Diabetes In Control. A free weekly diabetes newsletter for Medical Professionals. News and information for Medical Professionals.
- Metformin for Prediabetes: Success
- LDL-C Levels and Cardiovascular Risk
- Type I Diabetes Mellitus: A Triple Therapy Approach
- Liraglutide Use in Heart Failure Patients
- Effect of Processed and Unprocessed Meats in Diabetes
- Why I Count Calories, Not Just Carbs
- by Featured Writer: Dr. Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., FACSM
Letter from the Editor
In issue 162, published in June 2004, we had an item from the BMJ touting a polypill that could reduce heart attack and strokes in 80% of all people over 55 who had some sort of vascular problem. This pill had 6 drugs, including: a cholesterol-lowering statin; three blood-pressure medications; folic acid; and aspirin. Then, in May of 2007, we shared information from the Archimedes Model, from researchers at Kaiser Permanente, that showed that the combination of an ACE, aspirin, metformin and a statin could dramatically reduce the number of diabetes-related complications and deaths.
In June of 2011, we had yet another article concerning the idea of medicating prediabetes patients to prevent complications later.
Twelve years have gone by since that first article, and we still have no polypill. That may be because of the comments from clinicians like Dr. Steve Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic, who touts that “medical practice requires that we apply the right therapies for the right patients in the optimal dosages.”
It may be true that a polypill is not the answer, but this week’s first item looks at using metformin in prediabetes, and why you should give considerable thought to trying it.
These prediabetes patients may also benefit from a lower carb diet to try and reduce the workload on the pancreas. However, oftentimes when they are diagnosed and especially when they are on insulin, carb counting becomes a way of life. This often means they are trying every trick to save on carb consumption only to be frustrated when glucose levels don’t seem to go where they want them to. To help sort this out and make sense of why “1 carb plus 1 carb does not always equal 2 carbs” we turned to our resident guru and type 1 patient Dr. Sheri Colberg to explain why she “Count(s) Calories, Not Just Carbs.”
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We can make a difference!
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Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief
This Week's Survey
Do you think people who are prescribed a drug, like metformin, for prediabetes are more or less likely to make lifestyle changes that could help their prediabetes? Follow the link to share your opinion!
Tool for Your Practice: Stability of Insulin Chart
Knowing the stability of their insulin medications is key to patients’ ability to control their blood sugar levels. When should your patients dispose of their insulin if refrigerated, non-refrigerated, opened or still sealed? Print out this stability chart of vials and insulin pens to hand out to your patients. Stability of Insulin Chart 9-9-2016
Test Your Knowledge
Someone You Should Know
Sometimes you come across something that is truly amazing that most people will never ever see. Well I had a very unique experience last week when I was attending a Chicago Cubs game. I had a chance to meet with some fans sitting right behind us. There was all kinds of commotion taking place right behind me where I was sitting, with photographers coming just about every few minutes to take a photo of this seven-year-old boy, who is a real true Chicago Cub fan. This 7-year-old, Beckham Zobrist, is not only beating cancer, but doing it in style. After he lost his eye to cancer, Beckham thought of a creative idea to stop kids who were picking on him for being different: a new prosthetic eye emblazoned with the Chicago Cubs logo. Maybe we could invent a video game with an insulin pump?
Have you seen any examples of children (or adults) finding creative ways to cope with their insulin pumps and/or the way other people react to them? Let us know!
Learn more about Beckham on YouTube.
In a controlled trial, 600 overweight and obese people with prediabetes were given metformin.
What is the best strategy to target LDL-C levels and improve cardiovascular outcomes?
What are the benefits of dapagliflozin for type 1 when added to an insulin-liraglutide regimen?
Cardioprotective effects of the drug are focus of research.
Can meat consumption increase glucose intolerance and insulin resistance?
Featured Writer: Dr. Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., FACSM
Whenever someone gets diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) nowadays, the first thing that an educator or dietitian tries to teach them is how to count carbohydrates (carbs). Although I have been living with T1D now for almost half a century, I have to admit that I don’t count carbs. Not only that, but I personally don’t think carb counting works very well!
Quote of the Week!
“What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.”
…Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Diabetes in Control gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following pharmacy doctoral candidates in the preparation of this week’s newsletter:
Pablo A. Marrero-Núñez, USF College of Pharmacy
Your Friends in Diabetes Care
Steve and Dave
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