Monday 18 May 2015
We're gone for the summer
Tuesday 12 May 2015
Monday 11 May 2015
Friday 1 May 2015
Artificial Pancreas During Pregnancy - Breakthrough
The new mother-of-two has Type 1 diabetes and wore the piece of kit throughout her pregnancy to produce insulin and prevent symptoms of the disease.
Three other mothers have previously given birth in Cambridge after using the device but by caesarean section.
An artificial pancreas device system (APDS) is a small portable piece of equipment designed to carry out the function of a healthy pancreas.
It helps to control blood glucose levels using digital communication technology to automate insulin delivery.
An APDS is worn on the body during pregnancy and has a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a digital controller and an insulin pump.
Dr Helen Murphy, principal investigator of the study Ms Finlayson-Wilkins took part in, said Euan's arrival was an exciting step in the treatment of diabetes in pregnancy.
"Women who have diabetes in pregnancy face higher rates of birth defects, over-sized babies, pre-term delivery and stillbirth than other pregnant women," she said.
"Treating diabetes in pregnancy can be particularly challenging because hormone levels are constantly changing and blood sugars can be difficult to predict."
The results of the ongoing National Institute for Health Research's Closed Loop in Pregnancy study are due to be published later this year.
Its findings could mean the technology benefits more pregnant women with diabetes.
One in five trainee doctors ‘may need mental health support’
Twenty per cent of
doctors training for senior posts may be in need of support for mental health
issues, a survey by the Medical Council has found.
Trainees
who reported experiencing bullying and those who worked longer hours were more
likely to have poorer health and wellbeing.
Some
29 per cent of trainees felt they need to access support services for their
health and wellbeing but the vast majority didn’t actually do so, according to
the survey.
The
report by the Medical Council says a small but significant minority of trainees
are clearly struggling to maintain good quality of life and mental health and
wellbeing.
Almost
20 per cent of trainees described their quality of life as poor; those in
bigger teaching hospitals were more likely to report an inferior quality of
life.
The
report says hospitals appear to present particular challenges to maintaining
good health and wellbeing.
“This
report finds a strong, significant and consistent link between the experience
of bullying and undermining and poorer health and wellbeing among trainees,” it
says.
It
says there is a role for training organisations to ensure self-awareness and
self-care are fostered to help trainees maintain good health and wellbeing.
“But a wider response involving policy-makers and healthcare organisations is
required to ensure that the clinical environments where trainees work and learn
are designed and managed to prevent unnecessary challenges for trainee health
and wellbeing so problems are prevented,” it says.
CarolineSpillane, chief executive of the Medical Council, said: “Doctors in training
need support to maintain good health and wellbeing in the interest of patient
care through building awareness of these issues and skills for appropriate
self-care into medical education and training curricula.
“There
is ample evidence to show that doctors with good health provide safer and more
effective care to patients, are more engaged in their work, have better
attendance, and are less likely to experience burnout and compassion fatigue.”
More
than 1,600 medical interns and specialist trainees contributed to the survey.
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