Whether it’s climate change or simply cyclical, one fact can’t be debated: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, natural disasters in the U.S. have increased 700 percent since 1950. And all sides would agree that these calamities are deeply affecting people and businesses across North America.

One of the industries inexorably tied to this decades-long trend is insurance, which is entrusted with financially protecting consumers from the after-effects of wicked weather and natural catastrophes. While disasters can’t be prevented, people and businesses can certainly be prepared in terms of their insurance coverage, according to Doug Menges, chief claims officer for Mercury Insurance Group, which provides homeowners and/or auto insurance in regularly ravaged states, such as California, Florida, Arizona, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Texas.

“All of the weather-related chaos over the last few years has caused many policyholders to re-evaluate their insurance coverage and purchase lower deductibles. They’re willing to pay more to protect their belongings,” says Menges. “In lieu of being price sensitive, many consumers are becoming more and more coverage sensitive.

“No matter the level of coverage, though, it’s incumbent upon everybody to be prepared … before disaster strikes. There are some simple precautions everyone should be aware of that could help you weather the storm.”

Menges offers these “before and after” insurance tips:

* Know what is covered and not covered. Review home and auto policies with an insurance agent who’s familiar with local severe weather conditions before tragedy strikes.

* Catalog property. Document belongings by taking photos or video of your home and possessions, store them in a secure place (like a password-protected portable hard drive or online storage site) and place backup copies in an off-site location. “This will expedite your claims process,” says Menges.

* Develop an evacuation plan. This should be part of a more comprehensive family emergency strategy that incorporates out-of-town contacts, emergency phone numbers, Social Security numbers, community evacuation meeting sites, doctor/pharmacist contacts, and homeowners/rental insurance policy numbers and phone numbers that can be printed on wallet-sized cards or stored in a smartphone.

* Contact your insurer immediately to report an auto or home loss. Do not remove any debris or damaged property that may be related to your claim. Menges says smart policyholders should be ready to provide all pertinent information, including a policy number, as well as date and time of the loss.

* Prepare a detailed inventory of destroyed or damaged property. Provide photos or videos of your home and possessions to your claims adjuster. Keep records and receipts for additional living expenses that were incurred if you were forced to leave your home and provide copies to your adjuster.

“Nature has pummeled the U.S. in the last several years, ranging from Hurricane Sandy blasting the Eastern Seaboard to ‘Tornado Alley’ erupting from Texas into the northern states, and now we’re in the midst of fire and hurricane season,” says Menges. “Mercury Insurance paid more than $39 million in claims to help people rebuild their homes and repair their cars that were destroyed by natural disasters in 2012, which set a record for a company that’s been around since 1962.

“It’s incumbent upon consumers, no matter whom their insurance carrier may be, to prepare their insurance facts and figures long before extreme weather comes knocking at their door.”

“PTAs, PTOs, booster clubs, fundraising committees and other community organizations are, 98 percent of the time, not covered by a school district’s insurance policies,” says Rob Nuccio, president and chief executive officer of RV Nuccio & Associates. Nuccio has nearly 40 years experience in the insurance industry. “When a lawsuit occurs as a result of something that happens at an event, the private citizens running the event and organization can find their personal assets at risk – home, vehicles, personal savings and even future wages.”

In trying to support their school financially, parents may find their own finances jeopardized. When a situation occurs, organizers may not only be at risk from legal action by injured parties, the school district itself may also draw the organization into legal problems, Nuccio notes. And while this type of lawsuit is not necessarily frequent, when they do occur the financial impact can be devastating, with awards tallying millions of dollars.

“That’s not to say you shouldn’t volunteer to support your school,” Nuccio says. “It’s just imperative that you take steps to protect yourself and everyone in your organization. And while anyone can sue for any reason at any time in the U.S., regardless of state volunteer protection laws, protecting yourself can go a long way toward reducing your risks.”

Nuccio offers some advice for school volunteer groups to ensure they stay safer this school year:

* Get insured. “Your school district’s insurance almost certainly doesn’t cover your organization,” he notes. “Insurance is easy to get, affordable and absolutely necessary. In most cases, less than $200 a year will buy you $1 million in coverage for issues ranging from bodily injury to product liability.” Types of events/situations that require insurance include carnival rides or games, -holiday fairs or events, babysitting, food sales, door-to-door fundraising sales and more. Log on to www.rvnuccio.com to learn more and find out about pricing.

* When using an outside vendor for attractions like pony rides or bounce houses, make sure the vendor is properly insured, and require them to provide trained staff to operate the attraction. Never let a volunteer manage the attraction.

* Keep events on school property. Never host something at a volunteer’s home or place of business.

* For product sales, avoid door-to-door selling, and encourage parents to never leave kids unsupervised when selling products.

* During car washes, never let anyone other than the owner of the vehicle drive it. Keep car washes small, manageable and tightly controlled.

* At a craft fair, don’t sell items that are small enough to pass through a child choke testing tube. You can find these available for purchase online.

* Avoid dunk tanks. Instead, substitute another form of watery fun. Invite participants to throw wet sponges at the principal or favorite teacher. Be sure the principal wears safety goggles to shield eyes from possible debris in the sponge.

* Keep events small. Avoid events that will draw 1,000 or more people. The larger the event, the more difficult it will be to manage risk.

“Finally, although it should go without saying, never host any school-related activity that involves firearms, fireworks, bonfires, alcohol or pyrotechnics,” Nuccio says. “The risks associated with those things will far outweigh the fund-raising benefits.”

Proactive steps can help ensure your school fundraiser is safe for everyone, including the volunteers who work so hard to make it a success.

Nationwide Insurance recently asked home and condo insurance homeowners a series questions surrounding the protection of household personal property to determine how, or if, families are protecting their home from thieves.

“The survey revealed some risky, interesting consumer behaviors,” said Pete Lore, associate vice president of property technical claims for Nationwide. “For example, most of us know locking our doors will make our home safer, yet a quarter (25 percent) of homeowners surveyed admit to leaving the front door of their house unlocked when leaving home at least once in the past year.”

If these common mistakes turn into habits, then it could increase their chances of becoming the next theft victim.

Don’t help a burglar get in:

* Thirty-nine percent of homeowners admit they leave their doors unlocked more often or about the same as their parents did when they were growing up, despite a more than 200 percent increase in theft over the last 40 years

* Homeowners make themselves more vulnerable to theft by leaving windows unlocked on either the ground floor (35 percent) or second story and above (34 percent) at least once in the past year

* About one-third (30 percent) of those surveyed hide a spare key outside their home

* Forty-one percent of homeowners aged 18-34 post social media updates while they are on vacation

Turn on prevention measures:

* Although many (79 percent) homeowners report having at least one common theft prevention measure (e.g., alarm system), three in ten homeowners (30 percent) do not use any, putting their home at unnecessary risk

* Twenty percent of homeowners with an alarm system don’t activate it during the day, even though that’s when most thefts occur

Thieves know where your valuable items are:

* About three in 10 homeowners (29 percent) say the bedroom – the room that thieves visit first – contains the most valuables

* Many homeowners admit they do not document or keep track of their belongings (44 percent)

Home theft takes little time, but can be costly for homeowners. Burglars usually spend no more than 60 seconds breaking into a home, but the average cost to replace stolen belongings among victims of home theft is $3,584, according to the Nationwide survey. That’s why it’s important to implement even the simplest preventative measures, such as:

* Locking your doors and closing your windows before leaving the house

* Storing your jewelry and other precious items in unexpected places or safes

* Taking an inventory of your possessions and backing them up with images

* Installing motion-detecting lights around your property to deter burglars

* Informing local authorities or a trusted neighbor when you will be gone for an extended period of time. Ask them to drive by your house and check on it occasionally

* Refraining from promoting your travel online; burglars can use social media to find out who is not home

* Putting a hold on your newspaper and mail delivery while you are away or having someone pick it up for you

Technology can help you prepare for the unknown and get back on your feet more quickly. Whether it’s building an emergency plan or securing your important documents, a little planning can make it easier to recover from a disaster. And fortunately, today, abundant technology tools are available to help you do just that.

According to Tony Surma, the chief technology officer for Microsoft’s Disaster Response Program: “The best way to help you and your family after a disaster is to build an emergency plan today.- As part of your plan, technology can help you connect with loved ones, access critical information and preserve cherished memories after a disaster strikes.”

Follow these steps to prepare for recovery:

• Create an emergency plan. The first step is to create a plan for you and your family. A good plan will include emergency contacts, planned meeting locations and personal health details, such as allergies and medications, for all your family members. Microsoft Excel offers a template that walks you through the process of creating a comprehensive plan. You can find it on Office.com.

• Make your plan accessible. Just as important as creating the plan is accessing it during a disaster. Save your plan to a cloud drive, like SkyDrive (skydrive.com), that will sync your files, so you can get to your plan on any computer or smartphone, even when Internet connectivity fails.

•  Keep important documents safe. Scan your important documents – insurance information, birth certificates, passports, medical records and other essential documents – and organize them in a digital notebook, like OneNote (onenote.com), so they can be quickly searched to find information you need. -If you save them to the same cloud drive as your plan, they’ll be accessible anytime, from anywhere.

• Build a communication plan. The ability to connect with friends and family during a natural disaster is critical to ensuring everyone is safe, or knowing when someone needs help. While your plan will have mobile phone numbers and a meeting place outlined, many natural disasters disable communications and make transportation difficult. Mobile applications like HelpBridge (microsoft.com/helpbridge) and Skype (skype.com) can help you quickly communicate when networks get overloaded. It is also important to share your family emergency plan with trusted friends, relatives and coworkers and keep contacts up to date on your computer or smartphone to provide as many points of contact as possible when cellphone and Internet access is inconsistent.

• Construct a disaster preparedness kit. While technology can help you get through and recover from a disaster, you can’t forget the basics. Experts recommend having enough food and water to last 72 hours, as well as other essential supplies such as a first aid kit, flashlight and battery-operated radio. Check with your state’s emergency preparedness office for a checklist to ensure you have all the right items and keep track of when items need to be replaced.

While no one can anticipate the next tornado, earthquake or super storm, a little planning and a little technology can make a big difference.

From home and health to auto, life, disability and more, it’s important to be smart about how you buy coverage to limit costs, purchase the right coverage and avoid redundancies.

The best place to start is on your state’s official government website, says FindLaw.com, the nation’s leading website for free legal information. There you will find a list of licensed insurers so you can be assured that you’re dealing with a legitimate company.

“Work with a reputable insurance agent who represents a financially sound, highly-rated company,” advises Ed Susolik, an attorney who specializes in insurance law at Callahan & Blaine in Santa Ana, Calif. “As is often the case, you get what you pay for. You don’t want to add to a tragedy by discovering that you’re underinsured or that the policy you’ve purchased from a little-known company is fraught with loopholes.”

Here are some additional tips from FindLaw.com on purchasing insurance coverage:

Follow the law. Check the laws of your state. You may be required to carry certain types of insurance, such as liability insurance to operate a car, motorcycle or boat. This also applies on the federal level, for example, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, all Americans will be required to carry health insurance as of 2014.

Read your policy. Many Americans don’t read their insurance policies and hastily sign contracts without considering the implications. For example, if your health insurance covers 90 percent of all medical bills and you require significant medical attention, the 10 percent for which you’re responsible could add up. If you have trouble understanding what a policy proposal covers, don’t hesitate to slow down and ask your agent for clarification or get a quote from a different company. Remember: you’re buying insurance to ease, and not trouble, your state of mind.

Plan for major milestones. Major events will trigger the need to purchase insurance or increase your existing coverage. With the birth of a first child, parents should consider purchasing term life insurance. It offers a benefit to a spouse and child to cover living expenses if one parent dies before the child reaches adulthood.

Inspect your home insurance. Carefully review your home insurance policy. Are you insured for your home’s market value or replacement value? The replacement value is the cost of rebuilding your house, while the market value is based on an appraisal of its value in relationship to surrounding homes. Your agent should be willing to work with you to sculpt the policy that meets your needs.

Consider flood insurance. Standard homeowners insurance typically does not include flood insurance. First, determine the level of risk for flooding in your area. There are a few options online, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website (www.fema.gov), where you can search your address and assess flooding risk. Your insurance agent also should have access to this information and can explore your options with you.

Add an umbrella policy. It’s not a bad idea to purchase an umbrella liability policy to provide additional coverage above and beyond your homeowner’s insurance. This helps in situations where you could be at fault for accidents, such as your dog biting a mail carrier or a tree in your yard falling onto a neighbor’s car.

Research renter’s insurance. Apartments can be burglarized or damaged like any other property. If you rent, consider purchasing renter’s insurance to cover assets such as computers, furniture and other significant items.

Inventory your belongings. Take photos or videos, with audio descriptions, of your property so you and the insurance company have an accurate record of your belongings in the event of a fire or other accident. Capture your home, prized possessions and high-value items such as cars, boats, jewelry and collections. Store the files on a portable hard drive in a secure and safe location, such as a safe deposit box.

To learn more about insurance and the law, visit FindLaw.com.

In a survey commissioned by USAA, 81 percent of parents put reliability first when choosing a vehicle for their teens, followed by a high safety rating. The good news is that teens also want cars with the latest safety features.

“Being safe is the new cool,” says Shelby Fix, a 21-year-old safer-driving advocate and automotive journalist. “There are cool colors and options, but side-impact air bags and hands-free devices – that’s what’s in the new, cool cars.”

Fix, known as The Car Coach 2.0, says new technology turns teenagers’ heads almost as fast as slick makes and models.

The daughter of automotive expert Lauren Fix, Shelby raced go-karts at age 7 and was raised on talk of crash-test ratings. She grew up hearing the mantra of a mother who loves cars, but loves her kids more – “You can replace cars, but you can’t replace a child.”

That’s why the decision parents and teens make about that first set of wheels is so crucial. “Your car is like your outside shell when you’re in it,” Shelby says.

She’s learned six key factors to look for:

* Newer cars with newer technology. A used car may lack the technology that could save your child’s life. In addition to electronic stability control – which helps drivers keep control of the vehicle – and side-impact air bags, base prices for newer cars are including built-in rearview cameras and park-assist systems.

* The right size. Avoid sport utility vehicles, which have higher rollover rates and can prove tougher to maneuver; and tiny cars, which may offer less protection in a crash. Shelby recommends moderate-size vehicles for more stability and easier, more predictable handling.

* Sedan style. Don’t give your teen more power than he or she can handle. “Even though sports cars have a strong performance image, a lot of accidents are speed-related,” Shelby says.

* Crash-test ratings. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Picks each year on its website, www.iihs.org.

* Accident history. If you’re in the market for a used car, get a vehicle history report. It can alert you if a car’s been in an accident or damaged in a flood.

-* Mechanic’s signoff. Have an Automotive Service Excellence-certified mechanic check the vehicle to make sure the used vehicle you’re purchasing is a good one.

Check out the vehicles that made USAA’s 2013 Top 10 for Teens list. They had to be USAA Preferred vehicles and have an MSRP below $25,500. In addition, each vehicle’s safety, reliability, insurance cost and overall value were considered. The cars are:

1. Dodge Dart

2. Dodge Avenger

3. Honda CR-Z

4. Chrysler 200

5. Honda Insight

6. Volkswagen Golf

7. Hyundai Elantra

8. Nissan Versa

9. Kia Optima

10 Chevrolet Malibu

Coping with a peanut or tree nut allergy, however, doesn’t mean you – or your peanut- or tree nut-allergic child – have to forego the convenience of air travel. You can take steps to minimize your risk of having an allergic reaction while flying – and at least one study indicates that being proactive can make a positive difference in your travel experience.

The international study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology-In Practice, found that peanut and nut-allergic travelers who took certain actions lessened their odds of a reported in-flight allergic reaction. The study’s lead author, allergist and pediatrician Dr. Matthew Greenhawt of the University of Michigan’s Food Allergy Center and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, is also a medical advisor to Kids With Food Allergies, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Peanut and tree nut allergic travelers can take steps to minimize the risk of a rare reaction while flying. The steps include:

• Visit the website of the air carrier and read about their policies for travelers with allergies. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on the website, contact the airline directly.

• Speak up. Well before you fly, inform the airline of your peanut allergy. Keep in mind that asking for accommodations was one of the eight steps the study found that helped travelers reduce their risks of having an allergic reaction while flying. Requesting a peanut- or tree-nut free buffer zone (such as no peanuts three rows before and behind yours) and asking that other passengers not eat peanut- or tree-nut containing products were also important steps, researchers found. If you are experience a reaction, notify the crew and seek their assistance to help with treatment.-

• Carry a written emergency plan with you on your flight so that others will know what to do to help you in case a reaction occurs. Always travel with a fresh supply of epinephrine auto-injectors and keep them with you at all times. They should be kept in your carry-on and stored beneath the seat, in the overhead bin (less preferable because it’s more difficult to access) or in the pocket of the seat back in front of you. Keep the medicine in its original packaging with the prescription label to help security officers quickly recognize it. If you forget to bring your dose on board, immediately notify the crew so they can check the on-board medical kit, which contains epinephrine, as a failsafe if a reaction did occur.

• Consider wearing medical identification jewelry. These life-saving tags could help alert others to what’s wrong if you do suffer an allergic reaction.

• When you get to your seat, use an antibacterial wipe to clean all surfaces you may touch, including the seat, arms and the tray table in front of you. This was another helpful action noted in the study. Some families also bring a sheet or blanket for a peanut- or tree-nut allergic child to sit on so he or she doesn’t come in contact with any allergens that prior passengers may have left behind.

•  Dine safely on food you’ve brought yourself. Though obvious, this is a big difference-maker. On most airlines you can request a peanut/tree nut-free meal, but eating your own food can also provide peace of mind. The study found this was one of the risk-reduction steps travelers found effective. Bringing your own food ensures you know exactly what is – and isn’t – present in what you’re eating.

•  Don’t use airline pillows or blankets. This was yet another risk-reducing measure that the study noted which helped travelers reduce their risks of having an allergic reaction while flying. If you need these items for your flight, bring your own, so you can be sure to avoid allergens that may linger on airline-provided products.

“People with peanut or tree nut allergy can continue to fly and be empowered by these suggestions for ways they can potentially reduce their in-flight risk of a reaction,” Greenhawt says. “Again, data from this study has shown that the risk of reaction appears to be very small. For those who have not flown because of a peanut or tree nut allergy, we encourage you to consider doing so, as we hope these steps will reduce your anxiety and empower you to take that trip you have always wanted to.”

For more tips for traveling with food allergies, visit www.kidswithfoodallergies.org or www.aafa.org.

According to the Pet Allergy Worldwide Survey (PAWS) sponsored by Novartis Animal Health, 44 percent of pet owners are unaware that their pet can suffer from chronic seasonal allergies, just like people.

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common allergic skin diseases in pets and is estimated to affect 10 to 15 percent of animals. It is also among the top 10 reasons that pet owners take their cats to their veterinarians. The disease is chronic, recurrent and requires lifelong management.

Online quiz sorts out common symptoms

According to the PAWS survey, 80 percent of pet owners would like to know more about how to recognize and treat pet allergies. To determine whether a pet’s symptoms warrant a veterinary visit and possible treatment to relieve the symptoms, pet owners can take a simple online quiz developed by veterinarians at www.itchfreepet.com.

Signs of allergic dermatitis in pets may vary, but common symptoms include red, scaly patches, persistent itching and scratching, and biting or licking of paws. Hair loss and sores are also common, as a result of the itching and scratching, although the pattern for this differs between dogs and cats. By taking this online quiz, pet owners can determine if they should bring their pet to the veterinarian for testing.

What allergens cause these symptoms?

Just like people, dogs and cats can suffer from seasonal allergies to pollen, as well as year-round allergies to dust mites and mold spores. Although the underlying mechanism of the allergic response is similar to what people experience, the symptoms are quite different. People with allergies sneeze, cough and suffer from runny nose, eye irritation and sinus problems. Allergic cats and dogs, by contrast, itch, scratch and lose their hair.

In the past, treatments were limited to creams and steroids, which either caused limited effectiveness or less-than-desirable side effects when used long-term. Today, while there is no cure for atopic dermatitis, there are more options to help animals find relief. Pet owners can ask their veterinarians about the drug that treats the problem from the inside out, at the pet’s cellular level. This treatment, ATOPICA(R) (Cyclosporine capsules, USP) MODIFIED for dogs or ATOPICA (cyclosporine oral solution, USP) MODIFIED for Cats, can reduce the itching and restore comfort to pets. Getting help for an allergic pet may be just one veterinary visit away.

“Allergic dermatitis for some pets means scratching or licking more frequently than what is considered normal, and for other pets it can mean sores and furless patches on the skin or painful paw biting that gets in the way of exercise, sleep and overall comfort for the animal,” says Dr. Keith Hnilica, DVM, MS, MBA, DACVD. “It is important to take your pet to see the veterinarian if you suspect your pet may have allergies, to determine whether it is a candidate for a long-term, comforting solution to this painful condition.”

Visit www.itchfreepet.com to learn more. For specific information on ATOPICA in the U.S., please visit www.us.atopica.com.

(BPT) – The number of people living with type 2 diabetes continues to grow. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 23 million Americans are currently living with the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and is a progressive and chronic condition. Patients should work with a health care professional to manage and monitor their disease.

In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity, the use of medications may be required for managing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is an increasingly complex disease and all patients require treatment to be individualized to their needs. As each patient responds differently to medications, the availability of multiple treatment options helps make it possible for health care professionals to create personalized treatment plans for their patients.

Three new treatments, NESINA (alogliptin), OSENI (alogliptin and pioglitazone) and KAZANO (alogliptin and metformin HCl) have recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use, along with diet and exercise, in adults with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar (glucose) control. OSENI is the first and only fixed-dose combination therapy in the U.S. that combines NESINA with a thiazolidinedione (TZD), another class of anti-diabetes treatments, in a single tablet. KAZANO combines NESINA with metformin, a widely used anti-diabetes medication, in a single tablet. The two medicines in OSENI and KAZANO work in complementary ways to help improve blood sugar levels.

“Many people with type 2 diabetes live with the disease for many years and require disease management over time, while working with their health care provider, to help them control their blood sugar levels,” said Robert Busch, M.D., Managing Partner, Endocrine Group, Albany, NY. “NESINA, OSENI and KAZANO provide health care professionals with new treatment options for managing type 2 diabetes. For appropriate patients who need to take more than one diabetes medication at the same time, OSENI and KAZANO each combine two different medicines in one pill.”

NESINA, OSENI and KAZANO by Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. will be available in pharmacies in the summer of 2013. More information about these products can be found on: www.Takeda.us/NESINA, www.Takeda.us/OSENI and www.Takeda.us/KAZANO.

Indication for NESINA (alogliptin) 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg, and 25 mg Tablets; OSENI (alogliptin and pioglitazone) 25 mg /15 mg, 25 mg/30 mg, 25 mg/45 mg, 12.5 mg/15 mg, 12.5 mg/30 mg, and 12.5 mg/45 mg Tablets; KAZANO (alogliptin and metformin HCl) 12.5 mg/500 mg, and 12.5 mg/1000 mg Tablets

NESINA, KAZANO, and OSENI are prescription medicines used with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. NESINA, KAZANO, and OSENI are not for patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in blood or urine).

Important Safety Information

WARNING FOR OSENI: RISK OF HEART FAILURE

OSENI can cause new or worsen heart failure. Pioglitazone, one of the medicines in OSENI, can cause the body to keep extra fluid (fluid retention), which leads to swelling (edema) and weight gain. Extra body fluid can make some heart problems worse or lead to heart failure. Heart failure means the heart does not pump blood well enough. Patients should call their doctor right away if they experience swelling or fluid retention (especially in the ankles or legs), shortness of breath or trouble breathing (especially when they lie down), an unusually fast increase in weight, or unusual tiredness. Patients should not take OSENI if they have severe heart failure. If patients have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling), even if these symptoms are not severe, OSENI may not be right for them.

WARNING FOR KAZANO: RISK OF LACTIC ACIDOSIS

Metformin, one of the medicines in KAZANO, can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (a build-up of an acid in the blood) that can cause death. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital. Patients should stop taking KAZANO and call their doctor right away if they feel very weak or tired, have unusual (not normal) muscle pain, have trouble breathing, have unusual sleepiness or sleep longer than usual, have unexplained stomach or intestinal problems with nausea and vomiting or diarrhea, feel cold, especially in the arms or legs, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or have a slow or irregular heartbeat, as these could be symptoms of lactic acidosis. Patients have a higher chance of getting lactic acidosis if they have kidney problems (people whose kidneys are not working properly should not take KAZANO), have liver problems, have congestive heart failure that requires treatment with medicines, drink a lot of alcohol (very often or short-term “binge” drinking), get dehydrated (lose a large amount of body fluids, which can happen if patients are sick with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, or when they sweat a lot with activity or exercise and do not drink enough fluids), have certain x-ray tests with injectable dyes or contrast agents that are injected into their body, have surgery, have a heart attack, severe infection, or stroke.

NESINA, KAZANO or OSENI may not be right for everyone. NESINA, KAZANO and OSENI can cause serious side effects.

Patients should not take KAZANO if they have kidney problems, have a condition called metabolic acidosis, or have had diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine), or are going to get an injection of dye or contrast agents for an x-ray procedure. Patients older than 80 years should not take KAZANO unless their kidneys have been checked and they are normal.

Patients should not take NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI if they are allergic to any of their ingredients.

Patients should stop taking NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI and contact their doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if they experience swelling of the face, lips, throat, or other areas on the skin, difficulty swallowing or breathing, raised red areas on skin (hives), skin rash, itching, flaking, or peeling, as these may be symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Warnings and Precautions – for NESINA, KAZANO, and OSENI

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which may be severe, can happen to patients taking NESINA, KAZANO or OSENI. Before patients take NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI, they should tell their doctor if they have or have had pancreatitis, stones in their gallbladder (gallstones), a history of alcoholism, or if they have kidney or liver problems. Patients should stop taking NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI and call their doctor right away if they have pain in the stomach area (abdomen) that is severe and will not go away. The pain may be felt going from the abdomen through to the back. The pain may happen with or without vomiting. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis.

NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI may cause liver problems. Patients should call their doctor right away if they experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual or unexplained tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.

If patients take NESINA, KAZANO or OSENI with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylurea or insulin, their risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of sulfonylurea medicine or insulin may need to be lowered while patients use NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI. If patients have symptoms of low blood sugar, they should check their blood sugar and treat if low, and then call their doctor. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar include shaking or feeling jittery, sweating, fast heartbeat, change in vision, hunger, headache, change in mood, confusion, or dizziness.

Before taking NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI, patients should tell their doctor if they are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if NESINA, KAZANO, or OSENI can harm an unborn baby, or if it passes into breast milk.

Warnings and Precautions – for OSENI

Women are at a higher risk of having broken bones (fractures) while taking OSENI.

There may be an increased chance of having bladder cancer when patients take OSENI. Patients should not take OSENI if they are receiving treatment for bladder cancer. Patients should tell their doctor right away if they have blood or a red color in their urine, an increased need to urinate, or pain while they urinate as these may be symptoms of bladder cancer.

Patients should tell their doctor right away if they have any changes in their vision. Doctors should check their patients’ eyes regularly.

If a patient is a woman of childbearing age, but does not have monthly periods, she should talk to her doctor before taking OSENI, as it could increase her chance of becoming pregnant.

Adverse Reactions

The most common side effects of NESINA were stuffy or runny nose and sore throat (4.4%), headache (4.2%), and cold-like symptoms (upper respiratory tract infection) (4.2%).

The most common side effects of KAZANO were cold-like symptoms (upper respiratory tract infection) (8%), stuffy or runny nose and sore throat (6.8%), diarrhea (5.5%), increase in blood pressure (5.5%), headache (5.3%), back pain (4.3%), and urinary tract infection (4.2%).

The most common side effects of OSENI were stuffy or runny nose and sore throat (4.9%), back pain (4.2%), and cold-like symptoms (upper respiratory tract infection) (4.1%).

Drug Interactions

Patients should tell their doctor about all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements they take. Medicines can affect each other, and patients should contact their doctor before they start or stop other medicines. Patients may need to have their dose of KAZANO or OSENI or certain other medicines changed.

Patients should talk to their doctor or healthcare professional. Please see the accompanying Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for NESINA, KAZANO, and OSENI.

Patients are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

About 36.6 million businesses operate from U.S. households, according to the Home Based Business Institute. And the Small Business Administration notes that 53 percent of all small businesses located in the U.S. are home-based, with those numbers expected to grow substantially in the near future.

But before you start planning your home-based bakery, personal training studio or computer repair venture, there’s one important thing to think about. Charles Valinotti, head of underwriting & product with insurer QBE, says that you should make sure you have the right insurance to protect your at-home enterprise.

A homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy might provide some coverage for a business that operates out of the home, he says.

“If someone is running a small accounting business with little-to-no customer foot traffic and doesn’t have expensive office equipment, the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance would probably be acceptable to most insurance providers,” Valinotti points out. “But if you have a pottery school with customers coming and going, and are using pottery ovens that might be a fire hazard, most insurers don’t want to take on those kinds of risks.”

Depending on what type of business you’re brewing, Valinotti says there are three insurance options you’ll want to consider:

* Homeowner’s policy endorsement: An endorsement is a special provision added to an insurance policy to enhance or restrict its coverage. Adding a simple endorsement can increase coverage for business equipment, such as computers. You’ll also want to look into buying a homeowner’s liability endorsement – available in most states – to cover on-site injuries to customers or delivery people. A liability endorsement is usually available to in-home operations with few business-related visitors.

* In-home business policy: Valinotti says this policy is also known as an in-home business endorsement. Coverage can vary significantly between insurers. It provides more protection than what’s found in a typical homeowner’s policy. That includes more comprehensive property and equipment coverage, as well as protection for loss of income, extra expenses incurred, and liability for injuries caused by the products and services you offer.

* Business owner’s policy: If your home-based business is in more than one location, this policy might fit the bill, Valinotti says. It gives broader property and liability coverage than the in-home business policy. However, if you have employees, it doesn’t include workers’ compensation, health or disability insurance.

Valinotti also suggests you don’t forget about auto insurance if you’re using your car for business to transport supplies or products, or to visit customers.

He recommends contacting your agent for more information on the right insurance for your home-based business. “If you’re doing business at home, you need insurance. Finding the right coverage will go a long way to give you peace of mind and help make your special business possible.”