Diabetes News
Week of April 16, 2000 |
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EU Collaborates On Artificial Pancreas
An European research consortium hopes to improve
blood sugar control by taking human
error out of the process, by developing
an insulin pump linked to an internal glucose sensor.
Researchers from several European countries, collectively
called the Disetronic Group, are currently working on a project
known as ADICOL (Advanced Insulin Infusion with a Control Loop).
Their goal is to create software to help an internally-implanted
sensor measure and display blood sugar concentration. If the
measurement does not match critical levels, the sensor would
emit an alarm, and trigger the insulin pump to dispense the
precise dose required.
The ADICOL project appears be well-supported, both monetarily
and intellectually. The EU is contributing a significant amount
of money for the project's budget. Researchers will be from
Disetronic, the pump therapy specialists and the
universities of Graz and Perugia, the German centers Fraunhofer
Institute for Biomedical Engineering and SensLab GmbH, the City
University of London, and the Danish firm Judex.
This project, with a current budget of EUR 5.3 million,
represents the first time the EU has contributed this much money
for medical technology.
One of the more debilitating complications in diabetes is
gastroparesis, where damage to the nerves of the digestive tract
hampers the movement of food through the digestive
tract. Irregular digestion leads to poor
blood sugar control since it becomes difficult to match insulin
doses to the entry of glucose into the blood stream. Severe nausea and vomiting
may also be present, causing poor nutrition and starvation. One possible
treatment for this is a new, FDA-approved device called Enterra.
Medtronic, Inc. was recently granted a humanitarian device
exemption (HDE) from the FDA for its Enterra Therapy, which uses
electrical stimulation of the stomach to combat gastroparesis.
So far, about 90 people have received Enterra Therapy,
largely through participation in clinical studies underway since 1995.
The promising results of these studies helped Medtronic receive the
HDE, which is granted only for devices that help people
with rare medical conditions unresponsive to standard treatment.
Can an internet service manage diabetes for people who don't have the time to visit their doctor on a
regular basis?
A new company known as e-MEDx
has an interesting answer to this question with the launch of three
web-based programs for various health care problems. One, called e-SelfCare for Diabetes,
provides a link between
people with diabetes, their primary care physicians, and
diabetes care specialists.
The program works by having the person with diabetes fill out
a comprehensive risk-assessment questionnaire each month, plus
an ongoing health diary once a day or week, depending on the
individual. From this information, a graph is produced to give feedback to the individual.
The information can be electronically forwarded to the person's doctor, or
printed out before an office visit.
An online clinician is reviews each person's information regularly. If the
data suggests poor health or high risk factors, the clinician
contacts the person, and, if necessary, the person's doctor.
The site also has e-PHA and e-Consult services, and all three
services can be accessed on their website. The company hopes to
save time and money for providers and patients by making
preventative care easy and accessible.
Some people claim that taking large amount of antioxidants
(such as vitamins C and E) may prevent diseases like diabetes,
cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease. According to the
Institute of Medicine, a U.S. government advisory panel, that
claim is a little too optimistic.
The panel has said that most people in America already
consume recommended levels of antioxidants through their normal
diet, and that supplements are often unnecessary. Also, an
intake of antioxidants that is too high may result in health
problems. For example, an excessive intake of vitamin C can cause diarrhea,
too much vitamin E might increase the risk of stroke due to it's
blood-thinning properties, and too much
selenium can result in hair loss and brittle nails.
While raising cautions, researchers also recommended raising
the RDA or recommended daily allowance for antioxidants. New recommendations
are that women
consume 75 milligrams of vitamin C per day, and men consume 90
milligrams. Smokers need about 35 milligrams more, since they
are likely to have cell damage. This is actually a higher RDA
than before, though only by about 15 milligrams.
The panel recommends that all people
consume 15 milligrams of vitamin E per day which can be
obtained from nuts, seeds, and leafy green vegetables. In
addition, the intake of selenium should be limited to 55
micrograms for both men and women.
Health Nuts, Seeds, Grains And Veggies
In contrast with the government's recommendation, the Institute of Medicine
of the National Academies has recently issued a report stating
that antioxidant-rich foods with vitamins C and E are beneficial in
preventing disease. The report says that consuming antioxidant
phenolics and phytochemicals in foods like grains, leafy green
vegetables, nuts, and legumes may help delay the onset of
diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and colon
dysfunction.
In a recent publication of the Journal of the American
College of Nutrition (Vol. 19, No. 1, pgs. 61-67), Dr. Gene Spiller outlines his research on
the benefits of the consumption of tocopherols. These
antioxidants are found in tree nuts. His study shows that the
tocopherols stop free radicals in the body, thereby preventing
oxidative damage to cells. He also concludes that diets that are
rich in tocopherols benefit lipoproteins, and improve colon
function.
Ginseng May Lower Blood Sugars
Drinking a cup of tea may provide more benefits than you
think, particularly if that tea is made from ginseng.
In a recent study conducted by the University of Toronto and
St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, researchers found that taking
ginseng root before a meal may actually lower blood sugar levels for
people with Type 2 diabetes.
In the study, published in the April 9th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine,
researchers compared the blood sugar levels of people with and
without Type 2 diabetes, after they'd consumed three grams of
American ginseng. Results showed that those with Type 2 who'd
taken the ginseng either 40 minutes prior to a meal, or during
the meal, had a twenty percent drop in blood sugar levels. Those
without diabetes also had a drop in blood sugar, but only when
the ginseng was ingested before the meal.
Ginseng has been touted for its many benefits for centuries.
This benefit is definitely one that calls for more research.
Weight-Loss Product May Work For
Type 2
Lose weight and diabetes at the same time? Sure, but
how can you do it?
PacificHealth Laboratories, Inc. has recently
developed a product known as Satietrol
which is designed to activate the body's natural appetite
suppressant, cholecystokinin (CCK). After you eat, the body
releases the protein CCK, which makes you feel full. Satietrol
works by activating this protein, so that the person who takes
it feels full faster. By taking the drug 10-15 minutes before
eating, Satietrol is designed to help people eat less at mealtime.
In studies, people taking Satietrol, by consuming
fewer calories, lost an average of nine pounds in six weeks.
PacificHealth is now beginning research to see if Satietrol can
be used as a food additive, and possibly as a treatment for Type
2 diabetes.
To learn more, please visit the company's website or call 1-877-SATIETY (728-4389).
Information provided by The Diabetes Mall @ http://www.diabetesnet.com
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Copyright © 2000 by Diabetes Services, Inc
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Information provided by The Diabetes Mall @ http://www.diabetesnet.com
Books, gram scales, and more: (800) 988-4772 or (619) 497-0900
Copyright © 2000 by Diabetes Services, Inc
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