StemCell Therapy

When it comes to diabetes, they also risk developing complications such as heart and kidney diseases.

Again, a well-known fact that has been trumpeted over and over again.

But to the frustration of doctors such as National Heart Institute (better known by its Malay acronym IJN) chief clinical officer and senior consultant cardiologist Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim, Malaysians are still slow to waking up to the ugly truth of such diseases and taking charge of their health.

Ideally, he says, prevention is better than cure.

But people still dont care. At IJN, we see the aftermath of diabetes.

About 60% of diabetics will die from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), while about 40% die from end stage kidney disease, he says.

He adds that diabetics have a two to four times higher risk of suffering from heart diseases such as heart failure, heart attack or peripheral vascular disease, compared to a non-diabetic, while the risk of suffering a stroke is twice as much.

If possible, we dont want to see all of this developing.

All the risk factors are going up, so CVD is still the number one cause of death in Malaysia. The cause of death of one in four Malaysians is CVD (including stroke).

According to Dr Aizai, about 60 of diabetics will die from CVDs while about 40 die from end stage kidney disease. Photo: Handout

The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 painted a bleak picture of the health of Malaysians, with 3.5 million having diabetes.

Of concern is that 53% of diabetics above the age of 18 did not even know they had the disease.

It also revealed that 9.6 million people aged above 18 had high cholesterol levels, with two out of five of them not aware of their condition.

When it came to obesity, 3.3 million Malaysians were obese and 5.6 million were overweight.

It was the same when it came to children, where an estimated one million of those aged below 18 were obese.

There was a slight improvement in hypertension numbers, where 30.3% or 6.1 million people aged 18 and above had the medical condition, compared to 32.7% in 2011.

Again, 17.2% with hypertension were not aware of their condition.

Clinical practice guidelines set in 2015 had further tightened the targets for the control of type 2 diabetes, including bringing HBA1c to less or equivalent to 6.5%, triglycerides to less or equal to 1.7mmol/L, and LDL cholesterol to less or equal to 2.6mmol/L.

However, if the diabetic patient has overt cardiovascular disease, their target for LDL cholesterol is less or equal to 1.8 mmol/L.

Ones blood pressure was recommended to be 135/75mmHg, while exercise of moderate intensity was recommended to be 150 minutes weekly.

Dr Aizai says because of the lower HBA1c criteria, about 80% of Malaysian diabetics do not have their blood glucose levels under control.

For IJN patients who have diabetes, he says they are more compliant when it comes to taking their medication.

It is, however, a challenge to get them to comply to lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Less than half are fully compliant, he says.

They dont want to stop smoking. They still dont want to exercise and still want to eat at the mamak. It is difficult to achieve compliance because you have to put in your own effort.

He adds that IJN also has visiting endocrinologists from Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Diabetic patients who do not have their own endocrinologists and have poor control over their disease can be referred to them.

Dieticians are also on hand to provide the necessary advice.

Dr Aizai says that the best is for a patient to be given holistic treatment, where the doctor looks at other possible side effects of diabetes including eye disease, kidney problems and peripheral artery disease (PAD), aside from treating the heart problem.

PAD is a disease where plaque builds up in the arteries.

This plaque can harden and narrow arteries over time, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body.

It normally affects the arteries in the legs.

Dr Aizai adds that a test can be done to see if blood pressure is equal in ones arms and legs. The test is called Ankle Brachial Index (ABI).

A difference in pressure indicates that there is possibility of a narrowing or blockage.

The next step is to take an ultrasound of the lower limbs or go for a CT angiogram to determine the location and severity of the blockage, he says.

If the blockage is significant, then we can do balloon angioplasty, stenting or leg bypass surgery. It is part of treatment.

Referrals are given when it comes to kidney and eye diseases as IJN does not have specialists on hand to treat these complications.

Diabetes is a metabolic condition. It affects multiple organs. Normally, a problem in one organ, like the heart, is just the tip of the iceberg, he adds.

Its the terrible twins. The ones which are closely linked to diabetes are hypertension and high cholesterol.

Dealing with complications

Dr Aizai says that diabetics tend to develop coronary artery disease at a younger age.

They also tend to have diffuse narrowing or blockages in more than one artery, resulting in multiple stents having to be placed.

Most people with diabetes who get a heart attack also dont exhibit the normal clinical symptoms, he says, adding that this is because diabetics have already experienced nerve damage, numbing them to the pain.

They will probably say they feel extremely tired or experience shortness of breath.

As a result, many present themselves late as they dont realise they have a heart problem.

I always tell patients to check their blood sugar because they may think feeling weak is a sign of hyper- or hypoglycaemia. So, if your levels are normal, then there is another reason.

Although treatment for diabetics with a heart condition is the same as non-diabetics, he says that diabetic patients are at risk of developing complications, leading to a longer stay at the hospital.

Because they also tend to stay longer in order to normalise their blood glucose levels, which will usually spike due to the stress of surgery, they will also have an increased risk of contracting hospital-based infections.

They are also more prone to developing a second heart attack, he says.

Diabetes, Dr Aizai says, promotes atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque in the arteries.

Other conditions that work against a diabetic include being more prone to developing blood clots, the inability to produce enough nitric oxide to dilate and expand blood vessels for more oxygen supply, and inflammation that damages the blood vessels.

He adds that the danger of diabetes is that the disease has probably manifested itself in a person for some time before a diagnosis.

It is never a fresh case. It is probably five to 10 years before it is clinically detectable, he says, adding that early screening is important.

Once you are diabetic, you are already considered to have a coronary artery disease risk.

The survival curve is equivalent to someone who does not have diabetes, but already has experienced a heart attack.

Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim is IJN Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Consultant Cardiologist. This article is brought to you by IJN.

Continue reading here:
Diabetes, the killer of hearts - Star2.com

Sami Inkinen founded and then exited Trulia about a year after Zillow snapped it up for $3.5 billion in 2014. Hes since moved on to build Virta, a health care startup claiming it can cure type 2 diabetes.

Its a bold claim. Most treatment plans offer to help those with the disease manage it, not get rid of it. But Inkinen, with zero medical background, believes hes found a way to wholly eradicate diabetes for good.

The secret is as simple as a low-carb diet.

It seems pretty obvious cut out the sugar and bad carbs and your diabetes will get better. But thats easier said than done with humans. Inkinen tells me hes learned through time where the pain points are and what people need to truly succeed.

So far Virta has conducted a small trial involving 262 people and the results seem promising. A majority (91 percent) of those participating finished the program and 87 percent of them either reduced their dosage or went off their insulin, says the startup. Over half of the participants were able to reduce at least one of their diabetes medications.

I sat down with Inkinen to talk about his company and why he decided to jump into the health care space after his success in the real estate field.

Founder Sami Inkinen relaxing in the Virta office space in downtown San Francisco.

SB: Thats a bold claim that youre making that you can cure diabetes.

SI: Yeah totallyWithout tech you cant do Virta.

Were not just a software company, were a software company that combines biochemistry and science to cure the disease. If one of those is wrong its not going to work.

SB: Do you worry you tell them a bit too early to get off their medications?

SI: Yeah, thats precisely the reason why we have our own doctors. Thats precisely the reason why we have a full-stack health care companyIts absolutely critical that we get this data very, very rapidly so we can start adjusting them off of meds. If we dont get people off the meds quickly and accurately, its actually dangerous for the patients. When youre diabetic your blood sugar runs high. You take drugs, you get it down. If we can get your blood sugar down naturally and then you take drugs on top of that youre going to be in the ER.

SB: Insurance companies, are you working with them?

SI: Well, they are excited because they can save costs. In America, each state we have who pays your health care. Its either your employer if youre at a large company, and most companies will cover it. So we sell both to employers.

SB: Okay, but this just sounds like a diet.

SI:It sounds very simple. Like, oh carbs are bad throw the carbs out. Yes, but it gets more nuanced. How do you do it in a way that you can reverse the type 2 diabetes and do it in a way thats very sustainable and you feel good about it? Because you know if youre eating bagels and bread all the time and I say just stop doing that, you feel horrible and you dont want to do that.

Its absolutely necessary to deliver results. The traditional approach is that its overweight or obesity that causes diabetes. Therefore all we have to do is help people lose weight. But, its a combination of tech and how we track the markers and the right science nutritionally.

SB: Is that proprietary software that youre using?

SI: Yeah, we build everything in house After the doctor makes all the clinical decisions about the patient, and so forth, what hes looking at is basically a data pool of all the patients every day, several times a day. When he sees the data, he sees that drug for that patient needs to go off.

SB: Couldnt anyone look at it and say, Oh, I can replicate this program?

SI: Well it has the IP. The IP is in two places. One is the protocol that we use, which drives high participation and the results. Its not trivial. It really has to be highly individualized. Whether its food or what you do or how you choose medications, its nothing one-size fits all. Every person is different. Thats the first one.

The second one is this entire system where we collect data and data improves the protocols, this kind of cycle. The more data we have the better the protocol, the better the treatment, the more we can automate, the more efficient we can be.

The way we use software and AI for the benefit of doctors is we basically give them superpowers. We can read all that data on a real-time basis every day of every second and then tell our patients, Okay, Wilma she needs attention. Her, whatever medication she might be on, needs to be reduced.

SB: How do you do that?

SI: What we try to do is take thinking out of the picture for the patients. Every morning that you wake up you have a task to complete. Whether thats tracking related, changing your nutrition, or some behavior change, or something else. We basically stitch together a personalized care plan for each patient based on whats their background and whats happening to them.

You may have heard the Center for Disease Control, CDC, has a diabetes prevention program, which is really a weight loss program. Its basically 16 educational modules over 16 weeksIts kind of like the diet approach, the cookie-cutter approach. You want to do the South Beach Diet, buy the South Beach Diet book and you get the 50 foods that we should eat and the 50 foods you shouldnt.

You cant be successful in curing someones health if you have a one-size fits all approach.

SB: You got involved because you were pre-diabetic.

SI: I was on my way, yes. I was pre-diabetic. You may remember, Ive got a company called Trulia, which just happens to be in this building. Once Trulia went public, I just stayed on the board and I stepped away from an operational role.

I thought maybe Ill start competing and I won the Ironman World Championships in my age group.

(Inkinen has been a competitive triathlete since 2007).

SB: Really?

SI: I was like wow, this is freaking awesome. Then I found out that I was pre-diabetic.

SB: Even after you were very active and athletic?

SI: That was my moment of truth, if you will. I thought, it doesnt make any sense. What we are telling people to do, the message to pre-diabetics today in America is Dont you worry. Youre getting fit but you have to eat a little less, eat a little healthier and exercise a little more everything will be just fine. Well I had been doing that freaking 20 years.

SB: Mm-hmm.

SI:That was the turning point for me. I started reading research and thats what kind of led me to meet my scientific co-founders. The bottom line, what these guys had shown is that there is a way to nutritionally reverse type 2 diabetes without starving you to death. They had published all these papers. I was like this is nuts. This is 30 years-old science.

I said the key thats missing here is we dont have the tech to deliver this, the continuous outpatient services. That was the catalyst for Virta.

Then we kind of built the protocol, built the first product, and then the key step for me was I said we dont want to be another Theranos. In health care, maybe were just shrinking our own pool, but we have to run a clinical trial. If this works, this is going to be absolutely huge.

SB: If an employer wants to get involved with your program, do they just contact you?

SI: Call us up, through our website, and also of course we have our sales as wellOur business model is, if we dont reverse diabetes we dont want to be paid.

SB:When youre saying that you cure it, do you mean that if they switch back to the same old diet they wouldnt have diabetes?

SI: Well type two diabetes is not an acute, like broken bones and then the bone is fixed and then its not broken anymore.

Type 2 diabetes can be reproduced in any one patient. Of course, the subtle lifestyle changes have to last and thats why you want to show that once you cure the disease it actually stays in remission.

SB: Whats the individual cost?

SI:Its about $400 a month. Then low-income people we have patients that use a program that keeps them with access.

SB: So, if the drugs are $500 and this is $400

SI: Yeah so thats the average cost of diabetic medicine in America.

SB: Do they have to stay on the program for life? $400 a month for life?

SI: Its one year minimum and then the second year is up to your choice. Whether you need our support or not.

SB: Whats next?

SI: Theres a couple of big things coming out. One is the one-year results (now out at the time of publishing). Thats one huge thing for usWe can make powerful claims like Hey, the reversal rate is this much, how much we saved money, this is how many lives we saved. These are the results.

Then the second thing that were focused on is just scaling with employers, insurance companies, and patients directly. Letting them know that this works.

Continued here:
Sami Inkinen on his bold plan to cure type 2 diabetes forever ... - TechCrunch

National Diabetes program begins Sept. 7 at St. Thomas More

St. Thomas More Hospital will host the year-long Center for Disease Control National Diabetes Prevention Program every Thursday night from 4:45- 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the hospital. The program focuses on preventing type 2 diabetes and is free for participants. Groups will meet for 16 weekly sessions and six monthly follow-up sessions with a trained Lifestyle Coach. This new program will kick off with an informational meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 7 in the St. Thomas More Hospital Community Room.

"One in three American adults have prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater," said Shannon Minich, R.N., C.D.E., Diabetes Program Coordinator. "I'm so excited we are able to bring the Diabetes Prevention Program to Fremont County because it offers a proven approach to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes through modest lifestyle changes made with the support of a coach and one's peers." Minich is a certified Diabetes Educator with 19 years of Nursing experience.

Participants learn how to eat healthy, add physical activity to their routine, manage stress, stay motivated and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes. There are some qualifying factors and space is limited, so please call Minich at 719-285-2712 or email to shannonminich@centura.org for more information.

September events at the John C. Fremont Library

All programs and clubs are free and at the John C. Fremont Library, located at 130 Church Ave. in Florence, unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 719-784-4649.

September's Featured Artist

The John C. Fremont Library is hosting Jennifer Gerring's origami series, Origami Travels. Gerring, a resident of Cotopaxi, became fascinated with Origami at a young age. Over the years her love for the art has grown. She has attended multiple classes learning under some of the best living paper-folders of our generation. She is a member of the Origami-USA organization, British Origami Society, and the Origami Houston Study Group.

Adult Programs

Pioneer Women of Fremont County with Sherry Johns will be at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6. Enjoy a historical glimpse of the female half of Fremont County from rowdy to respectful, winsome to wild, and suffragette to sinner. Johns includes numerous never-seen-before photos of local historical women in this program. She tells of their lives, families and accomplishments and what they contributed to Fremont County.

Universal Health Care: Bringing American into the 21st century with Madi Jacobs will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 13. People are dying from treatable disease in America. Why? Because the current health care system is based on profit. There are many solutions. Join Dr. Jacobs's talk about Universal Health Care. Discussion to follow.

Preserving Your Harvest and Preparing for Next Year with Christine Hassler will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 19. Join Hassler to learn the basics of dehydrators and dehydrating fruits and vegetables. She will also share some of her favorite recipes using dehydrated ingredients. Other preserving methods like pickling will be covered. She will also go over the basics of "putting your garden to bed for the winter."

Author and Artist Talk: Historical Fiction with Joe Dorris will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 20. Dorris will share about his historical fiction novels -- about the realities of pioneer struggles, love and hardships in the 19th century Idaho wilderness. His presentation will touch on highlights from pioneer gold miners, the Sheepeater Indians, Swedish farmers, and Chinese miners and merchants within a unique geographic setting. He has written four books, Katrine, Salmon River Kid, Sojourner of Warren's Camp, and Sheepeater.

Movie Night: The Zookeeper's Wife will be shown at 5 p.m. Sept. 22. A married couple who work as zoo caretakers help save Jews from the Holocaust. Rated PG-13. 124 minutes. Free popcorn.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with Tom Tudor will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 26. Tudor has been a distinguished speaker for 25 years, presenting a moving and informative narration of our nation's most hallowed ground: Arlington National Cemetery. Tudor, speaking to hundreds of organizations and institutions nationwide, is an authority on the history of 'Arlington' and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is visited by over four million people annually.

Native American Skies by Courtney Miller will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 27. Miller has written over 200 articles for the online ezine, Native American Antiquity, and other online magazines and is considered an expert on Native American cultures. He will also be signing his books afterwards including his new mystery series, "The White Feather Mysteries," set in the modern day Wet Mountain Valley.

Clubs

The Vegan Book Club is at 11 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays. The Vegan Book Club discusses veganism and topics related to veganism. Club President: Harriet Balhiser, harrietbalhiser@bresnan.net.

Wool Gatherers is at 10 a.m. every Wednesday. The Wool Gatherers meet every Wednesday to yak, knit (or crochet or quilt), and have lunch. The group is BYOP: Bring Your Own Project. All levels welcome.

Adult Coloring Night is at 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays at Florence Brewing Company, located at 200 S Pikes Peak Ave. in Florence. Everyone is welcome to come and color in adult coloring books.

Youth Programs

Story Time at the Library is at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Join Ms. Debbie for songs, stories and crafts.

Story Time at the Farmers Market in Pioneer Park is at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Bring a blanket and join Ms. Debbie for stories in the shade. Themes change weekly, counts for Summer Reading Program.

Story Time at the Library is at 10:30 a.m. every Friday. Join Ms. Debbie for songs, stories and crafts. Friday Story Time is funded by the Growing Readers Together initiative.

Youth Clubs

Teen Group is at 3:45 p.m. every Thursday. Teens in sixth to 12th grade are invited for crafts, games and fun. There is a new weekly theme. Snacks will be provided.

Paper Patriots Fremont County will meet Sept. 6

Paper Patriots Fremont County will meet Sept. 6 to create Cards of Gratitude for recovering and returning soldiers at Ft. Carson. Doors will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to anyone who has a few minutes to drop by and help create. Donations of envelopes, patriotic papers, rubber stamps and other items are always appreciated. Call 719-276-9002 for more information.

Homebuyer's Workshop slated for Sept. 9

This one-day workshop will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 at the UAACOG office, 3224-A Independence Road. It is free to the public. The workshop takes participants through the home buying process from loan application to loan closing and life as a homeowner. Lenders such as CHFA, Rural Development and others require that borrowers participate in this type of training. reservations are required for the workshop and space is limited. For more information, contact Central Colorado Housing (a department of UAACOG) at 719-269-7687 or email laura.yost@uaacog.com.

Arkansas Valley Dressage Association presents the September Pathfinder Schooling Show

Arkansas Valley Dressage Association presents the September Pathfinder Schooling Show beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 30 at Pathfinder Park. For those who ride Dressage, Western Dressage, Eventing or Gaited, this schooling show is for you.

The event judge will be Kathy Simard, a USDF certified instructor through fourth level and a new member of the certification faculty. She is an "L" graduate with distinction. Over the years, Simard has ridden with many FEI and Olympic judges and competitors and has earned her UDSF Bronze and Silver medals. Her students have won many year-end awards in both Dressage and Eventing.

To reserve a space, contact Renee 719-276-2029 or email mcmillenrenee@gmail.com. For more information, visit http://www.arkansasvalleydressage.org or https://www.facebook.com/Arkansas-Valley-Dressage-Association-292505197521873/.

History club for 3rd-5th graders to begin its 5th year

The Eastern Fremont County Historical Club is ready to begin its fifth year of study. This Club is for local 3rd-5th graders to help them learn about the rich Florence and Fremont County history. Registration will be from 10-11 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Faith Journey Nazarene Church fellowship hall in Florence. The hall is located west of the Kwik-Stop on Second and Church. It will be $1 per week or your child may join for a year membership for $25. With their membership, your child will receive a watch and a membership card that allows your child to attend all Club meetings and get into the Florence Pioneer Museum and Research Center for free with an attending adult. Club meetings will be held from 10-11 a.m. every Friday. The Club will follow the Re-2 schedule: if the school is on a vacation, so is the Club! There will be a calendar provided at registration.

After registration, the Club will be jumping into a Native American study of the Ute Indians, their culture, their territories, and their leaders. This unit will be approximately 6 weeks and then it is on to a peek at John C. Fremont.

Several times this year, the Club will meet at the museum. We have several displays that will enhance whatever unit of study we are on, especially Jesse Frazer, "Johnny Appleseed" of Florence, James A. McCandless our town founder, and a study of the Florence Oil Field and coal mines of the area.

The Museum is still open due to the nice weather so stop by and see what we are up to. The Museum asks for a $3 per person admission/donation to keep the electric bill paid! Our "Mad Scientist" display is still up and a wonderful camera display is out for all to remember those good ol' days. Upstairs are tributes to our Coal Creek pioneers, the Blunts and the Cowens. Read Charlie Cowan's poem about the Coal Creek fire. His store was destroyed in this terrible inferno. Outside in the Industrial Garden (the backyard), there is a new model pump jack that really works!

Daily Record Staff

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National Diabetes program begins Sept. 7 at St. Thomas More Hospital - Canon City Daily Record

If you want to learn how to better control your diabetes and get tips on how to prepare fresh healthy meals, you can get both for free at class on Saturday, Sept. 9.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department and the Boone County Cooperative Extension are offering the comprehensive education from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Boone County Cooperative Extensions Enrichment Center, 1955 Burlington Pike, Burlington.

Registration is required.

Lunch and a diabetes toolkit will be provided.

Topics will include: what is diabetes, healthy eating, preventing complications and more. Participants will see a cooking demonstration, and then sample freshly prepared meals and snacks to demonstrate healthy cooking techniques for individuals with diabetes.

In addition, participants will have the opportunity to visit the Boone County Farmers Market, located adjacent to the extension center.

The class will be led by a Registered Nurse/Certified Diabetes Educator, a Registered Dietitian from the Health Department and the Boone County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Health Departments diabetes program is accredited through the Kentucky Department for Public Healths Healthy Living with Diabetes program.

For more information and to register for the class or for information about the Health Departments diabetes control program, please call Joan Geohegan at 859.363.2115 or Julie Shapero at 859.363.2116.

See more here:
How to control your diabetes and get tips on healthy meals free class offered on September 9 - User-generated content (press release) (registration)

A recent study published by theEuropean Association for the Study of Diabetes has recently discovered that those who frequently consume alcohol have a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

The study, conducted byProfessor Janne Tolstrup and colleagues from the National Institute of Public Health of the University of Southern Denmark, examined the effects of drinking frequency on diabetes risk over the course of several years. Using data from the Danish Health Examination Survey, conducted between 2007 and 2008, over 70,000 participants were continually followed up with until 2012.

Danish citizens aged 18 and over completed the self-reporting questionnaire, which included questions regarding their lifestyle and health. Factors such as drinking patterns, the types of drinks consumed, age, sex, lifestyle habits, diet and even body mass index were all taken into consideration.

Anyone who had previously been diagnosed with diabetes, pregnant women or women who had recently given birth were excluded.

The data was then analyzed and researchers found that those with the lowest risk of developing diabetes were the survey participants who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol.

Men who consume 14 drinks per week were found to have a 43 percent lower risk of developing diabetes relative to men who dont consume any alcohol. Women who consume nine drinks per week had a 58 percent lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those who abstain from all alcoholic beverages.

When considering the frequency in which one consumes alcohol, the studys data revealed that those who drink 3-4 days a week had the lowest risk of diabetesa 27 percent lower risk in men and a 32 percent lower risk for womencompared to individuals who drink less than one alcoholic beverage per week.

And if youre wondering what type of drink gives you the best chance of fending off diabetes, the authors of the study note that they really didnt see much of a difference in those who drank wine, beer or spirits. Or perhaps even all three.

[h/t: Science Daily]

This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.

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Study finds drinking may lower risk for diabetes - WTMJ-TV (press release) (registration) (blog)

Photo: Lori Van Buren, Albany Times Union

GE engineer conquered diabetes with bicycling

GE engineer Bill Monaghan kept in great shape as champion high school bicyclist. But as a became happily married dad he became less active and chubby.

His wife Natalie worried about his high cholesterol and obesity-related sleep apnea. When he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he returned to his biking passion and won back his health.

"He lost all the weight and the diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea were all gone," Natalie says proudly.

Now, Monaghan is coaching about 40 Capital Region bike ridersincluding many diabeticsfor the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's September 14-17 fundraising rides. Those rides range in length from 30 to 100 miles. All of the upstate New York JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes start in Saratoga.

Monaghan posts details of his Saturday coaching rides on the JDRF Northeast New York website for those who would like to train with him.

"The diabetics I'm coaching are vigilant and take very good care of each other," said Monaghan, a Charlton resident. "They'll suggest we stop if they sense someone should check his or her blood sugar."

Monaghan loves Italian designed bikes but his key preference is that the bike be made of titanium bike because the metal is so strong. (The newer lightweight carbon bikes concern him because carbon crumbles under impact far more easily). He was so devoted to biking that he owned a White Plains bike shop for eight years where he became expert at fitting bikes to riders.

He remains such an evangelist for biking's health benefits that he spends Saturday afternoons at Freemans Bridge Sports in Scotia fitting customers for helmets and bikes. A properly adjusted bike seat can make all the difference between viewing a bike ride as fun or just a chore that burns calories.

"The fact is, you're going to be safer and have a better time on a $200 bike that is perfectly fitted for you than an $8,000 bike that doesn't fit," he said. "You're better off getting fitted at a local bike shop where people love bikes and know what they're doing. At a big box sports store, you might find a kid who only knows football in the bike department. And he's there putting together bikes primarily to earn Ramen noodle money, not because he knows how to fit bikes to customers."

Natalie accompanied him on his bike journey back to good health. They rode a tandem bike along the coast of Maine's Acadia National Park for about 26 miles. Then they rode to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which Natalie describes as three miles of sharp switchbacks. She doesn't remember it as grueling.

"It was romantic, with fog drifting around the mountain," she exclaimed. "And it was invigorating with all the clean air so I hope other people trying to get in shape will try it."

The JDRF Saratoga has a fundraising goal of $2.1 million and $$1,465,4331 in donations have been pledged in the name of various bicyclists as of Thursday afternoon. There are several locations across America where fundraising rides will roll out in September. Maryland-based Ben Etheridgeof JDRF's Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Chapter is coming to New York to participate in the Saratoga ride. As of this week, he raised $74,961 in pledged donations, more than any other rider.

"I've been participating in these rides for years all over the country because I have two children with Type 1 diabetes," Etheridge said. "Doctors are very optimistic that they can overcome through nutrition and fitness. About 25 percent of the riders each year have Type 1 diabetes."

To learn more about the Saratoga ride visit the JDRF website;

http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Ride/JDRFNationalRide?pg=entry&fr_id=6889

Excerpt from:
GE engineer conquered diabetes with bicycling - Albany Times Union

Diabetes is a progressive, chronic disease related to your body's challenges with regulating blood sugar. It is often associated with generalized inflammation. Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin to convert sugar (glucose) to energy that you either use immediately or store. With type 2 diabetes, you are unable to use that insulin efficiently. Although your body produces the hormone, either there isn't enough of it to keep up with the amount of glucose in your system, or the insulin being produced isn't being used as well as it should be, both of which result in high blood sugar levels.

While this can produce different types of complications, good blood sugar control efforts can help to prevent them. This relies heavily on lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, dietary changes, exercise and, in some cases, medication. But, depending on your age, weight, blood sugar level, and how long you've had diabetes, you may not need a prescription right away. Treatment must be tailored to you and, though finding the perfect combination may take a little time, it can help you live a healthy, normal life with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is most common is those who are genetically predisposed and who are overweight, lead a sedentary lifestyle, have high blood pressure, and/or have insulin resistance due to excess weight. People of certain ethnicities are more likely to develop diabetes, too. These include: African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans. These populations are more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing diabetes.

As you age, you are also at increased risk of developing diabetes.

A poor diet and smoking can also affect your risk.

There are many complications of diabetes. Knowing and understanding the signs of these complications is important. If caught early, some of these complications can be treated and prevented from getting worse. The best way to prevent complications of diabetes is to keep your blood sugars in good control. High glucose levels produce changes in the blood vessels themselves, as well as in blood cells (primarily erythrocytes) that impair blood flow to various organs.

Complications of diabetes are broken into two categories: microvascular (damage to the small blood vessels) and macrovascular (damage to the large blood vessels). They can include:

Often people don't experience symptoms of diabetes until their blood sugars are very high. Symptoms of diabetes include: increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, extreme fatigues, numbness and tingling in the extremities (hands and feet), cuts and wounds that are slow to heal, and blurred vision. Some people also experience other less common symptoms including weight loss, dry itchy skin, increased yeast infections, erectile dysfunction, and acanthosis nigricans (thick, "velvety" patches found in the folds or creases of skin, such as the neck, that is indicative of insulin resistance).

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don't ignore them. Make an appointment to see your doctor. The earlier diabetes is caught, the more likely you can prevent complications.

A diagnosis of diabetes can be done using a variety of blood tests.

If you are at increased risk of diabetes, have symptoms of diabetes, or have pre-diabetes (a major warning sign for diabetes), your doctor will check to see if you have diabetes. Your doctor may also check to see if you have diabetes if you are over the age of 45, have a family history of the disease, are overweight, or if you are at increased risk for another reason. The tests used to check for diabetes are the same tests used to check for pre-diabetes.

Fasting blood sugar test: This test checks your blood sugar when you haven't eaten for at least eight hours. A fasting blood sugar above 126 could be indicative of diabetes. Your doctor will re-check this to determine if you have diabetes.

Glucose tolerance test: This is a test that checks how you respond to sugar. You will be given a sample of sugar (75 grams over the course of two hours). If your blood sugar is above target after that time, you may be diagnosed with diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1c: This test checks your blood sugar over the course of three months.

If your blood sugar is above 6.5 percent, you may be considered to have diabetes.

Random blood sugar test: Your doctor can do this test if you are experiencing symptoms of diabetesincrease thirst, fatigue, increased urination. If your blood sugar is above 200mg/dL, you may be considered to have diabetes.

If you have no symptoms and any of these tests are positive, the American Diabetes Association recommends that a new blood sample be drawn to confirm a diagnosis.

While you can't change getting older, your family history, or ethnicity, you can work on ways to reduce your weight and waist circumference, increase your activity, and lower your blood pressure.

Eating a balanced diet that is rich in fiber, non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fat can help get you to your goal weight and reduce your waist size and body mass index (BMI). Reducing your intake of sweetened beverages (juices, sodas) is the easiest way to lose weight and reduce blood sugars. If you are someone who has high blood pressure and are salt sensitive, aim to reduce your intake of sodium; do not add salt to your food, read package labels for added sodium, and reduce your intake of fast food and take out. Don't go on a diet. Instead, adapt a healthier way of eating, one that you'll enjoy for a long time.

Exercising regularly, about 30 minutes a day or 150 minutes per week, can also help to reduce your weight and blood pressure. Finally, if you smoke, aim to quit. Smoking can increase your risk of stroke, blood pressure, and heart attack, and quitting can reduce your risk of diabetes.

The good news is that if you have diabetes, you have a great amount of control in managing your disease. Although it can be difficult to manage a disease on a daily basis, the resources and support for people with diabetes is endless. It's important for you to receive as much education as possible so that you can take advantage of all the good information that is out there (and weed out the bad).

Don't let others let you feel like a diabetes diagnosis means you are doomed.

All people with diabetes should also be seen by an ophthalmologist after diagnosis. Diabetes can affect the eyes before it is even diagnosed. After the initial session, people should be seen every two years if there are no issues, or more often if there are.

In addition, people with diabetes should have a comprehensive foot exam by a podiatrist once they are diagnosed or if they are experiencing issues, such as tingling of the feet, pain, sores, hammer toes, thick dry skin, or fungal nails.

A registered dietitian and/or certified diabetes educator will educate you on how to eat for diabetes and provide you the tools you need to self-manage your diabetes.

Some other doctors you may want to or have to add to your list as the disease progresses include a cardiologist (to make sure your heart is working efficiently and you have no blockages in your arteries), a vascular doctor (a doctor who specializes in veins and circulatory issues), and a therapist to help you cope with your diagnosis.

What you eat plays a major part in your diabetes controland your weight. Eating a balanced diet that is rich in non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats can help you improve your nutrition, lose weight, and lower your blood sugars.

These dedicated Verywell sections can help you improve your diabetes diet know-how:Type 2 Diabetes DietDietitian Advice and Recipes

It isn't always easy to start an exercise regimen, but once you get into a groove, you may be surprised at how much you enjoy it. Find a way to fit activity into your daily routine. Even a few minutes a day goes a long way. The American Diabetes Association recommends that adults with diabetes should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week (spread over at least three days with no more than two consecutive days without exercise). You don't have to start with this right away, though. Start with five to 10 minutes per day and go from there. To stay motivated, find a buddy, get a fitness tracker, or use another measurement tool that can help you see your progress.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that blood sugars be 80mg/dL-130mg/dL before meals and less than or equal to 180mg/dL two hours after meals. Blood sugar targets are individualized based on a variety of factors such as age, length of diagnosis, if you have other health issues, etc. For example, if you are an elderly person, your targets maybe a bit higher than someone else. Ask your physician what targets are right for you.

Read: High and Low Blood Sugar: Managing the Ups and Downs

The above tips are important for you. But it's also crucial to allow yourself time to cope with the diagnosis and commit to making lifestyle changes that will benefit you forever. The good news is the diabetes is a manageable disease; the tough part is that you must think about it daily. Consider finding supportsomeone that you can talk to about your strugglesbe that a friend, another person with diabetes, or a loved one. This may seem trivial, but it truly can help you take control of diabetes so that it doesn't control you. Some next steps that may help you to get on the right track at this early stage in your journey:

Diabetes is a chronic condition that must be managed daily, but it is manageable. You can live a long, healthy life with diabetes if you adapt a healthy lifestyle. By choosing to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and quit smoking, and seeing your doctors regularly, you will increase your energy, feel better, and maybe even feel great.

Many people with diabetes also have other conditions such as sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Once they change their lifestyle, many of these other symptoms improve or go away. You are in the driver's seat. You have the ability to control diabetes.

And go easy on yourself: Sometimes you can be doing everything perfectly and your blood sugars start to creep up. Because diabetes is a progressive disease, your body slowly stops making insulin over time. If you've had diabetes for a very long time, try not to be discouraged if your doctor has to increase your medication or discusses insulin with you. Continue to do what you can to improve your health.

Sources:

American Diabetes Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes 2015. https://www.diabeteseducator.org/docs/default-source/practice/practice-resources/position-statements/dsme_joint_position_statement_2015.pdf?sfvrsn=0

American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care 2016. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/Supplement_1

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Type 2 Diabetes Articles - Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Friday, Aug. 25, 2017

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- An expert at Augusta University has received a very important grant for a common disease.

Dr. Richard A. McIndoe, bioinformatics expert and associate director of the Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, has received a $12.8 million grant to continue to lead a national research initiative focused on reducing the complications of diabetes, according to a press release.

This is the fourth time McIndoe has been selected to lead the administrative, scientific and informatics infrastructure for the Diabetic Complications Consortium, a program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Complications from the pervasive disease include nerve and kidney damage, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke as well as skin and eye complications, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The Diabetic Complications Consortium (see http://www.diacomp.org) provides a cross section of support designed to move science and ultimately patient care forward, including funding short-term studies in animals or humans to better understand and prevent complications, the primary cause of diabetes-related deaths, says McIndoe, who is also a Regents Professor in the MCG Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

DiaComp also supports summer programs for medical students to inspire the next generation of diabetes complications investigators as well as scientific gatherings on relevant topics.

The consortiums Pilot & Feasibility Program is a competitive, peer-reviewed program that provides $100,000 in funding for one year to enable researchers to pursue novel complications treatment and prevention strategies. About 20 grants are awarded each year from more than 80 proposals, a roughly 20 percent funding rate that is slightly above the average 18.1 percent success rate for the National Institutes of Healths research project grant. The research project grant, commonly called RO1, is the NIHs oldest grant mechanism for supporting health-related research and the NIHs largest single category of support. RO1s, which average today about $428,000, typically require significant justifying data be in hand when an application is made. One goal of the Pilot & Feasibility Program is to enable investigators to obtain the pilot data needed to secure an RO1, McIndoe says.

A recent five-year analysis indicates the consortiums approach works: 59 percent of consortium awardees submitted new NIH grants within five years and 37 percent received funding.

Early in the process each cycle, the consortiums External Evaluation Committee determines a short list of high impact areas of diabetic complications research that fall within the realm of the NIDDK and are eligible for DiaComp support. Applications are submitted in June, and award notices typically go out in September. This years foci include innovative technologies to analyze tissue from organs most affected by diabetes, such as the kidneys, and biosensors that can improve understanding of the damage diabetes does to various cell types.

Others include thin bacterial films called biofilms, a virulent community of microorganisms thats role in diabetic complications has not been well explored; the relationship between insulin resistance, an early indicator particularly of type 2 diabetes, and neurological problems like dementia; and novel ways to block diabetic complications.

The consortiums Summer Student Program provides support to first- and second-year medical students who want to do research at the nations NIDDK Diabetes Centers, see niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/research-programs/diabetes-centers, over the summer. This program funds about 18-20 students annually and concludes with an annual August gathering and poster presentation at Vanderbilt

University. A big message at that conference is encouraging students to become physician-scientists, McIndoe says. There also are roundtable discussions with residency program representatives about what they look for in future residents as well as future funding opportunities for the young investigators.

The Conference Support Program enables organizations to start new conferences in the area of diabetic complications. The Collaborative Funding Program looks to support novel clinical trials that will improve the outcome of diabetic foot ulcers, a common cause of lower leg amputation in patients with diabetes that can result from poor circulation and nerve damage.

McIndoe manages the myriad of information generated, disseminated and received through programs like the funding and student programs and has developed automated or semi-automated programs to ease the processes. This cycle he also plans to update the consortiums website.

The extensive raw scientific data generated through the work of the consortium and its awardees is shared broadly with the scientific community. I like the idea of providing a clearinghouse for diabetic complications data; there really is no other place that does that. You can think of it like an electronic lab notebook, McIndoe says.

Unlike data published in journals, which only provides a glimpse of the actual information obtained, the consortium makes complete data sets available to scientists who may have a different interest or angle. It also helps scientists reduce unnecessary replication and fine-tune their work.

Diabetes has been McIndoes career-long focus, beginning with his PhD work in immunology and molecular pathology at the University of Florida, which he completed in 1991. He joined the MCG faculty in 2002 and in 2008 was recognized as an emerging research and development leader at a Georgia research university with a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator Award.

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Grant awarded for diabetic research - WRDW-TV

HICKORY YMCA of Catawba Valley has joined a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of pre-diabetes by launching its own Diabetes Prevention Program, according to a press release.

It's estimated that one in three people in North Carolina have pre-diabetes, which is a condition where blood glucose levels are high, but not high enough yet to be classified as type II diabetes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

People with pre-diabetes have an increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke and developing type II diabetes.

The program, which will be led by a trained lifestyle coach in a classroom setting over a 12-month period, will have 16 weekly sessions followed by monthly maintenance.

The program hopes to reduce its participants body weight by 7 percent and increase physical activity to 150 minutes per week.

Nearly 90 percent of people with pre-diabetes are not aware they have it.

To help change that, the American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, CDC and the Ad Council, are releasing new PSAs to build on a successful campaign that helped hundreds of thousands of Americans learn their risk for developing type II diabetes.

The new, lighthearted PSAs offer viewers a perfect way to spend a minute where they can take the one-minute pre-diabetes risk test while also doing something everyone loves watching adorable animal videos.

The campaign encourages people to take a short online test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org to learn their risk and speak with their doctor to confirm their diagnosis. The website features lifestyle tips and connects visitors to the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Pre-diabetes can be reversed through weight loss, diet changes and exercise, according to the release.

The key to preventing diabetes is moderate lifestyle changes through healthy eating habits and moderate physical activity, said Lala Kozischek, Diabetes Prevention Director, YMCA of Catawba Valley. Awareness of calorie and fat intake versus activity is empowering. Every small change that we make can add up to make a big difference in preventing this disease. I emphasize to our participants that its not a diet its a lifestyle.

For information on program fees and the campaign, email Lala Kozischek at lalak@ymcacv.org.

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YMCA of Catawba Valley launches diabetes awareness program - Hickory Daily Record

INDIANAPOLIS A lack of data about Hoosiers with diabetes is reason enough to require an annual report by the State Department of Health to help reduce the disease, a legislator said Wednesday.

Rep. Vanessa Summers, D-Indianapolis, cited limited data from the state health department as she spoke Wednesday before the first session of the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services.

They (health department) make the case for us needing an annual report about whats going on in the state of Indiana dealing with diabetes, Summers said.

State health department representatives told the panel that they did not have a statistical breakdown of Hoosiers with Type 1 or Type 2 (adult) diabetes. But a department representative informed the committee that more than 800,000 Hoosiers have diabetes.

Gary Dougherty, government affairs director for the American Diabetes Association, gave a different estimate: about 695,000 Hoosiers have diabetes.

Statistics from community health centers indicate that Hoosiers making below $35,000 a year are disproportionately affected by the disease.

Dougherty called for a collaborative effort among state agencies to address the health problem in Indiana. He also recommended that legislation be written without a fiscal earmark, instead relying on state staffs to carry out a program. The 2018 legislative session is not a budget session.

Others at the committee meeting Wednesday said the state should develop a diabetes education program, self-management efforts and a plan to reduce and prevent diabetes, which occurs when blood glucose, or sugar, levels rise higher than normal.

One commission member suggested that a statewide effort be financed through county health departments.

Summers, who is insulin dependent, is also a member of the commission.

She told the panel, We know that diabetes is 100 percent preventable and, I know you might be a little surprised about this, 100 percent reversible.

The American Diabetes Association said in 2016 that a study of 30 people showed that diabetes is a potentially reversible condition. An intense weight loss program was able to eliminate diabetes in participants for at least six months, the association reported.

The association also says that about 5 percent of those with diabetes have Type 1, which is usually diagnosed in children and caused by the bodys inability to produce insulin. The majority of those with diabetes have Type II (adult onset), which is often treated with lifestyle changes, pills or insulin.

Read more:
Statewide program proposed to address diabetes - The Rushville Republican

About one in 10 adults in Oklahoma suffers from diabetes, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rate of diabetes diagnoses for adults in the state has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.

Diabetes educators are hoping to reverse that trend, with a year-long support and healthy lifestyles program aimed at preventing development of the disease.

Linda Yauk, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Integris Bass Pavilion Diabetes Center, has worked as a diabetes educator for25 years.

She said in 2015 she realized a new approach was needed, beyond just providing education,because it seemed like the people we were seeing with diabetes were getting younger and younger.

She applied for a grant through CDCsNational Diabetes Prevention Program in 2015. Integris was awarded the grant, which paved the way for Yauk to start an intense, year-long prevention program.

Since then,two classes of about 10 people each have completed the program.

Participants learn how to eat healthy, add physical activity to their routine, manage stress, stay motivated and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes. Diabetes prevention groups meet once a week for 16 weeks, then once a month for six months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

Yauk said the program has had about95 percent retention since it started, in part because she stresses up front that it is a long program that requires dedication and perseverance.

They know going in this is going to be a year-long commitment, Yauk said. We lay it down for them up front: If you dont think you can come for the full year, we need to rethink this.

Yauk said the formula for preventing diabetes isnt a secret, or complicated.

The bottom line is we need to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, less refined foods and saturated fats, sit less and move more, Yauk said. Its really that simple.

Pamela Baggett, a registered and licensed dietitian with St. Marys Regional Medical Center, sees patients who already have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes.

She said common-sense prevention is needed to reduce the risk of diabetes, especially for people with a family history of the disease, high blood sugar levels, or who are overweight.

Its just good health practices, Baggett said, whether were worried about diabetes, our heart, or even if our joints hurt because were overweight.The diabetic diet is really what we all should follow.

Baggett said people often develop diabetes without recognizing the warning signs, in part because they dont follow good preventive measures like healthy eating, regular exercise and an annual physical.

The thing with diabetes is we usually dont hurt, Baggett said. With diabetes, sometimes we can end up with a pretty high blood sugar and not have any symptoms, and might have just adjusted to it.

Yauk said the goal of the prevention program at Integris is to get people to change their lifestyles, and reduce their risk, before they develop diabetes.

One in three American adults has prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater, Yauk said.

People with prediabetes higher-than-normal blood sugar levels are five to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels, according to the CDC.The same research shows that people with prediabetes who lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

Small changes can add up to a big difference, said Sarah Wamsley, a registered dietitian at Integris Bass. Working with a trained lifestyle coach who provides guidance, Integris participants are making lasting changes together.

Yauk said achieving those lasting changes requires more than just knowledge of the statistics.

To achieve long-term change, the program focuses on setting and regularly reviewing achievable goals, and by providing coaching and accountability.

Its all aimed at producing a positive experience, Yauk said, and increasing participants self-confidence in their ability to live healthier lives.

People have tried so many times, and not been successful, she said, so they dont have a lot of confidence in their ability to change.

That self-confidence is attained by providing support among the group members, Yauk said.

The goal is to get them to rely on each other, then become accountable to themselves and to their peers, Yauk said.Its not an easy task. They need to feel really confident with each other, because its a lot of sharing.

CDC is hoping more sites will take up the diabetes prevention program, and more participants will follow through with positive steps to prevent diabetes.

Nationwide implementation of the program could save the U.S. health care system $5.7 billion and prevent about 885,000 future cases of type 2 diabetes, according to CDC figures.

Participants now are being enrolled for the next session of the diabetes prevention program. Yauk said people diagnosed with prediabetes, high body mass index, or a previous diagnosis of juvenile or gestational diabetes are encouraged to apply.

Participation in the program is free of charge.

Prospective participants are encouraged to attend one of two orientation classes at Integris Heart and Vascular Institute, 707 S. Monroe: 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and 6 p.m. Sept. 14.

For additional information or questions, call Yauk at (580) 249-4104.

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Integris enrolling participants for diabetes prevention program - Enid News & Eagle

CHICAGO As a 22-year-old on the Giants A-ball club, Adam Duvall was hoping to achieve his dream of advancing to the majors without any setbacks. But then a lingering health concern changed the plan.

Duvall had lost 20 pounds over the course of the seasonas the symptoms ofType 1 diabetes took hold. Although the Louisville, Ky., native was diagnosed as a pre-diabetic during his childhood, he and his parents didnt worry because the condition was manageable even while playing sports.

Being a young, healthy athlete, I didnt think, Gee, I need to worry about that, Duvall said. But I would go low (on insulin) during games, and I would always have a payday (reaction). During the games when I was younger, Id be jittery.

MORE: Meet Chris Taylor, the Dodgers' anonymous star

Once the teams doctors confirmed the diagnosis, Duvall had to mentally adjust to the unanticipated setback. It would take work, even more than what's normally required to reach the majors, but Duvall was committed to keeping the disease in check so he would one day reach his goal of being a big-leaguer. That day came when he debuted with the Giants in 2014. Since then, Duvall has continued to elevate his game, and, now with the Reds, is putting up All-Star numbers.But managing his diabetes remains a priority.

Men with Type 1 diabetes lose around 11 years of their longevity in contrast to those without it, according to recent studies.Duvall could feel the effects of the disease on the field during that first season in the minors. Fatigue was common when his blood sugar wasn't right. Long bus rides and a lack of sleep didn't help. Staying vigilant wasn't always easy.

You get back from a long road trip, youre struggling and maybe you dont want to check your blood sugar, he said. And then it tailspins after that.

The Augusta GreenJackets training staff recommended that Duvall attended educational classes on diabetes. He subsequently figured out a plan to sustain his energy in and away from the ballpark; during games, a protein bar and Gatorade would sit on the dugout bench in case of an emergency.

Moreover, Duvall would need an insulin injection after any meal, along with one before bedtime.

After two and a half more seasons in the minors, he was called up to the Giants in June 2014.Soon after, Duvall was introduced to a cellphone-size device, designed to aid the users body with an attached cartridge of insulin. With the push of a button, Duvallcan have insulin delivered into his bodies through a plastic tube known as an infusion set, which is attached to his abdomen. It replaces the need for an injection.Duvall said the tail end of the insulin pump is stored his back pocket while roaming the outfield.

MORE: Every MLB team's worst regular season memory, revisited

On top of that, he carries a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), generating a blood sugar graph every five minutes. Occasionally, hell wake up in the middle of the night and see he needs extra insulin.

Competing at a high level, while also treating a major disease, has earned Duvall high respect from his teammates.

Im so proud of him because on some day games when its too hot, he has to drink a lot to be on that same level, Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez said. Thats hard to do.

Once he became an everyday playerwith the Reds, Duvall earnedan All-Star berth in 2016, when he clubbed 33 home runs and drove in 103 runs. He's put up similar numbers so far in 2017.

There were a lot of people in the Giants organization that liked him very much, Reds TV play-by-play voice Thom Brennaman said. Now, they say, Man, how in the world did we not give this guy a chance to play the outfield (everyday)?

Since the start of 2016 season, Duvall has 188 RBIs, the most among NL outfielders; hes tied with Athletics outfielder Khris Davis for second among all MLB outfielders. He has also collected 62 home runs over that stretch, which is tied with Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant for fourth in baseball.

Duvall credits his power surge to regaining muscle mass that he lost before and immediately after his diabetes diagnoses, as well as making adjustments at the plate. TheAll-Star appearance in 2016 was a payoff of sorts, he said.

It wasnt something I really expected or was trying to achieve (being selected as an All-Star), Duvall said. It was one of those things where I put together a good year from working on my craft year round.

Reds third base coach Billy Hatcher said Duvall has asserted himself as a leader in the clubhouse during his ascendance at the plate, looking to aid veterans and youngsters alike, especially on defense. And on top of all his on-field and clubhouse duties, there's still the matter of Duvall staying vigilant to keep himself healthy.

You see him monitoring himself every single day and getting himself ready, Hatcher said. He has to worry about hitting a 98 mile an hour fastball; he has to worry about playing defense. A person whos doing all that and still competing while doing very well, you have to admire.

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Reds' Adam Duvall excels on field as he keeps diabetes in check ... - Sporting News

GENEVA Fifty-five participants. Almost 500 pounds of weight loss. A nearly 90 percent attendance rate.

Based on those numbers, Finger Lakes Health employees are calling their inaugural diabetes prevention program a resounding success and looking forward to the next session in September.

We had a great experience and met our expectations in every way, said Christina Ganzon, a registered dietitian at FL Healths Diabetes Care Center in Geneva. People really enjoyed the program, thought it was very beneficial and led to a healthier lifestyle.

The free 16-week program, developed by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is geared to prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases. Classes were held from January to June at the diabetes center on West North Street and FL Healths Lifecare Medical Associates practice in Seneca Falls.

Fifty-five people took part in three classes. While they were required to attend at least nine of the 16 classes, Ganzon said the average attendance was 14 out of 16 weeks an 88-percent rate.

I was a little bit nervous about the attendance, because attendance and weight loss are two data points the CDC really focuses on ... and people sometimes join things and dont always stick with it, she said. To have an average of 14 out of 16 weeks was great. We really tried to make the program active, doing a grocery store tour and a cooking demonstration.

The goal of the program is to make lifestyle changes and lose weight to prevent the onset of diabetes. Collectively, participants lost 482 pounds an average of 8.8 pounds per person.

According to the CDC, more than 9 percent of Americans (29.1 million people) are diagnosed with diabetes, and the disease has dramatically driven up health care costs. The program involves group meetings led by lifestyle coaches (registered nurses, certified diabetes educators and dietitians) in an effort to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Other members of the FL Health team along with Ganzon are Family Nurse Practitioner Rhonda Solomon, director of the diabetes center; Cheryl Andreas, a registered nurse; and diabetes educators Pat Cochrane and Amanda Tourtellotte.

The center provides a team of medical professionals with advanced education and experience in the field of diabetes. The philosophy of the center is based on the fact that diabetes is a complex disease that requires multiple professionals working together to make sure diabetics are getting the best care.

FL Health will start the next round of classes in mid-September (see accompanying article), as CDC guidelines call for a one-year commitment by local health agencies. Ganzon said Finger Lakes Health, which includes Soldiers & Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan, is looking to start the program in Yates County this fall but the time has not yet been determined.

Ganzon added that participants during the first session had plenty of support from family and friends. Those who came to classes alone soon found comrades in the group setting.

We had couples come in together, friends that came together, she said. Other people formed connections from being in the program. They would see each other at the grocery store, stop and talk about what they were buying. Some ended up becoming walking partners and others started going to the gym together. They bonded and started supporting one another.

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FL Health diabetes program a success | Geneva | fltimes.com - Finger Lakes Times

Whether youre diabetic, youre caring for a person in one of the various stages of the disease or you simply want to maintain a healthy lifestyle Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) in Solvang is offering free nutrition and diabetes education classes.

Beginning Sept. 1, the community hospital, located at 2050 Viborg Road, is hosting the classes to encourage healthy eating habits and diabetes management for all ages.

Led by clinical dietitian Stacey Bailey, the support classes will be held in the hospitals conference room (enter through the Physicians Clinic). No RSVP is required and participants can bring their own lunch to eat during class.

People have so many concerns about food types, preparation, diets and supplements, said Bailey, M.S., R.D. and C.D.E. Please join me as I share some tips during these informal, free classes.

Bailey, who joined SYVCH as clinical dietitian in August 2011, provides inpatient and outpatient dietary management and counseling services. She also assists in the formulation of meal and menu planning specifically for the hospital.

SYVCH reports it treated 72,000 patients through its 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,400 newborns. One-on-one nutrition sessions with Bailey are available with a doctors referral.

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We are delighted to be able to offer these free, educational and fun classes taught by our popular clinical dietitian Stacey Bailey," said Wende Cappetta, SYVCHs vice president. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn how to achieve improved health and wellness with better food choices.

For more information, contact Bailey directly at 805-694-2351.

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Free nutrition and diabetes classes offered | Local News ... - Lompoc Record

Cutting back on sugar? So is much of the world.

The changecan be attributed to several factors, according to a new report from Rabobank,including warnings about rising obesity rates, government initiatives like soda taxes, and manufacturers commitments to reformulatingprocessed foods to lower their sugar content.

Nor are emerging markets likely to provide a robustalternative for the sugar industry. Rising incomes tend to slow the consumption ofprocessed foods, and sugar with them.

This whole movement has gone beyond the fad stage and become a trend, saidAndy Duff, a global strategist at RaboResearchand an author of the report. It does give the market a shake. Were saying its something you shouldnt dismiss.

The trend is evident at the grocery store and in the news.Snacks are getting healthier. People are drinking less soda. Processed foods once heavy on the corn syrupare being replaced with those bearingclean labels and shorter ingredients listsso artificial sweeteners arent taking sugars place.

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U.S. cities from Oakland to Philadelphiahave started taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, as have countries around the world, including Mexico, where two-thirds of the adult population is obese, and Mauritius, which has a major sugar-producing industry. Companiesare trying to meet consumer demands by announcing cuts to their sugar usage, with reductions or planned reductions coming from Mars Inc., Kellogg Co., Unilever NV, and plenty more.

Rising incomes incountries where sugar consumption has been growingare changing consumer habits, moving those regions from what the report calls sugarsrapid-growth zone to the moderate-growth zone.RaboResearch concludes thatthe rate of growth of global sugar consumption in the coming 15 years is likely to be lower than the growth rate seen in the last 15 years.

Because nobody directly measures sugar consumption, Duff said,were operating against a considerable degree of uncertainty.He stressedthat sugar consumption is still expected to grow, just at a slower pace than would have been projected a decade ago.

Were not talking about a reversal here, he said, predicting insteadshort-term turbulence and lower growth in the future.

Read more:
Sugar Consumption Is Slowing Amid Obesity and Diabetes ... - Bloomberg

A new initiative between IBM and JDRF, one of the leading groups funding the fight against type 1 diabetes, will apply machine learning to troves of worldwide research data accumulated over the years with the aim of uncovering commonalities that could point to diabetes risks in children.

The partnership is meant to give type 1 diabetes a foothold in emerging precision medicine efforts, officials say, combining JDRF's global research with the computing power of IBM.

Scientists will start by examining three separate data sets, applying algorithms to help spotlight certain patterns or common factors that might identify ways to delay or prevent type 1 diabetes in kids. The analytics tools will mine genetic, familial, autoantibody and other data to arrive at a set of features that is common to all three data sets.

[Also:IBM Watson thinks it can use AI to fight opioid addiction]

The models that emerge should quantify the risk for juvenile diabetes from the combined dataset using this foundational set of features, officials say. That will enable JDRF to better identify top predictive risk factors, cluster patients based on them and explore a number of data-driven models for predicting onset.

A bit further on, the partners have eyes toward putting big data to work helping understand root causes of type 1 diabetes and hope to apply analytics to more complex datasets, such as microbiome and genomics or transcriptomics data. The hope, of course, is to eventually put the insights gleaned from these projects toward a cure.

"JDRF supports researchers all over the world, but never before have we been able to analyze their data comprehensively, in a way that can tell us why some children who are at risk get T1D and others do not," said JDRF CEO Derek Rapp in a statement. "IBM's analysis of the existing data could open the door to understanding the risk factors of T1D in a whole new way, and to one day finding a way to prevent T1D altogether."

"Nearly 40,000 new cases of type 1 diabetes will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. And each new patient creates new records and new data points that, if leveraged, could provide additional understanding of the disease," said Jianying Hu, senior manager and program director at IBM Research's Center for Computational Health.

"The deep expertise our team has in artificial intelligence applied to healthcare data makes us uniquely positioned to help JDRF unlock the insights hidden in this massive data set and advance the field of precision medicine towards the prevention and management of diabetes," he said

Twitter:@MikeMiliardHITNEmail the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com

Excerpt from:
IBM aims machine learning at type 1 diabetes with JDRF partnership - Healthcare IT News

During my nurse residency program, I listened to a lecture about diabetes and what people with the disease live with every day. Only months later, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

At first I was devastated, but quickly realized I was not alone. About one in seven U.S. adults have diabetes, and California has the most new cases annually of any state. Diabetes is a chronic condition, so meticulous monitoring and management of blood-sugar levels is the key to avoiding complications. In the first year after my diagnosis, it was hard to get my levels just right. Thats when I turned to a continuous glucose monitoring system, which uses alarms and alerts when blood glucose reaches a life-threatening level.

But tens of thousands of Californians with diabetes senior citizens, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities cannot access these life-saving devices because while they are covered by health insurance for people like me, they arent covered by Medi-Cal.

Assembly Bill 447, which is making its way through the Legislature, would require Medi-Cal to cover continuous glucose monitors. AB 447 would not only help improve the lives of Medi-Cal patients, but also would help lower health care spending and save taxpayer money.

Health care costs for people with diabetes is 2.3 times higher than for those without, and a UCLA study found that 75 percent of hospital costs for patients with diabetes is paid by taxpayers. Patients without the glucose monitors are more likely to experience complications such as stroke, kidney disease, amputations and blindness. If AB 447 becomes law, the long-term savings would dwarf the short-term costs.

As a diabetes nurse educator and someone who manages diabetes every day, I can tell you that passing this bill will change the lives and improve the health of tens of thousands of low-income and senior Californians. AB 447 has bipartisan support, and if it reaches Gov. Jerry Browns desk, he should sign this lifesaving bill into law.

Read the original here:
Diabetes monitor bill will cut costs and save lives - Sacramento Bee

Diabetes is one of the largest health issues of the 21st century. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly29 million peoplehave diabetes in the U.S. 9.3 percent of the population.

How does the U.S. compare to other nations when it comes to levels of diabetes? Usingdata from theInternational Diabetes Federationto find the countries and territories with the highest rates of diabetes in 2015 (the most recent year available), the following is a ranking of countries with the highest diabetes rates in the world.

The report from the IDF includes levels of diabetes prevalence for people aged 20 to 79, as well as the number of diabetes-related fatalities and total number of diabetes cases. The IDF prevalence figures are age-adjusted to account for different age structures in various countries. For context, also included is the average amount spent per person with diabetes for each country, as reported by the IDF. These amounts are measured in international dollars, a hypothetical currency with the same purchasing power parity of U.S. dollars in the U.S. at a given point in time.

The data from the IDF includes the prevalence of bothType 1 and Type 2 diabetes(either diagnosed or undiagnosed). Type 1 occurs when the pancreas makes insufficient insulin; Type 2, the more common variety, occurs when the body has difficulty producing and using insulin.

The ranking is dominated by small island nations, particularly in the Pacific Islands. Many countries in this region have dealt withmalnutrition and inadequate food labeling, especially as they import more processed food. Countries in the Middle East also showed reported elevated levels of diabetes. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all made the top 10.

Note: Ties are broken by the number of diabetes-related deaths. There are countries where certain variables are not monitored and could not be extrapolated accurately by the IDF; these were therefore left blank.

Originally posted here:
The 25 countries with the highest diabetes rates - Fremont Tribune

Of all the medical tests expectant mothers undergo in the months before childbirth, perhaps one of the most important evaluates for gestational diabetes. This pregnancy-related conditionin which hormonal changes cause blood sugar levels to rise dangerouslyis increasingly common, but moms-to-be can still take key steps to protect their health and that of their babies.

According to a 2016 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 9 percent of pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The condition used to be relatively uncommon, but the rate has risen dramatically in recent years.

To evaluate for gestational diabetes, women between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy undergo a routine screening. This test is performed earlier in pregnancy if certain risk factors are present, inclusive of:

African-American, Native-American, Asian-American, Hispanic or Pacific Islander ethnicity

History of gestational diabetes

Presence of obesity

Prior delivery of a large infant (10 pounds or more)

History of stillbirth

Strong family history of diabetes

The test involves drinking a bottle of a glucose solution (called Glucola), and having blood drawn an hour later to analyze glucose levels. If a womans blood sugar is higher than 135 mg/dL, shes referred for whats called an oral glucose tolerance testa more stringent screening involving an overnight fast, consuming another glucose solution and having blood drawn four times over three hours. An abnormal result confirms the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes risks to mother and baby

Why is it important to test blood sugar levels during pregnancy? Because when levels rise and remain chronically high, gestational diabetes poses particular risks to both mom and baby.

Associated risks to the mother include the following:

Miscarriage

Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, a condition involving seriously high blood pressure that can harm both mother and child

Premature delivery, particularly if gestational diabetes is diagnosed before 24 weeks gestation

Delivering an overweight baby (more than 10 pounds), which raises the risk of requiring a cesarean birth

Associated risks to the baby include the following:

Fetal death caused by the excessively high sugar levels in the mothers blood

Birth-related injuries caused by larger size

Low blood sugar and electrolyte abnormalities in the neonate after birth

Premature birth

Temporary respiratory problems in the newborn

Jaundice or yellowing of the skin, which resolves with treatment

Unfortunately, not all risks to mom and baby from gestational diabetes disappear after childbirth. Half or more of women diagnosed with the condition during pregnancy will eventually develop type 2 diabetes. Research shows that children of women with gestational diabetes are at higher risks of developing type 2 diabetes.

Tips to control gestational diabetes

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, theres a lot that can be done to protect both moms and babys health despite the condition. Some cases can be managed without prescribing insulin. Implementation of regular exercise and dietary changes can effect good glucose control. Eating fewer sweets and smaller, more frequent meals can greatly affect blood sugar levels for the better.

Checking blood sugars regularly is an important tactic to ensure levels stay stable. Additionally, its important that you bring your sugar log to each prenatal visit, so your health provider can monitor your progress. If insulin is recommended by your doctor, make sure you take it as prescribed.

Kecia Gaither, M.D., MPH, FACOG, a perinatal consultant and womens health expert, is a double board-certified physician in OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine in New York City. http://www.keciagaither.com

Read this article:
Gestational diabetes: Tips for a healthy mom and baby - Amsterdam News

Wednesday, August 16, 2017 5:33 p.m. EDT

(Reuters) - Novo Nordisk A/S said on Wednesday its diabetes drug met the main goal of reducing glucose levels in patients in a key late-stage trial, setting the stage for it to become the new standard therapy for type 2 diabetes.

The 40-week trial tested two dosages of Novo's once-weekly drug, semaglutide, in addition to initial standard-of-care therapy metformin, against Eli Lilly and Co's dulaglutide plus metformin.

Novo Nordisk said its drug was statistically significant in reducing glucose levels and lowering body weight in about 1,200 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, when compared with dulaglutide.

Type 2 diabetes, closely linked to obesity, accounts for more than 90 percent of all diabetes cases.

The trial results could have been offset by an increase in cases of diabetic retinopathy, which leads to vision loss, Guggenheim analyst Tony Butler noted.

However, Novo Nordisk said on Wednesday the number of patients reporting an adverse event of diabetic retinopathy was low and comparable in both the arms.

"We are excited about the potential of semaglutide to set a new standard for treatment of type 2 diabetes," the company said.

Semaglutide and dulaglutide belong to the GLP-1 category of drugs which imitate an intestinal hormone that stimulates the production and absorption of insulin.

With both the drugs offering significant benefits, pricing will continue to be the most important factor in the diabetes space, Jefferies analyst Heffrey Holford said in a client note.

Lilly's dulaglutide, which is sold under the brand name Trulicity, is one of the main growth drivers of the drugmaker's success.

Dulaglutide generated sales of $480 million in the second quarter, accounting for about half of the company's new product sales.

"While we project that Lilly will retain its leadership position in the once-weekly segment, Novo has made headway with its oral formulation that could potentially shift the market dynamics in its favor over the longer term," Barclays analysts said.

(Reporting by Divya Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)

See more here:
Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug succeeds in key trial - WHTC