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Despite Trump Invitation to Stop Taking Refugees, Red and Blue States Alike Endorse Resettlement

Forty-two governors, Republican and Democrat alike, have affirmed their consent for continued refugee resettlement, bypassing an invitation from the Trump administration to stop accepting refugees. These actions, which reportedly surprised the White House, suggest there may be limits to the Trump immigration agenda when it comes to refugees, as this Policy Beat explores.




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As Lesvos Battles Migration Crisis Fatigue, the Value of Centralized Migration Decision-Making Is Questioned

As Greece's Aegean islands continue to grapple with migrants arriving on their shores, decisions regarding the needs of newcomers are negotiated in Brussels and Athens, far removed from the situation on the ground. Meanwhile, local communities have had successes in hosting migrants, as this article drawing on observations from the hospitality center and refugee camp on Lesvos explores.




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Americans

Americans (date: 5/9/2020 - Rank: 10)




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Economy

Economy (date: 5/9/2020 - Rank: 3)




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Trump

Trump (date: 5/9/2020 - Rank: 2)




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Suicide Risk Assessment in Youth and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes who endorsed suicidal ideations as part of routine depression screening and the results of their suicide risk assessments.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Patient Health Questionnaire–9 was used to assess depressive symptoms and suicide/death ideation in 550 youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes ages 10–24 years. Only individuals who endorsed suicidal/death ideations (n = 49) completed a standardized suicide risk assessment protocol and safety planning.

RESULTS

Nine percent of individuals endorsed suicidal/death ideation and of those, 83.4% reported clinically elevated depressive symptoms; 16% made a previous suicide attempt. No youth (n = 39) or young adults (n = 11) disclosed current plans or preparations for suicide, but five who expressed suicidal ideation acknowledged the lethality of insulin for an attempt. Three previously used insulin to attempt suicide. The overwhelming majority of individuals were classified as being low risk for future suicide attempt/completion. None were hospitalized as a part of the suicide risk assessment, and no suicide completions have occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study provide initial insight into the behaviors and cognitions of youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes who experience suicidal and death ideations. Comprehensive suicide risk assessment and safety planning are feasible during routine type 1 diabetes clinic appointments.




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Randomized Study to Evaluate the Impact of Telemedicine Care in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes With Multiple Doses of Insulin and Suboptimal HbA1c in Andalusia (Spain): PLATEDIAN Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of a telemedicine visit using the platform Diabetic compared with a face-to-face visit on clinical outcomes, patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and physicians’ satisfaction in patients with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

PLATEDIAN (Telemedicine on Metabolic Control in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Andalusian Patients) (NCT03332472) was a multicenter, randomized, 6-month follow-up, open-label, parallel-group controlled study performed in patients with type 1 diabetes with suboptimal metabolic control (HbA1c <8% [<64 mmol/mol]), treated with multiple daily injections. A total of 388 patients were assessed for eligibility; 379 of them were randomized 1:1 to three face-to-face visits (control cohort [CC]) (n = 167) or the replacement of an intermediate face-to-face visit by a telemedicine visit using Diabetic (intervention cohort [IC]) (n = 163). The primary efficacy end point was the mean change of HbA1c levels from baseline to month 6. Other efficacy and safety end points were mean blood glucose, glucose variability, episodes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, patient-reported outcomes, and physicians’ satisfaction.

RESULTS

At month 6, the mean change in HbA1c levels was –0.04 ± 0.5% (–0.5 ± 5.8 mmol/mol) in the CC and 0.01 ± 0.6% (0.1 ± 6.0 mmol/mol) in the IC (P = 0.4941). The number of patients who achieved HbA1c <7% (<53 mmol/mol) was 73 and 78 in the CC and IC, respectively. Significant differences were not found regarding safety end points at 6 months. Changes in HRQoL between the first visit and final visit did not differ between cohorts, and, regarding fear of hypoglycemia (FH-15 score ≥28), statistically significant differences observed at baseline remained unchanged at 6 months (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of telemedicine in patients with type 1 diabetes with HbA1c <8% (<64 mmol/mol) provides similar efficacy and safety outcomes as face-to-face visits.




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Diabetes INSIDE: Improving Population HbA1c Testing and Targets in Primary Care With a Quality Initiative

OBJECTIVE

To improve outcomes of patients with adult type 2 diabetes by decreasing HbA1c undertesting, reducing the proportion of patients with poor glycemic control, and lowering mean HbA1c levels using a quality improvement (QI) program.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Six years of outpatient electronic health record (EHR) data were analyzed for care gaps before and 2 years after implementing a QI initiative in an urban academic medical center. QI strategies included 1) individual provider and departmental outcome reports, 2) patient outreach programs to address timely follow-up care, 3) a patient awareness campaign to improve understanding of achieving clinical goals, 4) improving EHR data capture to improve population monitoring, and 5) professional education.

RESULTS

Analysis (January 2010 to May 2018) of 7,798 patients from Tulane Medical Center (mean age 61 years, 57% female, 62% black, 97% insured) with 136,004 visits showed target improvements. A Cox proportional hazards model controlling for age, sex, race, and HbA1c level showed a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c undertesting >6 months (hazard ratio 1.20 ± 0.07). Statistical process control charts showed 15.5% relative improvement in the patient proportion with HbA1c >9% (75 mmol/mol) from 13% to 11% (P < 10–6) following QI interventions and a 2.1% improvement of population mean HbA1c from 7.4% (57 mmol/mol) to 7.2% (55 mmol/mol) (P < 10–6).

CONCLUSIONS

Multidisciplinary QI teams using EHR data to design interventions for providers and patients produced statistically significant improvements in both care process and clinical outcome goals.




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Superior Long-term Survival for Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation as Renal Replacement Therapy: 30-Year Follow-up of a Nationwide Cohort

OBJECTIVE

In patients with type 1 diabetes and end-stage renal disease, it is controversial whether a simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation improves survival compared with kidney transplantation alone. We compared long-term survival in SPK and living- or deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included all 2,796 patients with type 1 diabetes in the Netherlands who started renal replacement therapy between 1986 and 2016. We used multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for recipient age and sex, dialysis modality and vintage, transplantation era, and donor age to compare all-cause mortality between deceased- or living-donor kidney and SPK transplant recipients. Separately, we analyzed mortality between regions where SPK transplant was the preferred intervention (80% SPK) versus regions where a kidney transplant alone was favored (30% SPK).

RESULTS

Of 996 transplanted patients, 42%, 16%, and 42% received a deceased- or living-donor kidney or SPK transplant, respectively. Mean (SD) age at transplantation was 50 (11), 48 (11), and 42 (8) years, respectively. Median (95% CI) survival time was 7.3 (6.2; 8.3), 10.5 (7.2; 13.7), and 16.5 (15.1; 17.9) years, respectively. SPK recipients with a functioning pancreas graft at 1 year (91%) had the highest survival (median 17.4 years). Compared with deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients, adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for 10- and 20-year all-cause mortality were 0.79 (0.49; 1.29) and 0.98 (0.69; 1.39) for living-donor kidney and 0.67 (0.46; 0.98) and 0.79 (0.60; 1.05) for SPK recipients, respectively. A treatment strategy favoring SPK over kidney transplantation alone showed 10- and 20-year mortality hazard ratios of 0.56 (0.40; 0.78) and 0.69 (0.52; 0.90), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with living- or deceased-donor kidney transplantation, SPK transplant was associated with improved patient survival, especially in recipients with a long-term functioning pancreatic graft, and resulted in an almost twofold lower 10-year mortality rate.




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Sex Difference in Effects of Low-Dose Aspirin on Prevention of Dementia in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Long-term Follow-up Study of a Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the efficacy of long-term use of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of dementia in men and women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study is a follow-up cohort study of the Japanese Primary Prevention of Atherosclerosis With Aspirin for Diabetes (JPAD) trial, which was a randomized, open-label, standard care–controlled trial examining the effects of low-dose aspirin on cardiovascular events. We followed up 2,536 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) enrolled in the JPAD trial from 2002 to 2017. The primary outcome of this post hoc analysis was the incidence of dementia, which was defined by the prescription of antidementia drugs or admission due to dementia.

RESULTS

Among the originally enrolled patients, 2,121 (84%) retained their original allocation. During a median follow-up of 11.4 years, 128 patients developed dementia. The overall effect of low-dose aspirin on the prevention of dementia adjusted for age, sex, and other established risk factors was not significant (hazard ratio [HR] 0.82, 95% CI 0.58–1.16). However, a significant reduction was seen in the risk of dementia in women (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.95), but not in men (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.75–2.13) (Pinteraction = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term use of low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk for dementia in women with T2D.




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Screening for Glucose Perturbations and Risk Factor Management in Dysglycemic Patients With Coronary Artery Disease--A Persistent Challenge in Need of Substantial Improvement: A Report From ESC EORP EUROASPIRE V

OBJECTIVE

Dysglycemia, in this survey defined as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes, is common in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated with an unfavorable prognosis. This European survey investigated dysglycemia screening and risk factor management of patients with CAD in relation to standards of European guidelines for cardiovascular subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The European Society of Cardiology’s European Observational Research Programme (ESC EORP) European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) V (2016–2017) included 8,261 CAD patients, aged 18–80 years, from 27 countries. If the glycemic state was unknown, patients underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and measurement of glycated hemoglobin A1c. Lifestyle, risk factors, and pharmacological management were investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 2,452 patients (29.7%) had known diabetes. OGTT was performed in 4,440 patients with unknown glycemic state, of whom 41.1% were dysglycemic. Without the OGTT, 30% of patients with type 2 diabetes and 70% of those with IGT would not have been detected. The presence of dysglycemia almost doubled from that self-reported to the true proportion after screening. Only approximately one-third of all coronary patients had completely normal glucose metabolism. Of patients with known diabetes, 31% had been advised to attend a diabetes clinic, and only 24% attended. Only 58% of dysglycemic patients were prescribed all cardioprotective drugs, and use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (3%) or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (1%) was small.

CONCLUSIONS

Urgent action is required for both screening and management of patients with CAD and dysglycemia, in the expectation of a substantial reduction in risk of further cardiovascular events and in complications of diabetes, as well as longer life expectancy.




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Glucosamine Use, Inflammation, and Genetic Susceptibility, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study in UK Biobank

OBJECTIVE

Glucosamine is a widely used supplement typically taken for osteoarthritis and joint pain. Emerging evidence suggests potential links of glucosamine with glucose metabolism, inflammation, and cardiometabolic risk. We prospectively analyzed the association of habitual glucosamine use with risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and assessed whether genetic susceptibility and inflammation status might modify the association.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study analyzed 404,508 participants from the UK Biobank who were free of diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease at baseline and completed the questionnaire on supplement use. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between habitual use of glucosamine and risk of incident T2D.

RESULTS

During a median of 8.1 years of follow-up, 7,228 incident cases of T2D were documented. Glucosamine use was associated with a significantly lower risk of T2D (hazard ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.89) after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, race, center, Townsend deprivation index, lifestyle factors, history of disease, and other supplement use. This inverse association was more pronounced in participants with a higher blood level of baseline C-reactive protein than in those with a lower level of this inflammation marker (P-interaction = 0.02). A genetic risk score for T2D did not modify this association (P-interaction = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that glucosamine use is associated with a lower risk of incident T2D.




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Targeting CXCR1/2 Does Not Improve Insulin Secretion After Pancreatic Islet Transplantation: A Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Reparixin is an inhibitor of CXCR1/2 chemokine receptor shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory adjuvant in a pilot clinical trial in allotransplant recipients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-assignment study (NCT01817959) was conducted in recipients of islet allotransplants randomized (2:1) to reparixin or placebo in addition to immunosuppression. Primary outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) for C-peptide during the mixed-meal tolerance test at day 75 ± 5 after the first and day 365 ± 14 after the last transplant. Secondary end points included insulin independence and standard measures of glycemic control.

RESULTS

The intention-to-treat analysis did not show a significant difference in C-peptide AUC at both day 75 (27 on reparixin vs. 18 on placebo, P = 0.99) and day 365 (24 on reparixin vs. 15 on placebo, P = 0.71). There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups at any time point for any secondary variable. Analysis of patient subsets showed a trend for a higher percentage of subjects retaining insulin independence for 1 year after a single islet infusion in patients receiving reparixin as compared with patients receiving placebo (26.7% vs. 0%, P = 0.09) when antithymocyte globulin was used as induction immunosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS

In this first double-blind randomized trial, islet transplantation data obtained with reparixin do not support a role of CXCR1/2 inhibition in preventing islet inflammation-mediated damage.




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What math professors and k-12 teachers think of each other

By Michael Pershan, St. Ann’s School I. What do primary/secondary math educators think of the teaching that happens in colleges? And — the other way around — what do mathematics professors think of primary and secondary math teaching? I’m nearing … Continue reading




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The Future of Enrichment: Math Contests or Math Circles?

by Doug O’Roark Executive Director, Math Circles of Chicago The New York Times recently published an article entitled “The Right Answer? 8,186,699,633,530,061 (An Abacus Makes It Look Almost Easy)”. Its lead photograph features over 100 children seated at desks, facing … Continue reading




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Teaching math in prison

By: Kristin Pfabe, Nebraska Wesleyan University “I am sad this class is going to be over,” said one student. “What am I going to do with myself?” asked another during the last week of an Intermediate Algebra class that I … Continue reading




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Help! I need to teach my course online and I’ve never done this before

By: Yvonne Lai, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ray Levy, Mathematical Association of America This is cross-posted in MathValues and Abbe Herzig has written a companion post. Additional resources and future meetings are also available here: https://tinyurl.com/OnlineTalkshop. In times of crisis we … Continue reading




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Online learning in the time of Coronavirus: Tips for students and the instructors who support them

Abbe Herzig, AMS Director of Education In the midst of the upheaval due to the Coronavirus, students and faculty are transitioning to new virtual classrooms. Many of us haven’t chosen to learn or teach, but here we are, making the … Continue reading




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Soccer: Germany's Bundesliga approved to return in mid-May

The Bundesliga -- Germany's top soccer league -- will be allowed to resume in May after German Chancellor Angela Merkel lifted some lockdown restrictions in the country on Wednesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.




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Dallas Cowboys sign former first-round pick Cameron Erving

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms with free-agent offensive lineman Cameron Erving, the team announced Wednesday.




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Taiwan baseball league to allow fans back in ballparks amid pandemic

A limited number of fans will be allowed to enter ballparks for games in Taiwan for the first time this season as stay-at-home orders continue to loosen amid the coronavirus pandemic.




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NFL lays out protocols for reopening of team facilities

The NFL outlined protocols Wednesday for the gradual reopening of team facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.




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Ex-MLB players in spotlight as world turns to Asia for baseball

Playing in Taiwan once was a last option Justin Nicolino had to continue a professional baseball career. Now the former Miami Marlins pitcher is one of many ex-MLB players who provide entertainment for U.S. sports fans.




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Brooks Koepka learned not to smack talk Michael Jordan on golf course

PGA Tour star Brooks Koepka said he'll no longer smack talk Michael Jordan on the golf course after he lost a round to the basketball legend.




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Soccer: Bundesliga return includes Dortmund on May 16, Bayern Munich, May 17

The German Bundesliga released its full soccer schedule Thursday after German officials announced that the league is allowed to resume games after they were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.




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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh proposes major changes to NFL Draft eligibility rules

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is urging the NFL and NCAA to amend their rules and provide flexibility to college football players who consider making the jump to the next level.




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NFL releases dates, times for 2020 regular-season schedule

The NFL revealed its 2020 regular-season schedule Thursday, with the Kansas City Chiefs kicking off their Super Bowl title defense against the Houston Texans in Week 1.




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Ex-ABA commissioner, NBA executive Mike Storen dies at 84

Former American Basketball Association commissioner and NBA executive Mike Storen died Thursday after a lengthy battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 84.




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Former Denver Broncos QB Joe Flacco underwent neck surgery

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco, who remains a free agent, could miss the start of the 2020 season after he underwent neck surgery.




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Weekend live sports include UFC 249, 14 baseball games in Asia

UFC 249 will be sandwiched between 14 live baseball broadcasts out of South Korea and Taiwan this weekend for American sports fans to watch as they wait for major sports leagues to return.




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Peyton Manning trash talks Tom Brady before May 24 golf match

Former star quarterback Peyton Manning delivered some trash talk to Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady while they promoted their May 24 charity golf match.




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Bryce Harper calls MLB 'dumb' to keep stars out of Olympics

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper thinks Major League Baseball is "dumb" for its policy that makes the Olympics off-limits for baseball's best players.




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Giannis Antetokounmpo sorry for hacked tweets about Kobe Bryant, LeBron James

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has apologized after he said someone hacked his Twitter account to send inappropriate tweets about several athletes, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant.




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Japan offers weekend's only top-level event as horse racing struggles to resume

Coronavirus brings worldwide horse racing almost to a halt, with only one Grade 1 event on the weekend schedule, but rays of hope exist.




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Smartphone-Based Glucose Monitors and Applications in the Management of Diabetes: An Overview of 10 Salient "Apps" and a Novel Smartphone-Connected Blood Glucose Monitor

Joseph Tran
Oct 1, 2012; 30:173-178
Practical Pointers




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Diabetes in the Emergency Department: Acute Care of Diabetes Patients

Candace D. McNaughton
Apr 1, 2011; 29:51-59
Feature Articles




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Case Study: Seizures and Hypoglycemia

Michael R. Brennan
Jan 1, 2012; 30:23-24
Case Studies




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How Foods Affect Blood Glucose: Glycemic Impact


Oct 1, 2011; 29:161-161
Patient Information




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Opportunities and Challenges for Biosimilars: What's on the Horizon in the Global Insulin Market?

Lisa S. Rotenstein
Oct 1, 2012; 30:138-150
Features




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Case Study: A 43-Year-Old Man With Perineal Pain and Swelling

David J. Meier
Oct 1, 2001; 19:
Case Studies




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Glucose, Advanced Glycation End Products, and Diabetes Complications: What Is New and What Works

Melpomeni Peppa
Oct 1, 2003; 21:
Council's Voice




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The Weighty Issue of Low-Carb Diets, or Is the Carbohydrate the Enemy?

Jennifer B. Marks
Oct 1, 2004; 22:155-156
Editorials




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Oral Manifestations of Diabetes

Maya S. Indurkar
Jan 1, 2016; 34:54-57
Practical Pointers




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Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Young Adults: A "New Epidemic"

Francine Ratner Kaufman
Oct 1, 2002; 20:
President's Pen




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Empowerment and Self-Management of Diabetes

Martha M. Funnell
Jul 1, 2004; 22:123-127
Feature Articles




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Medical Nutrition Therapy: A Key to Diabetes Management and Prevention

Sara F. Morris
Dec 1, 2010; 28:12-18
Feature Articles




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Treatment of Onychomycosis in Diabetic Patients

Jason A. Winston
Oct 1, 2006; 24:160-166
Feature Articles




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A 52-Year-Old Woman With Hypertension and Diabetes Who Presents With Chest Pain

George D. Harris
Jul 1, 2007; 25:115-118
Case Studies




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Hypoglycemia in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Management

Vanessa J. Briscoe
Jul 1, 2006; 24:115-121
Feature Articles




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Diabetes Management Issues for Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Kerri L. Cavanaugh
Jul 1, 2007; 25:90-97
Feature Articles