The current US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening criteria use just age and weight alone to screen for diabetes, which means that half of prediabetes and diabetes cases may be missed, according to a new study. Broadening the screening criteria could lead to earlier detection, enabling patients to make medical and lifestyle changes that […]
Researchers have conducted a study to examine whether it is possible to create a less invasive alternative to bariatric surgery that would be equally effective in reversing type 2 diabetes, and offer the same benefits as surgery. The treatment would be in the form of an oral agent that would temporarily coat the intestine to […]
A new study found that more than half of adult diabetes patients will seek treatment for stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health problems each year, compared to about one in four people without diabetes. The researchers urge that mental health be considered an integral part of diabetes management. Read more
Intermittent fasting – eating only within an eight-hour window every day, and fasting for the remaining sixteen hours — showed to improve insulin sensitivity and pancreatic response to blood glucose and to enhance weight loss in a recent study. Read more
Newer types of insulin can be very hard to afford for people who have no insurance coverage, or poor prescription coverage. Regular and NPH insulin are much more affordable, but you need to learn about the best ways to make use of them. For some guidance, read more
New research suggests that sleep deprivation can trigger unhealthy eating via late night snacking, and that this behavior can lead to increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Read more
With low carbs very much in the news, diabetes educator and exercise expert Sheri Colberg looks at low carb diets for athletes with type 1 diabetes. How low should an athlete with diabetes go? Read more
Many diabetes experts have been fans of low carb diets for a while now. New research adds support to the idea, showing that patients with type 1 who followed a very low carb diet achieved better glucose control. Read more
A new health study conducted in Canada found that people who cannot afford to eat regularly or to eat a healthy diet have a two-times greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Household food insecurity, which is defined as having uncertain or inadequate food access due to financial limitations. A possible factor in the link […]
Whatever your political views, it’s important to understand the implications of the new information issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) describing how the Trump administration plans to drop the prices for prescription drugs for all Americans. The first part of this plan will be implemented right away, while the second part […]
Four new drugs now in development could change the way diabetes is treated. Novo Nordisk’s oral GLP-1 Semaglutide could offer an easier-to-take option and help delay the need for direct insulin treatment. Opko’s Oxyntomodulin (OPK-88003) is a leader in a new class of dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist drugs. Oramed just started a Phase 2 […]
Medicare, which provides insurance coverage to millions of U.S. seniors, has announced a new program designed to prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes. Nearly have of U.S. seniors have prediabetes, and many have not been diagnosed. Prediabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 and also increases risk of heart disease and stroke. […]
In the last two years, the FDA has approved four drugs in the SGLT-2 inhibitors class: canagliflozin (brand name Invokana, Jansssen), dapagliflozin (brand name Farxiga, AstraZeneca), empagliflozin (brand name Jardiance, Boehringer Ingelheim), and ertugliflozin (brand name Steglatro, Merck/Pfizer). What is important for doctors to know about these new drugs, and how they should be prescribed? […]
Weight loss is usually a beneficial thing for people with diabetes. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that weight loss is sometimes a sign of a problem — and one problem that can cause unexpected weight loss is high glucose levels. A diabetes educator shares why it’s so important to look […]
Vision problems are a common complication of diabetes. A new high-tech contact lens, developed by researchers from the California Institute of Technology and Caltech, may offer new hope to those at risk of retinal damage from diabetes. The “glowing” contact lens is designed to prevent further damage to the blood vessels of the retina. The […]
Being physically active is good for everyone, but it’s even better for people with diabetes. Exercise may “cancel out” some of your blood glucose mistakes; it acts like an extra dose of insulin by getting the glucose out of your blood and into your muscles. Regular activity can also make your muscles more sensitive to any […]
Many people with diabetes are encouraged to undergo self-care education. These courses can teach patients about blood sugar control and how to manage their diet and exercise, and can be extremely helpful. But they are also a revenue source for hospitals, and many patients are shocked to find out how expensive the courses are. Read […]
Changing from a once-a-day dose to a once-a-week dose of a GLP-1 medication can sometimes be confusing. It’s important to get the timing right when you stop the daily dose and start the weekly dose. And it doesn’t help that the pens for a daily medication like Victoza look very similar to the pens for […]
Scientists have created an adhesive skin patch that measures blood glucose levels every 10-15 minutes — a potential replacement for the fingerstick blood tests which many patients find painful. Created by researchers from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, the patch has performed well in tests of its function as a noninvasive strategy […]
How can you decide which Continuous Glucose Monitor is best for you? Advice from Dr. Stephen W. Ponder, MD, FAAP, CDE-AADE Educator of the Year, Board Certified Pediatric Endocrinologist, Pediatric Residency Program Director at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Hospital and 50 year Joslin Medalist, on the difference between the Freestyle Libre and the […]