Sleep apnea may be the result of how much fat is in your diet.

A growing body of evidence points to insulin resistance in humans as one cause of sleep apnea. When researchers fed nonobese rats a high-fat diet they developed insulin resistance and sleep apnea.  A second group of rats fed the same diet but given metformin (which increases insulin receptor sensitivity), prevented the elevated insulin levels and the sleep apnea.

PositiveTip: Choose a lowfat diet and keep the saturated fats to a minimum, especially from animal sources.

Source: http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v15/n6/full/oby2007169a.html

B-12 monitoring is important for diabetics taking Metformin.

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed oral medication for those with type 2 diabetes. 

A new Dutch study has again linked this medication with significantly lower vitamin B-12 serum levels. These researchers also found the blood homocysteine levels were also significantly higher, causing an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. B-12 deficiency can lead to anemia, neuropathy, and cognitive changes. 

PositiveTip: If you are a diabetic taking Metformin, ask your physician to monitor your vitamin B-12 levels on a regular basis.

Metformin seems to lower vitamin B12 levels in diabetics.

A Canadian prospective case-control study has found that Vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in type-2 diabetics taking metformin than those not taking it (231 vs. 486 pmol/L). Those on metformin also had significantly higher levels of two markers of B12 deficiency (homocysteine and methylmalonic acid) along with increased severity of neuropathy. This B12 deficiency may exacerbate the symptoms of neuropathy in diabetics. It is unknown yet if metformin interferes with B12 deficiency or if or supplements would be beneficial.

Lifestyle modification vs. drug therapy almost twice as effective in preventing diabetes over 10 years.

The Diabetes Prevention Program reported in 2002 that compared with placebo, an intensive lifestyle intervention program or oral medications in 3200 individuals with impaired glucose metabolism lowered the incidence of diabetes during the three years of the study by 58% and 31%, respectively. Most of these participants were then enrolled in seven additional years of follow-up where they received lifestyle-reinforcement sessions quarterly, and those randomized to lifestyle had eight additional lifestyle intervention sessions each year.