seen the phrase putting diabetes into remission.

Doctors are saying that there is good and bad cholesterol too? I'll leave you to check the arguments and evidence for yourself.

Ldl Cholesterol is apparently the bad one.

I said to the young Receptionist at our G.P.,  Surgery 'Doctor wants me to watch my cholesterol'

So she said what is it, I told her and the Receptionist replied, that is lower than mine, so I said to the Receptionist with a smile  you know what to do then.

Mark

If you can eat nuts ok without a reaction. A few Walnuts are a healthy little snack as they contain nutrients and the oil is reputed to be beneficial for health too.

Hi Mark,

I only found out! I had high cholesterol levels a month ago after I had my annual check up (OAP - M O T) after the surgery nurse took blood samples for testing and I was put on 'Atorvastatin tablets'.
 
Thanks for the walnuts advice, I'll do bit of research as you suggest on what foods help keep cholesterol levels down but think it will be all my favourite foods that i'll have to keep off    sob!!

Dave