Diabetes Pharmacist

Now You Can Blame Your Big Belly and Diabetes on Bacteria!

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:49:48 -0500

New research is adding another reason why some people have large waistlines. Scientists say that excessive bacteria in the stomach caused by a lack of the TLR5 (Toll-Like Receptor 5) protein may be the culprit.

TLR5 guards against an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines. If you remove TLR5, the intestines will be overgrown with an excessive amount of pathogens. Inflammation will occur making the cells less sensitive to insulin. And, If the cells become resistant to insulin, the glucose will continue to circulate, causing high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes.

Recently, it has been discovered that probiotics, also known as “healthy” bacteria, can manipulate the balance of the microflora in the intestine by reducing the growth of “harmful” bacteria. and therefore may play a role in fighting obesity and controlling inflammation.

Why Can't I Eat Just ONE Cookie? We Now Know Why!

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:45:52 -0500

Besides the fact that some cookies taste so darn good, what's the real reason that I can't eat just ONE COOKIE? Chances are that if it contains Glucose-Fructose Syrup, a type of sugar that is used to add bulk and moisture to foods, you've found the answer.

Found in processed snack foods, cereals, yogurt and sodas, it makes the brain think you need to eat more and, worse, according to a new study, can contribute to diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

Dr. Carel Le Roux, a consultant in metabolic medicine at Imperial College London, says that fructose can "scramble mesages to the brain about being full. When we eat sugar, our body releases insulin which tells the brain that we have had enough to eat. High insulin levels are one of the factors that dampen the appetite, But fructose doesn’t trigger as much of an insulin response as regular sugar, so the brain won’t get the message that you are full.”

Research Confirms That Insulin Pumps May be More Effective than Injections for Type 1 Diabetes

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:37:17 -0500

According to researcher Marie L. Misso, PhD, of the Australasian Cochrane Center at Monash University, Clayton, Australia, "good evidence is now available to support the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in the appropriate patient."

To assess and compare the effects of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion with multiple insulin injections, researchers studied 23 randomized controlled trials which included a total of 973 patients who used one of the two interventions for their type 1 diabetes. Results showed that the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion users (users of insulin pumps) had significantly lower HbA1c levels compared with multiple insulin injection users.

Shut the Television Set off and Live Longer!

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:12:43 -0500

A published report out of Australia says that every hour viewers spend watching television increases the risk of premature death. The study was undertaken by the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.The report involving more than 8,000 adults in Australia over a six-year period revealed that those adults who watched television the most died younger.

Professor David Dunstan, who led the study, says the elevated risk of an early death was independent of other risk factors, including high blood pressure or cholesterol levels as well as diet, exercise and smoking. The research showed that too much sitting on the couch/sofa can be detrimental to our health.

"What this study provides is the first compelling evidence linking television viewing to an increased risk of early death," Dunstan said. "People who watch four or more hours of television a day have a 46 percent higher risk of death from all causes and an 80 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease." There is a difference between not doing enough exercise and sitting down too much, which scientists believe upsets the body's rhythms and regulatory processes, such as breaking down and using glucose.

So, you want to watch that 4 hour movie? Or you want to see those television shows that you taped or DVR'd while you were away? Watch them while walking/running on a treadmill or peddling a stationary bicycle. You'll live longer and feel better!

The Number of People with Diabetes is Predicted to DOUBLE in the Next 25 Years

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:05:09 -0500

In a study in the December issue of Diabetes Care, the number of people with Diabetes is predicted to almost double to 44.1 million people by 2034. And, at the same time, the cost of treating people with Diabetes will triple to $336 million dollars!

Factors driving the increase in diabetes cases include the aging population and continued high rates of obesity, both of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes, Additionally, more and more people will live with Diabetes for a longer period of time, thus increasing the length of treatment as well as the serious complications that Diabetes can cause.

Molecule That Makes Obese People Develop Diabetes Discovered

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:44:27 -0500

A new European study has shown that obese people have large amounts of the chemokine molecule CXCL5, produced by certain cells in fatty tissue, and it is this molecule that researchers feel will cause an obese person to develop Type II Diabetes.

'Chronic inflammation of the adipose tissue, which is characteristic of obese people, is a crucial stage in the development of insulin resistance and Type II Diabetes", Lluis Fajas, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) in France, said.

Serum levels of CXCL5, produced by certain adipose tissue cells, appear at much high levels in the tissues of obese people than in those of individuals with normal weight. An experimental treatment aimed at inhibiting the action of CXCL5 has protected obese mice from developing Type II Diabetes. If this can be shown in humans, an important step to prevent diabetes in obese people will have been taken.

Tattoos May Help People with Diabetes

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:47:59 -0500

A new type of sensor that changes color with rising blood sugar levels is now being testing by scientists. About the size of the clicker on the end of a ballpoint pen, this high tech tattoo is made up of tiny nanospheres which contain a special kind of ink that reacts with glucose. Invented by Heather Clark, a biomedical engineer at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the tattoo hasn’t yet been tested in humans but the early results in mice have been very promising.

DrugWatch.com is a Great Reference for People with Diabetes and other Chronic Illnesses.

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:53:19 -0500

DrugWatch.com features a comprehensive list of drugs and medications that are currently on the market, or were previously available worldwide.

According to Sean McCahill, the National Awareness Coordinator for DrugWatch.com, the website is dedicated to educating the public about the details of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as aiding in the protection of patients and consumers by informing them of any associated side effects. Also featured is updated information concerning drug recalls, medication approvals, and current developments in the medical field.

New I-Phone Applications For Pharmacists

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:28:52 -0500

Two weeks ago I upgraded my cellphone to an I-phone. Learning all of the different functions has been a slow process but I'm getting there and I'm loving it more every day. My son Andrew has been very helpful in this process and he has shown me how to download the"applications" that I would use everyday such as CNN, ESPN, etc.

What I didn't know was that there are applications for the I-Phone that would be valuable for pharmacists or anyone who would would like medication information available at their fingertips. Richard Hemby has posted a list of eleven top applications that are easily downloaded and very useful to pharmacists in their daily work. From the latest medication news to identifying medications to pharmacy calculations, I'm sure you'll be able to find an application that suits you.

Focus Alert Now Available at Focus Express Mail Pharmacy

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:42:58 -0500

Focus Express Mail Pharmacy is proud to announce a 24/7 Emergency Home Medical Alert System that gives your loved ones “help at the push of a button”. Check it out at www.FocusAlert.com

■ Reliable 24/7 Home Emergency Monitoring
UL Approved Central Monitoring Station.
Live help is available when needed most.

■ FREE Delivery
FedEx Ground Delivery ■ NO Activation or Hidden Fees

■ NO Long Term Contracts
To cancel service simply return the unit to us.

■ FREE Lifetime Parts Replacement Warranty

■ Easy 1-2-3 Setup
1. Plug in phone - 2. Plug in power - 3. Push button to activate.

■ Simple to Use System "Push The Button"

■ Affordable Fixed Rate - Less than $1 a Day!

FREE Hardware

1. Medical Alert Base Unit With Battery Back Up, Power Supply and Phone Cord
1. Medical Alert Button (can be worn on the neck or wrist)

Popular Diabetes Medication May Also Be Used to Fight Cancer

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:12:13 -0500

A recent study has demonstrated that giving mice a combination of low doses of Metformin (brand name Gluophage) with the common chemotherapy medication Doxorubicin (brand name Adriamycin) shrank breast-cancer tumors and prevented their recurrence more effectively than chemotherapy alone.

Chemotherapy is effective against many tumors, said Kevin Struhl, a Harvard Medical School researcher and principal investigator of the study. "The problem is cancer stem cells acquire resistance" to treatment, he said. "They are able to regenerate the tumor and as a result you end up with a relapse."

Researchers said the combination of metformin and doxorubicin killed both regular cancer cells and cancer stem cells. In contrast, doxorubicin alone had limited effect on the stem cells.

Exsulin is a New Drug Being Developed to Cure Diabetes

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:01:13 -0500

A new drug for both Type 1 and Type II diabetes,called Exsulin, is in the "pipeline" and could be sent to the FDA for approval in a few years. Alexander Fleming, MD, former US Food and Drug Administration official and Exsulin Corp. Chief Medical Officer, said "the drug causes the cells in the pancreas to develop into insulin-secreting cells.This is actually a natural hormone we’re developing as a therapy.” Exsulin will be injected like insulin, but it won't have any direct effect on blood sugar.

New Diabetes Drug ONGLYZA is Now Available

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:11:22 -0500

A newly approved diabetes drug, Onglyza, is now available in U.S. pharmacies, effective Friday August 14, 2009.

Bristol Myers-Squibb and AstraZeneca PLC, which co-developed and will co-market the drug, said that Onglyza was approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood-sugar control in adults for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

It belongs to a class of drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors, and will compete directly with the only other such drug on the market, Merck & Co.'s (MRK) Januvia, which has had the DPP-4 market to itself since it was introduced in 2006.

Diabetes May Soon Be Diagnosed by MRI

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:11:50 -0500

Using noninvasive imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) ) for the first time in diabetes research, physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School have discovered how it may aid in the early diagnosis, staging, and treatment of diabetes.

"With noninvasive MRI we have the ability to evaluate beta cell mass, a major factor of insulin secretion that is significantly reduced in type two diabetes and almost gone in type one,” said Anna Moore, MD, lead author of the study. “Knowing the number of functional beta cells left would allow physicians to develop the most appropriate treatment plans for their patients. It would also allow them to respond, change or manipulate those treatment plans at any time,” she said.

Drugs for Allergies May Help People with Diabetes

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:48:16 -0500

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital as well as from Harvard Medical School are reporting that two medications that treat allergies, Cromolyn and Zaditor, helped mice lose weight and controlled their blood sugar. Test results showed that a group of diabetic and obese mice that only used these drugs saw almost a complete reversal of their health problems. Monkeys will be tested next to see if, in fact, obesity and diabetes may be connected to immune system changes.

Diabetes Pharmacist is one of "The 100 Best Blogs for Pharmacy Students"

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:38:21 -0500

We are honored to announce that Diabetes Pharmacist has been named one of the 100 Best Blogs for Pharmacy Students by Jill Gordon on Nursing Schools.Net., a nursing school network and directory.

Listed under the category "See What the Future Holds", it says that "This blogger offers specific advice for dealing with common questions about diabetes, an increasingly common condition as obesity rates increase" .

It also mentions that some of the blogs on the list are written by pharmacists who are passionate about their work. I hope they know that I am one of them!

Corneal Arcus Eye Condition Linked to Diabetes

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:26:54 -0500

A recent study by the Columbus Research Foundation in Columbus, Ga. found that 98% of the 2000 participants who had a grayish-white ring around the cornea — a condition called corneal arcus — also had metabolic problems related to conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol,

Until now, health professionals have assumed arcus is related to high cholesterol. Now, the relationship between arcus and high blood sugar needs to be studied further, researchers said.

“This study demonstrates ... how comprehensive eye exams should be used as a screening for prevalent metabolic conditions,” Dr. Steven Leichter, medical director at the research foundation, said in a press release. “

Insulin Pump Technology is Improving Everyday

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:51:22 -0500

Insulin pumps, used by people with diabetes, are medical devices that continuously deliver insulin under the skin through a catheter. Most often, a pump connects somewhere in the waist area. Many health providers recommend the insulin pump because its slow and steady release of insulin mimics a healthy pancreas.

In recent years, insulin pump technology has made many new and important advances including improved screens with higher resolution, comfortable infusion sets, tactile bolusing and safety alarms. And now there's now a new generation of insulin pumps called patch pumps. Patch pumps adhere directly to the skin with no catheter tubing showing and insulin is infused directly under the skin. The Omnipod is the only patch pump on the market at the current time but there are many that are in the works.

Nancy J. Bohannon, MD, a physician at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in San Francisco, has reviewed the following patch pumps which are still being developed:

Finesse (Calibra Medical): delivers bolus insulin or pramlitide.
V-Go (Valeritas): is a once-daily disposable insulin delivery system for type 2 diabetes.
Solo (Medingo): has a three-month life, electronically controlled.
Freehand (MedSolve Technologies): is remote controlled, 80% smaller than OmniPod.
Insulin NanoPump (ST Microelectronics and Debiotech): has large reservoir, miniaturized system.
Altea Therapeutics: is developing a 12-hour and 24-hour patch.
Medtronic: is developing a patch delivery system.

Most insurers will cover insulin pump therapy in situations where insulin pump therapy will significantly improve the level of diabetes care and control over and above multidose insulin (MDI) therapy.

Diagnosing and Testing for Diabetes Now Much Simpler

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:42:51 -0500

A new standard, called the A1C assay, is being recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), to help doctors test for and diagnose diabetes.

Instead of the 12-14 hour fasting glucose test and the glucose tolerance test currently in use, a simple blood test will be taken to measure how much protein in the blood has been fused with excess glucose that is not able to be used by the body because of diabetes.This is a process called called Glycation. Because it is such a simple test to do, the ADA recommends that everyone 45 or over has it regardless of lack of symptoms or family history.

Exercising to Reduce Diabetes Risk? Don't Take Vitamins C & E!

Joel Shpigel R.Ph. — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:11:19 -0500

In a new study, Dr. C. Ronald Kahn of the Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston says,"If you are exercising, in part, to reduce diabetes risk, you shouldn't take anti-oxidant vitamins C and E."

Kahn says that part of the reason that exercise improves insulin sensitivity is that it causes oxidative stress on the muscles but when you block the oxidative stress response (with Vitamins C and E), you also block the beneficial effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity.