0:00:04 > 0:00:08When it comes to our health, it seems everyone has an opinion.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11But what's the health advice you can really trust?
0:00:14 > 0:00:19We're here to weigh up the evidence and use our expertise to guide you
0:00:19 > 0:00:22through the contradictions and the confusions.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28We do research no-one else has done
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and put your health at the heart of what we do.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36We listen to the questions you want answered,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39and ensure you get the information you need.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43We're here when you want to know the latest findings
0:00:43 > 0:00:46and not the latest fads.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51I'm Michael Mosley, and in this series I'm joined by a team of doctors.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Together we'll cut through the hype, the headlines,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57and the health claims.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00This is Trust Me, I'm A Doctor.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Hello and welcome to Trust Me, I'm A Doctor.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08This time we're in Birmingham,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11where we are carrying out a fascinating experiment,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14seeing whether knocking back the fizzy drinks makes you eat more.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Also in the programme, we'll be finding out why the secret
0:01:19 > 0:01:22to your new year fitness kick could be a cup of coffee...
0:01:24 > 0:01:29..How a pioneering new technology could transform the lives of diabetics...
0:01:30 > 0:01:32- There?- Yeah.- One, two, three.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37..Why men go bald and what you can do about it.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38But first...
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Now, we all know that fizzy drinks are pretty bad for us.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45The most popular brands contain around eight teaspoons of sugar
0:01:45 > 0:01:50in a small tin. So we switch to healthier alternatives,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54such as diet colas or perhaps sparkling water.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56But are they really healthier?
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Recent reports have suggested the sugar in fizzy drinks isn't
0:02:02 > 0:02:05the only thing adding to your waistline.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07It might also be the fizz itself.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Researchers at Birzeit University in Palestine,
0:02:11 > 0:02:16found that rats given carbonated drinks ate more food
0:02:16 > 0:02:19than rats given non-fizzy equivalents.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21I do like sparkling water.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And I find it really, really unlikely that simply adding
0:02:26 > 0:02:30a few bubbles to water could possibly make me hungrier.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33But it is an interesting idea, so we thought we'd do an experiment.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40We've recruited a group of volunteers to test
0:02:40 > 0:02:45whether fizzy drinks make you feel hungrier than flat drinks,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47and eat more as a result.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Running our study, from Aston University in Birmingham,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53is Dr James Brown.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- Good morning, everybody.- Morning.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00The Palestinian researchers found that consuming fizzy drinks
0:03:00 > 0:03:05lead to higher levels in the blood of a hormone called ghrelin,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07which is secreted by the stomach when it's empty
0:03:07 > 0:03:10to tell the brain "I'm hungry".
0:03:10 > 0:03:13So we want to test levels of this hormone in our volunteers,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15after a range of different fizzy and flat drinks.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21We're also going to record the effect on appetite and food intake.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25We're actually going to measure not just how much of the hunger hormone
0:03:25 > 0:03:28they had, we're going to ask our volunteers,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30"How hungry did you feel on that day?" So not just
0:03:30 > 0:03:33a biological measure, but an actual measure of their hunger.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35And then following on from that, we'll get them to keep a food diary,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38so we'll measure how many calories they ate
0:03:38 > 0:03:41in the hours following having each drink.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44To make sure we have a level playing field,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48our volunteers have all been asked to fast for ten hours.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52And crucially, they have no idea what the experiment is about.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54OK, then guys, do you want to come up?
0:03:54 > 0:03:59To ensure that everyone starts the experiment with similar ghrelin levels,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02we're giving each of them a delicious cheese sandwich
0:04:02 > 0:04:04with exactly the same calories.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09An hour later, each volunteer is given a soft drink,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12allocated at random.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16It's either a fizzy sugar drink, a flat sugar drink,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20fizzy water, or flat water.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Ten minutes after their drink,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25we take a blood sample to measure their ghrelin levels.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Over the next few days, our volunteers will come back
0:04:28 > 0:04:31and repeat this for each of the different drinks.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36I must admit, I'm putting my money at this moment in time
0:04:36 > 0:04:39on the fact that it's going to be the sugar
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and not the sparkles that make a difference, but...
0:04:42 > 0:04:43OK. Well, we'll see.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Two weeks later, our volunteers have come back to Aston University
0:04:50 > 0:04:54to find out exactly what they volunteered for.
0:04:54 > 0:04:55- Hi, everyone.- Hi.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Thank you very much for coming along.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01So, very fond of cheese sandwiches now?
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Looking forward to lunch?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06As you probably guessed, we're interested in the drinks you were
0:05:06 > 0:05:08given as opposed to the cheese sandwich you were given.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11But it's not the sugar content in the drinks,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13we're interested in the carbon dioxide.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16We're interested in the fizziness of the drinks.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21All the data has been analysed and now, it's time for the results.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25What we found was actually really exciting.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28We found that when you had a carbonated drink,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30your hunger hormone, ghrelin,
0:05:30 > 0:05:35was about 50% higher than when you had a non-carbonated drink.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Just bubbles. Who would have believed it?
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Surprisingly, this increase in the production of ghrelin,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45wasn't only seen after drinking sugary fizzy drinks.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48There was also a slight effect in terms of the carbonated water.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51So carbonated water, you were a little bit hungrier
0:05:51 > 0:05:54than you were with still water, so this could be actually
0:05:54 > 0:05:57that it's true of all drinks that are fizzy and not just
0:05:57 > 0:06:00the kind of drinks that you buy in cans at the supermarket.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03But it's not just levels of the hormone ghrelin that matters.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Crucially, it's how much food they actually consumed after the drink.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11If you grouped together the carbonated drinks
0:06:11 > 0:06:17and the non-carbonated drinks, you ate, on average, 120 calories more
0:06:17 > 0:06:20after you had a carbonated drink
0:06:20 > 0:06:22than you ate after you had a non-carbonated drink.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24And that's a really significant finding.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26And that will really add up.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I must say, I found it really surprising.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Absolutely genuinely surprising.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33And I guess that's why we do the experiments,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35and very grateful to you for taking part,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38but why do bubbles have this affect?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41There's two likely candidates. One is that
0:06:41 > 0:06:44as you drink that carbonated drink and that carbon dioxide is released
0:06:44 > 0:06:48in the stomach, that there are chemical receptors which
0:06:48 > 0:06:51detect carbon dioxide and cause the cells at the top of
0:06:51 > 0:06:54the stomach to release ghrelin, and it makes you feel hungry.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57And the other possibility is it's a mechanical thing, that
0:06:57 > 0:07:00the stomach bloats and stretches a little bit from that extra gas,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03and again, that stimulates cells to release ghrelin.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Those are the best two possibilities in terms of mechanism.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11So we're not saying that it's OK to drink flat sugary drinks.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13No, I think that's really important.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Ideally, the take-home message from this is sadly and boringly,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20that the healthiest option is probably still water.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23- Still water, not sparkling water. - Not sparkling water.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24What a shame.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28So it seems that the fizz in fizzy drinks really does make us
0:07:28 > 0:07:32feel hungrier, and consequently, eat more calories.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36And these surprising findings have certainly affected our volunteers.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I was really surprised with the result actually.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41I expected quite the opposite to happen.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44I expected the carbonation to actually make you more full.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I drink like a litre of fizzy water every day,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49so I'm going to stop drinking that,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51and I will move to still water.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53What I love about making Trust Me,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56is you come across this research which looks wildly unlikely,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00look into it and, lo and behold, there really is something there.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Now this is early days, but it's another really good reason
0:08:03 > 0:08:07why you should steer clear of the fizzy sweet stuff.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Now lots of us are constantly trying to get fitter.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22GP and exercise expert Dr Zoe Williams has been
0:08:22 > 0:08:26finding out about a surprising way to boost your performance.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34We'd all love to run faster, jump higher, and pedal further.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37But could the answer be as simple as a cup of coffee?
0:08:37 > 0:08:41There's a fair amount of research out there on coffee and exercise.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44And there's strong evidence to say that the caffeine in coffee
0:08:44 > 0:08:47does, in fact, improve athletic performance.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51But you won't get a benefit for every type of exercise,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54and that's down to the way caffeine works.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Contrary to popular belief, it's not the increase in blood flow
0:08:57 > 0:09:01to your muscles from making your heart pump faster.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03In fact, the main benefit of caffeine
0:09:03 > 0:09:06actually comes from something completely different.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Caffeine affects your workout by acting on your central nervous system.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18As you exercise, your body produces a chemical called adenosine,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20that makes you feel tired.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors in your nerves,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29like I'm blocking these balls.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32So your brain perceives less pain and fatigue,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35which means, you can keep going longer.
0:09:37 > 0:09:38Ah!
0:09:40 > 0:09:43And that means caffeine is especially useful
0:09:43 > 0:09:47for one particular type of exercise - endurance sports.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51So if you're into something like long-distance running, or cycling,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54caffeine might help.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57But only if you take the right amount.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01There's a scientifically established but little-known sweet spot
0:10:01 > 0:10:03optimal amount of caffeine to take.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07It's 3mg per kilogram of body weight.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12Well, that's all well and good, but how much is that really in cups of coffee?
0:10:12 > 0:10:15And how do you know if you're getting the right amount?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17For an average man or woman,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21that's between one and two large cups of standard filter coffee.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25If you don't like coffee, you also get caffeine in tea,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28cola, chocolate, and sports drinks.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32But their caffeine content is rarely stated on the label
0:10:32 > 0:10:36so working out a precise dose from these products is not straightforward.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41What's more, timing is everything.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Caffeine will go on working for a few hours after you've taken it,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48but you need take it at least one hour before you exercise
0:10:48 > 0:10:50to get the full benefits.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Controlling both the timing and the dose
0:10:53 > 0:10:56to get your ideal caffeine boost is tricky.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58But there's recently been a breakthrough.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01The development of caffeine chewing gum.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Caffeine gum gives you much more control over the precise amount
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and timing of your caffeine hit.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Chewing it delivers up to 85% of the caffeine to your bloodstream
0:11:15 > 0:11:18in as little as five minutes.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23Some premiership football teams are now chewing caffeine gum at half-time.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28And the British sailing team have used it during their races.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33But caffeine is no good for sports where hand-eye coordination is crucial,
0:11:33 > 0:11:39like snooker, archery, or golf as it can make you jittery.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Caffeine can't be banned from professional sport because it's in
0:11:43 > 0:11:48so many products, but the more you use it, the less benefit it has.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50For the best possible effect,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53rather than having caffeine before every workout,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57save it as your secret weapon for that big race or that big event
0:11:57 > 0:12:00and that way, you won't build up a tolerance to it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Also, try to avoid caffeinated products for two or three days
0:12:03 > 0:12:06before the big day, and you never know,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09it might just give you that extra boost when you need it most.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Still to come, what is OCD
0:12:22 > 0:12:24and what can you do about it?
0:12:24 > 0:12:30And, the pioneering technology that could change the lives of diabetics.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32But first...
0:12:32 > 0:12:34There are many downsides to getting older,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37but there's one thing that many men find particularly distressing -
0:12:37 > 0:12:39losing their hair.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43One, I think, for geneticist Dr Giles Yeo.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54As a boy, yours truly had a head of thick black hair
0:12:54 > 0:12:57that was always at the cutting edge of fashion.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03It wasn't to last.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06By my late teens, I noticed thinning and by my 30s,
0:13:06 > 0:13:07I had little left on top.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Like many others, I had fallen victim to male pattern baldness -
0:13:11 > 0:13:14a genetic condition that affects half of all men.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20But although your genes are a major factor,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24it's actually difficult to predict if you're going to go bald early
0:13:24 > 0:13:26just because your dad did.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30And that's because there are so many different genes involved.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Either way, what happens is that the follicles,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36the little cavities where each hair grows, shrink over time.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39So if it looks like you're starting to go bald,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41what can you do about it?
0:13:41 > 0:13:44We could follow the advice of a wealthy ancient Egyptians
0:13:44 > 0:13:47who used to rub rhino fat into their head.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49This is not rhino fat by the way.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Did it work? Of course not.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57These days, there are lots of over-the-counter remedies
0:13:57 > 0:14:01that claim to help, from caffeine shampoos to herbal supplements.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05However, the scientific evidence on these is mixed.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08So what DOES work?
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Well, if you have the money you might opt for a hair transplant.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14These can be very effective,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18but at a price anywhere between £1,000 and £30,000,
0:14:18 > 0:14:19it's more than I can afford.
0:14:21 > 0:14:22Looks good, eh?
0:14:22 > 0:14:26But if a hair transplant is not for your taste, or budget,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28then you'll need a different solution.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33If you go to your GP and tell them your hair loss is getting you down,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36they'll most likely recommend one of two things.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39The first is medication with an active ingredient called
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Finasteride, that alters the levels of particular sex hormones.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49Studies suggests it can trigger hair regrowth in about two thirds of men with baldness.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Also, you might have seen an advert for this stuff.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57The active ingredient is called Minoxidil,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00and the idea is you rub it into your scalp twice a day.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06Researchers stumbled upon it in the 1950s when they're looking for
0:15:06 > 0:15:07a treatment for high blood pressure.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Instead, it produced unexpected hair growth.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14It's thought to work by increasing blood flow to the scalp,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17which opens up the shrinking hair follicles.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Used properly, this can be effective in about 80% of users.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24But it's a long-term commitment.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26This product only works as long as you're using it,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28and therein lies the rub.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Thank you.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34The NHS won't pick up the bill for these two products.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35You will have to pay.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37And if you're using them every day,
0:15:37 > 0:15:41you could be shelling out several hundred pounds a year.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43So is there a cheaper alternative?
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Well, there is some evidence that certain foods could be beneficial.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53One study showed that a diet high in omega-3 gradually reduced hair loss.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Baldness has also been linked with iron deficiency,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59so eating green leafy veg like spinach might help.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04As well as eating the right foods, research indicates that exercising
0:16:04 > 0:16:08more and reducing stress may well slow down your hair loss.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13But perhaps we're actually looking a baldness in the wrong way.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16There's some evidence that we needn't be quite so worried about it.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Some psychological studies looking into baldness have suggested that
0:16:21 > 0:16:25bald men are seen as more educated, honest, virile,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28so maybe bald is beautiful after all.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38In this series of Trust Me,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41we're going to explore some common mental health conditions.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44In this programme, psychiatrist Dr Alain Gregoire,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48is looking at OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51So, what is it and what can you do about it?
0:16:52 > 0:16:57OCD effects over half a million people in the UK.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01It's a condition around which there are many popular misconceptions.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Most of us have used the expression, "I'm being a bit OCD,"
0:17:06 > 0:17:09when we've gone back to check that the front door is locked,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13but the reality for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17is very different and much more challenging.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21In fact, the World Health Organization has ranked OCD
0:17:21 > 0:17:26amongst the top ten most disabling health conditions worldwide.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31So today, I'm meeting three people who have it.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Laura, Andy, and Jane.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Their experiences can help us all recognise OCD
0:17:36 > 0:17:39and know how to deal with it.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Can you tell me how these difficulties began?
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I came home from school one day, with a friend for tea,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49and my mother had had a cerebral haemorrhage.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53It was traumatic and that's when I started noticing
0:17:53 > 0:17:57these strange behaviours. I used to have to tap the wall three times
0:17:57 > 0:18:01before I left the classroom. Wanting to step on cigarette ends.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04There was an overwhelming need to do it.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07When I was at school, you would get homework given to you
0:18:07 > 0:18:10in the morning, and the minute I had that homework, I had to do it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12I used to worry about things uncontrollably.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15And I used to have constant ruminations about, you know,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17"What if, what if, what if, what if?"
0:18:17 > 0:18:20When I was 11, I got joint pains, migraines.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25Things like ulceration and they couldn't quite diagnose what was wrong with me.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I started getting very scared of touching things,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31because I kept thinking, like, where have I got this disease from?
0:18:31 > 0:18:35And it was unfortunately a couple of years until I properly got diagnosed,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38so within that couple of years, things just snowballed really.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Anxious intrusive thoughts like these are called obsessions.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48And they can be accompanied by compulsions - ritualistic behaviours
0:18:48 > 0:18:51that sufferers perform in the hope of finding relief.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54When I wash things, I can't put them into a washing machine.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58I have to wash every garment three times inside, three times outside.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00And then I can put it in the washing machine.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Even things like leaving the room, I'd have to
0:19:03 > 0:19:06physically grab something from behind me,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09because if I didn't do this little ritual, I felt like I would die.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13I remember driving along a road, just keeping things to myself,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16looking in the rear-view mirror, and I couldn't see any cars.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20All of a sudden, I had a flash, bang, "Did you cause an accident?"
0:19:20 > 0:19:23And so, my first reaction was to pull over.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27The relief provided by their compulsions is generally brief,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and often ends up reinforcing the obsession.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Friends and family,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35I've started having thoughts that they're contaminated.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Anywhere that my contaminated members of my family and friends
0:19:39 > 0:19:41have gone, becomes contaminated.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44So at the moment the whole of Brighton is contaminated,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Heathrow Airport, parts of Bournemouth, Durham University.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52I was scared to eat, I was scared to drink, I was scared to go outside.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56I basically locked myself in my house and wouldn't leave.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Like many medical conditions, OCD can get worse if left untreated.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05The first step is to recognise the condition.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08There are some common thoughts or behaviours that the sufferer
0:20:08 > 0:20:12often knows are irrational - an intense fear of causing harm
0:20:12 > 0:20:16to oneself or others, intrusive thoughts or images,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19dread of mess or contamination,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21repetitive ritualistic behaviours.
0:20:21 > 0:20:26OCD can be very difficult to spot, because sufferers may go to
0:20:26 > 0:20:29great lengths to hide their symptoms because of feelings
0:20:29 > 0:20:33and thoughts of guilt or shame or embarrassment.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Nobody at school knew.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Only my best friend, none of the teachers knew.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39I was very secretive,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42because I was ashamed of all the rituals I started performing.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Did you doubt whether you ought to go and get professional help?
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Oh, yeah, I mean, you're not quite certain how society's going to
0:20:48 > 0:20:51perceive it, and the other thing, which is the biggest risk,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55is that people will start focusing on this issue that you've
0:20:55 > 0:20:57dreamed up in your mind, which is not actually real,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59and then giving it some gravity,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01giving it some value, giving it some weight.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05So if you think you know somebody who might have OCD,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07what should you do about it?
0:21:07 > 0:21:10It can be very difficult to raise the issue.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14At the same time, it can be that crucial first step
0:21:14 > 0:21:17on the road to treatment and recovery.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20So I think you should talk to them about it,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23in an understanding and non-judgemental way,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27and that can mean inviting them to talk about it,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29being there to listen,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32and suggesting they get professional help if they need it.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36It's important not to collude with their rituals though
0:21:36 > 0:21:39as this can reinforce the OCD.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44Instead, encourage them to seek treatment which can take many forms.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47This can include psychological therapies designed to help them
0:21:47 > 0:21:50confront and overcome their obsessions.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52It might also include medication.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58With the right support and the right help, you can manage it,
0:21:58 > 0:22:02and you can live a life which is fulfilled and the important thing
0:22:02 > 0:22:05is not to give up, not to give up.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Never be ashamed of who you are.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10In fact, people who go through mental health illness day in day out
0:22:10 > 0:22:13are probably more resilient than people who haven't.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16You battle that every day, and you win every day.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22The symptoms of OCD can be extremely distressing and even frightening
0:22:22 > 0:22:26to the sufferer and to others, but it isn't a dangerous condition
0:22:26 > 0:22:30and with expert help everybody can expect to improve.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42There are more than four million diabetics here in the UK
0:22:42 > 0:22:44and the numbers are rising every year.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47If you have diabetes, then you're at increased risk of going blind,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50having kidney failure or heart disease,
0:22:50 > 0:22:52so there's a lot of interest in a pioneering new approach.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Surgeon Gabriel Weston investigates.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04Until the age of 12, James was a healthy and active young boy.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10But without warning, in the space of a few weeks, he became very unwell.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13His clothes were dropping off him.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16He stopped eating, he didn't want to do anything.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I think over the course of a weekend,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23we both realised he was really not well at all.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Their GP took urine samples, which came back
0:23:27 > 0:23:31with abnormally high sugar levels, a classic sign of diabetes.
0:23:33 > 0:23:39In the UK, someone is diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes every two minutes.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42That's nearly 800 people a day.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47For most of us, sitting down to enjoy our lunch like this is
0:23:47 > 0:23:51a relatively simple pleasure, even if like me, it's quite a greedy one.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55But for diabetics, even this is potentially lethal, and that's
0:23:55 > 0:24:00because their bodies can't correctly process the sugar in the food.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04And too much or too little sugar in the bloodstream can,
0:24:04 > 0:24:10in extreme cases, even lead to a life-threatening diabetic coma.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14When you're healthy, your pancreas monitors the level
0:24:14 > 0:24:19of glucose in your blood and releases just the right amount of the hormone insulin.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Insulin acts like a key that allows the glucose to enter
0:24:23 > 0:24:27your body's cells to be used for energy or stored for later.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32But in diabetics, this system doesn't function properly.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34James has Type 1 diabetes,
0:24:34 > 0:24:38which means that his pancreas can't produce enough insulin.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Until recently, he had to monitor his blood sugar level
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and inject insulin several times a day.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49Many people with Type 2 diabetes, need these injections too.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53One mistake or missed reading can be devastating.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57But an innovative medical trial is under way that may transform life
0:24:57 > 0:25:00for many diabetics.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Researchers have developed an artificial pancreas that can respond
0:25:03 > 0:25:06accurately to blood sugar levels
0:25:06 > 0:25:09and even predict the body's insulin requirements.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12- There?- Yeah.- One, two, three.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17It consists of a blood glucose sensor and an insulin pump,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20which is controlled remotely by a mobile phone.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26James is one of the first newly diagnosed patients in the world
0:25:26 > 0:25:29to use the new artificial pancreas system,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33which is being trialled in cases of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38James, I'm really excited to see your artificial pancreas.
0:25:38 > 0:25:45So, this is my blood glucose sensor and that shows up on my pump here.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49And this is where the actual insulin is going in.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Is it painful putting those in?
0:25:51 > 0:25:54It, like, stings a bit, but it's not painful.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58It's very useful because, with injections,
0:25:58 > 0:26:03it's like you have to monitor your blood sugars with finger prick tests
0:26:03 > 0:26:08every two hours and before meals,
0:26:08 > 0:26:13but with the pump, and this, it's keeping your blood sugar stable.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15The components themselves aren't new.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18The breakthrough has been to get them working together
0:26:18 > 0:26:22to monitor glucose levels closely and respond with an accurate dose
0:26:22 > 0:26:27of insulin, with the help of a specially designed phone app.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29This is Addenbrooke's Hospital, where a team
0:26:29 > 0:26:33from the University of Cambridge, led by Dr Roman Hovorka,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36have been developing the artificial pancreas.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43What would you say is the key difference between
0:26:43 > 0:26:48the new modern artificial pancreas and everything that's come before?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51It tries to mimic what the pancreas does behind the scene,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55reacting on the glucose level, and in this instance,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58every ten minutes changing the insulin delivery.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03But perhaps the most ground-breaking innovation is an algorithm
0:27:03 > 0:27:06that predicts when insulin will be needed.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10By recording how much insulin James requires after meals,
0:27:10 > 0:27:14the system gathers information and learns and adapts.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Does that look about enough, James?
0:27:16 > 0:27:17- Can you manage that many?- Yeah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20So that's 130g of potatoes.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24The potential benefits of the artificial pancreas to manage both
0:27:24 > 0:27:28Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are huge.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Diabetes consumes 10% of the NHS budget,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34and it's mainly through the complications.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Through improved glucose control, we can improve or reduce
0:27:38 > 0:27:42these complications and also increase the life expectancy.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46I find it astonishing that a few off-the-shelf components
0:27:46 > 0:27:50in a mobile phone, can be brought together to make
0:27:50 > 0:27:53such a sophisticated life-saving system.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58This is intelligent technology that can learn from experience.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02It's paving the way for a future in which artificial intelligence
0:28:02 > 0:28:04will revolutionise medical practise.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08The early results of the trial are in, and they look good.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12And I think if they continue this way,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16this treatment really does have the potential to be a game changer
0:28:16 > 0:28:19for people suffering from diabetes.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29That's it from us.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Next time, we'll be in Cambridge, where we'll be carrying out
0:28:32 > 0:28:35the biggest experiment ever done in the UK,
0:28:35 > 0:28:39to find out the effects of coconut oil on your cholesterol levels.