Alarming Trends in Diabetes Research

When I first read the blog of September 21, 2011 by Tom Ross, I thought this is funny. Why would he write something like that? Okay, I thought he was out in left field – way out. However, as I have read many press releases since I read that, I find that a good number do fit or nearly fit the mold as he proposed it.

So I should not doubt Tom? I would have to say in hindsight that he is right. I am finding that some things do fit well within patterns or at least certain parameters and many of the press releases seem eerily alike and fit Tom's example.

This is almost as disconcerting as small studies that are hyped and really give no meaning to the overall education about the topic. Many are done just to be hyped and obtain funding for more studies. So occasionally I will find a small study that peaks my interest, but most that I come across just are filed for the future when some real studies are done involving many more people.

Now as I come across more studies that fit the mold that Tom Ross has described, I file them as well and will wait to see if further studies lend any credence to these studies. Live and learn is a good rule to follow in learning and researching about diabetes.

This is one reason that I read Tom' blogs. There are educational tidbits to be gleaned and often applied, at other times I like his humor, and then there are topics which hit home (even after the fact), and generate topics for me.

Aids To Help Avoid Bad Studies and HYPE

This is a blog of a different nature and is done to assist my readers that do research and reading. I have kept these links because of how they have helped me in my research. Oh - yes, I have been suckered into some bad research and "fluff" as Jenny Ruhl calls it. Before these blogs, I had to learn from the college of hard knocks, but now I have experiences of others to rely on and help me.

The first information that you should find helpful is from Gretchen Becker. Please read it carefully as she packs a lot of information in her blog about the spin factor in press releases and offers excellent tips to help us from being suckered by something sounding important when if fact it is all hype.

The next two blogs are by Jenny Ruhl. The first is important as near the end of this week, June 25, the ADA will be meeting in San Diego. So wrap your brain around what she tells you here in her blog as the information will likely be coming fast and plentiful.

The last blog from Jenny is this one - "An all purpose technique for debunking worthless studies". There is a lot of information to be digested before applying what she says. I still have to go back and reread parts.

I suggest if they help you, that you bookmark them for future reference. I have them both bookmarked and printed out - just in case. I have reread each several times and always find something else to think about when reading some studies or the press releases about the studies.

I will very seldom buy the full text of a study - only have done this once, so it is often the abstract of the study I have to rely on for backup to the press release. Occasionally, the full text of the research is available for free. Then the Fun begins. Sorting out all of the relevant facts, data, and tying them to the assumptions made can be boring and tedious, but some are very rewarding and enjoyable.

So enjoy reading and researching more study press releases with the added arsenal of how-to's provided by Gretchen Becker and Jenny Ruhl.