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People who achieve weight loss of 10% or more in the first five years following diagnosis with type 2 diabetes have the greatest chance of seeing their disease go into remission, according to a new study led by the University of Cambridge.
The findings suggest that it is possible to recover from the disease without intensive lifestyle interventions or extreme calorie restrictions.
Type 2 diabetes affects 400 million people worldwide and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness and amputations. While the disease can be managed through a combination of positive lifestyle changes and medication, it is also possible for the high blood glucose levels that define diabetes to return to normal -- through significant calorie restriction and weight loss. An intensive low-calorie diet involving a total daily intake of 700 calories (less than one cheeseburger) for 8 weeks has been associated with remission in almost nine out of ten people with recently diagnosed diabetes and in a half of people with longstanding disease.

It's a common problem for many older adults. You may have more than one doctor and each prescribes a different drug for a different illness. Before you know it, you're taking multiple medications and start feeling tired, dizzy or nauseous. Your doctor interprets that as a new symptom for a new disease and prescribes yet another drug.
Overmedication is a health hazard for older adults that their doctors can often overlook. "It's easier for doctors to simply start another medication than it is for them to evaluate each [current] medication," says Leah Rorvig, a geriatrician and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
The problem is that we become increasingly sensitive to the side effects of drugs as we age, says Rorvig. For instance, older adults are sometimes prescribed a drug class known as proton pump inhibitors to treat heartburn. Rorvig explains that this type of medication can cause weakening of the bones, which puts older people at a higher risk for falls and fractures.

Studies show heart-healthy eating plan works for prevention and treatment of high blood pressure
Developed more than 20 years ago through research by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the NIH, the DASH—Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension—eating plan emphasizes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and includes fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and healthy oils. It focuses on reducing sodium and limits foods that are high in saturated fat—including fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils—as well as limiting sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages. The eating plan is aimed, in part, at helping the 1 in 3 Americans with high blood pressure, or hypertension, a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

The course of upper back pain—and how to treat it—depends on the underlying cause of the condition. Even in cases where it seems obvious what started the upper back pain, such as an injury from a fall, the specific source of pain within the body can sometimes remain elusive.
Regardless of whether the exact source of upper back pain can be determined, it helps to know the various potential causes in order to better narrow down which treatments may be best.
Common Causes of Upper Back Pain
When the upper back becomes painful, it is most likely due to an injury that has resulted in muscular irritation or joint dysfunction. Some of the more common causes of upper back pain are: