Diabetes

Published on: April 30, 2022

Bill Capping Cost of Insulin Passed in House

Millions of Americans who are dependent on insulin treatment for their diabetes will benefit if a new bill capping the cost of insulin, which recently passed the House, also succeeds in the Senate.

The United States House of Representatives passed the Affordable Insulin Now Act this month. Twelve Republicans broke party lines to vote for the bill. The bill caps the cost of insulin at $35 for people taking this life- saving medication. According to estimates, one in five Americans who have employer- provided health insurance and are on insulin treatment will benefit from this measure. The Kaiser Family Foundation says that the average American who suffers from diabetes and is dependent on insulin spends approximately 300 to 1,000 dollars every month on purchasing insulin. Those costs will be significantly reduced.

Diabetics who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes are typically more likely to require insulin because the body, in this condition, produces little to none of this hormone. It is estimated that approximately 5 to 10 out of every 100 diabetic patients are insulin-dependent.

Continue reading →

Published on: November 30, 2021

Stem Cell Conversion Treatment Could Help Treat Diabetes

By Lisa Siegel

Diabetes is a disease that has several long – term health complications. A new study that focused on conversion of human stem cells into pancreatic cells promises path- breaking new approaches to diabetes treatment and care.

The study focused on the conversion of “human pluripotent stem cells” into pancreatic cells. The researchers found that when these converted cells were transplanted in mice, there was tremendous progress in the reduction of blood sugar and other symptoms of diabetes.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 34 million people live with diabetes in the United States. Only about 26 million are diagnosed with diabetes, and are being treated, while the remaining are undiagnosed cases of diabetes. Anyone can be at risk of diabetes, but certain risk factors may make you especially predisposed to this disease. Obesity is a major indicator for diabetes with more than 80 percent of diabetes sufferers also suffering from obesity. Other risk factors include a history of physical inactivity or excessive sedentary activity and a family history of diabetes. Persons with high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol are also at a higher risk of suffering from diabetes.

Continue reading →

Published on: April 14, 2021

Diabetes and IBS: Could you Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?

By Lisa Siegel

Persons who suffer from diabetes could also be at a higher risk of suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Diabetes affects many organs and nerves across the body. One of the consequences of diabetes could be damage to the nerves lining the gastrointestinal system, leading to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Diarrhea and constipation are common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, there are other symptoms that may cause serious discomfort and make it difficult for a person to work for long periods of time. For instance, irritable bowel syndrome often leads to nausea and fatigue. The person may suffer from bloating, and experience the urgent need to visit the toilet several times in an hour. This, by itself, can make it difficult for a person to work in certain types of occupations. For instance, a person who works in an occupation that requires him/her to travel frequently, or meet with clients every day may find managing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Irritable bowel syndrome can also result in malnutrition, which, in turn, can cause weight loss, anemia and chronic fatigue. A person who suffers from severe fatigue, for instance, will not be able to perform many types of jobs. If your diabetes results in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms that are so serious that they make it difficult for you to work at your regular job, then you could be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

Published on: October 7, 2019

DIABETES IS NOW INCREASINGLY A YOUNG ADULT’S DISEASE

By Lisa Siegel

dreamstime_l_62291518-300x200
A popular misconception is that type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects only older persons. This is increasingly being proven false by strong evidence. Data indicates that the number of teens and young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is increasing.

As many as 1 in 8 new diagnoses of type 2 diabetes now involve persons between the age of 18 and 40, compared to a rate of 1 in 10 less than two decades ago. Besides, younger females between the age of 18 and 40 now seem to have a higher incidence of diabetes compared to women above the age of 40. Another study also found that teens who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were at a high risk of diabetes-related complications in their twenties.

If you are a diabetes patient, you likely have concerns about the way your health will impact your ability to work and earn an income. Persons with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of several complications. These include

Continue reading →

Published on: September 25, 2017

Diabetes Drug May Be Beneficial for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

By Lisa Siegel

A drug used to treat patients who suffer from diabetes may have the unexpected side effect of helping reduce early symptoms in persons who suffer from Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers at the University College London recently found that the drug exenatide, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in 2005 for the treatment of diabetes, also may benefit persons with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers studied the effects of the drug on diabetic patients as compared to a control group that was on a placebo. They found that the diabetic patients who were on the drug showed better motor function after treatment. Patients on the drug showed reduced signs of decline, compared to those on the placebo.

The study only included a limited number of participants, and the researchers acknowledged that larger group samples may further confirm the findings of the study.

Continue reading →

Published on: January 25, 2017

Scientists Retract Breakthrough Diabetes Study Findings

By Lisa Siegel

A scientific study published three years ago that claimed to have found breakthrough results in the search for a cure for diabetes has now been retracted.

The article titled Betatrophin: A Hormone that Controls Pancreatic Cell Proliferation was widely acclaimed when it was published back in 2013. According to researchers at that time, they had identified a new hormone that could help boost the secretion of insulin in diabetes patients, thereby making it unnecessary for patients to take insulin injections.

However, the group has now admitted that since then, research from another group has failed to replicate the findings of the earlier study. The earlier study had been conducted on rodents. Now, the researchers have voluntarily retracted their 2013 study, and have confirmed that their earlier conclusion was wrong.

Continue reading →

Published on: March 26, 2015

Increased Yogurt Consumption Tied to Lower Diabetes Risk

By Lisa Siegel

Dairy products get a lot of bad press, but yogurt could actually have more than a few health benefits. According to new research, increasing your intake of yogurt could actually lower your risk of developing Type II Diabetes.

Researchers recently called for more clinical trials on the effect of increased intake of yogurt on diabetes prevention. Those calls were linked to findings that seem to suggest a lower risk of Type II Diabetes after increasing consumption of yogurt. The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine and was based on an analysis of data from three different studies.

About 95% of diabetes cases in the United States involve Type II Diabetes. Diabetes is one of the conditions that could qualify you for Social Security disability benefits. However, a diagnosis by itself does not make you eligible to receive disability payments from the government. You must prove that your condition has resulted in symptoms that make it difficult for you to work. For instance, complications from diabetes can include renal failure, kidney damage, kidney function eye problems, and blindness. Additionally, these conditions must have lasted for 12 months, or must be expected to last for at least 12 months for you to be eligible for benefits.

Published on: February 28, 2015

Diabetes Linked to Accelerated Cognitive Decline: Will I Qualify for Disability Benefits?

By Lisa Siegel

According to new research in the Annals of Internal Medicine Journal, people who are unable to control their diabetes are much more likely to experience a faster rate of cognitive decline. This would include the onset of symptoms such as poor memory, poor word recall, and impaired functioning. According to the recent study, approximately 19% of the participants who were analyzed were found to experience such symptoms. In fact, researchers found that these participants experienced cognitive decline five years earlier than people who did not suffer from diabetes.

Cognitive decline can be extremely difficult for an individual, and it is often associated with dementia. A large number of studies now link diabetes to dementia. For example, one study found that people who suffer from Type II diabetes have a higher risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Controlling diabetes is critical, and studies continue to point to the serious long-term health consequences of failure to control blood sugar levels.

Continue reading →