Good News! No - GREAT News! Now that the US Diabetets experts are calling for individualized drug therapy for type 2 persons with diabetes and the American Diabetes Association is recommending individualized carbohydrate levels, maybe it will be easier for those with type 2 to finally develop the levels and goals that will for work for them as individuals.
Not that this is a cure-all, but these changes should allow for more meaningful dialogs between medical professionals and patients. It will take some time for all levels of the medical profession to learn and adapt to these new recommendations, but at least the patients will soon know that the “one size fits all” philosophy is, for now, at least in the past.
04 June 2010
Wound Care done with maggots?
Hope you have not just had a meal! This bit of news can turn peoples stomachs. This treatment has been used for centuries. Research in the UK shows that maggots clean wounds 18 times faster that other treatments. Their research also shows that they are not beneficial for healing wounds, just cleaning.
The blogger that got me started researching this wrote “Doctors are considering this disgusting treatment for diabetics,” as the title for her latest blog. While I can understand the revulsion that many people have for maggots, it is known to be beneficial in some cases for cleaning wounds that are not healing or slow to heal for persons with diabetes.
Researchers at the Ohio State Medical Center have studied this and reported it in the International Wound Journal. Their findings may help in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
The final statement in the blog “Still not convinced you should get rid of your diabetes? Start today!” opens another can of worms – in this case maggots.
The blogger that got me started researching this wrote “Doctors are considering this disgusting treatment for diabetics,” as the title for her latest blog. While I can understand the revulsion that many people have for maggots, it is known to be beneficial in some cases for cleaning wounds that are not healing or slow to heal for persons with diabetes.
Researchers at the Ohio State Medical Center have studied this and reported it in the International Wound Journal. Their findings may help in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
The final statement in the blog “Still not convinced you should get rid of your diabetes? Start today!” opens another can of worms – in this case maggots.
03 June 2010
Soaring costs of health care US and Canada
Normally I bypass these blogs, but lately DB's Medical Rants has been very interesting. The latest blog is about the soaring cost of health care in Canada. Of course the rising costs in the US are included.
Two of the solutions that caught my attention were already in my thoughts. The first is health care rationing, which the US already has, as a result of the policies of our health insurance companies.
The second is preventive care. This is normally not mentioned so it really peaked my interest. And it is mentioned several times. I think some people are starting to wake up and realize that we need to start examining our system from the preventative side of cost reduction. Promoting healthier lifestyles is the foremost idea. For those of us with diabetes, change of lifestyle is a must.
The comments after the blog are very interesting and provide a good cross section of medical opinions. Even other words we don't like to hear in this country are included without people becoming irrational. Even the most derogatory comment about patients was not an outright attack – just a statement of fact.
Two of the solutions that caught my attention were already in my thoughts. The first is health care rationing, which the US already has, as a result of the policies of our health insurance companies.
The second is preventive care. This is normally not mentioned so it really peaked my interest. And it is mentioned several times. I think some people are starting to wake up and realize that we need to start examining our system from the preventative side of cost reduction. Promoting healthier lifestyles is the foremost idea. For those of us with diabetes, change of lifestyle is a must.
The comments after the blog are very interesting and provide a good cross section of medical opinions. Even other words we don't like to hear in this country are included without people becoming irrational. Even the most derogatory comment about patients was not an outright attack – just a statement of fact.
02 June 2010
The health care system still in crises
From nursing homes to hospitals and even doctors offices, the crises in health care continues. Even today with our computerized systems in disarray and hospitals and nursing homes facing a greater financial pinch because of cost cutting measures, patient safety is still very much on the back burner or still in the dark ages.
As persons with diabetes, this has to be alarming for us. Too many accidents and poor care are reported by patients with diabetes.
The following article points out the problems in our hospitals. While there are a few hospitals working to improve safety, the news is far from showing a real real progress in patient safety.
Too often patient safety is violated by rules and regulations that tie the hands of good doctors and nurses. The one lesson in all this is that doctors treat the disease, but forget about the patient with the disease. The article in the NY Times is well worth the read.
As persons with diabetes, this has to be alarming for us. Too many accidents and poor care are reported by patients with diabetes.
The following article points out the problems in our hospitals. While there are a few hospitals working to improve safety, the news is far from showing a real real progress in patient safety.
Too often patient safety is violated by rules and regulations that tie the hands of good doctors and nurses. The one lesson in all this is that doctors treat the disease, but forget about the patient with the disease. The article in the NY Times is well worth the read.
31 May 2010
Supplements get congressional scrutiny, again
Many of us have seen articles like the on US News dot com. Every so often a few of the manufacturers of supplements think they are going to be able to bypass the rules and make outrageous claims for their product by saying they are the latest cure for this or that disease. They make their quick profits and then withdraw their advertising when caught and continue to reap profits from bad products.
Are you surprised that the supplements manufacturers that many of us find necessary for good health as people with diabetes are part of this – well don't be. Most are now manufactured in China. This does not mean that the products are bad. What we need to be careful of is some of the herbal supplements that are not as well quality controlled as they must be.
Read this article carefully and express your views (pro or con) to your senators and representatives.
Are you surprised that the supplements manufacturers that many of us find necessary for good health as people with diabetes are part of this – well don't be. Most are now manufactured in China. This does not mean that the products are bad. What we need to be careful of is some of the herbal supplements that are not as well quality controlled as they must be.
Read this article carefully and express your views (pro or con) to your senators and representatives.
30 May 2010
Treating gum disease lowers blood glucose
From reports out of University of Virginia Health Department in 2004 and probably before, to David Mendosa reporting in July 2008 and July 2009, to the latest study at the University of Edinburgh, U.K., and supported by colleagues at the Peninsula Dental School, the University of Ottawa and UCL Eastman Dental Institute written in May 2010, we are all reading about how dental health has a direct benefit to diabetes health.
So if you are having any of the problems described in the U of Virginia article and have diabetes, you should see your dentist. You should have regular checkups regardless and your diabetes will thank you.
So if you are having any of the problems described in the U of Virginia article and have diabetes, you should see your dentist. You should have regular checkups regardless and your diabetes will thank you.
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