For patients with type 2 diabetes – especially those over age 50 – the negative impact of side effects like weight gain and burdens like frequent insulin shots trumps the benefits of drugs, says a new study by the University of Michigan Health System, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and University College London. The…Read more Drug Risks Outweigh Benefits for Some Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Category: Chronic Conditions
It’s Heart Health Month
I’m not a big fan of designating specific months to promote awareness of specific diseases — after all, disease management and prevention is important year ’round — but it does serve the purpose of making some noise about key health issues. February is Heart Month; the American Heart Association, CDC, and other groups have ramped…
More Health Spending Doesn’t Equal Better Health
The United States spends more per capita on health care than other wealthy nations, but still lags behind in life expectancy and overall population health, according to a new study published in this week’s issue of JAMA. Noting a lack of universal health coverage, study authors concluded: “High costs with mediocre population health outcomes at […]
Higher Premiums for Unhealthy Lifestyles – Fair?
Should people with bad health habits pay more for insurance? A new report by ehealth.com, the nation’s largest private online health insurance exchange, says that many already do. Their just-released Smoking Status and Body Mass Index Relative to Individual Health Insurance Premiums found that obese people are charged average of 22 percent more in health premiums, and […]
Diabetes on the rise among young people
The incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is growing at an alarming rate among young people in the U.S.