You have reached an outdated page.
Please visit the Defeat Diabetes Foundation's new Web site at:
http://www.DefeatDiabetes.org
Defeat Diabetes: Latest News

Home

About Diabetes

Complications

Warning Signs

Screening Test

Donate Now

E-Lerts
Index

Latest News

Diabetes Terms

Health & Fitness

Online Press Center

Meet Mr. Diabetes®

Wake Up And Walk® Tour

Headlines & Stories

About Us - Contact Info

Message Board

Links

 

Latest News on Diabetes and More         

                                        NEWS ARTICLE INDEX:
                             To read the entire article, click on the title
 
bullet Oral-lyn Results for Type 1s: 04/27/2006 Results demonstrate metabolic control in diabetes showed a significant improvement when compared to standard therapy.
bullet Gene Protects Against Diabetes, Heart Disease 04/27/2006 People lucky enough to carry a variant in a single gene get added protection against both type 2 diabetes and heart disease, a new study finds.
bullet Little Difference Between Human Insulin And Analogs 04/27/2006 Fast-acting artificial insulin drugs work just as well as regular human insulin, but it’s unclear how they could affect the health of people with diabetes over the long run.
bullet Byetta Update 04/27/2006 Eleven months later, Byetta is meeting expectations for better glucose control and weight loss in type 2 diabetics.
bullet Blood Sugar Control Boosts Diabetics' Recovery After Surgery 04/27/2006 Good blood sugar control before surgery reduces the risk of postoperative infections in people with diabetes.
bullet Diabetes Associated With Increased Mortality From Peptic Ulcer Complications 04/27/2006 Among patients with bleeding or perforated peptic ulcers, those with diabetes appear to be at substantially increased risk of dying.
bullet A1C Is Coronary Disease Predictor Even for Those Without Diabetes 04/27/2006 Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) is a useful and reliable risk indicator for developing CHD, even in people without diabetes whose A1C levels are in the high normal range.
bullet Intensive Insulin Beneficial For Those With Long ICU Stays 04/27/2006 Intensive insulin therapy administered from admission onwards in patients in the medical intensive care unit reduced morbidity among all patients and mortality among those who remained in the ICU for at least a third day.
bullet Metformin and Lifestyle Intervention Prevents Metabolic Syndrome 04/27/2006 "The metabolic syndrome is a high-risk state for diabetes and cardiovascular disease." Lifestyle intervention is better then any drug and along with metformin works to prevent the metabolic syndrome (MS).
bullet Older Diabetics Not Getting Heart, Kidney Drugs 04/27/2006 Despite the fact that drugs known as ACE inhibitors and ARBs prevent damage to the heart and kidneys in people with diabetes, fewer than half of older individuals in the US with diabetes are actually prescribed one of these agents, according to a new study.
bullet Statin Treatment Improves Coronary Circulation in Diabetics 04/27/2006 Statin treatment appears to improve development of coronary collateral circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus and advanced coronary artery disease.
bullet Glycemic Control Cuts Postoperative Infection in Diabetics 04/27/2006 Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels less than 7% prior to surgery are associated with a significantly lower rate of postoperative infections in diabetic patients.
bullet Depression Not Tied to Diabetes Control in Elderly 04/27/2006 There is no strong relationship between depression in elderly patients with diabetes and the degree to which they control their blood sugar levels, researchers report.
bullet Diabetes Drug Use by Children Doubled in US Over 3-Year Period 04/25/2006 Between 2002 to 2005, the use of agents to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes among US children, 5 to 19 years of age, increased from about 0.3 to 0.6 per 1000, which could have "enormous implications" for long-term healthcare needs and expenses.
bullet Some Diabetes Patients Lose Lower Limbs Because of Skin Changes 04/25/2006 Researchers have discovered why patients with diabetes develop a condition which leads to amputation of the lower limbs. It is caused by an alteration in their skin tissue before leg ulcers develop. The best way to prevent an ulcer complication is to lower the patient's blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. The problem is the condition is often undetected at its early stages. So, effective treatment can sometimes arrive too late.
bullet Postprandial Blood Glucose Predicts Cardiovascular Events 04/25/2006 "Our study supports the conclusion that it should be carefully considered in type 2 diabetic patients, because it plays a relevant predictive role for cardiovascular events, especially in women."
bullet Blood Sugar Readings In A Painless Blink Of The Eye by Oculir, Inc. 04/25/2006 Oculir™ is developing a non-invasive glucose meter that measures glucose from the white of the eye (the conjunctiva). No contact with the eye is required; simply point the sensor at the eye and click.
bullet Shocking Kidney Stones Can Raise Risk for Diabetes 04/25/2006 Shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL), a noninvasive technique that uses sound waves to sonically disintegrate stones within the urinary track, appears to increase the risk of diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).
bullet Gastric Electrical Stimulation Decreases Food Intake 04/25/2006 In a study of healthy volunteers, gastric electrical stimulation (GES) using endoscopically placed electrodes reduced the subjects' food and water intake and seemed to delay gastric empty.
bullet ACE Inhibitor Boosts Coronary Circulation in Diabetics 04/25/2006 Researchers reported that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can improve coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
bullet Hemoglobin A1c Levels Predict Risk of Peripheral Arterial Disease 04/25/2006 The results suggest that poor glycemic control, as indicated by elevated HbA1c levels in individuals with diabetes, is associated with an increased risk of PAD independently of other known risk factors.
bullet Active or Passive Smoking May Be Linked to Glucose Intolerance 04/25/2006 "Although smoking cessation can result in modest weight gain, smoking is related to a more unhealthy distribution of upper body weight and greater waist:hip ratio. Smoking has also been associated with risk of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, suggesting that tobacco smoke may be directly toxic to the pancreas."
bullet Significant Improvement Noted In Diabetes Management Using Chronic Care Model 04/25/2006 Educating people with diabetes in a primary-care setting with sustained, comprehensive intervention resulted in significant improvement in disease management and overall health.
bullet Diabetes Sufferers Prefer Oral Management 04/25/2006 A major international study has shown that many people with type-2 diabetes are not achieving optimal blood sugar control despite the availability of effective treatments. It found that 64 per cent of people who had had type-2 diabetes for more than 10 years were still not achieving optimum blood sugar levels. Although insulin remains the most effective course of action, it appears that many sufferers are put off using it because of the necessity for injections.
bullet Once Daily ER Metformin Safe and Effective in Type 2 Diabetes 04/25/2006 One daily dose of a new extended-release formulation of metformin is as safe and effective in treating type 2 diabetes as a conventional twice-a-day dose of immediate-release metformin, researchers report.
bullet Type 2 Diabetics’ Acidity Heightens Risk for Kidney Stones 04/24/2006 People with type 2 diabetes have highly acidic urine, a metabolic feature that explains their greater risk for developing uric-acid kidney stones.
bullet Lifestyle Changes Regenerate Nerve Fibers in Prediabetics 04/24/2006 In patients with diabetes, nerve fiber damage that causes diabetic neuropathy is irreversible. Researchers have found that with weight loss and exercise in patients with impaired glucose tolerance neuropathy -- so-called prediabetes -- the affected nerve fibers can be reinervated, causing a reduction in the patients' pain.
bullet Vitamin Deficiency Common in Diabetics 04/24/2006 Three out of every five patients with type 2 diabetes show signs of vitamin D deficiency, Italian researchers report. Because a lack of vitamin D can negatively affect bone health and have other adverse effects "widespread screening for vitamin D deficiency or routine vitamin D supplementation should be seriously considered" for people with diabetes.
bullet HDL Cholesterol Independently Predicts Major Adverse Coronary Events 04/24/2006 HDL cholesterol predicts major adverse coronary events independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. A 10mg/dL. decrease in HDL increases risk by 11%.
bullet Using a Blood Glucose Monitoring Manual to Improve Control 04/24/2006 "Recognizing the link between BG monitoring and improved glycemic control, [we] designed an educational booklet, the Blood Sugar Monitoring Owner's Manual (BGMOM), with the goal of improving the physical and emotional well-being of patients with diabetes by increasing adherence to BG monitoring."
bullet Prehypertension Common in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Subjects 04/24/2006 Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of prehypertension than did those without diabetes (59.4% versus 48.2%, p < 0.001). Diabetic subjects with prehypertension had the highest cumulative incidence of cardiovascular disease during follow-up.
bullet Renal Impairment Linked to Mortality in Women 04/24/2006 Mild to moderate renal impairment is associated with increased risk of death from all causes in women and increased risk of coronary artery disease in men and women.
bullet Second Hand Smoke Raises Diabetes Risk 04/24/2006 According to researchers, exposure to second hand smoking (passive smoking) is linked to higher incidences of glucose intolerance, which can lead to diabetes.
bullet Diabetic Children Should Be Screened for Depressive Symptoms 04/24/2006 Poor glycemic control and frequent ER visits are among the signs that a child or adolescent with diabetes may have a depressed mood.
bullet Cutting Calories Helps You Live Longer 04/24/2006 Reducing calories over six months resulted in a decrease in fasting insulin levels and body temperature, two biomarkers of longevity.
bullet Too Much TV Put Extra Pounds on Your Preschooler 04/24/2006 In a new study, researchers found that preschool-age children who are exposed to more than two hours of TV a day are three times as likely to be overweight than kids who watch two or fewer hours of TV daily.
bullet Three-Week Diet/Exercise Study Shows 50% Reversal in Type 2 Diabetes 04/21/2006 "The study shows, contrary to common belief, that type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome can be reversed solely through lifestyle changes." "This regimen reversed a clinical diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome in about half the participants who had either of those conditions."
bullet Low-Carb Diet Controls Diabetes Without Weight Loss Or Insulin Use 04/21/2006 A new study released in the scientific journal Nutrition & Metabolism found that type 2 diabetes can be managed and controlled simply by minor changes in the diet alone without the need for weight loss or the use of insulin medications. “The protein in the low-carb diets that aided the production of insulin in the study participants because protein actually stimulates the production of insulin.”
bullet Diabetes Reversed: FDA Authorizes Human Trials 04/21/2006 After successfully demonstrating that a groundbreaking treatment strategy can reverse type 1 diabetes in animal studies, the FDA has given the go-ahead for researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to begin a phase I trial evaluating the treatment in humans.
bullet Cardiac Medications Prolong Survival in Peripheral Artery Disease 04/21/2006 Statins, beta blockers, aspirin and angiotensin-cardioverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors all decrease mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
bullet Depression Rate High Among Diabetics 04/21/2006 Investigators have found that about 25 percent of patients with diabetes have symptoms of depression, confirming the relationship between these two conditions.
bullet Exercise Helps Speed Wound Healing in Older Adults 04/21/2006 The body's ability to heal even small skin wounds normally slows down as we age. But a new study in older adults finds that regular exercise may speed up the wound-healing process by as much as 25 percent.
bullet FDA’s Approval of Continuous Glucose Sensor Accelerates Development of Artificial Pancreas 04/21/2006 "This technology should greatly improve glycemic control -- which research has shown to be the key to reducing or even eliminating both short and long-term complications of diabetes."
bullet Ankle/brachial Index Helps Identify Peripheral Artery Disease in Diabetics 04/21/2006 Measurement of the ankle/brachial index (ABI) is a simple way of identifying patients with diabetes who are at increased risk of future cardiovascular disease.
bullet Better Initial Glycemic Control With Metformin Linked to Longer Effectiveness 04/21/2006 In patients taking metformin as monotherapy to treat type 2 diabetes, achieving a low level of glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) during the first year predicts a longer period of effectiveness for the medication.
bullet FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Diabetes Drug Galvus 04/21/2006 Clinical studies show significant blood sugar reductions (HbA1c) sustained for one year - Trials also show no association with weight gain; overall incidence of side effects, including hypoglycemia and edema, similar to placebo.
bullet Newer Diabetic Meds Cost More, But Users Have Fewer Hospital Visits 04/20/2006 A new study suggests that patients on the newer medications had a slightly lower risk of hospitalization because of diabetes-related complications. They also spent between $920 and $1,760 less on annual total healthcare costs. Diabetics who were prescribed newer medications to control their illness were more likely to take these drugs as instructed.
bullet Water Retention With Pioglitazone Causes Weight Gain 04/20/2006 Up to 75 percent of the increase in body weight that can occur in patients with type 2 diabetes who are treated with pioglitazone is from water retention but the drug also tends to reduce abdominal fat and blood pressure.
bullet Peripheral Artery Disease Predicts Cardiac Death in Patients With Diabetes 04/20/2006 PAD is common in patients with type 2 diabetes and predicts cardiac death, supporting the role of regular screening for PAD in these patients.
bullet Waist Circumference Predicts Insulin Resistance in Children and Adolescents 04/20/2006 Waist circumference predicts insulin resistance independently of body-mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents.
bullet Preserving Insulin Production In Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetics 04/20/2006 A drug used to treat lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis and other immune disorders may enable newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetics to save some of their pancreas function and thereby reduce their susceptibility to long-term complications.
bullet Depo Provera Increase Diabetes Risk in Women 04/20/2006 Contraception with depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is associated with an increase in the risk of diabetes in some Latino women with prior gestational diabetes.
bullet Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Patients Translates Into Cost Savings 04/20/2006 Mean adjusted cost savings per patient was $1,580. In addition to the improvements in morbidity and mortality observed when ICU patients are maintained on intensive glycemia management protocols, health systems also benefit from substantially decreased costs.
bullet Low-dose Aspirin Suppresses Clumping of Blood Platelets in Both Sexes 04/20/2006 While the drug’s overall effects on blood cell function were the same for men and women, the investigators found that women’s platelets reacted somewhat more strongly to aspirin before the start of therapy, and remained so even after treatment.
bullet 'Elation' Over Failed Diabetes Studies 04/20/2006 Researchers fail to replicate a 2003 report of a way to cure Type 1 diabetes, but they all agree on one thing, that it is possible to cure diabetic mice and one day perhaps people.
bullet The Older We Get The Harder We Have to Work 04/20/2006 Seniors it seems may have to work harder than young people to perform the same physical activity, but regular exercise may close that age gap.
bullet Did You Know? 03/30/2006 There are currently more than 194 million people with diabetes worldwide.  If nothing is done to slow the epidemic, the number will exceed 333 million by 2025.
bullet Implantable Gastric Stimulation (IGS) 03/24/2006 Transcend™ Implantable gastric stimulation (IGS) system for weight loss is currently available in Europe and Canada and is now a part of Medtronic. This system uses gentle electrical stimulation of the stomach to enhance the normal feeling of fullness (satiety). Patients can expect to lose 30-40% of excess weight over a period of 24 months.
bullet Diabetes the First 3500 Years 03/24/2006 Everybody has their own version of when diabetes first started, was documented and how insulin got to be the treatment. Here's an accurate time line for you.
bullet Plavix-Aspirin Combo No Better than Aspirin Alone for CVD Event Reduction 03/24/2006 The CHARISMA trial of aspirin alone vs. aspirin plus Plavix (clopidogrel) showed no benefit over aspirin alone at preventing major cardiovascular events or death. In addition, Plavix plus aspirin for patients with multiple risk factors was associated with increased risk for moderate and serious bleeding.
bullet Rapid Rise of Chronic Kidney Disease 03/24/2006 Chronic kidney disease is rising rapidly worldwide and is becoming a global healthcare problem, warn experts in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). In the United Kingdom the figure has doubled over the past decade and is expected to continue to rise by 5-8% annually, but it still remains well below the European average and that of the United States.
bullet Diabetes and Breast Cancer 03/24/2006 A retrospective population-based cohort study, showing an increase in breast cancer for women with Type 2 Diabetes.
bullet Homocysteine Reduction Shows No Cardiovascular Benefit 03/24/2006 Two large-scale trials ,HOPE-2 and NORVIT trials, have failed to find any significant cardiovascular benefit to lowering plasma homocysteine levels by supplementation with folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12.
bullet Stable Glucose Improves Classroom Attention in Diabetes 03/24/2006 Stabilizing serum glucose in children with type 1 diabetes appears to improve classroom attention, researchers from Arizona State University in Tempe report.
bullet Diabetics Have Increased Heart Muscle Mass That Increases Risk 03/24/2006 Increased left ventricular muscle mass suggests the future possibility of developing heart failure.
bullet What is Peripheral Arterial Disease? 03/24/2006 Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a condition similar to coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease. Most people with PAD have a markedly increased short-term risk of death from stroke and heart attack. If a blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery to the heart, a heart attack results. If the clot blocks an artery to the brain, a stroke results.
bullet Short, Maximal Sprint Prevents Postexercise Hypoglycemia in Type 1’s 03/24/2006 A 10-second maximal sprint immediately following the moderate-intensity exercise stopped a further decline in blood glucose levels for the next 2 hours, the results indicate. In contrast, moderate-intensity exercise followed by a rest period led to a further decrease in blood glucose levels.
bullet Pregravid Physical Activity Predicts Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk 03/24/2006 Women who are physically active before pregnancy are less likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and the GDM risk also rises with the amount of pre-pregnancy television viewing, a new study shows.
bullet Physician Performance Feedback Improves Diabetes Control 03/24/2006 A computerized system that tells primary care physicians how well they are managing blood glucose levels in their patients seems to improve diabetes control, new research suggests.
bullet Why 40 Percent Do Not Test Their Blood Sugars As Recommended 03/17/2006 Testing blood sugar levels is one of the most important things that people with diabetes can do to help manage their disease and live a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes is one of the few diseases where you can get instant feedback as to how well you are in control. Results from a recent survey of over 1000 patients with diabetes tell why they do not test as often as their educators and doctors tell them.
bullet Cocoa Intake Linked to Lower Blood Pressure, Reduced Risk of Death 03/17/2006 Men in the group with the highest cocoa consumption were half as likely as the others to die from cardiovascular disease.
bullet Palm Glucose Readings Compared with Fingertip Readings 03/17/2006 Study found that variability between fingertip-to-fingertip and palm-to-fingertip measurements was in the clinically acceptable range during steady-state conditions and when glucose was rapidly changing.
bullet Marijuana Compound May Help Stop Diabetic Retinopathy 03/17/2006 A compound found in marijuana won’t make you high but it may help keep your eyes healthy if you’re a diabetic, researchers say.
bullet First Evidence That Insulin Is Critical for Blood Vessel Formation 03/17/2006 The first symptom of a heart attack for those with diabetes is usually death! Researchers say that the discovery may lead to ways to reduce heart attacks in diabetes patients.
bullet Sixty-one Percent Increase In Diabetes-related Deaths And Illnesses 03/17/2006 Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have documented a dramatic upsurge in diabetes-related deaths and illnesses in New York City, including a sharp increase in diabetic patients hospitalized with heart attacks.
bullet Glycemic Index ‘Unrealistic’ and Not Very Useful 03/17/2006 The glycemic index, a current hot diet trend, “does not seem useful in understanding how diet impacts health, it only makes life more complicated for those trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle.” says the author of a new study.
bullet Diabetes and the Dental Patient 03/16/2006 Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gum and bone supporting the teeth. It is a serious infection that, if left untreated, will lead to tooth loss. In untreated cases, periodontal disease can be life threatening for diabetic patients.
bullet Landmark Studies on Diabetic Amputation Prevention 03/16/2006 Every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes. Podiatrists publish two landmark papers in Lancet on World Diabetes Day. The studies, which focus on negative pressure wound therapy and powerful antibiotics for the treatment of infections in the diabetic foot, offer new data and real hope in the battle against amputation.
bullet Pig Cell Research Offers Hope for Diabetes Cure 03/16/2006 Transplanting pig islet cells cannot come with a lot of immunosuppression, it must be a very safe treatment.
bullet Seaweed Bubbles May Fight Diabetes 03/16/2006 Encapsulating insulin producing cells in tiny seaweed bubbles and injecting them into people with type 1 diabetes could one day remove the need for daily insulin injections.
bullet Scientists Get Cells to Produce Insulin 03/16/2006 If a new finding by Burnham Institute and UCSD scientists holds true, millions of diabetics could someday drastically reduce their dependence on drugs and perhaps even have a cure. They discovered that when mixed with cells from pancreatic fetal tissue, non-islet pancreatic cells could be coaxed into becoming beta cells.
bullet U.S. Diabetes Population Grows 86 Percent Over Last Decade 03/16/2006 Research reveals diabetes complications are widespread and growing, and patients desire to gain better control.
bullet Adherence to Diet, Not Type of Diet, Most Important for Losing Weight 03/16/2006 According to the results of a new study in JAMA, adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet plan, is the most important determinant of weight loss and reduction of cardiovascular risk.
bullet A Slower Rate of Decline for Peripheral Arterial Disease For Those Patients Who Walk More 03/16/2006 From the results it was concluded that among patients with PAD, self-directed walking exercise performed at least 3 times weekly is associated with significantly less functional decline during the subsequent year.
bullet Myth or Fact? “People with Diabetes Cannot Drink Alcoholic Beverages.” 03/15/2006 Before you answer this, you need to begin by asking yourself three important questions: 1. Is my diabetes under control? 2. Does my doctor agree that I do not have any health problems which can be made worse by alcohol? 3. Do I understand how alcohol can affect my diabetes?
bullet Potato Lovers May Have Higher Diabetes Risk 03/13/2006 Those who ate the most french fries, specifically, had a 21 percent greater risk of diabetes than those who ate the fewest. New research suggests that holding that side of fries might help thwart type 2 diabetes.
bullet Statin Therapy for Type 2’s Regardless of LDL Levels and CVD 03/13/2006 The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade. Patients with type 2 diabetes are at a much greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than are nondiabetic individuals. Consequently, the treatment of CVD risk factors is a healthcare priority in this patient population.
bullet Adding a 2nd Glucose Lowering Drug is More Effective than Maximizing a Single Drug 03/13/2006 Major type 2 diabetes study shows significant improvement in blood sugar control and patients demonstrate high adherence and achieve aggressive treatment targets.
bullet Scientists Get Cells to Produce Insulin 03/09/2006 If a new finding by Burnham Institute and UCSD scientists holds true, millions of diabetics could someday drastically reduce their dependence on drugs and perhaps even have a cure.
bullet When Viagra Doesn't Work, Lipitor May Assist 03/09/2006 Eight men with erectile dysfunction who didn't respond to Viagra initially reported that the drug worked better after six weeks of taking Lipitor daily. Results of the study, suggested that erectile dysfunction may be one sign of a generalized vascular disorder characterized by endothelial dysfunction.
bullet Merck Announces FDA Acceptance Of New Drug Application For JANUVIA™ 03/09/2006 JANUVIA is an investigational once-daily medicine with a novel mechanism of action for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. If approved, JANUVIA would potentially be the first in a new class of oral medications (DPP-4 inhibitors) that enhances the body's own ability to lower blood sugar (glucose) when it is elevated.
bullet Stress Echo Predicts Risk in Diabetics and Nondiabetics 03/07/2006 Researchers report that pharmacological stress echocardiography is equally effective in stratifying cardiac risk in diabetes and nondiabetics.
bullet Cocoa Reduces Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease 03/07/2006 If cocoa retains its flavanols and is proved to have pre-longed health benefits, the ingredient could be used as a method to reduce cardiovascular disease and cancer. Flavanols are antioxidant compounds found in unprocessed cocoa, tea, wine and some fruits.
bullet Medical Groups Issue Guidelines for Improving Inpatient Glycemic Management 03/07/2006 The release of the new recommendations coincides with the publication of study findings in The New England Journal of Medicine showing that intensive glycemic control in the medical ICU can reduce the morbidity and, in some cases, the mortality associated with hyperglycemia.
bullet Tooth Loss May Be Associated With Increased Risk for Heart Disease 03/07/2006 Population-based studies show an association between oral conditions (periodontal disease and/or tooth loss) and cardiovascular disease.
bullet Cardiovascular Risk Unchanged With Blood Glucose Over 100mg/dL 03/07/2006 Men with cardiovascular disease may be at considerably increased risk for death even when their blood sugar level remains in the "normal" range.
bullet Sexual Function Variable in Women With Type 1 Diabetes 03/07/2006 Women with type 1 diabetes have decreased sexual function and increased sexual distress during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle according to researchers. (The luteal phase is the time period beginning with the day after ovulation and running through the remainder of the menstrual cycle (it ends the day before the next period.)
bullet Young Type 2 Diabetics at Higher Stroke Risk 03/07/2006 Their odds of an attack double soon after diagnosis, study finds.
bullet Rimonabant Lowers Weight, Helps Correct Metabolic Syndrome 03/07/2006 Results from new 2-year study shows the agent also improved cardiometabolic risk factors even more than the amount of weight loss would have predicted.
bullet High Drop Out Rate for Rimonabant Diet 03/07/2006 The investigational diet drug Acomplia (rimonabant) has staying power for weight loss and slimmer waists, and can improve lipids, but half of the participants dropped out of the study before the 2-year study was completed. So Acomplia, which has been widely touted a revolutionary diet drug, seems stymied by the same problem faced by all diet medications-that patients are unwilling to stick with the drug for the long haul.
bullet Whole Grains Good for the Diabetic Heart 03/07/2006 Women with type 2 diabetes who incorporate more whole grains, bran, and cereal fiber into their diets may reduce their risk of heart disease, according to a new study. What's more, low-glycemic index foods, that is, readily digested carbohydrates that cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, may also help to curb early signs of heart trouble.
bullet Half of U.S. Children Have Diabetes Risk Factors 02/24/2006 The study found that half were overweight or on the verge of becoming overweight -- one of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
bullet Chromium Picolinate Helps Muscles Use Blood Sugar 02/24/2006 A new published study: it is reported that chromium prompts muscles to become more efficient. Researchers found that daily use of chromium picolinate enhanced muscle sensitivity to insulin in obese, insulin-resistant rats.
bullet Red Grapefruit Lowers Heart Disease Risk 02/24/2006 Eating a red grapefruit a day could reduce cholesterol by 15 per cent and triglycerides by 17 per cent and protect against heart disease. Editor's Note: There are certain medications that may interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Please check with your pharmacist or physician.
bullet French Paradox a Myth 02/24/2006 French headed for similar obesity, diabetes and heart problems as U.S.
bullet Laser Technique Prevents Diabetes Amputation 02/24/2006 A laser technique that uses ultraviolet energy to restore blood flow to blocked arteries may help people with advanced diabetes avoid one of the most devastating complications of the disease -- amputation.
bullet Better Glycemic Control Improves Memory in Diabetics 02/24/2006 Reductions in fasting plasma glucose levels in diabetic patients who were in relatively good control," are accompanied by corresponding improvements in cognition.
bullet Intensive Therapy Relieves Diabetes Neuropathy 02/24/2006 Patients who received intensive therapy were 64 percent less likely to have symptoms and signs, respectively, of neuropathy.
bullet Updated U.S. Cholesterol Goals Appear Hard to Reach and Not Being Met 02/24/2006 The researchers estimated that 24.9 million people exceeded 2001 thresholds for drug therapy and 46.2 million exceeded optional 2001 thresholds for drug therapy. For 2004 optional thresholds, the corresponding figure was 56.5 million.
bullet Obesity A Factor In Accelerated Type 1 Diabetes 02/24/2006 "The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity may substantially account for the younger age at onset of type 1 diabetes observed in various populations."
bullet Depression Therapy Beneficial in Elderly Diabetics 02/24/2006 Treating depression in elderly individuals with diabetes is cost-effective, showing a savings of 1100 dollars a patient.
bullet Low-Carbohydrate Diets Appear Effective, But May Raise Cholesterol Levels 02/24/2006 After six and 12 months, individuals on low-carbohydrate diets had increased total cholesterol levels and LDL levels. However, they also had lower triglyceride levels and higher HDL or “good” cholesterol levels.
bullet Height A Factor For Amputation Among Patients With Diabetes 02/16/2006 In the whole study population, every 10-cm increase in height was associated with a 16% increase in risk of amputation. In the subgroup of patients for whom data on fasting plasma glucose levels and dyslipidemia were available, the risk of amputation was even greater (79% relative increase in risk of amputation.) This finding was independent of other factors such as the adequacy of diabetes control.
bullet Diabetic Hearts Use Four Times More Fat for Energy 02/16/2006 The high-fat "diet" that diabetic heart muscle consumes helps make cardiovascular disease the most common killer of diabetic patients. Diabetic heart muscle uses four times more fat for energy than the hearts of non-diabetics.
bullet New Diabetes Drugs In the Pipeline 02/16/2006 Six new pharma treatment strategies in controlling diabetes. The complexity of glucose metabolism and the number of cellular processes affected by diabetes provides ample space for new drug targets and for first-in-class molecules. Some of them have reached or are close to early clinical development in type 2 diabetes.
bullet Pollution Increases Heart Attack Risk for Diabetics and the Overweight 02/16/2006 Obese individuals at risk of diabetes are in danger of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, when exposed to pollution from diesel exhaust or power plant emissions, says a University of Alberta researcher who is sounding the alarm in a study offering the first direct proof of that relationship.
bullet Thirty Minutes of Exercise Helps Relieve Major Depressive Symptoms 02/16/2006 Compared with sitting quietly undisturbed for a half-hour, walking up to 70% of age-predicted maximum heart rate for 30 minutes significantly improved patients' vigor and sense of well-being, reported John B. Bartholomew, Ph.D., of the exercise and sport psychology lab at the University of Texas.
bullet Vibrating Insoles Improve Balance in Patients With Stroke and Neuropathy 02/16/2006 For the elderly, falling is the leading cause of death due to injury. Now, a biomedical engineer is studying how vibrations can help seniors keep their balance.
bullet Weight-Loss Medication Improves Cholesterol 02/16/2006 Using the weight-loss medication rimonabant produces modest, yet sustained, weight loss after two years and improves good cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, according to a new study.
bullet Type 1 Diabetes Linked With Epilepsy 02/16/2006 Young adults with generalized epilepsy of unknown origin have a four-fold excess risk of having type 1 diabetes.
bullet New Technology Detects Brain Changes In Patients With Type 1 Diabetes 02/16/2006 Although people with diabetes are twice as likely as the general population to develop depression, the cause of this increased risk is not well understood. Observations were made using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), a relatively new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology that allows researchers to take very sensitive measurements of small regions in the brain. For the first time, doctors have reason to ask if the increased risk of depression could in fact be due to changes in brain.
bullet Gut Hormone Changes Following Bariatric Surgery Explains Benefits 02/16/2006 After weight-loss surgery, a number of changes in gut hormone levels occur that may help explain the appetite reduction, weight loss, and improved glycemic control seen with these procedures.
bullet Study Confirms REGRANEX® Is Effective Treatment Of Foot Ulcers 02/16/2006 Diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers treated with REGRANEX® were 32 percent more likely to heal within 20 weeks than those not treated with REGRANEX®
bullet Women with Type 1 Have Low Bone Density 02/16/2006 Bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women with type1 diabetes, is 3 percent to 8 percent lower than in women without diabetes, investigators report.
bullet Intensive Monitoring and Treatment Required for Gestational Diabetes 02/16/2006 The researchers concluded that, for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, optimal glycemic control required a target HbA1c level of 6.0% or lower, and that at least 10 SMBG measurements daily were necessary to accurately reflect daily fluctuations in glucose concentrations.
bullet Depression Therapy Does Not Help Diabetics Cope 02/16/2006