Oct 10, 2013 | Diabetes, Endocrinology, Popular
This post was written by Gerald Bernstein, MD, Director of the Friedman Diabetes Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center.
The wonderful actor Tom Hanks said a mouthful when he told late-night talk show host David Letterman that he was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Tom Hanks to me is everyman, best characterized in his movie “Saving Private Ryan.” He looks like a regular guy and, from what I can tell from the general media, he is—not too heavy, not too thin (except for during movie roles he played as an AIDS patient and a castaway), and apparently realistic about life and work in general.
What Hanks said that is so important is that his blood sugar was somewhat elevated when he was in his 30s, meaning he had prediabetes. He was also wise enough to know that the eventual progression to clinical diabetes was inevitable. As with everything else about Hanks, this news was a piece of life and he is dealing with it. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Diabetes, Endovascular, Vascular Health
By Jeffrey M. Levine, MD, AGSF, and Michael Cioroiu, MD, FACS, CWS
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs, in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to the legs, is an often-overlooked cause of poor wound healing, particularly in elderly individuals. While PAD affects roughly 12% to 14% of the general population, it increases with age, affecting up to 20% of patients older than 75 years. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Dermatology, Diabetes, Geriatrics, Surgery
By Jeffrey M. Levine MD, and Michael Cioroiu, MD
Pressure ulcers are breaks in the skin over boney areas, such as the heel, elbows and tailbone. They occur in people who are at special risk for skin breakdown, including:
• Patients with spinal cord injuries
• People who are bed-bound with advanced dementia or chronic debilitating neurologic disease like multiple sclerosis
• Individuals with acute illness requiring stays in the intensive care unit (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Surgery
The FREEDOM clinical trial, a study of 1,900 diabetic patients, just reported in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine that diabetics with multi-vessel coronary disease who were treated with coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) fared much better than those treated with angioplasty with drug-eluting stents (percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI.) (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Diabetes, Geriatrics, Neurology
Diabetes is a disease that affects all ages. But as people get older it’s particularly difficult to deal with—especially because diabetics are more likely to develop dementia.
In an 11-year study of more than 1,000 people, 27% of those with diabetes developed dementia, compared to 20% of people with normal blood sugar levels. Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (an advanced form of dementia) are connected in ways that still aren’t completely understood. It’s thought that diabetes contributes to vascular disease, disrupting the flow of oxygen to the brain.
In the last 50 years, the number of people diagnosed has risen from 1.5 million to around 26 million, and it’s estimated that 60 million have prediabetes. So the prevalence of dementia could increase as the U.S. population ages. However, taking steps to control diabetes now may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s later. And that’s important because the treatment for dementia is very limited.
Reducing the risk of dementia is actually quite simple—it’s all about managing diabetes in the best possible way. Here are some steps that can help:
* Follow physician recommendations for monitoring blood glucose, cholesterol level and blood pressure.
* Eat healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and low-fat milk and cheese.
* Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
* Maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight can seriously reduce the negative effects of diabetes. Just 10 to 15 pounds can make a difference.
* Take a doctor-approved multivitamin to help fill nutrient gaps in the diet.
* Take medications on schedule. There are reminder alarms with a vibration feature for people who have trouble hearing. For people who have trouble opening small pill containers, there are larger, easy-to-open pill containers available. Some include magnifiers for reading medicine labels. And for people with vision problems, there are blood glucose meters that “talk.”
* Keep an updated list of medications and record important information about each one.
Diabetics can significantly reduce the risk of dementia by consistently managing their disease.
For more information and help on managing the disease and caring for elderly diabetics, visit www.friedmandiabetesinstitute.com.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Diet and Nutrition, News, Popular
Guest post by Simone Walters, MS, RD
Whether in the form of a hot beverage to keep the winter chill at bay or as delicious candies received as gifts for Valentine’s Day, it would seem that chocolate holds a special place in everyone’s heart this time of year—perhaps year-round if you fashion yourself a chocoholic! There have also been several reports in recent years regarding the health benefits of chocolate, music to the ears of chocolate lovers everywhere. In spite of these health benefits, it is still quite a stretch to say that chocolate is good for you. (more…)
This post was written by Gerald Bernstein, MD, Director of the Friedman Diabetes Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center.
