Diabetes News August 28th 2009

2009 Annual Evidence Update on Diabetic Retinopathy
The update of the Annual Evidence Update on Diabetic Retinopathy provides an opportunity to present an up-to-date comprehensive collection of information that has been subject to rigorous selection criteria (NHS Evidence, UK)

Incretin-based therapies: new treatments for type 2 diabetes in the new millennium
The low risk of hypoglycemia, and beneficial or neutral effects on body weight, render GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors suitable alternatives to insulin secretagogues and insulin in overweight and elderly patients (Dovepress)

Folic acid supplementation normalizes the endothelial progenitor cell transcriptome of patients with type 1 diabetes
Signaling pathways modulated by folic acid may be potential therapeutic targets to improve endothelial progenitor cell function (Cardiovascular Diabetology)

National Inpatient Audit Day
This note is to inform you of the aims of the audit and to encourage you to start planning in advance with your team so you will be able to participate (Young Diabetologists, UK)

Liraglutide vs insulin glargine and placebo in combination with metformin and sulfonylurea therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Liraglutide added to metformin and sulfonylurea produced significant improvement in glycaemic control and bodyweight compared with placebo and insulin glargine. The difference vs insulin glargine in HbA1c was within the predefined non-inferiority margin (Diabetologia)

Is type 1 diabetes seasonal?
The results from this large, well-conducted study confirm what has been seen in previous small studies. However, any interpretation of these findings should take into account several shortcomings that the researchers themselves raise (NHS Choices, UK)

Epocal Announces FDA Clearance of Glucose Test
The FDA clearance of glucose represents one of many milestones to come for Epocal and for healthcare as we continue to expand the test menu of the first wireless and cost effective point of care testing system (San Francisco Business Times, USA)

Alcohol consumption and diabetes risk in the Diabetes Prevention Program
Despite overall low rates of alcohol consumption, there was a reduced risk of incident diabetes in those who reported modest daily alcohol intake and were assigned to metformin or lifestyle modification. Moderate daily alcohol intake is associated with lower insulin secretion—an effect that warrants further investigation (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Dwayne Johnson, Novo Nordisk and the Entertainment Industry Foundation Educate Families about Healthy Living and Diabetes
Johnson Asks Families to be Diabetes Aware in New Public Service Announcement (PharmaLive)

PRESENT Diabetes
An innovative educational concept for the diabetes management team. It is designed to unite researchers and care givers around the world into a collaborative community, with the single goal of fighting the epidemic that diabetes has become (PRESENT Diabetes)

The polymorphisms of UCP2 and UCP3 genes associated with fat metabolism, obesity and diabetes
This review summarizes data supporting the roles of UCP2 and UCP3 in energy dissipation, as well as the genetic variety association with fat metabolism, obesity and diabetes in humans (Obesity Reviews)

Hepatic Insulin Sensitivity Assessed by Integrated Model of Hepatic and Peripheral Glucose Regulation
Because insulin resistance in liver and peripheral tissue may play a differential role in the pathogenesis of diabetes, this analysis can serve as a simple one-step approach to obtain metabolic indexes specific to EGP suppression and stimulating glucose uptake (Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics)

Diamyd to include children and accelerate patient recruitment in US Phase III study with the Diamyd® diabetes vaccine
Diamyd Medical reported today that from September 1, children from 10 years ofage with type 1 diabetes will be included in the company’s US Phase III study of the Diamyd® diabetes vaccine. The company is also trebling the number of clinics and is investing in expanded recruitment activities in the US (Diamyd Medical)