Diabetes Pharmacist : Diabetes Pharmacist Blog : Focus Express Mail Pharmacy : Insulin Pumps, Diabetes Supplies and Information

Just because little Jimmy or Judy has Diabetes, doesn't mean that they have to skip Halloween.“They can enjoy Halloween and enjoy some of the sweets the holiday offers — within reason,” says Kenneth McCormick, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist and senior scientist in the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center. “We give parents and kids three options and let them decide how they want to handle Halloween and the sweets that come with it.”

Tip 1: Count Carbs- By counting carbs, kids can enjoy some of the treats Halloween has to offer. Moderation, though is key.  The child should be monitored as to how many carbs they are eating and should take one unit of insulin for every 15 or 20 grams of carbohydrates. “This is an easy option for kids on an insulin pump because they can just dial in an extra dose of insulin to compensate for what they are about to eat. But for kids that take shots, this could prove to be more difficult or inconvenient if they have to go to the school nurse for an extra dose,” McCormick says.

Tip 2: Exchange candy- “Parents can trade gifts, money, or low carb snack for their child's candy. Parents also can provide a substitute snack for their child if a Halloween party at school is an issue,” McCormick says. “We have been advising parents to do this for many, many years, and it is a solution that continues to work.”

Tip 3: Save for dessert- McCormick says kids can savor their Halloween treats without an extra shot or dose of insulin by having them for dessert after dinner. “By incorporating a sugary treat into meal time, when a child would normally get a dose of insulin, it eliminates the need for adding doses to their regimen.”

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New drug Juvisync combines Merck's diabetes pill Januvia with the popular cholesterol drug Zocor. Patients with both diabetes and high cholesterol are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other chronic conditions

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I just read that "cabin pressure changes during air flights may affect insulin pumps causing patients to receive too much or too little medication." Does anyone have any experience with this?

The article  continues :"Researchers at John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, Australia investigated insulin pumps used by patients with type 1 diabetes to deliver insulin. The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that when ten insulin pumps were flown on a commercial flight, they were affected by air pressure changes. Air pressure decreases during takeoff caused the pumps to deliver extra insulin, and air pressure increases during descent caused some insulin to be sucked back into the pumps, resulting in an insufficient amount of insulin being dispensed. The air pressure causes bubbles to form and expands existing bubbles, affecting the amount of insulin being given. Researchers advise diabetics to be aware of the effects of pressure changes, and possibly disconnect the pump before takeoff and landing."

I would think and hope that the pump manufacturers have taken flying into account. But, maybe I'm wrong. Can someone who wears an insulin pump and travels by jet frequently give us some insight?  Thanks!

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October is American Pharmacist Month and in honor of that, I'd like to remind everyone how important your pharmacist can be; both in the prevention of Diabetes as well as in helping people manage their Diabetes. Pharmacist Services can include:

• Nutrition and Diet Counseling
• Exercise Instruction
• Blood Glucose Monitoring Advice
• Medication Therapy Management
• Healthy Behavior Management
• Guidance in skin care, foot care, dental care, eye care, proper injection technique, etc.

Studies have shown that when a pharmacist is involved in the management and self-care of patients with Diabetes,  both test results and patient outcomes improved. 

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Being a  pharmacist for many years means that I've been "trained" to eat quickly,  before a patient walked into the store. Furthermore, a long time pharmacy "myth" is "if you want people to walk into the store, order a hot meal."  Other than causing a little indigestion, eating fast hasn't bothered me. But now, a new study suggests that fast eaters have a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

According to the Japanese study, people who eat food quickly  are twice as likely to develop impaired glucose tolerance, known as pre-diabetes. In impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), blood glucose levels are higher than usual,  but not high enough to cause diabetes. However, without proper treatment, 40 to 50 per cent of people with IGT will develop Type 2 Diabetes within ten years. One theory is that eating quickly increases postprandial blood glucose, the amount of sugar in the blood soon after eating.

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