Diabetes and Disclosure
This Sunday on dLifeTV, don't miss a special encore presentation focusing on diabetes rights in the workplace and disclosure issues. Texas attorney and ADA advocacy volunteer John Griffin will talk about what you need to know about your rights in both the job market and the workplace. Plus, UK pilot Doug Cairns talks about his amazing around-the-world flight and his own struggles to keep his pilot's license post-diagnosis. Get more information on the show, including video clips, guest extras, and transcripts, right here.
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The Extinction of Animal Insulin?
Earlier this month, pharma giant Eli Lilly announced plans to discontinue production of Iletin II, the Company's lone non-synthetic insulin product. With Iletin out of the picture, there are now no animal-based insulins remaining on the U.S. market.
Animal insulins are manufactured by extracting insulin from cow (bovine insulin) and pig (porcine insulin) pancreases. Lilly discontinued its beef-pork Iletin product in 1998. These older insulins began to be phased out by their biosynethic counterparts in the mid-1980s.
So what's the problem? There have been anecdotal reports of long-time animal insulin users reporting sensitivity to synthetically-derived insulins, including an increased incidence of hypoglycemic unawareness when switching from animal insulin to human insulins or insulin analogues. This hasn't been demonostrated conclusively in the clinical literature, however. Several foreign manufacturers of animal insulins remain, and the FDA and USDA do have animal insulin import procedures in place for those patients that can prove a clinical need to import animal insulin for their diabetes control.
Lilly reports that the discontinuation will impact an estimated 2,000 U.S. and 700 Canadian consumers of Iletin insulin. Based on their current inventory, Eli Lilly predicts that patients should be able to continue to purchase Iletin in U.S. pharmacies through the end of 2005.
Read More on Animal Insulin: The IDF Position Statement on Animal, Human, and Analogue Insulins
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Creepy Crawlies
It's called biodebridement, and it is highly effective in the treatment of severe diabetic foot ulcers and other difficult-to-heal wounds - frequently saving feet and limbs that would have otherwise been lost to amputation.
So why doesn't everyone with diabetes know about biodebridement? The treatment, also called larval therapy or maggot therapy, has suffered from a bit of a PR problem.
The therapeutic value of maggots (or fly larvae) has been known for centuries. When used in biodebridement, they thoroughly clean and debride the wound (removing dead tissue) and are thought to actual hasten the healing process with the antimicrobial agents they produce during digestion. But because of their more common association with garbage dumps and animal carcasses, the maggots use in medicine is perhaps second only to leeches in gross out value.
Today's biodebridement procedures use medicinal, or sterile, maggots, which are specially bred for use in surgical environments. The procedure involves placing the maggots on the wound and covering them with a sterile, breathable dressing for up to 72 hours while the creatures do their work; they grow up to 5 times their original size during the process. Some patients may experience a tickling sensation, but that's typically the extent of any physical discomfort from the procedure.
Find a maggot therapist near you.
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Advocate
Want to know what's going on in the world of diabetes advocacy? Looking for an easy way to contact your government representatives about diabetes legislation? Visit the dLife Diabetes Advocacy Center and get informed and involved.
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Would You Like Fries With That?
It's not an official clinical diagnosis, nor is it a value meal special. But the phrase "Double Diabetes" seems to have resonated with the media, as hundreds of news outlets have picked up the Associated Press story on the topic.
For the record, what the AP is calling "double diabetes" can occur in those with an initial diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (in cases where the patient goes on to develop additional insulin resistance) or an initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (in cases where the pancreatic beta cell function of a type 2 patient diminishes over time). In short, it's progression of the disease, and is nothing new on the horizon.
For those with type 1 diabetes, weight may play a factor in developing additional insulin resistance. A 2003 study out of the University of Pittsburgh found that one in four black children and one in 10 white children had "double diabetes," quite possibly linked to a growing incidence of weight problems in the U.S.
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dLifeTV This Weekend
This Sunday night on dLifeTV - diabetes experts Dr. Andrew Drexler and Carolyn Robertson, RN address the wide world of diabetic complications - and the best ways to treat and prevent them. And for you Patti Labelle fans, the self-proclaimed "Diva-betic" talks about her diabetes life. dLifeTV airs every Sunday evening at 7:00PM ET/4:00PM PT on CNBC. More on this episode.
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Stem Cell Stand
The Associated Press reports today that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed an executive order earmarking $10 million in tax dollars for stem cell research. Blagojevich cited his moral obligation to "not simply sit back and do nothing when children are suffering from juvenile diabetes" as part of the reason behind the move.
The Illinois State Legislature has debated the use of state funds for adult, umbilical cord blood, and embryonic stem cells in the past. A federal executive order issued by President Bush in 2001 currently bans the use of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research on cell lines derived after September 9, 2001, although proposed changes to relax this legislation are now before the Senate.
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Agent Orange
The Department of Defense has released the latest report on the Air Force Health Study that examines the impact of Agent Orange herbicide used during the Vietnam war. The report contains the strongest evidence to date that Agent Orange exposure is associated with type 2 diabetes, supporting findings from earlier reports issued in 1992 and 1997.
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There She Is...
What's on dLifeTV this weekend, you ask? For Nicole Johnson Baker fans, you'll find out how her diabetes, and her career as a patient advocate, got started. More details on this week's show topics and guests here.
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Diabetes in Veterans
A ABC News special report on weight problems in the U.S. military reveals that 20 percent of veterans have diabetes (compared to an estimated 8 percent of the general population), and up to 74 percent are overweight or obese. The VA has instituted an integrated weight management program called MOVE in response to the crisis.
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The Power of Luther
Legendary R&B superstar Luther Vandross passed away Friday at the age of 54. Vandross, who had struggled with weight problems and diabetes for many years, suffered a stroke in 2003 that he never fully recovered from. The acclaimed songwriter and vocalist sold more than 20 million albums and won ten Grammys throughout his career.
Vandross had a strong history of diabetes in his family - the singer's father and several siblings have passed away from diabetes-related complications. His mother Mary Vandross has been a vocal proponent of diabetes awareness and screening. In 2003 she told the Associated Press that "As long as he kept his weight down and did the exercising, he did just fine...The moment he put the weight back on, that's when all the trouble began." Diabetes and weight management are a daily struggle for millions of Americans, and Luther's professional achievements in spite of his health issues were inspiring to many. The dLife Community sends its heartfelt condolences to the Vandross family.
More Luther Coverage:
New York Times - "Luther Vandross, R&B Crooner, Is Dead at 54"
CNN - Luther Vandross Obit
Reuters - "Soul Singer Luther Vandross Dead at 54"
BBC News - Submit Your Tributes to Luther
From dLife:
Preventing Complications
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Famous Musicians with Diabetes
Diabetes and Stroke
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