Dr Somi Igbene is a biomedical scientist and registered associate nutritionist with the association for nutrition. She holds a bachelor’s degree (first-class honours) in Biomedical Science from Kings College London, a master’s degree (distinction) in Human Nutrition from St Mary’s University Twickenham, and a PhD in cell and molecular immunology from Imperial College London. Somi is passionate about promoting health and wellness in the Black community. She has a keen interest in type 2 diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, and weight management.
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Fish, Poultry Diets Linked to Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Diets containing fish, poultry, or both without red meat are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, new data from the United Kingdom (UK) reveals. The reduced risk is partly due to lower obesity and abdominal fat rates in participants with such dietary patterns. The study, “Types of Diet, Obesity, and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: Findings from the UK Biobank Prospective Cohort Study,” was published in Diabetes, Obesity and…
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Herby Pearl Couscous with Roast Chicken
Nutrient-dense and low glycaemic pearl couscous salad with roast chicken. Pearl couscous, also known as Giant couscous, Israeli couscous, or Jerusalem couscous, is essentially pasta shaped into tiny balls. Unlike other high-carbohydrate foods such as rice and bread, pasta is considered low-glycaemic, meaning in moderate portions, it will not cause blood sugar spikes. If you’ve ever wondered why pasta is low-glycaemic, it is because the structure of starch in pasta…
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Father’s Metformin Use Linked to Birth Defects in Children
Men taking metformin during sperm development and within a few months of their partner getting pregnant are at a higher risk of having children with birth defects, a new study reveals. “We can see that while 3.3 percent of Danish Children are generally born with malformations, 5.2 percent of children whose fathers took the preparation metformin, which is the most widely used diabetes preparation, in the months leading up to…
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Abnormal Sleep Breathing May Raise Prediabetes, Type 2 Risk 
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a type of abnormal breathing during sleep, is linked to a higher risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, a new study reveals. Notably, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases with increasing OSA severity. The study, “Obstructive sleep apnoea, prediabetes, and progression of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) occurs when the…
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Lipid, Blood Sugar Levels at Ages 35-60 May Predict Alzheimer’s Disease
An adult’s ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride and blood sugar levels between ages 35 and 60 may predict their risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in later life, new data suggests. Notably, having high triglyceride and blood sugar with low HDL cholesterol levels as early as age 35 is associated with a higher risk of AD in late adulthood. The study, “Midlife lipid and glucose levels are associated with Alzheimer’s…