Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced, so that glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed into the cells of the body. Symptoms include frequent urination, lethargy, excessive thirst, and hunger. The treatment includes changes in diet, oral medications, and in some cases, daily injections of insulin.
Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes – A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. It is striking to see how a relatively simple intervention of a very low calorie diet effectively cures type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, these effects are long term.
Red meat linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes — Processed red meats especially boost risk – A recently published study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) finds a strong association between the consumption of red meat-particularly when the meat is processed-and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Increased muscle mass may lower risk of pre-diabetes — Study shows building muscle can lower person’s risk of insulin resistance – The greater an individual’s total muscle mass, the lower the person’s risk of having insulin resistance, the major precursor of type 2 diabetes, revealed by researchers in a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Two Studies Test Impact of Drugs to Slow Progression of Type 1 Diabetes – Abatacept (Orencia), an immune system modulator and GAD-alum, an antigen based therapy found beneficial for patients with type 1 diabetes. TrialNet researchers are conducting a series of studies to test ways to prevent or delay progression of type 1 diabetes. Results of two studies testing drugs to slow or stop the immune system’s attack on insulin-producing cells in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will be presented at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego and simultaneously published online in the Lancet.
Structured Exercise Training Associated With Improved Glycemic Control for Patients With Diabetes – Implementing structured exercise training, including aerobic, resistance or both, was associated with a greater reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels (a marker of glucose control) for patients with diabetes compared to patients in the control group, and longer weekly exercise duration was also associated with a greater decrease in these levels.
Protein levels could signal that a child will develop diabetes – Decreasing blood levels of a protein that helps control inflammation may be a red flag that could help children avoid type 1 diabetes, researchers say.
Low carbohydrate diet may reverse kidney failure in people with diabetes – Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have for the first time determined that the ketogenic diet, a specialized high-fat, low carbohydrate diet, may reverse impaired kidney function in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Metabolite levels may be able to improve diabetes risk prediction — Elevations in 5 amino acids may signal future disease risk, indicate candidates for preventive measures – Measuring the levels of small molecules in the blood may be able to identify individuals at elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes as much as a decade before symptoms of the disorder appear.
New study adds weight to diabetes drug link to heart problems — Research: Comparative cardiovascular effects of thiazolidinediones: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies – A new study published on bmj adds to mounting evidence that rosiglitazone – a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes – is associated with an increased risk of major heart problems.
Taking more steps every day can help ward off diabetes — Association of change in daily step count over five years with insulin sensitivity and adiposity – Simply taking more steps every day not only helps ward off obesity but also reduces the risk of diabetes, finds a study published in BMJ UK.
FDA significantly restricts access to the diabetes drug Avandia — Makes regulatory decisions on RECORD and TIDE trials – FDA will restrict the use of the diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) to patients with Type 2 diabetes who cannot control their diabetes on other medications. Avandia may elevate risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.
BMJ report into top-selling diabetes drug raises concerns about the drug regulatory system – A BMJ investigation into the top-selling diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) raises concerns about its safety and the whole system by which drugs are evaluated, regulated, and promoted around the world.
