According to the CDC, close to 24 million Americans have diabetes. Forty percent of those with diabetes are age 65 and older. Most of the diabetics over the age of 60 have type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes the body produces insulin, but not enough of this hormone to function properly. The cells develop a resistance to insulin and don’t respond appropriately. The result is an elevated blood sugar and in many cases, an elevated insulin level as well. The blood sugar is high because glucose, the body’s blood sugar, is not being absorbed into the cells and utilized for energy properly.
View this video below on type 2 diabetes, courtesy of the The HealthCentralNetwork, Inc.
Over 21 million Americans have diabetes and about 30% of diabetics over the age of 40 years have diabetic peripheral neuropathy (CDC 2005). Neuropathy is a nervous system abnormality. Peripheral refers to the nerves outside the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Peripheral neuropathy generally refers to sensory abnormalities in the feet, legs, hands and arms. Diabetes is the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. Although the exact cause of diabetic neuropathy is not clearly understood, abnormal blood sugar metabolism, poor blood supply to the nerves, increased free radicals and nerve compression are all potential causes of neuropathy in diabetics. Continue Reading »
Fortis Healthcare’s diabetic foot trial broadens it’s inclusion criteria to include more patients in it’s stem cell study. The study will be evaluating peripheral blood stem cells and their effectiveness in healing diabetic foot ulcers, specifically in patients with poor blood flow (ischemia). A pilot study of similar design in China showed promising results. Ulcerations healed more quickly and blood flow to the area increased. The treatment could help to prevent diabetic foot amputations, which generally result from non-healing foot ulcerations. Over 2 million diabetics have ulceration and 25% of those with ulcerations will end up with a foot or leg amputation.
Diabetics are prone to developing wounds, called, ulcers, and have difficulty healing them due to multiple factors, which include poor blood flow, increased sugar levels, decreased collagen production and decreased levels of growth hormones. The Polynesian medicinal plant, Morinda Citrifolia, has been used for burns, arthritis, diabetes, circulatory conditions and wound healing. Some studies have shown some medicinal benefits. In a study published in the Journal of Wound Care, wound healing was evaluated with the use of Morinda Citrifolia in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were divided into two groups, the diabetic control group was fed water and the experimental diabetic groups was fed water with Morinda Citrifolia. Both groups were compared to a non-diabetic control group fed water. Wound size was measure at days 1, 5 and 11. Continue Reading »
A new study in BMC Medicine found that diabetics with a higher excretion of IgM (short for immunoglobulin M, an antibody present on B cells) have a three time higher risk of end stage renal disease and death from cardiovascular disease. Testing for urine IgM may help predict future diabetic complications.
Some of the most serious complications associated with type 1 diabetes include vision loss, severe kidney disease resulting in transplant and lower extremity amputations. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial has been a 30 year ongoing effort to evaluate these risks in association with intensive control and management of blood sugar. The latest results from the study were published yesterday in the Archives of Internal Medicine and provided encouraging news. Continue Reading »
At the recent news conference on health care reform Obama discussed rising health care costs. One contributing factor to the rising cost is the lack of primary health care coverage for millions of Americans. This results in a lack of preventative care and an increased use of emergency facilities for primary care visits. Continue Reading »
In a new study published in the journal Diabetes, elevated triglycerides were associated with the progression of diabetic neuropathy (1). Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is an abnormality of the nervous system which occurs as a result of diabetes and causes a loss of sensation in the feet and the legs. Although there are many theories for it’s development, the most commonly accepted theories are based on elevated blood sugar affecting the nerves and the loss of small vessel blood flow to the nerves, resulting in nerve dysfunction. New research finds that triglycerides were an active predictor of nerve damage in diabetes. Continue Reading »
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is calling on governments, the United Nations and the World Health Organization to recognize the impact of diabetes on global health and take immediate action to ameliorate the threat. IDF president, Professor Silink, urged these institutions to include diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer (CA), in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and development aid programs. These diseases are a growing social and economic burden to individuals, families and societies. The global epidemic of diabetes (and other diseases such as CVD and CA) is hitting the poor the hardest. Four in five deaths from these diseases now occur in low to middle-income countries. Continue Reading »
Researchers in the Neurology Department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found that injections of a growth factor gene may help improve diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The researchers randomly divided 50 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy into two groups to receive intramuscular injections of plasmid VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) gene or a placebo. Study participants in each group had 3 injections into one leg at 8 standardized sites. Continue Reading »
Researchers at the Bristol Heart Institute found specific stem cells which helped heal chronic, ischemic diabetic ulcers. The CD133+ stem cells, along with collagen, were transplanted onto an ischemic diabetic wound. Through an indirect mechanism, the CD133+ cells promoted new blood vessel formation and accelerated healing. Continue Reading »
Tough economic times are forcing people to make difficult decisions regarding their health care. An Associated Press analysis found that diabetics are skipping doctor visits, skimping on insulin and not purchasing other necessary diabetes medications and blood-sugar testing kits. Diabetics who do not properly control their blood sugar levels risk losing their vision, their legs and their life. Continue Reading »
Individuals with diabetes have a greater risk for developing open wounds (ulcers) due to reduced sensation and circulation. Diabetic ulcers can become infected and severe infection may reach the bone. The medical term for bone infection is osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis associated with diabetic wounds worsens the chances of recovery. Treatment of bone infections involves prolonged antibiotic therapy and/or surgery and in some cases amputation. Continue Reading »
The following is a press release by the American Podiatric Medical Association
New Stem Cell Injections May Help Prevent Amputations: American Podiatric Medical Association Member Assisting in Breakthrough Clinical Trials
October 20, 2008
Bethesda, MD– Poor blood flow to the lower limbs is a health condition that many Americans with diabetes experience. But without early detection and proper treatment, amputation is often the final outcome. In fact, more than 60 percent of non-traumatic, lower limb amputations every year occur as a result of diabetes. Diabetes is considered a major risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) – blood flow conditions that affect the lower limbs and can lead to amputation. However, an on-going clinical research trial using adult stem cells may help to improve blood flow and heal chronic sores for millions of people with diabetes who develop these lower limb conditions. Continue Reading »
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: The plantar fascia is placed under the most stress at the inside base of the heel. During the push off phase of gait, the plantar fascia may undergo microscropic tears resulting in a condition called plantar fasciitis. […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: The plantar fascia is placed under the most stress at the inside base of the heel. During the push off phase of gait, the plantar fascia may undergo microscropic tears resulting in a condition called plantar fasciitis. […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: When the great toe is dorsiflexed (raised) tension is placed on the plantar fascia, which causes it to act like a cable and tighten. This increases the arch height, making the foot more rigid and able to more efficiently propel the body forward when walking. When the plantar fascia is placed under excess stress, tears ca […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: This illustration shows a close up view of the disorganization and fraying of collagen fibers after microscopic tears in the plantar fascia in the condition plantar fascitiis. […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: The plantar fascia gains it's strength from the woven fibers of collagen. This illustration shows the parallel configuration of collagen fibers. […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: To better illustrate what happens during an injury to a ligament or fascia, such as the plantar fascia in a conditions like plantar fasciitis, think of the arrangement of collagen fibers like tightly woven ropes adjacent to each other. When the force applied to the rope exceeds the strength of the structure, the rope sp […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: In the condition plantar fasciosis, the collagen breaks down or deteriorates. This is called collagen degeneration and is represented in the image above by the collagen helix uncoiling and then fragmenting. […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: When the great toe dorsiflexes, tension is placed on the plantar fascia which increases the arch height, making the midfoot more rigid. This is called the windlass mechanism and this function helps to propel the body forward more efficiently when walking. When the plantar fascia is overstressed, it tears and inflames and […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: 10-12-09: Eli Manning injured his right foot last week during the Kansas City game and was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Despite missing practice, limping and claiming he didn't feel 100% last Thursday, he appeared injury-free on Sunday and led the Giants to a 44-7 victory over the Giants. More information on […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: The most common area affected in the foot, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, is the metatarsal phalangeal joints. […]
Northcoast Footcare posted a photo: The syndesmosis is a group of ligaments which connect the two leg bones, stabilizing the ankle joint. These ligaments are injured in high ankle sprains. […]
Diabetics are prone to developing wounds, called, ulcers, and have difficulty healing them due to multiple factors, which include poor blood flow, increased sugar levels, decreased collagen production and decreased levels of growth hormones. The Polynesian medicinal plant, Morinda Citrifolia, has been used for burns, arthritis, diabetes, circulatory conditions and wound healing. Some studies have shown some medicinal benefits. In a study published in the Journal of Wound Care, wound healing was evaluated with the use of Morinda Citrifolia in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were divided into two groups, the diabetic control group was fed water and the experimental diabetic groups was fed water with Morinda Citrifolia. Both groups were compared to a non-diabetic control group fed water. Wound size was measure at days 1, 5 and 11. 
At the recent news conference on health care reform Obama discussed rising health care costs. One contributing factor to the rising cost is the lack of primary health care coverage for millions of Americans. This results in a lack of preventative care and an increased use of emergency facilities for primary care visits. 
