Diabetes
Type 2
Patients Find Benefits in One Session of Exercise - [10/06/08]
Summary: Patients that are insulin sensitive and overweight can experience metabolic benefits from one session of exercise. It was found that the bodies fat-burning oxidization rates were lowered after just one session of overeating, but that just one session of exercise increased the oxidization rate. The exercise reduced fat by-products in muscle, which affects insulin sensitivity.
Comment: About one-third of Americans are obese, the extra fat stored can create many other medical problems, such as insulin sensitivity. This research shows that exercising just once has positive effects on the body, and that overeating just once can harm the body. By not over eating and exercising people who are obese can increase their oxidization rates and lose weight, and improve their insulin sensitivity.
Read article - Science Daily October 6, 2008
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Depression Linked to Higher Death Rates in Elderly with Diabetes - [10/06/08]
Summary: For elderly people with diabetes depression can raise death rates from all causes. Both diabetes and depression increased the risk of death from all causes by about 36% to 38% over a two-year period. Patients diagnosed with depression were less likely to be African-American, more likely to be Hispanic, more likely to be female, and had a more severe medical condition.
Comment: It is suggested that depression worsens chronic conditions such as diabetes because patients are less likely to care for themselves and are more likely to have a harmful habit such as smoking or overeating. Depression has also been associated with many other factors that raise a person's risk of death. By avoiding and treating depression elderly patients with diabetes can prolong the patients life and improve their health.
Read article - Science Daily October 6, 2008
Medicare Eliminates Coverage for 10 "Reasonably Preventable" Errors - [10/02/08]
Summary: New regulations, which will take effect next Wednesday, have Medicare halting payment for 10 errors which they have deemed "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented." Expected to affect hundreds of thousands, the new rules will mostly likely not result in a major reduction in expenses.
Comment: This new decision comes on the heels of announcements by four state Medicaid organizations last year in which they eliminated 28 "never events", preventable errors, from coverage. The trend seems to be growing and could have negative ramifications for millions of Americans. Among others, healthcare professionals have begun expressing concern about the decision.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 2, 2008.
Efforts to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Disparities - [09/29/08]
Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.
Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including type 2 diabetes. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with type 2 diabetes.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 29, 2008
Diabetic Socks Improve Foot Health - [09/29/08]
Summary: A new line of diabetic socks can improve foot health by improving circulation, decreasing chaffing, irritation and blisters, lessening pressure on the sole of the foot, and diminishing sock slippage. This new compression hosiery can help protect diabetes from everyday foot injuries and diabetic related illnesses.
Comment: Millions of Americans suffer from diabetes and need to take extra care of their feet. These socks can improve almost all aspects of foot health which can lessen the side effects of this condition. A simple foot skin rash can progress into a life-threatening infection in a diabetic, making it more important to be conscious of foot health.
Read article - Health News Digest September 29, 2008
Exercise can Increase Insulin Sensitivity in Obese People - [09/25/08]
Summary: According to Andrea Cornford, a member of the research team working on this study, "Exercise decreases everyone's insulin resistance and therefore reduces the chances of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes." Exercise helps to decrease the amount of fat around the muscles, leading to better insulin absorption in the body.
Comment: One out of three Americans is obese. Being obese gives you a greater risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic. Exercising is an easy way to obtain a healthy weight and reduce the change of being diagnosed with diabetes.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 25, 2008
Proteins Identified that Influence Blood Flow - [09/22/08]
Summary: By using atomic force microscopes and isolation of blood vessels outside of the body researchers have identified some of the proteins involved in the control of blood vessels. These proteins influence levels of blood flow and vascular resistance.
Comment: Most cases of hypertension have unknown causes, and many other vascular conditions such as diabetes, and coronary artery disease are difficult to prevent and treat. This information helps researchers better understand how to prevent and treat these conditions. The proteins identified could be used in the future as therapeutic targets.
Read article - Science Daily September 22, 2008
Safety Gaps During Sign Out - [09/22/08]
Summary: Patients may experienced lower quality of care during sign outs, which is the transfer of a patients during a shift change. Researchers used oral sign-outs and written sign-outs to compare to reports of subsequent errors. It was found that doctors are often more confused about the patient information rather than factual details. Examples of such problems are doctors not fully understanding the clinical condition, or doctors not knowing the reasoning behind a test.
Comment: It is suggested that sign-out procedures become a part of medical school curriculum to raise the quality of patient care. Patients should also be aware that after and during a sign-out their doctors may not be fully informed about their conditions and test. Being able to close these safety gaps at sign-out can allow patients to receive the best care possible.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com September 22, 2008
YMCA Programs can Prevent Diabetes - [09/11/08]
Summary: The YMCA and other community exercise organizations are effective in preventing diabetes. In the study participants were involved in curriculum about problem solving and goal setting. The group that took the YMCA classes had a 6% average decease in body weight, equal to about 12.5 pounds. A 5% weight loss is associated with a 58% reduction in the risk for developing diabetes.
Comment: This is the first study to show that the problem solving classes have a significant effect on weight loss and diabetes prevention. It is suggested that the these classes become more available to those with pre-diabetes that can benefit from the experience.
Read article - Science Daily September 11, 2008
Links between Cortisol, Fatty Liver, and Metabolic Disorders - [09/11/08]
Summary: Researchers have found a link between cortisol and a fatty liver. Normally the body deposits fats in fatty tissues, but occasionally the fats will be deposited in the liver. Researchers blocked the cortisol receptors in mice, and as a result there was less fatty buildup. The body produced the HES1 protein instead, which activates enzymes that break down fats.
Comment: Fat deposits in the liver can lead to many other metabolic diseases, and sometimes the "deadly quartet" which includes fatty liver, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. This research shows how to prevent a fatty liver and the interactions of cortisol on a molecular level. Using this information researchers can develop treatments for fatty liver which can also improve the overall health of the patient.
Read article - Science Daily September 11, 2008