Wearing the wrong size shoe can be hazardous for someone with diabetes. A recent study of 440 U.S. veterans, mostly men, with an average age of 67, published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, found that only 25 percent wore the right size footwear.

And people with a foot ulceration or loss of sensation due to diabetes were more than five times more likely to have poorly fitting shoes than others.

Often people with diabetes or nerve sensory loss can’t tell their shoes are too tight or too loose, said APMA President Dr. David Schofield. He recommends those people have a professional fit them for shoes.

The wrong shoe size can lead to excess pressure and rubbing while walking, which can cause hard-to-heal ulcers. Foot ulcers in patients with diabetes, which can cost up to an estimated $45,000 to heal, are associated with high rates of amputation and mortality. In patients without diabetes, poorly fitted shoes may exacerbate existing foot conditions.

(c) 2006 Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By Karin Fuller

We have a pup that likes to eat shoes. He isn’t discriminating. Most any shoe will do. Sneakers and heels, slippers and boots. He seems to find them equally tasty. But to find a pair of unguarded flip-flops - that is his cr me de la cr me.

He dines on them with great relish (and sometimes, great mustard). It seems no matter how well we hide them or how high we hang our cheap summer shoes, our wee pooch can sniff them out whenever he’s in the mood for a snack.

Recently, the flip-flop pickings were especially easy for him. I was packing my suitcase, distracted and hurried, trying to leave town for the weekend. Finally ready to go out the door, I went to step into my shoes and found the entire right big toe section of pair No. 144 was gone.

Not wanting to delay my departure to search for less digested footwear, I put on the shoes anyway, thinking I’d simply stop at a Kmart or another cheap shoe place along the way.

Several times over the course of that weekend, I went searching for shoes. In this, the blessed Season of Clearance, I expected to find a great bargain. For a skinflint like me, full-price would never do. Yet the flip-flops pickings were slim. Only strange colors and odd sizes remained. (I briefly confused one oversized, bright yellow pair for some sort of flotation device. And sadly, the pair nearly fit.)

It wasn’t until, as I was headed back home on Sunday that I stopped at a Target and found a pair of clearance Keds that fit both my size and price range. In a hurry, I snatched up the simple, cute shoes - white canvas flip-flops with a fairly thick, padded sole - without trying them on. Since the shoes were attached to each other with a thin, plastic strap, I tossed the shoes, still in their box, next to me in the car.

I was in a hurry to get back to Poca in time to make a 2 p.m. meeting, and I was cutting it close. There was no time to stop at home first. I pulled into the parking lot with just one minute to spare. Not wanting to go into the meeting wearing dog-nibbled footwear, I used my keys to cut through the plastic strap that bound my new shoes, then quickly put them on my feet and made a dash for the door.

Something felt strange. It sounded strange, too. But there was no time for such matters. There was a serious meeting to attend.

Except I quickly learned it’s hard to be taken seriously when one of your shoes sounds like a baby rattle and the other like a dog’s squeaky toy.

With each step, my left foot gave off a loud, “SHUSH,” which it followed with a sound

that was something like rocks in a hubcap. Then my right foot went “Skwee-KEEEY.” Imagine, if you will, a mouse with a microphone that’s being squeezed and goosed at the same time.

Heads turned. People chuckled. With as much dignity as I could muster, I pretended the sound effects weren’t coming from me.

There was a time during the meeting when I would have liked to have stood, but seated, I stayed. And there was a time when all those cups of coffee I’d consumed during the drive made themselves known in a most uncomfortable fashion, but knowing my shoes would cause too much disruption, I forced my molars to swim.

Once the meeting had ended, I wanted to leave, but too many neighbors were still milling about, so I waited at my table until nearly all were gone. When the largest quantity of witnesses had dispersed, I headed out to my car. Shush-rattle - skwee-keeey!

Now fully aware why the shoes were only four bucks.

Footnote: Once home, I took off the shoes and gave them to our pup. He looked confused, even backed away a few steps, apparently believing it was some sort of trick. Try as I might, I could not convince him the shoes were a gift. Finally, I put them back on and started to walk. The sound caused our pup to tilt his head way left, then way right. And then pounce.

Then those shoes got what was coming to them.

Karin Fuller’s columns can be accessed easily online (along with photos and additional comments) at her blog on thegazz.com. She can be reached via e-mail at karinfuller@cnpapers.com.

(c) 2006 Sunday Gazette - Mail; Charleston, W.V.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By Lutz, Brobson

Shoes that physicians wear

Physicians universally believe that their profession is tough on the feet - long hours, bounding from exam room to exam room, making hospital rounds and rummaging through radiology departments for images without reports. Actually chefs, waiters, clerks, policemen and many others are on their feet more than most physicians I know, but physicians are adamant that foot discomfort is epidemic in their profession.

A couple of decades ago, only conventional leather shoes pounded the hallways of the now flood-closed Memorial Medical Center, the hospital on Napoleon Avenue still referred to as “the Baptist” by devoted physicians and patients. Many of the surgeons had favorite tennis shoes in their lockers off the surgery lounge, but these more casual shoes were kept out of the sight of the general public.

Dr. Walter Becker, an imposing surgeon and self-appointed preserver of the traditional, operated only in his black dress shoes covered by surgical booties. He once told a young physician who showed up without a tie, “Young man, this is not a Saturday and you are not at the country club.”

After Becker’s death in the 1980’s, medical students and physicians in training began to infuse “the Baptist” with more informal footwear. The first physician to come out of the closet and wear tennis shoes to work was Dr. Gregory Vorhoff, a cardiologist who valued comfort over convention. His choice footwear was, and remains, comfortable black tennis shoes.

Funny looking shoes or clogs are contagious, and the local epicenter seems to be the practice of otolaryngology. Bands of otolaryngology residents and staff are shod en mass in the same kind of funny looking clogs with no laces, said to be quite comfortable. When they all make rounds together, you can hear them coming. A nurse once dubbed a group of them “the clog patrol.”

Dr. Maynard Garrett, a distinguished otolaryngologist who now practices in Slidell, is a Birkenstock devotee. “Birkenstocks have kept me on my feet for 30 years. I have a size 13 foot with huge arches. I almost considered giving up surgery before I discovered Birkenstocks. Some of my pediatric patients call them monster shoes but they have been a real career saver,” says Garrett.

Pediatric pulmonary specialist Dr. Jody Gates wore Birkenstocks in the past, but she has moved on. “I have worn Birkenstocks off and on over the years. They were OK and quite comfortable, but I really need a negative heel. I found that Earth shoes are the only answer and have been wearing them for two to three years,” says Gates.

The term “negative heel” is new to me. Gates patiently explained that most shoes have a heel higher then the toe portion of the shoe. Molded shoes with missing or negative heels position the forefoot slightly higher than the heel.

Crossing over to Tulane Pediatric Pulmonology, Dr. Bob Beckerman swears by Z-Coils, a shoe that makes clogs look downright old fashioned.

“Z-Coil shoes and sneakers are manufactured in New Mexico. The coils are shock absorbers that reduce the impact on your ankles, knees and lumbosacral spine by 50 percent. They are not stylish, but they have really helped my lower back condition. There are two shops locally that handle Z-Coils, one on the Westbank and one on Causeway Blvd. in Metairie,” says Beckerman.

Urologist and magician Dr. Neil Baum concurs. “My mother-in-law bought me a pair of Z-coils several months ago and the pain and discomfort in my feet and some mild low back pain disappeared … like magic. The shoes aren’t the most attractive piece of footware that I own, but the trade off is worth it.

“The shoes are also a great conversation piece with my patients, and I have recommended them to dozens of patients who also report back that the shoes do relieve the discomfort associated with standing on their feet for long periods of time. From a teleological standpoint, the shoes make sense. The heavy duty coil on the heel of the shoe absorbs the compression associated with each step relieving the impact on the foot, the ankle, knee and back. For me, they are better than American Express … I wouldn’t leave home without them!” says Baum.

The testimonials covering a wide variety of shoe brands and styles treasured by physicians are clear proof that one size does not fit all (see box). Other physicians cited the importance of socks and inserts. Dr. Michael S. Ellis packs extra shoes and socks in his golf bag each summer.

“My tip for walking golfer colleagues is to change socks after each nine holes during our hot New Orleans months. I urge them not to wear the same shoes for several rounds so as to allow them to dry. It helps to dry the shoes out in the sun for couple of hours. Wet socks and shoes are the primary cause of foot fungus in my golfing and Vietnam experience,” says Ellis

“I also suggest gel-cushioned shoe inserts especially for uneven surface walking,” adds Ellis.

“Knee-high, medium weight, elastic, dress support stockings are important to prevent varicose veins,” says Ochsner cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Michael McFadden who must stand for hours, especially during long cases such as lung transplants and thoracic aneurysm repairs.

“The merger of Cole-Haan with Nike was an excellent asset to foot comfort. They now make a capped toe dress shoe that looks great and you feel like your walking on a cushion of air,” adds McFadden.

The gel inserts received praise from all over. “The Dr. Scholl ‘gel’ inserts are just great. I wouldn’t say they are really an ‘attitude adjustment’ as advertised, but they are comfortable and I have no ache at the end of a long twelve hour E.R. shift,” e-mails Dr. Gene Saltzberg from Highland Park, Ill.

Psychiatrists may not be on their feet all day, but they analyze such things. “I use Spenco PolySorb Insoles which has heel strike cushioning,” says Dr. Irwin Marcus. “They are pads that you place in the shoe that fit from toe to heel with extra padding under the heel. I bought them in the shoe store at the Riverwalk. I have been using them for years, replacing when worn.”

Without the type of foot support they need, all of these doctors might be in search of a good podiatrist.

What the doctors recommend

Crocs Shoes are the current rage. Some sort of closed cell goo molds to your feet. They are as soft as marshmallows.

-Charles Ockelio, LSU medical student

Rockports, and I recommend them to all of my arthritic patients.

-Dr. William Davis, rheumatology

Dr. Scholl’s “Intrigue II” shoes are comfortable with good support and fit. They are excellent and cost about $28 per pair.

-Dr. Mario Calonje, radiologist.

Reebok DMX walking shoes are my thing. Have air cushion pockets from heel to forefoot. Only shoe I find comfortable with these aging feet.

-Frank Wagner, M.D.

Dansko’s are the only way to gel! They also have great designs so you can still show your individuality while in your scrubs.

-Dr. Preeti Jois

I prefer a relatively stiff shoe meaning a firm shank. It is important to stretch your heel cord in order to prevent heel pain/ plantar fasciltis.

-Dr. Gregor Hoffmaa, orthopedist

A monthly pedicure and a good foot massage. I didn’t get one in the months post-Katrina, and I suffered.

-Dr. Debra DePrato, forensic psychiatry

About 10 years ago I was having serious problem with pain in both feet in the evenings and at night after being on my feet all day. A friend recommended SAS shoes. I tried them and all the pains subsided. I have been wearing SAS shoes all the time ever since, even at special occasions and formal gatherings, over my wife’s objections.

-Dr. Abdolamir Zadeh, nephrologist

My own customized shoe inserts with a dremel tool to redistribute all the weight on my feet to other areas. This has totally ended the symptoms. You have to be willing to go through a few inserts to get one that is just right.

- Dr. James Riopelle, anesthesiologist

BY BROBSON LUTZ, M.D.

Copyright New Orleans Publishing Group Inc. Aug 2006

(c) 2006 New Orleans Magazine. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

THE French Paradox refers to the fact that despite a diet rich in saturated fats, the people in France suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease.

It was first noted by Irish physician Samuel Black in 1819. Subsequent studies found that the answer to the French Paradox was resveratrol, found in red wine. It is a member of a group of compounds called phytoalexins.

Grapes and other plant produce resveratrol as a protective measure in times of stress, bad weather or poor nutrient availability.

It also protects against fungus and other diseases.

Grapes sprayed with pesticides or grown in dry climates contain little, if any resveratrol.

Generally, most wines contain either no resveratrol or very little. Hence, it is not the best source of resveratrol.

The richest source is actually a medicinal plant, Polygonum cuspidatum, found mostly in China and Japan. Recent studies show that:

1. Resveratrol has strong antioxidant activity that increases nitric oxide to relax blood vessels and reduces abnormal blood clotting and blockages.

2. Initial research indicates that resveratrol may be effective against the development of amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.

3. Resveratrol is said to inhibit both the development and growth of cancer cells, as well as kill existing cancer cells.

4. Resveratrol is said to protect against skin cancer, stomach cancer, liver disease and inflammation.

5. Resveratrol is said to be particularly effective in helping to maintain normal osestrogen activity.

As a phytoestrogen it can help control hot flashes, mood fluctuations, bone loss and other menopausal symptoms.

It appears to be useful too in blocking the onset and progression of oestrogen-related cancers such as breast and prostate cancers and in blocking the ability of cancer cells to metastasise to bone, particularly in pancreas, kidney, and breast cancers.

Recent articles on the human diet reported that reducing calories (food) may extend the life span. This so-called “caloric restriction” in several animal species shows that reducing intake of food by 30 per cent while still supplying the essential nutrients prolongs life by up to 30 per cent.

It seems that caloric restriction activates the longevity gene (SIR2) that stimulates production of sirtuins (protein) that protect cells against starvation and keep them alive.

After testing over 10,000 types of chemicals, Dr David Sinclair of Harvard Medical found resveratrol to be the most potent stimulator of SIR2.

With all the benefits that resveratrol offers, you should consider making it part of your daily supplement programme - for a longer, healthier life. - Article courtesy of Pahang Pharmacy

(c) 2006 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

Canterbury Medical Research Foundation support is helping one Christchurch researcher to investigate a link between Vitamin C and the function of white blood cells.

Free Radical Research Group deputy director Dr Margret Vissers says these cells, known as neutrophils, can be considered as the infantry in the army of the immune system and are responsible for killing bacteria and viruses.

“However, once they have done their job, the neutrophils themselves need to be disposed of, and it is this process that is dependent on vitamin C. The clean-up of neutrophils after an infection is as important as the removal of the bacteria and could cause many problems throughout the body if it did not occur.”

Vitamin C is a small, simple molecule generated from sugar. It is made by plants and many animals, but humans, primates and guinea pigs have lost the capacity to make it and must therefore obtain it through the diet, says Vissers.

“This fact became clear in the early 20th Century when vitamin C deficiency was discovered to be the cause of scurvy — a horrible, deadly disease that had afflicted those whose diet was inadequate.

“These days everyone is familiar with the need for Vitamin C, and are aware that our best source is fresh fruit and vegetables.

“It may, therefore, come as a surprise that we still do not know how vitamin C prevents scurvy or even exactly why we need it.”

Vissers last year presented her results at the CMRF-sponsored Canterbury Medical Researchers’ Conference.

Her talk was judged the best of the conference and she was awarded a prize that will help her travel to a specialist meeting in Sardinia in October where she will be able to present her work to an informed international audience.

She says her data not only provides an important new function for Vitamin C in the control of the immune system, it may also be relevant for other cells.

* Margret Vissers will give a talk on her research during Sunday’s open day.

——————–

(c) 2006 Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

One of the most common issues facing all regular exercisers is that of injury. Injuries to the key muscles and joints of the body can result in the loss of progress and often the complete cessation of an exercise programme. So, how best do we avoid the onset of injury? Firstly, lets look at the causes.

One of the most common problems amongst active individuals is knee pain. The first point to bear in mind is that the knee is an extremely complex joint that carries a massive amount of load when we walk and run. The impact on the knee joint when running can be up to ten times the body weight of the runner.

Many injuries such as torn ligaments, cartilage damage and dislocations are acute and caused by trauma to the area, however, more common is the ongoing pain and suffering that may result in swelling, discomfort and general pain over time. This is often harder to pinpoint and diagnose and may result in months or, indeed, years of pain if not properly treated.

In many cases injuries as described may ultimately be caused by poor flexibility and elasticity in the surrounding muscles. Flexibility of a muscle helps define the range of movement of a joint, allowing a limb to stretch into a given position with less stress. When a muscle is in poor condition and flexibility is lacking injuries in the muscle are more likely. Elasticity allows a muscle to get into it’s optimum position with less risk of tearing and allows it to carry nutrients more efficiently through the muscle.

The key point to bear in mind is when our muscles have poor flexibility the likelihood is that the tightness experienced will result in pulling of the key ligaments around a joint, this can result in the case of the knee of the kneecap tracking slightly off centre and the onset of chronic pain as a result. Such injuries are experienced more in active individuals, particularly those who run a lot, however, any continuation of activity will result in the worsening of the issue.

A qualified physiotherapist or sports therapist will have knowledge to examine the bio-mechanics of your body and be able to define which areas display traits likely to cause future problems. Most of us display strength, flexibility and elasticity imbalances throughout our bodies. This disruption to the ideal bio-mechanical model is often the first area to examine when suffering from unexplained joint pain.

To resolve such injuries and return to activity follow the key points shown:

1. Rest. It is vital to allow the body to recover and repair damaged area, this will only be achieved by stopping any activity causing undue pressure on the affected area.

2. Ice. Using ice to reduce any swelling and inflammation is key to any recovery programme. Remember to keep a barrier between the actual ice and the body in order to avoid burning and apply only in sessions of 15 minutes maximum.

3. Speak with your sports therapist and establish which areas of your body are showing signs of imbalance, from here you can begin to work on a rehabilitation programme.

4. Examine your footwear! Ensure your shoes offer the right support and protection at all stages of your running programme. Many shops now offer a tailored service with analysis of your running style in order to prescribe the best footwear.

5. Improve your flexibility. A thorough flexibility programme will begin to address the original source of many of your injury problems. Group activities such as Body Balance, Yoga and Pilates are an enjoyable way to work on this area.

6. Rehabilitation. A series of exercises designed to correct the form and shape of the body. Often the root cause of knee pain may be related to tightness or lack of strength in a completely unrelated area of the body. Only by addressing the root cause can we begin to alleviate the affected area.

* For further information on this article or to suggest a topic title contact newcastlemanager@fitnessfirst.com or call 0191 266 0666.

(c) 2006 Evening Chronicle - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By NICOLE NASCENZI World Staff Writer

Cravings are just one problem for pregnant moms diagnosed with gestational diabetes

For some women, pregnancy is the perfect time to indulge those confectionery cravings.

Tamara Carlson, however, does not allow herself to cave in to her cravings for mounds of chocolate or tubs of ice cream.

The sugar contained in those foods could cause her blood sugar to spike and harm the baby she is expecting in January.

But if a woman with diabetes controls her blood sugar, her risk for miscarriage or birth defects is about the same as with most other pregnancies, said Dr. Darla J. Lofgren of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

However, if an expectant mother’s blood sugar isn’t controlled through diet, exercise or medication, it can cause many problems including miscarriage, heart defects and neural tube defects such as spina bifida, said Dr. James H. Beeson, professor and chairman for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the OU College of Medicine in Tulsa.

To further complicate the problem, much of the damage is done early in a women’s pregnancy — often before the patient knows she is pregnant, Beeson said. For example, a baby’s heart is completely formed eight weeks after a woman’s first missed menstrual period.

Carlson, 23, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes nine years ago and said she is accustomed to following a diabetic diet.

“I just try to think about the things I can eat rather than what I can’t have,” she said.

Sugar-free snow cones and small amounts of sherbet help her get through her pregnancy-driven food cravings.

“You are the environment for this child, and you have to make sure you protect it,” Carlson said. “So, I have to give up chocolate and soda. So what?”

Jennifer Phelps, a licensed and registered dietitian for the Warren Clinic Adult Diabetes Center, said she spends much of her time educating patients on how to make good food choices.

For the 3 to 5 percent of pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes — a form of glucose resistance developed during pregnancy - - learning to adhere to new dietary guidelines can seem overwhelming, Phelps said.

“Pregnancy is hard enough and if you have to fight all those cravings, it can feel like an uphill battle,” she said.

Education is often the key to helping women understand how important it is to control their sugar and insulin levels during pregnancy, Phelps said. If women understand why they need to follow guidelines, they are more likely to be compliant. Prenatal care is important in all pregnancies, but especially for women with diabetes or those who are at risk for developing gestational diabetes, Lofgren said.

The OU Health Sciences Center in Tulsa recently received a $17,000 grant from the March of Dimes to improve diabetic education and prenatal care to underserved populations including Hispanics, American Indians and blacks.

Receiving diabetic education before or soon after conception has many benefits, Beeson said. Not only does it improve the health of the mother and the outcome of the pregnancy, but investments in prenatal care reduce the risk that the infant will have complications.

An infant with spina bifida or a congenital heart defect will require a lifetime of expensive medical treatment, he said. Carlson checks her blood sugar levels at least five times a day and keeps a log to show her doctor, Lofgren, during her frequent prenatal check ups.

She uses a low-dose of insulin in pill form to control her diabetes and is happy she does not require the insulin injections she endured during her first pregnancy.

During her first pregnancy she carried around a small cooler with ice packs to keep her insulin cold, but she said it was a small price to pay for a healthy baby.

She has, however, learned from experience. While recovering from her first cesarian section, Carlson said she spent too much time on her feet and did not get the doctor-prescribed amount of rest. Carlson’s incision broke open and required a trip to the hospital.

Since diabetics are often slower to heal, they need to be wary of developing infections and allow themselves extra time to recover, Phelps said.

After delivering this baby, Carlson said she plans to delegate responsibility and take time to heal after her delivery.

Nicole Nascenzi 581-8315

nicole.nascenzi@tulsaworld.com

Diabetes terminology

Diabetes: A disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin.

Insulin: A hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

Type 1 diabetes: Also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is often diagnosed in childhood. It results from the bodys failure to produce insulin. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes: Also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes. It results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: Is a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects about 4 percent of all pregnant women about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.

More information is available by visiting the American Diabetes Association Web site www.diabetes.org or calling (800)342-2383.

(c) 2006 Tulsa World. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By Lois M. Collins Deseret Morning News

Under a new Utah law, children and teens with diabetes can take their glucagon to school with them and parents can ask the school to designate volunteers to be trained to administer the hormone in the event of a severe low-blood-sugar reaction.

The 2006 Legislature passed SB8 to address a potentially serious problem faced by as many as 2,400 Utah children with diabetes who may need the medication if they become hypoglycemic — a condition marked by low blood sugar.

Severe hypoglycemic reaction may include unconsciousness or seizures, so it’s important for schools to see that a couple of people are trained to administer the injection. Brain cells need blood glucose to survive, so hypoglycemia can be extremely dangerous. With less severe reactions, parents may choose to allow their child to administer the medication himself, if he’s responsible enough, says Karen Roylance, Utah state school nurse consultant.

Glucagon is a fast-acting hormone that raises blood glucose levels. But it needs to be administered right away, Roylance says.

A doctor must prescribe the medication, and the parents must fill out forms for it to be available during school hours. If the child keeps the medication in her backpack, for instance, the form would tell staffers that’s where to find it if she were unable to tell them herself.

The forms are now available and the state’s school nurses are just gearing up to train volunteers at the schools where children have been identified as having prescriptions for glucagon, according to Roylance.

The school’s volunteers and the school staff are by law released from any liability in conjunction with administering the hormone.

Glucagon may cause nausea and some vomiting, says Roylance, but “it’s still benign and pretty nonthreatening in terms of overdose problems. It’s really relatively safe,” she says.

Just as important for the school nurses is teaching volunteers and other adults at the schools how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a hypoglycemic reaction. “We try to teach them how to help in the care of students so they don’t get into that situation,” she says.

In case of a school-related hypoglycemic reaction, the most important thing is administering the glucagon and calling 911 immediately. It takes about 10-20 minutes for the hormone to work, but a trip to the hospital is crucial, Roylance says.

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels are lower than they should be, something that may be triggered by late or skipped meals or snacks or from more exercise than planned. Moderate symptoms may include sweating, hunger, dizziness, headache, confusion and difficulty concentrating. Those symptoms can escalate to include unconsciousness, seizure and inability to swallow.

E-mail: lois@desnews.com

(c) 2006 Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

Swedish firm Diamyd said Friday the diabetes drug it is testing showed promise in a phase 2 study in patients with type 1 diabetes.

The company said its investigational drug Diamyd showed efficacy in preserving insulin production in a clinical trial enrolling 70 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The firm noted the study showed no serious adverse events linked to the treatment.

In the phase 2 trial, 35 patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes receiving the test drug produced approximately twice as much meal-stimulated insulin — as measured by C-peptide — 15 months after the first treatment, compared to those on placebo.

This is a breakthrough, said Johnny Ludvigsson, professor of pediatrics at the University Hospital at Linkoping University in Stockholm, Sweden, and lead researcher in the eight-hospital study.

This clearly offers the potential to improve treatment of type 1 diabetes. Endogenous insulin production is very important as it helps patients to better control their disease and reduce complications.

Diamyd was given to patients in two injections, he said.

 

Cancer patients will not receive a special treatment in England after Welsh health chiefs branded it too expensive.

The decision has angered campaigners who urged that treatment for the early stages of prostate cancer is vital.

Up to 40-50 local patients a year would be eligible for the brachytherapy treatment but as yet there is no centre in Wales that provides the low dose form of radiotherapy.

The NHS course of treatment costs between pounds 6,000 and pounds ,7000.

John Neate, chief executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, has now written to political and NHS leaders in Wales to highlight his concerns.

He said: ‘Time after time we are told the NHS should be about patient- centred care and choice. I see no evidence of that in this decision by Health Commission Wales.

‘Brachytherapy is not an untested or experimental treatment. It has increasingly become recognised as an effective approach to managing prostate cancer and enables men to have a few short hospital visits and post-treatment recovery can be just a few days.’

A spokesman for Health Commission Wales said: ‘We have decided with regret that it cannot implement plans to commission low dose brachytherapy for prostate cancer during 2006/07 because it has become clear that the specialist centres in England are unable to offer services within our budget.

(c) 2006 South Wales Echo. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.