Ta l k : IDEAS
Climbing HigherTake your fitness to new heights alongside
Team Novo Nordisk—without leaving the gym.The world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team has teamed
up with Kinomap, a free app that turns any cardio equipment—an
exercise bike, treadmill, or rowing machine—into an engaging, live-
action experience. Whether you have a “smart” Bluetooth-enabled
machine or a basic trainer, you can use this app to ride side-by-
side with the squad through original training and racing footage
captured in scenic international locations on their 2019 tour. Ready
to suit up? Visit kinomap.com/en/u/teamnovonordisk/videos8 DI ABETIC LI VING / S UMMER 2 019
COURTESY TEAM NOVO NORDISK; HARRY CAMPBELL / THEISPOT.COM
An Aspirin a Day
Even people with diabetes who
have a lower risk of heart disease
may benefit from an aspirin a
day to help prevent heart attacks,
strokes, and the need for stents
or bypass surgery, suggests a
recent study that randomized
over 15,000 people with diabetes
to either take a daily aspirin
or a placebo (fake) pill for an
average of seven years. While an
aspirin a day is recommended
for people who have had a heart
attack or stroke, the benefit for
people with diabetes who do not
have cardiovascular disease has
been more hotly debated. There
are risks from taking aspirin for
some people, so always talk to
your doctor before starting daily
aspirin. —MARTY IRONS, RPH, CDE
New Insulin
Guidelines
Previously, the American Diabetes
Association recommended insulin
as the next medication for people
who were already using two or three
other medications but still needed
help reaching their blood sugar goals.
That’s changed starting in 2019. New
guidelines recommend a different
type of injectable medication instead:
GLP-1 agonists (or “glips”), which
are used once daily or once weekly.
Not only do they lower blood sugar,
they may also help you lose a few
pounds. Many are considered to be
heart protective too. There may still
be occasions where doctors recom-
mend insulin. It’s a good discussion to
have with your primary care provider,
endocrinologist, or diabetes educator.
—M.I.