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TUESDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Traditional laser therapy is more effective than the recent trend of using steroid injections to treat diabetics with swelling in their eyes, a new study finds.

The multi-center trial, published in the online edition of Ophthalmology, also noted that laser therapy has far few side effects than corticosteroids in trying to preserve eyesight in diabetic patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). The condition occurs when the center of the eye's retina, or macula, swells, possibly leading to blindness.

"Many of the investigators, including myself, were surprised by the results," local principal investigator David Brown, ophthalmologist and retina specialist with The Methodist Hospital System in Houston, said in a news release issued by the university. "We're continually researching new treatments, but sometimes the tried-and-true methods are still the best course. These findings substantiate the importance of laser treatment in the management of diabetic macular edema."

Almost half of the 18 million Americans with diabetes have vision problems.

The popularity of treating DME with corticosteroid injections came after early reports of success several years ago. This study is the first to compare the long-term benefits of both treatments and evaluate their potential side effects.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about diabetic eye problems.

FRIDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- Certain kinds of sweeteners -- such as date sugar and dark brown sugars -- may help manage type 2 diabetes and related complications, American and Brazilian researchers say.

"Depending on their origin and grade of refining, many sweeteners contained significant amounts of antioxidants, which have the potential to control diabetes-linked high blood pressure and heart disease," Kalidas Shetty, of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said in a university new release. "Several types of sweeteners also showed an interesting potential to inhibit the action of a key enzyme related to type 2 diabetes, which is also the target of drugs used to treat this condition."

The researchers analyzed a wide variety of sweeteners and found that date sugar and dark brown sugars contained much higher levels of antioxidants called phenolic compounds than white sugar. Phenolic compounds are the same plant chemicals that give red wine and tea their heart-healthy benefits.

The researchers also found that certain sweeteners inhibit the activity of alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that moderates blood glucose levels by controlling the passage of sugars from the small intestine.

"Diabetes is characterized by a rapid rise in blood glucose levels after meals. Inhibiting alpha-glucosidase, which is the target of several drugs used to treat diabetes, can help prevent this spike," Shetty said.

These findings were published recently in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

"Replacing sugars in processed foods and beverages with low-calorie and noncaloric sweeteners is one long-term strategy for type 2 diabetes," Shetty said. "But these results indicate that a strategic choice of dietary sweeteners, especially less refined sugars close to the original nature of the ingredients found in whole plants, also has potential in managing type 2 diabetes and related complications. This provides a strong rationale for further animal and clinical studies for better diet design."

More information

The U.S. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse has more about type 2 diabetes.

THURSDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- Adequate sun exposure and vitamin D levels may play an important role in helping to prevent type 1 diabetes in children, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, analyzed type 1 diabetes incidence rates and found that populations living at or near the equator -- where there is abundant sunshine -- have lower rates of the disease than populations at higher latitudes, where there is less sunlight.

Sunlight exposure causes the skin to produce vitamin D, which is also available through food and supplements.

"This is the first study, to our knowledge, to show that higher serum levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced incidence rates of type 1 diabetes worldwide," Cedric F. Garland, professor of family and preventive medicine, said in a prepared statement.

"The research suggests that childhood type 1 diabetes may be preventable with a modest intake of vitamin D3 (1,000 IU/day), ideally with five to 10 minutes of sunlight around noontime, when good weather allows," Garland said.

"Infants less than a year old should not be given more than 400 IU per day without consulting a doctor. Hats and dark glasses are a good idea to wear when in the sun at any age, and can be used if the child will tolerate them," he advised.

The study was published online Thursday in the journal Diabetologia.

Garland and his colleagues called for public health action to reduce widespread vitamin D inadequacy in U.S. children.

"This study presents strong epidemiological evidence to suggest that we may be able to prevent new cases of type 1 diabetes. By preventing this disease, we would prevent its many devastating consequences," Garland said.

Type 1 diabetes is the second most common chronic childhood disease, behind asthma. About 1.5 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, and about 15,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The disease is the main cause of blindness in young and middle-aged adults and is among the leading causes of kidney failure and transplants in that age group, according to a news release about the study.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about type 1 diabetes  .