MyT1D Hero

Learn about where diabetes’ name originated as part of Diabetes Awareness Month.

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Pam Daniels, Michigan State University Extension

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/how_diabetes_got_its_name

November is Diabetes Awareness month. Taking time in November to get tested and learn something new about diabetes might turn out to be a real life saver for yourself or someone you love!

In today’s society, most of us have heard of diabetes. And most of us can define that having diabetes means controlling foods you eat especially those containing sugar. If we go back and take a look at the origin of the word diabetes, it can give you two important clues for your health.

Diabetes has been around for awhile

Diabetes has been around for centuries. In fact, cases of diabetes can be traced as far back as the ancient Egyptians. In the 1800s, dogs helped scientist study and determine how the pancreas and lack of the hormone insulin revealed signs of diabetes. In the 1930s up through the 1970s, society commonly referred to individuals with diabetes as having “sugar,” but the correct medical term for diabetes is ‘diabetes mellitus’. Today, healthcare teams most commonly refer to it as ‘diabetes’.

The words “diabetes” and “mellitus” have two very separate meanings. They are, however, linked together and have a meaningful connection.

Mellitus

Mellitus means, “pleasant tasting, like honey.” Ancient Chinese and Japanese physicians noticed dogs were particularly drawn to some people’s urine. When the urine was examined they found the urine had a sweet taste. What made the urine sweet were high levels of glucose, or sugar.That is how this discovery of sweet urine became part of the name, diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes

The ancient Greek word for diabetes means, “passing though; a large discharge of urine.” The meaning is associated with frequent urination, which is a symptom of diabetes. Both frequent urination and excess, sweet glucoses levels expelled in our urine can be signs of diabetes.

Having Diabetes is anything but sweet

Even though glucose is sweet, there is nothing sweet about having high blood glucose. It is a serious issue facing many people in the U.S.. If you are glucose intolerant your body may not be able to adequately break down glucose (sugar). Without this natural breakdown of the foods we eat being turned into energy for our cells, glucose may build up in your blood. The body will need to rid itself of excess sugar in the blood stream by passing it though the kidneys and bladder out through urination.

Knowing the origin of diabetes mellitus helps give us a better understanding of symptoms related to the disease – high blood sugar and frequent urination. If you or your child has frequent thirst and/or urination you should contact your healthcare provider to be tested for diabetes. Getting tested for diabetes is the only way to know if you have the disease.

Both diabetes type 1 and type 2 are highly treatable under the care of your healthcare team. The group of diseases associated with diabetes (type 1 & type 2, gestational and pre-diabetes) is on the rise. Lifestyle, genetic, and the environment all share a role in your risk for developing diabetes.

Diagnosis, care and treatment as well as learning how to be an active self-manager can make living with diabetes a sweet story. For more on diabetes prevention, diagnosis and care plans visit your health care provider.

To understand the benefits of diabetes self-management and to enroll in a diabetes self-management workshop near you visit Michigan State University Extension.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visithttp://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visithttp://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Article ID: 663109, Released: 19-Oct-2016 9:05 AM EDT, Source Newsroom: Wayne State University Division of Research

DETROIT – Many diabetes patients require continuous or on-demand insulin therapy to manage their disease. Insulin pump therapy offers them more predictable, rapid-acting insulin, providing a more active and normal lifestyle.

Over time, foreign body reaction (FBR) occurs to nearly all devices implanted in the body, resulting in fibrotic tissue depositing around the implant surface, a decrease in blood supply around the implant, and a decrease in the molecular transport to the implant. This results in the need to replace the implant.

A team of Wayne State University researchers are developing a novel material formulation to be applied to the surfaces of most implantable devices that will aid in resisting FBR and improve the long-term use of devices.

The team, led by Zhiqiang Cao, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical engineering and materials science in Wayne State’s College of Engineering, received a $1.3 million award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health for the project, “A Novel Formulation Enabling Longevity of Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion.” The Type 1 Diabetes Pathfinder Award aims to develop a novel formulation as a platform technology that is easily applied on the surfaces of most existing insulin infusion devices prior to being implanted in the patient. The novel formulation will drastically improve the longevity of the insulin infusion implant.

“Zhiqiang was selected as one of a small number of early-stage investigators to receive this prestigious award by demonstrating exceptional creativity and innovation in his proposed research,” said Guangzhao Mao, Ph.D., professor and chair of chemical engineering and materials science at Wayne State. “We expect him to make a major impact on the diabetes research in the years to come.”

“We will identify the mechanism of failure for implanted infusion sets, and then develop a formulation that will prevent the infusion set to have a foreign body reaction,” said Cao. “This will help the patient have normal insulin absorption to aid in managing their diabetes, and less possibility of other problems causing the devices to fail.”

This project will result in a novel formulation that will allow a longer life for commercial infusion sets and patch pumps, as well as glucose sensors. It will have a major impact on managing Type 1 diabetes, and may also impact a broad range of implantation applications beyond diabetes.

The grant award number is DK111910.

###

About Wayne State University
Wayne State University is one of the nation’s pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visitresearch.wayne.edu.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/wayne-state-university-awarded-1-3-million-nih-type-1-diabetes-pathfinder-award-to-increase-longevity-of-insulin-treatment-implants

This article was written by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). View original article here: http://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetes-family-friends/index.html

One of the best ways to predict how well someone will manage diabetes:
how much support they get from family and friends.

Daily diabetes care is a lot to handle, from taking meds, injecting insulin, and checking blood sugar to eating healthy food, being physically active, and keeping health care appointments. Your support can help make the difference between your friend or family member feeling overwhelmed or empowered.

What You Can Do

• Learn about diabetes. Find out why and when blood sugar should be checked, how to recognize and handle highs and lows (more below), what lifestyle changes are needed, and where to go for information and help.
• Know diabetes is individual. Each person who has diabetes is different, and their treatment plan needs to be customized to their specific needs. It may be very different from that of other people you know with diabetes.
• Ask your friend or relative how you can help, and then listen to what they say. They may want reminders and assistance (or may not), and that can change over time.
• Go to appointments if it’s OK with your relative or friend. You could learn more about how diabetes affects them and how you can be the most helpful.
• Give them time in the daily schedule so they can manage their diabetes—check blood sugar, make healthy food, take a walk.
• Avoid blame. People with diabetes are often overweight, but being overweight is just one of several factors that can lead to diabetes. And blood sugar levels can be hard to control even with a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Diabetes is complicated!
• Step back. You may share the same toothpaste, but your family member may not want to share everything about managing diabetes with you. The same goes for a friend with diabetes.
• Accept the ups and downs. Moods can change with blood sugar levels, from happy to sad to irritable. It might just be the diabetes talking, but ask your friend or relative to tell their health care team if they feel sad on most days—it could be depression.
• Be encouraging. Tell them you know how hard they’re trying. Remind them of their successes. Point out how proud you are of their progress.
• Walk the talk. Follow the same healthy food and fitness plan as your loved one; it’s good for your health, too. Lifestyle changes become habits more easily when you do them together.
• 

  Help them feel the power to manage their diabetes.

  Know the lows. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be serious and needs to be treated immediately. Symptoms vary, so be sure to know your friend’s or relative’s specific signs, which could include:

• Shakiness.
• Nervousness or anxiety.
• Sweating, chills, or clamminess.
• Irritability or impatience.
• Dizziness and difficulty concentrating.
• Hunger or nausea.
• Blurred vision.
• Weakness or fatigue.
• Anger, stubbornness, or sadness.

If your family member or friend has hypoglycemia several times a week, suggest that he or she talk with his or her health care team to see if the treatment plan needs to be adjusted.

Offer to help them connect with other people who share their experience. Online resources such as the American Association of Diabetes Educators’Diabetes Online Community[1.27 MB] or in-person diabetes support groups are good ways to get started.

Children and Older Adults

If you have a child with diabetes, you’ll probably be much more involved with their day-to-day care. Some older kids will be comfortable checking their own blood sugar, injecting insulin, and adjusting levels if they use an insulin pump. Younger kids and those who just found out they have diabetes will need help with everyday diabetes care. Your child’s health care team will give you detailed information about managing your child’s diabetes.

Diabetes is more common in older adults, and it can be harder for them to manage. Older people may not be as able to notice high or low blood sugar levels, so it’s especially important for you to know the signs and how it should be handled. They may have several diabetes complications such as vision problems, kidney disease, or nerve damage, so regular appointments with their health care team are essential.

Better Together

The most important thing is quality of life, yours and theirs. Sure, there will be highs and lows—blood sugar and otherwise—but together you can help make diabetes a part of life, instead of life feeling like it’s all about diabetes.

• Received May 17, 2016.
• Accepted September 8, 2016.

• © 2016 by the American Diabetes Association.
• http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2016/09/27/dc16-1073

Part 1: What is diabetes?

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Kristina Swartzendruber , Michigan State University Extension

Diabetes is a disease that affects metabolism and is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood. Basically, it’s a disease that makes it difficult for the body to turn food into energy. According to the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million Americans (9.3 percent of the population) had diabetes in 2012. Approximately 1.4 million are diagnosed with diabetes each year.

There are three different types of diabetes:

Type I – Previously referred to as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes can affect anyone at any time but is most prevalent in children, teenagers and young adults. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not known, but genetics, environmental influences and other factors may play a role in the development of the disease. Little or no insulin is produced by the pancreas so a person with type 1 diabetes must treat their disease with insulin, diet, exercise and self-management.

Type 2 – Previously referred to as adult-onset diabetes, this is the most common form of diabetes and can affect people of any age but most frequently develops during adulthood.  Unhealthy weight, age, family history, lack of exercise and/or a history of gestational diabetes are all risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed with diet and exercise, however, some people may be required to take oral medication and/or insulin.

Gestational – This type of diabetes develops when a woman is pregnant and usually occurs later in the pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually disappears after the baby is born. Age, family or personal history, unhealthy weight, high blood pressure and/or complications during previous pregnancy are risk factors associated with gestational diabetes. Untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar can cause the fetus to grow very large. Babies born from mothers with gestational diabetes are also at a higher risk of low blood sugar, breathing difficulties and/or jaundice after they are born so it’s very important for women with this condition to work with their doctor to control blood sugar during her pregnancy.

Symptoms associated with all three types of diabetes include increased thirst and urination and/or increased or extreme hunger and fatigue. There are additional symptoms, some of which may go unnoticed, so it’s very important to get regular physicals and communicate with your healthcare professional if you have a family history of diabetes.

Part 2: Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Kristina Swartzendruber , Michigan State University Extension

As a certified trainer for Diabetes PATH, I’ve heard all kinds of myths related to this disease. I still have participants, diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, come to the first class believing they can’t eat any of their favorite foods that contain sugar. Some of these myths and misconceptions come from outdated medical practices and information that is not research-based.

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is a serious and potentially deadly disease – myths only create inaccuracy and promote stereotypes and stigma. Below you will find some of the common myths that are found on theAmerican Diabetes Association website paired with relevant facts:

Myth: Diabetes isn’t a serious disease. 

Fact: Diabetes affects over 25 million people in the United States and is the seventh leading cause of death in this country. According to the National Diabetes Education Program, your chance of having a heart attack nearly doubles if you have diabetes. Sixty-eight percent of diabetics actually die of heart disease or stroke. The good news is that good diabetic management practices can reduce your risk of complications.

Myth: If you’re overweight or obese, you will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.

Fact: Although being overweight is a risk factor, there are many other risks associated with diabetes such as family history, age, ethnicity, etc. Most people who are overweight never develop type 2 diabetes.

Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.  

Fact: A diet high in calories, from any source, can lead to weight gain which is one of the risk factors associated with diabetes. However, there are many other risk factors associated with this disease, such as a person’s genetics and age. There is research linking the consumption of sugary drinks to diabetes – the American Diabetes Association recommends that we limit our intake of beverages such as regular soda, fruit punch, energy/sports/fruit drinks, etc. to help prevent the onset of diabetes.

Myth: People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.

Fact: People with diabetes can generally follow the same healthy meal plan as those without the disease. According to theAmerican Association of Diabetes Educators,  it’s important for people with diabetes to eat regular meals, control the amount they eat and make healthy food choices to better manage their disease and prevent other health problems.

Myth: People with diabetes can’t eat sweets, chocolate or starchy foods.

Fact: If sweets and starchy food are eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, these foods can be eaten by people with diabetes. There really aren’t any “off limit” foods. The key is to keep track of carbohydrates and watch portion size.

Part 3: Managing Diabetes

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Kristina Swartzendruber, Michigan State University Extension

Diabetes is a serious disease, affecting nearly 26 million Americans. Traditionally, people who were diagnosed with type 1 and 2 diabetes were prescribed medication, instructed to not eat foods containing sugar and sent on their way. Today, we know that people with this disease can live longer and reduce their risk of some of the complications associated with diabetes, but it takes hard work and cooperation by the person affected. It’s also important for a person to work closely with their healthcare team because the kind of management used depends on the type of diabetes a person has.

Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions offers the following recommendations that focus on the management of diabetes:

Monitoring blood glucose: One of the first goals in managing diabetes is keeping one’s blood glucose levels within a safe range, and the only way to do this is through monitoring. Monitoring should not be considered a treatment but rather a tool that can be used to find out how a person is doing and make the needed day-to-day changes in diet and exercise as well as changes with medication to keep their blood glucose levels at a safe level.

Adopting a healthy eating plan: Eating right is essential to diabetes self-management because in addition to helping maintain normal blood glucose levels, it also can help improve a person’s blood pressure, cholesterol levels and overall health. The good news is that you do not have to go hungry, eat “special foods” or give up your favorite foods if you have diabetes. The main focus should be on meal and snack time planning, portion control and the types of food that is eaten.

Incorporating physical activity: Exercise has many benefits. It can help with lowering blood sugar levels and blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, improving cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Physical activity also helps a person with diabetes use their insulin better. The goal most people should work towards is mild to moderate aerobic exercise 150 minutes a week.

Dealing with stress and emotions: Feelings associated with anger, frustration and fear of the unknown are normal for those dealing with diabetes. Learning various breathing and relaxation techniques may be the first step to dealing with diabetes-related stress. The American Diabetes Association suggests joining a support group where a person can learn from others hints for coping with problems. It’s very important to enlist the help of a doctor and/or therapist if a person’s stress is so severe they are feeling overwhelmed.

Taking medications: It may be necessary for a person to take oral medication or insulin by injection/pump to help keep their blood sugar levels within a normal range. Again, it’s very important to work closely with a healthcare professional to monitor how your medication affects your blood glucose levels.

Michigan State University Extension offers many disease prevention and management programs that focus on diabetes. For more information, contact your local Extension office.

These articles were published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

MIRIAM E. TUCKER

The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a new insulin delivery system for people with Type 1 diabetes is a big deal.

With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin so people have to
replace it with either multiple daily injections or a pump. In either case, that process involves constant error-prone adjustments, particularly around food and exercise. Over the long term, high blood sugar levels can lead to organ damage, but over-correcting by giving more insulin can cause dangerous low blood sugars that can lead to unconsciousness.

The device, Medtronic’s MiniMed 670G hybrid closed loop system, is made up of an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM), both of which are already on the market separately. The new part involves the communication between the two devices.

Medtronic’s previous system already had a feature that would shut down the insulin pump if the wearer’s blood sugar dropped too low. But the 670G predicts when a person’s blood sugar is dropping and prevents the low in the first place, and also corrects high blood sugars.

This is the first such machine in the world with that level of automation, and thus it is informally being called the first “artificial pancreas” system.

However, it’s called a hybrid rather than a fully closed-loop system because users will still need to signal that they’re about to eat and estimate the carbohydrate count of the food so the device can calculate the additional amount of insulin needed. That means there’s still the possibility of mistakes. But now if that count is off, the 670G will correct the error automatically.

For people with Type 1 diabetes, the new capabilities mean they can both sleep through the night without worrying about their blood sugars dropping too low and can go through their day without having to think about their diabetes all the time, according to Aaron Kowalski, chief mission officer for the JDRF, the organization that funds much of the “artificial pancreas” research.

“You get almost normalized overnight blood glucose. For people with Type 1 diabetes, that’s massively important,” he said, adding that the overall 24/7 burden reduction means better quality of life. “The diabetes isn’t gone, but [wearers] can think about it less …This is a historic milestone.”

And more systems like this are coming.

Medtronic, via the MiniMed division that it acquired in 2001, was the first to market because it’s still the only company that manufactures both the insulin pump and CGM technology. But at least five other partnerships between other manufacturers are now developing closed-loop systems, some using already-available pumps and CGMs, others creating new devices. The systems will likely differ from one another in form, user interface and in the algorithmic approaches embedded in the communication software, “so people with diabetes will have more choices,” Kowalski says, noting that JDRF is “celebrating Medtronic because it’s the first commercial system, but we’re supporting the entire field.”

Of course, the field still faces challenges. One of the major technological problems is that insulin deposited just under the skin takes too long to begin working; that’s why people still need to signal ahead that they’re about to eat. The JDRF is currently funding several initiatives working on making faster-acting insulins.

“The faster the insulin works, the more closed the loop will be,” Kowalski notes. “It’s not easy, but there’s a lot of work going on.”

Wearability is another issue. Some people simply don’t want to be strapped to devices, even if it means better diabetes control. So, the JDRF has recently announced new funding for miniaturization of the devices.

And of course, there’s the problem of access. While insurance coverage for insulin pumps is widely established, this is not the case for the CGM component. Medicare doesn’t cover CGM technology, meaning that people now must give up those devices or pay out of pocket when they reach age 65. The JDRF is one of several organizations lobbying to change that, as well as to make sure that all payers recognize both the health and economic advantages of new diabetes technologies.

“This is a priority for us,” Kowalski says. “We need to make sure people have access. Not just rich people, but anybody who will benefit.”

For now, the 670G, which the FDA gave the nod on Wednesday, is approved only for people ages 14 years and older. Medtronic is studying it in children ages 7 to 13 with the aim of making it available for them, too.

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/30/495914413/fda-approves-the-first-automated-insulin-system-for-type-1-diabetes?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160930