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New Family Health
History Initiative
Source: HHS Launches New Family Health History Initiative, DHHS Press
Release, November 8, 2004
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson launched a Family History Initiative
to encourage all Americans to learn about their families' health histories
as a way of promoting personal health and preventing disease. Americans
are encouraged to use their family gatherings as a time to collect important
family health history information that can benefit all family members.
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full story
Family History Initiative
website
HHS
Statement on Institute of Medicine Report on Childhood Obesity
Source: Statement by Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human
Services Regarding Institute of Medicine Report on Childhood Obesity,
DHHS Press Release, September 30, 2004
“The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on childhood obesity
makes clear that the fight against obesity begins at home. That is why
we must continue to bring together industry, schools and the government
to help parents create an environment that allows their families to
make healthy eating and exercise choices. We at HHS are determined to
do our part.”
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full report
Preventing
Childhood Obesity
Source: Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, Institute
of Medicine (IOM) Report, September 30, 2004
In response to a request from Congress for a prevention-oriented action
plan to tackle the alarming rise in childhood obesity, the IOM Committee
on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth has developed a comprehensive
national strategy that recommends specific actions for families, schools,
industry, communities, and government. The committee‘s findings
and recommendations are described in the report Preventing Childhood
Obesity: Health in the Balance.
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full report
New Awareness
Campaign for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Source: Millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at Increased
Risk for Type 2 Diabetes, NIH/NIDDK Press Release, September 29, 2004
About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 have pre-diabetes, a condition
that raises a person’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, and stroke. Studies show that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
who are overweight are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, and some
groups, including Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, and Japanese Americans
living in Hawaii, are twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents
of similar age.
To respond to this serious health threat, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services’ (HHS) National Diabetes Education Program
(NDEP) launched a public awareness campaign.
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full report
New Drug Approved for
Pain Related to Diabetes
Source: FDA Approves Drug for Neuropathic Pain Associated with Diabetes,
FDA News, September 7, 2004
FDA has announced the approval of Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride)
capsules for the management of the pain associated with diabetic peripheral
neuropathy. This is the first drug specifically approved for this indication.
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New Diabetes
Awareness Campaign to Reach American Indians and Alaska Natives
Source: Millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives at Increased Risk
for Type 2 Diabetes, NIH/NIDDK Press Release, August 10, 2004
About 41 million people have pre-diabetes, a condition that raises
a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease,
and stroke. American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely
to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. To respond to
this rapidly growing problem, the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services’ National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) launched
a public awareness campaign called "We Have the Power to Prevent
Diabetes."
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full report
New Diabetes Education Program
to Reach Hispanic Communities
Source: Millions of Hispanics at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes, NIH/NIDDK
Press Release, June 29, 2004
About 40 percent of U.S. adults ages 40 to 74 – millions of whom
are Hispanic or Latino – currently have pre-diabetes, a condition
that raises a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, and stroke. To respond to this rapidly growing problem, experts
from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National
Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) and community-based organizations
from around the country met to discuss national and local efforts to
stem the diabetes epidemic in the Hispanic community.
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full report
Newly Formed Network Launches
First Studies
Source: TrialNet Launches First Studies in Type 1 Diabetes, NIH/NIDDK
News, June 5, 2004
Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, a newly formed network of 18 clinical centers
in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia, has launched its
first two clinical studies, DHHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced
on June 5, 2004. One study examines the biological basis of type 1 diabetes
in at-risk people. The other seeks to preserve insulin-secreting beta
cells in patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Additional studies
will become available as researchers develop protocols to test promising
preventions and treatments.
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full report
Diabetes Linked to Risk of
Alzheimer’s Disease
Source: Diabetes linked to Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s in Long-Term
Study, NIH News, May 19, 2004
Diabetes mellitus was linked to a 65 percent increased risk of developing
Alzheimer’s disease, appearing to affect some aspects of cognitive
function differently than others in a new study supported by the National
Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health. The findings
add to a developing body of research examining a possible link between
diabetes and cognitive decline.
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full report
American Diabetes Association
Reports Blood Pressure Drugs Reduce Death Rate
Source: Blood Pressure Drugs Cut Death Rate in Half, ADA Diabetes News,
May 26, 2004
ACE inhibitors, a type of medication often used to treat high blood
pressure or heart disease, can lower the death rates for people who
have diabetes -- whether they have cardiovascular disease or not, according
to a study published in the June issue of Diabetes Care.
The study found that the use of ACE inhibitors among a broad spectrum
of people newly treated for diabetes cut in half the risk of death from
all causes and reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease
by 23 percent.
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full report
Recall of Minimed Paradigm
Quick-Set® Plus Infusion Set
Source: Medtronic Recalls Quick-Set® Plus Infusion Sets, Medtronic
News Release, May 18, 2004
Medtronic, Inc. has recalled all Paradigm Quick-Set® Plus infusion
sets because of problems that can prevent insulin flow during use. These
problems have resulted in a number of serious injuries, including some
hospitalizations.
Patients should stop using the Paradigm Quick-set Plus infusion sets
as soon as they can get replacements. Patients can request free replacement
sets by calling Medtronic's 24-hour Help Line at 800-646-4633 (option
1) or using the on-line form at www.minimed.com/QSP.
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full news release
New Drug for Dogs with Diabetes
Source: FDA Approves First Insulin Drug for Diabetic Dogs, FDA News, May
4, 2004
FDA has approved the first drug for treating diabetic dogs. Before
the development of this drug, the only treatment veterinarians could
use on diabetic dogs was human insulin, which is less compatible with
a dog’s metabolic system.
Estimates are that one in every 200 dogs will develop diabetes. The
onset usually occurs in dogs aged 7-9 years, and seems to be twice as
prevalent in females as in males.
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New Prevention Campaign for
High Risk Groups
Source: HHS Launches Diabetes Prevention Campaign to Reach High Risk Groups,
NIH/NIDDK Press Release, April 28, 2004
DHHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and the National Diabetes Education
Program (NDEP) launched the first national multicultural diabetes prevention
campaign, Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes, to take
action against the growing diabetes epidemic. The campaign focuses on
empowering people at high risk to make modest lifestyle changes that
can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
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full report
Millions More Have Pre-Diabetes
Source: Revised Definition Means Millions More Have Pre-Diabetes, DHHS
Press Release, April 29, 2004
“Pre-diabetes” – a condition that raises a person’s
risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke –
is far more common in America than previously believed, according to
a new DHHS estimate released today. About 40 percent of U.S. adults
ages 40 to 74, or 41 million people, currently have the condition, which
is marked by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not
yet diabetic. Many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2
diabetes within 10 years.
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full report
FDA/NIH Joint Symposium on
Diabetes
FDA and NIH will host a joint symposium targeting safe and effective
prevention and treatment of diabetes, May 13 - 14, 2004. The purpose
of the symposium is to define the current state of the prevention and
management of diabetes and to identify and discuss therapeutic gaps
and hurdles to safe and effective prevention and treatment of type 1
and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The symposium will provide a forum for
discussion of diabetes-related topics.
Additional
information
New Strategy to Help Reduce
Obesity
Source: HHS Unveils FDA Strategy to Help Reduce Obesity, DHHS Press Release,
March 12, 2004
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson released a new Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) report on March 12, 2004 outlining another element in HHS' comprehensive
strategy for combating the epidemic of obesity that threatens the health
of millions of Americans with a focus on the message, "calories
count."
The report by FDA's Obesity Working Group includes recommendations
to strengthen food labeling, to educate consumers about maintaining
a healthy diet and weight and to encourage restaurants to provide calorie
and nutrition information. It also recommends increasing enforcement
to ensure food labels accurately portray serving size, revising and
reissuing guidance on developing obesity drugs and strengthening coordinated
scientific research to reduce obesity and to develop foods that are
healthier and low in calories.
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Safety Alert about Antipsychotic Medications
and Diabetes
Source: 2004 Safety Alert: Zyprexa (olanzapine), FDA MedWatch Safety Alert,
March 1, 2004
Eli Lilly and Company sent a Dear Doctor letter on March 1, 2004 to
inform them of important labeling changes regarding Zyprexa (olanzapine).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked all manufacturers of
atypical antipsychotic medications, including Lilly, to add a Warning
statement describing the increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes
in patients taking these medications, including Zyprexa.
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Americans Not Aware of Their Blood Sugar Levels
Source: Awareness of Blood Sugar Critically Lacking Despite Diabetes Increase,
American Diabetes Association Survey Finds, ADA Press Release, March 23,
2004
A new national survey conducted by the American Diabetes Association
reveals that 7 out of 10 Americans are not aware of their blood glucose
(sugar) level (critical information for determining the presence of
diabetes or pre-diabetes). This awareness level is considered
extremely low, especially as it relates to individuals’ knowledge
of blood pressure and cholesterol.
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full report
Roche Issues Alert About False Expiration Dates
on Imported Advantage II Glucose Test Strips
(February 1, 2003)
Roche Diagnostics Corporation has alerted healthcare providers
that some lots of Advantage II test strips, which are intended solely
for distribution outside of the U.S., have been repackaged and reimported
into the U.S. as Accu-Chek® Comfort Curve® test strips, in some
cases with altered expiration dates. These lots were never distributed
in the U.S. and are not cleared for sale in the U.S. by the FDA. Problems
with these test strips include: incorrect expiration dates, improper calibration
for U.S. glucose meters, and questionable product performance due to unknown
storage or handling conditions by the importer.
Read Dear Healthcare
Provider Letter
FDA Clears Home Glycated Hemoglobin Test For Diabetics
(December 17, 2002)
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FDA Approves GlucoWatch for Children With Diabetes
(August 27, 2002)
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NEW PRODUCT!
(June 24, 2002)
FDA CLEARS NEW PALM TEST FOR SKIN CHOLESTEROL
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NEW PRODUCT!
(June 13, 2002)
FDA CLEARS TWO GLUCOSE TEST METERS
FDA has cleared for marketing two glucose test meters used with personal
digital assistants (PDAs).
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(May 15, 2002)
STUDY EXAMINES COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS FOR TYPE
2 DIABETES
Aggressive treatment of high blood pressure can improve health outcomes
while reducing a diabetes patient's lifetime health care costs by about
$1,000, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
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(May 2, 2002)
FDA OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH LAUNCHES "TAKE TIME TO CARE…ABOUT
DIABETES" CAMPAIGN
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(March 22, 2002)
HHS, ADA WARN AMERICANS OF "PRE-DIABETES," ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO TAKE HEALTHY STEPS TO REDUCE RISKS
Updated Statistics Show 17 Million with Diabetes, 16 Million More With
Pre-Diabetes
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today warned Americans of the risks of
"pre-diabetes," a condition affecting nearly 16 million Americans
that sharply raises the risk for developing type 2 diabetes and increases
the risk of heart disease by 50 percent.
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NEW PRODUCT!
(March 15, 2002)
FDA APPROVES NEW PORTABLE INSULIN-NEEDLE DESTRUCTION DEVICE FOR USE
AT HOME BY PEOPLE WITH DIABETES
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Important
Message
PEOPLE WITH DIABETES SHOULD AVOID EATING RAW OYSTERS OR CLAMS
(posted May 28, 2002)
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Updated November
18, 2004 |
