Diabetes Costs Laid Bare – USA
This report of a US Senate hearing on US TV should be seen by every legislator globally to alert them to the rising cost of diabetes and why action on prevention, early diagnosis and reimbursed treatment is so important. Presented in the US Senate, research by the American Diabetes Association revealed the staggering cost of […]
US FDA – ‘Don’t Use Smartwatches’
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), smartwatches that claim to non-invasively measure blood sugar cannot directly measure glucose levels. The agency is advising people to avoid devices that claim to do this, and further states that such devices that do are illegally marketed. In a statement the agency says: “The FDA has […]
US Nurses Welcome Footware Legislation
The Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives by Sens. Brown (D-OH) and Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Blumenauer (D-OR) and LaHood (R-IL). It seeks to allow patients to continue receiving care from their health provider by authorising Nurse Practitioners to certify their patients’ need for […]
Hearing the Patient Voice
The Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) in the US is holding an event where people with diabetes can log-in and speak to legislators. For legislators it is a great way to find out some of the challenges people with diabetes face and for sufferers to explain what it means to have diabetes and the difficulties they […]
Tech News
FDA Clears New Insulin Pump and Algorithm-Based Software to Support Enhanced Automatic Insulin Delivery – Closer to a bionic pancreas. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-clears-new-insulin-pump-and-algorithm-based-software-to-support-enhanced-automatic-insulin-delivery-301829765.html Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre R 2 received national reimbursement in France for all people with diabetes treated with insulin. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2023-06-22-Abbotts-FreeStyle-Libre-R-2-Receives-National-Reimbursement-in-France-for-All-People-with-Diabetes-Who-Use-Insulin Dexcom G7 Approved in Canada Patients living with diabetes in Canada will soon be able […]
Research Corner
1 in 3 adults with type 2 diabetes may have undetected cardiovascular disease. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/1-in-3-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-may-have-undetected-cardiovascular-disease Diabetes linked to functional and structural brain changes. Covid increased the risk of diabetes. Prioritising Maori and Pacific patients for new diabetes drugs pays off http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/5/417649 More Stem Cell research into diabetes with studies in Kenya and the US. Advocacy Action: […]
Barbados fights Big Sugar
The legacy of colonialism, modern-day conveniences and a diet high in fat and sugar have bequeathed the island a diabetes and high-blood pressure pandemic. But can health plans win out over corporate interests? A report in the Guardian newspaper takes the issue on.
Funding for Patient Group
As one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting approximately 3.6 million Canadians, with more than 200,000 new cases diagnosed every year, diabetes affects the lives of many beyond these statistics. PDGN Vice-President Sonia Sidhu MP, joined a session on diabetes at the World Non-Communicable Diseases Congress in Toronto. She attended on behalf of JeanYves […]
Hospital Admissions due to Diabetes
30 percent of Hospital Admissions in Trinidad & Tobago due to diabetes Trinidad and Tobago Senator, Charrise Seepersad, raised her concern that 30 per cent of admissions to TT’s hospitals were due to diabetes. Speaking in the Senate during the mid-year budget review, she proposed the consumption of wholesome, locally-grown foodstuffs to counter rising rates […]
Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease
In the US alone, up to two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes develop heart disease in their lifetime. A new study published at the conference found that a coordinated care approach improves care for people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Advocacy Action: What are the statistics in your country for type 2 diabetes […]
1.3 billion with Diabetes by 2050!
A series of studies published in ‘The Lancet’ estimates that the number of people living with diabetes will double by 2050. The researchers predict more than 1.3 billion people could suffer from the disease in 30 years – up from 529 million in 2021 – if there is no effort to address what they describe […]
Major Victory for DLC on Behalf of Patients
In a major victory for patients who depend on prescription drugs, Judge John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down a Trump administration federal rule that allowed health insurers to not count drug manufacturer copay assistance towards a beneficiary’s out-of-pocket costs. The case was brought against the U.S. […]
Tech News
Dexcom has announced that its next-generation real-time continuous glucose monitoring system, DexCom G7, is now available in Canada, for people with any type of diabetes, aged two years and older, including those who are pregnant. https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=3_cc-session_74cb3d38-d30a-4cc6-a8d9-23bb9655ca4d Can an artificial intelligence test diagnose type 2 diabetes from a 6 second voice clip? A Canadian team claim […]
Collaboration Brings Success
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined a Washington Post Live event to discuss the high cost of prescription medication in the United States. In their discussion, the Senators discussed their cross-party (bipartisan) efforts to pass comprehensive Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBM) reform, lower the cost of insulin, including their Insulin Act, and why […]
Barbados Introduces Food Pack Warnings
Following a collaborative effort involving parliamentarians and several patient health groups, together with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Barbados has introduced front of food package warnings. The introduction of a Front-of-Package Warning Label System (FOPWLS) will have a significant positive impact on the non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis in Barbados, says Minister of Health, Senator The Most […]
Diabetes Australia
Holding an event in Parliament to offer elected members and their staff a test for diabetes is not a new idea, but it is still highly effective at getting a message across to politicians. This year’s event in Australia was called: “Take Five to do Five Health Checks” and was held at Parliament House in […]
Policy Briefings for Law Makers
This spring, the US-based Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) delivered policy briefings for federal policymakers in Washington DC, highlighting diabetes community needs through the voice of patients, caregivers and clinicians. Presentations addressed gaps in access and affordability of diabetes treatment and innovation, and the landscape of actionable solutions for the new Congress. In March, DLC […]
Technology Corner
FDA Approves Bionic Pancreas System. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Beta Bionics iLet ACE Pump and the iLet Dosing Decision Software for people six years of age and older with type 1 diabetes. These two devices, along with a compatible FDA-cleared integrated continuous glucose monitor (iCGM), will form a new system called […]
Research News
India Study in India finds socioeconomic inequality in awareness, treatment and control of diabetes among adults. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-29978-y Australia JDRF Australia and the Helmsley Trust have announced a combined additional AUS $12 million towards the continuation of the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study. https://www.miragenews.com/world-first-childhood-diabetes-study-extended-980714 Denmark A new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the […]
Food Labelling Success
The US ‘Center for Science in the Public Interest’ is celebrating the introduction of a bill to increase transparency and promote healthy choices through food labels. CAPTION: The Bill will help people manage dozens of medicall conditions such as those who need to be Gluten-free. The Food Labelling Modernization Act 2023 (FLMA) was introduced by Representatives […]
Jamaican Healthy Lifestyle Campaign Launched
With an estimated 236,000 people, or nine per cent of the population with diabetes, a study found that only 106,000 of Jamaicans are aware of their status. These alarming statistics have prompted the Health and Wellness Ministry of Jamaica to announce an initiative to help determine the health status of people through a screening programme. […]
National Plan Delayed by Inflation
Rising out-of-pocket costs for people living with diabetes are hitting hard across the globe. Since 2001, in one country, Diabetes Canada (DC) has tracked the out-of-pocket costs – costs assessed after reimbursement by public insurance programs – of managing type 1 diabetes and added type 2 diabetes in 2003 based on specific composite case studies […]
Views of Indigenous Communities Sought
Thanks to the work of Sonia Sidhu MP and her fellow MPs the Federal Government of Canada is now establishing a national framework for diabetes they fought for and is asking Indigenous communities throughout the country to contribute through a survey and public consultations. People can do a survey, participate in a virtual circle, or […]