Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes have a particular challenge managing episodes of low blood glucose. In a recent study, 45 percent of women with type 1 experienced at least one severe hypoglycemic event sometime during pregnancy. And hypoglycemia occurred most frequently early in pregnancy, despite the fact that metabolic control was tighter later in the pregnancy. But the results also suggest that women who do not experience a severe episode of low blood glucose before week 20 of pregnancy have a low risk of experiencing severe hypoglycemia later on. This should encourage these women to maintain tighter control of their blood glucose without fear of hypoglycemia.

Source: Diabetes Care, January 2008

BREAKING NEWS

A BYETTA WARNING
Since October 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received six reports of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis—a potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas—in patients taking Byetta, an injectable type 2 diabetes drug. The FDA had first reported 30 cases of pancreatitis in Byetta users in October 2007, and has since then required that information about pancreatitis be included under the “precautions” section of Byetta labeling. Of the six patients in the new reports, two died and all required hospitalization. While pancreatitis is rare—there are more than 700,000 Byetta users—and a connection between Byetta and pancreatitis remains uncertain, the FDA is recommending the prompt discontinuation of Byetta usage if pancreatitis is suspected. Symptoms of pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Contact your health care provider if you have any concerns about your Byetta use.

Try This...

Check Your Insulin: It may be the wrong kind. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has put out an alert concerning some recent insulin mix-ups. An extra-strong version of insulin—insulin U-500—now coming into more frequent use is being confused with the more common insulin U-100. This adds up to trouble: Too much insulin and blood glucose takes a nosedive, too little and glucose soars. So take a moment and get insulin informed.