Page 360«..1020..359360361362..370380..»

Top FDA Approvals in Diabetes Care from the First Half of 2022 – Endocrinology Network

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

Few, if any, diseases in medicine have seen advances in therapeutics and technology at the same rate as diabetes mellitus in the last decade. With so many advances, regulatory bodies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have been claiming headlines for practice-changing approvals on a yearly basis and 2022 has been no different.

In a field where historic advances have become the norm, the first 6 months of 2022 have been a whirlwind for the diabetes community, with approvals for a first-in-class agent, an increased dose of a popular GLP-1 RA, and multiple continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems.

To highlight the breakthroughs seen within diabetes care from the first half of 2022, EndocrinologyNetworks editorial staff has compiled a list of the most popular content related to FDA approvals and decisions from 2022 so far.

*Editors Note: Approvals are listed in chronological order from least to most recent.

Insulet Corporation announced the FDAs approval of the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System for use in individuals aged 6 years and older with type 1 diabetes in a press release on Jan. 28. According to the release from Insulet Corporation, the approval for Omnipod 5 makes it the first tubeless automated insulin delivery system with the ability to integrate with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose Monitoring System and a compatible smartphone to automatically adjust insulin and protect against glycemic events.

Related Coverage: In a 2021 panel discussion moderated by Dhiren Patel, PharmD, panelists Robert Busch, MD, and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, discuss new CGM technology, including a preview of the Omnipod 5, which had not yet received approval at the time.

Senseonics announced the FDAs approval of the Eversense E3 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and plans for a commercial launch through Ascension Diabetes Care in a press release on Feb. 11. With approval based on results of the PROMISE study, the approval for the CGM system provides up to 6 months of longevity due to a proprietary sacrificial boronic acid (SBA) technology, according to the release from Senseonics.

Related Coverage: Full results of the PROMISE study were published in the journal of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

Tandem Diabetes Care Incorporated announced the FDA granted clearance for bolus insulin dosing on the t:slim X2 insulin pump using the t:connect mobile app in a press release on Feb. 18. With a series of limited group launches occurring in the spring and an expanded launch expected in the summer of 2022, the free t:connect mobile app, which is designed to offer t:slim X2 insulin pump users the ability to program and cancel bolus insulin requests through a smartphone, is the first-ever FDA-cleared smartphone application capable of initiating insulin delivery on both iOS and Android operating systems.

Novo Nordisk announced the FDAs approval of a 2.0 mg dose of semaglutide (Ozempic) for use in patients with type 2 diabetes in a press release on March 29. Based on results of the SUSTAIN FORTE trial, the specific indication for the once-weekly GLP-1 RA is as an adjunct therapy to accompany diet and exercise for improving blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and a history of cardiovascular disease.

Related Coverage: At ADA 2021, Endocrinology Network covered a pair of studies detailing the reductions in HbA1c and body weight achieved with semaglutide 2.0 mg compared with the 1.0 mg formulation observed within the SUSTAIN FORTE trial.

Eli Lilly and Company announced the FDAs approval of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for improving blood sugar in adult patients with type 2 diabetes in a press release on May 13. Based on results of the SURPASS program, the specific indication for tirzepatide is as an adjunct o diet and exercise for improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes and the agent will be madeavailable in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg doses.

Related Coverage: On June 7, Eli Lilly and Company announced tirzepatide is available in US pharmacies.

Abbott announced the FDAs approval of the FreeStyle Libre 3 CGM system for by people aged 4 years and older in a press release on May 31. Billed as the worlds smallest, thinnest, and most accurate 14-day glucose sensor, the FreeStyle Libre 3 system is the size of 2 stacked US pennies and has a Bluetooth integration range of up to 33 feet. According to Abbott, the FreeStyle Libre 3 system is the first continuous glucose monitoring system to demonstrate a sub 8% MARD, with a 7.9% overall MARD.

Originally posted here:
Top FDA Approvals in Diabetes Care from the First Half of 2022 - Endocrinology Network

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Top FDA Approvals in Diabetes Care from the First Half of 2022 – Endocrinology Network

Sleeping with light linked to higher risk of diabetes, obesity – Medical News Today

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

A study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago explores the link between light exposures during sleep and health risks. The research serves as a warning for the many people living in industrialized nations where light tends to be omnipresent.

Sleeping while exposed to any type of light whatsoever even dim light is linked to an increase in the likelihood of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure) in older adults, the study finds.

Corresponding author for the study, Dr. Minjee Kim, of Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a press release: Whether it be from ones smartphone, leaving a TV on overnight, or light pollution in a big city, we live among an abundant number amount of artificial sources of light that are available 24 hours of a day.

It appears that even a tiny amount of light has a noticeable effect on our bodys response, Dr. Kim told Medical News Today.

Previous animal and some human studies have suggested a potential association between mistimed light not enough light during the day, too much light at night and obesity, said Dr. Kim.

There was little data on light exposure patterns in older adults, said Dr. Kim. Since older adults are already at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, we wanted to know how frequently older adults are exposed to light at night [or LAN], and whether light at night is correlated with CVD risk factors.

It is not only older people whose health may be affected by not sleeping in deep darkness.

In a previous study done by our group, even one night of dim light exposure during sleep raised heart rate and blood glucose in young, healthy adults who were brought into a sleep lab for an overnight experiment, Dr. Kim explained.

Dr. Jonathan Cedernaes, a sleep expert from Uppsala University in Sweden, who was not involved in either study, told MNT:

The fact that this is observed in older people may represent the more cumulative effects of such a mechanistic relationship, meaning that the adverse cardiometabolic effects of nighttime light exposure may become more evident over time (meaning in more advanced age, if one maintains such a lifestyle or exposure pattern over years to decades).

The study was published in the journal Oxford Academic SLEEP.

Unlike the groups previous research, the new study observed the real-world effects of LAN, tracking the sleep of 552 older men and women.

In the current study, we measured light exposure and sleep in older adults (ages 63-84) for seven days using a wrist-worn device. Instead of bringing these older adults to the sleep lab, we collected data in their routine environments, said Dr. Kim.

They found that less than half of these older adults slept in a pitch-black room for at least five hours.

We were frankly surprised to find out that more than half of the older adults were sleeping with some light at night, Dr. Kim said. Adults who slept with some light during their sleep period were generally exposed to dim light.

The researchers found that the likelihood of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) was increased by 74%, obesity by 82%, and diabetes by 100%. Participants were also tested for an increased risk of hypercholesterolemia, but no difference was observed.

The study lists three possible mechanisms behind lights disruptive effect during sleep:

When asked if more light equals a higher risk of disease, Dr. Kim replied, We found a trend towards a stronger association a higher rate of obesity and diabetes with more light exposure at night. We hope to confirm this finding with future studies across a broader age range.

While we cannot conclude anything beyond association because of the cross-sectional (snapshot) nature of the study, I encourage everyone to try to avoid or minimize any light at night if possible, Dr. Kim advised.

It may be as simple as not using electronic devices near the sleeping place and blocking light with a sleeping mask, he added.

Still, Dr. Kim cautioned: If people need to use a night light for safety, they should try to keep it as close to the ground as possible to minimize light entry to the eyes. If they need to use the bathroom at night, and it is dangerous to walk in complete darkness, try to use dim light for the shortest necessary period.

It also appears that the color of light in which a person sleeps matters.

I would recommend using amber or red light for [a] night light over blue light. Amber/red light (longer wavelengths) is less disruptive to our circadian clock in the body than lights with shorter wavelengths such as blue light, Dr. Kim explained.

Certain groups are forced to work at night, added Dr. Cedernaes, and must sleep in the day. There are also ways to block light (e.g., specific filters in glasses), and more studies may be warranted to establish methods to counteract light exposure [and] reduce cardiometabolic risks.

See the article here:
Sleeping with light linked to higher risk of diabetes, obesity - Medical News Today

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Sleeping with light linked to higher risk of diabetes, obesity – Medical News Today

Diabetes and Dehydration | Why Should Diabetics Stay Hydrated During the Summer Season? – ETHealthWorld

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

By Sujata Sharma

People who experience a dry mouth and frequent thirst are often categorised as diabetics. This raises the question of how are dehydration and diabetes related? Let us try and understand how staying hydrated can help you maintain your sugar levels.

When your body has high levels of sugar for a prolonged period of time, your kidneys need to work more to get rid of this excess glucose. This can only happen by means of urination. Drinking adequate amounts of water can help you both in staying hydrated and also in getting rid of the extra glucose present in your body.

Diabetes and Dehydration | Diabetic Ketoacidosis

This is a condition which is common with people having Type 1 Diabetes. When your cells cant absorb sugar for producing energy, it will start using fat instead. It will release a type of acid called Ketones in your bloodstream. Having too many ketones in your bloodstream can cause serious complications.

Ketones in your bloodstream can lead to a major loss of fluids in your body. Some severe symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include vomiting, dry skin, flushed face, muscle stiffness, headaches, etc.

Common Symptoms of DehydrationWhile dehydration does not have any major symptoms, some of its minor symptoms include-

Apart from water, there are other diabetes-friendly drinks that can help you stay hydrated. You can go for lemon water, infused water, herbal teas, skimmed milk, or even sugar-free coffee. They help you in treating your tastebuds and stay healthy at the same time.

However, you should avoid carbonated beverages, juices and sodas that contain high amounts of sugar. They can cause a spike in your sugar levels. Even energy drinks can be harmful for diabetics, despite the other benefits that they have to offer.

Other Benefits of Staying Hydrated

Staying hydrated can also entail other benefits such as - preventing infections, lubricating your joints, delivering nutrients to your cells, regulating your body temperature, ensuring the proper functioning of your body. Apart from these benefits, it is also scientifically proven that staying hydrated can help you improve your mood, cognition and sleep cycle.

Even after drinking ample amounts of water, if you still feel dehydrated, you should always talk to your doctor or health coach. They will change your diabetes medication or suggest the right diet or lifestyle changes. You should also not forget to monitor your sugar levels on a regular basis to keep a track of your diabetic condition.

By Sujata Sharma, Diabetes Care Coach, BeatO App

(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person / organisation directly or indirectly.)

More here:
Diabetes and Dehydration | Why Should Diabetics Stay Hydrated During the Summer Season? - ETHealthWorld

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Diabetes and Dehydration | Why Should Diabetics Stay Hydrated During the Summer Season? – ETHealthWorld

Biomea Fusion Selected for Two Oral Presentations at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting Describing BMF-219s Potential…

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

Biomea Fusion, Inc.

Biomea to present two oral abstracts across multiple animal models highlighting the ability of BMF-219, a covalent menin inhibitor, to significantly lower HbA1C (approximately two-fold greater reduction than active control, liraglutide) and to increase beta cell function.

BMF-219 showed prolonged glycemic control in two standard diabetes animal models, the Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) and Streptozotocin-induced (STZ) Rat models, throughout the dosing period and, additionally, glycemic control was maintained after the dosing period ended.

Oral Presentations to include additional data not released in the two posters presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions on June 4, 2022.

Biomea expects to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial of BMF-219 in type 2 diabetes in the second half of 2022, subject to IND submission and clearance.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biomea Fusion, Inc. (Nasdaq: BMEA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing novel covalent small molecules to treat and improve the lives of patients with genetically defined cancers and metabolic diseases, announced today that two BMF-219 preclinical abstracts were chosen for oral presentations at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting. The EASD, one of the largest networks for diabetologists worldwide, holds its Annual Meeting in a different European city each year with more than 15,000 delegates from over 130 countries attending. This years 58th EASD Annual Meeting will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, 19 - 23 September 2022.

During the 2022 EASD annual meeting, Biomeas abstract Oral menin inhibitor, BMF-219, displays a significant and durable reduction in HbA1c in a type 2 diabetes rat model" has been accepted for Short Oral Discussion with presentation number 590 and Oral long-acting menin inhibitor normalizes type 2 diabetes in two rat models will be presented orally with presentation number 197. Both abstracts can be viewed as of today at http://www.easd.org.

Both presentations highlight BMF-219s robust and prolonged glycemic control, insulin sensitization, and HbA1c reduction in two preclinical rat models of diabetes. These preclinical data support the potential utility of BMF-219 as a novel and acutely dosed oral, long-acting treatment for type 2 diabetes.

We are honored to be selected for two oral presentations at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting. The burden of diabetes remains unprecedented, with close to 10% of adults worldwide suffering from this disease and 1 in 3 Americans being prediabetic. Currently, diabetes typically requires daily treatment with multiple agents with various mechanisms of action in order to achieve glycemic control, however after several years they typically fail to maintain blood glucose control. The preclinical data that we have generated with oral BMF-219 to date and presented for the first time at the American Diabetes Association, may provide a true alternative as we are exploring to proliferate the beta cell mass and restore the bodys own ability to produce insulin, thereby reversing the downward spiral of type 2 diabetes, said Thomas Butler, Biomeas Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board. In the STZ rat model, a model that displays a significant reduction in beta cell mass, and where non-insulin based therapies have been ineffective, BMF-219 is the first single agent treatment to show glycemic control after 14 days of treatment. A therapy that can generate glucose responsive beta cells would be a major break-through for patients with diabetes. We are excited about these results and look forward to submitting our IND in the second half of this year.

Oral Presentation #197: (Thursday, September 22, 2022, 2:30 to 4:00 pm CEST) Oral Long-Acting Menin Inhibitor Normalizes Type 2 Diabetes in Two Rat Models

Abstract Text:Background and aims: Menin is a scaffold protein that has been recognized for its role in T2DM as a key regulator of b-cell proliferation. Menin inhibition has previously been shown to improve glycemic control in diabetic mice. Herein, we report the first evidence that BMF-219, an orally bioavailable, selective, irreversible menin inhibitor, restores glycemic control in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) Rat and Streptozotocin-induced (STZ) Rat models of T2DM.

Materials and methods: Rats were treated daily with BMF-219, vehicle, or pioglitazone for 16 days and analyzed for fasting and non-fasting blood glucose levels, insulin, c-peptide, and blood lipemic levels. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was conducted up to Day 15 in both models and two-weeks post-treatment in the ZDF model. Body weight of all rats was also monitored.

Results: BMF-219 was well tolerated throughout the conduct of the study. BMF-219 treatment resulted in a significant 50% reduction in fasting and non-fasting blood glucose levels, reduced serum insulin and c-peptide levels (p<0.05), and reduced HOMA-IR (p<0.001) after two weeks of treatment in ZDF rats. BMF-219 decreased glucose levels at all timepoints during an OGTT at Day 15 (AUC reduction of 54%, p<0.001) and at Day 29 (AUC reduction of 40%, p<0.05), ~2 weeks after the last dose in the ZDF model, indicating prolonged glycemic control. Strikingly, BMF-219, but not pioglitazone, reduced blood glucose levels during an OGTT in STZ animals (AUC reduction of 41%, p<0.05, see figure). Significant reductions in blood lipemic levels (p<0.01) and body weight were observed in both models.

Conclusion: Collectively, our data indicate the novel and marked potential of BMF-219 as an oral, long-acting treatment for T2DM.

Short Oral Discussion #590: (Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 12:00 pm CEST) Oral Menin Inhibitor, BMF-219, Displays A Significant and Durable Reduction in HbA1c in a Type 2 Diabetes Rat Model

Abstract Text:

Background and aims: Menin is an epigenetic regulatory protein that plays a key role in beta-cell proliferation and function, as previously demonstrated though increased beta-cell mass generation in Men1 knockout mice. The menin-MLL interaction also plays a major role in suppressing islet cell growth through control of cell cycle inhibitor expression. Here, we demonstrate the marked potential of an oral menin inhibitor, BMF-219, in durable glycemic control following a short course treatment in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) Rat model.

Materials and methods: Rats were treated daily with BMF-219, liraglutide or vehicle for 28 days and monitored for an additional 28 days post-treatment for fasting and non-fasting blood glucose levels, HbA1C levels, insulin and c-peptide levels, HOMA-IR and HOMA-B quantitation and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Results: All animals tolerated BMF-219 well throughout the study. Notably, BMF-219 treatment resulted in a significant reduction in HbA1C at Day 21, which reached 3.5% absolute reduction in HbA1C versus vehicle (p < 0.0001), compared to liraglutide (1.7% at Day 29, p < 0.05) and remained reduced throughout the entire study, including post-treatment. The high-dose arm of BMF-219 showed a strong reduction in 4-hour fasting blood glucose during the treatment up to Day 29 (p < 0.0001). Both BMF-219 dose groups showed improved glycemic control by OGTT on day 25, whereas vehicle and liraglutide-treated animals continued to show high glucose levels. Additionally, insulin levels, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, OGTT, HbA1C, and C-peptide levels measured at Day 57 across all groups will be reported.

Conclusion: Collectively, our data demonstrate the novel long-acting potential of menin inhibitor, BMF-219, as an oral treatment for T2DM, in maintaining glycemic control after short-term dosing.

About Menin in Diabetes

Loss of functional beta-cell mass is a core component of the natural history in both types of diabetes type 1 diabetes (mediated by autoimmune dysfunction) and type 2 diabetes (mediated by metabolic dysfunction). Beta-cells are found in the pancreas and are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy and helps control blood glucose levels. In patients with diabetes, beta-cell mass and function are diminished, leading to insufficient insulin secretion and hyperglycemia. Menin is thought to act as a brake on beta-cell turnover / beta-cell growth, supporting the notion that inhibition of menin could lead to the regeneration of normal healthy beta-cells. Based on these and other scientific findings, Biomea is exploring the potential for menin inhibition as a viable therapeutic approach to permanently halt or reverse progression of type 2 diabetes.

About Biomea Fusion

Biomea Fusion is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of covalent small molecules to treat patients with genetically defined cancers and metabolic diseases. A covalent small molecule is a synthetic compound that forms a permanent bond to its target protein and offers a number of potential advantages over conventional non-covalent drugs, including greater target selectivity, lower drug exposure, and the ability to drive a deeper, more durable response. The company is utilizing its proprietary FUSION System to advance a pipeline of covalent-binding therapeutic agents against key oncogenic drivers of cancer and metabolic diseases. Biomea Fusions goal is to utilize its capabilities and platform to become a leader in developing covalent small molecules in order to maximize the clinical benefit when treating various cancers and metabolic diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements we make in this press release may include statements which are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). These statements may be identified by words such as aims, anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, forecasts, goal, intends, may, plans, possible, potential, seeks, will, and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our cash runway, the clinical and therapeutic potential of our product candidates and development programs, including BMF-219, the potential of BMF-219 as a treatment for various types of cancer and diabetes, our research, development and regulatory plans, including our pursuit of BMF-219 in metabolic diseases, our plans to submit an IND application and to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial of BMF-219 in type 2 diabetes, and the timing of such events, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are making this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the risk that we may encounter delays or unforeseen results in preclinical development, IND-filing and acceptance, patient enrollment and in the initiation, conduct and completion of our planned clinical trials and other research, development and regulatory activities. These risks concerning Biomea Fusions business and operations are described in additional detail in its periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including its most recent periodic report filed with the SEC and subsequent filings thereafter. Biomea Fusion explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.

Contact:

Sasha BlaugSVP Corporate Developmentsb@biomeafusion.com(650) 460-7759

Read more from the original source:
Biomea Fusion Selected for Two Oral Presentations at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting Describing BMF-219s Potential...

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Biomea Fusion Selected for Two Oral Presentations at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting Describing BMF-219s Potential…

Free diabetes education classes kick off this week at Marion Oaks Fitness and Recreation Center – Ocala News

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

A free weekly series of classes on diabetes education and prevention is beginning this week at the Marion Oaks Fitness and Recreation Center.

The Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion), in partnership with the Marion County Hospital District, is offering the free classes at the fitness and recreation center, which is located at 280 Marion Oaks Lane in Ocala.

DOH-Marions Diabetes Empowerment and Education Program, or DEEP, runs for six weeks, beginning on Thursday, June 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The classes will meet at that same time and location each Thursday through August 4.

DEEP is a series of classes that aims to help participants who have diabetes or are considered pre-diabetic to better understand their condition and self-care options.

The classes will cover such topics as understanding how diabetes affects the human body and how to monitor it. DEEP will also include instruction on the importance of meal planning, physical activity, and a balanced diet, as well as teaching participants how to identify and prevent diabetic complications.

AdventHealth Ocala staff will also be in attendance to provide free clinical screenings.

The classes are free, but space is limited. For more information, or to register, call 352-644-2624.

Follow this link:
Free diabetes education classes kick off this week at Marion Oaks Fitness and Recreation Center - Ocala News

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Free diabetes education classes kick off this week at Marion Oaks Fitness and Recreation Center – Ocala News

Diabetes Tied to Risk of Long COVID, Too – Medscape

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center.

Individuals with diabetes who experience COVID-19 are at increased risk for long COVID compared to individuals without diabetes, according to data from a literature review of seven studies.

Diabetes remains a risk factor for severe COVID-19, but whether it is a risk factor for postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), also known as long COVID, remains unclear, Jessica L. Harding, PhD, of Emory University, said in a late-breaking poster session at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

Long COVID is generally defined as "sequelae that extend beyond the 4 weeks after initial infection" and may include a range of symptoms that affect multiple organs, Harding said. A study conducted in January of 2022 suggested that type 2 diabetes was one of several strong risk factors for long COVID, she noted.

Harding and colleagues reviewed data from seven studies published from Jan. 1, 2020, to Jan. 27, 2022, on the risk of PASC in people with and without diabetes. The studies included patients with a minimum of 4 weeks' follow-up after COVID-19 diagnosis. All seven studies had a longitudinal cohort design, and included adults from high-income countries, with study populations ranging from 104 to 4,182.

Across the studies, long COVID definitions varied, but included ongoing symptoms of fatigue, cough, and dyspnea, with follow-up periods of 4 weeks to 7 months.

Overall, three of the seven studies indicated that diabetes was a risk factor for long COVID (odds ratio [OR] greater than 4 for all) and four studies indicated that diabetes was not a risk factor for long COVID (OR, 0.5-2.2).

One of the three studies showing increased risk included 2,334 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19; of these about 5% had diabetes. The odds ratio for PASC for individuals with diabetes was 4.18. In another study of 209 persons with COVID-19, of whom 22% had diabetes, diabetes was significantly correlated with respiratory viral disease (meaning at least two respiratory symptoms). The third study showing an increased risk of long COVID in diabetes patients included 104 kidney transplant patients, of whom 20% had diabetes; the odds ratio for PASC was 4.42.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the relatively small number of studies and the heterogeneity of studies regarding definitions of long COVID, specific populations at risk, follow-up times, and risk adjustment, Harding noted.

More high-quality studies across multiple populations and settings are needed to determine if diabetes is indeed a risk factor for long COVID, she said.

In the meantime, "careful monitoring of people with diabetes for development of PASC may be advised," Harding concluded.

"Given the devastating impact of COVID on people with diabetes, it's important to know what data has been accumulated on long COVID for future research and discoveries in this area," Robert A. Gabbay, MD, chief science and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association, said in an interview. "The more information we have, the better we can understand the implications."

Gabbay said he was surprised by the current study findings. "We know very little on this subject, so yes, I am surprised to see just how significant the risk of long COVID for people with diabetes seems to be, but clearly, more research needs to be done to understand long COVID," he emphasized.

The take-home message for clinicians is the importance of screening patients for PASC; also "ask your patients if they had COVID, to better understand any symptoms they might have that could be related to PACS," he noted.

"It is crucial that we confirm these results and then look at risk factors in people with diabetes that might explain who is at highest risk and ultimately understand the causes and potential cure," Gabbay added.

The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Harding and Gabbay had no financial conflicts to disclose.

This article originally appeared on MDedge.com, part of the Medscape Professional Network.

See the rest here:
Diabetes Tied to Risk of Long COVID, Too - Medscape

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Diabetes Tied to Risk of Long COVID, Too – Medscape

VaccinesNot Just COVID ShotsLinked to Type 1 Diabetes Because of Damage to These Types of Cells – The Epoch Times

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

Since early 2021, the Beta Cell Foundation has collected data on vaccine adverse events from 528 patients with type 1 diabetes by using an online database for analysis.

The analysis showed that some patients with type 1 diabetes experienced elevated (or disturbed) blood glucose levels after vaccination with COVID vaccines:

What is the link between type 1 diabetes, COVID, and the vaccines?

Late at night on May 31, 2022, hundreds of parents from 26 provinces and central government directly controlled municipalities across China sent out an online plea for help: more than 600 children had developed type 1 diabetes after receiving the Chinese-manufactured vaccines. Some parents said that their families had no history of diabetes for three generations. Is there a correlation between the vaccines and these childhood diabetes cases?

In addition, we have received a report of adverse diabetes events after vaccination in mainland China, and the 211 cases in the report had quite detailed information. We analyzed the association between these 211 cases of diabetes and the vaccines received by the patients, by using the same principles as in our previous analysis of the over 800 leukemia cases, with a conservative approach.

The patients in these adverse events were predominantly male, with a median age of 12 years old. This is very similar to the age of prevalence of type 1 diabetes, which is more prevalent in children aged 10 to 14.

Among patients who were injected with one brand of vaccines, the vaccines produced by Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd accounted for 29 percent, the highest proportion, followed by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd., Changchun Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd., and Chengdu Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. These proportions match with the overall proportions of COVID-19 vaccines used in mainland China.

Type 1 diabetes was the main type of diabetes that occurred in these patients, accounting for 96 percent. The remainder are other types of diabetes, such as type 2 diabetes. Under normal circumstances, type 1 diabetes accounts for less than 5 percent of the total cases. Type 1 diabetes is hereditary and usually occurs in children or adolescents, whose parents or siblings also have type 1 diabetes, while type 2 diabetes is more common in adults.

Seventy-two percent of all diabetes patients developed symptoms or were diagnosed at a median of 66 days, or 2 months, after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Overall, the association between the onset of diabetes and the second dose is very strong in terms of timing. Moreover, among these 211 patients, no one had a family history of diabetes, which is a consistent pattern that warrants alarm.

The pancreas is an important organ that produces insulin, which is a hormone that binds to the insulin receptors on the cells. It helps glucose enter the cells, so that it can be used by the cells.

When glucose remains in the bloodstream and is unable to enter the cells, it causes high levels of blood glucose. And type 1 diabetes is caused by a significant deficiency of insulin, which prevents blood glucose from being used effectively by the cells and thus causes blood glucose to rise.

The reason for this inability to produce enough insulin is usually damage to the pancreatic islet cells caused by autoimmune or viral problems.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, the bodys insulin secretion is normal, but the cells are not sensitive to insulin, and blood glucose is retained outside the cells and cannot be used effectively, causing hyperglycemia.

Then, is it possible that diabetes is related to COVID-19 infection? Studies have shown that there is indeed a connection between the SARS-COV-2 virus and diabetes.

In 2021, a study jointly published in the journal Cell Metabolism by Stanford University, the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Basel, Switzerland, showed that the SARS-COV-2 virus can directly infect pancreatic islet cells and induce their apoptosis (cell death), thus reducing the insulin level. This is fully consistent with the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

In March 2022, the authoritative medical journal The Lancet published a large-scale clinical study of 1 million participants, which found that patients with long COVID had a 40 percent increased risk of developing diabetes. More than 99 percent of diagnoses of diabetes in the studys cohort relate to type 2 diabetes.

We know that the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes is mainly the autoimmune attack on pancreatic islet cells, resulting in insulin deficiency.

The COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in China are mainly inactivated vaccines. The quality of these vaccines is difficult to control, and there may be activated virus particles left in the vaccines. And even a small amount of viruses entering the human body can replicate themselves, thus affecting the bodys immune system.

In addition, all COVID vaccines, no matter what type they are, contain spike proteins, and numerous basic and clinical case studies have found that spike proteins can:

Are there other vaccines, besides the COVID-19 vaccines, that could be associated with diabetes?

Some of the ingredients contained in the COVID-19 vaccines can induce chronic inflammation, damage cellular mitochondria, and cause autoimmune phenomena, all of which can damage pancreatic islet cells and cause diabetes.

In fact, there may be other factors besides this. A private pediatric practice in Portland, Oregon, conducted a decade-spanning retrospective pediatric clinical analysis focusing on the long-term health status of multiple vaccine recipients.

They reviewed all medical records for children born between June 1, 2008 and January 27, 2019. The average numbers of medical office visits were compared between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Among all the children, 2,763 had received 1 to 40 vaccines, and 561 didnt receive any vaccine.

The study found significant differences in the numbers of medical office visits for asthma, allergic rhinitis, respiratory infection, and anemia over a decade between the two groups of children.

Of particular note, all 561 of the unvaccinated patients in the study did not have ADHD, while 5.3 percent of the vaccinated children had ADHD.

From this study, we can indeed observe that vaccinated children are more prone to immune disorders such as chronic inflammation, allergies, and even autoimmune disorders.

The study was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, but it has been withdrawn for reasons that werent made public. In general, it is unusual for a medical paper to be withdrawn without any clear reason.

Based on the current basic and clinical evidence, children with a family history of diabetes and adult diabetics should really calculate their risks associated with vaccination. If they have already received the COVID-19 vaccines, it is important to minimize the damage caused by them. So what can be done to prevent the possible risks?

Due to the poor drug therapy compliance of some patients, the limited access to conventional hypoglycemic drugs for a large population, and the inevitable side effects and drug resistance of conventional pharmaceuticals, people have been looking for effective natural foods, such as natural fruits and vegetables and herbs, to lower their blood sugar. Holistic therapies, including regular exercise, low-sugar and low-carbohydrate diets, adequate sleep and stress control, can be beneficial for type 1 diabetes and even type 2 diabetes.

Therefore, our recommended foods include ginseng, bitter gourd, and berberine. These bitter-tasting foods can be consumed more often, and there is a scientific reason behind it.

Bitter melon is a medicinal plant of the gourd family. Scientists have found that its many components, including saponins, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and steroids, all have health benefits for the human body.

Scientists have also specifically studied the hypoglycemic effects of various bitter melon concentrates:

A study published in the journal Phytomedicine showed that bitter melon saponins can induce cells to produce more insulin.

Bitter melon can also enhance cellular sensitivity to insulin and reduce metabolic syndrome.

An animal study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2011 showed that bitter melon seeds can increase the sensitivity of peripheral cells to insulin, thereby reducing the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome, which can be effective against type 2 diabetes.

Overall, bitter melon is beneficial for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes because it:

A study published in Nutrition Journal in 2015 found that bitter melon has a moderate hypoglycemic effect compared to a glucose-lowering drug called glibenclamide.

Although bitter melon is not as effective as glibenclamide in lowering blood sugar, it can be more effective in improving cardiovascular risk factors associated with diabetes. Triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in people who received bitter melon doses, whereas blood lipids rose in those who took glibenclamide instead.

Diabetes is not simply a blood sugar symptom, but essentially a metabolic disorder. The nutrients in bitter melon can act on multiple levels, as they not only focus on lowering blood sugar, but can also lower blood lipids and help with weight loss. If the entire bodys internal environment is adjusted, and the state of metabolic syndrome is reversed, blood sugar will naturally slowly drop, which is the treatment of the fundamental cause of the disease rather than simply managing symptoms.

Oral hypoglycemic drugs may have a better effect on lowering blood sugar, but they cannot solve the root cause of the disease.

The treatment of the disease should also focus on the big picture, in order to solve the root cause of the disease.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.

Go here to read the rest:
VaccinesNot Just COVID ShotsLinked to Type 1 Diabetes Because of Damage to These Types of Cells - The Epoch Times

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on VaccinesNot Just COVID ShotsLinked to Type 1 Diabetes Because of Damage to These Types of Cells – The Epoch Times

Diabetic Neuropathy Associated With Chewing Difficulty – Medscape

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

Neuropathy was associated with masticatory (chewing) dysfunction independent of missing teeth or diabetes severity in a small study in Japan.

"We demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes who developed diabetic neuropathy had significantly reduced masticatory efficiency," Yuta Hamamoto, DDS, PhD, and colleagues report in a study published online in PLoS One.

The decreased chewing ability was independent of missing teeth or diabetes severity, Hamamoto, a clinical fellow in the Department of Periodontal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan, clarified in an email to Medscape Medical News.

Their findings are important because "chewing well is essential for successful diet therapy and control of blood glucose level in patients with hyperglycemia," the researchers explain.

Successful diet therapy requires that a doctor and nutritionist pay attention to the patient's chewing ability. Dental intervention may also be required, Hamamoto said.

"We can restore their occlusal function by prosthetic and periodontal treatment," he said. "We can also examine the oral function and give patients rehabilitation to improve mastication."

Good glycemic control in type 2 diabetes delays the onset and progression of microvascular complications including nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy, the researchers write.

At the same time, periodontitis is characterized by tooth mobility or loss leading to chewing dysfunction, and it is widely accepted that tooth loss is associated with diabetes.

Hamamoto and colleagues aimed to determine whether chewing ability was associated with microvascular complications of diabetes using a new test that quantifies chewing ability.

They enrolled 172 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent educational hospitalization in the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital from April 2016 to March 2020.

These patients had developed severe diabetes and were hospitalized to receive education about diabetes, nutrition, and therapy, including guidance about how to inject insulin, Hamamoto explained.

The patients provided blood and urine samples that were used to measure urine creatinine, serum urinary albumin excretion, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio to detect diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic neuropathy was diagnosed as having two of the following: diabetic neuropathy symptoms, reduced Achilles tendon reflex, or decreased vibration sensation on the internal malleolus.

The patients had an eye exam to detect diabetic retinopathy.

They had a dental exam that included a count of moving (loose) teeth, missing teeth, and detection of periodontitis.

At baseline, the patients had a mean age of 61 and 58% were men. On average, they had had diabetes for 11 years, and their mean A1c was 10.3%.

Close to three quarters of the patients had diabetic neuropathy (71%) and a quarter had diabetic retinopathy (25%). About half had stage 1 chronic kidney disease (CKD) (53%) and fewer had stage 2 CKD (34%), stage 3 CKD (7%), or stage 4 CKD (6%); none had stage 5 CKD.

On average, the patients had 23 teeth and two moving teeth. None had dental implants and 46 patients had removable prostheses.

Chewing efficiency was measured using a chewing ability test (Gluco Sensor GS-II, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). For this test, patients chewed 2 g of gummy jelly that contained about 100 mg of glucose for 20 seconds, then rinsed with 10 mL of water, and then spat the chewed jelly and water into a cup covered with a mesh. The sensor detected the amount of glucose in the filtrate, and the average of two tests was taken as a measure of chewing efficiency.

Chewing efficiency was significantly associated with duration of diabetes (P = .049), number of remaining teeth (P < 0001), number of moving teeth (P = .007), and having diabetic neuropathy (P < .0001).

Age, body mass index, A1c, periodontal inflammatory surface area, sex, and current smoking were not significantly associated with chewing ability.

After adjusting for multiple variables, diabetic neuropathy was significantly associated with lower chewing efficiency (P = .007), as was having fewer than 20 teeth (P .0001).

However, "unexpectedly," neither diabetic retinopathy nor diabetic nephropathy correlated with masticatory efficiency, the researchers write.

"These results imply that diabetic neuropathy could be the cause of the resultant masticatory disorder in diabetes patients," they conclude.

They propose two biological mechanisms to explain this. Diabetic neuropathy may cause loss of muscle involved in chewing, or it may cause trigeminal nerve palsy (lack of nerve function) in muscles involved in chewing.

However, unlike previous studies, the current study did not find that periodontitis was associated with chewing ability. Therefore, more research is needed.

Two researchers were supported by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) program. The authors have reported no competing financial disclosures.

PLoS One. Published online June 6, 2022. Article

For more diabetes and endocrinology news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Here is the original post:
Diabetic Neuropathy Associated With Chewing Difficulty - Medscape

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Diabetic Neuropathy Associated With Chewing Difficulty – Medscape

Walmart sells low-price insulin to uninsured as more patients with diabetes struggle to pay for drug – Midland Daily News

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

To help cover the rising cost of insulin for people whose insurance doesn't include it or the 28 million Americans without insurance Walmart offers the first-ever private brand analog insulin at a low cost.

The offering includes analog insulin vials retailing for $72.88 and FlexPens retailing for $85.88, according to Walmart in a press release highlighting its low-cost insulin on Wednesday.

An insulin-dependent diabetic could go through one vial anywhere from one week to a few months, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Through a partnership with insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk, Walmart is selling the insulin products under a private label called ReliOn that saves customers up to 75% off the cash price of branded analog insulin.

This translates to a savings of up to $101 per branded vial or $251 per package of branded FlexPens, according to Walmart in the release.

The ReliOn private label of Novolog injection analog insulin in vials and FlexPens, as well as ReliOn NovoLog Mix 70/30,are available at Walmart and Sams Club pharmacies nationwide to anyone with a prescription, regardless of their insurance status.

"We know many people with diabetes struggle to manage the financial burden of this condition, and we are focused on helping by providing affordable solutions," Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president for Walmart Health & Wellness, said in a statement. "We also know this is a condition that disproportionately impacts underserved populations. With ReliOn NovoLoginsulin, were adding a high-quality medication for diabetes to the already affordable ReliOn line of products and continuing our commitment to improve access and lowering cost of care."

For many with diabetes, their health depends on having reliable access to insulin. Insulin helps control blood sugar levels and prevent complications that diabetes causes.

And, people living in rural America are 17% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those in urban areas.

The rising price of insulin a diabetes drug thats been around 100 years has been well documented and widely criticized.

Solutions, though, have been elusive.

"While drug pricing in the United States is complicated and involves many stakeholders, the publics need for life-saving medications like insulin at predictable and more affordable prices should drive all of us to do more and do better," Walmart stated in the release.

National drug spending jumped 7.7% in 2021, growing to $576.9 billion, according to a study released in April 2022 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The average cash price for insulin in the U.S. in late 2021 had risen more than 40% compared to early 2014. Due to the rising cost, one in four people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the U.S. resorted to rationing their insulin because of the high cost, according to researchers for the Yale School of Medicine.

The consequences of skipping or reducing insulin treatments can put a diabetic's life at risk. Complications include an increased likelihood of blindness, amputations, heart attack and kidney failure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rising cost of insulin has prompted lawmakers, including Congress, to call for price caps and for pharmaceutical companies to find ways to drop the cost for patients.

Walmart stated it was "encouraged" to see lawmakers at the federal and state levels recognize the need to make insulin more affordable.

In his State of the Union address on March 1, 2022, President Joe Biden called for a nationwide $35 cap on insulin copayments for those enrolled in private health plans or Medicare.

The U.S. House approved a bill in February 2022 that does just that. The bill caps cost-sharing under private health insurance for a month's supply of selected insulin products at $35 or 25% of a plan's negotiated price (after any price concessions), whichever is less, beginning in 2023.

Michigan U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D Flint, said the rising cost of insulin and other drugs is proving to be a financial burden on patients.

"As a father of a Type 1 diabetic, I have seen firsthand how the high price of prescription drugs like insulin can harm patients and harm families," Kildee, one of the bill's sponsors, said on the House floor before the vote. "When my daughter turned 26 and got her own health insurance, there were months where she spent a third of her take-home pay because shes diabetic on staying alive."

Kildee urges the U.S. Senate to pass the bill in a June 21 Tweet.

"No one should ever be forced to ration their insulin," Kildee wrote. "My bill to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month passed the House. Americans cant afford to wait any longer. The Senate must act now and help lower the cost of this necessary lifesaving medication."

Additionally, the Senate is pursuing a bipartisan agreement on a similar measure.

Unwilling to wait for federal action, 16 states across the country, starting with Colorado in 2019, enacted caps on insulin co-pays, ranging from $25 to $100 a month for consumers with commercial health insurance.

Eight more states are considering similar legislation, including Michigan.

On Feb. 24, 2021, Michigan State Rep. Sara Cambensy, D Marquette, introduced a bill that would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $50 a month.

A copay cap provides some consumer relief, but Cambensy acknowledged it wouldnt "get to the root bottom" where manufacturers set prices. Three drug companies dominate the production of insulin.

Continue reading here:
Walmart sells low-price insulin to uninsured as more patients with diabetes struggle to pay for drug - Midland Daily News

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Walmart sells low-price insulin to uninsured as more patients with diabetes struggle to pay for drug – Midland Daily News

Debt and diabetes: The cost of Marcos’ P20/kilo rice aspiration – Rappler

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 2:09 am

MANILA, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to bring rice prices down to just P20 per kilo.

With immense funding, he can, especially now that he has assumed the position of agriculture chief.But this comes at a cost, which would sideline other agricultural products and have immense implications for public health.

Heres some of the reasons why his low target price is terrible economics.

Neighboring Southeast Asian countries, like Vietnam and Thailand, have something that the Philippines doesnt have: land suitable for growing rice.

In a discussion paper published by the Food and Agriculture Organization, economist David Dawe said that countries that are able to export are situated on the Southeast Asian mainland, while the Philippines, as well as fellow rice importers Malaysia and Indonesia, are islands or peninsulas.

The answer is that the countries on the mainland have dominant river deltas that provide ample water and flat land (important for easier control of that water). Such an environment is particularly suitable for cultivating rice, which, unlike wheat and maize, has a semi-aquatic ancestry and is thus particularly sensitive to water shortages, Dawe said.

Dawe added that these river systems also allow for lower-cost transportation of rice over medium and long distances and effectively facilitate exports.

Thus, in terms of achieving rice self-sufficiency, island countries have a natural disadvantage. Less of their land is suited to growing rice and, as a result, they cannot compete at the margin with the mainland rice exporters, he said.

Land for rice harvest in the Philippines is relatively small at 4.8 million hectares, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.

Thailand and Vietnam have around 10.5 million hectares and 7.5 million hectares for rice production, respectively.

Data from the Philippines Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that farmers in Nueva Ecija, the Philippines rice granary, is able to produce a kilo of rice for P12.41.

Vietnam can produce the same amount of rice for just P6.53, and Thailand at P8.85.

A typical Filipino rice farmer will usually sell rice at a farmgate price of around P17 to P19 per kilo. Transport costs and other expenses to take the rice to the palengkes or supermarkets would double the price of rice to P34 to P38 per kilo.

The chart below by PhilRice shows the breakdown of expenses per kilo of rice produced:

Meanwhile, rice from Vietnam and Thailand can cost around just P23 to P27, prior to slapping of tariffs upon entry to the Philippines.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that well-milled rice retails at around P37 to P41 per kilo.

Other than competition, the Philippines also faces a climate change crisis.

Based on Fitchs Climate Change Physical Risk Exposure Heatmap rankings, the Philippines ranked fourth in terms of risks arising from floods and storms. The Philippines trailed Mozambique, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.

Climate change caused P506.1 billion (around $10 billion) in losses and damage to the Philippines over the past decade, according to the Department of Finance.

Meanwhile, rapid urbanization also poses a challenge to the rice sector. PhilRice noted that it led 45.3% of the population to move in urban areas, effectively resulting in changes in the demand pattern for rice.

With geography, climate change, and other global market forces in play, what can Marcos do to bring down prices?

More imports? According to Geny Lapina, a faculty member of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics of the University of the Philippines-Los Baos, importing more rice wont bring rice prices all the way down to P20 per kilo.

Lapina explained that imported rice would arrive in Philippine ports at around P24 per kilo. Add in the tariffs and other costs, and it would reach stores at around P33 per kilo.

Removing the tariffs would also place farmers at a disadvantage, as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or RCEF which supports farmers programs rely on tariffs.

If you remove the tariff, where will we get the funds for RCEF? So youre really balancing these things. Our reality is that [the P20 per kilo] is not going to happen. We can dream it, Lapina said.

Lapina added that the Philippines faces more headwinds now, as the peso weakens to a 16-year low against the US dollar. This means higher import costs.

Subsidies for farmers? If Marcos decides to lower prices by buying rice from farmers at higher rates and then selling it at a lower price, this would lead to a fiscal problem.

Cenon Elca, faculty of UPLBs Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, said that this could cost the government as much as P200 billion.

If you buy at P20 to support farmers and sell at P10 at the farmgate, the net effect is a capital outlay of around P200 billion just to support that P20 retail price of rice, Elca said.

Elca added that this amount is over 10 times RCEPs P18-billion fund.

If you pour in money, you can make it happen. But hearing from the statement of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, he favors fiscal discipline, as our debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) is now at 63%, Lapina said. (READ: A Staple Problem? History of rice crisis in the Philippines)

As Marcos aims to bring rice prices down, this might mean that other crops and agricultural products may be further sidelined.

Currently, rice has the biggest budgetary support at P15.5 billion, followed by fisheries (P3 billion), high value crops (P1.6 billion), corn (P1.5 billion), livestock (P1.1 billion), and organic agriculture (P665 million).

You are channeling towards rice only. For agricultural development, thats not the direction we see in our research. The direction is diversification, thats good for biodiversity, Lapina said.

Its very difficult to focus on rice alone even from a government investment perspective; you dont want to put all your eggs in one basket, Lapina added.

Lapina and Elca also warned that lower rice prices would encourage Filipinos to consume more rice.

There are Filipinos now who are shifting away from rice and are concentrating more on consuming protein and vegetables. But if they see rice prices go down, they might go back to a cereal-based diet and thats not good, it could imply higher incidence of diabetes, Elca said.

The chart below shows that Filipinos may consume as much as 15.88 million tons of rice by 2030.

PSA data showed that deaths due to diabetes mellitus ranked fourth in 2020 at 37,265, after heart diseases (99,680), cancer (62,289), and cerebrovascular diseases (59,736).

In the Philippines, 1 in 14 Filipino adults lives with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Foundation.

Experts said that the pandemic likely increased the chances of adults developing diabetes due to reduced physical activity and obesity.

While the numbers would show that it would be impossible for Marcos to bring prices down to his desired level, he can at least pick up on the gains of the past administrations and follow the rice industry road map.

The roadmap details the 57 provinces that have the potential to produce rice at the lowest production cost of P8 to P10 per kilo, considering the geographic location and other challenges. (READ: Dutertes agri chief to Marcos: Use PPP to build irrigation systems, hike DA budget)

It also details which rice-producing areas cannot compete with imports, and farmers would have to transition out of rice farming. Rappler.com

Follow this link:
Debt and diabetes: The cost of Marcos' P20/kilo rice aspiration - Rappler

Posted in Diabetes | Comments Off on Debt and diabetes: The cost of Marcos’ P20/kilo rice aspiration – Rappler

Page 360«..1020..359360361362..370380..»