25 January 2010

Skier qualifies for Olympics despite diabetes

Diabetes UK
Diabetes does not have to be a barrier to athletic achievement. In winter sports, it seems that having diabetes doesn't preclude young men and women from competing at the highest level. Chris Southwell, a British extreme snowboarder, has proved this time and time again. Now, a young skier with diabetes has been selected for an international competition.

Cross-country skier Kris Freeman has been named as part of the 2010 Winter Olympics ski team. The team will be competing for the chance of winning a gold medal in Vancouver next month. Kris suffers from the more rare form of diabetes, type 1, and requires daily injections of insulin to manage his condition.

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Changes in the Position of Conventional Insulin Pumps Shown to Significantly Impact Accuracy of Insulin Delivery

CNN Money
Researchers at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and University of California, Santa Barbara have concluded that changing the height of a conventional insulin pump in relation to its tubing and infusion set can significantly impact expected insulin delivery rates. Such changes can occur during routine daily activities like dressing, sleeping or showering. The study, "Siphon Effects of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Pump Delivery Performance," evaluated the siphon or hydrostatic pressure action effects on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and was published in the January issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.

"In this study we found a pronounced siphon effect in conventional insulin pumps, which caused significant fluctuations in the accuracy of insulin delivery rates when the pump position was moved higher or lower relative to its tubing and infusion site," said lead investigator Howard Zisser, MD, Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Technology at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. "Insulin pump therapy allows for precise control of insulin delivery for patients with type 1 diabetes. The unintended fluctuation in insulin delivery, which may arise from pump movement during normal daily use, can increase blood glucose variability, a risk factor for the progression of complications of diabetes. The effect of hydrostatic pressure was most significant at low basal rates and therefore these findings may be particularly important for pediatric diabetes patients, who often use insulin pumps at low basal rates."

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Lexicon diabetes drug meets mid-stage trial goal

Reuters
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc said its experimental diabetes drug met the main goals of a mid-stage trial, sending its shares soaring 46 percent in morning trade.

Data from the mid-stage study of the drug, LX4211, showed improvements in glycemic control, suggesting statistical significance in the primary and multiple secondary efficacy goals, the company said.

"Today's results lay down the foundation for partnership talks ... the primary care diabetes market is a huge opportunity for the company and they will have to partner the drug to send it across the finish line," Thomas Weisel Partners analyst Stephen Willey said by phone.

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