Two new studies, just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that established weight-loss surgeries were significantly more effective than other conventional treatments for Type 2 diabetes.

Patients who had the weight-loss surgeries experienced a complete remission of their diabetes, or failing that, needed less medicine than their counterparts who stuck with traditional medical treatments along with diet and exercise. Many of the surgical patients also experienced lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

The results were startling: In the first, at the Catholic University in Rome, after two years, two groups of surgical patients had complete remission rates of 75% and 95%. None of the medically controlled patients went into remission.

A second study at the Cleveland Clinic looked at similar groups of patients. Overall, these groups had lower remission rates (partly due to a stricter definition of “remission”). But one year after surgery the two surgical groups had remission rates of 42% and 37%. Only 12% of patients receiving medical treatment went into remission. (Note: Neither study included so-called “lap band” surgery as one of the treatments, because it does not alter the shape of the stomach.)

The studies are the first to scientifically examine the effect — long noticed by doctors working with bariatric surgery patients.

According to the researchers, even though obesity is a known factor in the onset of Type 2 diabetes, the surgeries didn’t control the disease simply by helping patient lose weight. Instead, it seems the anatomical changes to the organs actually changes the levels of various hormones that control how the body metabolizes fat and sugar.

While more effective treatments for diabetes are a godsend for many patients, many experts caution that bariatric surgery comes with its own risks, and isn’t necessarily a good choice for many patients.

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A number of widely used statins, including Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor are getting new warning labels courtesy of the FDA. The new labels will warn that the drugs may increase blood sugar levels and could cause memory loss.

Statins are a go-to drug for patients at risk of coronary disease — and still worth taking for the majority of those patients, according to most doctors — and the FDA isn’t recommending that fewer patients take the drugs.

But the new labels will highlight that the drugs also come with significant side effects and risks that patients need to be aware of.

The new warnings come about based on more recent research that shows patients on statins face a slightly elevated risk of increased blood sugar as well as developing Type 2 diabetes. In addition, adverse event reports indicate some patients experience memory loss while on statins. There isn’t yet any proof that statins are the cause of the problem, but the FDA wanted to alert patients to the possibility.

One warning is actually being eased though: The suggestion that patients receive ongoing monitoring of liver enzymes is being dropped since related liver disease has been found to be rare.

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She said that while she wasn’t planning to make any major lifestyle changes in the wake of the diagnosis, she did make changes “in” her life, including taking more walks and taking a drug called Victoza. Other than drinking less sweet tea she didn’t mention any dietary changes. Diet, of course, plays a huge part in both preventing and managing Type 2 diabetes.

Deen’s mention of the drug she takes is no accident: She also announced she’s a paid spokesperson for the drug.

And that admission, along with her lack of acknowledgement that her high-fat recipes could contribute to the disease, is drawing fire from many nutritional experts, health care professionals and some fans. When asked if the diagnosis would cause her to re-examine her recipes, she said “I’m your cook, I’m not your doctor. You are going to have to be responsible for yourself.” (Her son, incidentally, recently landed his own show, “Not My Mamma’s Meals” which focus on lighter versions of the same kind of foods Deen makes.)

No doubt, people are responsible for what they put in their own mouths. But the average American’s nutritional ignorance is well-documented. It’s easy to believe that many people treat recipes touted by someone as popular as Deen as a normal and healthy way to eat — not as the type of high-carb fat-bomb they should treat as an occasional indulgence.

Even other chefs have been critical of Deen’s position. Chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain once said of her cuisine (before the announcement of her diabetes), “If I were on at seven at night and loved by millions of people at every age, I would think twice before telling an already obese nation that it’s OK to eat food that is killing us.” After her announcement he tweeted a response that likened her stance to “getting into the leg-breaking business” in order to sell a lot of crutches.

Does Deen have a responsibility to model healthier eating patterns to her audience? Or is it up to grown adults to figure out their own path to healthy eating? Sound off in the comments.

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A study published in PLoS Medicine found that employees, especially women, who work even just a few overnight shifts a month may be at a greater risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Several health factors are negatively affected by rotating shift work, including obesity, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease and decreased metabolism. The body often has trouble adjusting when normal sleep patterns are disturbed, which can contribute to those conditions. Also, nurses working rotating shifts may not always get proper exercise and nutrition.

Since obesity is linked to Type 2 diabetes, it’s no wonder shift work is correlated with the disease.

Women who had rotating work schedules for 20 years had a 60% greater chance of developing the disorder than those who never worked night shifts. Women on shift work for 10-19 years had a 40% greater chance, and those who spent three to nine years on shift work had a 20% greater chance.

The study only included nurses whose schedules rotated between night and day shifts.

In addition to that study, the Institute of Medicine recently released a report stating there is evidence of a possible link between shift work and breast cancer.

Hospital management can help prevent those issues by offering wellness programs to encourage nurses who work rotating shifts to get the proper diet, rest and excercise.

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Jay Radcliffe, a security expert who also happens to be diabetic, did a little off-the-job research and discovered there are flaws in the pumps that would allow a hacker to remotely control them and alter the amount of insulin delivered to the patient.

While no real-life hacking attempts are known to have been made, Radcliffe warned that the capability is there for anyone so motivated. The discovery also raises concerns that other medical devices, such as pacemakers, deep-brain stimulators and an array of operating room devices that are built to be remotely controlled by patients and/or doctors, could also be at risk.

Most medical device manufacturers say the risk of such attacks is low, because only people with very specialized knowledge would be able to breach the devices’ security.

But some lawmakers are taking notice. Two members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), have written to the General Accountability Office to investigate how safe medical devices with built-in wireless connectivity are. You can see the letter here.

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Researchers at Stanford University crunched data from a huge FDA side effects database, looking for evidence of diabetes-related drug interactions. They found that two drugs commonly used to treat depression and high cholesterol appear to make a dangerous combination.

According to the report, taking Paxil (paroxetine) and Pravachol (pravastin) can dangerously increase some patients’ blood sugar, sending borderline patients into a diabetic state or making existing cases of the disease harder to control. Researchers estimate more than 700,000 people take both drugs.

The finding was completely unexpected. The researchers said it showed the value of having access to large numbers of electronic health records so they can essentially study large populations in real time.

The study was published in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

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It works by allowing the microbes that occur naturally in the human gut to do their work in fighting off the bacteria. C. difficile is particularly tough to treat due to a virulent strain that’s proven to be antibiotic-resistant. The fecal transplants by comparison have a 90% cure rate.

The procedure has been around since the ’80s, but is gaining wider use now as researchers test it’s ability to treat patients with other GI disorders, and even metabolic syndrome, which can often lead to diabetes.

While the transplants are effective, and relatively cheap, they’re generally considered a last resort. And because stool is not yet a marketable biologic product, the procedure isn’t federally regulated.

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In a recent column for the Los Angeles Times, Valerie Ulene argues that obese people are often assumed (wrongly) to be lazy, undisciplined or stupid. And those biases are just as common among health care providers as they are the general public.

Ulene claims that many people who hold those biases against the obese are more likely — consciously or not — to use negative tactics, like shaming and stigmatizing, to motivate people to lose weight. Not only are they less likely to work than positive reinforcement, but when coming from a health care provider patients should be able to trust, the effects can worsen whatever issues are underlying the person’s weight gain.

Worse, if the interaction with a doctor or nurse becomes too negative, obese patients who are already at higher risk for serious illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, are likely to put off medical appointments.
Do you agree that too-negative feedback from health care pros is hurting patients? If so, how should this touchy topic be addressed? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Among the report’s findings: For the 12-month period that ended in March 2010, 59.1 million people had no health insurance for at least part of the year. That’s an increase of about 400,000 people from the prior year.

About half of the increase was among adults with family incomes two to three times higher than the federal poverty level. (The current poverty rate is about $22,000 for a family of four.) For many of those who are newly uninsured, it’s because they no longer have access to private insurance. Private insurance coverage has dropped by about 9% over the past 10 years. Public insurance programs cover many of those families’ children — but the adults frequently lose all coverage.

Not surprisingly, adults who didn’t have insurance were more likely to forgo care. Last year, 40% of uninsured adults with a chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure skipped treatment.

For more information, visit the CDC site.

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A variety of studies and programs have shown it works. And improved compliance can keep patients out of the hospital — saving money in the long run. That’s especially true for vital maintenance drugs for chronic conditions like diabetes, or drugs like blood-thinners that can prevent serious conditions from developing.

But the practice isn’t without its potential drawbacks. For starters, there’s the question of how long and how much patients should be paid. Once they’re on a regular schedule, should payments continue? Or is the benefit of the medication (and the momentum of routine) enough to keep them compliant?

Some health care professionals and ethicists question the fairness of paying people who aren’t compliant to take their meds, while the patients who are more responsible and take the medication on their own aren’t “rewarded.”

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