EndoBreak: New Diabetes Care Standards; Discount Insulin; Pepsi Makeover

The American Diabetes Association released its 2017 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, with some new features of the guide including average month costs for insulin, lifestyle recommendations, and screening for psychological health. (Diabetes Care)

A new program from Eli Lilly will allow patients without insurance or with high deductibles to purchase their insulin products, such as Humalog, for a 40% discount when purchasing through Blink Health, a digital startup company. "We are essentially lowering our price without harming those who currently have insurance," said company VP Mike Mason. The Endocrine Society issued a press release earlier this week expressing support for the program. (Bloomberg)

In a letter addressed to Congressional leaders this week by the American Diabetes Association, the ADA expressed their "strong opposition to repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without replacing it simultaneously with an alternative plan that does not result in loss of coverage or benefits for people with, and at risk for, diabetes." Read the ADA's full letter here.

At this year's EuroEcho-Imaging meeting in Germany this week, researchers reported worse heart damage outcomes as a result of chemotherapy among patients with diabetes. Lead author Ana Catarina Gomes, PhD, of Portugal's Hospital Garcia de Orta, said, "The good news is that cardiotoxicity can be reversible in the early stages before overt heart failure develops." (EurekAlert!)

In an effort to develop a cure for type 1 diabetes, Novo Nordisk announced this week that they will conduct stem cell research in hopes of beginning clinical trials by 2021. The goal is to use stem cells to "put healthy insulin-producing cells back into patients." (Bloomberg)

Metformin, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, was found to slow cancer cell growth in a roundworm study. Other active clinical trials are currently studying the effects on pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancers. (Cell)

In reaction to rising rates of obesity and diabetes, PepsiCo announced a plan to produce more "good for you" products. This comes after an announcement in October that the soda giant would reduce amounts of sugar, sodium, and fat in all products by 2025. Despite PepsiCo's chief scientific officer, Mehmood Khan, a former Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, stating that they are "succeeding" with healthier products, the company fell short of its revenue goals for "nutritious products." (Wall Street Journal, subscription req'd)

A $2.9-million, 5-year grant titled "The New York Regional Center for Diabetes Translation Research" was awarded by the NIH to Elizabeth Walker, PhD, RN, and Judith Wylie-Rosett, EdD, RD, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for diabetes health disparities research. Wylie-Rosett said in a press release, "Our overall goal is to improve the health of people who have diabetes or are at risk for developing it, with a focus on low-income communities and various racial and ethnic groups that are disproportionately affected by the disease and poor access to care."

Affiliated with Harvard Medical School, a Center for Thyroid Eye Disease and Orbital Surgery recently opened in Boston. The center is run by specialists in treating and researching new treatments for Graves' disease, thyroid gland disorders, and complex conditions affecting the eye sockets, including orbital tumors and thyroid eye disease. (Newswise)

In a study presented at this year's European Society for Medical Oncology Asia Congress in Singapore, about one in five breast cancer patients did not adhere to endocrine therapy after 5 years. "A proportion of breast cancer patients of reproductive age may be concerned about the potential impact of endocrine treatment on fertility, which could explain why they are more likely to stop taking the drugs," said lead author Wahyu Wulaningsih, PhD, of University College London. (EurekAlert!)

Comment