According to de Boer of University of Washington in Seattle and colleagues, the risk of microalbuminuria was significantly higher for patients who were particularly thick around the middle, what doctor's call "central obesity."

For each four-inch increase in waist circumference, the risk of microalbuminuria increased by 34 percent, the team reports in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

The subjects in the study were part of the landmark Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), which showed that intensive insulin therapy -- keeping blood sugar as close to normal as possible -- substantially lowers the risk of kidney disease and other complications of diabetes.

"The current study showed again that, overall, intensive insulin therapy is protective against kidney disease in type 1 diabetes," de Boer told Reuters Health. Risk of kidney disease was 4.5 percent for patients receiving intensive insulin therapy, compared with 12.8 percent for patients receiving conventional insulin treatment.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, January 2007.

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Many docs oppose trans fat ban: survey

Last Updated: 2006-12-08 11:45:40 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There seems to be little support among U.S. doctors for laws banning artificial trans fats in public restaurants.

Among a national survey of 600 doctors conducted during December 5-6 in response to New York City's decision to phase out artery-clogging artificial trans fats from public restaurants, more than half (53 percent) indicated that they would be opposed to a national law that would ban trans fats in restaurants.

Forty-nine percent indicated that the US government does not have the right to implement such a law.

"This is consistent with (doctors) laisser-faire attitude related to government," said Glenn R. Kessler, managing partner of HCD Research. "While doctors believe trans fats are dangerous and while many believe there will be benefits to the law, they are against the law," Kessler said.

The survey was conducted by HCD Research, a marketing and communications research company based in Flemington, New Jersey, and Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

Among the other key findings -- less than half of the doctors (47 percent) believe that a law banning trans fats from restaurants in New York City will have a significant impact on the health of those who eat there.

The majority of doctors (83 percent) reported that "food containing trans fats is a significant risk factor for heart disease." However, less than half (44 percent) reported talking to their patients about the harmful effects of foods containing trans fats. Trans fats increase the chance of heart attack, stroke and death by increasing bad LDL cholesterol and reducing good HDL cholesterol.

Kessler told Reuters Health that he was "a little surprised that the relatively small percentage of doctors who discuss the dangers of trans fats with patients."

"I see that as a general trend in medicine that physicians have less time to spend with patients and they treat issues that are presented to them than the traditional family physician who talks about to handle your life related to health."

Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.