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People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Diabetes
Self-monitoring blood sugar of no benefit for diabetics not on insulin, study
For type 2 diabetics who are not on insulin, monitoring their blood sugar does little to control blood sugar levels over time and may not be worth the effort or expense, according to a new evidence review.
Insurance often does not cover weight-loss surgery for teens
As obesity among young people continues to rise, a growing number of clinicians say that weight-loss surgery may be their best chance to take off significant weight. But although health plans frequently cover bariatric surgery in adults, coverage for patients under age 18 is spotty.
The health of Hispanics often worsens the longer they live in the U.S.
After 20 years of U.S. residency, rates of hypertension, diabetes and obesity rise sharply for Hispanic immigrants.
Dieting beats exercise for diabetes prevention, combination is best — Hutch study says
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study suggests that, in postmenopausal women at least, dietary weight loss alone is effective while exercise alone is not effective — but both together are best of all.
Washington state’s obesity rate more than doubles over 20 years
The percentage of adults in Washington state who are obese has more than doubled over the past two decades from 10 percent to more than 26 percent — and two-thirds, 62 percent, are either obese or overweight.
Improvements in diabetes care fail to slow rise in diabetic kidney disease, UW study finds
Despite improvements in diabetes care in the U.S., kidney disease due to the complications of diabetes continues to rise, a study by researchers at the University of Washington report.
Most primary care physicians don’t address patients’ weight
Fewer than half of primary care physicians for adults talk to their patients about diet, exercise and weight management consistently.
VM’s Benaroya Research Institute names new Communications Director
Kay A. Branz was previously vice president of Communications and Marketing for the American College of Healthcare Executives based in Chicago.
Seattle diabetes researchers win national awards
Two Seattle researchers who study the role the immune system has on the development of Type 1 diabetes have won national recognition for their work.
Obesity fuels surge of type 2 diabetes among youth
The disease was once considered “adult-onset,” but cases among U.S. children have ramped up from virtually zero to tens of thousands in little more than a decade.
State’s health technology board draws national press scrutiny
The focus of all this attention is the Washington State Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program, which was established in 2006 to determine if treatments are safe and effective, based on the available scientific evidence.
Eat for a healthy heart — tips from the FDA
Experts say you can reduce the risk of developing these problems with lifestyle changes that include eating a healthy diet. But with racks full of books and magazines about food and recipes, what is the best diet for a healthy heart?
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