   
Leg Length Linked To Diabetes RiskWell-known risk factors for diabetes include a family history The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol, UK. Over 2,500 men in Caerphilly, South Wales, between the ages of 45 and 59 participated in the study. Researchers took blood samples and measured the leg lengths of the men, and then followed their health for fifteen years. Results of the study, which has been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (volume 55, pages 867-872, December 2001), indicate that the men who had shorter legs had a greater likelihood of developing insulin resistance than men with longer legs. In addition, these men had higher levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen, which is a blood-clotting factor. All of these can lead to heart disease. Total height and trunk length had no effect. The reasearchers are not clear why leg length might play a part in a person's risk for diabetes, but do say that the length of a person's legs may be determined by childhood nutrition, whch can have long-lasting health effects.
Sole-Searching Decision By MedicareIn response to the increasing need for amputations as a result of peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that is a complication of diabetes), Medicare beneficiaries will now be entitled to two foot exams per year to check on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The decision was announced in October by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and is the first Medicare policy to cover foot exams. According to a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 44% and 85% of all preventable leg, foot, and toe amputations are the result of diabetes complications. Also, the rate of amputations among Medicare-eligible people aged 65 and older was three to five times greater than that among people under the age of 45. The new policy will probably be in effect in about six months. Medicare is also promoting a simple way to test people's sensitivity in their feet and how much feeling has been lost with a piece of plastic line, called a Semmes-Weinstein 5.07 monofilament line. Doctors must be trained in this device in order to be reimbursed by Medical, but it is a very simple test to perform. Health and Human Services representatives hope that this new policy will help prevent diabetes complications that necessitate such drastic treatment as amputations. This simple test originated in the 1970's as a way to measure nerve damage, and in the late 1980's was used to measure nerve loss in people with leprosy and diabetes. It has been a well recognized way to measure the risk for amputation in people with diabetes for over 10 years.
Activating Insulin On Demand?For people with Type 1 diabetes, taking insulin through injection or with a pump is a daily necessity. New research seeks to eliminate that need by devising a way to activate insulin in the body when it is needed. The research is being conducted by scientists at the University of California at San Diego. They are attempting to develop an insulin delivery technique in which the insulin would be stored in the body and remain dormant until activated by a catalytic aldolase antibody protein called 38C2. The researchers have tested their theory in the lab on rats who were given an altered form of insulin. Although the insulin was much less effective at processing sugar and 90% less likely to bind to insulin receptors, the insulin's effectiveness was restored to normal when the antibody was added. The researchers have published their finding in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (volume 98; pages 13514; November 20, 2001). They are hopeful that new treatment methods for people with diabetes will be developed as a result.
Dental X-Rays May Predict StrokeWhen an X-ray is necessary to determine the status of a person's dental health, dentists may also be able to use the X-ray to tell if the person is at risk for a stroke. This is because the X-ray may show if there are blockages in the neck arteries. This new information has been published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (November 2001), and is the result of research conducted by doctors at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. In the study, the researchers examined the dental X-rays and medical records of 52 female military veterans, all of whom where around the age of 70. The researchers found that 31% of the women had atheromas in the neck. These are blockages in the arteries caused by a buildup of hardened fatty tissues, which can result in stroke. None of the women had experienced any symptoms, so the researchers believe that diagnosis as a result of anything other than the dental X-rays would have been unlikely. The researchers are quick to point out that people should not have neck X-rays done by their dentists for the sole purpose of detecting atheromas. This type of radiation should only be used when necessary. In addition, ultrasound screenings are necessary in order to determine the severity of the atheroma and how much blockage exists. The researchers, however, do note that about 50 percent of American dentists use panoramic or wide-angle dental radiography.They encourage dentists to look at the whole X-ray, and not just at the teeth, so that detection of neck blockages may be possible.
Framingham Heart Study At 3rd GenerationThe Framingham Heart Study was first begun in the Boston suburb in 1948. Since then, the study has been successful in uncovering much information about heart disease. Researchers hope to continue the study by getting a third generation of participants. The study is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. It is conducted primarily by doctors from Boston University. Since it began, the study has resulted in a link between smoking cigarettes and developing heart disease; knowledge about the dangers of high cholesterol, obesity, and blood pressure; and an increased awareness of the benefits of exercise. Over 10,000 people have participated in the study thus far, and the organizers hope that 3,500 grandchildren of the original participants will volunteer as well. Those who do participate in the study are given extensive physical exams every three to four years. They also keep track of their eating and living habits. The research has resulted in much greater knowledge about the causes of heart attacks and strokes.
Obesity May Age The Body More Than TimeThe health risks of obesity are widely known, and include heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis. A new study shows that when combined with poverty and stress, obesity can also add many years to a woman's chronological age. A recent issue of Women's Health Issues (volume 11, pages 494-502, November 2001) includes a study conducted by researchers at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock called the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. This study included over 16,000 women between the ages of 40 and 55, who belonged to many different ethnic groups. Over 80% of the women who participated in the study had no difficulty with day-to-day activities. However, 9% had substantial limitations, and 10% had moderate limitations. About 25% of the women had high bood pressure, and 23% had arthritis. About 3% had heart disease, while 7% had diabetes The women who had high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack or angina, arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer, and several behavioral and environmental risk factors, including body mass index, difficulty paying for basics, and high levels of perceived stress were more likely to have problems completing daily tasks, which is indicative of quality of life. These limitations were consistent with findings in older women. The researchers hope the study points out modifiable risk factors for health, and will encourage the development of programs focused on this need.
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of the disease, obesity, and lack of proper diet and exercise.
However, a new study may have uncovered a surprising addition to these risk factors: leg length. The study suggests that short legs may indicate a risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.