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Same Gain, Less Pain

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Shorter needles for both insulin syringes and pens will mean less pain for patients. Becton Dickinson and Company of Franklin Lakes, NJ has introduced 5-mm (3/16-inch) Mini needles that should decrease needle phobia, especially in children.

 

The original needles were 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) in length. In this case, 7.7 mm is quite a difference!

 

Diabetes Interview, November 2002

 

What Is My BMI? (Do I Want to Know?)

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A recent analysis from the Nurses Health Study indicated that more than 60% of diabetes cases could be attributed to overweight or obesity. Being overweight is typically defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9, while being obese is defined by a BMI of 30 or higher. However, the same analysis indicated that losing weight can lower the risk of diabetes, and a woman's current weight seems to have a much greater impact on her risk of diabetes than her previous weight.

 

To calculate your BMI and identify your risk, refer to Table 1. (Example: if you are 63 " (5'3") and weigh 130 pounds, your BMI is 23.)

  
Table 1 - Click to enlarge in new windowTable 1. Body Mass Index (BMI)Source: Evidence Report of Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, 1998. NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States Department of Health and Human Services.

How to Identify a Killer

Each year colorectal cancer kills more than 56,000 American men and women. The STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation is providing its newly revised educational booklet free of charge to the public. Although quite prevalent, colorectal cancer is preventable if the public is educated regarding risk factors and the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer, and then follows through with screening tests as recommended.

 

For a free copy of The Cancer Nobody Has to Have and How to Stop It, send a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to the STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1616, Barrington, IL 60010. Medical professionals may order bulk quantities via e-mail at [email protected].

 

Eye See You!

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Pupil size may indicate impending complications in people with diabetes. According to researchers in Germany, papillary autonomic neuropathy may be an early sign of other autonomic nerve damage, such as that involving the heart. Autonomic neuropathy involves damage to the nerves in bodily systems that function automatically.

 

Research was performed with 47 randomly selected people with type 1 diabetes compared to 20 subjects who did not have the disease. Pupil size was measured at baseline and after instillation of eye drops containing medication known to affect pupil size. Analysis of data showed significantly smaller pupil size before the instillation of eye drops in subjects with diabetes compared to subjects without diabetes. The researchers concluded that a decrease in horizontal pupil diameter could be an early indicator of systemic autonomic diabetic neuropathy.

 

http://www.diabetesinterview.com, November, 2002

 

Watch What You're Cooking!

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert noting several deaths of patients with implanted deep-brain stimulators who received diathermy therapy. One patient received diathermy following oral surgery; the other for treatment of chronic scoliosis. In both cases, the interaction of the diathermy with the implanted device caused severe brain damage in the area where the lead electrodes were implanted.

 

There are three types of diathermy equipment used by physicians, dentists, physical therapists, chiropractors, sports therapists, and others: 1) shortwave, 2) microwave, and 3) ultrasound diathermy. Shortwave and microwave in both heating and nonheating modes can result in serious injury or death to patients with implanted devices with leads. Electrocautery devices are not included in this notice. Lab testing has shown that patients with any implanted metallic lead are at risk of serious injury when exposed to shortwave or microwave diathermy therapy.

 

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety 12/19/02