Lifestyle factors and mortality risk in individuals with diabetes mellitus: are the associations different from those in individuals without diabetes?

Springer: 1/1/13

Aims/hypothesis

Thus far, it is unclear whether lifestyle recommendations for people with diabetes should be different from those for the general public. We investigated whether the associations between lifestyle factors and mortality risk differ between individuals with and without diabetes.

Methods

Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), a cohort was formed of 6,384 persons with diabetes and 258,911 EPIC participants without known diabetes. Joint Cox proportional hazard regression models of people with and without diabetes were built for the following lifestyle factors in relation to overall mortality risk: BMI, waist/height ratio, 26 food groups, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity, smoking. Likelihood ratio tests for heterogeneity assessed statistical differences in regression coefficients. Read more

Use of Behavioral Change Techniques in Web-Based Self-Management Programs for Type 2 Diabetes Patients: Systematic Review

Journal of Medical Internet Research: 12/13

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and cardiovascular risks. Without proper treatment, T2DM can lead to long-term complications. Diabetes self-management is recognized as the cornerstone of overall diabetes management. Web-based self-management programs for T2DM patients can help to successfully improve patient health behaviors and health-related outcomes. Theories can help to specify key determinants of the target behaviors and behavior change strategies required to arrive at the desired health outcomes, which can then be translated into specific behavioral techniques or strategies that patients can learn to apply in their daily life. From previous reviews of a wide range of online diabetes self-management tools and programs, it appears that it is still unclear which behavioral change techniques (BCTs) are primarily used and are most effective when it comes to improving diabetes self-management behaviors and related health outcomes. Read more

High obesity, diabetes rates makes Texas one of country’s least healthy states

San Antonio Business Journal: Dec 11, 2013

Texas ranked the 36th state in the United States for overall health in 2013, according to United Health Foundation’s 2013 America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities.

The Lone Star State slipped from the 35th spot last year.

The report nicked Texas on its high prevalence of physical inactivity, high percentage of uninsured residents and the large disparity in health status by educational attainment.

However, some of Texas’ strength includes its low rate of drug deaths, few poor mental health days per month and low rate of cancer deaths. Read More

Diabetes as a disease of accelerated cognitive aging: role of diabetes interventions and implications for patient care

Future Medicine: January 2014

SUMMARY Diabetes may be viewed as a disease of accelerated cognitive aging. It is a risk factor for incident dementia, cognitive decline and cognitive dysfunction. Thus, ‘diabetes-related cognitive dysfunction’ may be viewed as another long-term complication of diabetes. This paper will briefly review the evidence supporting this, will elaborate on the implications for patient care and, finally, will describe what is known regarding the effect of existing diabetes interventions on this complication. Read More

Effective interventions to improve medication adherence in Type 2 diabetes: a systematic review

Future Medicine: January 2014

SUMMARY Aim: Medication adherence is associated with improved outcomes in diabetes. Interventions have been established to help improve medication adherence; however, the most effective interventions in patients with Type 2 diabetes remain unclear. The goal of this study was to distinguish whether interventions were effective and identify areas for future research.Methods: Medline was searched for articles published between January 2000 and May 2013, and a reproducible strategy was used. Study eligibility criteria included interventions measuring medication adherence in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Results:Twenty seven studies met the inclusion criteria and 13 showed a statistically significant change in medication adherence. Read More

Can Diabetes Be Surgically Cured? Long-Term Metabolic Effects of Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Annals of Surgery: September 18, 2013

Objective: Evaluate the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remission and metabolic risk factors.

Background: Although the impressive antidiabetic effects of bariatric surgery have been shown in short- and medium-term studies, the durability of these effects is uncertain. Specifically, long-term remission rates following bariatric surgery are largely unknown.

Methods: Clinical outcomes of 217 patients with T2DM who underwent bariatric surgery between 2004 and 2007 and had at least 5-year follow-up were assessed. Complete remission was defined as glycated hemoglobin (A1C) less than 6% and fasting blood glucose (FBG) less than 100 mg/dL off diabetic medications. Changes in other metabolic comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetic nephropathy, were assessed. Read more

Racial/ethnic differences in dementia risk among older type 2 diabetes patients: The Diabetes and Aging Study

Diabetes Care: November 22, 2013