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Next Year's Rising Health Costs May Not Be Slowed By Reform
"Employers who offer health insurance coverage could see a 9 percent cost increase next year, and their workers may face an even bigger hit, according to a report Thursday from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers," the Associated Press reports. Workers concerned about losing their jobs" and their insurance, while it lasts - are using more health care than usual, contributing to rising costs, the report says. As the costs increase, employers are also likely to shift more of the burden to employees. "A total of 42% of employers surveyed said they would increase employees" share of costs," the AP reports.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign In Western North Carolina Addresses Stigma
The Western North Carolina AIDS Project recently launched a media campaign that seeks to raise awareness about the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and its effect on those living with the virus, as well as the community, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. The "I Need You to Know" campaign, which will include a set of commercials featuring area residents talking about HIV/AIDS, will serve as a starting point for other prevention efforts (Boyd, Asheville Citizen-Times, 6/3).
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RCN Responds To Report On NHS Pay Modernisation In England
Responding to the publication of the Public Accounts Committee report, NHS pay modernisation in England: Agenda for Change, Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:
Diagnostics

Follow-Up Study Further Reinforces The Long-Term Benefits Of Tight Glucose Control In Early Treatment Of Diabetes

A study published in today"s issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine provides further reinforcement that tight control of blood glucose as soon as possible after a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes yields long-term benefits with regard to lowering the rates of eye, kidney and heart complications associated with diabetes. These findings stem from the landmark Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and its follow-up study, the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC), both funded by the National Institutes of Health. The results of this study indicate that after 30 years of diabetes, the incidence of eye damage was cut by more than half; kidney disease was reduced by almost two-thirds; and heart disease by almost one-half in those individuals who achieved tight glucose control for over 6 years early in the course of their diabetes. The importance of glucose control in diabetes has been firmly established, but this follow-up data provides even more reinforcement to clinicians -- and their patients -- about the long-term benefits of early glucose control. Evidence from the DCCT-EDIC, as well as the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) and its follow-up study in type 2 diabetes show that improved glucose control to a level of approximately 7 percent reduces the complications of diabetes dramatically. The study also acknowledges that treatment innovations over the past 20 years, such as insulin pumps and analogues, along with the improved treatment of co-occurring illnesses such as high blood pressure and cholesterol have contributed to improvements in the management of diabetes. When it comes to diabetes, it is important for health care providers and their patients to remember the ABCs of diabetes: - A is for A1C (a measure of average glucose). Most people with diabetes should get an A1C test at least twice a year, which measures how well blood glucose has been controlled over the past 2-3 months. The goal for most people with diabetes is an A1C of less than 7%, which is an estimated average glucose of less than 154 mg/dl. - B is for blood pressure. People with diabetes should have a target blood pressure of less than 130/80 mmHg. - C is for cholesterol. LDL (bad) cholesterol should be below 100 mg/dl. American Diabetes Association


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