U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer magazine
September-October 2001
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Imagine the development of a pill that cuts the incidence of Type 2 diabetes by more than half among those people most at risk of developing the disease. Headlines, profit predictions, and praise from patient advocates would likely follow.
The news in August that eating less fat, exercising two and a half hours a week and losing a moderate amount of weight can accomplish the same thing as that imaginary pill generated the same kind of excitement--minus the profit prognostications.
Sixteen million Americans have Type 2, or adult onset, diabetes. It is most common in people older than 40 and is the main cause of kidney failure, limb amputations, and new onset blindness in adults.
At least 10 percent of the U.S. population is at high risk of developing the disease. Those most at risk include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians. Others at high risk include those older than 60, women with a history of gestational diabetes, and people with a close relative who has the disease. For more on the study and its implications, see the story on diabetes in this issue.
Our cover story this month, "Vision Correction: Taking a Look at What's New," focuses on the latest in vision correction. You've probably heard the hype on a variety of laser vision correction techniques. We bring you some of the pitfalls and concerns to consider, along with developments in contact lenses and eyeglasses.
Most people take medicines responsibly, but millions of Americans each year misuse prescription drugs to get high, calm down, or for other unauthorized purposes. In our feature on prescription drug abuse, you'll find out about the problem from a woman who lived it.
From the eggs you eat for breakfast to the juice you serve your kids, food safety remains a top priority at the FDA. Joseph A. Levitt, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, describes the challenges of keeping the U.S. food supply safe in an FDA Consumer interview.
In addition to its role as a regulatory agency, the FDA provides a fertile training ground for many future physicians and scientists through its Office of Research. We invite you to take a look at the innovative experiments being done by this year's student interns.
Raymond Formanek Jr.
Interim Editor
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2001-AUG-27.