South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Worldwide, higher-than-optimal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is among the leading modifiable risk factors associated with all- cause mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to the direct sequelae of diabetes and the increased risk for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. ⋯ High FPG is emerging as a public health crisis, with an attributable burden doubling between 2000 and 2012. The consequences are costly in terms of quality of life, ability to earn an income, and the economic and emotional burden on individuals and their families. Urgent action is needed to curb the increase and reduce the burden associated with this risk factor. National data on FPG distribution are scant, and efforts are warranted to ensure adequate monitoring of the effectiveness of the interventions.
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Children with asthma often lack the strength to activate their pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI). A recently developed sleeve device that attaches to a pMDI reduces the activation force of pMDIs from 36 - 39 Newtons (N) to 12.6 N and monitors the remaining doses with a built-in counter. ⋯ The paediatric participants and their parents reported that the ES made it easier for children to activate the pMDI, that the counter made it easier to keep count of the doses, and that the aesthetics of the ES could potentially remove the stigma attached to use of a pMDI.