H1N1 "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, 6-7 million doses of vaccine will be available starting the first week in October, with millions more doses to be shipped in the following weeks.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the rate of doctor visits for flu-like symptoms is higher than typically expected at this time of year. However, the vaccines currently available for seasonal flu do not protect against the H1N1 virus.

Although there will eventually be enough H1N1 vaccines for everyone in the United States, healthy adults are encouraged to hold off on being vaccinated so that people who are most at-risk from the flu can receive the vaccine first. Those identified as at-risk include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children under 6 months old, health-care and emergency service workers, people from 6 months to 24 years old, and those from 25 to 64 years old who have a chronic health disorder, such as diabetes or a compromised immune system.

Since the flu is spread primarily by the coughing and sneezing of infected people, those who have the H1N1 flu are advised to stay home and limit their contact with other people to prevent the spread of infection. It is also important to wash your hands with soap and water or to use hand sanitizer to avoid spreading the virus through contact.

For more information visit the CDC's H1N1 "Swine" Flu page.

The Diabetic Jet-Setter's Survival Guide

Air travel for diabetics has gotten progressively easier over the last 10 years, coming a long way from when diabetics were constrained to bus and train travel due to security concerns about diabetic supplies. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have teamed up to offer time-saving tips for jet-setting diabetics.

• Pack Extra Medicine and Supplies - Pack twice as much medicine and supplies as you will need. Put half of it in your carry-on and half in your checked baggage, just in case you lose your luggage or have an emergency situation.
• Stock Up on 3 oz. Containers - Make sure your containers are less than 3 oz. and that they are stored in a clear, one-quart plastic bag.
• Label Your Prescriptions - Make sure your name, pharmacy, doctor and dosage are identified on your prescription labels.
• Box Up Syringes - There is no limit on the amount of syringes you can bring on board, but they should be placed in a hard shelled box for protection.
• Identify Yourself as a Diabetic - As you approach the security check-point, make sure to tell security that you have diabetes. It is also a good idea to have proof of diagnosis of the disease, although this is not required.

Diabetes on the Rise Among Hispanics

Diabetes is rising in Hispanic populations in the United States, according to 2008 statistics from the National Institutes of Health.

In general, Hispanics are diagnosed with diabetes at twice the rate of Caucasian Americans and many go undiagnosed.

According to the NIH, more than 10% of Hispanics in the United States older than 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes. At 12.6%, Puerto Ricans have the highest diabetes rate among Hispanics, but Mexican Americans and Cubans are not far behind with 11.9 and 8.2 percent respectively.

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.

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.

Dentists May Be Able To Determine If You Have Diabetes

According to an article on diabetes and dentistry, you may not know it, but your mouth can tell doctors if your body is unhealthy. Dentists are often the first to see if you're at an elevated risk of type two diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

Dr. Ruth Cauthen of Ghent Family Dentistry helped 61-year-old Ronald Branch with his health and his job. He was struggling with controlling his blood sugar for two years, and his primary care physician was about to put him on insulin. Doctor Cauthen knew she could help.

She diagnosed him with periodontal disease, a serious bacteria infection of the mouth. Combined with his type two diabetes, it was life threatening, and could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Dr. Cauthen pulled 14 of Ronald's teeth and got the periodontal disease under control. An infection can wreak havoc on diabetics. Once the infection was gone, Ronald's blood sugar improved.

Dr. Sheila Garris is hoping for more success stories like this. She recently attended a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona with diabetes experts and dentists. They're leading the way for dentists and doctors to work closer together helping diagnose periodontal disease and diabetes. Dr. Garris said, "Dentists may be the first people to identify diabetes by identifying periodontal disease and primary care may be the first ones to recognize periodontal disease, and they're going to need the help of the dentists to help control the diabetes."

Dr. Garris says periodental disease doesn't mean you always have diabetes but it is an indicator along with family history and obesity. If you have been diagnosed periodontal disease, you should also set up an appointment with your primary care physician to go over any other possible health problems.

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.

Medical Advances Against Diabetes Haven't Benefited Women, Study Says

In a finding that partly challenges the conventional wisdom that women live longer than men, a new study suggests that the medical advances of the last few decades against diabetes haven't benefited women.

According to a recent article, researchers found that the death rates of diabetic men dropped in recent decades, while those of diabetic women increased. It's not clear why the discrepancy exists. "I do not have a clue," said Dr. Larry Deeb, President of Medicine and Science for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), when asked why women are falling behind. "But I do know that it argues that something we're doing isn't right. If you're a woman, and you have diabetes, it may be we're not aggressive enough about taking care of you."

In the new study, researchers led by Edward Gregg, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examined health surveys spanning 1971 to 2000 to determine the death rates of Americans with diabetes. The researchers looked at about 27,000 people.They found that among diabetic men, the death rate from all causes dipped from 42.6 to 24.4 deaths per 1,000 persons between the two time periods. But among diabetic women, the death rate actually rose from 18.4 to 25.9 per 1,000, even as the life span of non-diabetic women grew longer.

An estimated 9.7 million American women have diabetes, and almost one-third of them don't know it. Women with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes, according to the ADA.

For more information about diabetes and related services, please visit the diabetic resource center at http://www.freedomed.com.