Medication

Clarity in Insulin Coverage Orders, Part 2

From our partners at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP): One problem often seen with coverage orders is the clarity of handwritten orders from physicians, a particular problem when an organization does not have a...

Clarity in Insulin Coverage Orders

From our partners at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP): The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, a prospective, randomized controlled trial of intensive versus standard glycemic control involving inpatients with...

ISMP: IV Insulin Administration

From our partners at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), this week we have a review of IV Insulin Administration and two examples of what can go wrong when the correct procedures are not adhered to.

Wrong-Drug Errors Associated with Insulin Products

This week's Disaster Averted comes courtesy of ISMP.   There are numerous case reports in the literature that discuss the issue of wrong-drug medication errors with insulin products due to similarities in the...

Joslin's Diabetes Deskbook, Updated 2nd Edition, Excerpt #31: Macrovascular Complications, Part 3

Richard S. Beaser, MD Michael Johnstone, MD

Diluting Insulin for Infants

A 3-day-old infant weighing 1.3 kg was prescribed total parenteral nutrition containing 1 unit of regular insulin per each 327-mL bag.

What the Professionals Have to Say about the New SGLT2 Inhibitors

An abundance of excitement has surrounded the FDA approval of the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2 –I), Invokana. So why did we need to introduce a 14th class of medication for treating diabetes? That answer was...

ISMP: Updating Your High-Alert Medication List

Because insulin is at the top of the "High-Alert Medication List," we are presenting this updated article from our partner at ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices).

Joslin's Diabetes Deskbook, Updated 2nd Edition, Excerpt #30: Macrovascular Complications, Part 2

Richard S. Beaser, MD Michael Johnstone, MD

Patients (and Caregivers) Must Demonstrate Insulin Injection Technique

A patient came into our emergency room recently with severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose of 34 mg/dl).

Accidents Will Happen But Damage Can Be Minimized

Over the years I have had many patients come into the pharmacy requesting a replacement bottle of insulin because they've accidentally dropped a bottle. Recently, a patient shared this experience:

Diabetic Emergencies, Diagnosis and Clinical Management: Sick-Day Rules in Diabetes, Case Studies

Konstantinos Makrilakis, Nikolaos Katsilambros  

Diabetic Emergencies, Diagnosis and Clinical Management: Sick-Day Rules in Diabetes, Part 2

Konstantinos Makrilakis, Nikolaos Katsilambros  

Joslin's Diabetes Deskbook, Updated 2nd Ed., Excerpt #27: Physical Activity for Fitness, Part 4

Richard S. Beaser, MD, Edward S. Horton, MD and Catherine A. Mullooly, MS, RCEP,...

Your Patients' Guide to Better Office Visits

Editor's Note, DCMS # 123: Two New Insulins Delayed

Typically this clinical letter focuses on articles related to patient disasters averted, medical slides and clinical texts. However I am going to make an exception this week and share information from Novo Nordisk on the approval process for two...

Understanding Metformin Handout (pdf)

    What every patient needs to know about metformin.

GLP-1: Actions on Beta-cell Mass and Function

David Joffe, BSPharm, CDE Tina Burge, PharmD Candidate Florida A&M University

SGLT Inhibitors

by Erica Paul, PharmD, Graduate Intern University of Florida College of Pharmacy    

GLP-1 Agonists: Increasing Effective Insulin Release

By Wael Diab, RPh, PharmD Candidate University of Colorado College of Pharmacy The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus is complex, consisting of far more physiologic defects than simple...

A Nurse's Perspective: Martha M. Funnell, MS, RN, CDE

In our practice we spend time in the community and encounter patients who are seeing primary care physicians and are on minimal therapy as well as patients from our clinic who are managed more aggressively....

Simply Suppressing Hedonism or Truly a Magic Bullet for Obesity?

Aaron I. Vinik, MD, PhD, FCP, MACP Eastern Virginia...

Successful weight loss with GLP-1 agonists

Summary Insights GLP-1 agonists are effective in weight loss as they delay gastric emptying, induce satiety, and decrease food These agents have been successfully studied in obese,...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Glucagon-like peptide 1 increases the period of postprandial satiety and slows gastric emptying in obese men

The regulation of food intake is a complex process involving psychologic, social, and physiologic components. Physiologically, it is generally assumed that food intake is regulated by a central feeding drive that is later counterregulated by...

SPECIAL FEATURE: GLP-1 Agonist-based Therapies: An Emerging New Class of Antidiabetic Drug With Potential Cardioprotective Effects

Melanie Sulistio, MD, Curtis Carothers, MD, Mandeep Mange, BS, Mike Lujan, BS, Rene Ofiveros, MD, and Robert Chilton, DO PART 2: GLP 1 Agonist-based Therapies: How do they reduce...

The Safety and Extrapancreatic effects of GLP-1 on cardiovascular tissue, adipose tissue, liver, and kidney

GLP-1 receptors are widely expressed in CV, adipose, hepatic, and renal tissue. High-affinity GLP-1 receptors are present in autonomic nuclei that control CV functions, and have been isolated in rodent and human cardiomyocytes, endothelial...

Letter from the Editor #606

Happy New Year from all of us at Diabetes in Control. We have provided a lot of information about the most current therapies for diabetes and co-morbidities in recent months and in an effort to bring you more than any other online...

Letter from the Editor #605

Next week our patients will all be making their New Year's resolutions and weight loss will be one that many of them make. After a month of eating everything the holidays have to offer they will all be looking for the holy grail of weight...

GLP-1's Function in Preserving B-cells

Associations between acute glucose lowering and improved acute insulin secretory responses suggest improved β-cell function. Comparing and assessing effects of pharmacological therapies used to control hyperglycemia on β-cell...

Letter from the Editor #600: Top 10 Physical Activity Myths Demystified and Reversing Beta Cell Failure

According to Webster's, a "publisher is responsible for the selection, preparation, and distribution of information," and usually has no involvement in the actual development of content or material. However, when the publisher has over...

Editor's Note: The Best of the Best of Our GLP-1 Series

When it comes to knowledge sometimes you just can't get enough when you are interested in a topic. Over the past six months we have spent a lot of time giving you the most-up-to-date and relevant information on GLP-1 therapy that we could find. We...

Editor's Note: Pre-School Children with Diabetes

Have you ever had a patient who is a pre-school child with diabetes? Usually this means that the parents are trying to stay in control and the child wants more independence.

Role of DPP-4 Inhibitors in Clinical Practice

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a newer class of oral drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They inhibit the breakdown of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and increase the incretin effect in patients with type 2...

Dr. Aaron I. Vinik on Early Insulin Use in the Progression of Diabetes

One of the leading diabetes researchers in the world, Dr. Aaron I. Vinik, Director of Research and...

Early Use of Insulin to Improve Beta Cell Preservation

By David Joffe, BSPharm, CDE; Steve Freed, BSPharm CPT; Brandon Flohr and Vanessa Cepero, PharmD candidates, LECOM College of Pharmacy Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disorder, characterized by...

Communicating Uncertainties About Prescription Drugs to the Public

 A National Randomized Trial Lisa M. Schwartz, MD, MS; Steven Woloshin, MD, MS Background Many new drugs are aggressively promoted. The public may ...

Humulin-R 500 New Conversion Chart

To help prevent errors when prescribing or dispensing the Humulin-R 500 insulin, this handout will help to determine the correct dosage whether using a tuberculin syringe or an insulin u-100...

Insulin Chart (MPR)

This chart, from MPR, lists available insulin products and defines them according to derivation, onset*, peak, and duration** of action. Route of administration is also...

How to Use a Mini Dose of Glucagon (pdf)

When your child with diabetes is sick and cannot keep food down, his or her blood glucose can drop quickly....

GLP-1 Special Series Editor's Note #7

There's been some interesting research on a compound that appears to be a partner peptide for GLP-1. Oxyntomodulin is released in response to a meal and seems to have a significant effect on glucose levels. Our current PharmD candidate, ...

Editor's Note: Anti-inflammatory Steroids and "Hypoglycemia"

There has been a shortage of methylprednisolone and prednisone dose packs available in pharmacies lately and this week's Disaster Averted deals with what happens when patients get their anti-inflammatory steroids in a bottle instead of...

Letter from the Editor #581: Exenatide News and Type 1 News from the ADA

There was a news release that caught my attention this past week. Eli Lilly announced that the Exenatide tQT Study Showed...

Editor's Note: The Value of Glucagon Kits; Retinopathy Homerun Slides; and Fear of Insulin

Many times our patients get a Glucagon Kit when they start on insulin and since most patients are taught to only use the injection if they are unconscious, they never use it. However, in this week's Diabetes Disaster Averted, the use of part...

GLP-1 Special Series #5 Editor's Note

This week in Part 3 of our Case Study, Mr. Walker and his wife return for a follow-up visit as his glucose control has not improved as much as expected.

BYDUREON™ Receives Marketing Authorization in Europe

BYDUREON™ Receives Marketing Authorization in Europe BYDUREON showed statistically significant improvements in glycemic control based on reduction of A1C (a measure of average blood sugar over three months) between 1.5...

GLP-1 Special Issue #4 Editor's Note

Steve and Andrew came back with a ton of new data on GLP-1 Agonist therapies from the 71st Scientific Sessions of the ADA. We turned over these articles, abstracts, posters and presentations to our interns for them to get...

Editor's Note: Knowing Your A1c and Learning How to Use an Insulin Pen Correctly

While I was talking to a large group of employees on the west coast of Florida, I made the comment that if you are over 40 and have a family history of diabetes, overweight, hypertension or have elevated lipids, you should get an A1c test at...

Managing Clinical Problems in Diabetes, Case Study #10: Osteomyelitis

Edited by Trisha Dunning AM, RN, MEd, PhD, CDE, FRCNA and Glenn Ward MBBS, BSc, DPhil (Oxon), FRACP, FRCPath

FDA Warns Healthcare Professionals to Closely Monitor Patients with Diabetes Receiving Liraglutide Injections

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned healthcare professionals to closely monitor patients with diabetes receiving liraglutide injections (Victoza, Novo Nordisk) for thyroid C-cell tumors and acute pancreatitis....

Letter from the Editor: Young Adults Keen on Having a Patient-Centered Medical Home

We have spent a lot of time over the past few months helping you learn about Shared Medical Appointments and Patient Centered Medical Homes, and most of the time we all think about seniors as the most likely...

Editor's Note: Hot Summer Weather and Insulin Stability

Over the past month there have been record high temperatures all over the US. Cities that were at minus 45° Fahrenheit with wind chill in February were at 104° just two weeks ago, and summer just started today. All t...

GLP-1 Issue #3 Editor's Note

This week we have the results from our GLP-1 Survey. Thanks to the great number of you who participated, and congratulations to Dr. Donald W., of Southern Pines, North Carolina, the winner of our Kindle/Nook giveaway....

Interview with Aaron I. Vinik, MD, PhD, FCP, MACP

One of the leading diabetes researchers in the world, Dr. Aaron I. Vinik leads the EVMS...

GLP-1 Editor's Note:

This week I had a chance to interview Dr. Vivian Fonseca on the use of GLP-1 agonists, and he shared his thoughts on why these medications are a logical choice. He also gave us a little information on a study using GLP-1 agonists with...

GLP-1 Notes from the Editor

Welcome to our first edition of our new GLP-1 education series. I am sure that every one of you is familiar with the use of GLP-1 agonists in the treatment of diabetes. Ever since Bayliss and Starling discovered secretin...

Letter from the Editor: SGLT-2 Inhibitors, Animas Vibe at ADA, GLP-1 Survey

We are less than two weeks away from the American Diabetes Association's 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego, and we are starting to get a glimpse of what is going to be on the agenda. In addition to multiple...

How to Best Avoid Weight Gain If You Take Insulin

Sheri Colberg, PhD

Letter from the Editor: Pyramids, Plates and Weight Gain, New GLP-1 Series Coming Soon

This week there's been a lot of conflicting press about how much of each food group people should be eating. The new USDA "plate" replaces the food pyramid and already has healthcare experts in an uproar. One USDA...

Editor's Note: Lipaemia Retinalis, Mixing the Unmixable, and GLP-1 Survey

Have you ever seen a patient with lipaemia retinalis? This week's case discussion focuses on a patient who has this and other problems, and how the "experts" would react. If you have been following our...

Editor's Note: Whole Teams, Crushing Problems, and More Great Neuropathies Slides

We often talk of the "whole team" concept when treating our diabetes patients, and that usually includes a prescriber, a nurse, a diabetes educator and a pharmacist, but this week's Case Discussion offers up the problems a 68-year-old...

Site Rotation Guide

  Provide this guide to your patients so they can maintain good site rotation...

50 Year Medalists' Biochemistry Clue Researchers to the Source of Complications or "The Question Is, My Dear Watson, Why Did the Dog Not Bark?"

The Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study AARON VINIK, MD, PHD, FCP, MACP The Joslin Gold Medalists...

Managing Clinical Problems in Diabetes, Case Study #4: Mr. ZM

Edited by Trisha Dunning AM, RN, MEd, PhD, CDE, FRCNA and Glenn Ward MBBS, BSc, DPhil (Oxon), FRACP, FRCPath

Patient Discussion Guide on Using Insulin for Medical Professionals

  When should you discuss...

Prescription Drug Spending Increases by Very Low Rate

The national tab for prescription drugs last year grew at the second-slowest pace ever measured by a prominent health data firm.

Letter from the Editor: Potential NAFLD Help and Recent Drug Price Trends

Sometimes when I write the Letter from the Editor I feel like the weatherman on TV. They can see what is happening and they can tell us what is happening but they can’t do a darn thing about it. Last week we headlined a...

Letter from the Editor: History of Insulin Therapy and New Diabetes Treatment Possibilities

Last week I was discussing insulin therapy with my interns as we were evaluating insulin choices for a local physician. The consensus was to start on a long acting insulin like glargine and then titrate based on glucose levels with a patient...

Editor's Note: Welchol Info, SMA's, and the Flu

This week I was working on a new presentation on diabetes drugs for a program in May and wanted to update the information on the newer medications and how they work. Knowing that over 74% of patients with diabetes also have hyperlipidemia, I...

Letter from the Editor: Pioglitazone or Diet and Exercise? Which do you recommend?

This week's lead article about the use of pioglitazone to prevent the onset of diabetes in high risk patients has lead researcher Ralph DeFronzo, MD, very excited and he even went on to say "It's a blockbuster...

OraMoist™

OraMoist is a breakthrough dry mouth patch that has been specially developed to...

Letter from the Editor: New Drugs Should Help Our Patients Face Diabetes' Challenges

Are we starting to pay more attention to the challenges our diabetes patients face each and every day? This week Novo released a study showing the value of their three times a week insulin and how it compares favorably to once a day dosing (

Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy

by Jenna Algozzine, Pharm.D. Candidate, University of Florida College of Pharmacy Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is often abused in combination with anabolic steroids to increase muscle strength and...

Rethink Insulin Video

Download this video to your computer, iPad, iPhone or any smart phone. Have your patients view this video to learn about insulin and they will be more open to using when it is prescribed.

ADA/PDR: Medications for the Treatment of Diabetes, Ch. 18, Pt. 3

Diabetic Neuropathic Disorders, Part 3

Product of the Week:Insulin Vial Protection by Securitee Blanket

Insulin Vial Protection by Securitee Blanket

Editor's Note: More from ADA/PDR, GLP-1 Agonists, and More....

This week we have more ideas on how to treat the two most common forms of neuropathy: diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) from the ADA/PDR: Medications for the Treatment of...

ADA/PDR: Medications for the Treatment of Diabetes, Ch. 18, Pt. 2

Diabetic Neuropathic Disorders, Part 2

Editor's Note: New Excerpt from ADA/PDR, Unexpected Side-Effects and More.

There was a lot of interest in the last two issues surrounding treatments for the complications of diabetes and, more specifically, neuropathy. This week we are focusing on the two most common forms of neuropathy: diabetic peripheral...

ADA/PDR: Medications for the Treatment of Diabetes, Ch. 18, Pt. 1

Diabetic Neuropathic Disorders

Editor's Note: Microvascular Complications Wrap-up, Incretins, Pt. 6, and More...

This week we finish up the information that Drs. Edelman and Henry have been sharing on the microvascular complications of diabetes and how to treat them. Our Homerun Slides have great information on the other receptor sites that DPP-4...

Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 10th Edition, Ch 15, Pt 5

Long-Term Complications and Treatments

PRADAXA (DABAGATRAN), A New Anticoagulant for Stroke and Embolism Prevention

By Jennifer Freidman 2011 Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, University of Florida Atrial fibrillation currently affects about 2.2 million Americans. If left untreated it can cause embolism ...

Editor's Note: "Opathies," Cold Weather and Incretins, Part 5

After reviewing this week's chapter excerpt from Drs. Edelman and Henry, I am seeing the partial word "-opathy" in my sleep. His discussion of the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathy, nephropathy and all the other -opathies put a new perspective...

Did You Know? Average Error in Insulin Measurement among Healthcare Professionals and Patients

In a study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, healthcare professionals were asked to draw up a total of 5, 10, or 30 units of insulin as either human insulin 70/30 premix or a combination of regular + NPH....

Editor's Note: Retinopathy, GLP-1 Agonists and More

Last week I took two of my interns to USF to watch a laser photo-coagulation procedure. The patient had very bad retinopathy and the physician was working hard to save what little vision she had left. Retinopathy is the number one cause of...

Editor's Note: Punxsutawney Phil, Retinopathy, Incretins, Pt. 3 and More

I am sitting here in Florida thinking about how many of you are waiting to find out if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. Sad as it seems I would guess that many of you freezing and covered with snow are hoping that the world's most famous...

Tool for Your Practice: Adjusting Your Insulin Dose (pdf)

Adjusting Your Insulin Dose (pdf) From dLife and Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE,...

Editor's Note: Patient Injection Mistakes, Incretin Slides - Part 2 and Long-Term Complications

This week I gave a lecture to the physician and pharmacist residents at one of our local hospitals and we were talking about the possible reasons that insulin would suddenly lose its effect on a patient. The pharmacist residents started...

Pharmacotherapy Options in the Treatment of Feline and Canine Diabetes

Janine Manning, Pharm.D. Candidate 2011 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy As healthcare professionals, we have seen the increase in the occurrence of diabetes mellitus...

Letter from the Editor: JP Morgan Conference, Eli Lilly-Boehringer Ingelheim News and More on Accidental Insulin Injection

Last week, many companies in the diabetes world were in San Francisco to present at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Our own president, Andrew Young, was in attendance to see and hear what was going on, and to sum...

Editor's Note: GLP-1 Agonists, ID Bracelets and More Great Slides

After Andrew left the JPMorgan Meeting in San Francisco we spoke about the near future of diabetes care for Type 2 patients and he said he thought it will be in GLP-1 agonist therapy. With over 16 new GLP-1s in second or third phase development it...

Letter from the Editor: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of you from all of us here at Diabetes In Control. This is the time of year that most of our patients get back to taking care of themselves. They have put away the decorations and wrapping paper, finished off...

Editor's Note: Happy New Year!

As we welcome the New Year we want to thank all of you who have been able to use the information from our Diabetes Clinical Mastery Series to improve your knowledge. Last week I received a note from a physician in Huntington, WV, that makes...

Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 10th Edition, Ch 13-Pt 4

Assessment of the Treatment Regimen, Part 4

Editor's Note: Pramlintide Focus

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from Steve, Andrew, Heather and I, and all the rest of the staff here at Diabetes In Control. The comments we received last week after running the first of three parts on pramlintide indicated that this is...

Santarus Announces Launch of Type 2 Diabetes Drug CYCLOSET®

CYCLOSET is the first in-class and only centrally acting dopamine agonist oral antidiabetic....

NCPS: Taking Aim at Medication Errors, Question 4

SF: Can you give an example of how the error reporting works? KT: I have attached a NCPS Alert (in pdf format) from March 2009 on U 500 Insulin. This was the specific incident: "South West VA CMOP received an order for 40 units of U-500...

NCPS: Taking Aim at Medication Errors, Question 3

SF: What are the most common errors that occur at the VA in regards to diabetes patients and what has the VA done to prevent them from happening again? KT: The data found within NCPS SPOT data is voluntarily reported so it is not a good...

NCPS: Taking Aim at Medication Errors, Question 2

SF: How do you minimize errors? KT: Here is some more background to better understand the basis of our program. Neither the VA nor any other health care system can or will ever be able to "eliminate all errors." Patient safety programs...

NCPS: Taking Aim at Medication Errors, Question 1

SF: What is the VA's NCPS doing to change the medical safety culture so medical professionals will report all errors not just the ones that cause harm? KT: We developed a confidential reporting system that allows VA caregivers to report not...

Editor's Note: Paying Now or Later

When Steve and I put this week's Clinical Mastery Series issue together I kept thinking of the old Fram oil filter commercials: the ones where the mechanic came on and said, "You can pay me now or pay me later," referring to the relatively small...

Diagnosis and Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 10th Edition, Ch 11-Pt 1

Pramlintide Therapy, Chapter 11 - Part 1

Editor's Note Complications and Frustrations

When I received this week’s Diabetes Clinical Mastery Series' articles and contents from our staff, I'd just finished seeing patients. It had been a frustrating day: I had spent considerable time trying to explain why diabetes has so many...

The Use of Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) Agonists and 11 Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Inhibitors in Diabetes Management

By Iriny Nashed, PharmD Candidate Just when we thought we had it all figured out when it comes to diabetes management, we find there are not only new drugs on the horizon but new classes of medications that might just change the...

ILUVIEN® FACT SHEET

  OVERVIEW: Alimera Sciences, Inc., ...

Letter from the Editor: GLP-1 Agonist Options

By now every one of us has heard that the once weekly version of exenatide, Bydureon, has been delayed by a request for a new study by the FDA. However, many of our colleagues seemed to have forgotten that the twice daily version of exenatide,...

Editor's Note: Bydureon Update

I had hoped that this week’s Clinical Mastery edition would have included information from the Duration Trials for the once weekly form of exenatide, Bydureon. Many of us had been anticipating approval of this revolutionary treatment for...

How to Obtain Appropriate Type 2 Diabetes Control in the First 180 Days of Treatment Initiation

Louis Kuritzky, MD; Benjamin J. Epstein, PharmD, BCPS; and Frank Lavernia, MD Abstract: Good control of diabetes provides meaningful microvascular risk reduction; yet, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus commonly languish at...

Effective Switch From Premixed to Basal-Prandial Insulin to Achieve Glycemic Goals in Type 2 Diabetes

Frank Lavernia, MD Abstract: Objective This article describes a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus achieving glycemic control after transitioning from premixed to basal-prandial insulin.

Partnering with Patients to Improve Therapeutic Outcomes: Incretin-Based Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes

Daniel A. Nadeau, MD Abstract: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions. Current treatment options for patients with diabetes include lifestyle modifications (eg, diet and exercise) along with...

Letter from the Editor: EASD Report

The EASD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes) just finished their 46th Annual Meeting and there was a lot of great information. This issue will condense and review for you the most exciting and new information that was presented at...

To Increase Insulin Action Best, Do You Need Fewer Carbohydrates, Low-GI Ones, or More Exercise?

  By Sheri Colberg,...

Heart Risk from Actos® as Great as from Avandia®, Study Suggests

According to a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, the heart risk from Actos is just as great as the risk posed by Avandia according to a story published Tuesday, August 24 by the Los Angeles...

Letter from the Editor: Diabetes Disaster Avoided!

It seems like every time we get something new we forget about the old. Just last week I got a frantic call from an experienced, well-controlled, Omnipod patient who had not replaced her pod and had to inject insulin with a syringe. She was at lunch...

An Alternative to Avandia: Diabetes Self-Management Training

Most of you already know the Avandia story: after two years of controversy, Senate hearings and multiple FDA reviews nothing has really changed. Avandia is still on the market, clinicians aren’t writing for it and Glaxo will probably...

Letter from the Editor: Quinine, Avandia and a Prescription for Type 2 Diabetes: EXERCISE!

It is not often that I venture out of the diabetes arena. However, this week I wanted to start out by reminding you that the FDA is again issuing a strong warning not to prescribe quinine for your patients who complain of leg cramps. This...

Special OTC Feature: Are over-the-counter Omega-3 products as effective as Lovaza®?

by Jason Besser, 2010 Doctorial Candidate, LECOM Bradenton School of Pharmacy   With the rising prices of medications today, many individuals ...

Special OTC Feature: Niacin ER: A viable alternative to Niaspan?

by Katy E. Wallis, University of Florida, 2010 Pharm D Candidate With the economy at its lowest point in decades, prescription drug costs as high as ever, and the "donut hole"...

Letter from the Editor: Donut Hole OTC Recommendations

I spent some time in the pharmacy last week and it was somewhat frightening to see just how many Medicare patients have reached the donut hole already and the year is not even half over. I took time looking for copay lowering cards on...

Preventing Medication Errors

Institute for Safe Medication Practices