Science Information
The Science Information team consists of four Science information officers who deal with research- based enquiries on diabetes. We also deal with student enquiries (Diabetes UK)
Obesity research centre is opened
The Institute of Metabolic Science has been set up by the University of Cambridge, Medical Research Council and Cambridge University Hospitals trust (BBC, UK)
Social Differences in Insulin-like Growth Factor-1: Findings from a British Birth Cohort
IGF-1 secretion is associated with social position such that low social position is associated with lower levels of IGF-1. This biomarker may play a role in the development of social differences in morbidities associated with aging, such as the development of disability (Annals of Epidemiology)
Dietitians’ advice key in battle against diabetes
Dietitians of Canada (DC) applauds the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ministry of Health Promotion for helping Ontarians prevent and manage diabetes. The diabetes strategy announced today includes increasing access to team-based care for prevention and management of diabetes (Dietitians of Canada)
Ontario diabetes strategy
The strategy includes an online registry that will enable better self-care by giving patients access to information and educational tools that empower them to manage their disease (MOHLTC, Canada)
Consensus Statement Issued for Managing Prediabetes
The American College of Endocrinology has issued its first guidelines for management of patients with prediabetes. 15-page PDF (AACE, USA)
Factors that influence the patient uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening
It is essential that patients are fully aware of the need for a regular eye examination. Once a physician recommends this the screening rate improves (PubMed, USA)
Losartan in patients with type 2 diabetes and proteinuria: observations from the RENAAL Study
Losartan significantly reduced the risk of cardiorenal outcomes … In addition, although this study shows that the reduction of proteinuria does not completely explain the impact of intervention on outcomes such as ESRD, reduction of proteinuria must remain an important consideration when treating patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy (PubMed, USA)
Antidiabetogenic effects of chromium mitigate hyperinsulinemia-induced cellular insulin resistance via correction of plasma membrane cholesterol imbalance
These data predict a PM cholesterol basis for hyperinsulinemia-associated insulin resistance and importantly highlight the reversible nature of this abnormality (PubMed, USA)
Are nutrition-induced epigenetic changes the link between socioeconomic pathology and cardiovascular diseases?
We have proposed the existence of a higher susceptibility to the development of systemic inflammation at low levels of abdominal obesity in the population of developing countries and the consequent endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, DM 2, and CVD. In contrast, an important percentage of obese people living in developed countries have a healthy phenotype and low risk of developing CVD and DM 2 (PubMed, USA)
Maximising engagement, motivation and long term change in a structured intensive education programme in diabetes for children, young people and their families
Child and adolescent structured competencies approach to diabetes education (Health Technology Assessment – project in progress, UK)
Improving the value of screening for diabetic macular oedema using surrogate photographic markers
Our aims are (1) to determine how effective existing photographic referral criteria are compared with optical coherence tomography, and (2) to see whether computer analysis of photographic features improves the effectiveness of photography (Health Technology Assessment – project in progress, UK)
JDRF awards more than £230,000 to research project in Plymouth
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has awarded more than £230,000 to researchers in Plymouth, who will study the causes and development of type 1 diabetes (JDRF)
Diabetes – insulin pump therapy
The review and re-appraisal of the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for the treatment of diabetes mellitus has resulted in a change in the guidance (NICE, UK)
JDRF welcomes NICE guidances on insulin pump therapy
Updated guidance on the use of insulin pump therapy was published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) today, following months of input from organisations including (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
Insulin Pumps Provided By Ontario
The government of Ontario has gone public with its new offer to foot the bill for insulin pumps for any adult in the province that has type I insulin dependent diabetes (EON, Canada)
Ketoacidosis occurs in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
The frequency of DKA is much higher in Type 1 diabetic patients, Type 2 diabetes may account for as much as one-third of the overall DKA cases (Diabetic Medicine)
Type 1 Diabetes CME
New insights into pathophysiology, treatment, and the search for a cure (University of Minnesota, USA)
NHGRI Funds Next Step in Understanding Biological Roots of Common Diseases
Grants of about $31 million will be issued over the next four years for research targeting the understanding of how the risk of diabetes and other common diseases is impacted by specific genetic variants, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) announced on July 17 (American Diabetes Association)
National campaign to tackle obesity launched
The government has called for a “national movement for change” to help tackle the obesity epidemic facing the UK (ePolitix, UK)
Pre-diabetes must be treated, doctors urge
We, as endocrinologists, are saying we truly recognize a state of pre-diabetes, and I think the most important issue is that there is not one unifying point that defines it (USA Today)
BodyTel’s Blood Glucose Monitoring and Diabetes Management System, GlucoTel, Passes TNO Tests
The GlucoTel system is a complete telemedical blood glucose monitoring and diabetes management system (Market Watch)
Plasma YKL-40 – a BMI-independent marker of type 2 diabetes
Plasma YKL-40 was identified as an obesity-independent marker of T2DM, related to fasting plasma glucose and plasma IL-6 levels (Diabetes)
Lessons from the First Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Cell Cycle Control in Rodent Insulinoma Cell Lines
These studies underscore the importance of characterizing the cell cycle at the protein level in rodent insulinoma cell lines. They also emphasize the hazards of interpreting data from rodent insulinoma cell lines as modeling normal cell cycle progression. Most importantly, they provide seven candidates targets for inducing proliferation in human beta cells (Diabetes)
A novel insulin formulation with a more rapid onset of action
This study shows that the onset of action of VIAject is faster than that of human soluble insulin and insulin lispro (Diabetologia)
Immunotherapeutic agents in type 1 diabetes
Long-term immunotherapy may preserve beta-cell function in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes. Patients and clinicians must await the conduct of rigorous trials reporting on diabetes resolution, adverse events, and other patient-important outcomes (Clinical Endocrinology)
Diabetes Devices
The ability to control blood glucose levels has improved tremendously, and the time required to do so has decreased. The improvements are particularly evident in regard to instruments used to monitor glucose and to administer insulin (Clinical Diabetes)
Ontario to invest $741 million in diabetes treatment and prevention
Ontario is spending $741 million over the next four years on the fight against diabetes in an effort to head off the growing spate of health problems related to the disease (Canadian Press)
Senate takes aim at childhood obesity
The first hearing of a two-part series, “Childhood Obesity: The Declining Health of America’s Next Generation,” focused on what external factors were causing American children to be obese (OhMyGov, USA)
Current Trends in Weight Management: What Advice Do We Give to Patients?
Diabetes educators are encouraged to work closely with individuals to set tailored strategies and realistic expectations that can help them work toward both their diabetes management and weight goals (Clinical Dibetes)
Merck Profit Gains on Diabetes Pill, Global Sales
Merck & Co., the third-largest U.S. drugmaker, said net income increased 5 percent on greater use of its diabetes pill Januvia and added revenue outside the U.S (Bloomberg)
Diabetes trial gives positive feedback
According to results released by Living Cell Technologies Limited, diabetes patients that received implants of DiabeCell (R) encapsulated porcine islet cells for type 1 diabetics have reported positive results (Diabetes.co.uk)
Health Science Center diabetes researchers form partnership with N.C. firm
Diabetes researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have agreed to collaborate with Metabolon Inc. in a new partnership that could accelerate the development of the company’s pre-diabetes diagnostic products (Business Journal)
Association of Organochlorine Pesticides with Peripheral Neuropathy among Patients with Diabetes or Impaired Fasting Glucose
This study suggested that the background exposure to OC pesticides may be associated with higher risk of peripheral neuropathic complications among those with glucose abnormalities, even beyond the influence of diabetes itself (Diabetes)
Half a million people in the UK with undiagnosed diabetes
Diabetes UK is encouraging anyone with at least two risk factors to go to their doctor for a simple test (Diabetes UK)
The impact of fish-oil supplements on insulin sensitivity
There was an increase in insulin sensitivity following supplementation as demonstrated by a reduction in the plasma glucose response during the OGTT, and a mean reduction in serum TG’s and total cholesterol, although these were not statistically significant (Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics,)
Insulin Resistance Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C: Etiology and Impact on Treatment
Co-existence of insulin resistance and chronic hepatitis C occurs more often than predicted by chance, with recent estimates indicating that 30% to 70% of patients with chronic hepatitis C display some evidence of insulin resistance (Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
Effects of Intensive Glucose Lowering in Type 2 Diabetes
As compared with standard therapy, the use of intensive therapy to target normal glycated hemoglobin levels for 3.5 years increased mortality and did not significantly reduce major cardiovascular events (New England Journal of Medicine, USA)
Hearing Loss Is Common in People with Diabetes
Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA)
‘Snapshots’ of eyes could serve as early warning of diabetes
A new vision screening device, already shown to give an early warning of eye disease, could give doctors and patients a head start on treating diabetes and its vision complications, a new study shows (University of Michigan)
Novocell Looks to Stem Cells for Diabetes Cure
Baetge believes that they’re on the brink of a medical breakthrough that could stave off the disease in humans (Voice of San Diego, USA)
Declining prevalence of diabetes mellitus in hereditary haemochromatosis—The result of earlier diagnosis
This is one of the largest published series of diabetes in HH. Because the occurrence of diabetes in patients with HH reduces life expectancy, our finding of a lower prevalence of diabetes is expected to translate into a greater survival rate in these patients (Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice)
Montreal researchers prove that insulin-producing cells can give rise to stem-like cells in-vitro
The researchers have shown in vitro that insulin-producing ß-cells (beta cells) can return to a more primitive developmental state called stem-like cells (EurekAlert)
Cultural sensitivity may improve diabetes outcomes
Patients in culturally tailored educational interventions also showed improved knowledge of diabetes and healthy lifestyles (Reuters)
The risk of heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with oral agent monotherapy
Users of higher doses of sulfonylurea exhibited a greater risk of developing HF. Clinicians should carefully weigh the need for high-dose sulfonylurea therapy in diabetic subjects with, or at high risk of, HF (European Journal of Heart Failure)
Exenatide, 5 or 10 micrograms, solution for injection, prefilled pen
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has completed its assessment of the above product (SMC, UK)
Looking after women with diabetes during pregnancy
In this article, we explore how to provide women with pre-existing diabetes with detailed and accurate preconceptual advice. 3-page PDF (Primary Care Nursing, UK)
Making sense of type 1 diabetes in primary care
This article looks at how type 1 differs from type 2 diabetes, which type 1 patients might be managed appropriately in primary care, and recaps on insulin regimens and dose adjustment. 4-page PDF (Primary Care Nursing, UK)
Psychological adjustment to chronic disease
In particular, the emphasis on the reasons why people fail to achieve a healthy adjustment has shifted to the identification of factors that help patients make that adjustment (The Lancet, UK)
Studies from Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences provide new data on insulin resistance
Investigators publish new data in the report ‘Effect of Ramadan fasting on some indices of insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in healthy male adults (NewsRx, USA)
Diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
The objective of this study was to describe the proportion and characteristics of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (PubMed, USA)
Diagnosed diabetic retinopathy in France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom
The objective of this study was to describe the proportion and characteristics of patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (PubMed, USA)
Genetic susceptibility of diabetic retinopathy
Although many genes and proteins of vascular growth have been studied in association with diabetic retinopathy, no definitive major predisposing genes or functional consequences of genetic variants (PubMed, USA)
Studying a Depression Drug for Common Nerve Condition
To ease pain and numbness associated with diabetes, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell physician-scientists are studying a drug previously used for depression to treat peripheral neuropathy (Weill Cornell Medical College, USA)
Why Focus on Technology?
A Regional Conference and Expo -September 26-28, 2008 Bethesda, Maryland (Children with Diabetes, USA)
Glycosmedia is also available as an App: