Diabetes in Focus

A1C, fasting plasma glucose increases may predict diabetes onset
An annual increase of 0.3% in blood glucose levels and 0.63 mmol/L in fasting plasma glucose levels helped predict type 2 diabetes diagnosis in healthy participants, Japanese researchers reported in Diabetes Care. They said the findings demonstrate the importance of regular screening for people at risk of diabetes. Pulse Today (U.K.) (4/23)

High glucose, insulin levels cause fatty deposits in heart
Significantly high blood glucose and insulin levels may be the cause of fatty deposits in the hearts of patients with diabetes, a study in Diabetes indicates. Austrian researchers used MRI and spectroscopy on 18 healthy patients and found that an injection of grape sugar, combined with the resulting release of insulin, overexerted the heart's metabolism and led to visible fatty deposits in the heart within six hours. Diabetes.co.uk (U.K.) (4/25)

Takeda fails to gain FDA approval of diabetes drug alogliptin
The FDA issued a complete response letter to Takeda Pharmaceutical for diabetes drug alogliptin as stand-alone treatment and in combination with Actos, another therapy by the drugmaker. Takeda, which licensed alogliptin from Furiex Pharmaceuticals, "will immediately request a meeting with the FDA to determine the appropriate next steps and [is] committed to addressing outstanding issues," said Thomas Harris, vice president of regulatory affairs at Takeda Global Research & Development Center. MedCityNews.com (4/25)

Study: Diabetes, obesity raise breast cancer risk after menopause
Overweight postmenopausal women who had a history of diabetes and high cholesterol faced more than nine times the risk of developing breast cancer as those without the conditions, according to a study in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. Researchers also found overweight women with diabetes and a high ratio of fat to muscle were nearly eight times as likely to develop breast cancer. FoodConsumer.org (4/26)

Nutrition & Wellness

Deleting enzyme may improve glucose, cholesterol levels
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that deleting the histone deacetylase 9 enzyme protected mice on a high-fat diet from high blood glucose and cholesterol levels and fatty liver disease. The findings were presented at the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2012 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. MSN/Press Trust of India (4/23) Medical News Today (4/23)

Eating eggs could boost good cholesterol levels, satiety
Participants who ate three whole eggs a day showed improved measures of HDL, or good, cholesterol at 12 weeks compared with those who ate the equivalent amount of egg substitute, researchers at the University of Connecticut found. Another study by researchers at the University of Missouri revealed that teen girls who ate a higher-protein breakfast containing eggs had greater satiety and an enhanced hormone response to hunger. The results were presented at the Experimental Biology meeting. Yahoo!/Asian News International (4/25)

Texas groups roll out health program for Latino congregations
Health experts at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center have collaborated on a pilot program, called Building a Healthy Temple -- A Faith-Based Community Participatory Research Project for Preventing Childhood Obesity Among Latino Families, to help congregants in local Latino churches adopt a healthier lifestyle. San Antonio Express-News (4/25)

Practice Update

Survey identifies 5 barriers to stage 1 MU achievement
A poll by KPMG highlights the five greatest challenges faced by health systems and hospitals in their efforts to meet stage 1 meaningful use requirements. The survey showed that 25% of respondents cited understanding the requirements as the biggest hurdle, while 12% said the absence of a dedicated team working toward meaningful use was a barrier. Government Health IT online (4/24)

HIT panel wrestles with clinical quality measures in stage 2 MU
A Health IT Policy Committee work group met Monday to discuss how best to integrate clinical quality measures into the second stage of EHR meaningful use criteria. One option would allow eligible providers to choose 12 out of 125 proposed measures, with at least one standard for each of the six domains for care improvement. The group will meet again Friday and submit its final thoughts to the full committee May 4. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (4/23)

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Trends & Technology

Report: More providers show interest in computer-assisted coding
Almost half of providers in a KLAS report said they intend to buy an inpatient computer-assisted coding tool over the next two years, in part to compensate for reimbursement and productivity losses that could stem from the switch to ICD-10. The report cited 3M, OptumInsight and Dolbey as the top three CAC vendors being considered by providers. HealthSystemCIO.com (4/23)

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