Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Spectroscopy Laboratory are working on a non-invasive way for people with diabetes to measure their glucose levels using light.
Go to this site to read the article http://tinyurl.com/23knmp7
The FDA says it will decide what to do about Avandia soon. In the meantime an advisory panel is recommending the controversial diabetes drug stay on the market, but with new restrictions and warning labels.
The Diabetes Bus and Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance will establish a diabetes self-management class series at six southeast N.C. hospitals with a $167,634 grant received from Duke Endowment. The free series, taught by certified diabetes educators, will be open to all community members through physician referral. The first four hospitals to receive classes beginning in 2010 are Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw, Bladen County Hospital in Elizabethtown, Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, and New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
A Canadian university study concludes that three-weekly sessions of only 10 one-minute sprints on a stationary bicycle, with one-minute rests in between, works as well at toning and building muscle mass as 10 hours of moderate road biking over a two-week period.
The McMaster University team published its findings in the April 1, 2010, online edition of The Journal of Physiology.Diabetes Health e-newsletter, April, 2010
DMS and The Diabetes Bus Initiative will begin Reducing Your Risk classes for people at risk for developing diabetes. Watch our website for more information or sign up to receive our newsletter today!
North Carolina health leaders, including two members of The Diabetes Bus Initiative team, Kim Hanchette,MEd,CDE and Sue Liverman,RN,CDE will meet March 18th, 19th in Raleigh to develop a five year strategic plan to prevent and control diabetes in North Carolina. Watch our blog for the resulting plan.
One of the current medications for Type 2 diabetes,Avandia, is in the news again. If you want more information on Avandia, read this and discuss your concerns regarding this medication with your doctor. The following is a quote by Dr. Stephen Nissen, MD from an article dated 2/26/2010 in US News& World Report. He is the physician who first published his research and concerns about Avandia in May, 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine. (to read the full article, go to www.usnews.com)
"The drug Avandia remains controversial. Many physicians have stopped prescribing Avandia, but others remain unconvinced about the risk. A recent study suggested that Avandia might be safe, but the study had many flaws and did not completely rule out the possibility that Avandia may increase the risk of heart attack. In July, the FDA will convene an advisory panel to consider what action to take, including the possibility of removing the drug from the market. Currently, American Diabetes Association guidelines do not recommend taking Avandia. Fortunately, there is a safe alternative, pioglitazone (Actos), which appears not to have the same heart attack risk as Avandia. Both Avandia and Actos carry warnings about fluid retention and heart failure, so don't use either drug if you carry the diagnosis of heart failure. Both drugs can also increase the risk of fracture, particularly in women."
Actos, Avandia, research, medications, type 2
John Peckham died unexpectedly on Feb 26th.
John was one of the original board members of Diabetes Management Solutions and played a vital role in the growth of the organization as Vice President from 2000-2006.John had been a member of the Living Well with Diabetes Support Group dating back to 1990, when the group met at Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. John never missed a meeting from that time until October of this past year when he became ill. A PhD research scientist for the National Institute of Environmental Science, John had a sharp intellect and was our resident scientific expert in the Living Well group. He patiently explained to us how a diabetes drug worked or how to interpret clinical trials that showed promise for the future. As Vice President, he led us in the direction of free diabetes education and community educational offerings, always remembering how education had influenced him to well manage his diabetes and wanting to provide that for others. He was a friend to The Diabetes Bus Initiative, a friend to the Living Well with Diabetes Group, and a dear friend to me. In his honor, plans are being made to name our new resource room and library after him. Kim Hanchette, Founder
Diabetes Management Solutions