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New Risk Factor for DM2
diabetes
CKD Risk and High HgbA1c
The more we know, the less we know. The study population is small, but the findings merit our collective attention. Think about these things the next time you are considering credits for the absence of retinopathy and/or albuminuria in a diabetic applicant.
Listen and Learn – Recent Diabetes Research
One Sweet Idea
According to the CDC, the incidence of diabetes increased 90% during the 10-year period ending in 2007. So is any company working in the brokerage market surprised to hear that some competitors are now offering Preferred rates to applicants who have IGT?
“He doesn’t have diabetes. He has IGT, not diabetes.”
This is one slippery slope. I strongly caution underwriters to be extremely selective when offering the best mortality rate for future diabetics. Take a hard look at the applicant’s health behaviors trend. Whether or not an individual goes on to develop full-blown diabetes from an impaired glucose tolerance state is strongly dependent upon current and future behaviors.
Last century when I was President of the Texas HOLUA I had the opportunity to ask one of the leading diabetes specialists some questions about my personal situation. Dr. Norman Kaplan at Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas addressed the group and I talked family history with him. I mentioned my strong family history for diabetes and asked Dr. Kaplan how I could avoid diabetes in the future. His reply was simple and eloquent:
“Stay as thin as you possibly can.”
Good advice for a lot of what ails you.
Bye Bye Byetta Update
Four more deaths have been reported. Underwriters beware…
Bye Bye Byetta?
The FDA just updated their safety information on Byetta to reflect the reports of 6 cases of hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis in people taking the drug. All six required hospitalization and two have died. If you know any diabetics taking this drug, please advise them of this information. Sooner, not later. I’ve added a link to the FDA MedWatch page on the sidebar under drug abuse.
The Origins of Byetta
I always wondered who figured out kissing a Gila Monster would help control diabetes. Well now I know. You can too. Read the story here.
Photo courtesy of nationalgeographic.com.
Read a Book a Week – On the Shelf
I’ve just finished reading the best book on the prevention and management of Type 2 diabetes. The recommendations in Beating Diabetes are based on evidence from a randomized controlled clinical study called the Diabetes Prevention Program.. This book needs to be in your underwriting library and would make an excellent text for training purposes. But for those of you who may not have the time to find and read the entire book, I’ll summarize the key points:
- Eat less
- Move more
The book focuses on weight loss strategies and lifestyle modification. Get it, read it, live it.
I Lost 200 Pounds…You Can Too
I’ve added a new links category on Obesity. Recently I joined the National Weight Loss Registry and became participant L8784. It took some time to fill out the questionnaires but since it was for a good cause, I answered each and every question. The only thing I didn’t do was the narrative. I was given the option to write about my weight loss experience. So after much thought and digging deep I wrote the following which debuts here first.
How To Lose 200 Pounds in Two Easy Steps
- Eat less.
- Move more.
Hopefully the accumulated data from people who have lost significant amounts of weight will lead to insights about losing weight and keeping it off. Over 65% of the US population age 20 and higher are overweight or obese.
And we wonder why 8% of the population has diabetes…
lifeunderwriter.net 
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