- July 30, 2005
In a rare break with
President Bush and anti-abortion conservatives, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has endorsed legislation that would expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research…
Patients suffering from diabetes, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating and life-threatening disorders have been clamoring for more federal dollars for stem cell research. Opinion polls show growing support for its expansion, even among many conservatives like Frist.
[Story at Yahoo! News, from Reuters:
Senate leader backs expanded stem cell research.
Also see
stem cells and diseases
at this website.]
- July 29, 2005
Companies in Georgia plan to pay bonuses to doctors to improve care for patients with diabetes.
Giving physicians extra money to achieve medical-quality goals - called pay for performance - is a small but growing trend in health care. The Georgia initiative, though, aims to be broad-based, involving a large group of employers, the state's major health insurers and possibly Georgia's government-run health care programs.
[Story at ajc.com {Atlanta Journal-Constitution}:
Big employers lead way to boost diabetes care.]
- July 28, 2005
People in their 70s have a more than 60 percent higher risk of fractures if they also have
type 2 diabetes…
Nontraumatic Fracture Risk With Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Older White and Black Adults: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
Archives of Internal Medicine
2005;165:1612-1617.
[Story at Reuters.
Abstract at
Arch Intern Med;
full text at
Arch Intern Med, requires subscription.]
- July 27, 2005
Teenage boys with
type 1 diabetes
are at increased risk from heart disease and could benefit from lipid lowering treatment, according to a
U.S. study. Results indicated
that teenage boys with type
1 diabetes were already developing atherosclerosis.
[Story at RedNova:
Type 1 Diabetes in Boys Increases Risk of CHD.
Related abstract at
PubMed;
full text from
J Peds, requires subscription.]
- July 26, 2005
A century after New York became the first American city to track people with infectious diseases as a way to halt epidemics, officials propose a system to monitor people with diabetes…
The plan would require medical labs to report to the city the results of
A1c tests.
[Story at NJ Star-Ledger, from the AP:
NYC proposes tracking diabetics, raising privacy fears:
Critics say consent must be asked before collecting data to help patients.]
- July 25, 2005
More than half of postmenopausal women have had a recent episode of urinary incontinence, according to new research, and the severity of symptoms increases with a history of diabetes.
Urinary Incontinence and Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women
Diabetes Care 28:1730-1738, 2005
[Story at Daily Times (Pakistan).
Abstract at
PubMed;
full text at
Diabetes Care, requires subscription.]
- July 23, 2005
Calling himself "Mr. Diabetes," 60-year-old Andrew Mandell has weathered various challenges while walking along highways across the country in a campaign to increase awareness of the disease that affects 22 million Americans.
[Story at the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
'Mr. Diabetes' on a mission, on foot:
Cross-country walk is intended to raise awareness of the disease]
- July 22, 2005
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 471)
would allow researchers to utilize all stem cell lines derived from embryos originally created for in vitro fertilization, which would otherwise be discarded, with the support of federal funding. Please contact your senators to express the importance of supporting enhanced policies on stem cell research. Urge him or her to vote for S. 471 with NO amendments.
You may contact your senator via The Endocrine Society's advocacy Website.
See
advocacy for more information.
- July 21, 2005
Although
statins have been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in
type 2 diabetes,
the cholesterol-lowering agents do not appear to benefit type 2 patients on hemodialysis [kidney machines].
Atorvastatin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Hemodialysis
New England J. Med. Volume 353, July 21, 2005
[Story at medpage TODAY.
Abstract at
NEJM;
full text at
NEJM, requires subscription.]
- July 20, 2005
An Aurora, Colorado family says that whoever took their son's insulin pump can return it, no questions asked. The $6,000 pump belongs to 12-year-old Trevor Brewton, a diabetic, who stored it in a locker room at a hockey rink Saturday.
[Story at Rocky Mountain News: Boy's insulin pump sought —
Device left at hockey rink can be returned, no questions asked.]
- July 19, 2005
Having one type of diabetes is bad enough, but two? Doctors are seeing a new phenomenon called "double diabetes," which makes it harder to diagnose and treat patients…
[Story at The Seattle Times:
"Double diabetes" poses new challenges.]
- July 18, 2005
Faulty versions of the gene ENPP1 disrupt the way the body stores energy and handles sugar by blocking the hormone insulin.
While inactivity and poor diets are much to blame for obesity and the metabolic problems that can lead to diabetes, the authors
of this study say some people are genetically prone as well.
Variants of ENPP1 are associated with childhood and adult obesity and increase the risk of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes
Nature Genetics published online 17Jul2005 (letter).
[Story at BBC News.
Abstract at
Nature Genetics;
full text at
Nature Genetics, requires subscription.]
- July 16, 2005
An experimental drug may help some people with diabetes avoid vision loss.
The Effect of Ruboxistaurin on Visual Loss in Patients With Moderately Severe to Very Severe Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Initial Results of the Protein Kinase C ß Inhibitor Diabetic Retinopathy Study (PKC-DRS) Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial
Diabetes 2005 54: 2188-2197.
[Story at WebMD.
Abstract at
Diabetes;
full text at
Diabetes, requires subscription.]
- July 14, 2005
People can act to prevent
type 2 diabetes,
the world's fastest growing chronic disease, for which there is no cure.
Diabetes Australia says the key to prevention is early detection of a newly termed condition called
pre-diabetes,
when
blood glucose levels
are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
"An estimated 2 million Australians have pre-diabetes. If left unmanaged, this will
often develop into Type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. About
1500 Australians are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each week, " says Vanessa Peters.
The good news is this is preventable by making simple lifestyle changes.
[Story at The Wagin Argus:
Pre-diabetes — act now.]
- July 13, 2005
Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois
has ordered $10 million in tax dollars for research on adult, cord blood and embryonic
stem cells
and is not to be used for reproductive cloning.
"My sense of morality argues strongly to not simply sit back and do nothing when children are suffering from juvenile diabetes," said Blagojevich.
[Story at SFGate.com, from the AP:
Illinois Plans $10M for Stem Cell Research.]
- July 12, 2005
In elderly patients with
type 2 diabetes,
insulin pumps and multiple daily injections of
lispro
and
glargine
appear to be equally safe and satisfactory.
A Clinical Trial of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Versus Multiple Daily Injections in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes Care 2005 28: 1568-1573.
[Story at Medscape.
Abstract at
D Care;
full text at
D Care, requires subscription.]
- July 11, 2005
Eli Lilly and Company announced that it is discontinuing production of Iletin® II Pork Insulin (Regular and NPH®formulations), and Humulin®U Ultralente® and Humulin®L Lente®(Humulin U and Humulin L) insulin products. Given current inventories and patient demand, these products should be available in pharmacies through the end of 2005.
[Story at Medical News Today:
Lilly To Discontinue Four Insulin Products.]
- July 9, 2005
The U.S. Department of Defense has released an updated report of the Air Force Health Study on the health effects of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, which includes the strongest evidence to date that Agent Orange is associated with adult-onset
(type 2)
diabetes.
DoD Releases Study on Link Between Agent Orange and Diabetes
[Press release at U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Releases.
report at
Air Force Health Study.
Also see
dioxin and diabetes
at the Diabetes Monitor.]
- July 8, 2005
Adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes do better with a program of intensive, home-based, family-centered psychotherapy, according to new research.
Use of Multisystemic Therapy to Improve Regimen Adherence Among Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes in Chronic Poor Metabolic Control: A randomized controlled trial.
Diabetes Care 2005 28: 1604-1610
[Story at Reuters.
Abstract at
D Care;
full text at
D Care, requires subscription.]
- July 7, 2005
People who drink coffee regularly may lower their risk of developing
type 2 diabetes.
Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.
Journal of the American Medical Association, July 6, 2005; vol 294: pp 97-104.
[Story at FoxNews.com.
Abstract at
JAMA;
full text at
JAMA, requires subscription.]
- July 6, 2005
Childhood factors such as birth weight are no way near as important as obesity in adulthood for
type 2 diabetes,
new research shows.
Life course determinants of insulin secretion and sensitivity at age 50 years: the Newcastle thousand families study.
Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 24 Jun 2005
[Story at BBC News.
Abstract at
Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews;
full text at
Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, requires subscription.]
- July 2, 2005
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to take Liqiang 4 Dietary Supplement Capsules because they contain glyburide - a drug that could have serious, life-threatening consequences in some people.
FDA issues nationwide alert for Liqiang 4 due to potential health risk.
Story at FDA Talk Paper, reproduced at the
Diabetes Monitor.]
- July 1, 2005
Bill
Holden, 56, is one day shy of finishing an incredible 2,100-mile hike from Camp Verde to Wrigley Field to raise $250,000 for juvenile diabetes research.
[Story at The Arizona Republic:
Santo fan takes a long walk for diabetes research.]
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