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Diabetes Self-Management

Diane Fennell

The Editorial Director of Diabetes Self-Management, Fennell has more than 21 years’ experience specializing in diabetes and related health conditions. Based in New York City, she has a degree from Columbia University.

Diane Fennell on social media

Our Top 10 Diabetes Stories of 2021

Our Top 10 Diabetes Stories of 2021

Living with diabetes means there are a lot of health-related items to keep track of. To help you stay on top of the latest tips, techniques, and best practices for keeping healthy, here are our top 10 stories from 2021…

Our Top 10 Diabetes News Updates of 2021

Our Top 10 Diabetes News Updates of 2021

With so many researchers focused on making new discoveries about diabetes and how it can be treated, news breaks every day. To help you keep track of it all, here are our top 10 news stories of 2021…

Diabetes Prime Day Deals

Diabetes Prime Day Deals

Amazon Prime Day is here, and if you’re looking for diabetes Prime Day deals, you’re in luck! We’ve rounded up some of the top bargains…

Coffee Stimulates Fat-Burning: Study

Coffee Stimulates Fat-Burning: Study

Drinking a cup of coffee can stimulate “brown fat,” a type of body fat that generates body heat by burning calories, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Nottingham…

ReliOn Insulin for $25 a Vial at Walmart

ReliOn Insulin for $25 a Vial at Walmart

In light of the potentially high price tag for insulin, some are speaking with their doctors about the possibility of using Walmart’s ReliOn insulin brand, which is available for $25 a vial…

Additional Lots of Losartan Recalled

Additional Lots of Losartan Recalled

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is recalling 36 additional lots of the blood pressure drug losartan potassium and 68 additional lots of losartan-hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets…

JDRF Names New CEO

JDRF Names New CEO

JDRF, the leading organization for funding Type 1 diabetes research, has named Aaron J. Kowalski, PhD, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer…

Game Day Recipes

Game-Day Recipes

What’s the Big Game without game-day recipes? If you’re gearing up for a party — or just want to have a few munchies on hand for a small gathering — you’ve come to the right place!

Blood Sugar Basics: Our Top Five Articles

Blood Sugar Basics: Our Top Five Articles

Twenty-one percent of adults with Type 1 diabetes and 47 percent of Type 2 insulin users never check their blood glucose. Check out these five articles to learn blood sugar basics, including how to monitor your blood sugar — and what to do with the information it provides…

Five Light Lunches

Five Light Lunches

Never a dull lunch again! This scrumptious lunchtime line-up will add spice to your noontime menu. All under 250 calories per serving!

Product Review: Eucerin

Product Review: Eucerin

To help stop skin troubles before they start, Eucerin offers creams, lotions, sunscreens and cleansers designed to moisturize, protect and heal…

Living With Type 1 Diabetes? Get News and Tips From Dexcom!

Living With Type 1 Diabetes? Get News and Tips From Dexcom!

If you’re living with or caring for someone with Type 1 diabetes and looking for information on the best way to successfully manage the condition, then be sure to check out our new section of news and tips from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) manufacturer Dexcom…

Our Top 7 Low-Carb Recipes for Diabetes

Easy Low-Carb Diabetic Recipes

When it comes to eating low-carb, Diabetes Self-Management has you covered. As chosen by readers, here are our top seven low-carb recipes. From meatloaf to bread pudding to “potato” salad, this list is sure to provide the perfect inspiration for your menu…

Research Investigates Promising Method to Increase Growth of Insulin-Producing Beta Cells

Promising Method to Increase Beta Cells

New JDRF-funded research from Joslin Diabetes Center has identified an important protein in the liver that helps accelerate beta cell growth, pointing toward a possible method for treating all types of diabetes…

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Linked to Lower Cholesterol, Blood Sugar After Meals

Olive Oil Linked to Lower Blood Sugar After Meals

According to a small new study from Sapienza University in Rome, extra virgin olive oil as part of a Mediterranean diet appears to have healthier effects on cholesterol and blood sugar after meals than other types of fat…

New Class of Cholesterol Medicines Approved

New Class of Cholesterol Medicines Approved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved alirocumab (brand name Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha), two injectable medicines from a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs…

Humalog U-200 KwikPen

FDA Approves Concentrated Mealtime Insulin

On May 27, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Humalog U-200 KwikPen, containing the first concentrated mealtime insulin analog to receive the green light from the agency…

New Approach for Neuropathy Pain?

Based on the results of a small, ongoing, randomized trial presented at the American Association of Diabetes Educators 2014 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, a low-fat, plant-based diet may be able to control the pain caused by neuropathy.

FDA Approves New Oral Drug for Type 2 Diabetes

On August 1, the FDA approved the oral diabetes drug Jardiance for use, along with a healthful diet and exercise, in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The medicine joins Invokana and Farxiga as a member of the class of drugs known as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors…

Metformin More Effective in African-Americans

The oral medicine metformin (brand name Glucophage and others) is more effective at controlling blood glucose levels in African-Americans than in whites, according to new research published in The Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism…

FDA Approves Inhalable Insulin

On June 27, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afrezza, a first-in-class inhalable insulin/inhaler combination, for adults with diabetes…

Remembering Jan Chait

It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing to announce that Jan Chait, beloved Diabetes Self-Management blogger for eight years, passed away on Sunday…

Researchers Successfully Test “Bionic Pancreas”

A “bionic pancreas” successfully managed blood glucose levels over the course of two five-day trials in adults and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes, according to new researcher published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 74th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions earlier this month…

Eating White Bread Ups Obesity Risk

Eating two or more daily servings of white bread can increase a person’s risk for obesity by 40%, according to a preliminary study presented at the 2014 European Congress on Obesity in Bulgaria. More than one-third of adults in the United States are obese and roughly another third are overweight, putting them at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes…

FDA Approves New Sugar Substitute

On May 19, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the high-intensity sweetener advantame, developed by Japanese food and chemical corporation Ajinomoto…

Two Large Meals Better for Blood Sugar Control?

A small new study from researchers in the Czech Republic suggests that splitting the daily calorie allotment in two large meals, rather than six small ones, may be better for controlling blood glucose levels and weight…

Many Americans Taking Meds That Work Against Each Other

Roughly 75% of older Americans have multiple chronic conditions, and more than 20% of them are taking medicines that work at cross-purposes — improving one of their conditions while worsening another — according to new a new study in the journal PLoS One…

Even Moderate Weight Loss Can Improve Sleep Apnea

Losing just a moderate amount of weight can prevent the progression of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and in some cases even cure the condition, according to a new study from Finland. People who have sleep apnea are more than twice as likely as those who don’t to have diabetes…

Eating Cooked Meat Can Affect Kidney Test Results

Eating cooked meat can raise a person’s serum creatinine level enough to affect the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) classification and potentially lead to misclassification of chronic kidney disease stage in people with diabetes, according to a new study…

Insulin Pump Cartridge Recall

On January 20, 2014, Tandem Diabetes Care expanded a voluntary recall of insulin cartridges used with its t:slim insulin pump to include additional lot numbers…

Walnuts Improve Blood Vessel Function

If you’ve resolved to improve your diet in 2014, there’s one small step you can take that will reap big rewards, according to new research from the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center…

For PAD Pain, Dual Approach Appears Best

For people dealing with pain and reduced mobility from peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, an approach that combines a vessel-opening procedure and exercise appears to be better than exercise alone…

Good Cholesterol Helps Control Glucose

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as HDL or “good” cholesterol, helps control blood glucose levels by improving the function of skeletal muscles and reducing fat levels, according to research recently published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association.

Metformin and Impaired Thinking

The oral diabetes medicine metformin was linked to impaired brain function, but supplementation with vitamin B12 may reduce some of the cognitive effects, according to new research from Australia…

Exercise to Reduce Stroke Risk

Regular physical activity can decrease the risk of having a stroke, according to a large new study from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among people with diabetes.

Eating Nuts May Lengthen Life

People who eat nuts, and in particular walnuts, more than three times a week have a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to new research from Spain…

Insulin Infusion Set Recall

On July 7, 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified Medtronic’s voluntary June recall of Medtronic Minimed Paradigm infusion sets as a class I recall…

Hypoglycemia on the Rise

A variety of new diabetes-specific findings were recently unveiled at the 73rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Included among the new research were two studies indicating that, despite (and perhaps as an unintended consequence of ) national improvements in glucose control, serious hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) is still prevalent in the United States…

Breakfast and Insulin Resistance

As the old saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, this may be true, at least as it applies to insulin resistance…

Acupuncture Improves Diabetic Gastroparesis

“Needleless” acupuncture can provide relief for people dealing with diabetic gastroparesis, according to new research recently presented at the 2013 Digestive Disease Week meeting in Orlando, Florida. As many as 50% of people with diabetes will develop gastroparesis…

Statin May Reduce Benefits of Exercise

The generic cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin, previously sold under the brand name Zocor, may diminish the positive effects of exercise in overweight and obese adults, according to a small new study from the University of Missouri…

Good News About Diabetes Control

More people with diabetes are meeting the recommended targets for three key areas of diabetes control than in previous decades, according to recent research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

Another Blood Glucose Meter Recalled

On April 15, 2013, Abbott, voluntarily issued a recall of all FreeStyle Insulinx blood glucose meters in the United States because the meter malfunctions at extremely high blood glucose levels…

Insulin Pump Recall

On April 5, 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a class I recall of the Animas 2020 insulin pump because of a defect that may cause the pumps to sound false alarms, potentially leading to serious medical events…

First-in-Class Drug for Type 2

On March 29, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the diabetes drug Invokana (generic name canagliflozin) for use, in conjunction with a healthful diet and physical activity, in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It is the first drug in a new class of medicines known as sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors…

Blood Glucose Meter Recall

On March 25, 2013, LifeScan, Inc., voluntarily issued a recall of all OneTouch VerioIQ blood glucose meters in the United States because the meter malfunctions at extremely high blood glucose levels…

Sit Less to Reduce Diabetes Risk

Simply sitting less and moving more may be even more helpful for preventing Type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals than engaging in vigorous physical activity, according to new research from the University of Leicester…

A Warning About Calcium Supplements

Women who take calcium supplements in addition to having a high-calcium diet may be at increased risk of death from all causes, and particularly from cardiovascular disease and ischemic heart disease, according to research recently published in the journal BMJ…

Three New Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes Approved

On January 26, pharmaceutical manufacturer Takeda announced the approval of its Type 2 diabetes drug, Nesina (generic name alogliptin) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is the fourth drug to join a class of medicines known as DPP-4 inhibitors…

Simple Steps Can Reduce Amputation Rate by Half

Foot complications that lead to amputation are among the most feared consequences of uncontrolled diabetes. But according to researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, shoe inserts, podiatry (foot treatment), regular foot checkups, and information can reduce the number of amputations due to diabetes by 50%…

Pear-Shaped Bodies Not So Healthy After All

It has often been repeated that having a “pear-shaped” body has health advantages over having an “apple-shaped” body. But recent research conducted by the UC Davis Health System indicates that people with both body shapes are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome…

Fasting May Not Be Necessary for Cholesterol Tests

Conventional wisdom has long held that fasting for 9–12 hours before a routine cholesterol test is necessary to ensure an accurate result, but new research from the University of Calgary in Alberta shows that this may not be the case…

Diabetes Care Must Remain a Priority During Cancer Treatment

When people who have Type 2 are diagnosed with cancer, their focus on diabetes is often moved to the back burner while they concentrate on cancer treatment. But ignoring blood glucose levels can create a dangerous set of circumstances for both conditions, according to new research from Northwestern University…

Multivitamins Do Not Reduce Heart Risk in Men

As we’ve previously reported on DiabetesSelfManagement.com, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people with diabetes, with approximately 68% dying from a heart attack or stroke. But as new research in The Journal of the Medical American Association indicates, taking a daily multivitamin may not provide heart protection..

Airport Scans Can Cause Diabetes Device Malfunctions

The holidays are just around the corner, and for many people, that means traveling, and more specifically, traveling through airport security. A recent report in the journal Diabetes Technologies & Therapeutics outlines some information regarding airport full-body scanners that people using insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors will want to know…

Heart Risk Factors and Peripheral Arterial Disease

Men with certain cardiovascular risk factors may be at increased risk of developing peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to new research from researchers Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School…

Largest Study Yet Links Low Vitamin D to Heart Risk

We’ve previously discussed the role of vitamin D in diabetes. Now, a large new study from scientists at Copenhagen University Hospital has provided strong evidence that there is a link between low levels of vitamin D and cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, and early death…

Metformin May Be Useful for More People Than Previously Thought

Metformin (brand names Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, Riomet, Glumetza, and others) is believed to be the most commonly prescribed diabetes medicine in the world, with more than 48 prescriptions written in 2010 the United States alone. Now, new research from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden suggests that this drug may be useful for treating even more people than previously thought…

Obesity Itself Not a Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factor

The link between obesity and Type 2 diabetes is well established in most people’s minds, but it is excess visceral fat (fat that surrounds the internal organs) and insulin resistance — not obesity in and of itself — that puts people at increased risk for Type 2, according to new research….

Low HDL Cholesterol Linked to Diabetic Kidney Disease

Having a low level of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol, is a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), according to new research published in the journal Diabetes Care. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the United States…

Chronic Stress Linked to Stroke Risk

Chronic stress is linked with an increased risk of stroke, according to research recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in people with diabetes…

Statins May Increase Cataract Risk

A new study in the journal Optometry and Vision Science suggests that statins may also increase the risk of age-related (AR) cataract, or a clouding of the lens of the eye…

Simple Step to Increase Physical Activity

The benefits of physical activity for preventing Type 2 diabetes and helping manage blood glucose levels in both Type 1 and Type 2 are well known, but working up and sustaining the motivation to exercise is easier said than done. So you may be interested in new research showing that there’s a simple trick for working more movement into your day…

More Headlines From the ADA Scientific Sessions

Last week we gave a rundown of some recent research presented at the America Diabetes Association’s 72nd Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia. This week we’d like to continue that theme with a few more notable headlines from those sessions…

Exercise Improves Vessel Health in Prediabetes

People with prediabetes have similar dysfunction in their small blood vessels as people with Type 2 diabetes, but exercise can help improve the health of these vessels, according to a small study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists…

Low-Carb Diet Improves Glucose Control in Small Study

People with diabetes are generally encouraged to eat a nutritionally balanced, low-fat diet. But now, a small new study out of Sweden is lending support to the idea that a higher-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may work best for some people with diabetes…

New Erectile Dysfunction Drug Approved

On April 27, pharmaceutical manufacturer Vivus announced the approval of its erectile dysfunction (ED) drug, Stendra (generic name avanafil) by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is the first ED medicine to be approved in over a decade…

Simple Step for Controlling Glucose

We’ve all heard how important physical activity is for managing diabetes, but a new series of studies show just how vital exercise is to blood glucose control and just how little of it is necessary for benefiting health…

Peer Mentoring Leads to Large A1C Reductions

One of the main goals of diabetes management is to maintain blood glucose at a healthy level. Now, a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that peer mentoring can help people with diabetes lower their A1C — a marker of blood glucose control — by up to a full point…

Adequate Sleep Vital for Heart Health

We have previously written about the link between sleep and health. Now a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 61st Annual Scientific Session establishes the importance of sleep for yet another aspect of well-being: heart health…

Peripheral Arterial Disease Underrecognized in Women

Although PAD affects at least as many women as men, there is insufficient research looking at how the condition manifests, is diagnosed, and is treated in women, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association…

Decaf Coffee May Improve Memory in Type 2s

Preliminary research conducted in mice adds another piece to the coffee and diabetes puzzle, indicating that decaffeinated coffee may help improve the metabolism of glucose in the brain, potentially enhancing memory function in people with Type 2…

FDA Approves Combo Type 2 Medicine

On the heels of its recent approval of the injectable drug Bydureon, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved linagliptin/metformin hydrochloride (brand name Jentadueto) an oral medicine for Type 2 diabetes..

Effective Neuropathy Screening Tool Often Overlooked

Neuropathy, or nerve damage, is one of the most common diabetic complications, affecting up to 70% of people who have diabetes. Now, new research from the University of Michigan shows that many people with the condition are receiving a less effective — and more expensive — test to diagnose the condition, instead of a more accurate diagnostic test…

Remote Continuous Glucose Monitor Approved

On January 4, Medtronic, Inc., announced the approval of its novel mySentry Remote Glucose Monitor, a first-of-its-kind device that allows parents and other caregivers to monitor a person’s glucose trends and insulin pump functions from another room…

Metformin and B12 Supplementation

Research has shown that people who take the oral Type 2 diabetes medicine metformin may be at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency. Now, a new study indicates that supplementation of this vitamin at the recommended levels may not be enough to address the deficiency…

Pistachios May Blunt Blood Sugar Spikes

New evidence presented at the International Diabetes Federation World Congress 2011 suggests that eating pistachios along with a high-glycemic meal may help to dampen the post-meal blood sugar response, particularly in people with metabolic syndrome…

Rotating Shift Work Linked to Increased Type 2 Risk

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that rotating night shift work can increase women’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by almost 60%. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 15 million Americans work permanent or rotating night shifts…

End-of-Year Book Giveaway!

We’re raffling off another free copy of our very popular Best-Ever Tips book, which features 1,001 useful tips from 70 top doctors, researchers, and diabetes experts, as well as over 100 of the most popular Diabetes Self-Management articles from the past decade…

Byetta Approved as Lantus Add-On

On October 19, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Type 2 diabetes medicine Byetta (exenatide) as an add-on treatment to Lantus (insulin glargine) in people who have not achieved blood glucose control with Lantus, diet, and exercise alone…

Seven Steps for a Long Life

Taking seven lifestyle steps can add ten years or more of healthy living to the average lifespan and save billions of dollars in reduced health-care costs, according to cardiologist and past president of the American Heart Association Clyde W. Yancy, MD…

Reminder: Diabetes Self-Management Book Giveaway!

As a reminder, we’re raffling off a free copy of our very popular Best-Ever Tips book, which features 1,001 useful tips from 70 top doctors, researchers, and diabetes experts, as well as over 100 of the most popular Diabetes Self-Management articles from the past decade…

Diabetes Self-Management Book Giveaway!

We’re raffling off a free copy of our very popular Best-Ever Tips book, which features 1,001 useful tips from 70 top doctors, researchers, and diabetes experts, as well as over 100 of the most popular Diabetes Self-Management articles from the past decade…

A Culprit Behind High Blood Sugar Identified

In research funded by the National Institutes of Health, scientists have discovered an important protein that regulates the liver’s management of insulin and glucose production, potentially opening the door for new diabetes treatments that target the liver…

A Weight-Loss Rule Debunked

If you’ve ever looked up information on weight loss, you have no doubt come across the commonly cited rule that cutting 500 calories a day will lead to a loss of one pound each week (a pound equals 3,500 calories). But if you’ve ever tried to put this maxim into effect, you may have found that your weight loss did not progress as smoothly as you’d hoped or expected…

Yoga for Blood Glucose Control

Last week, we reported on new research showing that just 15 minutes of exercise a day can increase life span by years. Now a small study published in the journal Diabetes Care has uncovered even more health benefits of physical activity, or more specifically, the benefits of gentle yoga on Type 2 diabetes…

FDA Panel Rejects Novel Diabetes Drug

On July 19, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted by a margin of nine to six to recommend against approval of the novel Type 2 diabetes drug dapagliflozin. The panel expressed reservations over potential safety concerns, including a possible increased risk of breast and bladder cancer…

Detecting Diabetes at the Dentist

As the headlines often announce, diabetes is epidemic in the United States, and diagnosed cases of the condition are only the tip of the iceberg: An estimated 7 million people in the country have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, while a majority of the suspected 67 million Americans with prediabetes are undiagnosed. But now, researchers have identified a useful — and perhaps surprising — resource that can help in the battle to detect untreated cases of diabetes: the dentist…

Getting By With a Little Help From Your Friends

To paraphrase the classic Beatles tune, we all get by with a little help from our friends. And now, preliminary research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego lends this lyric some scientific support…

Cutting Cravings; Life Expectancy on the Rise

If you find yourself frequently craving an unhealthy food, there may be a surprising way to cut down on those cravings; also, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health have found that the life expectancy of people with Type 1 diabetes dramatically increased over the course of a 30-year, long-term study…

Lower-Carb Diet Reduces Dangerous Fat in Some

A slight reduction in carbohydrate intake may help decrease a person’s level of dangerous visceral fat, or deep abdominal fat, even if there is no weight loss, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visceral fat, which surrounds abdominal organs, increases the risk of developing insulin resistance (a component of Type 2 diabetes), heart disease, and various other conditions…

Boost Your Health With the World’s Most Nutritious Nut

Nuts are well known for their nutritional benefits, including their high levels of heart-healthy fats, high-quality protein, antioxidants (substances that help protect cells from oxidative damage), plant sterols (natural substances found in plants that can help lower cholesterol), fiber, and minerals. But which nut is king when it comes to health?

Common Drug Combo Raises Blood Glucose

Researchers have discovered that the commonly used combination of two drugs — the antidepressant paroxetine (brand name Paxil) and the cholesterol-lowering medicine pravastatin (Pravachol) — can cause unexpected increases in blood glucose levels, even though neither medicine has this effect when taken alone…

New Guidelines for Treating Neuropathy Pain

The American Academy of Neurology, in collaboration with the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has issued new guidelines on the best treatments for pain from diabetic neuropathy…

Promising Research on Tangerines

Preliminary research in animals indicates that a substance found in tangerines can help prevent obesity and protect against both Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), the cardiovascular condition responsible for most heart attacks and strokes…

Infusion Set Recall; Nicotine’s Bad Effect on A1C

Researchers at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society have announced the results of a study showing strong evidence that nicotine is the culprit behind the persistently high blood glucose levels — and the associated complications — seen in people with diabetes who smoke.

Safflower Oil Each Day May Keep the Doctor Away

According to a recent study from Ohio State University, daily consumption of safflower oil over the course of 16 weeks can improve health markers such as blood glucose level, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol level, and inflammation in certain people with Type 2 diabetes…

An Important Step for Accurate Glucose Readings

Blood glucose monitoring is one of the most fundamental aspects of managing diabetes, but according to a new study in the journal Diabetes Care, failure to take the simple action of washing your hands with water before pricking your finger could result in falsely elevated readings…

To Ward Off Diabetes, Walk

Regular physical activity has a variety of known health benefits, including improving heart health and providing protection against Type 2 diabetes, but in today’s hectic world, it can be difficult to find the motivation to take up a formal exercise routine…

Another Reason to Eat Your Spinach

Turns out that Popeye may have been onto something with all his spinach guzzling: Researchers in Sweden have found that nitrates in spinach reduce the amount of oxygen needed to power muscles by increasing the efficiency of mitochondria, the structures in cells responsible for energy production…

Many Not Aware That Diabetes Can Affect Kidneys

Many people who have diabetes are not aware that the condition can affect the health of their kidneys, according to new research published in the Journal of Renal Care. An estimated 20% to 30% of people with diabetes will develop evidence of diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), which is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States…

The Effects of Artificial Lighting on Melatonin

Recent research indicates that keeping the lights on in the period between dusk and bedtime strongly suppresses the production of the hormone melatonin, and may potentially interfere with related processes such as sleepiness, blood pressure, blood glucose control, and temperature regulation…

Test Strip Recall

On December 22, Abbott Diabetes Care announced that it had initiated a voluntary recall of nearly 359 million Precision Xtra, Precision Xceed Pro, Medisense Optium, Optium EZ, and ReliOn Ultima blood glucose test strips in the United States and Puerto Rico…

Smoking Common in Young People With Diabetes

Results from a recent federally supported study show that smoking rates are high among young people with diabetes. Both smoking and having diabetes are risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease…

Depression: A Cause and an Effect of Diabetes

It has long been known that there is a connection between Type 2 diabetes and depression, and recent research suggests that the relationship between these two conditions works in both directions — in other words, depression may be both a risk factor for developing Type 2, as well as a consequence of having it…

Another Benefit of Fish Oil

The omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, sardines, mackerel, and other fatty fish are known to have a variety of health benefits, including lowering triglycerides (a type of blood fat) and reducing the risk of heart attack. Now, research recently published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that fish oil may have another health benefit…

Limiting Refined Grains Linked to Lower Body Fat

People who consume several servings of whole grains daily while limiting their intake of refined grains have less of a dangerous type of body fat known as visceral adipose tissue than people with higher intakes of refined grains, researchers have found. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which sits just below the skin, visceral fat surrounds organs in the abdomen…

Adequate Sleep Vital to Weight Loss

A small study from the University of Chicago suggests that diet and exercise may not be the only factors in weight loss: Sleep, or rather, lack of sleep, appears to play an important role in hunger and fat loss…

AACE Issues Recommendations on CGM and Insulin Pump Use

On October 13, the American Association of Endocrinologists (AACE) published two new consensus statements, one concerning continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and the other on the topic of insulin pumps. The statements are intended to help health-care providers identify the best candidates for these types of therapy…

Experts Recommend New Approach to Type 2 Treatment

A working group composed of researchers, clinical endocrinologists, and primary-care doctors convened by the Endocrine Society has recommended that greater emphasis be placed on regularly screening people at risk for Type 2 diabetes and promptly and aggressively treating those who have developed the condition in an attempt to preserve beta cell function…

Lifestyle Changes Lower Heart Risk Over Long Term

Lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and eating an improved diet are often touted as some of the most effective ways to manage blood glucose levels. Now a new study has rounded up even more evidence that supports making these adjustments…

Bones’ Role in Blood Glucose Regulation

Contrary to the popular view of the skeleton as an inert, lifeless structure, it turns out that the bones play a wide variety of roles in the body. According two animal studies recently published in the journal Cell, one of these roles is blood glucose regulation, implicating processes in the skeleton as a possible underlying cause of Type 2 diabetes in some people…

New Class of Insulin Delivery Device

On July 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Finesse insulin patch-pen, a new type of insulin delivery device, for use with NovoLog rapid-acting insulin. In January, the device was granted FDA clearance and approved for use with Humalog rapid-acting insulin…

An Apology

A number of you wrote in recently to express your dismay with our recent e-newsletter subject line…

FDA Panel Issues Recommendation on Avandia

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted on Wednesday to allow the controversial diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) to remain on the market, but about half of the panel members called for sales restrictions and/or stronger label warnings about the risk of heart attacks…

Milk the Better Post-Exercise Quaff

Building muscle and reducing fat are common goals among athletes and recreational exercisers alike. They are also worthy goals for people with diabetes, because both of these effects of exercise can help to reduce insulin resistance, a major cause of high blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes and also a possibility in Type 1…

Type 2 Cause in the Air?

New research has established an association between traffic-related air pollution and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in women. Air pollution is already known to increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease…

New Aspirin Recommendations Released

In a position statement endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology Foundation, a panel of experts has recommended that men under age 50 and women under age 60 who have diabetes but no other major risk factors for heart disease should probably not be on low-dose aspirin therapy…

Experts Call for More Individualized Drug Therapy

Diabetes experts recently issued a consensus statement in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism calling for more individualized treatment approaches for the nearly 250 million people worldwide who have Type 2 diabetes. Currently, only about half of people being treated for this condition reach their blood glucose goals.

Combined Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitoring System Approved

In another step toward an artificial pancreas, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Medtronic’s MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Revel System, the only product on the US market that combines an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology into a single device…

Coffee Linked With Lower Stroke Risk

Drinking one cup of coffee per day, either regular or decaffeinated, is associated with a roughly 30% reduced risk of stroke, according to a recent study conducted at the University of Cambridge, in England…

The Health Impact of Sugary Drinks

Researchers have found evidence that the increased consumption of sugary drinks such as sodas and sports drinks in recent years has contributed to thousands of new cases of diabetes and heart disease in the United States…

A1C Shows Predictive Advantage

The HbA1c test can more accurately identify people at risk for a variety of health conditions than the fasting plasma glucose test, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health…

Syringe Recall; Depression Raises Severe Complications Risk

Nipro Medical Corporation has voluntarily issued a nationwide recall of all GlucoPro insulin syringes due to the possibility of the needles detaching from the syringes. Were such detachment to occur while a syringe was being used, it could cause the needle to become stuck in an insulin vial, to push back into the syringe barrel, or to remain in the skin after an injection. The recall affects all product codes and lot numbers with expiration dates prior to 2011-11 (November 1, 2011)…

New Drug Approved

On January 25, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the injectable diabetes medicine liraglutide (brand name Victoza), developed by Novo Nordisk. Victoza is the first once-daily treatment in the class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists. (Exenatide [Byetta] is the other member of the drug class.)

Counterfeit Medicine Warning

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline are warning consumers about a small quantity of counterfeit weight-loss products, falsely labeled as brand-name drug alli, that has been sold on online auction Web sites…

Screening the Legs for a Serious Condition

Researchers in Canada are recommending that people over age 40 be screened for peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, a condition of the legs and feet that is associated with a higher risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, and lower limb amputations. People with diabetes are more likely than those in the general population to develop PAD, which affects roughly 8–12 million Americans…

Drug May Slow Type 1 Progression

A new study has found that rituximab (brand name Rituxin), a drug already used to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, may slow destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in people newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Roughly 15,000 people are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the United States each year…

Coffee, Tea, and Diabetes Risk

Drinking more coffee — both regular and decaffeinated — and tea appears to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Should the protective effects of these beverages prove to be real, the implications could be substantial for the roughly 380 million people worldwide expected to have Type 2 diabetes by 2025…

Drugs and Lifestyle Versus Surgery for Heart Disease

Medicine and lifestyle modifications produce similar survival rates to angioplasty surgery in people with mild to moderate coronary artery disease (a condition marked by the narrowing of small blood vessels that supply the heart) and Type 2 diabetes, according to recent data out of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in people with Type 2 diabetes…

Daily Aspirin: Do Risks Outweigh Benefits?

Taking a daily low-dose aspirin can help prevent heart attacks or clot-related strokes in people with heart disease or a prior heart attack or stroke, but a recent report suggests that the risks of a daily aspirin regimen might outweigh the benefits in those without a history of these conditions…

Exercise Wards Off Dangerous Form of Fat

As little as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or resistance exercise can prevent the regain of dangerous visceral fat, a type of fat that is stored around vital organs, according to a study recently published in the journal Obesity. Increased visceral fat is known to raise the risk of various diabetes-related conditions, including heart disease and heart attack…

Study Links Depression and Early Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

According to a study recently published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease, one in five people with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis or developing end-stage kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation reports that 26 million people have chronic kidney disease, and that millions more people, including those with diabetes, are at increased risk of developing the condition…

Insulin Effective and Accepted in Newly Diagnosed Type 2s

Insulin therapy is often resisted by people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes because of fears of weight gain, low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), and a declining quality of life. But according to research recently published in the journal Diabetes Care, insulin-based treatment is safe, effective, and well tolerated in those newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and additionally it does not cause greater weight gain or more episodes of low blood glucose than oral diabetes treatments…

Affordable Drug Combo Slashes Heart Risk by As Much As 80%

People at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke can cut their risk by as much as 80% by using a combination of three common medicines — all of them available as generics — according to a recent study published in The American Journal of Managed Care. Heart disease death rates and the risk of stroke are roughly two to four times higher in adults with diabetes than in people without diabetes…

Weight Loss Dramatically Improves Sleep Apnea

Losing weight can significantly improve — and possibly even eliminate — symptoms of sleep apnea in obese people, according to research recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. People who have sleep apnea are more than twice as likely as those who don’t to have diabetes, and 50% of men with Type 2 diabetes have sleep apnea…

“Swine” Flu Vaccine to be Available Shortly

On September 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of four vaccines against the H1N1, or “swine” flu, virus. According to federal officials, roughly six to seven million doses of vaccine will be available starting the first week in October, with millions more doses to be shipped in the following weeks…

Oral Insulin Conditionally Approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Oral-lyn, an insulin spray for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, for its Treatment Investigational New Drug (IND) program. This approval will allow Generex Biotechnology Corporation, developers of Oral-lyn, to provide early access to the medicine to people with serious or life-threatening Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who have no satisfactory alternative treatments and who are not eligible for participation in the company’s ongoing Phase III clinical trial of the drug…

Syringe Recall; Mediterranean Diet May Delay Need for Drugs

Qualitest Pharmaceuticals has voluntarily issued a nationwide recall of Accusure Insulin Syringes due to the possibility of the needles detaching from the syringes. Were such detachment to occur while a syringe was being used, it could cause the needle to become stuck in an insulin vial, to push back into the barrel, or to remain in the skin after an injection…

Staving Off Kidney Stones

A healthful diet may help prevent the formation of kidney stones, according to research recently published online in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. A variety of health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and overweight, put a person at increased risk of developing kidney stones…

Culprit Found for Pancreatic Damage

Blood glucose levels that are even slightly above normal increase undesirable deposits of a protein hormone in the pancreas, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, possibly explaining the damage to beta cells seen in people with prediabetes…

Timing Exercise for Maximum Blood Glucose Control

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association indicates that engaging in moderate physical activity after an evening meal is more effective at controlling postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes than engaging in the same activity before the meal…

Lantus and Cancer: Further Study Needed

Late last week, results from several European studies showing a possible link between Lantus (insulin glargine) and cancer were published online in the journal Diabetologia. Health agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) have been swift in their response to the release of this information, indicating that the studies are not conclusive and that people with diabetes should not stop taking Lantus without speaking to their doctors…

Stolen Levemir Warning

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising people who use the long-acting insulin detemir (brand name Levemir) to check their insulin vials to ensure that none are from a potentially dangerous batch that appeared on the U.S. market last week after having been stolen…

Research on Rosiglitazone

According to research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 69th Scientific Sessions, using rosiglitazone (brand name Avandia) in combination with metformin or a sulfonylurea does not increase the risk for cardiovascular disease or death in people with Type 2 diabetes. But some scientists have met these results critically, claiming that the study does not have enough statistical power to resolve any of the controversy surrounding this drug.

New Findings on Cardiovascular Risk

Recent data analysis by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that tight blood glucose control in people with Type 2 diabetes can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by as much as 17%, addressing some of the controversy raised by previous research such as the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial, the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease (ADVANCE) study, and the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT)…

Does DASH Prevent Heart Failure?

Before moving on to this week’s story, I’d like to take just a moment to introduce myself. After working as an editor at Diabetes Self-Management magazine for nearly six years, I’m taking over at the helm of the Web site. I’m extremely excited to begin my tenure as Web Editor and look forward to learning more about you through your comments and e-mails. And now, to the news…

New Tools 2008

The management of diabetes requires a certain amount of paraphernalia: A meter, lancing device, lancets, and test strips, for a start, and some people use many more devices and supplies than just these. Each year, product manufacturers work on developing…

Tips And Tricks For Halloween

While the kids are probably looking forward to Halloween, the parents are likely more concerned about the what it’s going to do to their children’s blood glucose control.

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