January 9, 2016 : Issue #815

• Should Lower Blood Pressure Targets for Diabetic Patients be Adopted?
• A Possible Role for SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Blood Pressure Control
• Liraglutide Lacks HbA1c Control in Type 1 Diabetes
• Young Women with Type 2 Diabetes Show High Rate of Congenital Anomalies
• BMP7 – Creating Insulin-Producing Cells and Lowering Insulin Resistance
• Featured Writer: Dr. Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., FACSM
  • What Motivates People to Use Technologies for Tracking Health?

This week CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is in full swing in Las Vegas. There are over 180,000 attendees, and over the next four days they will look at more than 10,000 displays of products for home, auto, industrial and personal use. When we were there 3 years ago there was one health related display, but all that has changed. At last count there were over 1,000 companies showing off the latest devices for measuring and monitoring good health and wellness. We received over 100 requests to stop by and see the latest in fitness bands and the like. Many of these companies have asked us to share our insights on these products, and we will be giving you that information as we get real work experience with the products.

Why has this area grown so rapidly, and why is every company getting into the “Tracking Health” arena? This week our Activity Expert, Dr. Sheri Colberg, helps us understand what motivates people to use these devices in her special feature.

Announcements:

Free CME Courses
Our web site CME resource is back online! Be sure to check out the new CME courses posted there. Courses are currently available on topics including: Advances in the Medical & Surgical Management of Obesity; Diabetic Retinopathy; Strategies to Improve Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes; and more!

dLifeTV.com: Sunday, January 10, 7PM ET

From dLife.com: “A new documentary explores the challenges of being a parent of a child with diabetes; Chef Michel Nischan gives a fresh Asian twist to a healthy dish; Jim Turner asks people living with diabetes if they hate the disease; dLife answers a question from the dLife mailbag about post-prandial numbers.” Sundays live online at dLifeTV.com at 7 PM ET, 6 PM CT, and 4 PM PT. Keep up on the latest dLife news at dLifeTV.com.

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We can make a difference!

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Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief

What kind of results have you seen with the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors for your patients? Follow the link to respond.

May mean the discontinuation of inhaled insulin.

How long is your insulin good once the seal is punctured? How long can you keep your insulin out of the refrigerator?  Once you use your pen, and keep it at room temp, how long is it good for?  These questions are answered for all the different types of insulins, including the newest.  Stability of Insulin Chart (pdf)

Sanofi announced that it has filed a new drug application (NDA) with the FDA for the fixed-ratio combination of its diabetes drugs, Lantus (insulin glargine, 100 units/mL) and Lyxumia (lixisenatide). Sanofi is looking to get the fixed-ratio combination approved as a single daily injection for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

A patient that you haven’t seen for several years comes to your clinic for a wellness check-up. Since her last visit, she has gained about 15 pounds (5’6”, BMI 27 kg/m2). Her stage 1 hypertension is controlled with hydrochlorothiazide. As you discuss her weight gain, you learn that she doesn’t get more than 30 minutes a week of physical activity. You decide it would be best to check her A1C. Which of the following information from her history leads you to screen her for type 2 diabetes? Follow the link to respond.

For decades, health advice has been riddled with warnings against all things containing fat.  From skim milk to ‘diet’ yogurts to anti-butter campaigns, fat has well and truly been branded the bad guy.  But more recently, the anti-sugar bandwagon has been picking up pace and gaining serious support along the way.  Health experts are preaching their praises for the once-shunned nutrient because of its benefits when it comes to weight loss. Now, according to experts, we can add diabetes prevention to the list.  A study has revealed that increasing butter consumption can actually be good for you.  The research, published in PLOS One journal, has revealed that butter can help stave off diabetes.  It really comes down to a specific type of saturated fat, called heptadecanoic acid. This component lowers insulin levels and blood glucose. According to experts, the best sources of this nutrient are yogurt, full-fat milk and, most of all, beloved butter.  Researchers from the study suggest that the trend for low-fat and fat-free dairies has created a deficiency.  This, in turn “may be playing a role in the global diabetes pandemic.” — PLOS one Dec. 2015

ACCORD trial suggests lowering blood-pressure to a target of <120 mm Hg systolic.

New studies indicate potential class effect in reducing hypertension.

New study of normal-weight patients suggests weight reduction, insulin requirements.

Reasons may include poor metabolic control and extreme obesity.

Agent could make transplants more available in patients with type 1 diabetes, improve insulin resistance.

As we all know, it is easy to start out with good intentions to be more active or manage diabetes better, but it’s much more difficult to follow through and stick with such changes so that they become sustainable. While some studies have recently shown that newer devices like the Fitbit can increase physical activity adherence, the real question is, will using the latest health information technologies be motivating enough for most people to continue doing it long-term?

Quote of the Week!

“I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.”

…Florence Nightingale

Diabetes in Control gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following pharmacy doctoral candidates in the preparation of this week’s newsletter:

Jimmy Tran, LECOM College of Pharmacy

Javeria Fayyaz,  LECOM College of Pharmacy

Samantha Ferguson,  FAMU College of Pharmacy

Sabair Pradhan,  University Of South Florida College of Pharmacy

Jennifer Zahn,  University Of South Florida College of Pharmacy

Your Friends in Diabetes Care
Steve and Dave
Diabetes In Control
810 Bear Tavern Road Suite 102
Ewing, NJ, 08628
USA
www.diabetesincontrol.com