Guest: G. Alexander Fleming, MD Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Researchers are looking at hundreds of ways to treat and cure type one diabetes. Most of the advances so far have come in newly diagnosed children. Is there anything on the horizon to help adults with established type one diabetes? Dr. Alexander (Zan) Fleming, chairman and chief medical officer of Exsulin, joins host Dr. Bruce Bloom to discuss the new therapies for reversing established diabetes ..read more

Guest: Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD As the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the United States grows, researchers are investigating hundreds of ways to treat and cure diabetes. Some of these methods include exogenous insulin, while other ideas being explored require more complex changes in our understanding of cellular biology. Dr. Carmella Evans-Molina, assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, who holds a faculty appointment in the division of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism and the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Diabetes Re ..read more

Guest: Steven Wittlin, MD Host: Lee Freedman, MD It is often thought that patients with diabetes have more "silent" heart disease than patients without diabetes: Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death among these patients. But is screening all asymptomatic patients with diabetes for the condition prudent, or should we exercise caution when considering cardiac screening? Dr. Steven Wittlin, associate professor of medicine and clinical director of the endocrine/metabolism division at the University of Rochester in New York, makes screening recommendations based on the recent&nb ..read more

Guest: Christopher Slatore, MD Host: Mary Leuchars, MD Systemic corticosteroids increase the risk of diabetes, but what about in patients who take high-dose inhaled corticosteroids? How do we best manage the risk-benefit equation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD)? Dr. Christopher Slatore, assistant professor in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine, Portland VA Medical Center / Oregon Health and Sciences University, in Portland, Oregon, discusses the association between inhaled corticosteroid use and serum glucose concentration. Dr ..read more

Guest: Carolyn Paris, MD Host: Mary Leuchars, MD Improved living conditions and hygiene may be contributing to the rise of type 1 diabetes in children, but does the "hygiene hypothesis" fully explain the onset of type 1 diabetes in this population? What factors might explain the increased incidence of type 1 diabetes among pediatric patients in the US, Sweden and Finland, in particular? Dr. Carolyn Paris, pediatrician and emergency medicine specialist at the Center for Clinical and Translational Research at Seattle Children's Hospital, explores the indirect evidence that examines environmental ..read more

Guest: Hugh Tildesley, MD Host: Lee Freedman, MD Metformin is often the first line of therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes: it is relatively inexpensive, available, and has proven efficacy. However, metformin is contraindicated for patients with renal insufficiency, a common comorbidity in diabetes. Do the benefits of metformin outweigh the risks for those with renal insufficiency, or should we use caution when considering metformin for these patients? Dr. Hugh Tildesley, clinical professor in the department of medicine, division of endocrinology at the University of British Columbia ..read more

Guest: Joanna Jiang, MD Host: Bruce Japsen The new health reform law will take steps to encourage patients to use preventive tests and screenings to head off chronic conditions, like diabetes, that extract a huge toll on the nation's medical care budget. Exactly how much does diabetes care cost the medical system, and where is the money going? Dr. Joanna Jiang, senior research scientist at the AHRQ (the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), tells host Bruce Japsen about the origin of hospital costs and its surprising toll on the system ..read more

Guest: Gerald Reaven, MD Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Metabolic syndrome is generally considered to be a combination of conditions that increases a patient's risk of developing coronary artery disease. These conditions include elevated blood pressure, obesity, insulin resistance, elevated C-reactive proteins and high triglycerides or HDL cholesterol. If a patient has three or more of these conditions, he or she is classified as having metabolic syndrome. But what is the clinical applicability of this "syndrome," and should practicing physicians still be using the metabolic syndrome concept? Dr. G ..read more

Guest: Adam Weinstein Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA With Web-based technologies, the click of a mouse can give doctors and advanced practice clinicians access to their diabetic patients' records follow-up information, and save them from having to search through charts or request information from other doctors. Adam Weinstein is the manager of the clinical intelligence team for Athenahealth in Watertown, Massachusetts. He joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about setting up your practice to meet diabetic recognition goals. They look at the requirements, advantages,&nbs ..read more

Guest: Patti Duprey Host: Mimi Secor, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP Chronic disease is on the rise in the United States — especially diabetes. More than 57 million Americans suffer from pre-diabetic symptoms. With a shortage or primary care doctors, who will take on the role of treating these patients? Nurse Practitioner Patty Duprey, director of the Diabetes Center in North Conway, New Hampshire, joins host Mimi Secor to discuss why NPs are in the perfect position to take over care of patients with diabetes and why a team approach and teaching patients self-management skills are the keys to success ..read more