Cost Of Insulin May Soon Be Capped By Law : Great News For Diabetics!

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


The cost of prescription drugs has gotten so out of hand that regulators and legislators are having to step in and try to remedy the situation.  The latest effort comes from the House of Representatives, which recently passed a bill which would cap the cost of insulin.  The bill, which passed by a vote of 232-193 would cap the cost of insulin for both those on Medicare and those with private insurance at just $35 per month.  A similar bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate.  Democratic legislators are hoping to work out a compromise with Republicans to get it passed in the Senate.

 

Fountain Of Youth May Be Hiding In Common Prescription Drugs

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For centuries, humans have searched for the Fountain of Youth.  The latest search for longevity may arrive in pill form.  Scientists are now trying to extrapolate life-prolonging experiments in animals to something which would work on a human being.  Two leading candidates are metformin—a common diabetes treatment—and rapamycin, a drug currently used to prevent transplant patients from rejecting organs.  There is also a new class of drugs called senolytics.  These clear the body of senescent cells, old cells that stop dividing but don’t die.  They accumulate in tissues throughout the body and damage healthy cells and have been linked to cognitive impairment.  Let’s hope at least one of these works!

https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-you-fight-aging-scientists-are-testing-drugs-to-help-11641913275

 

Senior Obesity A Big Problem For Seniors

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Obesity is a big problem in America, with 74% of the population overweight.  As you grow older, you likely will become more sedentary which can result in senior obesity.  This can create a domino effect of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a high risk of stroke.  Lisa Young, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the author of “Finally Full, Finally Slim†recently gave a speech at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo has a number of tips to help you keep the weight off.  One of the more helpful ones is “Mindful eating is a tool to help with weight loss.  It helps you focus on your hunger and fullness levels, so you are eating because you are hungry, and you want that food – not because a big portion is in front of you.â€Â  Mindful or Intuitive eating can also help you ask yourself, “Do I like this food†or “Am I really hungry?’  This ultimately helps you eat a smaller portion and can lead to weight loss.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/health/lose-weight-healthfully-mindful-eating-wellness/index.html

Using Artificial Intelligence Or AI To Discover Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma And Diabetic Retinopathy

A doctor and patient in a room with a laptop.


Opthalmologist Michael D. Abramoff had seen the consequences of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other age-related causes of blindness which gave him an idea; could autonomous artificial intelligence make a difference with those who have diabetes or family history.  Abramoff, a University of Iowa professor, developed a state-of-the-art AI system for people with diabetes.  Dubbed IDx-DR, the system can determine whether a test taker may have diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema.  “We know how to treat it, but only 15% of people with diabetes get yearly tests,†he said.  Approved by the FDA in 2018, the testing device is now used in the offices of primary care doctors across the U.S.  For more information, see October/November 21 Issue of AARP The Magazine, page 61

Overweight Americans Should Be Screened For Diabetes At The Age Of 35

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Nearly one in seven Americans now have diabetes, a new record for the U.S.  It was a serious disease before COVID-19 and even more so now as symptoms could be more severe and the risk of death higher for those diabetics contracting the coronavirus.  Obesity in America has become a growing problem in recent years, as more of us develop a diet high in processed foods, which can be high in sugar and salt.  The popularity of fast food hasn’t helped either.  New guidelines have been issued by an expert task force (The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force) that were published in the journal JAMA suggesting that obese Americans and those with abnormally high blood sugar levels ought to be tested for diabetes starting at the young age of just 35.  That means that 40% of the adult population ought to be screened.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/health/diabetes-weight-screening.html?campaign_id=34&emc=edit_sc_20210831&instance_id=39237&nl=science-times&regi_id=52105769&segment_id=67677&te=1&user_id=7052b81671c57203c64c377c7522baa7

Carmel, CA Many Nutritionists Recommending Vitamin B12 And Vitamin D3 For Seniors

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There have been debates over whether it is prudent to take just one multivitamin per day versus taking a variety of different vitamins.  Part of it depends on what your diet looks like.  Some believe supplements are not that effective.  “When you take things out of the food matrix and you put a single ingredient into a pill, it doesn’t have the same effect,†Katherine Tucker, director of the Center for Population Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell told AARP Bulletin (June 2021, page 32).  In regards to B12 and D3, experts say that you can’t get them from plants.  In addition, as we get older, we begin to develop difficulty absorbing them in their natural form.  Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in nerve function.  A shortfall has been associated with depression, dementia, decreased cognitive function and anemia.  If you don’t get out in the sun much, a D3 supplement can be helpful.  It’s needed to maintain a healthy immune system, bones and muscles while protecting us from cognitive decline.  If you have diabetes, with a doctors note you can enroll in diabetes nutrition classes here at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP):

https://www.montagehealth.org/locations/profile/diabetes-nutrition-therapy/

They also publish a monthly schedule in the Monterey Herald with classes on fitness, estate planning, cancer and other subjects.  Many of the classes are free.

Salinas, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class

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Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.

Pebble Beach, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class

A farmers market with fresh vegetables and fruits.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.

Salinas, CA Check Out CHOMP’s Diabetes Self-Management Series

A blood glucose level chart showing the optimal levels.


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a great Diabetes Self-Management Series and the cost of the sessions may be covered by Medicare if you have a referral from a physician.  Learn more about your diabetes and the day-to-day skills needed to live a healthy life and prevent complications.  Registered dieticians and nurses will hold one-on-one sessions with you and talk about monitoring your blood sugar levels, the best diet, medication and non-medication options to keep you healthy.  Call 649-7220 for more information.

https://www.montagehealth.org/care-treatment/diabetes/

Pacific Grove, CA Join CHOMP’s Exercise Smart For Diabetes Management Class


Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, CHOMP, has a number of helpful classes, with one focusing on how to exercise to keep your Diabetes under control.  Learn how exercise can aid in diabetes management and get tips for safe, effective exercise.  The information you receive will include an overview of diabetes and special considerations for exercise for those with diabetes.  To register, go to www.chomp.org/classes.