Monday, August 30, 2010

Dialysis 101

Definition

Dialysis is a treatment that performs the functions of natural kidneys when the they fail (kidney failure). Most patients begin dialysis when their kidneys have lost 85%-90% of their ability to function, and will continue dialysis for the rest of their lives (or until they receive a kidney transplant). This is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

ESRD may be caused by a variety of conditions that can impair kidney function, including diabetes, kidney cancer, drug use, high blood pressure, or other kidney problems. Dialysis is not a cure for ESRD, but helps you feel better and live longer.

There are two types of dialysis:

* Hemodialysis
* Peritoneal dialysis

Parts of the Body Involved

Hemodialysis—veins in the arm, leg, or neck

Peritoneal dialysis—abdomen
Reasons for Procedure

The purpose of dialysis is to help keep the body's chemicals in balance, which the kidneys do when they are healthy. The main functions of dialysis are to:

* Remove waste and excess fluid from the blood to prevent build-up
* Control blood pressure
* Keep a safe level of chemicals in the body, such as potassium, sodium, and chloride

Dialysis may also be done to quickly remove toxins from the bloodstream, in cases of poisoning or drug overdose.

To read more, click on: Dialysis/Lifescript

Type 2 diabetes may have links to Alzheimer’s, study reveals


Those with Type 2 diabetes may be at greater risk of developing the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggested.

According to a Japanese study, which appeared in the Aug. 25 online issue of the journal Neurology, those individuals with the highest levels of insulin resistance had nearly six times the odds of developing plaque deposits between the nerves in the brain, after adjusting for other risk factors, compared with those with the lowest levels of fasting insulin.

To read entire article, click here

Monday, August 23, 2010

JDRF wants Denver residents to be 'T1D Aware'


The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation launched an awareness campaign in the Denver area to shed light on key signs of Type 1 diabetes.

To view complete article, click here

Friday, August 20, 2010

Diabetes-related hospitalizations on the rise


Nearly 1-in-5 hospitalizations in 2008 were related to diabetes, according to a recent report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

That means a total of more than 7.7 million hospital stays and $83 million in hospital costs, of which Medicare covered 60%, the report found. On average, diabetes patients paid $10,937 for hospitalization, while those without the disease paid $8,746.

To read the entire article, click here.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Fistula Placement More Likely with Federal Insurance Programs

Kidney disease patients insured by some federally sponsored national healthcare organizations are more likely to receive a fistula for vascular access during dialysis than patients with other types of insurance, according to a study appearing online Aug. 12 in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

The results may provide insights into ways to improve kidney-related care for patients before they go on dialysis, according to the study’s authors.

Experts recommend creating an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), to connect a vein and artery and allow access to the vascular system during dialysis. An AVF provides a long-lasting site through which blood can be removed and returned during the dialysis procedure, which patients must undergo three to four times per week.

To view entire article, click here

Monday, August 16, 2010

As diabetes rates grow, R&D pipelines flow

Research and development pipelines are flowing with a record number of drugs for treating diabetes and related conditions, according to a report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America released in late May, which showed 235 medicines in development to treat the disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 24 million Americans are living with diabetes, up from 21 million in 2005. The most rapidly growing incidence of the disease, Type 2, has increased along with the incidence of obesity in the United States.

To read the entire article, click here.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Many diabetic foot amputations are preventable


It costs $1,400 to cover the oozing sore on the diabetic's foot with a piece of artificial skin, helping it heal if patients keep pressure off that spot. So when Medicare paid for the treatment but not the extra $100 for a simple walking cast to protect it, an artificial skin maker last year started giving free casts to some needy patients.

Without the right cushioning, "the person will walk to the bus stop and destroy it," fumes Dr. David G. Armstrong of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance.

To read the complete story, click here.