Diabetes

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Lower-limb amputation is a very real risk for many of the 25.8 million Americans living with diabetes. Though this study may be encouraging, the job of reducing the incidence of diabetes — and in particular, educating people about the need to watch their diets, take their medications and take care of their bodies — remains far from complete, as other recent stories in the media have revealed.

Independent pharmacies with a significant business in diabetes supplies will be facing their next big challenge to that business in January 2013 when competitive bidding of durable medical equipment goes into effect for mail order, Chris Smith, director of policy and regulatory affairs for the National Association of Community Pharmacists, told Drug Store News.

NEW YORK — Walgreens and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on Thursday jointly announced that Walgreens' community-based programs helped raise more than $1.4 million in 2011 for JDRF causes. The year marked the 20th anniversary of Walgreens' partnership with JDRF to raise funds for research to put an end to Type 1 diabetes.

ATLANTA — CinSulin, based in Issaquah, Wash., is in the process of launching a cinnamon water extract to help maintain healthy blood-glucose levels for patients with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.

The extract contains a concentrated cinnamon extract through a proprietary process that separates the water-soluble components from unwanted fat-soluble components. The result is an extract that is on average 10 times stronger than the average cinnamon supplement, the company stated.

ATLANTA — Leg and foot amputations among patients diagnosed with diabetes saw a dramatic decline between 1996 and 2008, thanks to improvements in blood-sugar control, foot care and diabetes management, along with declines in cardiovascular disease, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PASADENA, Calif. — A human papillomavirus vaccine created by drug maker Merck does not cause autoimmune conditions after young women are inoculated, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study.

PRINCETON, N.J. — In an effort to take Type 1 diabetes research to the next level, Novo Nordisk is set to open a research and development center in Seattle.

The center, slated to open this summer, will combine basic research and early proof-of-concept trials under one umbrella, the drug maker said. Additionally, the center will be staffed by approximately 20 researchers who will be supported by corporate functions in the United States and Denmark.

According to the American Diabetes Association’s latest figures, 79 million Americans have prediabetes, but only 1-out-of-10 knows it. That suggests a terrific upside in the market of diabetes-testing supplies and diabetes-supportive products as more of those Americans become aware of their condition.