Significant advances in diabetes medicine have been made, but many unmet needs remain, says GlobalData

Advances in diabetes medicine, such as  anti-diabetic oral medications, incretin therapies, and novel insulin formulations have been made over the past century, but many  unmet needs remain for this complex and difficult-to-treat disease, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

World Diabetes Day (14^th November) aims to improve awareness of hyperglycemia (the major hallmark of the disease) and its effects.

According to interviewed Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), there are four pressing unmet needs in the diabetes space. These unmet needs apply broadly for both Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).

Dr. Jesus Cuaron, Managing Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “There is a need for additional treatments that provide both glycemic and non-glycemic benefits, especially since the control of diabetes comorbidities is less than optimal in most patients. Incretin-based therapies and Sodium Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors (SGLTIs) are partially addressing this need in T2D, by inducing weight loss, lowering blood pressure, and providing CV benefit.”

Reducing the occurrence of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, in insulin-dependent diabetic patients is another vital area in the diabetes space that requires ongoing attention. Currently, all available insulin therapies are associated with the risk of hypoglycemia, despite the fact that new generation insulins such as Novo Nordisk’s Tresiba have lowered the risk.

Dr. Cuaron continues: “The issue of significantly decreased compliance among patients using injectable therapies such as insulin continues to be partially addressed by drug developers. Hypoglycemia is one of the top safety concerns associated with diabetics taking insulin. But most attempts to bring a commercially successful non-injectable insulin to market have been met with failure, as seen with Pfizer’s Exubera.”

The most pressing unmet need in the diabetes space is the development of breakthrough treatments that address the underlying cause of the disease. In T1D, this would be a treatment that  would interfere with either the etiology or the pathogenic processes involved in the eradication of the β  cells. In T2D, the treatment would have to effectively target the root of the disease, insulin resistance.

Dr. Cuaron concludes: “Whether or not a truly curative treatment will be discovered and developed is yet to be seen. In the meantime, developers should continue focusing on tackling the multiple unmet needs that remain in this space.”

How Diabetes Affects Your Bones?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that’s very serious, and unfortunately, is a widespread disorder affecting millions.

However, what most people don’t know is that diabetes can affect your bones by damaging their overall health, increasing the risk of fracture, and more.

Additionally, diabetes can increase your risk of developing many bone or joint disorders.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a well-known disorder that can develop due to diabetes as well. People with osteoporosis have weak bones that are prone to fractures, which are, as we have already mentioned, probable complications caused by type 1 diabetes.

There’s both bad and good news when it comes to this disorder. The bad news; rarely is it noticed before it gets to more advanced stages. But the good news is that a simple, healthy lifestyle can be enough to treat it. Enough light exercise, a healthy diet with lots of vitamin D and calcium will be more than enough. Medications do exist, but the need for them only arises in more extreme cases.

Neuropathic Arthropathy

More commonly known as Charcot joint; this is a disorder that occurs when a joint gets injured due to nerve damage, which is a common complication of diabetes. The disease usually affects the feet and can be noticed when the joints start feeling numb, warm, red, and swollen.

The symptoms usually look worse than they are and can be treated easily through light exercises and with the use of orthotic support, as long as discovered early.

Frozen Shoulder

The frozen shoulder condition usually affects one side of the back, and the common symptoms are pain and a limited range of movement. The cause is unknown, but diabetes is one of the risk factors.

If the problem is caught early on, with aggressive physical therapies, the shoulder can still function normally.

Diabetic Hand Syndrome

As the name implies, the syndrome is connected to diabetes because it most commonly occurs in people with the disease, but the exact cause of the disorder is unknown.

Here; the skin on the hand becomes waxy and thickens which eventually causes limited finger movement.

Unfortunately, the effects of diabetic hand syndrome sometimes cannot be cured, but with physical therapy and management of blood glucose levels, the progression can be slowed.

Other Effects

Several other bone conditions commonly are caused by diabetes, but most of them come as a result of other changes in the body caused by diabetes.

The main thing here is that diabetes can and does cause problems for your bones and joints, which is why it’s essential that you manage the disorder. What’s more, a healthier lifestyle is also vital if you want to keep your bones in good condition and less prone to fractures or certain loss of their strength.

If you want to know more, or if you require help with bone-related issues, feel free to contact the Florida Orthopaedic Institute and consult with one of our specialists at your earliest convenience.

EYE OPENING WAYS TO GET YOUNGER LOOKING PEEPERS THROUGH SURGICAL AND AT HOME SOLUTIONS

www.psspecialists.com

Your eyes are not only the windows to your soul, but your age as well.  In fact, studies have shown that when strangers are asked to judge how old a person is, the eye area is one of the biggest influences. The delicate skin around our eyes is usually the first place to get noticeable fine lines/wrinkles and even brown discoloration. The causes are exposure to sun and pollution, stress, and late nights. Here are some doable tips from Board Certified San Francisco area plastic surgeon Dr. Stanley Poulos to keep the skin around your eyes protected and combat premature-aging.

Be preventative- Botox and fillers can dramatically improve the appearance of the eye area without surgery. “If a patient has a volume loss or tear trough (deep groove) under the eyelids, we inject fillers such as Juvéderm or Restylane,” says Dr. Poulos. Dr. Poulos adds, “This produces volume to the area and provides support and lift to smooth out lines and wrinkles. Botox and other neuromodulators relaxes muscles to soften lines and to slow down their deepening by weakening the way they wrinkle the skin like an accordion. The cost depends on amount injected and number of injection sites.”

No Injection Cosmetic Procedures- There are a variety of laser treatments available that allow skincare professionals to target certain areas and treat certain conditions. Dr. Poulos explains that, “Resurfacing lasers, like Fractionated Erbium or CO2 can tighten the skin around the eyes with up to a week of downtime.

The Surgical Route- Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids. Surgery can be performed on either the upper and lower lids, or both.

Whether you want to improve your appearance or are experiencing functional problems with your eyelids, eyelid surgery can rejuvenate the area surrounding your eyes.

Specifically, eyelid surgery can treat:

Loose or sagging skin that creates folds of the upper eyelid, sometimes blocking   vision

Excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the eyelids

Bags under the eyes

Drooping lower eyelids that reveal white below the iris

Excess skin of the lower eyelid

Target Key Spots: “There’s a muscle under the tail of the eyebrow that pulls the brow down, so a tiny drop of Botox, placed very precisely, helps pop up the brow and give you more of an arch in a few days. Dr. Poulos also likes Juvederm under the outer half of the brow. He explains, “We lose fat in our eyebrows over time, which makes everything sag. Replacing the fat pad with filler helps prop up the brows and lids back where they used to be.”

Non- Surgical Routes

Protect yourself from the Sun- Wear a broad-brimmed hat and use UV-protective sunglasses with lenses large enough to protect the eyes and the eyelids. Polarize lenses reduce glare and are particularly important when driving. Use sunscreen designed specifically for around the eyes to avoid stinging and burning. UV rays can penetrate clouds, so protect your eyes and eyelids every day.

Eye Cream- In addition to moisturizing, eye creams can offer other benefits, as well. Dr. Poulos says to, “Eye creams with growth factors and retinal can help increase cell turnover. Retinol helps to combat wrinkles, thicken the dermis, boost collagen, and distribute pigment more evenly. Use an eye cream containing retinol at night because it’s light-sensitive.”

Eating too much salt- Some people notice their eyes get puffy when they eat a lot of salt.  Under eye bags are intensified when you have a diet that is high in sodium. To reduce puffiness and swelling, put something cool over eyelids, like cucumber slices, slices of raw potatoes, moist, refrigerated tea bags, or chilled spoons.

Over plucking your eyebrows- Repeated tweezing can result in scarring of the hair follicles, preventing hair from ever re-growing. “Be judicious when plucking,” says Dr. Poulos.  “With age, eyebrow hairs become thinner.”

Eat an Iron-Rich Diet

An iron deficiency could be the reason for your under-eye bags and dark circles. Make them go away by incorporating iron-rich foods like spinach, kidney beans and dark chocolate into your diet.

Relax With Green Tea

Fight eye bags with tea bags! Resting cold green tea pouches will help reduce the appearance of puffiness. The combination of a cool compress with the tannins in the tea may help constrict the blood vessels and reduce swelling. Caffeine in the tea also helps reduce swelling.

To Minimize Dark Circles

Seek Out Vitamin C: Dr. Poulos suggest that you, “Look for an eye cream with ascorbyl glucoside, a potent vitamin C derivative that lightens dark circles and reverses aging dyspigmentation. Also, if you have volume loss under the eyes, light can get trapped in the folds and give the impression of shadows. In this case, we will often utilize a transfer of your own fat from abdomen or hips, mix it with your centrifuged blood (protein rich plasma or prp) and inject via a tiny needle to add thickness and minimize the light reflex “erasing”  the dark circles.

Strengthen With Retinol: “Dark circles can be caused by the under-eye skin getting thin over time, so the underlying muscle is visible. Dr. Poulos often prescribes Renova to build collagen and help thicken the skin around the eyes. If you have sensitive skin, start with an over the counter retinol-containing product.

About Dr. Stanley Poulos

Dr. Poulos is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Co-Founder with Yngvar Hvistendahl, M.D of Plastic Surgery Specialists recognized as one of the premier aesthetic surgery clinics in Northern California.

Dr. Poulos helped pioneer the quick lift facial rejuvenation surgery in California and has extensive experience in body contour procedures. With over 30-years’ experience in aesthetic procedures, Dr. Poulos has been on the forefront of innovative procedures such as the quick-lift facial rejuvenation, mommy makeover, and vaser lipo-contouring. Dr. Poulos combines his consistent knowledge of new treatment options with his mastery of facial and body symmetry.

His recent focus has been on the gastric balloon, a groundbreaking, non-surgical, medically assisted, outpatient procedure offering weight loss to those seeking to lose between 30 and 75 pounds who may be ineligible for the more invasive gastric bypass surgery. This exciting new procedure allows patients to achieve optimal health and, when combined with exercise and proper nutrition, the results have been exceptional.

A graduate of the University of Texas Medical School, Dr. Poulos completed his internship and residency at UC San Francisco. He completed surgery and plastic surgery training in San Francisco prior to entering private practice in Marin County where he co-founded PSS (www.psspecialists.com)

Growing Hope for Huntington Disease with Amaryllis

(OTTAWA, ON) November 12, 2018 – For almost 30 years Valerie Nabb has been volunteering to sell Amaryllis flowers to raise money for families affected by Huntington disease (HD). For the past 6 years she has been the one in charge of organizing the Ottawa Chapter of the Huntington Society of Canada’s (HSC) orders and distributing them. For Nabb, selling Amaryllis is one of the easiest ways to make her contribution to the cause that directly affects her family.

“The flowers are very easy to sell,” says Nabb. “Sometimes it is hard to just ask people for money, but when you are giving them a beautiful flower in return it is easy. The Amaryllis sells itself!”

The Amaryllis is the signature flower of the Huntington Society of Canada. Volunteers sell bulb kits to raise vital funds for programs in HD research, services and education. Each year, around 20,000 amaryllis bulbs bloom coast to coast, across Canada, inspiring hope of a world free of HD. Since the sales began in 1985, HSC volunteers have raised well over five million dollars through Amaryllis sales.

All Amaryllis volunteers have their own reasons for selling and ways to sell the bulbs. “For me, selling is habit now. It is my primary commitment to HSC. But more than that, I am a gardener so the flower itself is my favourite part. Amaryllis gives me a chance to garden in the fall and winter!” says Nabb. “It is also a super convenient gift for Christmas. I give or sell a kit to everyone close to me – my neighbours, hairdresser, book club and relatives.”

If you would like to help HSC reach their goal of 20,000 amaryllis bulbs blooming coast to coast across Canada, please visit www.inspirehope.ca.

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Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and incurable. About one in every 7,000 Canadians has HD and approximately one in every 5,500 is at-risk of developing the disease. Many more are touched by HD whether as a caregiver, a family member, or a friend. Huntington disease is often described as having the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS – simultaneously. As the disease progresses, a person with Huntington’s become less able to manage movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.

The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is a respected leader in the worldwide effort to find a meaningful treatment for HD. HSC is the only Canadian health charity dedicated to providing help and hope for families dealing with HD across Canada. HSC aspires for a world free from Huntington disease. For more information about HD and HSC visit www.huntingtonsociety.ca.

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•  Eat Organic. Rodriguez recommends consuming organic produce when available. “Conventional produce could contain harmful herbicides and pesticides, which have been shown to negatively affect both male and female fertility,” Rodriguez says. “Studies have shown that  organic vegetables and fruits may have more nutritional value as well.”
• Cold-water fish. Fatty acids aid in the production of hormones, reduce inflammation and help regulate the menstrual cycle. Fish supplies omega 3, an essential fatty acid. Rodriguez says stay away from deep-water fish, such as tuna and swordfish, due to their potential concentrations of mercury. “Focus on cold-water fish such as wild Alaskan salmon, cod and halibut,” she says.
• Grass-fed organic meat. This is a great source of essential fatty acids and protein while being low in saturated fat. Rodriguez says women should eschew conventionally raised cattle that contain high levels of added hormones and antibiotics.
• Superfoods. Rodriguez suggests Royal jelly, which comes in capsules or in a base of honey and is rich in numerous vitamins, calcium, iron and has all the essential amino acids; and maca root, a Peru-produced superfood that helps increase egg and sperm health. Superfoods are easy to add to your diet as they are taken in small amounts and can be added to nearly any recipe.
• Eat your greens. Dark leafy vegetables are packed with minerals, antioxidants and vitamins; all essential to healthy fertility. Examples of dark leafy green vegetables that are readily available over the holidays are spinach, swiss chard, kale, arugula, and collard greens. Green veggies are rich in fiber, which Rodriguez says helps regulate blood-sugar levels and remove excess estrogens from the body, which may in turn help to reduce fertility issues.These vegetables are easier to incorporate in to the diet than you may think. They can be eaten in salads, juices, sauteed, or added to fruit smoothies and warm winter soups.

Workout Injury? How to Heal Your Body and Mind

Exercise ideally is supposed to make you feel as fit as a fiddle. That’s not to say that accidents aren’t at all possible, though. Occasional workout injuries are practically inevitable for exercise buffs. If you want to recover your mind and body after a frustrating workout injury, there are various options that can do wonders for you.

Visit a Doctor as Soon as Possible

If you injure yourself in any way during an exercise session, you have to visit a doctor without delay. The longer you wait, the more serious your injury may become. The right doctor can assess your situation and help you get on track to a healthy and well-rounded recovery process. Medical care is undoubtedly the most critical component of healing.

Find out about Physical Therapy Sessions

It can sometimes be difficult for bodies to bounce back after workout injuries. If you experience mobility issues after a workout injury, you may want to ask your doctor about seeing a physical therapist for regular sessions. This form of training can do a lot for people who have trouble moving their bodies post-trauma. It can often help people feel as good as new again.

Seek Counseling

Recovering from an injury can be taxing emotionally for many people. If you want to heal your mind, you should think about getting counseling from a qualified and compassionate professional. Some companies, like https://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com/, know that counseling can be particularly helpful for people who have worries that relate to lawsuit settlement funding and all kinds of issues that may be related to their injuries. Counseling can help nurture inner peace. It can help you deal with all sorts of issues that are stopping you from healing fully, too.

Learn about Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Funding

Knowledge can be a useful thing for individuals who are struggling to recover physically and emotionally after workout injuries. If you want to empower yourself, you should find out everything you can about medical malpractice lawsuit funding. This type of knowledge can safeguard you in the event of injuries that pop up in the future. It can help you feel a lot more self-assured and confident as well.

Healing can be one of the most amazing and precious feelings in the world. If you’re trying to get through a workout injury, your main priority has to be the healing process. You have to put equal attention into recovering your brain and your physique as well.

WHY BINGE HOLIDAY DRINKING IS ANYTHING BUT MERRY

www.beachway.com

’Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry. Some of us, however, take those festive suggestions to dangerous lengths and end up binge drinking. While one night of imbibing multiple drinks may only leave you with a hangover, using the holidays as an excuse to drink abusively from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve can lead to alcoholism and other negative brain/body effects.

Why do people drink too much during the holidays?

“A lot of traditions at this time of year involve alcohol,” says Carrie Carlton LCSW at Beachway Therapy in Boynton Beach, Florida.  “You’re with friends and family who you may not see all the time, and you want to have a good time, and so you celebrate with a few drinks. This isn’t harmful as long as you’re aware of your limits.” Unfortunately, that can be more difficult when you’re not used to drinking a lot, as well as when you’re guzzling seasonal cocktails that you’re unaccustomed to.

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is typically defined as more than 5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women within a short span of time, usually 2 hours. The safest course of action, if you must imbibe, is to pace yourself and space out your drinks to give your liver time to break down the alcohol.

What is "holiday heart syndrome"?

Holiday heart syndrome is a term for a reason. The name was coined in 1978 after doctors in New Jersey started noticing patients showing up to emergency rooms with arrhythmias after bouts of heavy drinking, usually during weekends or holidays. These patients were apparently healthy with no history of heart problems or other risk factors. The most common arrhythmia seen with holiday heart syndrome is atrial fibrillation, a condition that increases the chance of stroke and often requires people to be on lifelong blood thinners. Dr. Duy Nguyen is a psychiatrist at Beachway.  He explains that, “Fortunately, holiday heart syndrome can resolve if the drinking stops.  Despite the widely held belief that alcohol is good for your heart, heavy drinking at a holiday party may be enough to cause an arrhythmia and land you in the hospital.”

The risk of alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is more common than people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an average of six people a day die from alcohol poisoning and three quarters of them are between the ages of 35-64. Most of them are men.

Dr. Nguyen explains that, “Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, so apart from the nausea and vomiting that comes with over drinking, alcohol can slow your breathing, drop your core body temperature and cause seizures. How much alcohol it takes to put your life at risk depends, to a large extent, on your height, weight, when your last meal was and a number of other factors, so each person is different.”

Immune System:

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much.   Drinking a lot on a single occasion can slow your body’s ability to ward off infections.

Heart:

Alcohol can damage the heart, even just drinking too much on one occasion, causing the following problems:

High blood pressure

Stroke

Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat

Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle

Liver:

Drinking takes a heavy toll on the liver and can lead to a variety of problems including:

Liver failure (drinking too much over time)

Steatosis, or fatty liver

Fibrosis

Cirrhosis

Alcoholic hepatitis

Cancer:

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including:

Mouth

Esophagus

Throat

Liver

Breast

To enjoy a safe holiday celebration, consider these tips:

Abstain.  You do not need alcohol to be the life of the party.

Pace yourself. Avoid binge-drinking. Spread out the consumption of your drinks, consider one drink an hour.

Avoid drinks with unknown alcohol content or mixing alcohol with energy drinks. Caffeine in energy drinks or sodas can mask the effects of alcohol, causing people to drink more alcohol that than intended/are aware.

Substitute alcoholic drinks for non-alcoholic drinks. Consider drinking water between each alcoholic beverage to slow your pace and dilute the alcohol in your bloodstream.

Don’t forget to eat food. Starch-heavy foods soak up the alcohol and will mitigate the effects of alcohol on your system.

Secure a designated driver. Keep in mind that a designated driver stays 100 percent sober - not the person who drank the least or the least.

About Beachway Therapy Center http://www.beachway.com

Beachway provides a continuum of care, from PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) to Outpatient services. The facility offers a fully individualized treatment plan that meets the clinical and medical needs of each client usually lasting between 30 and 90 days.  Beachway provides an extremely low client to therapist ratio and under high-level professional supervision, clients can begin to recover in a safe, residential-like environment.  CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) motivational interviewing, addiction counseling, 12-Step orientation, DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy,) trauma-informed practices and a wide variety of supportive group therapies are offered.