Sugar Research Articles

Unusual Case of a Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State in a Young Adult with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic State (HHS) is a severe acute complication primarily associated with type 2 diabetes but very rare in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). T1DM necessitates consistent insulin management to prevent acute complications such as HHS. HHS is characterized by extreme hyperglycemia (exceeding 600 mg/dL), significant dehydration, and hyperosmolarity, typically without the presence of significant ketosis or acidosis. This condition leads to an altered mental status, which can range from confusion to coma, whereas diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is more commonly observed in T1DM and is characterized by hyperglycemia (generally lower than in HHS), ketosis, and metabolic acidosis due to the breakdown of fats into ketones. DKA presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and deep, rapid breathing (Kussmaul respirations). The presence of acidosis distinguishes DKA from HHS and necessitates a different treatment approach. HHS has a higher mortality rate than that of DKA due to its more insidious onset and the severity of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance that often accompany it. We present the case of an 18-year-old male with T1DM, who experienced HHS due to irregular insulin use caused by work and financial constraints, alongside a diet high in sugary foods, necessitating emergency intervention.

Sweets and other sugary foods - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

Sweets, chocolate, and sweet bakery products are generally high in energy and added sugar, whereas the levels of essential nutrients and fibre are low. According to sales statistics, the consumption of sweets and chocolate is high in the Nordic and Baltic countries. This scoping review describes the totality of evidence for the role of sweets and other sugary foods for health-related outcomes as a basis for setting and updating food-based dietary guidelines in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 (NNR2023) project. We conducted a literature search to identify systematic reviews published between 2011 and 2021. The literature search resulted in 756 papers, of which 12 were included in this scoping review as sources of evidence. We also used evidence from the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) scientific opinion on tolerable upper intake level for dietary sugars published in 2022. Most of the papers included from the search focused on chocolate or cocoa, which are rich in flavonoids. We found some evidence linking chocolate consumption with lower blood pressure, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and improved insulin markers, but the evidence was ranked low or very low. The search did not identify systematic reviews investigating the associations between other sugary food consumption and health outcomes. In the EFSA review, conclusions were not drawn for other sugar sources than sugar-sweetened beverages. However, for fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, fasting triglycerides, and uric acid, there was a statistically significant effect of high sugar intake from solid foods compared to low sugar intake. Because sweets, chocolate, and other sugary foods are high in energy and added sugar, and low in essential nutrients and fibre, it is reasonable to limit their consumption, which is reported high in the Nordic countries.

The relationship between pregnancy and the prevalence of periodontal disease and dental caries among pregnant women in Indonesia: A review article

Pregnancy is a physiologically complex state marked by significant hormonal and physiological changes, which heighten vulnerability to oral diseases, particularly dental caries and periodontal disease. These conditions represent critical oral health challenges among pregnant women in Indonesia. This review seeks to investigate the association between pregnancy and the prevalence of periodontal disease and dental caries in Indonesian pregnant women, emphasizing underlying risk factors, outcomes, and opportunities for intervention. A review article was conducted using reputable databases, including ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2019 and 2024 were included, supplemented by manual searches of cited references to ensure comprehensive coverage. The analysis identified a high prevalence of periodontal disease and dental caries among Indonesian pregnant women, driven by hormonal fluctuations, behavioral modifications, inadequate oral hygiene practices, and limited access to dental care. Elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy exacerbate gingival inflammation and tooth demineralization. Behavioral factors, including infrequent dental visits, increased vomiting, cravings for sugary foods, and suboptimal oral hygiene, further compound these conditions. Sociodemographic determinants such as education level and socioeconomic status significantly influence oral health outcomes. The high prevalence of oral diseases in Indonesian pregnant women stems from hormonal changes and factors like low education, smoking, vomiting, and inadequate dental care.

Acceptability patterns of hypothetic taxes on different types of foods in France.

To identify patterns of food taxes acceptability among French adults, and to investigate population characteristics associated with them. Cross-sectional data from the NutriNet-Santé e-cohort. Participants completed an ad-hoc web-based questionnaire to test patterns of hypothetical food taxes acceptability (i.e., overall perception combined with reasons for supporting or not) on 8 food types: fatty foods, salty foods, sugary foods, fatty and salty foods, fatty and sugary products, meat products, foods/beverages with unfavorable front-of-pack nutrition label, "ultra-processed foods" (UPF). Sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, and dietary intakes (24h-records) were self-reported. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of food taxes acceptability. NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort study. Adults (n= 27,900) engaged in the French NutriNet-Santé e-cohort. The percentage of participants in favour of taxes ranged from 11.5% for fatty products to 78.0% for ultra-processed foods. Identified patterns were 1) "Support all food taxes" (16.9%), 2) "Support all but meat and fatty products taxes" (28.9%), 3) "Against all but UPF, Nutri-score, and salty products taxes" (26.5%), 4) "Against all food taxes" (8.6%), 5) "No opinion" (19.1%). Pattern 4 had higher proportions of participants with low socioeconomic status, body mass index above 30 kg/m2 and who had consumption of foods targeted by the tax above the median. Results provide strategic information for policy-makers responsible for designing food taxes and may help identify determinants of support for or opposition to food taxes in relation to individual or social characteristics or products taxed.

Influence of Sleep Time on the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods in Adolescents in a Capital of Brazil: A Longitudinal Study.

The study prospectively assessed the association between sleep duration and the consumption of ultra-processed foods in adolescent students from a Brazilian capital. We observed 1431 adolescents participating in the Longitudinal Study on sedentary behavior, physical activity, dietary habits, and adolescent health, aged 10 to 14 years, in the years 2014 to 2017. The percentage of consumption of ultra-processed foods was evaluated by the Friedman test. Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE) models with parameters for robust analysis were used to verify the prospective association between sleep and the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The percentage consumption of ultra-processed foods in relation to total daily calories increased in boys between 15 and 17 years old (31.8% in 2015 to 35.8% in 2017), being more stable among older girls (36.7% in 2015 to 37.7% in 2017), which may have occurred due to the influence of the social environment, reduced critical capacity, and lower concern for nutrition. This excessive consumption can lead to health and body composition impairments. Over time, adolescents who were in the fourth quartile of sleep had a 1.4% reduction (95% CI -2.49; -0.28) in the energy percentage from ultra-processed foods. When adjusting the initially used model in the GEE (Generalized Estimation Equation) with sociodemographic variables (income, maternal education, age) and lifestyle factors, sleep duration decreased by 2.1% (95% CI -4.09; -0.22) only in boys. The shorter duration of sleep in adolescents has been shown to be associated with unhealthy behavioral factors, such as a preference for fatty and sugary foods. There were no statistically significant associations for girls in this model. Sleep influences the consumption of ultra-processed foods in adolescents, showing that as sleep time increases, the consumption of foods classified as ultra-processed decreases.

Investigating preschool-aged chronotype and social jetlag as predictors of early adolescent diet and BMI z-score: an eight-year follow-up from the DAGIS study.

Circadian health plays an important role in overall well-being. The objective of this study was to examine whether potential indicators of circadian disruption, such as exhibiting a later chronotype or greater social jetlag, in preschool-age could predict dietary habits or BMI z-scores in an eight-year follow-up. Our data included 210 children who participated in the DAGIS Survey in 2015-2016 (baseline, mean [SD] age: 4.69 [0.89] years) and DAGIS Next in 2023 (follow-up, age: 12.03 [0.90] years). Chronotype and social jetlag were calculated from baseline sleep measures assessed from 7-day actigraphy. Diet was assessed at follow-up with a Food Frequency Questionnaire, which evaluated the weekly consumption frequency of (1) fruits and vegetables and (2) sugary foods and drinks. BMI z-score based on Finnish growth references was calculated from height and weight measures from baseline and follow-up. Associations were analyzed with linear regression models. Follow-up BMI z-score was predicted by both preschool-aged chronotype (β-est: 0.22 [95% CI: 0.01, 0.42] p = 0.03) and social jetlag (β-est: 0.33 [95% CI: 0.02, 0.65], p = 0.04) after covariate adjustment. No associations were observed between preschool-aged chronotype or social jetlag and preadolescent fruit and vegetable or sugary food and drink consumption. Having a later chronotype and greater social jetlag during preschool age predicted a higher preadolescent weight outcome. Obesity prevention initiatives should include efforts to reduce the risk of circadian disruption among young children, by accounting for chronotype and aiming to reduce social jetlag in interventions.

Associations Between Sociodemographic Factors and Adolescent Food Consumption During Independent Eating Occasions

ABSTRACT Associations were examined between sociodemographic characteristics of a US online survey sample of caregiver/adolescent dyads (n = 533) and food intake during independent eating occasions. Caregivers reported sociodemographic characteristics for dyads. Adolescents reported daily intake frequency of sugar-sweetened beverages, junk foods, sugary foods, fast food, and fruits and vegetables during independent eating occasions. Logistic regression analysis showed increased odds of sugar-sweetened beverage intake by White vs. Asian counterparts, decreased odds of sugary food intake by age (12 vs. 11-year-olds) and increased odds of sugary food intake by weight status (overweight/obesity vs. normal weight). Understanding these relationships may inform future intervention development.

NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION AND PREVENTING METABOLIC DISEASES

Reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is crucial for preventing and managing metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Excessive consumption of sodas and other sweetened beverages is a major risk factor for these conditions, as these drinks contain empty calories, exacerbating insulin resistance and causing harmful glycemic spikes. For patients with prediabetes, implementing effective nutritional strategies to reduce the consumption of these beverages is essential to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes. Nutritional interventions that promote awareness of the risks of sugar-sweetened beverages, offer healthy alternatives such as water and unsweetened teas, and modify the food environment are key to changing eating behaviors and improving metabolic health. Adopting a balanced diet rich in fiber and lean proteins is also important for controlling blood sugar levels and reducing cravings for sugary foods. Furthermore, combining nutritional strategies with regular physical activity can enhance the benefits, as exercise improves insulin sensitivity and contributes to weight management. Widely cited studies highlight the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. Public policies that encourage the reduction of sweetened beverage consumption are essential to combat the growing epidemic of metabolic diseases.

Improving Oral Health in Prisons (PriOH): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

People living in prisons often experience poor oral health, which could be attributed to their limited access to (dental) care, financial constraints, and a general lack of awareness and prioritization toward their oral hygiene. A pilot study involving motivational interviewing (MI) has shown promising results for improving the oral health outcomes of people living in prisons. The protocol for this study aims to assess the efficacy of integrated MI and oral hygiene packages in improving oral health among people living in prisons, compared to controls without added MI. This oral health in prisons study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded controlled trial that recruited inmates from 4 prisons in Rogaland County.The trial aimed to recruit 320 participants before randomly allocating them to either a control or intervention group. The intervention group received MI, consisting of a 30-minute session encouraging inmates to discuss their current and desired oral health behaviors and attitudes, highlighting discrepancies to motivate change. Assessments were conducted at 4 and 12 weeks after initiation. The primary outcome measurement is the mucosal-plaque scores to assess oral health behaviors, attitudes, andoralhygiene. Secondary outcome measurements areoral hygiene routines, sugary food and drink intake, oral health perception, and oral health-related questions. Data collection started in November 2021 and ended in June 2023. A total of 327 participants were recruited, of which 126 received the intervention. Integrating MI in oral health programs at prisons can significantly improve the oral health of incarcerated individuals. Should the results from this study demonstrate efficacy, it could be valuable insight for policy makers, oral health practitioners, and correctional services in addressing the needs of a traditionally underserved group before being scaled up to enhance dental care practices in prisons. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05695443; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05695443. DERR1-10.2196/60817.

Added sugar intake and its associations with incidence of seven different cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 Swedish men and women

IntroductionThe adverse health effects of sugar-sweetened beverage intake are well-established, but the implications of overall added sugar intake remain unclear. We investigated the associations between intake of added sugar and various sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and risk of 7 cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 participants aged 45–83 years (47.2% female) from the Swedish Mammography cohort and Cohort of Swedish men.MethodsQuestionnaire-based diet and lifestyle assessments were administered in 1997 and 2009. National registers were used for ascertainment of ischemic stroke (n = 6,912), hemorrhagic stroke (n = 1,664), myocardial infarction (n = 6,635), heart failure (n = 10,090), aortic stenosis (n = 1,872), atrial fibrillation (n = 13,167), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 1,575) until December 31st, 2019. The associations were studied using Cox regression with time-updated exposure and covariate data.ResultsAdded sugar intake was positively associated with ischemic stroke and abdominal aortic aneurysm, although the highest risks of most outcomes were found in the lowest intake category. Positive linear associations were found between toppings intake and abdominal aortic aneurysm, and between sweetened beverage intake and ischemic stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Negative linear associations were found between treats intake (pastries, ice cream, chocolate, and sweets) and all outcomes, and between toppings intake (table sugar, honey, jams, and marmalades) and heart failure and aortic stenosis.DiscussionThe findings suggest that the associations between added sugar intake and cardiovascular diseases vary by disease and source of added sugar. The findings emphasize the adverse health effects of sweetened beverage consumption and indicate higher cardiovascular diseases risks with lower treats intake, which warrants further investigation.

Cross-sectional study on behavioural determinants associated with sugary foods and beverages and their correlates with body mass index among adolescents in Nagarjun municipality, Nepal

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to determine the status of and factors associated with behavioural determinants (knowledge, attitude and practice) of sugary foods and beverages among adolescents in Kathmandu, Nepal.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe...

Association of Evening Eating with Sleep Quality and Insomnia among Adults in a Brazilian National Survey.

Objective To examine the association of evening eating clock time, its elapsed time to the midpoint of sleep (TEM), consumption of caffeine and sugary foods, and reporting dinner as the largest meal with sleep quality indicators and insomnia. Methods Participants ( n = 2,050;18-65y) were part of population-based research, with virtual data collection. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess differences in the ORs(95%CI) of sleep duration < 7 hours, sleep latency > 30 minutes, poor sleep quality, and insomnia (outcomes) with the evening diet-related variables. Linear regression analyses evaluated differences in sleep duration and latency associated with the same variables. Restricted cubic splines were used to study the shape of the association of eating event clock time and TEM with sleep duration and latency. Results Each additional hour of evening eating clock time and of the TEM, respectively increased and decreased, the odds of sleep duration < 7/h [OR(95%CI):1.30(1.20,1.40); OR(95%CI):0.51(0.47,0.56)], sleep latency > 30min [OR(95%CI):1.14(1.07,1.22); 0.88(0.83,0.94)], poor sleep quality [OR(95%CI):1.21(1.13,1.30); 0.80(0.76,0.85)] and insomnia [OR(95%CI):1.12(1.04,1.20); 0.89(0.84,0.95)]. We found a dose-response association between evening eating (clock time and TEM) and sleep duration. The shortest latency was seen when evening eating was ∼20:00 and ∼7-8 hours before the midpoint of sleep. Participants who reported dinner as the largest meal and consumed caffeine and sugary foods/beverages after 18:00 presented higher odds of sleep duration < 7 hours, poor quality, and insomnia. Conclusions Our findings indicate that an early-eating schedule has beneficial sleep effects and that it will be necessary to consider evening eating patterns and timing, along with the existing sleep and circadian hygiene, to improve sleep quality and circadian health.

Mexican Bee Honey Identification Using Sugar Crystals’ Image Histograms

Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is applied to image honey sugar crystals, with the advantage of avoiding the surrounding signal of the liquid honey. It is a non-contact method where the specialized preparation of the honey is not required. Since the crystallization process of honey depends upon its floral origin, among other conditions, analyzing its crystallographic behavior results in a challenging task as the crystals are mixed and overlapped. This work introduces a simple, multi-variable data analysis requiring only one SHG image, where its gray-level histogram was retrieved and processed from eight Mexican bee honey samples. These honey samples represent a broad range of regions from the central–east part of Mexico, describing different environments and climates. The results obtained with this simplified methodology can differentiate among the botanical origin of the honey samples at different crystallization times and storage conditions. A repeatability test was performed using three honey samples with different crystal morphologies to expand the method to all of the samples. The results show that the proposed methodology could be a helpful alternative to identifying the botanical origin of honey despite its crystallization time.

Coffee Intake in Brazil Influences the Consumption of Sugar, Sweets, and Beverages.

Background/Objectives: Considering the high consumption of coffee in Brazil, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and the intake of added sugar, non-caloric sweeteners, sugary beverages, and foods. Methods: A modified case-crossover study was conducted using data from the national "Household Budget Survey (POF)" which 38,854 participants. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-h recalls on two non-consecutive days. Days with and without coffee consumption were compared (case-crossover) to evaluating the effects on sugar, sweeteners, sugary foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and milk. Results: 87% of Brazilians aged 10 and older consumed coffee on a giving day. The consumption of all food groups decreased as days of coffee consumption increased, except for non-caloric sweeteners and sugar, which increased. In the case-crossover analysis (2192 men and 2580 women), women who consumed coffee on one of the two days showed an increase of 10 g of sugar and of 0.10 mL (2 drops) of sweeteners. For men values were 8 g and 0.05 mL. Also, women reduced sugar-sweetened beverages (-56.8 mL/day), while men reduced milk intake (-25.9 mL/day). Conclusions: Coffee consumption was associated with increased intake of sugar and non-caloric sweeteners and lower intake of sweets, SSB, and milk. Reducing sweets and SSB is beneficial but increasing sweeteners and reducing milk are not. Potential strategies include encouraging the use of milk in coffee instead of sugar and sweeteners, as well as reducing the size of sugar sachets, which in Brazil typically range from 5 g to 8 g.

Study of Relationship Between Food Habits and the Occurrence of Constipation Among Students in Ivory Coast

The work of Amoikon &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;et al.&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; (2016) showed a high prevalence of constipation and dietary deviations in a student population in Ivory coast. In order to seek a probable relationship between dietary factors and this health problem, a study was carried out at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny University of Ivory Coast. It took place from October 15, 2016 to February 17, 2017 in a population of 1228 students, with an average age of 22.5 years, dominated by males. This is a prospective cross-sectional study, with a descriptive and analytical aim, with the main objective of studying the relationship between eating habits and the appearance of constipation among students. After analysing the relationship between their eating habits and the occurrence of constipation, it was blamed, on the one hand, the high consumption of certain foods such as red meat, carbonated drinks, sugary foods, foods containing eggs or milk and on the other hand a low consumption of water, fruits and vegetables. In view of these results we can conclude that certain inadequate dietary behaviors are responsible for constipation in students’ population and could have repercussions on their success rate in our universities. To this end, it would be important to organize nutritional awareness campaigns throughout the country and to educate students with a view to improve their eating habits and their health conditions.

Quantification of emulsifier adsorption onto sugar crystals dispersed in vegetable oil and associated effects on flow behaviour

Emulsifiers play an essential role in the flow behaviour of confectionery products such as chocolate. This research associated emulsifier adsorption onto sugar crystals and its effects on the flow properties of model sugar-in-oil suspensions. A new method to quantify emulsifier adsorption onto sugar crystals dispersed in oil was developed by exploiting the relationship between oil–water interfacial tension and unadsorbed emulsifier in the continuous oil phase. The model system consisted of 30 wt% sugar-in-oil suspensions to which were added up to 1 wt% soy lecithin, ammonium phosphatides (AMP), citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (CITREM) or polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR). The link between sugar crystal surface coverage, sedimentation, aggregation state and apparent viscosity was then investigated. The lecithin, AMP and CITREM showed the largest decrease in apparent viscosity when added to the suspension at 0.05 to 0.1 wt%, which corresponded to their critical micelle concentration. The largest decrease in sugar crystal aggregation and sedimentation was also evident at this emulsifier concentration. By contrast, addition of PGPR led to a continuous decrease in viscosity and aggregation in the sugar suspension as a function of concentration, with no evident optimal concentration observed. Key advantages of this new method are its simplicity and ability to quantify emulsifier concentration in dispersed systems irrespective of emulsifier identity.

A case-control study on oral health knowledge and dental behavior among individuals with developmental delays in Jordan: caregiver perspective

Aimthe aim of this study is to assess oral health knowledge and dental behavior among individuals with developmental delays intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in comparison with individuals without (IDD) in Jordan.MethodsA case–control study was conducted among 317 caregivers of individuals with IDD (n = 168) and control (n = 149) groups, which involved the completion of the questionnaire. A closed-ended, validated self-designed questionnaire was distributed. The questionnaire included questions addressing participants’ oral health knowledge and behavior. Convenience sampling was used to select the caregivers from centers associated with IDD by collecting data from nearby locations. Using SPSS® software Version 22 with a 0.05 level of significance data were analyzed. A Chi-square test and contingency-table analysis were performed on the data.ResultsCaregivers for individuals with IDD in Jordan were less knowledgeable about different oral health aspects than control group (P value &amp;lt; 0.05). Fewer individuals in the IDD caregiver group brushed their teeth once or twice daily (83.2%), compared to the control group (93.3%). Only 22.6% of the IDD participants could brush their teeth without assistance. On the other hand, the IDD group consumed significantly less sugary foods and soda than the control group (P value &amp;lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe lack of knowledge among IDD caregivers in Jordan is critical which can result in poor oral health outcomes for this vulnerable population. Increasing the knowledge level for the IDD caregivers on the specific needs for IDD individuals is highly important to enhance their understanding of oral health and improve their quality of life. Caregivers with IDD should receive training programs given by oral health professionals about the need for regular dental check-up and effective oral hygiene care reduce the risk of having dental problems and oral disease.

Community beliefs and practices about diabetes and their implications for the prevention and management of diabetes in Southeast Ghana

BackgroundDiabetes is a major public health issue, and over half a billion people are estimated to be living with diabetes, with 6.7 million deaths reported in 2021. The global diabetes burden has been recognised and included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a zero increase in diabetes cases and reduce one-third of premature diabetes deaths by 2030. However, local beliefs about the causes of diabetes have affected its prevention and management. This study examined community beliefs and practices about diabetes and how they affect the prevention and management of diabetes in the community.MethodsThis study was carried out in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region of Ghana. We conducted 33 in-depth interviews with 18 patients with diabetes, 5 carers (caretakers of patients with diabetes), 3 traditional healers, 2 religious leaders, 3 community elders, and 2 assembly members who were purposefully selected from urban and rural areas across the municipality. The interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data using QRS NVivo 20.ResultsDiabetes was described locally as sukli dɔ (sugar disease), which affects humans. Diabetes is believed to be caused by spiritual forces (juju, bewitchment, and punishment from gods) and physical factors (unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, eating fruits and vegetables sprayed with pesticides and insecticides, sugary and starchy foods, smoking, and abuse of alcohol). In terms of the management of diabetes, participants said traditional remedies are performed for spiritual interpretation, deliverance, fortification, and cleansing before biomedical and physical remedies are sought. Diabetes was likened to HIV/AIDS, and the sufferers were described as bringing the condition upon themselves as a result of their bad deeds. They were stigmatised, coupled with delays at the hospital, and poverty has also affected the prevention and management of diabetes.ConclusionThe local belief that diabetes is caused by spiritual forces, likened to HIV/AIDS, delays at hospitals, and poverty, has affected the prevention and management of diabetes. Incorporating local beliefs and practices into the intervention design using culturally sensitive health education programmes and improving social determinants of health may help improve the prevention and management of diabetes in communities.

The effect of surface chemistry on the caking behaviour of sucrose crystals

The caking behaviour of organic crystals presents a significant challenge in both the food and pharmaceutical industries. This study aimed to investigate how surface impurities influence the caking behaviour of sucrose (sugar) crystals. Sucrose crystals were selected as the model material due to their relevance in various industries such as food processing and pharmaceuticals. The impact of surface chemistry was assessed for sucrose crystals with varying levels of impurities, namely white sugar, light brown sugar, and dark brown sugar. These crystals were subjected to controlled cycles of humidity exposure, compaction, and drying to induce caking, simulating real-world scenarios. The caking propensity was evaluated using a compression test, while the surface chemistry was characterized through Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC). Moisture sorption properties were evaluated using a Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) technique, and the formation of solid bridges was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT). The results indicate that impurities play a crucial role in enhancing the caking behaviour of sucrose crystals by influencing their hygroscopicity and facilitating solid bridge formation. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between surface chemistry, moisture sorption properties, and the caking behaviour of sucrose crystals, offering strategies to mitigate caking issues.

Sin Tax Strategies and Sustainable Health Financing: A Global Scenario

This study examines how sin taxes are levied on products considered to be detrimental to public health, such alcohol, tobacco, and sugary foods can support sustainable health finance on a worldwide scale. The study emphasizes the multiple advantages of sin taxes by analysing how well they work to lower consumption, raise money for health programs, and enhance public health outcomes. Successful implementations and the related health effects are demonstrated by case studies from a number of nations, including Australia, Mexico, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, France and Norway. The study also discusses equity issues, pointing out that sin taxes are regressive and offering solutions to lessen their negative effects on low-income groups. In the end, the results highlight how crucial customized tax arrangements, public education initiatives, and stakeholder involvement are to optimizing the advantages of sin taxes. This study adds to the continuing discussion on creative approaches to health funding and how they could promote healthier populations throughout the globe.