diabetes Archives - BCDiabetes

Compassionate Diabetes Care

Dr. Tom Elliott — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 20:10:58 +0000

At BCDiabetes we are aware that the challenges for individuals living with diabetes are many – that it’s not as simple as eating less, exercising more, testing your blood and taking medication. Recent research at BCDiabetes has shown that at the time of referral to a diabetes specialist patients exhibit a high level of distress […]

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The Feast and Famine diet, a cure for diabetes?

Dr. Tom Elliott — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 00:36:55 +0000

Yesterday, (2017-02-23) a study of diabetic mice was published in the journal “Cell” showing that a special “fasting mimicking diet” (FMD) for 4 days every month caused regeneration of pancreatic insulin-secreting beta cells. As such, in mice at least, this diet has the potential to reverse both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. No […]

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The Dexcom G5: State-of-the-art sensor technology

Dr. Tom Elliott — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 21:25:02 +0000

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) or “sensors” have been around for more than a decade. With the arrival in Canada last week of the Dexcom G5 everything has changed: the G5 is more accurate than its predecessor the G4 allowing for ever more reliable low and high sugar alarms, it sends results straight to your smartphone […]

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Continuous glucose monitors (sensors)

Dr. Tom Elliott — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 21:24:32 +0000

Sensors (or continuous glucose monitors) are devices that measure the sugar/glucose in body water (known medically as “interstitial fluid”). A small teflon needle is inserted into the skin and is usually changed every 7-14 days. The needle is connected to a sensor which either automatically sends/pushes the Interstitial fluid glucose level via bluetooth to a […]

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Dexcom G5 Hack – Extending sensor life up to 28 days

Dr. Tom Elliott — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 21:24:19 +0000

First: purchase two accessories from Amazon.ca GrifGrips (package of 20 for CAD$20) Skin Tac (either wipes or the liquid, 50 wipes for CAD$14.84) Technique Place the sensor like you usually would, but put in on the back of the arm (as you would for a Freestyle Libre) – much better numbers. Then soak the white […]

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Two shots in one

Dr. Tom Elliott — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 18:45:22 +0000

Yesterday the US Food and Drug Administration approved two new medications – both are shots & each is a combination of two different classes of medication in one shot: a basal long-acting insulin and a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The Novo Nordisk product combines Tresiba, an insulin not yet available in Canada and Victoza while the Sanofi product […]

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BC is a third-world country when it comes to covering life-saving medication for diabetes

Dr. Tom Elliott — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:05:57 +0000

A life saving class of diabetes oral medication, SGLT2 inhibitors, costing less than $3/day, is not covered in British Columbia, but is covered in the rest of Canada. I asked Dr. Elliott, Medical Director of BCDiabetes.ca for his comments. Dr. Elliott has already blogged twice on this class of medication (see https://www.bcdiabetes.ca/third-sglt2-inhibitor-in-canada/ & https://www.bcdiabetes.ca/empa-reg-outcome-renal/ Dr. […]

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Closer to the Artificial Pancreas

Dr. Tom Elliott — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 13:36:31 +0000

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first closed-loop insulin-pump sensor system for the diabetes market. The MiniMed 670G hybrid closed looped system, often referred to as an “artificial pancreas,” is intended to adjust insulin levels with little or no input from the user. It works by measuring glucose levels every five minutes and automatically […]

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Rethinking Investment in Healthcare

Dr. Tom Elliott — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:42:45 +0000

BCDiabetes Medical Director, Dr. Tom Elliott, recently met with Shafin Tejani, Angel Investor of the Year at the 2015 Canadian Startup Awards, to discuss a diabetes-related innovation. While the notion of money and investment in healthcare is nothing new, that diabetes is seen as a cause in addition to a market by people such as […]

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Diabetes is No Laughing matter

Dr. Tom Elliott — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 23:09:17 +0000

Have you seen “diabetes” memes? They might show up as candy lasagna or math problems such as “Johnny has 20 candy bars. He eats 12. What does Johnny have?” On one hand, these are a clear indication that the general public is understanding that diet can play a factor in the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, […]

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