You can, and should, ask to meet an endocrinologist or doctor before you choose to become a patient in their practice. Most often, doctors will give you 15 minutes to meet and ask questions. Think of it as a speed-date. Here are some questions you might want to ask a doctor during this initial visit.
In a rare display of bipartisanship, Congress overwhelmingly passed The 21st Century Cures Act, and the president signed the bill into law on December 13th, 2016. This legislation boosts funding to the National Institutes of Health and establishes an innovation grant fund to “accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery” of new treatments and therapies.
One of the fundamental ways scientists measure the well-being of a nation is tracking the rate at which its citizens die and how long they can be expected to live. So the news out of the federal government Thursday is disturbing: The overall U.S. death rate has increased for the first time in a decade, […]
We’ve rounded up descriptions of some of the most exciting diabetes products expected to hit the market in 2017, followed by an approximate timeframe of when they’ll become available to the public. Sure, what we really want is a cure in 2017, but we’ll take improved quality of life, thanks to new devices and tech, […]
If you or a loved one have high triglycerides and are at risk for a cardiovascular event, new options may be available. This trial is testing whether an investigational drug, Epanova (omega-3 fatty acids), can reduce the risk of serious heart problems when taken in combination with a statin. Epanova is already FDA-approved to treat […]
We recently received an order of Medtronic/BD’s new MiniMed Pro-Set with FlowSmart technology, a little over a week after the initial limited launch began in the US (At this time, Medtronic is no longer accepting new participation in the limited launch; a full rollout is expected in early 2017, according to BD’s recent company update).
Erik Vance didn’t go to a doctor until he was 18; he grew up in California in a family that practiced Christian Science. “For the first half of my life, I never questioned the power of God to heal me,” Vance writes in his new book, Suggestible You: Placebos, False Memories, Hypnosis, and the Power […]
With the surprising announcement this month that the FDA had cleared the way for Medtronic’s 670G hybrid system, sometimes referred to as an artificial pancreas, most people with diabetes were swinging their pump tubing with glee or juggling their (safety-capped) syringes in delight. And with good reason. We are on the cusp of a flood […]
Donald Trump’s electoral college win has already had a ripple effect within diabetes care circles. As he’s been putting together an administration, it’s still been hard to predict where his administration will land on issues that affect people with diabetes. Less than a week after the election, already his positions on health care and health […]
As humans, we need to generate body heat to keep all of the chemical processes that run our bodies functioning. “Maintaining proper body temperature is crucial,” says Yu Hua Tseng, Ph.D., Principal Investigator in the Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism at Joslin Diabetes Center.
A systematic review of 14 previous studies found that all had reported a reduction in average blood glucose levels in patients that used an app, compared to those who did not, with an approximate reduction in HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) of about 0.5%. The analysis also found that younger patients were more likely to report a […]
People who get migraines have a higher abundance of mouth bacteria that reduce compounds called nitrates into nitrites, which can be converted into nitric oxide, according to the study published Tuesday in the American Society for Microbiology’s open-access journal mSystems.
With technological advances and a deeper understanding of diabetes management, people with diabetes have very few limitations. And fortunately, driving a car is not one of them. With the right preparations, anyone with diabetes is able to safely operate a motor vehicle. We spoke with Joslin diabetes educator Erin Kelly for some helpful guidelines for […]
Over 42,000 people have signed the 2nd Annual More for a Cure petition, which has called for increased funding into type 1 diabetes research. The US petition, which was launched on 6 September 2016 by the Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance (JDCA), has already acquired twice as many signatures in six weeks than last year’s petition […]
Mammography can prevent deaths from breast cancer, but it’s not a perfect test. It misses some cancers, especially in women with dense breast tissue, and flags abnormalities for follow-up tests that turn out to be benign, among other issues. So there’s a lot of interest in additional tests that might make screening more accurate in […]
Human life spans have been increasing for decades thanks to advances in treating and preventing diseases and improved social conditions. In fact, longevity has increased so much in recent decades that some researchers began to wonder: What is the upper limit on human aging?
Clinton has made drug price control more of a central issue in her campaign (although it should be said that neither candidate has put the issue on the front burner). For this article, we will focus on her proposal, and what it’s chances are of creating reform.
Curious what’s coming? Read on for a summary of the insulin delivery and glucose monitoring devices expected to launch in the US by mid-2017 or earlier, based on the most recent company timelines (listed chronologically). This list is not fully comprehensive, but does cover the major device launches expected.
A combination of factors makes it more difficult for the immune systems of people older than 65 to respond to the vaccination, she says, and the protective effect may also wear off faster than it does in young people.
Cat-scratch disease, as the name suggests, is spread by cats. It’s long been considered a mild illness, but a study finds that people are getting more serious complications, which can be fatal. And kissing kittens increases the risk of being infected.