INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A new survey sponsored by drug maker Novo Nordisk, which polled Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France, found that about 1-in-5 respondents regularly are unable to attend a full day of work due to disruption caused by episodes of dangerously low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemic events.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Perception feeds reality. That is as true today as it was when the economy first started its rollercoaster plunge back in 2008. The perception is that the consumer is on her way back. And while that is fast becoming reality, today’s retailer will be looking to commit its capital expenditures to more than just the traditional new Main-and-Main locations.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The gold standard long-term glucose monitoring test for patients with diabetes proved to be of limited value in dialysis patients, according to a new study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center released Wednesday.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Anyone wondering what the future of health care under a more consumer-directed model will look like got a glimpse of it from two pieces of news this week.

(THE NEWS: Sam’s Club celebrates men’s health with free screenings. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Why is the news that CVS Caremark has secured the mail-order and specialty prescription drug benefit for Federal Employee Program so important? Well, some pundits might say there is no indication that the integrated retail-pharmacy benefit manager model had anything to do with why FEP chose Caremark over Medco. It doesn't matter. As any football coach would say, "A win's a win," and this is a big one.

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — A survey conducted on behalf of The Vitamin Shoppe and released Wednesday found that 60% of adults currently take a vitamin or supplement.

WASHINGTON — According to a AAA telephone survey released last week, more than half of those surveyed have adopted such relatively simple conservation changes as utilizing trip chaining, reducing shopping trips, dining out less and driving less because of higher gas prices.

As many as 62% of respondents already have combined shopping trips and errands, and if the price of gas should reach $5 per gallon, 68% reported they would combine trips.

SEATTLE — Overweight or obese women who have less-than-optimal levels of vitamin D and lose more than 15% of their body weight experience significant increases in circulating levels of this fat-soluble nutrient, according to a study released last week by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.