Episode 37: Diverse listener questions and comments – Q & A with no QA

In Episode 37, we again review listener questions and comments around such diverse topics as Bell’s Palsy, viruses that break bones, glucose monitoring, glitazones and COPD. Both James and Mike give diverse answers with diverse meanings that even they don’t really understand.

Show Notes

1) The third study showing either no benefit or harm from aggressively lowering blood glucose – glycated hemoglobin level reduced from 8.4% to 6.9%

NEJM 2009;360:129-39

2) Studies of monitoring blood sugar in type 2 diabetics showing no benefit and increased depression scores

BMJ 2007;335:132

BMJ 2008;336:1177-80

3) Beta-blockers and thiazides do appear to increase the chance of developing diabetes

Am J Cardiol 2007;100:1254–62

4) 10-year follow-up of intensive glucose control in Type 2 diabetes

NEJM 2008;359:1577-89

5) COPD guidelines recommending inhaled steroids as one of the first line inhalers

Ann Int Med 2007;147:639-53