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1.%% M 11/14/11 FDA Requests More Data for Iluvien More studies are needed

to approve an intravitreal insert that releases cortico-steroid fluocinolone

acetonide (Iluvien) intended for diabetic macular edema (DME) FDA stated

that it was unable to approve the Iluvien new drug application because [it]

did not provide enough data to support the claim that Iluvien is safe &

effective in the Rx of pts with DME. FDA states that the risks for adverse

reactions shown for Iluvien [trial of 771pts] were significant & were not

offset by the benefits. Adverse effects involved cataract extraction in 80-

87% of all pts. Elevated intraocular pressure was also observed & 4% of pts

required trabeculoplasty.[glaucoma surg] 2 additional clinical trials will

be needed to show that the product is safe & effective for the proposed

indication.

%% prior report AAO 10/31/11 Iluvien- Novel Eye Insert Improves DME A study

of an intravitreal insert (Iluvien) that releases a sustained & controlled

amount of the corticosteroid fluocinolone acetonide improved visual acuity

for up to 3 years in pts with DME. [These data are] particularly exciting,

as they demonstrate that a single insert can provide rapid & sustained

improvement in visual acuity for up to 36 months, " said presenter.The drug

is injected into the eye in the form of a cylindrical polymer which is so

tiny that 32 can fit on a grain of rice. Once injected, the drug slowly

percolates out... About 75% of the pts required only 1 implant, 20% required

a second, & 4- 6% a third implant. A decision from theFDA regarding its

approval is expected within weeks. study funded by Alimera Sciences,

manufacturer

2.%% M 11/11 Identifying Early Microvascular Abnormalities in Type 2

Abstract - Microvascular[smallest blood vessels] changes occur early in DM.

Doppler ultrasound enables non-invasive identification of ocular

microvascular abnormalities [34 pts] Intro- Microvascular functional &

structural abnormalities occur early in DM & may precede development of

disease in susceptible organs such as the eye & kidney. Key Messages

Analysis of blood flow waveforms [behind eyeball] circulation in T2 revealed

abnormalities which were most pronounced when waveforms were captured close

to the eye, suggesting that the abnormalities are due to microvascular

disease.

3.%% M 11/19 Visual Impairment (VI) Becoming Less Likely in DM The

age-adjusted percentage of people with T1 & T2 reporting VI dropped from

23.7% in 1997 to 16.7% in 2010, according to Nat. Health Interview Survey

data...But the decrease did not affect all subgroups equally. In particular,

blacks with DM did not show significantly less VI in 2010 than in 1997.

Authors note: " The decline.. might be attributable, in part, to better

control of VI risk factors (e.g., better blood glucose, BP, & lipid

control), improved detection & treatment of eye problems..An alternative

explanation...is that the large & sustained increase of new cases of DM

since the 1990s might have led to a large number of persons who have not had

diabetes long enough to develop VI. "

4.%% M 11/21 Omega-3 Fatty Acids [O3a] Protect Against Arrhythmia & Fatal MI

- Patients with DM who have had a heart attack may get protection from

future ventricular arrhythmias & fatal heart attacks by eating daily

recommended doses of O3a. [1014pts;40m] randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups

given margarines containing different amounts of O3a components. The group

that received a combination of all 3 fatty acids, EPA, DHA, & ALA.

experienced an 84% lower incidence of ventricular arrhythmia-related events

than the group receiving placebo. That combo group also experienced a 72%

lower incidence of combined arrhythmia & fatal heart attack. Funding

includes: Netherlands Heart Foundation, NIH

5.%% M 11/16 Blood Pressure, Lipids and Glucose in T2 How Low Should We Go?

Re-Discovering Personalized Care Epidemiological studies have clearly shown

a direct relationship between the levels

of BP, blood sugar, & LDL, & complications of DM. Although 'lower should be

better', the results of recent clinical trials examining the benefits of

normalizing risk factor levels have been counter-intuitive and, have called

into question this notion. Intro & Blood Pressure [a very long discussion,

tables etc of a number of trials-]. From Table 3. Target levels of BP,

HbA1c, & lipids in pts with diabetes according to current guidelines &

position statements – ADA = BP 130/80 HbA1c 6.5% with avoidance of

hypoglycemia Lipids (mmol/L)LDL 2.6–3.4 HDL 1.15 TG 1.7..Conclusions - In

the management of glucose, BP & lipids, recent clinical trials have clearly

established that lower is not always better in T2 . Although optimal targets

for these risk factors have not been firmly established, the trials have

provided vital information & a better understanding of what targets are

appropriate. .. some pt subgroups might respond differently to aggressive

risk factor management. Our challenge is how to identify these pts & deliver

truly personalized DM care that maximizes benefit & minimizes harm.

www.medscape.com/viewarticle/750760_print

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7.%% M 11/12 Intensive T1 Diabetes Therapy Lowers Kidney Failure Risk

Intensive therapy for T1 lowers the long-term risk for impaired glomerular

filtration rate (GFR), a predictor of end-stage kidney disease & a risk

factor for CV disease & death. Kidney Week 2011: American Society of

Nephrology 44th Annual Meeting.

8. Delete

9.%% M 11/16 Neuropathy an Underappreciated Cause of Erectile Dysfunction

(ED) has traditionally been associated with vascular problems, but a new

study reveals that men with severe peripheral neuropathy frequently report

ED, as well as failure with phospho-diesterase type-5 inhibitors. [av age

54]

10.%%M 11/16 Non-type 1 Non-type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Abstract - Monogenic

forms of ß-cell diabetes (previously known as MODY) have been broadly

divided according to age of presentation, into neonatal & adolescent/adult

forms (the latter previously termed maturity onset DM of the young – MODY).

In summary, this is an interesting case of a 51-year-old woman with DM who

does not fit the classical categories of either T1 or T2..A genetic test for

common gene mutations associated with monogenetic DM was recently done on

the pt & the result was positive for a mutation in the HNF1-a gene.

11.%%M 11/15 Prospective Associations of Vitamin D With ß-Cell Function &

Glycemia Cohort Study Aim- examine the prospective associations of baseline

vitamin D (25(OH)D) with insulin resistance (IR), ß-cell function, & glucose

homeostasis in subjects at risk for T2. [489pts;3yrs] Conclusions - Higher

baseline vitD independently predicted better ß-cell function & lower glucose

response level supporting a potential role for vit D in type 2 diabetes

etiology.

12.%% M 11/22 Diabetics on Dialysis Do Better With Higher HbA1c - Hemoglobin

A1c Researchers [38,000pts] have discovered that the desirable range for

HbA1c is higher for DM pts on dialysis than guidelines recommend for the

general diabetic population. Both high & low levels were associated with an

increased risk for death, Am Soc Nephrology 44th Annual Meeting.. More than

half the patients on dialysis in the US have diabetes. U.Wash. School of

Medicine expert said. " I think it's fair to say that the recommendation for

an A1c of about 7% or less will stand for people with new-onset DM who are

relatively young & [who have] limited comorbidities, I think the guidelines

will promote individualizing therapy.. For people who are at high risk of

hypoglycemia, which is most people with advanced chronic kidney disease or

with limited life expectancy & multiple comorbidities, clinicians should

consider a more liberal target. "

13.%% MP Comparative efficacy of oral anti-diabetic drugs in preventing the

development of T2. Diab Med. 2011; 28(8):Systematic literature search of

MEDLINE, EMBASE...Conclusion: Of the oral anti-diabetic drugs evaluated to

prevent T2,thiazolidinediones [actos] were associated with the greatest risk

reduction compared with control & associated with greater risk reduction

than biguanides [metformin..]. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors [gyset,precose]

& biguanides performed similarly, & better than control, while

sulphony-lureas [glucotrol, glyburide] provided no significant benefit.

14.%% MP 11/23 Traffic pollution may be linked to diabetes risk Study found

that people living in urban areas with high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a

pollutant found in traffic exhaust, were 4% more likely to be diagnosed with

DM than those living in neighborhoods with cleaner air. DM risk jumped by

10% in physically active people & 12% in non- smokers. Previous research has

found that diabetics appear to be more vulnerable to the harmful health

effects of air pollution than nondiabetics. [52,000 residents of Denmark's 2

largest cities;10yr] The link between long-term exposure to air pollution &

DM also appeared to be greater in women in this study. This may have to do

with a sex-related difference in susceptibility to air pollution or could

reflect the fact that women in Denmark have historically spent more time in

the home than men. Considerable evidence indicates that particles in air

pollution, small enough to make their way into the bloodstream, contribute

to inflammation throughout the body. Which in turn, may lead to an increased

risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure & a number of chronic diseases,

including diabetes & asthma. Air pollution has a similar effect on blood

vessels as cigarette smoke, an environmental health scientist U. British

Columbia said. But, unlike cigarette smoke, air pollution is something to

which everyone is exposed.

15.%% MP 11/25 Managing Diabetes During the Holidays Having DM shouldn't

stop you from enjoying holiday celebrations & travel. The most important

step is preparing. Before you go, take these steps to make sure you stick to

your healthy meal plan. Eat a healthy snack to avoid overeating at the

party. Ask what food will be served, so you can see how it fits into your

meal plan. Bring a nutritious snack or dish for yourself & others. At a

party or holiday gathering, follow these tips to avoid overeating & to

choose healthy foods. If you're at a buffet, fix your plate & move to

another room away from the food, if possible. Choose smaller portions.

Choose low-calorie drinks such as sparkling water, unsweetened tea or diet

beverages. If you select an alcoholic beverage, limit it to one drink a day

for women, two for men, & drink only with a meal. Watch out for heavy

holiday favorites such as hams coated with a honey glaze, turkey swimming in

gravy & side dishes loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese or mayonnaise.

Instead, choose turkey without gravy & trim off the skin, or other lean

meats. Look for side dishes & vegetables that are light on butter, & other

extra fats & sugars, such as marshmallows. Watch the salt. Focus on friends,

family and activities instead of food. Take a walk after a meal, or join in

the dancing at a party. Make sure you remember to take care of your diabetes

while traveling. Check blood glucose (sugar) more often than usual, because

a changing schedule can affect levels. Pack twice the amount of DM supplies

you expect to need, in case of travel delays. Keep snacks, glucose gel, or

tablets with you in case your BS drops. Make sure you keep your medical

insurance card & emergency phone numbers handy, including your doctor's name

& phone number. Carry medical identification that says you have DM. Keep

time zone changes in mind so you'll know when to take medication. If you use

insulin, make sure you also pack a glucagon emergency kit. Keep your insulin

cool by packing it in an insulated bag with refrigerated gel packs. Wash

hands often with soap and water. Try to avoid contact with sick people.

Reduce your risk for blood clots by moving around every hour or two. Pack a

small cooler of foods that may be difficult to find while traveling, such as

fresh fruit, sliced raw vegetables, & fat-free or low- fat yogurt. Bring a

few bottles of water instead of sweetened soda or juice. Pack dried fruit,

nuts, and seeds as snacks - measure out small portions (¼ cup) in advance.

If you're flying & do not want to walk through the metal detector with your

insulin pump, tell a security officer that you are wearing an insulin pump &

ask them to visually inspect the pump & do a full-body pat-down. Place all

diabetes supplies in carry-on luggage. Keep medications & snacks at your

seat for easy access. Don't store them in overhead bins. Have all syringes &

insulin delivery systems (including vials of insulin) clearly marked with

the pharmaceutical preprinted label that identifies the medications. Keep it

in the original pharmacy labeled packaging. When drawing up your dose of

insulin, don't inject air into the bottle (the air on your plane will

probably be pressurized). National Diabetes Education Program

16.%% NIH11/24 The A1C Test and Diabetes The A1C test is a blood test that

provides information about a person’s average levels of blood glucose, also

called blood sugar [bS], over the past 3 months. The A1C test is sometimes

called the hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or glycohemoglobin test. [it] is the

primary test used for management & research of DM. The A1C test is based on

the attachment of glucose to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that

carries oxygen. In the body, red blood cells are constantly forming & dying,

but typically they live for about 3 months. Thus, the A1C test reflects the

average of a person’s BS levels over the past 3 m. The A1C test result is

reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher a person’s

blood glucose levels have been. A normal A1C level is below 5.7% Can the A1C

test be used to diagnose T2 & pre-diabetes? Yes. Because the A1C test does

not require fasting & blood can be drawn for the test at any time of day,

experts are hoping its convenience will allow more people to get tested

thus, decreasing the number of people with undiagnosed DM. However, some

medical organizations continue to recommend using blood glucose tests for

diagnosis.

Are diabetes blood test results always accurate? All laboratory test results

can vary from day to day & from test to test. Results can vary within the

person being tested. A person’s BS levels normally move up and down

depending on meals, exercise, sickness, and stress.

Can the A1C test give false results? Yes, The A1C can be unreliable for

diagnosing or monitoring DM in people with certain conditions that are known

to interfere with the results. Interference should be suspected when A1C

results seem very different from the results of a blood glucose test. People

of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian descent, or people with family

members with sickle cell anemia or a thalassemia are particularly at risk of

interference. People in these groups may have a less common type of

hemoglobin, known as a hemoglobin variant, that can interfere with some A1C

tests. Most people with a hemoglobin variant have no symptoms & may not know

that they carry [it]. People with false results from one type of A1C test

may need a different type of A1C test for measuring their average blood

glucose level.

What A1C target should people have? People will have different A1C targets

depending on their DM history & general health. People should discuss their

A1C target with their health care provider. People with DM can reduce the

risk of complications by keeping A1C levels below 7%. Maintaining good BS

control will benefit those with new-onset diabetes for many years to come.

However, an A1C level that is safe for one person may not be safe for

another. For example, keeping an A1C level below 7% may not be safe if it

leads to problems with hypoglycemia, also called low blood glucose. Less

strict blood glucose control, or an A1C between 7 & 8%- or even higher in

some circumstances - may be appropriate in people who have limited life-

expectancy long-standing DM & difficulty attaining a lower goal, severe

hypoglycemia, advanced diabetes complications such as chronic kidney

disease, nerve problems, or CVD. NIH Publication No.11–7816 Sept 2011

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

17.%% 11/24 MNT A Natural Fatty Acid Used In Manufacturing Can Modulate

Glucose Control Decanoic acid, a saturated fatty acid, acts as a modulator

of (PPAR receptors) that play a key role in glucose & lipid metabolism.

Decanoic acids, also known as " Capric acid, " occurs naturally in coconut oil

& palm kernel oil, as well as in the milk & animal fats of some mammals. It

is used in organic synthesis & is common in the manufacture of perfumes,

dyes, lubricants, greases, rubber, plastics, food additives &

pharmaceuticals " We studied a nuclear receptor(PPAR?) that plays a key role

in glucose & lipid metabolism & is the molecular target of the

thiazolidinedione (TZD) [avandia, actos] class of antidiabetic drugs, which

have been shown to have negative side effects such as weight gain, fluid

retention, & increased risk for CV diseases, " author said. The team used a

technique known as X-ray crystallography to determine exactly how & why the

drug compounds work in molecular detail, which can then help drug developers

engineer more potent drugs that have fewer unwanted side effects.

18.%% M11/28 Thrombolysis [=clot busting] Benefits Patients With Prior

Stroke, DM. Ischemic stroke Pts with prior stroke & DM might still be

candidates for thrombolytic therapy. [29,500 pts review of data] " Experience

among a large number of patients with DM, with prior stroke, or with both

conditions suggests that all 3 subsets of pts derive the same benefit from

this Rx as other patients with acute stroke, " Dr. Lees U.Glascow said. The

Simplified Management of Acute Stroke Using Revised Treatment protocol

considers all ischemic stroke pts for thrombolysis, regardless of common tPA

exclusion criteria, " contending that such criteria are consensus- based, not

evidence- based. "

19.%%M11/1 HDL: The Next Frontier in Reducing Atherosclerosis and

Cardiovascular Risk in T2? Slides - E. Bruckert MD, A Stalenhoef, MD, A von

Eckardstein, MD Dyslipidemia[abnormal fat levels] in the pt with T2

contributes not only to the risk for atherosclerosis [hardening of the

arteries] but also to the development & progression of micro & macro

vascular disease. [vision, nerve problems etc]Lipid- lowering therapy has

focused primarily on lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

levels. However, even aggressive LDL-C lowering may not fully address CV

disease risk in diabetics. Guidelines often give special consideration

regarding high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) to higher-risk

populations, including pts with DM On this slide, you can see one of the

meta-analyses [half a million pts]showing the increased risk in men & women

when they have DM. The longer the duration, the higher the risk for CVD If

we look to the future, despite statin therapy we know that these patients

still have a high risk for CVD..we know that HDL-C is a major player.

Is there any specific problem with HDL in diabetic patients? A von Eck MD,

PhD: Yes. DM pts are characterized by quantitative changes of HDL & HDL-C

levels tend to be lower in [these pts]low HDL-C is a risk factor of getting

DM & is also associated, with an increased risk for MI. In the last 2-3 yrs

we have learned that HDL has beneficial effects on beta-cell function- it

stimulates insulin secretion, improves insulin resistance & survival of beta

cells. The problem, is that what we measure in the clinical lab as HDL-C is

not the casual molecule. It's not the cholesterol in HDL that protects from

athero-sclerosis. It's only an indirect measure of particle number & size.

The complicated situation with HDL is that it's a class of lipoproteins that

consist of thousands of different subclasses. There are more than 80

proteins associated with HDL which are modified by glycation [sugar

metabolism] & also by oxidation. These modifications change the quality of

HDL. They lose their function, for example, to induce [out flow of

cholesterol. If we improve HDL metabolism it's not only to increase HDL-C

levels but also to improve its function Dr. Bt: So we know now that the

drugs such as nicotinic acid or fibrates which might increase slightly HDL-C

tend to decrease CVD. Do these drugs act on HDL function? There is really a

need for newer medications, which are in development right now. One of those

is the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors, which is a way

of increasing HDL, hopefully also maintaining the functionality of HDL, so

that reverse cholesterol transport is improved. Also, other functions of HDL

should remain intact. One of the means to increase HDL is the inhibition of

CETP. The first drug was torcetrapib. l. Unfortunately, this trial had to be

stopped after 1.5 years - Despite the fact that HDL was increased by more

than 70% & LDL was decreased by more than 20%, we saw this excess morbidity/

mortality. But afterwards it appeared that this was caused by off-target

toxicity of this drug. It appears that torcetrapib increases aldosterone,

raising BP.. About 1% of the Japanese population have mutations in the CETP

gene which increases the HDL-C level in this pop. In the beginning, this was

thought to be the reason why the life expectancy in Japan was higher than in

other countries ..The drugs that will inhibit this protein in terms of

cholesterol level or distribution between LDL & HDL make this an important

target because it will increase HDL-C & decrease LDL-C. The 2 other

inhibitors, dalcetrapib & anacetrapib, were promising enough in phase 2

studies to develop big clinical outcome studies to show whether this kind of

treatment increasing HDL is beneficial & will reduce CV morbidity

& mortality. This first study (REVEAL) will study 30,000 pts with CVD or

diabetes & symptomatic coronary artery disease in order to see whether Rx

with anacetrapib will reduce major CV events. Another promising drug,

dalcetrapib, is also in clinical outcome studies. In the dal-PLAQUE study

dalcetrapib was compared with placebo. These 2 drugs, do not have the

toxicity that has been shown with torcetrapib on BP [conclusions] Dr. Bt: We

can see that, in fact, in diabetic patients HDL-C is very complex. .one of

the most important messages is that HDL predicts events in DM pts there is a

lot of work to do on the qualitative aspect of HDL-C. We know now that we

have promising compounds. We need to prove that these compounds decrease

CVD; the answer to this will be revealed by these randomized trials in a few

years.

20.%% M 11/23 What Did We Learn About Diabetes in 2011?

G. A. Nichols, PhD Game-Changing Research in Diabetes Although a " cure " for

DM remains elusive, researchers made significant strides in expanding our

knowledge of DM this past year. This review covers studies that have changed

or will change the management of DM as well as efforts to prevent it &

eventually, find a cure.

%%Preventing Diabetes to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease [CVD] The

Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [hardening of arteries] - a

prospective cohort study to investigate prevalence. & progression of

subclinical CVD in persons without known CVD at baseline. [7.5 yrs] T2 was

associated with increased CV incidence after adjustment

for demographics & traditional risk factors compared with subjects not

having T2 The current study by Yeboah & team suggests .. the threshold of

fasting glucose that is independently associated with CVD risk may be above

the threshold for a DM diagnosis. In that context, prevention of DM takes on

new meaning– that preventing diabetes would result in significant cost

savings, not to mention the improvement in quality of life that results from

reduction in morbidity & mortality. Both patients & clinicians may be

inclined to deal with diabetes when it arrives, rather than preventing its

arrival, perhaps because the benefits of prevention have not been

elucidated. Here, we have evidence that prevention does indeed matter. If

avoiding DM is not sufficient motivation for pts to take the necessary

preventive steps, perhaps avoiding CVD may provide further impetus. If so,

clinicians may be able to use these results to encourage patients to engage

in helpful lifestyle modifications.

%%Reversal of Diabetes With Negative Energy Balance: [11pts] Lim & team

tested the hypothesis that acute negative energy balance alone could reverse

T2 by normalizing beta cell function & insulin sensitivity. The subjects

were studied before & after 1, 4, & 8 weeks on a 600 kcal/day diet. After 8

wks pts lost a mean of 33.7lb, fasting plasma glucose normalized. &

first-phase insulin response increased Why Is This a Game Changer? Gastric

bypass surgery has been shown to quickly resolve diabetes in many pts early

after surgery, well before the metabolic improvements can be attributed to

substantial weight loss. Thus, there is growing interest in surgically

treating DM in patients who are morbidly obese, but this is obviously a

highly invasive & costly approach. If diabetes resolution is the goal, & the

resolution is a by-product of the caloric restriction that follows gastric

bypass, then these results pose the question: why not intervene with the

caloric restriction but avoid the surgery? During a 12-week postintervention

follow-up, glucose levels began to rise, so the results may not be

sustainable once the severe caloric restriction ends. Bypass surgery allows

many pts to stop taking DM meds for several years, although those benefits

appear to be temporary for the majority of pts. At the very least, results

of this study suggest a potential way to identify patients who will likely

respond well metabolically to gastric bypass surgery. Even among T2 who are

not candidates for surgery, this study can be used as a motivational tool.

The clinician can say with confidence, " You can get rid of diabetes in just

1 week if you lose 10 pounds in that week. " Few pts will be able to achieve

such a result on their own, but it may be what they need to hear to get them

moving in the right direction (or moving at all!).

%%Reversing Diabetes With Intensive Therapy - In this Chinese study, [48pt

T2;1yr] the authors determined that intensive therapy partially restored

beta-cell function & greatly restored insulin sensitivity. Why Is This a

Game Changer? Current guidelines recommend initiating metformin therapy at

the time of DM diagnosis, with the general goal of achieving glycated

hemoglobin (A1c) < 7%. The results from this study suggest that a more

aggressive approach of intensive therapy that quickly reduces fasting

glucose to subdiagnostic levels may allow about half of patients to " reset "

their metabolism & avoid further DM Rx for at least a year. This is a novel

provocative approach During that year of " remission, " motivated pts would

have time to implement lifestyle changes that might prevent DM " relapse " for

even longer -perhaps indefinitely. Although this approach would not work for

everyone, it presents an alternative to ongoing medication intensification,

which most pts with diabetes can otherwise expect.

%%Benefits of the DASH Diet [31 pts; randomly assigned to receive either the

Dietary Approaches to Hypertension (DASH) diet or control diet for 8 weeks,

then to receive the other diet for 8 more wks. Caloric intake was similar

between the 2 diets, but the DASH diet had lower sodium intake; higher

amounts of calcium, potassium, fiber; & more servings of fruit, vegetables,

dairy, & whole grains. Patients lost a mean of 11 lb of body weight compared

with 4.4 on the control diet. The DASH diet also produced more favorable

changes in A1c, systolic & diastolic BP, fasting glucose, (LDL) & (HDL)

cholesterol. Why is This a Game Changer? Remarkably, the DASH diet reduced

A1c from 7.7% to 6.1% in just 8 wks, a reduction similar to that expected

from most oral antihyperglycemic agents. These were not newly diagnosed pts

& it appears that the subjects were relatively well controlled at baseline.

Nonetheless, the A1c reductions came with an impressive 11 lb wt loss..Most

patients with DM are already receiving at least 1 antihyperglycemic med, at

least 1 BP med, & a statin, so it isn't uncommon for pts to have 5 or more

prescriptions. Yet most patients remain uncontrolled re 1 or more risk

factors. Here, we have results, albeit from a small study, that indicate

additional medications may not be necessary if ptss are willing to try the

DASH diet. Adherence to it will be a problem for some, but those same pts

likely have trouble adhering to medications as well.

%%Improving CV Risk With Modest Weight Loss: Wing & colleagues

found that among overweight/obese individuals, the magnitude of weight loss

at 1 year was strongly associated with improvements in glycemia, BP,

triglycerides, & HDL . Compared with weight-stable pts , those who lost 5-10%

of body wt had a 3.5 times greater probability [P] of achieving a 0.5%

reduction in A1c, a 56% greater P of a 5-mm Hg reduction in systolic BP, a

69% greater P of a 5-mg/dL increase in HDL, & 2.2 times greater P of a

40-mg/dL reduction in triglycerides. Why Is This a Game Changer? Modest

weight loss is almost universally recommended for overweight or obese T2 pts

& a target loss of 5-10% of body weight is suggested by [includes ] CDC.

This study provides previously lacking empirical support for this weight

loss recommendation. Such modest weight loss appears to be sufficient to

produce significant, improvements in CVD risk factors.

%%Less Aggressive Glycemic Control for Older Patients [71,092 pts T2; aged =

60] Huang & team found that a target of A1c < 8.0% should be maintained in

older patients to prevent complications & mortality, with the caution that

A1c < 6% was associated with an increased mortality risk. Why Is This a Game

Changer? Since 2006, the ADA has has recommended a target A1c of < 7% for

all pts who can safely achieve it. Results from this study: relative to pts

with A1c < 6%, those between 6%-6.9% & 7%-7.9% were 16% & 17% less likely to

die, respectively. Only when A1c was 10% or greater was mortality

increased relative to A1c < 6%. However, risk for acute metabolic,

microvascular, & CV events was greater at all levels of A1c relative to A1c

< 6%. Despite the observational nature of this study, the results provide

guidance for caring for older pts with DM. It appears that an appropriate

middle ground for elderly patients may be A1c < 8% rather than 7%, & that

A1c < 6% should be avoided. ..

%%Pioglitazone & Bladder Cancer Risk: & team [30,173 pts] , short-term

use of pioglitazone [actos] was not associated with an increased risk for

bladder cancer but use for more than 2 years was (weakly) associated with

increased risk. Why Is This a Game Changer? Last year, the FDA restricted

access to rosiglitazone [avandia], leaving pioglitazone as the only

thiazolidinedione (TZD) generally available. Although TZDs are not

considered first-line Rx, many pts with DM have been exposed to them. FDA

has approved new drug labels for pioglitazone-containing drugs that

recommend not using it in pts with active bladder cancer & using [it] with

caution in patients with a prior history of bladder cancer.

21.%% M 11/21 Bardoxolone -- Will Diabetic Nephropathy Finally Wave an Olive

Branch? Hello. I am Dr. Bakris, Professor at the U. Chicago Pritzker

School of Med...Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr.

Toto, Professor of Med at U.Texas South western Medical Center about a very

hot topic: bardoxolone and the BEACON trial...Bardoxolone methyl is a

synthetic molecule that is derived from a substance found in olive trees,

among other places, as a compound called oleanolic acid. Bardoxolone has

been shown to have anti-inflammatory & antioxidant effects in the cell. So

at the cellular level, bardoxolone interacts with a substance called Nrf2.

Nrf2 is a " master switch " that regulates the anti-inflammatory pathway in the

cell.. BEACON is a multinational, double-blind, randomized,

placebo-controlled trial of pts with T2 & nephropathy. The purpose of the

study is to determine whether bardoxolone, can improve renal &

cardiovascular outcomes. We know that when bardoxolone is given to people

with T2 & chronic kidney disease [in a 56 day trial] there is a reduction in

serum creatinine & therefore, an increase in estimated GFR, [Glomerular

filtration rate is a test used to check how well the kidneys are working.

Specifically, it estimates how much blood passes through the tiny filters in

the kidneys, called glomeruli, each minute.]This trial is going to study

more than 2400 patients for longer than 2 years, so we will have a good

feeling for what is going on clinically with respect to the outcome data...[

to listen to whole video see

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753694?src=mp

<http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753694?src=mp & spon=2> & spon=2]

22.%% MP 11/30 Diabetes Care.2011; 34(10): Yoga for oxidative stress - T2

[123pts] Conclusions: Yoga can be used as an effective therapy in reducing

oxidative stress in T2. Yoga in addition to standard care helps reduce BMI &

improve glycemic control in T2 patients.

23.%%MP Diabet Med. 2011;28(9):High prevalence of capillary abnormalities in

pts with T1 & T2. Using nailfold videocapillaroscopy [video capillary study

] to evaluate the possible correlation with the typical diabetes mellitus

microangiopathic [micro blood vessel abnormalities] lesions detectable in

retinal blood vessels. [49pts T1 & T2; 39 controls]y. Conclusions: A high

prevalence of nailfold capillary changes is detected in pts with DM. These

abnormalities tightly correlate with retinal damage & may be expression of a

generalized microvessel involvement in both Type 1 & Type 2.

%% Abbreviations-acronyms fup-follow up; pt - patient; DM - diabetes

Mellitus; T1- type 1 DM;T2 - type 2; DME - diabetic macular edema;DR -

diabetic retinopathy; BS - blood sugar or glucose;HbA1C, glycated hemoglobin

A1C; BP - blood pressure; NV- neovascularization; CVD - cardiovascular

disease; CHD -coronary heart disease; MI -myocardial infarction/ heart

attack ; OCT - optical coherence tomography; BCVA - best corrected visual

acuity ;ADA - Am Diab Ass ; M- Medscape Web MD; MP- Medline Abstract,

Medline Plus; MNT- Med News Today;NEI - Nat Eye Institute;SA-Scientific

American Definitions via online Medical dictionaries. Disclaimer, I am a BSN

RN but not a diabetic or diabetic educator. Reports are excerpted unless

otherwise noted. [translations, explanations by thl] This project is done as

a courtesy to the blind/visually impaired & diabetic communities. Dawn

Wilcox RN BSN Coordinator The Health Library at Vista Center; an affiliate

of the Stanford Hospital Health Library. contact above e-mail or

thl@...

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