Recent research by the Broad Institute of MIT, Harvard, and Massachusetts General Hospital has shown that there may potentially be five distinct subtypes of type two diabetes based individual genetics.

Three of the subtypes involve insulin resistance where insulin is not used effectively and for the right purpose. The other two subtypes involve a deficiency of insulin where insulin is not being produced in adequate amounts by the beta cells. 

The study included 17,365 subjects from four separate studies with type two diabetes. The genomic data of each individual was analyzed and recorded, only to find the five different variances in DNA that led to insulin resistance/deficiency. Those who were insulin resistant typically had a larger waistline and had a higher risk of obesity. Individuals who were insulin deficient were typically thinner than their counterparts. 

This new data is critical because “there could be a number of processes which lead to high blood glucose levels.” This information also means that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treating type two diabetes with medication therapy.

For more information on the subtypes of type two diabetes, visit subtypes of type 2 diabetes highlighted by genetics study.

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Learn more about matching medication therapy to the person with diabetes.

Meds Management Update – 1.5 CEs | Live Webinar, Dec 6, 2019 at 11:30

Join Beverly to gain insight into the increasingly complex world of diabetes medications and management.

This webinar will highlight the key elements of the latest Medication Guidelines by AACE and ADA. We will explore clinical factors to consider when determining the best strategy to improve glucose management in people with type 2 diabetes and discuss new medications.

This webinar will discuss how to integrate new medication recommendations into our practice. We will discuss the benefits, considerations and critical information to share with our patients and providers.

• Overview of classes and actions of diabetes medications
• Medication management updates and new recommendations
• Using the ADA/AACE algorithms to improve diabetes care and outcomes

This course is included in: Level 2: Beyond Fundamentals. Purchase this course individually for $29 or the entire bundle and save 70%. 

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“Insulin’s High Cost Leads To Lethal Rationing” – NPR

Such a tragic story of a young man’s life cut short because he couldn’t afford his insulin. Sign the ADA Petition to make insulin affordable.

We can make a difference starting today! 

Make Insulin Affordable – what you can do today

The Insulin Wars ( How insurance companies farm out their dirty work to doctors and patients) – The New York Times 

 

According to a statement made recently by Eli Lilly, they have submitted a nasal glucagon treatment to the FDA. The treatment would be for cases of severe hypoglycemia in adults and children with diabetes. This treatment would be the first of it’s kind, a nasal spray, to treat low blood glucose emergencies in those with diabetes.  

“The submissions put us one step closer to bringing this innovative rescue medicine to the diabetes community and filling an important need in the treatment of severe hypoglycemia,” said Thomas Hardy, Senior Medical Director, Lilly Diabetes, told Endocrine Today. 

The way glucagon is currently administered can be a complicated process, requiring the administer to reconstitute the powder and other steps. This can be a confusing process, particularly if you are a caregiver a a child with diabetes. The new nasal glucagon would deliver the medicine in a powder form in an easy, ready to use format. Many people already understand how to use nose spray, making this functional but also realistic in a hypoglycemic emergency. 

 “This is important and different. You don’t want people to get low [blood sugar], but they do. It’s not a pretend problem, and the fact that the science is clear that people don’t know how to treat it makes it a real problem. With this nasal glucagon kit, anyone could rescue them.”

To learn more about the new nasal glucagon – Lilly submits NDA for nasal glucagon by Helio Endocrine Today

 

Updated and now available On Demand in the Online University

This course is included in: Level 2 – Beyond Fundamentals. Purchase this course individually for $29 or the entire bundle and save 70%. 

Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses are an excellent way to study for your exam anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You will have immediate access to your courses  for 1 year after your purchase date. Each individual online course includes a: 90 minute video presentation, podcast, practice test and additional resources.

This advanced level course is designed to help participants determine the best medication choice based on the patient’s unique characteristics. The content incorporates the management guidelines published by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Algorithms. We will discuss the role of lifestyle changes and review the pros and cons of available diabetes medications using a patient centered approach. In addition, we discuss the medication algorithms in detail. Participants not familiar with the basics of diabetes medication, may benefit from first enrolling in our “Meds for Type 2” and “Insulin 101 Course.”  90-minute course.

Topics include:

• The importance of patient assessment in determining a realistic meds management plan.
• Gain insights into developing an individualized plan to treat hyperglycemia in collaboration with the person with diabetes
• Strategies on adjusting meds plus lifestyle to achieve glucose targets

Intended Audience:  A great course for health care professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of hyperglycemia management for those living with type 2 diabetes.

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

Fee: $29.00 (Group Discounts Available)

Course Level: 2 (included in Level 2 – Beyond Fundamentals)

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

Earn 1.5 CEs

Video presentation and podcast available now On Demand.

*Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist^® and CDCES^® are registered marks owned by NCBDE. The use of DES products do not guarantee successful passage of the CDCES^® exam. NCBDE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES^® exam, except for those published by NCBDE.”

New & Update Medication Update Webinar is now available! 

Feeling overwhelmed by all the new recently approved diabetes medications? Two bio-similiar insulins are now available and another GLP-1 RA was just approved. Plus, 2 new combo oral meds are now available.

Are you wondering how to apply the new 2018 ADA and AACE Medication Management Guidelines into practice?

We are here to help out with our newly recorded Medication Update 2018!

This webinar will discuss how to integrate these new medications into our practice. We will discuss the benefits and limitations and critical information to share with our patients and providers. If you want cutting edge information on the latest pharmacology and hospital glucose management, we highly recommend this Meds Update.

 

Testimonial: “I want to let you know your online program rocks! I’d say it is the best one out there!”  – Marsha

Fee: $29.00 (Group Discounts Available)

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information

All video presentations and podcasts available now On Demand. Includes both courses, free podcasts, handouts, resources and CE Certificates.  

New SGLT-2 Inhibitor – Ertugliflozin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ertugliflozin (Steglatro), a new SGLT-2 Inhibitor to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Also approved are two new combination medications with ertugliflozin.  These include Segluromet (ertugliflozin plus metformin) and Steglujan (ertugliflozin plus sitagliptin). See box below for available combination doses (in mgs).

Dosing range: 5 -15 mg daily.  Monitor GFR before starting. Don’t start med if GFR is less than 60 and stop if GFR is less than 30.

Considerations: Ertugliflozin has the same warnings as other SGLT-2s: Watch for hypotension, UTI’s, increased urination, genital infections, ketoacidosis.

Benefits: no hypoglyecmia or weight gain.
Lowers A1c 1.0% – 2.0%. Lowers wt 1-3 lbs.

Download our FREE Updated Insulin PocketCard

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Medication Update Webinar – Feb 19, 2018 11:30 to 1pm (PST)

New Copycat Bolus Insulin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Admelog (Sanofi-Adventis US), the first copycat version of short-acting insulin lispro (Humalog, Eli Lilly)  to treat individuals aged 3 years and older with type 1 diabetes and adults with type 2 diabetes.

Download our FREE Updated Insulin PocketCard

Features:

Approved for use as an injection, via pump, or intravenously.

It will be available both in vials and as a prefilled pen (Admelog SoloStar).

The FDA approved Admelog through an abbreviated approval pathway under which companies can rely on the FDA’s previous approval of a drug as safe and effective or on previously published literature supporting safety and/or effectiveness. This process is meant to reduce drug development costs in order to reduce the drug’s price on the market.

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Medication Update Webinar – Feb 19, 2018 11:30 to 1pm (PST)

New GLP-1; Semaglutide (Ozempic)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved semaglutide (Ozempic, Novo Nordisk) as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults.

This once weekly injection of (GLP-1) receptor agonist will be available in 0.5-mg and 1.0-mg doses, via a dedicated prefilled pen device.

Semaglutide is the seventh GLP-1 receptor agonist on the US market and the third dosed once weekly. And the data suggests it might be more effective than some of its competitors.

Download our updated FREE Injectables PocketCard

Features:

The company’s eight phase 3a trials involved over 8000 adults with type 2 diabetes, including individuals at high cardiovascular risk and those with renal disease. One of the studies, SUSTAIN-6, was a 2-year FDA-mandated cardiovascular-outcomes trial involving 3297 patients.

• In the five SUSTAIN efficacy trials, semaglutide reduced hemoglobin A1c by 1.5 to 1.8 percentage points.
• Semaglutide was also associated with a 4.5- to 6.4-kg weight loss. The most common side effect was mild to moderate nausea, which diminished over time.

 

After approval, Novo Nordisk is required to conduct a pediatric trial in adolescents younger than 18 years of age and to add semaglutide to a 15-year medullary thyroid carcinoma registry that includes all of the long-acting GLP-1 products.

Semaglutide will be priced similarly to current weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists and will be offered with a savings card program to reduce copays for eligible commercially insured patients.