AHA says heart patients may benefit from lifting weights
Filed under: Exercise
Have you suffered a cardiac event and would like to make your way back to exercise? The AHA recently announced a new recommendation that said that strength training may be acceptable exercise for those with heart conditions after all, as long as certain guidelines are followed. Previously, patients were eased back into aerobic exercise, but strength training wasn't always encouraged. Not only is strength training good for your health, but stronger muscles will also make day-to-day life easier.Obviously, heart patients shouldn't start any new fitness routine without first talking to their doctor. But once you get the ok, consider these tips when getting started.
Glaxo shares up despite Avandia mess
Filed under: Type 2, Drugs, Research, Complications
Oh, this is awesome news for anyone touched by the Avandia mess: manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced that its shares are up despite its troubles over the diabetes drug Avandia. The scandal arose over revelations that Avandia could cause heart problems. Things only escalated as details came to light, particularly the role of the US Food and Drug Administration and its completely inadequate response to the problem.Given all this bad publicity, wouldn't you expect GSK's stocks would take a dive? Well, they did during the quarter that Avandia hit the news. However, the company's overall outlook for the year 2007 still looks pretty darn good, apparently. As a result, projections for earnings-per-share remain stable and the company is expanding its share buyback program.
So much for suffering the consequences of your actions... On the other hand, GSK has vigorously defended Avandia against claims of heart damage. They would say: "Why should we suffer? We haven't done anything wrong."
Diabetes drugs and pregnancy: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
I just read that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it is re-classifying the drug NovoLog to allow its use by women with Type 1 diabetes who are pregnant. NovoLog is manufactured by drug-producing giant Novo Nordisk. The change came after a trial which found that pregnant women with T1 diabetes who took NovoLog had HbA1c levels and rates of maternal hypoglycemia comparable to women on regular insulin. The study did not, however, evaluate whether babies whose moms take the drug while pregnant have a greater risk of congenital malformations. On the other hand, women taking NovoLog benefited from a lower risk of diabetes-related pregnancy dangers such as preterm delivery.Pregnancy and drugs. It's a complicated issue. What's safe? What's not? If only it were so simple as dividing all drugs into one category or the other - the Good or the Bad. Unfortunately, many common medications are in a third category - the Ugly? These drugs, known as category B drugs, constitute a sort of pharmaceutical no-man's land. You see, these meds have not been proven to cause harm to unborn children, like category C drugs. Yet they have not been proven safe, either, like category A drugs. This means, as I discovered when I was pregnant in 2006, if you're sick and could benefit from some specific No-Man's-Land drug, odds are your doc will offer to write you a prescription for it. He or she will warn you that it's possible the drug causes harm and leave the decision of whether or not to take it up to you. Now, I don't want to go back to the Bad Old Days when doctors told patients "do this" or "do that," "take this" or "take that," and, by golly, you did it and didn't ask questions. But wouldn't it be nice to just know what to do? Or to know that your doc knows all the answers? What's a gal to do??
Too good to be true? NIH explores insulin regimen for diabetes prevention
Filed under: Type 1, Drugs, Research
It sounds just too good to be true: preventing or delaying the onset of Type 1 diabetes through a simple daily insulin regimen. Yet a number of health experts believe that giving insulin daily to those at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, or those newly-diagnosed with the disease, could do just that. You see, it seems there's evidence that taking an oral dose of insulin on a regular basis brings about an increased tolerance for the substance or a "quieting of the immune system." And that could prevent diabetes or at least delay it for a few years.The National Institutes of Health (NIH) wants to find out what's what. It was announced yesterday that the NIH will fund a world-wide network of research into the issue. The research program will go by the name of Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet and will involve the participation of more than one hundred medical centers both here in the US and in Canada, Australia, and in parts of Europe. Individuals at risk for Type 1 diabetes - who can be identified through a simple blood test which identifies the presence of a certain type of autoantibodies - are currently being enrolled for the study. (I have no idea if they're looking for volunteers in the US, by the way - sorry.)
Talk about your big science breakthrough, huh? I mean, if insulin really can be used as a preventative...well, that would be fabulous in and of itself. But you would also have the added bonus that it could be achieved simply, with no side-effects (because insulin is quickly broken down by the digestive system), and it would be affordable. That last one's important. How refreshing it would be to have a big medical breakthrough associated with humble old insulin instead of some ultra-expensive wonder drug!
Non-prescription Diachrome(R) improves glycemic control for type 2 diabetics
Filed under: Type 2, Drugs, Research
You don't even need a prescription for this one. Nutrition 21, Inc., a nutritional bioscience company, markets drugstore supplements such as selenium and omega-3 fish oil. They recently announced new published results of a clinical study of their patented product Diachrome(R), a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin (a B vitamin).
Here's the skinny on the study. In a 447 subject, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, type 2 diabetics taking Diachrome(R) realized significant improvements in glycemic control (an absolute decrease in A1C of 0.54%). More dramatic decreases were seen for type diabetics with terrible glycemic control levels (A1C levels equal or greater than 10%). These diachrome(R)-takers saw an additional absolute A1C decrease of 1.76%, and they were already taking one or more prescriptions to treat their type 2 diabetes. Improvements were also seen in fasting glucose levels and triglycerides to high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratios.
Is a nutritional supplement honestly going to help people with type 2 diabetes? I checked out the Diachrome(R) website and found the product has been around at least since 2004, possibly even longer. The FDA has deemed it safe. Perhaps it does enhance insulin function, but the website clearly states it should never replace medications already being prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes.
Every toenail tells a story
Filed under: Research
Diabetes can do a lot of harm to your feet. The worst case scenario is severe nerve or tissue damage necessitating amputation. Early intervention is critical for avoiding this drastic measure, and researchers are looking at various ways in which this can be done. A brand new example of this kind of research comes courtesy of the foot docs at CLEAR - Scholl's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, which is located in Chicago. CLEAR researchers found that nearly three out of four diabetics who are at high risk for amputation have diseased toenails. The finding was announced recently at a conference for the American Academy of Dermatology, being held in Washington, DC. Says co-author of the study, Stephanie Wu, the study helped confirm what many suspected but was previously unproven. "It appears," said Dr. Wu, "that if you have certain pre-existing risk factors for amputation coupled with a clinically diseased nail, chances are you have a significant fungal infection based on laboratory cultures." It is hoped that this knowledge can help prevent amputations by helping physicians identify those who are at risk more quickly than might have previously been the case.
Inspired by Diabetes global contest
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise, Fundraisers, Support, Care
Do you or a loved one have diabetes? Are you a healthcare professional caring for people with diabetes? Living with the disease or caring for a person with diabetes is an up and down journey. Inspired by Diabetes is a global campaign asking all those impacted by diabetes to share their story.
The campaign's Creative Expressions Competition just opened to the world on June 21, and is accepting creative entries through January 31, 2008. If you have a creative bent, tell your story through a short essay or narrative; up to three photographs; an original drawing/painting or musical score.
Entries will be judged across category, art type and age group, starting as young as age five. The Grand Prize Winner across each category will win a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice, a trophy and a paid trip for two to the media announcement of the winners and the global exhibition. I wish I could tell you the exhibition is planned for an exotic location, but it hasn't been announced, yet!
Inspired by Diabetes, a collaboration between Eli Lilly and the International Diabetes Federation's Unite for Diabetes Initiative, is bringing those close to the disease together to try and raise awareness of the global burden of diabetes. All entrants will receive two blue circle pins, the global symbol of diabetes. I had never heard of the blue circle before, this is one pin I would like to sport. Perhaps the blue circle will become as powerful and recognizable as the beautiful pink ribbon for cancer awareness.
Pennsylvania announces diabetes action plan partially funded by CDC
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset
Governer Ed Rendell is worried. An estimated eight percent of Pennsylvanians have diabetes. Nearly 800,000 people. We all know money talks, and what has caught the attention of state politicians is the tremendous cost to manage chronic diseases.
Governor Rendell recently shared that about 78 percent of the state's health care costs are linked to 20 percent of chronic diseased patients. The Governor has announced The Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan to improve how Pennsylvanians with chronic disease benefit from future health care.
In an effort to prepare Pennsylvania to educate the public about diabetes and diabetes prevention, and improve management of the disease to reduce complications, the Plan focuses on four key areas: surveillance, standards of care, health policy, and evaluation.
Truly a collaborative of care, more than 200 stakeholders, agencies, organizations and individuals contributed to the Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan. The plan was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a state appropriation.
In 2005, potentially avoidable hospitalizations for diabetics in Pennsylvania cost nearly $730 million. Now that is a number even the Governor cannot ignore.
Two Presidential Candidates Announce Plans to Cure Diabetes
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Research, Daily News, Events, Support
Did anybody catch the first ever YouTube democratic debate last week? It was cosponsored by CNN and the cool thing about it was this: all the questions came in from Americans like you and me. Turns out two of the candidates spoke out on behalf of diabetes. Here's what they had to say...
Governor Richardson mentioned the fact that 33% of Medicare is wrapped up in diabetes costs. He suggests, "Let's have major prevention programs, and also ways that we can ensure that we find a cure." He still has not announced a plan to ensure a cure. But if he does - I'm willing to bet all of his campaign funding from Big Pharma might mysteriously disappear.
The other candidate addressing diabetes was Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut. Dodd's promise came after from a woman's question about stem cell research. Somehow the senator was able to plug an endeavor to "deal with diabetes". However, much like Governor Richardson - he has yet to announce a plan to cure. Politics as usual. Stay tuned for the LIVE Republican Debate on September 17th.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | CommentsDr. Bernstein answers your questions on September 19th
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Drugs, Events, Opinion, Allie Beatty, Support, Care, Complications, Personalities
Dr. Bernstein, a world leading authority in diabetes, is hosting a live internet broadcasts to answer your questions on diabetes. Diabetes 911 is setup to stop the complications of diabetes before it's an emergency. Here's a link to the page where you can submit your questions, to be answered on his next broadcast -- September 19, 2007.
Just a heads-up for The Diabetes Blog reading community - AOL has announced they will be retiring The Diabetes Blog on September 14, 2007. So this is a preemptive blog to get your calendar out, send yourself a reminder email titled: OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 19th!!!!
This will not be my last blog shared with you, all mighty readers of the blogosphere. I'm working to get my proverbial welcome mat in place to continue unfolding the mysteries of diabetes on LoveDiabetes.com. More to come...