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Showing posts with label Diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diabetes. Show all posts

Monday, April 16, 2018

Merck Foundation opens call on diabetes, hypertension awards 2018

NaijaAgroNet: 
The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has opened the calls for application for Merck Diabetes and Hypertension awards 2018, reports ITRealms.

The awards, ITRealms gathered is open across the African and Asian Universities through its Merck Capacity Advancement Program with the aim to building a platform for diabetes and hypertension experts across the globe.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej said, “I am very proud to see our newly established platform of Diabetes and Hypertension Experts has grown in one year. This encourages us to continue and expand 2018 Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Awards to universities in more countries in Africa and Asia such as Senegal, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea, Niger, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam to join our mission to improve access to quality Diabetes and hypertension care in the two continents . “

She further added, “All Merck Diabetes and Hypertension awards winners have Joined Merck Foundation Alumni with our oncology and Fertility scholars and fellows from different countries to exchange experience & knowledge and network, this is a very important initiative for us. I personally oversee this platform to ensure success of its interaction and sustainability. “

Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Awards 2018 will be rolled out in many African and Asian Universities in more than 30 countries, as a part of Merck Foundation’s commitment to build Diabetes and Hypertension healthcare capacity and improving access to quality and sustainable healthcare solutions in developing countries.

The theme for Merck Diabetes Award 2018 is ‘Every day is a Diabetes Day,’ and the theme for Merck Hypertension Award is ‘What a Healthy Heart Needs.’ All medical postgraduates and final year undergraduates are invited to apply for the awards. The participants need to submit a one-page concept paper on the theme.

Isaac Oyimah/ED, Ops

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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Diabetes monitor, a ‘game changer’

A new method of measuring blood glucose levels in people with diabetes is a significant advance in the management of the disease, reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to an independent assessment by University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Derby Teaching Hospitals experts, the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitor has been available on prescription in the United Kingdom from November 2017.

NaijaAgroNetgathered it works through a white disc adhered to the arm which connects remotely to a small monitoring device.

This design, NaijaAgroNet gathered is to replace the recommended 4-10 painful finger-stick blood glucose tests required each day for the self-management of diabetes.

Lead researcher from The University of Manchester and a Consultant Diabetologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Lalantha Leelarathna, noted that the disc is replaced every 14 days and could also be purchased by people with diabetes.

“Type 1 Diabetes can occur at any age but typically presents in childhood and requires lifelong insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in people over 30-year-old and is initially treated without medication or with lifestyle modification and/or tablets,” Leelarathna said.

People with Type 1 Diabetes, Dr. Leelarathna said, should measure their blood glucose many times a day so they are able to adjust their insulin dose, stressing that having a blood glucose which is too high increases the risk of diabetes complications such as eye disease, foot ulcers and kidney disease.

Glucose levels which are too low can make the person with diabetes feel unwell and unable to function. If left untreated, low glucose can cause coma and seizures.

“Despite major progress in the care of people living with Type 1 diabetes, many fail to achieve their target blood sugar level – and that risks major complications.

“A key barrier in achieving near normal glucose levels is this need for frequent fingerstick blood glucose monitoring and that’s down to pain and inconvenience.

“Our review concludes that The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitor works well for both adults and children.

 “The studies show it is accurate, comfortable and easy to use. It is associated with a reduction in low blood sugar levels, improvements in glycated haemoglobin levels and adverse events are low.

“Our assessment of the available evidence shows that for most patients, it is a game changer.”

Dr Emma Wilmot from Derby Teaching Hospitals said: “From our perspective, the FreeStyle Libre is a significant advance in the management of diabetes. Many users describe it as ‘life changing’.

‘The challenge in the UK is to now ensure that it reaches people living with diabetes. We are delighted that this device became available on the NHS drug tariff in November 2017.

“However, it is clear from the Diabetes UK map of access that this does not necessarily mean that it will make it into the hands of those who might benefit from the development of a postcode lottery for access would further add to the variation in diabetes care across the country and may adversely impact on outcomes.’


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