Diabetic Eye Disease

High blood glucose can damage your eyes over time, which is why a person with diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic eye disease, especially diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.

Diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in young and middle aged adults and the longer you have had diabetes, the greater your risk. If you have diabetes, it is recommended that you get a dilated eye exam with an ophthalmologist at least once a year, especially since diabetic eye disease may be present without symptoms.

Here are some tips for diabetics to promote good eye health:

• Eat healthy. Choose high-fiber, low-fat foods such as vegetables, lentils, beans and whole grains. Eat more fish and chicken. Avoid juice, soda, candy and fried or oily foods.

• Reach and stay at a healthy weight. Get regular physical activity.

• Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor.

• Monitor your blood sugar daily.

• Quit smoking.

• Get a dilated eye exam once a year. Have your ophthalmologist examine your eyes once a year. Finding eye problems early and getting treatment right away will help prevent more serious problems later on.

Not Getting Enough Shut-Eye May Increase Your Risk of Diabetes

An inadequate amount of sleep, coupled with lack of exercise and poor diet, may increase your risk of developing diabetes.

The results of a new study by the University of Chicago confirm that the ability to regulate one's blood sugar is dependent on how much sleep the person gets.

Five men and six women volunteered for the study. All were middle-aged, little overweight and exercised rarely. The study consisted of two 14-day periods: one where they were allowed to sleep 8.5 hours nightly and one where they were restricted to 5.5 hours of shut-eye a night. The volunteers were not allowed to exercise and junk food was made available to them.

When sleeping too little, the volunteers' blood sugar was higher on a glucose tollerance test and they became less sensitive to the blood sugar hormone insulin.

Dogs Sniff Out Low Blood Sugar Levels

Dogs in Britain are being trained to warn their diabetic owners when their blood sugar levels drop dangerously low. K-9s are already used to sniff out cancer, drugs and explosives, but this could be groundbreaking for diabetes care.

Dogs' hypersensitive noses are able to identify tiny changes in blood sugar levels which can indicate a hypoglycemic attack. 65% of people surveyed with insulin-dependent diabetes at a hospital in Belfast, Ireland reported their dogs reacting by barking, whining or licking during a hypoglycemic episode.

The Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs research facility in Southern England currently has 17 rescue dogs undergoing animal training to be paired up with diabetic owners. The facility hopes the research will lead to the invention of an electronic nose to act just like a dog's nose and detect dangerous changes in blood sugar levels.

Diabetic Health Tips: Beat the Summer Heat

The Summer heat can sunburn, dehydrate and exhaust anyone. But those with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes need to take extra precautions in the Summer in order to regulate glucose levels and prevent dehydration.

Here are some tips to keep you cool in the Summer heat:

1. Hydrate - When heat combines with high glucose levels, dehydration can occur very quickly. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, avoiding juices, sports drinks, sodas, caffeine and alcohol.

2. Avoid the Sun Between 10 AM and 2 PM - When the sun is at its hottest you are more likely to burn, become dehydrated and suffer from heat exhaustion. Exercise in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid over-perspiration which can dehydrate your body.

3. Keep Your Diabetic Testing Supplies Cool - Insulin and Glucose Meters should never be kept in direct sunlight or above room temperature. Keep your testing supplies in a cooler or insulated carrying case.

4. Monitor Your Blood Sugar - Heat causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate unexpectedly. Check your blood sugar at least four times a day and extra carry snacks when leaving home.

Elixir moves diabetes drug into Phase 3 trials

According to an article on diabetes medicine clinical trials, Elixir Pharmaceuticals Inc. has initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial of its drug for type 2 diabetes, officials report.

The Cambridge-based biotech reports its drug, mitiglinide, is designed to help diabetics control their blood sugar and assist them in producing insulin. Company officials said they hope to seek approval of the drug from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration somtime during 2009.

The Phase 3 study involves 300 patients at 50 sites in the United States, according to the company. The trial is expected to conclude in the middle of 2008.

If you have type 2 diabetes and you're on Medicare, you may qualify for a free glucose meter. Visit American Diabetes Services to find out.

World Waking up to Diabetes Crisis

According to an article in the UK's Telegraph, diabetes is expected to soar in developing countries over next 20 years.

There are the obvious opportunities for the insulin producers, but as diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, strokes and amputations, a wider group of drug makers could be involved.

Diabetes will this year kill as many people around the world as Aids, prompting scientists to call the fast-growing disease the greatest epidemic of current times.

Signs that developing countries are preparing to put some of their stretched budgets into fighting diabetes is not just good news for their people. It could create an opportunity for the drug industry. Not only will there be a large growth of diabetes sufferers in rich countries, where patients can afford the latest treatments, but the explosion of diabetes in poor countries creates an opportunity for Big Pharma to enter new markets where prices are low but volumes large.

Lars Rebien Sorensen, chief executive of Novo Nordisk, the world's largest maker of insulin, said: "Diabetes is growing fastest in Africa, Asia and Latin America. "At the same time we are seeing pressure on the US healthcare system, where there could be price controls. That is going to put pressure on global growth."

There are also opportunities to develop low-cost blood sugar monitors and even solar-powered fridges to store insulin.

The world is on the cusp of recognising the crisis and funds such as the foundation set up by former US President Bill Clinton are beginning to show an interest in creating a global fund to pay for diabetes medicines, in the same way that a fund was established for malaria, tuberculosis and Aids medicines.

One of the world's most eminent scientists working on diabetes, Paul Zimmet of Australia, told the gathering in Nairobi: "There are competing conflicts - HIV, malaria, earthquakes, Sars, climate change and water shortages. But diabetes is one of the greatest epidemics in world history."

If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you may be able to get your meter and testing supplies for free. Medicare and most private insurance companies pay for these products. For more information, please visit http://www.freedomed.com.