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Diabetes and its complications are the leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations in the United States. Neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes, is a major contributing force leading to lower extremity amputation. Neuropathy leads to an anesthetic foot with increased pressure on the sole of the foot. This increased …

Low levels of vitamin D have long been known to predispose to osteoporosis and rickets in children. It’s for this reason that mothers used to spoon feed cod liver oil, a rich source of vitamin D, to their unwilling children. Nowadays we supplement milk products with extra vitamin D, sparing …

Despite all the information that has been discussed time and time again regarding the benefits of regular exercise and it’s role in blood glucose management, there are millions of people with diabetes who don’t exercise. Their excuses include having no time, no energy, lack of motivation, and on and on. …

Current Drug Practices At a recent diabetes conference, a speaker lamented that diabetes is an epidemic spiraling out of control, and therefore we need new and better drugs. Think for a moment at how illogical is this line of reasoning. Diabetes is not a drug deficiency nor is heart disease …

The insidious affects of diabetes can also be seen and best exposed by examining the function of both the endocrine and exocrine sections of the pancreas. The endocrine section of the pancreas houses primarily four types of cells in what are called islets. There are several other types of cells …

Approximately 50 million Americans have hypertension. That is one out of every four adults. If you are African American, make that one out of three. High blood pressure tends to run in families. It strikes more often in people over 35 years old, and by age 65, more than half …

Traditionally, medications come from any of several classes of small molecules, like amino acids, steroids, or small lipids. Such agents are relatively easy to put into tablets, and generally they are not destroyed by acid in the stomach before they can be absorbed. Proteins, on the other hand, present a …

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with home blood glucose monitors is essential. The blood glucose (BG) results are used to assess the efficacy of therapy, and to provide data by which to make management decisions. Typically, patients who use insulin should be SMBG at least 3-4 times per day. Some …

A cynical oncologist once told me that his goal was to help patients to live long enough to die of a heart attack. A cardiologist who was there retorted that he was aiming to let his patients live long enough to get hit by a bus Not the most compassionate …

Maintaining glucose levels as close to normal as possible is a good thing. Regular readers of this Viewpoint know that I am a strong advocate of tight blood sugar control because this approach leads to fewer diabetic complications. These complications, such as diabetic retinopathy (eye disease), nephropathy (kidney disease), and …