Diabetes

Aaron Kowalski, PhD, the new CEO of the JDRF, says in a discussion about insulin pricing that action is needed not only by Congress, but also by insulin makers, health plans, and the executive branch. The most important goal: ending a crosspayment scheme that many blame for potentially deadly price increases.

The diagnosis of diabetes can be hard for a teenager to accept. Add insulin affordability to the mix, and by the time a young adult learns to live with the disease, the complications have already arrived.

Novo Nordisk officials believe the new therapy will fufill an unmet need for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity who need a GLP-1 receptor agonist but do not wish to use an injectable drug.

Intensive lifestyle intervention focusing on weight loss may reduce cardiovascular events in selected type 2 diabetes patients yet have a detrimental treatment effect in some, according to recent research.

The Harvard researchers designed this new device with consideration of the human pancreas, where islets—also known as islands of cells—receive glucose level information from the bloodstream, then adjust their insulin production.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

This week, the top managed care news included a diabetes drug showing positive results in treating heart failure; new lipid guidelines promoting the use of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors; and a study finding doctors are more likely to prescribe opioids if they are in a hurry.

New York City health officials have declared an end to the city’s biggest measles outbreak in nearly 3 decades; Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, has proposed canceling $81 billion in existing medical debt; Vertex Pharmaceuticals is taking a chance on a start-up’s early-stage science that could potentially one day emerge as a functional cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Coverage from the European Society of Cardiology 2019 Congress in Paris, France.

Coverage from the July 11, 2019, meeting of the Institute for Value-Based Medicine®, an initiative of The American Journal of Managed Care®. The meeting took place in Arlington, Virginia.

Dapagliflozin’s fast track designation follows findings from last year’s DECLARE-TIMI trial, a cardiovascular outcomes trial that showed the drug’s significant impact on delaying the loss of kidney function and reducing hospitalization risk for heart failure.

The findings suggest that a commonly used diabetes therapy, metformin, could be used to target specific proteins that trigger DNA repair.

Cancer treatment raises the risk of heart disease in childhood cancer survivors, as does diabetes and hypertension.

Studies on anticoagulants and SGLT2 inhibitors, and guidelines for dyslipidemia and more are anticipated at the meeting.

During the menopause transition, women with type 2 diabetes are more likely to have sleep disturbances due to an alteration in their hormonal response to insulin.

Despite advances in therapies for diabetes, those living with the disease are not faring better in reaching treatment targets due to lack of access to care, starting with the ability to be properly diagnosed.

As a progressive condition, diabetes presents an ongoing challenge for physicians to provide adequate control of patients’ disease, and new agents with novel mechanisms of action help reduce the burden in the management of diabetes.

This week, the top managed care news included HHS laying out a plan for importing certain prescription drugs from other countries; a potential new standard of care for chronic lymphocytic leukemia; 3 insulin makers get subpoenaed over their pricing practices.

Here are the top 5 articles for the month of July.

Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate, the first of 2 days, included disagreements over the viability of Medicare for All; 3 insulin makers received subpoenas from the New York Attorney General over their pricing practices; US News & Report released its 30th Annual Best Hospitals rankings.

The University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID), in collaboration with a group of healthcare stakeholders, has announced the details of V-BID X, a template for reducing cost sharing for certain high-value services and raising cost sharing for certain low-value services while not increasing premiums or deductibles.

Nasal glucagon is seen as a game-changing delivery method to replace the multistep system of mixing powder and liquid with a simple, 1-step spray.

The bill would reduce prices up to 75% based on anticipated 2020 levels, according to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, the lead sponsor.

Under new guidance released by Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with health savings accounts can cover chronic care treatment before a patient meets their deductible.

Researchers are closing in on a sought after goal of a blood test that can detect posssible signs of Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia; Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen, MD, has been ousted after 8 months; Abbott Laboratories is ramping up manufacturing capacity for its lower-cost continuing glucose monitor FreeStyle Libre.