About.com Type 1 Diabetes

Holiday Depression - A Common Combination

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:20:52 +0000

Most of the talk these days revolves around plans for travel, food and family. But the holidays can also be a time of sadness and loneliness for many who are estranged from family or who have lost loved ones recently. Depression is also more common in the winter months when there is less sunlight and more confinement indoors.

Depression also affects blood sugar and can acts as a barrier to effective diabetes management. The good news is that there are ways to combat holiday depression and stay on track with your diabetes management. If you are not certain whether you are depressed, take this quick self-inventory.

If you would like to share some of your perspective on holiday depression, post your comments below.

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Holiday Depression - A Common Combination originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 00:20:52.

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New Report on Diabetes and Health Reform

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:11:30 +0000

As the healthcare reform debate rages on you may be interested in reading a new report called Preventing and Treating Diabetes: Health Insurance Reform and Diabetes in America.

The report brings to light some statistics that need to be kept in mind as health reform is debated. For example, a person with diabetes spends, on average, $11,744 per year on medical expenditure, more than twice what a person without diabetes would spend.

In introducing the report, Health and Human Resources (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said: "Americans with diabetes are suffering in our current health care system. Health insurance reform will help ensure these Americans can get the prescription drugs and supplies they need and bring down premiums so all Americans can have high-quality, affordable health insurance."

Time will tell whether the reforms that are eventually passed will accomplish these much needed initiatives. For the time being, read the report and post your comments below.

Prescription Assistance Programs - Financial Help for Diabetes Supplies

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New Report on Diabetes and Health Reform originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 23:11:30.

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World Diabetes Day is November 14

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:43:51 +0000

November is diabetes month and this Saturday, November 14 is World Diabetes Day. The purpose of marking both a month and day each year is to raise awareness of diabetes in the general public. Despite the fact that nearly everyone has heard of diabetes, few understand the condition well. Unfortunately, this includes a significant number who have been diagnosed with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Here are just a few facts about diabetes from the American Diabetes Association that may help raise your awareness of how serious a condition it is:

Approximately 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes. That represents almost 8% of the population.
About one in every 400-600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes.
Total cost of treating those diagnosed with diabetes is estimated at $176 billion each year.

Heightened awareness should not scare us but lead to action. For those with diabetes, this means practicing good glucose management. For health care professionals it means increased efforts at education. For lawmakers it means more funding for research and better healthcare options for those with diabetes.

What is your action point for better managing your diabetes? Post your comments below or post them in the type 1 discussion forum at the link below.

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World Diabetes Day is November 14 originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 22:43:51.

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Health Care Reform and Diabetes � What Are Your Concerns?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:44:45 +0000

I write this on the day following the narrow passage of the latest health care reform in the House. The word from the media is that this same bill is expected to encounter stiff opposition in the Senate. While the lawmakers battle it out, I'd like to hear from you.

What kind of health care reform do you need (if any) that relates to diabetes? Put another way: If you could change health care insurance coverage in a way that would give you better coverage for your diabetes supplies, doctor's visits and even preventative education and care, what would you want to see change?

Post your responses below.

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Health Care Reform and Diabetes � What Are Your Concerns? originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 00:44:45.

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Syringe recall

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:24:20 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a notice on October 27 that all Accusure Insulin Syringes were being voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Qualitest Pharmaceuticals.

The syringes may have needles that could detach during use causing the needle to remain in the skin after injection or become lodged in the insulin vial.

If you have any of these syringes, available from January 2002 to October 2009, you should stop using them and contact Qualitest at 1-800-444-4011 for reimbursement.

Read the complete press release

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Syringe recall originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 20:24:20.

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Checking Blood Sugar from Your Eye May Be in Sight

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:21:04 +0000

In a recent pre-clinical trial, new technology was successful in measuring glucose levels by using eye-scanning technology. The scan is painless and non-invasive and takes five minutes to complete.

The animal-based clinical trial involved rabbits and proved to be very accurate with an error margin that was even better than glucose readings derived from the traditional finger-stick tests.

The company that has developed this technology, Freedom Meditech, plans to move forward with additional animal studies and present the findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval to test the eye scan in human clinical trials.

If the technology proves reliable and cost-effective, it could become an alternative to finger-stick blood tests. But, if you've followed diabetes research for any length of time, you also know that many non-invasive technologies have shown initial promise only to falter along the way. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.

The press release is available at the Freedom Meditech site.

Getting Started with Glucose Monitoring
What You Should Know About Choosing a Glucose Meter
What Your HbA1c Test Tells You

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Checking Blood Sugar from Your Eye May Be in Sight originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 23:21:04.
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Calling All Type 1 Couch Potatoes: We Need Your Opinion on Exercise!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:12:14 +0000

Nearly everyone with type 1 diabetes has heard the news that exercise is good for you and helps control your blood sugar. Yet, study after study reveals that the majority of people with diabetes don't exercise on a regular basis. Why? That's what I want to find out.

I would like to know more about are the obstacles you face in trying to work exercise into your normal routine. It is not simply a matter of "planning it in" as some might say. I believe there are a number of important issues that revolve around lifestyle habits, relationships and ways of thinking that keep many people from experiencing the benefits of exercise.

I've started a discussion on my forum that will act as a way for you to post your opinion and also read the challenges others face. I will use the comments to create new articles that address the common themes.

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Calling All Type 1 Couch Potatoes: We Need Your Opinion on Exercise! originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 16:12:14.
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Has Your Child Experienced Discrimination at School or Day Care Due to Diabetes?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:18:21 +0000

You might have noticed some new articles on my site regarding discrimination at school and day care due to diabetes. I believe this is a more common problem than previously thought and am interested in your feedback. It is not usually the case that school personnel aren't concerned about a child with diabetes, but rather they often are not appropriately trained to understand how to monitor or treat situations that might relate to diabetes management.

I'm conducting a poll to get some feedback on your experience. Please take a moment and vote on whether your child has experienced discrimination at school or daycare as a result of having diabetes. You can also post your story in the discussion forum for others to read and respond to.

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Has Your Child Experienced Discrimination at School or Day Care Due to Diabetes? originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 22:18:21.
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New Research: A Wearable Kidney?

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:21:52 +0000

Researchers are developing an artificial kidney that could revolutionize how dialysis is performed. Since diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, this is welcome news to those who are on dialysis or experiencing kidney complications that may eventually lead to dialysis.

The device works like a miniaturized dialysis machine that is worn as a belt and powered by two nine-volt batteries. Though a little heavy at 10 pounds, it would still enable a person to walk, work and sleep while they receive dialysis treatment round the clock.

The artificial kidney has proven to function well in preliminary tests, including two studies in dialysis patients. But clinical trials are still needed to show the long-term effect of this technology on dialysis patients. Though the technology is not yet available, there is much hope that such a device will eventually reduce the costs and difficulty of dialysis for the nearly 400,000 people in the U.S. who currently undergo dialysis on a regular basis.

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New Research: A Wearable Kidney? originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 23:21:52.
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Could Type 1 Eventually Be Reversed? A New Vaccine May Eventually Make This a Reality.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:30:51 +0000

Could type 1 diabetes be reversed with a vaccine so that the pancreas begins producing insulin again? It sounds almost too good to be true, but that is exactly the research going on at Massachusetts General Hospital. The vaccine has already made it quickly through Phase I safety trials and is now moving to Phase II trials on humans.

The vaccine, called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), is a generic drug that also is used in small doses to vaccinate against tuberculosis and treat bladder cancer. Researchers believe that this same drug may also prove to be effective at reversing the autoimmune response of the body to shut down insulin production. In studies with mice, it has reversed type 1 diabetes and destroyed the problematic cells while leaving the immune system healthy and intact.

In Phase II trials they will use the BCG vaccine on humans in an effort to determine the appropriate dose and frequency of the drug. These are expected to begin as soon as enough participants have been recruited. Stay tuned for more updates.

Learn more about the fascinating research regarding this vaccine.

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Could Type 1 Eventually Be Reversed? A New Vaccine May Eventually Make This a Reality. originally appeared on About.com Type 1 Diabetes on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 16:30:51.
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