print friendly page
What's in the News
       

Here we will let you know about local news and events relating to the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust Diabetes Service. We will also let you know of any new developments and research initiatives from the world of diabetes.

 
April 2006
   
Innovo® is to go!

The Innovo® digital doser from Novo Nordisk is to be discontinued and will no longer be available in the UK after 31 st August 2006. This device has become less popular and has attracted many more complaints than other injection devices.

If you are using this device then contact the Diabetes Team or one of the Diabetes Specialist Nurses for advice on an alternative injection device (link to Contact / Feedback page). You can also ring the Novo Nordisk Customer Care Centre on 0845 6005055 for further information.

 
Don’t get caught out when driving!
Are you on insulin therapy to control your diabetes? If so, did you know that you should always check your blood sugar before driving. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Northern Ireland (DVLNI) makes this very clear but this information is sometimes not getting through to patients. Patients on insulin must inform the DVLNI of their situation and blood sugar testing should be carried out before driving. In addition, you should also wait 45 minutes minutes before driving if you have had a hypoglycaemic attack.

Further information can be obtained from the DVLNI website (www.dvlni.gov.uk). The new contact number for the DVLNI is 0845 402 4000. The DVLNI staff will be happy to answer any queries that you might have.

 
Clean up your arteries!

Those of us who have diabetes are at increased risk of developing heart disease. What happens is that our heart arteries fur up and get narrower – this is known as coronary artery disease and can lead to angina, heart attacks or even heart failure.

A recent study (ASTEROID) has shown that a cholesterol lowering drug, rosuvastatin (Crestor®) can reverse coronary artery disease. It works by removing fatty material from coronary arteries – literally cleaning up the arteries. This is good news.

Make sure you are on treatment to reduce your cholesterol level and help clean up your arteries. Rosuvastatin (Crestor®) is one of a family of drugs known as

statins. Atorvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin are other commonly used statins and work in a similar way. Speak to the Diabetes Team if you need more information. Check your diabetes clinic report and make sure your cholesterol level is low enough. The usual target would be to reduce your cholesterol to less than 4.0 mmol/l.

 

 

News Archive