Time to read the Diabetes News and here today’s top stories:
Of Mice and Men - It is YDMV so you know there is some mouse model news to report. This time we are boldly going where no man has gone before, specifically inside the blood vessel walls of healthy mice. Why?
New Evidence Of How High Glucose Damages Blood Vessels Could Lead To New Treatments or how do all the bad things we don’t like to talk about happen? This one scores as news about real science.
Next up is an article titled, “Blood Glucose Control More Important For Patients With Diabetes Than Previously Believed.”
So the first thing I thought was how do they know exactly how important I think blood glucose control is to know it is more important than I previously believed?
The conclusion is, “Even small improvements can make a great difference in the long term.” The article then goes on to talk about types of insulin. Regular and NPH aren’t the favorites. I thought - No kidding.
OK enough of the trivial news this one is WAY AWSOME.
Smart Toilets: Doctors in Your Bathroom
Yes diabetes potty humor fans what could be more ripe for jokes than the idea that the commode can become your glucose monitor?
Toto's new Intelligence Toilet II monitors weight, blood sugar levels, and other vital signs, transferring data to your computer for analysis via WiFi.
Who needs CGM when you can have Pee GM?
Life is good.
May 12, 2009
Pain in the Butt can be a Shot in the Arm or Visa Versa
I went to see the first night of Kelley’s class Sr Project presentations. Sr Project is a very intense independent study elective at her school. Kelley was MC-ing the first nights presentations.
These kids are amazing.
About two thirds of the way through, I got a text about diabetes care. I was only planning on staying for one presentation but they were so good I was in for the whole thing. But there was the text: ‘Where should Delaney put her new set, Butt or Arm?’
We have shifted her sets to her arm recently. It took some effort on her part to screw up enough courage to change from her comfort zone, aka her tush. She was seeing uneven absorption and maybe that was because the available real estate for sets was getting over used.
She can’t do the arm sets by herself - yet. I texted back to wait and I would be home in a half hour to help do an arm set. She could chill. The cell phone turns out to be a great tool for helping minimize anxiety. I could reassure her that it was OK to wait, that she would get help and still catch the last presentation.
One of the common themes (clearly by design of the Sr Project class) is being pushed outside of their comfort zones and let them experience the benefits of a stretch. Going outside yourself to discover yourself is clearly the agenda. Parts of the class are clearly a pain in the butt but hearing them talk they clearly were proud of working past the anxiety. There I am texting about going outside your set comfort zone listening to students talk about stretching outside their comfort zones. A pain in the butt turns out to be a shot in the arm.
For T1 kids that is true both literally and figuratively. Delaney isn't waiting to Sr year of highschool to learn that.
These kids are amazing.
About two thirds of the way through, I got a text about diabetes care. I was only planning on staying for one presentation but they were so good I was in for the whole thing. But there was the text: ‘Where should Delaney put her new set, Butt or Arm?’
We have shifted her sets to her arm recently. It took some effort on her part to screw up enough courage to change from her comfort zone, aka her tush. She was seeing uneven absorption and maybe that was because the available real estate for sets was getting over used.
She can’t do the arm sets by herself - yet. I texted back to wait and I would be home in a half hour to help do an arm set. She could chill. The cell phone turns out to be a great tool for helping minimize anxiety. I could reassure her that it was OK to wait, that she would get help and still catch the last presentation.
One of the common themes (clearly by design of the Sr Project class) is being pushed outside of their comfort zones and let them experience the benefits of a stretch. Going outside yourself to discover yourself is clearly the agenda. Parts of the class are clearly a pain in the butt but hearing them talk they clearly were proud of working past the anxiety. There I am texting about going outside your set comfort zone listening to students talk about stretching outside their comfort zones. A pain in the butt turns out to be a shot in the arm.
For T1 kids that is true both literally and figuratively. Delaney isn't waiting to Sr year of highschool to learn that.
Adult Stem Cell and Insulin-Free
DiabetesHealth is reporting:
So you read the article and there is bit:
What I don't get is why can't the diabetes establishment (ADA JDRF to name two) get as much enthusiasm for other approaches (Faustman perhaps) as stem cells?
Adult Stem Cell Implants Make Newly Diagnosed Type 1s Insulin-Free
May 12, 2009
After American and Brazilian researchers implanted 23 newly diagnosed type 1 patients with their own adult stem cells, 12 of the patients became insulin-free for periods lasting from 14 to 52 months (the mean was 31 months).
So you read the article and there is bit:
Although the results of the transplantation experiment are promising, the procedure itself is radical. Patients must have their immune systems suppressed by powerful drugs before receiving the stem cells. Significant percentages of the study's 23 patients experienced troubling side effects:
Two patients (8.7 percent of the group) developed pneumonia while undergoing immunosuppression therapy.
Nine patients (39 percent) developed low sperm counts after exposure to one immunosuppressant drug.
What I don't get is why can't the diabetes establishment (ADA JDRF to name two) get as much enthusiasm for other approaches (Faustman perhaps) as stem cells?
May 8, 2009
Do as We say Not as We do
Ok parents, lets all raise our hands if we know that how we behave is more important than what we say when it comes to teaching our kids. If we watch what we eat they mimic the behavior. If we smoke they smoke. Language, accent, mannerisms - you name it, we do it they learn it. On the up side it can make you proud.
Caremark seems to have missed the mark. They think we need to do what they say not what they do. We should refrigerate insulin upon arrival. They don’t even insulate the shipment. Here is our latest (being returned) shippment.
Mrs YDMV called Lilly. They said it should be kept cold. They also said they were aware of some issues and were working on them. Nothing very speciffic mind you, more like mombo jumbo.
Sure.
Specifically Eli Lilly has very clearly stated that they are opposed to middlemen “…whose interests are making money – not helping patients” when those middlemen are possibilities, that may happen, if the importation of Canadian drugs is allowed and hypothetical web vendors spring up. When the middleman is a huge, real, US Lilly customer, not so much.
Lilly says they are working on something. Thanks for that Mombo Jumbo but we still need insulin, every day as a matter of fact. Who know what they are working on. In the mean time their interest in making money selling Caremark insulin seems to be taking precedent over helping patients to follow Lilly’s FDA approved insulin handling instructions. Why do I say that?
Well - still no reply to my letter seeking some guidance on the matter.
OK maybe the truth is Lilly’s objection to Canadian imports was self serving PR double talk aka mombo jumbo. (Feel free to raise your hand on that too) If it isn’t double talk they need to stand up for patients and cut off middlemen who don't care about patients, like say - Caremark. If not then fess up and shut up about things like opening up Canadian imports.
At some point I think Big Pharma like Lilly needs to be held to their word. It may take a few of us consumers/customers/patients to do it.
I would love to hear from anyone who writes Lilly, Congress, or the FDA. I would love to hear about a reply even more.
Caremark seems to have missed the mark. They think we need to do what they say not what they do. We should refrigerate insulin upon arrival. They don’t even insulate the shipment. Here is our latest (being returned) shippment.Mrs YDMV called Lilly. They said it should be kept cold. They also said they were aware of some issues and were working on them. Nothing very speciffic mind you, more like mombo jumbo.
Sure.
Specifically Eli Lilly has very clearly stated that they are opposed to middlemen “…whose interests are making money – not helping patients” when those middlemen are possibilities, that may happen, if the importation of Canadian drugs is allowed and hypothetical web vendors spring up. When the middleman is a huge, real, US Lilly customer, not so much.
Lilly says they are working on something. Thanks for that Mombo Jumbo but we still need insulin, every day as a matter of fact. Who know what they are working on. In the mean time their interest in making money selling Caremark insulin seems to be taking precedent over helping patients to follow Lilly’s FDA approved insulin handling instructions. Why do I say that?
Well - still no reply to my letter seeking some guidance on the matter.
OK maybe the truth is Lilly’s objection to Canadian imports was self serving PR double talk aka mombo jumbo. (Feel free to raise your hand on that too) If it isn’t double talk they need to stand up for patients and cut off middlemen who don't care about patients, like say - Caremark. If not then fess up and shut up about things like opening up Canadian imports.
At some point I think Big Pharma like Lilly needs to be held to their word. It may take a few of us consumers/customers/patients to do it.
I would love to hear from anyone who writes Lilly, Congress, or the FDA. I would love to hear about a reply even more.
May 4, 2009
How Much Do You Bolus for 7,236 Carbs?
We made a cake for the cast party for Bye Bye Birdie. Best I can figure it was 7,236 carbs but I didn't put it on a scale. The inspiration was the play post card.The cake was in production for about a week. Longer if you include experimenting with gum paste and making fondant.
One of Kelley's classmates drew caricatures of the play characters. Very talented young woman named Ashley, who as her senior project designed and made the leading lady's costumes. Very Cool.
Our house is covered in sugar. My shoes stick to the floor and every blood test is suspect. It was a heck of a lot of fun and like a good play it was enjoyed by the audience it was produced for and is now a memory.
April 30, 2009
Reviews
Connor is Albert in Bye Bye Bridie. This review of opening night is on Philly.com. As a proud dad I really liked the third paragraph.
Even mom didn't notice his pump tubing opening night. That's great.
Tickets 14/$12/$10. (A few still available for this weekend!)
Pump - a few grand.
That being on stage is what defines him and the pump just comes along for the ride. Priceless
Even mom didn't notice his pump tubing opening night. That's great.
Tickets 14/$12/$10. (A few still available for this weekend!)
Pump - a few grand.
That being on stage is what defines him and the pump just comes along for the ride. Priceless
April 28, 2009
From The News Wire: OmniPod CE Mark
Insulet Receives CE Mark for the OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System
CE Mark Enables Insulet to Begin Marketing In Europe
BEDFORD, Mass.,
April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Insulet Corporation (Nasdaq: PODD), the leader in tubing-free insulin pump technology, announced today that the Company has received the CE Mark approval for its OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System. The CE Mark gives Insulet authorization to distribute the OmniPod System throughout the European Union and in other countries that recognize the CE Mark.
April 17, 2009
From The News Wire: Yuck It Up
Hey! Science new items that doesn't involve mice! More significantly it is about a subject near and dear to YDMV, Laughs. Yes humor fans finally a research study that ask the burring question, "If stress messes up BG do laughs help out?"
ScienceDaily (Apr. 17, 2009) — The connection between the body, mind
and spirit has been the subject of conventional scientific inquiry for some 20
years. The notion that psychosocial and societal considerations have a role in
maintaining health...
So what I want to know is this, will insurance cover Mel Brooks DVDs?
LOL it is good for ya.
ScienceDaily (Apr. 17, 2009) — The connection between the body, mind
and spirit has been the subject of conventional scientific inquiry for some 20
years. The notion that psychosocial and societal considerations have a role in
maintaining health...
Conclusion
The study suggests that the addition of an adjunct therapeutic mirthful laughter Rx (a potential modulator of positive mood state) to standard diabetes care may lower stress and inflammatory response and increase “good” cholesterol levels. The authors conclude that mirthful laughter may thus lower the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Further studies need to be done to expand and elucidate these findings.
So what I want to know is this, will insurance cover Mel Brooks DVDs?
LOL it is good for ya.
April 10, 2009
Of Mice and Men: Transplanted Pancreatic Cells Protected From T-Cell
Device Protects Transplanted Pancreatic Cells From The Immune System
ScienceDaily (Apr. 9, 2009) — Scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) and the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) School of Medicine have demonstrated in mice that transplanted pancreatic precursor cells are protected from the immune system when encapsulated in polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). The study, which suggests a new approach to treating Type 1 diabetes, was published online on April 8 in the journal Transplantation.
From the News Wire: Overpriced Crap that Wont Help
Oh Please! 32 oz of cinnamon flavored cranberry juice for only $26.95. Ads to run on dLife.
Nuvilex, Inc. Announces New Pricing for Cinnergen and Launch of dLife Advertising and Promotion Campaign
Cherry Hill, NJ - (WORLD STOCK WIRE) -
April 9, 2009 -- Nuvilex, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NVLX.OB), an emerging healthcare consumer products company with a portfolio of aesthetics, dermatology, environmental and nutraceutical products, announced today that it intends to reduce the suggested list price and launch an advertising and promotion campaign for Cinnergen, a cranberry cinnamon liquid supplement that helps promote healthy glucose metabolism, to raise customer awareness and garner increased demand for the product at a lower price point.Effective May 1, 2009, Nuvilex' wholly owned subsidiary, Cinnergen, Inc., will reduce the suggested retail price for a 32 ounce bottle of Cinnergen to $26.95 from $34.95....
Nuvilex has separately executed a partnership agreement for the promotion of Cinnergen with dLife, the only multimedia network serving the diabetes community....
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
Posts
