3/3 RVN Newsletter Vol 1, Issue 7
Pages 9-10 Printed Version
DIABETES UPDATE 01:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issue a safety alert on Blood Glucose Meters. These meters help people with diabetes check their blood sugar which is a critical step in managing diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 20 million people in the United States, or 7% of the population, have the condition. The VA reports that 20% of vets have it. Diabetes that is not well-controlled by those afflicted can lead to severe complications inclusive of kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. Recent problems reported to the FDA indicate that some people who use certain blood glucose meters may have problems properly setting the units of measurement on their meters or may inadvertently switch them. Also, in some cases, jarring or dropping the meter can cause the units to switch without the user being aware. These actions can lead to misinterpretation of glucose test results and to dosage errors in insulin or in oral diabetes medication. The problem meters are designed to report blood glucose levels in two different measurements. The U.S. standard of milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and a standard used in Europe and elsewhere of millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
According to reports, users have accidentally changed one unit of measure to the other while setting their meter's date and time, or while changing the battery. There also have been reports of the unit of measure changing after a meter was jarred or dropped. To date, at least three companies have reported this problem. Manufacturers are not instructing users to return their meters. Instead, the firms have issued worldwide notifications to all health care professionals and users, when known, about the problem. In addition to verifying the correct unit of measure and code number each time it is used patients should take the time to review their glucose meters with their diabetes health care providers and read the information that accompanies the device. People who think they may have been using the wrong readout on their meters for a long period of time, and who are now worried about their health, should contact their doctors immediately. To a problem with affected Blood glucose meters with problems should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program www.fda.gov/medwatch. As an added safety measure newer models of meters should have the correct unit of measure locked in place.
[Source: FDA Consumer magazine March-April 2006]
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Congress & Veterans COLA benefits
June 23, 2006 Wheels are turning on vets' COLA adjustments
By Rick Maze Times staff writer
Veterans' COLA and benefits legislation is moving through Congress.
On Thursday, the veterans' affairs committees in the House and Senate approved separate but similar bills authorizing cost-of-living adjustments effective Dec. 1 in disability and survivors payments. While the amount is not locked in, the increase would match the automatic inflation-matching increases in Social Security and military retired pay, currently estimated to be about 2.6 percent.
The House bill is HR 4843, and the Senate bill is S2562.
No real controversy exists over the cost-of-living adjustments although the House's legislation varies slightly from the Senate's by applying not just to disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation but also to the $250 monthly survivors' payment for dependent children
under the age of 18. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., a House committee member, has been pushing to prevent the children's survivor payment from eroding in value.
The only serious question about the veterans' COLA bill is why it is needed at all. Annual increases in Social Security, military and federal civilian retired pay and many other federal entitlements are automatic, linked to the increase in the Consumer Price Index, a measurement of the cost of goods and services calculated by the Labor Department. Veterans' COLAs, however, are not automatic but occur only if Congress passes and the president signs a measure authorizing the increase.
The Senate veterans' committee approved a bundle of other legislation, including a bipartisan proposal allowing veterans to be represented by attorneys when applying for benefits and a proposal by Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., allowing GI Bill educational benefits to be used to gain training for jobs in construction, transportation, energy and hospitality fields.
Under Burns' plan, which he calls the Veterans Education and Training Act, GI Bill benefits usually paid in monthly installments could be paid instead in a lump sum for training programs that could lead to jobs. Payments could cover up to 60 percent of the cost of a training program. The VA already has a program for paying what is called "accelerated benefits" but it is limited to jobs in technology and medical fields.
Burn's program would be a test, effective from Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2011.
Burn said he was "pleased this common-sense legislation is advancing in the Senate."
"As a veteran, I know we can do better in aiding our brave men and women when they return home from service, transition back to private life and find employment in the career fields where their skills are needed," Burns said in a statement. He is a Marine Corps veteran.
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From a 3/3 spouse:
What a great time.....you will never, ever know how good all of you are for ******. He has always been so quiet about what he calls "the Big Muddy." There were times this weekend I caught glimpses of him being so relaxed and comfortable. I have not seen enough of that side of him in the past 29 years. It blew my mind. He has never been that comfortable around his old cop co-workers, and you know those guys stick together.
When he did speak of his experiences he spoke mainly about how his "buddies" saved his "shitbird ass." I know you probably do not believe it but he holds several of you in very high regard. Over the years I heard parts of stories, heard some names but not much.
This web site, Doc Hardin finding him and all of you have been a true blessing in our lives and I thank you from the heart of my bottom (couldn't resist that one.) I cannot tell you in words how wonderful I think you are. One tiny aside to Bob, for years what happened to you was the subject of many very bad nights. When he heard you were well he sobbed like you can't imagine. To see you was a catharsis like you can't imagine.
I love you all. Thank you for taking care of my "shitbird." I may have his heart but you guys have his soul.
