Viagra causes hearing loss?

This is certainly not what one would expect, but yet they are telling us that men who take Viagra could be at an increased risk for long-term hearing loss. Apparently current government warnings regarding hearing loss from Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra is in order. Read the article here.

While the study used more than 11,500 males, the facts of the study does not point to a direct cause-effect link and more studies are being asked for. This seems to happen every time a poorly designed study points out something that was not in the original intent of the study. Apparently, if you have taken the drugs, you are twice as likely to report hearing loss.

More on pig islets

More keeps showing up about about this study and that study using pig islets and not needing rejection drugs. Except for the studies in Russia and New Zealand, I am wondering where the US researchers are obtaining their pigs. Are they using disease free like Russia and New Zealand, or just pigs from isolated populations. Since most studies stop short of stating the source, I will need to wait until I can get to the actual study for analysis.

Read the article here and the abstract here. I am linking to my previous post also.

Diabetes screening is cost effective

I don't care that the first two paragraphs fit me too closely. What caught my attention is that maybe the insurance companies should all have this study as required reading (my interpretation). Read the article here.

Quote: "Any screening at all is better than none, but the greatest bang for the healthcare buck comes from screening high-risk groups. Her group concluded that the least expensive screening method -- plasma glucose levels one hour after a 50 g oral glucose challenge -- "should be considered for routine use as an opportunistic screen." Unquote. I think this speaks volumes for preventive care for those at high risk for diabetes.

I will admit I am more than a little biased about this study.

The liver – the other serious diabetes complication

Is the liver at risk for those with diabetes. Yes! In a Canadian population based study, the liver is at fifty percent greater risk in people with diabetes. Normally diabetes guidelines do not recommend screening for liver disease and is often overlooked in diabetes. Please read about the study here.

It may be necessary to do annual screening of the liver to determine the health of the liver in people with diabetes and it may be necessary to add the liver to the list of target-organ conditions.

Antioxidants help insulin sensitivity?

A small study indicates that a diet high in antioxidants may increase insulin sensitivity and help metformin work more efficiently. While the size of the study begs for more studies and better study control, there is some rational that it may indeed have merit.

Read about the study here.

Complications of diabetes

The key to minimizing or keeping the complications of diabetes at bay is in tight blood glucose control and exercise. This is the theme of the following three articles about the complications of diabetes.

Unfortunately, some of the complications are more problematic and extra care must be taken. All three articles stress the importance of strict blood glucose control.

• Article 1   Three pages
• Article 2   Two pages
• Article 3   Two pages

There are many more articles available on the web relating to the complications of diabetes.

The complications are:

• neuropathy which can be characterized as peripheral neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy and is about 60% chance of occurring.
• heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke risks are doubled. Heart disease and stroke cause at least 65% of deaths from diabetes.
• diabetic retinopathy or major eye complications are common as is cataracts and glaucoma. Broken blood vessels in the eyes is the main cause or preventable blindness.
• Serious leg and foot infections are the major cause of most amputations and is generally cause by poor blood circulation and poor foot care.
• Kidney damage is another complication of diabetes.

All three articles state that the damage is preventable and need not continue to progress if strict control is maintained on blood glucose levels and an exercise plan is followed. We all need to be aware that the risks are there and that they can be managed.