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Victoza, now approved for children with Type 2
Novo Nordisk announced, liraglutide (Victoza) has been approved for young people with Type 2 diabetes between the ages of 10-17 years old.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the medication for children that was previously only approved for adults.
“As the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved for children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide (Victoza) provides this population with a new treatment option beyond metformin and insulin for the first time in 19 years.”
With the increasing rates of Type 2 diabetes in children, this offers clinicians a new treatment option outside of metformin and insulin.
“Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, normally occurring in people 45 years or older, but its prevalence among the younger population has climbed dramatically over the past 20 years.”
Type 2 diabetes, which was once considered a rare condition in the pediatric population, now accounts for about 15% to 45% of all newly diagnosed cases of diabetes in children and teenagers.
The approval of liraglutide (Victoza) could help considerably with the treatment of Type 2 in children.
Original Article: FDA approves Victoza® for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents aged 10-17 years – Novo Nordisk
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[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]Question of the Week | June 18, 2019
Our Diabetes Detective Team scans the diabetes news to discover the most relevant info that Diabetes Educators need in their daily practice. We post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
Question of the Week – June 18
Join us for the new Boot Camp Series, beginning July 1, 2019 to include changes to CDCES content outline.
The Diabetes Educator Online Boot Camp offers eight courses, plus a bonus course, “The Big Finish” Test Taking Boot Camp, for a total of 12.75 CEs.
You can also download our free CDCES Coach App!
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Eating more fiber-rich foods decreases depression| Happy Mindful Monday
A new meta-analysis of clinical trials has concluded that healthy eating can “significantly” reduce symptoms of depression. Many scientists have noted a strong correlation between poor diet and mental health. The origins of mental health issues are quite complex, however some scientists have suggested that “diet is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.”
In order to study the link between improving health and easing mental health symptoms, scientists examined data from over 46,000 people. The conclusions were substantial, “the analysis revealed that every kind of dietary improvement “significantly reduced depressive symptoms.” However, the dietary changes did not affect anxiety.”
Another interesting take-away was that highly-specific or specialized diets may be unnecessary for the average individual, that just making simple changes can have a big impact. “In particular, eating more nutrient-dense meals which are high in fiber and vegetables, while cutting back on fast foods and refined sugars appears to be sufficient for avoiding the potentially negative psychological effects of a ‘junk food’ diet,” said Dr. Joseph Firth.
Another study found another strong factor to reducing symptoms of depression is to incorporate exercise. Research revealed that this impacted women more than men.
Eating healthy can help reduce the risk of obesity, inflammation and fatigue all of which are closely linked to poor mental health.
To learn more: A diet rich in fiber and vegetables can relieve depression – Medical News Today
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Early Registration | Women Leaders in Diabetes Conference in Florida
Women Leaders in Diabetes Conference
Date: December 6th, 2019
Location: Tampa, FL
Our first Women Leaders in Diabetes Conference was such a huge success, we wanted to share our vision with the East Coast. We have decided to hold another conference on December 6th, 2019 in Tampa Florida!
Speakers include Tracey Brown, Nicole Johnson, Beverly Thomassian, Theresa Garnero and more!
Be the first to know! Please click below to sign up for early notification. Registration will be open shortly.
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June Newsletter | How to Tell Your Story to Activate Change
June Newsletter now available!
by Coach Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
This newsletter highlights hard earned wisdom shared by our keynote speakers at the Women Leaders in Diabetes Conference last month in San Francisco. We have summarized their concrete strategies to make meaningful connections and engage our audience, for the long run. Newsletter topic includes:
- How to make an impression through storytelling
- Infusing creativity into diabetes education
- Scholarship application window now open for San Diego Diabetes Ed Course
- A new and more effective way to introduce yourself
Click here to read our newsletter!
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[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]Mindful Monday | Can an afternoon nap lower blood pressure?
A study from Greece suggests that a midday nap may help not only increase energy levels but can lower blood pressure as well.
Napping can help boost energy levels during a slump but may have other positive health outcomes. A study conducted at the Asklepieion General Hospital in Voula, Greece, reported that midday naps help lower blood pressure.
“Midday sleep appears to lower blood pressure levels at the same magnitude as other lifestyle changes. For example, salt and alcohol reduction can bring blood pressure levels down by 3 to 5 [millimeters of mercury (mmHg)],” reports Dr. Kallistratos.
The study analyzed data from 212 participants with an average blood pressure 129.9 mm Hg. The group was split into half, one group who took mid-day naps and the other who did not. The researchers measured their blood pressure with monitoring devices.
The researchers also took into account other factors that may affect blood pressure such as stress, alcohol consumption, and other lifestyle choices.
“The researchers found that people who took a daytime nap saw a 5.3 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure, which, the researchers explain, is about as much as someone could expect when taking blood pressure medication or making certain lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure.”
This study is particularly important in helping reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event. If those with high blood pressure have the luxury of taking a nap, this can help with maintaining lower blood pressure and has no cost.
This is the first time the benefits of midday napping has been researched. The scientists believe this information can be valuable and worth continued study.
“Even though both groups [of participants] were receiving the same number of medications and blood pressure was well controlled, there was still a significant decrease in blood pressure among those who slept during midday.”
To learn more: Napping may be as good as drugs on lowering blood pressure – Medical News Today
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[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]Free Resource Friday! | Preparing for the CDCES Exam 2019 Available Now
FREE On-Demand Webinar | Preparing for CDCES® Exam
Join us to get ready to succeed a the CDCES Exam. This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness.
Topics covered include:
- Changes in requirements for 2019
- Exam eligibility and test format
- Strategies to succeed
- Review of study tips and test-taking tactics.
Coach Beverly reviews sample test questions and the reasoning behind choosing the right answers.
Intended Audience: This FREE webinar is designed for individual or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants and other health care providers interested in achieving excellence in diabetes care and becoming Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists®.
Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM is a working educator who has passed her CDCES Exam 6 times. She is a nationally recognized diabetes expert for over 25 years.
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Healthier fast food side options hard to find on menu
In the past decade, healthier “side” options have made their way on to many fast-food children’s menus. Despite their presence, these options are very rarely promoted as the default option. For example, a burger is often automatically paired with fries while other healthier options, like salad or fruit, are difficult to locate on the menu.
Eating out at fast-food restaurants is part of a typical week for many families. Most restaurants focus on pleasing the consumer’s palate, not nutritional value, which generally means meals higher in fat and calories than a home-cooked meal.
Children consume 150 more calories when they eat fast-food over a home-cooked meal. Simple steps, like replacing a sugary beverage with water or opting for a salad instead of fries, can help to counteract the excess calorie intake.
A study led by author Megan Mueller, a researcher at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in Los Angeles, analyzed 20 difference fast-food menus over an 11-year period. The study was conducted to help understand the introduction of healthier options over time and if they were “featured” on the menu.
Of the 20 fast-food chains that were studied, 30% offered a healthier side as their default option by 2015. “It was surprising to see how much progress these restaurants made in offering healthier sides and beverages as options in children’s meals, but how much more progress still needs to be made in offering these healthier items by default,” Mueller said.
Offering a healthier choice as the default is crucial because it helps us instinctively choose something, but also takes the title of “normal” away from an unhealthy option, like french fries or soda. By labeling calories and steering away from advertising the unhealthier options, we can help steer kids and adults in the right direction.
To learn more: “U.S. fast food chains offering more healthy options for kids” by Reuters
Our Diabetes Detective Team scans the diabetes news to discover the most relevant info that Diabetes Educators need in their daily practice. We post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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