Important heart health news for men with type 1 diabetes

You men have it tough sometimes.

And not just on sinking ships…

Here’s the title of a recent press release from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences: “No heart benefit from omega-3 in women with type 1 diabetes.”

Researchers followed health and dietary records for about 600 male and female type 1 diabetics for several years. Results showed…we’ll you’ve already read the headline. And that’s potentially bad news for women with diabetes IF future research confirms a lack of protection from omega-3 fatty acids. (Personally, I have my doubts this conclusion will hold up.)

But wait, researchers…before you turn out the lights, and call it a day…what about the men in the study? Anything we should know about there?

In the five-paragraph press release, here’s what we find out in paragraph four: “The incidence of heart disease was lowest in men who consumed the highest quantities of omega-3–more than 0.2 grams per day.”

Huh! That sort of seems like the information they SHOULD HAVE LED WITH!

Diabetic men who consumed as little as TWO GRAMS of omega-3 each WEEK had the lowest rate of heart disease.

Come ON! That’s something every man with type 1 diabetes needs to be aware of right now!

The press release ends with this quote from the lead researcher: “Importantly, our study suggests we shouldn’t assume men and women with type 1 diabetes are the same.”

No–importantly, your study suggests you’ve got your priorities backwards.

And here’s another news flash: Ever since we played “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” in kindergarten, nobody assumes men and women, with or without diabetes, are the same.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Source:
“No heart benefit from omega-3 in women with type 1 diabetes” Press release, University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, 6/26/10, eurekalert.org