Author: Staff Writers

The Big News in Protein Study Funding for Diabetes: One research institute has received more than a million dollars to fund a series of tests designed to study a protein linked to the development of obesity and diabetes. The three years of research will take place in Florida.

Patricia McDonald, an associate scientific director in the Translational Research Institute at Scripps Florida was quoted in a press release following word of the $1.3 million in funding, “Because obesity and diabetes are two of the most serious health problems facing us, the need for novel treatments has never been greater,” McDonald said. “Some recent studies in animal models have shown that activating the G protein-coupled receptor GPR119 improves glucose homeostasis or balance, while positively affecting both food intake and weight gain. This funding will help us design new assays that will explore the overall potential of GPR119 – and may one day lead to more effective treatments.”

The press release continued, “G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse protein family in the human genome. They transduce or convert extracellular stimuli including neurotransmitters, light, hormones, lipids, and peptides into intracellular signals through a number of signaling pathways. Approximately one third, and perhaps as many as half, of currently marketed drugs are designed to target these receptors.

“GPR119 is expressed predominantly in the pancreas and gut of humans and rodents and in the rat brain. When activated, the receptor promotes secretion of a specific hormone, called Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), in the intestines, which in turn increases insulin secretion from the pancreas; both are key components in regulating the balance of glucose in the body. Although some modulators of GPR119 have been discovered, they do not necessarily mimic the receptor’s natural ligand and have thus turned out to be mostly unsuitable for use in studying the receptor’s biology and function.”

One of the most fascinating, and science altering discoveries in our most recent past is the human genome project. This information will be used in the new Scripps research, “With the human genome sequenced, science now has a good handle on just how many GPCRs exist – at least 1,000 or more. Of those, McDonald said, scientists have a good understanding of what approximately 200 of them actually do and what activates them; another 600 or so are involved in taste and smell. The remaining receptors are known as orphan receptors, whose function and natural ligands have yet to be discovered,” according to the release.

McDonald said, “This funding is so important to eventually find[ing] more effective treatments for diabetes and obesity.”

The crucial funding provided to Scripps Research will be used to follow several potential scenarios in which these body proteins can be used to help individuals manage their weight as well as diabetic risk.

The press release describes Scripps Research as, “One of the world’s largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations, at the forefront of basic biomedical science that seeks to comprehend the most fundamental processes of life. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, and synthetic vaccine development. Established in its current configuration in 1961, it employs approximately 3,000 scientists, postdoctoral fellows, scientific and other technicians.”

Their collective brain trust will be called upon to learn what they can from G-protein as relates to the effective management of weight and diabetic control.

A Diabetic Defense for Technology: There is a standard phrase that iPhone users often say; “There’s an app for that.” When choosing low calorie meals some are arming themselves with an app for mealtimes on the go.

Alyssa is not diabetic, but other family members have developed the disease. Her dad bought her an iPod iTouch for Christmas and like most teens she uses it to play games, connect to the Internet in Wi-Fi hotzones, listen to music, watch videos and post to Facebook. However, she’s also discovered key application downloads that fills her in on nutritional information about restaurants she visits.

The movie “Super Size Me” had a big impact on Alyssa and she wants to be smart on those increasingly rare occasions when she does eat out. Now while she waits in line she manipulates her iTouch screen and locates the data. She is surprised to see that some of the salads she thought were healthy actually have more calories than a burger once the dressing and tasty add ons are factored in.

She is surprised by the calories associated with some of the fries she has taken for granted and there are some items that she now totally avoids, “I remember looking up one burger special and found it was something like 1,100 calories – without the fries and drink.”

The good news is Alyssa doesn’t like pop so she doesn’t have a huge worry about sugar adding to any potential obesity problem.

“There are some places I just won’t go anymore,” said the 15 year-old, “Some food items I just can’t eat now that I know more about them.”

Has she noticed any changes in her family?

“My dad is always asking me to look stuff up when we eat out. He changes his mind about food all the time because of what my iTouch says.” Alyssa smiles. “We eat at home a lot more now.”

Alyssa’s mom, Nancy, has also noticed a difference; “I love the fact that Alyssa is taking ownership in her decisions. She’s recognizing at an early age that what she does today can affect her future. Now if only I could convince her brother it’s important.”

This is just one true story of how mobile technology is empowering people to make better choices. For the diabetic, mobile technology can allow you to monitor your glucose levels, make digital notes and even send data to an off-site tracking location. Some diabetics will even forward their data to their primary care physician for input when needed.

As more and more people accept the use of mobile technology they may find these devices can place vital information at their fingertips in between all of the games, music, emails and Facebook posts.

These devices have also made it possible for many diabetics to assume a greater level of freedom simply because they are no longer tied to bulky testing equipment and data storage issues.

“My grandma died from diabetes a couple of year ago,” Alyssa says as she looks at a picture of her grandmother from 2005 on her iTouch. “Every day she inspires me to make better choices. I know that sounds weird, but somehow it helps.”

Alyssa has two aunts with diabetes and although she is young and looks the picture of health Alyssa realizes the choices she makes today can impact her future. If you ever meet Alyssa in a restaurant you might ask her what she might recommend. You can bet the portions will be sensible and the food low in fat, sodium and calories. Oh, and she’ll be using a hand-held iTouch to pass along her wisdom.

Introducing Rock For Diabetes: A relatively new organization enlists the aid of musicians (past and present) who were diagnosed with diabetes in an effort to affect change in habits and attitudes about the disease primarily among those who are young.

The organization is known as RockForDiabetes.org, which was started by Brian Medek, who in 1983 at the age of four was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  Today the organization works with bands like the Jonas Brothers to help spread awareness of the organization as well as the disease. This isn’t especially difficult since Nick Jonas lives with the disease and has provided solid backing for the organization’s efforts. The organization hopes that support groups can be developed along with camping programs and fundraisers.

The Jonas brothers have committed to at least one fundraiser in connection with Rock For Diabetes. The site provides band interviews for listeners, which serves as a huge draw that then enables visitors to receive the information they may need in dealing with the potential of diabetes. One comment posted prominently on the site suggests, “If you take anything anyway from this, remember that 57 million Americans can avoid getting diabetes, if they just ate right with some mild exercise.”

The Rock For Diabetes site lists multiple prominent musicians who struggle(d) with diabetes.

– Nat Adderley – Jazz Musician
– Syd Barret – Singer (Pink Floyd)
– Danny Joe Brown – Singer (Molly Hatchet)
– James Brown – ‘The Godfather of Soul’
– Johnny Cash – ‘The Man in Black’
– Mark Collie – Country Singer
– David Crosby – Singer (Crosby, Stills, and Nash)
– Miles Davis – Jazz Musician
– Johnny Darrell – Country music singer
– Phife Dawg – Rapper (A Tribe Called Quest)
– Mama Cass Elliott – Singer (Mamas and the Papas)
– Ella Fitzgerald – Singer
– Mick Fleetwood – Musician (Fleetwood Mac)
– Aretha Franklin – ‘The Queen of Soul’
– Melvin Franklin – Singer
– Jerry Garcia – Singer, Musician (Grateful Dead)
– Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz Musician
– Shirley Horn – Grammy-winning Jazz singer and pianist
– Marvin Isley – Singer (The Isley Brothers
– Mahalia Jackson – Gospel Singer
– Rick James – Singer (“Super Freak” Funk Legend)
– Waylon Jennings – Country Singer
– Herbert Kahury (“Tiny Tim”) – Singer
– B.B. King – Blues Singer and Musician
– Patty LaBelle – Soul singer
– Peggy Lee – Jazz singer, Grammy winner
– Tommy Lee – Drummer (Motley Crue)
– Curtis Mayfield – Soul singer
– Bret Michaels – Singer (Poison)
– Elvis Presley – Singer and guitarist
– Jessica Stone – Singer and Actress
– Neil Young – Singer and guitarist
– Gary Valenciano – Philipinno singer
– Luther Vandross – Singer
– Norman Whitfield – Grammy winning R&B songwriter and record producer
– Nick Jonas – Singer and Guitarist (the Jonas Brothers)
– Elliot Yamin – Singer
(Source: RockForDiabates.com)

The main thrust of this organization is to work at gaining the attention of young people when there may be time to change habits before a doctor insists a change is necessary. If young people can be reached in such a cutting edge way then it may be possible to alter the destiny of some who might potentially become diabetics.

Adding the ‘cool factor’ resource of bands, branded clothing and a completely modern presentation might serve to allow young individuals more opportunity to consider the message.

Diabetic Care Takes a Road Less Traveled: What does a company that provides financial tools and online auctions to countries outside the U.S. have to do with diabetic testing supplies? Well, if your company “invests in technologies, communities and systems that facilitate trade, finance, communication and travel across international boundaries, cultures and languages” then you might be surprised what you can do for diabetics.

The company is known as One World Ventures, and a lengthy process of approvals for a subsidiary is finally allowing them to move beyond travel and financial tools to the world of diabetic testing supplies.

According to a press release issued recently One World Venture’s “manufacturing subsidiary Tutamen has applied for and received approval for exclusive distribution of the Eukare(R) blood glucose monitoring system in Mexico. The application for importation of the system was made with Mexico’s Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) and has been approved by the Mexican Secretariat of Health. The system is a critical part of the ongoing battle against Type II diabetes which has reached epidemic levels in Mexico. The Eukare(R) system is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in the U.S. and ISO and CE compliant.”

The company anticipates that its established presence in Mexico, Central America and Africa could provide ample reason to succeed in places that are not well serviced. Company officials fully expect to see in excess of $2 million in first year sales.

The release further suggests, “With this approval, One World will create a medical devices division of the company that will focus on the manufacturing and delivery of medical devices to areas where there is opportunity to provide for the underserved. Presently, the major pharmaceutical conglomerates with a much higher cost structure are the primary providers of diabetes testing supplies in Mexico.”

Mexican officials indicate diabetes will be diagnosed in 40% more cases by 2012 leaving a significant need for testing supplies for personally managed care.

One World CEO Steve Prior said, “The Eukare System allows us to distribute a quality medical device in a more cost effective manner to people who desperately need the care. It has been an arduous process getting these approvals. We anticipate shipping into Mexico very soon now that we are complete.”

Tutamen, the subsidiary of One World that is manufacturing the blood glucose monitors is based in China. One World website data indicates, “Tutamen was a startup company established in Shenzhen China in 2003. Since that date Tutamen (HK) Ltd has established itself with a core of consistent clients managed by Tutamen (HK) Ltd. The Company has also established excellent technical and manufacturing partners throughout the region. Tutamen provides comprehensive consulting services to help companies achieve rapid, sustained success in China and the US.”

Time will tell if this new venture proves a success. It does appear that the company may have the connections needed to allow for the benefit of diabetics in less populated areas of Mexico and the business model may prove strong enough to allow growth into other worldwide markets. It is also possible that the growth of One World Ventures could encourage other manufactures to develop a larger distribution base in order to successfully compete.

In either case this development provides both short term as well as long term hope that managed care in diabetes can become more available on a global scale.

Revisiting Diabetic Supply Availability: With so many changes taking place in the arena of health care it can be difficult to keep up. However, one change is already under consideration for revision. One provision for Medicaid would need to be changed in order to protect underserved members of America’s rural heritage.

Betty lives in Iowa in a small town several miles from a chain pharmacy. She has always relied on the independent small town pharmacist to help her manage her medications. In fact, Betty and the pharmacist go to the same church, but certain provisions in how diabetic medical supplies are bid would make it virtually impossible for the small town pharmacist to continue to provide the supplies. Essentially Betty will have to travel 35 miles one way to buy her supplies.

This same story could be true in places like Alaska, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana and the state list just gets longer and longer.

A bill designed to provide the greatest savings may not have taken into account the real needs of all diabetic patients. According to DrugStoreNews.com two lawmakers are determined to do something about it. “Reps. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Mike Rogers, R-Mich, have introduced the Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act, a bill that exempts small pharmacies from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ final competitive bidding program for Medicare Part B durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies.”

The struggle for small pharmacists is they do not have enough business to offer the sharp discounts a larger retail pharmacist can. If they could offer the same prices they would likely lose money on each sale. Since they don’t have the same buying power as larger retail counterparts they remain at a distinct disadvantage in how a price can be assigned by Medicaid services. The article from Drug Store News continues, “Small community pharmacies — currently classified by the Small Business Administration’s definition as having annual sales of $7 million dollars or less — would be able to maintain the pharmacist-senior patient relationship if this bill becomes law, since it would keep healthcare options for seniors who use DMEPOS, particularly those patients living in underserved areas.”

In a small community pharmacy in Kansas, Angie has been helping her neighbors understand drug interactions and drug benefits for years, yet she is faced with the disturbing possibility that her patrons may be required to use mail order or travel in order to get the same information and prescriptions from a larger and less familiar source. Bruce Roberts, NCPA (National Community Pharmacists Association) EVP and CEO agrees, “This legislation allows seniors to continue obtaining essential medical supplies like diabetes testing strips from their local community pharmacy. The current competitive bidding program favors larger healthcare providers at the expense of smaller ones like community pharmacies. As a result many seniors who get these supplies from community pharmacies could be forced to travel many miles or go through mail order without the face-to-face consultation that helps maximize health outcomes.”

If Welch and Rogers are successful in their Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act it will likely mean a greater comfort level in the way diabetic supplies are acquired by those on Medicare and Medicaid. While we don’t supply a political call to action you are certainly welcome to contact your representative and let him or her know how you feel about the availability of diabetic supplies to all Americans.

Joslin Clinic: The Joslin Diabetes Center is part of the Joslin Clinic. The clinic was one of the first and most respected diabetes care centers in the world. They have spent billions of dollars on diabetes research The Joslin Diabetes Center is the only center in the world that has multiple focuses. They research diabetes causes and more treatments, they care for countless patients and they educate families on diabetes.

Joplin’s research team is dedicated solely to diabetes all over to word. They have more than 300 scientists at Joslin that are looking for ways to prevent, treat and cure both types of diabetes and the complications that come with them. Already they have taken steps to improve diabetes care throughout the world. They have recognized that tight blood glucose control can slow and even prevent diabetes complications. They have created treatments so that women who have diabetes can go to have safe pregnancies and deliver healthy babies. They have also managed to bring out laser surgery for diabetic eye disease. Joslin has been awarded recognition from some of the top diabetes associations such as the American Diabetes Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Joslin Clinic is the home of a program called JoslinCare. This program promotes lifelong health in those who have diabetes through medical care, patient education and the prevention and the management of complications. JoslinCare’s team is experts in all parts of diabetes including adult and pediatric diabetes. They can also help educate diabetics and their families on kidney disease, eye care, and mental issues and even help those who are pregnant. JoslinCare also offers support for kids and their families. They deal with children of all ages, from very young children and school age children to teens. This is a one of a kind program that is no where else.

Lastly Joslin Clinic host to the Joslin’s Strategic Initiatives Division. This division was created in 1998 and it focuses on improving the quality of diabetes care around the world by educating people. They offer Joslin’s professional education programs that reach nearly 35,000 physicians and other professionals every year. This program helps healthcare providers set a better standard of diabetes care for their communities. The Joslin’s Disease Management Program is just that. If offers tools to people to help reduce short and long term complications and increase the quality of life in a diabetic. It helps reduce patient times in hospitals and helps reduce lost time from work. This program reaches more physicians al over the world than any other one. Educating health care professionals and educating diabetics is the most important thing to the Joslin clinic.

Perhaps one of the best things about Joslin is that they work with your primary care physician. The team of experts that you work with through Joslin will be in touch with your physician to help you manage your diabetes. You will be going to appointments at Joslin, but in-between you will still see your doctor to keep your diabetes under control. Joslin works with every aspect of your life to help make sure that you live a long and comfortable, complications free life.

Diabetes Complication and Prevention Part 2: Just because diabetes is diagnosed it doesn’t mean that significant health issues that are complications of diabetes can’t be prevented. The center for Disease Control (CDC) offers another short list of complications due to diabetes along with a comprehensive look at prevention aids in managing your long-term health.

Other complications

• Uncontrolled diabetes often leads to biochemical imbalances that can cause acute life threatening events, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar (nonketotic) coma.
• People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses. Once they acquire these illnesses, they often have worse prognoses. For example, they are more likely to die with pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have diabetes.
• Persons with diabetes aged 60 years or older are 2–3 times more likely to report an inability to walk one-quarter of a mile, climb stairs, do housework, or use a mobility aid compared with persons without diabetes in the same age group.

Preventing diabetes complications

Diabetes can affect many parts of the body and can lead to serious complications such as blindness, kidney damage, and lower-limb amputations. Working together, people with diabetes, their support network, and their health care providers can reduce the occurrence of these and other diabetes complications by controlling the levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids, and by receiving other preventive care practices in a timely manner.

Glucose control

• Studies in the United States and abroad have found that improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general, every percentage point drop in A1c blood test results (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%) can reduce the risk of microvascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by 40%.
• In patients with type 1 diabetes, intensive insulin therapy has long-term beneficial effects on the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Blood pressure control

• Blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke) among persons with diabetes by 33% to 50%, and the risk of microvascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by approximately 33%.
• In general, for every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, the risk for any complication related to diabetes is reduced by 12%.

Control of blood lipids

• Improved control of LDL cholesterol can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%.

Preventive care practices for eyes, feet, and kidneys

• Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.
• Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%.
• Detecting and treating early diabetic kidney disease by lowering blood pressure can reduce the decline in kidney function by 30% to 70%.
• Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are more effective in reducing the decline in kidney function than other blood pressure lowering drugs.
• In addition to lowering blood pressure, ARBs reduce proteinuria, a risk factor for developing kidney disease, by 35%, similar to the reduction achieved by ACE inhibitors.

By spending time with your primary care physician you may be able to develop ways to effectively monitor and adapt your personal lifestyle in an effort to avoid many of the long-term issues that can prove problematic to diabetics. The end result is a healthier lifestyle with an eye toward premier self-management.

Overweight Girls Can Become Diabetic in Adulthood: Girls who are overweight heading into adulthood run a greater risk of developing diabetes as an adult. According to a new study if those girls can lose the weight before becoming an adult they may be able to substantially reduce the potential risk of diabetes development.

According to a recent report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “The study was conducted by researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Along with the NICHD, two other NIH institutes, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases provided funding for the analysis.

The study followed 109,172 female nurses from 1989 to 2005, noting how many developed diabetes during that time. An initial survey collected information about the women’s health, history and lifestyle habits. One question asked them to pick which of a series of diagrams best matched their body shape at ages 5, 10 and 20. The series of nine line drawings depicted female silhouettes of different sizes, ranging from gaunt (size 1) to obese (size 9). The nurses were also asked to provide their height and current weight and to estimate their weight when they were 18. Every two years after the initial survey, the women submitted follow-up information including whether they developed diabetes.

The findings were also released through the June 2010 online edition of Diabetes Care.

This long-running study, “found that the nurses who were overweight as girls were more likely to become diabetic as adults. Women who indicated that their size at age 5 matched or exceeded the size 6 figure were more than twice as likely to develop diabetes as those who recalled matching the size 2 figure. The women indicating the size 6 or above at age 10 were 2.57 times as likely to develop diabetes as adults. Those who reported a body mass index of more than 30 (considered obese) at age 18 were almost nine times more likely to develop diabetes than their normal-weight counterparts (BMI of 18–19).”

The statistics in this study suggest that managing weight prior to adulthood can be very important in decreasing the likelihood of diabetes. “In the study, the researchers also examined the combined effect of extra weight at various ages. Compared with women who were not overweight at key ages in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, those who indicated they were overweight at all three ages were 15 times more likely to develop diabetes. Conversely, women who recalled being overweight at age 10 but not overweight as adults were no more likely to become diabetic than their peers who had been normal-weight children.

“When the women entered the study, they averaged 34 years old. At that time, they were asked to recall their weight at age 18. The researchers found that women who gained weight after age 18 also increased their diabetes risk. Those who gained more than 25 pounds increased their diabetes risk more than 20 times. On the other hand, women who recalled being overweight or obese at age 18 and subsequently lost 10 pounds or more decreased their risk by more than half, compared with overweight or obese women who maintained that weight as an adult.”

While this may have ominous overtones for those girls who may be overweight the predominate feature of this report is that the potential effects of being overweight can be reversed, and the potential of diabetes limited, if the young girl and her guardians work to develop a plan for weight loss while the individual is still young.

Reality TV Does Much for Diabetic Awareness: Diabetic celebrities were recently celebrated as newsworthy. Both are musically inclined and both competed on national television for the honor of being selected as top contestant on their respective shows. One took first place while the other was runner up. Two lives, two separate shows, one common theme. Diabetes.

Bret Michaels, lead singer for Poison is a Type 1 diabetic. He struggled as a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice with his health and was ultimately admitted to the hospital for observation and treatment. Although weakened by his condition Michaels arrived as one of the final two contestants on the show. In the end he was selected as Donald Trump’s apprentice. His award? Michael’s was able to present his charity with $390,000. His charity? The American Diabetes Association (ADA).

According to the ADA Michael’s “chose the American Diabetes Association as his charity during this season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” The money that Bret has raised on the show will help support the American Diabetes Association, leading provider of diabetes camps.” This doesn’t take into account the platform Michael’s was able to use to bring awareness to the disease through national television.

Michael’s wasn’t the only musician vying for top spot in a reality television series. The second is also a musician who suffers from Type 1 diabetes. Her name is Crystal Bowersox and she sounds a bit like Janice Joplin. She was a crowd favorite on American Idol from day one, but in the end she was runner up. However, if history is any indication sometimes the runner up ultimately has a greater career than the winner. Only time will tell.

Bowersox struggle with Type 1 diabetes was honored at a church in her hometown of Elliston, Ohio. Trinity United Church of Christ in Elliston played host to weekly viewing’s of the cities favorite daughter. Ellison itself is said to have fewer than 20 homes, but by the time the season finale aired there were more people at the church than live in the town. The church developed special shirts in support of Bowersox and to date they have sold 4,000. Bowersox has also inspired the church to do more. They have provided support to local Diabetes Youth Services.

There aren’t many who have followed American Idol that aren’t aware of the fact that Bowersocks was a diabetic. Her talent, like Michael’s was strong enough to bring her to the top of list of competitors. Bowersox has publicly stated that she counts it a priority to use her new notoriety to help spread the news about diabetes.

Michael’s has been dealing with a brain hemorrhage and a “warning” stroke. He now plans to under heart surgery for a newly diagnosed hole in his heart.

In both instances of Celebrity Apprentice and American Idol two key contenders have done much to raise awareness of what has become a growing phenomenon. While there are fewer people who live with Type 1 diabetes the television shows have helped to demonstrate that the disease is something that an individual can both live with and still succeed in amazing ways.

By association the appearance of Bowersocks and Michaels has provided the opportunity for individuals to gain a greater awareness of Type 2 diabetes. The successes represented by these two artists should spark some encouragement in those who are diabetic. Yes, there are many things that need to be taken care of in health management, but life doesn’t have to end following a diagnosis of diabetes. Perhaps that’s the best message these artists have brought to the American public.

Diabetics and the New Aspirin Advice: There have been numerous reports and studies that have recommended low dose aspirin for those over the age of 40. New data finds at least three major health organizations revising their recommendations in some pretty significant ways. One of the organizations is the American Diabetes Association.

HealthDay recently reported, “According to a joint statement by the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology, only male diabetics over 50 and female diabetics over 60 who are at risk for a heart attack or stroke should be taking aspirin as a preventive.”

Dr. M. Sue Kirkman, senior vice president for medical affairs and community information at the ADA was quoted by HealthDay, “Previously, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended aspirin to prevent heart attacks and stroke in most people with diabetes over the age of 40. However, more recent studies suggest that the benefits of aspirin are modest, and that aspirin likely would be best for people at very high risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Kirkman also said those at risk include, “Adults with diabetes at increased risk include most men over age 50, and women over age 60, who have one or more of the following additional major risk factors: smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol or a family history of premature cardiovascular diseases.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said, “People with diabetes are at three times the increased risk of cardiovascular events compared with people without diabetes. Among diabetics over 65, it’s estimated that 68 percent will die from heart disease and 16 percent from stroke.”

The long-term use of aspirin can lead to bleeding in the stomach and brain making it a little less advisable to use the product on a regular basis at the age of 40. In other words where once low dose aspirin was thought to be a perfect companion to good health it now appears it should be taken only in specific circumstances and perhaps on the advise of a primary care physician.

Dr. Michael Pignone, chief of the general medicine division and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina adds a slightly different wrinkle to the story; “Taking low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease is reasonable for adults with diabetes who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and not at increased risk for bleeding.” This is one of the very specific circumstances discussed in the last paragraph.

Pignone also said, “People with diabetes should talk to their physicians about their cardiovascular risk and what they should be doing to try to reduce it to a manageable level. This includes the decision about aspirin, but also blood pressure control, [cholesterol-lowering] statins, and smoking cessation.”

Due to the complexity of the needs of diabetics all factors should be considered. Kirkman advised, “For those at relatively low risk, the risks of aspirin probably outweigh the potential benefits. For those at high risk, aspirin should be encouraged. The strong recommendation to use aspirin in patients with a history of cardiovascular events still stands.”

While the experts still feel there is ample reason to invite diabetic patients to use aspirin there seems to be increasing factors that must be considered. This is in the patient’s best interest and is an ultimate determinate of better core health prospects. No one is saying that aspirin is bad, simply that the use of aspirin needs to be filtered through personal health objectives and risk factors known to your doctor.