Stumble It!
Studies Show Correlation Between Storks, Babies, Diabetes
San Francisco, April 1, 2008 — Two new studies out of Croatia show strong evidence that residents of areas high in stork and baby populations also show high incidence of diabetes, and patients living in the affected areas also experience high blood sugar more often — despite drug treatments — than their counterparts elsewhere in the world.
The studies also showed that the following lifestyle elements either cause or exacerbate diabetes: watching TV, eating dairy products, consuming caffeine and all carbonated beverages, proximity to “dirty electrical power,” and having large breasts.
On the other hand, strong {correlational} evidence also exists to show that the following help prevent diabetes: dairy foods, caffeine and decaf coffee, and eating peanut butter.
Furthermore, a high-protein diet is good for the heart, but bad for the kidneys — unless you’re a rat.
And high sugar drinks have nothing to do with obesity, according to the Corn Refiners Association (!)
But don’t opt for diet cola, because that’s tied to Metabolic Syndrome. Then again, co-called “Syndrome X” may be nothing but a myth anyway.
Note that grains and starches are actually good for diabetes. But just in case more research shows they’re not after all, you can always ask your doctor for a starch blocker.
Just like earlier studies on diabetes and chocolate, the new Croatian studies were conducted on 15 (yes, fifteen!) hand-selected patients, who do not actually have diabetes. Correlations were used to extrapolate cause and effect.
Aaaah, it feels good to be informed 
Does the carbonated beverages include carbonated water?
Posted by: julie frederick | April 1st, 2008 at 7:43 amthose croatians are such smarties.
Posted by: Michelle | April 1st, 2008 at 9:10 amYet another strange, unrepresentative “medical” study that purports to show “correlation” between some medical condition (in this case, diabetes) and other more-or-less common occurrences in daily life. This all-too-commonly announced stuff gives biostatistics a bad name. You can’t generalize ANYTHING from a study that used 15 “hand-selected” (non-representative) people as the focus. And really, “large breasts” come on. Who’s going to tell Dolly Parton about this? These Croatian authors must have been really desperate for showing any correlation. Remember, correlation is NOT cause, and can be spurious. This is not science, nor helpful in any way.
Posted by: CB | April 1st, 2008 at 9:34 amIn other news, reading about somewhat silly studies makes me want to stick a needle in my eye.
Study Results Pending!
Posted by: geekgirl | April 1st, 2008 at 9:39 amGeekgirl, good one!!!
Love this post Amy!
No matter the news, you present it well! And thanks for a good chuckle, we all need it….often!
Wait! This Just In:
There will be studies related to Diabetes in all forms, cause and effect of all food and drug products in the future that will then change in another 5, 10, 15 years….. Informed We Are!
Posted by: CALpumper | April 1st, 2008 at 10:40 amsomeone tell CB to take a chill pill and check the calendar.
Posted by: Michelle | April 1st, 2008 at 12:30 pmI postulate that the incidence of diabetes is higher among those who eat than those who don’t. Wonder if I can get boatloads of money to do a study.
Posted by: Chris | April 1st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Love it.
Posted by: Rachel | April 1st, 2008 at 6:25 pmThe ironic thing is that while we all dismiss these findings there will still be a large amount of people that will live their lives heeding the cautions of the study.
Posted by: travelnursingrox | April 1st, 2008 at 7:43 pmHahah!
Posted by: Adam Greene | April 1st, 2008 at 9:29 pmGreat post amy and so appropriate for April Fools.
Adam
sorry, but this one sounds like an April Fool’s day. Just about anything has an effect on diabetes or lifestyle! Good to know though.
Posted by: Adrian | April 4th, 2008 at 7:37 amTo Adrian et al:
Yes, April Fool’s! (Has my sarcasm escaped you?
Posted by: AmyT | April 4th, 2008 at 8:37 am