Mind & Body
New Hope for Insulin Dependent Diabetics DIABETES SPECIALISTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EXCITED ABOUT A MODERN-DAY MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP INSULIN DELIVERY IN DIABETICS WHEN BLOOD-SUGAR LEVELS ARE TOO LOW. THE DEVICE, OFFICIALLY NAMED THE MINIMED 530G, BUT OFTEN TIMES REFERRED TO AS “ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS TECHNOLOGY,” WAS ENDORSED AND APPROVED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ON SEPTEMBER 27. THE DEVICE IS MANUFACTURED BY MEDTRONIC DIABETES DIVISION, THE WORLD LEADER IN INSULIN PUMP THERAPY AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY.
Insulin pump therapy has been around for several years and is used to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients, but sometimes insulin can also cause sugar levels to fall too low, posing serious health risks for patients. The condition is called hypoglycemia and it can be dangerous for some diabetics, especially during night time hours when patients are asleep and often times unaware that their levels are decreasing. These attacks can lead to seizures, comas and even death. “I treat thousands of insulin dependent diabetic patients, and they’ll be the first to tell you going low in the middle of the
night is a major fear,” says Imperial Health Endocrinologist, Dr. Timothy Gilbert. “The new artificial pancreas device decreases nighttime hypoglycemia incidence rates by 37.5 percent.” Dr. Gilbert was one of the first physicians in the United States to utilize the device, and he’s a huge advocate for the new technology. In fact, he is one of only six doctors in the country hand selected to serve on a National Advisory and Education Panel focused on instructing other endocrinologists and physicians on how to utilize this advanced medical device. The MiniMed 530G is about the size
How Strong Are Your Bones?
by Kristy Armand
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued new bone density screening guidelines three years ago, but many women – and their doctors – are not aware of the recommendation that some women as young as 50 should be checked for osteoporosis. Previous guidelines recommended bone density screenings for women ages 60-64 in high risk groups and all women older than 65. “The newer guidelines dropped the recommendation screening age for high-risk women by 10 years, which is fairly significant,” said Staci Boudreaux, PA-C, CCD, coordinator of Bone Health Central at Center for Orthopaedics, an affiliate of Imperial Health. “The hope is that earlier detection could allow health professionals to prevent future injury caused by this condition, 68 www.thriveswla.com
which is viewed as a silent disease. Women typically aren’t aware they have osteoporosis until they experience a fall or a fracture. Bone density screenings can help detect bone thinning in its early stages, which means preventative measures can be taken. These screenings are effective, safe, non-invasive and painless.” The task force panel lowered the recommended screening age for high-risk patients after determining that women as young as 50 may meet the threshold depending on their risk factors. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, factors that can increase a woman’s risk include low body weight, use of certain drugs, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and a parent who has broken a hip. The odds of a woman in this Thrive Magazine for Better Living
risk group of experiencing a fracture within 10 years was concerning enough for the screening recommendation to be expanded, according to the task force. Osteoporosis is a major public health threat, affecting an estimated 44 million Americans – about 55 percent of people age 50 and older, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The foundation reports that 10 million Americans already have the disease, and an estimated 34 million have low bone density. The guidelines did not determine how often women should have the screenings, but Boudreaux suggests having them once every two years, although this could depend on your practitioner’s personal recommendation. Boudreaux says
December 2013