archive

December 3, 2012 The number of Americans with diabetes is set to skyrocket in the next 40 years. Social media has given patients an online support network and information repository for dealing with their disease. Big drug companies are hopping on the bandwagon as well.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

November 20, 2012 No one really wants to think about what goes down the drain when you flush. But sometimes, you've got to look to see what your bowels are telling you about your health. Doctors have been decoding our pee and poo since medieval times. They've even developed handy visual guides.

Summary

November 16, 2012 Back in 1995, about 4.5 percent of adults in the U.S. had been diagnosed with diabetes. By 2010, the prevalence had zoomed to 8.2 percent. An interactive map shows how much worse diabetes has become in less than a generation.

Summary

July 10, 2012 There's been an explosion in apps designed to help people stay healthy and manage chronic diseases. The Food and Drug Administration has announced plans to regulate some of these apps to make sure they're not putting patients at risk. But that's triggered a debate over whether government regulation may end up doing more harm than good.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

May 21, 2012 The proportion of 12- to 19-year-olds who report having diabetes or "prediabetes" increased from 9 percent in 1999 to 23 percent in 2008, according to a paper published in the journal Pediatrics. "This report really sounds the alarm," says one researcher.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

April 30, 2012 A common pill to treat Type 2 diabetes showed disappointing results when used by adolescents. Adding another drug helped a little, but lifestyle changes didn't improve the kids' ability to control their blood sugar.

Summary

April 19, 2012 Patients can often skip expensive treatments for simpler, cheaper alternatives. That's the gist of a new campaign from the American College of Physicians. But they've got to convince not just patients, but doctors, too.

Summary

April 19, 2012 People with diabetes may have more options for managing the disease, with new guidelines that don't include a one-size-fits-all approach to blood glucose levels.

Summary

March 26, 2012 Two studies that compared outcomes for patients on diabetes drugs versus those who underwent bariatric surgery found the latter group was much more likely to see blood sugar go down. Many of these post-operative patients were able to stop taking any diabetes drugs altogether.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

February 8, 2012 Asking for less food isn't something most people think about when ordering from a menu. A new study suggests that asking people if they want less food and, in turn, fewer calories, before they order is key.

Summary

January 17, 2012 Paula Deen became rich and beloved by selling greasy, sugary Southern comfort food. Now she's got Type 2 diabetes. Can the queen of indulgence promote excess while also promoting a healthy lifestyle? Heaven knows, she's trying.

Summary

January 12, 2012 Researchers say a tax on soda could be an effective way of preventing diabetes, strokes and early deaths. But some wonder whether a tax would encourage people to substitute another empty-calorie drink, or other types of junk foods that were not taxed, for soda.

Summary

January 9, 2012 Researchers found that even after adjusting for family background, obesity and various illnesses, young people with diabetes were more likely to drop out of high school than those without the illness. They were also more likely to skip or fail to complete college.

Summary

January 4, 2012 People who go on and off health insurance fare as badly as people without coverage when it comes to preventive care. A study finds that gaps in coverage lead people with diabetes to skip tests that help keep the illness in check.

Summary