Diabetes News August 19th 2011

Diabetic retinopathy
The number of people who have been offered screening for diabetic retinopathy as part of a systematic programme that meets national standards – April to June 2011 (DoH)

Exudate-based Diabetic Macular Edema Detection in Fundus Images Using Publicly Available Datasets
In this work, we introduce a new methodology for diagnosis of DME using a novel set of features based on colour, wavelet decomposition and automatic lesion segmentation (Medical Image Analysis)

Random Blood Glucose Measurement at Antenatal Booking to Screen for Overt Diabetes in Pregnancy
RBG at booking may provide a sufficiently sensitive screening tool for the detection of ODIP. We recommend further studies and comparison with fasting glucose and HbA1c (Diabetes Care)

Pathway to diabetes through attenuation of pancreatic beta cell glycosylation and glucose transport
We report a combination of molecular events in human and mouse pancreatic beta cells, induced by elevated levels of free fatty acids or by administration of a high-fat diet with associated obesity, that comprise a pathogenic pathway to diabetes (Nature Medicine)

Oral cholecalciferol decreases albuminuria and urinary TGF-ß1 in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy on established renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibition
This is the first study, to our knowledge, showing these beneficial effects of nutritional vitamin D supplementation in diabetic patients with CKD treated with RAAS inhibition (Kidney International)

Promoting Physical Activity in Individuals With Diabetes: Telehealth Approaches
This article provides an overview of telephone, Internet-based, and home-based monitoring interventions that promote physical activity, with a focus on those with diabetes. It also discusses the potential advantages of using telehealth interventions in this context (Diabetes Spectrum)

Effectiveness and safety of a glucose data-filtering system with automatic response software to reduce the physician workload in managing type 2 diabetes
The study showed the efficacy and safety of the software for online communication in diabetes management. The results suggest that it could improve the cost-effectiveness of online communication systems and form the basis of future clinical applications (Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare)

Cluster-Randomized Trial of a Mobile Phone Personalized Behavioral Intervention for Blood Glucose Control
The combination of behavioral mobile coaching with blood glucose data, lifestyle behaviors, and patient self-management data individually analyzed and presented with evidence-based guidelines to providers substantially reduced glycated hemoglobin levels over 1 year (Diabetes Care)