Diabetes News for Oct. 21, 2001 20 to 22% off on books and scales Can Alcohol Prevent Diabetes? Multiple Insulin Injections May Cause Obesity Diabetes Drug In Dispute Over Generics Change In Marketing Of Weight-Loss Drugs Increase In US Life Expectancy Physical Education Is A Low Priority In Schools Interest Group Opposes Coke's Campaign

Subscribe to Diabetes This Week  for free email delivery!

Can Alcohol Prevent Diabetes?

Althought the health risks of drinking alcohol are frequently studied and publicized, new research indicates that there may be health benefits to moderate drinking.

Recently, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts conducted a study involving 47,000 middle-aged and elderly male health professionals. The participants answered a survey that questioned them about their drinking habits, and the researchers used this information to determine the link between drinking and Type 2 diabetes.

The results of the study, which have been published in the journal Diabetes (volume 50, pages 2390-2395, October 2001), indicate that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol can reduce the risk of diabetes. Men who drank 15-29 grams of alcohol per day for at least twelve years had a 36% lower risk of developing diabetes, as compared to men who drank less or not at all. Those who drank 50 grams of alcohol per day had a 39% lower risk of developing the disease.

Researchers emphasize that there are other health risks associated with drinking alcohol, and that people should weigh the benefits and risks carefully before beginning to drink.

Multiple Insulin Injections May Lead To Obesity

For people who must take multiple insulin injections to control their diabetes, there may be an increased risk of obesity.

A study was recently conducted by researchers from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The study included over 1,200 patients between the ages of 18 and 39, who took insulin in conventional or intensive amounts.

The results indicate that those who took multiple daily injections were more likely to gain weight after six years, and gained an average of 4.75 kg more than those who took one or two insulin shots per day. The weight gain occurred more rapidly in the first year of multiple injections. The weight-gain rate decreased in the following years, but those participants did not lose any weight, even after nine years.

Other results indicated that women taking mulitiple injections tended to gain weight faster than men did, and that they gained this weight in their abdomens. However, some participants gained in muscle mass as well as in fat. For those who did not gain a lot of weight, multiple injection therapy was linked to muscle mass gain, but not fat. The people who gained the most weight had higher levels of muscle and fat.

The results of the study have been published in the journal Diabetes Care (volume 24, pages 1711-1721, October 2001). There are many benefits to intensive insulin therapy, including a decreased risk for nerve damage and blindness, so people wishing to change their insulin therapy should first consult with their doctor.

Diabetes Drug In Dispute Over Generics

One of the most successful diabetes drugs currently on the market is Glucophage, which is marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Although the drug's exclusivity patent is set to expire, which would open the market to generic versions, new legislation may make it possible for the pharmaceutical company to extend that exclusivity for three and a half more years.

This week, a House committee will vote on legislation that would extend patent protection by six months for drug companies that choose to study their medicines' effects on children. Bristol Meyers was already awarded this six months when the company completed a study on the effectiveness of Glucophage in children between the ages of ten and sixteen.

Another law states that pharmaceutical companies can gain another three-and-a-half years of exclusivity if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a new indication for a product. Because Glucophage can now be used to treat diabetes in children, the drug's label has that indication. Bristol-Meyers claims that the FDA is therefore unable to approve generic versions of the drug because they would not be able to claim pediatric uses. Usually, labels for generic drugs must be identical to those of the brand-name product in order to be approved by the FDA. The FDA is currently evaluating the issues regarding Glucophage and the pediatric study.

Twelve companies have now applied for FDA approval of generic versions of Glucophage. These companies include Barr, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mylan Laboratories Inc., Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Andrx Corp. If generics were to be approved, the price of the drug would probably decrease dramatically. Generic drug companies are encouraging lawmakers to consider rising costs of medication, and to prevent the use of pediatric studies to extend exclusivity.

Change In Marketing Of Weight-Loss Drugs

The top two weight-loss drugs, Xenical and Meridia, are now being marketed in a new way. Their manufacturers, Hoffman-Roche and Abbott Laboratories Inc., respectively, are now giving up high-priced consumer advertising campaigns in favor of marketing directly to healthcare professionals.

In the last couple of years, Meridia lost its stock-market value due to expensive television advertising, and the introduction of its competitor drug, Xenical. Meridia works by sending messages to the brain to make the person taking it feel full. Now, Abbott Laboratories is marketing the drug to physicians who treat people for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. The company plans to extend this campaign to the 200,000 primary care physicians in the US.

Xenical is now the top-selling weight-loss drug in the US, and works by blocking the body's ability to absorb dietary fat. In its high-profile television ads, Hoffman-Roche Inc. has been cited several times by the Food and Drug Administration for not properly disclosing side effects. The company is now planning to seek FDA approval for the use of Xenical to treat diabetes, and to be expanded for use in treating adolescents. Marketing will then focus on doctors rather than the general public.

Both companies are seeking recognition of their drugs as effective ways of treating diabetes and heart disease, rather than just cosmetic drugs. In this way, they hope to convince insurance companies to cover the costs of the drugs, which range from $50-100 dollars per month.

Increase In US Life Expectancy

Life expectancy in the US has reached a level higher than it's ever been, and infant mortality rates are at their lowest ever.

The National Center for Health Statistics has recently studied nationwide death certificates, and found that life expectancy for somoen born in the year 2000 is 76.9 years, which is an increase from 76.7 in 1999. Infant mortality decreased from 7.1 to 6.9 deaths for every 1,000 live births. Death rates also decreased for the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Some negative results of the study show that Americans are exercising less and getting more obese. This increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes. In addition, death rates for Alzheimer's disease and pneumonitis, which scars the lungs, are on the rise.

Physical Education Is A Low Priority In Schools

Although the rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes are on the rise in the US, there seems to be little emphasis on physical education in the nation's schools.

According to a study conducted by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), Illinois is the only state that requires PE on a daily basis for all students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The majority of high school students are only required to take PE for one year, and many states allow students to substitute other classes for PE for medical or religious reasons or in order to participate in other school activities.

Because obesity has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated fats in the blood, gallbladder disease, some cancers, orthopedic complications, and other health problems, the report encourages states to create new standards for physical education. The report authors recommend that children in elemenary school receive at least 2.5 hours of physical activity per week, and children in middle and high school receive 4 hours of physical education per week.

      

Public Interest Group Opposes Coke's Campaign

The nonprofit group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which focuses on health and environmental issues, has recently accused Coca-Cola Co. of using marketing rights for the "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" movie to advertise junk food to children.

Coca-Cola has a $150 million partnership with AOL Time Warner to make it the only global marketing partner for the movie. Television ads are to begin next week, but CSPI has begun a campaign to stop them, citing evidence that sugar-laden sodas increase the risk of developing obesity and diabetes.

Coco-Cola executives say that their ad campaign does not commercialize Harry Potter, and none of the characters will be found on Coke products. Neither will Coke products be found in the movie. In addition, the company will designate $18 million of the campaign to literacy efforts.

Information provided by The Diabetes Mall @ http://www.diabetesnet.com 
Books, gram scales, and more: (800) 988-4772 or (619) 497-0900
Copyright © 2001 by Diabetes Services, Inc
Email Webmaster with suggestions.