Genetic Breakthrough Explains Dangerously High Blood Glucose Levels

May 01, 2008

May 1, 2008 (EurekAlert) - Canadian, French and British researchers have identified a DNA sequence that controls the variability of blood glucose levels in people. This is a potentially significant discovery because high blood glucose levels in otherwise healthy people often are indications of heart disease and higher mortality rates. The results will be published May 1 in the online version of the journal Science.

The research was conducted by Dr. Phillippe Froguel and colleagues at Imperial College London and le Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in Lille, France, in collaboration with Dr. Robert Sladek, Dr. Constantin Polychronakos and their teams at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal. Dr. Ghislain Rocheleau, a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Sladek’s lab, is the study’s co-first author. The scientists worked with data collected from a large genome study originally conducted for diabetes research that looked at over 390,000 different locations – or loci – on the human genome. The study’s first important diabetes results were published in 2007 and received worldwide media attention.

In this study, researchers looked at the genetic code of healthy, non-diabetic individuals whose blood glucose levels were in the normal range. They discovered that a single DNA mutation within three different genes explained, in part, why some individuals have high or low blood glucose levels. The researchers believe that these genes actually affect the threshold level of glucose in the bloodstream, which triggers the secretion of insulin. The higher the threshold, the higher the blood glucose level will rise before insulin starts to regulate it.

“These sequences explain about 5 per cent of the normal variation in blood glucose levels between otherwise healthy people,” explained Dr. Sladek, of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Human Genetics, the MUHC Research Institute and the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre. “Five per cent may not sound huge, but for complex traits, that’s rather a lot. By contrast, hundreds of different genes influence height.”

These findings provide important insights into the genetic mechanisms behind glucose metabolism, say the researchers, which they predict will lead to greater understanding of the genetic roots of metabolic disorders in general. “In theory, any medical test which has a genetic component can use this approach,” Sladek explained. “That brings us to the idea of ‘personalized medicine.’ Eventually, we might be able to customize treatment to an individual’s unique genetic structure.”

High blood glucose levels are also closely linked with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and these findings hold out of the hope of discovering new management techniques and treatments. “It’s important to know that a high blood glucose level, even within the normal and non-diabetic range, is a risk factor for early mortality,” explains Dr. Philippe Froguel of Imperial College and CNRS. “Epidemiological studies have shown that 80 per cent of the risk of cardiovascular disease is related to a blood glucose level just above the average.”

“Obviously, the next step would be to get some collaborators on the heart disease side, and see whether some of these other genes might also play a role,” added Dr. Sladek.

“We are proud of this announcement, which once again confirms the scientific excellence and talent of Québec’s scientists,” said Paul L’Archevêque, President and CEO of Génome Québec. “These findings, which are the direct result of studies co-financed by Génome Québec, clearly show the strategic role of genomics in the search for solutions to improve human health. We would also like to underline the cooperation among the institutes, an initiative that made this major advance possible. Congratulations to Dr. Sladek and his team!”

Posted by dlife at 10:53 AM | Comments (0)

NIDDK Releases New Awareness and Prevention Series for Community Health Events

March 03, 2008

March 3, 2008 (EurekAlert) - The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) today announced the release of new health information to raise awareness about diabetes, digestive diseases, and kidney and urologic diseases among people not yet diagnosed with these illnesses. The NIDDK developed the Awareness and Prevention Series for community health fairs, workplace health forums, family reunions, and other similar events. NIDDK is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The Awareness and Prevention Series publications are each two-page fact sheets — one side in English and the other in Spanish — on a wide range of health topics, including bladder control, celiac disease, foodborne illness, irritable bowel syndrome, pre-diabetes, preventing diabetes complications, urinary tract infections, and many others. Each fact sheet gives readers a snapshot of an illness, highlighting risk factors, symptoms, prevention tips, and where to go for more information.

"The series is designed to encourage readers to ask 'Could this be me or someone I care for"'" said Kathy Kranzfelder, director of the NIDDK Information Clearinghouses, which disseminate information about diabetes, digestive diseases, and kidney and urologic diseases to patients, health care professionals, and the general public. "Raising awareness of these illnesses may help people take steps to prevent them or see a doctor if they have symptoms."

Posted by dlife at 09:30 AM | Comments (0)

Joslin Diabetes Center and The Barton Center for Diabetes Education Reach Agreement for Barton to Manage Camp Joslin

February 25, 2008

February 25, 2008 (Joslin) – The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc. and the Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that The Barton Center will manage and operate Camp Joslin in Charlton, Mass.
Under the agreement, The Barton Center assumes responsibility for all management and operations of Camp Joslin. Joslin retains ownership of Camp Joslin. Camp Joslin programs include a summer resident camp serving about 350 boys with insulin-dependent diabetes each year, co-ed wilderness programs and other co-ed programs in the winter and spring.

“Since its founding, Camp Joslin has been a life-saving resource for boys with insulin-dependent diabetes and their families,” said Paul O’Brien, Senior Vice President, Joslin Diabetes Center. “We believe The Barton Center, which has an excellent reputation for its leadership in year-round camping and education programs, will do a fantastic job extending the reach of Camp Joslin to more kids and families with diabetes.”

The Barton Center’s year-round camp, retreat and conference center serves 1,500 children and their families annually. Barton’s programs include a summer resident camp for girls, co-ed day camps, co-ed adventure camps, family camp and numerous co-ed and family programs in the fall, winter and spring.

Barton Executive Director Jonas B. Goldenberg said the agreement provides an opportunity for both camps to grow and to have an even greater impact on children with diabetes and their families.

“We are delighted with the opportunity to manage Camp Joslin, which perfectly complements our mission,” Goldenberg said. “By helping us reach more children, this agreement further fulfills Barton’s mission of improving the lives of children with insulin-dependent diabetes by providing a fun environment that inspires, empowers and motivates children with diabetes, while helping their families to thrive.”

Goldenberg said he expects that managing the two camps will create opportunities to enhance future programming and to attract more families and children who are living with diabetes.

The two camps, which will remain at their current locations, have much in common and have experience working together. They are located fewer than five miles away from each other, and both camps have a long heritage of camping and outdoor activities, combined with diabetes education and support for children with diabetes. In addition, they have jointly operated a highly successful winter camp program at the Barton location for the past two years.

Dr. Elliott P. Joslin, founder of Joslin Diabetes Center, who was born in Oxford, Mass., helped found both camps and served as medical director at both camps in the early days. Both camps consistently meet or exceed the strict standards of quality set forth by the American Camp Association and other licensing and accreditation organizations.
Anyone interested in more information or in registering for either camp for Summer 2008 can contact The Barton Center at 508-987-2056.

Posted by dlife at 05:29 PM | Comments (0)

'Smart' Holograms Help Patients Help Themselves

February 05, 2008

February 5, 2008 (EurekAlert) - Patients with diabetes, cardiac problems, kidney disorders or high blood pressure could benefit from the development of new hologram technology. The new "smart" holograms, which can detect changes in, for example, blood-glucose levels, should make self-diagnosis much simpler, cheaper and more reliable, write Chris Lowe and Cynthia Larbey in February’s Physics World.

A hologram is a recording of an optical interference pattern created when laser light shone on an object is made to overlap with a separate beam of light that does not pass through the object. When light is shone onto the interference pattern, a 3D image of the original object is recreated.

Traditional holograms, like those on your credit card, are stored on photo-sensitive materials and remain unchanged with time. Smart holograms, however, use materials called hydrogels that shrink or swell in response to local environmental conditions. Such holograms can therefore be used as sensors to detect chemical imbalances in potentially fatal situations.

Smart Holograms, a spin-out company from the Institute of Biotechnology at Cambridge University, has already developed a hand-held syringe to measure water content in aviation fuel tanks – necessary because aeroplane engines are liable to freeze mid-air if there is more than 30 parts water to million fuel.

The same ability to detect chemical imbalances could be used by diabetics to check their blood-sugar levels; by patients with kidney disorders to check on adrenaline levels; by security forces to detect chemicals like anthrax after a terrorist attack; or, less urgently but with wide applicability, by glazing firms to detect whether water has crept in between window panes, something that can cause long-term structural damage.

Since the Nobel-prize-winning physicist Dennis Gabor first unveiled their underlying principles, holograms have become widely used as authentication tags to deter copying, and on credit cards, passports, banknotes. They also underpin the technology of supermarket scanners and CD players.

As Chris Lowe and Cynthia Larbey write, “Visual images produced by smart holograms can be made to appear or disappear under appropriate chemical or biological stimuli which makes them ideal for use in Breathalysers, monitoring heart conditions and for various security and smart packaging systems.”

Posted by dlifenews at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)

Lumetra Program Improves Diabetes Care Among Latinos

February 01, 2008

Comprehensive Campaign Key to Behavior Change & Decrease in Disparities in Care

February 1, 2008 (PRNewswire-USNewswire) -- Disparities in care of diabetes patients in California decreased with the implementation of culturally-appropriate, community-based interventions, according to a new study published in the February American Journal of Public Health. Rates of glucose control testing among Latinos with diabetes substantially improved relative to testing rates among non-Hispanic whites.

Researchers at Lumetra, California's Quality Improvement Organization and healthcare consultancy, designed the multifaceted, 3-year study to improve diabetes care among Latino Medicare beneficiaries and to reduce disparities in annual A1C testing between Whites and Latinos.

"Viva La Vida: Helping Latino Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes Live Their Lives to the Fullest" increased annual A1C testing rates among Latinos from 70.6 percent to 77.5 percent, and decreased the disparity in A1C testing between Whites and Latinos from 7.1 percent to 3.0 percent, during the intervention period.

Rebecca Olson, PhD, Fabio Sabogal, PhD, and Ana Perez, MSN, CDE, CPHQ co-authored the study.

"'Viva La Vida' is a model program for any community that wants to take control of its members' health, productivity and longevity," says Dr. Olson. "This study is a step-by-step blueprint of how to mobilize a community and affect positive change by engaging community partners, developing language-appropriate materials that people will respond to, and creating a proactive dialogue about healthcare prevention."

Proper diabetes care management is known to be essential in preventing life-threatening and debilitating complications such as heart disease, hypertension and stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and lower extremity amputations.
The study targeted four California counties, home to more than half of all Latino Medicare beneficiaries in the state, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego. Bilingual, low-literacy health education materials and tools, community and provider partnerships, and mass media were essential components to Viva La Vida's success in reaching Latinos and ultimately, reducing disparities in the diabetes testing.

"The issue of disparities in healthcare, particularly for Latinos, is of tremendous concern to us," said Dr. Sabogal. "We know that Latinos are twice as likely as Whites to develop diabetes and they have higher death rates from the disease," he said. "Viva La Vida gets to the heart of the disparities problem by addressing the very barriers Latinos face when confronted with a medical issue, including language comprehension, cultural differences and community social norms. Viva La Vida empowered communities to take immediate charge of preventive care."

Lumetra is an independent, nonprofit consulting organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and integrity of healthcare. Lumetra provides an array of professional services that include medical review, health information technology, quality evaluation and improvement, marketing and communications, and data analysis to private and public entities. As California's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, Lumetra works with nursing homes, home health agencies and physicians across the state to ensure that every person receives the right care, every time.

Posted by dlifenews at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)

Environmental Pollution and Diabetes May be Linked

January 28, 2008

Scientists call for more research into neglected area

January 28, 2008 (EurekAlert) - Cambridge scientists are advocating additional research into the little understood links between environmental pollution and type 2 diabetes.

In the most recent edition of the Lancet, Drs. Oliver Jones and Julian Griffin highlight the need to research the possible link between persistent organic pollutants (POPs, a group which includes many pesticides) and insulin resistance, which can lead to adult onset diabetes.

In their commentary, Dr Jones and Dr. Griffin cite peer reviewed research including that of Dr D Lee, et al, which demonstrated a very strong relationship between the levels of POPs in blood, particularly organochlorine compounds, and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

“Of course correlation does not automatically imply causation,” says Dr. Jones. “But if there is indeed a link, the health implications could be tremendous. At present there is very limited information. Research into adult onset diabetes currently focuses on genetics and obesity; there has been almost no consideration for the possible influence of environmental factors such as pollution.”

Interestingly, in the Lee study an association between obesity and diabetes was absent in people with low concentrations of POPs in their blood. In other words, individuals were more at risk of diabetes if they were thin with high levels of POPs in their blood than if they were overweight but with low levels of POPs.

Dr Jones said: “I think research should be carried out to first test the hypothesis that POPs exposure can cause diabetes, perhaps using cell or tissue cultures, so we know for sure if this can occur. Assuming POPs can have this effect, the next step would be to try and develop a method of treatment for those people who might be affected.”

POPs came into prominence as effective pesticides with the introduction of DDT in the 1940s. However, many of these chemicals, including DDT, fell out of favour after they were blamed for the declining number of wild birds and other animals (brought to the public's attention in Rachel Carson's Silent Spring) and the possible negative human health effects. As the compounds biodegrade slowly, they continue to find their way into the food chain and ultimately into the blood streams of individuals even though many of these toxins were banned many years ago. Additionally, these compounds can persist in body fat for very long periods of time following exposure.

Posted by dlifenews at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)

Insulin First Used Successfully 86 Years Ago Today

January 11, 2008

January 11, 2008 (DiabetesUK) - Eighty-six years ago today Canadian Frederick Banting administered the first insulin injection.

In 1922 Banting's work came to a head as he injected a man called Leonard Thompson with insulin. Thompson lived for another 13 years.

Banting thought of his "great idea" to find the active secretion of the Islets of Langerhans whilst working at a medical school in Ontario. He persuaded Professor JJR Macleod of Toronto to help him along with Charles Herbert Best and James Bertram Collip.

They conducted research on depancreatised dogs which was central to the discovery of insulin.

Nobel Prize

Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923.

Although Banting's contribution to diabetes and other medical research was cut short when he died in an air crash in 1941, the discovery of insulin has saved the lives of many people with diabetes and transformed the quality of life for countless more.

Posted by dlifenews at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)

Legumes Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk

January 08, 2008

January 8, 2008 (Nutra) - An increased intake of legumes like peanuts and soybeans could reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by over 40 per cent, suggests a new study.

The dietary habits of over 64,000 women were assessed and correlated with the development of type-2 diabetes over about five years, and a high intake of all legumes was associated with a 38 per cent reduction in risk of developing the disease, report researchers in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.

In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 bn, with $92 bn being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.

According to background information in the study, it has been suggested previously that a high intake of these foods can have benefits against the development of type-2 diabetes, although data is limited for this link.

Researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Shanghai Cancer Institute set about filling in these gaps, and recruited 64,227 middle-aged Chinese women with no previous history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer, and followed then for an average of 4.6 years.

The authors, led by Raquel Villegas, used food-frequency questionnaires to assess the dietary intakes of the subjects, and reported an inverse association between the intake of legumes and the incidence of type-2 diabetes.

Indeed, for a high intake of all legumes, the researchers reported a 38 per cent reduction in risk, while a high intake of soybeans was associated with a 47 per cent reduction in risk.

Interestingly, no relationship was observed for the consumption of soy products and soy protein with diabetes risk.

The study does have several limitations, including the use of food frequency questionnaires to measure dietary intakes, which are subject to recall errors, and being focused on Chinese women, which prevents generalization of the results to other populations.

Late last year, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst reported that soy yoghurts could play an important role in the management of type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

The Massachusetts researchers reported that phenol-rich soy yogurts could inhibit about 92 per cent of the activity of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE-I), which plays a role in the constriction of blood vessels.

Posted by dlifenews at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)

ADA Issues New Clinical Practice Recommendations

December 31, 2007

December 31, 2007 (SunHerald) - The American Diabetes Association (ADA) today issued its annual Clinical Practice Recommendations to help health care providers treat people with diabetes using the most current evidence available.

This year, one notable change occurs in the Medical Nutrition Therapy section dealing with weight loss. Until now, the ADA did not recommend low carbohydrate diets because of lack of sufficient scientific evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness. The 2008 Recommendations include a statement recognizing the increasing evidence that weight-loss plans that restrict carbohydrate or fat calorie intake are equally effective for reducing weight in the short term (up to one year). The "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes--2008" document reviews the growing evidence for the effectiveness of either approach to weight loss. In addition, there is now evidence that the most important determinant of weight loss is not the composition of the diet, but whether the person can stick with it, and that some individuals are more likely to adhere to a low carbohydrate diet while others may find a low fat calorie-restricted diet easier to follow.

As it has in the past, the ADA continues to emphasize the importance of sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight or obese and at risk for diabetes or living with diabetes.

"The risks of overweight and obesity are well known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," said Ann Albright, PhD, RD, President, Health Care & Education, American Diabetes Association. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health care team support their patients' weight loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."

Because people following low carbohydrate diets may replace calories from carbohydrate with fat or protein, the recommendations also include monitoring the lipid profile (blood fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides) of patients on such diets. High protein diets may also worsen kidney problems.

Therefore, it is also recommended that patients with kidney disease be counseled about appropriate intake of protein and that their kidney functions be monitored carefully.

"Short-term weight loss is beneficial, but what is most important for health is keeping the weight off long-term," said Albright. "We also want to continue to emphasize the importance of regular physical activity, both to aid weight loss from calorie-restricted diets, and also for the positive health gains associated with exercise that are independent of weight loss."

Being overweight or obese and inactive are major contributing factors to the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Overweight and obesity also complicate the treatment of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and can contribute to the development of other health problems, such as heart disease and cancer. In the United States, rates of type 2 diabetes in adults and children have risen dramatically in recent years, along with the national epidemic of obesity.

This year's revisions also include:

-- Recommendations that adults who are overweight or obese and have one or more diabetes risk factor be tested for pre-diabetes and diabetes
-- New treatment guidelines for older adults
-- Recommendations for preparing and maintaining disaster kits for diabetes self-management
-- Structural changes to make the documents more "user-friendly," incorporating an Executive Summary, screening recommendations and diagnostic cut-point tables, along with general treatment information.

For more information about the ADA's 2008 Clinical Practice Recommendations, which are published as a supplement to the January issue of Diabetes Care, please visit diabetes.org. Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, is the leading peer-reviewed journal of clinical research into the nation's fifth leading cause of death by disease. Diabetes also is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, as well as the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations. For more information about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association Web site http://diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).

SOURCE American Diabetes Association

Posted by dlifenews at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)

Mental Health Linked to Amputation Risk in Diabetic Veterans

December 20, 2007

December 20, 2007 (EurekAlert) – For U.S. veterans with diabetes, lower scores on a test of mental health functioning are associated with an increased risk of major amputations, reports a study in the November/December issue of the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.

"Our findings suggest that foot care programs need to assess individuals for mental health functioning as a risk factor and to develop appropriate interventions to counteract this higher risk of major amputation," write the study authors, led by Chin-Lin Tseng, Dr.P.H., of the VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, N.J.

Dr. Tseng and colleagues analyzed a database of nearly 115,000 patients with diabetes who received care at Veterans Health Administration clinics from 1998 to 2000. All of the veterans were asked to complete a measure of mental health functioning.

Scores for mental health functioning were evaluated as a risk factor for diabetes-related amputations of the foot and leg. During 2000, "major" amputations (ankle or above) were required in 450 patients, while 431 underwent "minor" amputations (toes to ankle).

Veterans with lower scores for mental health functioning were at increased risk for amputations. This was so even when other important risk factors—including poor control of diabetes, smoking, less-frequent health care, and obesity—were taken into account. The overall rate of major amputations was 0.5 percent in veterans with below-average mental health scores, compared to 0.3 percent in those with above average scores and 0.2 percent for those at the highest level of mental health functioning.

On analysis including all risk factors, each five-point increase in mental health score was associated with a five percent decrease in the risk of major amputations. After adjustment, mental health functioning was no longer a significant risk factor for minor amputations.

Mental health scores were higher for veterans who had above a high school education, who were not obese, and who were not considered poor.

Amputations are a major complication of diabetes. Most studies of amputation risk factors have focused on medical conditions—for example, foot problems such as ulcers or infections or control of diabetes. Although some research has suggested that mental health care may affect the risk of diabetes-related amputations, the new study is the first to address this issue directly.

The results suggest that poor mental health functioning is an important risk factor for major amputations in diabetic veterans. Although the study cannot prove any cause-and-effect relationship, Dr. Tseng and colleagues believe that problems with mental health may interfere with needed diabetes care, including foot care.

The researchers urge medical professionals and patients to be aware of the possible link between mental health and amputation risk. They conclude, "Identifying patients who are at higher risk for major amputations due to poor mental health functioning may allow the dedication of resources and services to more closely supervise and manage their podiatric needs, perhaps leading to fewer amputations."

Posted by dlifenews at 11:41 AM | Comments (0)

Binge Drinking by Adolescents and Young Adults has Long-term Health Consequences

November 27, 2007

November 27, 2007 (Newswise) — New research into lifelong alcohol consumption reveals that heavy binge drinking by adolescents and young adults is associated with increased long-term risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. The risk is lower in people who start drinking alcohol later in life and maintain more moderate drinking patterns.

The study, accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), also indicates that the increased health risks were independent of the total amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime, or whether or not people stopped or curtailed drinking as they matured.

"To fully understand the effect of alcohol consumption on health, you need to consider lifetime drinking patterns," said Dr. Marcia Russell of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation's Prevention Research Center in Berkeley, Calif., and senior author of the study. "Early initiation of alcohol drinking and heavy drinking in adolescence and early adulthood seem to be associated with a number of adverse health effects collectively known as the metabolic syndrome.”

The term metabolic syndrome describes a cluster of metabolic risk factors that increase the chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The exact cause of the metabolic syndrome is not known, but genetic factors, too much body fat (especially in the waist area), and lack of exercise increase the risk of developing the condition.

Russell and her colleagues based their research on data from the Western New York Health Study (WNYHS), conducted between 1996 and 2001. This study retrospectively collected lifestyle information on more than 2,800 people who reported that they were regular drinkers at one point in their lives. The study also collected data on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components, including obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and high fasting glucose.

The WNYHS study revealed two distinct lifetime drinking trajectories among people who were ever regular drinkers. Drinking trajectory refers to the variability in drinking behavior over the span of a person's lifetime.

Early peak lifetime trajectories were characterized by early and heavy drinking followed by a sharp reduction in alcohol intake. Stable trajectories were characterized by more moderate intakes over a longer period of life. Lifetime drinking patterns included total years of drinking, first and last age of regular drinking, total volume of alcohol consumed, and many other factors. Early peak drinkers were, on average, 10 years younger than stable drinkers. Despite this age difference, the early peak drinkers still had a modestly higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

“Drinking patterns associated with early peak and stable drinking trajectories were distinctly different,” said Russell. “Early peak drinkers generally began drinking earlier than stable drinkers. They drank fewer years, less frequently, and consumed less volume of alcohol over their lifetimes, but averaged more drinks per drinking day and had higher rates of episodic heavy drinking and intoxication.”

The researchers speculate that the reason for the increased risk for metabolic syndrome found in the study may be associated with the adverse health effects of early unhealthy drinking patterns, which were carried over to later life. Also, early peak drinkers may have adopted other lifestyle habits detrimental to cardio-metabolic health.

The lead author of the study is Dr. Amy Fan, also of the Prevention Research Center. Other study authors include Dr. Saverio Stranges of the University at Buffalo, N.Y., and the University of Warwick, U.K.; and Drs. Joan Dorn and Maurizio Trevisan of the University of Buffalo.

Russell also was lead developer of the Cognitive Lifetime Drinking History, a computer-assisted personal interview designed to assess drinking patterns retrospectively over the lifetime in studies of chronic conditions related to alcohol use.

The paper “Association of Lifetime Alcohol Drinking Trajectories with Cardiometabolic Risk” will be published in the January 2008 issue of JCEM, a publication of The Endocrine Society.

For more information on the metabolic syndrome, visit: http://www.hormone.org/pdf/bilingual/bilingual_met_syndrome.pdf

Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of more than 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology.

Posted by dlifenews at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

Diabetes Increasing along U.S.-Mexico Border

November 05, 2007

November 5, 2007 (PAHO)—Diabetes has become the leading cause of death in Mexico and the third-leading cause of death among those living along the U.S. side of the border, health officials from the United States and Mexico said today in presenting the results of a new study coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Analyzing data from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, the study finds that type 2 diabetes is increasing throughout border area, along with risk factors for the disease. Some 1.1 million border residents 18 and older suffer from type 2 diabetes, and 836,000 are pre-diabetic. Nearly 22 percent of those with type 2 diabetes are unaware they have the disease.

"It is a serious problem when nearly a quarter of border residents who have diabetes do not know their health status. It means they cannot take the basic steps to prevent the progression of the disease and its complications," said Dr. María Teresa Cerqueira, Chief of PAHO's U.S.-Mexico Border Office.

The findings of the study were presented today at a Community Forum in El Paso, Texas, by representatives of PAHO's U.S.-Mexico Border Office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Secretariat of Health (SSA) of Mexico, and more than 130 local and state governmental and nongovernmental organizations concerned about the growing public health burden of type 2 diabetes.

The study is based on data collected between 2000 and 2002 in 16 U.S. counties and 28 Mexican municipalities.

According to survey data in the study, only four in 10 residents with type 2 diabetes monitored their blood sugar levels during the 12 months prior to the study.

"Poor disease management and control produce higher rates of complications from diabetes, leading to lowered quality of life, physical disability and earlier mortality," said Dr. Agustin Lara, Director of the Elderly Health Program of Mexico's Secretariat of Health.

Dr. Rosalba Ruiz, coordinator of the PAHO Diabetes Project, noted that in 2002, health care for people with diabetes cost some $13,243 per capita per year. "Considering that diabetes alone represents 11 percent of U.S. health care expenditures, there is a very serious concern that in a short period of time the health systems in both countries will be overwhelmed by the needs of those who suffer from this disease."

Among other findings, the study shows that 90 percent of border residents suffering from diabetes are overweight or obese: 3 out of 10 are overweight, and 6 out of 10 are obese.

"Obesity and overweight are among the most important risk factors of type 2 diabetes, which is a preventable condition," said Dr. Cerqueira.

The study also finds that 1.8 million border residents overall suffer from hypertension, and among people with diabetes, 36 percent suffer from hypertension.

About 61 percent of diabetes sufferers in the border region have at least one other family member with the disease, according to the study. Family history of diabetes is an important risk factor, noted Dr. Cerqueira, and people with such a history should self-monitor their health status and seek advice during routine health checkups to detect subclinical stages of the disease.

PAHO and the World Health Organization recommend primary disease prevention, good nutrition, and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle that can prevent or delay the development of diabetes and reduce the need for health care services to treat its complications.

The border diabetes research project is the first to analyze the U.S.-Mexico border region as a single epidemiological unit. Researchers selected a representative sample from the entire population 18 years and older on both sides of the border. The study included a survey with 65 questions and clinical measures for weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.

For additional information on the results of the study and recommendations on diabetes management and prevention, visit www.fep.paho.org.

Posted by dlifenews at 02:29 PM | Comments (0)

“dLife Holiday Helpline” Launches First-of-its-Kind Resource to Make Thanksgiving Dinner Healthy and Diabetes-Friendly

--Throughout November, www.dlife.com/holidayhelpline will be staffed with Registered Dietitians and Certified Diabetes Educators --

November 5, 2007, Westport, CT – Most Americans look forward to sitting down to a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. But for the 21 million Americans with diabetes and their families, friends, and hosts, Thanksgiving often means challenges and anxiety over what to eat and how to eat healthy. But not this year, thanks to the “dLife Holiday Helpline,” the first-ever resource to help people prepare a diabetes-friendly Thanksgiving meal, provided by dLife, the #1 destination for diabetes information, inspiration, and connection.

The dLife Holiday Helpline will be staffed with knowledgeable Registered Dietitians and Certified Diabetes Educators who will answer questions via an online forum, and provide tips on how to make standard Thanksgiving fare healthier for people with diabetes. This free service can be accessed through the dLife Holiday Helpline web portal, www.dlife.com/holidayhelpline, which also features over 8,000 recipes, more than 30 streaming step-by-step cooking videos and a comprehensive list of holiday-related tips. The dLife Holiday Helpline is free, and available 24/7, including last-minute advice on Thanksgiving Day.

Eating right is the biggest challenge for people with diabetes and those who cook for them. According to a recent dLife survey, 63 percent of participants indicated “food-related” challenges as the biggest obstacle in managing their diabetes. The holidays – with carbohydrate heavy traditional favorites, rich foods, desserts, and cocktails – present even greater problems. Nearly half (44 percent) of people with diabetes said avoiding food temptations is the hardest part about the holidays.

“As a chef, I find it a great professional challenge to makeover a notoriously unhealthy meal like Thanksgiving dinner, so that it can become healthy fare enjoyed by all around the table,” said celebrity chef Michel Nischan, who regularly appears on dLifeTV. “Having two sons with diabetes, I appreciate that the dLife Holiday Helpline will be staffed with trained professionals who can work with the household chef as they prepare to make their Thanksgiving enjoyable, tasty, and healthy for everyone invited to their table.”

November also marks National Diabetes Awareness Month, a condition that affects 7 percent of Americans. More than 41 million others have a condition called “pre-diabetes,” and are at greater risk for developing diabetes.

“Changing habits is one of the hardest things to do when you’re diagnosed with diabetes, and good eating habits present one of the biggest obstacles,” said Donna Rice, President of the American Association of Diabetes Educators. “The dLife Holiday Helpline helps those with diabetes overcome that very obstacle, making it an innovative resource for patients and their families.”

After nearly 40 years of living with diabetes, dLife founder Howard Steinberg knows firsthand the difficulty of managing temptations of holiday meals. “I know how hard the holidays can be for people with diabetes. The anxiety of sitting at a table where there are little choices that don’t raise your blood sugar can take all the fun out of the festivities. As the top destination for those living with diabetes, dLife always strives to become the best possible resource to support these challenges people with diabetes face each day. We’re hopeful the dLife Holiday Helpline will make Thanksgiving worry-free and diabetes-friendly.”

About dLife – For Your Diabetes Life
dLife is the only multimedia network serving the diabetes community. Its award winning media outlets include, dLifeTV — a weekly lifestyle series, and dLife.com — the #1 online destination for diabetes information, inspiration, and connection. The dLife.com Viewing Room offers original streaming video content — unique and entertaining information for people who have diabetes, prediabetes, or have a family member with diabetes. With over 8,000 recipes and 10,000 pages of superior content, dLife.com is the first of its kind. dLife also includes the dLife Diabetes Minute on radio, the dLife Connect direct mail program, and much more.

dLifeTV airs every Sunday on CNBC at 7:00PM ET, 6:00PM CT, and 4:00PM PT.

Posted by dlifenews at 09:52 AM | Comments (0)

Diabetic Neuropathy Costs Billions Per Year in Lost Work Time

October 05, 2007

October 5, 2007 (Newswise) - A recent study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine finds that workers who have diabetes with neuropathic symptoms such as tingling in feet or hands lose the equivalent of 1.4 hours a week or $3.65 billion per year in health-related lost productive time.

Dr. Walter "Buzz" Stewart of the Geisinger Center for Health Research in Danville, Pa. can discuss the study's implications for the care of diabetic patients and for the workplace.

J. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine --Geisinger Health System

Posted by dlifenews at 09:58 AM | Comments (1)

Glycemic Index Values are Variable

September 27, 2007

September 27, 2007 (Newswise) — In work investigating the reproducibility of glycemic index values, researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (USDA HNRCA) have reported that multiple glycemic index value determinations (measure of the rate of glucose absorption into the bloodstream) using a simple test food, white bread, resulted in a relatively high level of inter-individual (among different individuals), and intra-individual (within the same individual) variability. Further studies will focus on better defining the magnitude and the sources of the variability. The intent is to better understand how glycemic index relates to chronic disease risk in a wide range of individuals.

Alice Lichtenstein, DSc, corresponding author and director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA and colleagues assessed 14 study participants’ glycemic response to 50 grams of carbohydrate in the form of white bread (test food) and glucose dissolved in water (control food) on different days. This experiment was repeated three times with each individual.

“Using glucose as the control food, previous studies indicate that white bread has a glycemic index of about 70,” says Lichtenstein, who is also the Gershoff professor of nutrition science and policy at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts. “In our study the combined average was 71, virtually identical to the published value. However, quite strikingly, individual values ranged from 44 to 132. What is critical is to determine why there is such a wide range of responses among individuals.
In addition, within the same individual, test values varied by as much as 42 percent. “These results show that perhaps using glycemic index for groups is a reasonable indicator to predict chronic disease risk, but there is still considerable uncertainty when applying glycemic index to individuals,” explains Lichtenstein.

Glycemic index is a scale applied to foods based on how quickly the glucose in foods is absorbed into the blood stream, relative to pure glucose. Some nutrition professionals use the glycemic index as a tool for people trying to control blood sugar, such as those with diabetes. Others use the mean glycemic index of diets to predict chronic disease risk in large groups of people. Potential confounding factors, such as the fiber or fat content of the food, are not directly factored into the calculations.

“There are many factors that can influence the glycemic index of a food,” says Lichtenstein. “For example, a piece of white bread may have a high glycemic index but, if a person eats a slice of turkey and cheese with that bread, the effect of the multiple foods may result in a different glycemic index than if that person had eaten the white bread alone. Since most food is consumed as combinations during meals and snacks, there is a need to assess the significance of using glycemic index values determined on individual foods for food mixtures. Similarly, it is important to know whether the food consumed prior to a meal or snack alters subsequent glycemic response.

It is possible that we need to develop better research tools and more stringent applications for glycemic index determinations,” she says. “Larger studies of diverse populations are needed to determine why inter-individual, and particularly intra-individual, glycemic index values are so variable. If we can identify the source of the variability, it will allow for more insight into the applications of the glycemic index as a tool for both researchers and in public health messages.”

Lichtenstein and colleagues have received a five-year grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to further their understanding of the glycemic index and its utilities. The current study was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
Vega-Lopez S, Ausman LM, Griffith JL, Lichtenstein AH. Diabetes Care. 2007 (June); 30 (6): 1412-1417. “Interindividual Variability and Intra-Individual Reproducibility of Glycemic Index Values for Commercial White Bread.”

The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school’s eight centers, which focus on questions relating to famine, hunger, poverty, and communications, are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy. For two decades, the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University has studied the relationship between good nutrition and good health in aging populations. Tufts research scientists work with federal agencies to establish the USDA Dietary Guidelines, the Dietary Reference Intakes, and other significant public policies.

Posted by dlifenews at 11:58 AM | Comments (1)

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Recommends Tighter Control of Blood Glucose Levels After Meals in People With Diabetes

September 19, 2007

IDF Launches New Guideline for the Management of Postmeal Glucose

September 19, 2007 (PRNewswire) - IDF today issued the new global guideline for diabetes care which includes the management of postmeal glucose.(1) The guideline emphasizes that people with diabetes should have their blood glucose levels closely monitored after meals in order to optimize diabetes control and reduce the risk of complications, particularly cardiovascular disease.(2) This new approach will assist clinicians and organizations in developing effective strategies for managing diabetes. The new evidence-based global guideline was unveiled at the meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Amsterdam.

The new guideline offers a series of recommendations identifying how diabetes care could be optimised. Topics addressed in the new guideline are postmeal hyperglycaemia, treatment strategies and regimens, self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and non- pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies.

"Diabetes is now recognized as one of the largest epidemics humanity has ever faced and a leading cause of death. It accounts for 3.8 million deaths per year, many of which are related to cardiovascular disease. This new advancement underscores the importance for people with diabetes and their healthcare providers to adopt all possible ways to better manage the disease," said Professor Stephen Colagiuri, Chair of the IDF Task Force on Clinical Guidelines.

Until recently, a key recommendation for good diabetes management was to lower fasting or premeal blood glucose levels; however, recent studies suggest a link between postmeal glucose control and improved outcomes in people with diabetes. Existing global guidelines do not include the management of postmeal glucose.

In people with normal glucose tolerance, blood glucose levels are automatically monitored and controlled by the body. After eating, the body releases enough insulin to keep the plasma glucose within a normal range that rarely rises above 7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl) and usually returns to premeal levels within two to three hours.

In people with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes, their body has little or no automatic control of blood glucose levels. After eating, they often experience extended periods of elevated blood glucose levels. This is due to a number of factors, including insufficient insulin secretion, decreased sensitivity to insulin action, inability to suppress glucose output from the liver and deficiencies in other hormones related to digestion.

The new IDF Guideline recommends that people with diabetes try to keep postmeal blood glucose levels to less than 7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl) two hours following a meal, a time frame which conforms to guidelines published by most of the leading diabetes and medical organizations.

IDF advises SMBG because it is the most practical method for measuring postmeal glucose and it allows people with diabetes to obtain "real-time" information about their glucose levels. This information enables people with diabetes and their healthcare providers to make timely adjustments in their treatment regimens to achieve and maintain their blood glucose levels within target.

"IDF recommends that people with diabetes include physical activity, healthy eating and weight control in their daily regimen," said Professor Antonio Ceriello, Chair of the Guideline Writing Group. "These remain the cornerstone of effective diabetes management and not only reduce postmeal glucose levels, but also improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels". The guideline also includes information on a number of medications which specifically target postmeal glucose levels.

Posted by dlifenews at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)

Adverse Housing Conditions Contribute to Diabetes Risk

August 13, 2007

August 13, 2007 (EurekAlert) – Fair or poor housing conditions are associated with the risk of developing diabetes in urban, middle-aged African-Americans according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology by a team of investigators from Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute, Washington University in St. Louis and other institutions.

The researchers studied men and women in their homes (apartment or house) and environs in two St. Louis neighborhoods – one a poor, inner-city area and the other a less impoverished, suburban area that included several pockets of residents from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Adjusting for previously recognized diabetes risk factors such as weight, smoking, exercise, alcohol use, marital status and education, the researchers found that housing conditions influenced the risk of developing diabetes, although there was no direct association with conditions in the neighborhoods immediately outside their homes.

“We found a strong link between housing and diabetes risk but it’s not clear exactly how housing conditions are exerting this influence,” says study senior author Douglas K. Miller, M.D., Richard M. Fairbanks Professor in Aging Research at IU School of Medicine and a Regenstrief Institute research scientist. “However, it is clear that it won’t be possible to reduce disparities in health status among subgroups in the population and thus improve health without understanding how a person’s environment can affect that person’s health.”

“We looked at several factors to see if they could clarify why housing conditions were contributing to the development of diabetes, but none of these factors seemed to explain the relationship at all,” explains Mario Schootman, Ph.D., lead author and chief of the Division of Health Behavior Research at Washington University. “However, there were several potential explanations such as environmental contaminants that we were unable to measure, so additional study is clearly indicated.”

Quality of housing was evaluated based on cleanliness inside of the building and the physical condition of the building’s interior and exterior, as well as the condition of the furnishings in the building.

Neighborhoods were rated based on noise, air quality and the conditions of houses, streets, yards and sidewalks. Broken windows, bad siding on homes, cracks in the sidewalks and nearby industrial sites or traffic noise lowered a neighborhood’s rating. Housing and neighborhood conditions were classified as fair, poor, good or excellent

This study is part of a larger health research project involving African-Americans. In the original project, researchers looked at several factors responsible for the higher incidence of health problems experienced by later middle-aged and older African-Americans living in St. Louis. That larger project gathered data from 998 African-Americans in the St. Louis area who were born between 1936 and 1950. When that project began, diabetes already was very common in this population. More than 25 percent had the disease at the time initial interviews were conducted. The new study found that over the next three years another 10 percent developed diabetes.

“The rate at which this African-American population is developing new onset diabetes is extremely important as well,” Dr. Miller notes. “At this rate, and combined with the group who had diabetes at baseline, more than one-half of the population will be diabetic after 10 years. With all the adverse health effects of diabetes, this is a hugely important issue for middle-aged African-Americans. Although we did not have the opportunity to conduct similar research in other cities with large numbers of urban African-Americans such as New York City, Los Angeles and Atlanta, we believe it is likely that the findings would be comparable in those cities as well.”

The researchers say that additional studies are needed to determine what specifically increased the risk of diabetes as a result of poor housing conditions, but many factors have already been ruled out. The current study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Posted by dlifenews at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)

“Female Advantage” in Kidney Disease Does Not Extend to Diabetic Women

August 08, 2007

August 8, 2007 (Newswise) — Women have a “female advantage” when it comes to chronic kidney disease. When compared to men, they have fewer and less severe episodes of this disorder throughout most of their lives. That advantage disappears, however, when the woman is diabetic. For reasons still unclear, diabetic women – regardless of age – are diagnosed with kidney and heart diseases almost as frequently as men.

What is it about diabetes that predisposes a woman to develop renal disease at levels generally associated with her male counterpart? Researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease have been studying the phenomenon and have identified a novel observation to help explain why. The leader of this research team and the Center’s Director of Diabetes Research is Dr. Christine Maric. She will discuss the state of the team’s findings entitled, “Sex, Diabetes and Renal Injury,” at the upcoming conference, Sex and Gender in Cardiovascular-Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology. The meeting, sponsored by the American Physiological Society (APS; www.The-APS.org), is being held August 9-12, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Austin on Town Lake, Austin, TX.

Background
Women are infrequently diagnosed with kidney or heart disease until they reach menopause. At menopause, when their sex hormone – estrogen – begins to disappear from their system, the rate of kidney disease begins to increase. As a result, estrogen is believed to have a protective effect against developing kidney and heart disease.

Unlike their non-diabetic counterparts of any age, women with diabetes are found to have similar rates of kidney and heart disease as males. Diabetic women are also known to have high rates of stillborn births, experience higher rates of menstrual difficulties, and have trouble conceiving.

Studies
In an effort to understand why women with diabetes are more likely to get kidney disease than their non-diabetic female counterparts, the Georgetown researchers conducted several studies in which they determined that:

* diabetes is associated with reduced estrogen (estradiol) levels, which may explain why the females lose the protective factor when it comes to diabetes

* estrogen and estrogen-like supplements protect the kidney in an animal model of diabetic renal disease, suggesting that restoring estrogen levels provides protection against kidney disease

* the absence of the hormone testosterone contributes to a more rapid progression of kidney disease when diabetes is present. More severe renal damage can be found when diabetes is present.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that sex hormones play a significant role in the development of diabetic kidney disease. According to Maric, “Our observations suggest that kidney disease in diabetic women may not be the result of absolute levels of hormones, as previously thought, but to the relative ratio of [sex hormone] androgen to estrogen. It may well be that the ratio of the two hormones is what determines the effect of the hormones in the diabetic kidney.”

According to Dr. Maric, “The biggest surprise has been the finding that sex hormones – normally thought to control only the reproductive function – are involved in controlling processes in non-reproductive organs, including the kidney. Moving forward, we need to look more deeply into understanding how sex hormones affect organ function in each gender.”

The American Physiological Society (APS; http://www.The-APS.org) has been an integral part of the scientific discovery process since it was established in 1887. Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease.

Posted by dlifenews at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)

Children with Diabetes Win Assurance of Legally-Required Services at School

California Department of Education & American Diabetes Association Announce Agreement on In-School Care for Such Students

August 8, 2007 (American Diabetes Association) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell joined representatives of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) today to announce a landmark agreement that ensures California students who are classified as disabled because of diabetes will be safe at school and enjoy the same legally-required educational opportunities as their peers. The agreement clarifies the rights of eligible students with diabetes in every school district throughout the state.

“Through this cooperative agreement with the ADA, the CDE is committed to ensuring that all children with diabetes in California schools have access to legally required care during the school day,” O’Connell said. “A lack of resources, uncertainty about how services are best delivered, and lack of clarity about state and federal requirements have in some instances caused hardship to parents of children with diabetes. No parent should have to put a job at risk in order to administer legally required diabetes treatment to their child during the school day.”

The announcement brings to an end litigation, filed by four families and the
American Diabetes Association in federal district court in San Francisco, alleging that some California school districts were not providing insulin administration and other services to students with diabetes-related disabilities who were legally entitled to them while at school.

Under the agreement, each local education agency (LEA) will manage the
delivery of this care in the best possible way for those students whose Individualized Education Programs or 504 Plans require administration of insulin and related services during the school day. The CDE will issue a Legal Advisory to all California school districts providing guidance on health care services for students with diabetes and outlining the rights of these students under federal anti-discrimination and special education statutes—Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Advisory explicitly states that school districts have an obligation to provide insulin administration and related services to eligible students who need the assistance.

According to the California Department of Education, state law permits seven
categories of individuals to administer insulin to students at school, including school nurses or other health care professionals, a self-administering student, and family members and friends (a complete list may be found in the Legal Advisory). The agreement provides that when school nurses or other school health care professionals are not available a school employee who is unlicensed and who has been adequately trained may administer insulin pursuant to the student’s treating physician’s orders.

“While provision of these services by licensed professionals is preferable,”
O’Connell said, “given the lack of nurses in many California schools, it may not always be possible for a licensed professional to meet those needs. This agreement spells out a school district’s obligation to train other qualified personnel to provide the services and support that students with diabetes are legally entitled to receive in order to attend and succeed in a public school setting.”

The lawsuit was filed as a class action in October 2005 against the CDE and two
Bay Area school districts (San Ramon Valley Unified and Fremont Unified), under federal disability civil rights and special education laws. Each district has entered into a separate agreement with the plaintiffs that details the care that it will provide to its students with diabetes.

“This settlement is a tremendous breakthrough for students with diabetes in
California and nationwide,” said Larisa Cummings, an attorney with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), a public interest law and policy center that, along with the law firm Reed Smith LLP, represented the children and the ADA in this matter. “The CDE is setting the standard in California for ensuring that children with diabetes receive the assistance and services they need.”

The Legal Advisory will remind districts that policies limiting the type or location of diabetes care to be provided to students, without considering the individual needs of each student, violate the law. For example, policies that ban blood glucose testing in the classroom or that automatically place students needing assistance with diabetes care in a particular school are not permitted. A copy of the Legal Advisory can be found on the California Department of Education Website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/diabetesmgmt.asp and at the DREDF website at http://www.dredf.org/advocacy/CDE Legal Advisory on Rights of Students with Diabetes.pdf.

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District recently adopted an approach that involves training school employees to administer insulin and perform other diabetes care tasks -- adopting procedures and forms that plaintiffs hope will serve as models for districts around the state and nation.

DREDF attorneys included Arlene Mayerson and Larisa Cummings. The pro
bono team of attorneys from the Oakland and San Francisco offices of Reed Smith included James M. Wood, Kenneth J. Philpot, Michael F. McCabe, Kurt Kearl, Julia Butler, Roxanne Garibay, James Heffner, Tita Bell, Kendra Jue and Kristen Soetebier.
The Reed Smith team donated more than $2.6 million worth of pro bono legal service to the case.

“This agreement changes the landscape for children with diabetes and helps
ensure that they receive the assistance they need from school personnel so they can take part in all educational programs.” said Mr. Wood. “It is truly amazing the level of change that can be effected when the legal expertise of a national disability rights organization like DREDF, the medical and policy expertise of the ADA and the pro bono resources and power of an international law firm are applied to a critical public policy issue.”

Parents of children with diabetes throughout California hailed today’s announcement as an important step forward.

“This favorable outcome is a tremendous victory -- not just for students who have diabetes and their families, but for schools themselves. Clarifying responsibilities is a major step towards facilitating better communication between schools and parents and very simply providing kids both with what they need and are entitled to have,” said Laura (Lahle) Wolfe, parent of Elizabeth Ehrlich of Upland, California. Elizabeth’s parents removed her from the Upland Unified School District because they believed the district was not providing her with adequate diabetes care services.

“This is a significant achievement in the national effort toward improving the
health of children with diabetes who must have the ability to control their blood glucose levels during the many hours spent at school and in school-related activities,” said Ann Albright, PhD, RD, and President, Health Care & Education of the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Albright, who has great expertise on this issue from her experience as the former Chief of the California Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, added,

“The support of school nurses and other trained adults in school settings is essential to these children’s day-to-day health and their longer-term survival. We hope other states will look to this model agreement with the CDE in improving their efforts in diabetes care."

Posted by dlifenews at 09:32 AM | Comments (1)

¡GI Caramba! BlueTortillas May Help Dieters and Diabetics

July 30, 2007

July 30, 2007 (EurekAlert) - People with dieting blues should try swapping white corn tortillas for blue. A recent study suggests that the coloured flatbreads are healthier, especially for diabetics and dieters, Sara Jensen reports in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI.

Scientists in Mexico, home of the taco, found that tortillas made from blue corn had less starch and a lower glycæmic index than their white counter parts. They also found that the blue tortillas had 20% more protein than white (Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, DOI 10.1002/jsfa.3008).

The glycæmic index (GI) ranks carbohydrates according to their effects on blood glucose levels. Foods with a lower GI are considered healthier as they slowly release sugar into the bloodstream. This reduces fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels, helping to maintain a steady supply of energy. Low GI foods are said to have long-term health benefits, reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as aiding and maintaining weight loss.

Juscelino Tovar, an author of the study, said that one important benefit of the lower GI blue tortillas is their potential role in preventing or controlling metabolic syndrome, a combination of disorders which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

NB The blue colouring is due to the presence of anthocyanins in the corn. These are the same health promoting compounds found purple berries and red wine.

Posted by dlifenews at 09:26 AM | Comments (0)

New Diabetes Report Documents Devastating Effects in New York City

July 25, 2007

Hospital costs have doubled since 1990

July 25, 2007 (EurekAlert) - The diabetes epidemic is taking a large and growing toll on New York City, a new Health Department report shows, as death rates, debilitating complications, and hospitalization costs soar. Some 500,000 New Yorkers – one out of eight adults – have been diagnosed with diabetes. Another 200,000 have diabetes but don’t yet know it. The death rate from diabetes rose by 75% between 1990 and 2003.

The new publication, which synthesizes research findings from the past several years, is available at www.nyc.gov/health. In addition to charting the impact of diabetes in NYC, it exposes unacceptable disparities among neighborhoods and racial/ethnic groups.

• New Yorkers in East Harlem, Williamsburg-Bushwick and certain parts of the South Bronx are hospitalized for diabetes at 10 times the rate of people living on the Upper East Side.

• Residents in the most affected areas also die from diabetes at seven times the rate of New Yorkers in the least affected neighborhoods.

• Among racial/ethnic groups, black New Yorkers have the highest death rate from diabetes, dying at three times the rate of white New Yorkers.

“Diabetes is hitting the city hard,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner. “Tragically, it is hurting our low-income communities much more than others. With good management, we can prevent devastating complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, blindness, leg amputations and kidney failure.”

New Yorkers with diabetes are now hospitalized at a rate nearly 80% higher than the national rate. And the cost of these hospitalizations has skyrocketed in recent years, hitting $481 million in 2003, up from $242 million in 1990. Figures drawn from national estimates of total diabetes costs, including lost productivity and other non-medical costs, suggest that the economic impact of diabetes in New York City exceeds $6 billion annually.

“Diabetes is not only hurting our health, it’s hurting our wallets,” said Frieden. “The cost of treating diabetes is an unsustainable burden on our health system and economy. But even worse, behind these statistics are tragic individual stories that challenge our city and our health system to respond.”

Diabetes Management is Key
Many diabetes hospitalizations and deaths can be prevented by better management of the disease. Dr. Shadi Chamany, director of the Health Department’s Diabetes Prevention and Control program, emphasized that people with diabetes can live long and healthy lives if they carefully manage their blood sugar (an A1C level of less than 7%), blood pressure (less than 130 over 80) and bad cholesterol (LDL level below 100 mg/dL).

While most New Yorkers with diabetes are accessing health care, the report finds that both patients and providers could do much better. Among New Yorkers with diabetes:

• Most had a check-up in the past year, but more than one third did not receive an eye or foot exam.

• About 80% had their blood sugar tested in the past year, but only 16% knew their blood sugar level.

• About 45% had poor control of blood sugar, putting them at risk of serious health complications.

• One in five New Yorkers with diabetes is a smoker

Tracking Diabetes
The Health Department monitors blood sugar control citywide by requiring clinical laboratories to report blood sugar (A1C) test results to a central registry. This registry – the first of its kind in the nation – will enable the Health Department to give clinicians and patients feedback and resources that can improve the quality of care and quality of life for New Yorkers with diabetes.

The New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the Health Department in 2004, provided the first-ever estimates on diabetes prevalence and blood sugar control by using interviews, blood tests, and medical exams. This survey provided baseline data for tracking diabetes over time.

Other Initiatives

• The Department's Primary Care Information Project is working to improve health outcomes by helping primary care providers adopt electronic health records that make it easier to track and manage diabetes and other chronic conditions. The first phase of this initiative is now under way in the South Bronx, where the Health Department is working with providers who care for low-income patients.

• The Diabetes Public Health Detailing Campaign, completed in 2006, engaged more than 5,000 primary health care providers citywide to improve care and treatment of people with diabetes.

• The Diabetes Quality Improvement Collaborative works with clinics and hospitals in the City's highest-risk neighborhoods to improve care for people with diabetes.

• The Department has also launched programs to promote physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. SPARK is a training initiative for daycare and school staff to incorporate physical activity into education. Shape Up New York is a free family fitness program offered at parks, community centers and housing sites around the City.

• The Department also promotes healthy eating through the Healthy Bodegas Initiative and the Health Bucks program, aimed at increasing the accessibility of healthy food in the city.

Data Sources
The report drew upon numerous city and state data sources. Data on risk factors and health care indicators came from the New York City Community Health Survey (CHS), an annual telephone survey of 10,000 New York City adults. The survey derives health information from self-report.

Diabetes prevalence was assessed in the New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC-HANES) using a one-time blood test.

Hospitalization data come from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS; New York State Department of Health, 2006) and consists of hospital discharge records for acute care hospitals in New York State.

Data were also complied from the 2000 Census, Medicare, and Medicaid records. A complete list of sources is available at the conclusion of the report.

Posted by dlifenews at 09:31 AM | Comments (0)

World-Renowned Photojournalist Rick Smolan Joins Novo Nordisk to Create

July 23, 2007

July 23, 2007 (PRNewswire) -- Rick Smolan, former Time, Life and National Geographic photographer and creator of the best-selling "Day in the Life" photo book series, will focus his lens next on the faces of people with type 2 diabetes -- a condition that is estimated to affect more than 18 million Americans(1) and is forecast to double by 2050(2). Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 percent to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes(1), and rates have grown sharply in recent years as a result of the upsurge of obesity and physical inactivity in the United States(3).

The new project, called Meet the Face of Change(TM), will be a nationally touring photo exhibit that documents - and celebrates – the lives of a diverse group of people with type 2 diabetes who are making the changes they need to better manage their condition. To create the photo exhibit, Smolan is inviting people with type 2 diabetes to visit http://www.FaceOfChange-us.com to submit their photographs and share information about how they manage their diabetes. Smolan will work with a team of photo editors to review the submissions and to select the subjects who will be photographed and featured in the nationally touring exhibit. The Meet the Face of Change(TM) photo exhibit will feature the photographs, and accompanying personal stories, and will travel to major cities this year, culminating in New York. The deadline for submissions is August 30, 2007.

"Ultimately, it's our hope to create a rich photographic tableau of portraits that not only inspires others living with this condition but educates the public about the daily challenges and triumphs of people living with diabetes, especially as the disease continues to affect an ever- increasing number of Americans," said Smolan.

Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by following a healthy meal plan and exercise program, losing excess weight, and taking oral medications. However, others may need insulin as their diabetes progresses over time, and there are often fears about and barriers to insulin treatment(4). The exhibit seeks to showcase people who have overcome those barriers and manage their diabetes. The exhibit will be sponsored by Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes.

"Changing Diabetes is our commitment as a company, and starts by recognizing that the status quo is not acceptable," said Martin Soeters, president of Novo Nordisk. "Meet the Face of Change(TM) is inspired by the millions of people with diabetes who are embracing change to get their diabetes in better control. Through this campaign, we hope to stimulate others to make changes that will improve their health, and to take action that will help reverse the negative trends we see with diabetes."

About Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life(5). People who have diabetes have high levels of glucose (sugar) in their blood(1).

Unlike type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the immune system destroys cells that secrete insulin(1) - no one knows why this occurs - in type 2 diabetes, family history often plays an important role, along with poor eating and exercise habits, and mainly affects people living a Western lifestyle(6). Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent type of diabetes and results from insulin resistance (when the body makes too little insulin or cannot use insulin properly), usually combined with insulin deficiency(1).

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than 18 million of the nearly 21 million Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, with an estimated 6 million or more unaware they have the disease(7). Rates of type 2 diabetes have grown exponentially in recent years - increasing by more than 50 percent in the last ten years alone(3). Type 2 diabetes is associated with traits such as older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and certain race/ethnic groups. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes(3). In addition, it is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents(5).

About Rick Smolan

Rick Smolan has spent two decades finding ways to place himself and his projects directly in the path of the converging worlds of photography, design, publishing, and technology. Smolan created the best-selling "Day in the Life" photography series and is CEO of Against All Odds Productions, which specializes in the design and execution of large-scale global photographic projects that combine compelling story-telling with state-of-the-art technology.

Meet the Face of Change(TM) is sponsored by Novo Nordisk's portfolio of insulins.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 23,600 employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.

References:
1. National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases.
"National Diabetes Statistics,"
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/index.htm#7. Web site
accessed July 2007.
2. Centers for Disease Control. "CDC's Diabetes: Disabling Disease to
Double by 2050." http://www.cdc.gov/
nccdphp/publications/aag/pdf/diabetes.pdf. Web site accessed July 2007.
3. National Institute of Health. "Study Will Identify Best Treatment for
Type 2 Diabetes in Youth." http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2004/niddk-
15.htm. Web accessed July 2007.
4. National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIH).
National Diabetes Clearinghouse (NDIC), "Treating Diabetes." Web site
accessed July 2007.
5. American Diabetes Association. "All About Diabetes: Overview,"
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp, Web site accessed July 2007
6. American Diabetes Association. "The Genetics of Diabetes."
http://www.diabetes.org/genetics.jsp. Web site accessed July 2007.
7. Centers for Disease Control. "CDC's Diabetes Program: National
Diabetes Fact Sheet."
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/estimates05.htm#prev. Web site accessed
July 2007.

Posted by dlifenews at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)

Flavonoids in Orange Juice Make it a Healthy Drink, Despite the Sugar

July 18, 2007

July 18, 2007 (EurekAlert) -- Orange juice, despite its high caloric load of sugars, appears to be a healthy food for diabetics due to its mother lode of flavonoids, a study by endocrinologists at the University at Buffalo has shown. The study appeared in the June 2007 issue of Diabetes Care.

Flavonoids suppress destructive oxygen free radicals -- also known as reactive oxygen species, or ROS. An overabundance of free radicals can damage all components of the cell, including proteins, fats and DNA, contributing to the development of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and stroke as well as diabetes.

“Many major diseases are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in the arterial wall, so the search for foods that are least likely to cause these conditions must be pursued,” said Paresh Dandona, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York and senior author on the study. “Our previous work has shown that 300 calories of glucose induces ROS and other proinflammatory responses,” said Dandona, who is Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “We hypothesized that 300 calories-worth of orange juice or of fructose would induce less oxidative stress and inflammation than caused by the same amount of calories from glucose.”

The resulting study involved 32 healthy participants between the ages of 20 and 40, who were of normal weight, with a body mass index of 20-25 kg/m2. Participants were assigned randomly and evenly into four groups, who would drink the equivalent of 300 calories-worth of glucose, fructose, orange juice or saccharin-sweetened water. Fasting blood samples were taken before the test and at 1, 2 and 3 hours after a 10-minute period to consume the drinks.

Results showed a significant increase in ROS within 2 hours in samples from the glucose group but not in those from the fructose, orange juice or water group. “We were intrigued by the fact that there was no increase in ROS or inflammation following orange juice consumption, even though its glucose concentration was the same as in participants in the glucose group,” said Dandona. “This raised the question of what in the juice was responsible for suppressing ROS generation: flavonoids and vitamin C or fructose"”

An additional round of test on the samples showed that neither fructose nor vitamin C suppressed the oxygen free radicals. However the two types of flavonoids in orange juice -- hesperetin and naringenin -- inhibited ROS generation by 52 percent and 77 percent, respectively.

“Our data are relevant to patients with diabetes,” said Dandona, “because stress from ROS and inflammation are increased significantly in this population and may contribute to development of atherosclerosis. Clearly the choice of foods that either don’t increase or actually decrease oxidative and inflammatory stress is important. “The search for safe non-inflammatory foods and diets must continue,” Dandona stressed, “especially since obesity, being overweight and type 2 diabetes are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and more than 60 percent of U.S. population is affected by these conditions.”

Posted by dlifenews at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)

Research Says Sugar Coated Proteins Seal in a Memory of Diabetes

June 29, 2007

June 29, 2007 (EurekAlert) - Researchers at the University of Warwick’s Warwick Medical School have uncovered a process that locks the body’s metabolism in a diabetic state after only relatively limited exposure to high glucose levels.

Researchers were already aware that there seems to be a point of no return in the onset of diabetes. This was apparent in the Diabetes Complications and Control Trial (DCCT) in the 1990s when Type 1 diabetic patients were either placed on standard or intensive treatment regimens to normalize their glucose levels. Because complications were so profoundly reduced in patients with tight glucose control, all the remaining DCCT patients were switched early onto intensive therapy. However a follow-up study found that several years after switching to intensive therapy the patients who started the trial on only the standard treatment regimen continued to have more complications than those who received intensive therapy throughout the trial.

Research since has speculated that exposure to high glucose levels quickly creates a metabolic memory in which diabetes persists long after glucose levels have been corrected. Research to date suggested that oxidation played a role but the exact mechanism was unknown.

The Warwick research team, led by Dr Antonio Ceriello, have now proven that the damage seems to be done in a process called glycation when early on in a period of high glucose levels glucose sugar molecules are able to bind to proteins in the mitochondria of cells (the parts of cells governing the production and regulation of energy). This persists even if glucose levels later fall to normal. This inhibits and distorts the mitochondria’s normal function and results in an overabundance of the production of free radicals (or Reactive Oxygen Species – ROS) which cause oxidation and thus continued diabetic complications.

The Warwick Medical School researchers proved their hypothesis by taking tissue and exposing it to 2 weeks of high levels of glucose, followed by one week of normal glucose – however for half the tissue they also applied several antioxidants at the end of the two weeks of high glucose. The tissue without antioxidants levels of glucose stress remained high but where antioxidants had been applied there was a dramatic fall in the incidence of free radicals and there was also a significant drop in 5 of the 6 key markers for high glucose stress.

The Warwick Medical School research confirms the need for very early tight control of glucose levels to avoid diabetic complication and that that control must be supplemented with the use of antioxidant agents to mitigate the progression of complications.

However long term use of antioxidants can in itself produce health problems so in a further research published this month the Warwick Medical School team have tested the use of the AT-1 receptor blocker Telmisartan and found it can be used in exactly the same way to suppress the build up of free radicals without the side affects that long term use of antioxidants would cause.

Dr Ceriello is now beginning to look at how to move beyond simply suppressing the problematic production of free radicals and actually finding ways of reversing the glycation process itself thus erasing the harmful "metabolic memory".

Posted by dlifenews at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)

On Your Mark, Get Set...GO! Jay Hewitt, Ironman Triathlete and Captain of Team Joslin, Trains Kids at Camp Joslin for Swim/Run Biathlon

June 27, 2007

June 27, 2007 (Joslin) -- Children and young adults attending Camp Joslin this summer will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with an Ironman Triathlete. Jay Hewitt, who races internationally as an elite Ironman triathlete, a demanding sport that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run, will visit Camp Joslin in Charlton, Mass., and train campers for Camp Joslin's first-ever swim/run biathlon on Saturday, July 7, 2007. Former campers will be on hand to cheer the young biathletes as that day is also Camp Joslin's annual Alumni Day.

Hewitt, who has been living with type 1 diabetes for almost 17 years, is hosting this event to inspire and teach kids with diabetes that they can do anything they put their minds to.

There will be more than 60 campers between the ages of 7 and 16 invited to take part in the biathlon, and each one to cross the finish line will receive a medal. The campers will be grouped by age and each group will be running and swimming age-appropriate distances. The course, which has been mapped out by a professional, will include a swim in Joslin's Putnam Pond and a run through the scenic camp nestled in the woods. The race will begin at 10:15 a.m. with the swim, and end as they run across the finish line.

Ben Clements, Assistant Camp Director, explains "This is a great event for the kids here at Camp Joslin. To learn from and compete with an athlete of Jay's caliber is truly an honor."

Hewitt notes, "Every day, sometimes in every moment, we work to cross a finish line. I look at competing in Ironman triathlons, and living with diabetes, not as challenges, but as opportunities for me to surpass my goals. I hope that by working with the campers at Joslin, I can show them that with hard work and dedication, not even diabetes will stop them from reaching their goals."

Hewitt's role as the Captain of Team Joslin is to help spread awareness about Joslin's vision of a world without diabetes and the importance of overcoming obstacles to achieve one's goals. Hewitt ran on behalf of Team Joslin at this past year's Boston Marathon. He competes around the world as an elite Ironman triathlete and as a member of the U.S. National Team for Long Course Triathlon. Hewitt, who will be attending Joslin's "Newport Under the Stars" fund raising event with his new bride Miss United States 2005 Anna Hanks Hewitt this September 18 & 19 (http://www.newportunderthestars.com/), is also an attorney practicing business litigation, as well as a motivational speaker both within and outside of the diabetes community.

About Camp Joslin
Joslin founder Elliott P. Joslin, M.D., established Joslin's camping program for children with diabetes over 80 years ago, and the camping programs continue to expand. The Charlton camp, located an hour west of Boston on over 150 acres near Old Sturbridge Village, is one of the oldest diabetes camps in America and the recipient of numerous awards. Camp staff co-authored the diabetes medical standards for the American Camping Association and helped to form and incorporate the Diabetes Education and Camping Association, which is the nationally recognized professional association for diabetes camp professionals. This summer, more than 550 children with diabetes will attend Camp Joslin. A Wilderness Leadership Camping program for teens is among the programs offered. For more information about Joslin's camping programs, contact the Camp Office at (617) 226-5760 or check out the Web site at http://www.joslin.org/camp.

About Jay Hewitt
For more information about Jay Hewitt please visit http://www.jayhewitt.com/. Jay is represented by Arluck Promotions http://www.arluckpromotions.com/.

About Joslin Diabetes Center
Joslin Diabetes Center is the world's largest diabetes clinic, diabetes research center and provider of diabetes education. Founded in 1898, Joslin is an independent nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Joslin research is a team of more than 300 people at the forefront of discovery aimed at preventing and curing diabetes. Joslin Clinic, affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the nationwide network of Joslin Affiliated Programs, and the hundreds of Joslin educational programs offered each year for clinicians, researchers and patients, enable Joslin to develop, implement and share innovations that immeasurably improve the lives of people with diabetes. As a nonprofit, Joslin benefits from the generosity of donors in advancing its mission. For more information on Joslin, call 1-800-JOSLIN-1 or visit http://www.joslin.org/

Posted by dlifenews at 04:12 PM | Comments (0)

Women With Diabetes Left Behind in Drop in Death Rates

June 19, 2007

Death rates for men with diabetes fell steeply, but rates for women with diabetes did not change

June 19, 2007 (EurekAlert) - A new analysis of data from three large national databases finds that in the 29 years between 1971 and 2000, the death rate of men with diabetes has dropped significantly, in line with the overall decline of the death rate for all Americans. But the death rate for women with diabetes did not decline at all.

Edward W. Gregg, PhD, acting chief, Epidemiology and Statistics Branch of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and lead author of the study, says that the study uncovered the gender disparity in death rates but was not designed to answer its causes.

“The improvements seen in men suggest that the improvements in diabetes care are working on longevity as well,” said Gregg. “But the finding in women is concerning and means we may need to explore whether different approaches are needed to improve health outcomes for women with diabetes.”

Study authors looked at data from 20,000 people, aged 35 to 74, in one of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) I, II, and III and followed participants for up to 12 years to see who was still living and who died.

Researchers found that the death rates from all causes in men with diabetes fell steeply from 42.6 to 24.4 annual deaths per 1,000 people, a 43 percent relative reduction in age-adjusted death rate, while the death rate from cardiovascular disease (CVD), the most common cause of death in people with diabetes, fell from 26.4 to 12.8. In the same period, neither the all-cause nor CVD death rate for women with diabetes declined.

Overall, Americans live longer today than 35 years ago. The study showed that the overall death rate for people who did not have diabetes fell from 14.4 to 9.5 annual deaths per 1,000 people. When the authors analyzed the data by sex and by diabetes status, the startling difference in women with and without diabetes appeared.

In general, people with diabetes have a higher risk of dying earlier than people without the disease. In this study the death rate of men with diabetes remained higher than that of men without diabetes but over the decades it decreased in parallel with the decrease in men without diabetes. These same favorable trends were not present in women with diabetes.

The study did not investigate the reasons for the sex-related difference in death rates.

Dr. Gregg explained, “Some studies have suggested women have had less improvement in heart disease risk factors in recent years. Other studies suggest women receive less aggressive care for heart disease and risk factors. Still other studies suggest that heart disease and diabetes may take a subtly different form in women, and that different types of treatments are needed.”

An editorial accompanying the article suggests that part of the reason for the sex differences may be the well-described lower rates of treating cardiovascular risk factors and established coronary heart disease in women.

In the last 35 years, diabetic care has improved, with efforts to maintain tight control of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels and with more routine use of flu and pneumonia vaccines and regular exams of eyes feet, and teeth. New drug treatments have come to market.

What can a woman with diabetes do to live as long as possible" The American College of Physicians suggests: Make sure you are under a doctor’s care. Have blood sugar, cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked regularly and maintain tight control of these key markers of diabetes and heart health.

Get regular checkups of your eyes, feet, and kidney function. If you’re overweight, lose weight. If you smoke, quit. Eat a healthy diet (fe