- September 30, 2005
Researchers report subtle change in nerve conduction is the first reliable sign of nerve complications from diabetes.
Monotonicity of Nerve Tests in Diabetes: Subclinical nerve dysfunction precedes diagnosis of polyneuropathy.
Diabetes Care 2005 28: 2192-2200.
[Story at newKerala.com:
Abstract at
D Care;
full text at
D Care, requires subscription.]
- September 29, 2005
Maria Grayson, 40,
won two gold medals at an international rowing competition on the Schuylkill River.
Grayson, a former softball and basketball player, lost her sight at age 27 due to diabetes-related complications.
[Story at Kentucky.com, from the Philadelphia Daily News:
Blind athletes paddle for gold.]
- September 28, 2005
The survival of transplanted insulin-producing cells is improved when activation of "natural killer T" immune cells is blocked, Japanese researchers report.
V{alpha}14 NK T cell-triggered IFN-{gamma} production by Gr-1+CD11b+ cells mediates early graft loss of syngeneic transplanted islets
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Published online 26 September 2005. doi:10.1084/jem.20050448
[Story at abc NEWS.
Abstract at
JEM;
full text at
JEM, requires subscription.]
- September 27, 2005
More than 100 diabetes advocates from all over Ohio made their way to the Statehouse in Columbus to voice their concerns regarding the passing of Senate Bill 113, also known as the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act.
If passed, this Act would ensure that Ohioans with diabetes who purchase their health insurance through state regulated insurance companies would be covered under their policy
for diabetes education, equipment and supplies.
[Story at The News Democrat:
Diabetes advocates push for cost reduction act.]
- September 26, 2005
People who smoke are nearly
three times as likely to develop diabetes as those who have never smoked,
according to a new study.
Smoking and Incidence of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults: Findings from the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study
Diabetes Care, Oct 1, 2005; 28 (10)
[Press release at PR Newswire:
Abstract & full text not yet on-line at
DCare.]
- September 24, 2005
The National Diabetes Control Programme has launched a scorecard developed by researchers in India, Britain and Australia that will easily help identify people with the illness.
"The risk score is a measure to easily identify people with diabetes in the Indian population," said the director of the Chennai-based Diabetes Research Centre.
[Story at HindustanTimes.com:
Diabetes scorecard launched, British doctors honoured.]
- September 23, 2005
Software engineers and call centre employees face a higher risk of diabetes. This is primarily because of their erratic sleep patterns and work style.
IT pros at high risk of diabetes.
[Story at Sify.com.
Discussion of study design at
PubMed:
The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES)--study design and methodology (urban component) (CURES-I).]
- September 22, 2005
Brian Friedman has challenged himself to swim handcuffed across the Hudson River to fight the epidemic of Diabetes.
Last year Friedman swam handcuffed from Alcatraz to San Francisco. He completed that swim in 54 minutes and 20 seconds. A world record!
This year he is attacking the Hudson and Potomac Rivers. All in handcuffs. He will swim from Weehawken Harbor NJ on Friday September 23, 2005 landing at 8am at Surfside3 Marina(www.surfside23.com) at Chelsea Piers(23rd Street and the Hudson River) www.chelseapiers.com. The handcuffs symbolize how people with Diabetes feel shackled by the disease. "I want to show them that through a vigorous lifestyle of strenuous exercise and healthy diet anything is possible".
Friedman swims in memory of his grandfather who had Type 2 Diabetes and lost both his legs to the disease. Say Friedman, "I remember changing the shoes on my grandfather’s false legs and that memory motivates me as I swim handcuffed so that others may not suffer the same fate." Friedman does not have the disease but has clients and relatives that suffer from Diabetes.
He chose the Hudson River for many reasons. In 1901 his grandfather arrived in New York at two years of age from Hungary. He left high school at age 15 to become a runner on Wall Street. In those days teenage boys had stock certificates chained to their bodies and ran from one brokerage firm to another. After that, exercise was not a part of his life, contributing to the diabetes he later contracted.
A little over a hundred years later Friedman returns to the Hudson to demonstrate that a healthy lifestyle is a choice, and that you can overcome any obstacle. Friedman remembers being the slowest swimmer in his class. "I am not a world class athlete. I am a below average athlete. But through training and a positive attitude I can swim for miles handcuffed with no distress."
[Press release. Website at Escape from Diabetes.]
- September 21, 2005
Data from the largest diabetes study of its
kind in Canada show that one in two people with
type 2 diabetes
does not have
their blood sugar under control.
Glycemic control and morbidity in the Canadian primary care setting (results of the diabetes in Canada evaluation study)
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume 70, Issue 1 , October 2005, Pages 90-97
[Story at CNW Group:
Abstract at
DRCP;
full text at
DRCP, requires subscription.]
- September 20, 2005
Around a quarter of people who may have diabetes have not been diagnosed, putting them in danger of serious health complications, a report from the UK has revealed.
[Story at the Daily Mail:
An abridged copy of the report is available at
National Diabetes Audit. (PDF file.)]
- September 19, 2005
From all indications, there will be plenty of flu vaccine available this year. Four companies are manufacturing vaccine to be distributed in the United States.
[Story at Charlotte.com:
It's not too early in the year to start thinking of flu season.
See also
flu shots at this website.]
- September 17, 2005
Some people with
type 2 diabetes
avoid insulin shots at the expense of their health, the results of a new survey suggests.
Many said that avoiding insulin shots was just as important to them as improving their blood sugar control. It was diabetics who were not yet on insulin, in particular, who felt this way - a concerning finding, the researchers say, since these individuals may consequently put off needed insulin therapy.
Risking Health to Avoid Injections: Preferences of Canadians with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Care. 2005; 28: 2243-2245.
[Story at ABC News:
Extract at
D Care;
full text at
D Care, requires subscription.]
- September 16, 2005
Biofeedback-assisted relaxation seems to have a positive effect in
patients with
type 2 diabetes,
leading to significant decreases in blood sugar levels, the findings of a small study suggest.
Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation in Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes Care 2005 28: 2145-2149.
[Story at Reuters:
Abstract at
D Care;
full text at
D Care, requires subscription.]
- September 15, 2005
Researchers
tracked almost 16,000 participants for 10-12 years, and found
that in participants with diabetes, there was a graded association between
A1c
and increasing coronary heart disease risk. Each one-percentage-point increase in HbA1c level was associated with a 14 percent increase in heart disease risk.
[Story at HindustanTimes.com:
Lower blood sugar to avoid heart disease.]
- September 14, 2005
Patients who present with idiopathic neuropathy may in fact be experiencing the first signs of impaired glucose tolerance
(IGT
or "pre-diabetes").
[Story at myDNA:
Tingling could be early sign of diabetes.]
- September 13, 2005
Giving diabetes patients
Actos not only lowers their blood sugar levels but also protects them from heart attacks, researchers say.
A 5,200-patient clinical study found that Actos, when added to standard therapy, reduced the combined risk of heart attacks, strokes and death by 16 percent in high-risk people with
type 2 diabetes,
compared to conventional therapy alone.
[Story at Reuters:
Takeda diabetes drug cuts heart attacks.
Press releases reproduced at this website, at
results of the PROactive study.]
- September 12, 2005
The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has broken 2,000,000 in the UK. The first official figures of the numbers with the condition in England have shown the real number to be more than a quarter of a million higher than previous estimates.
[Press release at I-Newswire.com.]
- September 10, 2005
People with serious mental illness have higher rates of
type 2 diabetes, but a new study finds that, compared to mentally healthy people, these patients often understand much less about their disease.
Diabetes Knowledge Among Persons With Serious Mental Illness and Type 2 Diabetes.
Psychosomatics 2005 46: 418-424
[Story at Forbes.com:
Abstract at
Psychosomatics;
full text at
Psychosomatics, requires subscription.]
- September 9, 2005
The FDA's
Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted
in favor of approval of
an inhaled insulin product,
Exubera, for use in both
type 1
and
type 2 diabetes.
The FDA usually follows the advice of its Advisory Committees, and if it does,
it is possible that Exubera will be available for use in the US sometime this coming year.
- September 8, 2005
The FDA's
Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee is doing the first
public review of
an inhaled insulin product,
Exubera, in an open meeting today.
See the Exubera review by the FDA at
Food and Drug Administration Briefing Information,
posted at the FDA website.
More information will be posted later; see
CDER 2005 Meeting Documents: Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee
for more details.
- September 7, 2005
An unknown environmental trigger is thought to be behind an Australia-wide increase in
type 1 diabetes in children, with new cases rising almost 3 per cent a year from 1990 to 2002.
The rising incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes in New South Wales, 1990-2002.
Med J Australia 2005; 183 (5): 243-246
[Story at The Australian:
Full text at
MJA.]
- September 6, 2005
People with diabetes are no more likely than the general population to have depression, according to a new study.
Depression and Diabetes: A large population-based study of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with depression in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Care 28: 1904-1909.
[Story at Reuters.
Abstract at
D Care;
full text at
D Care, requires subscription.]
- September 3, 2005
The ADA has again expanded its webpage on hurricane relief.
It now includes a section on
"Regional Resources".
[Story at ADA website:
ADA responds to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Updated on the ADA website on Friday, September 2.]
- September 2, 2005
The ADA has expanded its webpage on hurricane relief, which is reproduced
below:
"Medical Supplies —
The American Diabetes Association remains in contact with the American Red Cross, and with pharmaceutical and diabetes supply companies, and has been assured that diabetes supplies have been sent to the devastated areas. As you can imagine, relief agencies are working hard to overcome the many challenges involved in getting supplies (food, water, and medical) into the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. Not only are the relief personnel dealing with the physical difficulties of the landscape left by Katrina, but they are also contending with lawlessness and security issues in many locations.
The Red Cross has stated the best way for concerned Americans to assist with this crisis is to make financial contributions to relief efforts in this area.
Advice for people with diabetes —
During such a crisis, it is difficult to provide online medical information that can help each and every person with diabetes affected by this devastating disaster. Diabetes is a complex disease and affects people differently. That said, there are several basic guidelines.
- It is important for all people with diabetes to avoid dehydration and try to get access to fluids such as water or low-calorie drinks as soon as possible.
- Upon arrival at a shelter or other temporary location, it is important for people with diabetes to identify themselves to a health care provider, member of the Red Cross or other relief organization to make sure that they are evaluated appropriately.
- For those who are able to get to an opened Rite Aid Pharmacy, we have been told that Rite Aid pharmacists will be happy to help those who need medications and supplies get what they need.
Sharing experiences —
- As always, people can share their experiences on the ADA message boards. We have posted a special one dedicated to Katrina and its aftermath.
In the days and weeks ahead, the American Diabetes Association in fulfilling our mission as the authoritative voice to provide updated information -- accurate and reliable -- concerning issues related to diabetes care in the areas affected by Katrina.
For those who want to help —
We thank you for your continued concern and willingness to help other Americans during this time of need. We ask that those who wish to offer help follow the recommendations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by making a donation to the American Red Cross (800-435-7669) or another appropriate organization that is prepared to adequately respond to this crisis.
On behalf of the American Diabetes Association, we send our best wishes to our volunteers, employees and constituents as well as any family members and friends who've been affected by this tragedy. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers."
[Story at ADA website:
ADA responds to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Updated on the ADA website as of Thursday afternoon, September 1.]
- September 1, 2005
A new diabetes organization, dLife - For Your Diabetes Life,
is starting a drive to collect donated diabetes supplies to help victims of Hurricane Katrina who are stranded without the medicine and supplies they need to manage their potentially deadly disease.
[Story at
Business Wire:
dLife - For Your Diabetes Life to Collect and Pipeline Diabetes Supplies to Areas Ravaged by Hurricane Katrina; Conversation with Governor's Office Spurs Support from Leading Diabetes Resource.]
Send any available supplies (insulin, medications, meters, strips, insulin delivery, etc.) via overnight to:
dLife Relief
101 Franklin St.
Westport, CT 06880
Your supplies will be aggregated for immediate delivery and distribution.
[Story at dLife:
Katrina Diabetes Relief.]
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