Islets of Hope

Headline News
Drug Recalls & Developments  *  Stem Cell Research
  Diabetes Technology  *  Diabetes Legislation  *  Diabetes Events
        Islet Cell Transplanation  *  General Diabetes Studies

Last Month's Paper:

Product Watch: Animas gives away iPod nanos.

Editorial: AFT seeks  to stop all non-medical personnel from providing diabetes care in school.

Clinical Trial Update: Arkansas

Trouble with Novolog? Is your pharmacist mixing up Mix 70/30 and Rapid?

DANA Diabecare Warned by FDA: Failure to Report Insulin Pump Problems

Inhaled Insulin May Only Be A Breath Away From FDA Approval

Buyer Beware Counterfiet Lipitor

Halloween Candy Scare?

Flu Season Brings New Cautions for Anti-Nausea Drug in Pediatric Use

JDRF Walk for  A Cure Hgh- lights From Ontario, CA (09/10/05)

Phenergan can cause death in children under age 2.

Islets of News Editorial Feature

The Great Label Debate:  Are you a diabetic?  Or do you just have diabetes?  

Important Medical Disclaimer
Material on this site is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for self- diagnosis or self-treatment. The IOH strongly recommends you seek the advice of a competent medical professional for diagnosis and treatment options, or before making any changes to your diabetes care plan

  Howard Wolpert
Smart Pumping:  Smart Pumping integrates pump  technology with the physical and psychological aspects of diabetes care, and helps patients adopt the insulin pump into their self-care regime.

This book combines a compre- hensive medical approach toward intensive diabetes management and pump therapy with a patient-centered appreciation of the real-life challenges and frustrations.

 Product Review

Frio USA Insulin Cool Pouch Products Leave Customers  Out in the Cold

 Drug Warnings

Lilly Cautions that Cymbalta may increase risk for liver damage: October 18, 2005.  ST. LOUIS (MD Consult) - "On October 17, 2005, Eli Lilly and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified health care professionals of a revision to the Precautions/Hepatotoxicity section of the prescribing information for Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride), indicated for treatment of major depressive disorder and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain..."

 Diabetes Drugs Approved in 2005

Increlex (mecasermin), a drug from Tercicia was approved fby the FDA in August 2005 for the treatment of growth failure in pediatric patients.  Increlex contains recombinant-DNA- engineered human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1).  It is designed to replace natural IGF-1 in pediatric patients who are deficient, promoting normal statural growth.

ActoPlus Met - "Takeda Pharm- aceutical Co. has obtained U.S. FDA Administration approval for a new combination of insulin sensitizing drugs, Actoplus Met is a combination of Actos and Metformin."  Associated Press, August 30, 2005.

Byettaa (exenatide) - Derived from a compound found in the saliva of the Gila monster, a large lizard native to the southwestern US, mimicks the function of GLP-1, the drug helps more strongly activate this pathway to improve glycemic control and is indicated for type 2 treatment.

Symlin (pramlintide)  - A synthetic form of the hormone amylin normally produced by the beta cells along with insulin.  Amylin, insulin, and a third hormone called glucagon all work together to maintain normal glucose levels.  Studies show a modest improvement in A1C levels for individuals adding pramlintide to their diabetes care routine.

Two New Possibilities In Stem Cell Research

New stem cell techniques avoid ethical concerns:  By Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Monday, October 17, 2005.  “Science EditorUS scientists have developed two new ways of generating embryonic stem cells, designed to avoid some of the ethical objections to current methods that involve destroying "potential human life".  ...  The more positive technique comes from Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), a  Massachusetts biotechnology company, …. The ACT group is the first to publish the successful derivation of stem cells from a mammalian embryo without killing it. The mouse embryos developed normally after stem cells were derived from them..."

Inhaled Insulin Approval Delayed by FDA

FDA Delays Approval of Inhaled Insulin:
"The Food and Drug Administration is delaying a final decision on the first inhalable form of insulin for three months while it reviews chemistry data on the diabetes treatment."  Associated Press, October 28, 2005

Clinical Trial Update
Clinical Trials Resource List

 The AbATE Clinical Trial
hOKT3γ1(Ala-Ala) in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients.  The AbATE clinical trial is testing an experimental therapy known as hOKT3γ1(Ala-Ala) to determine whether it can halt the progression of type 1 diabetes in newly diagnosed individuals. The study is taking place at 6 clinical centers in the U.S. and is seeking individuals between the ages of 8-30 who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within the past 6 weeks.  Trial locations are taking place in:

California - San Francisco
Colorado - Denver
Georgia - Augusta
New York - New York City
Washington - Seattle

Warning Issues About Abbott Glucose Meters
A warning about meters manufactured by California-based Abbott has been issued. The meters use both standard units of measurement (mg/dL) and the foreign standard, millimoles per liter or mmol/L.  Serious health problems can occur if the meter is misread if a user has accidentally changed units of measurement settings.  The meters may also change units of measurement when dropped, or when the battery is change.  Users of Abbott meters should check unit of measurement EACH time they use their meters to ensure they are using the correct unit reading.  Incorrect unit measurement could result in over or under use of insulin.  Affected meters include, FreeStyle, FreeStyle Flash, FreeStyle Tracker, Precision Xtra, MediSense, Sof-Tact, Precision Sof-Tact, MediSense, Optium, and private label brands ReliOn Ultima, Rite Aid and Kroger blood glucose meters.   Read More

Stem Cell Institute Opens In Mission Bay, CA

Stem cell research in California has a home in San Francisco overlooking the Bay and ballpark.  The San Francisco Examiner, November 1, 2005,  Marisa Lagos. ..."Mayor Gavin Newsom, institute officials and civic leaders were on hand to open the building for business Tuesday. Staff from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM, which state voters created last year through a ballot proposition, will officially move into the office on Nov. 14....

“We are here today to celebrate that California, because of the default of Washington, D.C., has become the headquarters of stem cell research worldwide and San Francisco has become the capital for stem cell research,” CIRM board Chairman Bob Klein said. “There is no time to lose....”

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Page Updated 12/09/2005