By
Terry Orr
(Type 2
Diabetic)
A War with Diabetes!!!
Why the War?
An estimated 23.6 million Americans have diabetes. Unfortunately, 5.7 million Americans don't
know they have the deadly disease.
Pharmacists are one of the most available health care professionals and
have the greatest potential to impact the threat of diabetes.
Complications of Diabetes:
Heart Disease &
Stroke: Diabetics
are 2 to 4 times more likely to die from heart disease and stroke than non-diabetics. Sixty-five percent of diabetics will die of
heart disease or stroke.
Blindness: Diabetes is the
leading cause of blindness in adults age 20-74.
Kidney Disease: Diabetes is the
leading cause of kidney failure.
Nervous System
Disease: 60
to 70% of diabetics have a mild to severe form of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired
sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the
stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve problems.
Amputations: Diabetes is the
leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation.
Complications of
Pregnancy: Poorly
controlled diabetes can increase the risk of miscarriage or cause major birth
defects.
Sexual Dysfunction:
Diabetes
significantly increases the risk for sexual dysfunction in both men and women.
Here
are some of the new drugs in the War on Diabetes:
Invokana will be sold by
Johnson & Johnson and treats patients with type 2 diabetes in a new way, by
causing blood sugar to be excreted in the urine. Many existing drugs work by
affecting the supply or use of insulin. FDA approved this drug in late March of
this year.
Dapagliflozin by AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb, The drugs
offer a different way than insulin therapy to lower blood sugar, preventing
excess sugar in the kidneys from reentering circulation and allowing glucose to
exit the body via urine.
LY2605541 - by Eli
Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim, a potential long-acting insulin option.
MK-3102
by Merck & Co., a once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitor.
Taking Control
Mayo Clinic Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: 5 tips for taking
control (Changing your lifestyle could be a big step toward diabetes prevention
— and it's never too late to start) consider these tips:
Tip 1: Get more physical activity
There are many benefits to regular physical activity. Exercise
can help you:
Lose weight
Lower your blood sugar
Boosts your sensitivity to insulin — which helps keep your
blood sugar within a normal range
Research shows that both aerobic exercise and resistance
training can help control diabetes, but the greatest benefit comes from a
fitness program that includes both.
Tip 3: Go for whole grains
Although it's not clear why, whole grains may reduce your
risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels. Try to make at least
half your grains whole grains. Many foods made from whole grains come ready to
eat, including various breads, pasta products and many cereals. Look for the
word "whole" on the package and among the first few items in the
ingredient list.
Tip 4: Lose extra weight
If you're overweight, diabetes prevention may hinge on
weight loss. Every pound you lose can improve your health. And you may be
surprised by how much. In one study, overweight adults reduced their diabetes
risk by 16 percent for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of weight lost. Also, those
who lost a modest amount of weight — at least 5 to 10 percent of initial body
weight — and exercised regularly reduced the risk of developing diabetes by
almost 60 percent over three years.
Tip 5: Skip fad diets and
make healthier choices
Low-carb diets, the glycemic index diet or other fad diets
may help you lose weight at first, but their effectiveness at preventing
diabetes isn't known nor are their long-term effects. And by excluding or
strictly limiting a particular food group, you may be giving up essential
nutrients. Instead, think variety and portion control as part of an
overall healthy-eating plan.
Be sure to see your primary healthcare provider and discus
the plan best for you.
References and Links:
(All images from Google)
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