Diabetes News, Weekend Edition

Hope you’re having a great weekend. Here’s what’s new in the world of diabetes care, events and all the etcetera I could find.

 By the way…

 Are You Walking Boston?

   2008 Boston Walk to Cure Diabetes 
Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the DCR Hatch Shell

 “A crucial element to the Walk is corporate involvement.  Without dedicated leadership, the Walk to Cure Diabetes would not be the success that it is today.  The JDRF staff would like to welcome Douglas J. Ringler, VMD, Cofounder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Tolerx, as the Corporate Chair of the Boston Walk. Tolerx is one of JDRF’s Industry Discovery and Development partners.  The Cambridge, MA-based biopharmaceutical company is currently conducting Phase III trials for the clinical development of TRX4, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody that halts the immune system attack on the beta cells, thereby allowing them to continue to produce natural insulin.”

From the ADA:

The American Diabetes Association’s 68th Scientific Sessions was held in San Francisco this year, with nearly 16,000 registered attendees and nearly 21,000 in total attendance– a record breaking turnout.

68th Scientific Sessions Webcasts
Access 700+ webcasts of the live presentations and oral abstracts at DiabetesConnect.org to have the 68th Scientific Sessions at your fingertips. Content is searchable by speaker name, session title, and date. Webcasts include audio and user-friendly synchronized slides. To purchase online access to these webcasts and for more information on the webcasts, and downloads, click here.

Complimentary access lectures are  also available at the site.

And….The 69th Scientific Sessions will be June 5-9, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Broomstick BASH!!!

I wish I could attend this event at the Mt. Sinai Hospital.

When: Tues., October 28, 3:30-6 PM

Where: The Annenberg Building, Main Lobby in the Mount Sinai Medical Center 100th street and Madison Ave. NYC

This free diabetes outreach ‘Healthy Halloween’ event features interactive education, face painting, goal setting tips, parent support and mask and broomstick decorating contests for kids affected by diabetes and their families. Learn how to stay healthy and upbeat about diabetes self-care throughout the holidays.

Headline Diabetes News:

ScienceDaily, September 19, 2008. Type 1 Diabetes May Result From Good Genes Behaving Badly. New research from Stanford University scientists suggests that type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that develops in children and young adults, may not be due to bad genes but rather to good genes behaving badly.

 NPR: September 17, 2008: FDA Defends Plastic Linked To Health Risks. The Food and Drug Administration defended Tuesday a controversial compound found in plastic baby bottles and in food packaging. A major study has linked bisphenol A to possible risks of heart disease and diabetes.

You can also read this Battling Cancer article on BPA and your water bottle here.

Medical News Today, September 19, 2008. Calorie-Free Natural Sweetener Moves One Step Closer To Use In The U. S. – Journal Of Agricultural And Food Chemistry.Researchers in Georgia are reporting an advance toward the possible use of a new natural non-caloric sweetener in soft drinks and other food products in the United States. Stevia, which is 300 times more potent than sugar but calorie-free, is already used in some countries as a food and beverage additive to help fight obesity and diabetes.