Novartis Blood Pressure Medication Runs into Trouble by Gary Pepper, M.D. Editor, Metabolism.com In 2007 a new type of blood pressure lowering medication was brought to market by Novartis Pharmaceutical Company. This medication by the brand name Tekturna (aliskiran) works by blocking hormones that make up a circuit from the kidney to the blood vessels [...]
November 9, 2011 By Dr. G. Pepper
Bariatric Surgery Benefits Last for Years
One of the biggest problems with weight loss programs and diets is that even if they work the weight tends to come back on within a year or two. A recent study from the University of Utah of people who underwent bariatric surgery shows that not only do they lose weight quickly, after 6 years [...]
September 27, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Don’t Expect New Weight Loss Meds for 10 Years or More
As a culture we don’t plan for a sudden halt in scientific advancements. Our tendency is to expect progress to be rapid and continuous. My prediction is that in certain areas of medical science we are likely to see not only a halt in progress but a slipping backward. In particular, the realm of medical [...]
September 8, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Changes in Hormones After Gastric By-Pass Speed Weight Loss and Lower Blood Sugar
It seems obvious that cutting away part of the stomach and intestine should cause weight loss. With a smaller stomach and less intestine fewer calories can be absorbed per day causing weight loss. Surgeons who perform gastric by-pass were puzzled however, by how fast their patients showed metabolic improvement after undergoing this procedure. They noticed [...]
August 20, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Chubby Neck Becomes the New Normal
After reading the latest research on the metabolic hazards associated with chubby necks I am more sensitive to the size of people’s necks then ever. Of course I look at the size of my patient’s neck but people who I pass in the street or supermarket may find me staring. Watching TV a few days [...]
July 16, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Spirulina and other Green Superfoods Can Jumpstart Good Health by Tom Hines
Metabolism.com is pleased to share the following article provided by our guest contributor, Tom Hines. ********************************************************** In some ways, your body is like a machine — it works best when it’s properly maintained and tuned up. Food is your fuel and when you fill your tank with lousy fuel, your engine sputters and stalls. If [...]
July 8, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Dear Oprah, It was Fun While it Lasted!
It’s over between me and Oprah. If you are a regular reader of metabolism.com you probably know about my proposal to Oprah. Don’t get worked up, it wasn’t a marriage proposal. It was a proposal to create a Diabetes Lifestyles reality show for her new cable network. Here’s the background. Oprah is starting her “Own” [...]
June 30, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Does Inflammation Caused by Obesity Result in Diabetes ?
What comes to mind when considering the term “inflammation”? A festering pimple, or perhaps a high fever, an infected tooth, toe, abscess? These are typical examples of inflammation. Inflammation may exist in many other forms however, including possibly obesity. Inflammation describes the immune system when it is activated. The presence of pus or fever are [...]
June 22, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
4 Days and 1 Million Votes to Go
Well….we tried. Thanks to everyone who voted for my Diabetes Show idea for the Oprah channel. With only 40 votes so far and 4 days to go, there isn’t much hope of my idea getting recognized by the judges for the Oprah network contest. I still think it would be great T.V. to have a [...]
June 16, 2010 By Dr. G. Pepper
Will Insomnia Lead to Diabetes?
During the past decade researchers have discovered that lack of adequate sleep can cause metabolic defects similar to those of diabetes. Blood sugar tends to be higher and insulin resistance more pronounced in people who don’t get adequate sleep. To create these abnormalities in blood sugar metabolism for studies, researchers typically deprived subjects of sleep [...]
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