Diabetes News July 1st 2011

National Diabetes Audit Executive Summary 2009-2010
Key findings about the quality of care for people with diabetes in England and Wales (NHS Information Centre)

Inpatient Audit 2010
The National Diabetes Inpatient Audit is a snapshot audit of inpatient diabetes care (NHS Diabetes)

Inpatient costs for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Scotland
Diabetes inpatient expenditure accounted for 12% of the total Scottish inpatient expenditure, whilst people with diabetes account for 4.3% of the population. Of the modifiable risk factors, HbA1c was the most important driver of cost in type 1 diabetes (Diabetologia)

Treating mild gestational diabetes mellitus: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Treating mild GDM is cost-effective in terms of improving maternal and neonatal outcomes including decreased rates of: preeclampsia, cesarean sections, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, permanent and transient brachial plexus injury, neonatal hypoglycemia, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and NICU admission (American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology)

Improving outcomes in type 2 diabetes
What is the impact of type 2 diabetes? Individualisation of care. What are the evidence-based priorities? What is optimal blood glucose control? Hypoglycaemic drugs – what are the options? (MeReC Bulletin)

EMA recommends approval of linagliptin for type 2 diabetes
The EMA gave a positive opinion on Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company’s linagliptin 5 mg film-coated tablets (trade name Trajenta®) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults (Hospital Pharmacy Europe)

SHIELD: Implementation, not education is key to diabetes management
Although patients with type 2 diabetes are well aware of the important aspects of diabetes management, such as diet and exercise, many struggle to implement these lifestyle changes, according to the 5-year results of the SHIELD study (Endocrine Today)

Insulin Promotes Glycogen Storage and Cell Proliferation in Primary Human Astrocytes
This study demonstrated that human astrocytes are insulin-responsive at the molecular level. We identified glycogen synthesis and cell proliferation as biological responses of insulin signaling in these brain cells. Hence, this cell type may contribute to the effects of insulin in the human brain (PLoS ONE)

Two-Year Data Comparing Cardiovascular Events with Linagliptin and the Sulfonylurea, Glimepiride
Linagliptin plus metformin combination was as effective at lowering hemoglobin A1c as glimepiride plus metformin, and with weight loss and less hypoglycemia (Lilly)

Investigational Compound Dapagliflozin Sustained Glycemic Control and Weight Reduction in Study of Type 2 Diabetes Patients Inadequately Controlled with Metformin
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca announce results from an exploratory 78-week study extension of a Phase 3 clinical study that showed the investigational compound dapagliflozin plus metformin sustained greater mean reductions from baseline in blood sugar levels (glycosylated hemoglobin levels, or HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin alone, as compared to placebo plus metformin over 102 weeks (Business Wire)

Investigational ultra-long-acting insulin degludec reduces hypoglycaemia and improves long-term control
Ultra-long-acting insulin degludec, under development by Novo Nordisk, lowers blood glucose levels with significantly reduced rates of hypoglycaemiacompared to insulin glargine, according to data presented at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in San Diego (World Pharma News)