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'Animal House' actor Stephen Furst dies from diabetes complications KTNV Las Vegas Stephen Furst, the actor who played the hapless, beanie-wearing frat boy Flounder in the 1978 movie "Animal House," has died at age 63, his son, Nathan Furst, told CNN on Saturday. "It was from complications from diabetes," Nathan Furst said. "Over the ... Stephen Furst has died at the age 63 after a long battle with diabetesNEWS.com.au Stephen Furst dead at 63 after Animal House actor passes away due to complications with diabetesMirror.co.uk Stephen Furst, Flounder in 'Animal House,' dies at 63Minneapolis Star Tribune all 43 news articles »

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'Animal House' actor Stephen Furst dies from diabetes complications - KTNV Las Vegas

Sometimes its good to just be one of the gang.

This is certainly true for those dealing with Type 1 diabetes. And thats why Camp Hot Shots has become a favorite get-away destination for hundreds of youngsters ages 6-12 in central Nebraska since 2001.

Founded by Mary Lanning Heathcare and presented this year in partnership with Grace United Methodist Church, the two-day camp gives youngsters dealing with the disease a chance to bond with fellow diabetics without having to address those intrusive questions so often posed by their well-meaning but unmindful peers.

DeAnn Carpenter, program coordinator for Mary Lannings diabetes program, said the camp which is funded in part through donations from area organizations combines diabetes education and a host of fun activities to create an experience many campers have come to look forward to year after year.

More than 20 area children are taking part in this years long list of camp activities, which include: Boat rides and water play at Lake Hastings and Aquacourt Water Park, YMCA play, string art, balloon artist/magician Poppin Penelope, taekwondo, and more.

Its just a time for kids who have Type 1 diabetes to come together and realize theyre not alone, Carpenter said. A lot of them are the only ones in their school system or community who have Type 1 diabetes and maybe feel a little alone, having to take care of themselves. Its a time to bond and interact with people who have the same diagnosis as them.

For many campers, the camp has become an annual tradition, a place to bond with new found friends over shared activities. In some instances, it may be the only contact they have with their fellow diabetic companions each year.

For Braden Benjamin, 12, of Friend, this year marks his seventh go-around in the camp.

I like coming to the lake and swimming and tubing with my friends, he said. I get to see other diabetics that Im not around very often. I know most of them, but there are a few new ones every now and then.

I also like going to the YMCA. They have a bunch of different activities, like tennis and racquetball. You can go to the batting cage, and theres a pool there, too.

But its the camaraderie with fellow diabetics that makes the camp experience special to himself and fellow participants, he said.

The camp allows me to talk to other diabetics that I dont get to see very often. Its just nice to be around other people who share the disease that you have and know what it feels like. I hope to make more friends at the camp this year and get better at taking care of my diabetes. If my blood sugars are good I can pretty much do anything if I treat it beforehand.

Kordell Lovitt, 13, of Chapel, is attending the camp for the fourth straight year. Like most all of his fellow campers, he considers the lake activities the high water point of the two-day outing.

Im just swimming and having fun with my friends that I dont see a lot, he said. We talk about how we take care of our diabetes and how we treat our lows and highs. It (diabetes) is kind of stressful, but sometimes I just get over it.

And camp is a big reason for that, he said.

The others tell me what I dont do right and that I can do a better job of it, he said. I check on my blood sugars often here to keep them in range.

Having to explain himself and his limitations to non-diabetics day in and day out makes coming to camp seem even more of a getaway experience each year.

When people ask me, Why do you have to do this? its kind of weird and awkward, he said. Here, I dont have to tell them anything. I just want to have fun and pay attention to my diabetes.

Fourth-time camper Emmilly Berglund, 12, of Shelton said she felt right at home navigating the lakeside waters with friends of a feather.

I just like to come and see the other kids and talk to them about how everything is, she said. Its just enjoyable and relaxing to hang around other kids who have it (Type 1 diabetes). Im looking forward to the new activities they have this year like string art and going to the water park and learning new things.

Lee Wigert, 65, is a teacher at Hastings College and pastor of United Methodist churches in Juniata, Holstein and Kenesaw.

He, along with his wife, Diane, and son, Nate, 32, who has diabetes, have been donating their time giving boat and jet ski rides and sharing their back yard abutting Lake Hastings for the past decade.

Its just amazing the bonding experience that these children have, he said. The kids come back year after year and call you by name and you remember them. I spend about three days getting the house ready and tubes and trampoline blown up.

We make sure everybody gets on the boat. What they take away from this is that they know the adults care for them and are here to help them out.

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Diabetes camp educates, entertains - Hastings Tribune

Sally Hillerich Galla, Guest Contributor 3:13 p.m. ET June 15, 2017

Measuring blood sugar(Photo: Maya23K, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It might be old-fashioned, but as a young child growing up in Kentucky, I was taught never to reveal my age. Yet to understand my story, you have to start with a number: Im 65, and Im incredibly fortunate to be alive.

At the age of 24, my doctor gave me six months to live, along with one last hope: an emergency surgery to treat the endometriosis which was threatening my life. Thankfully, that surgery was a success.

But my medical journey was just beginning.

In the weeks after my surgery, I lost 30 pounds, and my vision was getting increasingly blurry. A trip back to my doctor confirmed a new, equally troubling and unrelated diagnosis: Type-1 diabetes. At the time, the outlook for Type-1 patients was grim.

Like every person with Type-1 Diabetes, not a day goes by that I dont spend thinking about and treating my disease. But there are some risk factors beyond our control, notably that Medicare, unlike nearly every private insurance plan, wont pay for some treatments that helpus stay healthy.

To start, it helps to understand that Type-1 Diabetes keeps your pancreas from producing insulin, so those of us living with the disease must inject the right amount of insulin ourselves, using everything from needles to traditional insulin pumps. Youve probably seen these pumps; a patch is connected by tubes to a device clipped to your belt or placed in your pocket.

More: New health bill even worse threat for Kentuckians | Comment

More: Poverty, obesity fuel Ky's diabetes epidemic

More: Help list: Learn to avoid or manage diabetes

Devices like this come with significant drawbacks. They cant get wet, and patients with neuropathy and arthritis have a hard time connecting and re-connecting the tubes multiple times a day. However, they do have one major benefit: theyre covered by Medicare.

The device I use called an Omnipod isnt.

My Omnipod is a wireless pump; a small pod that can be worn nearly anywhere and is connected wirelessly to a device about the size of a cell phone, which doesnt have to be clipped to your clothing. Instead, it just has to be close by.

And this is where that bureaucratic thinking comes in. All other insulin pumps are paid for under Medicare Part B because theyre considered durable medical equipment.

But the Omnipod isnt.

Thats because the Omnipod is different. Each of the pods lasts three days. Once its supply of insulin is used up, you replace it with another. You keep the cell phone-sized transmitter, which connects wirelessly to each new pod. Yet even though it has been approved by the FDA for 12 years, Medicare still wont cover it.

Medicares non-coverage policy is in conflict with Congresss intent, which was to promote medical innovation. Back in 2003, they passed the Medicare Modernization Act, which made it clear: new technologies not covered under Part B should be covered under Part D, which covers medicines. Medicare hasnt used that authority to cover the Omnipod either. But it should.

Because Omnipod isnt covered under Medicare, the Federal government is forcing seniors like me to abandon the treatment we need.

Now Im fortunate: After paying out of pocket since I turned 65, I recently found out that my Express Scripts Medicare Advantage plan has decided to stop mirroring Medicares policy. Thanks to that decision, I will get the coverage I need. But millions of people arent as fortunate they rely on other Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans where Omnipod still isnt covered.

Every major diabetes patient and medical advocacy group agrees: There should be no reason why the Omnipod remains the only FDA-approved insulin pump not covered by Medicare. Theyve urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover the Omnipod. And Im urging them now, too.

Medicare should cover Omnipod, because it is a critical part of my medical plan. I shouldnt be forced to lose it just because Ive turned 65and neither should any other senior.

A small business owner, Sally Hillerich Galla is a 40-year veteran of the health insurance industry who lives in Eastern Jefferson County with her husband, Patrick.

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Expand coverage for diabetes treatment | Sally Hillerich Galla - The Courier-Journal

Heres another reason to eat your greens.

A powder containing a chemical found in broccoli sprouts is capable of lowering blood sugar levels of persons with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published Wednesday byScience Transitional Medicine.

The powder contains a highly concentrated dose of sulforaphane, according to study co-author Anders Rosengren of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Were very excited about the effects weve seen and are eager to bring the extract to patients, Rosengren toldNew Scientist.We saw a reduction of glucose of about 10 percent, which is sufficient to reduce complications in the eyes, kidneys and blood.

Rosengren and his colleagues conducted a 12-week experiment, with 97 people with type 2 diabetes taking either the sulforaphane powder or a placebo, The Scientist reported. Most of the participants continued to take metformin, a drug used to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Rosengrens team discovered that the broccoli extract was able to reduce the participants blood glucose level by 10 percent compared to those who took the placebo, The Scientist reported.

More research is needed to see if this repurposed drug can be used to treat type 2 diabetes, as it was only tested in a small number of people and only helped a subset of those who are taking it, said Elizabeth Robertson, director of research atDiabetes UK. She told New Scientist thatfor now, we recommend that people continue with the treatment prescribed by their healthcare team.

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Study: Broccoli extract lowers blood sugar for type 2 diabetes patients - Atlanta Journal Constitution

This August, Stephanie and Michael Honig of Honig Vineyard and Winery will host a special party on their property in Rutherford to raise money for a nonprofit diabetes organization called Beyond Type 1.

The party at Honig is just one stop on an epic, 10-week adventure for Team Bike Beyond, a cycling team composed of 20 international riders living with Type 1 diabetes. As they pedal their way from New York City to San Francisco, they will spread the word about Type 1 while showing the world what it means to live Beyond Type 1.

The event, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9 at Honig Vineyard and Winery will raise money and awareness for Type 1 Diabetes.

Musician Nick Jonas, Juliet de Baubigny, Sarah Lucas and Sam Talbot founded Beyond Type 1 in 2015, and 100 percent of every dollar raised directly supports the most promising global efforts and programs working to educate, advocate and cure Type 1 diabetes.

Type 1, which affects more than 420 million people globally, is an autoimmune disease that can happen to anyone, can present at any age, and is not related to diet or lifestyle. The Honigs oldest daughter, Sophia, who recently turned 10, was diagnosed with Type 1 at the age of 5, changing the family dynamic forever.

No parent should ever be told that their child has a life-threatening, incurable disease. We will continue to do everything in our power until a cure is found, said Stephanie Honig.

Rep. Mike Thompson said, The Honigs have been tireless advocates for Sophia and the millions of other children and families living with Type 1 diabetes. Their efforts are more important than ever as federal funding for medical research comes under attack.

On the afternoon of the event, the Napa County Sheriffs Office, along with county officials, will escort and welcome the 20 bike riders into Napa County.

There are 11 restaurants hosting food stations: Brasswood, Brix Restaurant, Charlie Palmer, The Cliff Familys Bruschetteria, Crisp Kitchen and Juice, Elaine Bell Catering, Heritage Eats, Model Bakery, Mustards Grill, Oakville Grocery and Prabh Indian Kitchen.

Wine will be provided by Honig Vineyard and Winery, Beran, Dutch Henry, Jordan, Luna, St. Supery and Vineyard 29, with cocktails from Charbay. Music for the event will be provided by Groovetronix Productions. Classic Party Rentals is donating all of the party equipment, furnishing and supplies.

Sponsors of this event include Darioush, Trinchero Family Estates, Breakthrough Beverage Group, Chuck Wagner from Caymus Family Wines, David Drucker from Empire Merchants, St Helena Hospital, The Rudd Foundation, American AgCredit, Jelly Belly Candy Company, Jamie Kurtzig and Family, Nomacorc/Vinventions.

For more information, contact stephanie@honigwine.com or visit https://beyondtype1.org/event/bike-beyond-party-napa-valley-california/.

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Honig family planning diabetes fundraiser - Napa Valley Register

A chemical called sulforaphane could be a new option for people with Type 2 diabetes who need help managing their blood sugar.

In a studyjust published inScience Translational Medicine, researchers randomized 97 people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes to take a concentrated broccoli sprout extract containingsulforaphane once a day for 12 weeks or a placebo with the same regimen. All but three of the participants were taking metformin, a standard treatment for controlling blood sugar.

Broccoli at a market in Vienna. A new study shows yet another health benefit for the vegetable: A chemical it contains could help people with Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar. Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

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Glucose production was reduced among patients taking the ultraconcentrated sulforaphane. The compound improved fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin, or HbA1c, an indicatorof blood sugar levels in obese patients with dysregulated Type 2 diabetes. And sulforaphane also showed a protective effect against some complications linked to diabetes, such as neuropathy and kidney failure.

How did the researchers light upon sulforaphane as a blood sugar manager? Genetics and math. Led by Annika Axelsson, of Lund University Diabetes Centre in Sweden, the scientists created a genetic profile for Type 2 diabetes based on 50 key genes, alterations of which are associated with the disease. They then screened 3,852 different compounds to find any that might reverse that genetic signature. Sulforaphane stood out.

Before studying the compound in humans, Axelsson and colleagues first gave sulforaphane to animals.In rats with diabetes, the compound, which occurs naturally in cruciferous vegetables, had the intended effect, reversing the genetic signature in the animals livers. The chemical also controlled blood sugar at a level comparable to metformin.

The human study that followed indicated that concentrated sulforaphane could be a viable treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Because up to 15 percent of the 300 million people with Type 2 diabetes worldwide cannot take metformin due to the risk of kidney damage, new ways to help patients manage blood sugar are needed. The researchers emphasize that high doses of sulforaphane cannot yet be recommended to patients as a drug treatment, the study results are a clear sign that the approach is worth pursuing.

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Sulforaphane, a Chemical in Broccoli, May Help Diabetics Control Blood Sugar - Newsweek

For about a week, Griffin Kyes will get to be a normal child at summer camp. He'll do all the traditional camp activities: running through the woods, swimming, watching skits and playing in the GaGa ball pit his favorite.

Along the way, Kyes will also master how to control his Type 1 diabetes.

"I've learned that you need to control your diabetes or else your body could get really harmed," said the soon-to-be fifth-grader at Pioneer Elementary School in Bismarck.

This will be Kyes third time at Camp Sioux, which is for children ages 8 to 15 who have diabetes. It's the only camp like it in the state, located in Park River, just northwest of Grand Forks.

Camp Sioux is sponsored by various organizations, including several Lions Clubs, such as the one in Mandan. The American Diabetes Association runs the camp, according to Carol Holten, associate manager of community health strategies for the Midwest Division of the ADA.

"We just want them to be normal kids and know that their diabetes won't hold them back," Holten said.

The kids do this while also learning independence. There aren't any formal educational sessions or classes, but instead "teachable moments," Holten said.

There will be dietitians to help count carbs. Some of the children will learn to take an insulin shot for the first time.

Kyes was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 4 years old. His mother, Lisa Rask, said the chronic disease doesn't run in the family, and she began noticing Kyes' symptoms, such as being constantly thirsty, weak and wetting the bed,when he was younger.

It was super hard to drop him off the first year when a kid is diabetic you cant just let them go to a party or sleepover, it doesnt work like that," she said. "When you walk into camp, you have a parent meeting and they line up all the nurses and doctors, and you just feel better."

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2014

In 2014, about 49,000 adults in North Dakota were living with diagnosed diabetes, and an estimated 37 percent of the population, or more than 202,000 people, had prediabetes.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 is most common in people under age 20, and it occurs when insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are damaged. In this instance, little or no insulin is produced, and patients need insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in people who produce insulin, but not enough. This type can be managed by controlling a person's weight, diet, regular exercise or by taking oral medicine or insulin injections.

There are some serious complications associated with diabetes, including lower limb amputation, blindness, kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.

Holten said 150 children plan to attend Camp Sioux this year, which will be held Saturday through next Thursday. This year's registration is up from 134 in 2016. She said the increase in children attending the camp can be attributed to a general rising trend in the number of children with diabetes, but also to more doctors getting the word out to newly diagnosed patients.

Such gatherings aim to help children control the disease while also helping them meet others who are experiencing the same things. Many of the camp counselors are former campers.

"Many of the younger kids aspire to (become a counselor), and the older kids love being able to be in that staff position," Holten said.

KateyNick, a nurse and diabetes educator at Sanford Health in Bismarck, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3.

"I don't remember it any other way," said Nick, 26, who has gone to Camp Sioux on and off since she was 8 years old.

Nick has been a camper, counselor and, this year, she'll go back as a nurse.

"Growing up, I didn't really want to take care of myself. I wanted to be a normal teenager; eat what I wanted," said Nick, who struggled to control her diabetes.

But the camp helped her feel normal, and she's made some lifelong friends along the way.

"It helps kids really learn that they're not so different. They have this chronic disease, but it's manageable," Nick said.

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Children with diabetes find comfort at camp - Bismarck Tribune

Here are some data to file under Drugs do things that we dont expect. The SGLT-2 inhibitors are a class of diabetes medications that work by inhibiting the sodium/glucose transporter 2 protein in the kidneys. That keeps glucose from being reabsorbed there; instead, more of it is removed in the urine, and that lowers circulating glucose levels. One side effect, as you might imagine, is an increased risk of urinary tract infections, but overall, the class seems to have a lot of beneficial effects.

Too many beneficial effects, actually. One of the major drugs in this category, Jardiance (empagliflozin) from Boehringer and Lilly (NYSE:LLY), has recently been the subject of a big outcomes trial by the two companies. And the results were good the drug reduced cardiovascular mortality, all-causes mortality, and hospitalizations from heart failure. Good news! But when the team dug further into the data, things got weird. Youd think that these benefits would be due to reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lower LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, etc. But when they corrected for all these factors, the effects persisted.

Its quite clear that the results that we see from the drugmakers Empa-Reg Outcome studyincluding the 38% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular deathreally is not explained through these classical risk factors we have all been aware of for some decades now, Thomas Seck, Boehringers VP of clinical development and medical affairs for its primary care unit, said in an interview.

So what the heck is it explained by? At this point, no one knows. This is reminiscent of the situation with statins, whose good outcomes are not completely explained by their reduction of LDL levels. This should serve as a reminder that (1) there are a lot of biochemical mechanisms that we dont know about yet and (2) the ones that we know about arent necessarily as important as weve made them out to be.

Meanwhile, at the same ADA meeting where these results where released, J&J presented data on their own SGLT-2 inhibitor, Invokana (canaglifozin). And with this one, too, patients were notably less likely to suffer cardiovascular events, which is good news. But there was also an unexpected increased in the risk of amputation (which is already a risk in advanced Type II diabetes patients). This is not something thats turned up with the other SGLT-2 compounds so far, and is also a mystery.

We do not know what a new drug is going to do, not really, until its gone into a large patient population. And that means, most of the time, until its made it to the market. Clinical trials are absolutely necessary to clear out the biggest, most noteworthy problems, and will show you the biggest, most noteworthy benefits that can be shown in the time it takes to run the trial. But the longer, more subtle things (or the ones that happen in very low incidence) will only appear once the drug is out there in the real world, being taken by a large number of people under all kinds of conditions.

Disclosure: None.

Originally posted here:
2 Diabetes Drug Mysteries - Seeking Alpha

From left, Rebecca Merriman (Medtronic), Melissa Louis (Medtronic), Shelley Blonheim (Insulin Pump User), Laura Cameron (Medtronic), Linda Hepner (Surrey Mayor), Neil Fraser (Medtronic) cut the ribbon to officially open a new Medtronic diabetes resource centre in Surrey. (Submitted photo)

Fraser Health says Surrey and Abbotsford have the largest proportion of diabetics in the region

SURREY Canadas first Medtronic Resource Centre for patients with diabetes held its grand opening in Surrey this Wednesday (June 14).

Located on the main floor of the City Centre 1 building across the street from Surrey Memorial Hospital, the new centre will serve as a one-stop shop for those with diabetes.

Its intended to be able to provide support in between clinic visits, explained Laura Cameron director of Medtronic Canadas Diabetes Group. To allow them to better utilize their technology so that they can have better support in managing their diabetes. We hope it will provide additional support to the clinics who will be doing some of the less-basic things with them. Well take care of some of the stuff in between.

The goal, she noted, is to elevate their ability to manage their disease and as a result, have better outcomes and fewer complications, thus, improving lives.

The new centre will offer insulin pump classes, lessons on CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) and educate patients on carb counting and best travel practices.

The centre, within the Innovation Boulevard health tech district, will also provide networking opportunities and one-on-one time with certified insulin pump trainers.

Cameron said Surrey was chosen as the location for their centre because of the high prevalence of diabetes in the city, and all of Fraser Health.

Its estimated that 29 per cent of British Columbians (or 1.5 million people) have either diabetes or pre-diabetes. Over the last decade, the province has seem a 74 per cent spike in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes and by 2027, its projected to grow by another 44 per cent.

According to Fraser Health, Surrey and Abbotsford have the largest proportion of diabetics within its region, which the health authority says may be due to the large South Asian populations living there.

Surrey diabetes specialist Dr. Chris Mahony said the centre has been much anticipated as a real-world solution to a real-world problem, offering post-marketing care of our clients on an intensive insulin regimen using Medtronic insulin pump technology.

He said the centre will raise the bar to a new level of support.

Jodie Steen has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 31 years and started on her first insulin pump almost 17 years ago.

It has given me so much freedom and better blood sugar control than multiple daily injections, she aid. More recently, I have been wearing CGM on a regular basis which has resulted in the best A1C I have had in years.

Steen said she looks forward to having the access to experts at her convenience.

Cameron said thats why she does what she does to help people live better lives.

We hear stories about parents who had their first good night sleep since their child was diagnosed, as a result of being able to trust the pump, said Cameron. Thats why were so passionate. Its very rewarding.

The new Medtronics Resource Centre is located in the City Centre 1 building, located at 13737 96th Ave.

amy.reid@surreynowleader.com

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Canada's first Medtronic diabetes resource centre opens in Surrey - Surrey Now-Leader

People with diabetes do not get to pick and choose when they want to deal with it. Diabetes is an ongoing disease that requires 24/7 work. But does having diabetes stop people from living their life to the fullest?

There are probably many different answers to that question. According to Ginger Vieira, the author of, Dealing with Diabetes Burnout, on a daily basis, she tries to balance three things: diabetes, life, and happiness.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to control the bodys blood sugar levels. Because of the daily testing of blood sugar and the management of the disease through medication, activity and diet, people with diabetes can feel, as described by Linda Von Wartburg in Diabetes Health, ground down by the appalling endlessness of self-care. This causes burnout, which, in the context of diabetes, means ignoring blood sugar levels and neglecting the diet. This can harm a persons health and contribute to diabetes complications.

Experts advise making good enough the goal, rather than perfection when it comes to blood sugar readings. Striving for perfection can cause frustration, which can lead to people abandoning checking their sugar in fear of another bad reading. Other ways to avoid burnout include: learning more about diabetes, working with doctors to come up with a plan when you are overwhelmed by self-care, and joining diabetes support groups.

Although a person with diabetes may get burned out, they dont have to stay that way. Seeking help from health care providers, family and friends can get them back to living their life to the fullest.

Resources: Vieira, G. (2014). Dealing with diabetes burnout: how to recharge and get back on track when you feel frustrated and overwhelmed living with diabetes. New York: Demos Health. Von Wartburg, L. (2007). Diabetes Burnout. Diabetes Health, 16(3), 27-29. http://www.joslin.org/info/avoid_diabetes_burnout.html http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/type-2-diabetes-live-better-guide/maintain-motivation/ http://www.diabetes.co.uk/emotions/diabetes-burnout.html

Content for this segment was created by Sidney Brockmeyer as part of a project for SC301: Foundations of Health Communication, taught by Ms. Clubbs.

Read more here:
Diabetes Burnout - KRCU

BBC News

Family's mission to raise profile of type one diabetes BBC News The family of a teenager who died from type one diabetes has made it "their mission" to raise the profile of the condition. Peter Baldwin, 13, from Cardiff, died in 2015, just days after he was diagnosed. His family are working closely with Diabetes UK ... and more »

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Family's mission to raise profile of type one diabetes - BBC News

By Garrett Ohlmeyer Staff Writer

An 11-year-old from Raceland will be joining about 160 other kids and celebrities in Washington, D.C., next month to advocate continued support of Type 1 diabetes research.

Rory Monier was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2007 when he was just 2 years old.This fall, he will be a seventh-grader at Lockport Middle School, and he doesnt let his disease stop him from being a normal kid. Monier plays on a soccer team, plays drums in his middle school band and is involved in school clubs.

He said he was happy to be selected by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to represent those who have the disease and to share his family's story with Congress.

I want my congressman to know that kids battling Type 1 diabetes have a constant reminder that we have diabetes every time we eat or want to take part in activities, Monier said. We have daily schedules that are important in saving our lives.

The children and other delegates will share personal experiences and explain the daily struggles associated with living with the disease. The goal is to push for continued support of the Special Diabetes Program, which pays for research projects related to the disease. The program is set to expire Sept. 30.

Nine celebrities will join the children in the event. They include athletes and actors.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that causes a person's pancreas to stop producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to gain energy from food. This happens when the immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas that create the insulin.

Since Moniers diagnosis, his family has been involved with the foundation and has raised about $123,000 over the past nine years, said his mother, Kristy Monier.

Rory will travel to the nations capitol to participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Childrens Congress July 24-26. He was selected out of six applicants in Louisiana and more than 1,300 throughout the country.

-- Staff Writer Garrett Ohlmeyer can be reached at (985) 850-1149 or garrett.ohlmeyer@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @GOhlmeyer.

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Raceland boy to advocate diabetes research - Daily Comet

Johnson & Johnson still faces troubles over its Invokana diabetes drug. (Kadmy-Fotolia/stock.adobe.com)

Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) diabetes drug, Invokana, cut down on cardiovascular events during a long-termstudy but Eli Lilly (LLY) stands to benefit most asdoctors steer clear of the medication on worries it increased the risk of amputation.

The study, dubbed Canvas, was presented late Monday. In it, Dow stock Johnson & Johnson said Invokana reduced the risk of cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack and nonfatal stroke by 14% vs. a non-drug placebo.

Additional analysis showed that Invokana lowered the risk of hospitalization for heart failure by 33%. Invokana also delayedthe progression of albuminuria the presence of a specific chemical in the urine indicating kidney disease.

RBC analyst Glenn Novarro says the Canvas study is unlikely to reverse the negative trajectory of Invokana sales. In the first quarter, Invokana and Invokamet sales dropped 17% year over year. For 2017, Novarro forecasts a 6% dip in sales to $1.2 billion.

Eli Lilly, on the other hand, will benefit from Johnson & Johnson's study as Merck (MRK) trails, analysts say.Lilly's Jardiance is a SGLT2 inhibitor, which works by helping the kidneys to lower blood glucose levels. Merck's Januvia is a DPP-4, which blocks glucagon release, triggering insulin secretion.

"Validated cardiovascular benefits should boost the SGLT2 class," Credit Suisse analyst Vamil Divan wrote. In a similar study, Lilly's Jardiance also showed a 14% benefit on cardiovascular outcomes. Jardiance also cut the risk of cardiovascular death and all mortality.

Even without the Canvas study, Lillywaspoised to grab a chunk of Invokana's sales after the Food and Drug Administration required Johnson & Johnson to warn physicians of the potential for amputation associated with Invokana.Invokana doubled the risk of amputation in a recent study.

Experts cited by Leerink analyst Seamus Fernandez say the amputation worry could be the "biggest differentiating factor" in physicians' decision to prescribe Jardiance over Invokana, as both show a similar cardiovascular benefit in diabetes patients.

At the close on the stock market today, Johnson & Johnson stock ticked up 0.2% to finish the regular trading session at 132.02. Lilly stock added 0.4% to 81.25 and shares of diabetes drugmaker Merck dipped 1% to end the day at 63.27.

IBD'S TAKE:Johnson & Johnson stock has an IBD Composite Rating of 77, meaning it outperforms more than three-quarters of all stocks in terms of key growth metrics. For more of IBD's ratings visit IBD Stock Checkup.

Meanwhile, the DPP-4 class of diabetes drugs, which includes Merck's Januvia, could face incremental pressure, Credit Suisse's Divan said.

"Over time, however, we expect the enthusiastic response to the Canvas efficacy data driving use of the SGLT2 class earlier in the course of treatment, while concurrently pushing the DPP-4s further back," he said in a note to clients.

Merck and Pfizer (PFE), a Dow stock, are jointly working on an SGLT2 inhibitor called ertugliflozin.Regulators could approve the drug in December, but it won't have data on cardiovascular outcomes for several years.Pfizer will take a chunk of thosesales, meaning a shift from Januvia toertugliflozin will be a net negative for Merck.

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Dow's J&J Hosted A Diabetes Study And Lilly Will Benefit Most - Investor's Business Daily

Johnson & Johnson's type 2 diabetes drug Invokana significantly reduced the risk of serious heart problems in patients with established heart disease or at elevated risk in a pair of large studies, according to data presented at a medical meeting on Monday.

The medicine also led to a reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure and protection against kidney function decline. But the risk of amputations, particularly of toes or feet, was double versus placebo in the studies of 10,142 patients with type 2 diabetes.

On the study's main goal Invokana, known chemically as canagliflozin, reduced the combined risk of heart-related death, nonfatal heart attack and nonfatal stroke by a statistically significant 14 percent compared with placebo.

"What we actually got here was not just evidence of safety but evidence of benefit," said lead investigator Bruce Neal, professor of medicine at the University of New South Wales Sydney.

"It's a really positive result. This (heart disease) is the main thing that people with diabetes die from," said Neal, who presented the data at the American Diabetes Association meeting in San Diego.

The study was required to prove Invokana did not cause heart complications. The expectation bar was raised, however, after rival drug Jardiance from Eli Lilly and Co and Boehringer Ingelheim in 2015 demonstrated heart protective qualities in a similar large trial. Reduction of heart-related death is now included in the Jardiance label.

"We look forward to working with the FDA and regulators around the world with respect to getting this in the label," James List, head of cardiovascular and metabolism for J&J's Janssen unit, said of the new data.

Two-thirds of patients had confirmed heart disease and the rest were deemed at high risk. They were followed for an average of about four years.

The number of amputations was small but about double that of the placebo group. A warning of increased amputation risk was added to Invokana's prescribing label after it was discovered by safety monitors during an interim analysis of the study.

"Care is warranted in the use of canagliflozin in patients at risk for amputation," a New England Journal of Medicine article on the study said.

Invokana is the market leader among a newer class of type 2 diabetes treatments called SGLT-2 inhibitors, along with Jardiance and AstraZeneca Plc's Farxiga. They work by removing blood sugar through the urine.

Results from a large Farxiga heart safety trial are expected in 2019.

"I think we're going to see much greater use of canagliflozin and the class in type 2 diabetes," Neal said.

Invokana and related combination treatment Invokamet had sales $284 million in the first quarter, J&J reported.

(Reporting by Bill Berkrot in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

A federal jury has cleared Bayer AG and Johnson & Johnson of liability in the second trial to stem from thousands of lawsuits blaming injuries on the blood thinner Xarelto, the drug companies said on Monday.

Influential proxy firm ISS on Monday turned up the heat on Mylan NV, advising its institutional clients to voice their dissatisfaction with the generic drugmaker's board of directors and its chairman's pay package at its June 22 shareholder meeting.

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J&J diabetes drug shows heart benefit in large safety study - Reuters

This overestimate could lead a doctor to target a black patient's blood sugar levels aggressively, causing dangerously low blood sugar.

"I believe our study, for the first time, definitively shows there is a component of higher A1c that is due to biologic or genetic differences in glucose attaching to the red blood cell," said Dr. Richard Bergenstal, executive director of the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis and lead author of the study.

The study notes that race only partially explains the hemoglobin A1c differences, and more research is needed to identify social and economic factors that may influence blood sugar levels in various groups of people.

For black patients in America, who have traditionally faced a history of barriers and disadvantages in health care, those factors might also include having limited access to care or medications.

Bergenstal offered one specific question that concerned patients could ask their doctors: "Are we depending just on the hemoglobin A1c to measure how my diabetes control is doing, or are we actually looking at the blood sugars to get a little better reflection of my blood sugars?"

He added that "the A1c, you know, is kind of an average marker, and no patient is average. One of our take-home messages is, it's probably time to be looking at blood sugars and personalizing therapy for each individual a little more than just this average blood sugar test."

In the US, type 2 accounts for about 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which occurs most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age, accounts for about 5%.

High hemoglobin A1c levels tend to correlate with complications, Bergenstal said.

"Glucose attaching on to proteins in the eye, kidney, nerve and blood vessels may be one way diabetes with high glucose is part of the cause of complications -- like blindness, kidney disease and nerve disease and amputations," he said.

The new study included data on 104 black patients and 104 white patients with type 1 diabetes. The data were taken from 10 diabetes centers across the US between October 2015 and January of 2017.

Bergenstal has received grants from and served on consulting/advisory boards for Abbott Diabetes Care, as well as other health-care companies, including Novo Nordisk, Becton Dickinson, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson, during the conduct of the study.

The researchers found that the average hemoglobin A1c levels in black patients were higher than those in white patients, with a difference of about 0.8 percentage points. Based on the average glucose concentrations in the patients, however, the difference should have been only about 0.4 percentage points, the researchers found.

Yet the study came with limitations.

"We didn't study type 2, but I think there's no reason to think the pathophysiology or the chemistry of how glucose attaches to red cells is any different in type 2 than type 1," Bergenstal said.

"We just studied non-Hispanic African-Americans," he added. "We did not study Asians or Native Americans or Hispanics to see if there is a difference from whites, but we have a good model of how to test that in the future."

Other diabetes researchers also have called for more research, but not necessarily with a focus on race.

The new study calls for more focus on personalized medicine, taking into account a patient's ethnic background as well as other factors, said Dr. Alvin Powers, president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association and a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

"The A1c is an important measurement that the person with diabetes should know and should monitor with his or her health care provider, because if the A1c is elevated, your chance of having diabetes-related complications increases," said Powers, who was not involved in the new study.

"So, moving the A1c as close to the goal determined by the patient and his or her doctor is important, but this study shows that in interpreting the A1c, there may be some variation, whether an individual is of African-American descent or of Caucasian descent," Powers said.

Though interesting, the new study findings should be interpreted with caution and not necessarily be applied clinically until more research is conducted, said Dr. Leonard Egede, a professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, who was not involved in the study.

"The key thing is that when you look at racial differences, we have social factors, clinical factors, and we also have what some people would consider genetic factors. I think the social and environmental factors are larger contributors to differences than the genetic factors," Egede said. "When you look at what they're describing, the idea that glucose variability may differ ... I don't think that's enough to neglect the fact that we actually have major issues around access to care, quality of care, access to medications."

He added that the study "should not detract from the core message we've been trying to get across to patients, which is that they need to take ownership of their disease, and they need to be very aggressive in their diet, their physical activity and taking their medication."

All in all, "these findings suggest next steps for the field," they wrote.

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Why a key diabetes test may work differently depending on your race - CNN

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North DeSoto pitcher E.C. Delafield (right) has awarded her $1,000 stipend from Gatorade to the fight against diabetes in honor of Max Abernathy.(Photo: Jimmy Watson/The Times)Buy Photo

STONEWALL Max Abernathy sat curled up in a chair inside the North DeSoto field house Monday afternoon with his knees pulled up over his chin and his face partially hidden by his knees. No amount of encouragement could get the 7-year-old Stonewall youngster, who battles juvenile diabetes on a daily basis, to sit on the leg of Lady Griffins pitcher extraordinaire E.C. Delafield for a photo opportunity. The son of North DeSoto football coach and athletic director Scott Abernathy, Max has spent a lot of time around Delafield and the team that has won three consecutive LHSAA Class 4A state softball titles. Delafield babysat for Max during the past couple of years and the duo developed a bond.

EC Delafield and Max Abernathy talk about diabetes Jimmy Watson/The Times

Thats why the recent NDHS graduate and Northwestern State signee has decided where to assign the $1,000 stipend shell receive from The Gatorade Company for recently being selected the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. I have decided to give the money to Shreveport Diabetes Sports, Inc. because of my buddy Max right here, Delafield said patting the youngster on the back as he leaned forward in his chair. Max has been a big part of my life since I came here to North DeSoto. Hes one of my best buds. Abernathy has watched his idol hurl inning after inning of softball to become perhaps the most decorated softball player in northwest Louisiana in at least a decade. She was the Most Valuable Player in the state title game after pitching and hitting the Lady Griffins (31-3) to a 10-0 run-rule-shortened victory over West Ouachita. She was chosen the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Outstanding Player on the recently released Class 4A All-State team. Her community service includes annually working in the Gladiators for Maximus, a 5K run designed to benefit the fight against diabetes through the SDS, Inc. Lindsay and Scott Abernathy serve on the board of the organization. Im really excited, said Max about Delafield selecting SDS, Inc. for the funding. She is really good. Delafield said she thanks all of the people who assist with the run. Its fun to see the people come out and support this little guy, she said. The donation is another step in a fight against a disease that affects at least 12 percent of the population and that can be especially difficult to control on youngsters like Max. When I feel low, I feel like my energy is half full, Max said. When Im low, I eat and I drink. Anyone who would like to help can donate at shreveportdiabetessports.com. Twitter: @JimmyWatson6

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North DeSoto's Delafield opts to support diabetes fight - Shreveport Times

A mans finger is pricked to test cholesterol and blood sugar on August 13, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. Rick Gershon / Getty Images

Tests done in 67 adults with type-1 diabetes showed the drug appeared to boost their body's own production of insulin, Dr. Stephen Gitelman of the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine told a meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

On average the people that got the medicine used less insulin, Gitelman told NBC News.

He stressed that it is a small trial meant to show the drug can safely do in people what it did in mice.

We just wanted to get a sense if this showed some benefit in adults so we could get to the target population in kids, Gitelman said.

The conservative estimate is that beta cell function was maybe 19 percent better at one year. So its not a slam-dunk home run.

About 5 percent of the

Its an autoimmune disease, caused when the body mistakenly destroys pancreatic cells that produce hormones like insulin and glucagon that control blood sugar. High glucose levels damage tiny blood vessels, which in turn can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. People can lose toes, feet or legs to amputation.

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When levels fall too low, patients can pass out and sometimes die.

There's no cure and the only treatment is to keep blood sugar under tight control with diet and insulin.

Most people with type-1 diabetes must constantly check their blood sugar throughout the day, administering insulin according to what they are eating and how much they are exercising.

If those dying pancreatic cells could be saved, they might have to do this less often.

That would be one potential pathway -- to use the drug to try to get in as early as possible when there are still as many beta cells remaining as possible and to slow down progression and potentially even keep people off insulin, said Andy Rakeman, director of discovery research at JDRF, the diabetes research charity that funded the study.

Its estimated that people at the time they are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes that they have anywhere between 10 and 15 or maybe even 40 percent of their beta cells still remaining, Rakeman added.

Some people maintain beta cell function for years. We used to think all or nearly all of the beta cells are destroyed very rapidly.

The organization is paying for research looking at several ways to preserve these cells. Gleevec would be a good candidate because its been around for nearly 20 years and while it causes side-effects such as a vomiting and rash, they are usually not severe in the diabetes patients.

Its taking an old drug and repurposing it for a new use, Rakeman said.

Gleevec, known generically as imatinib, and Sutent, known generically as sunitinib, interfere with an enzyme called tyrosine kinase. In patients with cancers such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, cutting back on this enzyme stops the cancer.

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Cancer patients who also had autoimmune diseases who took Gleevec and Sutent reported that the drugs also appeared to ease the symptoms of the other conditions. Thats when a team at UCSF started testing Gleevec in mice bred to develop diabetes.

Gitelman says his team believes Gleevec may be taking some of the pressure off the pancreatic beta cells.

He is a little worried his study may be misunderstood. The team just finished the research last week and theyve rushed to put together a quick presentation to the Diabetes Association meeting. It will be weeks before they can analyze the data and put it into a form that can be reviewed by other experts in a medical journal.

Its early and the message could be misconstrued, Gitelman said.

This definitely does not show that Gleevec is curing type 1 diabetes, Rakeman stressed.

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Plus, Gleevec is expensive.

It costs more than $140,000 a year, according to Dr. Hagop Kantarjian of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the original Gleevec trial leaders. A generic version, however, costs $400 in India.

Link:
Cancer Drug Gleevec Might Slow Type-1 Diabetes - NBCNews.com

At 58, Oscar-nominated actress Angela Bassett has played a wide range of roles and now shes set to be part of the ground breaking new movie, Black Panther, the first Marvel Comic book movie to feature a black super hero.

Its thrilling you know, its all new to me, the whole super hero and huge franchise [movies], said Bassett. It was cast from actors from all over the globe. I think that fans have been asking for it, looking for it, expecting it, and youre going to be satisfied.

The movie is slated to hit theaters next year and casts Bassett as mother of superhero TChalla, the Black Panther. Bassett co-stars with Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong'o.

She was also recently cast in another big franchise movie: Mission Impossible 6.

Thats another one. Im like whats going on? I love it, its thrilling, said Bassett.

Related: Shape Shifter: Condola Rashad on Third Tony Award Nomination

Bassett revealed that she owes it all to her mother, Betty. It was her mother who pushed her to follow her dreams and gave her advice that she still remembers to this day.

Youre a prize, said Bassett. Think well of yourself. Every one is, but you are one and dont forget.

Her mother was her inspiration and its because of her mother that Bassett has taken on a new role to raise awareness about diabetes.

My mother had Type 2 diabetes as well as her brother, her eldest brother, said Bassett. At that time we were unaware about this link, this connection between Type 2 diabetes and heart disease which is what she passed from.

Actress Angela Bassett attends the panel discussion for Netflix's "Master of None" For Your Consideration Event at the Saban Media Center on June 5, 2017 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images For Netflix) Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

In fact, Type 2 diabetes is linked to multiple complications. According to the Mayo Clinic, those affected with Type 2 diabetes are at higher risk not only for heart disease, but also for amputations, blindness, kidney damage and more.

There are more than 29 million Americans with Type 2 diabetes and it affects African-Americans at a higher than average rate. There is also a genetic link with the disease. Because of Bassetts family history, she revealed that she recently had a health scare during a yearly physical and has to pay attention to her diet and exercise.

Prevention and access to health care are key to keeping type two diabetes in check, said Bassett.

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I think its extremely important. Its life and death. Whether you can see a doctor whether you can get your medication whether you can afford it."

In Bassett's latest role, she gets to play the advocate who could save real lives, off the movie screen.

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Angela Bassett Talks Role in 'Black Panther', Diabetes - NBCNews.com

The 77th Annual American Diabetes Association conference is set to begin today in San Diego. Running through Tuesday, the convention will highlight advances for the metabolic disease and likely bring further attention to ongoing issues that have been plaguing the space particularly, the rising cost of insulin and problems with patient adherence to treatment.

This years conference will include more than 15,000 participants looking to consume the 378 abstracts and 2,152 poster presentations. Much like the ADA conference last year, which was dominated by cardiovascular outcomes data for Eli Lilly & Co.s SGLT-2 inhibitor Jardiance (empagliflozin), some of the most pressing data will be further CV outcomes results.

The show isn't as relevant as it once was due to a dwindling diabetes pipeline, but there are still major pharma companies working diligently in the space. "This show has changed so much over the years because the business has changed so much. Diabetes drugs have really become commodities," said David Kliff long time investor, diabetic and author of industry newsletter the Diabetic Investor in an interview.

Here are several items from the conference that could get your blood sugar up:

Now that Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have garnered an updated label from the Food and Drug Administration for Jardiance that includes cardiovascular outcomes data from the EMPA-REG trial, other drugmakers are looking to prove that its a class-wide effect.

"If you look at Jardianceand the EMPA-REG data, which was really revolutionary it didn't really help them sales-wise," said Kliff. "This tells you about the power of the payer, it tells you that a lot of the experts believe it was a class-effect; these drugs are really becoming a commodity in a way."

Johnson & Johnson will be presenting data on Monday from its own cardiovascular outcomes trial for its SGLT-2 inhibitor Invokana (canagliflozin). The first in the class approved by the FDA, Invokana grew the market and has long been the market leader, but having outcomes data in hand has allowed Lilly and Boehringer to gain ground.

The 10,000-patient strong CANVAS clinical trial program will provide further insight into the cardiovascular benefits of one of diabetes youngest classes of drugs. Lilly and Boehringer will also be making six presentations beginning Saturday further discussing EMPA-REG.

J&J isnt the only company presenting cardiovascular outcomes data. Novo Nordisk will be presenting further data from the 7,000-patient DEVOTE study comparing its basal insulin Tresiba (insulin degludec) with long-time market leader Lantus (insulin glargine).

The initial results were announced last November and showed that Tresiba was non-inferior to Lantus although not superior. Although the Novo drug did show superiority on the secondary endpoint of hypoglycemia.

Novo Nordisk is now seeking approval from the FDA to get the info added to the label. Yet, the agency has been fairly strict with diabetes companies and hasnt considered things like hypoglycemia to be major differentiators.

Keep an eye out Monday for more insight on how the struggling Danish drugmaker might seek further differentiation from competitors.

Amgen and competitors Regeneron and Sanofi have been making headlines for two years now for their pricey cholesterol-lowering PCSK9 inhibitors. Those headlines have gotten ugly, as both Repatha (evolocumab) and Praluent (alirocumab) continue to struggle commercially. Those struggles are further compounded by the ongoing legal battle between the companies over patent rights.

Diabetes is an area that PCSK9 inhibitors have only dabbled in. The high-risk patient population has been included minimally in previous clinical trials, but new data to be presented on Sunday will focus on trials specifically geared toward diabetes patients.

Previous clinical data has shown correlations between PCSK9 levels and insulin levels, but the new studies will look at the safety, tolerability and efficacy in the glycemic-related endpoints.

If the PCSK9 inhibitors are successful in this patient population, then this could be the commercial boost that these players need to finally make a dent in the market.

Both Apple and Google have been moving beyond their respective realms of computer hardware and the internet to get into healthcare.

While neither company has yet to enter the realm of clinical trials and drug development, they are about to make a splash on the diabetes landscape. Apple has partnered up with Dexcom to bring constant glucose monitoring to the Apple Watch. This addition could be a major advancement for patient adherence, allowing patients to have easier access to glucose numbers and better monitor their blood sugar.

Meanwhile, Googles sister company Verily teamed up with Sanofi to launch OnDuo, a company meant to combine Verilys software expertise with Sanofis diabetes experience to bring disease management solutions to patients.

Both of these deals are part of a larger trend toward using technology to bring better drug adherence solutions to patients. Technology is bringing to patients tools such as smart pill bottles to help them track doses, and cell phone apps that give them reminders about both taking medications and getting to physician appointments.

One of the many symposia to be presented throughout the long-weekend will deal with the rising cost of insulin. On Saturday, conference goers will be able to hear about how the diabetes staple has risen in price and what it means for the market and patients.

Companies including Novo Nordisk, Lilly and Sanofi have been under fire even facing law suits over how insulin prices have risen in recent years.

Yet, some in the industry argue the pharma companies arent to blame, that they are just complying with market forces while dealing with a complex payment system. "This isn't simple math, it's algebra. There are just tons of variables," said Kliff. "Insulin really doesn't cost too much. People get lost in the cash-paying side of the market, which is small percentage. If you have insurance it costs like nothing. A lot of patients don't understand rebates and net prices and all these other things."

While the industry will continue to point to the third-party payers as the evil doers of pricing, expect that debate to rage on, especially as more biosimilar insulins enter the market and put further pressure on pricing dynamics.

See the article here:
ADA preview: 5 things to watch in diabetes - BioPharma Dive

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A new study from the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute in La Jollashows that texting could be as good as medication at improving Type 2 Diabetes management.

The study looked at a low-income Hispanic community, known to have a high-rate of diabetes.

Lower income individuals sometimes dont havethe education to know what is the right approach to taking care of diabetes," said Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas, who spearheaded the study.

The 63 participants who were randomly assigned to the study group received 354 texts over six months--about two to three short messages a day.

Some of the reminder texts read: "Use small plates! Portions will look larger and you may feel more satisfied after eating."

Another text said, "Time to check your blood sugar. Please text back your results."

Ninety-sixpercent of the study group participants said the text messages helped them to manage their diabetes "a lot" by the time the trial ended.

"I lost weight," said Gloria Favela, a mural artist from Valley Center. "My blood sugars dropped. They were at a really healthy level.

Published at 9:49 PM PDT on Jun 9, 2017 | Updated at 10:08 PM PDT on Jun 9, 2017

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Study Shows Texting Could Help Type 2 Diabetes Management - NBC 7 San Diego