The psychological profile of youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: The psychological status of New Zealanders living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is unknown. This study's purpose is to determine the prevalence of general wellbeing, diabetes-specific distress, and disordered eating, and explore their relationships with glycemic control. METHODS: Participants were patients aged 15-24 years with T1D (N = 200) who attended their routine multidisciplinary clinic at the Waikato Regional Diabetes Service. They completed questionnaires including the World Health Organization Well-Being Index, the Problem Areas in Diabetes scales, and the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised. Clinical and demographic information were also collected. RESULTS: Median age of participants was 19.3 years and 14% identified as Maori (indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand). Median HbA1c was 73 mmol/mol. One fifth of participants experienced low emotional wellbeing, including 7.5% who experienced likely depression. Diabetes distress was found in 24.1%, and 30.7% experienced disordered eating behaviors. Differences were identified between Maori and non-Maori in measures of diabetes distress and disordered eating, with Maori more likely to score in clinically significant ranges (50% vs. 19.9%; 53.6% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.05). Disordered eating was correlated with HbA1c , body mass index, and social deprivation; diabetes distress was associated with HbA1c and inversely with age (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first of its kind to determine that New Zealanders living with T1D experience significant psychological distress. Research with larger Maori representation is needed to more closely review identified inequities. Replication in other local clinics will help contribute to the ongoing development of normative data for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Evaluation of the Nutritional Knowledge of Undergraduate Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is prevalent in health care workers, but it is unknown whether a lack of nutritional knowledge contributes to this. This study measured the nutrition knowledge of undergraduate nursing students to identify knowledge gaps that could be addressed through nutrition teaching in an updated undergraduate nursing curriculum. METHOD: Undergraduate nursing students (N = 197) completed a nutrition knowledge survey with questions on demographics, body composition, nutrition labels, food packaging claims, and healthy food-purchasing choices. RESULTS: Mean overall nutritional knowledge scores were low, but overall scores were higher for students who had received nutrition teaching (60.5% versus 52.5%; F[1, 187] = 7.2, p < 0.001). Improvements in nutrition knowledge were consistent across all ethnic groups, and no effects of age were observed. CONCLUSION: To sufficiently prepare nurses for their public health role in obesity prevention, more nutrition education is needed in undergraduate nursing education programs, with emphasis on ethnic-specific educational requirements.

An initial investigation into the anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant capacity of alpha-cyclodextrin-complexed Manuka honey.

The bioactive properties of Manuka honey are now well recognised, but the nature of honey (a sticky, viscous fluid) can make it hard to use as a health remedy. A new technology using encapsulation of Manuka honey with alpha-cyclodextrin molecules has been developed, creating a free-flowing powder that can easily be added to foods and beverages, or tableted / made into capsules for use in health. In this study, we investigated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant capacity of raw Manuka honeys and matched complexes was measured using the CUPRAC method. Results showed that the antioxidant activity of honey decreased when complexed, this being directly related to dilution of the final product with alpha-cyclodextrin. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring inhibition of neutrophil TNF-alpha secretion. Contradictory results were produced, with both stimulation and inhibition of TNF-alpha being observed. Data from this study indicate that the formation of cyclodextrin-based complexes of Manuka honey may potentiate the anti-inflammatory activity of honey, but this may differ depending on methylglyoxal content and the presence of other factors.

Hormonal contraceptive practices in young Australian women (≤ 25 years) and their possible impact on menstrual frequency and iron requirements.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the hormonal contraceptive practices of female university students aged ≤ 25 years, their menstrual bleeding frequency, and interest in contraceptive regimens that reduce menstrual frequency or duration. STUDY DESIGN: A 20-item questionnaire was distributed to female students at Griffith University, Gold Coast campus. This included questions relating to: demographics, menstrual bleeding frequency, current contraceptive practices, and interest in future oral contraceptive regimens that reduce menstrual bleeding frequency and duration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Determination of hormonal contraceptive practices and menstrual bleeding frequency undertaken by the sample population. RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifty one participants completed the questionnaire, ~ 2/3rds of respondents are currently using a hormonal contraceptive (66% of all respondents), with the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) being most common. Most women (73%) reported monthly menstruation, although 16% indicated that they sometimes missed their monthly period, with bleeding every two months. Of all OCP users, approximately 2/3rds have skipped their monthly period at some time, the most common reasons being for convenience (89%). Approximately 70% of respondents were interested in OCP regimens that reduced frequency or duration of menstruation. CONCLUSION: OCP use is popular amongst Australian university women, with many being interested in the concept of using the OCP to delay menstruation. Given this interest and the availability of hormonal contraceptives that reduce menstrual frequency and duration, assessing the impact of reduced menstrual blood loss on iron stores may be warranted.

The effects of long-term honey, sucrose or sugar-free diets on memory and anxiety in rats.

Sucrose is considered by many to be detrimental to health, giving rise to deterioration of the body associated with ageing. This study was undertaken to determine whether replacing sucrose in the diet long-term with honey that has a high antioxidant content could decrease deterioration in brain function during ageing. Forty-five 2-month old Sprague Dawley rats were fed ad libitum for 52 weeks on a powdered diet that was either sugar-free or contained 7.9% sucrose or 10% honey (which is the equivalent amount of sugar). Anxiety levels were assessed using an Elevated Plus Maze, whilst a Y maze and an Object Recognition task were used to assess memory. Locomotor activity was also measured using an Open Field task to ensure that differences in activity levels did not bias results in the other tasks. Anxiety generally decreased overall from 3 to 12 months, but the honey-fed rats showed significantly less anxiety at all stages of ageing compared with those fed sucrose. Honey-fed animals also displayed better spatial memory throughout the 12-month period: at 9 and 12 months a significantly greater proportion of honey-fed rats recognised the novel arm as the unvisited arm of the maze compared to rats on a sugar-free or sucrose-based diet. No significant differences among groups were observed in the Object Recognition task, and there appeared to be no differences in locomotor activity among groups at either 6 or 12 months. In conclusion, it appears that consumption of honey may reduce anxiety and improve spatial memory in middle age.