Presidential candidates say fighting diabetes vital
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Opinion, Care, Personalities
The Democratic presidential candidates all know this: whoever gets the nomination has an excellent shot at making it to the White House. First, though, is the long, hard, down and dirty campaign slog in which each candidate has to do the impossible - try and be all things to all people.One thing we can except is that they all devote a little time to addressing diabetes. Specifically, finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and strategies for containing the unprecedented spread of type 2 diabetes. The type 2 "epidemic" (as it is sometimes called) is all the more serious because of the strain it is adding to the US healthcare system, a system already failing to meet the needs of many Americans.
During Monday night's CNN/YouTube debate, the candidates were asked about their plans for the healthcare system. Click here to read what they had to say about health issues. Two of the candidates, Senator Chris Dodd (CT) and Governor Bill Richardson (NM), both mentioned diabetes and their desire to cope with the problem, but they didn't get a chance to go into detail in the context of a televised debate. Such is the world we live in, folks! Visit CNN to read a transcript of the debate.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has joined with other New York lawmakers to push for Congressional funding to fight the spread of type 2 in that state. The requested sum? $120 million. Click here to check out Allie's take on that issue.
Diabetes hits hard in New York City
Filed under: Type 2, Research, Daily News, Support
It's a pretty well-known fact that type 2 diabetes is hitting New York City hard. And the powers-that-be in the City are doing something about it: New York City was the first place in the nation to initiate a diabetes-tracking registry intended to guide healthcare spending to maximum effect.So, just how bad is the situation? The city's health department just completed a major study on that very topic and made the results public this week. Some numbers: diabetes causes 20,000 hospitalizations, 3,000 amputations, 1,400 cases of kidney failure, and 4,700 diabetes-related deaths annually. The financial cost of treatment is a staggering $6.5 billion annually.
The report clearly shows that people in lower socioeconomic groups, clustered in a handful of poorer neighborhoods, are suffering disproportionately to the well-heeled and well-educated residents of the chic Upper East Side.
As is the case everywhere in the US - not to mention, globally - a great many people with type 2 diabetes or who are at risk for the disease do not know it, and city officials are aiming to exponentially increase awareness in coming years. The entire report is accessible online in PDF-form at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's website.
McDonald's announces their kinder, gentler French fry
Filed under: Diet, Nutrition, Daily news
Mickey-D's goes low-fat. Well, sort of. Let's call McDonald's announcement that they will be removing trans fat from their foods a step in the right direction. Calling it low-fat may be a stretch. Still, the restaurant chain is moving toward utilizing a new canola/soy based oil to cook their fries and other fried foods, which at least eliminates those pesky trans fats (and also places McDonald's in the safe zone come July 1st, the date that New York City lawmakers have listed as the cut-off for restaurants to be trans fat free).
It appears as though the big concern held by the public -- and, consequently, by McDonald's executives -- was the taste. How are those fries going to taste after being cooked in the new oil? That was the big question. Well, according to a McDonald's rep, the taste tests held thus far have produced promising results. So, for those of you who have a soft spot for those golden fries, it seems that they are not only free of artery clogging trans fat, but they also taste as good as they did before.
The trans fat removal was a good move for McDonald's, especially since fast food competitors Wendy's, Taco Bell and KFC have already done so. In fact, so has Starbucks. The belief is that there will soon be a nationwide ban of trans fat (as their should be), so it's good business for these mega-franchises to start preparing for the change now.
FDA's Avandia review due out today
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Drugs, Research, Daily News
I have been awaiting the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) July 30 outside advisory panel meeting on Glaxo's Avandia. Will the panel recommend new regulatory restrictions? The FDA usually follows the panel's advice. Today may reveal a big clue as the FDA is releasing its review of Avandia ahead of Monday's meeting. Will it be a bullish report or will Glaxo get caught on the FDA's charging horns?
Wall Street forecasters are watching closely. Glaxo's stock price is down 10 percent since the May 21 meta-analysis revealed Avandia's 43 percent higher risk of heart attack. Sales of Avandia have plummeted, falling 31 percent in the second quarter to $226 million -- a significant hit to Glaxo's bottom line. Avandia's share of the entire diabetes pill market has dropped 37 percent, from 11.7 percent in late May to 7.4 percent of late.
Bear Stearns analyst Alexandra Hauber recently pointed out the threat of significant restrictions is real, and while some assume Avandia is safe until proven otherwise, presumption of innocence does not apply to pharmaceuticals. Or does it in the case of Avandia? Don't forget about the alleged muzzling of a top FDA reviewer critical of Avandia's safety.
Glaxo contests the May 21 meta-analysis by Dr. Nissen, while federal lawmakers and consumer groups are applying opposing pressure. Perhaps the public and legislator pressure over food and drug safety issues are truly having an effect. On what I see as positive news, FDA advisors have delivered serious setbacks to Big Pharma. Merck's follow-up to Arcoxia received an overwhelming "no" from a panel of arthritis experts last April, and in May, the advisors requested tougher warning labels on superstar anemia treatments from Amgen Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. Sanofi-Aventis has also withdrawn its application for their weight loss drug Acomplia -- an FDA panel rejected the drug on safety grounds just last month. Read more in this AP story.
Couple loses 580 pounds together!
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Obesity
When Maggie and Andy Sorrells vowed to stick by each other through thick and thin, they were serious. The couple, who once weighed a combined 1,000 pounds, has been through the very,very thick together. Both Maggie and Andy had lifelong weight issues before they met online and eventually married. At 6' 3", Andy weighed over 500 pounds at his heaviest. Maggie weighed over 400 pounds and was told by physicians that she might not live to be 30 if she didn't do something about her weight. It took the two of them coming together to lose the weight. Maggie discovered Weigh Down, a faith based weight loss program, and found success through portion control and healthy eating habits. After watching her success, Andy joined her and the two of them are now at normal, healthy weights. Andy can now buy his clothing off the rack. Maggie no longer lives under the threat of heart disease. The two also have a two children to raise with their new lives.
It is always so so wonderful to read a success story, especially one that show such perseverance and spirit. For more on this amazing couple, check out this article.
TNFa linked to age-related vascular diseases
Filed under: Research
As the Super Bowl ad I spotlighted in my previous post made pretty clear, there are a number of risk factors that can increase one's chances of developing some form of vascular disease. Nonetheless, even people who do not face increased risk from these factors can still develop high blood pressure or suffer from heart attack or stroke. This is especially true of older people, whose advanced age is also associated with increased levels of TNFa -- a protein that can attack and destroy tumor cells (which is a good thing) but can also exacerbate chronic inflammatory diseases (not a good thing at all).
To full examine the detrimental effects of TNFa, scientists from the Department of Physiology at New York Medical College looked at the potential benefits of this protein being inhibited. To do so, they used an FDA-approved drug called Etanercept (Enbrel), known to bind and inactivate circulating TNFa. The found that by blocking TNFa using etanercept treatment, there was a decrease in cell death in aged blood vessels. This, in and of itself, suggested that raised TNFa levels likely contribute to age-related cardiovascular disease. To demonstrate the opposite, cell-killing effects of TNFa, the researchers administered this protein to young arteries, finding that it reproduced the features of vascular aging.
The hope is that by developing a further understanding of the role that TNFa plays in vascular disease, age by itself will become less of a risk factor.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | CommentsSan Antonio registry to track diabetes impact
Filed under: Type 2, Daily News, Services, Care
Texas is turning to number-crunching in an effort to contain soaring Type 2 diabetes rates. San Antonio will be the first city there to operate a diabetes registry designed to improve both the cost and quality of diabetes care in the state. The Texas state legislature approved the initiative this past spring. The project, which will be administered by the local health department, has been given the extremely imaginative title of Diabetes Registry. (Hey, makes it easy to find in the phone book.) The registry will gather its statistics from labs that perform diabetes blood tests.The idea behind the project is not new: a similar scheme is already underway in New York City. Makes sense: before you decide how to cope with widespread Type 2 diabetes, you first need to assess exactly what the problems are. Who is missing out on care? Who are most likely to go undiagnosed? What could healthcare providers, teachers, or parents be doing differently?
Officials say that if the registry is successful in San Antonio, the registry may be extended throughout the entire state of Texas. Click here to read more on the community news site My San Antonio.
Diabetes, athletes, and the technological revolution
Filed under: Type 1, Lifestyle, Drugs, Exercise, Products, Care
For athletes with type 1 diabetes, technological advances have opened up a whole new world. Tell your doctor you want to run a marathon? In past decades, the announcement might have been met with words of caution, even dismay. Exercise wasn't even part of the equation when it came to diabetes management. Being diagnosed with diabetes was a death knell for the careers of budding young athletes. Today, however, docs (well-informed ones, at least) are more likely to say, 'okay, let's come up with a plan.' Diabetes-related technology is a big reason for this shift in attitudes. An article just out in The New York Times. looks at the extent to which technology has made life easier for type 1 diabetics. Devices like digital meters and automated pumps are not cheap. But they are increasingly efficient, safe, and sleekly high-tech. Above all, they give athletes the tools they need to control blood sugar levels with absolute precision - the kind of precision that was impossible in the days of the urine-glucose test. The down-side, I guess you could say, is the mixed blessing of all that control: "We are essentially the CEOs of our own bodies," observes type 1 diabetic and long-distance cyclist Paul Southerland, "and we don't get a break from them."
Sugar-Free Gang cheers on UAlbany player
Filed under: Type 1
Capital News 9 of Albany, New York, reports on a bunch of good-hearted people who have teamed up to lend support to diabetics, including University of Albany basketball player Brian Connelly. The Sugar-Free Gang is their name. Their purpose? Encouraging people, especially young people, with diabetes to get out and live life as fun, healthily and normally as possible. The Capital News 9 article quotes a member of the Sugar-Free Gang, Patti Norris, who has a diabetic son: "Diabetes is not an obstacle in life. They can do something with it. You can live a normal life."About fifty children and their families are in the Gang and they all turned up at a recent game to cheer on Connelly, who has been diagnosed with diabetes. Said one young fan, "I know how it feels to have diabetes and you need to have a lot of support."
Connelly is doing well, says Coach Will Brown, and is playing every day. Still, it must be very cool to have your own special cheering squad in the crowd, right? Yes, says Connelly: "Just that I can be looked up to like that, I mean it feels great. Hopefully, I can set a good example."
But reading this article, it's clear that this is no one-way street when it comes to encouragement for young diabetics. Talk about a fun and super-bonding time for the kids involved in this: to get out, enjoy a game and cheer on a young up-and-coming player. No, they're not buddies with him. But the common link of having diabetes brings them all together. What a great idea! Kudos to the parents of the Sugar-Free Gang kids for making this happen.
Check out Capital News 9's website for a video clip of the game.
Trans fats banned from Seattle-area restaurants
Filed under: Type 2, Diet, Lifestyle, Daily News
King County, Washington - following in the footsteps of New York - has banned restaurants from cooking foods in trans fats. King County is home to Seattle, the city famous for its generous rainfall and equally generous caffeine intake. The new rule stipulates that, in addition to the trans fats ban, all eateries in the Seattle-area must also provide nutritional information about menu items. The trans fats ban was passed by the King County Board of Health in an effort to stem soaring rates of illnesses that are linked to obesity, like type 2 diabetes. Board members and their supporters (including a representative from the American Diabetes Association) argue the change will help turn the tide by improving eating habits. Their opponents, however, have vigorously argued that this is not true. Restaurant patrons already know they're choosing unhealthy foods, they argue, and this new law won't prevent them from ordering fatty and sugar-laden foods. "I have a six-letter word to describe them [the board members and their supporters]," says restaurant-owner Chris Clifford. "It's 'stupid.' You can't help stupid people." Ouch. Well, this is a case where only time can prove him right or wrong. Click here to read more on the new measures.