How to Activate Damaged Beta Cell in Pancreas to Produce Insulin? - Diabetes 21

Beta cell in pancreas (credit to frontiers)

We talked about role of beta cells in pancreas to produce insulin at previous posts (Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Persons Produce Less Insulin? - Diabetes 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update) 

and 

(Could Medicines Affect on Pancreas to Produce Insulin? - Diabetes 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update).

Partial damages of beta cells lead to reduce insulin production, but insulin production may be totally stop due to severely degeneration of cells.

The question then: Can we activate beta cells to produce insulin? And how?

Some researches said: yes, we can fix damaged beta cells, especially due to certain toxic agents.

At least two methods to make beta cells to regain their functions:

- diets

- fasting

Illustration of insulin production in beta cell

(credit to TheDiabetesCouncil)

Some diets from herbs are believed to potentially to activate beta cells to produce insulin. These leaves contain corosolic acid to increase insulin production.

The leaves are:

- cinnamon, natural or supplement forms

- tea (green tea)

- banaba leaves, Lagerstroemia speciosa.

Fasting could help fix destroyed or half damage of beta cells, thus pancreas re-starts to produce insulin to manage blood sugar level.

In addition, insulin sensitivity can be improve by intermittent fasting, we have discussed at previous posts:

- What is the Meaning of Insulin Resistance? - Diabetes 15 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Does Intermittent Fasting Affect on Insulin Resistance? - Part 1 - Diabetes 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Does Intermittent Fasting Affect on Insulin Resistance? - Part 2 - Diabetes 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Did Fear Make Some People be Late Persons?

Clock, just for illustration

We talked about arrival on time in industry countries at previous post (Some American Customs are not Apply in Other Countries – part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update).

Actually, some people in developed nation are late persons too, might be late in things like:

- missed due dates on assignments

- come late to an important meeting

- late to meet friends

Behavior of late persons caused harm to themselves in terms of:

- relationship

- careers

- finances

- reputations

There are plenty causes to become late either acceptable or not:

- sickness

- traffic accidents

- not able to judge length of distance or time needed to keep on schedule

Illustration of fear (credit to Healthline)

Personalities are believed to contribute to the lateness:

- low self control make the late person to consume a lot of time to reach schedule.

- too optimistic

- anxiety tend to avoid particular conditions

- reflective

- explorative

- distress

Then, what is the main cause that make some people be late persons?

Some expert said that “fear” or “anxiety” is the main reason to be late persons. Feeling fear such as:

- have no good results in doing assignments

- have no good dress to meet friends, and wasting time by trying several outfits.

Fear can cause damage to the brain, and then accumulate of damage make “late persons” not be able to fix their own fear. Thus, be late and late.

Are you a late person type or on time person type?

How Authoritarian, Cult or Abusive Leaders Created Their Fervent Supporters?

Hitler was one of authoritarian leaders (credit to SlideShow)

Reading from multiple resources, it is surprising me that authoritarian, cult or abusive Leaders have similar characters in some points.

Typical of these kind of leaders are:

- take advantages or dominate their followers

- stoking fears such as fear to minority groups (Hitler case)

- provoking fears that immigrants are dangerous, done by many current leaders in many countries.

Then, what factors that caused supporters to “submissive” to these leaders? The answers are lead to:

- unaware about harm to themselves and to the society

- followers have justifications that successful leaders such as in business, military or government administration are entitle to conduct unethical or immoral behaviors.

A campaign rally, just for illustration (credit to Business Insider)

- no connection with real truth due to limited resources. Favor to selective medias.

- fact averse, thus accepted the fact which corroborate to their narrow viewpoints.

Like the leaders like followers, both of them have the same personality that to abuse who have different opinions.

Finally, by supplying fear consistently, leaders could “short-cut” their followers brain, reduce cognitive ability. It is the way the authoritarian, cult or abusive leaders created their fervent supporters.

Why do Americans Love to Visit Library?

Lady carries a box with full of books in front a library

It was the facts that 350 libraries were closed across America in the recent years due to many factors, three of them:

- budget cuts: in addition to closures, also causes less operating hours

- widespread using of digital medias

- e-books are available in the market

Surprisingly, Americans and Canadians have used public libraries more and more in the last 10 years.

The trending seems appearing in the Europe too where governments reinvention to attracts thousands of visitors to come to libraries

Libraries are living, even evolving and reviving. Then, mainstream medias reported that library is top place to be visited by Americans.

 Our city library, a public library

Top 6 the rank places most visit by Americans are following (according to Gallup poll):

- library

- movie theater

- sport event (sport stadium)

- live music or theatrical event

- national or historical park

- museum

Now, the question is Why do Americans Love to Visit Library? The simple answer is that library could make quality of life be better.

How about you? Do you like to visit library?

Why Vacation may Improve Healthy Heart? - Heart 6

One of tourist destinations in the tropical region

We might know that take off from job for a while reduces stress. Recent research findings relate vacation to many health benefits.

A vacation every year or once in one year (12 months) period have several advantages in respect to healthy heart:

- reduce risk of heart diseases

- improve heart rate (more normal and natural rates)

- lower risk of stroke

Interesting fact that work long hours cause risk of stroke. The risk is about 29%, and increase to be 45% if the people have worked long hours for long time.

Then, Why Vacation may Improve Heart Benefits?

There are at least two main reasons that impact on heart improvements due to days of hiatus:

An island for vacation in the tropical area.

1) Reduce metabolic symptoms called as dysmetabolic syndrome or syndrome X. This syndrome relates to high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and insulin resistance, thus reducing metabolic symptoms will reduce risk of heart diseases.

2) Vacation may reduce stress, hence reduce heart diseases.

Moreover, Holiday is believed to improve focus ability and happy life. Have planned to get vacations this year? Where and how long?

Flowers of Redbud Trees Near by My Walking Path

The flowers of Redbud tree

As of my previous post, we walk for 35 minutes almost every day, and walking under the tree for health advantage purposes (What are Health Benefits to Walk under the Trees? | Tanza Erlambang Update).

Actually, we may found many interesting things under the trees, include critters, flowers and weeds.

We saw red flowers few days ago, after searching through internet, we believe the red or pink flowers belong to the tree called Western Redbud with scientific name Cercis occidentalis.

The tree is blooming as one of signs from nature that early spring is coming. Yes, the weather is quite comfortable in our place in the February, about F 47 (C 8) degree during night, and F 70 (C 21) degree during day time.

Redbud tree is suitable for small yard

It is said there are two type of redbud trees

- Western redbud

- Eastern redbud

The Western redbud is suitable for warm temperatures, and grow well in California and Arizona.

While Eastern tree (Cercis canadensis) could be seen from eastern to north USA, even go through Canada.

Comparison between Redbud and another tree

Redbud is not so tall tree, about 3.1 m to 5.5 m (10 to 18 feet) tall. Strong tree because could resistant to drought and specific fungus such as “oak root” fungus.

The plant may grow reasonable fast, the rate from 61 cm to 91 cm (24 inches to 36 inches) per year. The first flowers are produced at 3^rd year of age, from February to April each year.

Have you ever seen the beautiful flowers of Western or Eastern redbud in your areas?

What is “Shinouri” Style Used by Women in Japan?

A Japanese girl with “shinouri” style

I always saw Japanese girls with traditional dress, Kimono, especially in tourism objects when I was in Japan.

However, I rarely saw women with face of “shinouri” style walking on the streets or public spaces.

What is “Shinouri” Style Used by Women in Japan? I believe that there are 3 possible answers:

- painted in white as a general translation

- traditional white makeup

- powdery makeup

Japan women in 9^th century, about 1200 years ago used shinouri style as a fashion to identify themselves as a woman who comes from rich families.

Girls seen with “shinouri” style walking on the street

It is a symbol of social status. Then the style is worn by two prominent professionals:

- geisha's

- traditional stage actors or actress

Yes, we may find out to see the women with shinouri style in public spots if we know where and when.

Women with powdery makeup could be seen in places called as “hanamachi.” It means flower town, but, actually a “geisha” district.

Districts are found in almost cities across Japan. The bigger cities, the more geisha districts.

The biggest city in Japan, Tokyo has 6 geisha districts:

– Shinbashi

- Yoshicho

- Hachioji

- Mukojima

- Kagurazaka

- Asakusa

If we lucky enough, we may spot women with painted face in the evening when they come out from their apartments to appointment places such as restaurants and tea houses.

Have you spotted women with powdery face in any places?

Lipid metabolisms and Insulin Effect – Diabetes 20

Illustration of lipid metabolims (credit to 123RF).

We talked about carbohydrate metabolism in the previous post (Effect of Insulin on Metabolic Rate - Diabetes 19 | Tanza Erlambang Update). This post will discuss little bit about Lipid metabolism.

You might forget what lipid is. Yes, it is organic compound: fatty acid and all of its derivatives.

In daily life, examples of lipid may include:

- cooking oil (natural oils)

- waxes (substance which produced by bees to construct honeycomb as an example)

- steroids (material to form hormone, vitamin D and bile salts in the body).

Lipid metabolism is important, because its to breakdown the lipid into cells (smaller chain fatty acids).

These smaller fat cells either stored (source of energy) or synthesize (for specific use). It is crucial to have synthesis process, where fats are constructed to be cell membranes (plasma membranes).

Source of Lipid in daily life (credit to SlideServe)

What hormones regulate lipid metabolism? 3 key hormones are:

- insulin

- leptin

- adiponectin

Insulin affects on both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In respect to lipid metabolism, insulin help synthesis process, include glycogen synthesis.

In the liver, insulin could stimulate glycogen synthesis. Two goals of this kind of synthesis:

- manage blood glucose level

- provide energy need

Thus, we may understand the relationship between lipid metabolism and insulin, then relationship to diabetes.

Lower insulin production causes lower lipid metabolism rate, then increase blood glucose level, or the process is vice versa. 

City Library Paintings Gallery from Grade 12 Students

A girl and butterfly, painted by a 12^th grade student

I may see painting displays on the wall of my city library. Librarians replace paintings of gallery regularly based on:

- classic painting

- popular collections

- style of paintings

- artist ages (students)

- amateur or professional artists

- themes such as addiction, farming society or city developments

When I came to library recently, I saw paintings of students, from kindergarten to high school.

Self portrait, painted by a high school student

There are almost 100 paintings of students, hanged on the library entrance wall, then I chose three of them for this post only.

It is because I think that the paintings are “excellent” compared to their peers. The paintings were created by 12^th grade students from different high school a cross our city.

A dog, painted by student of 12^th grade

Might be the same with other cities in America, our city school system provides a program for recognized talented students in the filed of visual arts, theater and music.

Specific classes are provided to these talented students in order to:

- develop skill

- increase knowledge

- grow as professional artists

- give an opportunity to show their arts to public

I believe the program for the talented students have excellent results. 

Have your cities or countries with similar program?