Content about Diabetes mellitus

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy announced on Wednesday the launch of Project Health (Proyecto Salud in Spanish), a wellness program delivering more than $21 million worth of free health screenings to multicultural communities.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association has appointed Robert Ratner to serve as chief scientific and medical officer of the organization, effective May 7.

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Endocrinologists would prescribe a newly approved weekly treatment for Type 2 diabetes to one-fifth of their patients, a new survey showed.

INDIANAPOLIS and ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Through a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, the diabetes division of drug maker Eli Lilly has committed to send 89 children to diabetes camp this summer.

Lilly Diabetes said it donated the camp scholarships — a fund totaling $89,000 — to the American Diabetes Association's 2012 camp scholarship fund. More than 400 diabetes camping programs exist worldwide serving approximately 30,000 youth with diabetes and their families, Lilly Diabetes said.

NEW YORK — A new study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology examined the possible link between pancreatic cancer and drugs designed to treat diabetes, and found the association to be unclear.

Researchers conducted a case-control study based on the British-based General Practice Research Database, which included drug prescriptions, diagnostics, hospitalizations and fatality information. The researchers also took into consideration such factors as body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption and diabetes duration.

WARSAW, Poland — Iceland-based drug maker Actavis and Poland-based Bioton have formed a partnership that they said would "shake up" the diabetes market.

Actavis and Bioton announced the signing of a $73.3 million deal to develop, manufacture and commercialize insulin products, including insulin analogues. Of that, Actavis will pay $29.4 million to Bioton when the deal is signed, while the rest will consist of milestone payments.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Lower-limb amputation is a very real risk for many of the 25.8 million Americans living with diabetes. Though this study may be encouraging, the job of reducing the incidence of diabetes — and in particular, educating people about the need to watch their diets, take their medications and take care of their bodies — remains far from complete, as other recent stories in the media have revealed.

ATLANTA — Leg and foot amputations among patients diagnosed with diabetes saw a dramatic decline between 1996 and 2008, thanks to improvements in blood-sugar control, foot care and diabetes management, along with declines in cardiovascular disease, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PRINCETON, N.J. — In an effort to take Type 1 diabetes research to the next level, Novo Nordisk is set to open a research and development center in Seattle.

The center, slated to open this summer, will combine basic research and early proof-of-concept trials under one umbrella, the drug maker said. Additionally, the center will be staffed by approximately 20 researchers who will be supported by corporate functions in the United States and Denmark.

PHILADELPHIA — People who suffer from sleep disturbances are at major risk for obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to new research released Thursday from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

CHICAGO — The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is reminding consumers that the first-line defenses against Type 2 diabetes are a healthy diet and regular exercise, and that these defenses can be aided with the help of a registered dietitian.

The organization issued a press release following the announcement that celebrity chef Paula Deen had Type 2 diabetes and was working with Novo Nordisk to shed light on the issue.