NN&I - January 2012

Diabetes watch Compiled by Rebecca Zumoff Blood glucose control preserves kidney function Controlling blood glucose early in the course of type 1 diabetes preserves kidney function for decades according to new findings from a study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine on Nov 12 Compared to conventional therapy near normal control patients in the trial aimed for near normal glucose control intensive therapy and the others received what was then defined as standard glucose control After an average 22 year follow up 24 in the intensive group developed significantly reduced kidney function and 8 progressed to kidney failure On conventional therapy 46 developed kidney disease with kidney failure in 16 Restricted calorie diet improves heart function A low calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America last month Using cardiac MRI the researchers analyzed cardiac function and pericardial fat in 15 patients with type 2 diabetes before and after four months of a 500 calorie daily diet The results showed a decrease in BMI from 353 to 275 over four months Pericardial fat decreased from 39 milliliters ml to 31 ml and E A ratio a measure of diastolic heart function improved from 096 to 12 THERES NO PLACE LIKE Download a FREE copy of The Art of Teaching Bu onhole Self Cannulation at www homedialysis org bu onhole of blood glucose beginning soon after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes reduced by half the long term risk of developing kidney disease according to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial DCCT and Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications EDIC Research Group The risk of kidney failure was also halved over the 65 years of the study but the difference was not statistically significant The DCCT conducted from 1983 to 1993 in 1441 people with type 1 diabetes found that intensive glucose control was superior to conventional control in delaying or preventing complications overall EDIC continues to follow 1375 DCCT participants to determine the long term effects of the therapies Participants entered the DCCT six years on average after the onset of diabetes when complications of diabetes were absent or very mild Half of the www HomeDialysis org Nephrology News Issues is a Champion Sponsor of Home Dialysis Central January 2012 Nephrology News Issues 17 www NephrologyNews com