Diabetes & metabolism
-
Diabetes & metabolism · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyFailure to increase postprandial blood flow in subcutaneous adipose tissue is associated with tissue resistance to adrenergic stimulation.
Adequate adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) is essential for its metabolic and endocrine functions. From a metabolic point of view, sufficient increases in ATBF after meals permits full storage of excess energy into fat, thus protecting other tissues against the toxic effects of fatty acids and glucose spillover. It was previously shown that postprandial increases in ATBF are blunted in obese and insulin-resistant subjects, and that much of the postprandial ATBF response is the result of β-adrenergic activation. Examination of previously recorded data on postprandial ATBF responses revealed an underlying heterogeneity, with postprandial ATBF being largely unresponsive to food stimuli in a substantial proportion of normal weight healthy people (low responders). Our study tests the hypothesis that this unresponsive pattern is due to resistance to β-adrenergic stimulation in adipose tissue. ⋯ These data suggest that the lack of glucose-stimulated ATBF is associated with resistance to sympathetic activation in adipose tissue.
-
With the June 2010 publication of EU Council Directive 2010/32/EU scrutiny is now being focused on the safety and protection of diabetes nurses. ⋯ Our study shows that frequent NSI occur in European nurses treating people with diabetes in hospital settings. These injuries are a source of possible infection despite the small size of diabetes needles. The introduction of safety-engineered medical devices has been shown to reduce the risk of injury. A new European Directive that has now come into force specifically stipulates that wherever there is risk of sharps injury, the user and all healthcare workers must be protected by adequate safety precautions, including the use of "medical devices incorporating safety-engineered protection mechanisms".
-
Diabetes & metabolism · Dec 2011
ReviewImproving diabetes management with electronic medical records.
Most primary-care physicians have adopted electronic medical records (EMRs) for the management of patients in ambulatory care. Observational trials suggest that the use of EMRs improves the achievement of the recommended standards of diabetes care and intermediate outcomes. A French group of general practitioners has shown, in a randomized controlled trial of diabetes care, the beneficial effects of a follow-up module integrated into an EMR. ⋯ All of these materials can be generated from EMRs. The widespread and optimalized use of EMRs for diabetes care with links to the national diabetes register and the capacity to supply PHRs are major considerations. Achieving these goals requires a common initiative comprising primary care and diabetes scientific societies in cooperation with diabetes patients'associations.
-
Health authorities currently have high expectations for telemedicine (TM), as it addresses several major challenges: to improve access to healthcare (especially for patients in underserved or remote areas); to overcome the scarcity of specialists faced with epidemic disease; and to reduce the costs of healthcare while improving quality. The aims of TM in the field of diabetes differ according to the type of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes (T1DM) associated with complex insulin regimens, the goal of TM is to help patients achieve better control of their blood glucose levels through accurate adjustment of insulin doses. ⋯ Second, systems combining an interactive Internet system (or a mobile phone coupled to a remote server) with a system of communication between the healthcare provider and the patient by e-mail, texting or phone calls have also shown certain benefits for glycaemic control. These systems, primarily aimed at T2DM patients, generally provide motivational support as well. Although the individual benefits of these systems for glycaemic control are fewer than with smartphones, their widespread use should be of particular value for overcoming the relative shortage of doctors and reducing the health costs associated with a disease of such epidemic proportions.
-
Diabetes & metabolism · Dec 2011
What do patients with diabetes and diabetologists--especially those in private practice--expect from the new technologies for diabetes care in the future?
Thanks to the high volume of patients'consultations delivered, and especially in private practice, diabetologists are able to accurately describe the expectations of diabetic patients with the new and mostly future technologies. In addition, diabetologists are also able to imagine how these technologies will change their medical practices in future.