Blood Sugar News and Research

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Blood sugar concentration, or glucose level, refers to the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally, in mammals the blood glucose level is maintained at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM (mmol/l). It is tightly regulated as a part of metabolic homeostasis.

Obesity: A major contributor to the development of Type 2 diabetes

"Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease," commented Sue McLaughlin, RD, CDE, President, Health Care & Education, American Diabetes Association, in a media alert. She blames the problem on a combination of factors including denial of the disease and promotion of inaccurate information or myths surrounding diabetes.

21 Nov 2009

CONTOUR USB meter available for purchase through Walgreens online pharmacy

Bayer's CONTOUR® USB meter, the first blood glucose monitor that connects directly to a PC or MAC -- providing users with instant access to information and trends about their blood sugar levels -- is now available for purchase through Walgreens online pharmacy and will soon also be available online through CVS and Walmart.

18 Nov 2009

Technology to help elderly people stay healthy at home

In a collaboration between Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post, Elizabeth Olson writes about how emerging technology is helping older people stay in their homes and can, in some instances, offer mechanisms to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs.

17 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 17, 2009

Based on today's headlines, all eyes continue to be focused on the Senate -- where Democratic leaders are still waiting for the revised Congressional Budget Office analysis of their health bill and plotting about when to hold the first procedural vote on the measure.

17 Nov 2009

HealthPartners' health plans ranked top in Minnesota

HealthPartners is among the top 25 best private health plans in the nation and the top ranked plan in Minnesota according to U.S. News & World Report/NCQA “America's Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10.” The report measures how well health plans perform on 50 measures of health care and member satisfaction. Two hundred thirty nine health plans from across the nation are included in the report. The top 50 health plans, including HealthPartners, are listed in the Nov. 16, 2009 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.

16 Nov 2009

Personal CGM improves glucose control for diabetes patients

In acknowledgement of this year’s World Diabetes Day, which calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) highlights the growing body of clinical evidence for Personal Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) in improving glucose control for diabetes patients.

16 Nov 2009

Gene within the pancreas affecting insulin secretion discovered

How a specific gene within the pancreas affects secretion of insulin has been discovered by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Japanese and American universities. Their work opens the way for a new understanding of possible paths to battle diabetes and diabetes-related health problems, which are on the rise all over the world.

12 Nov 2009

Impact of health insurance reform on Americans with diabetes: HHS report

As the nation marks American Diabetes Month, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a new report today, Preventing and Treating Diabetes: Health Insurance Reform and Diabetes in America. The report comes one day after Sebelius toured the East Manatee Family Healthcare Center in Bradenton, Fla. At the center, Sebelius met with patients and Floridians who care for people with diabetes.

12 Nov 2009

OmSanA: A new option to maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels

The holidays should be a time when Americans focus on celebrating, reuniting with loved ones, enjoying holiday feasts and seemingly endless holiday treats. But, for the roughly 127 million Americans that struggle with maintaining healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels, the stress of nearly two months of festivities can place enormous pressure on a body’s ability to maintain normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

11 Nov 2009

Employers sign up for first-of-its-kind health plan to control escalating health care costs

Employers are signing up for a first-of-its-kind health plan by UnitedHealthcare designed to help control the escalating costs of insuring diabetic and pre-diabetic employees and their families while improving their health.

5 Nov 2009

Researchers use fruit fly model for diabetes research

As rates of obesity, diabetes, and related disorders have reached epidemic proportions in the US in recent years, scientists are working from many angles to pinpoint the causes and contributing factors involved in this public health crisis. While sedentary lifestyles and diets high in sugar and fat contribute significantly to the rise in diabetes rates, genetic factors may make some people more vulnerable than others to developing diabetes.

4 Nov 2009

IDF clinical guidelines emphasize the importance of periodontal health for people with diabetes

New clinical guidelines released by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) emphasize the importance of periodontal health for people with diabetes. Diabetes affects approximately 246 million people worldwide, and this number is only expected to increase. The IDF is an organization of 200 national diabetes associations from 160 countries.

4 Nov 2009

FDA updates Byetta prescribing information following reports of kidney problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today acted on new safety information about possible kidney function problems, including kidney failure, in patients taking Byetta (exenatide), a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

3 Nov 2009

Mortal combination of health problems that can double the risk of heart attack identified

Researchers at the University of Warwick have identified a particular combination of health problems that can double the risk of heart attack and cause a three-fold increase in the risk of mortality.

3 Nov 2009

American Diabetes Association launches "Stop Diabetes" campaign

Americans earn a failing grade on diabetes awareness, based on survey results released today by the American Diabetes Association. In general, Americans earned a 51% when asked a series of questions about a disease so common that it strikes every 20 seconds. The survey results revealed that many diabetes myths and misconceptions still exist, while the disease's prevalence continues to rise.

2 Nov 2009

FDA approves an expanded indication for BYETTA injection

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded indication for BYETTA® (exenatide) injection. BYETTA is now approved for use as a stand-alone medication (monotherapy) along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

31 Oct 2009

Annual dilated eye exam helps prevent vision loss in people with diabetes

Diabetes causes more new cases of legal blindness among working-age Americans than any other disease. If diabetics are monitored regularly by their ophthalmologist, this vision loss is almost always avoidable. Yet, tragically, more than half of all people living with diabetes do not get the recommended annual dilated eye exam.

30 Oct 2009

Smartphones for diabetic patients

Cellular phones - once a luxury used strictly for talking - have taken on many new roles in recent years. Now researchers at Saint Louis University and Old Dominion University in Virginia say smartphones can be used to help elderly diabetics manage their health and learn more about their condition.

30 Oct 2009

UCSF scientists receive grants to advance stem cell based strategies for diabetes and brain tumors

Two teams of UCSF scientists have received grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to advance their stem cell based strategies for treating diabetes and brain tumors.

30 Oct 2009

Highly publicized vaccine products not only boost pharmaceutical companies, but also benefit others

Highly publicized vaccine products not only boost the bottom lines of pharmaceutical companies, but also benefit insurance companies, doctors and retailers with their businesses, according to analysis of the recent flu vaccine season by life science market research publisher Kalorama Information.

30 Oct 2009