Losing weight soon after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes produces lasting benefits, a new study says. The weight loss leads to improved blood pressure and blood glucose control that should decrease the occurrence of the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes. Researchers found that people who lost an average of 9.8 percent of their body weight within a year and a half after diagnosis were better able to achieve their blood glucose and blood pressure goals. What’s more, the study also found that future weight gain doesn’t negate the benefits of the early weight loss.
Source: Diabetes Care, October 2008

The Bedroom and the Heart

Men who have type 2 diabetes and erectile dysfunction (ED) may have more than romance to worry about. Two new studies of men with type 2 found that ED was an early warning sign for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack and death. But cholesterol-lowering medications were found to cut this risk by about one-third. The damage that high blood glucose inflicts on the blood vessels is a common denominator in both erectile dysfunction and heart disease. (Cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood pressure abnormalities are other major factors.) And take note: Men with erectile dysfunction usually don’t show symptoms of heart disease until more than three years after they have signs of ED.
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 27, 2008

Breaking News: Tighter and Better

Tight blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes lowers the risk of heart attack and death, according to a follow-up study of the landmark United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS). The UKPDS, which ran from 1977 to 1997, determined that intensive blood glucose control caused a major decrease in microvascular complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. But no significant difference was found in macrovascular complications, like heart attack or stroke, at the time of the study’s completion.

In the new study, researchers found the emergence of a clear difference in macrovascular complications between the intensive and conventional therapy groups. Risk of heart attack was reduced up to 33 percent, while risk of death was reduced up to 27 percent. In light of other recent large clinical trials that failed to find a link between heart health and intensive blood glucose control, these findings suggest that the macrovascular benefits of intensive control may only emerge in the long term.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine, Sept. 10, 2008

Partner Perks

Add a lower risk for diabetes to the joys of matrimony, at least for some guys. Researchers found that single men—ages 42 to 76—who scored high on a hostility scale had greater fasting blood glucose levels (a risk factor for diabetes) than equally angry men who happened to be married. The researchers speculate that angry people may feel threatened and therefore stressed by their environments, and the negative impact of stress on health is well-documented. Perhaps, postulate the authors, wives curtail this stress and are more likely to keep their husbands diabetes-free by providing emotional support and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Source: Diabetes Care, July 2008

The Culture Quotient

Having a health educator who understands your culture and speaks your language could help you better manage your diabetes, according to an analysis conducted by the nonprofit health care organization The Cochrane Collaboration. Researchers examined previous studies from around the world involving a total of about 1,600 people with type 2 diabetes. All belonged to ethnic minority groups and had made attempts to overcome cultural barriers in their diabetes education. Those who received education tailored to their culture improved their A1C levels after 3 and 6 months of starting the program. Cholesterol levels were improved by the one-year mark, and knowledge about diabetes was improved at 3, 6, and 12 months of intervention. Since the studies only looked at the short-term effects of culturally driven diabetes education, further research is needed to determine if there are long-term benefits.
Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, July 2008

News Briefs: Goodbye, Chicken Scratch?

Thanks to a new Medicare measure, more health care providers may soon be sending their prescriptions to the pharmacy electronically. Beginning in January, doctors who e-prescribe will get a bonus payment from Medicare—and by 2011, those who stick with old-fashioned pen and paper will be fined. It’s good news, since typed writing is easier for pharmacists to read, resulting in fewer prescription errors. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, e-prescribing also allows doctors to review a list of current prescription medications you’re taking, check for drug interactions, and help you find the most cost-effective drug, all before your pharmacist receives the scrip. The measure only provides bonuses for doctors who e-prescribe drugs to those covered by Medicare, so it’s still to be seen whether physicians will freely adopt the e-trend with all patients.

Try This...Make the call.

Thanks to a new smoking cessation helpline, getting support in your struggle to quit smoking is now just a phone call away. The California Smoker’s Helpline (1-800-662-8887) links people nationwide to counselors who will give one-on-one support to those trying to give up cigarettes. The counselors can also connect callers to free or low-cost support groups in their area. Since smoking can up your chances of having diabetes complications like heart attacks and kidney disease, it’s important to ditch the habit.