Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS) are considered the next big thing in diabetes care. Both patients with diabetes and health care professionals expect wider adoption of CGMS in the future for patients with type 2 as well as type 1 — but feel that costs coming down is a key factor in this. The results […]
The American College of Physicians recently issues new guidelines stating that adults with type 2 diabetes can aim for an easier-to-achieve blood sugar target than what’s been used to guide treatment in the past. These recommendations differ from the guidelines from most national and international organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association and American Association […]
In 2015, the rate of diabetes-related visits to the emergency room was 92 per 1,000 people aged 45 and older, according data provided by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. From 2012 to 2015, the percentage of emergency department visits by patients aged 45 and older with […]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning against the use of an unregulated supplement called kratom that has addictive and potentially dangerous health effects. The FDA says some people are using the botanical substance for pain relief and to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms. As of February 2018, the FDA had received reports of […]
A new study using data from 14,000 Apple Watch users was able to detect that 462 of them had diabetes. The data came from the Watch’s heart rate sensor. The same type of sensor is used by other fitness bands using Android Wear. The study was inspired by results from the Framingham Heart Study in […]
More and more people are using mail-order or online ordering for their drugs, but there are real benefits to having a relationship with a local pharmacy. A diabetes educator shares the story of how her patient was able to avoid missing her regular medication before she could get a new prescription, thanks to the support […]
A large study conducted in Great Britain has found that diabetes vastly increases the risk of diabetes. The study compared people, aged 40 and older, with diabetes to people who didn’t have diabetes but were otherwise comparable in age, gender, and other factors. It found that the incidence rate of cataract diagnoses and surgery cases […]
Many patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes suffer from painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN). Patients with this complication experience irreversible peripheral nerve damage resulting in severe pain, which is difficult to manage. When medication is not enough to provide pain relief, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is sometimes used as a last-resort therapy. While […]
Every day, doctors and other prescribers write prescriptions for patients with diabetes. But how can they choose the best medication from all the many drugs, and combination drugs, available today? And how can they make sure that the patient will be able to afford the drug they want to prescribe, when there are more than […]
UnitedHealth Group announced it has partnered with DexCom and will launch a glucose monitoring program. The program will use a wearable device aimed at helping older Americans continuously manage their type 2 diabetes via mobile technology. The program will initially have a pilot period, in which a number of enrollees in UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans […]
Emily Seto, a researcher who works on developing mobile health (mHealth) apps and wearables and studying their performance, discusses the future role of these devices in helping patients manage their diabetes. Read more
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre, a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) has received Medicare coverage. This CGM is the first in the market that does not require diabetes patients to prick their finger to draw blood. The Medicare coverage and ease of use of the system are expected to make it an attractive option for senior citizens […]
A new study found that hospice patients with type 2 diabetes may be treated too aggressively for blood sugar control, leading to a high number of hypoglycemia cases among them. The researchers urge that avoiding hypoglycemia may be more important than strict blood sugar contorl. When it comes to hospice patients with type 2 diabetes, […]
The link between diabetes and cardiovascular issues is well known. Previous studies have suggested that myocardial infarction — heart attacks — are the most frequent cause of death for patients with both diabetes and cardiovascular issues. A new study suggests that heart failure is also a significant factor. While a heart attack is usually sudden […]
The results of a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score can better predict heart attack and stroke risk in patients with type 2 than traditional tests, according to new research. The researchers found that people with coronary calcium scores of 100 or higher were at two to three times greater risk than those with no calcium […]
For HIV-positive individuals, combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been a lifesaving treatment, allowing people with HIV to have near-normal life expectancies. However, these patients may have a higher risk of developing diabetes than the general population, and at earlier ages. The risk is higher for those who took older formulations of ART, and for those […]
Research on lifespans for people with type 1 diabetes is often pessimistic, but a new study from Finland has some positive news. The participants who had higher rates of physical activity had lower risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease or any other cause. Intense exercise had the greatest benefit in lowering risk of early […]
A new study published in a major medical journal stats that nearly six percent of new cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2012, approximately 800,000 cases, were caused by diabetes and obesity. The researchers note that while obesity has been associated with cancer for some time, it’s only recently that the link between diabetes and cancer has […]
Adjusting insulin dosage for children is especially tricky due to frequent changes in body weight and insulin sensitivity as they grow. Even fast-acting insulins may not be absorbed quickly enough to get young patients to target. A new study looks at whether the Faster-acting insulin Aspart (FIAsp), which is already approved for adults and has shown […]
Adjusting the prices of seven foods through taxes and subsidies could save thousands of lives in the U.S. every year, according to a new study, by reducing deaths caused by stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. The researchers used a risk assessment model to estimate the potential effects of making healthy foods — fruits, vegetables, whole […]