Letter From The Editor

Remember that DPPS trial that was completed years ago, and showed that modest lifestyle changes could prevent the onset of diabetes? Now an extention of that study, the DPPOS, has proven that A Decade Later, Lifestyle Changes or Metformin Still Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk. In fact this extension showed …

I was having a conversation with a group of interns and residents last week and we were talking about diabetes and obesity. One of the older residents who has children made the case that because of safety issues our kids get driven everywhere. She pointed out that when she was …

Have you ever experienced the “Diabetes Déjà Vu Factor”? Last week it was in Santa Monica, this week in Boston, both times limo drivers, both times diabetes, both times they did not know what to do. I got into the limo in Boston to run some errands and the conversation turned …

This past weekend I was in California to serve on a panel discussing insulin protocols in both the hospital and long term care settings. There was a lot of great information on what different hospitals did. It was interesting to hear how the choice of pens or vials was made …

This week, Steve and I have put together a great summary of the top stories from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Conference in Salzburg, Austria. Although there was a lot of great news, the bottom line was not much new has occurred since the ADA Scientific Sessions …

This week, the word “pancreatitis” is back in the news, as the FDA suspects that Merck & Co., Inc.’s blockbuster diabetes drug Januvia may be linked to serious cases of pancreatitis. Although many leading endocrinologists including Steve Edelman and Ralph DeFronzo have previously told us that patients with diabetes are …

All week long we’ve heard politicians, lobbyists and radio personalities weigh in with their opinions on a national health care system. It seems like the public option idea is what is driving the most discussions and debate. It also seems to me that maybe they should ask the people who …

This week Par Pharmaceutical announced that they had been granted approval to market generic Starlix (Nateglinide). See this week’s New Product. Does the approval of this generic effectively mean we have a new treatment for Diabetes available? I think it does. When Starlix and Prandin first came out, the state …

Another reason to monitor glucose: Better restaurant service Over the past few weeks I have started increasing my race walking mileage to prepare for a half marathon in November. Although I don’t have diabetes this increase in physical activities seems to run my glucose low in the morning. While driving …

Humulin U-500 insulin once again is on my agenda, as I had three calls from hospital pharmacists and educators asking for a method to convert and write orders for patients on pumps and for sliding scale use. Many of our syringe or pen patients are injecting 60 or more units …