Upcoming Event: Women In Government's State Briefings - Diabetes Disparities
Indiana - March 6, 2012
Maryland - March 15, 2012
California - March 28, 2012
Diabetes in the News
BPA's Obesity and Diabetes Link Strengthened by New Study
February 15, 2012 -- Exposure to even minuscule amounts of BPA -- used in everything from pesticides to water bottles -- can scramble hormone signals, scientists say. This interference can trick fat cells into taking in more fat or mislead the pancreas into secreting excess insulin, a hormone that regulates the breakdown of fat and carbohydrates. The consequences of the continued widespread use of BPA could be most dire for pregnant women and developing fetuses, who appear to be particularly sensitive. (Read More)
CU Denver Study: Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of Childhood Obesity, Lowers BMI for Children of Diabetic Pregnancies
February 9, 2012 -- Children of diabetic pregnancies have a greater risk of childhood obesity, but new research from the Colorado School of Public Health shows breastfeeding can reduce this threat. Children of diabetic pregnancies who were breast-fed had a slower BMI growth as they grew older than those who nursed less than six months. A similar pattern emerged for children of non-diabetic pregnancies. (Read More)
Diabetes Quadruples Birth Defects Risk, Say Researchers
February 5, 2012 -- The risk of birth defects, such as congenital heart disease and spina bifida, increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, researchers say. (Read More)
Study Illuminates Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes and Cognitive Impairment
February 1, 2012 -- A new study finds that decreasing the disparities in rates of type 2 diabetes among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics could eliminate some racial and ethnic disparities in the development of cognitive impairment or dementia. Prior research has shown that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for all forms of major cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease. (Read More)
Women with Diabetes Experience More Hearing Problems
January 27, 2012 -- A new study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, presented at the annual Triological Society's Combined Sections Meeting, shows diabetes is likely to cause a greater degree of hearing loss in women as they get older, particularly if the diabetes is not well controlled with medication. (Read More)
Kids' Health Predicts Parents' Future Heart Disease, Health: Study
January 25, 2012 -- When children have high cholesterol or blood pressure, their parents may have increased risks of diabetes and heart disease down the road, a new study finds. Researchers say the findings suggest that screening kids could have the "bonus" of spotting at-risk parents. (Read More)
CDC: Leg, Foot Amputations Declining in Adults with Diabetes
January 24, 2012 -- The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that hospitalizations for nontraumatic lower-extremity amputation (NLEA) decreased by 65% from 1996 to 2008 among US adults at least 40 years of age who had diagnosed diabetes. Decline is mostly attributed to improvements in diabetes care, specifically in diabetes foot care. (Read More)
Diabetes Patients Improve Their Health More Rapidly with Monthly Care, Study Finds
January 24, 2012 -- Diabetics who receive regularly scheduled monthly care to learn how to improve their health have a more rapid recovery and better health outcomes in the realm of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia compared with similar patients who receive only sporadic healthcare visits, according to new research. (Read More)
The study, entitled "Lifestyle Counseling in Routine Care and Long-Term Glucose, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol Control in Patients with Diabetes," can be found here.
Diabetes Management and Treatment: A New Approach Through Community Nursing
January 20, 2012 -- In West Palm Beach, Florida, one clinic, the Florida Atlantic University Diabetes Education and Research Center, is utilizing a community nursing approach to help patients manage their diabetes. This particular approach could ultimately serve as a model for healthcare reform by lowering costs and expanding the role of nurses. (Read More)
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Diabetes in the News - 2011
The Congressional Diabetes Caucus Proposes the Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2011
The bill would recognize certified diabetes educators (CDE) as providers for Medicare diabetes outpatient self-management training services. (Read More)
After two decades, the US Department of Agriculture Replaces the Food Pyramid with a Food Plate
The U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced the plate-shaped icon Thursday to replace the pyramid that often was criticized as confusing. (Read More)
US Pharmaceutical and Biotech Researchers Announce Development of More Than 800 New Medicines Disporportionately Affecting Women
For diabetes, pharmaceutical intervention has been an effective way to treat the disease. The May 2011 PhRMA report highlights over 20 drugs that address Type 1 diabetes specifically. (Read More)
Illinois Diabetes Caucus Formed by Bi-Partisan State Legislators
On March 31, Illinois lawmakers formed a Legislative Diabetes Caucus made up of a bi-partisan group of state legislators impassioned by the impact of diabetes. (Read More)
Coffee May Protect Against Type 2 Diabetes for Women
UCLA researchers found that drinking 4 cups of coffee a day reduced a woman's chance of developing type 2 diabetes by a little less than half. (Read More)
South Asia Facing Health Crisis: World Bank
Earlier projections suggested that ten years from 2005, deaths from heart disease, stroke, and diabetes might have been likely to lower GDP in India and Pakistan by one percent from what it would have been without that burden. (Read More)
Physicians Who Treat Obesity Question FDA Rejection of Contrave
The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) is concerned that the FDA recently rejected the weight-loss drug Contrave, contradicting the FDA advisory panel's recommendation for approval. (Read More)
Lawmakers Discuss Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Legislation
Stem cells are being used by researchers to find cures for diseases like diabetes and leukemia, just to name a few. (Read more)
Diabetes Drug Linked To Heart Attack Adds Safety Restrictions To Label
GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Monday it has updated the labeling of its diabetes pill Avandia to include safety restrictions ordered by federal health authorities because of the drug's links to heart attack. (Read More)
Recent Events at Women In Government
November 2011
At Women In Government’s Second Annual Healthcare Summit, legislators learned more about Diabetes. Alarmingly high rates of diabetes and other related complications in ethnic and racial minorities, coupled with care disparities, offer a particular challenge to the current healthcare system. With this in mind, Women In Government has launched a Diabetes Disparities Legislative Toolkit designed to help legislators address disparities in their communities. At Women In Government’s Second Annual Healthcare Summit this toolkit was launched and discussed by three speakers.
Dr. William Rowley, a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Alternative Futures spoke from the perspective of a clinician. He helped review the toolkit and was able to highlight important issues that legislators can now have information accessible. Representative Barbara Toles spoke about her experience as a Diabetes Champion for Women In government and how she intends to use the new Diabetes Disparity Toolkit. Jerry Franz spoke about his work as the Communications Consultant, Adjunct Instructor & Student Adviser at the School of Public Health & Health Services at The George Washington University, and how useful the new toolkit is.
October 2011
At the 12th Annual Southern Regional Conference, Women In Government featured a session featured programs for diabetes prevention and management in schools, highlighting the American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School campaign, and provide legislators with ideas for addressing diabetes in the youth population.
Crystal Jackson is Associate Director of Legal Advocacy at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) National Office in Alexandria, Virginia, and she spoke about her work. Her primary responsibility is managing the Association’s Safe at School Campaign. Ms. Jackson is considered a national authority on the rights of students with diabetes and has spoken at conferences and forums throughout the United States and internationally on how to effectively advocate on behalf of students with diabetes, training hundreds of parent advocates, attorneys, and health care professionals. A parent of a child with diabetes, Ms. Jackson began her advocacy as a volunteer for ADA when she and another parent advocate teamed up to lead the passage the first state diabetes school legislation in the country which provides comprehensive coverage for students with diabetes in Virginia. Simultaneously she pursued a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education resulting in a settlement that is a nationwide model for safe and effective school diabetes care. She spoke about discrimination towards people with diabetes, in the work place when people are required to pass physicals or discrimination in schools where kids and parents feel their kids are not getting the care they need. There are not enough school nurses to administer the necessary insulin; even some schools refuse to allow teachers to administer insulin. Kids can become self sufficient, but usually not until they are in middle school. The major point that Ms. Jackson emphasized is that legislators do not have to mandate treatment care for diabetes in schools, but they can eliminate laws that restrict those that can administer insulin, and allow for people other than nurses to be able to assist students with diabetes. To view her presentation, please click here.
August 2011
Women In Government featured a presentation on the connection between obesity and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular health, and the co-morbidities between these chronic diseases at the 13th Annual Eastern Regional Conference. Dr. Sachin Bahl gave his presentation and spoke about his work as a clinical private practice at Bahl & Bahl Medical Associates. Dr. Bahl is also an assistant professor, affiliated with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Shadyside, and UPMC St. Margaret hospitals and sees patients while being involved in teaching fellows, residents, and medical students. Dr. Bahl discussed the overwhelming education that someone who is diagnosed with diabetes needs to live a healthy life. Not only do they need to adapt healthy eating and living habits, but they also need to learn how to check and understand their blood sugar. It is a complicated disease that requires equipment, and instruction. Diabetes is a growing epidemic, especially in young adolescents, the “McDonalds & Computers” generation that engage in limited activity. Diabetes does so much to a person’s entire body, including being the leading cause of adult onset blindness, and non-traumatic amputation. Diabetes is affecting more and more Americans every year, as over a third of the population is obese. There are several co-morbidities associated with obesity and diabetes. The main cause of death for those that have diabetes is heart disease and stroke, as the diseases are intertwined. As Dr. Bahl informed the participants, diabetes is even considered a cardiovascular disease by classification. For more information about diabetes, visit Women In Government’s policy resource center, and view Dr. Bahl’s presentation here.
July 2011
At Women In Government's 18th Annual Midwestern Regional Conference, Dr. Victor Montori, Professor of Medicine and Lead Researcher at the Mayo Clinic, Knowledge Evaluation Research Unit, spoke about diabetes and the quest for patient-centered care. According to the World Health Organization, 3.1 million people die each year due to complications attributed to diabetes. This session evaluated the clinical decision making in patients with diabetes and the relation between the quality of decision making and patient outcomes as seen through clinical trials. Dr. Montori's presentation is available here.
March 2011
This year, Women In Government held the Second Annual Diabetes Task Force in Naples, Florida, highlighting holistic approaches to diabetes programs and policies; co-morbidities with related diseases such as obesity, heart and kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s; and strategies to address disparities in underserved communities. The conference provided legislators with a unique opportunity to focus on these pressing issues with colleagues and experts from across the country. Click for more info.
