Depression… Obesity… Type 2 Diabetes. It sounds like almost one third of every patient I have ever seen. Now the kicker… mostly women. Middle aged women are more at risk for all 3 before mentioned ailments. We need to do something now and stop this cyclical pattern!

Go get yourself some anti depressants you say? Now although I do agree with and absolutely stand behind the use of such medications, they are not always the answer.

Certain SSRI’s and many other anti depressants, not to mention atypical antipsychotic medications (AAP), have side effects such as weight gain, glucose intolerance and metabolic changes. Ugh!!!

It really comes down to lifestyle changes.I strongly believe you need to modify your life in conjunction with medications if needed. Also, one anti depressant is totally different from another. Find what works for you. I have said this a bazillion, as my kids say, times before… Be your own advocate. Be persistent, in their face, ask questions and demand to be listened to. Remember to say please and thank you though ’cause us nurses are really big on that, haha.

Here is a tidbit of research out of the Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China that goes along with the whole lifestyle change idea…

“Lifestyle intervention and metformin alone and in combination demonstrated efficacy for antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Lifestyle intervention plus metformin showed the best effect on weight loss,” the authors conclude. “Metformin alone was more effective in weight loss and improving insulin sensitivity than lifestyle intervention alone.”

via Center for the Advancement of Health and JAMA and Archives Journals

Researchers out of University of Ottawa have discovered a mutation in a gene that is considered to be a major controller in the way that energy levels are used in our bodies. This is a big discovery for endurance athletes as well as diabetics.

What gene is being examined and how does this pertain specifically to diabetics? The gene adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, AMPK, which controls the amount of energy in our cells by becoming active when fuel stores start to deplete such as in extreme exercise. The mutation showed a doubling of the energy use in the cells. In diabetics there are high levels of fat stored in the muscle have been linked to insulin resistance, so increased energy production would be a leg up in the right direction.

In addition, as metformin, a drug commonly used to both prevent and treat diabetes, acts by increasing AMPK activity, this discovery provides valuable information for pharmaceutical research.

Could a new drug come out of this discovery? Who knows at this point but it is promising indeed.

via Science Daily

True Blue… That is what they are saying about the older, cheaper diabetic drugs. As if the newer, more expensive, highly debatable drugs needed anymore “bad type” press. This could hurt sales for such drugs as Avandia even further.

The clear winner: metformin, sold as Glucophage and generically for about $100 a year. It works as well as other diabetes pills but does not cause weight gain or too-low blood sugar, the analysis found. It also lowers LDL or bad cholesterol. Consumer Reports also published a guide of the results. Besides metformin, it rates glipizide and glimepiride, sold as Amaryl and Glucotrol, as best bets.

This is clearly great news for the many diabetic sufferers that struggle at the pharmacy counter. A much cheaper alternative that still has positive effects in the treatment of diabetes is both welcomed and coveted!

via Delaware Online

“Diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia often coexist in patients,” said Dr. Bays. “This study provides evidence that colesevelam HCl is not only safe and effective in improving cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but may also lower glucose levels as well.”

These findings will be presented at the ADA poster session today in Kentucky. The hopes is that we can once again kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Patients will benefit exponentially if we can lower both A1C and LDL.

Parameters on the study did include…

The addition of colesevelam HCl tablets was compared to the addition of placebo in patients on a metformin-based regimen.

Preliminary numbers look hopeful. And with diabetics being advised to keep very strict control over their cholesterol for prevention, this almost seems like a “no brainer”. Time will tell how it pans out. I will keep y’all posted.

via PR Newswire

Type 2 diabetics have something to celebrate. There is a 2 in 1 pill that was given federal approval this week. It is called Janumet. The medication is a combination of metformin and Januvia, 2 pills that are being taken separately by diabetics to help control their blood sugar.

Merck hopes the combination version will make it easier for those diabetics to control their blood sugar levels.

This comes only 5 months after the drug Januvia was approved by the federal drug administration. Januvia is the first of its type on the market.

JANUVIA is a once-daily pill that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. It’s a type of prescription diabetes medicine called a DPP-4 inhibitor (blocker). DPP-4 blockers enhance the body’s own ability to keep blood sugar levels balanced.

Read more

Type 2 diabetics now have another choice when it comes to their treatment. Along with the multiple choices of oral medication, a new injectable drug is now FDA approved and being prescribed. Being a type 2 diabetic myself, I can honestly say I would not be interested in another needle or two throughout the day. My fingers will thank me later! But for some diabetics, BYEETA has been the answer to their disease happiness.

• Patients receiving BYETTA achieved a significant A1C reduction of 1.2% at Week 30 and 1.1% at 2.5 years¹
• Patients with a baseline A1C of >9% experienced, on average, a 2.1% reduction in A1C at 2.5 years¹

Isn’t it easier to take oral medication? Why would a type 2 diabetic want an injectable medication? The drug is very expensive, will insurance cover the cost? These are all questions that came to my mind while researching BYEETA.

Read more