Free Diabetic Supplies

With more individuals being diagnosed with diabetes there is a greater need for positive and accurate information regarding treatment, supplies and tools to deal with the disease.  Most pharmacies have some sort of pamphlets or other written information and materials available regarding diabetes, and Walgreens is no exception.

In addition to the pamphlet “Diabetes and You” which Walgreens already offers, the pharmacy has developed a quarterly online newsletter specifically for individuals with diabetes.  The goal of the Quarterly Diabetes Newsletter is to help people with diabetes lead healthier and fuller lives by empowering them to make better choices every day.

The Quarterly Diabetes Newsletter follows the launch of Walgreens online Diabetes Center, which began in 2006.  The online Diabetes Center is an interactive multimedia collection of information and articles regarding diabetes. 
Walgreens Director of Diabetes Services, Jude Pierre-Louis, RPh, states that there could never be “too much information on diabetes.  Avoiding complications requires the right knowledge, tools and support.”  Walgreens is making the effort to provide those things in an innovative way.

Walgreens is the largest drug store chain in the United States and offers many products online.  In addition to the new Quarterly Diabetes Newsletter, there is also an online Caregiver Support Center and a Spanish language site called WalgreensEspanol.com.  Having information in Spanish is essential, since diabetes has become a tremendous health problem in the Hispanic community.  There is a lack of Spanish language information available at many pharmacies and online, so Walgreens can fill that need and help individuals receive important information to help them deal with health issues.

Walgreens also offers discounts, recipes, food lists and other essentials in the care of diabetes.  The company has made the Quarterly Diabetes Newsletter easy to read and easy to obtain.

If you would like diabetes information or would like to sign up for the free Quarterly Diabetes Newsletter, you can do so at www.walgreens.com/diabetesnewsletter or www.walgreens.com/diabetesemail.

There are many tests available to determine whether a person has diabetes.  Most of these tests have different ways of determining blood sugar levels and other factors present when a person has diabetes.

There is also a test called the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test that is the most comprehensive cholesterol test available.  This test identifies fifteen separate components of blood cholesterol, and it is the most comprehensive cholesterol test available today. 

The reason that this is so important is that the test can identify precursors to diabetes and heart disease.  This test alone has been able to identify twice as many individuals at risk for diabetes than any other tests because it is able to find markers for Metabolic Syndrome which usually precedes diabetes.  Metabolic Syndrome is a set of factors present in a person that puts them at risk for diabetes.  Some of the factors include obesity, insulin resistance, high triglycerides and/or high blood pressure.

The fact that the VAP test is an accurate predictor of diabetes gives doctors and their patients the time to determine a course of action before a person is diagnosed with the disease, preventing serious health issues.  If the person has Metabolic Syndrome, addressing and alleviating the symptoms can help the person avoid diabetes or heart disease altogether, or at least minimize the effects of either.

If a person has a family history – or a current diagnosis – of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or they are currently taking cholesterol medication, they are a good candidate for a VAP tests.  Many health insurance policies cover this test, which is much more comprehensive than the traditional lipid panel.

If you think you would be a candidate for the VAP test, be sure to discuss your situation with your doctor.

It has become common knowledge that being overweight can have a negative effect on a person’s health.  It has been stated in the results of many tests and studies that being overweight creates a strain on the cardiovascular system, often increasing blood pressure, creating risk for heart disease and heart attacks, increasing risk of strokes and increasing the risk of or severity of diabetes.

There is good news about being overweight and being diagnosed with diabetes.  Researchers have found that if a person who is overweight has been diagnosed with diabetes, they can improve their health by losing weight.  This has not been a common theory, and it has not been researched as much as other ways to control diabetes.

The fact that diabetes can be controlled – or even reversed – through weight loss is exciting information.  According to studies, weight loss as soon after diagnosis as possible will create long term health benefits including lower blood pressure and more control of blood sugar.  In addition, weight loss can keep cholesterol levels balanced.

These three factors alone can significantly reduce the possibility of long-term complications of diabetes, such as blindness, kidney damage, heart disease, amputation, and even death. 

The studies also found that the individuals who lost weight soon after diagnosis and regained it later, were still doing well four years into their treatment.  They had hit target blood pressure and blood sugar amounts, and continued to do well, even though the weight had been regained during the four years.  The individuals who were studied ranged in age from 21 to 75.

Researchers are still trying to determine why weight loss as soon after diagnosis is essential and why, once the weight is gained back, individuals still fare much better than those who have not lost weight after diagnosis.  Other follow-up studies are in progress to find the answers.

When you hear the name Bayer, the first thing most people think of is healthcare, particularly aspirin that has been part of everyday healthcare for over a century.  When you hear the name Steven R. Covey, you may or may not have the total idea of who he is, but most people know he is an innovator.  Covey has been named one of the 25 most influential people in America, and he is the acclaimed author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and many more best-selling titles.

Covey has been working with Bayer on their program to help individuals with diabetes cope with the disease, overcome barriers and manage symptoms by adjusting their lifestyles.  He has created a booklet that Bayer distributed called “7 Habits of Highly Effective People with Diabetes” which flew off the shelves and was requested over 10,000 times last year.

Because of the demand for the booklet, Covey and Bayer have created additional resources for individuals with diabetes and their physicians and other medical staff.  The new resource is “7 Habits of Highly Effective People with Diabetes Workbook Guide for Healthcare Professionals” which also has a patient version.  This workbook was created to help guide healthcare professionals and people with diabetes through the challenges of diabetes and the changes they must address in their lives to stay healthy.

Covey has said that “living with diabetes gives a person the opportunity to take a challenge and turn it into something positive.”  Through the workbooks and additional support, this can happen. 

Additional support is provided through a CD to accompany the workbook, as well as through a new partnership called Fit4D, which will offer personalized diabetes coaching with a team of Certified Diabetes Educators.  The educators include nurses, exercise physiologists, registered dieticians and personal trainers who will create programs that integrate motivational support with fitness and nutritional planning. 

The main idea is to empower the individual with diabetes and their healthcare professional(s) to work toward healthier, happier lives by dealing with the disease in a positive way.  In addition to the team of Certified Diabetes Educators there will also be webinars, coaching and other activities to help provide support.

For further information regarding this innovative new program check the internet for www.fit4d.com or www.bayerdiabetes.com/us.
 

There are many promising diabetes treatments on the medical horizon lately and most of them are helping individuals with diabetes.  There has been a discovery recently that some treatment can harm patients with diabetes and could even be fatal.

Glucose is an issue in diabetes, and there have been treatments designed to control glucose levels as well as controlling diabetes symptoms.  One treatment that addresses both situations is a combination treatment which uses two classes of drugs.  The problem is that researchers have found that there is an increased risk of mortality in patients who are given both drugs.

The problem was found by researchers who studied over 100,000 patients and discovered that the patients who received these two classes of drugs – meltformin and sulfonylureas – that combines to deal with the symptoms of both.
The problem is that these combine to create complications; many of them are cardiovascular issues.

What researchers found was astounding.  They found that there was a 19% increase of the people who took this combination therapy that had fatal outcomes.  They also found that there was a 29% increase in fatalities due to cardiac problems – most likely due to the interaction of the two medications.  The most important discovery was that there was a 43% increase in death or hospitalization due to cardiovascular issues in the group on combination therapy, even though all the groups had the same or similar health issues to begin with.

This is a significant study because the two medications used are the least expensive and the most widely used in combination to treat diabetes.  The study shows that there are more studies needed to determine why this happens, and it also shows that, at least for now, this combination of medications needs to be curtailed until there is more information and better outcomes.
 

There are a lot of people who have the kind of genes that give them a clean bill of health.  Their parents had no allergies, no cancer, no blood pressure problems, great hair, teeth and skin, and they were probably thin and good looking, too!

Then there are the rest of us who are just normal and fit in with everyone else.  There is probably someone in our family who has high blood pressure, possibly someone who is balding, and, of course, someone who has diabetes or a tendency toward it.  As a result, we need to be careful and monitor our health so that we become aware of any issues before they become critical.

Whether you know of a relative who has diabetes or not, there are things we can all do to reduce our risk of diabetes.  Many of these things are extremely simple and can be enjoyable, as well. 

Researchers have found that moderate exercise helps blood sugar and insulin levels in balance.  In and of itself, exercise is not a cure-all, but it helps keep your blood pressure in check, your organs working well and can help control your weight.  Weight is a factor in diabetes especially since both obesity and diabetes have a direct effect on the cardiovascular system.

Diet is another important factor in reducing your risk of diabetes  If you happen to have diabetes, diet can help keep it under control, but if you do not have diabetes, a good diet can help you avoid it.  There are some interesting ways you can make some changes in diet.  For instance, substituting spinach or onions for one of your eggs in an omelet is a healthier way to eat.  Going to an ethnic food store and finding a new fruit or vegetable is a good way to eat healthy and have a new experience doing so.  Add fruit to breakfast foods and vegetables to pasta to help balance out the carbohydrates – which are often culprits in creating the imbalance of insulin/blood sugar in your body.  Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet in general because the vitamins and minerals they contain help protect you from illness by boosting your immune system.

These are just a few ideas that can help keep your body running strong and balance things out so that your risk of diabetes and other diseases is lowered.

To receive a free copy of the booklet “Your Game Plan to Prevent Diabetes” which helps you with information and guidelines, you can call 1-888-693-6337.

Canada has made headlines lately in the fight against diabetes.  They are taking the lead in developing innovative ways to monitor and control the disease.  One of the programs that they are working on is getting free insulin pumps to individuals that need them.  The pumps usually cost over $7,000 each.  The project is underway and is helping people throughout Ontario, which is the first place the project is being tested.

Another creative stride that Canada is making in dealing with diabetes is an idea whose time has come.  Ontario has announced that it will create an online registry for individuals with diabetes.  This registry will be created and maintained at a cost of $741 million, but will provide tremendous support to the over 600,000 Ontarians who have diabetes presently and the 300,000 more expected to be diagnosed within the next few years.

The registry will be maintained online and will allow individuals with diabetes to record their sugar levels on their own personal web page that only they and their doctor or nutritionist have access to.  If their levels spike or drop or in some way go out of control, there would be an alert sent to the doctor or nutritionist automatically so that the situation could be addressed and corrected immediately

This shifts the way diabetes is treated to a patient-doctor relationship rather than the other way around.  If an individual does not record their data, they will get an email to remind them to do so. 

This new registry is an idea that could save hospitalizations and other emergencies and save lives.  By determining irregularities in an individual’s sugar levels quickly, adjustments can be made well before the situation turns into an acute emergency.

It is time for other countries to think about implementing some sort of system that could help individuals with diabetes in a similar way.  In the short term and the long run, this would save hospitalizations, insurance claims and lives.

There is a blood test, the Hemoglobin A1c test that is currently used to keep track of how well a diabetic’s blood sugar is staying under control.  Basically, in this test, a blood sample is taken to see how much glucose red blood cells have been exposed to in the past 120 days.  

This test is usually used measure long term glucose control but doctors don’t usually use it to see if a person has diabetes, they usually use it to see if the person who has diabetes has it under control.  This is important, but it could be just as important if the test were used to identify individuals who have diabetes but don’t know it.

It is estimated that over 6 million people have diabetes but are not aware of it.  Another 28 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and are being treated for it.  This is a large percentage of the population that has the disease and is doing what is necessary to stay as healthy as possible.

For those who are unaware that they have diabetes, there is an insidious peril.  One of the most urgent problems with this situation is that all too often, by the time that these individuals are actually diagnosed; their diabetes has already done internal damage, sometimes to their internal organs and blood vessels. 

All of this could be avoided if the A1c test was given as a regular part of annual or semi-annual check-ups.  It could save people a great deal of pain, as well as eliminating hospitalizations, amputations, strokes, kidney failure and other issues related to diabetes.

It is encouraging that researchers and physicians are beginning to take a second look at some of the existing tools that are being used in diabetes care and looking at ways to use these tools to diagnose and treat diabetes sooner, or perhaps prevent pre-diabetes from turning into full-blown diabetes.

There are now more ways to check more people for diabetes and if your doctor doesn’t bring it up, it could be a good thing if you do.  Maybe you will be someone whose pre-diabetes is prevented from becoming diabetes, allowing you to live a longer, healthier life.

There have been many strides in diagnosing and treating diabetes, especially in the past decade.  Better methods of testing, better medications and better information are all available.  In the majority of cases, both doctors and patients are more informed and more involved in the diagnosis, control and treatment of diabetes.

One area of importance is in diagnosing diabetes.  Often, individuals have no idea that they have the disease and their doctors are not looking for it because they are not being told that there is a problem or they are not making a connection between the symptoms they are being told about and the fact that these are symptoms of diabetes.

There is good news about diagnosing diabetes.  Researchers including engineers, microbiologists and endocrinologists have worked together to create a new way of finding the symptoms of diabetes.  This test projects light into the skin to measure specific compounds that signal the presence of diabetes.  These compounds exist when there is damage from high blood sugar.  These compounds are called AGE’s.

The test takes about one minute and simply shines light at different wave lengths into the arm.  If the compounds are present, the person either has diabetes, is pre-diabetic or is at high risk for developing it.

This testing could easily replace some of the blood tests used, and it would possibly help diagnose many more people sooner so that their diabetes or pre-diabetes could be controlled.  Instead of fasting, drinking a syrupy liquid and having several vials of blood drawn, an individual could simply have a light shined under the arm to look for specific symptoms.

Researchers hope that this can become part of regular check ups, especially for individuals at risk for diabetes.  If physicians have the light available, they could use it in the course of assessing their patients and most likely find those with diabetes who don’t know it, or those with pre-diabetes who could control it, thus keeping their patients healthier and the disease under control.

The light, called “The Scout” is currently being tested in several hospitals.

Depression is an insidious disease and so is diabetes.  All too often, diabetes sneaks up upon an individual and by the time they are actually diagnosed with it, it is advanced enough to require long-term medication and treatment to stay under control.  This is a shock to many individuals with diabetes who thought they were just a little tired or thirsty and had no idea that they were suffering from an illness that would last a lifetime.

Add to the symptoms of diabetes the symptoms of depression, some of which could be the same – especially the excessive tiredness – and the individual is now dealing with two health issues that need some sort of monitoring and treatment. 

There has long been a known link between type 2 diabetes and depression, with physicians and other health professionals looking for ways to diagnose and treat both issues at the same time so that the individual with diabetes has fewer complications and has a better outlook.

New research has found that there is also a link between type 1diabetes and depression, as well.  Since type 1 diabetes usually affects children, this is an important discovery.  Researchers in Australia have found that about one in every 10 children and adults with type 1 diabetes suffers from depression as well.

There is confusion about diabetes and most people don’t realize that diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects the body in a myriad of ways.  People don’t realize that diet and lifestyle are not the causes of type 1 diabetes, though a good diet and healthy lifestyle can help a person with the disease. 

The discovery of the link between type 1diabetes and depression is an important discovery.  It can help people – especially the multitude of children who were previously undiagnosed – to deal with all of their symptoms in a way that will help them live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.