The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently issued a set of guidelines for glycated hemoglobin (A1c) treatment targets in patients with type 2 diabetes. These guidelines generated immediate controversy. An endocrinologist reviews the new guidelines and explains exactly why she disagrees with several of their key points: setting most A1c targets between 7% and 8%, […]
Surgery places physical stress on the patient, and patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia are especially vulnerable to complications from surgery. A recent study found that poor glycemic control before surgery (elevated HbA1c levels) was a major risk factor for adverse outcomes after surgery. The research demonstrates the need to assess patients’ glycemic levels prior to […]
New research finds people with type 1 have higher risk of developing additional autoimmune conditions. The risk is highest for those who develop type 1 diabetes after the age of 40, especially women. Thyroid disease, vitigilio, alopecia, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis are all conditions which can be associated with type 1. Read more
Diabetes activists, including both physicians and patients, joined together in Washington, DC this past weekend to protest the high cost of insulin in the U.S. The protest was held on April 8 and organized by the Right Care Alliance, an activist group that states their mission is to hold “health care institutions accountable to communities […]
Exercising has benefits for all of us, but it’s particularly important for people with diabetes. But getting started with fitness, and finding the motivation to stay with the fitness program, is tough for everyone – and for people with diabetes it can be even tougher due to the various health issues that come along with […]
Researchers at Yale University believe targeting a protein called islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a hormone made by the same cells that produce insulin, may lead to a new treatment for type 2 diabetes. The researchers say that when IAPP develops the wrong shape, it pokes holes in the membranes of pancreatic islets that are large […]
Excess weight is a risk factor in developing type 2 diabetes at any age. A new study has found that adolescence may be a vital cutoff point for weight management to reduce type 2 risk. The researchers found that overweight children who were able to achieve a healthy weight by age 13 had the no […]
Treating periodontitis (gum disease) is beneficial not only to prevent tooth loss – it’s helpful for blood sugar control in diabetes. A new study found that following non-surgical procedures for treating chronic peritonitis helped patients improve their fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels. The researchers note that proper periodontal evaluation is essential for patients with […]
Nearly one in ten American adults now have diabetes, according to the latest CDC research. 21 million of these cases are due to type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for a much smaller number, at 1.3 million cases. Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors all seem to play a role in who develops diabetes, and […]
Dental exams may be an earlier predictor of disease than even blood tests, according the authors of a new study. They found a progressive increase in the number of patients with missing teeth as glucose tolerance declined, and conclude that patients with at least 3 or more missing teeth should be tested for diabetes. Read […]
Previous research has shown that eating a diet high in fiber can benefit patients with type 2 diabetes. Now, a new study may have determined why. A certain type of gut bacteria has been identified as the reason for the benefits of high-fiber diets. Eating the right dietary fibers can help rebalance the gut microbiome, […]
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 […]
Keeping a food log can be a challenge, but can be extremely helpful both for losing weight and for weight maintenance. A diabetes educator shares her approach to successful food logging for her patients: keep it simple, make sure it’s a type of logging the patient can stick with, and take the patient’s individual needs […]
New research says that in teenagers who have severe obesity and type 2 diabetes, bariatric surgery provides much better weight loss, diabetes remission, and improvement in heart risk factors than medical treatment. The analysis of data from two large studies suggests a surgical solution to youth-onset type 2 may be preferable, despite the risks of […]
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 […]
How many types of diabetes are there? We’re familiar with type 1 and type 2, but is our current understanding too simplistic? In new research published in the medical journal The Lancet, researchers showed they could identify five separate forms of diabetes. The two that correspond to type 1 and type 2 represent about 6 […]
Despite advances in medicine and diagnosis, diabetes remains poorly detected among adults in United States, according to new research. Mexican-Americans have the highest probability of doctors missing their diagnosis of diabetes. In recent years, there have been improvements in detection rates for elderly, white individuals, and subjects with the highest poverty-income-ratio. Read more
Much recent research has shown that environmental pollutants can play a role in the development of diabetes. Researchers are now looking at one of these pollutants, arsenic, to see exactly what its effects are. Arsenic contaminates the drinking water sources used by more than 100 million people around the world, and more water sources are […]
New microneedle-array patches are painless and non-invasive and allow treatment particles to be released iin response to biological stimuli. The patch incorporates a glucose-sensing element and a drug-releasing component This design hopes to serve as a reliable and effective treatment option for glucose management in type 2 diabetes. Read more
Complications from diabetes like peripheral neuropathy, vision issues, and heart problems don’t have to prevent you from doing safe and healthy exercise. You can still have a beneficial workout without the risks by exercising your core . You may not be able to get outside for a brisk walk or run, but that doesn’t mean […]